if you’ve been to my website, you know what NOW I GET IT is about. If you haven’t, it’s www.lorenmarsters.com/nowigetit.
Better to do that than to take up blog space explaining.
That way, you can check some of the music from the show as well!
The storyline of NOW I GET IT requires an all Seniors cast – men and women 61+ in age.
Between here in Mesa, AZ, where I live, and Las Vegas, I had time-and-time again, heard senior actors complain about there not being any roles for actors in our age bracket.
Held auditions in Las Vegas – two showed up. Mervin Alexander you were GREAT!!
Unfortunately for me, but not for him, a show he’d been touring with went gangbusters, and I don’t blame him for having to leave this show.
The audition turnout here in Mesa… even more underwhelming
Bottom line: with the readings and the workshop last year in Las Vegas, I have yet to have an age appropriate cast, OR anyone with that “I was there” or “I grew up with somebody that was there” knowledge or experience of the war.
ACCEPT… Corinna Harney-Jones.
Born, I’m guessing at least 5 years after Saigon fell in 1975; by the time she was sitting in her high school, American History class, that 11-year war may have merited 45 minutes (if that much), worth of discussion.
BUT… Corinna had firsthand knowledge of the effects of the war. Her stepdad is a Vietnam vet. She had to live with his behavior.
One night in rehearsal, Corinna was in tears. “This play. My stepdad is a Vietnam vet. I grew up hating him…Now I get it”. Hence the title of the show.
To Corinna… to the 7 people you see above; Three, who were in elementary school when Saigon fell; Two, probably in Middle School when Saigon fell. One, born two years AFTER Saigon fell… I SAY THANK YOU!
Your understanding of the feelings, emotions, and attitudes of the people you play impresses the heck out of me, and the real people whose story you are telling. They’ve said so many times.
Some may say, “Well, yeah. They’re actors. It’s their job”.
It’s more than that.
Thank you for reading my blog.
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