Life in a suitcase

This past week makes me think of Judy Garland's song, "Born in a Trunk" from a "Star is Born," because I've been living out of my suitcase. Not only that, but I had 3 separate bags for 3 specific events.

One was for the closing show for JAWS the Musical, filled with my costume, props and gifts for the cast. We had a blast of a last show. Thanks to everyone who came and caught that wave! ;)

The 2nd bag was for a quick trip to PA to celebrate my father-on-law's 70th birthday. I had sent pictures to my sister-in-law for a slideshow of his life, and I tell ya, that was something to see! 70 years in pictures! Amazing! I hope I live so long! :)

The 3rd bag was filled with my "punk" gear for a sold out invite-only concert of the new pop musical, "How To Marry a Divorced Man."I played Glenda, a punk rocker juggling motherhood and trying to revive her career. It was incredibly fun! We performed at the National Arts Club in Gramercy Park, and I felt a little bit like Lisbeth Salander, walking around this very rich museum, dressed as a punk rocker.

At last I'm home again, very happy from my travels, looking forward to the next adventure! :)

Saying Good-bye to the Great White Shark

Tomorrow is our final performance of JAWS the Musical. This show has been such a blast to do this summer, so it seems fitting that the "beach" is closing right before the first day of Autumn.

We've received some great notices, and I hope we'll keep working on the show to take it to a full-length production. Right now, it's a 40 minute pop rock funfest that is leaving people asking for more!

Our last interview this year was conducted by Molly Equality Dykeman. She posted a hysterical interview with JAWS the Musical's writer, Wayne Henry, and I believe she'll be posting a cast interview soon.

Here were some of my silly answers:

Weirdest thing that happened backstage: When the staff at the comedy club took our "dressing room" apart while we were changing right after the show. The audience got a whole new view of the cast as they left the club.

Least favorite cast member and why: The severed leg. He just lays there! ;)

Any Showmances? The whole cast is a lovefest! I adore each and every one of them! Gonna miss them like crazy!

Do you have a fear of sharks? Ironically, YES! When I was a kid, I had a terrible fear of sharks. I still do! The JAWS theme would send me running from the room! Now it makes me run onstage!

What's it like to work with a real live shark? I love it! John Flynn makes me fall in love with his Great White every time! ;)

Best audience responses? I love when people say they want to see the show again! It's also a blast to share my big number, with them: "At Night He Swims Home To Me." It's a fabulous pop ballad with some big belty fireworks at the end, and I feel so thankful to get to sing that song. It is a thrill every time! And the audience is right with me! Feels like a rock concert!

This show has been a blast, and I will truly miss playing with our fabulously fun group! Hope to see you all next summer!

Busy Weeks Ahead!

I thought last week was busy with 2 shows, an audition for Educating Rita for Florida Rep, a voice over class and juggling work.

This week and next will be just as full! I've got a video game voice over class with Kim Graham at Judy Henderson Casting. SO MUCH FUN! I have to edit the clips before posting, but I've played everything from a sassy southern waitress to a perky tennis player and a hard-core German DJ named Helga. ;)

JAWS the Musical swims off into the sunset this Friday at 6:30 at the Broadway Comedy Club. While Amity Island closes up for the winter, we're hoping to expand this show's running time and horizons. I'm planning on recording my big power ballad from the show sometime this Fall / Winter.

Over the weekend, I'm celebrating my father-in-law's 70th birthday. I keep thinking of 70 years, ya know? Living one's life. He has great kids, amazing grandkids, and has helped to shape all our lives through his quiet strength and boisterous humor. I'm looking forward to celebrating with him!

Then on Monday, I play Glenda, an ex-punk rocker trying to revive her career while juggling motherhood in the new musical by Clare Cooper and Bryan D. Leys, "How to Marry a Divorced Man."

We're doing a private reading at The National Arts Club at 15 Gramercy Park South. If you'd like to inquire about seats, contact Tweiss Productions at tweissprods@aol.com. 

It's a very fun show about people looking for love. The music is an upbeat RnB rock 'n roll flavor with some delicious pop ballads. I get to do a "punk ballad" called "Work," which is a fast-paced rant about my ex-husband being a workaholic, and then I've got this groovy little number called, "I'm Not You," where my character compares herself to her ex's latest flame.

I have a blast playing Glenda, because I get to bring out my inner punk rocker, pink hair and all. I scoop it up into a faux hawk for the show, but the Katy Perry look works too. :)

2 more shows for JAWS the Musical

There are only 2 more shows for JAWS the Musical this month, and though I have a feeling we'll be back, I'm already missing the gang.

          
We did a promo for the show this past Monday at The PIT, and it was such a blast! Even on the fly, we seem to be able to perform anywhere, and I think that's a testament to how connected our cast is. True, most of these folks have been improvising together for years, but I feel like they took me in! :)

Clare Cooper is our rockin' musical director. She can play anything, any time, anywhere! She was even playing in the near-dark at The PIT, but she totally rocked the house! She's just amazing! And I'm delighted to get to play with her again in her own musical, "How To Marry a Divorced Man."

Brett Douglas plays my sweetheart Chad, and he steals every show, I swear! I get such a kick out of playing with him!

John Flynn plays the titular shark, and he is so incredibly talented! Such a great voice, and he just owns the stage! He moves as a shark, which means to say he is constantly in motion, because a shark can't stop swimming! As Byrne Harrison from StageBuzz.com wrote, "How do you make a shark funny and sympathetic?  Ask Flynn because he nailed it."

                            me, John Flynn, Wayne Henry, Jason Salmon, and Suzanne Stein

Wayne Henry, who wrote the book, music and lyrics for the show also plays Hooper, the Richard Dreyfuss role, and I just adore him! He wrote my big number, "At Night He Swims Home to Me," which every audience has just gone nuts for, and I am so thankful for the gift of that song! Such a treat!

Jason Salmon plays Chief Brody, and his dry humor cracks me up every time! Seriously, I think he could be the next Tim Allen! He's off to Vegas our last show (just booked a stand-up gig), so our director, Steven McElroy will be stepping in, and we're all looking forward to giving him a run for his money! ;)

      Suzanne Stein as Quint, Jason Salmon and Brody, and Wayne Henry as Hooper

Last but not least is the incomparable Suzanne Stein as the salty seadog, Quint. She is a mistress of disguise, morphing her face, body and voice into the role made famous by Robert Shaw. ;) People love her faces, and she does a tap-dance at one point that always brings down the house! Such a funny lady!

I love them all! Looking forward to diving into this show a few more times. Hope we continue to grow with it!

If you want to catch JAWS the Musical, we're at the Broadway Comedy Club
318 West 53rd Street bet. 8th and 9th Ave.
Final performances
Saturday, September 15th @ 5:30 pm
Friday, September 21st @ 6:30 pm

$10 tix (cash) at the door plus 1 drink minimum Email JawsTickets@gmail.com to reserve seats. Mention number in your party, performance date. Show runs @ 40 minutes.

Educating Rita

I got a call to audition for the title character in "Educating Rita" for Florida Rep, and it's been such a pleasure to revisit this character. I've played Rita before in CA at The Palace West Playhouse and won the Inland Theatre League Award. That was a lovely production, and I'm excited to see how tomorrow's audition goes, to see if I'm on the same page with this company's vision of the play. Of course, I can only control my portrayal of this character, and I have to thank my acting coaches for their reminders about that. As Tim Phillips says in "Audition for Your Career," auditions become much more satisfying when you look at it like, "Look who I get to play today!"

Willy Russell has crafted such a great play about a young woman trying to discover herself through higher learning. To get to play Rita for tomorrow's audition is a treat!

I've reacquainted meself with the Liverpudlian accent, getting the music of it. There's a great documentary on the Scouse accent on YouTube. And of course, Julie Walters and Michael Caine are sublime in the film version. If you're interested, check it out!

Ta!