The Comfy Corner

So, I try not to write too much about my actor life because it is what I deal with on a daily basis, and this is a place for me to branch out and talk about other really interesting topics (like Facebook or the Silver Line...try no to be jealous of my exciting life). But, I had an auditioning experience recently that I just can't stop thinking about (it even clouds my endless daydreaming of Justin Bieber) and I thought that all of you may find it...inspirational, whether you are in the theatre business or not.

So I auditioned for Hairspray. The name of the company shall remain unnamed for my safety, but let's just say that this audition process was the biggest mess I have ever experienced. Hoards of high school, teenage girls showed up in pig tails all vying for a spot in this show and chaos quickly ensued. The two hour dance call turned into the four and a half hour dance call. And to this day, I could not tell you how they ever made a casting decision with the incredible lack of organization. But, the best part of this audition was, by far, the directors. The show was being directed by two of the original Hairspray cast members. One of them - let's call her Chantel - is the highlight of this story.

As I was crammed up against the wall of the hallway waiting to do the dance call and trying to catch pockets of fresh air amongst the teenage sweat and hairspray, Chantel walked up and silenced the group with her fierceness. She was taller than me, blacker than me, and she was not to be touched. She smiled a perfect smile at all of us and said "Listen up ya'll. I'm a Rockette. I've been in five Broadway shows and I know what I'm doin'. What ya'll gots to do...I said what ya'll gots to do..." (dramatic pause) "is get in dere and work it out. Be fierce ya'll. I said, ya'll gotta be fierce. Now I want each and every one of you to get in dere and book da job. I said, BOOK DA JOB! Let's go ya'll."

This was more inspirational than Beyonce's performance at Obama's inauguration. Maybe it was the power of her words, or maybe it was the fact that I was so miserable because I had been there for so long...but I almost cried. After the unreasonably long dance call, there was a crowd of people standing around. Some had to sing, some had to read, some were just black people that needed to be seen individually (because there were so few of them) but it was madness. Chantel walked out of the room (silence). "Alright ya'll. I know you all gots to do different things. But we're gonna work it out. Let's line it up and I want all ya'll to come in here and do whatchoo gots ta do ta book da job. Come on now, be fierce ya'll."

After waiting around in the line-that-never-moves for a couple hours, I left. I decided I was never going to be Link Larkin. I'm Asian...and an Asian has no place in a show about the struggles between blacks and whites. I left tired, cranky, frustrated, YET inspired. If you're out there Chantel...your audition was a mess but you are fierce as hell. Work it, gurl.