Watch that first step...it's a doozy!

All right, folks! This is it: My first ever blog post, Seems strange, considering how opinionated I am, but that's what comes out of being a starving actor.

I'll keep this short(er) because I have to get ready for work. But let me give you, at least, some insight.

This whole thing started because my old acting teacher, Dr. Rodger Smith, sent me an email to sign me up. I clicked on the link and didn't quite know what I was doing. I think I was supposed to add to his group, but somehow I've fallen bass ackwards into my own blog. Hmm.

I'm living in Evanston, IL right now and it's been a wild ride. This week marks the four year anniversary of my moving to the Chicago area. I had been living in Florida when an audition opportunity arose that coincided with a trip I was taking to Chicago. I auditioned on a Friday, was hired on a Saturday, quit my job in Florida on Sunday from the airport, flew back, packed up my car and left on Monday, arrived in Wheaton, IL on Tuesday, began rehearsals on Wednesday, and performed on Saturday. That was "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" and I was in it for a turbulent two and a half years. After that came a children's theatre show where I played a Ralph-Kramden-esque-pirate-alligator, and then a show I co-wrote and produced with two buddies, "Guy-anetics". I was a professional singer in the Navy Pier Players after that and oversaw two staged readings of my play "Lowe Self Esteem or The Yellow Badge of Cowardice", one in New York (from a distance) and one in Chicago. I graduated from the Second City Conservatory, ran a stand up comedy open mic for two years, and now am a singing cupcake decorator at The Hershey Company. In four years, I have spent less than one month NOT performing!! I've been lucky, but I haven't made much money.

I've recently auditioned for two major theatres in Chicago, Victory Gardens and The Goodman. I don't know what will come of them but I personally was not satisfied with my results. Now I'm reading "Audition" by Michael Shurtleff and am working on making myself a better--and more visible--actor.

I still keep in touch with my family as much as possible. I love to watch Cubs games and am excited for the Colts to start kickin' butt. I'm living with my best friend's girlfriend and her Chihuahua, and I enjoy the occasional cigar.

Maybe I've rambled a bit too long, but that gives you a little foundation of what I'll be building on in coming posts. I hope you're all doing well. You'll hear from me again soon.