For the Record(s) at The Green Room 42

The Green Room 42 presents For the Record(s) in Concert on August 8 at 9:30 pm! 

Emotions run high in the world of closed adoptions and sealed records, but the stakes are even higher. It's the fall of 1967, and an unexpected pregnancy thrusts teen lovers into the stark arena of adult realities. An infertile married couple longs to become parents via a system rooted in secrecy and shame. A beloved baby, named Joshua by his Jewish adoptive parents, must grow up severed from his Mexican/Italian roots. Forced to navigate seemingly insurmountable obstacles on the journey to learn his full identity as an adult in the mid-1990’s, Joshua discovers a group with shared experiences who find their voices and fight for access to the truth about their origins. 

Drawn from decades of real-life timeless stories of love, longing, loss and the visceral human quest for identity, empowerment and connection, For the Record(s) resonates with anyone who has lost or found family.  

“For the Record(s) captures the complex dynamics of relinquishment and adoption in the last half of the 20th century, with echoes that still reverberate today,“ says the show’s creator Rich Uhrlaub, an adoptee with over 25 years of experience as a volunteer non-profit coordinator/advocate.  “People who’ve seen the show in development are moved to laughter, to tears, and to meaningful conversations. Audience members touched by adoption are saying it’s spot-on, and those who don’t know much about adoption are saying, ‘I had no idea!’”     

FTR is an original, mostly pop/rock show with musical forays into poignant ballads, catchy but unsettling ragtime, gospel-style activism, hard shuffle blues, and klezmer/salsa mashups.

The diverse, gifted cast, some of whom derive their passion for their roles from personal experience with the subject matter, includes Jared Svoboda, Rikki Stevens, Taylor Simon, Josh Ilan, Lauren Cristina Updyke, Paul Fraccalvieri, Alexa Marie Rodriguez, Carrie Michelle Baker, Andrea Marie Bush, and Tati Colombo.

Musical Direction and Arrangements are by Dan Sander-Wells. National touring musicians Keaton Viavattine (bass), Ryan Blihovde (drums) and McKinley Foster (guitar) collaborate to write and perform the score.        

 "For the Record(s)” plays at The Green Room 42 on August 8. Tickets for in-person and Livestream experiences are available starting at $21, with no food or beverage minimum. Tickets and more information are available at www.thegreenroom42.com.

MORE ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE ARTISTS

WHO’S WHO (in alphabetical order)

Andrea Marie Bush (she/her) is an actor, teaching artist, vocologist, and adoptee based in New York City. Originally from Tampa, FL, Andrea holds both her master's and bachelor's degrees in vocal performance and pedagogy from NYU Steinhardt as well as a minor in business from NYU Stern. National Tour: Fiddler on the Roof (Swing, dir. Bartlett Sher). NYU: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona Lisa Peretti), Titanic: The Musical (Caroline Neville), Brigadoon (Fiona), Little Women (Meg March). Special thanks to the FTR team for this opportunity!

Tati Colombo is a New York-based Argentinian actor trained in method acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. His credits include Off-Broadway productions such as Five Times in One Night, The Student Prince, and The Magical Journey of Arlekina. He has also appeared in Argentinian productions of the musicals Rent, Hamilton, Les Misérables, and Hairspray.

Paul Fraccalvieri - As an adoptee born on August 8th, 1967, Paul can say this is where he needs to be tonight. He has toured the U.S. in practically all the great musicals, and has appeared Off-Broadway in Bellevue Sketches, Fanny Lou, and Sgt. Stubby-The Great American Wardog Musical.  He thanks Richard for this opportunity and sends love to LC, and TM. 

Josh Ilan – Josh is excited to be part of the FTR song showcase playing a character of Jewish ancestry. Selected regional: Children of Eden (Cain), Jesus Christ Superstar (Annas), Seussical (Cat in the Hat), Into the Woods (Cinderella's Prince), Holiday Inn, Spamalot, The Music Man, HMS Pinafore. Workshops: KHAN!!! The Musical! A Trek-Tacular Parody, Forgotten Mythos, Seven Days Between Heaven and Hell. Book and Lyrics: The Butler Convention, Robin Hood. Josh has an M.F.A. in musical theater writing and is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He works as a voice actor, audiobook narrator and professional piano tuner in New York City. For Mom, Dad, Naomi and Taylor.

Lexa Maxa is an actor, singer and cabaret performer. Previous credits include: the Broadway World Regional Award - winning production of Disenchanted! at Nicely Theatre streamed with Broadway On Demand, on stage at Detroit Repertory Theatre: and Elvira in Blithe Spirit, for which she was nominated for a Best Actress in a Comedy AFL Theatre Mask Award and won Best Ensemble and Best Play. She has performed her solo cabaret show "Lexa with an A" throughout the country and enjoys songwriting in her free time. www.lexamaxa.com

Sam Poon – Sam Poon is a twenty something actor and musician who has amassed impressive stage and film credits since the young age of nine years old. Over the years Sam has played principal roles in a range of shows onstage and on camera, including Macbeth, The King and I, and Sing Street on Broadway. Off-Broadway: Runaways, Sing Street. National Tours: Les Misérables, Billy Elliot. Regional: Camelot, Miss Saigon, Oliver, The Jungle Book, Soldier Songs. Off-Off Broadway: The Secret Garden. Select Film & TV: Boychoir, Crazy Famous, Portraits in Dramatic Time, Generation Wrecks, “NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” and “The Today Show.” You can learn more about Sam the musician and actor at spoonuel.com and SamPoonOnline.com/acting.

Taylor Simon is very excited to be a part of For the Records. She is a Nashville-raised and NYC-based singer, actor, and comedian who has been performing her whole life! She's grateful for the opportunity to tell new, authentic stories like this one, and she hopes you all enjoy! @taylorsimonsings

Riki Stevens – As someone who was raised by a family friend while her mother was in addiction recovery treatment, Riki is passionate about the heartfelt themes of For the Records. She has opened for Dionne Warwick, Paula Cole, and was a lead singer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Healing Arts Symposium. Past credits include The Wiz (Glinda, The Wall Street Theater), Dreamgirls (Deena Jones, Sacred Heart University), RENT (Joanne, Boston Company Theatre), and Jekyll and Hyde (Lucy, The Wall Street Theater), Cinderella (Cinderella, Brien McMahon Theater), and The Magic Flute (Papagena, Nyack College Opera).

Jared Svoboda is so excited to return to The Green Room 42 as part of the FTR song showcase! Past credits include Dear Evan Hansen (National Tour), Jesus Christ Superstar (Asolo Repertory Theatre), Bat Out of Hell (Vegas Residency); Jersey Boys and Newsies (The Rev); Footloose (NCL); Fans of documentaries may recognize him as Jesus in Morgan Freeman’s “Story of God.” Jared is a proud graduate of NYU Tisch. Thank you to his loving fiancé and son for all their support. Be sure to follow his journey on social media: @jaredsvoboda

Lauren Cristina Updyke is thrilled to be a part of For the Records! A recent graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Lauren is passionate about performing, writing and producing meaningful works that open hearts and minds. Since moving to NYC, Lauren has been the lead in thirteen theatrical productions and has acted in over 50 student films. Favorite roles include Into the Woods (the Witch), Guys and Dolls (Sarah), and The Little Mermaid (Ariel). Special thanks to mom, dad, her twin brother Jake, and her boyfriend Luke. 

Sam Wise is a Brooklyn-based singer, teacher, and performer who recently completed a Masters in Music & Music Education (with a focus on voice) at Teachers College. Sam grew up steeped in musical theater, having recently appeared as Simon in Utopia Opera’s Jesus Christ Superstar. Sam currently performs in the pop-rock cover band, Deep Sea Bistro, while gigging in sacred/secular ensembles. Sam is grateful to offer private voice lessons across genres out of her home, and to have taught music in her hometown’s and NYC’s public school systems. Sam is honored to be a part of this production, and thanks her loved ones for their support. Samrwise.com / @sam_rwise

CREATIVE AND MUSICIANS

Ryan Bilhovde (Drums & Percussion/Orchestrator/Copyist) is a Manhattan-based musician whose work spans Broadway, national tours, and studio projects. Favorite credits include The SpongeBob Musical (First National Tour), Gutenberg! The Musical! (Broadway/drum sub), and creating the Prologue score for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club on Broadway. Ryan was once beaten at ping pong by Shaun White.  

McKinley Foster (guitar, orchestration) is a versatile guitarist and mandolinist who has played with the National Tours of Come from Away and Fiddler on the Roof. Other credits include Encanto: the Immersive Experience NYC, 54 sings Dua Lipa, and various regional theaters across the country. He writes electronic music and film scores as “Core Memory,” with music available on all streaming services.

Keaton Viavattine - (Bass, Orchestration) is a dynamic composer and performer from New York City. With a rich background as a performer, Keaton is credited in nearly 1,000 performances for several international touring musical theater productions, captivating more than one million audience members in total, with recent credits including The King and I, The SpongeBob Musical, and Anastasia: The Musical. Keaton holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Trumpet Performance from Eastman College. He recently completed an intensive one-year Master’s degree in Music for motion Pictures and Contemporary Media at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe in Sofia, Bulgaria.  Keaton’s music has been showcased across the United States, most notably at the Buffalo Film Festival, Marina Del Rey Film Festival, and Indie Short Fest.

Dan Sander-Wells - (Piano, Arranger, Musical Director) is a freelance music director, arranger, and orchestrator based in NYC. He arranged the songs in For the Records, and is excited to provide Musical Direction for this TGR42 song showcase! Recent collaborators including Kate Baldwin, LaChanze, Freddi Walker-Browne, and Zoe Sarnak. Dan’s most recent work includes music directing the acclaimed production of RUBY at Detroit Music Hall earlier this year (which also featured his vocal arrangements and orchestrations). Recent credits include collaborating with the music team for the premiere of EMPIRE RECORDS at McCarter Theatre Center and music directing the 50th anniversary revival of RAISIN (starring Freddi Walker-Browne). Dan holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Westminster Choir College. Contact: www.dwellsmusic.com and Instagram @dwellsmusic.

Richard Uhrlaub (Book, Music, and Lyrics) was conceived in the Midwest, but born, relinquished, adopted and raised in Denver, CO.  For the Record(s) is his debut musical in development – which the Muse gifted to him while sitting outside in a hot tub during the pandemic. The show is the culmination of playing piano since the age of five, being a student of formalist poetry at the Lighthouse Writers Workshop, and serving for 25 years as a volunteer legislative advocate, adoption search and support group facilitator, author and national conference speaker.  Deepest thanks to this incredible cast; to Dan for his brilliant arrangements and musical direction; to Keaton, McKinley and Ryan for their collaborative orchestrations and talents; and to TGR42 for hosting this premiere song showcase! Learn more about the show at www.ftrmusical.com and follow@iambicrich.

Show website: www.ftrmusical.com

THE GREEN ROOM 42 – established in 2017 and located in the heart of the Theater District at YOTEL Times Square – is a sophisticated cabaret venue renowned for its vibrant and diverse programming. Recognized by The New York Times as “Broadway’s Off-Night Hotspot”, lauded by Playbill as "The Place for New Musicals", and celebrated by Time Out New York for hosting the “Best Cabaret Show of 2024”, The Green Room 42 has become a cornerstone of New York City's theatrical nightlife.

The venue offers a thoughtfully curated lineup of intimate live performances, featuring established stars and emerging talent across theater, music, and entertainment. With no food or drink minimum and ticket options as affordable as student rush prices, The Green Room 42 fosters an inclusive and accessible experience for all audiences, cultivating a welcoming and dynamic cabaret community.

Notable past performers include Josh Groban, Tina Fey, Bowen Yang, Katharine McPhee, Sara Bareilles, Kathleen Turner, Candace Bushnell, Eva Noblezada, Reeve Carney, Lillias White, Frances Ruffelle, Jennifer Simmard, Judy Kuhn, Kevin Chamberlin, Melissa Errico, Alice Ripley, and many more. The Green Room 42 continues to be a vibrant space where audiences can experience a wide range of performances, from established stars to emerging talents.