I guess we will have to make it to TOTC if it makes it to Broadway. Kevin was also one of our family favorites in the show . Also I have never read or seen TOTC. Since it is a classic I bet it is and will be really good.

Mrs N wrote:

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Where Aren't They Now: "Grease: You're The One That I Want" Hopefuls Fill Stages

Go to http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111024.html

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What about Allie and Jason?

I am going to see Kathleen tonight and will tell you about it when I get back.

I am also trying to go see Chad and Austin and Kate's show while I am here.

I went to see Kathleen yesterday in Long Island at a regioal theatre in Urban Cowboy. Although the script and the music are not ones that would interest me (I believe that the Broadway show closed in around 5 days?) Kathleeen was as beautiful and believable on stage as she was in the show.
she is so real and her voice was better than I remember. I rode out to the show with her and back to the city and had a wonderful evening. The cast was great as well and the crowd loved them.
It is only there for the month of September, so anyone who can go, should go.

I think I am going to see Chad in Altar Boys on Friday night and Austin and Kate on Saturday.
Julianna's is sold out.

I am seeing Grease tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Yeah!!!

Haven't seen this psoted here, so if I am duplicating, sorry...

Fresh Face on Broadway.com for Ashley.

I See London, I See France
September 20, 2007
By Andy Propst

With their new tuner I See London, I See France (subtitled "The Underwear Musical"), book writer and lyricist Vid Guerrerio and composer Jeremy Desmon serve up a generally smart and amiable musical variation on Sex and the City....

Choreographer Warren Adams has created some terrific dances for the show's curvaceous chorus (Whitney Bashor, Juliana Hansen, Mandi Miller).

From http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/nyc/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003644449

Sounds like it's been a wonderful trip for you, Rachel.  Glad you've been able to see so much and catch up with all of the kids from the show.  I'm sure Max has loved seeing you there also. 

Have a safe trip home, Rachel. I'm sure it helps to know you'll see your small son soon and your older one again in the near future. Thanks for sharing your thoughts/experiences about the other YTOTIW stars and shows.

-- Edited by Kait at 12:21, 2007-09-24

Even though Backstage.com's David A. Rosenberg didn't review Tully (in no particular order) very highly, he did offer these comments on Austin and Kate:

...the show takes on a manic quality, as in a madcap soft-shoe number in which Austin Miller, as the swaggering Claude Beautée, lets out all the stops.

Kate Rockwell is a seductive, hedonistic Clodia.

I'm so glad you had a great trip! Were there empty seats at Tully? I was really considering just heading up anyway to see if I could get a ticket but I ended up just staying home to finish my packing.

Have a safe trip home!!

"a fresh blast of talent"...... I'll bet that's exactly what Chad is in that show. He's so good. I'd love to see it.
His honesty just comes right out in everything he says. Great interview.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=21753

Ashley Anderson has joined the cast of the non-Equity Wedding Singer tour.

Mrs N wrote:

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Clodius and Clodia Pulcher (Pulcher being the Latin word for beautiful). Part political heavyweights, part Hilton sisters, the incestuous Clodius and Clodia, drank, screwed, corrupted, and murdered their way into Roman infamy....

Sounds easier than auditions!

Gramps3

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Mrs N wrote:

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Just heard that Kate Rockwell's gotten the role of the young Samantha in the movie version of "Sex and the City".

See http://www.dlisted.com/node/15477

-- Edited by Mrs N at 17:22, 2007-10-01

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That's a major coup for Kate. Whether the flick is any good or not it will get a lot of attention because of the popularity of the TV show and its continuous reruns. I wonder who her agent is?

Stan/Gramps

-- Edited by gramps3 at 23:49, 2007-10-01

WBT's original PHANTOM is coming back with a new Christine for the ages. Kate Rockwell, who appeared on the recent hit television reality show, GREASE, YOU"RE THE ONE THAT I WANT, will be wowing audiences at WBT as Christine, in Maury Yeston & Arthur Kopit's "PHANTOM". Rockwell , the finalist nicknamed "Serious Sandy" on the CBS show, was recognized for her extraordinary vocal prowess. Testing her comic chops, she will star as young Samantha in the highly anticipated movie version of Sex and the City.

From http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/article6073.html

Eris wrote:

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I'm so glad you had a great trip! Were there empty seats at Tully? I was really considering just heading up anyway to see if I could get a ticket but I ended up just staying home to finish my packing.

Have a safe trip home!!

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This is literally the first time I have had to respond to you. I got home and left again.

There were seats available and I got mine right at the door. I really had the best time in NY.

"Phantom" starring Kate is not on Broadway. It is for a regional theatre in Westchester, NY. While I believe that my friend Kate SHOULD be on Broadway, this will not be her debut. Hell, Austin derserves to be in a Broadway show as well.

Does anyone know what Allie is up to these days? She is a fabulous performer. The latest news about her I have is from Kathleen Monteleone, who told me she is taking classes and auditioning all over town. Anyone have an update?


-- Edited by zeus55 at 17:26, 2007-10-07

...Christine, played by Kate Rockwell, who was one of five finalists from the NBC competition show "Grease: You're the One That I Want."

Polum hopes Rockwell's high profile will bring younger audiences to the dinner theater. He's confident they'll like what they see.

"The startling thing," Polum says, "is that Sandy and Christine are not very similar roles. She came in and started to sing and she has an amazing voice, a beautiful coloratura on top. And I said, 'Why have you never played these roles?' and she said, 'They've never cast me in these roles,' and I said, 'Well, we're going to cast you.' "

"We think she's going to be fantastic. We're very excited about her," he says.


The "other Phantom" returns to WBT
Source: Journal News, The (Westchester County, NY)
Pub.: 2007-09-23

A tale of Two Cities

The production will take the former Putnam County resident from performances in Florida to a stage in New York.

Putnam County native Derek Keeling knew he would have to go through extreme measures to secure the part of Charles Darnay in the pre-Broadway production "A Tale of Two Cities."

So before auditions, he strapped on some custom-made shoes.

In these shoes - Derek's secret weapon to success - the fledgling actor had added inserts and heels to increase his height by about 3 inches.

Another actor, James Barbour, had already been cast as Sydney Carton. In one scene, Charles Darnay, the role Derek was trying out for, has to look like Sydney Carton.

Derek stands a mere 6 feet tall while Barbour is about 6 feet 4.

But with the shoes still on his feet, Derek walked out of the auditions with the job.

Then came the first day of rehearsals.

The show's directors and producers were shocked when Derek walked in and turned out to be the shortest guy in the cast. But all was quickly forgiven when they learned what he had done.

"They loved it that I did that," he said. "Because I did that, I allowed them to not make my height an issue."

Instead, they could focus on Derek's acting and singing, which both surprised and impressed them.

Derek recalled that they told him, "We didn't expect you to come in and do what you did.

"They expected me to have a poppy sound," he said. "They were really surprised that I was able to do the British accent."

Although most people know Derek, 26, for vying for the role of Danny Zuko on the television show "Grease: You're the One that I Want," his strength is actually classical acting and singing.

"It's great," Derek said, referring to his role as Darnay. "This type of theater, this type of singing is what I've been trained to do."

Derek is in Sarasota, Fla., practicing with the entire cast of "A Tale of Two Cities."

Before that, about 20 of the show's main characters were rehearsing in New York.

The first performance will be Oct. 13 at the 500-seat Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida in front of a select audience. The show will be performed there until Nov. 18 to allow the cast members to perfect their performances.

Half of the tickets to the Florida performances already have been sold. The show's producers expect tickets to sell out by the Oct. 26 opening date.

The show then may move to New York. Producers from some New York theaters will come to watch the show in Florida and decide whether they want to book it.

Most of the show's cast members have performed in five to 10 Broadway shows, a collective experience that Derek finds helpful.

"You really learn a lot by just watching them work," he said.

Being a part of the show's original cast means that Charles Darnay's character is modeled around Derek.

"My shoes are being custom-made for me," he said. "They're tailoring the music to what is best for me. Being in the original cast of the show, I have a chance to develop a character."

Rehearsals have been long - eight to 10 hours Tuesday through Sunday - but well worth it, Derek said.

"It's a very organic process," he said. "Working on the show is amazing."

Derek was a busy man even before his work in "A Tale of Two Cities" and since his appearance on "Grease: You're the One that I Want."

He has been involved in more original works, doing readings in different cities for different shows. Readings are the first step in what could eventually become a Broadway production.

Derek also has appeared in "Don't Quit Your Night Job," which is a comedy show in Manhattan.

He has traveled to different theaters where he used to work.

"It's given me a chance to give back and to sell more tickets for theaters I have worked at before," he said.

And since the TV show, Derek can't go anywhere without being recognized by someone.

The show, which was aired for several weeks last winter, was a competition among actors for the lead roles in a Broadway production of "Grease." Derek made it to the final three actors vying for the role of Danny Zuko.

"If I don't wear a hat and sunglasses, I'll probably be recognized wherever I am," he said.

Derek doesn't mind. He hopes that kind of recognition will attract more people to Broadway shows.

"What's interesting is that I've become a theater actor that's been recognized," he said. "I hope that we're going to bring a new dynamic into the Broadway world."

Derek's parents are still not used to their son's fame.

"It's strange," said Sandi Keeling, Derek's mom. "People just talk to you like they know you."

Derek is a 1999 graduate of Winfield High School. Since his appearance on the "Grease" TV show, he has come back to West Virginia twice - once to appear and sing for a West Virginia Power game.

Derek's parents said they are proud of their son and his accomplishments so far and are grateful for his chance to appear on "Grease."

"We are glad everyone in West Virginia got to see him on the show," Sandi said.

As for Derek's plans, he wants to continue acting in "A Tale of Two Cities" as long as possible. After that he may pursue television.

"Right now my focus is getting this show up and making it the best it can be," he said. "My dream has always been to do Broadway."

Derek Keeling's secret to success is some soaring shoes
Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV)
Pub.: 2007-10-01

Yeah, I read that article last week *s*

Mrs N wrote:

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Sorry, Eris and others, if any of the above excerpts from newspaper articles are repeats. I was checking a library database and thought I'd copy and paste some bits and pieces about "the other Dannys and Sandys".

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Oh, no worries! They weren't previously posted. I was simply stating that I had read the article on Derek and his shoes (I know how shocked you must be lol).

 

-- Edited by Eris at 19:55, 2007-10-08

A "Tale" for Two Dannys

Mrs N wrote:

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Thanks, Eris, for A Tale of Two Dannys. Forgive me for being a bit envious of your trip to Sarasota to see them perform.

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I will certainly do my best to make you feel as if you were actually there.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find my drool bucket for the picture posted in that article

 

We're leaving on the 30th, seeing the show on the 31st, and coming home on the 1st