Time to Squeak Some Eeek!

After a couple of weeks of uneven rehearsal time, tonight, we'll finally have our first performance of "Eeek! A Mousical".  I must say that the entire experience has me excited AND scared!

It's always exciting to be a part of something new because it could become so many different things by the time you get to opening night.  You never really know how an audience will react to anything since no one has seen it.  None of the songs or jokes are considered a "guaranteed winner" until you hear people, other than the creative team, laughing or applauding them.  It's, kind of, cool to not know how people will respond.

Now the scary part would be that rehearsals have been less than productive, at times.  You see this production is a Showcase which means that there is very little to no pay involved for anyone.  It's basically a way to "audition" the show for the producers and industry people who see it.  This means the people, including myself,  have had to miss rehearsals to go to day jobs and try to get to rehearsal when they can.  We've never actually had everyone at a rehearsal yet.  It's hard to get down timing and choreography when you don't have everyone for the scene or song.

But in a way, I think by writing that, I just realized that it adds a bit to the excitement of the show.  Part of why live theater is so great is the unexpected that can and does happen during performances.  I really think we've got a great cast of people who know what they're doing and know how to "go on" if something messes up.  I also know that we're all going to make the most of it and have fun doing it.  Because, isn't that the most important thing?  We're doing what we love so, we may as well have a blast doing it.

We have one more rehearsal this afternoon (I think everyone will be there for that) and then, tonight's show is considered a preview.  Our opening is tomorrow so, if anyone is in NYC over the next two weekends and would like to see our little family show, check out the info here.  Tickets can also be purchased through TDF for people who are members there.  And as this is an Equity Showcase, AEA members get in free if there is room.

If you have some time, come see our show!  We have no idea how it's going to be.  Who knows?  It could be a hot mess or it could be the cutest little show you've seen in a while.  But one thing's for sure, we're all going to be having a good time doing our best to entertain you!

Until next time...

Gettin' The Word Out

Well, it seems as though the PR person for Eek! A Mousical is getting the word out.  Press releases for the show were picked up by both Playbill and BroadwayWorld.

I've never been listed on either of these sites so, it's pretty cool news!  They are two of the leading websites for theatre news, in the country.  A friend of mine said yesterday, "Work begets more work."  So, from her lips to God's ears someone will see this show and another door will open in my career.  We shall see.

Check out the links above to see the releases for the show and I hope this post finds everyone having a great day!

Until next time...

New Year, New Show

Well, it's 2011!  I hope everyone's new year got off to a great start.  I've decided for my first post, to tell a little about the first show I'll be doing this year.  The show is called Eek! A Mousical and it's a family musical update of the Aesop Fable "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse."  I'll be playing Brad, husband of the City Mouse.

It's been so long since I read it, I can't remember if the mice had families in the original story.  I suppose I should go back and read it, huh?  Anyway, the update has music and lyrics by John Stutte and a book and lyrics from Jack Dyville.  The show will be directed by John De Blass with choreography by Maria Zannieri.

I'm also excited because we have a great cast of people who are a part of it which includes my friend Toni L. Stanton who'll be playing my city mouse wife, Bara and, also, Donna Vivino who recently got finished playing Elphaba in the national tour of Wicked.  Both of them are great ladies and I look forward to working with them.

I think what has me most excited about the whole thing is that it's a musical.  I haven't had the chance to do one in about a year and a half when I did Gutter Star at FringeNYC.  Musicals are what I love to do most so I can't wait to get started with rehearsals.

Anyone who's around, in NYC, the weekends of Jan. 28th to 30th or Feb. 3rd to 5th can click on the show name above to learn more about the show and see if you might be interested.  Also if you'd like to learn more about F.A.C.T., the production company behind the show, click here.  They'll be working in association with Joria Productions to bring this showcase to the stage.

Hope to see you at one of the shows.  I'll keep you posted of what's going on at rehearsal.  I'm crossing my fingers that this is the start of several shows I'll be doing this year.

Until next time...

God's Love We Deliver

Recently, I just finished doing a showcase with the F.A.C.T. theatre company that I've been performing with for over a year.  It was a collection of short plays under the title of GAY-Licious: A GLBT Celebration of Six Short Plays.  My particular play was titled, The Memory Book.

As always, any chance to perform is great and the group has become a family of sorts with recognizable faces in every production.  Plus I think, this time around had our strongest collection of plays yet.

But I think the most important part of our showcase was that this time we chose to donate a portion of our ticket sales to the organization God's Love We Deliver.  GLWD provides individually-tailored meals to people who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves.

Since 1985, when one woman decided to deliver food on her bike to a friend who was dying of AIDS, they now cook 3,600 meals per day and deliver to all 5 boroughs of NYC and into New Jersey.  Their services are provided free of charges, regardless of a person's age or income, and they have NO waiting list.  They deliver food within 24-48 hours of first being contacted.

Today, I decided to take a break from my usual sarcasm and random posts to give the spotlight to people who are trying to help others have a better day.  Just a small reminder that regardless of how old we are, how much money we have, whether we're light or dark or if we like boys or girls, we're all humans and should treat each other with some sort of respect.  If people really thought about how they would feel to be on the receiving end of someone's disdain because of "differences", they might reconsider their own thoughts.

Anyway, for more info about GLWD, click here.  Or you could always check out what organizations in your community are working to help others.

Until next time...

Six Pack Review

Hey all!  For anyone who's interested, the Six Pack showcase that I did, a few weeks ago, was reviewed at Theatreonline.com.  You can check it out here.  Read on, if you wanna know my thoughts about it...

A Six Pack + 1

I'm doing a show!!  Since September, I've been a part of F.A.C.T. (Friends Always Creating Theatre) which is a non-profit group of playwrights, directors and actors.  The mission is to help in the creation and development of new works.  Well, the time has time has come for the end of our first season.  The culmination of this first year will be A Six Pack + 1, a collection of 7 short plays that we'll be performing May 21-23 at Joria Productions, 260 W. 36th St., 3rd floor (between 7th and 8th avenues).  Keep reading to get the info.  I hope you'll decide to join us!