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| Introducing to the world...J.D. Phillips 'Living his dreams'. |
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Believe your dreams so you can live your dreams
Copyright Houston Sun 2006 Interview by: Natasha M. Dixon
Hollywood, Ca---Sometimes we find it hard to expect the positive especially when everything around us represents the complete opposite. I want to share a story with you that moved me not only because I was involved in this miraculous event and was able to witness it first hand, but because I understand the magnitude of sharing.
On Monday, August 28th, 2006 J.D. Phillips, 14 years old, showed up at a Theatre in Los Angeles for the open call of a World Premier play, “13”, he was joined by 256 other kids his age. They were all required to sing 16 bars of a legit Broadway song.
The week before his mother found him a voice coach to help teach him a song. First thing he had to do was chose a song. J.D. remembered a song he had learned with a voice coach a few years prior and chose that one. “He’s the Wiz”. His voice coach, Larry Walker, who was referred by www.J4UEntertainment.com, took his voice to a whole new level. He was prepared.
Two hours after the first audition he received a call back for the next day for the acting portion of the audition process. Since J.D. has studied at Amazing Grace Conservatory for several years he knew exactly what to do when he received the sides (the script) for “Brett”.
When I asked J.D. what he did to prepare for this character he said “I did my character analysis, and then I just did it.” Because of the magnitude of this audition and knowing that if he booked this show he would be working with a Tony award winning team he and his mother decided to go to coaching with Jeris Poindexter. The acting audition went well.
The next day he was back at the theatre for the dance part of the audition. This turned out to be a two hour dance audition. It was a breeze for J.D., because he is a member of his high schools competitive hip-hop team, and continuously takes master dance classes at local studios.
That day he drank plenty of water had a good lunch, and showed up at the theatre with his dancing shoes and a bottled water ready to dance. He impressed both casting directors and producers enough to receive a call for the final audition that took place exactly one month after the first. September 21, 2006. This final audition would consist of dancing, singing, and acting.
On September 20, 2006 J.D. caught the flu. He stayed home from school on September 21st J.D. stayed in bed until it was time to get ready for his audition. He drank plenty of fluids and pulled it together for one last try at landing the role of Brett. It was five hours packed with learning songs and dances.
At 8:30 that evening the kids were dismissed they were told “We are out of time. So we are only asking a few of you to stay for the acting portion of this audition. If we don’t call your name this doesn’t necessarily mean you will not be a part of the show.” They did not call J.D.’s name.
He walked out of the Theatre and left it all behind. He told his mother. “I did fine, and I can’t worry about it.” They never talked about it again until they received a call mid October offering J.D. the role of Brett’s Understudy and they were told the lead cast is starting end of October, but the understudies start late November.
They took the part for the opportunity to work with a Tony award winning team. They received another call a couple of weeks later saying that production wanted to have a session with J.D. His mother asked “What does this mean” casting said “Oh, that we just want to bring a few kids in to see where we should place them.” This “session” was scheduled for Nov. 9th. On Nov. 6th they received a call asking them to come in On Nov.7th.
On November 7th J.D. went to school in the morning to take a biology midterm. His mother picked him up and asked as she does before almost every audition, “Are you excited?” J.D.’s answer is usually “Yes”, with enthusiasm. This time he answered “Yeah, but I just don’t know what they are doing I thought I already had the understudy part”. His mother replied “Well, let’s just say they are considering you for the lead role”.
They arrived at the theatre early and studied lines in the car and did some vocal exercises. A few days prior J.D. and his mother had the opportunity to watch a film about attracting exactly what you want into your life. The film is called “The Secret” www.thesecret.tv. So, just before going in J.D.’s mom said “Why don’t you visualize before we go in.”
He said “What will I visualize?” She said “How about you visualize everything going great from the minute you walk in the door. Visualize you doing your scene exactly how you want, them nodding and laughing exactly where they are supposed to, you singing your song exactly how you want – hitting every note, and how about you visualize them offering you the lead and not the understudy.” He said “Okay”
They entered the Theatre. Several other boys waited to audition and four of them were there for the role of Brett. J.D. did not let this affect him. In fact he acted as if he never even saw that. That audition lasted two hours. He went in for singing, came out. Then acting, came out, and finally dancing.
When he and his mother left the Theatre that day he was a little disappointed because he had dropped a football once that was in the dance number. His mother said “Don’t worry about it, because that football is not going to make or break you getting the part.”
Approximately two hours later J.D.’s mother received a call form casting asking “We want to know J.D.’s availability for the week.” His mother said “Oh, he’s available” casting said “Okay..” his mother said “What’s going on?” casting said “We want to put him on hold for the role of Brett” his mother said “Oh that’s great” casting said “Well, it’s for the lead role of Brett not the understudy”
Three hours later while J.D.’s mom was in the store buying him a football she received the call “We would like to offer J.D. the lead role of Brett”
You can catch J.D. as Brett in the play”13’ that opens Jan. 7th. For more information about the play log on to www.centertheatregroup.org.
J.D. is now living his dream. He is out of school for four months at theatre with a studio teacher; the show opens at the Mark Taper Forum on January 7th with the possibility of going to Broadway. Never turn your back on your dreams even when they don’t seem possible. If your mind can conceive it you can achieve it. |