I also had my first rehearsal with Cherub Improv this month and am looking forward to performing regularly with them. We perform at hospitals, senior homes, hospice, homeless shelter, cancer support organizations and many other venues where we can utilize our talent to make a positive impact in the lives of those who really need to smile.

Lastly (for this update) I’m performing in a reading on Friday called “Collected Stories: The Best and Worst of Me and You” by Corey Pajka. I portray a playwright that’s trying to sort through his recently failed relationship and possibly win back his ex-girlfriend by writing a play. The show plays at 11pm in the Richmond Shepard Theater at 309 East 26th Street, New York, NY after Wide-Eyed’s presentation of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Admission is $10 at the door.

Whew! Well, I’m off to Brooklyn.

Nothing in N.Y. comes easy. That’s why when you achieve something you feel like you own the world. At this point in my career though, it doesn’t always take me long to realize I don’t. I’m sitting in Starbucks waiting for my very first rehearsal with Cherub Improv, a group that performs improv comedy at hospital, correctional facilities, nursing homes, etc… It should be an exciting moment. Instead, I’m haunted by my lack of income.

I shouldn’t be worrying about this. I should be in performing RENT. I got cast to do a regional production. But, sadly, I got uncast suspiciously close to my rejection of the producer’s offer to let him be “a bad influence” during the production. “I’m looking forward to being friends, but I meant that in the plutonic sense”, I said shortly after he tried to kiss me. “That’s too bad because I’m not looking for plutonic friends,” he replied. The next day I received a call stating that I was too young to play opposite their Roger.

It happens I guess. It sucked. I missed out on what would have been a lot of money I could’ve made doing bus tours during the holidays. I also canceled lots of day jobs. Then I struggled to find replacements. Standing in the cold handing out flyers seemed most profitable and reliable after going through a slew of other options. But now, even that’s dried up. I’m tired of looking for survival work and feel I’m missing my chance to find actual paying acting work.

I sit in Starbucks lost and feeling too exhausted with the problem to find a solution. Where will I find the energy? I must because I cannot let go of my dreams.

Matt works hard for the money but the ideas don’t always pay off. Today he hatches yet another scheme.

So, the idea solution to this problem is to just book a show that pays more than most of the shows I book. But I have no way of knowing if that will happen. And aside from my regular bills I need to send out postcards to tell everyone about the parts I’ve booked, I need money to print off my new headshots, I need money for my classes and to be able to meet casting people (oh yes, that’s a whole other can of worms — we’ll discuss later). It’s expensive to be an actor.

Lately I’ve been paying the bills flyering in Times Sq. Sometimes I teach computer lessons or build websites. I had a temp agency. I’ve waited tables. I’ve written magazine articles. I’ve setup video games for corporate parties. I do bus tours… yes I do. So yesterday my roommate asked me to take a look at his computer. It was speaking and crashing. Crazy right? Well, it just so happens I’m very good at fixing things like that. So while I was sitting there, going through the system registry. I thought, I’m going to make a Craigslist ad. Maybe I can get people to pay me to fix their laptops. Anything to keep money in my pocket and a flexible schedule.

Matt is inspired to spend four hours simmering things he found in his refrigerator by the daddy of all theatre publications./

So, it’s certainly been a while since I posted to musings. 2009 got a little crazy — in a good way. I was booking shows left and right and so my whole struggling artist thing didn’t seem to make much sense. But then I discovered Playbill listed my website and talked about my blog that explored life as an actor. Well, that inspired me to keep going. I still do plenty of struggling, but I’m also having a bit more success. So, in 2010, I promise to give you a larger picture of the life of an actor and try to explain everything there is to know about our way of life no matter what stage of my career I’m at. It’s not going to be all business, business, business though… oh, no! It’ll be a picture of my life. So, anyway, my first post in 2010, is part of what I hope will be a series of videos on how to cook on an actor’s budget. Enjoy! Continue reading The Actor’s Diet

Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks

- Preheat oven to 475.

- Take the drumsticks and roll them in Italian breadcrumbs mixed with romano cheese and cajun seasoning. If you made your own, add parsley and garlic.

- Put chicken legs in the oven. After about 30 minutes they should start to crackle. Turn them over and cook for a few minutes longer. Take out and eat.

Chicken Stock

ingredients: chicken leg bottoms with bones, olive oil, red onion, garlic, jalapeños, potato, celery, cilantro, basil, oregano, black pepper, salt, whatever you find in your apartment that sounds good

- Boil lots of water

- Put chopped garlic and onions in the bottom of the pot with olive oil and heat till you can smell it. Then add pieces of chicken with bones — skin too if you wish.

- Stir the contents of the pot till all the chicken is white and things are smelling very chickenny. Is that a word?

- Next add the water and all of the chopped vegetables and your spices.

- Simmer for about 4 hours.

* Note: I used a lot of jalapeño and red pepper flakes in the film. I like things a little spicy. If you realize you’ve made it too spicy though, just add a teaspoon of baking soda. That will resolve the issue.

You just couldn’t get enough of us when we blew the roof off of “The Duplex.”

You threw your panties at us when we rocked it out in “Birdland”… mom, you really shouldn’t have.

Now… prepare to buy us drinks while our legendary voices (ask our kindergarten teachers) intoxicate your senses.

ONE NIGHT ONLY @ The Laurie Beechman Theatre… Colte Julian and Matt Falber sing and play the piano. Featuring some of New York’s finest talent hand picked by The After Party’s very own Brandon Cutrell. You won’t want to miss it.

When: 9:30pm on Tuesday, Dec 1

Where: The Laurie Beechman Theatre

Now you can book your tickets to the show right on my website! Tickets are $20. There is a $1.50 handling fee (it shows up as tax for some reason but it’s the handling fee) and your tickets will be available for you at the theatre box office. $15 Food and/or Beverage Minimum. Doors open 1/2 hour prior to show.

Brandon Cutrell
MAC AWARD and BISTRO AWARD winner Brandon Cutrell made his entrance on the New York cabaret stage in 2001’s It’s an Art: The Music of Stephen Schwartz (with Stephen Schwartz). Other New York credits: Broadway By The Year (Town Hall, directed by Emily Skinner), The 2nd Annual Broadway Unplugged (Town Hall), Pippin (with Ben Vereen and Rosie O’Donnell), Liz Swados’ Waiting For Lefty and David Friedman’s King Island Christmas. Nationally, Brandon has performed with Theatre of the Stars, Goodspeed Musicals, the Human Race Theatre, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Brandon’s solo cabaret debut, entitled, was honored by TheaterMania as the best debut show of 2002 and by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), which honored Brandon in 2003 with the MAC Award for Best Male Debut. Brandon’s show, No Reservations, enjoyed a four month run in New York and received the praise of Stephen Holden in The New York Times. No Reservations also earned Brandon his second MAC Award, the 2005 MAC Award for Outstanding Male Vocalist, and the 2005 Back Stage Bistro Award for Outstanding Male Vocalist. For nearly two years, Brandon was the original Host of Mostly Sondheim. Brandon made his debut in the Algonquin’s Oak Room when he was named a finalist in the Algonquin’s Young Artist Competition. In June of 2006, Brandon made his solo debut at Feinstein’s, New York’s legendary nightclub on Park Avenue. Every Monday night during the summer, Brandon and his musical director, Ray Fellman, can be found at the Ice Palace on Fire Island as the Hosts of Brandon and Ray’s Broadway At The Beach.

The son of a United Methodist preacher, Brandon was born and raised in Indiana. It was in the church where Brandon at the age of three made his solo debut. In addition to sacred choral music and hymns, Brandon was very influenced musically by his mother’s record collection, which included gospel singer Sandi Patty, Johnny Mathis, The Carpenters, Barry Manilow and Anne Murray. Brandon’s life was forever changed when in 1994 he was introduced to the wonder of the Nancy LaMott.

The Laurie Beechman Theater
Downstairs at the West Bank Cafe is the Laurie Beechman Theater, a performance and private event space that has hosted hundreds of readings, radio broadcasts, plays, musicals, and concerts since it opened in 1982.

October 28th @ The Duplex (Christopher and 7th Ave) @ 9:30pm
Come see me and Colte Julian perform contemporary musical theatre favorites by Jason Robert Brown, Pasek and Paul, and Steven Schwartz. You can purchase tickets for the cabaret show by using the button below:

But wait, there’s more…

October 30th @ Tada Theatre (28th and Broadway) @ 10:00pm
I’ll be barechested and hosting Lucky Artist’s “Night Before Halloween Fundraiser”, an evening of theatre and fun, as The Emcee from Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret.

Friday, October 30, 2009 at 10:00pm
The Tada Theatre @ 28th and Broadway