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

The King and I Review

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

On December 30, 2017, I saw a performance of The King and I starring Laura Michelle Kelly as Anna Leonowens and Jose Llana as The King of Siam. This show blew me away. I went in knowing only a few songs and the others really surprised me, but let’s get to the review!

The King and I tells the story of a widowed English schoolteacher (Laura Michelle Kelly) who, along with her young son Louis (Rhyees Stump) travel to Siam to teach The King’s (Jose Llana) many children, but Anna and The King form a tedious relationship.

To begin—Laura Michelle Kelly’s performance in this show is outstanding. It’s honest and kind and I think everyone could find something to love about it. Her voice is also GORGEOUS! Her rendition of Hello Young

Lovers is so beautiful and it touched my heart. She and Jose Llana had great chemistry! The audience could really tell that they enjoyed performing together and seeing them together was unlike any performance I’ve ever seen.

The show itself blew me away as well. The orchestrations and the choreography were huge stand outs. The book is incredible. There were so many American jokes that I, and the rest of the audience were near crying due to how funny they were, and Jose had great comedic timing and really used his jokes to the fullest. The music in this show is absolutely gorgeous, every song was so ravigant and the music is EXQUISITE. I fell in love with every character and I didn’t want the show to end.

There is not a bad thing to say about this show, it was phenomenal! I give it 5 stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Thank you so much for reading, keep conquering the stage!

~ Evan

RENT Live Dream Cast

Hello everyone, it’s Evan and I’ve returned with another blog post for you all, this one being my dream casting for FOX’s 2019 live musical event, RENT! I hope you all enjoy!

As many of you know, FOX and NBC have been broadcasting live productions of musicals such as The Sound of Music, The Wiz, Hairspray, and Grease. I love

these productions because they 
incorporate Broadway stars and mainstream artists which is a great way to get new audiences into musical theatre. I hope you’ll enjoy my dream cast of RENT. 

Ben Platt as Mark

I along with many other people, would love to see Ben’s take as Mark Cohen. I think he has the PERFECT voice and he clearly has the acting chops. Ben’s father is producing this event, so it would be super cool to see them work on a project together. He recently won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance as Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen. Ben has also appeared in The Book of Mormon and Pitch Perfect.


Brendon Urie as Roger

Over the past several months, I’ve become a big Panic! at the Disco fan and I love Brendon Urie’s voice, and I think he would be a great fit for Roger! Brendon made his Broadway debut this summer as Charlie Price in Kinky Boots and he gathered rave reviews. I think he would be a brilliant fit for Roger because I think his voice fits the character, and I feel as if Roger himself, would listen to Panic! at the Disco. 

Camila Mendes as Mimi

I think Camila Mendes would be a great pick for Mimi because she can not only act, but she’s proven on multiple occasions that she can sing, and I think her voice is extremely fitting for Mimi. Camila is currently playing Veronica Lodge on Riverdale and I think her character is very similar to Mimi, mostly due to their attitude and their demanding flair. Camila has actually sung Out Tonight on Riverdale and I thought it was a brilliant performance.

Todrick Hall as Angel

I think Todrick would be a great Angel! He has lots of musical theatre experience, and he has a FANTASTIC voice. He recently appeared as Lola in Kinky Boots and he is currently starring as Billy Flynn in Chicago. He has also appeared in numerous shows at community and regional theatres. Todrick has lots of experience with drag, which is crucial to a role like Angel, so I think he would be a great choice!

Amber Riley as Joanne

I think Amber Riley would be a GREAT choice for Joanne because, she's a radiant performer, and I think her voice is perfect for the role. She showcased her stellar voice on Glee and she recently won an Olivier Award for her performance as Effie White in Dreamgirls. She and Lea Michele have even performed Take Me or Leave Me on Glee!

Lea Michele as Maureen

I think that Lea Michele would be a PHENOMENAL Maureen. She is a brilliant performer and she has a gorgeous voice. She has lots of musical theatre credits such as Les Miserables and Spring Awakening. She is best known for her performance on Glee as Rachel Berry, where she has sung many showtunes, including Take Me or Leave Me!

Post your RENT Live dream cast in the comment box below. Happy Holidays everyone! Thank you so much for reading, keep conquering the stage.

~ Evan

Appreciate your crew!

Hello everyone! It’s Evan and I’ve returned with another blog post for you all. This one is about the magical people who help bring shows to life, THE CREW!

The crew plays an essential role in bringing shows to life. They do extraordinary things like creating set pieces, designing costumes, timing sound effects, making sure actors get into costumes in a limited amount of time and so much more behind the curtain. I PERSONALLY think crew members don't get enough recognition. I think that they have an incredibly hard job and they are a prime part of how shows get to the stage. I was watching videos on YouTube and it

really struck me how important crew members are. At the 2015 Tony Awards, the cast of The King and I performed a medley of Getting to Know You, Something Wonderful, and Shall We Dance. Kelli O'Hara has a quick change in which she had to change from her schoolteacher outfit to her grand ballroom out. This video showed how the costume crew quickly helped Kelli into her second costume and I was stunned. Kelli couldn't have done this by herself and it hit me that while actors and actresses put on a great performance, they couldn't do it without the crew members. So, to any crew members reading this, thank you so much. We actors couldn't do it without you.

I hope you got to learn about what happens behind the curtain. Thank you so much for reading, keep conquering the stage! 

~ Evan