Better late than never... (Sept 2012)

From the Green Room:

I apologize to all who follow my newsletter for skipping a month and being late this month. New York City is all I remembered it to be! Hectic, hectic, hectic! But it's been great being back. I finished up in Ogunquit in the middle of July and headed back to Pittsburgh for some much needed R&R. I finally moved back to NYC on August 1^st to get back to the grind. I've been pounding the pavement and making the rounds at auditions and have fortunately had some luck recently! After several rounds of final callbacks for the national tours of Elf and Hair (for the role of Claude), as well as several cruise ships and regional theaters... I finally got a bite! I'm taking off on October 15^th to head to Sullivan, IL to play Norm Petty in The Little Theater on the Square's production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. That wraps up November 4^th and I immediately fly to Syracuse, NY to begin rehearsals for the Red House Arts Center's production of Hairspray, in which I'll play Link Larkin! I've been wanting to play that role for a while now, so I am very excited! I also get to play piano in Buddy, which will be challenging but fun! So, as soon as I'm back in NYC, this crazy industry ships me off for the rest of 2012... and I couldn't be more excited about it!

From outside the Green Room:

After a much needed break in Pittsburgh, I made the move back to my apartment in New York City and began the process all over again. First on my list was to get that income back flowing! I had a little lull in the beginning of August where I was able to fit in some background work. It's a thankless job, but I really have a good time doing it! Look for me on future episodes of 666 Park Ave and Girls! I was then able to line up a great job working as an Usher at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Theater in Times Square. It's a great off-broadway theater currently hosting Jake Gyllenhaal's American stage debut, If There Is I Haven't Found it Yet. I've loved working in the front of house, it really keeps my focus on where I want to eventually be! Finally, I started coaching soccer for Super Soccer Stars again which pays well and is a very rewarding job... who can complain about playing soccer with kids in Central Park! Outside of the “survival jobs” I've just been enjoying having Morgana and friends around and trying to take advantage of all NYC offers!

Lessons Learned:

Patience is a virtue... and so is focus. My two lessons learned (since I skipped last month) are patience and focus in this career. First off, it's important to know what you want and what you need to do to get it. I thought I wanted to do tv/film/print work when I got back from tour, but I did nothing to get myself there! I just kept going to musical theater auditions, and poof! I book musical theater jobs! I don't know why I'm surprised... but even this old dog can learn new tricks. I've been going to seminars with industry professionals and learning as much as I can about on-camera work, so I can really be ready to pursue that when I'm back. Piggybacking off that idea, I need to slow down my goals and set realistic benchmarks for myself, redefine my “personal success” if you will. I was back less than two months and I was already getting antsy for my next project. This is an industry where you've got to hear 100 “no's” before you hear that yes, so you better allot time for those hundred “no's” and not stress out too soon! Especially when trying to explore a new genre.

Peace and Love,
Andrew Mauney
www.andrewmauney.com

A(nother) New Chapter (July 2012)

From the Green Room:

So I'm currently writing this from the dressing room of the Ogunquit Playhouse where we are finishing up our last week of South Pacific. It has been an amazing run and we've been incredibly well received! However, it is starting to become a little more real that I will soon be done with this show... for good! The difference this time is that I don't have anything lined up after this contract. I almost did though! I was offered a Lead Singer role in “Jersey Nights”, a casino style version of Jersey Boys in Reno, NV. Unfortunately, due to schedule conflicts, I was unable to accept it. It would have been a great gig because Morgana was offered it as well, so we would have been able to work together again which would have been amazing! With that being said, I'm very excited to get back to NYC and begin the process again. First on the “to-do” list is to make a dedicated effort to getting an agent, primarily for purposes of TV/Film and Print opportunities (any leads are appreciated!!!). I also look forward to getting back in voice lessons and various classes. This past year has been amazing to be constantly working, but also makes me realize that I still have lots to learn! If everyday I strive to be one step closer to that proverbial Green Room, I guess being in NYC is a good first step! Oh yeah! I've also completely revamped my website!! Check out the new and improved www.andrewmauney.com!

From outside the Green Room:

Ogunquit, Maine in the summer is beautiful! It has been such an honor getting to perform in this historic theater in this beautiful little town. Days off have been spent at the beach/pool or exploring the town. One show days include time at the gym, grilling dinner with friends, or throwing the football/frisbee/lacrosse ball around outside. Finally, after show activities have included hitting the (few) bars here, building camp fires to make s'mores, or game nights in the communal kitchen. It's a great first "Summer Stock" experience. Tour was amazing, but this has been a nice transition back into normalcy. It has been really nice to be in one single place for a prolonged period of time. It's getting me excited to be back in my old apartment in NYC!

Lessons Learned:

Ambition can easily cloud judgement. As great as it is to be a working actor, it's even more important to stay focused on what is truly important to you in your life by setting priorities. If nothing is more important than working, that's fine, but it will come at a cost. If my business degree taught me anything, it's that there is always an opportunity cost. I was faced with a very tough decision when it came to this Reno show. The job sounded fun, the money was great, but ultimately I had to put family first. Being a best man in my brother's wedding this fall and making sure that family remained a top priority ultimately made the decision a no-brainer. There will always be more jobs, but you're only given one family. That's my view on the matter, but to each their own!

Peace and Love,
Andrew Mauney
www.andrewmauney.com

A New Chapter (June 2012)

From the Green Room:

Tour's over. Crazy. We had an amazing finishing stretch. There was some exciting news during our week in Rochester (besides my birthday!), I got to perform the role of Luther Billis! It was terrifying, exciting, and gratifying all at the same time. By throwing me into the fire, it helped me learn what it actually takes to be a successful understudy. It's important to have done the work and trust yourself and your cast, but then you just have to go out there and have fun! I absolutely progressed in my craft in three little hours. Finally, we wrapped up our nine month adventure at the amazing Filene Center in Wolf Trap, VA. Such a beautiful venue. If you ever have a chance to see something there, do it! After which, I was fortunate enough to head up to Ogunquit, Maine to be part of a different production of South Pacific at the beautiful Ogunquit Playhouse (OPH)! We've just wrapped up our first week of rehearsals. It's certainly a weird thing being in rehearsals for a show I've done 235 times, but it's a new cast with a new creative team, and therefore a new show. I also get to play a new role, taking on the personality of Yeoman Herbet Quale. Our brilliant director Shaun Kerrison, and the rest of our creative team, has emphasized the importance of not growing complacent. Keep searching for that new piece of information that inspires you, motivates you, deepens your character, etc... Basically, don't slip into the comfort of the work you've done before, but build ON TOP of that work. A great message for all walks of life.

From outside the Green Room:

I was fortunate enough to have a ten day layoff between Rochester and Wolf Trap in which I spent the time back in New York City! It was so great to be back. Morgana had planned an amazing birthday “day” for us which ended with us seeing Once on Broadway. This show is possibly my new favorite musical. I loved the movie, but the show is even better. I also saw Sister Act which was a fun, vocal gymnastics display with some stylized comedic acting. Finally, I won the lottery for Newsies, which was just incredible. Jeremy Jordan is a freak of nature and the dancing in that show is out of this world. I even got to see a concert dance show that one of Morgana's companies was performing in. Finally, once in Maine, I saw Always, Patsy Cline starring Sally Struthers at the OPH. I have loved watching so many different varieties of performances these last two weeks. It really helps broaden my horizons and gain a deeper appreciation for all styles of performance.

Lessons Learned:

I just got off the phone with my Dad and we were joking that work isn't called play for a reason. But the cool thing is, what I get to do everyday is put on a play. There's got to be something to that. As I now am doing this regional production, it's easy to focus on the fact that I'm back in rehearsals or that I get paid a third of what I was making on tour. That's what makes it all the more important to remember that I get to do what I love. I “play” for a living... and that's pretty cool. It's that “play” that allows us to enjoy the “work” I mentioned before. Not resting on our laurels, but instead striving to be better in all elements of our craft. It's just like going on as an understudy, trust your previous work, be open to new things, and have fun and you'll get better every day.

Peace and Love,

Andrew Mauney
www.andrewmauney.com

Last one from the road! (May 2012)

From the Green Room:

Here we are, show #221 of 235... A mere 14 shows remain in this grand adventure. Two more cities. Two more sound checks. Two more travel days. Next G2GR will come from the land of the unemployed actor! Crazy... After a wonderful two week sit-down in Ft. Lauderdale, we had a split week through the southeast, hitting north Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. We flew out of Birmingham into a week long sit-down in Buffalo. We played the fantastic Shea Theater to sold out audiences all week. It was, however, a bittersweet week. We enjoyed the crowds but also had to say goodbye to our wonderful Nellie, Mrs. Jennie Sophia. She left us to play Guenevere in a production of Camelot in Chicago. We were excited to draw from our own cast and promote the incredibly talented Rachel Rhodes-Devey into a full-time Nellie role for the remainder of tour! Our final split week took us through the northeast, finishing with a weekend sit down in Worcester, MA. Our show today was informally nicknamed, “Understudy Appreciation Day” as Nellie, Emile, and Cable were all out. Everyone stepped up and we put on a great show! Chaotic, but great!

From outside the Green Room:

This job is pretty awesome. I can't think of many other professions that would allow you the opportunity to hang out on the beach on work days, eat from the very first chicken wing joint, and be part of an epic marriage proposal... all in a month! We were able to recharge the batteries with our two weeks in Ft. Lauderdale. We stayed right on the beach, so most days consisted of beach, pool, volleyball, etc... It ended too soon, but it was good to get back to reality (and the Croswell bus... well, maybe not the bus!). In Buffalo, I grabbed wings at the Anchor Bar, home of the very first chicken wing. They were pretty good! I also got up to check out Niagara Falls which was really cool. Taking the cake for the month was witnessing my good friend (and fellow Steelers fan) propose to his girlfriend after a show this weekend. You've GOT TO read this article. It was truly magical and I wish them nothing but the best!

Lessons Learned:

It's okay to get tired. The key is learning how to cope with it. Our final push, meaning the last two months of tour have been: 16 straight shows, 2 days off, 8 shows, day off, 17 shows, day off, 16 shows, day off, 8 shows... That's 65 shows with five days off. It's completely normal to get tired with that schedule, but the important thing is to take care of yourself so as not to get sick or injured. I've been forcing myself to get a good warm-up in before every show and it's really been helping. The days I'm too lazy to warm-up, I end up giving a sub-par performance and in pain. I have also been constantly reminding myself that this won't last forever, and it won't take long of the audition circuit before I'm yearning for my days on tour again! It helps keep me focused on what I have, not what I want. A dangerous trap to fall in so near the end.

Hope all is well,

Andrew Mauney
www.andrewmauney.com

From The Beach! or, Thank Your Swing! (Apr 2012)

From the Green Room:

Well, I'd say this is well deserved! This edition of "G2GR" is coming to you live from the beach side pool in Ft. Lauderdale! (Well that first sentence was, I got distracted by sunny skies, cold drinks, and good company... I'm now in the green room at the theater.) Whew! We had a very busy month. Since Chicago, we have traveled 5,810 miles (103 hours) on a bus, it's been 47 performances (141 hours of South Pacific), but we are FINALLY rewarded with a two week sit down in beautiful Ft. Lauderdale at the Broward Center of Performing Arts. We've had some great audiences through New England, New York, the Midwest, and several cities in Florida. One of my favorite theaters was in Scranton, PA at the Scranton Cultural Center. The theater is actually a converted Masonic Temple! We just did another PR spot here in Ft. Lauderdale, check out the links to the video and pictures! Also, our crew took a cool time lapse of their load-in. These guys are incredible to do this day-in and day-out... I do not envy them.

From outside the Green Room:

You wouldn't think there IS any time outside the green room except on a bus, and you're not far off! With that being said, this has still been a really neat month on tour with lots of great experiences. I'll admit, I'm not much of a Frat Star anymore, but I have had the pleasure of getting to see several other chapter houses of my fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta. This month I got to see the houses at U of Vermont, U of Maine, and Indiana University. One of my favorite stops on tour so far was when we were in Portland, ME. It's such a quaint little New England coast town with some great food and awesome crowds. Plus, it's the home of Otto's Pizza which is some of the best pizza I've ever tasted. We stopped over in Columbus, OH for a night which is where I lived my “other” life as a computer dork business man before my quarter-life crisis. It was great to catch up with old friends, but I wish I had a show there! I've been loving Florida. I even bought goggles to play in the pools and ocean!

Lessons Learned:

It's really been a teaching experience to have such a tedious string of one-nighters, split-weeks, and long bus days into shows. Through all of that, I remain healthy... then as I'm in the midst of a two week sit down, I buckle my knee during a scene and have to sit act two out. It was so hard to sit in the green room and listen to the show happening without me, but so important that I rest and ice so that I can return healthy and avoid further injury. The lesson learned for this month is to swallow your pride and take care of yourself. This career needs to be looked at as a marathon, not a sprint. Also, thank your local swing. Our incredible swing jumped right into my track and finished out the show without skipping a beat! Yay Alex Pepper!

Now, as a side note. I'll be returning to New York this summer and would love to explore TV/Film/Print options. If anyone knows any connections, agencies, or means of exposure, please pass those on! Thanks so much y'all!

Hope all is well,

Andrew Mauney
www.andrewmauney.com

From The Bus! (Mar 2012)

From the Green Room:

Welcome to this month's, day-late G2GR, coming to you live from the Croswell tour bus somewhere in the middle of nowhere. It's very indicative that I'm writing this month's newsletter from the bus, as we are definitely heading into a heavy Bus-and-Truck final stretch. When I last left you, we were playing to great audiences in Nashville. We finished up there with the crowds remaining great before we moved into the majors... Chicago! A full, two-week, sit-down in Chicago's own Cadillac Palace Theater. A truly amazing theater right in the heart of the theater district of an amazing city. As promised from last month, our “surprise” PR event was filming a national TV spot singing “Dames!” Check it out! Our director was with us for a little more putting on the finishing touches as we started our “Nellie Transition”, phasing one amazing Nellie out for a new amazing Nellie. We also had to replace an ensemble guy, who is leaving to be Choreographer for a production of a show he had been a part of last year. Pretty cool stuff that he's now working on both sides of the “table”. From Chicago we moved to Springfield, Peoria, and Detroit (home of the incredibly ornate, 5000 seat Fox Theater) before trekking to the east coast again. We just finished a split week in Utica, NY and New Haven, CT (home of the Shubert Theater, where  South Pacific debuted 69 years ago). We're now on the bus headed for Elmira, NY... like I said, we're in the bus-and-truck phase for sure!

From outside the Green Room:

I've been able to SEE theater again this month! I never realized how much I missed SEEING it and not just making it. It's very inspirational and motivational to be back in the audience of some fantastic productions. In Chicago, we were able to catch a matinee performance of “American Idiot”. A really cool, high energy production that was made even cooler by hanging out with the cast afterwards (benefits of having tons of mutual theater friends!). While in Detroit, the NETworks (our parent company) production of “Shrek” was playing and we were able to get tickets to that. We even got a special shout out during the show. That show looks like such a blast to do. We also got to hang out after at a company sponsored “gathering” afterwards. Great time to exchange war stories, catch up with old friends, and make new friends! Finally, last night, after a matinee performance in New Haven, we took off for neighboring Hartford to catch the NETworks production of “Les Miserables”. Wow. What a show. I knew there was a reason why it's my dream show... so epic, so powerful, so amazing. It was really a great thing to get back in the audience and appreciate theater, and look around and see everyone appreciating it, just as they do in our own audiences... pretty cool stuff.

Lessons Learned:

It's easy to burn out. And it's not necessarily a terrible thing to feel exhausted. On a long tour like this (we just finished show #151), it's to be expected, in fact. But the important thing is to not let it impact your performance and not let it linger. When that exhaustion, that fatigue, that disinterest comes, it's important to find something that re-motivates you. For me, this month of theater could not have come at a better time. There is nothing more motivating that watching colleagues (and sometimes friends) perform in big-time professional theater productions. I was also able to steal down to New York City while we were in New Haven to visit Morgana... I could not have asked for a better reaction. I had feared I would grow anxious at even the prospect of being back in NYC where I'm always busy and tired... but the opposite was the case. I was excited to be back. Excited to get back to training. Excited to get back to work on my next project. The bus-and-truck phase is still going to be hard, but I know it's winding down and I'll be back in NYC before I know it. Time to finish strong!

Hope all is well,

Andrew Mauney
www.andrewmauney.com

Light in the distance... (Feb 2012)

From the Green Room:

Hello again from the South Pacific National Tour! It may be a ways off, but the light at the end of the tunnel is now present. We are starting a four month stretch with no breaks until the contract is (for all intensive purposes) over. It's really a surreal, bittersweet realization. Sixteen more weeks... 16 more paychecks! Eeek! So where did I leave off. We finished at the ASU Gammage Theater and then had two split weeks. We traveled through Middle America, the Southwest (OK, KS, NM, NV) and California before getting to a week off. We all met back up in Nashville, TN where we've been playing the beautiful Tennessee Performing Arts Center to wonderful audiences. We also had the director in town working with some put-in rehearsals for some replacements, so that's kept things busy here. With Chicago as our next stop, we have also had some rehearsals for a cool PR spot we'll be doing, I'll definitely post it next month! (Can't ruin the surprise now!) The show continues to run and we've been receiving wonderful reviews. I was even kinda (see if you can spot it) mentioned in this great one from Nashville's Broadway World!

From outside the Green Room:

As mentioned before, there is definitely a sense of unease to see the end in sight, even if very distant sight. It's a feeling of uncertainty and change which can be both exciting and terrifying. That being said, one of my new years resolutions was to enjoy tour while it lasted. I did just that on my week off! I met up with Morgana in Las Vegas (my first time there) on Monday. A bunch of us rented a car from Palm Desert (our last stop before break) and drove it. It's a cool city for a very limited amount of time. I did see my first Cirque show though and it was incredible! If you're ever in Vegas, you have to see La Reve. It was, apparently, a week of firsts for me as I then continued on to Los Angeles for my first time there. Another really cool city that I just don't know if I could ever call home. As much as TV/Film interests me, its size and character didn't really jive with me. I love how NYC is a community. LA seemed a little to cutthroat and posh for my style. Other than the week off, I've been loving Nashville despite the gloomy weather, I had an incredible journey though the California mountains, had fun gambling in Laughlin, NV, and appreciated my tour of the Phi Gamma Delta house at University of Kansas.

Lessons Learned:

I would have to say that this past month has taught me to appreciate the journey, and not dwell on the destination. We drove though some COUNTRY roads passing through KS, OK, NM, NV, and CA... but it was all worth it driving through the California mountains. I must have looked like a 10 year old version of myself, just plastered to the window of the bus, taking pictures with my jaw wide open. It was honestly one of the coolest, most beautiful things I've ever seen. I have never wanted to go horseback riding more in my life, It's like driving through Middle Earth! There's a lot to be thankful for on this tour, but I can honestly say that between the sunsets over Laguna Beach, the view of San Luis Obispo from the top of a mountain, the rolling deserts of NV, or the roar of a sold-out house in Palm Desert... I am truly blessed. It's a really cool thing to do what you love for a living, and it's an even cooler thing when you realize it.

Hope all is well,

Andrew Mauney
www.andrewmauney.com