Other actors on the board?- Page 2

[erikaamato]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 10:42am

Good morning, all! I don't know if any of you nice people are still checking this thread, but if you are, thanks again for making me feel so welcome. Off to Disneyland!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 11:43am

I am an actor as well. Welcome to the boards!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 11:46am

Thanks, broadwayguy2!! =)

[dotmarie]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 12:07pm

Hi Erika and welcome! I think it's awesome you work at Disneyland; I go pretty often and next trip I'll be sure to check out the Snow White show. Love your pictures!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 12:09pm

Redhotinnyc2 hold his hand up and waves briskly - count me in.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 12:11pm

I just play at it for fun - do I count?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 12:14pm

Rath - OF COURSE YOU DO...anyone who is in such demand (wink) is deserving of a spot on this thread.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/13/04 at 1:38pm

Oh redhot - now it's MY turn to blush!!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 11:14am

Hi, dotmarie! Nice to meet you! FYI, if you do come to D-land, I do the show every Sunday through Thursday, and will be leaving the show in the middle of October for another show. But if you come when I'm there, let me know and I'll sign you up for a meet-and-greet after teh show or something. =)

redhotinnyc2: Hi, there! How's it going in NY?

Rathnait62: Sure, you count. How exactly do you "play at it for fun?" Community theater and stuff? Just curious. =)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 11:23am

Hi Erika,

Well, I'm a singer first, and I sing in groups around the city - was in a classical chorale for 5 years. I also sang in a rock band for a while a few years ago...even played the Bitter End.

Right now I'm in a musical theater workshop for "amateurs." It's not so easy to find performing work in NYC unless it's what you do for a living. For me, it's not.

Rath

[laactress]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 11:28am

I am an actress living in LA. I am SAG and AFTRA and I hope to be equity one day. I have been asked several times to be Alice in Wonderland at Disneyland but it's SO far from me, like 45 to 1 hour drive. So I will stick to the acting in film until I get to NY!

Best of luck to anyone out there trying! Its a tough job but if its all you can think about when you get up in the morning then you WILL make it!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 11:32am

Hi, Rath -

I see. Bummer that it's so hard to find an outlet. Well, I hope you're enjoying your workshop! Sounds fun. =)

I sang in classical chorales and a capella groups (both classical and jazz) for years, myself. In fact, I still do professional Christmas Caroling every year with a couple of groups out here in LA. (They do both very traditional arrangements and Manhattan Transfer style tight jazz arrangements. It's really fun.)

My band (Velvet Chain) played at Wetlands when we were on tour a few years ago...that's the only club in NYC I ever played. (I know, they're closed now.)

Any interest in joining or forming another band? Or was that just a phase? You know, been there, done that, I don't need to do it again? =)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 11:36am

I might do it again if the right situation came along. This particular band wasn't very together, so I left after about a year. But I did love performing with them - the music was good and they were good musicians. Organizationally, not so much.

As far as the workshop, the first rehearsal is Sunday and final casting will be decided then. So not having much fun yet! But I am looking forward to the experience - they bring in Broadway performers to work with the group.

Your group sounds fun - the jazzy stuff. I'd like to do something like that too.

[Thoroughly Modern Cara]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 12:10pm

Welcome to the boards! Those pics are great. I'm not an actor...strictly a non performing theatre dork here lol! Anyway welcome and have fun...this is a great place!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 12:22pm

Thanks, Thoroughly Modern Cara! =) Did you check out my photos in the fan photos section? Are did you mean just the few I put up in my posts?

laactress: Hi, there. I didn't see you before! I too, am SAG & AFTRA, and I'm also AEA and AGVA. And I agree with you - I would never have accepted this gig down at D-land if it wasn't a high-paying, union job. The drive is too long. (And doing "face character" work at the park - which is what playing Alice would be - only pays like $8 an hour or something ridiculous like that!) The interesting thing is that if you're lucky enough to get an AGVA job down there, you're going to make almost as much money as you would doing an Equity Production contract, plus you get benefits! It's cool. =)

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 12:29pm

Hi Erika,
My shows are going very well so far. I am very excited today because I was hired to be a model for those posters you see in salons. You look incredable in all of the Snow White pictures! Must be a awesome job. I heard that Disney character auditions are really intense and they have a long series of call backs. Did you find that to be true ?

[SonofCorine2]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 12:32pm

Hi Erika! I am also a struggling actor. Looking for my big break and not giving up!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 12:41pm

I have to leave for Anaheim, or I'm going to be late, so this'll be my last post 'til tonight.

newyorkuniq: Why, thanks! And Congrats to you! As for the audition process, for the stage shows ("Snow White" and "Aladdin" are the two biggest, but there are others in the park), the process is much like any theatrical audition. I had my initial audition, one callback where they put me on camera for the higher-ups to check out and where they measured me to within an inch of my life (something they always do at Disney callbacks, so they can either start making you your costume as soon as you get cast, or - in the case of the character auditions - see if you fit an existing costume), and then I got the offer about a week after my callback. What you're talking about are the "face character" auditions, which I have never personally attended, but have heard about. And I hear they are very gruelling, and they're very picky, and they don't pay you very well at all. (It's mostly younger people who'll do the face character stuff. Seniors in high school, kids still in college, etc.)

Hi, SonofCorine2! Nice to meet you, and good luck! Updated On: 9/14/04 at 12:41 PM

[Belle-arina]

Posted: 9/14/04 at 2:28pm

I love musical theatre, but I'm definately not a professional. I've done local and community stuff since I was a kid. I just recently graduated, and got some professional headshots done....we'll see. :)

By the way, you're pictures look great--is that first one from Fiddler on the Roof?

[erikaamato]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 1:48am

Belle-arina: Hi, there! Congrats on graduating (recently), and I hope your headshots came out well.

Thanks for the comments on my pictures, and yes, the first one is from a production of "Fiddler" I did last year at a big outdoor amphitheater in San Diego. (I was Hodel.) Lots of fun. =)

More pix here:
Erika's Acting Photos

[Cyndy]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 3:40am

"I have to leave for Anaheim, or I'm going to be late, so this'll be my last post 'til tonight."

Have to say this one gave me a bit of a giggle Erika. I worked at the park through college and remember setting a few land speed records (shhhh!) to get there on time a time or two!

[Cyndy]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 3:40am

oops! double posted

Updated On: 9/15/04 at 03:40 AM

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 10:02am

Hi Erika!

Wow- a spot singing on Buffy, that's awesome! I've been a huge fan of the show for years. Congrats. I'll definitely check out your band's site- that show actually got me listening to Bif Naked and Evanescence.

I too am an actor/singer (working on the dancer part by studying at B'way Dance Center). Currently in callbacks, waiting to be cast! (Lately it's been 6, 7 callbacks and then "Sorry, we went with someone else") UGH! I'm sure you all can relate though.

Anyway, welcome to you and all the LA crew. As fall/winter creep up on us, I'll be thinking of you in your glorious "sunny and 75" weather!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 11:13am

Cyndy: Yeah, it's a challenge sometimes, especially driving all the way from the Studio City area (where I live). Traffic out here has gotten exponentially worse over the past ten years, so I hit nasty traffic without fail, every single time. (Except on Sunday! Thank God. Ummmmmmm...literally? hehehe)

Love4Cheno: Yes, I can relate. I hate that. But it's great you're getting so close! You'll book any day now. =) I posted a little still of me singing on "Buffy" for ya, since you mentioned it. Check us out!

Velvet Chain

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/15/04 at 11:20am

Erika - I'm about to play Hodel myself...first rehearsal is Sunday! Did you enjoy that part? Tell me about it...

Rath.