If you don’t know Barry Manilow, you have no idea that title up there is a play on his hit “I Write The Songs”. I fear my references are starting to show my 70’s roots…. Look at this. Not one paragraph in to this blog and already, I’m distracted by my …. my… myself. BACK…
I was rehearsing my Mamma Mia understudy music in an icy cold theatre basement in Mississippi when I got a text from a friend, congratulating me on my nomination? NOMINATION?!?!
This is how I learned my performance as The Drowsy Chaperone at Stage Door Theatre last year captured a Best Supporting Actress nomination from the Carbonell Award judges.
Imagine my elation when I was invited to join the phenomenon called Mamma Mia!
The “Big Call” came as I rode the M86 Bus across Manhattan on my way home for Thanksgiving, barely balancing my phone in one hand, elephantine suitcase in the other. I would be ushering out the old year and ushering in the new debuting on the North American Tour!
ROCK ODYSSEY is a new theatrical spectacle combining the drama of ancient Greece with the flair of Broadway to create a rip-roaring adventure.
It’s the classic tale by Homer that we all read in school about, but this version of Odysseus’ epic journey comes with a modern, funny, rock ‘n roll twist!
The lights go up on the living room of a lonely shut-in who chases the blues away by playing old records of his favorite musical theatre shows. And he tells the audience his favorite show of all is the 1928 musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone.
This daring new musical satire introduces us to Mandi, a wealthy New York socialite who doesn’t know she’s Black! In the words of the show’s villainess (that’s me!): “How is that even possible?”
So, if you’re opening a new theatre on Valentines Day, what better play to read than A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters. It’s the simple story of boy meets girl, boy writes to girl, girl writes back to boy, sharing their hopes, ambitions, ups and downs and on and on… for the rest of their lives.
I heart The Travel Channel and have always been a fan of Samantha Brown, the perky, funny host of shows like Great Hotels and Passport to Europe. Something else I heart? Walt Disney World! (I’d live there if they’d just say the word). So imagine my delight when I ran across an ad looking for fans of Samantha and of Disney World to participate in a show taping!
Eileen is originating the deliciously evil role of the Queen!
The script is witty and sophisticated, one of those great pieces that speak to adults and children on different levels simultaneously. So bring children or don’t bring children. It promises to be a wickedly funny show.
The famously classic holiday tale by Charles Dickens about the infamous Scrooge (Ebenezer, not McDuck), the workaholic evil-doer turned turkey-gifting do-gooder. But Scrooge cannot see the error of his cold, un-Christmasy ways until he gets a good ghostly intervention. Enter moi!