"Lulu the Broadway Mouse" a Delightful Read

Lulu the Broadway Mouse is the fantastic debut novel of stage and television actress Jenna Gavigan.  Jenna Gavigan made her Broadway debut as a teenager opposite of legend Bernadette Peters in Gypsy. You can visit her on her website. As someone who likes theatre, reading, and animals, I was so thrilled to receive a copy of Lulu for review, especially since this was such a fun book to read.

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Geeking Out with Fairlith Harvey, and chatting about “The Nightmare Before Christmas LIVE”

It’s been 25 years since the world of cinema and animation was changed with the premiere of “The Nightmare before Christmas”, conceived and produced by Tim Burton, with songs by Danny Elfman and originally directed in stop motion by Henry Selkirk.

It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a resident as well as The King of "HalloweenTown" who stumbles through a portal to "Christmas Town" and decides to celebrate the holiday, with some dastardly and comical consequences.  I sit down with Fairlith Harvey, director and founder of Geekenders ( a nerdlesque musical troupe based out of Vancouver, Canada)  to chat about the show.

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"The Laramie Project" is Personal for CT Director

This year, The Laramie Project is sure to be one of the most produced plays across the country. In fact, usually is regardless of what year it is. But for one director in CT, the play is all the more personal. Because while much of the world knows Matthew through this play and his story, Shannon-Courtney Denihan got to know him while they were friends in college.

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The 5 Most Underrated MFA Theatre Design Programs for 2018-19

Unlike other industries, getting a master’s degree isn’t necessarily a requirement for theatre professional to succeed. However, for those looking to teach or further their training, there are many strong MFA programs all over the country.

In the past we’ve done a list of who we felt were the best MFA programs out there. This year, we thought we would changing things up by highlighting programs we felt offer excellent educational opportunities that don’t get enough attention.

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CollegeChristopher Peterson
“BE YOU. Don’t try to imitate anyone else!” : Meet Pretty Woman’s Renée Marino!

I would like you to meet Renée Marino. Ms. Marino can currently be seen in Pretty Woman on Broadway where she is a member of the Ensemble, the Dance Captain, and Assistant to the Choreographer. Other Broadway credits for Renée include West Side Story (Rosalia), Jersey Boys (Mary Delgado), Chaplin, and Wonderland. She has also appeared as Mary Delgado in Clint Eastwood’s Jersey Boys film.

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Christopher Peterson
Woodbridge’s Cinoman and Middletown’s Baerman Win Inaugural Guilford Foundation/Guilford Performing Arts Festival Artists’ Awards

The Guilford Performing Arts Festival (GPAF) has awarded its inaugural Guilford Foundation/Guilford Performing Arts Festival Artists’ Awards to playwright/screenwriter Susan Cinoman of Woodbridge and jazz pianist/composer Noah Baerman of Middletown. The two were chosen by festival programmers and independent judges from a field of applicants from throughout Connecticut. Each will receive a $2,500 grant toward the creation of new work.

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Christopher Peterson
Lion King Prop Maker Arrested for Trying to Print a 3-D gun

Officers from the Midtown South precinct arrested 47-year-old Ilya Vett on Friday afternoon. The Lion King prop maker was taken into custody by police after he is accused of printing a 3-D gun.

Per the NY Post, police made their way into the Minskoff Theatre where the musical was being rehearsed on West 45th Street around 12:30 p.m. in pursuit of Vett.

The Brooklyn resident was said to be in the middle of printing the gun when officers arrived.

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BroadwayChristopher Peterson
This show is Exciting! Exciting! Exciting! – Chatting with Beetlejuice’s Elliott Mattox

Meet Elliott Mattox! 

Elliott is currently starring in the out of town tryout of Beetlejuice at The National Theatre in Washington DC. He made his Broadway debut in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and is co-host of Equity One: Broadway's Happy Hour! “As you know, sometimes in this business we have to make our own creative opportunities. My best friend, Caleb Dicke, and I have always wanted to work together on something creative. Caleb came to visit me on a contract, and we were Face timing my boyfriend. Our antics had him laughing nonstop, and he put the idea of starting a podcast into our heads. Last summer, we finally decided to just buy a microphone and start! We have a blast doing something together and talking about the industry with people we really respect! Give us a listen on iTunes!” says Mattox.

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The 5 Most Underrated MFA Acting Programs of 2018-19

Unlike other industries, getting a master’s degree isn’t necessarily a requirement for theatre professional to succeed. However, for those looking to teach or further their training, there are many strong MFA programs all over the country.

In the past we’ve done a list of who we felt were the best MFA programs out there. This year, we thought we would changing things up by highlighting programs we felt offer excellent educational opportunities that don’t get enough attention.

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Meshelle Opens Up: An Exclusive Chat with the Self-Styled “Indie Mom of Comedy”

For many artists, there comes a time where they are forced to make a painful choice in their lives: continuing to pursue their art or move toward starting a family. Some, however, refuse to ultimately choose, and attempt their best to balance their creative life with their parental life. Such appears to be the case with the woman known simply as “Meshelle,” who returns to the NYC indie theatre scene with her latest performance at Theatre Row as part of the United Solo Theatre Festival, after past successful runs at festivals such as the Midtown International Theatre Festival and the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival.

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New YorkChristopher Peterson
Two Artists Walk into a Play: Developing a New Work

When it comes to the phrase “write what you know” playwright, Monica Bauer had a lot to work with. A former political science professor as well as a veteran of the National Guard, she sought to write a play that reflected her unique life experiences. Bauer says “The real truth about politics is found, I believe, in the contradictions in human beings. The problem of politics is flawed human beings trying to make sense of movements in history beyond their control. So I wanted to work with the twin national tragedies of the Vietnam War and the Iraq War, both wars of choice, both wars where a lot of young people died or came back wounded.”

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Taking in the Glitz and Glamour of the Emmys Governor's Ball

After last night’s 70th Emmy Awards, nominees, guests, and presenters strolled along a massive red carpet to the L.A. Live Event Deck for the largest celebratory dinner party in Los Angeles. First guests received a bubbling flute of Ferrari Trento as they walked under 29,000 LED lights hanging from the ceiling illuminating the party and Hollywood's night sky.

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Christopher Peterson
A Trump Skit, A Town Outraged, A Community Theatre in Turmoil

When one thinks of Breckenridge, CO the first thing that usually comes to mind is their popular ski resort. Then perhaps their famous Oktoberfest. But probably no one thought it would be home to a brewing controversy involving its local community theatre. A controversy that has led to threats of boycotts and the resignation of two theatre officials.

All due to a satirical sketch poking fun at Donald Trump. 

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