One Year: Part 4

4. HAVING THE CARD

These past few weeks, I have been so grateful to have my Equity Card. With this little green card, I’m able to be seen at so many more auditions than before. Each time I get to audition, I find new nuances in which to highlight that relay positively and strongly in the audition room. 

Auditioning - while similar to - is quite different from performing onstage. You have to make your audition for a usually small, fluorescently lit room with few people watching. Instead of making moments big and flashy, one can pull back and still the body, accentuating actions played in the scene with the spot on the wall above the heads of the paneled creative team. A new audition is a new chance to hone in on those skills, bettering with each time.

Now it’s time to land a gig. Fingers crossed.

One Year: Part 3

3. SEA DREAMS

I have always wondered what it would be like to go out to sea and sing on a cruise ship. At first, the idea worried me. I would have to leave all the possibilities the city provides of getting a job in theatre. If you’re not here to audition, you won’t get a job onstage. 

But this would be a way to travel, and be paid to do so...

Is this me running away from the city though? Am I simply tired of the rejection and the inability to land another gig and want out? 

But this could be an opportunity to pay of my student loans and start putting some money into my savings...

Would this only be a temporary conclusion for my fears of not be talented enough to make it here? 

But being on a cruise line could be a really cool performance opportunity...

I put in my application to work on Princess Cruise lines this past week and I’m waiting to hear back. If I do, I’ll go from there. 

One Year: Part 2

2. BABYSITTING IN THE CITY

This past January I started babysitting here in the city, and I’m remembering how much I missed working with kids. My acting advisor from Middlebury, Alex Draper, is here in the city for his sabbatical year with his family. They all needed some help with afternoon pick-ups and dinner/homework help for a few weeks while Alex has been rehearsing for a show. I was so happy to be available and help out down in Brooklyn Heights. 

Babysitting in the city is very different than in Connecticut. I mean, it’s New York City. There are speeding cars, open gaps in the sidewalk, not to mention crowds of people to have kids get lost within. With some ground-rules laid between Toby, Nora and I, we found a way to have safe fun all the time. 

I’ve loved being able to explore Brooklyn Heights with the kids. I now make a mean chicken nugget, grilled cheese, buttered pasta, steamed broccoli, and shelled edamame. Reading “The Lorax” to Toby is now a mini performance opportunity for a fantastic, attentive audience member. Helping Nora with her math, writing, and spelling has allowed me to introduce some of my education studies techniques from Midd into the real world, proving quite exciting. Overall, I’m now seeing how much happier I am with a job like this in the city and I’m now looking for more babysitting gigs here for the future.

One Year: Part 1

Valentine’s Day 2012: 

One year ago today I moved from Guilford to pursue dreams. 

A year ago today I packed my father’s pick-up with my belongings and moved to North Bergen, New Jersey. Even though I technically wasn’t living on the island of Manhattan just yet, I was out of Jersey 95% of the time. I came into the city for auditions, to meet up with friends, as well as begin to figure out more about this city I dreamt being a part of. And here I was, a part of it. 

To honor my first 12 months in the city, I thought I would write 12 anecdotes of recent events for the next 12 days. So be sure to come back and read the rest!

1. HETEROGENEOUS AUDITIONING

I heard this phrase at an audition this past Sunday, and it totally sums up the kinds of auditions we’re having recently. Great regional theaters from around the country come here to NYC to audition possible candidates for their upcoming seasons. These theaters do amazing work, bringing high quality theatre to audiences who may not be able to travel to or afford a Broadway ticket. 

For these auditions, creative teams and casting directors ask actors to prepare one or two selections from songs that are “similar to our season”. But this is near to impossible, finding a song that encompasses an entire theater’s season, as shows can range from Golden Age classics to pop/rock modern pieces. Basically, I don’t want to sing a classic musical theatre piece even though a theatre may be putting on “Oklahoma” because they’re also producing “Cabaret” and “Altar Boyz”, musicals far from classic musical theatre. 

It’s a big game, determining what you believe you’re best for in their season, then picking a song in that show’s style that could also possibly be translated for the other shows in the season. Not the easiest task, but I’ve found that the best way to choose a song for a certain audition is have a couple in mind and sing the one I want to sing when I get to that day. It’s all about making the audition an opportunity for me to have fun; create an opportunity to remember why I love doing what I do.

A Weekend in the Hills.

Route 77 to 17, then 91 forever, bringing me to 103 (remembering that one right turn), leading me to Route 7, which carries me to a past home of mine: Middlebury. 

It’s been a year since I was up north amidst stone buildings, unlimited dining halls, and the picturesque hills surrounding campus. Why hadn’t I told many people of my quick weekend jaunt back to Midd? Sure, I posted it on Facebook... But who checks Facebook anymore really?

I guess it was really a fear, not knowing how it would be, being back at this home of the past. I’m coming on two years out of college. That, in it of itself, is pretty terrifying for some reason I can’t truly pinpoint. Is it an aspect of longing for school’s securities and excitement? Or maybe having to explain to everyone about the real world and how I’m spending the majority of my time brain-dead, serving ungrateful people drinks and food? Is it fear that I had lost my ability to hold an insightful conversation having had been away from so many passionate and intelligent people? 

Nonetheless, it felt weird going back by myself. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised about how refreshing and revitalizing this quick two days was for me. I hung out with soon to graduate senior friends, partied with dance troupe buddies, chatted with swimming team-mates, listened to present a cappella members, and celebrated with musical theatre compadres. 

Having a little taste of college life reminded me of so many things really. Sure, there were specific stories of silly a cappella rehearsals, dances danced, meets conquered, and scenes created. But what I am most grateful for was uncovering my drive and passion to heal through the creative forces of the stage. I’ve lightly held onto this through my “almost one year” in the city. But the city can create an ego-centrism that has been halting at times, cementing weights to my feet, spinning my thoughts round and round in the fear of doing nothing. 

January became a lot busier than I was expecting. All good things (day-jobs, new ideas, seeing theatre, etc.), but simply unexpected when I was so focused on a bit different path I was hoping to take for the beginning of this new year. That’s what you gotta do in this city though: roll with it. 

Now I’m out of my own way. Time to go my own way. My way.   

2012 Resolutions

This is my picture wall of images, places, and people that make me happy, inspired, and keep me grounded with excitement. It's to the left of the head of my bed. 

This is a close up of my 2012 Resolutions. It's making me happy now to think that I have this daily reminder to wake up to, to seize each day with these in mind.  

• Create everyday. That means experimenting everyday.
• Show up. Be present in all I do.
• Buy more groceries. Eat out less.
• See more theatre.
• Listen to more show tunes. New and old.
• Save money.
• Write everyday. Something. 
• Take more dance classes and voice lessons.
• Do more push-ups and sit-ups.
• Collaborate with the people I love.
• Routinely check-in with myself.
• Always be having fun with life.
• CHOOSE HAPPINESS.

2012: 

The year to see things happen. 

The year to have things happen. 

The year to make things happen.

May we all have a prosperous, creative, and inspiring 2012. 

Tis The Season to Write.

Yup. It's been over a month, almost two months, since I posted last. Frankly, not much has happened... I've been catering like a mad-man this holiday season which while tiring I am ever grateful for. I'm looking so forward to the upcoming months to refocus. This past month I have been adding to what I've been calling "The January/February List". These are all of the activities, tasks, and journeys I want to tackle while catering season is slow to further my artistic understanding and experience here in the city. Come the 1st of the month, my list will be posted in my room to check items off as they are achieved. I am looking so forward to a productive and artistically fulfilling January and February.

I thought I'd share my holiday letter with you all here. I am so grateful for everyone in my life this year who has made this (almost) first year in the city so special. Your presence in my life is so cherished, and I look forward to future fun, merriment, and joy together. Know that your love and support has made this year one of the most inspiring, productive, and creative years of my life. You all have helped me clear paths and open doors to uncharted destinies of possibilities for my life here.

I love you. Happy reading!

+++++ 

Happy Holidays from an “On the Road to Becoming a Real-Life New Yorker.” :-)

As I am getting closer and closer to my one year anniversary of moving from Guilford to the Big Apple (Valentine’s Day), I cannot believe how much has happened in such a short amount of time. 

Now, has my concocted dream of life in New York City unfolded in grand splendor? 

Definitely not. 

BUT, this dream-like reality that has come to fruition opened up so many doors to wonderful places in my heart. With this opening comes the amazing rekindling of friendships through the post-college/city-life, along with new friends from different worlds of the greatest city on Earth. The experiences created and made here have made this small year feel like three great big ones. Time is jam packed to the brim with activities, work, and ideas for the future. And I couldn’t be happier. 

So... What’s happened? Let’s start from the top...

I performed my first cabaret, “Another Staged Experience” two more times, first up at Middlebury College for my professors and friends (while I was there choreographing their Winter Musical, “Urinetown”), and then back in Guilford as a part of the Congregational Church’s “Joyful Noise” series. This newfound love of sharing my stories and voice with others all of a sudden sparked thousands of new ideas for future cabarets. 

For the months to follow, I was auditioning and catering to pay the bills. It’s said that an actor’s career is 90% auditioning and 10% performing. So, I was going to as many auditions as I could and sometimes waiting hours to be seen. I then landed my first show from a NYC audition! In April, I played Chip Tolentino in Westchester Sandbox Theater’s main-stage production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”. With a powerhouse cast to perform with, we brought the theater’s ticket sales to record heights. I had a ball belting high G’s and A’s with the opener of Act Two, “My Unfortunate Erection”. Priceless.

I had the opportunity of a lifetime to perform in a workshop of a brand new musical by Jay Alan Zimmerman entitled, “Smokin!” with the fantastic director, Anthony J. Cantalupo. Jay saw me perform at a benefit concert for mutual friends of ours, and a couple weeks later I was cast. I have always wanted to work on a piece at its ground level and this was the perfect experience to fulfill those specific dreams. It was a direct eye-line into the creative process of a musical theatre writer, proving not only educational but also artistically fulfilling on a completely different and incredible level. 

After this, I headed back to The Ivoryton Playhouse at the end of June for their production of Mel Brooks’ “The Producers”, playing the delightfully playful and joyous role of Carmen Ghia. Just imagine me with a pompadour standing 4 inches tall while I flitzed around the stage with the flamer barometer bursting over 100%. It was pure joy to be a part of this masterpiece of musical theatre, plus with this role came my Equity Card! Aka, now I am in the actors’ union and receive benefits for performing (more audition opportunities as well as health care, pensions, etc.). It was a stupidly exciting show and I loved my time back in Ivoryton with friends and family coming from all over to join me for this monumental step forward in my career. 

Then it was back to the city for more catering and auditioning. Alongside work, I started volunteering for Opening Act, an amazing non-profit here in the city that brings free after school theatre programs to the boroughs hardest hit schools. I’m now on their Social Board, helping organize events in order to raise awareness about these public schools with little to no funding for arts. Students at the end of each semester put on a show that they have written and created completely on their own with Teaching Artists' aid and support. The performances are some of the most inspiring works I have seen, and I am so lucky to be working with such a wonderful organization that puts the kids first above anything else. Be sure to check them out: http://www.openingactnewyork.org/

With no shows on the horizon and feeling stuck in a rut, I decided to put together a new cabaret for myself. I had recently taken a workshop called “Produce Your Own Work”, which is taught by Molly Pearson, one of the Executive Producers of the movie I worked on the summer before (which is now available! Check it out: “The Green”). Now equipped with a tool-belt of Producing 101 skills, I leapt into putting on my own New York City show. Friends and family helped out by donating to my Kickstarter.com account, which allowed me to fund not only the performance space, but also the fantastic work of my director, Martin Peacock, and accompanist, Shannon Collins. “Braver. Stronger. Smarter.”, a piece that chronicled my first love, my relationship with my father, and the auditioning world of commercial musical theatre debuted at The Duplex Cabaret Theatre down in the village this past October with the most amazing audiences of family and friends from High School, Middlebury, and New York. With a great response and a good review in Cabaret Scenes (the cabaret world’s magazine and online site), I saw something completely new within me: I feel the strongest onstage when I’m there with my own stories and voice. 

Having this newfound joy bubbling inside me, my goal now is to bring autobiographical cabarets to high schools, colleges, and LGBT conferences to be that gay man I never had right in front of me, clearly being able to see that it truly does gets better. I’ve seen through storytelling and songs that people of all ages, backgrounds, and sexual orientation can be given light to see that what they have to give the world is a gift for everyone.  

Since then, I’m back to (you guessed it) more auditioning and catering, leading me up to right now. As for 2012, I’ve learned that New York City will lead me in the right direction with my own dreams grounding me. Those dreams will be fulfilled in due time, and this amazing city, even though hard at times, is supporting me every step of the way.

Love to you,

Schuyler