RobertSpuhler.com

When It Rains

I still remember my lines for Office Sonata. It’s only been six weeks or so since closing at the Hayworth, and the cast still hangs out on occasion (we're all seeing a castmate in a show next weekend), which is great because the cast is such a great group of people.

But no rest for the weary. Opening night for my next play, Perfect Teeth For Crocodile Land, is this Friday.

It’s been a very different experience for me; the rehearsal period was half of that for Sonata, and I was out of town or working for a large part of the early rehearsals. I’m just now getting up to speed, which makes me feel a little anxious.

The good news is that it’s a funny script with a great cast and some optimistic producers - a good thing, considering the size of the budget (eight dollars). It’s another group of individuals that I feel very lucky to get to work with.

Perfect Teeth For Crocodile Land opens this Friday, and plays Fridays and Saturdays until August 2nd at Theatre 68 (approx. Sunset and Western). Showtime is 7:30. Tickets are $15. Email me for more info.

Job/Not a Job

Ever read a ridiculous job posting? "Long hours, many weekends, no relocation bonus, $20K a year" or something? Actors get them, too:

"This will be a difficult script in terms of all the range of emotions needed, physicality required and untraditional approach of filmmaking, getting deep into real events. Please do no submit unless you feel comfortable training on a military obstacle course, using a video camera throughout Los Angeles, smoking a cigarette, getting fake blood on yourself, shaving your head, plus many more challenges. Also I will need to meet you once a week in the month of June and at least twice a week in July for a 14 day principal shoot in August in Los Angeles followed by a 2-3 day trip in either Late August 2008 or Late January 2009 for the final climactic scene of the film which will shoot at a major real event. But one thing I can assure you if, for those who are up to the task, it will be an experience you will never forget." (emphasis added)

For what, you ask? No pay. No points. No ownership.

No thanks.

Energy

Call time is seven, but the entire cast is at the theater at 6:30. Props are checked, re-checked and then checked again. Fight scenes are rehearsed. Lines are sped through.

Is there a better energy than that surrounding a cast on opening night of a show?

2-1

Last weekend, I had three very different experiences with live theater in the Los Angeles area which, when combined, nicely illustrate both the best and the worst of working in collaboration.

Where I'll Be...

Real updates forthcoming, I promise.

In the meantime, I'll be performing tomorrow night as a last-second replacement in a sketch-comedy show at the McCadden Place Theater in Hollywood called "There's Waldo."

1157 N. McCadden Pl.
Hollywood, CA
(East of Highland, North of Santa Monica)

Tickets are $10. I might be wearing a suit.

On Appearances

Monday night I made my podcast debut, as a guest on the Malt Shop Logic podcast with my friend Chris. A good time was had by all. Go for the soccer and basketball analysis, stay for the tasteless Jonestown jokes.

In other news, I've booked a role in a very funny play called "Office Sonata." It opens at the Hayworth Theater in the mid-Wilshire district in late April. More on that as rehearsals get underway in earnest.

Bad Day

Y'know, it was coming. I had a great trip back east, a fun night in Vegas and an easy, safe drive back to western Colorado.

Then, I find out in the span of an hour that I've been written out of an Internet series I had been cast in (they're moving to "recent high school graduate" from "recent college graduate") and that I have to find a new apartment by the end of December.

So...anyone know someone looking for a roommate?

Inspiration Redux

During my time sans Internet, I had several chances to go see friends “perform” in different manners. One, a classmate at Writers Boot Camp, had a reading of his second act. Another, a former showcase scene partner, finished up a six-week run of her one-woman show. A third appeared in a brilliant show in south Orange County.

Meritocracy

I never thought I’d see the day where Las Vegas makes more sense than my profession of choice.

Auditioning

On occasion it’s nice to be reminded that I have a soul.

As an actor, rejection is most of the game. I’ve made a living off of it myself (especially if you take out the “made a living” part). There are some roles you audition for that you don’t really care about (some student films) and some you want for the money (commercials).