Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The start of a blog.

Hey everyone!

At the request of a few close friends, I've decided to start this blog to keep track of my soon-to-be crazy life on the road in the 1st National Tour of the Tony-Award Winning Broadway Musical Spring Awakening! I've been auditioning for the casting team of SA for about 3 years now, and I am so excited that my time has finally come to be a part of this incredible show!! I will post events, memories, videos, and photos to keep everyone updated on my status across the country :)

I just want to share with you guys the story of how this all happened - it's a crazy one! I started this whole journey when I was just 12 years old. My mom read the script for the original workshop, called my agent, and said "My daughter is absolutely NOT auditioning for this show." I was devastated, but a few years later, when they decided to bring the show to Broadway, I got my chance to audition. The casting team really liked me, and called me in for a final callback for one of the female ensemble members after months of auditioning. The final 10 girls went to Kimberly Grigsby's apartment to rehearse Mama Who Bore Me, Dark I Know Well & Blue Wind. In my group was Jenn Damiano, who eventually got cast in that role. I was so upset, but I never gave up. I kept auditioning for them for a year, and they kept telling me to come back when I was a little older. Finally, the auditions for the National Tour arrived, and they wanted to see me. I was 2 weeks away from my 16th birthday, and I wished and prayed with all my might that I would finally be old enough. The final tour audition days were so much fun. There were about 45 of us left; we all rehearsed together in a studio in NYC to learn The Song of Purple Summer for the next day's audition, which took place on the stage of the Eugene O'Neill Theater for the ENTIRE CREATIVE TEAM - including the amazing director Michael Mayer, and the geniuses who wrote this amazing show, Steven Sater & Duncan Sheik! My audition went so well, and I was so excited. Unfortunately, I got the call from my agent that I was too young, yet again. They told me that they couldn't see me anymore until I turned 17, because they wanted me to understudy the role of Wendla. I was excited that they wanted me for the lead, but upset at the same time because my dream seemed so close, but yet so far out of reach, and out of my control. It felt like I would never turn 17.

Well, thankfully, and inevitably, on November 20th, I did! And then March came, and I found out one of the girl swings is leaving the tour at the end of May. I hoped and prayed that they would call me in to auditon. They did. My last audition for the casting team was about 3 weeks ago in NYC. I sang Whispering, MWBM Reprise, & My Junk for Kim Grigsby and Carrie Gardner. I walked out of the Ripley-Grier Studio feeling like I nailed the audition, but second guessing every note I sang and every facial expression I made. Less than an hour later, my agent called me with the most incredible news I've ever gotten. I was the new female swing/Wendla u/s on the National Tour of Spring Awakening!!! I literally started balling my eyes out in front of a hotdog cart on 8th Avenue.

My dream is finally a reality, and I am so excited to meet my SA Family in only a few months! I've been facebooking most of them, and they're so excited for me to join them, which makes me even more excited! I start rehearsing music with Kimberly on May 26th, then I have prom on the 29th (yes, I'm still a normal kid who goes to her senior prom!!), and then I head out to Louisville, KY on June 1st. I'm literally counting down the days!! As of this moment, I have no idea when I will be going on, but as I find out, if I do, I will let you guys know. :) Hope you guys will enjoy being along for this crazy ride with me :) Until next time!

Krista :)

6 comments:

  1. I love you Krista! I will miss you sooo much!

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  2. good luck with everything! the cast seems so much fun and amazing im sure you'll have an amazing time on tour!

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  3. Hey CONGRATULATIONS I auditioned for this show when I was 15 as well and they let me sing 3 times but then i told them my age and they said come back again well this june i turn 17 so maybe just maybe my story will end up like yours and i get a phone call to enjoy this amazing cast and you! Even though I dont know you Im so proud of you! Keep up the good work and during the shows dont hold one muscle back perform like a crazy all star! all the best hopes to you and the SA family! BTW you should check out my myspace and youtube account and give me some comments on youtube i love positive feedback my myspace is www.myspace.com/dmcty1 and on youtube just type my name in Damon Mctoy. Thank you for your time and good luck.

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  4. this is amazing! it's nice to be reassured that these kinds of dreams can come true- even at 17! can't wait to see you in louisville and/or chicago!

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  5. I'm so excited for you! Congrats! I love reading this story just because it gives me hope as a young person trying to get into Spring Awakening at some point of their lives.

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  6. i just have a question, what are "workshops" i hear them referenced alot, and i can assume what you do but when do they happen, and where, and how do you get involved?

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