Diversity & Representation Onstage

I've wanted to talk about this for the longest time because I feel as if there's so much I have to say and there's so much that should be said. In terms of diversity, Broadway as a whole, has been doing a lot better in terms of, color-blind casting and healthy representation, than they were 10 years ago. For example- Joshua Henry, a black actor, played Billy Bigelow, a role that's traditionally played by white men, in the recent 2018 revival of Carousel. In 2016, a Broadway production of Spring Awakening was produced that incorporated deaf and hearing-impaired actors. Both of those things NEVER would have happened 10 years ago. The past few seasons have been much more inclusive and have made so many able people to see themselves in the characters that are onstage. Everybody's Talking About Jamie, The Prom, Head Over Heels, Spring Awakening, Once On This Island, and Choir Boy have been great examples of such. Those examples have brought showcase to things like LGBTQ+ representation, representation for diasbled people, and black representation, which is AMAZING, so many people are being able to see people like them in a mainstream platform. But does that mean we're done in terms of building healthy representation onstage, no. There's still so much work to be done, and I'm going to build on that.
Broadway has for the most part, been a business that has been predominantly white. As a matter of fact, according to The Broadway League, 75% of 2017/18 season ticket-buyers were caucasian, making the last quarter made of people of color. In my own opinion, that's growth! But, something to be noted is that several shows in recent years that have showcased representation haven't lasted as long as shows with able-bodied and mostly/all white cast members. To elaboarate, a season usually has around 35-45 shows in it, meaning there should be a show for everyone, right? Unfortunately, that's not always the case. There are so many talented and amazing performers of color who wish to be able to tell their stories onstage and half of the time, they can't! People would much rather see a white actor telling a story and it's so unbelievably frustrating. Tons of people are denied visibility and representation, and if anything, it's what the world needs now. WE need to see people of color in storytelling, we NEED to see disabled people in storytelling and we NEED to see people of different sizes in storytelling. I'm going to be completely honest, some of my all-time favorite shows have had white, able-bodied, and slim casts and it's okay, but there could have been some MAJOR creative differences in them. Does being a minority give you bonus points in being cast in things, no, but it should be taken into consideration that diversity is VERY important, and it's uplifting and inspiring to so many people. But there's some EXCELLENT news! Diversity and representation continues to grow every day in the theater and baby steps are being took. 10 of the 22 cast members of the upcoming Kiss Me, Kate! revival are men and women of color. That's alright! Exercise your right to support representation in the theater. I've included a list of organizations and shows that do so as well, so give them all of your support and attention, it's SO needed! 

- Evan

- Deaf West
- The Prom
- Broadway Black
- Choir Boy (closes March 10)
- Kinky Boots (closes April 7)
- The Band's Visit
- Kiss Me, Kate! (closes June 2)

Belmont Avenuuuuuuuuue

Hey all! I apologize for the lack of content within the past few months, but my goal for the new year is to try and blog waaaay more than I did last year, and hopefully I can, because I'll most definitely be seeing lots of theatre this year! 

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a performance of A Bronx Tale (and I scored front row for $25!!) at the Winspear Opera House on January 5, 2018. I wanted to talk about my thoughts, so let's

jump right in! A Bronx Tale tells the story of a young man named Calogero (Joey Barriero), who's growing up in the Bronx during a time when racial division was much more prominent than it is now, and he's torn between a relationship with his father, Lorenzo (Richard H. Blake), and a mentorship with a local mob boss, Sonny (Joe Barbara). I thought the performances in this show were great! Every cast member had so much personality and I think that personality, in fact, is a great word to use when describing this show; that's just what it is! I was generally impressed by everybody's work and it was very evident that everyone was having the time of their life onstage. I went into the show knowing only the names of the characters, and that there was supposedly, a big twist-- that's it! Overall, the show was enjoyable for me. I think that what I saw was great, but it's what I didn't see that made the show lack some power.  If you're unaware of A Bronx Tale, Calogero falls in love with a young black woman named Jane (Brianna-Marie Bell) and due to the racial climate, the romance between them isn't received positively. The way their romance was set up was essentially like: Boy meets girl-they meet up-problem occurs-love rekindles-they can't be together. It wasn't very believable that their relationship was already on its feet by the second time that they'd met and their story was a little bit of a cliché. I think their story was rushed and that there wasn't enough put into the book to make it feel full and rewarding, and I could say the same for another thing in the show. SPOILER ALERT! At the top of the show, a young Calogero sees Sonny kill a man and passes the opportunity to turn Sonny in to the police, sparking their friendship. The whole debacle is forgotten throughout the show and it doesn't come back until near the end. As Calogero goes to meet Sonny at a party at the town bar, Sonny is shot and killed by get this- the man Sonny killed at the top of the show's son. I, myself, wasn't even shocked, and I was front row! I feel like there should have been more in the book to make the show stronger and that was a very prominent weak link! I did enjoy the music, I must say! There were several songs that I was humming on my way out and I thought that what the show had was very strong and there were several funny and genuine moments. If I had to rate the show, I would give it a 3/5 because of how short the show was and the wasted potential. But as I previously stated, I enjoyed it and I would be glad to see it again. If you're interested in checking out A Bronx Tale, check out their website.

Thanks for reading. Peace & Love.

- Evan

A Discussion on Carousel

On August 3, I got to attend a performance of Carousel on Broadway and I’ve never been to a show that was as thought provoking as this one. I’m gonna go ahead and start with the performances that were put on during the show.

First, Joshua Henry. I went in knowing that he was going to be phenomenal but I was really taken by surprise with how AMAZING he really was. I was familiar with Carousel before, but this was my first time seeing a live production and he is the DEFINITE Billy Bigelow. There were so many moments where I actually sympathized for the character and where I could really understand his motives even though they weren’t the best. He did such a great job with letting the audience know how he felt, and why he didn’t always go with his feelings anyways. His Soliloquy was most definitely his best highlight and I’m still in shock that he didn’t win a Tony Award this year, he was just THAT good.

—

Jessie Mueller and Joshua Henry

Next, Jessie Mueller. I knew that Jessie was a star before, but I was really concerned with what this role would give her, since it isn’t as big of a role as the ones that she’s previously played. She was breathtaking. Julie Jordan is usually just played off as “the girl next door” to many people familiar with the show, but her performance made her come across as so much more. It was so easy to see why she stayed with Billy even when he was wrong to her. There were some moments in her acting where even just one of her facial expressions could have worked for the scene, even without any song or dialogue, she’s just THAT amazing, and I was really shocked, yet happy, with what she did with the role and made it more than how it’s typically portrayed. 

Lindsay Mendez STOLE THE WHOLE SHOW! From the moment she sang Mister Snow, I could tell why she won a well deserved Tony this year. Carrie Pipperidge, compared to the rest of the characters, is probably the only one who knows what’s for the best, and does what’s for the best. Lindsay was most definitely 

Lindsay Mendez

the funniest in the show. In all of her scenes, she was just able to make you empathize and laugh with her. She was so brilliant and it was very interesting to hear her sing classical soprano in a role I never would have guessed she would play, but she did a great job.

Renée Fleming was enjoyable. There wasn’t a lot for her to do with the role of Nettie, but I think she did a fine job. I was impressed with her songs and with her scenes, but I wish that there was more for her to do in the show. She used what she could could and did the most with it, which was good. I will say that her relationships were very clear and that she was essentially, a mother to everyone who worked at her spa which I thought was nice.

Now, the production as a whole, I thought was great! I will admit, it was very unclear what Billy’s motives were before he met Julie, and I wish that there was more to the book of the show, but I guess it was fine. There were several moments where the motives of the characters were unclear and I’m not too sure on whether it’s a direction issue or an issue with the book. I will say that the choreography was STUNNING! Ive never seen so many emotions radiate off of a stage just from dance, but Justin Peck did a great job of making sure that his

The ensemble of Carousel

dance incorporated storytelling and emotion, it was just really amazing. I also really enjoyed the set! It wasn’t too glamorous and pretty, but what they had worked and it was really nice to look at— ESPECIALLY THE STARS AND THE MOON! The score and the orchestra are both so lavish and beautiful! I knew the music beforehand, but hearing it live is one of a kind, it’s so pretty! Overall, I’d give the production 4 stars.. I thought it was done perfectly with the exceptions of some wrong direction at some points. I’d recommend seeing the show at the Imperial Theater before it closes on September 16!

SPOILER AND TRIGGER WARNING (SUICIDE), I RECOMMEND READING FORWARD ONLY IF YOU’RE FAMILIAR WITH THE SHOW OR IF YOU’RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE MATERIAL!

When this revival was announced, lots of controversy began to stir because of the show’s themes and some of the topics. It’s known that Billy hits Julie and I think that’s one of the disturbing elements of the show. When Billy kills himself, and leaves pregnant Julie alone to raise their daughter, it really left me thinking that what he did wasn’t worth it. He caused Julie a lot of distress, and while he wanted to get money for their future child, there were better ways to do so rather than robbing someone. A lot of people think that Billy owed Julie and their daughter, Louise, an apology and I think that he already gave her one.

When Billy was offered to go down to Earth to view what his daughter’s life is like, he then truly regretted his actions and what his reputation was, and how people stamped that on Louise. When he saw how he treated Julie and how he made her feel, that’s when he knew he was wrong and that he was sorry. I’m in now way excusing abuse, but I understand Billy’s intentions. So, by the end of the show, I truly understood why people say that it’s a big story of redemption.

2018 TONY AWARDS PREDICTIONS

Hello everyone! It's Evan, and I've returned with another blog post for you all! It's Tony Season you guys, and I'm especially pumped this year, so I wanted to share my predictions for who I think will be taking home a trophy this year. Note: I haven't seen any of these shows live, so all of my predictions will be based on background knowledge, reviews, and my own opinions. Another thing to add is that I can't include all descriptions for all of the categories because I don't know enough about them to have a strong opinion. Hope you enjoy!

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

I think this award will be going to Joshua Henry this year. Billy Bigelow is one of the most demanding male roles ever written for musical theatre, and I've heard that what he does with the role is extraordinary and that his performance of Soliloquy steals the entire show and brings down the house.

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

I think this award will be going to Lauren Ambrose or Katrina Lenk. I say Lauren Ambrose because I've heard marvelous things about her performance as Eliza Doolittle and I’ve heard that the role really showcases her singing abilities. I say Katrina Lenk as well because I’ve heard that her performance as Dina in The Band’s Visit is phenomenal and I loved her on the cast album.

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

I really think Gavin Lee or Norbert Leo Butz will be getting this award. He takes the character of Squidward and makes him as animated as he is on TV. He absolutely steals the show with his tap number, I’m Not a Loser, and he stays true to his character, while also being new and keeping it original. I’ve heard that Norbert is PHENOMENAL as Alfred P. Doolittle and that his performance of Get Me to the Church on Time is one of My Fair Lady’s highlights.

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

I’m almost sure that Lindsay Mendez will be taking this award home. I’ve heard that her performance as Carrie Pipperidge is completely original and that she adds lots of humor and creativity to it, plus, she’s in a completely new musical atmosphere. She’s singing soprano which is something that she typically doesn’t do. 

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Andrew Garfield is amazing as Prior Walter. I’ve watched the professionally-filmed West End production of this show and I can’t comprehend how phenomenal he was. Plus, he’s received many accolades and awards for his performance, so I really think that says something about his performance.

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Glenda Jackson

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

I think that Nathan Lane or Anthony Boyle will be winning this award. Nathan Lane, because his performance as Roy Cohn in Angels in America is moving and heart-wrenching all at the same time. Anthony Boyle, because he had the challenge of making one of the most beloved book characters, Scorpius Malfoy, be original, unique, and true onstage all at the same time, and he succeeds.

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Laurie Metcalf

BEST NEW MUSICAL

I’ve fallen in love with the cast recording of The Band’s Visit because it’s so unique and original and it’s not typically something heard on Broadway before, plus I’ve heard that the book, the cast, and the direction of the show are all amazing, so I think that this musical will be taking home Best Musical.

BEST NEW PLAY

This is, without a doubt, going to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I’ve read the script and I LOVED it and plus, the show got amazing accolades in the West End and on Broadway as well, so I think that this show will be winning Best Play.

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

I can’t decide between Carousel or My Fair Lady. Carousel, while having had mixed reviews, is one of the most timeless musicals ever written and people really seem to love having it back on Broadway, especially with a star-studded cast. My Fair Lady has gotten exceptional reviews and I’ve heard nothing but positivity from people who have seen the show, so I wouldn’t be too surprised if it won.

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY

I think that Angels in America will be getting this award. The revival of this show was directed perfectly and everyone in the cast is putting on exceptional performances, plus the story is necessary, ESPECIALLY now.

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL

I think that Tina Fey will be winning this award. Her work on Mean Girls is amazing! She had the very hard job of making all of the characters seem likable without going in to being overly-suggestive of the stereotypes that the characters could come across as.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

I think that all of the music artists who wrote songs for SpongeBob SquarePants will be winning this award. They all managed to write a song based on their own style of music and when it’s all put together, it creates a musically diverse show and it works perfectly.

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

I think David Zinn will win this award. The set of SpongeBob SquarePants is so immersive, colorful, and unique and it truly makes it feel as if you’re in an episode of SpongeBob. David did an incredible job with the set and that’s why I think he’ll be taking home this award.

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY

Christine Jones

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

I think David Zinn will also be taking home this award. He had the challenge of making iconic cartoon characters look creative, recognizable, and unique onstage and with the costumes he created for SpongeBob SquarePants are all of those things.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY

Katrina Lindsay

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY OF A MUSICAL

I think that Justin Peck will be taking home this award. The choreography he created for Carousel is STUNNING and GORGEOUS and can manage to tell a story with no dialogue needed. It works so well with the story and it fits perfectly with the music.

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

I can’t decide between Tina Landau or Michael Arden. What Tina does with SpongeBob is so imaginative and creative, the way she helped with envisioning is amazing. I also say Michael because he directs Once on this Island with so much creativity and it really gets highlighted in the show. 

I hope you all watch Tony Sunday, I’m really excited to see Sara Bareilles host!! Thank you so much for reading, keep conquering the stage!

~ Evan

GET ON YOUR FEET!

Hello everyone! It’s Evan, and I’ve returned with another blog post for you all, this one being a review of On Your Feet!

On March 9, 2018, I saw On Your Feet and I absolutely loved it! The official synopsis is, "From their humble beginnings in Cuba, Emilio and Gloria Estefan came to Miami and broke through all barriers to become a crossover sensation at the very top of the pop music world. But just when they thought they had it all, they almost lost everything. ON YOUR FEET! takes you behind the music and inside the real story of this record-making and groundbreaking couple who, in the face of adversity, found a way to end up on their feet."
I thought this show was brilliant. I didn't know much about it and I wasn't too familiar with the music. I saw Claudia Yunez as Gloria and wow, she is understudy power at it's best! Mauricio Martinez is a STAR! He OWNED the stage in every scene he was in and I really wish I could've said more to him at the stage door. I feel as if I don't have much to compliment about the show because it was very.. ordinary (the GOOD ordinary) but there was one thing that kind of threw me off— the ending. I felt as if it was too abrupt and that it was like, “Gloria got better and she’s a star. Show’s over.” I think that if there was a wrap up, it would’ve been much better but just... the ending was just too abrupt.

Overall, I really enjoyed the show. I’d give it 3 stars out of 5. Thank you so much for reading, keep conquering the stage!

~ Evan

Into the Woods Dreamcast!

Hello everyone!! It's Evan and I've returned with a new blog post for you all! I'm sorry for the lack of activity, I'll try my best to get some new posts and things added here! This blog post is going to be a dream casting of Into the Woods. I would absolutely love it if this show would get a revival, so I'm going to share my picks for characters with you all!

ROB McCLURE AS THE BAKER

If there's anyone that would be a BRILLIANT Baker, it's Rob McClure. I ABSOLUTELY love his personality and his acting really reflects that. I got to see him as Nick in Something Rotten and the first thing that went through my head after the show was "Wow, he would be a great Baker!" His quirkiness and wits really fit the role and I'd be very interested to see what he does with it!

ABBY MUELLER AS THE BAKER'S WIFE

ABBY MUELLER IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MUSICAL THEATRE ACTRESSES EVER!! She can sing like CRAZY and she gives very moving performances. Her performance as Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is phenomenal and powerful and I would love to see her in a more quirky role like The Baker's Wife. Im imagining her doing some of the scenes and they're bringing me such joy because I think she could bring lots of great things to the role!

STEPHANIE J. BLOCK OR ANNALEIGH ASHFORD AS THE WITCH

I had two choices for The Witch and I couldn't pick one over the other so I just picked both! I think Stephanie would be a great Witch because she can belt like crazy and she can grasp the audience and make them her own. I loved her in shows like Falsettos, and 9 to 5 and I think she would be a stellar Witch. I picked Annaleigh would be a great Witch because she has great comedic timing and she can belt like crazy! I think she would absolutely DOMINATE this role.

TAYLOR TRENSCH AS JACK

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO SEE TAYLOR AS JACK!! Most of the characters that he plays are in their teenage years, so it wouldn't be anything new for him. I think he could bring his charm and grace to the role and I would love to hear him sing Giants in the Sky. Taylor is one of my favorite young actors and I really think he could bring lots of things to the role. PLUS, he did readings for the movie adaptation.

LINDSAY MENDEZ AS CINDERELLA

Lindsay Mendez would be a BRILLIANT Cinderella! She's very good at playing quirky and complex roles, so I think this would be a piece of cake for her! She's currently playing Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel and I see many similarities between her and Cinderella. There are so many things that I can't out into words but trust me when I say that Lindsay could bring tons of humor to the role.

DELANEY WESTFALL AS RAPUNZEL

Delaney Westfall is extremely talented and in my opinion, there's nobody more suitable for the role than her. She has a gorgeous soprano, she has the look, and she has the acting chops! Delaney appeared as Lauren in Kinky Boots, and she's currently starring as Joanna in Sweeney Todd. She would ABSOLUTELY be a stunning Rapunzel.

JOSHUA HENRY OR EVAN TODD AS THE WOLF/PRINCE CHARMING

Again, I couldn't decide on just one person for these roles, so I picked 2 people! I think Joshua Henry would be great because he can play a variety of different characters and his tenor range is perfect for these characters! I picked Evan Todd because I can really visualize him in these roles. He has the look for both The Wolf and Prince Charming and I really think he would REALLY dominate their songs!

DREW GEHLING AS RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE

OK, DREW GEHLING IS THE MAN! He can absolutely make any role his own and he has FANTASTIC comedic timing, and his voice is like butter— SO GOOD! I think he would be a fantastic RAPUNZEL'S Prince. He and Evan Todd look like brothers, which is perfect, AND I would love to hear him sing Agony. Even though it seems like he'll never stop playing Dr. Pomatter in Waitress, I would love to see him in a new show and I think Into the Woods is perfect for him.

JOHN BOLTON AS THE NARRATOR/MYSTERIOUS MAN

I think that John Bolton would be a perfect choice for these parts because he has both a neutral, more calm side and also a quirky more mischievous side to him as well. He has the capability to keep a story rolling and he also has the power to make everyone fall in love with his personality.

Thank you so much for reading! It would mean the absolute world to me if you could sign up for e-mail alerts and also fill out the online feedback form! Keep conquering the stage!

~ Evan

Something Rotten! Review

Hello everyone! It’s Evan, and I’ve returned with another blog post for you all. THE FIRST ONE OF 2018, WOO-HOO! This blog post being a review of Something Rotten!

On January 20, 2018, I saw a matinee of Something Rotten! with Rob McClure, Josh Grisetti, and Adam Pascal. It was my first time getting student rush tickets, I’m definitely doing it again.

I absolutely loved the show! I thought the book was incredible and so hilarious and the score was as well. I think the entire cast did a phenomenal job and I’d like to give praise to some of the stand outs. Josh Grisetti was AMAZING as Nigel Bottom. He had great comedic timing and he had great chemistry with Autumn Hulbert, who played his love interest, Portia. She had a gorgeous voice and I enjoyed watching her perform. Rob McClure played Nick Bottom and he was absolutely perfect. He was very wacky, but also very reserved and I think that it worked very well. Adam Pascal played Will Shakespeare and I thought he was brilliant!! He brought sassiness and confidence to Will and his songs were huge stand-outs. One song I really enjoyed was A Musical. There were so many references to some of my favorite musicals and the dance breaks were incredible. It received a well-deserved standing ovation. The show itself was extremely funny. It had so many scenes were they had the stop the show so the audience could continue laughing and I really enjoyed myself there. 

Overall, I’d give the show 4 stars. I did find the plot to be a bit chiché, but it was done in a good and creative way. I highly recommend Something Rotten!

I really hope you enjoyed this review. Thank you so much for reading, keep conquering the stage!

~ Evan