The Very Model of a Major Merman Musical
In August of 1955, about four months after Grace Kelly first met Prince Rainier III of Monaco while attending the Cannes Film Festival, an item about an optimistic group’s plan to put on a Broadway musical called Las Vegas appeared in The New York Times. Producer Melvin Parks described it as “a $250,000 musical…which will, of course, be about and take place in the Nevada resort.” Harold Karr and Matt Dubey had written the score, and Philip Burton, a British television and stage writer, and father of Richard Burton, had reportedly written the book. Parks expected “a famous Hollywood film mogul” to provide nearly all of the capitol. In December of that year, a month before Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III announced their engagement, another item appeared in the Times, announcing the temporary cancelation of Las Vegas, and the departure of the songwriting team, “by ‘mutual agreement.’”
Read More
The Stage Mom Survival Guide
When you live in the world of theater, you come in contact with all kinds of people. This is how you make friends and create lasting bonds. However, not every person you come across will be, well, in polite terms- friendly. Whether you’re an actor, a director, a stage manager, a techie, or a producer- we have all encountered the dreaded Stage
Read More
Five Ways to Best Handle Rejection
When I was 17, I auditioned for my dream role. I knew the cast album by heart, I thought I was the perfect fit for the role; no one else would be better than I was. I didn't get the part I wanted but I accepted a part in the ensemble thinking that all I needed was to be gracious and be a part of the show.
I regret it.
Read More
Broadway Needs to Re-Think Their Size Issue
I want you to do me a favor. The next time you see a Broadway show, or any show for that matter, I want to you pay very close attention the lead actors and I want you to consider this question,
Could a fuller-figured performer play that role? Would it have changed your perception of the show at all?
The answers, if you're smart, should be yes and then no.
Read More
That First Director...
Actors, actresses - cast your minds back to the first show you ever did. Can you remember the director? Can you remember the feeling of hanging on their every word because you know that this person will train you to be the best you can be?
Read More
Five Ways to Stand Out In Your College Audition
It’s almost January which means it's prime audition time! You’ve already made the decision that you want to pursue Theatre, but now comes the nerve-wracking audition process. Your mind is running at a million miles a minute and all you can think of is the material you need to learn, the judges you need to impress, etc! I won’t try to tell you it’s going to be easy, but I will give you some ways to make a great first impression at these auditions!
Read More
(Some of the) Best Theatre Spaces in the Bay Area
The theatres and other performance art venues are very much as a contribution to what becomes our cherished experiences as the show itself. Performance arts venues can hold their own intrinsic magic. As performing artists, we often hold our very own secret dream “bucket list” of performance venues very dear in our hearts and minds.
Here are some (of my personal favourite) theatres and venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, great and small.
Read More
The Amazing Way BroadwayCon is Honoring Unsung Women Artists
BroadwayCon 2018 is going to be big, no doubt about that. With expected panels of the casts of Come from Away and the original cast of In The Heights to appearances of your favorite Broadway stars, a lot of going to be happening in the various venue spaces within the Javit Center.
Read More
Will 'Hamilton' Usher in 'Venice' and Other Hip-Hop Musicals?
While I feel we are still years away from seeing what Lin-Manuel Miranda and Hamilton's influence will be on the future musical theatre, there's no doubt that it's a true catalyst in bringing more hip-hop musicals to Broadway.
Read More
"Journey to the Past": Some Thoughts on 'Anastasia'
Anastasia the musical, is based on both the 1997 animated film by Fox and the 1956 version starring Yul Brynner and Ingrid Bergman. My normal MO is to read, listen and discover everything I can about the shows I’m seeing ahead of time. With this show, I read the opening night reviews and decided I’d rather be surprised than let myself become jaded from others viewpoints. I’m glad I did.
Read More
