From one of our newest transplants...

the following was stolen (ok, I asked permission) from the blog of MRC member Andrew Redlawsk. Read all about his first few NYC theatre adventures...

(you can follow Andrew's full blog at www.andrewredlawsk.wordpress.com)

April 29, 2010

BIG IMPORTANT UPDATE
and loooooooong overdue.

Why all the hoopla in the title? Well because yours truly is now a resident of NEW YORK CITY! How bout that!? Yes, it’s true – April 18th I boarded a plane with my one way ticket and moved to the Big Apple. Why is it called that? Anyway… I’ve been couch surfing the last week and a half, but finally will be moving in to my 3-month sublet this weekend. Can’t wait.

So why did I do it? A few reasons. First, I’m working on a production of ASSASSINS with Momentum Repertory Company – the same folks I did GODSPELL with a couple summers ago. I’m playing the Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald, and it’s going to be a blaaast. To complicate things, I just finished training for my new job as a barista at Argo Tea, another Chicago transplant. Oh and it doesn’t stop there. I also got cast as the title role in BJ: A Musical Romp… which… is… exactly what you think it is. But a friend of mine, Kate Bodenheimer, has also been cast in it as my love interest, so it’ll be a heckuva ride for sure. I can’t wait to get started on it. Both these shows will be performing in June – I’ll keep y’all posted… for serious.
Yeah I’m not busy at all! … Lies.

What’s the other reason I moved out here? Well, it has to do with what I just described. In Chicago I wasn’t busy. I was sitting around on my ass waiting. And I hate waiting. Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE Chicago. I love the city and I love the people in the industry there. It’s great. But the lack of opportunity was driving me insane. For every audition in Chicago there are at least 10 more in New York. Every audition in Chicago has such added significance because there are so few in the first place. If you don’t book it, there are only a couple other big equity houses in the area, and they all like to use the people that are known commodities, who they’ve worked with before. And that is GREAT if you’re in that circle. But breaking in is just tough – thems the breaks. In NYC though, there are SO MANY theaters and SO MANY companies. And not just ones in New York, but regional theaters from across the country audition here, and not in Chicago. It just makes waaaay too much sense for me. I should be in a place where I can audition for the shows I’m right for. And you know what? At the end of the day, you’re not going to get on Broadway living in Chicago. That’s just the truth of it. (Unless you’re Morgan Karr )
So there you go. I’m in NYC. I’m here to stay. Bring it on.

June 8, 2010
Going Down a Different Road

First. Day. Off. In a month. Assassins closed yesterday and I didn’t have rehearsal for BJ, so I took advantage of it. Returned my uniform to the barista job I quit, signed up with a gym, got prints of my headshots, and am currently putting together a mega-mailing to send out to agents. Now that I have half my life back I can finally hit the bricks and try and get things moving on that front. I love productive days.

Assassins went great. Really great actually. So many wonderful, talented people, and I’m going to miss working with all them. For two days. Because actually a lot of us are all going to be working on a workshop reading of a new musical called Oil Change for MRC with a performance on Saturday. So really I only have half my life back for today and tomorrow. But I’m ok with it. Otherwise it’s time to shift my focus to getting BJ ready to go. We open a week from tomorrow and lemme tell you, the show is going to be a riot. Everybody is just so brilliant. Go down a different road and check out http://www.bjamusicalromp.com/ and get your tickets NOW because… you do NOT wanna miss this. And if you’re up for Beer Pong, we’re having a BJ Beer Pong Tourney/Fundraiser on Wednesday night at Pat O’Brien’s pub. Come on out and show your support!!

I love this city. Seriously things are just amazing out here. I’ve come across an incredible writing duo – Carner & Gregor. Their work is gorgeous and poignant and witty and ridiculous, and they’ve been awesome enough to share some of it with me. And just like working on new plays is one of my favorite things, so is listening to, learning and performing fresh, new music. Please surf on over to http://www.carnerandgregor.com/.