Every once in a while, things just fall into place when you're not even trying. Sometimes when all you're doing in life is minding your own business, along comes opportunity, knocking on your long-neglected door.
This was one of those times. I was taking one of my long "breaks" (translation: I wasn't auditioning for any shows, and wasn't even planning to), when an email landed in my inbox.
"We would like to invite you to read one of the parts during a workshop reading of our next episode of Sex in Seattle." .......Wow....just like that.
Now, reading a role in a workshop reading is usually not a really big deal. But, for those who are wondering why this really is a big deal and why I would get involved in a show whose title sounds a bit like porn, let me explain.
"Sex in Seattle" is the marvelous creation of some talented and enterprising Asian-American actors. Tired of being left out of opportunities to perform in productions that don't require "Oriental characters" in them, these actors donned their playwright and producer hats, and created a long-running theatrical series about the lives and loves of 4 contemporary Asian-American women.
SIS has become such a hit, it has been running for over 7 years! Like its television counterpart, Sex in the City, SIS is smart, sassy, funny and fast-paced. But, I always thought I was too old to be a part of such a whirlwind of cutting-edge coolness. I was wrong.
I read the part of Mrs. Ko, the Chinese-born mother to Elizabeth, one of the four leading ladies. The play was downright hilarious, and probably one of the best episodes I had seen (I had seen several). I'd been a fan of the series for a long time, so what a kick it was to be a part of its workshop process.
Later that night, after returning home, I received an email inviting me to play the part "for real" when the next episode is performed on stage! Whew! How could I resist?
For most of my theatrical life, getting a role on stage has been an uphill climb, or so it seems. I carefully choose which roles I will audition for, hedging my bets as to which plays, roles, directors and theaters might offer the best odds of using someone like me in their production.
Usually, when I am auditioning for a role that is not written for an Asian character, I feel the climb up that hill is pretty steep. After all, I don't "look" the part, and might have to work extra hard to convince the director that I could convincingly be that person in the play.
When I audition for an Asian role, I am up against some of my stiffest competition. The Asian actor's pool in Seattle is talented, hard-working and doesn't give up easily. Many of the roles I have lost out on have been to my Asian-American sisters in theatre. Being a non-competitive type of person, the "fight" to get roles is especially hard for me.
But, here I was, being invited to play a marvelous part in a hit show! No audition, no competition, no 2-contrasting-monologues-then-a-cold-reading-from-the-script. Just a simple, gracious invitation by SIS director Miko Premo.
Wonderful roles usually aren't offered to you on that proverbial silver platter, but this time it was. And the platter offered so much more than just a nice opportunity to be on stage. I was in a sexy show with attitude and lots of laughs. I got my picture on the cover of a local magazine. I was able to reprise my role in a video clip 2 episodes later. I got to be a part of a local cultural phenomenon. I got to be cool and sexy.
Okay, maybe I wasn't the one who was cool and sexy. After all, I was pushing 50, and playing someone's Mom. But I was in "Sex in Seattle," so that made me cool and sexy....by association, at least.
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