Featuring the current theatrical endeavors and rants & raves of Actor, Lyric Baritone/Tenor, Pianist and Director MARTIN ROJAS-DIETRICH
WHAT IS A BLOG?! The term blog is short for web log. It is an online diary or editorial page that is frequently updated with entries of text and images. The activity of updating a blog is blogging and someone who keeps a blog is a blogger. Blogs can range from the personal life experiences of an individual, to subject-oriented blogs that can be maintained by a group of people writing about a shared interest.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
"Only he who attempts the absurd is capable of achieving the impossible" - Miguel de Unamuno
"The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise." -Maya Angelou
"Life should not be measured by how many breaths we take but rather on the moments that take our breath away."
I ran all over the place today with errands and in the evening I performed at a private event for the Board of Trustees at a beautiful home in Hillsborough - very nice. My fellow calssmates Tim & Marisol also performed and rocked the place. My beloved teacher Wesla Whitfield also performed with her husband Mike Greensill but of course they performed a set. Wesla cracks me up - she's just lovely. It was a nice evening - a nice ending to a busy day of running around - I think I'm almost done with Christmas presents this year - thank goodness. No money so budget was very tight.
Today I also saw my beloved teacher Linda Hoy after not seeing her for a few months - it was a bittersweet reunion. I am thrilled that I will be working as her Assistant Director in the next play at Canada (until I start rehearsals for the opera.) It will be our fourth collaboration.
Tomorrow night I will be heading back to Canada College to see a showcase of their drama class - I know some people in it so it should be nice.
Okay that's it from me.
AND A happybelatedbirthday to my dear friend SeanO!
*We had a lovely thanksgiving here at home - lots of great food. This little break though just flew right by - I am THRILLED that there are only 10 more days of school before finals begin. I have a shitload of stuff to do between now and then.
On Thursday night I will be singing "Rosabella" for a private event that will be attended by the Board of Trustees. I guess it's of a preview of our upcoming musical theatre workshop performances on the 11th and 12th. Opera Workshop performance on Dec. 13th - help!!!
*On Friday I will be attending a special showcase performance at Canada College which features a lot of my old friends - should be fun.
*I will be performing at the December 8th Noon Concert at school - I will be singing a beautiful Italian song "Non Ti Scordar Di Me" which I have loved for years - it's a little intimidating entering Pavarotti territory but so far so good!
*Shows I will be seeing in December:Learned Ladies of Park Avenue at TheatreWorks, Christmas Carol at school, and Big at Hillbarn Theatre.
*I went to see FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION - the new Christopher Guest movie. It is great! It is by far the best work Catherine O'Hara has ever done. What a fucking talent! Her transformation in the film is both hilarious & heart-breaking. Hooray for Hollywood! Check it out!
I saw Madonna's Confessions Tour that aired on NBC last week and it was so awesome to see her kicking ass at her age. She put on one hell of a good show. You go Madonna!
On Wednesday evening I headed down south to see San Jose Stage Company's hilarious production of GREATER TUNA which stars two incredible actors: Kevin Blackton and Tim Hendrixson. I had never seen the play and didn't know much about it but I was pleasantly surprised as to how funny the piece is. Kevin & Tim both play many different characters throughout the play which tells the story of a town called Tuna in the great state of Texas. It is great fun.
The production is all about these two actors who are phenomenal. I got a real kick out of seeing Kevin in drag - I had to contain myself. During curtain call Kevin looked right at me and shouted "CHUPACABRA!" (which is what he affectionately called me during out run of Urinetown.) I am just crazy about this guy - a hell of an actor and a terrific human being. I highly recommend you check this show out.
I just love going to SJSC - everyone there is just so wonderful and I got to see a lot of friends. Good times in the theatre!
Wow! Today was a busy day - besides school I went to see Christopher Guest's new movie "For Your Consideration" then saw Greater Tuna at SJSC and just finished watching Madonna's Confessions Tour on TV. I am too tired now but I might write a few responses after the turkey settles down tomorrow. Remember to give thanks tomorrow - I know I am very grateful to you who read this blog - hopefully because you're my friend.
I went to see HAPPY FEET today and I did not care for it at all - too preachy. Whatever happened to the days of Disney when it was just about entertainment? Yes we know it's the end of the world and everything but please don't scare the children. Robin Williams was entertaining as always but that's about it. The best part of going to the movies today was seeing the sneak peek trailer of the new Harry Potter film which opens July of -'07- I can't wait!!! Go Voldemort - I mean go Harry!!
Not much else to report - except on Wednesday I will be going to see my pal Kevin Blackton in Greater Tuna at San Jose Stage Company.
I just got this e-mail from my friend Ray Renati -
Hi Friends,
I just directed a wonderful play called "The Baltimore Waltz". It's playing for the next three weeks at The Pear Avenue Theatre in Mtn. View. It's a wonderful show with three superb actors. I hope you can come.
THE BALTIMORE WALTZ by Paula Vogel
Where: The Pear Avenue Theatre 1220 Pear Avenue, Mtn. View, CA 650-254-1148
Congratulations to the Broadway production of the hit revival of CHICAGO now celebrating 10 years on Broadway. The original production was overshadowed by A Chorus Line so I am over the moon that Chicago has found a new life on Broadway - it is an amazing concept brilliantly done by Johnn Kander, and the late Fred Ebb - who were of of course inspired by Bob Fosse. Here is a pic of Chita Rivera(Photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.) still reminding us that she is the original Velma Kelly. The revival production celebrated its' 10 years with an all star reunion performance featuring cast members from the past 10 years - I really wish I lived in New York sometimes.
It seems like the week just flew by. Hope everyone is well. Nothing much to report here (just 23 more school days before this fucking semester ends =+) and boy I can't wait! I had a lovely day with my baby sis - we went to Berkeley and hanged out at Telegraph Avenue and even though I had already seen it - we went to see SAW III (you gotta see it - it's gross, disgusting and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!)
There are a lot of movies I want to check out in the upcoming weeks: Borat, Stranger Than Fiction, Volver and The History Boys. I am cutting down on the amount of theatre I see so until the end of the year I will only be seeing Greater Tuna at SJSC and The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue at TW and A Christmas Carol at school (only because I have a lot of fellow classmates in it.)
Ya - kinda boring here. Sorry y'all I wish there were more exciting things to report but no such luck. Hope everyone is doing well and keeping warm - It's already getting a little chilly here.
Bus Barn Stage Company is accepting submissions for its upcoming Film Festival called BUSFEST which will serve as a fundraising event for the wonderful theatre company run by Barbara Cannon. Here is the link.
Well folks you heard it here first - I will not be auditioning for A Little Night Music - the spring musical at my school. I know - it's a show I have always wanted to do but I realized that I cannot be learning two different shows at the same time. I want to spend next semester focusing on the opera since they only rehearse the opera for 4 weeks (I think I need a wee-bit more than that.) I am very sad about not auditioning especially since Debra Lambert will be playing Madame Armfelt and Billy Liberatore will be the musical director. A few years back I was cast in Saratoga Drama Group's production (as Mr. Lindquist) but I had to drop out before rehearsals started due to personal reasons so maybe the third time will be the charm with this show!
By the way mark your calendars now - I will be playing Falstaff in Merry Wives on April 13 & 14 at 7: 30 PM. That's it- only two performances. There will be attendance marked at this one (just kidding....or am I?) =+)
On an up note - I had a great voice lesson today - I am currently working on a beautiful Neapolitan song called "Non Ti Scordar di me" - I have wanted to sing this for years and am now finally brave enough to do it. It was overall one of the best days I have had at NDNU. Yay!
Today was my first time visiting the San Francisco Opera - it was quite an experience since I went with my father & baby sister - both not fans of the opera world. The opera house itself is beautiful & huge - although I must say the seats were a bit small (I know - you're probably saying it's your ass that got bigger but that's not the case - the seats were really small)
The production was a special presentation of Rosinni's Barber of Seville for families - an abridged 2 hour version with Figaro providing some narrative to move the story along. I was very impressed with the incredible set - a rotating house that provided all of the action - the special effects were out of this world. I really wanted to see the handsome Nathan Gunn play the role of Figaro (that's his picture on the right - yum!) but alas he did not perform - Brian Leerhuber did a fine job in the role though there was nothing really spectacular about his performance. I was very impressed with Dale Travis as Doctor Bartolo (a role I now have my eye on) and Catherine Cook was splendid as Berta. John Osborn (Count Almaviva) has a beautiful tenor voice that rang through the theatre. Allyson McHardy had a lovely voice as Rosina although a bit too soft for my taste. Ricardo Herrera stole the how as Ambrogio - although be barely sang he was by far the most entertaining actor onstage.
During the famous overture all I could think of was that Bugs Bunny cartoon - The Rabbit of Seville which features that great music. It was a wonderful first experience at the San Francisco Opera and even though opera was not my family's cup of tea- they really enjoyed the performance.
This is a press release that was posted on Talkin' Broadway:
PALO ALTO November 5th---TheatreWorks announces the the company will replace the originally announced final show of the company's 37th season Follies with the revival of another Sondheim classic Merrily we roll Along.
Rolling backwards from the self serving cynicism of the 1980s to the naive optimism of the 1950s. The musical is base on the beloved play by George S.Kaufman and Moss Hart, is a story about dreams and dreamers that is perfectly suited to this season' theme of "searching and finding".
TheatreWorks Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelly will helm this timeless American journey to feature an on stage band interpreting the production's tuneful score, including "Not a Day Goes By", "Good Thing Going" and "Our Time"."Changing a show in the TheatreWorks season is not something I take lightly but I know that our patrons will be delighted with this inspiring musical" said Kelley. Merrily we Roll Along is a show that I have wanted to revisit since our Northern California premiere in 1985. It is an especially personal Sondheim for me, one that is perfectly tuned to our times and our commitment to innovative productions of the Sondheim canon".
Merrily we roll Along plays April 9-29, 2007 at the Mountain View Center for Performing Arts. For more information or tickets ($20-$60) the public can call 650-463-1960 or visit theatreworks.org
I was really looking forward to seeing Follies (and in a dream world being a part of it) but I am sure that Kelley will present an amazing production of Merrily.
Last night I had a wonderful time attending the opening night of Ray of Light's current production of BAT BOY. I really have to be more open-minded about titles of musicals. After all I was the one that for the longest time said "there's a show called Urinetown - where the fuck is musical theatre headed?!" I know, I know.
Bat Boy is filled with campy characters, a fun filled score and with this production - an energized & talented bunch of performers. My friend Erin Cole who served as choreographer and filled in as production supervisor for director James Monroe Iglehart (currently in Spelling Bee in Boston) and she did an amazing job. Her choreography was just perfect for the style of the show. I am sad I didn't get to see it last year but from what I have heard this year the production is even better.
The ensemble cast is top-notch and I must of course start by mentioning my friends - Mike Padilla does an amazing job as Dr. Parker - this is the best role I have seen him do. You go baby! My deliciously talented pal Soila Munoz is a little scene stealer with her different characters and Daron Lamar Williams raises the roof with his wild preacher character.
I was very impressed with Eli Newson's performance in the title role - it is a very demanding role - both physically and vocally and he steps up to the plate and hits a home run - equally talented is Leanne Borghesi as Mrs. Parker. I brought two friends from school to see the show with me - Elana Ron & Francesca Camus and we had the best time. It was also nice seeing Richard Connema there and some of the folks from TheatreWorks - Jaime, Josh & Vickie Rozell who is the resident dramaturg there and was dramaturg for Ray of Light's production.
The only thing I can really comment on is the sound system - it didn't serve the actors well and there was some feedback so I missed some of the lyrics but other than that this production is out of this world and I highly recommend it. It plays through November 12 - don't miss it.
This is my FIVE degrees of Patti LuPone: 1) I am friends with my dearest Peter Tarter who is friends with 2) Leslie Sorci who's son's father 3) Kurt is 4) Jake Heggie's partner who is now working with 5) Ms. LuPone (he wrote his new opera for her) no more than 50 miles from me as we speak. I don't know why I didn't try to get tickets for it - how often does she come to fucking Palo Alto?!! (This pic was taken a few years back during my "Stage Door Star Struck Kid" days after one of her concerts with the SF Symphony. She was very sweet to me and I consider her to be one of the true Divas of the Musical Theatre world.)
Anyway - I was glancing at her website and found this quote from her blog that really hit a chord with me:
"I'm on to Jake Heggie's opera, To Hell and Back. It's very hard, but very beautiful music. I've crossed over to the opera world thanks to some very intrepid souls who think I can sing the stuff. I hope I don't let them down. "
Boy do I know what Ms. LuPone is talking about =+)
Ms. LuPone will be making her Los Angeles Opera debut (with Audra McDonald) next year - damn - I think that calls for ANOTHER road trip to L.A.) In other news - Halloween was nice and mellow and I did continue a tradition of seeing the movie SAW III. (I have seen the trilogy on Halloween for the past three years) It was awesome though It was the first time I have had to close my eyes from all the blood at times - it was out of control but totally awesome. I LOVE good horror movies,
I don't know why but I find myself constantly exhausted - I should try to get some sleep. In the evening I will be seeing my friend Marisol Urbano's recital at school - she is an amazing singer and this weekend I am seeing Bat Boy at Ray of Light Theatre and The Barber of Seville at SF Opera.
