Our Last Rehearsal before break!

Here's a little video of our last rehearsal before we hit Christmas break. I am VERY impressed with where we are at in this process. Especially when you consider that only ONE of our cast members has had any formal dance training and experience. I think my cast is AWESOME! They have really come a LONG way! Enjoy the video and tell me what you think!

My rising "Seussical" stars! Photos from recent rehearsal.

Seussical in Production

The cast is set for our school's production of "Seussical the Musical" (to be performed February 2007). I was so impressed with the turn out for our auditions and have continued to be amazed at the growing talent we have in our show. Each rehearsal, I see a growing excitement and energy with our cast. This is a long and hard journey that we are embarking on, but I am ready to experience it all again.

This will be my second big musical to produce and direct and it is by far the largest one yet. So here we go . . . let the journey begin.

Clips from my last show!

Check it out! Clips from our production of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" last February. I got to work with the most awesome cast ever! All of them were great. Enjoy these few "behind the scenes" clips from dress rehearsal! Let me know what you think of them!

WICKED is AWESOME!

It was a VERY late night afterwards as we drove back home to Holland, MI. I think we crawled in bed around 3:30 a.m. But as usual, it was so worth it!

So, here is a picture of my carpool group (minus myself) that just got back from another sweet trip to Chicago, last weekend, to see the ever "Popular" and stunningly beautiful Broadway show, "Wicked". This was officially my third time seeing it and I enjoyed it just as much!

The show is just pure "magic"! Everything from costumes, to set, to storyline, to music, to lighting, to the "shock-factor". I love it all!

My wife and I took 35 people into the windy city last night to experience the Tony Award winning production. We made really great time on the road and only ran into a little but of traffic at the end. We met most of the group outside the theater around 6:00 and went to eat at a corner bakery restaurant. After a nice meal, we gathered into the beautiful Oriental Theatre and watched the show.

Even after seeing it several times, I still enjoy living through the story with the characters and I always walk away with a few more insights into the show. Plus, it's always nice to see the show with new people and feed off of their excitement as they experience it for the first time. This trip was no exception. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we had a "Wonderful" time. Even though it was just "One Short Day" in the windy city.

Afterwards, my group (which consisted of my wife, Michael Ulrich and his mom, and Chad Adkins) decided that we wanted to go by the stage door to meet some of the cast. So we did, and even got some autographs and photos with Kristy Cates (Elphaba) and Stacie Morgain Lewis (Glinda).

Here are the guys with Kristy Cates who played Elphaba. Stacie Morgain Lewis (Glinda) was also there outside but was not feeling well and only signed one autograph and took one picture (unfortunately, not with our group).

From what I have read from the critics, out of the three current productions running, the Chicago production is the best! So I am proud to say that I have been able to see the BEST "Wicked" production THREE times!

This show has just completely exploded in popularity and is growing fast. Right now, there is a London and a Los Angeles production in the works. That would make a total of FIVE around the world! I have also heard talk about an upcoming MOVIE version in the works. I have read that Steven Spielberg has bought the rights and is working on getting the production started. That would be awesome!

No doubt you all have noticed how many musicals are starting to be turned into movies. Right now, "Hairspray" & "Dreamgirls" are coming up. Past modern movie musicals are, "The Phantom of the Opera", "The Producers", "Rent", & "Chicago". I kind of like the trend. I just hope that they start doing the more cleaner shows in the future.

Well, that's all for now. Keep the love for Live Theatre alive! Attend a show near you!

7 hours and counting . . .

EXCITED TO SEE WICKED AGAIN!

That is all . . . review of the show to come . . .

Album Review- You're A Good Man Charlie Brown

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999 Broadway Revival Cast)

09 March, 1999

Rating:

This music holds a very special place in my heart. Mainly because I spent a lot of time with it last year when I directed our high school production of the show. I must say that the cast assembled here for this recording are excellent!

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown was brought back to Broadway in 1999. Roger Bart as Snoopy, and Kristin Chenoweth as Sally Brown (replacing the character of Patty), received Tony awards for their performances. The musical was also nominated for, but did not receive, a Tony for best revival of a musical. New dialogue was provided by Michael Mayer and the additional songs, as well as new orchestration for several existing songs, were provided by Andrew Lippa.

1999 revival cast:

* Charlie Brown - Anthony Rapp
* Sally Brown - Kristin Chenoweth
* Lucy van Pelt - Ilana Levine
* Linus van Pelt - B.D. Wong
* Schroeder - Stanley Mathis
* Snoopy - Roger Bart

Favorite Songs:

"Beethoven Day"- Added for the revival production, this song is so much fun to listen to AND perform. My cast for the show really cranked on this song and executed the vocals and dance extremely well, ending with an explosive finale complete with confetti launchers!

"My New Philosophy"- Kristin Chenoweth is phenominal in this song! She plays the part well and the humor comes through even on the CD.

"Suppertime"- Another kickin' song! This one requires so much energy and coolness! Roger Bart cranks the vocals out so well, and still keeps that "doggy" growl in his voice.

"Happiness"- A very simple song, but a great one to show off smooth vocals. The cast gets one opportunity to just sing a song and make beautiful music. My cast always sang this song well! On our closing night, they brought me to tears as I watched them sing. It was a very sweet moment.

The orchestration on the CD is quite simple. In the actual live performances of the show, they added brass instruments, which puts a new twist on the music that I personally like better, but the CD is very well done none the less.

All together, this makes for a very nice listen.

Below is a video clip with the original cast performing at the Tony Awards. Enjoy! For pics from my production of the show, watch the slide show below!

Kristen Chenoweth at the Tony's- "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown"

Watch a great performance from the original cast of the show at the Tony Awards!

Show Review: Seussical

So, it's time for another review. My wife and I just recently saw "Seussical the Musical" performed in a small theater in Warsaw, Indiana. We went on a kind of "research" trip to gather ideas, info, and get a general feel for how the show runs. I was considering this show for our next school musical coming up in February and so I wanted to see in before I made my decision.

Please note that my review here is on the written work of the show, not based on any offical Broadway company performance. I was never able to see the show when it was in NYC or on tour (did it even go on tour?), so this was just a local community theater that really did a nice job with the show. It was performed in a "theater-in-the-round" setting, which I absolutely love! Very intimate and audience friendly environment.

So here are my thoughts on the show. I really loved it! The music has always been enjoyable ever since I bought the CD, but to see it fully played out with costumes, dance, and live theater, was such a treat. We also took my daughter and she REALLY loved it!

I liked the fact that there is room for many "smaller" characters in the grand scheme of the storytelling. Sure, you have main roles like The Cat in the Hat, JoJo, Horton the Elephant, and Gertrude McFuzz . . . but there are plenty of smaller roles that have some solo work and little bit parts of the story. The show incoroporates many of the Dr. Seuss stories that we all grew to love a kids. I really like how everything is connected to one, flowing storyline.

This show has great potential at our school and with our talent . . . so, I am pretty sure we will be gearing up for our own production of "Seussical the Musical" for February 2007. I am really excited about the set, costumes, colors, music, and comedy that we will be able to bring to the stage for our audience. So, very soon it will be full-speed ahead for Seussical!

By the way: A great big Yahoo! for the cast of Seussical at the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw, Indiana! You guys did a great job!

Album Review- Wicked

Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
16 December, 2003

Rating:



This recording is absolutely fabulous! When I first heard the music, I fell in love with it. This was not one of those shows that had to "grow" on me before I liked it. Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoworth are perfect for their roles. Joel Grey does a great job as the Wizard, and Carole Shelley played a perfectly wicked Madame Morrible. (Just a little side note, I recently saw Miss Shelley play her role of Madame Morrible again in the Chicago production.) I can't saw that I am completely impressed by Norber Leo Butz as Fiyero, personally I like Kristoffer Cusick better in that role (currently playing in Chicago). The ensemble cast is terrific in this recording and used very well.

Favorite Songs:

"The Wizard and I"- the song really communicates Elphaba's character and personality well. Idina delivers a powerful performance, but this song is much better live!

"What is This Feeling"- very funny song (especially if you have seen it performed live), but even on the recording it delivers the humor well. The girls sound great together.

"Popular"- love this song, but you have GOT to see this one live! It's so funny!

"Defying Gravity"- how can you NOT love this song? So powerful! I especially love Idina's ending. It has become the section to imitate among my students!

"No Good Deed"- THE most POWERFUL number in the entire show! This is the climax as Elphaba "accepts" her role of being "Wicked".

Again, I love all of the songs , these are just a few of my favorites! If you love broadway show albums, you HAVE to get this one!

Brand New Live Theater Blog!

Welcome to my new blog dedicated completely to live theater! Specifically musical theater and Broadway shows that I love. Here I will post my reviews of show I have seen and even photos from these special events. Also look for post from my own productions of musicals as I embark in my director "career". I hope you enjoy and always feel free to "post your thoughts" as we go along.