The Life of DB » Life News

Apple job!!

DB — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:32:51 +0000

I got it!

I made a list of the places in New York where I would be happy to hold a full time job. This was my #1 choice. After three rounds of interviews and a week of hanging in limbo, I got the call. Awesome! More details as I find them out but for now I’m celebrating.

Humana Festival!!!

DB — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 22:11:55 +0000

Since moving to New York, I’ve found the most exhausting aspect of my life is summoning the motivation to pursue my artistic goals. I alone am responsible for gathering auditions and contacts, improving my work, and keeping my creative self alive. It is a huge change from the life I held last year at The Actors Theatre of Louisville where, in the nine months I served as an Acting Apprentice, the majority of my days were structured by our amazing program directors. While at Actors I had much less free time and performed much more grunt labor, but I was in an environment which fostered a safe creative home by cherishing the contributions of each of its members. It felt like four years of college rolled into one, and I emerged with a second family who has become my greatest support network since moving to New York.

It’s no wonder that I took the opportunity to go back. This past weekend was the closing weekend of the 34th annual Humana Festival of New American Plays, and I, along with eight other apprentices from my year and numerous apprentice/interns from years prior, descended upon the festival for a weekend of theatre and debauchery. We weren’t disappointed.

I won’t go into detail about each of the shows in the festival (although I will give a shout out to my favorite plays Phoenix and The Method Gun). What I will do is applaud the foundation upon which all the work was built. This, of course, includes the Humana Foundation, without whose financial support the festival wouldn’t happen, but it also includes the amazing staff who have made significant sacrifices over the past 34 years to preserve the vision of a theatre festival which produces all new work each and every year. I heard that this year Actors surpassed the 400 play mark. That’s 400 new plays which were given life through the efforts of a single theatre. That’s amazing.

A couple of the ensemble shows (Fissures and The Method Gun) were just featured on NPR as well. Check it out!

Things that are hard.

DB — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:43:45 +0000

I think my desk clock is broken. It’s a really nice clock I received for having “consistently demonstrated excellence in acting” by the culmination of my four year stint at Centre. Funny story, I was actually tore up about it when I received it because I didn’t get the award given to the person “judged to have contributed most to the Dramatic Arts Program over a period of four years.” Whatever. Perspective is everything. Now I just want my clock to work. I changed the batteries and it’s still slow. Feels like my acting career.

I did have my call back for the New Georges’ production of Milk this morning, though! I thought it went well enough. Through a mixup, I didn’t receive the new audition material, but I’d read the entire play in order to prepare, so with a couple minutes of work out in the hall I was able to put forth a decent enough effort I suppose, certainly my best under the circumstances. Anna called afterwards to tell me I did a good job, which was super sweet, but I think we’d both be surprised if I got the part. Once you get to call backs, there’s just so much that is out of your hands. A lot of it comes down to looks, and who they think will work well with each other. Telling myself that booking the call back is just as important as booking the job is a skill I haven’t quite mastered, but I’m trying. It’s hard.

Then my birthday is tomorrow. I always feel weird about planning my own party, but I invited anyone/everyone to join me at the Double Windsor, a sweet little bar here in Brooklyn tomorrow night. It’s low-key and I thought it would be nice to have an easy night with Mike and Moy’s wedding this Thursday (congrats!). Of course, I found out today that some of my friends won’t be able to come because it conflicts with Mike’s bachelor party, and now I feel bad. But if I have to be surrounded by the ladies on my birthday, I suppose that isn’t too terrible either Joking aside, I don’t like the date of my birthday putting my friends in a tough spot. Like casting, it’s nothing I have control over. Ugh.

And then there’s the fact I’m about to get past the age where I can joke about whether or not I’m qualified to be an adult. I work, pay rent, buy groceries, cook, try to find happiness. I feel that maybe %10 of the things I do with my time are worth noting. I’m not old, but I don’t feel young.

So to recap: My Birthday is tomorrow, my friends are wonderful, and I did a good job at my call back. So why do I feel so down?

Called Back!

DB — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:30:07 +0000

Well, I felt great about the audition today for Milk. I was having fun and the room was super friendly. And apparently I’m not the only one who felt this way because I just got a call from Paul Davis at Calleri Casting, and I’m called back in on Monday morning for round 2. Success!

Audition Today!

DB — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:00:12 +0000

I mentioned last week that I went to an EPA for New Georges’ upcoming production of Milk in which my fellow apprentice-friend, Anna, has already been cast. Well, I’ve been invited to attend an audition (this time by appointment!) with the director, Jessica Bauman, producer, Susan Bernfield, and playwright, Emily DeVoti. And apparently, it just so happens that Anna will be my reader, which makes my day. I’m super excited. Wish me good thoughts around 10am!

Productive Morning! A series of mundanities.

DB — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:15:48 +0000

Well I’m back at it. This morning I revisited the Equity building for my first EPA in a few months. The auditions were for the play Milk, in which my dear friend Anna is already cast. But a part was available for an adult male who could play 15, and I was carded last year at a movie theatre, so that has to count for something right?

Anyways, the morning went well. I was able to wake up at 6:00, get to the building a few minutes before 8:00, and audition by 10:30. Not only that, but while waiting for my audition, I ran into my old Shakespeare teacher from Berkshire Theatre Festival, Johnny Epstein. He’s pretty much exactly as I remember him, which is how it should be.

On the way home I dropped off my library books – A Collection of Kafka essays and Tolkien’s The Return on the King, the second of which, I sadly did not find the time to read before it was due back. Yet, despite this fact, I felt my pro-active behavior of the morning merited a reward and thus treated myself to a blueberry muffin from The Oak & Iris, my favorite local coffee shop. Finally I bought stamps from my post office, which, despite the wait, was an overall neutral experience and, along with risen rate of found vs. lost mail, leads me to believe that postal code 11218 may be deserving of a rank above the worst post office as determined by Google. Good Job 11218!

I’m in a show!

DB — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:53:04 +0000

Some (ok, most) of you may have heard by now that I will be appearing in a workshop production of the 1980’s Broadway musical Starmites! If you haven’t, then consider this your official invitation. We’ll be doing four songs (complete with dancing, and dare I say, beat-boxing) with small scenes in between. Also if you want to invite your producer friends, we’re hoping to generate interest for a possible full production in the future.

When: Saturday, January 16, 2010 @ 8pm
Where: Under St. Mark’s Theatre (94 St. Mark’s btwn. 1st Ave. and Ave. A)
Tickets: It’s free, although a donation is appreciated. Get there early if you want a seat!

Hope to see you there!

- DB

Wow! What a Year!

DB — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:38:28 +0000

I’m back in New York! And I’m looking forward to partying in the New Year in Harlem tonight! But before I move on to next year, I wanted to take a look back at the last one. It’s a tradition I began on an old blog, and I’ve found it to be immeasurably satisfying to look back and see what is possible in a year. So without further ado…

A NEW YEAR’S LOOK BACK FORWARD IN TIME

What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Worked (and survived!) the Humana Festival of New American Plays, found out what clothes actually fit me, auditioned for agents, spent a weekend at Lake Nolan, finished the Apprentice Program at ATL, moved to NYC with 11 great friends (a number which has grown), auditioned a helluva lot in NY, temped, watched all of Battlestar Gallatica, got paid for an acting gig with a roasted chicken, worked as a web designer, taught for the Princeton Review (teaching the SAT to high schoolers), Had Thanksgiving in Connecticut, flew home for Christmas.

Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes and yes!

I know! what?? This has never happened to me before, but I made a resolution last year to make a successful move to NYC, while keeping old friends, making new ones, and being happy and positive throughout. Check. I even exercised and took better care of myself. Check Check! This year’s resolutions are to complete all 90 days of p90x starting from day 1, to audition at least 5 times every month (trying for more!), and to continue to make and keep great friends.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Bandeko had a baby.

Did anyone close to you die?
No.

What countries did you visit?
Sometimes NY feels like a foreign country, but I didn’t leave the States.

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A paid acting gig

What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 6^th, when along with 11 friends, I stuffed a moving van to the gills and made the biggest move of my life.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving the move.

What was your biggest failure?
Mid-Sept through early Oct when I hardly left the apartment.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
I did take a screw gun through the nail of my middle finger, but nothing permanent.

What was the best thing you bought?
New Clothes.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Michael and Amy (for being the greatest substitute parents), Nancy (for encouragement), Steven (for being a great friend), Nathan (for new friendships)

Where did most of your money go?
RENT.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving to NY, UK Basketball

What bands did you discover?
It was the year of the ampersand – Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Allison Krauss & Union Station, Buddy Holly & The Crickets.

Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? richer or poorer?
I’m happier, and since I finished my unpaid internship and started making some money again I’m also richer than I was, which isn’t saying much!

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Auditioning.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Playing video games, but this also kept me sane.

How will you be spending Christmas?
It was a busy Christmas.

Fly In
Make Fudge
Eat
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Concert
Visit Shannon B.
Eat
Shoe Shopping
Design Meeting
Visit all the Apprentices in Louisville and see Christmas Carol
Family Christmas
Eat
Christmas with Mom’s side
Eat
Christmas with Dad’s side
Eat
More Shopping
Visit Adam in E-Town
Eat
Visit Shannon E.
Eat
Stay up all night with high school friends
Eat
Fly Home

I ate a lot. Now I’m really full.

Did you fall in love in 2009?
No.

What was your favorite TV program?
For new shows I have to give it up to Modern Family (thanks Jon!), I also watched a lot of UK Basketball, Battlestar Gallactica, Mad Men, and Burn Notice. It wasn’t Glee.

What was the best book you read?
The World According to Garp was interesting, so was Eat, Pray, Love.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
RR & The Family Band.

What did you want and get?
A move to NY and the greatest friends ever.

What did you want and not get?
A paid acting gig, and an agent.

What was your favorite film of this year?
Didn’t have a favorite, but I liked Avatar, Where The Wild Things Are, and Sherlock Holmes.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Dammit, I wanted a back massage last year and I don’t think I got one the whole year. I still want a back massage.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Starting to matter.

What kept you sane?
Great friends. Music.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Rachel McAdams.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Health Care.

Who did you miss?
Family.

Who was a great new person you met?
Nate.

Any regrets?
Yes, but I’m happy with what I have to show from my year.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Great friends are priceless. Great fashion is just expensive.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

And the people who love me still ask me ‘When are you coming back to town?’ And I answer quite frankly ‘When they stop building roads and there ain’t no more highways to be found.’ And I answer quite frankly, ‘When they stop building roads and all God needs is gravity to hold me down.’

May everyone have a fulfilling 2010. It’s going to be a good decade!

Christmas Update

DB — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:37:23 +0000

I love New York. I’m glad I live there. With that said, I’m glad to be spending Christmas where I am safe from the weather gods who just dumped over a foot of snow on the northeast. I woke up to a light dusting of two inches. This seems just right.

It’s good to have time with family. I wasn’t able to spend Thanksgiving with them (although I did receive and incredibly generous invitation from my roommate Ed to join his family in Connecticut, one which I gratefully accepted), so from watching the Cats on a real TV, to a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert, making chocolate fudge, shoe shopping, and family dinners, it’s good to be home.

Right now I’m just taking it easy. But there’s exciting news on the horizon, and I’m looking forward to getting back home. Because New York is home now, and I’ll be back for the New Year.

Boredom Days

DB — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:24:29 +0000

I occasionally find myself bored in this city. It seems impossible, I know, but without an infinite cash flow, you eventually have a day where the desire to go out and have fun meets the realities of needing to pay rent at the end of the month. Last night I went out with some guys from work for nachos and margaritas; this was fun and expensive, so today necessitated a boredom day. As such, I woke up this morning, realized I had no reason to get up, and promptly went back to bed.

I’m not always content to sit around and be bored the whole day on a boredom day so when I woke up again, I decided to finish The Two Towers (book two of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy). And then it was finished. Then I got a shower. Then I checked email, espn, facebook, blah blah blah blah blah looking for any excuse not to be bored. I discovered nothing profound and I’d finished all my library books and they were due today so I decided to walk to the library and return them.

It’s actually really nice out today, brisk enough that you can wear long-sleeves and a jacket and feel comfortable, but not so cold as to require a hat. Good fall weather. But despite the weather, I think I’ve somehow missed out on the autumn leaves. All the trees I walked by were passed their prime. Which is really too bad as I’d hoped to spend a day in the parks when the leaves were in full color.

I’m rambling, which is usually the way days like this go. Anyways, I got to the library, returned my three books, and picked up three more on a whim. Books on a whim are the best kind. It gets away from the idea of books as work. I can just pick up what I’m feeling in the moment and read it, or not. Anyways, I picked up The Return of the King, Eat Pray Love, and Kafka’s Metamorphosis. An eclectic mix, but with books on a whim, that’s what you get.

I need motivation to do something more productive.