As I am driving down there I am trying to find the moment before in each monologue, tried to prepare as much as possible before going on, but that proved impossible. Or did it? I remember standing in the hall off stage left waiting for the person ahead of me to finish. My mind was shutting down. I was saying the first line to both monologues so that I would not forget.

OK. My turn. Walk out to just left of the big X on the floor and I announce my name and number “Jay Croft. Number 160.” Turn to the right to step on X to begin my first monologue. As soon as I moved after I said my name and number, I hear the time clock start. Yikes. I have not even said my first word and the clock has already started.

So I start. “A stroke of genius….” Or at least I hope I said it. I don’t remember now (about 2 hours later). I do remember that I was saying the lines, my body seemed to have gone on automatic. The lines were coming out. I was moving about the stage looking in various directions. “Degas vu.”

Then I turn as I always do in rehearsal to let Degas drain off and get into Marty. I remember turning but I do not remember changing characters. I hope I did. My mind had completely gone blank at this point. Automatic pilot had taken over. This is bad. I was no longer in control. I remember going though the emotions at the right points. Yes emotions and motions. “Ma, I’m gonna stay home and watch Sid Ceasar.”

So I finish, before the 2 minute alarm. As far as I could tell, a lot of people ahead of me were stopped by the alarm. I finished, said my name and number again and left. I have no honest idea of how I did. I don’t fully remember what happened. Hate that. As far as I know, it was a monotone monologue and boring as hell.

We are pleased to announce the dates for the Atlanta Performs annual Unified Auditions will be March 30 & 31, 2009.  We are equally pleased that once again the ‘Unifieds’ will be hosted by Woodruff Arts Center’s 14th Street Playhouse.  For those of you who intend to apply for an audition slot, please note that we are working to put the entire application process online–applications for actors will be available soon!  More info will be forthcoming after Thanksgiving.

I attended last year and plan on attending again this year. Last year had a mild affect on my acting career. A few auditions. Hopefully working with Pat Hurley on a few monologues will help

After filling out the necessary application, I was given a dialogue from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof to read with my “wife”. We had about 10 to 15 minutes to prepare before being called in. As it turned out, there were a lot more women than men (which I hear is typical) so I read my lines twice with two different wives. When I was rehearsing my lines, I kept stumbling over the words. When I actually performed I did well enough, lost my place the second time.

After the first reading, the director for I am a Camera gave me some instruction? sort of: He explained that the character was a lawyer. Well I gathered that, but what did he mean. Well I read my lines again and was dismissed. Thinking back on what he said, I realized that he meant I should be more logical about my reading. There is a monologue within this scene where I, the lawyer, am stating item by item what is going on. It is more logical and less emotional. I did read it with controlled emotion, but, I did hear other guys reading the same lines and were really putting a lot of emotion and volume into it.

I thought I did well and I am more hopeful than my first audition, but alas I do not thank I will get this ether.