STAGE WHISPERS

A theater blog by Staten Island Advance's Lisa Ann Williamson

Nikki Lauren wanted to send a special thank you to the men and women of the FDNY and NYPD.

And what better way for the actress, former Theater director and now Community Outreach Coordinator for the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden's Performing Arts Department than to invite them to a show.
Not just an invitation, but a 10-percent discount on tickets to Frank McCourt's "The Irish and How They Got That Way" which opens Friday and runs two weekends through Oct.12.
"Come and celebrate Irish culture, music and storytelling with this funny and enlightening musical about "all things Irish," Lauren wrote in a letter to the respective departments.
Special codes are available through websites of the fire and police departments.
Tickets that are $25 for general admission are now $22.50 for the bravest and finest.
Frank McCourt, former creative writing teacher on the Island and Pultizer Prize winner for his work "Angela's Ashes" writes about what he knows best - his heritage. Born in Brooklyn, his parents returned to Ireland when jobs dried up in America.
"This boisterous and touching musical celebration features some of the best Irish music and stories ever to be heard on this side of the Atlantic," Lauren continued.
If you make your living serving and protecting and saving lives in the police and firec departments, call the box office at 718 815-SNUG (7684) to recieve your discount and head to the Veterans Memorial Hall Playhouse, 1000 Richmond Terr.
Remember to get your discount codes first.

The buzz through the day on Thursday was that a special guest might be in the audience for Wagner College's Stage One production of "As Bees in Honey Drown."

And not just any guest, but someone who knows the show better than anyone. Douglas Carter Beane, playwright, was indeed in the house at show time and stayed afterward to chat with students and answer questions as part of the talk-back series.
Beane, whose first sceenplay was "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" has enjoyed lots of success, including writing the book to the Broadway musical "Xanadu" based on the 1980 movie, now set to close on Sunday.
After Thursday night's performance, Beane was warm and honest with student who tossed question after question about his inspirations, writing schedule and future projects.
He started his theater career as an actor, Beane told the group of roughly 50 students. After studying at American Music and Dramatic Academy, he looked for acting jobs. When there were none, he started writing three-page shorts so that he and friends could perform them on weekends.
"I discovered I really like writing," he said.
Meanwhile he was a nanny and then a doorman and worked at Drama Bookshop in Manhattan while waiting for the writing to take off.
"Write what you see around you," he told students who asked what advice he'd give to aspiring writers.
His works tend to be inspired by people he knew or saw at cocktail parties or met through friends, Beane told students. His play "The Little Dog Laughed" was nominated for a Tony Award.
"As Bees in Honey Drown" was an Off-Broadway hit in 1997.
Now he continues to write 2-3 hours a day while balancing the other aspects of casting, negotiating movie deals, working on a new musical and mounting another production in Manhattan.
"Now writing is a joyous experience," Beane said. "In all art there comes a time when you fall in love with the process."

There will be no more balloons for Katie Micha.
Well, that is unless she really wants them.

But when Micha was cast last year in the Broadway musical, "Gypsy" with Patti Lupone, she came onstage as the cute Balloon Girl wearing a dress of red, silver and gold balloons. She was also slated to win Uncle Jocko's talent competition until Mama Rose came on the scene to pop her balloon -- literally.
This month, Micha, a former Islander, frequent community theater performer and granddaughter of Karen O'Donnell and Mickey Tennenbaum, got a stage promotion.
She signed a contract to play Baby Louise -- the more innocent and younger version of Gypsy Rose Lee before the clothing removal circuit. Katie also will go on as Baby June, if needed.
This marks the first Broadway principal role for the 13-year-old.
"We are very excited for her," said O'Donnell who shares car service and supervision duties with Micha's mom, Denise Johnson, grandpa Louie Guinta, his wife, Cindy during her eight performances a week.
So now if you go to the St. James Theatre you will see Micha as one of the newsboys to Baby June's "May we Entertain You." This role allows her not only more stage time, but some singing and dancing to boot.
She's becoming a regular on Broadway, having survived two stints of "The Grinch" on Broadway.
There may be something about the St. James Theatre for Micha. Last year, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" played there before it was interrupted by the strike.
Now it's onto "Gypsy," sharing the stage with Patti Lupone, who plays her stage mother. The show is accompanied by the greatest orchestra I've heard in a long while, full with violins, violas, cellos and bass, woodwinds, brass, a harp, keyboard, drums and percussion.

Already the news is circulating and no doubt causing some sadness.
Xanadu is indeed ending its run on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Oct.12.
.

It's had a very respectable run. And consider it all started with a movie that many have called a flop - though we have some memorable songs that have endured.
The show even drew four Tony award nominations, including best musical, best actress in a musical for its star Kerry Butler and best book by Douglas Carter Beane.
So far, Broadway Xanadu had 49 preview performances and 496 regular performances (as of Sept. 14). By closing, that will be 586 performances since opening night on July 10, 2007.
There is still time to get tickets.
And for all the fans of the 1980-inspired roller-skating Greek muse-infused tale of artistic inspiration and love, Xanadu is not over.
Xanadu will joins the ranks of "A Chorus Line," "Jersey Boys," Legally Blonde, Spamalot and many others on a national road tour.
In May, producers announced plans to launch the tour at the La Jolla Playhouse in California on Nov. 11 and then head to Chicago in January for a six-month engagement.
The official website is www.xanaduonbroadway.com

Nikki Lauren couldn't let the occasion of Octoberfest go by without some theatrical fanfare.
So she invited writers to pen comic sketches with small casts and centered around beer or bars for an event called "Oktober-Jest" to kick off the month of fun and bubbly at Killmeyers Old Bavarian Inn, 4256 Arthur Kill Road, tomorrow night starting at 7:30 p.m.

Four authors won the submission bids from a pool of about 15. So you can see and hear the work of Islanders Fay Coronotis, Joe Daly, Larry Schwabacher plus Bricken Sparacino, who does not reside on the Island but is loved just the same.
"It's more about the writing this time around," said Lauren who has performed murder mysteries with her company Kill-Her Entertainment at Killmeyers for two years. "We're having fun with the acting and there is a whole night of stuff."
Stuff like firkin and the band, The Wahoo Skiffle Crazies.
It's all free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Lauren said she's happy to take the divergence to celebrate the opening of the first barrel -- the firkin -- being flown in this year from Munich's Hofbrau brewery.
Likely the evening will include a sketch or two and music and more sketches, Lauren will also resurrect the old vaudeville Adam and Eve sketch made famous by Fannie Brice.
Other actors volunteering their time and talent include Rina Sklar , Jenny Kelly, Charlie McLaughlin, James Cunningham, Joe Daly, Christine Reinhart and Rita Rampula.
And the festivities will continue through Halloween for Oktober-Jest said Killmeyers owner, Ken Tirado.

The cabaret scene is expanding.
We've got a beautiful space at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lorenzo's Restaurant Bar and Cabaret in Bloomfield. And what musician would not want to play on the beautiful Steinway grand piano.
Perhaps you thought Lorenzo's was reserved for the big-name talents like Joe Piscopo, Lenny Starwood and Dominic Chianese but increasingly, local folks are taking the stage.

The space seats 220 or so with the expanded dining room, but the primary area can comfortably seat about 80 for supper, drinks and a show.
That's about how many were in the house this past Sunday when Jenny Kelly and Tina Barone presented "Pounding the Pavement" their original roughly 40-minute musical revue about two women with a little more meat around the hips and their adventures in seeking the roles of a lifetime. They sang songs from "Wicked," "Chess," "Gypsy" and "Jekyll and Hyde" among others.
Many guests were friends and family, though some were hotel guests stopping by for dinner and got an added bonus.
And Aug. 10, John Gatti and his crew (GKP) are headed to the stage to do a 70-minute cabaret version of their "It's My Party" which they presented this spring.
The original two-hour version of 1950s and '60s music, including about 30 hit songs with a tribute to American Bandstand, doo-wop and Broadway music. Gatti had been inspired by some of his favorite singers like Patti Page, Eddie Fisher, Martha Reeves, Dionne Warwick and Jerry Lee Lewis.
But Gatti found the show could be condensed and be mobile.
Aug. 1 the crew is doing a benefit performance for the Alzheimer's Foundation at 789 Post Ave. Call 718-667-7110 for reservations.
This crew will include three new cast members and some new songs.
To make reservations for Lorenzo's Cabaret, call 718-477-2400 ext. 3222. There is $15 food and drink minimum and no charge for the performance.
Doesn't it make you want to create a show of your own to perform at Lorenzo's?

I love winding roads and rolling hills. Mt. Manresa has both - and they have theater.
The Subset Players are using part of the space as a theater for its current production of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" with the final performance tonight. They come back with a "Musical of Musicals (the musical)" next month.
Tonight's (July 20) 7 p.m. performance is full everyone who wants a silly laugh. Yes, the subject is Shakespeare, who himself is known for laughter through mistaken identify and snafus, but it's Shakespeare, extremely light and even the tragedies are funny.
First clue of the lightness is the fact the cast sometimes calls Shakespeare, "Willy."
If you've ever been confused by the Bard's language, this show simplifies it.
"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" was written and first performed by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield. The show does have a few lines from Shakespeare, but mostly it's a frat-boy, Cliff-note, wacky presentation of all the plays - comedies and tragedies.
Subset Players does a fun job rolling the Three Stooges, "Sound of Music," the Macarena, wig changes, wardrobe malfunctions, costume and prop shuffling presented by a trio of former Monsignor Farrell students. The cast includes recent valedictorian Nicholas Iacono, Joseph Picciotto, a 2004 graduate and a doe-eyed, neat-bearded Peter Romano. All three have won awards with the forensics team, so there is a hint that if they wanted to do full-out Shakespeare, they could.
But here it's only in short order.
This production is about laughter. Even when the guys say "in all seriousness," there's no such animal. The guys wear tights and some velvet, but they also have on Converse sneaks.

Continue reading "Subset Players add laughs to Shakespeare-light" »

Well now they gone and done it.
A superhero will be the star of a Broadway musical. Yep, Spiderman is slated to be directed by Julie Taymor with book and lyrics being written by Bono and the Edge of U2.

I guess if Shrek can do it, Spidey should be a contender, though I'm having a little trouble wrapping my mind around how that will look.
With Taymor at the helm, I'm sure it will be beautiful. But Spiderman, the musical?
But here's why I'm writing about this today.
There is an open call for singers and actors on July 28 at The knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Producers are looking to cast three characters from this audition, so looking closely to see if you fit one of them. If you don't you risk not being seen.
So they need a male, age range 16-20's with a great rock voice. This is for the Peter Parker character. Now he can be nerdy with understated sex appeal and a good sense of humor.
They also need a female to play Mary Jane. This is the beautiful girl next door, age range 16-20s with a strong pop/rock singing voice.
And finally, a female age range 25-35 years old for the principal woman. This babe needs amazing rock vocals. Producers say to think Sinead O'Connor with a Middle Eastern /Bulgarian/Greek/ twist. Foreign, world music types are great, foreign accents are great. All ethnicities will be considered.
So all interested are asked to prepare 16 bars of a pop/rock song that shows range. Please bring sheet music. Also a photo/resume stapled together. They're not sticklers if you don't have one apparently. But I would get somebody to snap off a headshot.
Got more questions? Email spidermancasting@gmail.com.

Oh no!
"Passing Strange" closes Sunday after a six-month run on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre.
This makes me sad. I was hoping it would take the long-running place of "Rent" especially among the hipsters and 20-something crowd.

Talk about a well-put together show with great music that breaks barriers and rules. I hope you got to see it. It was indeed brilliant. The show won a Tony award for Best Book, co-written written by its star, long-time recording artist Stew and Heidi Rodewald. It was nominated for six other Tony's including nest musical.

"Passing Strange" did take the best musical honors in Drama Desk, New York Drama Critics' Circle and the Obie awards.
The story focuses on a young man's search for family and "the real" aspects of life and takes us (and him) from his Crenshaw home to Amsterdam and Germany on his journey as he meets artists and musicians, played by an awesome cast and narrated by Stew.
"Passing Strange" was first produced in New York at the Public Theater in spring of 2007 and opened on Broadway this past February.
As a friend mentioned, it's a show that may be difficult to put into a category. It's not like a show you've seen before, so perhaps it's tricky to market. Yes, it's a coming-of-age show. Yes, it's a tribute to the creative process. And it's about family, love and hope.

This won't be the last for "Passing Strange."
According to Broadwayworld.com, film director Spike Lee is making a film of the musical and plans to shoot two performances on Saturday. If you want to be in the house for that, tickets are on sale at www.telecharge.com.
And if you miss it this time around, you'll HAVE to catch the film.

First there was the Tkts booth in Times Square that offered up to half off the price of same-day evening and next-day matinee performances when you paid cash.
Well they have upgraded in a couple big ways.

You can still head to Manhattan's major intersection for Broadway, off-Broadway, music and dance events. A new booth will open this summer after renovations are complete at Duffy Square. For now, just head to the temporary booth outside the Marriott Marquis.
In addition to the option to pay cash, you may now also use your credit card for any tickets sold through Telecharge and Ticketmaster. And you can use travelers' checks.
It's getting easier and easier.
Head over to the South Street Seaport location (on the corner of John and Front streets) which is an easy ferry ride and a brisk walk.
If that weren't enough, starting July 10, a Tkts discount ticket booth will open in Downtown Brooklyn at the MetroTech Center. This location will also offer Brooklyn performing arts tickets.
It's all a effort to bring the performing arts closer to everyone. Since 1973, the Theatre Development Fund, which operates Tkts has offered discounted tickets.
So head out to your favorite Tkts booth. Enjoy your discounted shows.

So here is yet another example of why I love theater and the people who present it.
We all know it takes time and energy, but theater folks know how to improvise. They can take a situation most would deem insurmountable and make it beautiful.
On Sunday afternoon, it was the second staged reading of Neil Simon's "Plaza Suite" presented by the Performing Arts Department at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden.

About midway through the first act in which Sam and Karen Nash (Mickey Tennenbaum and Karen O'Donnell, real life married couple) were getting to the meat of what was happening in their 23- or 24-year marriage on the anniversary or eve of said anniversary when SNAP, the lights went out.
Yep, it was Mother Nature, doing her thing. Wind and rain wrecked havoc on a transformer that took out electricity across all 83 acres of the center.
After a brief intermission as director Nicole Libby mentally tossed around possibilities, the staff pulled open the window shades and the show went on with actors reading by daylight filtered through stained glass windows.
And it was a lovely, funny production with delightful performances.
While it's billed as a staged reading, there was a set. Since all three acts with different characters and scenarios take place in the Plaza Hotel suite 719, there was a living area with sofa and chairs, a telephone, a bathroom door.
"Just enough to give the effect but put emphasis on the actors and their work," Libby explained in her welcome address.
It was just enough to allow Erin Flanagan to show her quirky wonderfully timed humor as Muriel Tate, the Tenafly mother of three and housewife as she drives to the city to say hello to her old beau, the now-famous Hollywood producer man, Jesse Kiplinger (John Griffin), with his hilarious foot and leg twitches. He searches for a true woman he thinks he's found in his longtime ago sweetheart, while she is enticed by the glitz, glamour and stars.
It was enough to let frantic parents of the pre-nuptial Mimsey who has locked herself in the bathroom to come unglued and ripped at the seams as wedding guests are waiting downstairs.
And finally it was enough to permit the audience to hear what makes Neil Simon such a prolific and successful writer. It's genius.
Well done, Performing Arts and thank you.

Middle School students from all over the Island are no doubt finalizing their summer plans.
Some will head to camp. Others are off to grandma's house for adventures. Still others are packing for the annual family trip to other parts of the country.
But some, like Noura Jost are working.

Her summer gig started before the official start of the season, when she began rehearsals for "Bubby's Shadow" as part of the 2008 Midtown International Theatre Festival. She plays Cara. The story centers around a grandmother who tries to help her troubled, dysfunctional family - even from the hereafter.

Now you might remember our own Noura Jost, a Stapleton native, who made her stage debut earlier this year as the young Anatou (blonde girl turned wolf) in Sundog Theatre's production of "The Ice Wolf."

Until that time, she'd appeared in print ads, acted in television commercials and was in the film "Maltese Murder Mystery" which was part of the Staten Island Film Festival.

She's back on the stage again, this time in Manhattan. (I think she likes it!)

Catch Noura at The Workshop Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 4th floor, in Manhattan for performances on July 18 at 8:30 p.m. July 19 at 10 p.m., July 21 at 6:30 p.m.July 27 at 2:30 p.m. and July 28 and Aug. 3 at 8:30 p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.bubbysshadow.com/