WEEKEND UPDATES

I am very excited to see TheatreWork's upcoming production of Merrily We Roll Along as it features a number of my theatre friends - Diana Torres Koss, Jackson Davis, and Robbie Brewer. I will have to catch a Tuesday evening performance as their run is exactly the time frame of our run at San Jose Stage.

In other TheatreWorks news, my dear friend Courtney Stokes (who has given me the okay to post her news in my blog) will be part of their new works festival playing the role of Anne in the new musical "The Burnt Part Boys." Also exciting news for the talented Ms. Stokes is that she has finished the Equity Membership Candidate program and she is now eligible to join Equity! Being wise beyond her years, Courtney will put joining the union off for the moment but I have no doubt that we will be seeing her name in bright lights sometime soon - as I always tell her she is a superstar. Congrats Courtney!!!

We had a great tech rehearsal today but I am exhausted so I am off to bed -

=+)

M.

"HAIR" AUDITIONS

I can't believe I forgot to post this! - My beloved friends Jon & Barb Rosen are producing a production of HAIR this summer with their company Starlight Productions. They are such wonderful people - royalty of the theatre and have supported me dearly throughout the years - I love them dearly. Here is the info in case you want to audition (and I recommend that you do!):

HAIR, the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, will be presented at Theatre on San Pedro Square and The Historic Hoover Theater this summer (July 14-August 19).

Auditions for this classic rock musical will be held on April 1-5 at The Historic Hoover Theater, 1635 Park Avenue, San Jose.

Open auditions are from 1 PM to 5 PM on Sunday, April 1, and 6 PM to 10 PM on Monday, April 2, and Tuesday, April 3.

Callbacks are on Wednesday and Thursday in the evening.

Audition reservations may be made at www.stagelightproductions.org (click on auditions) or you may just walk-in up to an hour before the end of each day of auditions. Prepare an uptempo rock song or Broadway showtune with a rock beat, or (for Claude, Crissy and Sheila), prepare a rock ballad or similar showtune. Provide sheet music (pianist will be provided) or a karaoke-style CD with NO vocals. A cappella is not permitted.

Also, please no songs from HAIR.Monologue cuttings are available on our website (please do not prepare your own monologue). Monologue memorization is not required. Come prepared to dance (comfortable clothing and shoes). Lots more information is available on our website at www.stagelightproductions.org.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WEDNESDAY NIGHT?

I have 4 free (comp) tickets to our first preview performance of THE WHITE HOUSE MURDER CASE in case anyone would like them. I know that you are going to love it so much that you will want to see it again. =+) Please e-mail me ASAP if you would like any or all of them.

We finished most of tech tonight and I will be at the theatre all weekend. My cold is starting to get better but I am still recovering. I have some FABULOUS news to report about my dear friend Courtney Stokes BUT I will ask her permission before I can post it here (she is a blog reader =+). As soon as she says it's okay I will post it here asap.

I am heartbroken that I am unable to attend my friend Laurie's recital tomorrow evening as I will be at rehearsal all day. I know that she will be FABULOUS.

Okay - nothing much to report to I hope everyone has a great weekend.

=+)

Martin.

SINUS INFECTION FROM HELL

Hello everyone - sorry I have not been able to write for a few days because I have had this sinus infection from hell. I have been sick since Monday and it still lingers. I am doing all I can to get well for next week's previews of the play.

The play continues to be such a wonderful experience and I find myself digging deeper into my character as we finish up these last rehearsals. I think I am a better actor than I used to be. Not to say I'm the shit or anything but I do feel that I connect more with the work that I am doing now than the work I did when I was younger - which goes to show that there is ALWAYS room for improvement.

On Tuesday I became an official citizen of the United States of America. Even though I was feeling so ill I enjoyed the lovely ceremony in which 1030 people from 103 countries became citizens. I held it together until I heard The Star Spangled Banner which was the moment I realized that this was not just my home anymore, it was my country. A country that had afforded me so many opportunities and allows me to pursue my dreams.

I hope all of you blog readers are planning on seeing The White House Murder Case - it is a great show ad a great night out in the theatre. The show is under 2 hours so it's also not a LONG boring evening out - come see us - we are good! www.sanjosestage.com

Okay that is all for now - if anyone has any 100% cure for colds please call me or e-mail me ASAP.

Much love

Martin

HE MADE IT!!!!!!!

Oh what wonderful news I have to report - my friend James Monroe Iglehart - Bay Area Theatre Star is now adding Broadway Star to his list of credits. James will be making his Broadway debut in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. I read about it last night and I confirmed it today with Courtney who spoke to James on the phone. He is in town briefly to do AMTSJ's Smokey Joe's Cafe and then he is off to New York. He did the show in San Francisco and then went to Boston with the SF cast. He joins most of the San Francisco cast on Broadway.

I am so proud of James - who is not only an amazing talent but also one of the most wonderful people I have come across this earth. His dedication to his craft, his talent and the fact that he is a sweet loving friend makes this accomplishment so well deserved. I knew back in 2000 when I did my first show with James that he would go far.

Congratulations James!!!!

=+)

Martin

BUSY WEEKEND

*It really was a busy weekend. I played my final piano gig at Max's until May and had rehearsal all weekend. My friend Diahanna Davidson did a super cool thing for me. I mentioned to her that my computer monitor just crashed on me and she & her husband Tom offered to give me theirs (they just bought a new one) so it saved me from spending a couple hundred bucks on something I really wasn't planning on buying again. That was such a sweet thing - it's nice to have friends. It totally made my week.

*Rehearsals for the play are going well. Going to SJ Stage is the best part of my day. We have one more week of rehearsal and then go into tech - the show begins previews April 4. Have you gotten your tickets yet? www.sanjosestage.com

*I have decided to change majors - from Musical Theatre to Theatre Arts. Many deciding factors came into play when I made this decision but I am a much happier person for having made it.

*Tonight my best friend Heather & I had a nice dinner at Max's - they have some fabulous new things on the menu and then she dragged me to see the most awful movie - Sandra Bullock's Premonition. Just awful (and that was just Ms. Bullock's performance.) But I guess it's fair since I drag her out to see movies she doesn't want to see like: Saw II and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. I am glad we are able to compromise =+)

*I am looking at the summer theatre season trying to decide which shows to audition for. I will be busy teaching acting & song interpretation at Hillbarn Theatre but I would love to be super busy this summer.

*Tomorrow morning I am going to see the student matinee of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES at Cañada College. I am sad that I have not been able to see a real performance but I at least get to see this student matinee.

Okay - that is all for now. I hope y'all have a great week.

=+)

M.

BATCC AWARD WINNERS

The complete list of winners is here - congrats to:

*BBBAY for their 9 Awards!! including Best Musical (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), Paul Araquistain for Supporting Performance (Miss Saigon), Mark Hanson for Best Musical Direction (Miss Saigon), Berle Davis for Best Choreography (7 Brides) and Robyn Tribuzi for Best Choreography (Miss Saigon) You go Big T!!!

*Maureen McVerry (Into The Woods @ TW) won Best Supporting Actress for Pardon My English @ 42nd Street Moon.

KICK-ASS REHEARSALS

I have felt so great after our last two rehearsals - I feel the play coming together more and more and I am getting to know more about my character. I am constantly in awe of my fellow actors. Last night while the Jungle scenes were being rehearsed, us in the White House scenes went into the lobby to run lines and I don't know - I looked around and saw all these amazingly talented actors and just to know that I was performing with them felt extraordinary. It was a good feeling. I am really enjoying getting to know my pal Diahanna Davidson - she cracks me up - and what a talent. I love watching her scene with the President played by the great Kevin Blackton.

I really hope all of my friends will come down to see this one - this production means an awful lot to me. So mark your calendars now as previews start April 4. I will be marking attendance on this one (joke)

This week I got to hang out with my friend Denise Lane - who I haven't seen in over eight years - it was crazy. We were best friends in high school and then she moved to Arizona but we have remained friends. It was wonderful spending time with her. She is a very talented musician and her band is called The Spurloafers - check out their amazing CD. Here is the link at CDBaby.

P.S. Tomorrow night will be my last night at Max's until May 5th - so if you feel like some corn beef & cabbage and want to hear yours truly at the ivories come. I will be there from 6-10:30 PM. Happy St. Paddy's Day everyone!

=+)

M.

THE NEVERENDING TOOTH ACHE

I can't believe that I had this fucking tooth out last Monday and I am still in pain. I went back there Monday because the pain was unbearable. It turns out too much of the jawbone was exposed and causing me pain so my dentist filed more of the bone down alleviating much of the pain - it is getting better but I still can't have solid foods. I feel like a fucking infant living on broth & Jamba Juice.

I had a wonderful time at Max's this weekend - the restaurant had a few renovations done and it looks great. I am very happy that my boss is allowing me to take more time off so I can do the play. It is nice to be appreciated. After playing on St. Patrick's Day I will be gone until May 5th.

I went back to school today - the misery continues.

The Vagina Monologues opens at Cañada tomorrow - check it out. I will be seeing the student matinee on Tuesday. www.canadacollege.net

Rehearsals at San Jose Stage are going great - we had our first designer runthrough last night and I think the play is going to be great. It is the one thing I look forward to in my day - going to the theatre!

Okay that's all for now.

Have a great week y'all!

=+)

Martin

BACK AT MAX'S & RANDOM RANTS

*After a few weeks of not being at Max's I realized how much I enjoy my Saturday nights (and I would have much rather been there then doing the other things I had to do for the past month) Thankfully I at least get to be back for two more weekends as the wonderful San Jose Stage is allowing me to leave Saturday rehearsals a little bit early. I will be playing this Saturday (the 10th) and the next (17th - St. Patrick's Day) and then....I don't know yet. I hope that the other pianists can fill in for me for the next 6 weeks because I would hate to lose my Saturday night gig. So we'll see.



*I realized that I have not posted my comments on this year's Oscars - so in short:
Bravo to: Helen Mirren (hers was truly the best performance of the year), Forest Whitaker's speech, Ellen for asking Spielberg to take her picture w/ Eastwood and for saying "without blacks, gays or Jews - there would be no Hollywood"
The evening went on forever and I was very upset that Pan's Labyrinth did not win Best Foreign Language Film. I think it should have been nominated in the Best Film Category. I am glad it won its 3 design awards but it deserved more.
Also kudos to Alan Arkin for his win for Little Miss Sunshine and of course to Mr. Scorsese who is long overdue.

*I recently found out that in our local theatre awards (the BATCC) - Ms. Tiffany Marie Austin was nominated for Leading Performance for Miss Saigon at BBBAY but she only played a minor role. It was Catherine Gloria who played Kim and who should have been nominated in this category. When I posted the nominees on my blog and said that I was very moved by Ms. Austin's performance - I thought she had played Kim - so see, we all make mistakes.

*In Broadway news - Mel Brook's musical adaptation of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is coming to Broadway this fall and will open out of town first - Mel, can you hear me? Bring it to San Francisco!!!!!!!! Also Lord Andrew Lloyd McWebber - sorry Webber is making a sequel to Phantom of the Opera. Somewhere a Jellicle Cat meaows "fuck that shit!!!"

Okay enough ranting from me - I am still in pain from my extraction - when will this agony finally fucking go away?!!!

Have a great weekend y'all

=+)

Martin

SPRING BREAK

Well, Night Music ended on Sunday and I did my little happy dance. On Monday I had the most painful experience of my life at the dentist. My impacted wisdom tooth that would not come out for the life of me. It was agony - even with 8 shots of anesthesia. I am still hurtin' but nothing compared to Monday.

I started rehearsals for The White House Murder Case at San Jose Stage and I am sooooooo happy to be a part of it. We've only had 2 rehearsals and already I can tell it's going to be a great show. We're moving along very quickly - which is awesome. My very first scene is with my pal Diahanna Davidson and it's a great little scene we have together. The cabinet scenes are going to be fun as well. I am just very happy to be working with sucha great cast in a wonderful theatre company - I really do feel very blessed.

I wish that I had more exciting news to report. I know my fellow students are having a ball in Hawaii or Vegas or L.A. but I am quite alright in Redwood City learning my lines and eating soft foods =+)

Have a great week y'all!

M.

OH MY TOOTH!!

Oh live theatre - during Act II of last night's show we were backstage talking about things that happen in live theatre - accidents, embarrassing moments - you name it. As the show was finally coming to a close we were getting up to get ready for curtain call and I jokingly tell one of the stage hands Alana "should I bow eating a tootsie roll?" I say fuck it and bite on half of one and as I make my way to the stage I notice that my temporary tooth has come off in my hand. I didn't know if I should have bowed because I could have started bleeding on my tux and I just thought it was all too hilarious a moment and started laughing my ass off. I bow with the other lieberslieders but I enter with Adia & Marisol and they were so grossed out that they refused to hold my hands - Adia almost knocked herself over - it was one of those unforgettable theatre moments - JUST like were talking about earlier. The whole combination of events led me to laugh my ass off all through curtain call. Ah live theatre!!!!

I went home and I manged to put the tooth in place and wouldn't you know it - it holds! I am seeing the dentist on Monday for my wisdom tooth extraction and then he'll cement the real crown on that tooth -but what a story, huh?

AFTER 18 YEARS!!!

Guess what? I am a U.S. CITIZEN!!! It only took about 18 years but I am finally an American. I officially take the oath at the end of March but I am very excited. This country has affored me some amazing opportunities and for me at least this really has been the ladn of the free and the home of the brave. I'm going to stop writing about that because I am going to get all choked up.

CATCHING UP NEWS:

A Little Night Music ends on Sunday. Some shows you want to run forever... this is not one of them =+) I kid, I kid. Keith Kreitman has given the production a wonderful review. Here is the link. I am actually excited that my beloved acting teacher & mentor Linda Hoy and my family will come support me this weekend. The cast is great so come see it if you can - the last three performances are this weekend. We have a brush-up rehearsal tonight and I am the first to admit I am not a fan of these things and most of the time everyone is just being goofy - we'll see how goofy everyone is tonight.

During my night off from Night Music I was able to check in the other production I am involved in - The Vagina Monologues at Canada College - the show is coming along beautifully and I took some great pictures of the cast last night.

I start rehearsals for The White House Murder Case on Tuesday and I am still over the moon although I do have to have a wisdom tooth out on Monday - ouch.

My dear friend Joe Duffy has hired me to teach acting and song interpretation at the Hillbarn Children's Conservatory this summer so I am very excited about that. It will be awesome to put my Theatre Arts degree to good use.

Lots of good things happening - and trust me I am not taking them for granted, 'cause you never know what tomorrow will bring.

At least for today - I am happy.

=+)

M.