LIFE AND BITS

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Okay so here we are. The second blog on my new blog spot. Very exciting. I’m sure a lot of folks have seen this. I’ve been posting this all over social media like the loving media-whore that I am. But if you haven’t already, I shot a teaser for a new possible web-series called FACE CANDY about cosmetic counters in a high-end department store. It was hilarious and we laughed all day long.


Here is the teaser:

I play Stefan, the makeup artist for SMAC (yes, you see where that’s going). The whole show is about the cut-throat world of cosmetic sales. And it’s hilarious but they need to get the money to have it made. So if you have 2 minutes and want a huge laugh, watch it/share it/”like” it/comment on it. The more numbers we have, the more reason there is for a producer to put money into it.

Here is a little bit from my character Stefan:

So help a brother out if you wanna see more of my ass on TV. Okay, okay, you’ll see the rest of me too. 😉

In other show related news, I’m going to be doing a Harold Arlen review in August which I’m really excited about.… [Continue reading]

PETER PAN AND LIFE

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Interesting times, my people.  I’m here in Penetanguishene in the middle of our run of Peter Pan.  It’s been a great and incredibly exhausting experience.  A great cast and great director/choreographer, David Connolly. Who, incidentally, will be choreographing the upcoming Broadway premiere of First Wives Club in 2015.  He’s great.  We only had two weeks but what he did in those two weeks was astonishing.  A cast of 14 (including the boys playing Michael and John Darling) plus two groups of 18 kids that play a multitudes of roles and alternate shows.  Lots to gather but he did an amazing job.  Fantastic Stage Management team and super musical director, Michael Barber, as well as a sweet, fun stage crew.  It’s been a hoot.  But my God, I didn’t think I’d be expending this much energy as Captain Hook.  The sweat is streaming down my face and I’m drenched after the first scene as Hook.

The good news is the audience is loving it and we’re a hit.

http://www.simcoe.com/whatson-story/4571129-review-a-silly-fun-adventure/

Here is a taste of the good Captain.

Captain Hook 3

And Penetanguishene is beautiful.  It’s been lovely here.  Right on the water of Georgian Bay.  The King’s Wharf Theatre is right on the water. It’s breathtaking.… [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]