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- "My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical" & Dr. Love's Rom-Com Experience
"MY (UNAUTHORIZED) HALLMARK MOVIE MUSICAL" "The concept is brilliant. So is the execution." -- Aisle Seat Review “Coopersmith offers audiences an escape into a melding of the world of film and live performance. And best of all, this show is life-affirming, where love always wins and life is filled with chocolate and wine!” -- Culver City News DR. LOVE'S ROM-COM EXPERIENCE Arrive early for... Stick around after the show for...
Looking for a night of laughter and heartwarming fun? Join us for a delightful new musical filled with good romance, cheesy tropes, and unexpected twists about a Super Fan crafting her own perfect Hallmark movie… until the characters start writing their own script! Will she fend off the fictional characters coming to life on her TV screen, as well as her own self-doubt, to fulfill the Hallmark creed that love always wins? Get your tickets now for a show that has delighted audiences on multiple continents!
Don't miss your chance to read your brain... so you can know your heart.
SIP & SNAP HAPPY HOUR
DR. LOVE'S MATCH & MINGLE AFTER-PARTY
Sam Labrecque, Nina Herzog, Andrew Joseph Perez, and Maggie Howell appear virtually in My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical at Irvine Theater Company. Photo by Sam Wilkerson.
Monika Pe a, Maggie Howell, Sam Labrecque, and Eloise Coopersmith in My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical at Irvine Theater Company. Photo by Mikel Healy.
Nina Herzog, Maggie Howell, Monika Pe a, Sam Labrecque, and Andrew Joseph Perez appear virtually in My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical at Irvine Theater Company. Photo by Sam Wilkerson.
Jim Blanchette, Nina Herzog, Maggie Howell, and Monika Pe a appear virtually in My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical at Irvine Theater Company. Photo by Sam Wilkerson.
Jim Blanchette and Benjamin Perez appear virtually in My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical at Irvine Theater Company. Photo by Sam Wilkerson.
Eloise Coopersmith, Nina Herzog, and Andrew Joseph Perez in My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical at Irvine Theater Company. Photo by Mikel Healy.
Andrew Joseph Perez appears virtually in My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical at Irvine Theater Company. Photo by Sam Wilkerson.
Benjamin Perez appears virtually in My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical at Irvine Theater Company. Photo by Sam Wilkerson.
Cast and Creative team for "My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical" & Dr. Love's Rom-Com Experience at Canvas
Cast
Eloise Coopersmith
Eloise
Eloise is an artist with a social conscience and a fierce advocate for giving voice to art inspired by thought-provoking ideas. Her award-winning musical web series, Home for Mom (a 2021 FYC Emmy candidate) explored the ideas of eldercare and dementia. As part of Breath of Fire Writers Coalition in Santa Ana, she participated in COVID Monologues (now a book), remembering those dear to us lost in this pandemic. In My (Unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical, she explores the radical idea of romance and love! Eloise started her formal theater education in Theater at the Young Conservatory at the American Conservatory Theater in San
Francisco, later graduating from Northwestern University with a Bachelor in Speech and finally earning her Masters in Theater at Cal State Los Angeles. Eloise ran her own non-profit – the Fillmore Association for the Arts – and its company, Open Book Theater, whose credits include the award-winning production of Bukowski, An Evening of Poems and Prose. Eloise is a member of AEA, SAG-Aftra, and the Dramatist Guild of America and is living proof it is never too late to make your dreams come true.
Nina Herzog
Emma (virtual cast)
Nina is a singer, song-writer, actress, voice-over artist, and non-profit leader. Favorite concert performances include singing with The National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marvin Hamlisch, and her symphonic collaboration with Grammy Award-winning composer/arranger Patrick Williams (Martina McBride, Frank Sinatra). A seasoned and accomplished studio singer, Nina’s voice can be heard on tracks for Universal Music, Hal Leonard Publishing, MTI, Sony Music, and Disney. Nina is the new singing and speaking voice of Odette, The Swan Princess, in the Sony Animation movies, The Swan Princess. Theatre Highlights: Pump Boys & Dinettes (Prudie), South Pacific (Nellie), Peppa Pig (National Tour) Television Highlights: “American Horror Story” (Featured), “BuzzFeed Viral Video” (Lead/Writer/millions of views). Herzog was named “Young Star of the Future” by the Southcoast Symphony, performing a solo concert with the symphony. Nina recently released her debut album, “Together Away”, which charted #11 on AC radio charts, landed her a feature on American Songwriter Magazine, and premiered on Broadway World. She recorded a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, which was placed on the Now That's What I Call Music! playlist,“NOW! That’s What I Call Love”.
Andrew Joseph Perez
Prince Hollister (virtual cast)
Andrew is an actor, singer, stuntman, and Jack-of-All-Trades based in Los Angeles. After studying drama at Seattle University, he began working regionally across the country and internationally. He’s been on stage at theatres such as South Coast Rep, Music Circus, San Jose Stage, Tennessee Shakespeare Company, and American Stage, and has toured with Armed Forces Entertainment.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Perez has appeared on screen in Megalodon (SyFy), I (Almost) Got Away With It (Investigation Discovery), Cristela (ABC), You Should Meet My Son 2, and has voiced six currently-available audiobooks (Audible, Amazon, and iTunes), and titles including Gundam SEED Destiny, Dynasty Warriors 9, Dragon Pilot, Unauthorized Living, Undercover, and Luís Miguel.
Beyond performing, Perez is also a disability rights and inclusion advocate, a 12-year “MoBro” with the Movember Foundation supporting the fight against prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide; a graphic designer and visual artist (society6.com/elperezdesigns), and a builder of custom nylon performance bullwhips (available by request). You can find him on Instagram and TikTok @andrewjosephperez or at www.andrewjperez.com.
Benjamin Perez
Maestro (virtual cast)
National Tours: IN THE HEIGHTS (with the HAMILTON creative team), NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT (with dir./chor. Kathleen Marshall and writer Joe DiPietro). L.A. born and raised theatrical and commercial actor/singer/director. Regional roles include Gomez in THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Bill in MAMMA MIA, Tito in LEND ME A TENOR, Kevin in IN THE HEIGHTS, and Lindsay in CREEP L.A.'s THE WILLOWS. Many years as a Guest Entertainer for Princess Cruises. Attended Citrus College for vocal and theater performance. Thank you to Crissy, Eloise, and Claudia for their guidance and inspiration. Enjoy the show! Never, never, never ALWAYS!!!
Monika Peña
Patti (virtual cast)
Monika is a Southern California-based singer, dancer, and actor. Her favorite roles include: The titular roles in Lizzie, the musical (Ovation Winner: Best Musical Production - Intimate Theater, Ovation Nominee: Best Lead Actress in a Musical; Chance Theater) and Violet (LA Times Critics Choice; Chance Theater), Aldonza in Man of La Mancha (Candlelight Pavilion), Princess Fish in Claudio Quest (West Coast Premiere; Chance Theater), and Maria in West Side Story (Chance Theater). Other credits include: Alexander. . .Very Bad Day (South Coast Repertory), A Christmas Carol (2018-2019, South Coast Repertory), Fancy Nancy: The Musical (2016-2018; Rhonda, Chance Theater), Bright Star (Candlelight Pavilion), Funny Thing Happened. . .Forum (Philia), Beauty and the Beast (Babette), and. . .Spelling Bee (Olive).
View some of her work at www.MonikaPena.com
Maggie Howell
Maxine (virtual cast)
Maggie is thrilled to be part of this project of bringing joy during a time when we really need it! A theater-major-turned-sketch comedian, Maggie’s content runs the gamut from musical parody to targeted ads on Instagram. Feel free to check her out at www.mehowell.com! She is so grateful for her wonderful, driven, passionate mom for all of the amazing opportunities in this world.
Sam Labrecque
Laverne (virtual cast)
Sam is an actor known for her roles in film, television, and on stage. Stage credits include The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods (Best Musical Winner, BroadwayWorld Regional Awards), Bridget Sullivan in critically acclaimed LIZZIE: The Musical (Best Supporting Actress Nomination, BroadwayWorld), and performing in the sold-out run of The Sound of Music in Anchorage, Alaska. Film and TV credits can be streamed on Amazon Prime (818 and Starfish, Best Acting Ensemble Award), HBO, and the Oxygen Network. This fall, Samantha will be producing and starring in the dramedy short film Trying with her company SamSkape Productions Inc. For more information visit: http://www.thesamanthalabrecque.com or @sluhbrek on Instagram.
Jim Blanchette
Tavern Owner (virtual cast)
Jim has appeared in over 250 television, film and theatre productions in his nearly four decades in the entertainment industry. Recent television work includes the Mariah Carey Christmas Special and upcoming episode of NBC's Good Girls. He has also appeared on shows as varied as The Drew Carey Show, Scrubs, Angel, Half and Half, My Wife and Kids, Parenthood and The Real O' Neal's, to name but a few. Film work includes the just wrapped indie feature How to Be a Hitman, Cupid's Bed and Breakfast, and numerous shorts for the film collective Hold for Plane Productions, of which he is a founding member. For the theatre, Jim has played venues as small as 25-seat black boxes to massive houses of 2,500 seats and everything in between. Favorite roles include Edwin Flagg in the musical adaptation of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Pseudolus in Forum, Dr. Lyman in Bus Stop and the titular character in The Adventures of Captain Neato-Man. In his spare time, Jim is an avid quilter and boardgame enthusiast.
Tess Adams
Hannah (virtual cast)
Tess Adams is a New York based actor, singer, and writer who made her Broadway debut at the age of seven in the 2006 revival of Les Misérables. She’s worked since then, singing as a principal soloist for the Boston Pops and the National, Utah, San Diego, & Seattle Symphony Orchestras, often under the conduction of the late great Marvin Hamlisch, and in regional theaters. Prior to the pandemic, she completed a full semester of classical acting training at the British American Dramatic Academy in London, in partnership with Sarah Lawrence College. Amid the pandemic, she competed in the Kennedy Center’s Irene Ryan Acting Competition and was a semi-finalist for Region One. She is a recent graduate of Quinnipiac University where she earned BAs in Theater and English, graduating Magna Cum Laude. There, she was the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship for merit and a member of the University Honors Program.
SUBMIT UPDATES
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My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical & Dr. Love's Rom-Com Experience (7/26/24-8/10/24)
Canvas is at 17332 Von Karman Avenue, #115, Irvine, CA.
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