Cogsworth: Beauty and The Beast - 2007/05/02 11:07Hello All Name's Bruce I'm 17, and I plan being a vocal performance major, with a musical theatre concentration, So, yea singing is my thang, I'm an ok actor too Here's my story. If you'd like to not read the whole story of the audition process and what not skip down to the last 3 or 4 paragrahs
Well, I auditioned for a production of "Beauty and the Beast" at a very popular theatre company in North Olmsted last sunday. It was...one of the most intense auditions I've ever been to, their we're a little over 200 people there. I arrived there at 2:30pm and didn't leave til 8:00pm that night.
I did my audition song, and then did my monologue reading, which surprisingly went very well (I'm much stronger of singer than I am an actor or dancer for that matter) I was happy with myself I completly died at the dance audition part though, it lasted nearly 2 hours!
I thought my body was just going to give up on me right then and there, i mean pirouettes, high kicks, spins, jumps one right after the other. & I'm not a skinny person mind you, anywho I digress, after that their wer'e callbacks and my hname wasn't called and just as I had planned to be disappointed, the director (her name was angela) says:
Angela: bruce?!? Me: Yes?? Angela: Did we call your name? Bruce: No, maam. Angela: OHH sorry about that we meant to *she laughs*
It was incredible knowing that I had gotten a callback, for such a high scale production. Anywho, after that we read, and then they sent people home and I was still, there! After that they sent more people home, and more people. Until you wouldn't believe it, their we're 8 people left, and I was one of them. She said the cast list would be posted on the olmsted performing arts website that night or tomorrow afternoon.
Making a long story short I checked it the next day, and i got casted as the Cogsworth u/s and The Baker in the featured ensemble. I was excited that I had even made the show
I was content with that and happy, but last night Tuesday (May 1st), Angela had given me a call and told me that the person that was to play Lefou dropped out, and so she offered Lefou to Pat M. (the original cogsworth) and so she offered the role of Cogsworth to me! & I took it! So I'm now going to be performing as Cogsworth!
I'm so sorry for writing a novel, but i really wanted everyone to see how being a good sport, and hanging in there will definately reward you, they didnt have to give me cogsworth, lefou had an understudy but they wanted to offer the role to Pat so i could perform it, and when I talked to Angela she had said that the most difficult character to cast was Cogsworth, so never get down on yourself for being an understudy either people you're still awesome!
Ok, now the distressful part, could someone please tell me, how to go about making this character my own? I've never ever had a role this big and if someone could give me a headstart I'm sure i could do the rest myself, I'm not a strong actor but i used more energy than anything else at that audition, and it was incredible! Just, gosh I'm super nervous, i mean i wanna research and things like that but what else? For you experienced incredible actors on this site, HELP!! How do I unlock this character that is COGSWORTH!
If you read this whole thing i applaud you and thank you Much love sweethearts! I'd love to hear what you guys have to say, and the advice you have to offer. Thanks so much
-BruceName: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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karijayne
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Re:Cogsworth: Beauty and The Beast - 2007/05/02 13:37Congratulations! I'm currently cast as Madame de la Grande Bouche (the Wardrobe) in a local production of BATB in my town, so Cogsworth is my kind of guy. (You'll find in the script that he's one of my biggest admirers.)
Anyway, I was having the same issues with my character, ie. wanting to make it my own. So one of the things I've done is to NOT watch the movie. I also did an internet search and printed out different images that put me in mind of my character, who is an 18th-century opera diva, to inspire me visually. I've also been listening to opera in my spare time, which helped me play around with the voice (both speaking and singing) until I found something that worked for me.
Something that might help you is to think of Cogsworth in terms of other pop culture characters that are familiar to you. Like, when I think of Cogsworth, I think of Mr. Belvedere blended with Niles from "Frasier." (Since you're 17, those references might be a bit before your time, but maybe you can find your own!) Then take those reference characters and see where you can go with it.
For example, for my role, I envisioned Carlotta from Phantom of the Opera ... but as if Ana Gastayer from "Saturday Night Live" were playing her. So there's an inherent goofiness blended in with all the extravagance.
Hope that helps! Kari-- Kari
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brucecriesxout
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Re:Cogsworth: Beauty and The Beast - 2007/05/03 23:13Well, I'm off to research! But anywho I was wondering could you list then umbers cogsoworth actually gets to sing in? I'm actually an aspiring opera singer! LOL. So, it's definately safe to assume i'm a much stronger actor than singer.Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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karijayne
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Re:Cogsworth: Beauty and The Beast - 2007/05/04 00:13Cogsworth has a small solo section in "Human Again" and a few lines toward the end of "Something There." I'm not as familiar with Cogsworth as I am with my own role, but it seems to me that it's a heavy acting/light singing role with a heavy emphasis on character. So this will be a great opportunity for you to work on your acting, I think, since you said it's not your strongest suit.
I was thinking more about Cogsworth the other day and thought of some more references for you: the dad from "Mary Poppins" and the butler from "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Cogsworth shares many of their qualities. I think the key with Cogsworth is to communicate the stuffiness/rigidity/formality of his position as head of household ... but to make him loveable as well. He's kind of like the fuddy-duddy rule-follower who takes his job very seriously but is essentially a great big teddy bear.
K.-- Kari
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triplethreat
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Re:Cogsworth: Beauty and The Beast - 2007/05/04 10:10Like.... Sebastian the crab? Minus the carribean accent?_____________ Kris MTA Admin
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karijayne
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Re:Cogsworth: Beauty and The Beast - 2007/05/04 12:31Yeah, kind of. But I think a better character from that movie would be Grimsby (the prince's butler). Sebastian is so about the Caribbean accent that it's hard for me to image what his character would be without it, but I think he's more of a Lumiere than a Cogsworth.-- Kari
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brucecriesxout
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Re:Cogsworth: Beauty and The Beast - 2007/05/04 16:03LOL! i THOUGHT ABOUT THE BUTLER FROM FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR TOO! ha, thats hilarious but yea, heavy acting and light singing? god, this is gonna be tough LOL...but fun!Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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Don't get me wrong -- Cogsworth appears in a good number of the big choral numbers like Be Our Guest and the Finale (as do the other principal objects like Babette, Lumiere, the Wardrobe, Potts and Chip). It's just that he only has a few solo lines ... so in that sense, the role isn't as vocally demanding as, say, Lumiere, who sings the lead on several songs.
As the Wardrobe, my solo singing is also limited to just a few lines, which really strikes me as strange considering I'm supposed to be this legendary opera diva, you know? But oh well -- it's still a lot of fun. Other than Belle, I think it's the only female role I'd want to play. I think she's hilarious!-- Kari
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Say_It_Somehow
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Re:Cogsworth: Beauty and The Beast - 2007/05/09 09:38 As the Wardrobe, my solo singing is also limited to just a few lines, which really strikes me as strange considering I'm supposed to be this legendary opera diva, you know? But oh well -- it's still a lot of fun. Other than Belle, I think it's the only female role I'd want to play. I think she's hilarious!
Hehe, I love Madame as well.
Congrats on getting Cogsworth! It's a fun acting part and I'm sure you will kick butt at it! "What care I for tinsel or glamour when I have friendship and true love?" ~June, "Gypsy"
"And the beauty is, when you realize, someone could be looking for a someone like you." ~Clara, "The Light in the Piazza"
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brucecriesxout
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Re:Cogsworth: Beauty and The Beast - 2007/05/23 23:34I had my first music rehearsal, i definatley get to sing a high c at the end of Be Our Guest and a high Bflat at the end of Human Again, god, I love being a first tenor. LOL.Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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