Barry Keating

Playful People Offers STARMITES Workshop

Playful People Productions is offering a comprehensive exploration of the Tony nominated cult musical Starmites, led by PPP Co-Founder Barb Galiotto, at Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose starting June 21.

SecondStory Rep Announces Season 21 Mainstage Series

SecondStory Rep has announced shows for its Season 21 Mainstage Series. With eight shows, including four musicals, there is something for everyone!

Amas Musical Theatre to Honor Jay Binder, Micki Grant & Leonid Poretsky, MD at Spring Benefit Concert

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer), New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, will celebrate its 49th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit on Monday, April 2, 2018 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is Tony Award-nominated actor/singer and 2016 Rosie Award-winner Norm Lewis. Two-time Tony Award-nominee Brad Oscar will be Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Sci-fi Thriller THE RIFT: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON Out on VOD This November

Cleopatra Entertainment just acquired and set a November 28th VOD release date for THE RIFT: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, a new horror/thriller about a team of US and Serbian agents dispatched to an American military satellite crash site where all is not as it seems.

THE INTREPID SEA, AIR, & SPACE MUSEUM (Fleet Week) will be hosting the production of Natalie Lovejoys' DEPLOYED: A NEW MUSICAL IN CONCERT. This celebrated new production will perform selections from the show at the INTREPID MUSEUM, Pier 86, W 46th St and 12th Ave, New York, NY 10036 on Sunday, May 28 at 1:30pm & 4:30pm.

Pantochino Teen Theatre will present the out-of-this-world pop musical, "Starmites" by Barry Keating and Stuart Ross for two performances on February 25 & 26 at the Milford Center for the Arts on Railroad Avenue in Downtown Milford.

Pantochino Teen Theatre will present the out-of-this-world pop musical, "Starmites" by Barry Keating and Stuart Ross for two performances on February 25 & 26 at the Milford Center for the Arts on Railroad Avenue in Downtown Milford.

Have you ever heard the expression, 'nice house, nobody home?' Often, we use that phrase as a way to describe singers who make pretty sounds, but fail to capture our imagination on the stage. To be a singer in the theater, it's a very rare performer who can communicate to an audience and make them feel something; however, it is the most essential quality a performer can possess to work in this business.

Just as you would build a wardrobe, with varied outfits for different occasions and temperatures, your music repertoire book needs to feature a diverse selection of pieces to show you can handle different sorts of singing demands. Not every song can (or should be) a show-stopper, full of dramatic heft and long, sustained high notes at the top of your range. Sometimes, it's more important to demonstrate naturalness and vulnerability, or show that you understand the needs of a very specific musical style. It's valuable to have many different kinds of songs in your "toolbox" to exhibit the full scope of your strengths. 

When you first start digging into the vast array of musical theatre styles and genres out there, it can be pretty overwhelming. However, don't let this trepidation stop you from jumping in with both feet. You will be amazed with the help of all the great Broadway documentaries and archived recordings available on the Internet how easy it can be to immerse yourself in these classic scores, and immerse you must. Broadway music is traditionally very self-referential, and directors expect working actors to understand basic tropes like the Act I "what do I want" ballad or the eleven o'clock gospel number. Trust me, you don't want to be the only chorus member in Urinetown to miss that  "Snuff that Girl" is an affectionate tribute to "Cool" in West Side Story.