STAGE FRIGHT? HOW I GOT OVER IT

Jason Kirk and John Moran
Jason Kirk and author John Moran

The following was written by Artists Without Walls’ member, John Moran:

———

I have ambitions to actually make acting my next career. Foolish you say! I know. You’re right. It’s a long shot at best and a difficult road lies ahead but having had an interesting and instructive life I believe I’m prepared for both success or failure and am simply grateful to be in a position to try. And try I will. I genuinely want to learn the craft so I am paying attention now to the heavy lifting required by stage acting, such as the concentration needed for Miller’s deceptively simple dialogue, the long emotional monologues of O’Neill or the quick pop and snap needed for much of Mamet’s prose. After that type of work I imagine delivering a line for a TV script will be easier.

 
I’ve always considered myself to be a good public speaker. I communicate clearly. I enjoy it. An audience of ten is great. One-hundred is even better. Public speaking causes me no concern whatsoever. 
 

Kirk and Moran
Kirk and Moran

Keeping the above in mind, what a surprise to me when I auditioned for a spot in an acting studio, was handed a script, stood in front of a crowd of one man and nothing came from my mouth. Not one word. Not a sound did I utter. “That was interesting.” he said. Then yawned. What great fun.

 

Apparently I didn’t have a problem speaking my own words but when the words of another person were substituted such as those of a playwright, nothing good seemed to happen, or at least not until recently.
 

I have many bad qualities but giving up isn’t one of them. For over a year I’ve been working in a scene study class. The teacher, Scott Freeman seems to believe the devil is in the details and the phrase “go back and do it again” is not unheard of. I’ve come a long way since that troubling audition and at last felt competent enough to commit to do a first short scene in front of a genuine audience at an Artist Without Walls’ (AWoW) Showcase in late September.
 

John Moran
John Moran

Showcase time was getting closer and stage fright became the order of the day. Nothing I could do about it. I kept myself busy by taking the day off from work and spending time with an actress rehearsing an entirely different scene from the one I’d be doing that night. The showcase began at seven that evening and as the time grew closer for me to perform I grew……, hmmmm what’s the word I’m looking for? Oh yes, nasty; I grew nasty. I told my partner Jason and my buddy Joe not to talk to me and sat in the garden out back of The Cell theater going over lines I’d said a hundred times before. Then of course I found religion. I have a lot of negative opinions about the state of my church and The Creator himself when all is well, but when the guns are about to go off I can say Hail Mary’s as fast as anyone I know. 
 
After a decade or two of the rosary the time came, my partner Jason and I performed and all was well.
 
For those who would like to step up, but like me are shy and reluctant, I must say that when you present  at an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase you’re among friends. Seize the day. The members of AWoW want to see you do well and regardless of how well you believe you presented your work, they are happy to have you. 
 
You/we/us are the reasons for the existence of an organization like AWoW to begin with. And remember, regardless of your feelings ten PM will come. The showcase will be over. You will have done yourself, and AWoW, a service by sharing your art.  All will be well once again.
 

John Moran

ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE: 9/30/13

“No question, if you weren’t there, you missed out on the wonderful and talented performances of a fine group of artists.” Vin Nauheimer

 

Kathleen Frazier opened the AWoW Showcase with a riveting reading from her memoir in progress, Somniloquies: The Mysterious Makings and Recovery of a Sleepwalker. Kathleen described how her somnambulism turned dangerous at adolescence when her oldest brother first attempted suicide – a sort of nighttime mirroring of his waking pain – and her failed efforts to self-medicate with alcohol. Kathleen’s proposal is currently being shopped to publishing houses… fingers crossed.

 

Jason Kirk and John Moran
Jason Kirk and John Moran

In the words of playwright Arthur Miller, “The audience sat in silence before the unwinding of All My Sons and gasped when they should have…” John Moran and Jason Kirk gave excellent performances as a father and son, bravely grabbing this American classic and wrestling it to the ground. John and Jason asked that we express their gratitude to Artists Without Walls for providing a forum for their development. They said they feel honored to be working with the group’s incredible talent.

 

Michele Cetera read from “Mickey’s Girl” a section from her monologue memoir. “Mickey’s Girl”  is the poignant story of the night Michele’s father was mugged and murdered in May 1975. Michele searches for closure, left with the feeling she did not have a chance to say a proper goodnight to her father. On Monday night she said it in a very special way, through dance, a gift she received from her mother and father. “Dancing celebrates life and the passion to live it.” Michele said, “On the dance floor, there is always a center and light and its one of the happiest  places to be.” With her dance partner, Harry Dominicci, Michele celebrated her father’s life and finally got to say “I love you and goodnight” to her father through the rhythms and energy of a salsa dance.

  

Jack O'Connell and Nancy Oda
Jack O’Connell and Nancy Oda

A few months ago, Nancy Oda was part of a scene study group conducted by veteran actor Jack O’Connell. On Monday night Nancy and Jack gave a reading from Eugene O’Neill’s Anna Christie, which they had worked on in the study group. In the scene they chose, Matt tells Anna he has signed onto another ship that will take him far from her, setting off a near deadly confrontation. A dynamic performance by two very talented actors.         

 

First time performers MbiraNYC enlivened the Showcase and delighted the audience with their soulful harmonies, beautiful melodies and complex polyrhythms. The traditional songs of the shona people from Zimbabwe, played on the metallic prongs of mbira, accompanied by rocking percussion, brought people to their feet in dance. It was a wonderful taste of Zimbabwe in Chelsea.

 

Michele Cetera and Harry Domenicci dancing to the sounds of MribaNYC
Michele Cetera and Harry Dominicci dancing to the sounds of MribaNYC

Honor Molloy, author of Smarty Girl – Dublin Savage, and marvelous actor Caroline Winterson read “The Deadevens” in which Noleen O’Feeney waits in the Rotunda Maternity Hospital for her mammy to come out from a visit to the doctor. It’s there in the waiting room that a roadwoman shares an Aerobar and tells her an ancient tale Irish endurance. Wonderfully spirited performance by two great talents. 

 

A scene from Joe Davidson’s play the Rekindling drew plenty of laughs as the foul mouthed Nancy Morris threatened to have her husband  Barney Morris incarcerated by exposing an old secret in a game of emotional ping pong. Nancy Morris was performed by Mary Tierney and her husband Barney Morris was played by actor Ron Ryan. Both actor’s performed brilliantly bringing an unmistakable chemistry and energy to this comical yet tragic marriage.

 

Ray Lindie
Ray Lindie

Ray Lindie followed with a stirring performance of the opening soliloquy of Richard III. Ray said,  “I think it was probably my best presentation of the piece and I credit the ambiance of the theatre, created by our members and friends, for allowing all presenters the latitude needed for their best performances.” Actress Mary Tierney said, “Best Richard I’ve seen, including some prime-time actors.” Great work.  

 

Singers/songwriters Tara O’Grady and Sasha Papernik, who recently tourned together in Montana, closed the show.  Sasha, accompanying herself on the piano, sang “Kiss Me Faster” from her upcoming album.   Sasha and Tara then sang a beautiful duet, “Black is the Color” off of Tara’s Celt in the Cotton Club album. And thus, an evening filled with diverse and eclectic talent, ended on the perfect note. 

 

The next Showcase will be at The Cell Theatre, 338 W 23rd St, October 22, 7pm. For more information about Artists Without Walls write to info@artistswithoutwalls.com

 

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS from ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE: 9/30/13

 

Vera Hoar’s photos from the Artist Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre, 9/30/13, which featured one brilliant performance after another. 

 

———-

 

AWoW favorite, actor Jack O’Connell.

 

1234230_10201050803725123_1781191107_n-1

 

Harry Domenici and Michele Cetera

 

1383867_10201050625080657_657872931_n-1

 

Jason Kirk and John Moran in a scene from Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons.”

 

1378016_10201050809565269_246233905_n-1

 

Niall McKay, director of Irish Film New York

 

1376470_10201050622360589_446810722_n

 

Harry and Michele dancing to the soulful sounds of MbiraNYC.

 

1385671_10201050624520643_265077772_n-1

 

Tara O’Grady listening to Sasha Papernik

 

1374236_10201050412275337_216177374_n

 

Sasha Papernick and Tara O’Grady

 

1382382_10201050413275362_155662366_n

 

 Nancy Oda in a scene from Anna Christie

 

1378855_10201050808045231_854338940_n-1

 

Richard III’s soliloquy as performed by Ray Lindie.

 

1374299_10201050412315338_587362980_n

 

Kathleen Frazier reading from her memoir “Somniloquies.”

 

1377552_10201050623120608_1389960644_n

 

Jack O’Connell in a scene from from Eugene O’Neill’s “Anna Christie.”

 

1377526_10201050803925128_1426821527_n-1

 

The soulful sounds of Zimbabwe from MribaNYC.

 

1379926_10201050811405315_1494785889_n-1

 

Honor Molloy and Caroline Winterson.

 

1383384_10201050619760524_1479271555_n

 

Mary Tierney and Ron Ryan in a scene from Joe Davidson’s “Rekindling.”

 

1383640_10201050416915453_1945125303_n