Christmas Carol at the Alley

Tonight I finished the 26th show of A Christmas Carol. I had mixed feelings about the closing. I'll miss the friends I have there and not sure if I'll get to do it again because I'm getting so tall. The Alley Theatre is a great place to work. The backstage crew is great and all the technical stuff with the show. I'm glad I have a show to go to which is also part of mixed feelings because now I need to concentrate on MidSummer Night's Dream at the opera. It's easier when a show ends when you have another one to go to. Still, I'll miss the cast and crew at The Alley.

Working during the Holidays

Even though I'm off from school, I'm still working a lot. I've got a movie audition coming up the first part of January so I memorized the lines and worked with an acting coach. I'm also reading some background material to prepare. I'm performing at the Alley until the 28th. We even had a show Christmas Eve. I'm rehearsing at the opera beginning today through the remainder of the holidays and then some more. I'm practicing some recorder music at home also for the opera. I'm still managing to shoot some baskets on my new goal I got for Christmas and to play some of my new video games.

Christmas Wishes CD

I recorded a CD with Christmas songs that have songs for things I wish for like people reaching out to others, or my mom staying cancer free, war to end, and for my friends to have a Merry Christmas. One of the neat things about the CD was that my sister and her friend got to be on it as backup for one of the songs. We've been giving it to family, friends, teachers for gifts. The great thing is that it is also serving as a witness tool for others. Check out some of the songs at www.myspace.com/theofficialseanhardin.

Compassion International

Tonight while blogging and reading other blogs I see that Compassion International has a blog. My family also sponsors a child from Compassion International in Bolivia. We sponsored Jeanette for 8 years until she moved out of the compassion sponsorship area. I picked Jeanette when I was 3 years old. My mom showed me lots of pictures and I picked hers. My mom was surprised and asked why I picked a girl instead of a boy. I replied she did not have a smile and I wanted to see her smile. For awhile Jeanette had to be separated from her mother as her mother had to move to find work. She lived without running water and was so excited when the school got showers so she could shower at school. After 9 years of sponsorship, Jeanette was smiling in the photo we received and ready to go live with her mother. Compassion did not have any area where she moved. Therefore, she dropped out of the program but she'd been a joy to correspond with. Now we sponsor Marina, also from Bolivia, and my mom picked her because her birthday is Christmas Day. Marina is who my sister's school class is going to make cards for tomorrow and we're going to send them all to her. Our family has been greatly blessed by our involvement with compassion. We love getting letters from our sponsored child and learning about Bolivia. To all reading it seems a lot to sponsor a child, but it is a small amount for the things they can get with even small amounts of money. What a great Christmas gift that gives all year long - sponsor a child today.

CASA Home Tour Performance

Today I sang at one of the CASA homes that they decorate for Christmas and people tour them. Benefits go for Child Advocacy. I sang after school before going to my team's basketball game. There weren't a lot of people at the time I sang but those there were nice and the house was cool. I wish I had their backyard. I sang the songs on My Christmas Wishes CD we picked up this week. Now my mom is putting together the CD cases to give as gifts. Her friend came over today to help. It takes a while. It's neat to see yourself on the front of a CD.

A Christmas Carol

We've finished our 2nd week of Christmas Carol performances. Since the kids are split in 2 teams, I do about 25 shows and the other Peter/Scrooge also about 25 shows. I counted up about 50 hours of rehearsal time to prepare for the show. The adults rehearsed even more. The technical aspects of the play are neat with snow falling, the bed coming out remote control, and how the stage manager watches everything and adjusts even though things are cued electronically. They go through lots of batteries at the Alley.

Being in A Christmas Carol has lots of benefits. I get good acting training and experience. I learn endurance of lots of shows and staying up for each one. I make new friends. I work with professionals from the actors to the stage hands to the costume desingers, etc. The parents organize a big Christmas lunch during one of the long Saturday rehearsals and all the actors, technicians, box office, etc come. It's a lot of fun. We also do Secret Santa where we draw names for gifts and you get a sheet of paper telling you what the person's name you drew likes. You sneak in a gift each week of the performances. I've gotten some great gifts. I get a neat t-shirt too because one of the parents has t-shirts designed with all the cast and crew names on the back.

The best thing is just being on stage playing before mostly full houses. The crowds are generally good as there are some funny moments in the play and A Christmas Carol is such a classic with a really good message about giving.

Singing at Church

Today I sang a solo at church. I love my church and have lots of friends there but singing at church in front of my friends is one of the hardest things to do. I get more nervous there because I don't want to mess up in front of my friends. I did everything I could today to make sure my voice with my asthma did OK. I started the morning with a breathing treatment, used nose spray and wash, and took a decongetant. I'm glad to say my voice did not crack and I was glad to worship in song today.

Recording CD

Today, I spent part of the afternoon recording a Christmas CD to give as gifts. It's always awesome working with Tan Troung at West Side Recording Studio. He knows how to get the best out of my singing and has tons of patience when I have to fix things. I love that about recording a CD because if you mess up, you can just fix in on the spot. No worries. Today was neat because my sister and her friend got to sing back up on one of the songs. If you need any recording work done check out West Side Recording Studio. His blog is on my page.

An Off Week

This week I've been sick with asthma which has really messed things up. I was going to record a Christmas CD Tuesday but got to studio and just couldn't get my voice to cooperate so I had to quit. At the Alley I had hard time being loud enough without coughing. Wednesday night I was suppose to rehearse my solo for Sunday morning at our church and also had a rough time with my voice even though doing breathing treatments. Tonight I did not get a solo at the audition at the opera but a cover instead. I don't know that I can blame that on the asthma but it's disappointing any way. I'm hoping I'm recoverd for Saturday Christmas Carol and my Sunday solo.

Opera - it’s not what you expect

I just finished my 4th opera with Houston Grand Opera. All have been so much fun. The first was Hansel & Gretel where the witch was a giant man operated puppet with singer inside. We staged this opera twice once indoor and the other outdoor with numerous peformances. At the outdoor performances, in addition to singing I also got to be a puppeteer, which was harder than it looked to keep your arm up working the puppet during the song. The second was Cunning Little Vixen where in addition to being a fox cub singing with the children's chorus, I also got to be a fly playing football. In Billy Budd, my 3rd opera, I was with all men/boys and liked my costume as an officer in training and the singing the best. While in Billy Budd, NPR radio came to the opera and I was interviewed on stage by Christopher O'Riley. It was neat to be in a radio recording process. In the 2 operas I just finished last night - Pagliacci & Cavaleria Rusticana- I got to sing Italian for the first time and also got to be a bad kid smoking. The cigarette had powder instead of nicotine. Everything is first class at the opera from the directors, musicians, costumes, sets, props, and most definitely the singers. I am treated so professionally and look forward now to starting rehearsals for MidSummer Night's Dream next week. If you haven't tried the opera you should experience it. We've had sets that were platforms or turntables moving, clowns juggling, and puppets bigger than life. Give it a try, I think you'll be surprised.

Disney Audition

Today I auditioned in front of casting agent which was being filmed to send to Disney. I had lines to memorize, which I said, and they let me sing just a little. It was crazy because I just got my cast off my arm and went there before getting my brace. My arm was stiff so we talked about that at the first part of the audition. It was short and sweet and then you hear the word "Next". There were kids there from lots of different agencies and they are going to different regions in the US so a lot of competition. Right after the audition I went and got fitted for my brace. I start the physical therapy on my elbow next week.

Beginning Rehearsals at The Alley

Tonight was first night for rehearsals for A Christmas Carol at the Alley Theater in Houston. There are a lot of rehearsals held to prepare for the actual performances. Tonight we worked on dialect. The stage manager emailed a web site to download what we worked on. There will also be rehearsals for music, running lines and staging (movement onto, on and off stage). I've already had my costume fitting and there was an orientation meeting to let us all know the rules and business information. I'll try to keep track of how many total hours I spend at rehearsals for this show to blog at the end of rehearsals.

Actor's Slate

Today I spent 30 minutes being interviewed and recorded for an actor's slate to be posted on a site that casting directors and agents use to submit resumes and headshots for auditions. The slate is to allow the casting director to get to know you and see some of your personality. I hope I am liked.

No Rehearsals but Still Work

This week I don't have any rehearsals or performances until Friday night. I'm still working though. I'm working to memorize my lines for A Christmas Carol play and for my acting class on Saturday. I'm practicing my songs to sing at church and to sing at CASA fundraiser. I'm going Thursday for a prep meeting to get me ready for Friday when I will record an interview to be posted on an acting website that casting directors use when screening candidates. I'm practicing my piano and guitar and trying to work in a dance lesson. Thank goodness for these weeks to have some preparation time. I almost forgot, I'm also still working on school work.

Aeros Game - Not My Best

Tonight, was one of those nights when things didn't go right. I was singing at the Aeros and dedicating my Start the Party song to breast cancer survivors. The mike wasn't working right at the first so all the crowd could hear was the music and not me. When they could hear me, the mike was not in sync with the music so sounded like I was behind. I tried to sing faster but just wasn't working out. I was having to think so much about the music I wasn't moving as much as usual - well that plus the cracked elbow. Some people still came up and told me a did a good job but I knew it wasn't one of my best performances. I guess there are just going to be some nights like this but I'd rather them not be in front of a crowd of 5,000.

The Show Must Go On Cracked Elbow and All

Thursday night I fell off my friend's bike and cracked my elbow. I got my cast on around 2:30 Friday and opened at opera at 7:00 PM. The doctor put on a smaller, thinner cast so my costume would fit over the cast and it would not show under the sleeve. Opening was good and I made it with the help of some Extra Strength Tylenol. The music director told everyone to break a leg except me. She told me I already had enough broken bones. Any way I got through the show and the cast party afterwards, and tonight made it through singing at the AEROS, so the show really did go on cracked elbow and all.

Chronicle Article

Today, there was a write up about me in the Fort Bend section of The Houston Chronicle. Mainly the article was about my comedic monologue win at the Best New Talent contest. It's exciting to see your picture and name in the paper but then you start looking at the words and wishing things were either quoted a little differently or said a little different. All in all though it was a good article and I was releaved I had not said anything that made me sound stupid.

Sam I Am at Houston Symphony

Yesterday, I had the awesome experience of performing Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs & Ham at the Houston Symphony. I was Sam, dressed in a red costume complete with red fuzzy hat. There is nothing like singing with a full symphony behind you! Jones Hall is a great place. I even had my own dressing room complete with bathroom and a piano to help with my warmups. There were about 2,000 at each of the 2 shows. Since the first show was at 10 am and I had gotten home around 12 am from opera rehearsal, I had to work to get going. I showered, ate breakfast, then made the 45 minute drive, warming my voice up all the way. The conductor, Robert Franz and my co-star, Alicia Gianni, were so fun to work with and made it a great show. We rhearsed about 4 times (only once with the symphony other times with pianist) for this show and then did a run through with our mikes on Saturday morning. Thanks also to Roger Dailey for hiring me and providing so much help and support. I even got to go back to Jones Hall last night and see Wayne Brady in concert and learn from watching him perform. As far as my road to success, I got great experience and training and exposure to a new audience. My mom will spend time updating my resume. Now my question for you is, "Do you like green eggs and ham?"

Manager Response/To Move or Not to Move

So we got a response to the DVD we sent to the manager. He liked it but says to really pursue work need to be in LA. Right now my parents aren't able to move so if parts come up that manager feels I'm right for he'll push for me an audition but it would be easier if I were in LA. So for now, I'll keep working here and training (I'm booked through Christmas) and have faith a good part will come up where he can submit my DVD and they will like it and want to audition me.

Full Schedule

This week and last week crazy schedule. I'll start with last week. I agreed to fill in for the part of Schroeder in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown at a community theater as it was opening and their Schroeder had a family emergency. I was familiar with the show since I'd been Charlie Brown but still it was a lot to learn in a week.

Monday I had guitar lesson & play rehearsal, Tuesday play rehearsal, Wednesday piano and play rehearsal, Thursday voice lesson to work on my Aeros music and play rehearsal, Friday symphony rehearsal and opera rehearsal. Saturday was acting class, opening of the play, and then ran tech that night for other cast. Sunday was church and homework, homework, homework. I'm in 7th grade so I actually had school work all the days I listed. I usually take a dance lesson at my house each week but had to miss this week. Also, this week I had an interview with a Chronicle reporter for an upcoming article.

This week I had to cancel guitar. This week is even busier than last week. Today after school I had rehearsal at the symphony, costume fitting at the opera, and then opera rehearsal until 9:45. Tuesday I have symphony rehearsal. Wednesday is piano and opera rehearsal until 11:30. Thursday voice to work more on upcoming Aeros performance and to begin selecting Christmas music for December fundraiser, then opera rehearsal until 11:30. Friday costume fitting at the Alley Theatre for A Christmas Carol, rehearsal at Symphony and then rehearsal at Opera until 11:30. Saturday morning 2 performances at Symphony so I'll miss my acting class. I'll relax some Saturday night at a swim party and then back to opera after church on Sunday for more rehearsal. I'll be doing a lot of homework in the car this week but it is all worth it. I have a lot of fun around the other kids at the opera and there is nothing like being on the "big stage", or the sound of applause.

Following Advice

Since the Best New Talent Contest this is what I've done to follow the advice I was given. I went to West Side Recording Studio and recorded 2 cover songs and a music video and got them posted on my newly created myspace page (www.myspace.com/theofficialseanhardin) and my youtube page www.youtube.com/seanghardi. It took some time to get my pages up. That was one good thing about Hurricane Ike - since I didn't have school I had some time to work on my pages. I loaded pictures from shows I'd been in and videos. A lot of what I've done we have not been allowed to video due to union rules or the arena like the Aeros don't allow videos. I also am trying to keep my schedule posted and still working to get more to join as my friend and subcribe to my videos. If you're reading this blog, I'm inviting you to become one of my friends/subscribers.

I worked with a graphic art designer to design some business cards that I thought represented what I like. I'm still getting down feeling comfortable handing them out.

I went to an acting coach to pick out 2 commercials and a movie scene and then learned and rehearsed them with her. Last week she made a DVD of me performing the commericals, movie, plus 2 monologues. I had professional copies made of the DVD with chapters and good label. My mom mailed the DVD with letter, resume and headshots to one of the the managers interested in me. Now just waiting to hear back.

I still need to work on building a following and getting some original music written and recorded. They also advised to sing every chance you get. Other than theater, opera and symphony, I'll be singing at Houston Aeros game 10/18 and at a fundraiser in December.

It takes a lot of time to work on your career plus get school work done.

What I learned at Best New Talent Contest

I competed in Best New Talent Contest in California in August. I had callbacks from 2 managers and from Hollywood and Columbia records. I won first place out of about 700 kids in comedic monologue and placed in top 10 in contemporary singing. I attended seminar classes and bought some books. For acting I was told would need to get a DVD recorded of me doing different acting scenes. Also, I needed to consider moving to California if even for a period of time. For singing I was told to get a myspace and youtube page, record some cover songs to go on the page, and then work to find some original music to record (best if can write your own). Sing every chance I got and hand out cards with my web sites. Key is to develop a following. Also, for both stay in training. Watch future blogs for details of how I'm following advice I heard in California.