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The Director’s Mark – The Directors of the 2013-2014 Season

Now that the new Broadway season is underway, everybody’s wondering: What’s going to be this year’s big hit? Last fall, nobody expected Kinky Boots to be strutting it’s glamorous heels to the top of Broadway’s gross and attendance charts like it has, and yet there it is. A smash hit. No one can truly predict when a Broadway show will find its perfect, to quote Kinky, niche market. But, I believe there’s one way to make an educated guess: the directors. I may be a bit biased, but I fervently believe that a director’s vision can be all that’s necessary to send a show soaring. We’ve got so many legendary directors working their magic this season, I’m practically hyperventilating just thinking about it. Here’s the five we’re most looking forward to.

5) Bartlett Sher for The Bridges of Madison County.
Sher, the Resident Director of Lincoln Center Theatre, is best known for his poignant, gorgeously romantic love stories, from The Light in the Piazza to South Pacific. Another pairing with leading lady Kelli O’Hara, as well as with Jason Robert Brown’s new score for what is being billed as “Broadway’s most romantic new musical”… Well, it’s just perfection. I’m probably going to cry.

4) Alex Timbers for Rocky: The Musical.
Yo, Alex! I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Rocky as a musical? It’s certainly going to be interesting. But, they couldn’t have chose a better director than the guy that’s perhaps made the biggest splash in New York over the last few years- Alex Timbers. He’s inventive, contemporary and is always finding new, unique ways to tell stories that might seem too large for the stage. From Peter and the Starcatcher to Here Lies Love, Timbers knows how to get the adrenaline pumping, and that’s precisely what I’m expecting from his staging of Rocky.

3) Susan Stroman for Bullets Over Broadway.
She’s the reigning director/choreographer goddess known for too many shows to count, though you might be familiar with a little show she did called The Producers, and she’s back this season with two productions! Her signature stagecraft is already racking in mid-number applause over at the Neil Simon Theatre in Big Fish, but I just can’t wait for her next project. It’s another screwball comedy based on an iconic film, written by a comic legend. With Stroman at the helm, we might just have a new Producers-sized–hit. Who knows! We can dream!

2) Mike Nichols for Betrayal.
Forget the fact that it’s a classic Pinter play. Forget the fact that it stars Daniel Craig and spouse. Forget the fact that it already has an advance that Michael Riedel refers to every five minutes. Just forget all of that. The simple fact that Betrayal has Nichols at the helm is reason enough to see this revival. He may be 81 years old, but he’s still going strong, and garnering more acclaim than ever. He’s an icon, and his work spans half a century, though you may be more familiar with his direction of Spamalot or the recent Death of a Salesman revival. Regardless, I’m sure this production will be practically perfect.

1) John Tiffany for The Glass Menagerie.
Since we’re talking about things that are practically perfect, I have to hand the top spot to the show that’s already the talk of the town- The Glass Menagerie. Tiffany’s production is being described as exquisite and touching. His work with movement director Steven Hoggett on Once mesmerized audiences, and this new collaboration is meriting similar lauding.

How To Balance Your Theater Life With the Rest of Your Life

I’m a junior in high school. I’m also involved with two productions outside of school right now. So how do I balance theater life and my school life? It’s not an easy process and it definitely takes some getting used to, but I’m here to help you find a way in your life to make time for good grades and also to be able to continue your passion.

Being in high school and actively in multiple theater productions at the same time is very stress-inducing. Some nights I feel like I want to rip my hair out, and my weekends are so overtaken by rehearsals that I have to scavenge to find a few minutes here and there to do my weekly assignments. Over the years, I’ve found my stress level going down, not because I stopped my extracurricular activities, but because I’ve made time in my life and balanced theater with my other activities. Here’s my advice so you can do the same.

First things first, you have to take your time adjusting to a new hectic schedule. If you’re in your junior year, don’t sign up for multiple outside commitments if you already know your schoolwork is going to be challenging. Now you may be wondering why I don’t take some of my own advice, but this is about my fifth year doing major productions in the fall and spring on top of school. So I feel comfortable doing two productions at once because I have been forced to learn how to manage my time.

Secondly, you have to prioritize. It may seem really tempting to learn your new monologue from the play you’re in instead of doing your algebra homework. But if your homework is due tomorrow, and the play is in two weeks you need to understand when you have to buckle down and get things done.

Another thing, don’t overload yourself. If you play three sports, are president of student council, have three hours of homework a night, and want to audition for a musical that has rehearsal four times a week, you should take a step back and understand what is feasible for you to accomplish.

Lastly, you have to love what you’re doing in order to balance your life around that one activity. The only reason I immerse myself in so much theater outside of school every semester is because it is my passion. It’s never been easy, and some nights I feel like quitting because I think there is too much on my plate. But if you take a step back and realize that theater is what is making you happy and shaping you into the person you’ve always wanted to be, you will find that balance. You might stumble a little and shed some tears in the process, but I promise it will come.

Overheard at The Stagedoor

Just as the curtain falls, I leap from my maroon velvet seat and dash out to the stage door, eager to get autographs and make memories. Captivated in my own little world, wrapped in a blanket of fuzzy excitement, I vaguely overhear the conversations of others as they interact with the company of yet another fantastic show. Bits and pieces of conversation go in and out, and I catch a phrase here and there as each of the conversations seem to flow effortlessly into one single stream of voices and interactions, faintly hazy in my rosy and adrenaline-altered memory.

“GREAT show tonight! You are so wonderful. Would you mind signing my playbill?”
“Of course! Glad you enjoyed it!”

“Where are you coming from tonight, folks?”

“Sal Tlayka Siti!!! My favorite song is definitely Sal Tlayka Siti!”

“Yeah. I’m pretty good at what I do.”

“What a fantastic performance. I can’t believe you’re so short in real life, though.”

“Thank you, thanks for coming tonight! What’s your favorite book?”

“Do you read? I think this show really underscores the importance of children reading.”

“I think this one’s Annaleigh Ashford! No, wait, that’s not her. Wait, wait– never mind. No, it IS her! Is it? Annaleigh? Is that you?”
“No, Dad. That’s Billy Porter.”

“Can I get a picture of you?”

“MOTHER! Hold my playbill!”

“The Book of Mormon makes religion FUN!”

“Thanks for a great show tonight!”
“There’s one I’ve never heard before.”

“Are you an understudy?”
“No, I’m Billy Porter.”

“I SAW YOU AT SCHMACKARY’S THIS ONE TIME AND ASDFFGHJKL I CRIED.”
“COME HERE LET ME LOVE YOU!!!!”

“I would pay good money to see some Crutchie’s Dream Ballet right now.”

“Thanks, I’ve seen this show like 50 times, no joke.”

“YOU’RE MY FAVORITE”

“Hey! What about Ben Fankhauser?”

“I like your longboard!”

“I had no idea you could sing like that!”

“You’re a real life Disney Princess.”

“MOM, I JUST MET SANTINO FONTANA. I CAN DIE HAPPY.”

“Take a picture with the nice actress singer lady!”
“Dad, she wasn’t even in the show.”

“There goes the lawyer man!”

“I ran into Jeremy Jordan on the subway once. It was the best moment of my life!”

“New Ryan is actually really good.”

“Do you enjoy it? Being Irish?”

“That was my favorite part of the show.”

“Go home, people. Nawwbody else is comin’ out tonight, folks.”

And with that, the incoherent ballet of stagedoor sensory overload comes to a close, as I hobble away from the theater, full of adrenaline and exciting new memories.

Fish-Eye in the City

by Rory of www.WearAboutsBlog.com

Yesterday morning, my dad and I ventured into the city with tickets to see the shows on display at the International Center of Photography.

As a photography-geek, I of course loved every part of the show. But perhaps my favorite part of the day was pictures I took on the camera I’d brought with me. A few days ago I turned 18 (YAY!) and one of my birthday presents was a photography add-on for my iPhone. It’s a combination macro lens, wide angle lens, and, most importantly–a fish-eye lens. As you can tell fish-eye is my favorite and I took around 500 pictures–I’m obsessive when I get a new camera/photography gadget. This one is sooo cool because I can carry it around very easily (it’s so tiny) and then just stick it on my iPhone! Ah, the glories of technology.

We also ate a delicious brunch at Penelope, a little corner restaurant at Lexington & 30th. I’d highly recommend it!

The show didn’t take that long though, and there’s only so many hours I could possibly spend eating….so I filled up the rest of the time with (what else?) shopping! (You can see my favorite NYC shops here).

And in case you were wondering, being 18 feels no different than being 17, although I’ve seized upon every opportunity to remind my parents/friends/dog/random strangers that I am, in fact, a legal adult.
SEE MORE FASHION, WRITING, PHOTOGRAPHY on www.WearAboutsBlog.com

British Invasion – From West End to Broadway

This year at the Tony Awards, the two shows going neck and neck for the Best Musical prize both had roots across the pond. Kinky Boots originated from a British movie, while Matilda the Musical, a product of the Royal Shakespeare Company, was labeled as “The British Invasion.” This phenomenon is not uncommon, as Broadway has had a long history with its British counterpart, the West End. But to better understand today’s trend, first we must take a trip back to the 80s.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the famous composer and lyricist mainly responsible for the influx of shows in the 1980s, when the blockbuster musicals came to New York City. Musicals shot to feats of 1 million dollars due to higher production costs with more expanded artistic vision, making these shows almost like major Hollywood films. Shows like Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar in the 70s paved the way for more Webber musicals in the 80s. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cats, Starlight Express, and Phantom of the Opera started a new wave of musical talent from British minds.

This invasion began cult followings of shows like Les Miserables, and Phantom which is still running on Broadway today in its twenty fifth year. Andrew Lloyd Webber has also produced Bombay Dreams, created another musical Sunset Boulevard in the 90s, and recreated the classic Wizard of Oz in a new stage adaptation. However, there are many other British men and women who have also acclaimed Broadway success.

Cameron Mackintosh is a producer behind the hits Les Miserables, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, and Miss Saigon. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his work in musical theater. He also produced the Disney hit Mary Poppins, which ran on Broadway for 7 years before closing. Disney has had many successes on Broadway, especially with the help of team Elton John and Tim Rice. Not only did they write music for Disney’s biggest classics The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, but also their latter feat Aida. Elton John also went on to score the 2009 hit Billy Elliot, which went on to win Best Musical.

Other Broadway successes from British roots include Ghost, Sister Act and mega-hit Mamma Mia, written by British playwright Catherine Johnson. Many plays have also gotten Broadway transfers welcomed with open arms. Red, War Horse, and One Man Two Guvnors have all come to the states and have received critical acclaim and Tony recognition.

We also give back to the West End with shows from Broadway having very successful runs in London. Popular shows like Wicked, Chicago, Book of Mormon, Avenue Q, Hairspray, and Once the Musical have traveled overseas in order to entertain new audiences. London audiences have given to life to shows that didn’t stick around long in the states. Shows like Legally Blonde and Shrek the Musical have all gone on to get multiple praises from the Olivier Awards.

While New York City seems to be the capital of the world for our community, we must remember that while our world is getting smaller we need to keep up with international theater as well. From Rocky the Musical in Germany to King Kong the Musical in Australia, keeping up with the rest of the world will only help us in becoming better artists.

Broadway’s Scariest Characters…

Boo!

Did I scare you? Probably not. But, as they say, “Tis the season!”, and Broadway sure is a menagerie of colorful, down-right frightening, characters. Before you think this is a blog about Michael Riedel and Scott Rudin though, let me stop you. Instead, I want to chat about the most unnerving characters found onstage, specifically in some of Broadway’s well-known musicals. There’s something special about an onstage character that really delivers the creep factor, and I think it’s time to celebrate some of our song-and-dance villains (and a few protagonists, though creepy in their own right!)

10) The Witch from Into the Woods
“Greens! Greens! And nothing but greens!” The Witch has always scared me… popping up unexpectedly, growing magic beans, always bringing bad news, placing curses and spells on people- she’s like a high-maintenance friend. But, you’ve got to love her nonetheless!

9) Franz Liebkind from The Producers
Considering he’s a temperamental Nazi whose favorite pet pigeon is named “Adolf” and all, I think it’s fair to say that you wouldn’t want to cross Franz Liebkind, no matter how funny Springtime for Hitler is…

8) The Trunchbull from Matilda the Musical
Just, please don’t make me go to Chokey! Although, I’ll happily take on the chocolate cake challenge.

7) Riff Raff from The Rocky Horror Show
For a list like this, it would be a shame to disregard characters from Rocky Horror, and I think Riff Raff takes the cake. He’s creepy, manipulative, and ultimately he kills his master to enable him and his sister to return to their home planet. Oh, and he has mad dance skills to boot. Let’s do the time warp again!

6) Mr. Hyde from Jekyll and Hyde
I mean, Act Two opens with a production number entitled “Murder, Murder,” during which Mr. Hyde runs around killing basically 75% of the characters that we met in Act One. So… yeah.

5) The Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera
When he’s not crushing people with chandeliers, and spitting fire balls at Raoul, he’s busy just being the lovable freak that the audience can’t help but root for. It doesn’t matter how many times he hangs a stage hand. As long as he is wooing Christine, that’s all that matters.

4) The Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Sure. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is about as family-friendly as Broadway gets. But, with a character named “The Child Catcher,” things are bound to get creepy. And boy, do they ever. I’m still having nightmares.

3) Margaret White from Carrie the Musical
She’ll hit you with a Bible! She’ll throw you in the cellar! And best of all, she’ll stab you in the back *literally* when you get home from prom. Yes, folks, it’s Margaret White- Broadway’s monster mother, courtesy of Stephen King. And now, you can catch Mrs. White with all her insanity in the feature film remake of Carrie, which is now in theaters.

2) Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors
-He’s a giant talking plant who eats people and takes over the world… I feel it’s self-explanatory. Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. is pretty despicable too, I might add.

1) Sweeney Todd from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Partly because this show is a Stephen Sondheim masterpiece, partly because “My Friends” is one of the most frightening, poignant solos ever composed for the theater, but mostly because I may never be able to bring myself to have a straight razor shave, Mr. Todd receives the top spot as Broadway’s scariest character. And here’s a shout-out to his pie-baking partner in crime, Mrs. Lovett!

Happy Halloween!

Photo via Atomic Toasters

Hey World, Here She Is! It’s Christina Bianco!

A few years back, I was sent a video which featured a ridiculously talented woman performing Annie‘s famous tune, “Tomorrow”. This was no traditional performance though. Instead, the woman sang the anthem as a host of famous “divas.” From Bernadette Peters to Julie Andrews, the performer quickly switched between characters, hilariously capturing the voice and spirit of each iconic singer. The clip was one of the funniest things I had ever seen, and I quickly shared it with everybody I knew. The performer was Christina Bianco, a hitherto well-kept secret of the NYC off-Broadway and cabaret scene.

Luckily, Christina would continue to pop up. First, I caught her long-running performance in Forbidden Broadway, and later, in Newsical the Musical. All along, Christina was as fabulous as ever, just doing what she does best. I would always walk away thinking, “Why is she not famous?”

Then it was 2012, and I was attending a “Broadway by the Year” concert at the Town Hall. The performance included a special guest- Christina Bianco singing from Cabaret as not only Liza Minnelli, but as every other diva you can think of. As always, Christina brought down the house. A standing ovation later, I was once again left thinking, “WHY is she not famous??”

Around the same time period, I was also looking to cast a staged reading for one of my projects. As I was walking away from the Town Hall pondering the “Why is she not famous?” question, I quickly realized that she would be perfect for one of the characters. A few emails later, I met Christina, and we became fast friends. She wasn’t only talented, but a wonderful, genuine human being too, something that’s all too lacking in the entertainment business. She became a huge help in finding some other cast members for the reading, and before long, we were in rehearsals.

I’ll never forget the moment after Christina first sang her character’s hilarious showstopper. I quickly leaned over to whisper in my assistant’s ear… you guessed it… “WHY IS SHE NOT FAMOUS?!?”

Now, jump ahead to the present, and I’m absolutely tickled to say that finally, she’s sort of famous! Christina has really exploded onto the scene this year. From sold-out concerts at Birdland and the London Hippodrome, to a recent viral video of “Total Eclipse of the Heart”, which landed her an appearance on Ellen, a wider audience is finally embracing Christina’s wacky impressions and killer voice, and never have I been so thrilled for someone. If anyone deserves it, she does. I believe her story should serve as a true inspiration for all those insanely talented people out there who aren’t quite sure how to get noticed. Christina’s been around doing her thing for a little while, and slowly growing a loyal fan base all along the way. Though her success was far from instantaneous, she stuck at it, and more importantly, made incredible, lasting impressions on every person she met along the way. Now, she’s just at the start of what I’m confident will be a long and fulfilling career on Broadway, off-Broadway and beyond.

I think the message is clear: Do your thing. Do it well. Be nice. Before you know it, you’ll be dancing with Ellen DeGeneres.

Christina, my hat’s off to you.

Photo via EllenTV.com

Broadway Actresses as Disney Princesses

With all the popularity of the first Broadway revival of Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, I thought I would take a minute to do some dream casting of other Disney princesses that we adore. Tell us what you think of our ideas in the comments… or, if you’re Bernie Telsey, call me!

Snow White – Stephanie J. Block
Let’s be clear: Stephanie J. Block is queen status. But, if we must talk “princesses,” Snow White would be our pick. With a powerful voice and natural beauty, Stephanie would be perfect to play the German princess, though instead of whistling, she might be belting while she works. And who knows, maybe Disney can borrow a few of the Newsies boys to play the seven dwarfs?

Aurora – Jessie Mueller
Jessie Mueller would be perfect to play the sleeping beauty after her run in Beautiful: The Carol King Musical. Who wouldn’t want to see the Prince Phillip battle Maleficent as she turns into a ferocious dragon? Bernadette Peters, you might be able to bring your wicked ways back to the stage.

Belle – Laura Osnes
Though Laura is already busy playing Cinderella, maybe a turn at Belle is next in her future? She reminds me so much of Belle, and we know she has the vocal chops and humor to be in this colorful musical. I could totally see her in the revival of Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s first Broadway masterpiece. Hopefully we get to see her trade in the glass slipper for a rose soon.

Ariel – Sutton Foster
When looking for a smart, quirky actress with singing and dancing chops, the only actress that comes to mind was Sutton Foster. Though The Little Mermaid has already made its Broadway run, there are productions popping up all over, including Paper Mill Playhouse. Maybe Sutton can be a part of The Little Mermaid’s world in the revival? We’d love to see her rocking the roller skates! (And can we also throw out Leslie Margherita as Ursula? Is that genius, or what?)

Pocahontas – Patina Miller
You would think Patina wouldn’t be an accurate choice for the Native-American heroine, but if you look more closely, you can see a lot of similarities in the two women. Patina is strong, determined, and has a powerful voice. Maybe the Hunger Games will teach her some survival skills before she paints the colors of the wind on Broadway.

Tiana – Montego Glover
After playing Felicia in Memphis, Montego could play another character who understands the importance of hard work in order to make your dreams come true. The Princess and the Frog would be a great musical with a great score, and could give Montego Glover another go for the Tony’s!

Rapunzel – Annaleigh Ashford
From playing Lauren, the spunky factory worker in Kinky Boots, Annaleigh could definitely transition into a Broadway adaptation of the more contemporary Disney favorite, Tangled. Annaleigh could definitely capture Rapunzel’s sense of adventure and spirit, not afraid to get her clothes, or in this case, her hair dirty. Could Annaleigh don the long locks of Rapunzel in the future? We’d love to see this one hit the stage!

Merida – Lea Michele
Stick a curly, red wig on Lea and we totally think she would instantly transform into this butt-kicking, tough and curious princess. With such a harrowing story, we’re sure that there would be some major belting moments that no one could do quite like the Spring Awakening star.

Keeping a Healthy Voice

Every singer has good days and bad days, just like every performer. But how can you keep your voice healthy in order to keep the bad days to a minimum? There are a few tricks and things to remember in order to keep your voice in top condition.

First-drink plenty of water! Water will keep your vocal chords loose and lubricated and will make the air travel easier, and make your chords move more easily. For me, I always have at least 1.5 liters of water with me at all times.

Don’t smoke! I know this is like a no brainer, but even broadway performers sometimes forget this and light up (Susan Egan confessed to needing to smoke to get the harder edge to her voice for when she played Meg in Hercules. Performers believe it helps with their rocker or harder edge. It’s not worth the risk!). You don’t want anything to potentially damage your cords.

It’s alright to have soda and coffee occasionally. And by occasionally I mean, maybe once a day, twice at most. And always follow it with water! Soda and coffee and even juices have the potential to dry out your throat, making it harder for the cords to move. Always follow those kind of things with a lot of water, to minimize the damage done.

Never underestimate the power of a good vocal warm up! Would you work out before stretching? Of course not! Singing is a work out for the cords and muscles in your throat-always warm up before you try to sing!

When you get up in the morning, the general rule of thumb is to give yourself three hours from the time you wake up before you do anything harsh like singing to your voice. Just like you, your vocal cords don’t want to work that early in the morning and they need some time to settle for the day. If you need to speak, try a few vocal warm ups before you try singing. It really helps.

And finally, try to avoid clearing your throat. Drink water to quell that feeling instead. When you clear your throat, your cords rub together and can cause friction. Enough of that can lead to real vocal damage!

Above all, just treat your voice nicely, and it will do wonders for you! Sing out and break legs!