Recently, I watched the classic film Funny Girl with Academy Award winner Barbara Streisand for the first time! Naturally, I was blown away by the humor, the acting, and the music. But what stood out to me most was the scene where Fanny (Streisand) sings the popular song "Don't Rain on My Parade." In this turning point of the film, Fanny makes the decision to forget about the theatre for the moment and go after what she really wants - Nick Arnstein.
She makes this decision knowing full well that the stakes are high.
After all, who's to say that Nick really does want to marry her? She could go through all of the trouble to get to New York just to face rejection! Her friends and colleagues do their best to dissuade her from taking this huge risk. Watch the powerful number and see how Fanny responds:
I LOVE IT
Do you have chills yet? I know I do every time I watch this scene! Fanny took the leap of faith in this scene, she blocked out the negative voices that were discouraging her and pressed on to pursue her goal.
LESSON
In life, we have the choice to either take a chance and follow our dreams or walk away in fear of rejection. As artists it is so easy to say "I'll never make it." Well let me ask you something - HOW DO YOU KNOW?? Fanny didn't know if Nick would receive her well, but she went anyway and guess what? He did!! Be confident in your dreams and your aspirations. Whether you are pursuing acting or want to be a doctor, GO FOR IT! And never let anyone Rain on your Parade!
So I have always considered my audition for Tisch NYU to be the worst experience of my life. Let's start from the beginning for a little perspective. NYU was my DREAM school, I had spent my entire high school career preparing for my future in New York. Not only that but I had spent a month at NYU for the Tisch Summer High School program and had what I considered to be the best experience of my life. So yeah, i was pretty set on my future there!
Come winter 2009 I had already auditioned for a few schools and it was time go knock em dead at NYU! I go into the room and it's already in a dark hallway so my vibes are more on the gloomy side. Anyway, I go in and the guy is like sitting in a chair writing on a table with a box of tissues. I'll just call him Mr. Stuffy Nose. So He doesn't acknowledge my presence you know he just keeps on writing. Finally he decided to look alive and I did my pieces. They were okay - he told me to do my Beneatha monologue from a Raisin in the Sun like I wanted Asagai to put his arms around me. I did - it was ridiculous. Next came the questions, now I can't remember them all but I do remember one very distinctly because it has haunted me for years!!
The Question Was ....
Mr. Stuffy Nose: If you could play any character who would itbe?
And conveniently my mind went blank and I began to panic rest of the conversation was the following
Me: Hmmm .... I never really thought of that... I had thought of it I was just completely being an idiot! Mr. Stuffy Nose: Take your time ... Me: um... I guess... well er... I think I would like to play ... Mimi from RENT He stared at me for a bit Mr. Stuffy Nose: Really? Me: Mmmhmm yeah uh i think it would be a lot of fun! Mr. Stuffy Nose: Cool, well thank you for coming out Gloria blah blah blah I couldn't hear anything else but my own voice saying Miimmiii?? I am soo not the Mimi type i thought to myself, i mean I can be spunky but you know the whole dancing on tables not so much! And plus I looked really proper and cute you know no seductive vibes whatsoever. Mimi, The name will forever haunt me like a ghost ringing through the air condition vents mimmmii mimmiii hahaaha!!
This is Mimi
This is what I looked like at my audition. Well not quite but it's sure as heck what I felt like!
So yeah, I got my rejection letter like I expected. It was pretty traumatic ask my folks! Anyway two years have gone by and I've been thinking, why couldn't I play Mimi? In fact come to think of it I LIKE MIMI! She has spirit, vivacity and a vulnerability that is captivating. Yes, Why Not?? So In honor of my new found inspiration I have compiled some of my favorite songs from RENT sung by Mimi performed by Renee Elise Goldsberry.
I love Renee, I think she is a powerhouse and therefore my favorite Mimi. I will admit that am a bit biased as I had a slight obsession with One Life to Live ( back in my angsty middle school years) And Renee played my favorite character Evangeline : )
This song is song is so beautiful! Renee brings such passion - I hope one day to be that awesome!
I think I should have came wearing this exact outfit - all doubt would have been eliminated from Mr. Stuffy Nose! Seriously though, I love this song and Renee ROCKS it!!
My audition at NYU taught me a lot. I have always felt very embarrassed about my experience there. I mean i blew it right? Wrong! NYU was obviously not the school for me, and although I do mourn my rejection at times, I am glad the door was closed for me. If I hadn't had that audition I wouldn't have anything to grow from, to look back on and say I'll never do that again Haha! And honestly I did the best that I could and at the end of the day it's all you can do!
In life sometimes we screw things up and it haunts us (mimmiii!!!) but I think it's important to turn those negatives into a learning experience!
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
So I can't stand blogs that focus on a single person's life like honestly - WHO CARES?? Instead I hope to offer tips, inspiration , experiences and maybe some humor for fellow actors and dreamers in general.
