Happenings at MetroStage

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

WETA's Around Town Theatre Review of tick, tick...BOOM!



Play Video

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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Stephen Schwartz Project, by the numbers, takes a new direction

This musical revue, conceived and directed by Michael Bobbitt, began with preview performances at the Theater Alliance Cabaret Series at the H Street Playhouse on August 19, 2006 and at the Page-to-Stage New Play Festival at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage on September 2, 2006. Featured vocalists were Priscilla Cuellar, Erin Driscoll, Eleasha Gamble, Isaiah Johnson and Phil Olarte under the musical direction of Doug Bowles.

MetroStage will debut this musical April 10, 2008.

Over the Summer of 2007, three (3) auditions, two (2) callbacks and over seventy (70) actors were at MetroStage to find the cast of The Stephen Schwartz Project. Both Equity and Non-Equity members were encouraged to come out whether they were local to the DC area or as far away as New York City.

Director Michael Bobbitt and Music Director Doug Bowles had a huge challenge to pick five (5) individuals that were strong enough who could carry a show solely by themselves, but work well and harmonize with the other members of this exciting new musical revue. These ensemble actors had to have a sparkling and dynamic personality that represented a cross-section of America.

It was a very difficult choice, but after the show was workshopped at Theatre Under the Stars, in Houston, Texas, on September 21 and 22, The Stephen Schwartz Project is headed for a new direction.

ACT @ TUTS is an extension of the classes taught through The Academy at Theatre Under the Stars Humphreys School of Musical Theatre. The musical was showcased with a large group of talented actor/singer/dancers 13 to 18 years of age. The show featured music from Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show, The Baker's Wife, The Prince of Egypt and more. Stephen Schwartz joined them during the rehearsal period to work with the cast and view the performance.

Bobbitt said, "Stephen was 'surprisingly stunned' and moved at what he saw. The students were dazzling. Because of this workshop, he thinks it has the appeal of High School Musical - something that many area high schools and colleges would love to do.... Stephen only had a handful of notes for me and my collaborator, arranger John L. Cornelius. (He liked all the songs except for parts of two of the numbers.) We are plugging away at the changes."

The world premiere at MetroStage will now include a young cast of high school and college students mixed with young professionals that will have tons of energy.

More details to come later...

We'd like to thank everyone for their time and patience during this audition process and we wish the best of luck in your future endeavors!

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

NEWS ALERT

Check out MetroStage's new MYSPACE page -

$25 tickets available by mentioning "MYSPACE"

Call 703-548-9044

Offer ends: Sunday, October 28

Also, check out the latest review at DC Theatre Scene -

http://dctheatrescene.com/2007/10/22/tick-tick-boom/

Oct 19 - After the 8 PM performance of Jonathan Larson’s pre-Rent musical tick, tick...BOOM! now at Metro Stage, cast members Stephen Gregory Smith, Felicia Curry and Matt Pearson tell why they jumped at the chance to do the show, and how closely they identify with the show’s themes - two of them are 29, and all really understand the difficulties of making art or making a living. Listen as they discuss the show, and the jobs they do to help pay the rent.

We (at DCTS) were joined by Director Matt Gardiner who is making his directorial debut at the astonishing age of 23. Matt talked about casting the show, his personal connection to the story and music of tick, tick…BOOM! and his one struggle with the musical.

Stephen, Felicia and Matt can be heard singing portions of “Johnny Can’t Decide, “Real Life” and “Sugar”, accompanied by Music Director Derek Bowley.


To listen, go to http://dctheatrescene.com/2007/10/22/a-visit-with-tick-tickboom/

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Friday, October 19, 2007

What the critics are saying about tick, tick...BOOM!

  • “…winningly staged at MetroStage by director Matthew Gardiner… Stephen Gregory Smith, dynamically stepping into a starring role… Felicia Curry, who brings a big Broadway voice and lithe strength to the modest musical… promising newcomer Matt Pearson… The standout song of the show is "Come to Your Senses," a rock ballad that slowly builds to a shattering climax and is delivered with gospelly bravado by Miss Curry…. a warp-speed fusion of rock music and powerful emotion that engages the audience's senses and modern sensibilities.” -Jayne Blanchard, Washington Times

  • “Memo to the producers of Jonathan Larson's Rent on Broadway: get down here and see Stephen Gregory Smith tear up the house… and does he give it everything he's got!... The three (actors) establish a sense of partnership as they work their way through the dozen songs that constitute the heart of this touching musical... MetroStage has mounted many satisfying small musicals…(with) emotionally involving staging as the show progresses, the impact of the final four songs is impressive. Curry…has grown into a fine musical leading lady… Matt Pearson …has his own moments to shine… But perhaps the most impressive time for all three comes quietly in the lovely "See Her Smile" when Smith is in the lead but the vocal support from both Pearson and Curry is sublime.” -Potomac Stages Pick Brad Hathaway, potomacstages.com

  • “a fireball four-person rock band exuding a caffeinated buzz… One of the production’s standout moments, in fact, is “Green, Green Dress,”… (director Matt) Gardiner packs this number with a thrilling erotic charge.” -Celia Wren, Washington Post

  • “Several of Boom’s numbers…have all the pull, heart and energy of Rent’s best numbers. “Therapy”…clearly demonstrates that while Larson elected to live in rock music, his talent was far from limited.” -Tom Avila, Metro Weekly

  • “Singing with power and emotion and acting with humor and intensity, Smith leads the cast through the one-act, 100-minute musical backed by a rock combo.. of remarkable balance. His co-star is the highly talented Felicia Curry, who turns in a strong performance of her own... her singing is spectacular... she has a number titled “Come to Your Senses” that she delivers with impressive emotion. When she is finished, you may think you’ve just seen the highlight of the show. Smith, however, tops it with the next number, “Why.”… Matt Pearson…has his own moments to shine. He is subtly superb in the vocal support behind Smith on one of Larson’s loveliest ballads, “See Her Smile.” -Brad Hathaway, Alexandria Gazette Packet

  • “…producing artistic director of MetroStage in Alexandria, Carolyn Griffin, has done it again! This show has the emotional impact and drama of Rent---and more. Through about a dozen songs, with first-class singing and acting---and I mean acting---we are moved by these likeable characters.” -Richard Massabny, Arlington Channel 69

  • “Most charming Stephen Gregory Smith commands the stage brilliantly with such ease that one would think he was born to play this role… Matthew Gardiner provided most commendable directing and always kept the show on an intimate level allowing utmost empathy for the cast. It was a 30th birthday being celebrated in this script but it applies universally to any decade birthday so it will appeal to any age group.” -Bob Anthony, AllArtsReview4U.com

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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Special Offer for tick, tick...BOOM!

STUDENT SUNDAYS
at MetroStage

Tickets: $25 (with student ID)
REGULARLY $35

Sundays at 7:00pm

Call 703-548-9044 to reserve
(mention "student")

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Monday, October 15, 2007

Jonathan Larson performing "Sunday"

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Saturday, October 6, 2007

tick, tick...BOOM OPENS THIS WEEK


DC AREA PREMIERE

Pay-What-You-Can Preview
Thursday, October 11, 2007
8pm

Before RENT, Jonathan Larson had another story to tell....his own.

Jonathan Larson won the 1996 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize posthumously for RENT. tick, tick...BOOM! was originally performed as a solo show by Larson in 1990. This version of the musical received it's world premiere off-Broadway in 2001. David Auburn, the 2001 Pulitzer Prize winning playwright of Proof, re-shaped and re-orchestrated the piece for three performers.

Stephen Gregory Smith will be playing the role of Jon. He recently performed his one man cabaret act, Use What You Got, at Signature Theatre, Meet John Doe at Ford's Theatre, Into the Woods, Assassins and One Red Flower at Signature Theatre, and Damn Yankees at Arena Stage. He received the Helen Hayes Award in 2004 for his portrayal of Jimmy Curry in 110 in the Shade at Signature Theatre.

Felicia Curry, playing Susan, has performed at MetroStage in Three Sistahs and Two Queens One Castle. She received Helen Hayes nominations for both Godspell and Aida at Toby's Dinner Theatre. She recently was seen in The Araboolies of Liberty Street at Imagination Stage and will be performing in Petite Rouge as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Matt Pearson, playing Michael, is a recent graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Theatre. He most recently appeared in the cabaret Lost Songs of Broadway at Signature Theatre. In Chicago, he appeared in Sunday in the Park with George, Swing! and The Little Mermaid.

Director Matt Gardiner is the Resident Assistant Director of Signature Theatre where he has worked on Witches of Eastwick, Saving Aimee, Into the Woods, My Fair Lady, Allegro, One Red Flower and Nevermore. Matthew assisted Mark Lamos on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Kennedy Center) and Jane Pesci-Townsend on The Last Five Years (MetroStage). Matthew is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon with a BFA in Directing.

Music Director Derek Bowley just finished work on the Kennedy Center TYA tour of Katie Couric's The Brand New Kid. Later this year, he will serve as Music Director for the Kennedy Center's production of The Phantom Tollbooth and Theater J's Schlemiel the First.

Opening/ Press Night is Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 7pm.

tick,tick...BOOM! is in performance
from October 11 - November 25, 2007.

Tickets can be ordered
at 800-494-8497.
For group rates and information, call 703-548-9044.

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