Archive for the ‘General Information’ Category

Hi Gang,

Well, I thought the last email was going to be my last email, but it’s not…..

Yesterday, we had some major tornadic activity in and around Memphis. Memphis did suffer major damage to one of its malls and an area of distribution warehouses where unfortunately, there were some deaths reported.

The worst of the storm hit South (near Oxford, MS) and Northeast of the city — primarily Jackson, Tennessee and Union University which is about 80 miles Northeast of us.

Fortunately, there have been no injuries or damage here in Midtown where the theatre is located. Nor has anything happened to the Holiday Inn Select - Airport. Except for small pockets of the city and county, electricity is up and running. Some minor damage was reported at the airport, but we understand that it shouldn’t have any major impact on flight schedules.

As such, I want to let you know that UPTA is NOT cancelled. We are ready to go, and my volunteers are eager to see you!

I appreciate the emails and phone calls that have been coming in asking how we’re doing. We’re fine! However, we ask that you keep those folks who have been affected by the tornados in your thoughts.

Well, hopefully, that’s it for now!

Travel safely, and I’ll see you in a couple days.

Take care,

Michael Detroit
Audition Coordinator
UPTA

Hi Gang,

This will be the last email that you’ll receive from me before the event begins next Friday (2/8).

Here are a few more tidbits….

• Just added another company yesterday (116!).
• Make sure you check the Registered Company page as companies have made changes to their attendance preferences.
• Weather looks like mid to high 50s with scattered showers. For more up-to-date weather, CLICK HERE.
• For those of you driving in…
  • CLICK HERE for Mapquest of Playhouse on the Square
  • CLICK HERE for Mapquest of the Holiday Inn Select - Airport
  • CLICK HERE for driving directions from Playhouse to the hotel
  • CLICK HERE for driving directions from the hotel to Playhouse
• For those interested in seeing Pirates of Penzance or A Lesson Before Dying, make your reservations soon (901-726-4656), and tell them you’re with UPTA so you get your 50% discount.
• Playhouse’s Theatre for Youth will once again be raising money for their programs by offering a shuttle service from the Holiday Inn Select - Airport to both shows and pick-up after the shows. $5.00 one-way suggested donation. Call 901-496-8391 to reserve a seat.
• Complimentary bus shuttle service with run 6:30a - 7:00p each day between Playhouse and the hotel. Pick-up/Drop-off locations are at the front of Playhouse and in front of the Holiday Inn downstairs.
• The Holiday Inn Select - Airport has complimentary shuttle service to/from the airport. A courtesy phone is located in baggage claim.

OK gang, that’s it! Remember, if you’ve missed any of my previous emails, check my UPTA BLOG HERE.

See you soon!

-Michael Detroit-

Hi Gang,

As promised, here is a picture of the stage, with stage lighting, upon which you’ll be auditioning.

You will be staging in groups of 25 in the Green Room behind the stage.
You will be entering mid Stage Left (1) between the procenium and “tree cliffs.”
Jose and the piano will be located Down Left (2) in front of the procenium.
You will exit the stage via the stairs (3) Down Left, and exit out the House Right door next to the stage.

Take note of the colors of the stage, flats, and background so you can dress accordingly.
The floor is not raked, and you have the whole stage area at your disposal (no climbing the walls!).
A sturdy chair and stool will also be on the stage for your use if you choose.

The theatre space will be open to walk the stage for about an hour on

Thursday, Feb. 7th, after Pirates of Penzance (10:15pm ish)
Friday, Feb. 8th, after Pirates of Penzance (10:15pm ish)
Saturday, Feb. 9th, after Pirates of Penzance (10:15pm ish)
Sunday, Feb. 10th, after Pirates of Penzance (10:15pm ish)

Hopefully, you can relax a bit more knowing that you’re on a stage, under theatrical
lighting, with theatrical acoustics.

Weather!
Extended forecast for UPTA weekend is 50s and scattered showers. As we get closer, I can give
you a better idea. To check Memphis weather, you can CLICK HERE.

Bottom line, dress in layers and bring rain gear.

If you’ve missed Notes 1 thru 3, check the BLOG HERE.

That’s all for today. I’ll probably send one more email before you arrive.

And don’t forget……. 90 seconds….. 90 seconds….. 90 seconds….. 90 seconds…..

Take care,

Michael Detroit
Audition Coordinator
UPTA

Hi Gang,

Things are really busy around here.

115 companies!

That’s 11 more than last year, and last year was a record high!

Here are a few more tidbits…

1. 54 companies have indicated they are watching Equity auditions. More than ever before!
2. 50 companies are holding production interviews - another 38 are collecting production resumes. More than ever before!
3. Equity folks, I know we only asked for 50 headshots, actually expecting that would be enough. Not to worry, we’ll make a few extra copies of your headshot for you so that all the reps will have your P/R.
4. CLICK HERE to read a quick note from Doug Truelsen, Southeast Traveling Rep for Actors’ Equity. He’ll be at UPTA once again to hold informational workshops each day and to answer any questions you might have. His letter is for both Equity and non-Equity folks.
5. In order to help prepare you even more, UPTA asked the companies to provide info as to what to expect in their callbacks. CLICK HERE for their responses.
6. José Simbulan, our accompanist, has 5 DOs and DON’Ts for music prep. If you’re singing at UPTA, CLICK HERE to see what José has to say.
7. CLICK HERE for some fantastic “dress for audition/interview success” notes from Rebecca Y. Powell, the Resident Costume Designer at Playhouse on the Square here in Memphis to help you in your choice of attire for your auditions and interviews.
8. Check the Registered Companies web page often. Companies have been changing their plans about when they’ll be in the audition room, who’s holding production interviews, who’s collecting resumes, etc. Stay up to speed so you know what to expect in the audition room or for production interviews.
9. I’ll have a picture of the stage for you soon. As soon as the set is painted, I’ll send it to you to help with clothing choices.
10. Don’t forget, if you’re interested in seeing either A Lesson Before Dying (The Circuit Playhouse) or The Pirates of Penzance (Playhouse on the Square), call our box office at 901-726-4656. Tell them you’re with UPTA, and that you have a 50% off coupon (you’ll need that to pick up your tickets).
11. If you missed either of my first 2 email notes, visit our BLOG on the UPTA website.
12. If you missed Kiersten’s dance call notes, CLICK HERE.

OK, that’s enough for now. Remember……. 90 seconds……..

Break Legs!

-Michael Detroit-
Audition Coordinator
UPTA

Hi Gang!

Things are picking up quite a bit around the UPTA offices…..

Here are a few tidbits for you……

1. All my group emails (Notes #1, Notes #2) will now also be posted on our website (www.upta.org) under “BLOGS.” If you missed the first email from me, check the BLOG.
2. We’ve also added a HOTEL FORUM on the website. If you’re looking for roommates, want advice on hotels, where to go, what to stay away from, etc., go to this forum and “talk amongst yourselves.”
3. As of today, 109 companies! More than ever before! And we still have a month to go! Check the REGISTERED COMPANY list to see who will be here and when.
4. Please let us know by tomorrow (Friday 1/11) if you are cancelling so we can get folks off the waiting lists. If you do cancel, we can still distribute your headshots if you’d like. Contact my assistant Lindsey (lindsey@upta.org) if you need to cancel or distribute.
5. We freeze all the audition lists tomorrow. After tomorrow, there can be no additions. After the 18th, there can be no changes as we start to collate over 100,000 headshots.
6. All headshots are due in our offices by Friday, January 18th - NEXT FRIDAY. 125 headshots for non-Equity, 50 for Equity. If you think you may have sent less than that (and I think some of you did…..), please send the difference now. You don’t want us making bad xerox copies for you. Remember, not postmarked by the 18th, HERE by the 18th.
7. There are still slots available for production personnel interviews. If you know anyone qualified who may be interested in attending the production interviews, send them to our website to register.
   
8. In the next couple of emails, I’ll send notes from Jose Simbulan, our accompanist, on music prep - a note from Doug Truelson, the Southeast Traveling Rep for Actors’ Equity - and, as soon as it’s built and on the stage, a picture of the set upon which you’ll audition. This year, it’s Pirates of Penzance.

OK, that’s it for now. Remember… Blog, Hotel Forum, Headshots by the 18th…..

OH! ………… And auditions under 90 seconds, extra back up pieces for callbacks, portfolios, slides, and other tech materials for interviews, and

Break a Leg!

Michael Detroit
Audition Coordinator
UPTA

Happy Holidays from UPTA 2008!

As time quickly flies into the New Year, I hope that you are all having a wonderful holiday season as we finish up 2007.

Over the next month, I’ll be sending out a few emails to you to keep you updated and get you ready for your auditions and production interviews here in Memphis.

To begin, here are a few quick notes…

• Our talent roster filled up faster than ever before! With the exception of a few AEA slots on Monday, all audition slots and waiting lists are full.
• There are still production interview slots available, so tell all your tech and arts admin friends who will be available year round to register online now!
• If your plans have changed, and you find out that you cannot attend UPTA for any reason, please let us know ASAP so we can process your cancellation and move folks off the waiting lists. You can contact my assistant Lindsey at “lindsey@upta.org” to process your cancellation.
• As of this email, 98 companies have registered. 6 more than last year at this time.
• Kiersten Mays, our choreographer, has prepared some notes for any folks who might be invited to dance call - click here to check out her valuable advice.
• As you know, we’re separating musical and non-musical auditions. Musical auditions will begin each day and non-musical auditions will end each day. In either case, you have 90 seconds to audition.
• All AEA folks, musical and non-musical, will be in the same group immediately following the lunch breaks on Sunday and Monday.
• If you are singing, remember you must still include at least one monologue in your 90 seconds. There are no “singing only” auditions. You must include at least one monologue in your 90 seconds.
• Actors, keep your audition under 90 seconds total - that includes transitions between pieces. The 90 seconds does not include the statement of your name and number. Also, you do not need to introduce your pieces.
• Production personnel, make sure you bring all appropriate support materials with you: resumes, prompt books, photos, letters of reference, etc.
• Visit our Registered Companies page at www.upta.org often so that you can keep tabs on which companies will be in the room when you audition and which companies are holding production interviews and/or collecting production resumes.
• Keep in mind that some companies are watching both musical and non-musical auditions — others are not. Some are watching both AEA and non-AEA, others are not. Some are holding production interviews, some are only collecting production resumes, still others are doing neither. Bottom line, be prepared for who will and will not be in the room when you audition or interview.
• Check out the UPTA FAQ page at “www.upta.org/faqs.html” for more information.

OK, I think that’s it for now. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. For audition info or cancellations, please contact my assistant Lindsey at “lindsey@upta.org” and I’m also available at “upta@upta.org”.

Prepare well, and I’ll be in touch again soon.

Take care,

Michael Detroit
Audition Coordinator
UPTA