To Audition or Not to Audition...

The community theater program at The Grand Theater in Ellsworth is being resurrected this fall with a production of Spamalot, the Monty Python pastiche created for Broadway by Eric Idle.  I just spent last evening enjoying New Surrey Theater's production of Carousel, and have for many reasons been thinking I should audition for Spamalot.

What's my motivation, you ask me?

I have asked that myself.

First:  I am pretty sure that the theatrical condition is like malaria, or herpes.  Lifelong with flare ups.  It goes dormant, sure... and those times are peaceful and productive.  But then.  Something like Spamalot, or oh- say a theater job with salary and benefits (which makes it seem like a grown-up/productive thing), will come up.  And you may find your self systemically unable to fight it.  The next thing you know it's all late nights, manic behavior, pulling away from your family and loved ones, reduced appetite, and flop sweat.

I have this disease- Human Theatrical Virus, and the only way to keep it under control is to regularly say "No."  So technically it is in that shadow land of addiction: is it disease, brain chemistry, poor choice making?  Is there such thing as moderation?

Oh holy hand grenades, it can be a slippery slope, participation in theater.

So why do I want to audition?

- To publicly get back up on the horse, having been kicked to the curb by the job.
- Dude, it's Spamalot.
- To work with Scott Cleveland, who was my musical director for The Pajama Game, and reconnect with Ken Stack, who directed me in Grease and Into the Woods.
- To act, rather than direct and design.
-To be a part of the Grand's community theater comeback.

Why do I not want to audition?

- It's a 50 minute drive in for rehearsals.
-Gas means money, and have I mentioned departing that salaried theater job that left me miserable, but fed me very predictable amounts of money?
-Evening rehearsals may well mean tired/no fishing.
- Seriously, theater is a giant focus suck, and I had been thinking I should focus on work and writing.
- And being a human.

Incidentally, last night I looked on-line for an update about auditions. The last time I checked, a couple of weeks ago, the site said would be held in "late summer."  As of last night's internet check-in, they are yesterday, today, and tomorrow.


Also incidentally:

If you, or someone you know has something like this in the closet, you/he/she may have HTV.