Journey On

Hi Friends!
Alright, now I know you all have been curious about what's next for me now that tour is over but I can't just TELL you. That would make me a terrible blogger. I have to give you the whole story so I'll start at the beginning.

I arrived back home to find balloons, cake, and banners with phrases like "Welcome Home!" all throughout the house. As heart warming as these where and as much as I appreciated them, I knew that I wasn't going to actually be home for the next couple of days. What was I up to you ask? Well like any non-working actor I was about to commence to "hitting the pavement" once more. When I wasn't auditioning I would be helping out with my best friend's wedding, Dad with selling a house in D.C. as well as moving into a new house he purchased, and spending as much time as possible with my favoritest person before she headed back to Europe to be an Au Pair, this time in London. I was a busy Gill and looking back already my first month home was such a chaotic blur! haha I loved it!

Anyway, the day after I came home Dad and I hopped on a train to Boston, Ma for an audition. Now for those of you who haven't been to a professional audition let me just tell you it's not like a job interview at all. There's a lot you have to plan for even before you arrive at the audition like "Where are you staying?", "Is it near the venue?", and "How are you getting there?", those type things. Seems pretty typical for any trip. Let's not also forget that you have to come prepared for the audition with a book of  different songs and monologues that are memorized and good to go incase they ask you to do something else which they WILL do. There's a few other things you have to plan for but these are the main things. The audition itself is really quite an experience of adrenaline. I LOVE it! So Dad and I arrive in Massachusetts and we have just finished unpacking. As I'm going through all my stuff,  I soon realize that I left my notepad with ALL my information (the venues address, my time slot, and other useful info) at home. Crap.

5 minute pit stop in NYC

I thankfully remembered what time I was supposed to audition but I couldn't remember the address. Dad and I both got on separate computers and tried to find out where this audition was being held but we couldn't find anything! Dad later tells me he found the address. I looked at it and something told me that what he found wasn't the right one. It didn't sound familiar at all but I couldn't find anything on the internet to confirm my theory. I couldn't find anything at all! Ha! That night plans were made for the hotel shuttle to take me to the audition. The next morning, the shuttle drops me off and low and behold thats NOT where the audition is taking place. I KNEW IT!

Ok no need to freakout. It's probably just down the street and the shuttle guy just went to the wrong place. I'm checking my phone trying to find some kind of information once again about this audition and I find nothing. NOTHING! So I start strutting my little self down the street in some VERY high heels and even asked around if people knew where the audition was. To my dismay no one knew what I was talking about.  I called the shuttle guy and he told me that he wouldn't be able to pick me up for about another hour. Great. There I was stranded in a unfamiliar city, no theatre in sight, I had NOW missed my time slot, and it had just started raining. I then remembered that while I was in Hendricks, Mn the theatre had called me and that I probably still had the number on my phone. The problem was that they were in auditions (where I was SUPPOSED to be) and no one was probably in the office. I called anyway and just like I thought, no answer.

I felt so defeated. I had come all this way and I had nothing to show for it.

I have this little mantra when it comes to auditions and certain issues in life: "If it doesn't just HAPPEN then it wasn't meant to be". Cliche and not very deep I know but hear me out. I just mean if theres a lot problems with a goal or some ideal you're set on and it doesn't come easily then you probably shouldn't do it. There IS a difference between determination and fighting something that's just not part of God's ultimate plan. I'm all for determination and overall achievement but somethings SHOULD come easy without complications for example relationships.  It should just fall into place. I feel that's when you just know that you're right where you need to be at the right time in your life. I guess this is a faith based theory that the Lord will just take care of you. This doesn't mean rely on Him to do everything. No you gotta get out there and try and He will see your works and reward you in His time. I was convinced that it just wasn't "meant to be" as I waited in the rain for the shuttle man to pick me up and take me back to the hotel. Yea, I was disappointed but there would be other auditions and other plans for me.

That's when I got the call.

A lady from the theatre had called me and was wondering where I was. I quickly explained how I was lost and didn't know where to go. She sweetly tells me the address and says that they would be glad to squeeze me in as soon as I get there. YEA!!!! The problem now was the shuttle man could only take me as far as a 5 minute drive from the hotel. UGH! He takes me to the hotel where I called a cab and tried to make myself not look like a drenched rat within a 5 minute span. I hop in the cab and he takes me to the Strand Theatre just outside of Boston. FINALLY!

I was so excited and despite all the nonsense from earlier that day my audition actually went really well. As I was about to leave the girl who was sending us into the theatre tells me that I made "Callbacks" which were on Wednesday. Callbacks are like a second round of auditioning for a show. It's always good to get one because they usually have you read/sing from the show or it'll be just a dance call. I love dancing. :) I also found out that the lady I had been talking to on the phone that day and throughout the several phone calls in Minnesota was the actual director! Ok that may not seem like such a big deal but trust me, it is. It's normally the assistant assistant assistant stage manager who contacts people if need be and here I was, hadn't even auditioned yet and I was on a first name bases AND had the directors personal phone number.

Coincidence? I think not.

Well now there was a new problem. Callbacks were on Wednesday and not that Monday night like I had anticipated. Dad and I had planned on leaving early the next morning so he could be at work on Wednesday. Thankfully by the time my Dad and I met up for dinner he had worked out all these details for me. He went back the next morning while I stayed in the hotel room and watched Harry Potter and went to the shopping mall next to the hotel. I was mentally preparing for Callbacks the next day. Haha!

The next day I went to the Callbacks and it was a wonderful experience as usual. I did think it was funny that I didn't "know" any of the people there. This is going to sound weird but when you go to enough auditions you start recognizing people from other auditions you've been too. Everyone here knew who everyone was and were even congratulating each other on shows they'd seen them in in NYC. There I was, the little goob in the canary yellow leotard just sitting against the wall not knowing anyone. Haha! Well I didn't want to look out of place or unprofessional so I found somewhere to go stretch. I figure I'm flexible and if I ACT like a dancer that'll make me look like I belong . Ha! I think it worked because I started making friends not long after that. Hahah!

This was one of my most favorite Callbacks that I had ever been too. Everyone there was extremely friendly and kind. Not only that but I got to dance and sing a lot which made me feel really good about the possibility of the job. I was trying not to get my hopes up but I couldn't help but notice that they kept grouping me with the ones everyone KNEW they were considering for the leads. I seriously was just excited to be there. The Lord had worked everything out for me and now this trip wasn't a complete waste. I told myself that even if I didn't get the job that I was really pleased with how everything ended up working out. I also got a reboost in confidence. Honestly, I thought I might feel out of place and maybe a little rusty on picking up a dance that fast. Thankfully that wasn't the case and I truly believe that this trip taught me that the Lord works things out for those who love Him. You can be told things or read things over and over but sometimes you just have to experience it for it to really stick. Well Friends thats what the Lord did. I went home the next day with a happy heart and was looking forward to my best friends wedding that weekend. I was content in every possible way.

(Skipping ahead because this already is a VERY long blog post. SOYYE!!!!!)

As we're touching up our makeup before we walk down the aisle in our gorgeous green gowns for the wedding, my phone rings with a (by now) familiar number. It was the Director. She then informed me that they had cast me as a "Featured Dancer" and one of Evelyn Nesbitt's main girls in the ensemble for the musical Ragtime.
I was THRILLED!!!!!! We then discussed a few details about pay, equity, and how they were going to provide me with a place to stay. Now I was floored.

PRAISE BE THE LORD WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!!!!!!

Don't worry, I'll keep you informed on my adventures up there. : D
-Jen