Sunday Funday at The Friend and more!

Sunday ended up being a really busy and fun day!  After I had my Table Read for Popcorn Talk on Friday I had an audition for a musical that's going up for the Hollywood Fringe Festive.  I got a call-back for the musical on Sunday evening so that was an exciting way to start my night!

A Vodka Mojito at The Friend

Sunday mornings Rutherford and I always take a nice long walk around the neighborhood, we do some training, and it tuckers him out for a few hours and allows me to get some work done.  I had my call-back in the early evening and it went really well.  I felt very connected to the character and had prepped it on Saturday so I was completely memorized.  After that I rushed over to West Hollywood to see my friend Mike Strassner in his Groundlings Show with my co-worker from Bar Lubitsch, Geri!  It was called, 'What Happens in Sunday Stays in Sunday' and it was my first ever Groundlings Show.  Such a fun time and Strass did a great job!

Jared, the owner of Bar Lubitsch was having a little Friends & Family Night at his new bar, The Friend, in Silver Lake that night!  DJ Matt Wise was spinning the tunes, there were complimentary Absolut and Tequila cocktails, and a bunch of my co-workers from Lubitsch were all going.  Unless we have something planned, it's really hard to get all of us together in one place at one time.  I don't usually go out in Silverlake as it's a trek from Culver City but it ended up being a great night.  It was great to see all my friends at The Friend ;)

Lubitsch Ladies, Lauren, Ashley, myself, Geri, and Anita!

Unfortunately, I missed Dinner so Adam and I had a little 'Office' night at my apartment and he made his famous Taco's and had a little Rutherford time.  A full day from beginning to end, filled with acting, inspiration, and good friends.  A perfect Sunday Funday.

'Children's Playhouse' Web Series

We started back up with the Web Series that Adam created last year!  In fact, it's been nearly a year since our first day of filming and episode one is ready for your viewing pleasure but we're not putting it out until we have the other three that we shot this weekend edited and finished!  So it's a really exciting and testing of our patience time!

When you're trying to get everyone in the selfie
and someone takes a picture of your attempt ;)

We spent three days getting everything done for the next three episodes, shooting at Adam's apartment, a secret bar location in Culver City, and then in the rec room at my apartment complex.  Each day was filled with lots of Improv as that fits the storyline and how Adam wanted the series to go.  Since I'm the new girl to town, I'm still getting to know everyone and what Sunnyside has to offer.  Of course, I end up causing some problems and throw a wrench into the mix but I won't give any more than that away!

Everyone really came together, with our friends jumping in to help with lighting, sound, props, producing, craft services, and I think it just shows our dedication to something we love!  Thanks to Lauren for bringing donuts on Friday because I ended up eating two and a half...the most donuts I've had in nearly a year since the last time I had one was on National Donut Day.  Adam pulled out some emotion from me on Saturday, as the scene was one of the few serious moments, and we had other 'game-changing' moments to film that day, too!

Day 1 of filming 'Children's Playhouse!'

Thanks to everyone for being the professional awesome people they are and I can't wait to see the final product!  I know Adam has already gone through footage and is loving what he's been seeing.  I'll be sharing it as soon as we put it out there and hopefully it'll even hit the festival circuit :)

Friday the 13th Improv Show

On Friday the 13th we had our first Aces of Improv Show of the year!  We finally had a Friday performance which meant I was able to be involved.  It was a small cast with a bunch of games and we ended up with a really great and supportive audience.  We did a bunch of short-form games and all of us had a blast! 

Before the Improv Show 'Album Cover'

Emily and I got to work together on the first scene where I became Abu from 'Aladdin.'  We were searching for treasure in Agrabah, and monkey poop (I know) became the theme of the game for all the groups in Three Couple Switch.  It was a really fun scene.  I'm always nervous about playing Opera but it usually ends up being a great time, and this was no different.  As Wayne and Nathan started the scene, they called for a bear, so I had to pull out another animal, and decided being Yogi Bear in the cave would be the best choice, while we all searched for picnic baskets.  Oh the places you will go!  Our audience member shared a very vague 'Day in the Life' which is actually helpful because we, as the performers, are able to add to the scene.  The male audience member chose Rachel to play him in the scene, and I ended up being a girlfriend he never talks about.  Everyone was able to jump in and keep the scene moving along in a fun and exciting way.  Next up was the Dating Game, with myself, Emily, and Katie as the Daters and Nathan figuring out who we were all assigned to play by the audience.  I got Beyonce and I became a bootylicious performer, who talked about my child, Blue Ivy, and when asked what I feared, I responded with "Nothing."  Nathan was able to figure all of us out and I think we all love playing games like this or Party Quirks because it really gets the audience involved.  I was also a part of Cue Word and New Choice, which is one of my favorite games.  We usually close the show with Park Bench and then sometimes a group Improv Song.  Our Park Bench was set in Uzbekistan and while Nathan's accent was spot on, I had no idea what to do as a character choice.  When Wayne went in with his falafel cart, I figured Rachel and I could be Sorority Cheerleaders from California who scored 1600 on our SATs.  While Rachel raided the falafel cart, Emily and I chatted up Nathan, and the other guys came in to scare off all of us tourists.  It was an awesome end to our show!

After the Improv Show for Cocktails at Bar Lubitsch!

I understand that this may not make much sense to those reading it but that just means find an Improv show in your town and go!  If you're in LA, you're in luck, because they are everywhere and on a night you're sure to be free.  We follow the format of 'Whose Line Is It Anyway,' and it's pure comedy for all ages.  Just make sure you're 'yes-anding' and not asking any questions and we'll see you at our next show :)

Aces of Improv (Diamond Edition)

At the end of January the Aces of Improv put on a show at Three Clubs in Hollywood!  I've been a part of most of our CAC Studios Improv Shows and was really excited about this one because I was also The Ace of Diamonds!

We always have so much fun doing these shows.  We had a full house and lucky for me, I had a bunch of friends in the audience!  Thank you to Jamie & Alan, Ashley, Raph & Carlos, and Brian for coming to the show and supporting me as well as my fellow Improvisers.  I loved looking into the audience and seeing everyone having a great time and enjoying the show :)  When we're performing, I think we all wish we could do an even longer show!

FriYAY's Improv Cast! (Zach, Jason, Adam, Hadiyyah, Dan, Kenni, Giana, and myself - minus Nathan)

At the show we debuted a new game we called 'Cards Against Improv' basically using the cards from Cards Against Humanity and having to justify what the cards say.  It certainly brought a lot of laughter from the audience and hilarity ensued.  Playing 'A Day in the Life' was a blast as well, I discovered a new character for myself, and got to play a bunch of different characters throughout the game.

Cards Against Improv, A Day in the Life, and Three Wives Improv Games

Our next show will be in March and I'll keep everyone posted as to when I'll be performing!  You can always find info about our shows at CAC Studios on our website at: www.cacstudios.com Keep laughing!

'This Isn't Funny' Movie Premiere

'This Isn't Funny' Premiere

Earlier this month, the Hosts at Afterbuzz were invited to the movie premiere for 'This Isn't Funny' which was produced by Maria Menounos & Keven Undergaro, our Afterbuzz TV Founders, along with some other very talented people.  One of the taglines was 'Meeting the right person at the wrong time can be the best thing for you.'  I knew it was an Indie Comedy and looked fun and quirky so Katie (my 'Supernatural' Co-Host for the past two years) and I decided to attend the premiere!

Katie & I before the movie!

It was so cold that day and it was raining in LA but we bared that chilly Fall day and met up at the Crest Theater in Westwood for a few quick photos on the red carpet and then made our way into the theater.  'This Isn't Funny' was also directed by the main Actor, Paul Ashton, and the other main Actress, Katie Page, and they had also written the screenplay.  There were a few comedians in it as well as some recognizable actors, Mimi Rogers, Anthony LaPaglia, and Danielle Panabaker.  

It felt like the movie flew by...and before we knew it, I had laughed, felt some really heart-felt moments, cried, an open-ended semi-happy ending and then it was over.  It was super funny, quickly-paced, touching and something that most people can relate to, and was honest.  Paul and Katie had fabulous on-screen chemistry which made sense when we realized they were actually dating in real-life.  They are an adorable couple and have a fantastic movie on their hands.  You can actually buy it on iTunes now: This Isn't Funny on iTunes but I am so glad I was able to see it in the theater!  It stayed in the theater for a week and I really hope it did well, the cast and crew truly deserve it.

Not only was it a fun night out supporting our Afterbuzz family, Katie and I got to hang out together (finally) and see a great movie.  I'm so appreciative of all the opportunities Afterbuzz has brought my way and look forward to all the awesome events in the future :)

Improv Night!

CAC Studios is literally growing by the minute!  On top of extensions, sold-out shows, our Children's division, Princess shows and parties, we've got things planned nearly every weekend!  So I was very excited to hear we were going to start doing an Improv Night.

Nathan (who I've worked with in 'Babes in Toyland,' 'Wizard of Oz,' 'Thenardier's Inn' and more) is involved in a couple different Improv groups so he decided to start one at CAC Studios.  We had a fun night of playing games and doing Improv as an informal audition.  It's really nice to get to work that muscle because most of the auditions you go to will have some form of Improv in your performance.  It's always great to be prepared with your lines and dialogue but when the Casting Director calls an audible, you have to be up for anything!  Improv helps prepare you for that.

Part of our Friday Night Crew...Adam, Giana, Nathan, and I after the Show!

The show was called "52 Pick Up: The Aces of Improv" and we had two shows about a week and a half ago on a Friday and Saturday night with both shows having a full-house.  Everything ran really smoothly and there were times I was laughing so hard that I actually started tearing up!  We all got to be involved in two different games, I was in Opera (where you have to sing every line, and I turned all of us into past Presidents) and also Two Lines (where you have two different lines and you can only say those two lines throughout the scene).  One of my favorite parts was our closing when we made up a song about a Sloth.  No more can be said, other than you'll have to see it for yourself!  

Which you can check out using this link:

https://video-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hvideo-xap1/v/t42.1790-2/11359059_10206876367806404_1981618252_n.mp4?oh=30f3e5fb459f72b7fb7d16423874778d&oe=55766DE1

I'm hoping this becomes a monthly thing for us because we all had so much fun and you're basically getting to play and laugh at yourself.  Laughter is the best medicine and it was so awesome to get to work with such talented people!  Thanks to Nathan (all of our Aces: Michael, Dan, and Nick), all the performers and CAC Studios for creating an amazing space for us to be creative <3

'Jules & Jess' Web Series

It's been nearly two years since I filmed an episode of this wonderful little web series called 'Jules & Jess.'  I started out helping with make-up and anything else they needed, and then I auditioned for a role, but unfortunately didn't get cast.  I got called a couple days later to be an extra which I gladly accepted and looked forward to my day on set.  Lucky for me, one of the actresses didn't confirm for the shoot the following day and I ended up getting her role and being Taft Hartley'd into the Union.  Patience and persistence pays off!  No role is to small to go in and do something you love, and JJ gave me an opportunity to be a part of her web series and I got my SAG card in addition to a super fun experience!  I couldn't be more appreciative and thankful :)

You can see my Episode, which is Episode 6 "Jobless" Part 2 here:
Lyndsey's Episode of 'Jules & Jess'

Coffee Shop Patrons for 'Jules & Jess'

The web series has been airing on their Wagglebutt Production Website in addition to YouTube and they also post updates, episodes, and other info on their Facebook page which you can find here: Jules & Jess on Facebook

Hope you enjoy!!

*I'm going to try to get a direct link so I can post the video in this blog for easier viewing :)*