Almost a year since I have posted anything on here I feel like it is time to start using this more often. Why? Well I have things to say now. Not really funny quips or social commentary on what's happening in the world, but news. Yes, I have news!
I have several bits of news to share with you right now. I will be quick and post updates frequently because I guess thats what one does to get people to keep coming back. So lets dive in.
One. Last year I was cast in a show call The Rock and The Ripe. A play, book, and movement about bullied, gay youth in America. I was not able to be in this show last year. But this year it is being performed one more time, and I get to be in it, in May, in Cleveland. Thats right, Cleveland. I will be going with this show to One Theatre World, a 3 day festival in Cleveland focusing on youth in theatre. Performing for them, working with them, and creating youth theatre. I will be updating this blog during my trip and sharing photos and all my experiences.
Two. I have recently submitted myself to different talent agencies in Chicago (and Milwaukee... and one in L.A.). These are group agencies representing many people for work in commercials, industrials, tv shows etc. So far things are going well and I have two auditions and interviews for representation. This is pretty big, and although I have only made it past step one with two of these companies (still waiting to hear back from another ten) hopefully step two, the audition and interview, will go over well and I can get some work.
Three. I am working on some new things for this summer. Look forward to announcements about a sketch show at the Cornservatory theatre hosted by yours truly and a new show coming from Naked Roommates (the sketch group I am one half of).
Updates to come. Keep being lovely.
Justin "Still Diabetic" Lance
It has been a while since I have updated this blog or even this site, but I have a good reason! I have been busy as hell! I am currently working on several projects, one of which is taking up a lot of my time. First I am in several shows coming up this summer. I will be at The Apollo with American Demigods, then over at Gorilla Tango for a short time, after that I will be at Oracle Theatre, and then at The ViaDuct! Check out my shows page for all the info on those!The big project I have been working on lately is going to be the last one this summer at The ViaDuct. Along with my good friend (and soon to be roommate) Jake Sanders, we created a new sketch troupe here in Chicago. Normally sketch troupes apply for 20 minute slots in big shows at different venues, and then they get judged by whoever runs the show and either get asked to come back next week or to hit the brinks. It is kind of like a stand up comedian when they start out, but this is with sketch. We decided not to go that route, but to create a full length show. I have been working in sketch for a while now with Corn Productions so I have gotten the feel of how full length sketch shows go, and I worked closely with Odradek Theatre Company in the beginning days of them and have a good feel of how to produce such a show. Yup, thats right, I am producing this show... and part of the writing team, and acting in it. Jake is going to be directing it, as he has the knowledge and skill that I did not care to learn in my short time in college, and we added Emily Ewing as our production assistant (we tried calling her an intern, but she does more than just get us coffee... in fact she doesn't even do that). Emily just finished her freshman year at North Park University and its exciting to get her involved with the Chicago theatre community right now. I had only just finished up my freshman year of college when I became involved with Odradek and so much has happened for me since then.Well that is all I have for now, please visit our kickstarter website to help us fund this show and make it a good one too. We are already halfway to our goal and we have about 2 weeks left or so. It would be awesome if you could donate even a little and share with your friends too!http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1159922636/naked-roommates-presents-naked-roommatesThanks!Justin "what is sleep?" Lance
I wanted to post on this frequently and did so for a bit, but then I got supper busy with everything that I neglected this. Sorry! Please don't hate me.
So currently I am not performing in any shows but in a week or so I will begin going on a local tour here in Chicago. The tour is part of the Oracle Outreach Program. We are taking a 25 minute radio play that we have stage to nursing homes and shelters throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs as an effort to bring theatre to those who would not be able to go out and see it otherwise. I ma super excited to start doing this. I will get to be doing theatre for a god cause and a tour sounds like a pretty fun thing.
Other than that I will be stage managing at The Cornservatory for Season 16 of The Original Improv Gladiators. This show is an awesome display of lot of great Chicago improv teams competing for a 4 week run of shows here at The Cornservatory. Soon I will be figuring out what I will be doing this summer. Later in May and June I have some things in the works and soon we find out it the show Jesus Camp: The Musical will be going to New York in August for the New York Fringe Festival. I performed in the shows original run this summer and the extension/ remount in the fall both times as one of the leads, Brian. If we are accepted into the fest we will perform the show again here in Chicago before heading off to do it in New York. Super pumped for that!
A lot of other things may be coming up soon and I cant wait to share that will you when all of it is set in stone!
Til next time!
Just how I like it! ...having lots of auditions! Not having them up in my butt!!! Any who...
This week is packed with auditions. Last night I auditioned for an anti gay bullying show that will be tied into a movement and a book. It is really great and I hope I get to work on that project. I went to a callback for the show tonight and I think it went well, I could have done better, but the last time I said that I got cast so lets hope it happens again! Right before that call back tonight I had another audition for Bye Bye Liver, a weekly drinking game show at the pub theatre every Friday and Saturday. It would be fun because I love sketch shows and I have been in several drinking game shows (currently in one as well!). Lets hope I get a call back, hopefully I can fit it in to my schedule, it may be right after my show tomorrow night.
This weekend I have to auditions for short films. I can remember much about them at the time being but I know one had a kick starter to fund it, and it is trying to be the most expensive fart joke out there. The folks doing that one have impressive background, I think the director is the one that had some roles in movies like The Dilemma and others. It should be fun!
Alright, I am tired, and I have class tomorrow all day followed by a show (and possible call back, fingers crossed!) It will actually be one of my easiest days this week I think.
So long! Farewell! Something french, Goodbye! Just
Ah, the weekend. It is here! I have had a very long week with late nights and long hours spent in the theatre, but also full of good news! First the good news and then the show plugs. I'll do those last as not to annoy people with plugs for my shows.
So the audition I had on Monday went a lot better than I had thought because I got cast This is exciting to me for a few reasons.
1. My resume has a lot of Cornservatory on it, which I love the corn, but it is nice to get some variety in the mix.
2. This pays. I am not sure how much but it is my first long term paid gig. All my other paid gigs were one times things.
2. It is as outreach program as well. We will take this short radio play and stage it and take it on a local tour of Chicago going to nursing homes, hospitals, and shelters. The purpose is to bring theatre to those who would not be able to go out and see live theatre in the city.
This is all very exciting and I cannot wait to experience this, I think it will be very fulfilling. Unfortunately I had to drop out of the kids show I was going to do this Spring but after a lot of thought I think it was the best choice I could have made for myself at this time.
Cool, whats next? Oh yeah! I had a photo shoot on Wednesday for new headshots. I really like them, you can see a few on the Headshot and Resume Page. I will probably upload a lot more just to have on the site. Like a gallery? Would it be cool if I had a gallery on here of shows and other stuff I have done? I will just start taking more photos of random stuff. I swear I have a camera somewhere...
Also one of my best friends form high school is coming down to Chicago tomorrow and I get to see her! Thought I would give you a shout out K-Robs!
OK so show plug time!
Chester and the Unbearable Burden continues this weekend. Tonight (Friday) and tomorrow night (Saturday) the show is at 7:30PM and it is $15 at the Athenaeum Theatre Located just by the intersection of Southport, Lincoln, and Wellington. There is also a matinee performance Sunday at 3PM.
Happy Endings: A Drinking Game Performance opens tonight at 11PM!!! This is a great sketch show about fairy tales and other fantastical things! You the audience play along with us by drinking when one of the predetermined rules happen on stage! This show is BYOB and is for mature audiences only! The show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 11PM and is $10 (starting next week there will be a deal going on to see the mainstage show before Happy Endings and then get into Happy Endings for $5, I will tell you more about that later). The show is a The Cornservatory on Lincoln Avenue between Cullom and Berteau (we are right next to the Jewel and we have corn stalks painted on the outside of the theatre).
Hope to see some of you at shows this weekend! Please support local storefront theatre whether you are seeing mine or another show!
Justin "is your pal" Lance
So a lot happened this past weekend and a lot is happening this coming week and the next after that! This past weekend my show Chester and the Unbearable Burden Part I and II opened and it went really well! We got a few reviews out already but the best comes from MuggleNet, the worlds largest Harry Potter fan site! They gave us a great review considering we are a Harry Potter parody. Parody is a bad word for it, we really par our respects to the movies and book. You can read that review here: http://www.mugglenet.com/cub-review.shtmlOK did you read it? Are you back yet? Cool, I will keep talking.I just came from an audition with The Oracle Theatre here in Chicago for an outreach program where a lip-synced radio show is taken to hospitals, nursing homes, and shelters to make theatre available to all. It is really cool, unfortunately I might not be able to do it if I am cast, I might, but I do not know yet. That is IF I get cast. It went well but I feel it could have gone better, but maybe that is how I always feel. Fingers crossed! OK, finally I will tell you about another show of mine opening this weekend! It is The Cornservatorys late night drinking game show Happy Endings: A Drinking Game Performance. Like all corn drinking game shows it is BYOB (all shows at the corn all) and the audience plays a game along with the show. Anytime a fairy tale goes wrong or you see our friend Mario, you drink! It will be a lot of fun and we have worked very hard on it. This show doesn't follow the typical host platform at the corn but rather the scenes flow into the next one seamlessly (for the most part). It is really great. Check it out on the Shows page or go to our facebook event page and let us know you are coming! (shows are $10, and start at 11PM) Facebook Event
Well my cat (his name is Catballs, but he no longer has balls) has decided to sit on my lap, so I am
Tonight Chester and the Unbearable Burden part I and II opens tonight at the Athenaeum Theatre at 7:30 (more info on the shows page ^^^). And it is very exciting, as we have some reviewers coming. So no pressure, but the cast and I cant screw this up! For us, for you, for the company and director putting this show on! This is the first they are staging and we don't want it to be the last they do!
Next weekend Happy Endings: A Drinking Game Performance opens and runs Fridays and Saturdays at The Cornservatory at 11PM (again, more info in the shows page, the most informational page on here). It is going to be a great show, intended for mature audiences of course and BYOB! It is a drinking game after all.
Also I will be performing in a kids show this Spring at The Corn and will be seeing the script for the first time this weekend! Can't wait! More info on that show will come soon, so be on the look out for that!
So I have a busy weekend, I hope to see you at shows soon! If not mine, go see shows, support small theatre, there are so many storefront theatres in the city doing great work. Go support them!
Love y'all (Fun fact, I lived in Alabama for 2 years so I can get away with saying y'all)
J
So today I made the decision to make a website for myself! Why? Because this:
1. A place where people can find out what I am up to without me repeating it a million times in normal conversation.
2. A place to blog about random things instead of posting 34 facebook updates a day an hundreds of tweet.
3. A place to post my shows and gigs so I they are all in one easy location.
4. A place to post my headshot and resume online and make new friends.
So I did it! And apparently no one owned justinlance.com !!! Sweet! That made naming the site pretty damn easy.
So please come back here, check out by blog, my show dates, and tell your friends about me too. I do awesome things. And that was not ego, someone told me that once... I think...
Justin Lance
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