Last fall, Brian Tanner of the Kaboom podcast got in touch with me. I had auditioned for Kaboom some time ago–at least a year before but maybe even in the before times (pre-Covid.) It’s hard to tell. Time is strange. Brian had been perusing old auditions and he liked a character I did and wanted me to audition again for a new character but use the same voice.
I had ZERO idea what I had done in the previous audition and couldn’t find a file for it in my storage. So I just made choices based on the scripts he sent me. Brian was generous to send multiple sides for multiple stories and allow me to choose what else to audition for. I auditioned for every character I possibly could across multiple projects. I was cast in two projects, including this one for the same character Brian had initially wanted to hear my voice portray. After casting, he also sent me my old audition so I could hear what I had done before. My blind second attempt had been a little off-target from what he wanted me to reference.
To say I felt rusty going into record would be a huge understatement. Even though I knew I had some skills in this area, and I had all the confidence-building support of knowing I was reached out to personally and had been cast (this wasn’t an audition anymore,) it had still been a while since I put on headphones and got behind a mic and stand.
It was a blast! I love voice-acting! There is something so exhilarating about pouring all your technique and focus into just one aspect of the acting craft and not having to mind what your body, face, hair, make-up, and clothing are all doing–so long as they aren’t making any sound. It was liberating and concentrated. I want to do it every day; not enough to stop teaching theatre though because I also want to do that every day.
Another story with a distinct character will come out under a different series eventually, but I have no idea when I’ll get a chance to voice act again. In the meantime, please enjoy this foray into joy.
A father-son camping trip takes a dangerous turn when 12-year-old Tyler accidentally awakens a powerful forest spirit that traps him in a magical underground prison.
This Kaboom adventure was written and directed by Trent Hortin. Cast: Liam Kaufman as Tyler, Ian Parker as Dad, Liz Christensen as Newt, and Stephanie Breinholt as Cirra the Storm Spirit.