Recently in Broadway Category

Monday October 26 I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet both Stephen Sondheim and Frank Rich.

I attended STEPHEN SONDHEIM A LIFE IN THE THEATER, AN ONSTAGE CONVERSATION WITH FRANK RICH at Benaroya Hall.

We (of course this night was a Conn family event) started the evening off at a 6:30pm reception in the Founder's Room hosted by David Armstrong, Producing Artistic Director, The 5th Avenue Theatre, and Dennis Coleman, Artistic Director, Seattle Men's Chorus /Seattle Women's Chorus. Delicious food, yummy wine, and what a beautiful room!

We were there not just for the wine and food, but to meet Stephen Sondheim and Frank Rich! So as soon as Stephen entered the room, the Conn family made a beeline for him! Wow, what a friendly, gracious and talkative man! We introduced ourselves, told him what huge fans we were, told him that INTO THE WOODS is Trinity's favorite show, and that Myrna was The Baker's Wife in INTO THE WOODS at Village Theatre Kidstage. Stephen congratulated Myrna on nabbing "the best role" in the show. He asked about the production - what was the orchestration, how much rehearsal time etc. I was then able to inform Mr. Sondheim that the girl who had played Little Red in that same show (Keaton Whittaker) was going to be in the Broadway production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. This was news to him, since he had left New York just days before the role was cast! So, I was able to tell Stephen Sondheim something he didn't already know. My husband went on to tell Stephen how much he loved COMPANY.

My husband and I had a fun, but brief, talk with Frank Rich, and he seemed genuinely pleased that we had both read and enjoyed his memoir Ghostlight

The name says it all.

I am so excited to see Anne Allgood at COCKTAIL NUTS with your host Rich Gray on Monday September 28. Anne is the consummate performer. She has appeared on Broadway, national tours, every major theatre in Seattle, and now...COCKTAIL NUTS!

I first saw Anne onstage in THE WOMEN at ACT (see the picture below, that's Anne in the blue hat). She was hilarious. And then I saw her in MEMPHIS and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at The 5th Avenue Theatre, and most recently in DAS BARBECU at ACT Theatre. Anne can sing anything - from Sondheim to country and western! She'll make you laugh and then tear your heart out. Ouch!

And not only is Anne an amazing performer, she is an incredible voice coach.

Shine a Light on Camp Broadway!

My oldest daughter Myrna was lucky enough to attend Camp Broadway in New York a few years back and it was indeed a life-changing experience. Not only did she work with Broadway professionals, it was with Camp Broadway that she was able to attend the Tony Awards hosted by Hugh Jackman. And, her picture still comes up on the Camp Broadway website.

Camp Broadway has really grown over the years thanks to a dedicated and hard-working staff. So when I got this information from Susan Lee, I wanted to share it with y'all right away!

I wanted to make you aware of an exciting opportunity for Camp Broadway...

Later this afternoon Mrs. Patricia Smith (a mom whose daughter was given a scholarship to attend Camp Broadway this summer) is going to nominate Camp Broadway in American Express' "Shine A Light" Competition, a national search for a small business that has had a positive social impact on their community. To be eligible, (1) the company must be a private, independently-owned and operated business, (2) organized for profit and operates primarily in the US, (3) has less than 100 employees with revenues under $10 million and (4) accepts the American Express card. Camp Broadway is eligible.

The judging will be based on: An inspiring story about a small business that has devised a new way of working in order to survive tough times ("innovation"), still finds ways to give back to the community, even when staying afloat is a challenge ("community") and continually demonstrates a "customer first" mentality, and during challenging times recognizes that connections are more important than ever ("customer service).

Once the nomination is posted it needs to get a minimum of 50 votes NO LATER THAN September 13 at 11:59 PM ET to be considered by the judges. Our team is hereby requesting your support of our nomination... Please go to http://shinealight.ivillage.com/ later tonight or soon thereafter and vote for CB if you believe our work over the last 15 years merits consideration. We believe there is an opportunity for you to add your own comment about how we have helped you, your family, a person you know and/or the community at large. If you have something nice to say, we would appreciate your adding it to the nomination.

You might also take a moment to review the other nominations. I hope you agree that we are worthy to be considered in this group.

The winning small business will receive $50,000 and $50,000 in marketing support. Someone has to win...why not Camp Broadway? You can encourage your friends around the country to vote for us too if you believe that a little company that is dedicated to theatre arts education for kids, whether or not they can afford it, deserves a helping hand.

Our staff, teaching artists and all the kids we work with appreciate your support (now as always).

Love and thanks,

Susan

What are you waiting for? Vote!

Elizabeth Lucas, a friend of mine in New York, sent me this email.

Sounds like a super cool movie! Don't miss it at the New York Musical Theatre Festival!

From the email:

Three years ago I began a project that has grown into the most extraordinary experience of my professional life, the rock movie musical CLEAR BLUE TUESDAY.

CLEAR BLUE TUESDAY is a movie of and about New York City, developed by a community of actor/singer/songwriters from the rock clubs, comedy clubs and Broadway theatres of New York. We rehearsed for nine months, developing fictional narrative out of improvisation and conversation about what it means to be a New Yorker and an American post-9/11. The actors wrote the songs they sing. The spirit of the movie is such that donations have been generous and have given us production value well above and beyond our budgetary means. We shot for free inside 7 World Trade Center, the Ritz Carlton andRockefeller Center. Dozens of artists contributed their paintings. Our extensive special effects were entirely donated. The movie is thoroughly unconventional and independent in the truest sense of the word, neither political nor treacly, made with humor, humanity and craft.

I am so proud of what we came up with and would love to share it with you. We are premiering the results next Thursday, September 10^th. Please join us.

We’ll be screening at the SVA, a newly renovated facility with top of the line High Def projector and sound equipment, and the second largest screen in New York City. This presentation is the movie in its best possible form.

You can view the trailer on our website at www.clearbluetuesday.com. Edited by Alex Hammer, the trailer is a beautiful representation of the movie. If it moves you at all, don’t miss this screening.

You are invited to the World Premiere of the musical movie CLEAR BLUE TUESDAY, premiering as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival!

WHERE: SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street

WHEN: Thursday, September 10
7:00pm and 9:15pm

TICKETS: $20 (includes post-screening Q&A)

FOR TICKETS:www.nymf.org/clearbluetuesday

VIEW THE TRAILER:www.clearbluetuesday.com

If you are looking for something free to do at 4:00pm in New York on Monday August 31, why not check out the industry reading of the new musical FLYER ...

From the press release:

Fresh from its premiere Equity Regional Production in Delaware , Flyer, an award-winning musical based on the majestic and turbulent lives of the Wright Brothers, comes to NYC with a one-night reading presentation at the esteemed Florence Gould Hall Theatre next Monday, Aug. 31 at 4:00 pm.

Flyer was the first recipient of an unprecedented two-time (consecutive years) ASCAP / Disney Workshop Award for its Co-Composer/Lyricists Dan Tramon and Diana Belkowski. The second ASCAP award given was for their musical, Rocket Boys (film version known as October Sky with Jake Gyllenhaal), which had its own premiere last year in Huntsville, AL. Directed by Carl Anthony Tramon (SDC), Flyer was initially presented at the Lamb’s Mainstage Theatre in NYC, followed by a week-long stay as part of North Carolina's NASA/Smithsonian 2003 'Festival of Flight. It was also presented in abridged concert form at Oklahoma City University in 2006.

Dan and Diana have long-collaborated for the Broadway community and beyond, also composing for jingles, multi-media, and both Presidential and gubernatorial campaigns. Carl has been performing on stage since 3 yrs old, and directing professionally for the past 5 years. The current Flyer cast includes Billy Clark Taylor (Wilbur), Michael Mott (Orville), Natalie Newman (Kate), Beau Allen (Milton), Sabina Petra (Susan), and Trip Plymale (Charlie).

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ very first plane sold. 2009 also celebrates the Centennial of the renowned Paris Air Show, which figured greatly in Wilbur and Orville’s path to notoriety. However, the message of Flyer is timeless, as the story is as much about the complex influences that nurture or inhibit potential as it is about a child’s dream to fly.

The Florence Gould Hall is the premier theater of the French Institute Alliance, and is located at 55 East 59^th Street in Manhattan. Tickets are free, and may be reserved online at www.flyerthemusical.com.

My oldest daughter is looking forward to the last few weeks of summer vacation. Why? because when August arrives, so does The 5th Avenue Theatre's Summer Musical Theater Camp! This will be Myrna's 3rd year at The 5th Avenue's Summer Musical Theater Camp.

This is such a great camp for a number of reasons. First off, this is a skills based camp, where the kids are taught all facets of musical theater (singing, dancing, acting, etc.) and is not just focused on getting a show up. They are exposed to material from everything from golden age musicals to the current shows on Broadway. The parents don't see the final showcase, because the kids perform for each other. This means they can spend the full two weeks learning new material, new skills and then perform for their peers and the staff. Secondly, they are taught by working professionals both from the Seattle area, and from New York. I can't tell you how many times we've seen shows at The 5th Avenue where Myrna has pointed out people on stage who taught her in camp! That kind of access is invaluable. Finally, they create a really supportive environment and she has made really great friends there.

Here is Myrna singing at last year's final showcase!

From the 5th Avenue Website:

Summer Musical Theater Camp

Television Gold! (or is that Television Yellow?)

I first saw Mitzi Gaynor in the movie musical Anything Goes with Bing Crosby and Donald O'Connor. One viewing of Mitzi doing "Blow Gabriel Blow", "Anything Goes" and "It's Delovely" and I was a huge fan! Such a fan, in fact, that the name "Mitzi" was on the short list of names for my second daughter (as was "Velma" and "Gladys"...I stopped short of "Daisy Mae").

My wonderful husband of 22 years bought me "MITZI GAYNOR RAZZLE DAZZLE! THE SPECIAL YEARS" for my birthday. Wow! This is an amazing must-see DVD.

From the DVD cover:

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Mitzi Gaynor's blockbuster film, Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC and the 40th anniversary of her first televised special, MITZI GAYNOR: RAZZLE DAZZLE! THE SPECIAL YEARS is an all new documentary that captures the creative excellence, the briliant fusion of song and dance, the glamorous Bob Mackie costumes and the non-stop excitement that were the hallmark of her glittering annual television events. For 10 years, Mitzi Gaynor's annual specials captured the imagination of audiences the world over. Now, for the first time in three decades, experience the groundbreaking Emmy winning performances choreographed by some of the most inflential forces in the world of dance: Peter Gennaro (ANNIE, WEST SIDE STORY), Danny Daniels (THE TAP DANCE KID), Robert Sidney (THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW) and Tony Charmoli (WOMAN OF THE YEAR). Including newly taped interview with Miss Gaynor, Bob Mackie, Kristin Chenoweth, Carl Reiner, Kelli O'Hara, Rex Reed and rare photos and footage from Gaynor's personal archive that illuminate the behind-the scenes stories and impact of her landmark television events.

The present day chats between Bob Mackie and Mitzi Gaynor are worth the price of the DVD on their own! It's so nice to see genuine affection between two artists, and to hear the stories behind the costumes. And what costumes! Mitzi wears sequins, beads, beads and more beads, short dresses, long dresses, dresses that zip up and zip down. As they were always in gorgeous, bright colors! It's like my dream wardrobe! (I can't help it, I like shiny stuff). And the guys costumes are just as amazing!

Speaking of guys, the specials are always just Mitzi and "her dancing boys". No other women in sight! And I recognized on of those guys as a dancer on the Carol Burnett show! I don't know his name but he played the Yankee soldier in the Went With The Wind skit! My favorite special is Mitzi and 100 Guys -- it seemed she had literally every male 1970s tv star on that show! From Captain Stubing to Mannix! Two of my favorite dances are EVERYBODY LOVES MY BABY and PRETTY FOR ME from her first 1968 special Mitzi (watched by 33 million viewers!).

Mitzi seems like such a level-headed woman, someone who really enjoyed her career, and appreciated the good fortune she had, and laughs a lot. There's none of that bitterness or regret, or exploitation/substance abuse stories you so often see in stars when they look back at the "good old days". Not only that, but she was happily married to Jack Bean for over fifty years! I would love to go out to lunch with Mitzi Gaynor and hear more cool stories!

Mitzi Gaynor is currently touring with a one woman show (of course!) called MITZI GAYNOR RAZZLE DAZZLE - MY LIFE BEHIND THE SEQUINS. Here's hoping she comes to Seattle!

Lucky number seven!

If you are wondering what to do the evening of Monday August 3 to celebrate Canada's civic holiday, (or you just want to rock out on a balmy August eve), look no further than NEW VOICES 7 brought to you by Contemporary Classics. Yes, this is the same concert series that Myrna rocked last December!

From the Facebook event page:

Its back! Don't miss the seventh edition of the popular NEW VOICES series. This edition is part of the CENTRAL HEATING LAB at ACT Theatre.

NEW VOICES is a concert series showcasing the best of today's most promising young musical theatre composers. An exciting blend of Sondheim and pop/rock, this next generation of composers is turning Broadway on its ear with musicals about grunge bands, electroshock therapy, road trips, and Anna Nicole Smith. Performed by some of Seattle's hottest talent, joins us for a break from the summer heat with an evening of brand new musical theatre songs.

August 3 at 8pm
Allen Theatre at ACT
700 Union Street in Downtown Seattle
$20 general admission, $15 student (with ID)
Purchase tickets at https://www.acttheatre.org/TicketsPlays/Play.aspx?prod=2340 (tickets on the right by the calendar)

**Some material may not be suitable for younger audiences**

STARRING
Krystle Armstrong (5th Ave's HELLO, DOLLY!)
Mo Brady (5th Ave's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, SEVEN BRIDES)
Sarah Davis (ZANNA, DON'T!)
Nick DeSantis (5th Ave's SUNDAY IN THE PARK...)
Beth DeVries (SCT's WIZARD OF OZ)
Christian Duhamel (5th Ave's SEVEN BRIDES...)
Ashley FitzSimmons (Village's SHOW BOAT, BEAUTY & THE BEAST)
Nick Garrison (HEDWIG..., 5th Ave's CABARET)
Diana Huey (ZANNA, DON'T!)
Cayman Ilika (Village's SHOW BOAT)
Kate Jaeger (REEFER MADNESS)
Naomi Morgan (5th Ave's WEST SIDE STORY)
Brandon O'Neill (Village's TOMMY)
Kat Ramsburg (5th Ave's MAME)
Don Darryl Rivera (SCT's I WAS A RAT!, BUSYTOWN)
Tanesha Ross (Village's SAINT HEAVEN)
Jenny Shotwell (Seattle Musical Theatre's JANE EYRE)
Troy Wageman (Village's BEAUTY & THE BEAST)
Billie Wildrick (5th Ave's SUNDAY IN THE PARK...)
and Justin Huertas on cello

With R.J. Tancioco on piano
Hosted by Brandon Ivie

WITH SEXY SONGS BY
Jeff Blumenkrantz
Bobby Cronin
Adam Gwon
Joe Iconis
Michael Kooman & Christopher Dimond
Brian Lowdermilk & Kait Kerrigan
Michael Mahler
Dan Martin & Michael Biello
Peter Mills
Ryan Scott Oliver
Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Jeff Thomason & Jordan Mann

One singular sensation of a movie!

Last night I went to the Landmark Harvard Exit movie theatre in Capitol Hill to see EVERY LITTLE STEP, the documentary about casting the revival of A CHORUS LINE.

FIrst of all, the Landmark Harvard Exit is one cool movie theatre! I'd never been before, and I almost drove right by it. The Landmark Harvard Exit is an old woman's club turned movie theatre.

From the theatre's website:

The theatre is located on a quaint, tree-lined street at the north end of Broadway, at Harvard and Roy on Seattle's Capitol Hill. The building in which The Harvard Exit currently resides was originally constructed as a clubhouse for The Woman's Century Club in 1925. The club continues to hold meetings in the lobby, although the building was sold in 1968 for conversion to a movie theatre. In the 1980s, a second auditorium was added in an unused ballroom space on the third floor of the building. One of the very first "art" theatres in Seattle, the Harvard Exit set the standard for the exhibition of independent film and foreign language cinema. Its large and glorious lobby retains a 1920s atmosphere, adorned with a fireplace, a grand piano and chandelier. A recent remodel adds a fully wheelchair accessible restroom on the main floor, expanded concession stand and an inside box office for those rainy Seattle nights.

I had seen the revival of A CHORUS LINE, so I was really excited to see the film. Also, a friend of a friend of ours, Natascia Diaz was figured prominently in the movie since it had come down to her and Charlotte D'Amboise for Cassie. I absolutely loved Natascia in JASQUES BREL at The Zipper.

What I didn't realize is how much footage we would get to see from the original 1975 production of A CHORUS LINE! As a "Hello 12, Hello 13" teenager I had lived and breathed that cast album (as a record of course) and sheet music when it was released, but had never seen the show until the revival in 2006.

Seeing Donna Mckechnie do The Music and The Mirror dance was unbelievable. She was other-worldly. Don't get me wrong, Charlotte D'Amboise was fantastic, but Donna Mckechnie defied description. You just have to see it. And she was just a wisp of a thing!