WHAT A DAY

It's amazing how when it rains it really pours. I have been a little down lately just waiting for a show to line up and today I received news that SF Playhouse's production of Cabaret was honored with 9 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award nominations. Here they are:

Best Musical
Best Leading Actress - Lauren English
Best Supporting Actress - Karen Grassle
Best Supporting Actor - Louis Parnell
Best Director - Bill English
Best Musical Director - Martin Rojas-Dietrich (=+)
Best Choreographer - Barb Bernardo
Best Costume Design - Valera Coble
and Best Ensemble.

Way cool!!!! This is my second nomination in a row and It means a lot because I worked harder than I have ever done so in my life with this show. Sometimes a nice pat on the back goes a long way, especially coming from the critics. I know I have no shot in hell of winning but it is really nice to be nominated.

I also received some other great news. For the past two years I have been teaching at Hillbarn's summer conservatory and had a great time doing it. This year I have been invited back but this time to direct their production of Les Miserables. Quite the undertaking! I am deeply honored to have been asked and look forward to working again with my friend, the amazing maestro Matt Mattei.

Tonight, filled with high spirits, I went to see "Ain't Nothin' But The Blues" at TheatreWorks and I think it's one of the best shows I have seen there. So simple in its premise but so deeply profound, funny, and with one of the best casts ever assembled. My friends Alison Ewing, James Iglehart and C. Kelly Wright tore the roof out of the Lucie Stern Theatre. I can't recommend this show enough. My beloved Hilary Little & I went to the show to celebrate her birthday (a belated celebration). At the show I ran into my dear Nicole Julien who is understudying the show - way cool. It was a magical evening - a perfect end to an amazing day. Thank you Lord.

=+)

M.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!

Well it's March and it's been almost two months since my last post. I guess I have been spending too much time on Facebook - my bad =+).

So let's catch up - the cruise to Mexico was so much fun and I really got a chance to rest in style. I came home in time to start my final semester at NDNU (this time whether they like it or not - actually I just saw my name in the graduation list so all is well.) Not much to report in theatre news except that I have been seeing a lot of theatre lately.

In January I saw Landscape of the Body at SF Playhouse which my friends Susi Damilano, Rana Kangas-Kent, Alex Szotak and Julia Belanoff were in. The acting and the production itself was great but I didn't really care for the actual play. I think it was a bit too avant-garde for my taste. In February I caught On The Twentieth Century at TheatreWorks featuring my pals Suzanne Grodner and Jackson Davis. This was a fun show. I was very moved by San Jose Stage's production of I Am My Own Wife featuring the amazing Robert Parsons in a production beautifully directed by my friend Rick Singleton. I was feeling a bit discouraged with my chosen profession and this show not only reminded me why I am an actor but also why I love the theatre so much and how lucky I am to be a part of the San Jose Stage family.

I went to opening night of The Miracle Worker at Coastal Rep which really surprised me. I really wasn't sure what to expect but the talent was top notch featuring my friend Laurie Nellessen. This was one of the best productions I have seen at Coastal Rep and I am so proud to have been asked to direct next summer's musical there. The season hasn't been announced yet so I don't think I should say what the show is. Here's a hint - It's one of my favorite shows and one that I have done in recent years =+).

I saw my first show at Magic Theatre which my friend Lily Tung Crystal was in. The show was Tough Titty, and even though I was not looking forward to seeing a play about breast cancer, I was very touched by the piece and thrilled that the play had lots of humor and it was not a lifetime movie-of-the-week.

I had to go see my friend Robbie Brewer in Bat Boy at Foothill Music Theatre and Robbie did not disappoint. He was simply amazing in the role. The next night I saw Anything Goes at NDNU, which is probably the best show I have seen there. The show was perfectly cast and even though they performed the show in the ballroom (not the ideal location for a tap show) I thought they utilized the space brilliantly.

This past Thursday I went to DLOC to see The Producers which is one of my favorite shows. My friend Mark Hanson was the music director. I really enjoyed this production and thrilled that Foothill will be doing it in the summer.

Upcoming shows - next week I will be seeing Ain't Nothing But The Blues at TheatreWorks which features my friends James Iglehart (Bway bound again), Alison Ewing and C. Kelly Wright, then I will be seeing the fabulous Judy Kaye in Souvenir at A.C.T. Next month I will be seeing Lydia, a play by Octavio Solis playing at Marin Theatre Company, High Spirits at 42nd Street Moon and Always, Patsy Cline at San Jose Stage.

I've been hitting the audition circle and had a couple of really good auditions and a callback so close I could taste it. I have 4 upcoming auditions int he next few weeks so hopefully I will book something for the summer. Right now I am concentrating on these final two months of school. I recently signed on with JE Talent in San Francisco and I am excited about this new opportunity as well.

Currently I am playing piano and singing a few songs on both Saturday and Sunday nights at Max's in Palo Alto. Saturdays from 6-10 PM and Sundays from 5-9 PM. Stop by and say hello.

Well, I think this pretty much sums it up. I will try to post more often. Damn that Facebook - I am obsessed.

Cheers

Martin