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Hurrah! It’s… Theater Festival Time!

The days are longer, and the sun is brighter.  The TKTS line stretches with confused tourists all the way to Coney Island, while the children and cockroaches attack the ice cream trucks in perfect harmony.  The sidewalks are hotter than a ticket to The Book of Mormon, and the subway stations are so muggy that they might as well be flooded. And what does it all mean? Summertime has come to NYC? Well, that too I suppose.  But, more importantly, it means THEATER FESTIVAL SEASON!

Yes fellow theatre nerds, the summer months in NYC might mean major Broadway openings take a short hiatus until the fall, but the city is still full of theatre in every shape and form.  That’s thanks to the innumerable theatre festivals that take place in the summer season, showcasing hundreds of new works and classics alike.

It would be impossible to see every show at every festival, but I can’t stress enough how important it is for us to support these theatrical meccas.  They’re pivotal to the development of work, and of the art form as a whole.  So, if you decide to catch some festival shows this summer, here are our top five that you just can’t miss.

5) Midtown International Theatre Festival
The MITF may be one of the newer festivals among the pack, as it’s only into its 14th season, but it’s been undoubtedly climbing up the ranks.  This year, their four venues will house over 60 shows, plus a handful of staged readings.  MITF’s commitment to showcasing this vast amount of new work in the midtown area must be commended, and they’re desire to keep their artists’ personal costs down (with free rehearsal space to boot!) is just the icing on the cake.

4) Lincoln Center Festival
Many people aren’t even aware that the mighty Lincoln Center has its own version of a summer theatre festival, but like every other Lincoln Center endeavor- it’s big. Really big. Known for commissioning new work, as well as sponsoring work from around the globe to travel to the Big Apple, their festival features the highest forms of opera, dance, theatre, music and special performance art.  Just a few years ago, the Lincoln Center Festival actually brought the Royal Shakespeare Company’s entire season to the US, in an exact replica of the RSC’s Courtyard Theatre. Insane.

3) The Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park
I know you’ve heard of this. Every summer, the Public Theatre distributes thousands of free tickets to performances at their outdoor Delacorte Theatre in Central Park.  Sure, you may have to wait for a few hours- but it’s free theatre! Count me in! A tradition started by the famous Joseph Papp, the Delacorte houses Shakespearean classics, as well as an array of musical revivals (Hair, Into the Woods) and new musicals, such as this summer’s Love’s Labour’s Lost.  You just can’t go wrong.

2) New York Musical Theatre Festival
Coming in at second is the NYMF, which just received a special Drama Desk for their incredible work over the past ten years in developing new musicals.  With anywhere from thirty to fifty shows each festival, they have nurtured many a commercial hit at its baby stages, such as Next to Normal and [title of show]. You never know when the NYMF might have another Broadway show cooking, and it’s always worth checking out their offerings.

1) New York International Fringe Festival
Finally, when you hear “theatre festival”, what comes to mind? The Fringe.  It’s inevitable.  It’s undeniable.  For years, FringeNYC has been the largest multi-arts festival in North America. It’s 16 days, in 20 venues, with over 200 shows. Yes, you read that right.  The smorgasbord of theatrical offerings is unlike anything else, and the Fringe is one of few places where, at $15 tickets, you can take in ten shows at the price of one Broadway ticket.  So, what are you doing? Why are you still reading this? Get off your computer and get thee to a festival!

Photo via NYMF

Knowing What Advice to Take

Just like everything else in the world, if you decide to do something, someone who has done it before you will try to be helpful and give you advice based on their own personal experiences. Some advice is great, and you should take it to heart and run with it. Then, there’s the advice that sounds weird, doesn’t sit right and does nothing but bug you. That’s the advice you nod, smile and take with a grain of salt.

Being an actor is no different. Other actors will give you their opinions, either while in rehearsal, a random meeting, or even during master classes.

The advice I’ve been given has come from both professionals on Broadway, and from fellow actors that I now call my friends. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was actually from a Broadway performer. They helped me connect with a character I was having trouble with, by pointing to a taxi ‘what is it?’ they asked. When I responded “a cab,” they said ‘right! But your character wouldn’t know that. Therefore, onstage, you don’t know that’.  It helped me get more into my character’s head than I thought I would be able to.  Their words ‘be the character, breathe, relax, and trust’ have become my mantra, and I write it at the front of all of my scripts now.

On the flip side of that, I went to a master class with another Broadway performer. The performer basically told the class that if they want to be actors, they have to say goodbye to their friends, forget about a social life, and abandon all hope of a life outside of the craft. Now, when I heard that, my entire body closed up. Yes, devoting yourself to your craft is important, but you need a balance in your life or you’re not a well-rounded person. In that case, I just nodded, smiled, and took notes, knowing I’d never refer to them really.

Finally, I get it from my friends as well. As recently as today, I ran into one of my friends, and in the course of conversation he had asked me how it was going, and what roles I had taken on. I told him, and not only was he impressed, he told me to keep with my craft-that I had something. Validation’s good too!

Stage Manager Survival Guide

We all flock to the theater and see amazing performances put on night after night. However, many don’t understand the even bigger spectacle happening behind the scenes. And the one running his three-ring circus backstage is the stage manager, the center of all communication during a show. While learning how to be a stage manager takes time, here are some tips to help you start working in the production field.

Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork
Every stage manager spends a lot of time on Microsoft Word, often formatting all their information to fit on a single sheet of paper. When doing your paperwork for a show, make sure you do everything as early as possible. This includes rehearsal schedules, production calendars, rehearsal reports, etc.  It wouldn’t hurt to do paperwork like prop lists and sign in sheets early to save you some time while in rehearsal. There is nothing wrong with updating later on. Also, make sure your paperwork is clearly labeled and organized in a binder; this will be your “Bible” for the entire show. If for some reason you couldn’t make a performance and someone else had to step in during a show, they should be able to run it with your binder. That means constant updating and cleaning house is a must.

In Rehearsal
A stage manager has many responsibilities in the rehearsal room. One is making sure you take down blocking notes and any other notes given to you by the director. Any notes regarding design elements in the show (props, set, costumes, etc) should be recorded in the rehearsal report that gets sent to the production team after each rehearsal. Also, the stage manager is responsible for keeping time during rehearsal and calling for breaks.  This is important so the cast and crew do not go over Equity rules, which is taking a five minute break after fifty five minutes of rehearsal and ten minute breaks after eighty minutes of rehearsal. I like to use this online tool, which keeps the time for you.

Actors and Crew
During the run of a show, you are in charge of communicating information from the director to the actors. Once a show opens, you are running and calling the show, putting you in charge of the actors and crew. The relationship you set with actors during rehearsal will definitely set the tone of the run of the show. While you want to be friends with everyone, you also have to show some leadership and not afraid to set rules. It’s important to find a balance between the two in order to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone. Actors and crew trust the stage managers and often go to them for help when the director is not available.

Stage management is a lot of hard work and it takes a lot of dedication. However, if you want to pursue, you will get the hang of it! Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, there were many times during my first show when I messed up. You have to take responsibility and learn from your mistakes in order to be a better stage manager.

This Week on Broadway

This past week on Broadway it was announced that Orfeh (Legally Blonde), Allison Case (Hands on a Hardbody, Hair) and Taylor Louderman (Bring It On the Musical) will be starring in Life of an Actress, a new movie musical about aspiring performers who work as waitresses. The movie produced by Paul Chau is set to be released in 2014. 

First Date hits Broadway this week starting previews on July ninth. Tickets start at thirty-five dollars and stars Krysta Rodriguez (The Addams Family Musical, Smash) and Zachary Levi (Chuck, Tangled). Krysta Rodriguez will be appearing alongside Julia Mattinson (Godspell), Jason Gotay (Bring It On), Lauren Pritchard (Spring Awakening), Andrew Kober (Hair) and many others in Drew Gasparini‘s upcoming concert entitled “I Could Use A Drink.” The concert will be held on July twenty-ninth at Joe’s Pub and tickets are only $18, so go check out his work!

Alice Cooper’s albums “Welcome to My Nightmare” and “Welcome 2 My Nightmare” may be following in the footsteps of American Idiot the Musical. Cooper is starting to envision his “Nightmare” albums together to form a Broadway show. There are still a lot of steps to take before this idea becomes a full on Broadway musical, but maybe one day Cooper’s music will hit the Great White Way.

My Fair Lady will hit Broadway next season without Anne Hathaway and Colin Firth as originally discussed. Now Harry Potter and Schindler’s List star Ralph Fiennes may be joining the cast. Fiennes is in the running to play the role of Henry Higgins, but no word on if this casting idea will be permanent.

In other theater news, Lucky Guy starring Tom Hanks closed on Broadway this past week, as did Silence! The Musical. It was also announced that Bette Midler may bring “I’ll Eat You Last” to Los Angeles. This stage play by John Logan recently closed on Broadway but is hoping to send the show to the west coast sometime soon, although nothing has been confirmed yet.

National High School Musical Theater Awards – The Jimmy’s

Note from the editor: Our intern for the summer, Madeline O’Brien, shares her experience of working on the 5th Annual National High School Musical Theater Awards!

NHSMTA 2013
Prior to this summer, I had never been involved in the National High School Musical Theater Awards. But Camp Broadway allowed me to throw myself right into the thick of it a week and a half after starting my summer internship – and named me, along with Kerry Dineen, the production assistants! We began on June 25th organizing binders upon binders of sheet music for the nominees, accompanists, judges, and our own personal use. But the moment we reached Tisch (our rehearsal space for the week) and the nominees arrived with their chaperones, the Jimmy’s began in full force.

I was struck immediately by the humble, mature nature of our 62 competitors; one could so easily sense that these teens were here because they were driven by an intense passion. They did not believe they were entitled to any special treatment – they simply wanted to work.  This level of professionalism and empathy made our jobs incredibly enjoyable! I looked forward to arriving early in the morning and helping lead the kids through their insanely busy days of rehearsals. I savored my walks from the downstairs common area, used by chaperones and staff when work was light, to the upstairs Pittsburgh CLO office; wandering through the studio halls allowed me to hear the nominees singing their hearts out. Largely, Camp Broadway’s role over the course of the week stayed rooted in making sure everything ran smoothly. We often ran errands to Staples to make copies of sheet music, and to clothing stores to pick up various costume pieces. We distributed signs around NYU’s rehearsal spaces to guide the nominees and chaperones to the studios, restrooms, and common area. And Sunday evening, most of us were privy to the nominees’ solo performances for the judges, an extremely nerve-wracking event. I was responsible for the kids as they prepared to take the black box “stage,” so to speak, which was a moving experience in itself. Their dedication and excitement, peppered with a fair amount of nervousness, was palpable throughout the halls and infused even the staff with anticipatory butterflies.

Monday morning arrived and we were off to the Minskoff, home to Broadway’s The Lion King. I couldn’t shake my star-struck emotions, even after spending several hours backstage. At one point, unable to resist, I even devised a reason to walk across the Minskoff stage just to be able to say I had! Preparing for a show in a Broadway theater was an experience I will not soon forget, and while Camp Broadway employees found ourselves busy with the usual pre-show errands, everybody seemed to have ratcheted their focus up a level. The day passed by all too quickly, and at 7:30 pm, the Minskoff lights dimmed and 62 visibly excited nominees took the stage. I found myself in tears the moment they began singing, and suddenly became overwhelmed with the sense that Camp Broadway, The Nederlander Organization, Pittsburgh CLO, and the Minskoff Theater had created magic. We facilitated the Broadway debuts of some of the most deserving teenagers in the country, and watched Taylor Varga and Sarah Lynn Marion receive their crowning titles of Best Actor and Best Actress. Only one sight was more rewarding than the looks on their faces when their names were announced as winners: those of their fellow competitors, in tears themselves with glee over their new-found friends’ successes and the importance of this night in all of their lives and future careers. I could not have asked for a more wonderful, well-rounded, emotionally thrilling experience than the one Camp Broadway gave me in bringing me on as a production assistant for the National High School Musical Theater Awards!

2 Effective ways to Stage Door like a Pro

Finding the stage door

Stage door is a ritual to some on Broadway. Maybe that’s you?

Or maybe you may not be familiar with the concept of “Stagedooring”. This post is for Broadway fans everywhere who want to learn what Stagedooring is and the best way to go about it. It’s such a fun opportunity to meet some of your favorite Broadway actors and actresses!

In case you’re not familiar with it, the stage door is usually located at the back or side of the theater. This is the door the actors will use to leave the theater after the show. It has become a popular spot for audiences to gather afterward to get their Playbills autographed and snap some pictures with their favorite actors. This meet-and-greet moment has become known in the industry as Stagedooring.

When I first came to New York City a couple of years ago, I had no idea what Stagedooring was or how to go about it. It was all very overwhelming! But as I’ve become a regular Stagedooring-fan, I’ve learned that it can be a high-fun, low-stress experience for everyone. Here are my tips:

Tip One: Be Calm and Find The Stage Door.

After the curtain call at the end of the show, calmly but quickly make your way to the stage door (you can ask ushers where it’s located). Try not to spend time at the store or in the bathroom because the quicker you get there, the better your spot will be. The key is not to rush and just find a spot where you can stand and wait for the actors. Don’t worry if you’re not first, they will make their way over to you I promise!

Tip Two: Be Prepared and Courteous.

Be courteous to the actors/actresses AND your fellow audience members. Everyone is excited to meet and interact with Broadway’s exceptionally talented performers, so wait your turn and don’t try to force your way to the front. When it’s your turn, know what you want to say, grab a picture or two, and be prepared for an autograph. Keeping things efficient will allow the performers to reach more fans.

Broadway actors love meeting their fans but remember they do shows eight times a week which can be exhausting. After a performance, they’re often looking forward to getting home for a well-deserved break so it’s important to share your enthusiasm but be respectful of their time.

Stagedooring is a very special moment that can enhance any Broadway-outing. By sticking to these couple of tips you will help create a wonderful Stagedooring experience for everyone and continue the celebration of the wonderful work that’s created on a Broadway stage! Read all about  Sunny’s Stage door experience.

This Week on Broadway

Happy summer everyone! There has been a ton of exciting news happening within the Great White Way this week.

For all of you Smash fans, your wishes have been granted. The television network Ovation has picked up the recently cancelled series and will start airing the first season beginning on Friday, July nineteenth. They are planning to air season two as well as premiere season three, so the fans can see what happens to Bombshell and Hit List in the long run. No word yet if filming for season three will definitely be occurring, but it is currently in discussion. In other television and film news, it was announced that Cameron Diaz will play the role of Miss Hannigan in the upcoming film remake of Annie. Diaz beat out Miss Congeniality and The Blind Side’s Sandra Bullock. The movie will also be starring Quvenzhane Wallis as the title role and Jamie Foxx as Benjamin Stacks, a new character based off of the character Daddy Warbucks. 

Pitch Perfect star Anna Kendrick may be starring in yet another movie-musical after The Last Five Years. Kendrick is being considered for the role of Cinderella in the film version of Into The Woods. Daniel Huttlestone (Gavroshe/Les Miserables movie) is also in consideration to play the role of Jack. Both actors would be incredible additions to the cast already consisting of Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Chris Pine, James Cordon and Jake Gyllenhaal. As if our little Broadway hearts couldn’t be any happier, previous actresses who starred in The Last Five Years as “Cathy” will be making cameos in the upcoming film. Betsy Wolfe and Sherie Rene Scott will be appearing briefly in this movie, and Norbert Leo Butz may be having a cameo as well, but they are still working with his schedule to try and work something out.

It was announced this week that Murder Ballad is now set to close on July twenty-first, so catch this show while you can! The show stars Rebecca Naomi Jones, Caissie Levy, Will Swenson and John Ellison Conlee. Starting in 2014, Ghost the Musical will be touring around the country so if you didn’t have the chance to see it during it’s run on Broadway now may be your chance! There is no word yet on casting or exact dates. This past week Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opened in the West End and many people are already speculating that it may head to Broadway sometime soon. The show is written by Roald Dahl who also wrote Matilda, now one of Broadway’s and the West Ends hit shows. Only time will tell if this show will follow in the same path as Matilda the musical did, so keep checking in!

Top Ten Things for a Broadway Lover To Do in NYC

So, it’s your first time in the Big Apple! Or, you’re coming again, but want to make this trip filled to the brim with Broadway related activities. Look no further! Here are my top ten things every Broadway lover should do while on their trip to NYC.

  1. Schmackary’s: Located on the southeast corner of 9th avenue and 45th street, Schmackary’s is a favorite for fans and actors alike! With delicious cookie flavors like cookies & cream, red velvet, and peanut butter cup, there is bound to be a flavor you’ll enjoy. Not only is it a highly regarded bakery, but it is also known to be one of the favorite hangout spots for many Broadway actors to get a snack in between or after shows! This is a good place to stop after you get off your plane, get a snack, and maybe meet a few of your Broadway icons!
  2. Sardi’s: The infamous Sardi’s, depicted in many movies as the quintessential pre-show eating and drinking spot, this could be the perfect place to enjoy a Broadway meal before heading to a show! The walls are decked in caricatures of famous actors and actresses, so this is a must see.
  3. Joe Allen: Another good restaurant to stop at for dinner before a show, or dessert afterwards. The walls are covered in posters of Broadway flops so it’s said to be pretty entertaining. This is also a favorite spot for many Broadway actors to go after a show and maybe sing a couple of songs, so maybe you might get lucky!
  4. Shubert Alley: Literally the alley next to the Shubert Theatre, this is a great photo-op spot because of all the Broadway window cards on display! Pose with Matilda or seize the day with a Newsie, the possibilities are endless!
  5. Drama Book Shop: The Drama Book Shop is one of the most well known theater book stores in New York. Not only does it house classic plays and musical sheet music, but it also has a specific section for new works by new playwrights. So, if you are looking for a new monologue for an audition or simply something different to read, this is the perfect place to stop.
  6. Triton gallery: The Triton Gallery, established in 1965 is the only gallery in the world exclusively dedicated to theatrical art and posters. Not only can you get posters and window cards from shows on Broadway right now, but they also have a huge variety of vintage posters and they keep an archive of at least one Broadway poster from every show ever put on so that there will be a historic record of the art of the window card. This is a great place to stock up on vintage Broadway posters, brand new ones, or if you just want to browse their collection!
  7. Theatre Circle: Theatre Circle is one of the best Broadway souvenir shops in town, so go here to get your t-shirts, mugs, posters, or whatever else your heart desires. Also in the back, they have a wide selection of sheet music and plays to choose from.
  8. Off Broadway: One of the many forgotten gems of the Broadway community is Off Broadway. With well-known shows like Dogfight and The Last Five Years which recently closed, or current running shows like Murder Ballad and the New World Stages version of Peter and the Starcatcher the choices feel endless. And you can almost always show up the night of and get rush tickets, so it’s worth a shot!
  9. High line: After you’ve eaten, seen some shows, and bought some souvenirs, you’ll probably be in the mood for some fresh air. Go check out the high line which is a one mile linear park built on a section of the former elevated New York Central Railroad Spur which runs along the west side of lower Manhattan. You can get gorgeous views and a breath of fresh air between shows!
  10. Finally the obvious choice when taking a trip to New York as a Broadway lover, attending a Broadway show! From Matilda, to Cinderella, to Pippin, to Kinky Boots, to Newsies, to Annie, there are so many new and old choices to choose from!

If you are a longtime Broadway fan, or brand new to this world that lives on the Great White Way, hopefully the next time your in New York this will help you make your trip especially Broadway filled.

This Week On Broadway

Happy first day of summer all of you CBers! This past week held some very exciting news in the Broadway world, so let’s get to it!

Not even a week after hosting this years Tony Awards, it was announced that How I Met Your Mother’s Neil Patrick Harris will be heading to Broadway next year. Harris will be starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch said to hit Broadway in spring of 2014. It was also reported this week that a revival of Miss Saigon is in the horizon for the West End and possibly on Broadway starting in 2014. No word on casting at this point, but I will be keeping my eye out for this one!

The iconic Hollywood Bowl is back with another hit Broadway production this summer featuring one of West End’s favorite divas. The Bowl will be showing Chicago starring Les Miserables and Oliver! star Samantha Barks as Velma Kelly (best known for playing Eponine, reviving the role played by Barks both on stage and on screen in the Les Mis movie.) The production will be directed by Brooke Shields, last seen on Broadway as Morticia in The Addams Family the musical, and the cast will include Stephen Moyer (True Blood) as Billy Flynn and Drew Carey (Price Is Right) as Amos. No word yet on who will be co-starring along side Barks as Roxie Hart.

This past week the cast of Broadway’s Wicked celebrated the shows 4000th performance, making Wicked one of the longest running shows on Broadway. It was announced that The Glee Project and Glee’s Lindsay Pearce (Over The Moon Production’s Spring Awakening) will be starring in a Los Angeles production of Bare. It was reported that this production will not be following the revised production of Bare last seen off-Broadway at New World Stages, but will be following the original storyline and book. Bare-LA will also be starring Payson Lewis (Over The Moon’s Spring Awakening) and Jonah Platt (The Office).

Earlier this week teen Newsies Andy Richardson, Hogan Fulton, Jacob Guzman and David Guzman celebrated graduating high school, but not like most high-schoolers. The boys celebrated in their cap and gowns after curtain call of one of their shows this past week. How cool is that?

In other news Annie will be welcoming a new Miss Hannigan to the cast after Jane Lynch finishes her run on July fourteenth. Faith Prince will be stepping in for Lynch, and there is no word yet on how long Prince will be with the show. The Last Five Years started filming this week, and production shots are everywhere! There have been many sneak peeks at Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect) and Jeremy Jordan (Broadway’s Newsies, Smash) playing the roles of Kathy and Jamie. Check out Anna’s instagram pic of the two on set – how cute are they? No word yet on when the film could be released, so stay tuned for more info!