FIRST WEEKEND DOWN

The first weekend of Night Music is over and only one more weekend left - I really can't wait for this one to close. It has been a very difficult & trying experience. My beloved Heather came to opening night and sat in the front row - that was wonderful especially since I really don't do that much in the show. Keith Kreitman, critic for the San Mateo Times has come to both weekend performances so I think he really liked the show. Keith has always been a champion to me ever since he saw me in BBBAY's Jesus Christ Superstar and named me the bext featured actor of that year - I believe that was 2001. Only 3 more shows left and then I start rehearsals at San Jose Stage - I can't wait to have my sanity back =+)

Have a great week y'all!

=+)

M.

THE OSCARS ARE COMING

I am excited to see to see the Oscars on Sunday night - I'll be rooting for my fav's of course and I saw a lot of the nominated work. I find that there is always a shocker in who wins sometimes and it will be interesting to see wins this year.

In other news, A Little Night Music opens tonight and I finally have a costume (don't ask) and hopefully all will go well tonight. I am beyond exhausted - this has been a truly hellish week from hell. I'm gonna go take a nap now.

=+)

M.

OH WHAT A MONSTROUS COUPLE OF DAYS!!

There is so much to say that I don't know where to begin. If you really want to know call me and ask me because I am afraid of speaking the truth on my blog. This weekend I lost my voice (for the first time EVER) and had to perform at the President's Gala at school. I was supposed to sing "O Sole Mio" but I knew that I couldn't so at at the last minute I asked my friend Marisol if she would sing our duet from Ragtime which I knew I would be able to do - it all went fine but it was a very stressful time.

Tonight I found out that one of the performances of Night Music has been cancelled so there will be no matinee on February 25th (fine by me because that's Oscar night)

I find it very difficult to honestly comment on my current theatrical endeavor - I will say that it has been a very trying experience and that is all I will say about that.


In more important news - I saw the most amazing play at San Jose Stage this weekend - It's called GIBRALTAR and it is amazing. I was very lucky to have been part of an audience that included the playwright Mr. Octavio Solis. As I saw the play my eyes began to tear up, partly because of the play (dealing with "love at the end") but also because I knew that soon I would be back on that stage and that was a wonderful thing to feel - you have no idea. The cast and play was terrific - I highly recommend it. It plays until March 4th. There is nudity and adult themes in the production so leave the kiddies at home.

Hell week from Hell continues!

=+)

M.

2006 BATCC NOMINATIONS

Here is the nominations list and CONGRATULATIONS to my friends Robyn for her amazing work as Miss Saigon's choreographer, Robbie Brewer for his role in Urinetown (I think he was even better in another production =+) my gal pal Maurren McVerry (with 2!) and Paul Araquistain who was simply delicious in Miss Saigon at BBBAY. The nominations in Italic are ones that I have seen. Congrats to BBBAY for their 12 nominations!

BATCC 2006 FINALISTS

DRAMA

ENTIRE PRODUCTION:
Brooklyn Boy, Theatre Works
Killer Joe, Marin Theatre Company (Magic Theatre)
Kiss of the Spider Woman, New Conservatory Theatre Center
Little Foxes, The, American Conservatory Theater
Master Builder, The, Aurora Theatre
Miser, The, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Salome, Aurora Theatre

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Ivonne Coll, Mother Courage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Lauren Grace, Master Builder, Aurora Theatre
Phoebe Moyer, The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue, TheatreWorks
Rita Moreno, Glass Menagerie, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Susi Damilano, Reckless, SF Playhouse
Vilma Silva, Anna in the Tropics, TheatreWorks

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, MALE
Eric Lochtefeld, Glass Menagerie, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Francis Jue, M. Butterfly, TheatreWorks
*I have not see the other wonderful actors nominated for this but I can't imagine a better performance. I could be wrong - but I doubt it.
James Carpenter, Master Builder, Aurora Theatre
Javier Galito-Cava, Kiss of the Spider Woman, New Conservatory Theatre Center
L. Peter Callender, World Music, Theatre First
Ron Campbell, Merry Wives of Windsor, California Shakespeare Theater
Steven Epp, The Miser, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE FEMALE
Amy Resnick, Brooklyn Boy, TheatreWorks
Delia MacDougall, Merry Wives of Windsor, California Shakespeare Theater
Julia Brothers, Salome, Aurora Theatre
Maureen McVerry, The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue, TheatreWorks
*My pal Maureen was hilarious in this show!
Nancy Carlin, The Immigrant, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Sue Triggs, Noises Off, Willows Theater

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, MALE
Anthony Fusco, Merry Wives of Windsor, California Shakespeare Theater
Dan Hiatt, The Immigrant, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Danny Scheie, Merry Wives of Windsor, California Shakespeare Theater
Danny Scheie, Restoration Comedy, California Shakespeare Theater
Darren Bridgett, Alice in Wonderland, Marin Shakespeare Company
Nick Sholley, Long Christmas Ride Home, Magic Theatre

DIRECTOR:
Barbara Damachek, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Center REPertory
Dominique Serrand, The Miser, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Jonathan Moscone, As You Like It, California Shakespeare Theater
Louis Parnell, Reckless, SF Playhouse
Mark Jackson, Salome, Aurora Theatre
Tracy Ward, Hunter Gatherers, Killing My Lobster

SET DESIGN:
Bill English, Roulette, SF Playhouse
Donald Eastman, The Rivals, American Conservatory Theater
Kate Edmunds, M. Butterfly, TheatreWorks
Robert Blackman, The Little Foxes, American Conservatory Theater
Steve Coleman, Old Wicked Songs, Marin Theatre Company
Steve Coleman, Sly Fox, Ross Valley Players

SOUND DESIGN:
Billie Cox, King Lear, Marin Shakespeare Company
Dave Malloy, Merry Wives of Windsor, California Shakespeare Theater
Donald Remedios, The Miser, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Jeff Mockus, Wicked Old Songs, Marin Theatre Company
Tim Gray, Tartuffe, Marin Theatre Company

LIGHTING DESIGN:
Alexander V. Nichols, Mother Courage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Alexander V. Nichols, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, American Conservatory Theater
Joe Retsky, Mystery Play, SF Playhouse
Matt Frey, Glass Menagerie, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Nancy Schertler, The Rivals, American Conservatory Theater
Russell H. Champa, The Little Foxes, American Conservatory Theater

COSTUME DESIGN:
Anne R. Oliver, Restoration Comedy, California Shakespeare Theater
Beaver Bauer, The Rivals, American Conservatory Theater
David Zinn, Mother Courage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Fumiko Bielefeldt, M. Butterfly, TheatreWorks
Lydia Tanji, Merry Wives of Windsor, California Shakespeare Theater
Sonya Berlovitz, The Miser, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

ORIGINAL SCRIPT:
Brad Erickson, The War at Home, New Conservatory Theatre Center
Carey Perloff, Luminescence Dating, American Conservatory Theater/Magic Theatre
Geoff Sobelle and Trey Lyford, All Wear Bowlers, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

ORIGINAL SCORE:
Gina Leishman, As You Like It, California Shakespeare Theater
Gina Leishman, Mother Courage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Peter Golub, Glass Menagerie, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

CHOREOGRAPHY OR FIGHT DIRECTION:
Chris Black, Salome, Aurora Theatre
David Maier, Zorro in Hell, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Joe Goode, Lunatique Fantastique/The Long Christmas Drive Home, Magic Theatre
Richard Lane, King Lear, Marin Shakespeare Company

SOLO PERFORMANCE:
Ron Severdia, A Christmas Carol, Humbug Theater
Tim Miller, 101 Beds, New Conservatory Theatre Center
W. Allen Taylor, Walkin Talkin' Bill Hawkins

ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE:
Immigrant, The, San Jose Repertory Theatre
Little Foxes, The, American Conservatory Theater
Marriage of Figaro, The, Center REPertory
Mother Courage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Rivals, The, American Conservatory TheaterSalome,
Aurora Theatre

MUSICALS

ENTIRE PRODUCTION:
Love, Janis, Columbia Artists
Passing Strange, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Putting It Together, SF Playhouse
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Broadway by the Bay
Urinetown, Foothill Music Theatre
Vanities, TheatreWorks

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE, FEMALE:
Charlotte Cohn, Happy End, American Conservatory Theater
Jessica Raaum, Annie Get Your Gun, Foothill Music Theatre
Tiffany Marie Austin, Miss Saigon, Broadway by the Bay
*I was very moved by Ms. Austin's performance

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE: MALE:
Daniel Breaker, Passing Strange, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Noel Anthony, Miss Saigon, Broadway by the Bay
Rick Williams, 1776, Willows Theatre
Robert Brewer, Urinetown, Foothill Music Theatre
*Without question!

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, FEMALE:
Jessica Lynn Carroll, Urinetown, Foothill Music Theatre
Mary Pat Green, Putting it Together,
Maureen McVerry, Pardon My English, 42nd Street Moon

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, MALE:
(wow - this is the only category where I have actually seen all performances and the award should go to my pal Paul Araquistain - he was AMAZING!!!)
Aaron J. Albano, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Post Street Theatre
David Settler, Miss Saigon, Broadway by the Bay
Justin Weatherby, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Broadway by the Bay
Paul Araquistain, Miss Saigon, Broadway by the Bay
Stanley Bahorek, 25th Putnam County Annual Spelling Bee, Post Street Theatre

DIRECTOR:
Alex Perez, Miss Saigon, Broadway by the Bay
Carey Perloff, Happy End, American Conservatory Theater
Dianna Shuster, Putting It Together, SF Playhouse
Evan Pappas, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Broadway by the Bay
Jay Manley, Annie Get Your Gun, Foothill Music Theatre

MUSIC DIRECTOR:
Catherine Snider, Annie Get Your Gun, Foothill Music Theatre
Catherine Snider, Urinetown, Foothill Music Theatre
Constantine Kitsopoulos, Happy End, American Conservatory Theater
Mark Hanson, Miss Saigon, Broadway by the Bay
Stew, Passing Strange, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

SET DESIGN:
Joe Ragey, Annie Get Your Gun, Foothill Music Theatre
*It was an amazing set.
Walt Spangler, Happy End, American Conservatory Theater

SOUND DESIGN:
Jeff Curtis, Happy End, American Conservatory Theater

LIGHTING DESIGN:
Kevin Adams, Passing Strange, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Michael Ramsaur, Miss Saigon, Broadway by the Bay

COSTUME DESIGN:
Candice Donnelly, Happy End, American Conservatory Theater
Janis Bergmann, Annie Get Your Gun, Foothill Music Theatre

CHOREOGRAPHY:
Berle Davis, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Broadway by the Bay
John Carraffa, Happy End, American Conservatory Theater
Robyn Tribuzi, Miss Saigon, Broadway by the Bay
*Berle has won many of these so I am sure he is also rooting for Robyn - she did such a fantastic job.
Tyler Risk, Annie Get Your Gun, Foothill Music Theatre

ORIGINAL SCRIPT
Morris Borrow, Shopping the Musical, AWAT ProductionsJay Kuo,
Insignificant Others, New Conservatory Theatre Center
Stew and Heidi Rodewald, Passing Strange, Berkeley Repertory Theatre

ORIGINAL SCORE
David Kirshenbaum, Vanities, TheatreWorks
Morris Borrow, Shopping the Musical, AWAT Productions

ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE:
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Post Street Theatre
Happy End, American Conservatory Theater
Miss Saigon, Broadway by the Bay
Passing Strange, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Putting It Together, SF Playhouse
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Broadway by the Bay

TOURING PRODUCTIONS:
Doubt, Carol Shorenstein Hays, MTC Productions
Hairspray, American Musical Theatre of San Jose
Jersey Boys, Best of Broadway
Light in the Piazza, Best of Broadway
Michael Bourne's Swan Lake, Best of Broadway

HELL WEEK BEGINS EARLIER

Normally I consider Hell Week to start on Tech Sunday but since I am performing at the President's Gala this weekend - it actually starts tomorrow with full day of classes followed by rehearsal for the President's Gala followed by Night Music rehearsal - or basically from 9 AM to 10 PM at night. Saturday night is the performance which I am told will keep me there from 5-10 PM and then Sunday I am going to check out GIBRALTAR at San Jose Stage (which is the first play I have been able to see this year) and head over to Night Music Tech and then the real fun begins....

I had a tough rehearsal tonight because I feel so tired but our wonderful Coleen Lorenz was very encouraging and created some lovely things for the Lieberslieders to do. I have really enjoyed working with her on this show. Holy crap - a busy week lies ahead.

=+)

M.

ALL I CAN SAY IS "WOW"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember all the "drama" I kept talkin' about before? It resolved and it has a happy ending. Today I was cast in San Jose Stage Company's upcoming production of THE WHITE HOUSE MURDER CASE by Jules Feiffer and directed by Ray Garrett. I can't believe it!! This is my first professional play (my fourth professional show but the first play I have done in over 10 years!!) I have spent the last 10 years concentrating on doing musicals that I forgot that I can act.

The drama was that while I was asked to come in and read for the play I knew that the time commitment involved would interfere with the opera. Deep inside me I knew that I was not ready to tackle something of this magnitude. If you think that learning and entire role in an opera is like learning lines you are out of your fucking mind. I kept stressing about this over the holidays and when this opportunity came along I just couldn't pass it up. I didn't know if I had a chance in hell of getting in the play or not but I decided to step down from the opera. Maybe in time I will try doing an opera - but starting with a small or supporting role - not something like Falstaff.

Thankfully my teacher, Debra understood my situation and allowed me to step down from the opera. After I read the play I was hooked - I really wanted to be a part of this and had my final callback on Sunday night and just found out earlier this afternoon. The cast assembled features (to me) Bay Area acting Gods. I'll write more later. My heart is full and I will probably break down and cry from joy any second so I should stop writing.

I guess the moral of the story is - follow your heart and if something doesn't feel right to you - don't do it. You'll be a happier person for it =+)

M.

ONE OF THOSE GOOD REHEARSALS

We had a very productive rehearsal tonight - it was great! I must admit I wasn't having the best time rehearsing the show (since I really don't do very much in it) but we got a lot done tonight - a rehearsal only for the quintet (minus Julia who is in Utah at a Theatre Competition) and I am finally excited about doing the show. I felt that the Lieberslieders were not being used to their full potential but we came up with some wonderful material for us to do in some scenes and with one of the waltzes - thanks to the guiding hand of our director Michael and choreographer Colleen.

Yay - I'm finally excited!!

=+)

M.

A BUSY (& PAINFUL WEEKEND)

My foot still has not healed and last night I had to perform at the Valentine's Concert at school. I was not thrilled to be there but the meds helped and Marisol & I received a rousing ovation with our song. Wheels of a Dream is a song that means a lot to me. I know I will never play Coalhouse in Ragtime but I identify with the song. Some people were telling me that it wasn't a love song and I disagreed - it is a love song. A love song that two parents sing for their newborn son. I think about my parents and all that they have done for me and how we came to this country and now I am living the American dream. Surreal. I love singing in the Mansion Ballroom. Also singing with Marisol was wonderful - she looked beautiful. In fact everyone looked great and did a great job - it is wonderful to see a lot of my fellow students improve and blossom. That is way cool.

That's all for now.

Have a great week y'all!

=+)

Martin

a very CACA day

Oh what a shitty fucking day! You know which day I'm talking about - the one where you're so frustrated you get quiet and your brow resembles Jack Nicholson in The Shining and you are sooooo very easily annoyed. This was one of those days. I won't go into too much detail but the day started out shitty and by the time I got to rehearsal I just wanted to scream and I did as soon as I walked out of rehearsal.

It's so hard to not be able to "OPENLY" write about the details of my day and the moronic imbecile whom I wanted to kick with all my might because... it's not cool to do so - so I will just say today was a very caca day BUT tomorrow is another day.

And it fucking better be a good one.

=+)

M.

THEATREWORKS' 2007-08 SEASON

The formal announcement happens tonight but you can see the season on their website. Here's the link. Looks like a good season which includes the much acclaimed new musical Emma.

OVERWHELMED WITH GOUT

It's been a tough past few days - I got a major gout attack (look it up - it's painful) on my left foot on Friday so I stayed home from school (well that and major freaking out about stuff) - there's so much to do and nothing is getting done - so I have to prioritize - I am finishing learning all the music for A Little Night Music FIRST (because we are off book on Friday and we open in two weeks) then a list follows - I guess I have been trying to do everything and therefore nothing was getting done.

Saturday was my last shift at Max's until March 10th because of commitments I have to fulfill for NDNU - sometimes this whole "working off the scholarship" business really.....burns my cookies!! Oh well.


On Sunday I managed to get out of bed and see my fabulous friend Julia Hosack sing with the Redwood Symphony. She won the Concerto Competition with her set of Kurt Weill songs. She was amazing and looked like a star singing with the symphony. I did have to leave at intermission because I was not feeling well.

A new week and tons of things to do so I hope everyone is doing well and I probably won't have time to write until the end of the week - so with that

Have a great week y'all!

=+)

Martin

WESLA AT THE PLUSH ROOM

Last night my friends Peter & Hilary and I went to The Plush Room to see Wesla Whitfield & her husband/musical director Mike Greensill perform. The evening started out great - we were very excited to see her perform and Mike came out and did a beautiful arrangement of Frank Loesser's "I've Never Been In Love Before" along with a very hot bass player and Wesla came out - looking beautiful and started singing "Heart & Soul" - a beautiful, slow, jazzy arrangement but I noticed that Wesla kept swallowing during the number - she held this amazing note at the end and then started coughing. She was very ill and had planned to go on that evening but alas she could not. She was such a trooper and I could tell how badly she felt about not being able to sing and Hilary and I could totally relate as performers - because when you're sick - you're sick! The performance was cancelled but we still had a wonderful time and had a lovely dinner afterwards. I wish Wesla a speedy recovery and I can't wait to go see her perform again.

Today I had a great lesson with Debra - I think of our lessons as part therapy session/part voice lesson - I'm just crazy about her. Anyhoo - back to school now for Vocal Performance class.

=+)

M.