Notification

This email came from Imago tonight:

Congratulations!
You have been cast in Imago Theatre's original production APIS
Please respond to this email whether or not you are accepting the role.
You have been offered the role of: Ensemble Member (everyone is an ensemble member until roles are defined)

Yay!

2nd Callback

Got a phone call while working today. It was Jerry, the director of the piece I auditioned for at Imago. I must say, I was surprised to hear from him. He asked me to come to another callback tonight at 6:45. Another callback...

After the Callback

Tonight's callback at Imago consisted entirely of movement sequences. I was without a doubt the oldest person to be called back and I had not felt that agile during the 1st audition. After about an hour the director said we would have a 5-minute break and anyone who wanted to leave should. Of course I stayed--I wouldn't give up that easily. It was tough though, and I feel like I got my exercise in. We'll see what happens.

Odds and Ends

Thea and I went swimming today at Willamette View. It was crowded, so Thea got out and sat in the jacuzzi for a long time before coming back into the water. I was sharing a lane with a couple of people, so I alternated doing the crawl with breast strokes. I was feeling a bit peaked, and it was nice to slow down for a change. I did 40 laps--a mile in their pool is 48. Afterwards, Thea and I stopped by Fred Meyer's as I wanted to look for a T-shirt to wear to my callback tomorrow. She found a white T-shirt with a large bar code design on the front and the words "Generic Costume" printed underneath. We both thought that was funny. But now I'm not sure I'm going to wear it. Thea had previously given me a large black T-shirt that has a small abstract drawing and Estonian text on the front. I may wear that instead. Light or dark, yin or yang?

I have to work tomorrow from 10-2 rating writing tests online. Every time I do this work, I have to be tested myself to be sure I am rating appropriately. The last two times I worked, I failed the initial test and had to take a second, which I managed to pass both times.

Battlestar

Yesterday was the 1st episode of the final season of Battlestar Galactica. My sister, Penny had a get together at her home in N. Bonneville to watch it. I am a big fan of the show. Edward James Olmos is great as the captain, now admiral, and all of the acting is quite good as is the writing. I used to think I was losing it because I would tear up during some of the episodes. Then I heard, Eddie Olmos say that he frequently cried while reading the scripts. I once met 3 of the actors by chance at Fisherman's wharf in San Francisco. They were doing a photo signing promotion at a memorabilia shop there. I walked up to Tamoh Pennikett, shook his hand and said, "Best acting on TV." He jumped up in excitement, and thanked me profusely for saying that. Then, in his excitment he yelled to the other actors, who play Chief and Anders on the show, "Guys, guys, you gotta hear this--Best acting on TV, best acting on TV!" You would have thought I was Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese. I thought his reaction was quite sweet.

Callback

I was happy today to get via email a callback notice from Imago. To my surprise, it was for one of the non-verbal pieces they will be doing. During some of the movement stuff last night, I felt a bit like Lucy Ricardo trying to pass as a dancer in Ricky's nightclub act. I was certain that I would be called for a scripted piece, if called at all. I guess nothing is certain!

Audition

I auditioned tonight at Imago Theater in Portland for upcoming shows in their 2009 season. They do a lot of nonverbal movement work, but also scripted pieces, which is what I auditioned for. We were supposed to prepare a 1-minute monologue or nonverbal audition. First, one of the directors had us doing a lot of movement stuff, while imagining alternatively that we were earth, air, water, or fire. That was OK--kind of fun. Then we had to do our monologues or other 1 by 1. We were forewarned that he would only let us go for 15 seconds or so, and indeed, no one finished his or her entire piece. We had to walk forward and say our name as well as the title of our piece. I called mine "Combing my hair with a monologue from Zoo Story." It went pretty well, and I got close to the end of it. I was wearing tan slacks with cuffs, a bright yellow shirt, and a necktie with frogs and rhinestones on it. And my shiny black wingtip shoes as well. We are supposed to hear by next week if we are called back. I think I will be if they have a part for me.

Eye Openers

I am up late because I have been taking what are called "Implicit Association" tests on the Project Implicit Website. These tests are designed to reveal our unconscious prejudices and/or ideas about race, gender, sexuality, and other social classifications. I won't share the specifics of my own results. I'll say only that I was proud of myself in some areas, not surprised in others, and dismayed by a couple of the tests. I recommend these tests to everyone, especially if you think you are not prejudiced. Click HERE to go the their Web site.

Goodwill

I went shopping at Goodwill today to look for some items to use in my audition next week. I bought a pair of shiny black wingtip shoes and a brown houndstooth jacket. The shoes may be a half size larger than I'm used to, but they have smooth leather soles and feel good on my feet. The jacket is a little snug, but looks nice if I leave it unbuttoned! I saw some shirts there also, but didn't buy any--might go back tomorrow.

I slept late today, and had a hard time getting myself motivated to do much of anything. I enjoyed the shopping, but felt rather down afterward. I'll go to the gym again tomorrow.

Auditions

Last night I auditioned for the part of George in Christopher Durang's one act, The Actor's Nightmare. I am a Durang fan, and have worked on a monologue from the play. The audition was in Milwaukie, Oregon, near where my friend Thea lives. I only found out about it late the night before, and I didn't really have any time to prepare. I decided to go to the audition anyway, if nothing else than to get back into the swing of things. It was a cold reading for me, and I felt pretty cold indeed, at least in the beginning. I warmed up a bit towards the middle. I was the only one who showed up to audition last night, but I'm told they had a crowd the night before. At the conclusion of the audition, I got the vibe that the director already had in mind who she wanted to cast--someone from the better attended previous night.

I have another audtion next week, but I'm not going to write anything about it yet. I have in mind how I want to prepare for it and what I want to do. More on that later.

I have been to the gym once this week and swam once. My goal is to double that by the end of the week.

Tomorrow I will go shopping at goodwill for some additons to my outfit/costume for next week's audition.

A New Year's Wish

I received this message today from a friend I met in Japan. I don't know where it is from, but I like it.

Tempest-tossed souls, wherever ye may be, under
whatsoever conditions ye may live, know this - in the ocean of
life the isles of Blessedness are smiling, and sunny shore of your
ideal awaits your coming. Keep your hand firmly upon the
helm of thought. In the bark of your soul reclines the
commanding Master; He does but sleep; wake Him.
Self-control is strength; Right Thought is mastery; Calmness is
power.

Say unto your heart,
"Peace, be still!"

Milk

I saw the Gus Van Zant's film Milk the other day, and last night I watched the documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk. I cried during both--more during the documentary. I like biopics if they are well done and faithful to the truth. But documentary biographies seem to move me more these days. Both films reiterated Harvey Milk's exhortation to closeted homosexuals to "Come out!" I am not exactly closeted, but for any of my relatives or friends who do not know--I'm a gay man. In my life I have had one-night stands, brief romances, long-term relationships, and painful break-ups, pretty much under the radar when it comes to my family. I still suffer somewhat from a lack of self-acceptance due to a so-called "internal homophobia." I say, suffer no more. Happy New Year to all!

The Shooting

I just finished watching "The Shooting" on Netflix. It was directed by Monte Hellman and stars Warren Oates, Will Hutchins, Millie Perkins, and Jack Nicholson. It was excellent. I am becoming quite a fan of Warren Oates, who also had a leading role in Hellman's "Two Lane Blacktop."



I chuckled when I saw on the poster that this was "...the thinking man's western." But that's probably part of the reason I liked it so much.

Susan Sontag in the Snow

I'm still snowed in at my parents' house. It has been snowing again here for a couple of hours even though it's raining in other areas. I have to admit I am experiencing a bit of cabin fever and hope I can get back to my own place tomorrow. I read a bit about Susan Sontag on Wikipedia today. Among other things, I learned that she wrote with a polyphonic voice. So did William Faulkner in "The Sound and the Fury." Sontag also had interesting ideas about photography and its function in society. I am still thinking about her quote.

A Quote

Just read a quote that I want to remember and look into further:

"All forms of serious art and knowledge - in other words, all forms of truth - are suspect and dangerous." Susan Sontag

Hmm...

More later.

Christmas Day Pics

Another big Turkey dinner today. Whew, L.A. Fitness here I come!

Mom, Gary, and Lisa:



The beautiful Lisa solo:



Lisa and Pa:



Lisa and her baby boy:



The Caldwell family--Lisa, Laura, Steven, and Eric--They braved the snow and ice and drove all the way from Kalispell, Montana to be here on Christmas day:



Gary, with Ma and Pa:

Holiday Wishes!

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

Making Merry

We had our family Christmas get together today in spite of all the snow. Regrettably, my sister Penny and her husband Andy couldn't make it down from their home in the Columbia Gorge due to the inclement weather. We missed them along with her son Daniel & his kids and Andy's daughter Holly & family. It's our tradition to have homemade clam chowder just before Xmas. We also had ham sandwiches on homemade rolls, potato salad, baked beans, several varieties of pie, and lots of cookies!

Here's Ma and Pa Mitchell just after a smooch:



My nephew Mario with his gorgeous mother, America:



My "little" brother David with Cindy, his wife:



Cindy's sister Lori:



My brother Gary with Mom and Aunt Georgia:



Me with the same pair in reverse:



America showing off her curve ball:



America with our nephew, niece, and a friend:



Buddies Sean and Aaron:




My brother David with angels Megan & Kaity:

A Real Snow Day

Brother Gary banged on my door early this morning and said we had to go out to our folks' place and help them shovel snow off their roof. I threw on my clothes and we headed out, the snow here still barely covering the ground. As we traveled easterly the snow got thicker and was falling more heavily. Still, there was nothing much on the road. It's always after that turn at Fargher Lake off of SR 503 that the real snow begins. Sure enough, the road was covered and it was coming down pretty heavily. My parents had about 18 inches on top of their gently sloping roof and with rain and freezing rain forecast, my father was worried that it would get too heavy for the roof to support. So Gary and I shoveled it off. It took about 3 and a half hours to get most of it and take care of the walkway in front. Our parents have peace of mind and there's no need for me to go to the gym today!

Snow Day

Clark County was under a severe weather alert today. Indeed, snow was falling at 8:00 this morning here in Hazel Dell. Just a dusting covered the ground, however, and it started melting around 1 pm as the temperature rose. It's expected to snow more off and on tonight and later in the day tomorrow. I had stocked up on food at Safeway yesterday so I wouldn't have to go anywhere today. I had bagels and cream cheese for breakfast and an early dinner of roast chicken, boiled red potatoes, green salad, baked beans and corn--the only thing I actually cooked myself was the potatoes. Plenty of leftovers for tomorrow. All in all, it's been a lazy day today, hanging around home and watching TV and movies. I'll try to get to the gym tomorrow and then head up my parents' house. I'm sure they have more snow where they are, so I might have to break down and put chains on my car.