Behind The Scenes: Episode 3

Step into the captivating world of "Behind The Scenes," a compelling series crafted by the talented Giuliana Mancini. In this immersive exploration, she delves deep into the lives of fellow actors she encounters while navigating the relentless audition circuit. Experience the raw emotions and untold stories of performers as they share their daily tribulations and triumphs in the pursuit of their dreams.

February 28th, 2025 

It’s a beautiful Friday morning. 

Crisp. Warm. 

Deceptive Spring. 

I walk into the Equity Building. 

It’s 10:44am. 

I don’t have a slot. Today’s audition is Forestburgh Playhouse’s EPA for their 2025-2026 season, and Greenbrier Valley Theater’s ECC for their production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. I’m planning on just going to Forestburgh Playhouse’s EPA. 

I took my time to come in this morning. 

Frankly, my body is still recovering from the flu… Like every other person in New York. Sickness seemed to knock out every friend or friend of a friend throughout one point of the month. 

I walk up to George. 

I think we all know George. 

If you don’t, let me describe him for you. 

George is tall and calm. 

He runs an Equity call with a precision & clarity that’s incredibly impressive, but also soothing, especially considering how chaotic these calls can be. 

When I see George at an audition, I feel immediately safe, because I know we’re in good hands. I sign up, number 68 on the Equity Alternates list. 

When slots are filled for the day, there’s an Equity Alternate list. 

After that, there’s an Equity Membership Candidate list 

After that, there’s the Non-Union list. 

It’s a lot of people to sort through. 

There’s a lot of people on the 16th floor. 

It feels like all of those friends or friends of friends that had the flu or Norovirus or COVID or whatever nasty cold was going around rested up and are here today. 

I sit down in an area that seems just far enough away from the crowd, and just close enough I can still hear George’s booming voice. 

He’s calling from the Alt list… number 23. I know I have time. 

I try to see if there’s anyone I could interview. 

I look around, and see a bandana covering a head of titian colored hair. 

Liz is deeply engrossed in her book, but occasionally looks up and around at her surroundings. Grounded, but attentive. 

Gracious, but focused. 

I think she’s the right person to talk to.

Giuliana: Could you just tell me your name and your pronouns? 

Liz: Hey, I’m Liz, she/her 

G: Slay. What are you auditioning for today? 

L: uh, I did the Beauuuuutiful Greenbrier call this morning, and now I’m waiting for the Forestburgh one. 

G: Oh My God, slay. How did that first one go? 

L: Honestly, for being 9:30 in the morning, it went, it went alright. A nice warm room, like, they were nice, and yeah. 

G: That’s awesome. What time did you get up this morning? 

L: I got up at 7. 7am. 

G: And what was the situation, did you have a time slot already, what are we working with? L: Okay, so I signed up for the ECC last week, and I knew that I was like 13 online, so I knew I was going to be early. It’s giving Group One. 

G: Totally 

L: So it’s 7, I wake up, make my little coffee, yada yada, and make my way here. I already had a time slot for Forestburgh, so. I feel like that never happens. Like, never ever. Like, one day, I was number 200, and it’s looking like I might get [a time slot], and then I did. 

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Quick interjection!

For those who may not be aware, when an Equity member signs up for auditions, they do so through an online portal. The portal will open at a certain time, and give its members 15 minutes to join the queue for whatever signups are happening that day. After 15 minutes, the portal will randomly assign those in the queue a number, and once it is your turn in line, then you may select an audition. 

What Liz is speaking to is the chaos that has really reigned over this audition season, more so than others I, personally, have experienced. In June of 2021, Actors Equity introduced the Open Access policy, an alternative route to joining the union. Before this policy, it was only possible to join the union through an Equity contract, or gaining Equity “points”, which were granted by however many weeks of work one completed at an Equity theater. 

Because the union has allowed an open access policy, many more actors are competing for the same number of union jobs. It’s important to note that a strong union is vital to the success of a workforce. I, personally, am the daughter of a labor lawyer, and deeply value the power of unions. However, it is clear from going to the calls how tempting it has become to simply join for the benefit of being seen. 

Who can blame a young actor, if they believe in their talent, feel ready to join, or are, quite frankly, just sick of the unsafe conditions that come with signing up for a call? Waking up at all hours of the morning, to sign your name on a list, if not at the Equity Building, skipping a day of work, only for the slim chance to be seen? Who can blame the actors who were granted entry through their EMC points, or an Equity contract, rightfully frustrated about the policy crowding an already packed room? Who can blame the union, who, like the industry at large, is trying to stay afloat financially, after two years of making no income thanks to the big "You Know What?" 

. 

. 

. 

I digress.

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G: Literally Blessed. 

L: Few and far between, to be honest. 

G: A win is a win. 

L: We take them where we can get them, let me tell ya. 

G: What do you do besides acting to like… earn money? 

L: Sure. 

G: I don’t like the term day job because like… rich people have multiple jobs. Do you know what I mean? Anyways. What are your other income slays? 

L: Income slays include the classic caterer actor trope, which… honestly I thought was going to be dead for the first couple of months of the year. But it has been rather fruitful so far, so that is what’s paying the rent bills. And also, dog walking here and there, babysitting here and there, I also sub dance classes for different friends at different theaters north of the city. Really just gig based things, because especially right now, I want to keep most of the day open to do things like this. The other job. The auditioning job. 

G: The job that we’re not paid for yet. 

L: Exactly. 

G: How long have you lived in New York for? 

L: Today marks four years. Literally today! 

G: wooooooooooooooow. 

L: I know. I moved in February of 2021. 

G: How are you feeling about New York so far? 

There’s a pungent pause. Liz makes a face. 

Kind of like a Sourpatch Kid; first it’s sour, then it’s sweet. 

G: for sure for sure for sure. 

L: Pungent Pause. 

I love New York. I see myself living here indefinitely. I have really fallen in love with my apartment, and I think that has changed my life. I think it’s just the first home that I’ve had outside of my parents home. I went to college and did that whole thing. But that was, you know, fake independence to me. It was just like, I’m still in school, I have very regimented things set up for me. But then, moving here, I was able to choose my space, create my space, choose the people I wanted to live with and really curate that for myself. And that is the best thing about coming home now, like, this is where I call home. My parents moved out of my childhood home, and so that ‘home’ so to speak is gone, that I spent 20 years in. So I have a deep love for New York, and this is where most of my friends are. 

G: But can I ask about that pungent pause? Because that pause was telling. I think… 

and I don’t know if you agree with this because we just met, quite literally, a couple of minutes ago, but living in New York is really hard. And it’s really hard for a lot of different reasons, it’s just a really harsh place to live. It’s constant, and it’s extremely demanding and extremely excruciating at points, and there’s a reason why people are not affected when they see a girl sobbing on the subway. It’s because that’s just - 

L: You’re completely desensitized -

G: Totally. 

L: to SO much. And I really recognize that. Especially when I go back to my parents and I’m like, telling stories of things that happen in the city and my parents are like clutching their pearls they’re like, “What? What do you mean?” 

G: Yeah. 

L: That’s just, that’s just a regular day on the subway. And, remembering the humanity around us, and trying to connect with my humanity even as I see people is like… 

Liz takes a deep breath. 

L: It’s sad to get so desensitized. I don’t know if I’ve met someone like this who has lived in New York that hasn’t been. Because it’s constantly around us, and we too have to move forward in this city 

G: And Survive. 

L: And Survive! And everyone’s on a different hustle, right? A hustle to make rent, a hustle to get this job, like, that aspect, that kind of tension in this city, I feel from everyone. 

G: Yeah, you could go on the subway, and you’re sitting next to, like, people that want to be the best in whatever field they’re in. And that’s really motivating and that’s really amazing. But it’s also a lot of pressure. Kind of constantly. Especially when you’re just like, “I just want my mom!”

L: I know!!!!! And you’re just living day to day. I actually am so sorry, I have to go sign in for this. 

G: oh my god, go go go! 

Liz runs over to George and checks in for her audition. 

G: Okay and we’re baaaaaaaack! 

L: We’re back! 

G: Because you are checked in, I want to respect your time, so I’ll only ask you one more question. What is the best and hardest part of all of this? 

L: The hardest part is finding the drive each day. And it can be day to day. I think, choosing to show up when you don’t feel like you’re gonna give 115%, I think that there’s so much more power in just showing up, and being like, “Hey, this is me today”. 

G: Yeah. 

L: Because this is an industry where you’re supposed to be showing life on stage, I’m gonna show you my life in real time. And if I can’t drop into this song the same way, hopefully there’s humanity behind the table as well and they can see that in me. The hardest part is definitely showing up. The early morning, the burnout, and just like the… me thinking of all the things that are horrible first. 

The waiting between doing the thing that you actually want to do, and missing that, and not feeling like you’re filling your cup in that way. But, I’d say, the best thing is finding the community. Like I love this, that we just got to sit down, and are like, “Hey we’re two actors doing this, going through the same thing”.

I have met my literal best friends, either in school for this, or on contracts, or what have you, and they are the people that keep me going. I find that everyday I can talk to like minded people who are going through the same thing and we can kind of sit and share in our struggles and successes.

G: Love that! Well, thank you so much for your time. Is there a place where folks can find you, via Instagram or a website, all that sexy stuff? 

L: Sure! On Instagram, it’s @lizzdavviss. And my website is www.lizdavisnyc.com.

G: Amazing. Thank you so much. Break legs!