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Gretna Theatre series part two: Just another day for a New York actor


Editor's note: This is part two in a three-part series. You can read part one here

Welcome to New York

It was a cold March day, showing New Yorkers that while spring was near, winter was not quite ready to leave. At 6 a.m., sounds of taxi cabs up and down Broadway could be heard, while the line to get into Starbucks was around the block. It's just a typical day in New York.

Also at 6 a.m. on March 23, Collier Cobb, of New York City, stood outside of Nola Studios at 250 W. 54th St. She was the first in line for the Gretna Theatre auditions that day, but she was just one of more than 200 hopefuls who were lined up around the block in the blistering cold.

It was time to audition to show Larry Frenock and Christian Saint-Girard what they had to bring to the table, but to the actors, it was just another day in the life.

Take Amy Alvino for example. Alvino lives in the city and is a full-time actor, while doing consultant work for a skin care business on the side. Depending on the time of year, Gretna could be just one of the places she auditions in a single day.

"It sort of varies for what's out there. There are some weeks where you'll audition seven or eight times. There are some weeks where you'll audition once," Alvino said. "It all depends on which non-equity and equity calls they have. It depends on what's available."

"I'd say at the most, it's about three per day. In a week, the most is around 10. I'll usually bring as many headshots and resumes as I can," TJ Newton said of a typical day for him. "I'll have one audition that I know I really want to go to. If there are others in the same building, I'll sign up for those, as well."

Aside from being aspiring actors, the people in line for the open-call session with Gretna Theatre had one thing in common.

"Pretty much everyone wants 'The Little Mermaid,' it seems," said Brooke Bauersfeld, of New York City.

And it's true. They all wanted to go under the sea as a part of the cast of "The Little Mermaid." From Ariel, to Prince Eric, to Flounder; they just wanted to be a part of the movie they watched growing up.

The actors lined up and signed up for a spot to audition for 3 minutes. Times varied from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. that day, which made for a long day for the staff of Gretna Theatre, but also a long day of waiting for those auditioning.