You “Like” me, you really “Like” me!

I have entered a Facebook contest to be a Trophy Chaperone for the 2011 Drama Desk Awards, and I would love your vote.

My Testimony:

“My name is Heather (in the photo with my friend Marc Matthews); I am part of the new generation of theatre professionals hoping to “make it” in New York City. I am truly enchanted by New York, so much so that I work as a tour guide in Greenwich Village when I am not auditioning or rehearsing. I love how New York City has such deep-rooted traditions, and the idea that “the streets are paved in gold” here. Being reminded that, “dreams can come true” is my motivation every day! I am proud to be a member of the New York Theatre Community, a tradition that is so uniquely New York.

I would be honored to attend the 2011 Drama Desk Awards as a Trophy Chaperone, and celebrate the bright talents keeping New York Theatre alive and well for generations to come.”

How to vote:

1. Go to the Theatermania.com Facebook Page

2. "Like" them

3. Go to their "Wall"

4. Scroll down to my photo (as seen above)

5. "Like" my photo

THANK YOU!!!

Love,

Heather

Music Theatre/ Acting notes 2010

V-O-T-E: Victory, Obstacle, Tactic, Expectation
Soliloquy: scene between 2 parts of yourself, eye line is at or above- to be to self
3 ways to sing a song:

1. specific person= spot on the wall (have to see a face)
2. narration= the table
3. to yourself= all over

Weight in your heals= wisdom

The more period the piece, the more 5th position stance

Start with your hands in front of you then see where they go

Don't shy away from touching yourself

Ask yourself "Why did they make this a song?"

Incident has already happened, within the song you discover how does it make you feel

Choose the words

Watch how you sing repeated lyrics and the title

Mix up where the character is in the room each time to keep you free

Cold reads:

• when they ask if you have any questions say "no, but do you have anything you would like to tell me?"
• with a partner, criss-cross countering each other as you come forward
• you CAN ask the reader to stand

"Christmas bells are ringing..."

“Christmas bells are ringing”… and I’m gonna blow some whistles!

Firstly, I launched my new website www.heatherrefvem.com, so you are in the right place to find all of my “goings-on” and see my new headshots, courtesy of Dirty Sugar Photography.

This fall, I completed Improv 101 with Ryan Karels at the Upright Citizens Brigade. And, I just finished a music theatre workshop class with Bob Cline at The Actor’s Loft. We had a great agent night last week, and I am feeling very optimistic about 2011!!!

I’ve had some great callbacks this fall, including Rocky Horror Picture Show at Revision Theatre, Annie at Tarrytown Music Hall, and [title of show] at Lake Dillon Theatre Company. I participated in a reading for the Playwrights Lab at Pulse Ensemble Theatre as well as a reading of new play called Myopia by Dylan Marks, directed by Bronwen Carson at The Neighborhood Playhouse.

I started modeling… I was selected to represent Washington State for a project called “United States of NYC” by photographer Geo Rittenmyer. Hopefully it will be picked up for a magazine or an art gallery this coming year.

And with all this hard work I have gone out for some fun too. You can experience my adventures on my new blog http://big-apple-barrel-list.blogspot.com/

That’s all for now. I wish you a Happy Holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Love,

Heather

the cell at make yourself at home

My Quarter Centennial Celebration of Achievement

The first quarter of my life has come to a close and I am looking forward to the next quarter. I am really proud of all I have accomplished so far this year. Here's a little recap of what I've been up to:

"Let My People Come" closed the run at The Ritz Bar and Lounge on May 1st. It was such an honor to be involved with the show, and it was without a doubt the most fun I have ever had on stage!

On May 8th, I was featured in the New York Sheet Music Society's 9th Annual Songwriters Showcase in two pieces as the title character in "Dialing for Donna" by Stacy Tibbetts. To hear an audio recording of the song "Waste of Time" cut and paste this link: http://www.stacyglen.com/Waste%20of%20Time%20(Rehearsal%20Take).mp3

June 7th, I performed with The Cell in an original piece called "Nirvana and the State of Chelsea". It was performed at 7eleven Gallery in the exhibit "Make Yourself at Home". See the youtube feature of the show above.

CURRENTLY...

I am rehearsing two shows for the International Cringe Festival. Both shows are directed by fellow College of Santa Fe alumnus Kenny Wade Marshall.



"The six year old CringeFest opens Monday, July 19, and closes Sunday, August 8, in the Grand Theatre at the Producers' Club, 358 W. 44 St. These are BRILLIANT & HILARIOUS works that are irreverent, politically incorrect, politically satirical, naughty, and utterly zany – what could be bad?! The schedule is M-F @ 8 pm, Sat. @ 5, 8 & 10:30 pm, Sun. @ 4 & 7 pm. Plays are arranged in theme evenings and given quirky titles by artistic director Melba LaRose. Themes rotate, so check the definitive schedule: www.NYartists.org or www.Theatermania.com. The audience goes for the night and gets to vote at the end for winners of the Golden Pineapple, Silver Tomato, and Bronze Banana… and Jack Lemons for the actors. For one ticket, you get to see a number of wild ‘n crazy works (and sometimes a surprise 5-minute entr’acte) within a 2-hour timespan, including intermission. The Producers' Club has a charming, inexpensive bar & lounge for before the show, at intermission, and at the end where you can mingle with performers."

INTERNATIONAL CRINGEFEST ‘10: IS THAT A CORNCOB IN YOUR POCKET?

July 20, July 28, August 2 (8pm), August 7 (5pm & 8pm)

· "The Great Pig Robbery" (musical), Book & lyrics by Blake Hackler, composer Michael Kooman
(dir. Kenny Wade Marshall)
· "Sweet Talk" by Jim Inman · "Red Dirt, White Trash" by Jean Hart
· "Whittlin' Dixie" (musical) by Bud Twang
· "The Clothing Line" by Eve Crusto
(dirs. Sharon Einhorn & Mark Falconer)

INTERNATIONAL CRINGEFEST ‘10: NO HOLES BARRED (late-night Saturday)

July 24, July 31, August 7 (10:30pm), Sun., August 8 (4pm)

· "Oh my Josh!" by Doron Braunshtein aka Apollo Braun · "The Queen's Privy" (musical) by Michael Paul Girard · "The Ass Scent of Man" – a docurectomy by Zurbon Gish (dir. Kenny Wade Marshall) · "It Came from Uranus" (musical) by Lance Theo Carpenter (dir. Aaron Arbiter)

To purchase tickets cut and paste this link: http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/shows/international-cringefest-10_168700/

Hope to see you there!

With a smile,

Heather Refvem

Wisdom

"When you get the opportunity to do something that seems above and beyond, or way off center of what you think you should be doing, if you feel you can bring something to the project and do it well, it will often lead you to the thing you really want to do" (Angela Lansbury).

"SPOTLIGHT ON NEW YORK ACTING MARKETS" (BACKSTAGE)

Some notes about my areas of future interest, but not present expertise.

COMMERCIALS:

• Take an on-camera workshop before you start auditioning
• Work in a casting office or at a commercial production company

INDUSTRIALS:

• Industrials come in many shapes and forms: a live performance at a corporate gathering, a video or audio presentation designed to educate a company's employees, an event connected with a product launch or promotion.
• teleprompter experience
• being comfortable with interacting with a number of different people is really helpful
• improv with the product you have

VOICE OVERS:

• killer demo reel
• "Secrets of Voice-Over Success" (Joan Baker)
• developing a relationship with a coach who actually works in the field can be a plus... what that does is it creates a demo reel that reflects what's happening now in voiceover on television
• Natural sound, unaffected read

PRINT/ MODELING:

• Depict relationships or attitudes toward a product
• real-looking people... delicious-looking people, but not so beautiful to be off-putting.
• Effective lighting, how to be comfortable in front of a camera, and what her best angles are.
• "go see": where dozens of similar types are interviewed and photos are taken that simulate the job or campaign.
• special skills jump start a conversation
• want to know the directors they've worked with and who has cast them

CABARET:

• Tara Rubin Casting... "We do attend new-songwriter showcases"
• four or five people putting together a showcase often has more appeal for "casting directors, who are always very busy." and CD's are "far more accessible than agents"