Jekyll & Hyde to Rebirth on Broadway

The upcoming tour of Jekyll & Hyde that was rumored to be a pre-Broadway tryout will officially open on Broadway in the Spring of 2013. Starring Constantine Maroulis, Deborah Cox, and Teal Wicks, the revival of the Frank Wildhorn musical will play the Richard Rodgers Theater. Will this version have similar luck as its original? Time will tell.

Shameless Plug: Occupy the Empty Space

OCCUPY THE EMPTY SPACE is a free theater festival themed on human rights, Saturday September 8, 2012, from 2-5:30 PM in El Jardin del Paraiso, an outdoor garden in the East Village! The upcoming festival produces brand-spankin-new 10-minute plays on immigration, selected from 300+ playwright submissions and performed by NYC-based actor/director teams. OCCUPY THE EMPTY SPACE works with established and emerging writers, producing the likes of Naomi Wallace, Adam Rapp, Caridad Svich, and providing writers with NYC-debuts. In addition, OCCUPY THE EMPTY SPACE is a celebration of the NYC-theater community, with actors, directors, theaters and companies devoting their resources and talents. We urge you to join us for free theater and outreach to NYC theater and immigrant communities on Saturday September 8! Good people. Good theater.

SAVE THE DATE
OCCUPY THE EMPTY SPACE
Saturday, September 8, 2012
El Jardin del Paraiso, E 4th St between Avenue C and Avenue D
Free Admission
Rain or Shine
www.occupytheemptyspace.com
Facebook Invite: (http://www.facebook.com/events/513021278723503/)

Review: A Play for the Digital Age

In a time where a rise to fame can come by simply being an overnight sensation with the click on a link and the help of social media, comes a tale of a boy who dreams of being a viral video sensation. Though it’s not the most original of ideas it’s a very topical story. We very rarely see how instant stardom affects the parties involved. In FriendAndy.com we get a glimpse on what happens when Andy, a starving artist, gets his shot at viral glory.

What FriendAndy.com does wonderfully is integrate digital media into performance, a trend we’re bound to see more of soon. The projections used helps to create Andy’s cyberspace world by simply being the computer screen Andy sees. From Skype sessions to diagnostic reviews to other bloggers’ sites, the projections serve the world of the play tremendously. Integrated into the technological world are four great actors, lead by the engagingly gifted Hayes Dunlap as Andy. From the start, Dunlap has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand, a vital trait a viral sensation needs. Dunlap’s Andy gets caught up in stardom and his journey is the one we follow. Dunlap is aided by three actors who serve as his digital cohorts. Sean Hefferon, Laura Kaldis, and Nastasha Strang do a great job playing an assortment of characters. From Kaldis’s Abby, Andy’s girlfriend, to Strang’s Pam, Andy’s cyberspace endorser, to Hefferon’s Charlie Buck, they each are sure to pack a punch, altering Andy’s dreams.
Instead of focusing on plot, something lacking from Andy’s story, writer/director/creator Wesley Fruge has inserted movement pieces, mostly involving the three supporting actors altering Andy and his world. While certainly engaging, from a plot standpoint, there are missing pieces that are severely necessary to understand Andy’s trajectory that could be inserted instead. The Skype scenes between Andy and Abby are really the only thing holding the plot together. By only clocking in at eighty minutes in run time, Fruge can afford to discover the plot holes and insert them into an already winning piece. Right now, by the end of the show, it’s difficult to care too much for Andy because we only see his dastardly doings and not much of his personal struggle.
FriendAndy.com is one of the more interesting pieces at this year’s Festival. There is a lot of potential for this play, so if you miss it now, you’ll be bound to see it again.

Review: Lost in the Bunny Hole

What happens when you take inspiration from the characters from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and throw them in a world so unfamiliar to them that their own identity gets confused? Alice and the Bunny Hole. Alex DeFazio has derived a world where Alice gets lost in a club, appropriately called the Bunny Hole, obsessed with sex in order to do research on, sex. After drunkenly answering an ad online for couple swinging, Alice and her boyfriend Bobby discover their partners are not the couple they had desired. Jerome and Kelly are not a boy and a girl but instead TwinkiDee and TwinkiDum, a couple with their own issues. As the journey continues, each character, with the exception of the sleeping DJ, has a sexual awakening in one form or another.
The interesting thing about this piece is that the characters and situations could potentially exist without the aide of known references. “Wonderland” serves more as a gimmick than a necessary device. The story of a woman struggling with her relationship, and sex life, who seeks refuge from another who’s been and seen it all, could very live on its own. While the allusions to the source material are occasionally clever, they do very little to inform an adaptation of Carroll’s story.

DeFazio and Jody P. Person, who doubles as the lovelorn The Man with the Tiny Hat, both put on the co-director hat, a role that potentially should have been served by an outside third party. DeFazio and Person both have their hands filled with other duties making the direction suffer at times. The ensemble cast do their best to exist in this world without looking as lost as their characters. Michelle Wood’s Alice is the standout of the company, finding true moments of sincerity and heart. This may be because her character is the most fleshed out. This Alice shares the naivety that Carroll’s Alice had, constantly worrying that she’s shrinking. Dan Johnson and Patrick Martin, both young actors, fit their parts as the twinks. With a little more guidance and direction though, their storyline could have been more interesting to watch. The set is multifunctional and sleek. It’s just not designed for cohesive movement during transitions. The wonder of wheels could have sped up the dragging scene changes.
Elixir Productions, the producing company, has a mission statement stating they develop plays and performances about gender, sexuality, and the impact of sexual identity on society, human relationships, and the self. Alice and the Bunnyhole definitely fits into their mission, but an interesting experiment would be to rid the play of “Wonderland” and see if the play serves the same purpose.

Review: The Most Fabulous Camp Ever

Is there any better way to celebrate summer than at camp? Yes! At Gay Camp! What is Gay Camp you ask? Well, the title should tell you exactly you’re about to see. Campy gayness; also known as a fast paced, comic romp about a fictional gay reform camp, Camp Acceptance. Told with over a dozen characters played by three phenomenal comedic actors, Gay Camp is chock filled with stereotypes and inside jokes, executed in all the right ways.
At Camp Awareness, the mission is to cure the young boys and girls stricken with the horrible, tragic “disease” of gayness. Lead by June, the madcap ringleader, Martha, the butchy head of security, and a pair of ignorant camp counselors, Camp Awareness is in full swing to cure a new batch of kids. Anton, also known as Anthony and not Tony, Joshua, nicknamed Shua by his roomie Anton, and Suzie, a pintsized Wendy’s look-a-like, all try to get out of Camp Awareness alive before they’re turned into Joe Sixpacks and rid of Rachel Maddow haircuts. As the play continues, Anton and Joshua form a bond, not to the camp’s liking, and attempt to create a mutiny against the hierarchies and bring acceptance to Camp Acceptance.

The trio of actors, Christian Mansfield, Ken Urso, and Philip Mutz (who is a writer on the project), have a big undertaking of making their assortment of characters diverse and boy do they succeed. Each actor has a spotlight character, but Mansfield’s Anton and Urso’s June are the highlights. I think a spinoff for Anton may be in order. They each get an opportunity to be the scene-stealer, yet they don’t go too over the top and become a distraction, a trait of a great comedian. The comic-timing in Gay Camp is impeccable. Even in the transitions the comedy shines bright. A simple voice over with a quip about Camp Acceptance makes the audience laugh and remain engaged. Some include “Camp Acceptance: Because some holes are only for pooping” and “Camp Acceptance: Where rainbows go to die.”
What director Phillip Fazio and writers Philip Mutz and Susan-Kate Heaney are successful at is creating a hilarious, engaging comedy that pokes fun of the Santorum loving, Rick Santorum that is, right-wing ignorance. Each of the numerous characters has a clear arch, something that can be difficult to do with three actors playing multiple characters. The witty dialogue and punchy references garner big laughs with the target audience. But the audience who goes to see Gay Camp already knows the importance of the slightly preachy conclusion. Getting to those who need to be taught is the challenge.
Gay Camp is a high-octane comedy that deserves to be seen by all because isn’t laughing together all the world needs?
A successful and memorable comedy at Fringe are hard to come by. This is one of them. For a good, honest laugh, take a trip to Gay Camp.

Spotlight On...Tavis Doucette

Name: Tavis Doucette

Hometown: Natick, MA

Education: Wagner College, BA Theatre Performance

Select Credits: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Scanlon, Synapse Theatre Ensemble); Writing in a Vacuum (Heinrich/Bruce, MCTC); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Lysander, freeFall Theatre Company); 'SWonderful (Male Swing, Maximum Entertainment)

Why theater?: Theater has been a strong passion of mine since High School. However, I didn't know that this was something I wanted to do until I got to college. I discovered that there is no greater feeling than walking onto an open stage with a world of possibilities ahead. Live theater is beyond just the actors and the production. None of it exists without an audience reacting and empathizing.

Tell us about The Girl with Her Hands in the Sand: The Girl WIth Her Hands in the Sand is about an artist named Maggie Lane who has shut herself into her art. The character I am playing is named Klaus Coleman. He is a very egocentric, absurd character who is one of Maggie's closest friends. They are rather different souls in regards to the art world. Maggie is a bit of a hermit and Klaus is the extreme socialite, attempting to bring her into his world of art. On the other hand, her sister, Penny, is attempting to make her get a real job and wake up to reality. Meanwhile, there is Danny, Klaus Coleman's assistant, who wants her to find her happiness in a happy medium. So we have one character being torn in three directions. It is a very funny play that touches upon some great topics. What is the purpose of art? To make money? The hobby? The life? And how does an artist deal with the world and their own happiness.

What is it like being a part of The Girl with Her Hands in the Sand?: It has been a very creative process. This is the first time the play has been done and it's great to be working with the writer, Jon Galvez firsthand. Our director, Michael Hagins, has been very supportive in letting us explore this new text. Additionally, our producers, Theatrical Gems, has been incredibly supportive in the journey. Jon Galvez, Jacob Shoesmith-Fox (founder of Theatrical Gems), and I all went to Wagner College together so it was great to work with them.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I believe that all theater has a place in the artistic community. Recently I have begun getting into comedy. Comedy is commonly overlooked, and not considered intelligent or thoughtful. But comedy can make us think about something in a different way, and laugh about it. An actor who is inspiring me lately is Jeff Daniels. I've been crazy about HBO's "The Newsroom". The man can do it all, comedy or drama, because he understands that at the root, they are the same. It's just people (characters) trying to achieve objectives, and doing whatever they can to succeed. That is what makes a piece interesting. People trying to reach a goal, and how they try to do it.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I would love to play some classic characters in American theater. Like Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or Pale in Burn This. I really like playing classic strong male characters. Especially the troubled types.

What’s your favorite show tune?: Well, I wouldn't consider these show tunes... but Sunday in the Park with George and A Little Night Music are two of my favorites. They are musical and literary masterpieces.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I would love to work with Patrick Stewart. He's a legend and he still understands that it's all about being a player, and playing. That's why we do it. He did a Funny or Die short for the Olympics and it shows a completely different side of him.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Wow.. thats tough.. I honestly have no idea. Maybe Mark Ruffalo? It would probably be called What do you mean skirts and Dresses are different?

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I haven't been able to see anything recently.  But I usually recommend things at Second Stage or Atlantic Theater Company. I appreciate the work they do.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I hate to say it, but the "Jersey Shore". One day on tour we had a day off in Aiken, South Carolina. There was a marathon on TV and I spent all day watching it. Got hooked. I know it's absurd, but sometimes we need some mindless entertainment.

What’s up next?: Next? I guess we'll see. I have been considering going back to school and getting my MFA in Acting. But the road is undetermined. To reference one of my favorite books: Ka.

Allison Scagliotti Of SYFY’S “Warehouse 13” To Star In Off Broadway's Unhealthy

Allison Scagliotti of Syfy’s “Warehouse 13” returns to the stage as she joins the cast of Darren Caulley’s Unhealthy for a limited workshop run at HERE Arts Center in New York from December 4th-9th.

Scagliotti will play Michelle, a fledgling actress struggling to maintain a positive relationship with her roommate as she continues to allow house visits from a mentally unstable, obsessed fan. The play also stars Chris Bellant and Broadway’s Caitlin Kinnunen, whose credits include Spring Awakening and the national tour of Next to Normal directed by Michael Greif.

Best known known as Claudia Donovan on Syfy’s “Warehouse 13,” Scagliotti’s screen credits include reccurring roles on “Drake & Josh,” “Grounded for Life,” and “One Tree Hill,” in addition to guest roles on “Zoey 101,” “ER,” “CSI,” “Mental,” and “Smallville.”

“Allison has been a blessing to work with,” says writer Caulley. “She came to the first reading dressed for the role. She is an astounding actress and finds aspects of the character I wasn’t even aware of.”

Unhealthy is a play about dependence and what happens when the person who hurts you the most is the one you need more than anything. The play has been workshopped extensively with Daniel Goldfarb (writer, Cradle and All) as well as Daniel Seth (consultant, Book of Mormon).

The production will run for seven performances December 4th-9th at HERE 145 6th Ave. (Enter on Dominick, 1 Block South of Spring).  Tickets will go on sale in October for $18. Tickets & Information at: here.org or call 212-352-3101..  For updates on show times and tickets as it becomes available, visit http://www.facebook.com/unhealthyplay. This production is a part of the Sublet Series at HERE, HERE’s curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical support.

Spotlight On...AJ Kiehner

Name: Anton Justin (AJ) Kiehner

Hometown: Wallingford, PA

Education: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (BA Vocal Music, BA Electronic Journalism)

Select Credits: Sound of Music (Rolf, Media Theater); Into the Woods (Baker, Pauper Players); A Funny Thing… (Hero, Pauper Players)

Why theater?: Remember when, as a child, you used to put on shows in the basement for you parents? Well I never stopped. Who doesn't like to play make believe and pretend?

Tell us about Almost a Fantasy: Almost A Fantasy is the story of a piano teacher, her pupil, and their bond via musical expression. The story is told through a multitude of flashbacks, reenactments, and memories.

What is it like being a part of Almost a Fantasy?: Interesting! As with any new work we are constantly rewriting, re-memorizing, re-blocking, etc. Full of Re- 's, but it keeps us on our toes.

What kind of theater speeks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I am specifically drawn toward shows which are inventive -- through new set design, costuming, playwriting layouts, etc. The fact that we can still come up with new concepts and ideas reaffirms my faith in the performing arts.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I am traditionally a Musical Theater kid at heart -- roles I'd love to portray include Marius (Les Mis), Henry (Next to Normal), and Leo Frank (Parade).

What’s your favorite showtune?: Any song or orchestral piece from West Side Story

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Kelli O'Hara

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Hahaha...umm, I've been told I resemble one of the kids from One Direction (not sure which one), so I guess he would play me. And I would title the film "Cinnamon Bun" (simply because I can't come up with a creative title, and thats what I'm currently chewing).

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Peter and the Starcatcher

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Sleeping and napping whenever possible -- and cinnamon buns

What’s up next?: SLEEEP -- and hopefully another project.

Spotlight On...Daniel Glenn

Name: Daniel Glenn

Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia

Education: NYU, Sarah Lawrence

Select Credits: Playwright: There Was and There Wasn’t (Tisch Mainstage); Swingset/Moon (Telluride Playwrights Festival); various one acts throughout the country, including White Kwanzaa, Awake Anonymous, and It’s the Economy, Santa! Actor: Macbeth, Heisenberg in Copenhagen, and like every part ever in Midsummer, all in totally rad places in Georgia you’ve never heard of.

Why theater?: It was going to be law school. I mean really. I was accepted to law school. I bought my pencils. And at the last minute, I just knew I was too prone to burst into (out of tune) song to really fit in.

Tell us about My Date with Troy Davis: It’s my ultimate fantasy: a law school class where you’re supposed to burst into out of tune song. It’s about a period of my life where I was trying to figure out how to do good in the world. And I call that period of my life, my life.

What inspired you to create My Date with Troy Davis?: Not surprisingly, it was the execution of Troy Davis, a man many believed was innocent, by my home state of Georgia. I have often asked, what good can art do when faced with realities like this? Finally I decided to try and find out. Clearly, it’s also a comedy.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: The work of Spalding Gray inspires me a great deal. Whenever I want to take the easy, less honest, more flashy way out, I think, what would Spalding do? And he would just sit there and tell it to you. It’s hard to trust that.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I’d love to play Berenger in Ionesco’s Exit the King. I want to die dying in that play. I bet you get that a lot, though.

What’s your favorite showtune?: “Endless Night,” which Julie Taymor co-wrote for The Lion King (take that, Bono). To me it’s all the more poignant because of what happened to Jason Raize, the man who first sang it.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Any of the Streep daughters who aren’t yet married.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Christopher McDonald, the guy who played Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore. And it would be called “Please, Don’t Hug Me”.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Anything at The Dancing Goat, the community theater in Georgia that birthed me. Next time you’re in Alpharetta, people. Oh and I also recommend whatever Reverend Billy is up to.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: "Dance Moms". I can’t stop. I won’t stop. I think by the end there will only be one woman alive and me, clapping.

What’s up next?: I am appearing at LaMaMa in a piece directed by Dan Hurlin for Erik Ehn’s Soulographie play cycle. And I’m developing my project at Sarah Lawrence called No More Plays About White People. So get your kicks in now, fellow white folks. The end is near.

For more on My Date with Troy Davis, visit http://www.mydatewithtroydavis.com/

Spotlight On...Chris Salvatore

Name: Chris Salvatore

Hometown: Richboro, Pa

Education: New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts Graduate.

Why theater?: Theatre was always a big part of my childhood. I grew up going to shows on Broadway and was always involved school theatre but when it came down to choosing a drama school I chose one that was specifically for film acting. It's really great to go back to theatre after so long. It's so different, it's exciting and scary all at the same time!

Tell us about Pieces: I would best describe pieces as being a riveting 2 hour “Law and Order” episode that takes the audience into the sometimes dark and lonely world of the gay community. It portrays how the lgbt community struggles for equality and acceptance all at the same time of tearing one each other down. I play the role of Shane Holloway, a damaged young man who is convicted of brutally cutting a man into pieces.

What is it like being a part of Pieces?: I love our tight knit little cast of five! We are like a little family each bringing something different and important to the table. Our characters may have strong dislike towards one another on stage but off the stage we have a good time. This play has changed my life for sure. It has honestly made me a better person and has really open my eyes to the unfortunate hatred gay men specifically sometimes have for each other. I feel part of something truly inspiring and I feel as though people will be talking about this play for a very long time. The writing by Chris Phillips I amazing and our director, Brian Zimmer  really knows how to take us to that dark place needed to pull this play off. AND, the rest of the cast is all theatre veterans so so lucky to have them as guidance!

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love theatre that takes you to places that sometimes can be uncomfortable but at the same time it can be truly inspiring. I love dramas. August Osage: County is one of my faves. As an artist I am most passionate about  heartbreak. It sounds depressing, I know, but it's what inspires me the most in my acting and singing/songwriting.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I'd love to continue my journey with the theatre in NY! I feel so lucky to be playing the damaged murderer in Pieces. I've always wanted a role like this! I don't think anything can top Shane Holloway! Hopefully NY and LA will get to see more of him!

What’s your favorite showtune?: I gotta say I grew up obsessed with Phantom Of The Opera. I remember putting on reenactments of it with my little sister fr family members. We even made a chandelier out of paper that crashed to the ground at the end ha!

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I would so love to work with Meryl Streep and Steven Spielberg one day

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: I would want Ian Somerhalder to play me and it would be called 'Hope and Romance'.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Of course I've recently been telling people to see PIECES, everyone always say it blew them away and I really believe in this story and how important it is to tell it.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Reality TV, being a hopeless romantic I love the "Bachelor"/ "Bachelorette" and I've always been a huge fan of "Big Brother"!

What’s up next?: Right now I am finishing up an EP that I hope to have up on iTunes and other online music stores early this fall!

For more on Chris, follow him on twitter at https://twitter.com/csalvatore. For more on Pieces visit http://www.piecestheplay.com/

Spotlight On...David Marshall

Name: David Marshall

Hometown: Orleans, MA

Education: BA Philosophy BA Religion Ohio Wesleyan University, MFA New School Drama

Select Credits: Bat Boy (Pan, Provincetown Theater); A Little Class (Nathan, Manhattan Rep); Shining City (Ian, 59E59th)

Why theater?: Why not theater?! Although I love on-camera for different reasons, I love the creative food chain in theater...from playwright to director to actor.  I love the collaboration, the discussion, the quest for truth and meaning.  And there's no greater satisfaction for me than when I feel like I've taken the audience on a journey. It’s such an amazing exchange of emotion and intellect between actor and audience.  And sometimes it’s just about making children smile.  I had a summer stock gig doing the Wizard of Oz at Cape Repertory a few years ago. A little boy came around to the dressing room back-door  during intermission.  I asked him if he liked the show, and his eyes went wide, and he said “It’s the BEST EVER!”  That made every audition and every rejection totally worth it.

Tell us about Snow White Zombie Apocalypse: This current production written by Brent Lengel and directed by Jessica Creane is actually a continuation from the original collaboration produced by State of Play Productions, Inc. last year.  I’m so grateful to be joining the original cast! We actually explore some pretty heavy thematic material; gender roles and sexual norms, the eternal masculine (Prince Charming) and eternal feminine (Sleeping Beauty) are examined.  Is “happily ever after” a naïve premise or an achievable goal?  What does “true love” really look like? And then there’s The Big Bad Wolf Zombie and eating brains and stuff like that.  Interestingly enough, the play was loosely inspired by the tragic story of the Pruitt-Igoe housing projects in St. Louis.  The projects were built in the 1950’s as an idealistic utopian society, and a solution to housing the city’s poor.  Unfortunately, Pruitt-Igoe fell into severe decay and disrepair and had to be totally demolished by the 1970’s, partially because city officials and developers did not account for basic human nature.  So with Snow White Zombie Apocalypse, we’re looking at a similar state of circumstances.   The kingdom has fallen, and the castle is under siege.  The World, as our characters know it, is ending.  What happens to the human psyche when things fall apart and chaos reigns supreme?  What type of personality will adapt and even capitalize on chaos during such a crisis? Who will run? Who will fight? Who will fall victim to the Zombie Plague??? You have to come and watch to find out!!!

What is it like being a part of Snow White Zombie Apocalypse?: It’s been SO much fun. I was totally ignorant of Zombie culture. My eyes have been opened.  And thanks to Lisa Kopitsky and Adam Alexander, I've been blessed with an amazing stage-combat education from working on this show. AND the most important thing to every actor: I love my costume.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love courageous theater that challenges our perspective and pushes boundaries.  I like raw, dangerous performances that are fiercely present and vulnerable.  I like working with other artists who are willing to take risks and make truthful choices on stage.  We must strive to know ourselves, deeply, in order to know a character and play a character. You can’t share what you don’t have.  But as actors we have access to collective consciousness.  I believe no experience is beyond our capacity to empathize and learn from.  We share our deepest emotions and dreams and passions and secrets and if we have done our job well, the audience identifies and the truth resonates.  If we are authentic and truthful as actors, we are afforded the opportunity to be transported beyond ourselves, and into catharsis with each other and the audience.  I can think of no better place for the next revolution to be born! Occupy The Theater!


Any roles you’re dying to play?: John Proctor in Crucible is a dream role. You should see me with a beard.  Also Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

What’s your favorite showtune?: Really? Ok fine “Marry Me A Little” from Company….I’m a Romantic!

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I love strong direction so probably some of Broadway’s heavy hitters.  Doug Hughes comes to mind.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Oh God. Let's make it a campy musical. I would insist on Meryl Streep because she's the only one who could capture my complexity.  I'd call this "Narcissus fell in the Wishing Well".... I love it!

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I thought Unnatural Acts at Classic Stage last year was a play of epic magnitude.  The direction, the set design, the performances – all were breathtaking.  And Mark Rylance in Jerusalem. I made everyone go see that.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I’ve been eating frozen yoghurt on a daily basis for weeks now. 16 Handles is taking over Manhattan!

What’s up next?: I’m working on a new play by Liz Calvert called Fast in Fire, directed by Mason Beggs and produced by Theater HAN.  It’s an absurdist adaptation of the Hamlet story, distilled down to four characters.  It’s part of the Dream Up festival at Theater for the New City. Come see it!!!

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to Play Limited Broadway Engagement

Can't get a ticket to see Jersey Boys on Broadway? Well good luck trying to snag a seat to see the real boys from Jersey! Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the inspiration for the Tony winning musical, will be playing a seven performance run at the Broadway Theater. Set for October 19-27, this will mark the first time they will have played the Great White Way.

Spotlight On...Trey Gerrald

Name: Trey Gerrald

Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina

Education: Coastal Carolina University and the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities. 

Select Credits: Way to Heaven (Boy #2, Teatro Circlo, NYC); Cabaret (Bobby, Arts Center of CC, Hilton Head); RISE (Glenn, Roots & Wings, NYC) I spent a year interning at Maine State Music Theatre and Florida Repertory Theatre. It was great training watching professionals in both the musical theatre and straight theatre world.  (Also cleaning toilets and unscrewing 400 Proscenium chaser lights really makes you grateful when you are performing.)  I have also assisted on the other side of the table for the national tours of The Drowsy Chaperone, Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables (25th Anniversary tour), and Billy Elliot. 

Why theater?: If someone asked me this in real life I would punch them.  Why theater? Because nothing is better!

Tell us about Do Me a Little: Do Me a Little is a 60 minute, 2 person play written by the incredible playwright, Marissa Kohn and directed by the great David Alpert.  The premise is: 2 virgins on their wedding night.  Things get interesting when you factor in their Mormon faith and a painful secret comes out that makes them question how to proceed in their marriage.  I play Brigham Applegate, a devout 24 year old Mormon news anchor, who does not take it lightly that he is named after THE Brigham Young.

What is it like being a part of Do Me a Little?: I've been doing a lot of research on the Mormon Church and there are so many things that I just didn't understand initially.  At first I thought, "Oh yeah.. I know this guy, I was raised Southern Baptist..." But it's so much more than all that.  This isn't a Mormon bashing play, so, having to walk through it, with his vocabulary, his circumstances, his beliefs has been really emotional for me.  It's just been really eye opening. This play is great because Marissa's writing never makes a judgement call.  The audience sees two characters struggling and no one is right and no one is wrong.  They are both just trying to survive.  Which, in a sense, is the human experience.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I think any statement resonates deeper when told through art.  That's what inspires me.  When I think of theatre that really moves or speaks to me... that's what's underneath it.  Someone was brave enough to artfully make me question something.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: If I don't play Luke in Next Fall, my life will have been wasted.  And Cliff in Cabaret (I've done it before but it's still my dream role.)

What’s your favorite showtune?: I was totally 'that kid' who owned every cast recording (and bootleg...oops), singing in my car on the way to Wal-Mart.  I really want to pull out something really random to prove the depth of my nerdiness, but this is a HARD question!!  In no particular order, "Moments in the Woods" from Into the Woods, "Breathe" from In the Heights, and anything from Zanna Don't.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Gordon Edelstein - I saw his Glass Menagerie 3 times.  I'd love to work with Joe Mantello.  Oh, definitely Denis O'Hare.  I mean, the list is endless... 

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: It's hard to answer this but I definitely plan to have my life be the basis for a big Broadway musical like Boy George's Taboo....... only nothing like Taboo. (not hating...I'm just nothing like Boy George.)

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Do Me a Little and Clybourne Park.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Sweet Tea, Showgirls, and "belting" on youtube.

What’s up next?: I'm in the Series Premiere of "Next Caller" on NBC (airing Midseason) and at this point it looks like my character will be back for more on a recurring basis!
I've also started a project called, "Homo-nologues" which is intended to create enough awareness to close the divide between being out on a personal level and being out as a professional actor.

For more on Trey, visit http://www.trey-gerrald.com/

Spotlight On...John Hollingsworth

Name: John Hollingsworth

Hometown: Concord, Massachusetts

Education: BFA in Drama from NYU-Tisch; Studios: CAP21 and Stonestreet Studios

Select Credits: Sweet Charity (Oscar Lindquist, NYU-Tisch); Chautauqua! (Featured Soloist, The Public Theatre); Grand Hotel (Rohna, NYU-Tisch); Interlakes Theatre 2010 Summer Season (Fiddler on the Roof, Chicago, Camelot) Elegies for Angels…Raging Queens (Doug, Triad Theatre); Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2011 (Vocalist, Recording); Madam Fury’s Travelin’ Show (Demo Recording)

Why theater?: I fell in love with theatre in high school. I always loved seeing shows, but I didn’t really get into it until I befriended my high school classmates who did our community theatre.  My junior year of high school, one of these classmates told me about an upcoming production of Grease and she convinced me to audition.  I was cast and immediately caught the bug.  By the end of that summer, it was time to apply for colleges and I knew I wanted to pursue theatre.  I was not going to let anything get in my way.  Since then I have been an actor. I guess what I love so much about theatre is how closely it relates to our lives.  I am fascinated by human interaction in everyday life and love being able to experience that onstage, either as an audience member or as a performer.  There is always something to be learned by our relationships and theatre does that for me.

Tell us about KRiEp: KRiEp tells the story of Jeremiah Aiden Kriep.  It explores the different sides of his personality and his personality is referred to as his “box.”  This one character is broken up into 3 characters: his bad side – a character named Jak; his good side – a character called Jerry, whom I play; and the combination of Jak and Jerry, named Jake.  He is a serial killer and in the show we see the struggle between his good side and his bad side.  It explores what it means to be a serial killer and we trace the journey of this particular character.  The lyrics are quite poetic and the music ranges from rap to country to operatic tunes.

What is it like being a part of KRiEP?: KRiEp has been a great experience.  I have never played a serial killer before, so that has been a different process.  For instance, I have to ask questions like: how much feeling does a serial killer have?  What are the characteristics of a socio/psychopath? I have loved getting to work with the members of our cast, with our Director Sam Belich and Choreographer Kendra Slack.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I don’t think I would say a specific type of theatre speaks to me.  I tend to like it all – from gut-wrenching dramatic pieces, to light-hearted feel-good musicals.  That being said, I have high expectations for the theatre I do see.  I would say that I want to see something onstage that speaks to my life in some way.  It can be very poignant to experience theatre that mirrors your personal life.  Relate-ability, I guess, is the determining factor in whether or not a piece speaks to me.  But I guess that would apply to everyone, no? I am inspired by people, all sorts of people.  In my life I am often drawn to wack-a-do, nutso characters.  I like unique individuals – whether it be a close friend, or some crazy person on the street.  That is what inspires me the most – the variety of people that weave in and out of my life.  Also, the experiences I have with them.  It sounds so cliché, but it’s true that the more life experience we have, the more we can understand about the world.  Profound life experiences inspire my work.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: Yes, I would love to play Elder Price in The Book of Mormon; Leaf Coneybear in Spelling Bee; Barney in The Middle Ages; and many more.

What’s your favorite showtune?: Favorite showtune? Gosh I’m not sure. Ever since theatre became my life, I don’t listen to showtunes very frequently.  I’m a sucker for “The I Love You Song” from Spelling Bee. Love anything Ragtime, “The Old Red Hills of Home” from Parade. I’m probably leaving a lot out.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Rosie O’Donnell.  I’ve loved her ever since her daytime talkshow back in the 90s.  I used to watch her show every day and love how much she supports theatre.  I would love to work with her. Also Ann Dowd – a former acting teacher of mine, and such an inspiration.  Look her up. Also Meryl (need I use her last name?) and Whoopi (same deal).

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Oh gosh I don’t know. I don’t feel like I’m like anyone.  A title?  Not sure because I feel like my life is just starting.  Ask me again in 20 years – should have a better idea.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Here are a few all-time favorites: [Title of Show], The Light in the Piazza, Spelling Bee, The Book of Mormon

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I would say my addiction to reality tv is a guilty pleasure, except I don’t feel that guilty about it.  In fact, I openly love it.  I’m really into the "Real Housewives", "Kardashians", and am obsessed with a little gem called "Dance Moms", to name a few. I could talk about these shows for days (and want to).

What’s up next?: I am in the midst of figuring out what it’s like to live in the ‘real world.’ I graduated from school about three months ago and have been working on KRiEp for about a month and a half.  So after KRiEp is over, I will continue to audition and hope to work as much as possible. One day I will have a talkshow – only a matter of time.

For more on John, visit http://johnhollingsworth.com/

Broadway Vets Hayes and Ralph Join Smash

This season of "Smash" is turning into a who's who of Broadway! Sean Hayes and Sheryl Lee Ralph have both been tapped for guest spots on the second season of the theater-based drama. Sean Hayes will reunite with his "Will and Grace" costar Debra Messing as Terence Falls, an actor making his Broadway debut in a musical version of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Sheryl Lee Ralph will appear as Cynthia, the mother of Jennifer Hudson's Veronica Moore. Are you excited for the evergrowing roster of new characters or do you think focusing on the remaining character's arcs are more important? Vent away SMASHers!

Spotlight On...Sean Hefferon

Name: Sean Hefferon

Hometown: South Salem, NY

Education: BA in “Theater Management, Production and Performance,” Tufts University

Select Credits: West Side Story (Diesel, Yorktown Stage); Company (Bobby, Balch Arena Theatre); Lippa’s Wild Party (Burrs, Balch Arena Theatre); Plight of the Apothecary (Rov, The Red Room)

Why theater?: That is a tough question. Sort of like, why have brown hair? Theater has always been a part of me, and who I am. I have always been a storyteller and have loved the art of how stories are told. So when I was in my first show at nine years old, I knew I had found my place. I feel at home on the stage. There aren’t many other things that I would say that about or that I find as gratifying. Being part of telling a story that will hopefully move every single person in the audience to feel something or to think about something is an incredible rush. There is no greater compliment to me than to know that audience members continue to discuss a production I have been in, after the curtain comes down, rather than simply leaving their experience at the door to the theatre. Every time I do a show I learn something new about myself, as well; whether it is a character I am playing shedding light on an aspect of my personality, or honing my understanding of theater, or discovering new tactics for my rehearsal/performance process. And finally, the theater community is one of the most tight-knit, loving, supportive communities that I have ever been lucky to be part of. I am constantly forging bonds that will last a lifetime.

Tell us about FriendAndy.com: FriendAndy.com is an incredibly topical piece, speaking directly to the pop culture staple that the internet, and more specifically social media, has become. It is the story of a blogger named Andy who sets his sights on making himself a viral success using a series of comedic characters he creates to share his commentary on life. The show addresses what happens when someone quickly achieves international digital fame, by showing the audience how it changes Andy and how it changes us. Us, being the viewers/supporters/consumers of his “product.” One way that this is accomplished, is through the portrayal of all the characters that drive Andy’s story. One actor (Hayes Dunlap) plays Andy for the entire show. The other three actors (Laura Kaldis, Nastasha Strang, and myself) play anywhere between ten and fifteen different characters. The three of us are credited as “Stage Hands,” a title which is purposefully left very vague. All four actors are on stage almost the entire show; and so when the Stage Hands are “between characters,” that is, on stage but not actively in a scene, we are taking on the largest role that each of us plays. A lot of discussion went in to what that role is exactly, and I could tell you what our thoughts were, but I think it would be more beneficial and more fun to leave that interpretation to our audiences. The show breaks down many theatrical conventions, and from the get-go asks the audience to go on a journey with us where they will need to be open-minded about how this story is told. Adapting a 20-something’s digital life to the stage is an extremely difficult feat, since all interactions are done in front of a screen (whether it is a computer screen, or a cell phone), but it has been interpreted with beautiful dexterity by the Playwright/Director, Wesley Fruge and by our Choreographer, Karesia Batan. There are several non-speaking movement pieces scattered throughout the play that are pivotal in communicating aspects of Andy’s story. They are so precise in what they are doing, that it was essential to have someone who could choreograph the movement, as well as communicate the importance and unity of body language in these pieces.

What is it like being a part of FriendAndy.com?: FriendAndy.com has been the best kind of adventure and challenge that an actor can have in theater. To begin with, most of the current cast and creative team have been developing the play over the past ten months. I have never been attached to a play where I am able to watch it grow, grow with it, and have influence over how it grows. Since, I got cast in FriendAndy.com it has gone through three versions of the script: two staged readings and now a third more complete production. Every single scene in the script has gone through changes over this time, whether they were very minor alterations, or complete overhauls of a scene or character. Wesley has always been amazingly open to feedback not only from his actors and fellow creative team, but also from the audiences that have seen previous readings. Needless to say, it has also been a huge challenge to be actively in a character for a complete ninety minute show. Over the rehearsal process, we spent a lot of time talking about transitions from character to character, in addition to the role of our “neutral” character when we are between scripted characters (that is, characters with dialogue). At one point in the show, I go through four different character transformations over the course of approximately a minute and a half. At first, this was a really daunting thought, but it has grown to be one of my favorite parts of the show not only because of the challenge it poses to me as an actor, but also because of how pivotal that series of transitions is to the story at that moment. On a somewhat separate note, this process has also been one of the healthiest that I have ever worked on. Everyone associated with this production has been incredibly supportive of one another. Working with such an intricate and distinctive script was very difficult, but I never felt uncomfortable taking risks because I knew that everyone else was also finding their way and would be there to catch me if I fell.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I am a big fan of theater that challenges the way that I think. I know that seems obvious, but the kind of theater I find myself appreciating least, is theater that can be taken at face value: something that leads to no conversation after the performance. However, “what I think” can be interpreted very broadly. It could be what I think as a person: a piece that challenges my beliefs, or forces me to look at something I thought I knew well from a different perspective. Or it could be what I think as an active member of the theater community: typically breaking theatrical conventions for the sake of communicating the story. Consequently, as an actor, I am always challenging myself to dig deeper in to a piece, or character, to attempt to provide some sort of post-show discussion for audiences who see me perform. There are many things and people that inspire me as an artist, but most recently I have fallen in love with Dan LeFranc’s writing. I met Dan while working on his production of The Big Meal at Playwrights Horizons this past spring. The play blew me away and moved me to seek out his other works. Dan, in my mind, is an extremely skilled artist: He writes plays about people, rather than about an event(s), and allows the content of the play inform the structure of the script. In the past, I have referred to him as the Michael Cunningham of the stage. For example, The Big Meal tracks an early-20s couple from their meeting, all the way through their later years – replete with all of the people who come and go from their lives (all portrayed by eight actors). Every single scene takes places in a restaurant or at a dinner table: a common ground for family gatherings. The play is written with such a heightened sense of realism, that there are typically multiple conversations going on at once, and people constantly talking (or shouting) over one another. Dan knew how he wanted his show to sound, but was not sure how that was going to be executed on the page. The final version of the script was printed in landscape orientation on legal paper divided in to eight columns: one for each actor. This not only allowed the script to maintain organization, even within extremely chaotic scenes, but also provided a visual map of the show. When you look at the script you can see where the play is loud and where there is silence, and for Dan, finding those moments of silence was very important.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: All of the roles that I am dying to play, at the moment, are too old for me! Also, most of the roles that have spoken to me in the past come from musical theater. I would love to play Javert in Les Miserables, Sweeney in Sweeney Todd, and also Luke in Next Fall.

What’s your favorite showtune?: I think my favorite showtune may be "Soliloquy" from Carousel. Not only is it an incredible piece of music by Richard Rogers, but the story that Oscar Hammerstein III is telling through Billy’s eyes is amazingly moving. Billy goes through more changes as a character in that eight minute piece of music, than many characters do over the course of an entire play.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I would love to work with Denis O’Hare at some point. Denis is a hugely versatile actor and has never ceased to amaze me either on the stage, on film, or on television. He was an acting teacher of mine a couple years ago and in the few short weeks we worked together, I learned a massive amount. I can only imagine that working along side him would be just as beneficial, or even more so. Denis is also one of the most genuine, caring people that I know.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Right now, I would say that John Gallagher, Jr. would play me in a movie about my life. I’ve been very impressed with him recently on HBO’s "The Newsroom" and I think that he would be able to capture my personality very well. As to what it is called, that is still in the works.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Most recently, I was recommending The Big Meal at Playwrights Horizons and Death of a Salesman on Broadway, both of which have since closed. I have not had much time to get out and see theater the past couple months, so I am a bit out of the loop at this point.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Haagen-Dazs’ White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle. Hands down.

What’s up next?: At this time, I do not have anything lined up for myself, so it will be back to auditions. The life of an actor.

Spotlight On...Gail Shalan

Name: Gail Shalan

Hometown: Stockbridge, MA

Education: BFA in Acting at Boston University, LAMDA

Select Credits: The Dick and The Rose (Ministering Angel/ Puppeteer, Outcast Café Theatrix, NY Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe); The Incident With The Mud (Alice Paulson, BU); Courtship (Laura Vaughn, BU); The Shakespeare Project (Rosalind, BU); Othello (Iago, LAMDA); Death Comes to a Wedding (Maiden, WTF Workshop); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania, Shakespeare and Co. Fall Fest); The Winter's Tale (Autolycus, Shakespeare and Co. Fall Fest); The Wizard of Oz (Glinda, Berkshire Theatre Festival Plays!)

Why theater?: Why not? To me it's always been the fullest way to be who I am, to bridge the vast gap that is the human experience: from the inner workings of the mind, heart, and soul which are so personal, to the macrocosmic universal experiences of humanity throughout history. And in live action all at once, as real and as finite as a breathe, as immortal and recognizable as the quandary "To be or not to be..."  It's a form through which to clearly look at ourselves and each other.  The mirror up to nature, right? But also, it's all I've ever loved and it brings on lots of laughter and joy, and if I can keep living each day loving and having fun than I'm doing something right. I've always followed that philosophy instinctually.

Tell us about The Dick and the Rose: Oh, I love this play. I think it's so important. And while we're on the topic of joy and laughter, so full of that light stuff as it leads us down the dark path of human tragedy. Our blurb for the show is: An American Gothic Romance with puppets and stubbornly live music. Rakish man meets Circus Girl. They mate. Tango. Make lots of babies. Darkness haunts this sideshow fantasy. Raucous. Bawdy. Lyrical. True. I guess that  sort of sums it up. But I always have a hard time knowing how much to share about the story in order to give a full picture without giving anything away... You should really come see it for yourself! It's the first part of a trilogy written by Robert Biggs (a master of Clown and Fool) about twenty years ago. It's inspired by tragic fact and sprinkled with raucous foolery. There are wonderful original songs that live in the folk realm. It'll make ya laugh and it'll make ya cry, and it will definitely have you asking big questions like good theatre should do.

What is it like being a part of The Dick and the Rose?: I love it! We premiered last year in Scotland, but it's had a life for some time. Five or six years ago, I was called over to Biggs' house to do a demo recording, so I've been involved for a while. And what I love is that this show is the birth of a little company called The Outcast Cafe Theatrix, so we're building a family. I've known Biggs and our producer Deborah Sims since I was little. I grew up at their house. There is a lot of love that runs deep in this company. The show also introduced me to my new found love for puppets! After the fun I had last summer, I decided to put puppets in my senior thesis. There's something magical about a piece of material that sits around all day in the dark until your hands bring it to life for maybe an hour or two, and in that brief span of time it has more potency than an actor ever can. Because, you see, subconsciously we all know that the actor has a life outside of the play and that somewhere buried in them is a grocery list, or a bar tending job, or a family separate from the play, but for the puppet there is only the reality of the brief hour on stage. That is the puppet's existence and the puppet gives all of itself to us, it's entire life.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: To me, the best theatre is the work that stimulates me and speaks to me on all levels of my humanity. A piece that is based in truth and tickles me on a visceral, intellectual, spiritual, sensual, physical, and imaginative level is the best piece. A piece that can talk about the metaphysics of the universe and then have a raunchy scene full of good "that's what she said" lines. A piece that can talk about God after making a poop joke.Theatre that illuminates humanity for all the complexities that we truly are. That I am. I can relate to that. And the closest I've come is Shakespeare, obviously.  Nature, beauty, sensory stimulation, great pieces and people who have come before me, really good stories... When I was in London I took my self out on a special date for my 21st birthday. I saw Derek Jacobi's Lear at the Donmar. That performance will stick with me forever. The production and most of the performances I could care less for, but his work was unbelievable, and the most inspiring stuff. I'm a super dork and have a concentration in Shakespearean Lit, i.e. I've watched a lot of Shakepeare on film... soooo I've seen a lot of Jacobi throughout his career. What was astounding to me, as a hailed veteran of the Bard he hadn't settled, his best performance yet was his Lear. It was clear to me that at the age of 73, after many awards and accolades, loads of renowned experience, and knighthood that the man would continue to grow, to find each moment of Lear each night as if he'd never spoken the words before. To truly discover the play anew after what I'm sure has been decades of familiarity with the thing. And like I said, it was his best yet, he never rested on his laurels, he was more alive than ever. It reminds me of Christopher Plummer winning his Oscar this year. He said in an interview that he's glad he won his oscar now, in his 80's, that he learned so much on Beginners and that he hopes he continues to learn that much more in the next ten years. I want to be that kind of actor. That never stops growing, stretching, learning, leaping! That continues to expand and challenge the worlds idea of who they are and who they can be, like Dame Helen Mirren, that woman is incredible!

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I've also got a thing for biographical, historical pieces based in real people's lives. It's such a rich place to start exploring a character!  So, I know it's been done before, but Frida Kahlo is one of my biggest inspirations, any chance to play her would be amazing. Or Judy Garland, I'd be interested in that, too. Roles that already exist out there:  Stella in Streetcar, Catherine in Suddenly Last Summer, Jane in Vieux Carré...  most Tennessee Williams at some point. Sally Bowles and Gypsy Rose Lee, wow, that's original. Anything Stoppard or Shepard, unfortunately their best roles are for the gents... but so it goes.  Eventually Vivian Baring in Wit and Martha from Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. I guess that's good for starters... And here's the Shakespeare list: Juliet and the Magical Daughters (Perdita, Marina, Miranda) before too long, Joan, Rosalind, Cordelia, Portia from Merchant, Cleopatra and later down the line Hermione, Constance, Lady Mac, Beatrice and then The Nurse. And if we're talking cross-gender casting, that opens up a whole different can of worms... oof.

What’s your favorite showtune?: I love anything Vaudeville or Old World-y, I just die for all Cole Porter. Yeah, anything Cole will do.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Um, I know you just interviewed Randy Harrison, who performs a lot at The Berkshire Theatre Festival, down the road from my house, and here's a big confession: I definitely wanted to be him growing up. I still remember his performances as the title role in Amadeus, and as Lucky in Godot, amongst other things. If I ever got to work with him, I'd be a happy lady.  When I was at Williamstown in 2009, Amy Herzog wrote a drama called After The Revolution, I loved that play. I really enjoy working on new plays, if I could work on a new Herzog play, that would be a dream. I also would love to work with some of my favorite mentors Mark Cohen and Paula Langton, who I have worked with as my professors and even as directors, but I would love to act with them! And pipe dream here: I'd love to be in a Woody Allen movie some day.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: I guess to stick with the romantic, antiquated, foreign vibe and some of the biggest doppelganger compliments I've ever recieved, I'll flatter myself and cast Marion Cotillard; she's so lovely and can act up a storm! It'd be called "No Time But Now"... I always feel like I belong in another era, or many different ones, but maybe this is exactly when I was meant to be.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Sadly, I've not gotten to see a lot of theatre locally, but out in the Berkshires I just saw a great Workshop production at Williamstown of Nilo Cruz's A Bicycle Country. Also, it's film, not theatre... but "Beasts of the Southern Wild" blew my mind! Really beautiful stuff.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Oh, I can't tell you that... okay, bye-bye classy creditability; trashy television, a lot of it. I wasn't allowed to watch much T.V. growing up... it back fired.

What’s up next?: That's a great question! Well, I really have to think a little bit about what I want in this next step, I'm going through that whole fresh-out-of-college-time-to-make-a-big-choice-and-be-okay-with-falling-on-my-face-thing. So I'm going to keep visiting cities and by October maybe just close my eyes, spin around three times, and put my finger on the map somewhere. No, seriously though I hope something comes through before then so that I'm free of having to choose and let the fates whisk me off where they will... I'm a very open book at this stage in my life.

Spotlight On...Stephen Feigenbaum

Name: Stephen Feigenbaum

Hometown: Winchester, MA

Education: BA, Yale College, MM candidate, Yale School of Music

Favorite Credits: Not much to say here as I'm pretty new to this art form! Had a lot of fun playing Pianosaurus in a reading of Triassic Parq this past winter though.

Why theater?: As a composer I think musicals are perhaps the one art form that really allows music to be a driving and integral force in storytelling. Movies come close at times but there's nothing like a musical, with its song-driven narrative style to really test your ability to reach people with music. I love the way shows are structured and most of all I just love the feeling you get when a climactic dramatic moment and beautiful music are in sync. There's nothing like it.

Tell us about Independents: INDEPENDENTS chronicles nine friends living and working on The Lady Grey, a Revolutionary War-era tall ship, in 2012. Using historical reenactment as a cover, the eclectic crew of twentysomethings has made a living smuggling marijuana from Nova Scotia to Gloucester. But when their captain disappears, financial pressures force the incompetent group of burnouts to attempt reenactment for real. INDEPENDENTS is a new folk rock musical about friendship, late night sing-alongs, growing up, and whatever those three-cornered hats are called.

What inspired you to create Independents?: Marina was really the driving force behind the story and the characters. I can't really speak for her but I think in part she wanted to explore a static lifestyle and challenge the audience by seducing them into loving the characters and the lifestyle while slowly making it harder and harder to sympathize with it. That's what we've been trying to focus on as we revise it and move the show forward. The musical world of it was inspired in part by some friends we had at school who in organized and unorganized contexts play and sing a lot of guitar-based folk music for fun, even at parties sometimes. We wanted to create a world around that kind of lifestyle and use it to generate the musical world of the show as well.
 
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love dramatic musicals. Shows like Sweeney Todd which live almost entirely in a musicalized world have been a big inspiration for me. I've also been getting more excited about shows like Hair and A Chorus Line which live more in a world of revue or song cycle, which don't appear to focus on plot but which slowly advance a story nevertheless. Outside of strict musical theater I've also been really excited about shows like Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group which don't have a story at all but which still use storytelling elements to similar effect.
 
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Obviously I would be excited and honored to be hired on a project with collaborators who are much more experienced or successful or famous or whatever than I, but I think that the collaborators I already work with who are peers of mine are great, and there's something about growing up and learning the craft together that makes our collaborations much richer than if I were suddenly working with people way out of my league.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: I find it kind of hard not to watch shows from a writer's perspective. Lately I've been talking a lot with some of writer friends about structure, especially in big commercial musicals. Like I've actually been studying Wicked a lot recently. I wanted to figure out what about that show makes it work so clearly and so consistently for all of the millions of people who've seen it. That's not to say it's my favorite show or anything, just that it's really well-constructed in some respects and that's something that fascinates me.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Arnold Schwarzenegger and it would be called “The Composinator”.
  
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Probably the fact that when I'm "studying" a show like Wicked, I'm also just really enjoying seeing Wicked.

What’s up next?: We'll see where this show goes but we're all really excited about it right now. I've also been working on a show called Caius Martius based loosely on Coriolanus with my friend Matthew George, so we want to do another round of rewrites on that and see what we can do with it. Also Charlie (our director) and I are working on a show which is sort of like a live version of "Fantasia" but updated and hip and loud. That also has aspects of, like, Stomp and Fuerza Bruta and Cirque, but more music driven, so it's been a real exercise of our creative imaginations. We're doing that this Spring in New Haven and then hopefully moving it to NYC at some point soon after!

For more on Independents, visit http://independentsmusical.com/

Spotlight On...Zander Meisner

Name: Zander Meisner

Hometown: Deerfield, IL

Education: Indiana University Jacobs School of Music

Select Credits: Dog Park (Andrew, Drilling Company); Annie (Rooster, NETworks); Cats (Rum Tum Tugger, Troika) Urinetown (Bobby, Denver Public/Score Marketing)

Why theater?: I started playing clarinet and various other instruments as a child.. Proceeding my adolescence I realized I had far too much chutzpah to be a virtuoso clarinetist.. and when I got cast as "Clarence and his Classical Clarinet" as a Freshman in my HS production of Gypsy... I found my calling.  Its the coolest.. and in many ways, the least abstract of performance arts. 

Tell us about Prophet in Pink: Nick Robideau wrote a really neat piece about what love really means, and finding your self-worth in this crazy world.  Only four actors, a minimal set, and influences of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and Angels in America.  (What a synthesis!!!)  It's an AWESOME new play with fantastic, very diverse actors, amazing sound design and voiceovers, and a production unlike anything you've ever seen.

What is it like being a part of Prophet in Pink?: Well, upon receiving the script, I was overwhelmed with the material.  I have done various straight plays, but never with this much meat to a character.  Once rehearsals began and I started working with this very talented, very supportive creative team, things started getting real interesting.  Lots of fun, gritty drama, AND a supernatural element?  Yes, Michael, being a part of Prophet in Pink is totally awesome.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love everything.  My girlfriend did a performance piece about the cold war, that was really inspiring.  I love Jersey Boys.  That show has a better character arc, and better fluidity than any other "jukebox" musical.  Clybourne Park speaks about race relations better than anything I've seen.  Basically, anything where actors put it in front of you with much at risk inspires me.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: I would love to play Tommy Devito in Jersey Boys, but being a actor/guitarist now implies you automatically crave to be in Once.  I also would love to do Golden Boy.  Any Mamet play would make me giddy, too.

What’s your favorite show tune?: Wow- well it may be cliche.. but "Shiksa Goddess" from The Last Five Years frequently speaks to me.  I too, am a Jewish guy who have yet to find any spark from a Jewish girl (and am involved with a gorgeous shiksa)

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Well.. people usually pick Broadway or Movie stars.. but I have very talented friends I've never actually done a show with and have always wanted to.  So... I'll simply combine the two.. I'll go with Jack Black, Dave Schoonover (talented friend), Cristoph Waltz, Justin Jutras (talented friend), James Gandolfini, Hunter Foster.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Ryan Gosling, in the indy rockumentary biopic entitled "Finding Your Place".

What show have you recommended to your friends?: PROPHET IN PINK.
www.prophetinpink.com

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I love beer.  Good beer.  Good Belgian malty beer.

What’s up next?: I play music in my 'hood of Astoria, Queens, and constantly hold events at a local bar.  On Saturday August 18th (the same day there's a 12pm showing of PROPHET IN PINK) I will have a free show at 8pm at Doyle's Corner at 42nd and Broadway.. Take the R to Steinway in Astoria for an amazing good rock and roll time.

Spotlight On...James Fluhr

Name: James Fluhr

Hometown: Collierville, TN

Education: Boston University, B.F.A. in Theatre Arts

Favorite Credits: Scenic Designer for The Road to Mecca (BCAP); Actor in OUR LADY

Why theatre?: I don’t think I ever had a choice. Theatre feels like a natural part of who I am and what I do. In the past few years I have started to articulate my need for visceral experiences and my need to share those stories with others. I love the ritual of the theatre: the makeup, the words and the lights. These elements are my very limited palette and I love the challenge of making them consistently fresh and unique through storytelling.  I also have a lot of fun doing theatre, which might be the most important part.

Tell us about OUR LADY?: OUR LADY is a one-man show that I began writing my senior year at Boston University. I have continued to work-shop the script/production for over a year, and now I am officially premiering it at FringeNYC 2012. OUR LADY is a modern fairy tale and theatrical fantasy that explores one gays boy’s fight against the Monster of Hate. Audiences are welcomed into the fear and darkness of this character and his personal confrontation with suicide. They follow his journey to self-acceptance and his transformation into OUR LADY.

What inspired you to create OUR LADY?: Shortly after I came out to my father he found pictures of me in drag online and he called me to tell me I was nothing but a liar and that he would be pulling my funding for my last semester of college. He told me that I should use all that “talent” of mine to figure it out. He wasn’t there to buy my dresses. So I was left to figure a lot of things out for myself and I began writing OUR LADY using his words as the first building blocks. Creating this story was a way to save myself from a darkness that has consumed so many gay youths in our country. OUR LADY then evolved into a call to action.  I became influenced by gay teen suicide stories filling the media.  It was clear that my personal journey to self-acceptance was not only for me. I needed to share it to help anyone I could. There were people struggling with the same issues I was and I wanted to be there for them, making them believe they were beautiful.

What kind of theatre speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: The theatre that usually speaks to me is messy and raw. I enjoy things that aren’t as polished. I want to see actors and designers and technicians working to tell a story. I become shut off when everything feels too perfect. Visual art has always been my main inspiration. I come from a fine art and design background so even when I’m acting or writing I’m dealing with visual images.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Jerry Mitchell, Julie Taymor and Diane Paulus.  I just want to see how these people work, how they approach their work on a daily basis and how they continue their careers. I think I could learn a lot from working along side each of them for a while.
 
What show have you recommended to your friends?: OUR LADY. There is no other show that I speak of. I admit it has turned into my obsession.

Who would play you in a movie and what would it be called?: Cate Blanchett portrays James Fluhr in "Rhinestoned Nightmare".

What’s my biggest guilty pleasure?: I can’t help but find myself constantly drawn to anything that sparkles or glitters. It’s part of my nature.

If I weren’t working in theater, you would be _______?: I would probably be an interior designer.  I think I got that from my Mom. She was always decorating and redecorating our houses as I grew up.  I guess I always thought it was fun to help her.

What’s up next?: I’m working on a musical right now which I hope to open up a workshop of in the next year. It’s called Forgiven and is a modern take on Beauty and the Beast. And yes, there is a drag queen in it. I don’t think I could ever write a show without one.

Spotlight On...Liam Mulshine

Name: Liam Mulshine

Hometown: Washington, DC

Education: BFA in Theatre from Boston University with a semester at the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy

Select Credits: Rhinoceros (Berenger, Boston University); Waiting for Lefty (Phillips, Boston University); Art for Sale (Tut'Zanni Theatre Company)

Why theater?: From the point of theatre-making, I love the way putting on a show creates this community of people all working together towards one goal, towards building something far bigger than any one person. Contributing towards the birth of a play is a high like no other. Between the inception of the idea and the first night an audience actually sees it, there's almost always the inevitable moment where the question "can we actually do this?" comes up. I love overcoming that challenge.

Tell us about Art for Sale: Art for Sale is a Commedia dell'Arte-style comedy done in traditional Italian masks, but with our own modern spin on everything. Commedia dell'Arte features theatrical archetypes who are essentially the progenitors to characters you see on every sitcom nowadays - Bart Simpson, Phil Dunphy, Monica Geller, and so on. In Art for Sale, those characters are part of a theatre company attempting to present a show and the disasters that loom at every turn. It's also an examination of the relationship between art and commerce: art as a "pure" thing versus art as a commodity. We also incorporate non-traditional masks, puppetry, and singing. So whether or not the deeper themes resonate, it'll be a good time. We're performing at the New York International Fringe Festival this month. You can buy tickets via the links on our site. www.tutzanni.com

What is it like being a part of Art for Sale?: SO MUCH FUN. One of the co-founders of our company, Ali Landvatter, wrote the basic outline for the show, but nearly everything came from improvising together. That's how Commedia works best - you know the needs and basic personalities of the characters, and you decide, "This is the scene where this happens" and you play. We rehearsed last month for about two weeks before performing at a theatre festival in Italy, and I don't think I've ever laughed so hard so many days in a row. It's incredibly challenging too though. We've struggled a lot - not only in figuring out how to best tell the story, but in working with our masks. They're beautiful, dynamic tools that demand a precise, fluid, infinitely energetic physicality to match. In the best moments of performing, I feel like the mask gives me the ability to be bigger and bolder than I'd ever be without it.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Theatre that immerses me in a new world, sets up certain boundaries and conventions, then rips those apart in a way that's thrilling and disturbing and invites the audience to look at life from a new perspective. Lisa Kron's Well did that to me, as did Noises Off, Cloud 9, and Our Town.

Any roles you’re dying to play?: In twenty or thirty years, I'd love to tackle George from Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. I don't know if I'm ready for that one at this point in my life. Betty/Edward from Cloud 9. I've already done it, but I'd love to play Berenger from Ionesco's Rhinoceros again. And I personally think I'd do a great Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd.

What’s your favorite showtune?: I'd say it's a toss-up between "Worst Pies in London" from Sweeney Todd and "New Music" from Ragtime.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Probably Moisés Kaufman. I still think about and am affected by his production of I Am My Own Wife I saw years ago.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Jesse Tyler Ferguson in "Palebeard".

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Most recently, Four Clowns, a show I saw at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. It's the raunchiest, most hilarious clown show I've ever seen.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: "The Simpsons". I've broken my at-least-two-episodes-a-day habit as of late, but I quote the show nearly daily and I'm pretty much never not in the mood to watch an old favorite.

What’s up next?: This fall, my theatre company, Tut'Zanni, is embarking on a tour to various colleges and universities to perform our show and lead Commedia dell'Arte workshops. It's in partnership with the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy, where we all studied abroad during college. Besides those tour dates, I'll be in Los Angeles, which is where I call home right now, auditioning and creating new work.

Spotlight On...Olivia Hartle

Name: Olivia Hartle


Hometown: Oil City, Pennsylvania


Education: B.A. in Theatre and Psychology from St. John’s University


Favorite Credits: Directed many student productions at St. John's. Also an actor, choreographer, sketch comedy writer and improviser. Former character performer at Disney World. 



Why theater?: I love theatre because it is inherently collaborative. You literally cannot do theatre with just one person. I also love the imperfect nature of it – there is no post-production editing or “take twos”… everything you do onstage at every moment is right. You have to believe in it, and you always have to support those around you. Doing theatre teaches us how to live.

Tell us about Grimm: GRIMM is a haunting new musical that tells the story of twin sisters and rivals Catherine and Angelica, who are vying for the crown in a powerful tale of good and evil. GRIMM features familiar characters created by the Brothers Grimm, from Hansel and Gretel to the wily Rumplestiltskin, entwined with a ghostly ensemble that spin chilling new twists on fairy-tale classics.

What inspired you to direct Grimm?: The show was written and created by two of my best friends – Ken Kruper and Jon Randhawa – and we originally produced it at St. John’s University in 2009 as our children’s theatre project. I was in the cast of the first production, and I fell in love with the story and the score. When we had the idea to submit it to Fringe and actually got accepted, I immediately jumped at the chance to lead the creative team in growing and re-imagining the piece.

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I am inspired by pretending and play. Even something as simple as two business professionals who are forced to create pretend dialogue together during an icebreaker activity at a company retreat – I am always inspired by people playing together. I also love dance and improv. In terms of my growth as an artist, I am moved by the thoughts, writings and creations of Anne Bogart, Robert Wilson and Fred Newman. Their work has pushed me to see theatre and life in a completely new way, and given me the courage to challenge every convention I know.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: This list could go on forever, but I think Robert Wilson would be at the top. I’d love to spend a season at Watermill.

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Avenue Q. Always.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Delta Burke? Is she still alive? And I have this idea for a book called “Never a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride”. That seems like a good title.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Pop music. I love Britney and Ke$ha.

If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: Taking a lot of classes.

What’s up next?: Well, BIG Theatre Company has started working on creating what we hope to be our next production, America: The Musical. We are also rolling around a few other ideas, but we’re just eager to work together again. We love making theatre.

Fore more on GRIMM and BIG Theatre Company visit http://www.bigtheatre.org/ and http://grimmanewmusical.blogspot.com/