THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 4, 1995 TAG: 9503040445
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERESA ANNAS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
When actor Woody Harrelson walked into a packed Waterside Marriott Hotel ballroom on Friday, the place erupted in applause, whistles and girlish squeals.
You'd have thought he was Elvis come back to life. About 1,000 thespians, most in their teens or 20s, were more than ready to hear words of wisdom from somebody who made it to the big time.
Harrelson was in Norfolk to speak at the Southeastern Theater Conference, which drew theater folk here from 10 states for three days of workshops, lectures, auditions and job interviews.
There is, it turns out, more than a hint of The King in Harrelson, who played Woody on the popular television sitcom ``Cheers'' and starred in ``Natural Born Killers'' and ``White Men Can't Jump.''
``So . . . it all started because Elvis died,'' Harrelson began, promptly leaving the raised podium to pace before the crowd with a hand mike.
``1977. Elvis died, and they re-released all his records.''
Harrelson was a high school kid in the quiet little town of Lebanon, Ohio, and he ordered a pile of Presley LPs. He would play the albums over and over. He worked at copying Elvis and got pretty good at it.
Then came his big moment. He and his friends were in a library, and someone egged him on. So Harrelson broke into ``All Shook Up.''
To prove he could do it, he did Elvis in the Marriott. The crowd had a fit.
``I would like to thank my wife, Priscilla. And my daughter, who is now married to a woman.''
Dead ringer. Pure Elvis.
``I guess there was this performer in me,'' Harrelson said.
Wearing black sweat pants and a purple pullover, Harrelson appeared loose-limbed and self-assured. He bore no resemblance to the dim-witted character he played on ``Cheers.''
Harrelson was a theater major at Hanover College in southern Indiana, where he was known for being slack. He recalled begging his way back into a show, ``The Madwoman of Chaillot,'' after being fired for missing rehearsals.
The problem was, he was bored with his minor character. An actor friend advised him to ``do something different.'' So he changed his voice, costume and mannerisms.
``This was when an actor was born,'' Harrelson said. ``I got an ovation. Surprised the hell out of me. It felt soooo good.
``I thought, `This is what I want to do for a living.' ''
When a woman asked whether people treat him differently now that he's famous, Harrelson said he lives in Costa Rica with his girlfriend and their toddler daughter. ``People there always treat me the same way, like I'm a crazy gringo.''
Hundreds of people swarmed around Harrelson after his talk, seeking his autograph or a handshake for luck.
``It's nice to hear from someone who came up the hard way,'' said Candace Weber, a senior theater major from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
For young performers like Weber, auditions are a major feature of the conference. Early Friday morning, Virginia Beach actor Joel Ladd found himself in a lineup of 25 actors and singers. At 9:30, they marched single file into a large Marriott ballroom, where 100 theater presenters awaited.
One by one, they made the lonely trip to an empty stage with a plain black backdrop. Limits were set: 60 seconds for an acting audition, 90 seconds if you both sang and acted.
Casting agents for summer stock, dinner theater, regional playhouses or theme parks nationwide watched quietly and took notes.
Later, performers would watch for their name to appear on callback sheets, allowing for further auditions and interviews.
By tonight, nearly 1,000 student and professional performers will have auditioned.
Ladd, 34, has been pursuing acting as a career for three years. ``So I came to these auditions to learn how good I am at selling what I've got, and packaging what I'm selling.''
He felt relieved the instant his audition was over.
``As soon as I sat down, I thought, `I'll take whatever I get. And I'll learn from it.' '' ILLUSTRATION: TAMARA VONINSKI
Staff photos
[Color Photos]
ABOVE: Woody Harrelson reacts to fans who pulled him into the crowd
and tried to kiss him Friday at the Southeastern Theater
Conference.
Carrie Houchins from New York sits in line at the Waterside Marriott
for auditions Friday. Each thespian had a minute to display acting
talent.
by CNB