Category: Theatre

"Recent Tragic Events" News

9/5/2013

Photo by Shannon J Hager of XMLPhoto.com

"A surprising and moving play about a blind date on September 12, 2001 that morphs into a drinking game and freewheeling debate about fate and free will with the neighbors and a surprise guest." -Playwrightshorizons.org

"Recent Tragic Events" opens Thursday, Sept. 12!
Directed by Michael R. Simmons.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW
Click HERE to order online or call 704.455.8542

Sept. 12-Oct. 12.
Opening night: Thursday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m.
Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. No Sunday matinees.
VIP NIGHT for "Elemeno Pea" and "Recent Tragic Events" is Friday, Sept. 13.
Tickets are $28 adults; $22 seniors (60+) and $18 students.

Meet the Cast

Tickets are now on sale for "Recent Tragic Events" at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre in Charlotte where I will be playing the role of "Andrew." I have such an incredible cast and I am so honored to be helping to tell such a touching and emotionally rich story about a time in our countries history that changed the way we live our lives. The show runs approximately an hour and forty-five minutes with one 15 minute intermission. C.A.S.T serves draft beers from NODA Brewing Company as well as other refreshments. Every Friday night is FUEL PIZZA FRIDAYS! Get there an hour before performance time and get yourself a slice! Once you've come, if you like what you see, tell a friend! Keep the magic of live theatre alive and kicking! Thank you all for your support! Can't wait to see you at the show!

-Jack

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"Here Lies The Nance of Assembled Newsies"

7/12/2013

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Having just visited New York for five glorious days I thought it best to blog about my trip. It was my very first time flying Jet Blue and I have to say I was very impressed. It was my first time having a personal TV and plenty of leg room. I could not believe the yummy options of complimentary snacks! If you have never had the popcorn chips called "Popcorners" then stop reading and go get yourself some now! They are pretty great and they are gluten-free! Thankfully, I also had the pleasure of having a lovely woman sitting next to me that made the travel highly enjoyable. I landed in New York and met up with my sister, and while Popcorners were a fantastic snack, I was craving my first New York meal. We decided to meet my friend Mason at S'Mac which has some very yummy Mac and Cheese (I got the gluten-free one just to try it and couldn't tell the difference.)

We had some time to kill before meeting Nathaniel Claridad (a swing currently in the production of "Here Lies Love" at the Public,) my friend Caroline, and our friend Tania for dinner before seeing Nathaniel perform, so we got caught up over some yummy happy hour sangria. Once it was show time we filed into the space and were instantly inside a pulsing nightclub of Filipino history! It was a really awesome experience and of course I was bursting with pride to see a dear friend of mine living the dream, that was a very good feeling. Also it was great to see Jose Llana again. He had performed in a production of Dustin Lance Black's "8," (the play about Prop 8) in Chapel Hill last year. "Here Lies Love" was very interactive and forced the audience to be constantly aware of their environment which as a performer you can only hope will be the result of your performance. Well done to Alex Timbers, the director, I had never seen one of his shows but had heard of his fine work. It was great to finally experience the hype. "Here Lies Love" will run until July 28 at the Public Theater, so I recommend if you're in New York you go see it!!

The next day my sister and I had a lovely day at the theatre. We went to see Nathan Lane in "The Nance." It was a very touching story and an appropriately timed reflection on the past considering the current progress in gay rights. Nathan Lane was riveting. What an honor it was to see him perform.

Later that evening, after a nice bite, and a very random but lovely surprise run-in with my friend Margaret Burrus, who just happened to be working in the city over the summer, we got tickets to see Richard Greenberg's "The Assembled Parties." It was beautiful. Richard Greenberg is currently one of my favorite playwrights. I worked on his "Three Days of Rain" with Ground UP Productions and fell in love with his writing. (Check out Ground UP's current show "Rubber Ducks and Sunsets" on their site!) The set was also amazing. It was our second rotating set of the day after "The Nance." The set was an apartment and each new rotation invited into different rooms. Judith Light was very funny as "Faye" and Jessica Hecht as "Julie" just blew me away! I did not realize until intermission that Hecht was the girlfriend to "Ross'" ex-wife on "Friends!" She is an amazing actress and I would never have known if I didn't see this show. There is something so different about seeing an actress that you remember from TV on stage. It is more meaningful and you really get a better sense of their "essence." To say the least, I was very happy to have seen "The Assembled Parties."

Later in my trip I went to my very first Broadway audition! The call was for dancers for Disney's "Newsies." It was a very surreal experience to finally be in a room with all these other artists in New York City. I had a lot of fun and met some great people and of course (because this world is so tiny) ran into some friends. Later that night, because I was so hyped up on "Newsies," Nathaniel and I won the lottery to see the show (thanks to my amazing sister who won the tickets for us at the very last minute.) My former classmate from Elon University Adam Kaplan was playing "Morris Delancey" and is the 1st understudy to the role of "Jack Kelly." Adam blended in very nicely with the other Newsies boys but that is because he had the elegance and form of a trained dancer! I wish I could have seen him as "Jack!" The show was good fun, just as advertized!

After seeing four shows, attending a New York audition, and eating the good eats it was time for me to return to Charlotte for rehearsal of "Recent Tragic Events!" Yesterday was an incredible day because I finally signed the contract for the show, which means I am officially bound to perform for you September 12-October 12! I will continue to update the site on new information, so come on back and visit the site soon!

As of this weekend the Broadway / Off Broadway shows I have seen are:
Rent-2007
The Ling King-2007
Wicked-2008
Chicago-2008
Mary Poppins-2009
West Side Story-2009
Young Frankenstein-2010
Love, Loss, and What I Wore-2011
Avenue Q-2011
Hair-2011
Ghost-2012
Here Lies Love-2013
The Nance-2013
The Assembled Parties-2013
Newsies-2013

Until next time,
Jack

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Not So Tragic Recent Events

6/28/2013

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Those of you reading this are by now aware that our country's Supreme Court made some pretty fair and beautiful displays of justice yesterday on June 27, 2013! Declaring the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and in the official words of the Huffington Post, "By a 5-4 vote, the justices held in Hollingsworth v. Perry that the traditional marriage activists who put Proposition 8 on the California ballots in 2008 did not have the constitutional authority, or standing, to defend the law in federal courts after the state refused to appeal its loss at trail." In other words, same sex marriage is back on in California! I am overjoyed at the large leap forward this decision is allowing for same sex couples who by their rights as US citizens should be able to receive the same benefits of marriage that heterosexual couples receive. Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign, said in an interview, "We've taken two giant steps forward towards the American promise of equal justice under law, [we] celebrate today, and tomorrow we...fight like hell." I'm very much excited and proud to be a part of that fight.

Property of C.A.S.T.

In other non-tragic news: I have been cast at C.A.S.T. (Carolina Actors Studio Theatre) in the production of "Recent Tragic Events" written by Craig Wright. I will be playing the part of "Andrew," an airport bookstore manager who has been set up on a blind date with a beautiful girl the day after 9/11. It is a dark comedy that dives into some challenging topics and examines relationships and chance in a complex and fascinating way. I could not be more thrilled to take on my first professional production in Charlotte, NC and first production here since high school. I will be under the direction of the Artistic Director of C.A.S.T. Michael Simmons and sharing the stage with four phenomenal actors who I am already smitten with, having done a table read just last week with them. The cast include Devin Clark as "Stage Manager," Elizabeth Byland as "Waverly," Will Triplett as "Ron," and Emily Ussery as "Nancy." I will post updates about how you can see the show, including dates, ticket prices, and all that jazz in the coming months!

Until next time,
Jack

"Recent Tragic Events" opens Thursday September 12 and runs thru October 12. For now check out C.A.S.T.'s production of "Assassins" thru July 13!
Buy tickets HERE.

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Broadway Twisted = Success

4/29/2013

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Photo Credit: Nathaniel Claridad

On April 15, some of the most outstanding artists I have had the privilege to work with all performed on the same stage at the Local 506 for Broadway TWISTED!

The event was a HUGE success! I'm so thrilled I was able to be a part of it. Thank you so much to those who came out to see the show! We raised a lot amount of money for two great organizations and had an amazing time doing it.

The show was completely sold out and we even had to hold the show 30 minutes to allow everyone waiting outside in line to get it! That was almost my favorite part!

I really love the rush I get from helping to put something together with less than 24 hours of rehearsal! The fact that the event was such a success just blows my mind! It really made me understand the power of unity and group effort. Everyone held their own and the audience was going wild for more!

In the final tally we had 184 people in attendance! We raised approximately $1,280 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the NC AIDS Action Network.

The big rehearsal day! Photo Credit: Aisha Anwar

Photo Credit: Aisha Anwar

Rehearsing our songs with Mark Hartman Photo Credit: Nathaniel Claridad

Singing backup for "So Much Better" from Legally Blond the Musical. Photo Credit: Nathaniel Claridad

I was one of the featured artists at the event. I had the distinct pleasure of singing "I'm a Woman" from Smokey Joes Cafe with some of my incredibly talented classmates Kevin Spellman, Wesley Miller, and Will Hawkins! It was a completely fun and sexy number and I was told by several audience members that it stole the show! I really hope once I'm in New York that I get to be involved with stuff like this all of the time! It was a brilliant evening and we are all so incredibly proud of what we were able to accomplish! Hopefully this will not be the last Broadway Twisted the town of Chapel Hill experiences!

Until Next time,
Jack

Singing "I'm a Woman" Photo Credit: Nathaniel Claridad

Power stance from behind... All of us killing it! :) Photo Credit: Rachel Ivy

Click on the YouTube links to catch some of the group performances! Enjoy!

Trolley Song
I'm a Woman
So Much Better

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"Broadway Twisted"

4/9/2013

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    Cabaret had a very successful opening weekend and has been very well received, but of course like most theater-lovers we just cannot stop entertaining, even on our night off! This upcoming Monday April 15th myself and many UNC undergrads, graduate students, Playmakers faculty and "Cabaret" cast members including Taylor Mac, Lisa Brescia, and Nathaniel Claridad will be performing in a benefit concert for NC AIDS Action Network and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS with Jeff Meanza as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening! The event entitled "Broadway Twisted" is in the style of "Broadway Backwards" which involves women singing men's songs and men singing women's songs. "Broadway Backwards" started in 2006 and featured twenty Broadway performers united for the purpose of raising awareness and funds for at-risk gay youth, HIV prevention, and several other related causes. It is a chance to hear many of beloved Broadway hits in a new light. For an example, take a look at the latest Broadway Backwards event here: Broadway Backwards 8

    Thanks to the hard work of UNC MFA Candidate Nathaniel Claridad, Wagon Wheel Arts founder Tim Scales and UNC senior Zach Miecher-Buzzi as producers, this event will be happening in Chapel Hill at the Local 506 at 8pm on Monday! A $10 donation is required and 100% of proceeds will be going to the cause!

    The event is presented by PlayMakers Repertory Company's production of CABARET and Manbites Dog Theater's production of THE HOMOSEXUALS and it is a MUST-SEE! Come see us on our night off :)

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: LOCAL 506

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Previews

4/4/2013

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photo by Jon Gardiner

Previews are well under way for the Playmakers Repertory production of Cabaret and it has been a wild ride thus far! When I got to the theater on Tuesday night for our invited final dress I found out that the cast was in for quite a rare evening. Very quickly things felt like an episode right out of something written by Aaron Sorkin. We were informed that some virus dubbed by us "The Plague" had taken down several members of our artistic team Tuesday morning and had left several actors quite unwell. In the final tally, I believe we had ten members of the team affected by the phantom virus. But of course in the theater the show must go on! And boy did it! You would never have known that anyone was sick by the way the audience responded to our performance! It felt amazing to finally have an audience and once it was over we all made sure to get plenty of rest (because little did we know, "The Plague" was not done making its rounds.) We had a photographer from The Daily Tar Heel, UNC Chapel Hill's Campus Paper, as well as Playmakers photographer Jon Gardiner snapping photos that evening.

Taylor Mac as the "Emcee." And yes, how did you know, that is my stripped shoulder down right! Front Page of the Daily Tar Heel on Wednesday April 3, 2013! Photo by Halle Sinnott

Lisa Brescia as "Sally Bowles" Photo by John Gardiner

Lisa Brescia and John Dreher (Cliff Bradshaw). Photo by Jon Gardiner

In the grand scheme of things, the little upset of sickness was not large enough to take anyone down or affect the show in any fashion. We had our first official preview last night in which we had our first curtain call. I had tried out some new makeup ideas but they turned out to be a bit much (what are previews for if not experimenting!)

Previews are an existing time because elements of the show keep changing as we find out what works and does not work for our audiences. So far there have been no large changes and as we get closer to opening on Saturday everything is feeling much more complete and ready. The show is a lot of fun! Of course, it is also quite serious, but you do get a fair share of flashy cabaret numbers and powerful vocals from both Lisa and Taylor.

If you're a performer in any fashion, you know that the audience brings a show to life. Having members of the community the last two nights has been such a treat. I believe the excitement of a show comes in stages. There is the initial read through when everyone gets together, there is the first run thru, then there is the first time performing with the set, with the costumes, with the band, and finally a paying audience. I was visited last night by a truly marvelous audience member, my wonderful friend Haley and she brought me flowers!

My buddies Zach Moon (Left) (who I shared the stage with in "Three Days of Rain") and Matthew Hager (Right) (who I shared the stage with in my first production at UNC "From Up Here") also came to see the show last night!

Come taste the wine. Come hear the band! Cabaret opens Saturday and we would all love nothing more than for you to come share this work with us! There is one fifteen minute intermission and there will be plenty of snacks! Until next time friends! Enjoy the show!

"WILKOMEN" (I am down right in the stripes in the midriff with the white pants.) Photo by Jon Gardiner

The cast striking a final pose! Photo by Jon Gardiner

Cabaret opens April 3 and runs thru April 21. Get your tickets today!!
Box Office Hours are 12pm-6pm Monday-Friday, and two hours prior to every performance. 919.962.PLAY (7529) Visit the Playmakers website for more information.

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Tech Weekend - Cabaret - Sundown Supper

3/31/2013

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Thursday started tech weekend for Cabaret and while the process has been slow, it has been incredibly detail oriented. We now have three days of tech behind us and are on the way to doing a run of the show this evening! The costumes are incredible! The kit-kat girls costumes far out-shine the men, and for good reason! They are scandalous and sexy and quite captivating (though of course I love running around with my midriff exposed, surely among the many reasons to keep up the gym workouts.) Jen Caprio, the costume designer for the Broadway production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, has done such fine work on this show! We all sparkle and pop, and one can tell by the detail in all of the work that Jen is very well versed in her profession (not to mention the fact that she is an incredibly kind and roaringly hysterical individual.)

Since it is the last day of tech, Playmakers always treats the whole production team to a catered meal called Sundown Supper and has volunteers from the community to come in and assist with the festivities. The meal was catered by East End Martini Bar in Chapel Hill, NC and it was quite scrumptious. We had chicken Berlin, roasted potatoes, asparagus with hollandaise, and about fifteen different deserts. (Naturally I have stashed a little bit of everything for later.)

My first tech in the professional arena on the performers side has been delightful. This is the time when we all really get to know one another, shed our insecurities, and let loose. The time for fun is now and we are all pretty adept at that skill!

Cabaret opens April 3 and runs thru April 21. Get your tickets today!!
Box Office Hours are 12pm-6pm Monday-Friday, and two hours prior to every performance. 919.962.PLAY (7529) Visit the Playmakers website for more information.

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Working on Your Birthday

3/27/2013

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From Left to Right (Mason Cordell, Max Bitar, Nathanial Claridad, Me, Taylor Mac, Angela Sibille, Brandon Garegnani)

The scrumptious cake that Sarah Smiley made for me!

Maren Searle and Me

I found out on Saturday that at Playmakers Repertory Company it is a treat to work on your birthday! It was my 22nd birthday on Saturday and we were doing a full run of the show for the first time in our actual show space, the Paul Green Theater! That was a spectacular treat in itself, but the fun did not stop there. When we were coming back from our twenty minute break, the piano started up, the cast started singing happy birthday, and the stage managers, Chuck and Sarah, revealed the sparkling marble angel food cake with chocolate frosting and the chocolate chip cookies! It was quite a delicious day. Naturally, as we performers do, we huddled around the goodies and chatted for a bit, relishing in our extended break and enjoying each others company. I found it quite adorable how everyone kept coming up to me thanking me for having a birthday on this particular day (we all love breaks, and we all love to eat.) I have to say the extended break was well deserved for all of us who have been working so hard on this production!

As we go into tech starting tomorrow, I can happily say we are in such a good place and I firmly believe the community is going to be happy with the finished result. We have yet to sing with the orchestra, mics, lighting, or costumes, but if where we are now is of any indication of the strength of the production, I can just foresee all the elements adding up to something truly spectacular. I cannot wait to share this show with all of you! Thank you in advance to all of you who have already bought tickets in anticipation! And thank you again to the cast and crew for an incredible birthday! May we all have the fortune of being employed on our birthdays from here on out!

Cabaret opens April 3 and runs thru April 21.
Box Office Hours are 12pm-6pm Monday-Friday, and two hours prior to every performance. 919.962.PLAY (7529) Visit the Playmakers website for more information.

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Im Cabaret, Au Cabaret, To Cabaret

3/13/2013

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    An incredible journey has begun. My first show with Playmakers Repertory in my last year at UNC Chapel Hill: "CABARET" While it is a tremendous step up for me as I transition to professional theater, I have to say my experiences with undergraduate productions at UNC were almost as skillfully run. What I love about the Department of Dramatic Art here at UNC is the extraordinary dedication to seeing a project through to the end and giving all of oneself no matter how small a role. It is with all of our experiences, not just one, that we learn. I have worked with some incredible talents who have not even shared the stage with me, but who amaze me with their visions and readiness to go without sleep until a show can live and breathe without them. Zachary Meicher-Buzzi my three-time stage manager and former roommate will entertain you, keep you on track, and be there for you 100%. Kate St. John has done inconceivable work on designing sets for LAB! Theatre. As a "Stone" for "Eurydice" I had no trouble at all imagining the scene of the underworld. I digress, but my point is that I have been fortunate to work with some wonderful individuals whose kindness and artistic craft have kept me inspired and actively seeking more!

    When Joe Haj, Artist Director of Playmakers, cast me as "Herman" the Kit Kat Boy, I was truly full of the most intense excitable energy and that fire has in no fashion died out. Getting a chance to work with the incredibly gifted and most humble Lisa Brescia (Sally Bowles) has been a joy. I met Lisa in a musical theatre workshop in the fall and my class was just amazed at how encouraging and warm she was towards us all. We apparently were under the impression that this would not be the case, but I blame the media for such unsanctioned interpretations (though I haven't met a true diva yet, so I might have to apologize to all of the media for my previous statement). Working with both Lisa and Taylor Mac (Emcee) has been hilarious and moving at various points throughout the rehearsal process. One never knows what to expect in rehearsals because the whole cast is seldom called at the beginning of the process so each time we see a scene we get a genuine glimpse into these character's souls. (That was deep, I do not apologize). Being a working actor reminds me every day why I am in love with what I do! And when all the artists are collaborative and ready for anything like "Cabaret" has been, we never forget to have fun. We love to play and that is what we show up to do!

     I invite you to come experience "Cabaret" and witness the talents of the entire cast and my remarkable professors Julie Fishell (Fraulein Schneider), Jeff Cornell (Herr Schultz), and Ray Dooley (Max)! I must not forget the incomparable stage management of Sarah Smiley and Chuck Bayang. Only two more weeks until we go into tech! Stay tuned!

The show opens April 3 and runs thru April 21.
Box Office Hours are 12pm-6pm Monday-Friday, and two hours prior to every performance. 919.962.PLAY (7529) Visit the Playmakers website for more information.

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"Recent Tragic Events" News

Meet the Cast

"Here Lies The Nance of Assembled Newsies"

Not So Tragic Recent Events

Broadway Twisted = Success

"Broadway Twisted"

Previews

Tech Weekend - Cabaret - Sundown Supper

Working on Your Birthday

Im Cabaret, Au Cabaret, To Cabaret

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