The SF Bay Area Theatre Blog

The Foothill Music Theatre winter show will be Pippin!

Key artistic staff:
Director: Jay Manley
Musical Director: Cathy Snider
Choreographer: Joe Duffy

Auditions:

Oct. 15-16 - look for mailers and on the Foothill Web site for more details as we get closer.

Performances:

Feb. 16-Mar.11.

Cast List:

Here's the casting break-down according to MTI, who licenses the show. Interesting that the Leading Player is described as male or female, I identify the role very strongly with Ben Vereen, but I guess women have played it too.

While Pippin was a Fosse show, and will require a bunch of very skilled dancers, this production is also looking for a strong singing chorus who will be "movers" rather than dancers. The musical score is by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell).

It's also interesting to see that Goodspeed is currently doing the show.

I was in the show almost 20 years ago and have quite fond memories of doing it. The score is really really fun to sing, and back then when I could carry off the Fosse-esque dancing that was fun too! These days I'd probably go for the granny role ;)

So, who's going to audition?

I'm a bit late with this, but Michele Johnston (last summer's golden-voiced Fiona in Brigadoon) emailed me to tell us of her latest production: Lily Emeline!

Here are the deets:

Here is what I have been working on for the last nine months!

Lily Emeline was born on July 18th at 11:36 am
7 pounds 3 ounces
21 inches long

She is the sweetest baby! Once again I realize my favorite "role" EVER" is "Mom"! But yes, I will still be doing theater! :) I have been doing voiceover work which is great because you can do it pregnant and no one cares! My latest was for Sega- a new atari game called "DinoKing" where I play a power-hungry babe called Ursula. Fun!

Congratulations Johnston family :)

I saw Annie Get Your Gun last night and have posted, as is my wont, my Top 5 Things I Liked about it on my personal blog.

For you new blog readers, here's what you should know:

-Because I'm closely connected to the show it's not realistic for me to do a real review...so I always list the Top 5 Things I Liked about shows I've worked on.

-Some actors really don't like to read reviews...sometimes until after the show closes, sometimes not at all...so I always post my reviews over at my personal blog, and you click at your own risk!

So check it out if you dare :)

Steven Winn has a lengthy article in yesterday's Chronicle extolling the virtues of musical theatre for providing escapist, hopeful entertainment.

At the end of the article, tacked on to the end of a backhanded compliment, Winn closes by praising our own Annie, Jessica Rauum, for epitomizing exactly how a musical can transport us:

Jessica Raaum's lively performance in the lead role exerted a hold. Riding a cattle boat back to New York City in the second act, Annie dreams through Irving Berlin's gorgeous, swooning ballad "I Got Lost in His Arms." The lighting went soft and furry on the Smithwick Theatre stage. The ship scenery floated away. And there was Annie, opening her heart in song.

It may only happen for a few minutes, for a song or part of one. But that's what a musical can do, as Berlin's song affirms; it can transport us back to ourselves: "I got lost, but look what I found.

Let's just leave it there. Congrats Jessica!

Found a few Annie Get Your Gun stories online that are fun.

This one from Broadway World is fun because of all the many production shots included. The show looks beautiful, doesn't it? I love the lighting on this shot, which is from one of my favorite songs in the show, "Moonshine Lullaby." And I'm not a person who typically notices lighting, but that's just gorgeous.

I also discovered that the Palo Alto Weekly has an arts & entertainment blogger. Apparently a little bird also told her about the squirrel incident!

Am I missing anything? Send me the links, people!

So, the reviewer from the Metro thinks that knowing too much of the real history behind a frothy musical theatre production creates "cognitive dissonance."

What do you think? Read it and weigh in...

How does Inside Bay Area love Annie Get Your Gun?

Let us count the ways:

"another outstanding musical production from the Foothill Music Theatre"

"Jessica Raaum play the sharpshooting Annie Oakley may be about the best thing since Betty Hutton took on the role in the 1950 movie version of the 1946 Broadway production starring the great Ethel Merman. What a marvelous, triple-threat singing talent!"

"...Byron Westlund, who plays Frank Butler — her shootin' competition and on-and-off lover — reminded me of Howard Keel. But that was before I went back and found that Keel actually had starred in that role in the movie version. Not a bad comparison to make."

"I don't remember seeing a more enthusiastic and fun-loving cast in supporting roles, with the actors really enjoying themselves in the multiple roles and rip-snortin' dance routines."

"This talented pair (Jennifer Martin and Ted Zervoulakos) performed two outstanding song and dance numbers that rocked the house."

So on and so fort...check it out!

Late this month you can see quite a few Foothill alums in a benefit concert for Under One Roof. Here are the deets:

The Years Haven't Changed You: A Benefit Concert For Under One Roof
Hosted by Carly Ozard
Co-hosted by Barry Lloyd and Houston Allred

WHEN: Monday, August 28th 7pm-10pm
WHERE:
LJ's Martini Bar and Grill
Metreon Complex, 2nd Floor, 101 4th Street, @Mission
San Francisco

WHY: Under One Roof is a store where 100% of all profits go to help 33 different HIV/AIDS Organizations. www.underoneroof.org...where the right gift can change someone's life!

HOW MUCH: $10 Cover Charge
Two Drink Minimum sponsored by SVEDKA VODKA

ENTERTAINMENT:

Silent auction with tix to the best shows in town!

Performers include singers from the SF/NYC Cabaret Community, as well as Bay Area Artists from our own Foothill Families!

Carly Ozard (Six Foothill Shows)
Gary Stanford (Foothill Music Theatre regular-currently in Annie Get Your Gun)
Jared Lee (On The Town)
Nick Nakashima (Candide, Guys and Dolls)

Thanks for the heads up Carly!