Addicted to the Challenge

Well this is my first ever attempt at a blog, it is also my first ever attempt at a 1-man show so I figure this is 2 birds with one stone.

When Aaron first approached me with the script, I was already very interested just from the way he described it. Then once I read it, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it. I was excited about not only playing a real live person, but a person I could relate to, even though he is so very different from myself. I didn’t come from a world where there were a lot of addicts. Sure, like everyone I know of some and even have 1 or 2 in my extended family. But to dive into someones world so different from my own was going to prove (and is proving) to be a challenge. However the more I read and the deeper I look, the I more I realize that 1 or 2 different turns in my life and I could have been LIVING Mark’s life, not just playing it. This play relates to me in ways I didn’t think it could and my hope in doing this show is that it will do the same for those who see it. Maybe leave them thinking “Hey, that could have been me!”

Rehearsing for a 1-man show isn’t really as easy as I thought it would be. I was thinking I wouldn’t have to rely on rehearsing with anyone, no other characters to do something wrong and screw me up. Quite the contrary. This may be a 1-man-er, but when the story introduces upwards of 10 characters (7 of which show up in 1 scene), my focus is no longer just on how do I portray Mark, but all the others as well. And sitting there with only 2 other people (most of the time) in the room is very nerve racking. Aaron, my Director, is watching every move I make to see what he likes or what I can change. Which kind of makes him like that really cool guy in high school, I just want him to like everything I do. Diana, the Stage Manager, hardly ever has her nose out of her binder. She’s taking down ever little note, every little error, every little piece of information that might be relevent. But when there are only 2 people watching, she now becomes that girl you just want to notice you, however if she does, you know you’re going to be thinking “Oh crap!!! She’s looking at me!” Thus far it has been a fun experience and I look forward to putting it on in front of an audience.

On one little separate side note, if I may rant for a moment, any of you planning on doing a 1-man show in the future, sign that contract first because apparently a verbal agreement to getting me my own trailer doesn’t mean that I’ll really get my own trailer! That being said, I’m probably not getting my own star on the sidewalk….oh well!!

Until next time, enjoy