HALF WAY THERE!!!! YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!!!

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TIME FOR AN UPDATE

Well, or those of you saw my post about The Musical Stage Company, it’s an update.  For those of you who didn’t, welcome to something important to me (and hopefully to you too if you care about great musical theatre and kids and young people.

I’ll start with the update which is great news:  We are half way there to our goal of ANOTHER HUNDRED PEOPLE!!  WOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!  Only 50 more supporters to go.

For those of you who did not see this before or those that need a refresher, here is an amended version of the previous blog.

So I rarely have big causes or projects I believe in enough to write a blog about them.  But this one is so worth it.

I think many of you know… or maybe you don’t….  I shouldn’t assume that people keep up with my comings and goings…. who do I think I am???   But you peeps in the business of “show” know this; and in case you DIDN’T know, I’m on the board of directors of an extraordinary company called The Musical Stage Company.

This year, we’ve taken on a really exciting challenge that will “take a village” and we’re looking for people who believe in musical theatre to help get us to our goal.… [Continue reading]

FAR TOO LONG

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Wow, everyone.  I’ve been away from you for such a long time.  I don’t have any excuse really.  I had this period where I wasn’t sure I had lots to say. But I feel like I want to reach out and let you know that I’m still here.  So where to begin.

Well, both of my shows have opened here at the Shaw Festival.  Guys and Dolls and Major Barbara.  It’s nice to not be rehearsing anymore.  A very interesting rehearsal period and wonderful to have two such different shows and such different positions within each.  In Guys and Dolls, I was playing Nicely-Nicely Johnson, a role that not many people would instantly think of me for but it’s really more where I imagine myself in my mind.  Because I grew up heavy, I always think of myself as a character actor, even when I’m playing a leading man.

For Major Barbara, I was the assistant director.  I also play a small part at the end of the show.  I’ve been asked why I’m doing this small role but it was worth it to get to work with Jackie Maxwell on the other side of the table and learn from her. … [Continue reading]

FAR TOO LONG – WINNIPEG I’M COMING

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I apologize for  being so long away everyone.  Since we’ve talked I’ve finished Over the Rainbow,

ME IN OVER THE RAINBOW

done my concert at MCC, BROADWAY, MY WAY

BROADWAY, MY WAY

and my cabaret, SHUT UP, IT’S CHRISTMAS!  For the first act of which, I was me.  These two shows are from act two where I play Mrs. Claus – old and young.

ME AS MRS. CLAUS

ME AS LOLA KRINGLE

——–

Now,  we come to the next exciting project. I’m coming/going home to Winnipeg to do a concert.

ME AND MY TOWN: THOM ALLISON IN CONCERT

From Winnipeg to Broadway and Back

It’s part of the Sondheimfest that the city is participating.    So all of the songs in my hour and a half concert are from the  repertoire of the great theatre composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim.  Always a joy, honour and a gift to perform his music. My pianist is a gifted young musician, musical director named Scott Christian.  Remember that name.  You’ll be hearing it a lot.  I’m so excited.

$41 (+service charge)
January 20, 2013 at the Tom Hendry Warehouse, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre 8:00PM
140 Rupert Ave.

http://www.masterplaywrightfest.com/Production-List/Me-and-My-Town_zone41.aspx

It’s a fundraiser for a fantastic, innovative theatre company in Winnipeg – zone 41 – and was the brain-child of the company’s co-founder, Krista Jackson.… [Continue reading]

BITS OF CATCH-UP

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I know I need to get more regular in my blogging, my peeps.  But I’m just running around so much.  So I’m just going to wander a bit, but you know what, it’s my blog.  ha ha ha ha ha haaaaa.
So let’s deal with the fact that I  have been in a helicopter twice since I wrote to you all.  WHAT???!!!  Yes, it’s true.  The first time was Sept. 23. I took some pics to show you. We arrived at the pick-up site which was on the grounds of the Hildebrand Winery and the actual copter (that’s what we professional helicopterers call the helicopter – oh, yeah, I’m very connected) is not very big as you can see.

 

As soon as we arrived, we met our pilot, Ben . . .  who looked 14, which did not build my confidence.  But he was 21 and a very “nice young man”.  Gentle Ben I shall call him henceforth.

Seriously, look at that face.  He still smelled like baby wipes …..and the CBC also sent one of their AM-ER-ZING online team to video and audio and photograph the experience.  Here is Kyle.

And he and the rest of that genius online team put together a vlog of the whole experience of getting me from Niagara-on-the-Lake at 5 to our live-to-the-east-coast taping of the show at 7.… [Continue reading]

HERE’S THE BIG NEWS, FOLKS

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Okay everyone, it was announced today so I can actually tell you about it.  Here is the background for those of you who don’t know.  I’m sure many of you have heard of these TV shows that cast a lead in a major production of a musical. They did it for Nancy in Oliver in the West End, they did it for the Danny and Sandy in the Broadway revival of Grease, they did it for Maria in the Mirvish produced big splashy Sound of Music in Toronto a few years ago.

Well the Canucks will know but perhaps my friends/readers in the U.S. and beyond might not know, but the Mirvish organization is doing it again, this time with their big new production of The Wizard of Oz, which includes new music by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.   They will be casting the role of Dorothy and Toto  on CBC television on Sunday and Monday nights starting on Sept. 16 and culminating in the final night on Nov. 5.
And the big news is: . . . . . . I am one of the judges.  It will be myself, Arlene Phillips (OBE, one of the UK’s most recognizable TV judges) and Louise Pitre (original star of Broadway’s Mamma Mia and one of Canada’s Musical Theatre divas)
I’ve been sitting on this news for a while so it’s nice to get it out and say I’m really, really excited to meet the girls and the pooches and get the ball rolling.… [Continue reading]