I finally made my first actor website! Now, to be fair, it's not completed. I haven't received the CD of my newest headshots to update all my pictures, but it's on it's way. I can officially say I have a website for possible employers to view (and judge me) by. I'm really excited about it.
www.saschastreckel.com
Starcrossed is almost done. We have two more shows left on Tues/Wed night. I also start rehearsal for my upcoming summer show this week. I guess it won't be 'upcoming' for much longer! I'm ready to get the new script and dig in. It's a new work, so the author has been busy tweaking it for the last couple months. It will be fun to be working with a playwright again.
I wish I had some cool new pictures from this latest production to share with you, but I haven't seen the results of our photocall yet. I'll be sure to post them if I get them. In other news I've joined a new play reading group I'm excited about, and I've been working with my agent on joining all the local casting sites to finally get kickstarted commercially.
I expect this summer will be an adventure in new auditions.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
Spring Fever
So I had started some blog posts previously, and hadn't had time to finish them. I just posted one of my previous posts from early April.
It's been so busy I've let time get away from me. My only excuse is I've had a wonderful two months focusing on real life and forgetting to catalog it. Sorry!
Rehearsals for Starcrossed went extremely well, and I've had a great time with the cast and crew. We officially opened on Tuesday night, and can I just say I haven't enjoyed an opening that much in a while. There was so much laughter I had to wait nearly ten to fifteen seconds to say lines sometimes. What a treat!
Tonight I'll be performing in Spin the Bottle at Annex to preview Starcrossed for those who haven't seen it yet. I wrapped all my filming these last two months and I'm just waiting on footage from my commercial. I've taken new headshots and received the results, so you should be seeing those as soon as I have the full resolution images. Next up on my list of things to do is create my website! I can't believe I haven't done it yet.
This week I have three big auditions coming up. I'm very excited to sing and act and do my best to be remembered. Finally having the opportunity to audition for larger theatres here is so exciting for me. I can't wait to be in the room with them!
Rehearsals for my next upcoming show start as soon as Starcrossed closes in a month, so I've got a little bit of down time (which I'll be filling with classes and workshops and auditions). I was talking to a friend yesterday who is struggling with the decision of whether or not she wants to be an actor anymore. Is it worth it? she asked. Am I good enough? Is it what I want to do? As we were talking and I explained my schedule and the way I live my life around it, I realized how happy I am doing what I'm doing.
I could potentially grab a full time job with a company that will help promote me within, find a better benefits package, have my nights free to myself, focus on a different kind of future. I look at that life, though, and think how unhappy I would be. Right now acting is what makes me happy. I wake up and go to work and look forward to rehearsals and auditions every day. When I get to rehearsals, I'm with friends that I love to spend my time with, and who I'm lucky to have. When I'm on stage I feel like there's no where else I'd rather be. If I could find a job at a theatre here, I'd be a happy camper. As it is, I keep my life free for agents, auditions, rehearsals, and shows. I call out early on the chance of an acting job. I stay up late to work on my characters. I'm more worried about being memorized than I am about planning curriculum. Until the day that changes, I'll never see these choices as a sacrifice. And that is the heart of being an actor--when does it become a sacrifice? When is it time to stop? It's different for everybody.
As for me, I couldn't be more excited for this coming week. There are so many great shows to see in this city, and so many great opportunities to perform. Here's to the beginning of the summer season!
It's been so busy I've let time get away from me. My only excuse is I've had a wonderful two months focusing on real life and forgetting to catalog it. Sorry!
Rehearsals for Starcrossed went extremely well, and I've had a great time with the cast and crew. We officially opened on Tuesday night, and can I just say I haven't enjoyed an opening that much in a while. There was so much laughter I had to wait nearly ten to fifteen seconds to say lines sometimes. What a treat!
Tonight I'll be performing in Spin the Bottle at Annex to preview Starcrossed for those who haven't seen it yet. I wrapped all my filming these last two months and I'm just waiting on footage from my commercial. I've taken new headshots and received the results, so you should be seeing those as soon as I have the full resolution images. Next up on my list of things to do is create my website! I can't believe I haven't done it yet.
This week I have three big auditions coming up. I'm very excited to sing and act and do my best to be remembered. Finally having the opportunity to audition for larger theatres here is so exciting for me. I can't wait to be in the room with them!
Rehearsals for my next upcoming show start as soon as Starcrossed closes in a month, so I've got a little bit of down time (which I'll be filling with classes and workshops and auditions). I was talking to a friend yesterday who is struggling with the decision of whether or not she wants to be an actor anymore. Is it worth it? she asked. Am I good enough? Is it what I want to do? As we were talking and I explained my schedule and the way I live my life around it, I realized how happy I am doing what I'm doing.
I could potentially grab a full time job with a company that will help promote me within, find a better benefits package, have my nights free to myself, focus on a different kind of future. I look at that life, though, and think how unhappy I would be. Right now acting is what makes me happy. I wake up and go to work and look forward to rehearsals and auditions every day. When I get to rehearsals, I'm with friends that I love to spend my time with, and who I'm lucky to have. When I'm on stage I feel like there's no where else I'd rather be. If I could find a job at a theatre here, I'd be a happy camper. As it is, I keep my life free for agents, auditions, rehearsals, and shows. I call out early on the chance of an acting job. I stay up late to work on my characters. I'm more worried about being memorized than I am about planning curriculum. Until the day that changes, I'll never see these choices as a sacrifice. And that is the heart of being an actor--when does it become a sacrifice? When is it time to stop? It's different for everybody.
As for me, I couldn't be more excited for this coming week. There are so many great shows to see in this city, and so many great opportunities to perform. Here's to the beginning of the summer season!
House of Glass Clip
WRITTEN early 4/13
You can watch my 'prequel' episode for House of Glass here: It's been a fast and full couple of weeks since my last update. I had days of filming, hours of rehearsal, nights of performances and reading, as well as multiple auditions. I'm happy to say I've been having a grand old time flying my actor flag, and am excited about the upcoming weeks.
We're finally starting regular rehearsals for my next show at a local theatre here in Seattle. We've been rehearsing about once a week or so, and I'm ready to finally delve in and get to the good stuff. I finished filming a commercial last weekend with a couple friends. It was incredibly silly. I had a southern dialect and got to ride around on a man's back in the middle of a crowded neighborhood. It was refreshing to be working with familiar faces, which is something that hasn't started happening with me in Seattle often since I'm still so new. It was always nice in college to work with people you knew and understood very well, and I'm excited to begin to have the opportunity in this market as well. Sometimes the better you know someone, the better your work can be. Of course, it could also go the other way. I hope to have the link available to watch in the next couple weeks! I'll be sure to post it here so stay tuned.
In other news, I've signed on for another staged reading coming up. I've also had my first read through for my upcoming summer show. It's such a pleasure to get to work with the original playwright on a play, so I'm ready to start this next process coming up shortly.
You can watch my 'prequel' episode for House of Glass here: It's been a fast and full couple of weeks since my last update. I had days of filming, hours of rehearsal, nights of performances and reading, as well as multiple auditions. I'm happy to say I've been having a grand old time flying my actor flag, and am excited about the upcoming weeks.
We're finally starting regular rehearsals for my next show at a local theatre here in Seattle. We've been rehearsing about once a week or so, and I'm ready to finally delve in and get to the good stuff. I finished filming a commercial last weekend with a couple friends. It was incredibly silly. I had a southern dialect and got to ride around on a man's back in the middle of a crowded neighborhood. It was refreshing to be working with familiar faces, which is something that hasn't started happening with me in Seattle often since I'm still so new. It was always nice in college to work with people you knew and understood very well, and I'm excited to begin to have the opportunity in this market as well. Sometimes the better you know someone, the better your work can be. Of course, it could also go the other way. I hope to have the link available to watch in the next couple weeks! I'll be sure to post it here so stay tuned.
In other news, I've signed on for another staged reading coming up. I've also had my first read through for my upcoming summer show. It's such a pleasure to get to work with the original playwright on a play, so I'm ready to start this next process coming up shortly.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
The Weekend of a Lucky Girl
It began after a great acting lesson on Friday with my acting coach. He extended me an offer I've been hoping for for a long while, and I couldn't be happier to feel like I'm moving in the direction I want to. I believe it was a result of a great TPS audition, and quite a bit of hard work. I'm excited for the future, and can't wait to get started.
I had my first rehearsal on Saturday for my next show. I got to sit down with the cast and director and really delve into the script. It was originally written for the local 14/48 festival, which means it was written in about 10 hours, and then the actors had little to no time to learn it before it was performed once and then forgotten about. So, this is the first time it's seen the light of day since that one festival night about two years ago. We had a great talk about characters and background and all that jazz, so I'm ready to dive right on in to scene work next time we meet. Which is in a month. Crazy rehearsal schedules.
This weekend was ComiCon! Which means House of Glass was there, showing everyone our trailer, making star connections (I heard Felicia Day was involved!), and gathering as much money as we could. I'd like to say it was a pretty successful weekend for us, but I didn't get the chance to make it out since I was crazy busy with other things. I can say that I'm very proud of the work that has been put into the project so far, and I can only hope the public chooses to support the production because it's going to be stellar!
Here is the trailer!
After class I had an audition for a new company here, and I had a blast. I got to do some karate, and I was asked to repeat my monologue as a robot. All in all, it was a fun experience with really sweet auditors. I'm always so grateful to directors who appreciate a calm and friendly audition experience. The three women put me immediately at ease, made conversation, and kept me around afterwards to chat a bit. I even got a chance to read some of the script while I was waiting to go in and audition, which is abnormal for a new work, and I appreciated that as well.
Today I was also offered a role in a staged reading coming up soon, which I gratefully accepted. I'm looking forward to working with some familiar faces, and a new company. It's always exciting to workshop a piece too, and be a part of the process from the ground up. Right after this opportunity, I was invited to audition with a company I've been dying to work with! So basically, this weekend turned into one good thing after another, and I've spent my day feeling lucky and grateful and positive about the year 2013, and everything that has happened so far.
I can't wait for everything to come!
Update on shows I've seen:
5XTenn or so
Undo (again)
Thursday, February 28, 2013
House of Glass Promo
Here it is! The kickstarter for my new webseries House of Glass!
Click HERE to go to our kickstarter page and make a donation. You can also watch the promotional video, cast interviews, and other behind the scenes features. New ones will be added every week, and our donors will be getting special sneak peaks and prizes from the director and producers.
I couldn't be more excited! If you're in the area, check us out at Emerald City Comi-Con this weekend as well!
Click HERE to go to our kickstarter page and make a donation. You can also watch the promotional video, cast interviews, and other behind the scenes features. New ones will be added every week, and our donors will be getting special sneak peaks and prizes from the director and producers.
I couldn't be more excited! If you're in the area, check us out at Emerald City Comi-Con this weekend as well!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
So, that happened
TPS. Arguably the biggest audition day of the year in the Puget Sound happened last week. I had been working on my pieces with my private acting coach for weeks. I recently started an auditioning class at Freehold theatre, and my teacher there helped me prepare as well.
All in all, as compared to last year, this year I chose better pieces that represented the roles I wish to be cast in. I took a risk this year of adding in a dialect to my audition (kind of a no-no in the rule book, but it was necessary). Last year I took no risks and changed my audition piece on behalf of my prescreen auditors. I felt much more in control this year making my own conscious decision to break a rule. In the end I think it paid off. I received positive feedback from a few auditors/theatre companies. I feel good about the way it went. My time slot was right after a break, so the auditors had all gotten coffee and gone to the bathroom. They were bright eyed, and listening so there was a wonderful energy in the room.
I was no where near as nervous this year, probably because I was much more confident about the pieces I chose to perform, and because I knew people in the audience this year. Right after my audition I had a meeting with an artistic director from an outside theatre company. I also received several emails and was able to do one callback.
Overall I'd say I had a very positive experience, and I had fun!
This past weekend I also auditioned for a larger theatre company here. I had a good audition and ended up being called back. It's the second time I've made it to the final callbacks for this theatre, which means I'm doing something right. I don't think I'm as suited to the role as the other women I auditioned with, but only time will tell. There's only one part available to women, so the competition is pretty fierce.
This weekend I also began rehearsals for Starcrossed. I met the casts of the multiple plays, and we read through them. I had the interesting opportunity of reading for roles I wasn't cast in because some actresses weren't able to make it to the rehearsal. It was really fun to play around with characters since the directors weren't really looking at me for those roles since they've already been cast. I also received some positive feedback about the read through, which is always great. I think it's going to be a really exciting process, and I couldn't be happier to be working with this company.
February flew by. Auditions, classes, private lessons, agent business, and work all kept me really busy. Now I get to start auditioning for the upcoming summer season! There's some great opportunities to do some Shakespeare in the park, and I'm working on my pieces for those auditions now. With rehearsals now begun, March and April are going to go by pretty quickly I'd imagine.
I'm just having a great 2013 so far! Oh, and my favorite news of the month: Fellow susie Erin will be making the move to Seattle this summer! She came to visit for TPS auditions, nailed them, and now she's working to save the money to come be part of the Seattle family. I couldn't be more excited!
All in all, as compared to last year, this year I chose better pieces that represented the roles I wish to be cast in. I took a risk this year of adding in a dialect to my audition (kind of a no-no in the rule book, but it was necessary). Last year I took no risks and changed my audition piece on behalf of my prescreen auditors. I felt much more in control this year making my own conscious decision to break a rule. In the end I think it paid off. I received positive feedback from a few auditors/theatre companies. I feel good about the way it went. My time slot was right after a break, so the auditors had all gotten coffee and gone to the bathroom. They were bright eyed, and listening so there was a wonderful energy in the room.
I was no where near as nervous this year, probably because I was much more confident about the pieces I chose to perform, and because I knew people in the audience this year. Right after my audition I had a meeting with an artistic director from an outside theatre company. I also received several emails and was able to do one callback.
Overall I'd say I had a very positive experience, and I had fun!
This past weekend I also auditioned for a larger theatre company here. I had a good audition and ended up being called back. It's the second time I've made it to the final callbacks for this theatre, which means I'm doing something right. I don't think I'm as suited to the role as the other women I auditioned with, but only time will tell. There's only one part available to women, so the competition is pretty fierce.
This weekend I also began rehearsals for Starcrossed. I met the casts of the multiple plays, and we read through them. I had the interesting opportunity of reading for roles I wasn't cast in because some actresses weren't able to make it to the rehearsal. It was really fun to play around with characters since the directors weren't really looking at me for those roles since they've already been cast. I also received some positive feedback about the read through, which is always great. I think it's going to be a really exciting process, and I couldn't be happier to be working with this company.
February flew by. Auditions, classes, private lessons, agent business, and work all kept me really busy. Now I get to start auditioning for the upcoming summer season! There's some great opportunities to do some Shakespeare in the park, and I'm working on my pieces for those auditions now. With rehearsals now begun, March and April are going to go by pretty quickly I'd imagine.
I'm just having a great 2013 so far! Oh, and my favorite news of the month: Fellow susie Erin will be making the move to Seattle this summer! She came to visit for TPS auditions, nailed them, and now she's working to save the money to come be part of the Seattle family. I couldn't be more excited!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Kickoff
2013. Woah.
I'm ecstatic about the progress I've made on some goals this year, and I'm excited to share the news.
I've been absent from the blogosphere for a couple weeks working out some auditions, some offers, and some great new opportunities. The most exciting news: I now officially have an agent. I've signed on with Actors First and I couldn't be happier.
There are a lot of agents here in the city, but so many agencies cover so much talent, that it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. I was looking for an agent that would work for me. That was interested in what I have to offer and isn't looking to sign ten more of me in the process. One of the biggest mistakes an actor can make when searching for an agent is not knowing the right questions to ask. How much competition do you have in the agency? How active a role is your agent willing to take in your career? Are they franchised? Who have they worked with? Those are just a few that come to mind in my specific situation, but I happened to have written a page long list that I brought in to my interview/audition. In the end, it was a great fit and I'm so ready to start on this new adventure!
In preparation I recently took a commercial workshop with a local casting director. Most of the information I had learned in college, but when we finally got up on our feet and started auditioning in front of the camera I really started learning things. It was a very useful exercise not only to be back in front of the camera, but to hear from a CD what it is that she wants to see. I remember in college always thinking about how I looked on camera. Were my expressions too large? Why did my eyebrows move when I didn't ask them too? I thought I put lipstick on, where did it go?
But this workshop focused so much on the intent and action behind a good commercial audition, that all of that stuff went out the window, and we were all truly able to focus on having a great read. I was able to listen to over ten different commercials, which was extremely beneficial since I've never done a commercial audition before. Even after watching commercials, I had forgotten there were so many different kinds! I definitely feel much more prepared to find myself in front of the CDs in this city and have a great audition!
Recently I've been seeing as much theatre as I can. I've seen:
American Buffalo
Undo
Hamlet
A Doll's House
The Rest is Silence
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
They've all been fabulous, and it makes me so excited to be working in a city that's doing such a great mix of new works and classics. I'm even starting to recognize the big name actors more...I know, it's only taken me a year. I have a list of shows I hope to see before the end of February, and I can't wait to see them all!
I recently turned down some shows offered to me in order to have the chance to audition with a company that I made it my mission to work for at least once. This weekend I had the audition...and the callback--and I BOOKED IT.
I couldn't be happier to be performing in Star Crossed: And other tales from a devious universe at Annex Theatre this spring!
In other news, I've finished filming my kickstarter for an upcoming webseries I'll be filming in May. It should be released in the next month or so, and I'll provide the link. It's an all female, all action, mythological/sci-fi experience! If interested in the website, you can find it here.
There isn't much info up yet, but there should be some coming soon. Spoiler alert: I had gun lessons.
I'm ecstatic about the progress I've made on some goals this year, and I'm excited to share the news.
I've been absent from the blogosphere for a couple weeks working out some auditions, some offers, and some great new opportunities. The most exciting news: I now officially have an agent. I've signed on with Actors First and I couldn't be happier.
There are a lot of agents here in the city, but so many agencies cover so much talent, that it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. I was looking for an agent that would work for me. That was interested in what I have to offer and isn't looking to sign ten more of me in the process. One of the biggest mistakes an actor can make when searching for an agent is not knowing the right questions to ask. How much competition do you have in the agency? How active a role is your agent willing to take in your career? Are they franchised? Who have they worked with? Those are just a few that come to mind in my specific situation, but I happened to have written a page long list that I brought in to my interview/audition. In the end, it was a great fit and I'm so ready to start on this new adventure!
In preparation I recently took a commercial workshop with a local casting director. Most of the information I had learned in college, but when we finally got up on our feet and started auditioning in front of the camera I really started learning things. It was a very useful exercise not only to be back in front of the camera, but to hear from a CD what it is that she wants to see. I remember in college always thinking about how I looked on camera. Were my expressions too large? Why did my eyebrows move when I didn't ask them too? I thought I put lipstick on, where did it go?
But this workshop focused so much on the intent and action behind a good commercial audition, that all of that stuff went out the window, and we were all truly able to focus on having a great read. I was able to listen to over ten different commercials, which was extremely beneficial since I've never done a commercial audition before. Even after watching commercials, I had forgotten there were so many different kinds! I definitely feel much more prepared to find myself in front of the CDs in this city and have a great audition!
Recently I've been seeing as much theatre as I can. I've seen:
American Buffalo
Undo
Hamlet
A Doll's House
The Rest is Silence
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
They've all been fabulous, and it makes me so excited to be working in a city that's doing such a great mix of new works and classics. I'm even starting to recognize the big name actors more...I know, it's only taken me a year. I have a list of shows I hope to see before the end of February, and I can't wait to see them all!
I recently turned down some shows offered to me in order to have the chance to audition with a company that I made it my mission to work for at least once. This weekend I had the audition...and the callback--and I BOOKED IT.
I couldn't be happier to be performing in Star Crossed: And other tales from a devious universe at Annex Theatre this spring!
In other news, I've finished filming my kickstarter for an upcoming webseries I'll be filming in May. It should be released in the next month or so, and I'll provide the link. It's an all female, all action, mythological/sci-fi experience! If interested in the website, you can find it here.
There isn't much info up yet, but there should be some coming soon. Spoiler alert: I had gun lessons.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
It has only just begun
2013 has been a whirlwind of opportunities, offers, and big decisions already!
I've been having some fantastic classes on Fridays with my wonderful acting coach. I've managed to find some new monologues I'm really enjoying with him, all while learning some new techniques for character enhancement. Who knew 'therefore' was a magic word?
I've auditioned for a webseries, and booked a webseries! I start filming tomorrow for a kickstarter campaign to raise funds to pay the cast and crew. The series itself will be made regardless which is pretty exciting. It's always a joy to find passionate people with new ideas that want to make something crazy. The premise seems to be Greek mythology + Joss Whedon. I mean, how can you go wrong? Needless to say, I'm stoked to meet everyone tomorrow, old and new friends alike, and can't wait to hear about the part I'll be getting to play. I'm crossing my fingers for some combat scenes. I'll also be filling out a non-disclosure agreement, so details from here on out might be few and far between. I don't even know what the turn around time will be for how quickly the episodes will air. Updates to come!
I recently auditioned and got called back for an exciting new play with a pretty new company. I had a blast working with them throughout the auditions. It's been a while since I've felt such a safe and welcoming environment. Because it was an original work written by their company members, they were all very familiar and invested in the direction they wanted to take it. I had a lot of opportunities to read multiple scenes multiple times, which let me play! I love auditions that really let you shake loose and try a ton of new things. That's how actors should always audition, but some processes lend themselves to it more than others. This was a lucky one, and it was a great way to start out the new year! I even got to brush off an old monologue for the original audition. That's always good.
I took new headshots! As I'm sure you can see by the new design of the page. I was lucky enough to shoot with a wonderful New York photographer who happens to be an actor that was originally based in Seattle. I've never had so much fun on a photo shoot before. I managed to nab my friend and favorite makeup/hair artist for my big day as well, so really all I had to worry about was smiling, which wasn't hard at all! I'm excited to start my agency submissions coming up. I just finished touch ups today and sent out a batch to be printed. I should be receiving them within the next week, right in time for my next audition!
I was offered some new jobs with the murder mystery company I work with. I'm really going to have to work on scheduling my time this year. Already things are running together and overlapping, and I know from my experience last year, that I do my best work when I give myself time to focus. I'm working on focusing on what I want most and gunning for that. It's time for me to step back and make some choices about how I'm going to let this year play out. So far --- So Good.
I've been having some fantastic classes on Fridays with my wonderful acting coach. I've managed to find some new monologues I'm really enjoying with him, all while learning some new techniques for character enhancement. Who knew 'therefore' was a magic word?
I've auditioned for a webseries, and booked a webseries! I start filming tomorrow for a kickstarter campaign to raise funds to pay the cast and crew. The series itself will be made regardless which is pretty exciting. It's always a joy to find passionate people with new ideas that want to make something crazy. The premise seems to be Greek mythology + Joss Whedon. I mean, how can you go wrong? Needless to say, I'm stoked to meet everyone tomorrow, old and new friends alike, and can't wait to hear about the part I'll be getting to play. I'm crossing my fingers for some combat scenes. I'll also be filling out a non-disclosure agreement, so details from here on out might be few and far between. I don't even know what the turn around time will be for how quickly the episodes will air. Updates to come!
I recently auditioned and got called back for an exciting new play with a pretty new company. I had a blast working with them throughout the auditions. It's been a while since I've felt such a safe and welcoming environment. Because it was an original work written by their company members, they were all very familiar and invested in the direction they wanted to take it. I had a lot of opportunities to read multiple scenes multiple times, which let me play! I love auditions that really let you shake loose and try a ton of new things. That's how actors should always audition, but some processes lend themselves to it more than others. This was a lucky one, and it was a great way to start out the new year! I even got to brush off an old monologue for the original audition. That's always good.
I took new headshots! As I'm sure you can see by the new design of the page. I was lucky enough to shoot with a wonderful New York photographer who happens to be an actor that was originally based in Seattle. I've never had so much fun on a photo shoot before. I managed to nab my friend and favorite makeup/hair artist for my big day as well, so really all I had to worry about was smiling, which wasn't hard at all! I'm excited to start my agency submissions coming up. I just finished touch ups today and sent out a batch to be printed. I should be receiving them within the next week, right in time for my next audition!
I was offered some new jobs with the murder mystery company I work with. I'm really going to have to work on scheduling my time this year. Already things are running together and overlapping, and I know from my experience last year, that I do my best work when I give myself time to focus. I'm working on focusing on what I want most and gunning for that. It's time for me to step back and make some choices about how I'm going to let this year play out. So far --- So Good.
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