Standing backstage in the wings of the theatre, you begin to notice that your pulse has increased and you're a little sweaty despite the freezing AC coming down on you. 'Rosabella' is singing the last 16 bars of 'Somebody, Somewhere' and you can feel the vibration of the automation kicking in that will soon roll the diner off and take the audience from San Francisco to the Napa Valley. You check and recheck that your prop comb is in your pocket and that your prop newspaper is tucked into your waistband and ready for use. The actors next to you are doing similar actions, whether checking their own props or running lines in their head, looking at times like a manic person on the New York City subway talking to themselves. The song ends and since the scrim is down in front of you, you only hear muffled applause, therefore unable to gauge how things have gone these first 15 minutes of the show. The scrim lifts, the lights blare into your eyes and you see the once vacant seats now full of strangers who have paid to have a great evening of theatre. The time has finally arrived…ladies and gentlemen, it's time for your first preview.
Today's blog is brought to you by my second cup of coffee and the last tiny flecks of energy I have left after this insane tech week. The insanity and long hours though, have brought us to this, our first preview, where the world will see what we've been working on for that last five weeks. Will it be a hit for the Goodspeed? Will people find our grapes to be sour? (Grant me at least one Napa Valley pun…I'm exhausted). I have my opinions on our show, which I've mentioned at length on here, but the audience member is the one who truly decides our fate.
There is a high holy day each week, where actors pause to relax and reflect on everything that has happened the 6 days prior…and thy name is Monday. So, with excitement for the blessed days arrival, the cast of The Most Happy Fella had their first run through for the show designers, producers and staff this past Sunday. Up until this point we have been blocking the individual scenes and numbers, not really aware of what the full journey would feel like. I knew the scenes and numbers I was in, that I had set transition assignments and that my chest seized up every time I finished dancing "Big D," but I had no idea what/how it all came together. Like Amanda Bynes to a ratty wig, we actors need an audience to really feel it all come together and add in that new element that we hadn't felt thus far.
Goodspeed Musicals will transport audiences to beautiful Napa Valley with its production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella. This all-new production of the beloved musical that Goodspeed sent to Broadway in 1991 will run from September 20 - December 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. The Most Happy Fella will be sponsored by Connecticut Light and Power. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek below!
The theatrical world is extremely small. There is this preconceived notion that there are thousands of actors and that our community is massive, but when you scale it down to working actors in New York City, we are a thimble sized network of people who all somehow know or know of each other. So when an actress with the talent and resume of Mamie Parris crosses your path just now for the first time, you begin to think to yourself, "Where the hell have I been?"
So this show marks my first time in the ensemble in my professional career. Now, I mean that just as a fact, not as an "ugh, the ensemble" type comment. In fact, my mind has been blown in these past two weeks as to the amount of extra work one must put in when the circumstances given to you are sing, dance and insert random line during a scene change where you're grabbing a stool to take offstage. Our director, Rob Ruggiero, is very detail oriented and insists on an ensemble that has their own backstories and aren't just "peas and carrots" and "hub-bubbing" in group scenes. This cast has risen to the challenge and have created a warm and inviting community chock full of relationships and intricacies. Me? I'm giving you a full committed three act riff of August: Osage County deep within my subtle, "Well, hi boss!" and "Yeah, I seen her picture. She's beautiful." As I always say, "If you give a mouse a cookie…"
Goodspeed Musicals will transport audiences to beautiful Napa Valley with its production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella. This all-new production of the beloved musical that Goodspeed sent to Broadway in 1991 will run from September 20 - December 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. The Most Happy Fella will be sponsored by Connecticut Light and Power.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a love-struck comedy taking the Benedum stage tonight, June 11-16, 2013. Audiences are sure to be delighted by the antics of seven brothers and 'wannabe' brides living under one roof in 19th century Oregon. Noted Broadway performers including Pittsburgh CLO alumni George Dvorsky and Mamie Parris will take the lead as Adam and Milly, along with an incredibly talented Pittsburgh CLO cast. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the show below!
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a love-struck comedy taking the Benedum stage tonight, June 11-16, 2013. Audiences are sure to be delighted by the antics of seven brothers and 'wannabe' brides living under one roof in 19th century Oregon. Noted Broadway performers including Pittsburgh CLO alumni George Dvorsky and Mamie Parris will take the lead as Adam and Milly, along with an incredibly talented Pittsburgh CLO cast. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a love-struck comedy taking the Benedum stage tonight, June 11-16, 2013. Audiences are sure to be delighted by the antics of seven brothers and 'wannabe' brides living under one roof in 19th century Oregon. Noted Broadway performers including Pittsburgh CLO alumni George Dvorsky and Mamie Parris will take the lead as Adam and Milly, along with an incredibly talented Pittsburgh CLO cast.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a love-struck comedy taking the Benedum stage June 11-16, 2013. Audiences are sure to be delighted by the antics of seven brothers and 'wannabe' brides living under one roof in 19th century Oregon. Noted Broadway performers including Pittsburgh CLO alumni George Dvorsky and Mamie Parris will take the lead as Adam and Milly, along with an incredibly talented Pittsburgh CLO cast.
Pittsburgh CLO's 2013 Summer Season will be highlighted by brilliant Broadway stars, veterans of the stage and screen and accomplished recording artists.
Broadway veteran Stephen DeRosa currently appearing in HBO's Boardwalk Empire, and Mary Testa, whose Broadway credits include Guys and Dolls, Xanadu, Something Good, 42nd Street, Marie Christine, On the Town, Chicago, The Rink, Marilyn, Barnum and more, will be a part of An Evening of Firsts: Broadway's Finest Spill About Their First Time tonight, April 29th 7PM at Stage 72.
Broadway veteran Stephen DeRosa currently appearing in HBO's Boardwalk Empire, and Mary Testa, whose Broadway credits include Guys and Dolls, Xanadu, Something Good, 42nd Street, Marie Christine, On the Town, Chicago, The Rink, Marilyn, Barnum and more, will be a part of An Evening of Firsts: Broadway's Finest Spill About Their First Time Monday April 29th 7PM at Stage 72.
See Rock City & Other Destinations, the Drama Desk Award winning, off-Broadway pop-rock musical tells the story of different travellers and their experiences at major tourist destinations. The musical follows: a wanderer who halts his travels to connect with intelligent life in Roswell, New Mexico, a woman who decides to take a chance on love, three sisters who set off to throw their fathers ashes into the sea, and a troubled bride who debates taking a jump over Niagara Falls.
The long anticipated cast recording of the Drama Desk award-winning SEE ROCK CITY & OTHER DESTINATIONS has been recorded by Yellow Sound Label, produced by Michael Croiter, to be released in digital and CD formats today, March 19, 2013.
The one-night-only concert included songs from See Rock City & Other Destinations, cut songs, and new songs from upcoming projects by composer Brad Alexander and lyricist/bookwriter Adam Mathias. Check out photos from inside the concert below!
The long anticipated cast recording of the Drama Desk award-winning SEE ROCK CITY & OTHER DESTINATIONS has been recorded by Yellow Sound Label, produced by Michael Croiter, to be released in digital and CD formats on March 19, 2013. The album features the cast of the Summer 2010 off-Broadway premiere produced by Transport Group Theatre Company (Artistic Director, Jack Cummings III; Executive Director, Lori Fineman) at The Duke on 42nd Street. The album will be available everywhere, including iTunes and Amazon.com.
Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launches its new series of late night events this March. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher will be the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," singing sensation Marilyn Maye, performance legend Charles Busch, cabaret's own Ricky Ritzel, performance artist James Jackson, Jr. and more!
54 Below will host an album release concert on March 13 at 9:30pm to celebrate the upcoming release of the See Rock City & Other Destinations Original off-Broadway Cast Recording.
