my life and comings upings

Last week I had an interview/1 on 1 at The Second City.

I am a finalist for a work-study position!! They said I was "very high up on the list." I also met the co-producer of the main stage last-last week and she said, "Ernie, I remember your audition, you're very funny." The audition she was talking about happened a year ago and it was for the Brown Co. (diversity and outreach) show. Over 100 people auditioned and only 10 boys and 9 girls made the final call back. I was one of them (one the boys not the girls). I wasn't cast in the show, but they have kept in contact with me and this work-study could be an outcome of those call-backs.

So, we'll see; it looks good. I would love to take class there and not have to pay for it. The only thing going against me is that I won't be able to audition for the Brown Co. show again in June. They said, "Although it would be great to see you in action again, everyone remembers you from last year so don't worry about it... too much."

I won't be able to make that audition because I'll be in Ohio from June 8 to Aug 3 for the Ohio Shakespeare Festival.

I'm playing Speed in The Two Gentlemen of Verona and somebody or a few some bodies (TBD) in Hamlet. I'm extremely excited to go back for my second season. I'll be staying in the same awesome house behind Stan Hywet. I'm sooooo excited to see everyone in the company and to spend time with my Ohio GBFF'S and BFF'S!!! If this year is at least 1/2 as amazing, onstage and offstage, as it was last year I'll be ecstatic. I can't wait.

The last piece of what's coming up new for me is that...drum roll please...Ben and I have decided to move. Not anytime soon though. But, we are decided and we're going to move to Los Angeles, California. Up to now this year has been good for me in the Film/TV arena, so I figure why not give it a whirl. We're thinking about moving in a couple of years; save up for the huge move, finish my training at The 2nd City, whore ourselves out for money.

Chicago has been very good to me, but we agreed that we both never aspired for a career in nfp/store front theatre. I don't think Chicago is a good place for an actor to attempt to make a living from acting. The operative word is attempt. I might never make a living from acting, but I at least want to be in a location/market where I can have the opportunity to attempt it. I mean, at the end of summer, in the first half of the year, I will have worked as a full time professional actor for 2 and 1/2 months. Based out of Chicago, I got paid for A Shakespeare Festival, 3 Shorts, and a commercial. I think that's pretty good. It's better than most do.

It can only get better in LA or NYC right? Of course right. Even if it isn't better, I'll never regret NOT doing it.I'm sure you can tell I’m very nervous about Cal. I'm scared because I don't look like anyone there. I'm not tall blond and beautiful. But then I'm excited because...I don't look like anyone there.

I also have family there so that's exciting because I’m never near family. My fav cousin lives there and he's in the industry. He works from a PA to a 1st and 2nd AD. He has worked on, Gray's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives:

Quick story: he came to visit me in Chicago, I said, "Chuck, I love that bag!" He responds, "Aw, thanks, flicka gave it to me." I say, "Who?" He answers, "Felicity Huffman" I respond, "oooh, yeah, flicka". WTF?!!

And I knew the T.R. Knight was gay way long before anyone else did or he came out publicly. I could have sold that story, but I can be trusted.

Anyway, my cuz also worked on The Black Dalia, and The Nick Canon Show on MTV to name a few. Oh yeah, and my fav: Dante's Cove. (gay guys know what this is)



Anyway, Chicago is great if you love theatre and are content to settle with having a job and doing theatre in the evenings for free in productions whose quality usually span from mostly horrible to sometimes pretty amazing. I'm not ready to settle. I've never lived in LA, I've never lived in NYC for longer than a year, I'm just not ready to settle. Not Yet.

Now don't get me wrong. There are a few (a handful) actors who do go from The Goodman, to The Court, to Chicago Shakespeare, and make an actual living from acting in Chicago, but none of those select few actors are 5'7" 190lbs and BROWN.

I think Ben and I are prepared to nomad from Chicago, to LA, to NYC until something happens or I become a University Professor, or both, or death, or what ever comes first.