Broadway Review: Jersey Boys

Friday, April 26th, 2013, I went to go see the Broadway musical Jersey Boys. It completely deserved the Tony Award for Best Musical. The Arrangements, Choreography, Sets, Costumes, and the book were only parts of this masterpiece. What else do you need? An amazing cast with 4 strong leading men to play the 4 Seasons. In the current cast, the 4 Seasons where: Andy Karl as Tommy DeVito, Nathan Schmidt as Nick Massi, Drew Gehling as Bob Gaudio, and John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli.

The show takes us through the evolution of the 4 Seasons, from them singing under a lamp post in New Jersey to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The last time I listened to the soundtrack, I got unrealistic chills. When I saw the stage production, I got even more unrealistic chills. It is one of the finest shows Broadway has ever produced. One of the coolest things in the show was when they divided the acts into seasons. Spring and Summer was in Act 1, with Fall and Winter in Act 2. Each of the characters of the original Four Seasons narrated each season. Tommy was Spring, Bob was Summer, Nick was Fall and Frankie was Winter.

So much work had to be put into this show. The research was the greatest aspect. The costumes had to be exact, the voices had to be almost exact, the choreography had to be the same. The show amazed not only me, but many others. "I didn't think I was going to like it," Julia Ilea, a junior in high school, said after the show, "but the show was perfectly executed and I just fell in love with it."

Jersey Boys is playing in the August Wilson Theatre in New York City. I highly recommend it.
~Nathan Clift, 15, Trumbull High School, Vice President of the NPT Youth Board

How to Stay Healthy During Shows is in this week's Sunday Spotlight with Renee Laweless, Reed Prescott, Jenn Trepeck

Admit it: We all get the "play-gue" once in a while. Doesn't matter what show you are in, you are fine during all rehearsals, and then Hell Week pops up. That cold you had since January? It activates the night before you have to open the show. It is even worse when you are in high school shows, because you have to be in school the day of a show in order to go on.

Doesn't that get annoying after a while? Getting sick on Opening Night? Isn't there some way to prevent the "play-gue" from spreading? Look no further! This Sunday Spotlight is dedicated to staying healthy during shows.

Renee Lawless

Renee Lawless (The Haves and Have Nots), Reed Prescott (Balance, Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Jennifer Trepeck (owner of Better Life Now) are here to help. They will give you tips on how to fight off illnesses and stay in the best possible condition for the show.

Reed Prescott

Jennifer Trepeck

To tune into this insightful Sunday Spotlight, one you DON'T want to miss, register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5699974181209633280

~NPT Youth Board

Have you ever grown anything in the garden of your mind?

Over the past few weeks, I have been attending the MAC (Musical Arts Confrence) Competitons for high school percussion groups around Connecticut. The schools take their winter percussion groups to these competitions to perform in different catagories based on size and difficulty.
Recently, I have had the amazing oppertunity to join in and be a dancer in my high school's (Norwalk High School) winter percussion show and have been competing in the competitions for four weeks now. I play the role of a girl who grows ideas in the "garden of her mind." While the drummers are playing and moving around on the floor, I get to dance around and through them to portray the idea that I have created them. I absolutely LOVE being in the show and getting an inside look to how percussion groups rather than a cast of a musical or a dance team work together.
On April 13th, we are having the MAC Championships at Shelton High School, and a week later, on April 17th we are traveling to Dayton, Ohio for WGI finals. I am beyond excited! Come out and support next week at Shelton High!

Shelby Vetare, age 17, Norwalk High School.

Pictured (Left to right): Shelby Vetare (me), Taijon Ragin, Danny Porelli, Avery Collins, and Tommy Eckert.

Sunday Spotlight 4/7/13: Randy Graff

It has been 2 weeks since our last Sunday Spotlight. Seems forever though, right?
There is going to be a new Sunday Spotlight every other week. This Sunday, April 7th, the Sunday Spotlight will be on Randy Graff.

Randy Graff as Fantine in Les Miserables on Broadway in 1987

Randy Graff is well known throughout theatre and film and screen. You may remember Randy Graff as Broadway's original Fantine in the Original Broadway Production of Les Miserables in 1987. She has also starred in City of Angels in 1989, where she won a Tony Award. She also recently starred in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof. Other Broadway credits include: A Class Act (2001, where she received a second Tony Award nomination), High Society (1998), Moon Over Buffalo (1995), and Laughter on the 23rd Floor (1993)

Randy's Off-Broadway Credits include: A... My Name Is Alice (1983-1984), Hotel Suite (2000 as Millie),  Sophie in A Class Act (2000), and Kay Cram in Do Re Mi (1999).

Some of Randy's Regional Credits include (but not limited to): Hello Dolly (2007) as Dolly at The Muny in St. Louis, Missouri; A Little Night Music (2002) as Charlotte at the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts in Washington D.C.; Damn Yankees (2008) at The New York City Center.

Besides being on the stage, Randy Graff has been on TV and Movie sets. In 2005, she was in the movie version of the musical Rent (as Mark's mother: Mrs. Cohen) and starred in the film Keys to Tulsa in 1997. On TV, she has starred not once, but three times on the TV series Law and Order (1991, 2001, 2005). She also starred in: Working It Out, Bless this House, and many other shows.

Register for the Sunday Spotlight here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6276073193637748992

To those who donated to the Sunday Spotlight, thank you! We really appreciate it. Now, we had a Rockethub fundraiser, but that ended the other day. There will be more events and ways to donate to keep these Sunday Spotlights open and FREE. Any donation is acceptable, and planning for fundraising events are underway! Those who have attended previous Sunday Spotlights got so much from actors first hand. How often do you get to ask a Broadway Star a question? Let's "Seize the Day" (Newsies anyone?) and register today!
~NPT Youth Board

Inside Look at Trumbull High School's Crazy for You

Logo of THS's Crazy for You

Today marked the closing of Trumbull High School's 2013 Spring Musical, Crazy for You. With music created by the Gershwins, it was an instant classic when it hit the Broadway stage in 1992. In Trumbull's production, over 110 students auditioned, but only around 70 people actually made it into the show. Leading the cast was Matt Johnson as Bobby and Gabby Gottschall as Polly.
Now I know what you're thinking: Crazy for You is a tap show.
Trumbull High, in the past, has done tap shows (most recently 42nd Street). TYA (Trumbull Youth Association) did Anything Goes in 2011, so many people weren't too shabby on their tap skills.Various tap workshops were also held, so students who attended could know a few tap moves before the auditions.
Based off of the musical Girl Crazy, Crazy for You contains music from various shows, such as (but not limited too): But Not For Me, Could You Use Me, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Can't Be Bothered Now, and I Got Rhythm. Crazy for You is what I like to call an "old school musical": The theme is very much like older movies and shows, where there is a love connection until a conflict rises up.
This show was not easy. Directed by Jessica Spillane, Musically directed by Jerold Goldstien and Choreographed by Frank and Abby Root, all who made the show knew it was going to be a challenge. In the end, we had flawless dancing, beautiful and strong voices to carry out those beautiful Gershwin melodies and amazing choreography. I am not just saying this because I was in it. I am only mentioning what many random strangers have said when they walked up to cast members and crew.

The Follies Girls dancing in "I Got Rhythm"

The life of a musical is amazing. You have 50+ people who don't know each other, no sets, no costumes, not even lights. In 3 months, you have another family, amazing sets, colorful costumes and lights that change the mood of every scene. Crew just doesn't do it alone. Parents and students were working together to make this show a success. In the words of Polly, just because we didn't sell out "doesn't mean we're a failure." You don't need to sell out a show in order to have a successful show. You need a cast and crew who understands each other 100% in order to succeed. I guess that is "Nice Work if You Can Get It".
Long story short: Crazy for You was, well, crazy, but in the end, it was well worth it as well as an honor to perform one of Broadway's finest musicals with amazing music made by George and Ira Gershwin.

Next show any of you do, you need to not say: I am not going to make any friends. You will make at least 10 new friends. You will have another family. You will find a home away from home.
Break a leg everybody.

Matt Johnson (center) and the Follies Girls performing "Can't Be Bothered Now"

~ Nathan Clift, 15 Trumbull High School, VP of NPT's Youth Board

Sunday Spotlight 3/17: Bruce Sabath

Thanks to all who attended our last Sunday Spotlight! It was very awesome and informative, correct?

This Sunday will be Bruce Sabath, a TV, Film and Broadway Star that was in Company with Kristin Huffman, the Youth Board's advisor as well as Artistic Director of the New Paradigm Theatre.

Bruce Sabath is a New York-based actor, working in theatre, film, TV and commercials. He played Larry in the 2006-07 Tony-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company. He was most recently seen in New York in Prospect Theater’s Portraits, and the workshop of the new musical Casanova, as well as the award-winning revival of Michael John LaChiusa’s Hello Again and the Off-Broadway musical, The Sphinx Winx. Sabath’s regional credits include Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, directed by John Doyle at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and his acclaimed portrayal of Richard Nixon in the Southeast premier of Frost/Nixon at the Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton. Sabath has also appeared closer to home at The Schoolhouse Theater in productions of The Imaginary Invalid and Lost in Yonkers.

Sabath, a former Wall Street “wiz kid” and corporate strategist, stunned his colleagues a decade-and-a-half ago when he chucked his established business career to pursue his first love, acting. He then stunned the theatre world when he debuted on Broadway, and was praised by Ben Brantley of The New York Times for his “touching and credible” performance as Larry, opposite Barbara Walsh as the acerbic Joanne. Sabath’s story has been profiled in The Wall Street Journal, Parade Magazine, The Sondheim Review, Backstage, Germany’s Der Spiegel, Westchester Magazine, and Psychology Today.


here is the link to sign up:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2416940212027392000


Please attend and please donate to our Rockethub for this wonderful opportunity!
~NPT Youth Board.

Inside and Out: Foran High School's Spring Production of "Grease: The Musical"

On Saturday March 2nd, I went to see Joseph A. Foran High School's spring production of the classic musical "Grease". Living in Milford, I do attend Foran High School, so it was an absolutely wonderful experience to see all of my peers up there on stage doing such a great job. And, I would know how much work went into it... because I helped choreograph it!

Since my teachers knew I was a dancer, they sought me out to choreograph the musical. I definitely couldn't do it alone, so I asked my friend Ellie Nolan to co-choreograph with me. Starting in December, we worked with all of the members of the play on all of the big dance numbers that "Grease" is famous for. Not having been involved in the music or drama department before, it was an eye-opening experience for me. I got to meet so many new people that I would have never gotten the chance to talk to before, and it was fun to see all of my new friends learn and grow as they attempted to tackle the dance moves we gave them. There wasn't one trained dancer in the program, so I am sure all of the choreography we threw at them was a challenge. However, by the time the curtain rose in March, they all looked as if they had been dancing for years! I was so proud of all of them for learning it so quickly and being able to make it look so good on stage with so little experience.

Now, for a critique of the show from an audience member's perspective, I would say that it was a terrific performance. I was actually a bit surprised at how well they did, as Foran High is not typically known to have an amazing theatre department. I congratulate the teachers who directed and produced the production, Theresa Voss, Jessica Shearer, and Emily Theodoseau, for putting together a really great show. They had a live jazz band playing all of the music, and I thought that was a really nice touch. I also appreciated the quality of the acting, because I felt that everyone got really into their roles and embraced their characters very nicely. Also, I thought that Sandy, played by Robin Patrick, completely stole the show! Her vocal and acting abilities were outstanding. The only negative comments I could make were that the scenery was not all that appealing to the eye, the pauses in between scenes were a bit long, and there was a little too much making out on stage! Overall, I thought that the play was wonderful and I am so proud of my friends for doing an amazing job.

For more information about Joseph A. Foran High School's drama department, visit http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=9442.

- Shaina Arsenault, 15 years old
Joseph A. Foran High School

Sunday Spotlight #3: Randye Kaye!

Thanks you all who attended our second Sunday Spotlight with Alan Rust! It was super informative and extremely fun!

For our third Sunday Spotlight, we will have Actress, Voiceover Artist, Author and Speaker Randye Kaye!

Randye Kaye has over 20 years of experience working in the entertainment business, such as a voice talent, stage/TV/film actress, and radio personality, along with a rather long list of major clients.

 Randye has been heard on major radio stations as Morning Drive sidekick, PM Drive Personality, news director, and NPR classical music host, but now focuses on Voiceover work full-time. She is also a Voiceover coach with Edge Studio in New York, Connecticut as well as in the virtual world.

Randye has performed regionally, performing roles such as: Sally Bowels (Cabaret at University of New Haven), Adelaide (Guys and Dolls at University of New Haven) as a featured Equity Guest Artist, Sister Robert Anne (Nunsense and Nunsense 3 at Playhouse on the Green), and Nancy (Oliver at Edgerton Center). She has also co-starred in Momoirs in the Zipper Theatre in New York City.

As an author, she has written Ben Behind His Voices: One Family's Journey from the Chaos of Schizophrenia to Hope. The story is about her firstborn slowly becoming diagnosed with schizophrenia and the challenges the family faces yet trying to maintain their love for him. She is currently fpron another book, entitled, Happier Made Simple: Straight Talk for Successful Living. She also runs 3 blogs: 
Ben Behind His Voices blog: Family Matters in Mental Illness and Recovery

Mental Illness in the Family — Award-winning Blog for HealthyPlace.comLife on the Voiceover List — Tips and Thoughts on Voice Acting

For information on her career as a Speaker, visit: http://speaker.randyekaye.com/

Please join us this Sunday at 8pm! Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4644603546304548608

Also, we are using a free trial of the GotoWebinar, which we use to do the Spotlights on. We would like to buy a full year plan, but that would cast around $2000. In order to fund raise money, we have decided to set up a Rockethub. If you can donate whatever you can, we will be thankful. Join us this Sunday, and if you like what you see, then please donate so we can continue this wonderful program. 

Here is the Rockethub link:   http://www.rockethub.com/projects/20442-help-us-out-with-our-sunday-spotlights

Here are some reviews from past Sunday Spotlights:

"LOVED this webinar. Looking forward to the next one. Some of the questions I was prepared to ask were asked by the interviewer so I just listened this time, but it was very informative."  Becca

"WOW!!! What a great idea! As you are aware, many very talented teens (and adults) are rather timid and, many times, awestruck when facing producers, casting directors, performers, etc.  This gives them the ability to have a voice that's as loud and clear as a seasoned professional." Steve

~NPT Youth Board

NYU Tisch Sophomore Class Presents: Little Women, the Musical

Some of you are probably thinking, "Little Women...a musical? Huh?" Well, I can assure you I thought the same thing when my voice teacher offered me a ticket to see a production of it at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. I didn't know much about the book, let alone the musical, so it was a very new experience for me.

I left Tisch's black box theatre completely amazed on Sunday night. For those of you who don't know, Little Women follows the life Jo March and her three sisters, Meg, Beth and Amy. They live with their mother Marmee, who must take care of them while their father serves in the Union Army. Jo wants to be a writer, but her "blood and guts" stories don't appeal to the publishers who have read them. The sisters deal with love, identity, and a bond between them that grows stronger every minute. For you musical theatre buffs, Sutton Foster played Jo when Little Women first opened on Broadway.

The sophomore class totally blew my mind with their talent and conviction. I judge an actor by how much or how little I question their transformation into their character. I did not question any actor on that stage. Each one portrayed their characters perfectly. My voice teacher works at Tisch, and hadtwo students in the production. One was Mia Bergstrom, playing Meg, and the other Grace Ellen, playing Mrs. Kirk. The voices were phenomenal, the acting superb, and production overall one of the best I've seen. I was lucky enough to watch their closing night, or i might have otherwise missed this brilliant piece of theatre. Bravo, sophomore class, you've impressed many in your run of Little Women. Well, you certainly impressed me.

-Matt, 16
Stamford High School
President of NPT Youth Board

Sunday Spotlight for March 3rd

First off, thanks to all of you who attended our very first Sunday Spotlight! It was very informative, wasn't it?

In the next Sunday Spotlight, we will be interviewing Alan Rust: Director of the Theatre Division, Professor of Theatre at Hartt University. He has been part of the: The Hartford Stage Company (where he can be seen in the annual production of A Christmas Carol) , The Cleveland Playhouse, The Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Stage West, The Northern Stage Company, The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival and the Monomoy Theatre (where he has been director for over 30 years).

He has directed over 100 productions around the United States, The U.S. Virgin Islands, Australia, England and Sweden. 

He has also held various positions at universities and colleges, such as: University of Washington, the State University of New York at Purchase, the University of Detroit, the North Carolina School of the Arts (where he served as dean), the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee (where he was the head of the acting program) and the University of Hartford where he is currently the director of the Theatre Division of The Hartt School.

Alan Rust has been a United States representative for the International Theatre Institute in Istanbul and Izmer in Turkey and Moscow and Ashkabad in the former Soviet Republic of Turkmenistan. Mr. Rust was a founding member of the World Theatre Training Institute in Vienna, Austria. 

If you want to attend this FREE Sunday Spotlight at 8pm on March 3rd, register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7238591169609275648 

Here are some reviews over our last Sunday Spotlight (which can be found at this link HERE )

"LOVED this webinar. Looking forward to the next one. Some of the questions I was prepared to ask were asked by the interviewer so I just listened this time, but it was very informative."  Becca

"WOW!!! What a great idea! As you are aware, many very talented teens (and adults) are rather timid and, many times, awestruck when facing producers, casting directors, performers, etc.  This gives them the ability to have a voice that's as loud and clear as a seasoned professional." Steve


Hope you can join us this Sunday!
~NPT Youth Board

Oscar Night 2013 Re-Cap

Tonight was a night of firsts: 50 Years of 007, a 9 year-old nominated Best Leading Actress, Les Miserables (all singing done love), a tribute to movie musicals and a night full of music. Hosted by Seth MacFarlane.

First off, congrats to all those nominated and all those who won.

Tonight showed great achievement in films throughout this year.
Some of those astonishing wins are:
Les Miserables: Supporting Actress, Hairstyling and Makeup, Sound Mixing
Skyfall: Sound Editing, Original Song
Life of Pi: Original Score, Cinematography, Visual Effects, Best Directing
Argo: Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Best Picture
Django Unchained: Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay
Lincoln: Production Design, Best Actor
Anna Karenina: Costume Design
Zero Dirty Thirty: Sound Editing
Silver Linings Playbook: Best Actress
Brave: Animated Feature
Amour: Foreign Film

From the Les Miserables cast taking the stage and perform a medley of the movie's highlights, to the cast of the Chicago film (which 10 years ago won the Best Picture Award), and Jennifer Hudson from Dreamgirls belting out "And I'm Telling You"were among the stunning and breathtaking performances. Adele also rocked the stage with her Oscar winning song "Skyfall". And who could forget Barbra Streisand's performance? 

Between the amazing music to the breathtaking performances to the Award Winners, it was a wonderful night. Do I wish Les Miserables could take home the Best Picture award? Of course I do. I grew up on that music. Nominated or not, Won or not, this year had to be one of the best years of the film industry. Cannot wait for next year's!
~Nathan Clift, 15, Trumbull High School

An ad for the 85th Annual Oscars

Our Very First Sunday Spotlight!

The New Paradigm Theatre's Youth Board is so excited to announce our very first Sunday Spotlight!

The Sunday Spotlight, which will be tomorrow at 8pm, will feature Leenya Rideout (Company, Cabaret, Warhorse, Cyrano). She was recently cast as Rhetta in a revival of Pump Boys and Dinettes directed by John Doyle that is rumored to open on Broadway in the near future. She has performed in the U.S, Canada and Asian tours of My Fair Lady as Eliza Doolittle. She can be seen in films such as Mona Lisa Smile, Loser, Bittersweet, and The Singing Biologist. Her TV Credits include: the PBS Great Performance Broadcasts of Company, Cyrano de Bergerac, and My Favorite Broadway. She appeared on USA Network's Nashville Star and the Jerry Lewis Telethon. 

Regionally, she has been: Gussie in Merrily We Roll Along at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha at ACCC, Cardenio at ART, Summer of 42 at Mill Mountain Theater, The Canterbury Tales at the Guthrie Theater, Guys and Dolls  at North Carolina Theatre, Avenue X at Cincinnati Playhouse & Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Honky Tonk Highway at The Florida Studio Theatre, and Carousel at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre. She performed regionally in Holidays with the Chalks (at the Alliance Theatre), a musical she co-wrote.

As a fiddle player and vocalist/arranger, she has performed in bands such as The RoSSies, Finn's Fury, Gael Force, and the Neil Scott Johnson Band.  Her debut solo album of 14 original songs "Phoenix" is available on iTunes.

Please join the New Paradigm  Theatre's Youth Board in this Sunday Spotlight. You can register to attend at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8841210730837958656

~The NPT Youth Board