HAiR CaLLBaCKs - DAy THRee

On the first day of callbacks, the director asked if anyone else wanted to sing Sodomy - which is meant for the character Woof. I had my heart set on the lead Claude and was pegged early on for his best friend Berger. But I had always wanted a chance to sing this song in front of a crowd. Ever since my Junior year in highschool, fifteen years ago as a scrappy headed 16 year old on the verge of self discovery, when I auditioned for Fiddler on the Roof with just this song. That time I only got as far as: Sodomy, Fellatio, Cunnilingus, Pedera- before the music director screamed for me to leave the stage. I then came back and tried to sing Colored Spade. It didn't work.

This time I was even more ready. I had cracked a bit on my Claude audition songs but was feeling confident nonetheless. If nothing else, this could show off my range. The familiar organ music started and I did my best to channel a fiery if not flaming 60s hippie who is enamored with perversity. I think they loved it! After I was done I explained how I had been kicked off stage in high school. It ellicited laughter. That next morning in the halls I passed the music director. He told me that if it were up to him, he would have me barred from the production. But I had allies in the theater department evidently, and I got the role of the tailor Motel Kamzoil.

That was 1992. Fifteen years later here I am auditioning for another musical. Some of the kids at callbacks acted surprised when I told them this. "You can't possibly be that old" they said. Oh really. Thanks! I think. . . The fact that so much time has passed since I have been in the theater is not lost on me at the audition. I watch so many talented performers who have obviously honed their skills and have much time ahead to perfect it further. Young individuals whose dedication has led them to participate in many shows around the Bay Area and even inspired them to attend art schools as far away as Liverpool! Ironically, I had auditioned for the 25th anniversary production of Hair- but I was turned away for being too young to be on stage in the nude. Well, here I go (I hope) and this time I plan to do it (as my friend Gilberto would say) balls out.