2-4-05
BY BELINDA BREMNER
A quiet start to the year so far as we catch up after the holiday lull and snowstorms.
Jane Alderman, who has been consulting with the wonderful Bob Mason at Chicago Shakespeare cast an episode of "ER." Booked were: John Carter Brown, Tanya Renee Lane, "ER" regular and rightly so Meg Thalkin, Dan Stransky, Ricky Adams and Grant Stokes.
Tenner Paskal Rudnicke worked on the UPN pilot "Bad Girls' Guide to Life: Procrastination" which former Chicago actress Stephanie Childers landed. They also worked on the CBS pilot "Three." Commercial castings included spots for Cadillac, Dove and De Vos Hospital. Booked on a spot for Cadillac were: Betsy Zajko, Mike Accardo, Anne Dralle, Gina Hickman, Matt Andrew, Tony Verville, James Mckay and Hans Holsen.
There was considerable theatre casting over at Claire Simon Casting after the holidays and before the snow. They cast for a production of Painting Churches for Indiana Rep and for Lady Windermere's Fan at Milwaukee Rep, as well as for a new play, Jewtopia which will run at the Mercury. On the commercial front, they cast spots for Carson Pirie Scott, Clark Memorial Hospital, and Oil of Olay.
Hey, in the words of "Hill Street Blues," "Be careful out there!" There are lots of sources for "auditions" and "bookings" and "gigs" all over. You'll find them in periodicals and all over the internet. Some MAY just be legit. Many are AT BEST scams. Check EVERYTHING! If they promise you instant stardom, immediate bookings, anything that sounds too good to be true, RUN do not walk. Ditto if they ask for money up front.
And SAG/AFTRA members are reminded, if you missed it in last month's column, that all three of the Milwaukee talent agencies have chosen to work outside the unions. They are no longer franchised.
On the self-protection beat, Babes With Blades is once again offering a self-defense workshop. Beat the Streets—Active Resistance workshop led by 4th degree black belt Patricia Charatin will be held Sunday, Feb. 13 from 1 to 4p.m. at Glade Memorial Hall (2640 W. Altgeld in Logan Square). There is a five dollar donation suggested and attendance is capped at 70. Call Jen Albert at 773/392-8414 for additional information and registration. Give yourself or someone you love a really meaningful Valentine!