Give Me Your Answer, Do! 1999 - Articles Page 8

Legendary Broadway performer and Tony, Academy, and Golden Globe Award winner Joel Grey (Cabaret, Wicked, Anything Goes) will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Chita Rivera Awards.

Greenway Arts Alliance, in association with Two Sisters Media, presents the world premiere of Who Are You, written and performed by Shareen Mitchell, beginning May 13, 2022, with Kate Jopson directing this one-woman show. Shareen made some time to answer a few of my queries into her show, her fashion background and Two Sisters Media.

The final event of The Soraya’s 10th Anniversary Celebration - Broadway Celebrates The Soraya - features Broadway stars Eden Espinosa, Joshua Henry and Megan Hilty, backed by Richard Kaufman and the CSUN Symphony April 30, 2022.  Megan was most gracious in finding time to answer a few of my queries.

Moving, heartfelt, and raw, Jagged Little Pill: The Novel draws on the musical’s story and gives readers deeper glimpses of the characters. It’s a story about the power of voicing your pain, standing up for what’s right, and finding healing and connection. BroadwayWorld is very excited to bring you an excerpt from the book.

As an artist, it can be hard to put yourself before your craft. I turned to the Tisch Drama community to ask: how do artists take care of themselves? What keeps them from getting overwhelmed? What calms them down? Their knowledge resulted in a beautiful collection of artistic advice that I am honored to share with you now.

'I grew up on the road by the time I was twelve years old performing my own music, and I always thought that I would be a singer songwriter. And I have been with original music used on several prime time television shows such as Sons of Anarchy, The Vampire Diaries, and So You Think You Can Dance. There was always this side of me that was just living in music, but it wasn't until I moved to Los Angeles and decided to look through this magazine called Backstage West, which being that I was fresh out of Tennessee I never heard of this magazine before, and I saw this cattle call audition for this show called Rent and auditioned for a musical. I was there in Los Angeles for my first week and I wondered what it would be like to just go and throw myself into something like this.'

Garry Marshall Theatre kicks off their 2022 season in their new GMT outdoor stage with Impro Theatre’s Jane Austen Unscripted April 16,2022.   Sara Mountjoy-Pepka co-directs (with Paul Rogan) Impro Theatre company members and live musicians as they mingle amongst the audience having afternoon tea and delectable treats from vendors from the GMT neighborhood. Sara carved open some time to give me a peek into the behind-the-scenes of Jane Austen, as well as her own back story of improv.

Roderick Ferguson is keeping busy these days. Sometimes with acting, sometimes with activism... and sometimes, both at the same time.

It's getting busier at our theatres, rehearsals, opening nights, the lights coming back on, and our beloved theatres back. Arne Beeker, Linz's very own Dramatic Adviser, texted me after a rehearsal of FANNY AND ALEXANDER, the latest work of Gisele Kverndokk (music) and Øysten Wiik (book and lyrics), based on Ingmar Bergman's 1982 movie, about how special this show is going to be.

This morning, I had the opportunity to speak with Sam Primack (currently playing the alternate Evan Hansen going on twice a week) and Jessica E. Sherman (playing Heidi Hansen, Evan’s mother) in the popular musical DEAR EVAN HANSEN. The show is the story of an anxious high schooler named Evan who, in order to be liked, lies about his friendship with a fellow student. I reached them in the middle of their run in Baltimore prior to their arrival to the Capital Region area.

One of Broadway’s favorite leading ladies Kelli O’Hara will be appearing with SiriusXM Radio staple Seth Rudetsky for a one-night concert at The Wallis April 2, 2022 as part of The Wallis Broadway @ concert series. Kelli was gracious enough to carve out a little time to answer a few of my theatrical queries.

Becca Brunelle waited until the time was create her first-ever solo show. She just had to wait until there was a purpose to do a Becca Brunelle cabaret. There is.

The more I learned about autism, the more I wanted to help the autistic community, especially because there is so little autism representation in media and art. I wrote a lengthy paper that proposed that special interests are the key to directing neurodivergent actors. Autists are experts in their special interests, and using specific parts of their special interest as reference allows a clear understanding of what is being asked. The step-by-step process is already complete by recalling a topic where the knowledge is already possessed. I used WandaVision as an example and explained how my method would work.

I sat down with Rebecca Bernstein to discuss her virtual theatre company Zoom Shakespeare Productions, its humble beginnings, and her plans for the future. I met with Bernstein over Zoom, which was highly appropriate considering the location of her company: Zoom. The computer. The virtual world.

Groundlings alum/Oscar winner Jim Rash will be guesting in The Groundlings’ January 6th edition of COOKIN’ WITH GAS. The actor/comedian/filmmaker took a moment from the set of Bros to answer a few of my Groundlings and Oscar queries.

'I’m never in a situation where I’m thinking that now I’m gonna direct a pause. I answer the same way as in the previous one that if it makes sense to me then I let it be. But if it doesn’t make sense I start discussing with the actor why are you doing like this? What are you thinking, what are you feeling? And then you go through that' - Harjanne

The national tour of THE BAND’S VISIT has landed in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre. The opening night audience gave the all-round talented cast a most deserved standing ovation. I had the pleasure of chatting with Joe Joseph (who’s silky vocals inhabit the character of Haled) the afternoon post-opening night.

Broadway legend Joel Grey was honored this week by The Brooklyn Diner with a re-naming of their famous Matzo Ball soup!

A popular fixture of the New York cabaret scene, Jim Caruso brings his JIM CARUSO’S CAST PARTY across the nation to Feinstein’s At Vitellos November 28th and 29th. An evening of “extreme open mic” provides a platform for new performers as well as surprise established guests. Jim took a few moments after completing his CAST PARTY in Nashville to give us some behind-the-scenes of his once-was “weird, show-biz adjacent gig,” now his most enjoyable passion CAST PARTY.

Dorian Woodruff opens STUDIO MUSICIAN: THE MUSIC OF MANILOW November 5th for a four-night run at Pangea

The cast includes Spencer Plachy as 'Scar,' Gerald Ramsey as 'Mufasa,' Gugwana Dlamini as 'Rafiki,' Nick Cordileone as 'Timon,' Jürgen Hooper as 'Zazu,' Ben Lipitz as 'Pumbaa,' Darian Sanders as 'Simba,' Kayla Cyphers as 'Nala,' Keith Bennett as 'Banzai,' Martina Sykes as 'Shenzi' and Robbie Swift as 'Ed.' Jaylen Lyndon Hunter alternates the role of 'Young Simba', along with Charlie Kahler.

The National Tour of Come From Away has returned to the stage! The production returned at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN earlier this month.

The musical stars Edred Utomi as Alexander Hamilton, alongside Josh Tower as Aaron Burr, Zoe Jensen as Eliza Hamilton, Bryson Bruce as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Jon Viktor Corpuz as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton, Tyler Belo as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, and more.

The Foundation for New American Musicals (FNAM) will honor Marc Shaiman with their inaugural Inspire Award at their FNAM ALL-STAR BENEFIT AND FUNDRAISER October 24th at a private Pacific Palisades residence. Scheduled to appear that night: Megan Hilty, Matthew Morrison, Bruce Vilanch, Marisha Wallace and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Marc took a brief moment from his many obligations to answer my queries with his snappy quips.

Our student bloggers write about how they're coping with the current global health crisis, give insight on their school's performing arts programs, share their opinions on the latest theater news, and so much more.