URINETOWN: WEEK 4

Well here it is folks: tomorrow evening will be our final full tech/dress rehearsal before our first preview. Welcome to the beginning of hell week. We will be having day rehearsals all week up until opening so It will be a very busy hell week. I was beyond tired yesterday after our grueling tech weekend but we all got out alive and today was a glorious day - both the weather and the FUN birthday party I attended at Diana Torres Koss' house. A lot of people from the show were there as well as my dear friend Hilary. It was a blast and I had way too much fun.

I plan on sleeping in tomorrow and getting ready for our evening rehearsal. My mentor Linda Hoy will be in attendance which will make it super exciting & nerve-wracking all at once. Linda & her husband will be taking off on Wednesday to Texas as they begin their retirement so I am so honored that she is taking the time to come see the show before she leaves. I will miss her so much and it really hasn't sunk in that she is leaving. More than my teacher and mentor she is my friend for life. The inspiration that she has given me has forever changed me as an actor and as a person. I truly believe that my career would not be where it is at today if it weren't for her.

Okay - have a great week. I am trying to pace myself this week so I can stay healthy and ready for a great opening. I have a lot of friends coming to see previews which will make them great. I know that we are PUMPED for an audience!

=+)

M.

PUTTING IT TOGETHER

Oh what a night!!! Singing this amazing score with the band for the first time was AMAZING!!! So much fun. The set is almost done and already looks incredible. I tried on my costume last night and it was so surreal to look like a policeman. =+) Seeing all the elements come together is beyond thrilling.

This is probably the last chance I will get to write for the next few days as we go into tech tomorrow.

For those that are interested in seeing previews (which start Wednesday) there are special offers from Artsopolis:
http://www.artsopolis.com/esavers/4-20.htm

and also Goldstar Events:
http://www.goldstarevents.com/events/event/8002.html

You gotta see this show - it's too much fun!

=+)

M.

THE VAMPIRE SUCKETH

Now I can finally do my happy dance or my Grace (of Will & Grace) "Told Ya So" dance. Here I go:

"Told ya so, told ya so
told ya, told ya, told ya so!"

After only a month on Broadway Lestat, the vampire musical that really sucks is closing for good - told ya so.

Read the story on Playbill.

Oh yeah, Elton John - I still want my money back.

URINETOWN: WEEK 3

I can't remember the last time I had so much fun playing a role like this. I'm madly in love with the show, my character, the cast & the production staff. Now that's a rarity for me because I usually have SOMETHING to bitch about. Not right now. Whenever my body starts to feel tired or I feel like whinning I remind myself how lucky & blessed I am to be a part of this - and it works! We had a really busy weekend and a really good runthrough today. This upcoming week the set goes up - I can't wait to see it.

Most of my scenes are with Officer Lockstock played by the incredible Kevin Blackton - this guy cracks me up. It is a pleasure to be his sidekick. We are just having a ball with these parts and we laugh so much offstage. The show really is a company ensemble effort as we all get to shine a little bit and this cast ROCKS!

I finish my studies at Canada College this week (I'm even missing graduation because of tech) but it will be nice to just have to worry about the show and nothing else for a little while. I am not looking forward to the following week where we have rehearsals & previews all up until opening. Then it should be easy sailing.

Okay I guess that's it from me - nothing too exciting to report except that I am having a great time doing this show!! (did I already mention that?!) I think I might go check out the DaVinci Code movie tomorrow. It looks interesting.

Okay y'all - have a great week!

=+)

M.

TONY NOMINATIONS

I debated whether or not I should post my feelings about the Tony nominations (which were announced today) since I don't live in New York and I haven't seen any of the nominated shows (except for the horror of Lestat during its SF run) so I thought I'd just do a short bit. Though I will say that It kind of bothers me that so many people have opinions on who should win without having seen any of the shows.

The Drowsy Chaperone (which I know nothing about) leads the pack with 13 nominations. The acclaimed revival of Sweeney Todd starring Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris received 6 nominations (and even though I haven't seen it - I LOVE the recording and on Tony night I will be rooting for them) including Best Revival of a Musical. Lestat received 2 nominations - 1 for costume (okay I guess) and one for Carolee Carmello as Supporting Actress in a Musical (though I think they gave it to her just because she's the one talented person in a really shitty show)

There was talk of having a Tony presented to an actor or actress who was re-creating a role - that didn't happen. A special lifetime achievement award will be presented to Hal Prince which is probably why I will watch the show this year. I just hope Hugh Jackman doesn't sing with Aretha Franklin this year - it was painful to hear last year.

The complete list can be seen on the Tony Awards Website. The awards will be presented & broadcast on June 11.

URINETOWN: WEEK 2

It has been a very busy week but those who are in the theatre will understand this - you know that part of the rehearsal process where you see all the elements come alive and you see what an amazing show it is going to be? Well I saw that yesterday. This show is going to be amazing. Seeing the numbers Run Freedom Run and Snuff That Girl for the first time gave me chills.

Everyone remains wonderful to work with (usually by now I am bothered by SOMEONE in the cast - but not with this group.) We all get along fabulously!

On Saturday evening I was out of rehearsal an hour early so I was able to go to Hayward and see my friends Tracy Chiappone & Brian Couch perform in a production of The World Goes 'Round. (which by the way my schedule looks will be the last show I am able to see until Urinetown closes) Now you theatre people will understand this too - once you are in a show that means a lot to you it is very hard to be objective seeing another production. This was the case with this show. I tried to enjoy myself but my mind kept racing back a year to our wonderful production at Bus Barn. Both Brian & Tracy were great but it was difficult to sit there and enjoy myself. Maybe the fact that I was ready to collapse at the end of the day had something to do with it.

Yesterday I sent an e-mail with all the show info so I am enclosing it in this week's post also:

URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL
The company: Tielle Baker, Kevin Blackton, Katie Blodgett, Robert Brewer, Cyril Jamal Cooper, Diahanna Davidson, Keite Davis, Darrin Glesser, Kevin Kennedy, Austin Ku, Paul Myrvold, Martin Rojas-Dietrich, Paul Sawyer, Stephan Smith Collins, Klahr Thorsen & Diana Torres Koss.

Directed by Rick Singleton
Musical Director Don Dally
Choreographer Dottie Lester

The smash hit Musical Comedy makes it South Bay professional debut! A terrible water shortage has crippled the city, forcing the citizenry to pay for the privilege of using a public toilet. Those caught relieving themselves elsewhere are sent to the mysterious Urinetown, from which they never return. When the people take back the toilets, they get a harsh lesson in conservation, imparted through witty, satirical musical numbers, This fresh, irreverent musical--dubbed "audacious and exhilarating" by The New York Times and "better than THE PRODUCERS" by Time magazine--earned three Tonys and three Outer Critics Circle awards.

Previews begin May 31st
Show opens June 3 and runs to June 25
Performance schedule: Wednesdays/Thursdays 7:30 PM
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM
San Jose Stage Company
490 South First Street
San Jose
Box Office: 408-283-7172 (hours: Tues-Fri Noon to 5 PM)
*Special discounts available to groups of 10 or more, students and seniors over 65. Call the Box office for details.
Ticket Prices: $25-50
www.sanjosestage.com

Okay - that's it from me. Try to stay cool and have a great week y'all.

=+)

M.

CHRISTIANE NOLL INTERVIEW

There is a great interview with my pal Christiane Noll on Broadway World. She was such a dear person to me when we were doing Woods and we shared quite a few laughs together - I was such a fan before I met her and It stills blows my mind that I got the chance to perform with her on stage! She is also getting married to a wonderful guy - congrats Christiane!

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

Last night my dear friends Heather Clemens and Nicki Kerns & I performed at the Little Store Restaurant in Woodside. This was my third time performing there and this was the best time I have had there. Heather & I were both feeling under the weather but still managed to give a great show that ended in a wonderful standing ovation. Some of the highlights were It's a Grand Night for Singing, All The Things You Are, The Impossible Dream, Granada, Man of La Mancha, Beat out dat Rhythm on a Drum,Vissi D'Arte, Vodka, O Mio Babbino Caro, My Ship, I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now, and our duets All I Ask of You, Till There Was You and You'll Never Walk Alone. A wonderful evening.

TEARS IN HEAVEN

Bay Area theatre has lost one of it's great talents - director & wonderful human being - Michael Spector passed away Friday night after a long bout with a brain tumor. He died very peacefully and was surrounded by friends & long time partner Michael Langham. I had the pleasure of being directed by him in The World Goes 'Round at Bus Barn Stage Company and he was also our stage manager for Kit Wilder in Broadway By The Bay's Anything Goes. I believe the last show he worked on was Bus Barn's Aida. We will all miss him dearly.

Here is Michael's bio from Aida:

Michael Spector (Director)has co-directed THE WORLD GOES ROUND and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and has assistant directed productions of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. As stage manager he has completed productions of BORN YESTERDAY, ART, THE MEMORY OF WATER, THE LION IN WINTER, THE BOY FRIEND, ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS, DAMN YANKEES, ANYTHING GOES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, THE HARVEY MILK SHOW, ASPECTS OF LOVE, THE FANTASTICKS, SYLVIA, PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, and SCAPINO!. Finally, he has co-designed the set for THE LION IN WINTER and co-designed and served as technical director and production manager for THE FANTASTICKS and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT.

URINETOWN: FIRST WEEK

It's been a very busy week - the score to this show is huge and very difficult. The cast is a joy & the production staff just wonderful. I am really happy that I am a part of this production!!

Here's the production/cast lists:

Director: Rick Singleton
Musical Director: Don Dally
Choreographer: Dottie Lester
Costume Designer: Michele Wynne
Lighting Designer: Michael Walsh
Set Designer: Ching-Yi Wei
Stage Manager: Karen Szpaller*

The Cast:

Hope Cladwell: Tielle Baker
Officer Lockstock: Kevin Blackton*
Becky Two Shoes/Mrs. Millenium: Katie Blodgett
Bobby Strong: Robert Brewer*
Billy Boy Bill/UGC Exec #1: Cyril Jamal Cooper
Josephine Strong/Old Woman: Diahanna Davidson
Little Sally: Keite Davis
Mr. McQueen: Darrin Glesser
Senator Fipp: Kevin Kennedy
Dr. Billeaux/Tiny Tom: Austin Ku*
Caldwell B. Cladwell: Paul Myrvold*
Officer Barrel: Martin Rojas-Dietrich
Robby the Stockfish/UGC Exec. #2: Paul Sawyer
Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry: Stephan Smith Collins
Soupy Sue/Cladwell's Secretary: Klahr Thorsen
Penelope Pennywise: Diana Torres Koss*

*These actors/stage manager appear through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.

Tomorrow - I have a gig with my dear pal Heather and my favorite pianist Nicki Kerns - should be fun. Okay - must go get some rest now.

Have a wonderful weekend y'all!

=+)

M.

IT'S GOOD TO BE AMONG FRIENDS

It was a great first rehearsal tonight as we did tons of business stuff and met the designers and their concepts - wait till you see what they are going to do to the theatre! And of course read through the play (I forgot how FUNNY this show is!) I already knew that my fellow Sweeney alums were in it:Keite Davis is playing Little Sally, Diana Torres Koss is playing Pennywise, Austin Ku is playing Tiny Tom & Dr. Billeaux but I didn't know that a couple of Into The Woods friends were in it too! Robert Brewer is playing Bobby (he comes directly from playing the role at FMT) and Tielle Baker (Rapunzel in Woods) sounds amazing as Hope Cladwell. I'm too tired to write more but later in the week I will give a full report and write out the whole cast list. I have a feeling this is going to be a good one.

=+)

M.