I just returned from the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear!!!!!! It Was Amazing. I tookn the bus there Friday night and just got back this morning, I have had very little sleep, so I'll blog about it tomorrow.

Here are my pictures from yesterday!!!! Remember auditions tomorrow!!!! These don't even show a tenth of the people who were there or give you any idea of how fun and crazy it was, but I'll tell you all about it tomorrow!

I am leaving now to go to The Rally To Restore Sanity and/or Fear!!!!!
I'll be back on Sunday with stories to tell and photos to share!!!!

Get ready for those auditions!!!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To Celebrate Halloween Weekend here is a clip from Glee's Rock Horror episode in full Rocky Horror Style:

Isn't Kurt Amazing in that role?

Have a great weekend!

Leave a comment and tell me your plans!!!

Listen to my radio show on Sunday for a spooky good time! 12-3 CST on wonc.org or within 30 miles of Naperville at FM89.1

I am geeking out in such a major way right now! Watch this and you'll see why:

I need to go see this! Doing Shakespeare with the original pronunciations has always been a dream of mine!
I'm so excited! I have a sudden desire to run off to KU and study with these people...

British English has changed so much over the years and even American English isn't spot on (though it is closer) but this is perfect!  Eye and insufficiency rhyme!  The really beautiful thing about Helena's language is that she only stops rhyming for one line when she is very upset.  You loose that with modern pronunciations but here it is very clear and lovely to hear.

What do you think?

Today I thought you might enjoy reading the blogs I read, so here are a few of my favorites (don't forget to comment and let me know your blog thoughts):

Singer, Songwriter, Musician and Totally Cool Person, Emma Wallace - http://www.iamemmamusic.blogspot.com/

Our Technical Director and Artistic Technical Director of Laffalooza Productions, Dockery James - http://docree.blogspot.com/2010/10/performance-recovery.html?spref=fb

Writer and Vintage Clothing Lover, Andrea -
http://acatofimpossiblecolour.blogspot.com/

For a fun look at Pop Culture and Shakespeare, Student Journalist, Amanda -
http://oooshebop.wordpress.com/

For a peek into the life of an Actress (she played Titania for us in Midsummer!), Valerie Meachum - http://divababble.blogspot.com/

Writer, and our Business Manager, Tina -
http://havocthecat.livejournal.com/

And finally, for the occasional rant or fun information, RV -
http://ryanviloria.blogspot.com/

What blogs do you particularly enjoy? Do you look for a certain style of blog or writing or is it the subject matter that counts? Do you check in every day, once a week or just whenever? Do you have a blog?

Let me know!!!

Today I am working on the music for As You Like It. I thought, while I worked, you might enjoy playing this game:
The game is quite fun, and if you move your mouse to keep the ball from hitting the ground you can play for a while.
After you are done playing post a comment telling me how you liked the game and what your favorite song is.

I hope you've been enjoying the acting tips! I've been working on getting ready for auditions. It is amazing how much more work goes into musical auditions verses simple, straight theater. I have to make sure that there is an accompanist for the singers, someone to teach the dance and lead the dancers and then the people every audition needs who help out the actors and make sure the process runs smoothly.
If you want to help me out a little ( :D Please) download this audition flier and post it anywhere and everywhere. I am going to need a huge number of actors for this show, so the more people who hear about auditions the better! Thank you in advance for your help!!!!

Here, for your enjoyment is a little sideshow of random Storefront Shakespeare photos:
Have a beautiful day!

The most important audition tip I can give you is to have confidence. No matter how badly you think you did, finish with confidence. No hanging your head or face-palming, look the director in the eye, with confidence, and say "Thank you very much."

I went to see Macbeth at the Lyric Opera of Chicago yesterday and loved it. If you're an opera person you should go see it. Even though I was in the highest balcony in my seat against the back wall (the chairs there are actually roomier and more comfortable than the other (more expensive) chairs where you share shoulder space with the person sitting next to you) I could still see rather well and I heard clearly (in fact, they say that's were the acoustics are the best).
Shakespeare lovers who go will find the story line strikingly familiar,  just with a lot of beautiful music and fun songs.  Lord and Lady M. were both phenomenal, there characters (good actors), looks and voices were spot on.
Here is a preview provided by the Lyric:

I hope you go and enjoy it.

Now it is time for auditioning tip #3:

Show up with a headshot and resume.
After the auditions are over I spread out everyone's papers on the floor around me. I'll have seen person after person over the past few days and sometimes when I look at someone's name I can't remember what they looked liked or how their audition was.  But then then the form next to it will have a shining, friendly headshot attached to it and I instantly remember that actor and their audition.
I'm not saying to spend a lot of money getting headshots professionally done. Ask your friend with the nicest camera to take a few close up (head and shoulders) picture of you.
Here are some good examples:

Just put on some light make up (men and women) to even out skin tone and highlight your best features. Wear something simple, without writing or pictures on it. Then, just relax and have fun. Have your friend take some different pictures of you at different angles and in different poses. Have the best one printed out to 8x10 at a copy or photo center and staple it to the back of your resume (before you go to the audition).  

On resumes: Please have one, even if you haven't acted in years or all you did was that public speaking thing once or you just walked in a parade; that and a list of special skills and talents - like being able to hula-hoop or snap your fingers, speak a different language or play a musical instrument - will really help you look prepared and serious.

When Georgina McDonald auditioned for Midsummer her special skills mentioned that she could spin plates. I was so intreaged by this idea that I added her spinning plates to the blocking of the show. She got the role of Puck.

Bring a paper clip or mini stapler to attach your (already stapled together back to back) headshot and resume. I usually try to provide them, but most people don't.

Have fun!

See you at auditions next week! Click here for info.

I had a wonderful time last night performing with Gian Paolo Poddighe and I learned so much from Medieval scholar Jean-Marie Kauth, who explained the stories and the symbolism, so beautifully. There was a good audience and everything went off  splendidly. Since I was performing I couldn't take pictures (if you have pictures, please send them to me) but I do have a picture of my father, Benedictine professor Luigi Manca, and Gian Paolo Poddighe singing old Italian songs together:

A fun night was had by all.

Today I am going to see Macbeth at the Lyric Opera of Chicago! I'll let you know how it is!

Have a beautiful day!

 Today Gian Paolo Poddighe and I will be reading from The Divine Comedy! Come to Benedictine University today at 7:30pm to see/hear us!

Here is the BU press release:

Noted Italian actor to read three canti from “Dante’s Inferno” in original Italian 

Phil Brozynski
(630) 829-6094   pbrozynski@ben.edu

Lisle, Illinois ~ Noted Italian actor Gian Paolo Poddighe, who made his debut in "L' opera da tre soldi (Three-Penny Opera)" directed by Giorgio Strehler in 1973, will appear at Benedictine University at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 20 in the Krasa Center Presentation Room.

Poddighe will read three canti from "Dante's Inferno" in the original Italian. Nora Manca of Storefront Shakespeare will read the English version of Canti V, XXVI and XXXIII translated by H.W. Longfellow.

The event is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Storefront Shakespeare.

"Dante's Inferno" is the first part of Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem, "Divine Comedy." "Dante's Inferno" is an allegorical tale of Dante's journey through what is largely the medieval concept of hell. Each "canto" is a division of the larger poem. For example, "Canto V" describes the second circle of hell where carnal sinners dwell.

Poddighe graduated from the Accademia d'Arte Drammatica where he studied under Orazio Costa. He has worked with several theater companies and performed in several Shakespeare productions including "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "King Lear" and "Much Ado About Nothing."

For more information, contact the College of Liberal Arts at (630) 829-6247