Showing posts with label Broadway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadway. Show all posts

Monday, May 5, 2014

Sister Act's Florrie Bagel Shows Her Backstage Space



As Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act, Florrie Bagel’s character would probably have strict guidelines in decorating her personal space at the convent. But in her dressing room on the show's national tour, the actress makes herself at home with citrusy fragrances and a yoga mat. Check out Bagel’s tour of her backstage must-haves!

“I like to surround myself with uplifting quotes, usually on cards, colorful books or little scribblings. It's nice to have inspiring words around me.”

“This LUSH fragrance is lemongrass, patchouli and sweet orange, and it makes me so happy to put a little dab on. The solid perfume stick is really subtle, which is good because I don't want to flaunt my fragrance in the convent.”


“I got this amazing Aladdin tea infuser tumbler, and I take it everywhere now. Backstage, I make sure to take a big ol' sip in between ‘Raise Your Voice’ and ‘Take Me to Heaven.’”


“I love yoga, so my Jade yoga mat is essential. Yoga centers me and connects me to my breath. It also helps to combat the stiff shoulders and 'nun-neck' from wearing the habits and veils.”

See Florrie Bagel in Sister Act at the Fox Cities P.A.C. May 6-11!
See the original article from Broadway.com.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Announcing the Tony Award Nominees


The 68th Annual Tony Award nominations were announced live this morning by Lucy Liu and Jonathan Groff. Leading this year is the musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder with 10 nominations followed by Hedwig and the Angry Inch with 8 nominations. Who would you like to see take home a Tony this year?

Best Play
Act One
All The Way
Casa Valentina
Mothers and Sons
Outside Mullingar

Best Musical
After Midnight
Aladdin
Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Best Book of a Musical
Aladdin
Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Bullets Over Broadway
A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theater
Aladdin
The Bridges of Madison County
A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
If/Then

Best Revival of a Play
The Cripple of Inishmaan
The Glass Menagerie
A Raisin in the Sun
Twelfth Night

Best Revival of a Musical
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Les Miserables
Violet

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Samuel Barnett - Twelfth Night
Bryan Cranston - All The Way
Chris O-Dowd - Of Mice and Men
Mark Rylance - Richard III
Tony Shalhoub - Act One

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Tyne Daly - Mothers and Sons
LaTanya Richardson Jackson - A Raisin in the Sun
Cherry Jones - The Glass Menagerie
Audra McDonald - Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
Estelle Parson - The Velocity of Autumn

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Neil Patrick Harris - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Ramin Karimloo - Les Miserables
Andy Karl - Rocky
Jefferson Mays - A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Bryce Pinkham - A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Mary Bridget Davies - A Night with Janis Joplin
Sutton Foster - Violet
Idina Menzel - If/Then
Jessie Mueller - Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Kelli O'Hara - The Bridges of Madison County

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Reed Birney - Casa Valentina
Paul Chahidi - Twelfth Night
Stephen Fry - Twelfth Night
Mark Rylance - Twelfth Night
Brian J. Smith - The Glass Menagerie

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Sarah Greene - The Cripple of Inishmaan
Celia Keenan-Bolger - The Glass Menagerie
Sophie Okonedo - A Raisin in the Sun
Anika Noni Rose - A Raisin in the Sun
Mare Winningham - Casa Valentina

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Danny Burstein - Cabaret
Nick Cordero - Bullets Over Broadway
Joshua Henry - Violet
James Monroe Iglehart - Aladdin
Jarrod Spector - Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Linda Emond - Cabaret
Lena Hall - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Anika Larsen - Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Adriane Lenox - After Midnight
Lauren Worsham - A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Best Direction of a Play
Tim Carroll - Twelfth Night
Michael Grandage - The Cripple of Inishmaan
Kenny Leon - A Raisin in the Sun
John Tiffany - The Glass Menagerie

Best Direction of a Musical
Warren Carlyle - After Midnight
Michael Mayer - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Leigh Silverman - Violet
Darko Tresnjak - A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Best Choreography
Warren Carlyle - After Midnight
Steven Hoggett & Kelly Devine - Rocky
Casey Nicholaw - Aladdin
Susan Stroman - Bullets Over Broadway

Best Orchestrations
Doug Besterman - Bullets Over Broadway
Jason Robert Brown - The Bridges of Madison County
Steve Sidwell - Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Jonathan Tunick - A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Beowulf Boritt - Act One
Bob Crowley - The Glass Menagerie
Es Devlin - Machinal
Christopher Oram - The Cripple of Inishmaan

Best Scenic Design of a Musical 
Christopher Barreca - Rocky
Julian Crouch - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Alexander Dodge - A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Santo Loquasto - Bullets Over Broadway

Best Costume Design of a Play
Jane Greenwood - Act One
Michael Krass - Machinal
Rita Ryack - Casa Valentina
Jenny Tiramani - Twelfth Night

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Linda Cho - A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
William Ivey Long - Bullets Over Broadway
Arianne Phillips - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Isabel Toledo - After Midnight

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Paule Constable - The Cripple of Inishmaan
Jane Cox - Machinal
Natasha Katz - The Glass Menagerie
Japhy Weideman - Of Mice and Men

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Christopher Akerlind - Rocky
Howell Binkley - After Midnight
Donald Holder - The Bridges of Madison Country

Best Sound Design of a Play
Alex Baranowski - The Cripple of Inishmaan
Steve Canyon Kennedy - Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
Dan Moses Schreier - Act One
Matt Tierney - Machinal

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Peter Hylenski - After Midnight
Tim O'Heir - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Nick Potter - Les Miserables
Brian Ronan - Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater
Jane Greenwood

Regional Theater Award
Signature Theater

Isabelle Stevenson Award
Rosie O'Donnell

Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theater
Joseph P. Benincasa
Joan Marcus
Charlotte Wilcox

Learn more about the Tony Award nominees at tonyawards.com!





Monday, August 12, 2013

Broadway Nights Contest Winner

This morning Fox 11's Good Day Wisconsin was live from Thrivent Financial Hall to select a grand prize winner for the Broadway Nights Contest.

Congratulations to winner Jeff Vanden Boogaard of Darboy! Jeff attended this morning for his wife who was the contest qualifier, but was unable to attend. Watch the clip on fox11online.com.

Jeff won a 2013-14 Broadway Season Ticket Package, seven overnight stays at the CopperLeaf Hotel, seven $50 gift certificates to Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant and an autographed poster signed by the cast for each show.

Runners up received a pair of tickets to Memphis, the first Broadway show of the 2013-14 Season.

The five qualifiers

Qualifiers are introduced by Good Day Wisconsin's Emily Deem.

Qualifiers open their gift bags to reveal the lucky winner.

And we have a winner!

Winner Jeff Vanden Boogaard with Emily Deem.

To learn more about this season's performances or becoming a Season Ticket Holder, visit foxcitiespac.com or call our ticket office at (920) 730-3760.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

New Dates for The Phantom of the Opera, Sister Act and Tent Show Radio

Due to a change in the national touring schedule, The Phantom of the Opera performance dates will move to June 11-22, 2014. The production remains part of the 2013-14 Kimberly-Clark Broadway Across America – Fox Cities Series having originally been scheduled January 8-19, 2014. The two-week run will include 16 performances including matinees on Saturday, Sunday and a mid-week matinee on Thursday, June 12. Season Ticket Holder Week will be June 11-17.

Two other productions in the 2013-14 Season schedule will be affected as a result of The Phantom of the Opera date change. Sister Act, also part of the Kimberly-Clark Broadway Across America – Fox Cities Series, will play eight performances May 6-11, 2014 instead of the previously announced dates of May 27 - June 1. Tent Show Radio’s 20th Anniversary Tour Celebration, part of the Boldt Arts Alive! Series, will move from May 8 to May 16, 2014.

All Season Ticket Holders will be notified with the rescheduled dates via email or phone this week. The new performance dates will be reflected on their tickets which they will be receiving in August. Group clients will be notified by the Center’s group sales department.


ABOUT THE SHOWS

The Phantom of the Opera
June 11-22, 2014
Midweek Matinee: June 12, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
Season Ticket Holder Week: June 11-17, 2014
Following an acclaimed sell-out tour of the United Kingdom, Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s phenomenal musical success, The Phantom of the Opera, will come to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center as part of a brand new U.S. National Tour. Hailed as, “Stunning, intense and spectacular,” by the Sunday Express, this production features a brilliant new design by Paul Brown, costumes by the much missed Maria Björnson, a new staging by Laurence Connor – director of the recent acclaimed 25th anniversary celebration at the Royal Albert Hall – and new choreography by Scott Ambler. The production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh.

Sister Act
May 6-11, 2014
Sister Act is Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash! The New York Post calls it, “ridiculously fun,” and audiences are jumping to their feet in total agreement. Featuring original music by eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors), Sister Act tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent. Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, Sister Act is reason to rejoice! Sister Act is locally sponsored by CR Meyer and SECURA Insurance Companies.

Tent Show Radio’s 20th Anniversary Tour Celebration
May 16, 2014
From the shores of Lake Superior, tucked away in the great North Woods, “Tent Show Radio” broadcasts the summer line-up of Big Top Chautauqua’s finest acts. Now, celebrating their 20th anniversary on public radio, the crew is taking the show on the road. New York Times best-selling author, host and humorist Michael Perry and the Blue Canvas Orchestra are setting up camp at the Fox Cities P.A.C. on their first-ever tour, bringing the best of “rural life” to the “big city.” Tent Show Radio ’s 20th Anniversary Tour Celebration is locally sponsored by St. Elizabeth Hospital.








TICKET INFORMATION 
Tickets for The Phantom of the Opera and Sister Act are available now as part of the 2013-14 Kimberly-Clark Broadway Across America – Fox Cities Season Ticket Package. Tickets for Tent Show Radio’s 20th Anniversary Tour Celebration are available now as part of the Boldt Arts Alive! Season Package.

For information on Season Tickets Packages offered by the Fox Cities P.A.C., please visit foxcitiespac.com or contact the Center’s ticket office in person or by phone at (920) 730-3760. Groups can also reserve tickets now by calling (920) 730-3786.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

T-10 Days Until the Tony Awards


The countdown is on! Only ten days left until the 2013 Tony Awards®. Here is our top ten list of all things Tony!

1. Check out the list of nominees and visit the Fox Cities P.A.C.  Facebook and Twitter pages and post which Tony nominated shows you want to come to the Fox Cities!

2. Watch nominee reactions, including ones from Tom Hanks and Cyndi Lauper.

3. Learn more about host Neil Patrick Harris.

4. Download your online Tony ballot from The New York Times.

5. Enter The New York Times Daily Theater Trivia Contest and the Broadway Across America Tony Award Sweepstakes for a chance to attend the 2014 Tony Awards!

6. Look through the Tony press day photo gallery.

7. Who is "Tony"? Read about the woman who inspired it all.

8. In need of a quick getaway to New York? Tickets are on sale now to this year's Tony Awards.

9. Visit Totally Tonys for fun family activities for your young theater lovers.

10. Watch the CBS promos staring Matilda, Annie, Cinderella and more!


See the Tony Awards live on Sunday, June 9 started at 7:00 p.m. on CBS. 



Thursday, May 23, 2013

From Fancy Shoes to Toe-Tappin’ Tunes: A 2013 Broadway Spring Preview

When you work for the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, you often get questions about what is the next hot show on Broadway. Each year I get the privilege to travel to New York to preview the newest Broadway shows which are likely to tour the country in the future. (Like they say, it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.) Now I’m back to share with you the scoop on what is new and hot on Broadway.

Pippin: This was the first show I saw when I arrived and it was one of my favorites this year. Although it is a total theater classic, I have to admit I wasn’t familiar with the show. From the music (score by Stephen Schwartz from Godspell, Wicked) to the sizzling choreography in the style of Bob Fosse to the incredible acrobatics, there is no question why this show is Tony®-nominated for Best Musical Revival. You have to see it to believe it! 


Cinderella the Musical: The show stars Minnesota native Laura Osnes, who was discovered on the 2006 reality show “Grease: You’re The One That I Want.” Since her debut as Sandy, Osnes has gone on to play some of Broadway’s leading ladies including Bonnie Parker in Bonnie & Clyde, Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes and Nellie Forbush in South Pacific.

Osnes is joined on stage by the charming Santiono Fontana who is also nominated for a Tony as the young prince Topher. The entire production is stunning and with the classic score by Rodgers and Hammerstein, it’s a perfect fit anyone who loves this enchanting story.





Kinky Boots: Speaking of shoes of a different kind, the new Broadway musical Kinky Boots offers a fun night out and a heartwarming story about always being true to who you are. Leading the pack with 13 Tony nominations, this show is not just a pretty pair of heels, but a very formidable contender in the Best New Musical category. The cast recording is due to be released this spring and composer Cyndi Lauper may become the first women in Broadway history to win the Tony for Best Original Score. Forget money, this Tony nomination changes everything.



Motown The Musical: Another soon to be released cast recording to watch for is Motown The Musical. From “ABC” to “What’s Going On” this show follows the 25 year journey of founder Berry Gordy and the rise of the Motown record label that launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye. Here’s a fun fact for you, the Tony-nominated Valisia LeKae (Diana Ross) once performed on the the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center stages with the musical All Shook Up. When I met her after the show, the first words out of her mouth were “I love Appleton!” I kid you not, meet her again here:



Matilda The Musical: Last but certainly not least, is a big Broadway hit featuring many pint-sized stars. Nominated for 12 Tony awards including Best New Musical, Matilda The Musical is perfect for families featuring colorful costumes, onstage magic and over-the-top comic performances (especially the hilariously wicked head mistress Miss Trunchbull). The show is based on the Roald Dahl classic children’s book and is also recognizable from the 1996 movie featuring Danny DeVito.



What 2013 spring musicals do you want to see come to the Fox Cities? 


Tara Brzozowski is entering her ninth year with the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. As Director of Marketing and Public Relations, she enjoys the opportunity to work every day with a dynamic team to tirelessly promote the wide variety of Center events and activities. While she loves a good show, she much prefers to work behind the scenes rather than on the stage.





Thursday, May 9, 2013

Top Five Reasons to Become a Season Ticket Holder




Top Five Reasons to Become a Season Ticket Holder

1. Convenient Combination
See the hottest Broadway shows with one easy purchase!

2. Flexibility to Fit Your Life
Season Ticket Holders can easily exchange tickets for another day or time.

3. Premium Perks
Premium Season Ticket Holders enjoy the best seats and the best benefits all season!

4. Great Package Savings
You save up to 25% over buying them the day of the show by purchasing now. Plus save on additional tickets throughout the season!

5. Payment Possibilities
Purchase today and make four easy payments!

For more information of becoming a Season Ticket Holder, visit foxcitiespac.com or call the ticket office at (920) 730-3760.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Lion King Pride - Little Known Facts About Broadway's Biggest Blockbuster


Lion King Pride
Little Known Facts About Broadway's Biggest Blockbuster

Did you know?
 
The tallest animals in the show are the four, 18-foot exotic giraffes from “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.”  The two giraffes in “Circle of Life” are 14 feet high.  Two actors trained in stilt-walking, climb 6-foot ladders to fit inside the puppets, mount stilts and enter stage left to cross the stage.

“The Giraffes” in the opening number “The Circle of Life” from THE LION KING National Tour.  ÓDisney.  Photo Credit:  Joan Marcus.  
Six Languages are spoken in the show: Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa (the click language), Sotho, Tswana and Congolese.
 
 
The Timon meerkat puppet weighs 15 pounds.

Nick Cordileone as “Timon” and Ben Lipitz as “Pumbaa” in THE LION KING National Tour. 
©Disney.  Photo Credit:  Joan Marcus.  

The North American touring production (launched in April 2002) uses 18 trucks to transport puppets, set pieces and other materials from city to city. Fourteen of the trucks are 53’ long semi-trailers.

 
The most complicated set piece is Pride Rock, which appears five times during each performance.  On tour, Pride Rock is a battery-powered set piece which expands out like an accordion to 18’ wide at its fullest position onstage and compresses to 8’ when it is offstage in the wings.  Learn more about Pride Rock at ROAR on April 22!

“Circle of Life”.  ©Disney.  Photo Credit:  Joan Marcus.  

Inside the Fox Cities P.A.C.: 

Over 11,000 bottles of water will be sold.

8,640 Volunteer hours will be donated.



287 different groups will attend; ranging in size from 15 – 336 attendees each!

6,000 ounces of specialty drink will be consumed.



1,500 Annual Partners will visit the Partners Lounge.

See Disney's The Lion King at the Fox Cities P.A.C. tonight through May 5!

Friday, April 12, 2013

Seven Safari Stops before Disney's The Lion King

Fun Things to See and Do at the Fox Cities P.A.C. Before Disney’s The Lion King

1. 10th Anniversary Timeline. Don’t pass by this 33 foot display located near the exterior valet entrance. Take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the best and brightest moments from the Center’s 10 year history.



2. Tobias Keene Painting. On loan from The Trout Museum of Art, see the 72 inch oil painting “Girl on a Golden Swing.” It was created by third generation British painter Tobias Keene who currently lives and works in Los Angeles. His work is a part of the Generations Exhibition at The Trout Museum of Art though July 21.

3. Disney’s The Lion King Souvenirs. Take home your piece of the magic with a souvenir from the show. There is something for The Lion King fans of any age.



4. 2013-14 Season Ticket Table. The Fox Cities P.A.C. announced the 2013-14 Season just two weeks ago. Stop by the table in the main lobby to learn more about the upcoming shows and the many great benefits of becoming a Boldt Arts Alive! or Kimberly Clark Broadway Across America – Fox Cities Season Ticket Holder.

5. The Lion King Themed Concessions. No need to worry about going hungry or thirsty during your trip to the African pride lands. Try a “Hakuna Matata” specialty drink or snack on some tasty treats that would satisfy any king or queen.





6. The Illusion of Joey Display. Much like Disney’s The Lion King, the five-time Tony Award®-winning production of War Horse uses groundbreaking puppetry to tell a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship. Learn how the 6 foot, 120 pound horse Joey was developed and created by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company and how it takes three actors to bring the horse to life before your eyes onstage. The display is located near entrances 11 and 12 on the orchestra level.

7. Photo Station. The popular photo station is back! Grab a fun picture with your family and friends and show us your creativity using the props. The photo will be posted on the Center’s Facebook page the day after the performance for weeknight performances (Tuesday - Thursday) and the following Monday for all weekend performances (Friday - Sunday Evening).


Monday, April 8, 2013

Use Care when Purchasing The Lion King Tickets


The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center proudly presents some of the most popular touring productions with its Kimberly-Clark Broadway Across America – Fox Cities Series. The upcoming four-week engagement of Disney’s The Lion King is no exception, and tickets are in hot demand as the event draws near. 

Tickets are still available through the only authorized online ticket seller, Ticketmaster.com, by calling (866) 870-2717 or in person at the Centers ticket office.

Due to the popularity of touring productions like 
The Lion King, ticket buyers often find that tickets are available through third party ticket agencies or brokers, especially online, but the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center cautions consumers that Ticketmaster is the only authorized online ticket seller.

Ticket buyers who purchase tickets from a ticket broker or any third party, should be aware that the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is unable to:
  • reprint or replace your tickets if they are lost or stolen.
  • contact you with information regarding time changes or other pertinent updates regarding the performance.
Tickets for DisneyThe Lion King are on sale now and start at $35. Tickets may be purchased at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Centers ticket office and online at ticketmaster.com or  lionking.com. To charge tickets by phone, call (866) 870-2717. 

Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling (920) 730-3786. Group discounts and additional fees may apply.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

ROAR: The Wildest Fundraising Event of the Season



  MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2013

Join us for the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center's premier fundraising event of the season! 

Journey inside the theatrical wonder of Disney's THE LION KING. Discover how Pride Rock and the Tony® Award-winning puppets come to life and more amazing stagecraft secrets!
 

YOUR MISSION:

6:00 P.M. — Passport to the Pride Lands
Enjoy a preadventure cocktail hour in the Main Lobby

 
7:00 P.M. — The Journey Begins
Step inside Thrivent Financial Hall and into the Pride Lands

 
8:15 P.M. — Survival of the Fittest Live Auction
Bid to win even more exciting Fox Cities P.A.C. adventures

 
8:30 P.M. — Disney Departure
Enjoy a dessert reception fit for a king (or queen)



Click below for a sneak peek of some of the details you can look for at ROAR!


Tickets for ROAR: A 10th Anniversary Safari Event are $100 and are on sale now at foxcitiespac.com. All proceeds benefit the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and its mission-based programs. 

Space is limited!

Friday, March 1, 2013

On the Road with The Addams Family


When most people are headed home from work, theater professionals are just getting started. What is that like? Musician Jim Geddes from The Addams Family gives us an inside look at life on the road.

On The Road
I love being on the road because every day can bring something different. Different cities, different venues, different cafes and different hotel rooms. So to write about the average day is quite difficult, but I will do my best!

This is my fourth national/international Broadway musical tour. Most cities I've been to before, so I pretty much know what to expect when I arrive at my destination. I know my favorite cafes and diners in almost any given city. I'm starting to get used to people following me or asking for my advice on places to go. I've always thought about writing a book on these places, but alas I don't know if I could sit down long enough to write something that long.

A “Typical” Show Day
Every day we get to wake up in a hotel with an unfamiliar scene outside the window. If we are lucky to be sitting down in city for a week or two, we won't have to board a bus to our next venue. If we are in a one nighter situation (in a city for only one night), we will have to board the coach bus early to make it to the next city in time to check into the next hotel and relax before heading to the venue.

Jim (far right) in the pit for The Addams Family

Sound Check
Sometimes the venue is a quaint 600-750 person theater and sometimes they can be as large as a 4,000-5,000 person arena. We have to play to every size theater, so sound checks are extremely important at new venues. Usually when I get to a new venue, I rush to the music pit to start setting up all my instruments. I usually average 3 to 5 woodwind instruments, but I've had up to eight instruments on shows before. Once I’m set up and everything is in place, we check every line and then run specific songs with the actors to make sure their mic packs are working and that they can be heard over the musicians.

Jim (front left) with fellow The Addams Family musicians

Getting Ready for Each Performance
After the sound check is when I usually have a minute to eat something light and prepare for the show. Eating healthy on the road is vital as musicians do not have understudies to go on if they aren’t feeling well. If we're sick, we still play. Being in good shape is a must. Light eating of veggies and fruit is usually the case. 

Right before the show, I will be back in the pit doing light warm-ups on each instrument and maybe playing through difficult passages. I'm mainly using this time to get all my ducks in a row, so that I can play through the entire show without interruption.

After The Show
Once the show has been played, if we are traveling to a new venue the next day, everything has to be packed up once again. Everything is cleaned and all the instruments are put back in their cases. 

We return to the hotel, either find a place to snack and have a few drinks, or we settle down in our rooms and snack from our reserves of food we travel with. A full night's sleep will help keep a musician in good health. Great hotels are always appreciated!

Then repeat!

With this current show, I am quite lucky that we have quite a few week long sit downs. Also we are traveling abroad to Asia this fall and the story of an average day changes quite a bit. But as far as the show goes, that will remain at the highest level we are capable of producing.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Getting to Know The Addams Family



The Addams Family is moving in February 26 - March 3 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, but before you put your house up for sale, let's say hello and get to know the man who created them, Charles Addams. 

The Broadway musical was inspired by the creations of the legendary American cartoonist Charles Addams, who lived from 1912 until 1988. In 1933, when he was just 21, his work was published in The New Yorker, and over the course of nearly six decades, he became one of the magazine’s most cherished contributors.

Bizarre, macabre and weird are all words that have been used to describe Charles Addams’ cartoons. Yet adjectives such as charming, enchanting and tender can just as accurately be employed to depict the same body of work, as well as the man himself.

His unique style and wonderfully crafted cartoons enabled his work to transcend such dichotomies for his millions of fans worldwide.

Charles Addams is most widely known for his characters that came to be called The Addams Family, a group that evolved into multiple television shows, motion pictures and now this Broadway musical. Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandma and Lurch existed in various forms and aspects of Addams’ cartoons dating back to the 1930’s but were not actually named by him until the early 1960’s, then the television series was created. 

Surprisingly, The Addams Family characters appear in only a small number of the artist’s several thousand works. The majority of his cartoons are occupied by hundreds of other characters, but there is little doubt that those that come to life on this stage are his most beloved creations.   

Over 15 books of his drawings have been published around the world, including the new collection, "The Addams Family: An Evilution," the first complete history of The Addams Family, including more than 200 cartoons, many never previously published. The collection also includes Addams’ own incisive character descriptions (originally penned for the benefit of the television show producers) that remind us where these oddly lovable characters came from and, in doing so, offer a lasting tribute to one of America’s greatest humorists.

Tickets for The Addams Family start at $54 and are on sale now!