New Blog

Wondering where I went? I'm now blogging through wordpress. If you'd like to follow along, you can find me there.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

I am a professional actor

Towards the end of my shoot on a wonderful little horror movie, the director forbid me from denying that fact. Mostly because he was sick of me haranguing him for saying he was not a professional director. Don't you hate it when your good advice gets thrown back in your face?

Well, he was right.

I've had a crazy month of August. The first two weeks were taken up by said horror movie and I audited a very inspirational acting course.

The movie reminded me how much fun acting was, how much I loved being on set, and how great it is to be part of a team working passionately towards something that's bigger than yourself. Even the incredibly early morning wake-up calls (did you know there's a 4:30 in the morning now?) only reminded me that I was getting up to go do something I absolutely adore doing (and if that happened to include cutting people in half with a chain saw or sending someone off a cliff, who was I to argue?).

The course made me realize that I was being a lazy actor. If I'm honest with myself, I know that I expected lots of great parts with very little effort or preparation. I'd go into an audition and just expect talent to carry me through. I would complain about how hard I was working to get things done, but I was really wasn't working at all.

So, for an upcoming audition, I prepared like mad. I wasn't going to let old habits stand in the way of what I wanted. I was going to get this part. I read the script a few times and immediately picked a scene that struck a cord with me. I brushed off my monologue and put it on its feet. And then I did something that I never allowed myself to do in the past.
I got help.
Thanks to two really great friends, I got to play with both scene and monologue. They helped me discover things about the characters and make good choices. They were lifesavers.

I arrived at the audition feeling rather grounded. I was feeling happy just to be there. Adequate preparation had already taken away about 50% of my nerves to the point that when I realized there were five extra people in the room than what I had envisioned, I didn't freak out. I was actually glad for the opportunity to play in front of more people. And play I did. I didn't take my self too seriously and had fun. Yes, Nancy, acting is fun!

And then I got a callback.

Wow!

Then I took a page out of my amazing friend's handbook. I went to my resume and added the credit to the list. I was letting the universe know that I believed it could happen.

Guess what? I got the part.

I laughed uncontrollably for about two minutes when I received the news.

Nancy Kenny will be appearing in Rabbit Hole this October at the new Gladstone Theatre (Get your tickets now!)


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On Monday morning, I went and took the crazy to a whole other level. I walked into work and I gave them my notice. After about four years of floundering about in full-time jobs, I realized that if I wanted to truly be a professional actor, I had to either shit or get off the pot. Well, gosh darnit, it's time to shit!

To tell you the truth, no decision has ever felt so right before. It was time.

I'll be at my current job until September 12, and then rehearsals start for Rabbit Hole. My contract is for six weeks until October 25th.

After that point, who knows, but I believe (and it's about damn time I did) that I can be an actor and still manage to take care of myself.

Besides, if ever I'm royally fucked, I'll just move in to my film director's basement and take his DVD collection hostage.
Because I am a professional actor and he created a monster.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

(NOTE - been trying to set up a shiny new blog but I haven't really had the time, so the old one will have to make due for now.)


Hi Mom, summer vacation was awesome! You'd be so proud of me! First of all, I had to go to this really cheap wedding (I swear they got their decorations at the Dollar Store), but my husband (who says hi, btw) let me play with his chainsaw when I got bored and that really livened things up (and no, that's not a euphemism, please get your mind out of the gutter, mom). I learned a few valuable lessons that day though: I found out that I need to work out some more because chainsaws are heavy and that blood is sticky, so I really shouldn't forget to bring a towel.
Oh, listen, mom, lots of other really cool stuff happened too, but I have to get going. I'm in a bit of a rush to go pick up the kids. Anyway, here's a picture we took at the wedding.





I have lots more that I can't wait to show you when I see you on January 17th.


Love you!


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Death Rally - in theatres (or at least one theatre in Aylmer) on January 17th.

The Break (Up)

I've been in a pretty steady relationship for over 11 years now with my mistress, Acting, but I've finally realized that it might be time for us to take a little break.

Why? Because she's a damanding bitch who is constantly breaking my heart. That's why.

Don't get me wrong, we're really good together and when she's around, it's just amazing! The problem is, the lousy tramp never sticks around long enough. She just uses me and, when she's done, throws me away like an old program. She's a fucking tease too, always luring me in with the promise of a good time only to crush my hopes and tear down my dreams with barely a "We'll let you know..."

So until she learns to respect me a little more, I'm shackin' up with the new kid on the block, Writing. Me, him, and my laptop, we're in for a sinfully good time.

And who knows? Maybe when we've settled down together, I might call up that old flame and see how she's doing. I might even ask her to pop in for a visit. Only this time, it will be on my terms.

I Guess This Is Growing Up?

I've been told on two separate occasions today by two separate people that I need to be a grown-up. The underlying theme being that it's nice to have dreams and I've done a great job at "trying things out" but maybe it's time to start taking life more seriously. It really hurts to hear that because a small insecure little part in me worries that they may be right.

Mixed Blessings and the Blues

I'm not sure what to think about work last night at Bluesfest.

On the one hand, I think I found my pick of the festival. That honour goes to the wonderful Jim Bryson. The guy had the total package: great music, fantastic stage presence, and a great sense of humour. And he's local too! The crowd was packed in around him at the Black Sheep Stage and loved every minute. If he's ever playing anywhere else in town, I think I may have to show up and buy a CD.

On the other hand, another local boy completely disproved my theory that

Guitar + Guy + Stage = Sexy

I'm not going to name names (though it would be easy enough to find out who I'm talking about) but this guy epitomized the word "Tool". I found his music to be bland, he acted like a total douche on stage and, as a fellow performer who is trying to get funding from the city to pursue her art, I was incredibly insulted by his blazé and ungrateful bragging about what he would do with the money the City of Ottawa has offered him and his band.

Anyway, it was also a bittersweet night because although I got to talk to some pretty nice people (including some folks who wanted me to join them for a beer - Raincheck?), neither myself nor my colleagues managed to make our quotas.

I don't think it was really our fault. Most of the shows were ALL on at the same time so we couldn't help each other out like we have in the past and a lot of people at this point have now answered our survey already, but we still got a talking to for it.

Only 4 nights left...

I wish I was back at the Fringe.

It's Not You, It's Me

For Monday's random music pick, I draw your attention to the Creaking Tree String Quartet.

As for Tuesday, unfortunately I was inside at the Barney Danson Theatre and so didn't get to hear anything really except what was on the mainstage outside and that didn't impress me much. I was also long gone before the Fergalicious one even showed up.

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Dear Jully:

Listen, I know you tried really hard to get to me last night. You know how much I like to move it, move it, but honestly, I don't think it's working out between us. No, no, you didn't really DO anything wrong. I'm just not feeling you that's all. Maybe it's because you remind me so much of that drama queen, Mary J Blige, who I was able to tolerate until she went and ruined a perfectly good U2 song. Or maybe it was because you beat out a buddy of mine for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year at the Junos (and if Fat Al from God Made Me Funky is reading this, How's it going, dude?)

...

Actually, no, it's because of THAT song... you know the one I'm talking about... I'm glad you got a lot of success out of it, but it just plays SO MUCH! And have you ever listened to what the lyrics actually say? Oh honey, why would you want to spend all your time doing your man's laundry and washing his floors? Maybe that was love in 1961, but you're in a whole new century now. Couldn't you have gone out to a spa or something instead? I'm sure that would have made for an equally great song.

You're a beautiful woman with a lot of talent and you've got a great sense of humour to boot(I saw you try and get my attention on Video on Trial). I'm sure you'll be able to find someone else who will truly be able to appreciate you. I think we just need a little bit of time apart so we can reevaluate our priorities and focus on finding out what we truly want out of life.

Someday soon, we'll laugh about this, Jully, as we sit on a patio, drinking sangria and making fun of Mary J.

I look forward to that day,

Nancy