DASJr's History with the Two-Bit Players

1995:

LATE AUGUST:
* Began a Fall theater class with Two-Bit Player advisor Hank Moonschein.
* Auditioned for "Crawling Arnold", directed by Hank Moonschein. Got the role of Barry.

SEPTEMBER:
* Joined Two-Bit Players. Volunteered to be their alternate Club Representative when the other one couldn't attend Student Association meetings. Current president was Tom Jackson.
* Rehearsed and performed "Crawling Arnold" at CCC.

OCTOBER:
* Attended a Two-Bit Players theater trip to Stratford and Shaw, Canada. Saw several plays.
* Appeared in CCC Music Guild's "Down in the Valley", in which Two-Bit Players director Clare Reidy choreographed my dance sequences.
* Auditioned for "Take Five", directed by Tom Jackson. Got role of Alex. Began rehearsals at CCC.
* Constantly had to fill in for the Club Rep at Student Association meetings.
* Dressed up as a pirate to help with the Two-Bit Players' annual "Trick-or-Treat" Halloween festival.
* Attended a Two-Bit Players production of "How to Eat Like a Child", directed by Clare Reidy, and with an all-kids cast.

NOVEMBER:
* Rehearsed "Take Five" at CCC.
* Was recommended by Clare Reidy to Rafael Grigorian, who cast me in Rainbow Dance Arts Company's "The Russian Nutcracker".
* By this time, the real Club Rep stopped going to CCC, so I became the Club Representative.
* Wrote an article (with my own interviews and photos) on the "Take Five"/"Mid-Life Crisis of Dionysus" double-feature. The article appeared in the CCC newspaper, The Crier, the following month.

DECEMBER:
* Rehearsed and performed "Take Five".
* Auditioned for "Hamlet", directed by Clare Reidy. Got the role of Rosencrantz.

1996:

JANUARY:
* Began rehearsals for "Hamlet".
* Began an acting class with Clare Reidy.
* Began my second semester as a Two-Bit Player.
Opted to remain Club Representative, therefore becoming a Student Association member. Because of this, I began attending S.A. meetings every week. During many of these meetings, I would talk about upcoming shows by the Two-Bit Players.
At this time, Tom Jackson had left CCC, and Chris Callas was now Club President.

FEBRUARY:
* Continued rehearsing for "Hamlet".
* Helped run the Two-Bit Players' sign-up table at the college's Student Life Fair. Our table display included a TV that showed tapes I had made of previous Two-Bit Player shows.
* Went to represent the Two-Bit Players at the college's Team Trivia Challenge. However, the Two-Bits' team was full, so I played on another team. Both teams lost.
* Was one of a few people who went to a Student Leadership seminar on behalf of the Two-Bit Players.

MARCH:
* Provided the college newspaper with photos for their "Hamlet" article, which was printed that month.
* Rehearsed and performed "Hamlet".
* Provided funding for a proposed Two-Bit Players Spring 1996 T-shirt.
* Auditioned for "Another Opening, Another Show", directed by Hank Moonschein. Got several chorus roles, plus the role of Danny in the "Grease" segment.
* Nearly attended CCC's Team Sports festival, to root for a team comprised of fellow Two-Bit Players. But when we realized that there were too many real athletes on the other teams, we decided to have an impromptu meeting instead.
* Played another Team Trivia Challenge. Our group, representing the Two-Bit Players, won this time. The prize was one $25 gift certificate for each team member.
* Was selected by director Clare Reidy to play Count Dracula in "Seven Brides for Dracula", which was put on by our acting class. Began rehearsals, at around this time, at CCC.

APRIL:
* Continued rehearsals for Clare Reidy's "Seven Brides for Dracula" at CCC.
* Anonymously provided the college newspaper with an ad for "Another Opening, Another Show" and "Seven Brides for Dracula". The article was printed in full later that month.
* To get more people interested in the Two-Bit Players, I wrote an article about the good times the cast and crew had during "Hamlet" the previous month. The article was printed later that month, albeit in edited form.
* Went on a theater trip with club advisor Hank Moonschein, and other Two-Bit Players and fellow students. Went to New York City to see "Les Miserables".
* Rehearsed and performed "Another Opening, Another Show" at the college. During the final dress rehearsal, I stood in for Dan Puccio (who was unable to attend) during his duet with Amber LaBella.
* Read Japanese literature, with other Two-Bit Players, to an audience for International Week at CCC. Read a Japanese short story entitled "Marriage of a Mouse".
* Attended a Two-Bit Players party at club president Chris Callas's house.
* Helped the Two-Bit Players win a scavenger hunt, which was part of CCC's annual week-long "Springfest". Spent hours after classes assisting with the solving of puzzles, finding of items, and I created an audio cassette--at home--comprised of different song fragments and sound effects. Money and prizes were gladly donated to other Two-Bit Players.

MAY:
* Rehearsed and performed Clare Reidy's "Seven Brides for Dracula".
* Was given a certificate, for my work as the Two-Bit Players' S.A. representative, by the Student Association.
* Was nominated for one of several end-of-semester awards given to Two-Bit Players. Lost out, understandably, to officers Chris Callas and Kris "Wiz" Wisnewski, who organized a lot of the group's activities.
The other members began encouraging me, saying that next year, they would make me president (Chris Callas was graduating), and that my contributions would surely make me eligible for an award the following year.
* Attended a bowl-a-thon for the Two-Bit Players' upcoming theater trip. Having been too wrapped up in "Seven Brides for Dracula" to ask people to donate this-much-per-pin, I was there simply to support other players. However, I was one of only two members that attended.
* Went on another theater trip with Hank Moonschein and other Two-Bit Players and CCC students. Went to Stratford and Shaw, Canada, to see several plays.

JUNE:
* Attended a Two-Bit Players year-end party, held by Chris Callas, at member Martha Hackett's house.

AUGUST:
* Represented the Two-Bit Players (and Music Guild) at a CCC Student Leadership Conference at Keuka College.
During the conference, Chris Callas and I played--and won--a trivia contest together. We split up the prizes; he kept the CCC letter opener, and I kept the CCC paperweight.
Also during the conference, I met Jeff Spencer, who I would later persuade to join the Two-Bit Players with me.
* Back in college, ran for Two-Bit Player president. However, since none of the people that supported me the previous semester were attending meetings anymore, I lost out to "Hamlet" co-star Sally Egan.
When they voted on who'd get this position, it was decided that the loser would be vice-president. Hence, I became V.P. of the group, which I was happy to settle for, considering the circumstances.
At this time, Hank Moonschein had retired as head of the theater department, making Clare Reidy and Fran Wells the new advisors of the club.
* Began a TV acting class with Clare Reidy and Rick Leffel. My experiences that semester were generally less than terrific. (For more info on my experiences in this Fall 1996 class, see the "Miscellaneous Projects" section of "David's Film Page".)

SEPTEMBER:
* Helped run the Two-Bit Players' sign-up table at Student Life Fair at CCC. Provided the display with videos of previous performances, as well as a poster of photos from the previous year. Donated the poster to the group, so they could use it in future displays.
* Shortly after a session with my TV acting class, I agreed to lend my voice to an audio tape, which was used in Clare Reidy's "Graceland" later that month. (Because there were no roles available for me, I did not attend any of the previous month's auditions for this show.)
* Did ads for the "Graceland"/"Aseleep on the Wind" one-act double feature during various shows on the college radio station, WCEB 91.9 FM.
* Auditioned for the Two-Bit Players/Rotary production of "Bells are Ringing", directed by Ernie Danforth and B.J. Smith, at CCC. I was cast as Blake Barton and several minor or chorus roles. Began rehearsals at Corning's Masonic Temple (a.k.a. Frank B. Hower Scottish Rite Cathedral).
* Wrote an article on the "Graceland"/"Asleep on the Wind" one-act double feature, for the college newspaper. The article, which also talked about "Bells are Ringing", was not printed until after the one-acts had already been performed. The article also featured photos I had taken of the cast members during previous plays. (The published article also featured a lot of typos and other errors that I had nothing to do with.)
* Attended two performances of "Graceland" and "Asleep on the Wind". Video-taped the first show. Went to the second one just to watch it, but ended up backstage pulling the curtains instead (As a reward, I was invited to that evening's cast party).

OCTOBER:
* Did many ads for "Bells are Ringing" and "Sleeping Beauty" during various shows for the college radio station.
* Took pictures of the cast of "Sleeping Beauty" for an article I was writing for the college newspaper. However, when the editors made a last-minute decision not to release the next issue until after the play had been performed, the article was butchered accordingly.
* Co-ran a ticket-selling stand at Ames, with Ed Walenta, for "Bells are Ringing".
* Rehearsed, performed, and did crew work (lots of painting) for "Bells are Ringing" at the Masonic Temple. (Co-star Gary Yoggy was later asked to give my number to Nancy MacCaig, who informed me in January that I had landed a role in Amnon Kabatchnik's "Ten Little Indians" with Corning Vintage Theater.")
* Dressed as Count Dracula, ran another Trick-or-Treat station for the Two-Bit Players Halloween festival up at CCC. Assisting me was Zach Schoonover as Renfield.
* Attended two performances of Clare Reidy's "Sleeping Beauty" at CCC, video-taping the latter one. (Because of my involvement with "Bells are Ringing", Clare recommended that I not audition for this play.)

NOVEMBER:
* Went on a Two-Bit Players theater trip to see "Hamlet" co-star David Marion play the lead role in a Rochester production of Macbeth. The trip included advisor Clare Reidy and other Two-Bit Players.

DECEMBER:
* Auditioned for the one-act comedy "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls" at CCC. Landed the role of Lawrence. Though the play--to have been directed by student Jill Demonstoy--had already been cast, it was cancelled before rehearsals could commence. The reason: It was so near the end of the semester that Jill had become too busy to direct. (Because of this cancellation, I took Clare Reidy's suggestion to appear in another production of the "Nutcracker" ballet with Rainbow Dance Arts Company.)
* Auditioned for "Romeo and Juliet", directed by Clare Reidy, at CCC. Was given the role of Sampson. (During the audition, Clare informally appointed me Two-Bit Player president, since Sally Egan was now leaving.)

1997:

JANUARY:
* Began rehearsals for "Romeo and Juliet" at CCC.
* Ran the Two-Bit Players' sign-up table at another Student Life Fair. Arranged the entire display this time, once again showing off videos of the previous semester's plays. Also included were the poster I had made last semester, though one of the photos on it was missing, removed, and/or stolen.
* Attended my first Two-Bit Players meeting as its president. Rather than having the usual election, members decided to just let me keep the position.

FEBRUARY:
* Continued rehearsing for "Romeo and Juliet".

MARCH:
* Advertised "Romeo and Juliet" over the college radio station.
* Created the ill-fated "Two-Bit Telecasts". Here's the story:
Having constantly failed to get the current Two-Bit Players to participate in any club (i.e. non-play) activities, I managed to get one of the other members (Ken Simmons) to film some segments for a proposed TV special that would help get publicity for our upcoming play, "Romeo and Juliet".
The finished project was a local-access cable presentation of my video of last year's "Hamlet" production. Surrounding it were half-scripted video segments--filmed in the campus TV studio--featuring me and friend Tom Reinhardt as the hosts of the program. Also included was a brief clip from a "Romeo and Juliet" rehearsal, as well as an impromptu interview with Dion Clark.
I then took the tape, titled "Two Bit Telecasts, #1", to the Public Relations department of CCC. After several visits to this office, I was promised that the video would be shown on the local cable-access channel, and that I would be called and informed as to times and dates (I remember giving my number to the PR man on two seperate occassions).
The four-hour video was shown, without my knowledge, on a Friday morning (somewhere between noon and 2pm). I didn't find out about it being on until I went to CCC to prepare for a "Romeo and Juliet" performance that evening, after Larry Wilcox told me that he'd seen a bit of it.
In frustration over this (and my consecutive string of prior failed attempts to publicize a Two-Bit Players show since the previous semester had begun), I left this note on a door near the PR office (recreated here to the best of my memory):

To Public Relations/David,
Does [my phone number] mean ANYTHING to you?
You told me you'd let me know when you were going to show the tape IN ADVANCE. You didn't.
Only ONE GUY saw it while channel surfing. That's IT!
I want the tape RESHOWN, RETURNED, and CALL ME!
You have my number--Use it for a change.
-DASJr, TBP, [my phone number]

He did not call me. Instead, the publicity department informed advisor Clare Reidy of the note, saying they did not like the tone of it. She apologized for me, but never brought up the incident with me until later, when I asked her about the tape.
I eventually got the video back, but the damage had been done.
(SIDE NOTE: As I later found, Clare felt that I had not gotten her full permission to show the tape, even though it seemed like I had at the time. She was certainly aware that I was doing such a project.)
(For more info on "Two-Bit Telecasts", see the "Miscellaneous Projects" section of "David's Film Page".)
* Having failed in all my attempts to get publicity for Two-Bit Players shows during the '96-'97 college year (most recently the "Two-Bit Telecasts" fiasco), and after realizing that I couldn't bring the group together like Chris Callas did the previous year, I resigned from being president of the Two-Bit Players. The "Two-Bit Telecasts" incident led Clare to back my decision before I made it official.

MAY:
* Attended a Two-Bit Players production of "The Gin Game" featuring Hank Moonschein. (Having decided to let the Two-Bit Players handle their own publicity, I neglected to put anything about this play in the college paper the previous month. Also negligent was the paper itself, which didn't mention "The Gin Game", but did mention my apperance in the April production of "Ten Little Indians". Hank personally chastised me for this error during our theater trip to London and Scotland the following month.)
* By request, attended and video-taped a performance of "Parting Shots", a Two-Bit production of various skits and songs performed mainly by graduating Two-Bit Players actors. (Technically, I, too, was graduating that year, but was not asked to help out--though several underclassmen were.)
* By request, attended and video-taped a production of various sketches and monologues put on by Clare Reidy's acting classes. I lent the tape to one of the actresses in the production, and never saw it again.

JUNE:
* Went with Hank Moonschein and other people (including CCC actors) on a theater trip to London and Scotland. Amid all the sightseeing, we saw three plays. (To attend this trip, I gave up a role--possibly as the Pharoah--in Corning's Angels in the Wings production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", which I had auditioned for the previous month.)

JULY:
* Attended summer performances of the "Graceland"/"Asleep on the Wind" double-feature, "Love's Light Wings" (a collection of scenes form Shakespeare plays), and "Really Rosie" (which I filmed for someone else's collection), all directed by Clare Reidy. Also saw a Comedia Del Arte troupe directed by David Marion. (Since I was set to do Amnon Kabatchnik's production of "The Mousetrap" with Corning Vintage Theater in August, I did not audition for these summer shows, which the Two-Bit Players did in association with 171 Cedar Arts.)

AUGUST:
* Again saw the Comedia Del Arte troupe and "Love's Light Wings", as well as Steven Miller's production of "Children of Eden".
* By request, compiled a tape of "Romeo and Juliet" and "Parting Shots", which would be used for the following month's Student Life Fair at CCC.

SEPTEMBER:
* Wrote most of an article on former Two-Bit Players advisor Hank Moonschein, who had been injured during a fall he took at the gorge in Watkins Glen. The article gave information on where to send "get well" messages, and included an old photo I had taken of him.
* Auditioned for "Rumplestiltskin", directed by Fran Wells and Sally Egan, at CCC. It was the first audition I had completely failed. (This was harsh news, since I'd also been dissuaded the previous month from doing "Psycho Beach Party" when its planned September perfomance dates clashed with my rescheduled performances of "The Mousetrap". This led me to audition for Elmira Little Theater's November production of "Funny Girl", directed by Craig Bond. I managed to get some minor roles in that one.)
* Tried to start attending Two-Bit Players meetings again, perhaps to become an essential contributor like the good old days. Nonetheless, I was not told about the first meeting, and a college radio meeting made me miss the Two-Bits' elections, meaning I'd miss a chance at becoming president or V.P. again.
I attended several meetings between this month and December, but I was a non-officer, my input was ignored by much of the group, and members were generally unenthusiastic. So, I decided that I'd be better off waiting until the Spring to renew my relationship with the Two-Bit Players as a club (especially considering that I didn't have parts in either of their plays for that semester).

OCTOBER:
* Was talked into co-running a trick-or-treat station, with a friend of my then-girlfriend, for the Two-Bit Players' annual Halloween festival. This time, I dressed up as the faceless figure of Death. I had a mask covering my face so that other Two-Bit Players wouldn't know I was helping out (It didn't work, though).
* Attended a performance of "Rumplestiltskin", by request of a friend who was in the show. The friend had come to see me in "The Mousetrap", so I was returning the favor.

DECEMBER:
* Auditioned for Shakespeare play "As You Like It", directed by Clare Reidy, at CCC. Failed it completely. During the audition, Clare suggested that I try out instead for ELT's upcoming "Noises Off" because the slapstick comedy was "more your kind of show". (Luckily, I had upcoming performances of RDAC's "Nutcracker" and ELT's "A Visit to the Golden Age of Radio" to tide me over.)

1998:

JANUARY:
* Suggested and wrote a front-page article on "As You Like It" for the February issue of the college newspaper. The article included photos I had taken of its cast members during previous plays. (I also provided the paper with info on two of the shows I was rehearsing for at the time: 171 Cedar's "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls" and RDAC's "Romeo & Juliet".)

FEBRUARY:
* Appeared with Two-Bit advisor Clare Reidy in the RDAC ballet version of "Romeo & Juliet". During a rehearsal for that show, she complimented me on the newspaper article I had written about "As You Like It". She also offered me money to take publicity photos of the cast, but I was never contacted.

MARCH:
* Included another mention of "As You Like It" in the March issue of the CCC newspaper (which also mentioned my "Noises Off" play with ELT, as well as my "Muder in the Air" show with Radio ala Carte).
* Attended an evening performance of Clare Reidy's "As You Like" at CCC.
* Auditioned for an Elmira Little Theater production of "Crimes of the Heart", directed by Two-Bit Players advisor Clare Reidy. Failed the audition completely.
* Submitted a review of CCC's "As You Like It" to the college newspaper. The mostly-positive (but occassionally critical) review appeared in the April issue.
* Talked Clare--over the phone--into promoting "Crimes of the Heart" in the April issue of the Crier. Her article also mentioned the play her acting class was putting on that semester.
It was during this phone call (and another in April) when I also brought up the possibility of the Two-Bits doing another "Parting Shots" show, this time with me in it. According to Clare, it seemed quite possible.

APRIL:
* Submitted two scripts (adapted from comedy pieces on my Adam Sandler albums) to Clare's office for possible use in the new "Parting Shots". I also requested a letter of recommendation from her that I could send to my transfer college.
I later learned from Clare (via e-mail) that, since the other graduating actors were so busy doing other things, another "Parting Shots" show would not happen. My consolation was that she made the letter of recommendation for me, as I'd requested. (This letter is reprinted at the beginning of another section of my site.)
* Discussed the possibility of having a small role in a new version of "Seven Brides For Dracula", one of the two acting class plays that Clare was putting on in May. Though she brought up the idea of me helping out in the cast, she had already given all the roles away by then. Though she initially didn't have enough people in her class to fill the roles, she had already recruited Jeff Spencer (who had been in all of the Two-Bit Players' shows that year) to help out with the cast. So, as usual, there was nothing for me to do in Clare's plays.
Additionally, as this was the last play of the college year, I had now officially gone through my entire last year at CCC without any roles in any of the college plays.
* Thanked several Two-Bit Players in a "good-bye" article for the college newspaper. The article, titled "David's Last Words", was published the following month.

AUGUST:
* Appeared with Two-Bit Players advisor Clare Reidy in an Elmira City School District production of "Oliver". The hat used by Jack Olcott in the play was provided by me, but was not mine. In fact, the hat was one I used at the Two-Bit Players' "trick-or-treat" Halloween festival back in October 1995, when I was first assisting the club. Though I'd intended to return the hat soon after I was done with it, it had remained in my possession for almost three years. Now, I finally had the will to return it, if only for the sake of "Oliver". After the final performance, Clare returned the hat to the Two-Bit Players green room of CCC, and I prepared to leave Corning (and its college drama club) far behind.

EPILOGUE:
And so (it seems) ends my history with the Two-Bit Players drama club of Corning Community College.
My first year in the club (particularly Spring 1996) was filled with plays (five), activities, parties, and friends.
Meeting the Two-Bit Players also opened a window of opportunities that later connected me to other area theater groups, with whom I would do many off-campus shows.
But by the second year, my drama-club status at the college itself had dwindled. I was getting fewer roles at CCC, and therefore less exposure to (and communication with) my fellow college classmates.
By my third year, I was non-existant to the group. Failed auditions and lukewarm support from other members were the closest I got to any roles in any of the plays up at the college. And though I had tried to support Clare Reidy and the club by attending most of their shows, I did not receive the same support in return.
In the end, I still seemed to retain the respect of its advisors and members, but failed to regain the glory (and fun, and enjoyment) of my first year. And despite any genuine admiration that the Two-Bit Players may have (or have had) for my efforts to support the group, I leave CCC feeling used up and thrown away.
A poem of mine that best expresses my feelings here is "Jaded". Penned during my first year at CCC (February 1996, to be precise), it was written with one friend in mind, but is now an effective description of my experiences with the Two-Bit Players, complete with references to stage doors and curtains. Though the poem was written during a mainly positive period in my Two-Bit Player history, it seems now that I'd had that sinking feeling all along, the deep-down feeling that the curtain was going to come down on me far, far too early.