KCACTF Region 1: Everyday Another Door… Part 2!

Last time I wrote about my Irene Ryan experience at KCACTF, and this time I want to share my last day of festival with you. I had the amazing opportunity to attend a double workshop with Broadway producer, director, and lyricist, Richard Maltby Jr. He was a guest at festival for the first time because the Musical Theatre Initiative Showcase was renamed for him last year. (I had the honor of competing for this award in 2011 and 2012. This year I got to attend as an audience member, and watch the insane talent of Region 1.) Anyway, back to the workshop. The first half was basically Richard giving us the skinny about what it’s really like bringing a show to Broadway from the very birth of the piece. He told us all about Yale, his time “paying his dues” as he called it, and everything in between. Even his time working with Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil on Miss Saigon. It was truly fascinating to hear about his AMAZING career. To be honest it was a little shocking at first how candid and sassy he was about other big Broadway names, but I realized they are his colleagues, so I suppose it would be the same as if I were to tell a funny story about a co-worker, his just happen to be famous,  Tony Award Winners. NBD…

The second half of the afternoon was an Audition Master Class where we all put our names and 32-bar cuts into a bag and waited to see if we got to sing for Richard Maltby Jr. Again, NBD! Considering the fact that I was starstruck for most of his Question and Answer period, it was a wonder that I “woke up” for long enough to put my name in the hat, and I am SO very glad I did. My name was picked, and I did my 32-bars of Carrie. Mr. Maltby’s big audition tips were to: 1) Keep it simple, 2) Don’t forget that the lyrics are the story, so tell it, and 3) Make sure you have some room to grow, 4) Own the room, and 5) Enjoy it-if you enjoy what you are singing, chances are the rest of the room will too. It was truly amazing to have the opportunity to sit in the same room as this man, but then to be able to present material for him as well? It was so cool! OH and the best part? I did my 32, he gave me some notes, I tried it again with the changes, and I swear I had to pinch myself. Let me put it this way: I have filed the experiences of that afternoon in my memory as: That Time Richard Maltby Jr. said, “You’ve got some pipes!” (Yeah, that actually happened…I almost passed out!)

So, to sum up my week at Festival:

Arrived feeling kind of stuck.

Competed and got some great feedback which propelled me forward with a new attitude.

Met, “auditioned for,” and was complimented by Richard Maltby Jr.

Gained a ton of confidence in myself as a performer.

Ready to take on the world, or at least see where the next door leads.

“One day the doors are locked and you’re sick of them. Next day they’re yours and you have your pick of them. 

Finding the proper key that’s the trick of them. Every where another door.” – Closer Than Ever