The Mac-Haydn Theatre online newspaper ... read all about it!

Here you'll find ...

... news and notes about what Mac-Haydn people are doing, where they are performing, designing, creating, and directing shows.

... special items about Mac-Haydn projects and programs.

... a little gossip, a little chat, a little Mac-Haydn Theatre talk about this and that.

If you have any news to add, please send it to machaydn@fairpoint.net and we'll pass it along to The Broadsider editor.

February 3, 2012

Kyle Skillin (Wig Stylist 2011) headed for NYC after his MHT season, where he’s been  designing Jules, an off-Broadway premier of the life of the female impersonator and actor Julian Eltinge (opening in May). And he just picked up another job as wardrobe supervisor at MaYi's production of The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G opening next weekend!

February 1, 2012

Scott Wasserman (Doody in Grease and Coffee House accompanist all summer) will be the Music Production Assistant (PA) on Leap of Faith, a new musical by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater starring Raul Esparza, opening this April on Broadway! He’s working on editing the score and will be in rehearsal every day working with the music staff, and ultimately (if everything goes well) playing tech rehearsals and then subbing in the pit. Rehearsals start February 14 (my Valentine's Day date with Broadway), previews start April 3rd, and opening night is TBD but will be sometime before April 25th. Come see it!

The ever-busy Franklin Family keep adding roles: Julia (Sharpay in High School Musical 2008) recently performed as Bianca/Lois in Kiss Me Kate in Pace University's Kiss Me Kate.
Charles (Ryan Evans in High School Musical 2008) will be appearing as The College Boy in March in Pace University's Hello Again. George (Louis in the King and I 2011) will be appearing as Horton the Elephant in Debuts Theater Company's youth production of Seussical. Emily Franklin (Agnes in Meet Me in St. Louis 2009) will be jumping rope in the role of Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde with C-R Productions in March. Mom Lisa Franklin (Lady Thiang in The King And I 2011, Mrs. Smith in Meet Me in St. Louis 2009) recently went on as Velma in Hairspray in NYC with a day's notice and an hour of rehearsal. Quote: That was fun!!!!!

Jacqueline Petroccia (Patsy Cline in Always…Patsy Cline 2011) heading for her third portrayal of the country singer in Always...Patsy Cline at the Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut.  Here is the link to the theater: www.ivorytonplayhouse.org and her website is here:  www.jacquelinepetroccia.com. No question the audience will love her as much as ours did!

Paige Turco, Mac-Haydn alum from the 1980’s, continues to make it big – she’s back on “Person of Interest,” Thursday night at 9 on WRGB (NBC for those out of our area). Looks like her character might be a continuing one on this show; this time she might be the one to save the heroes, from the looks of the promo bits.

Former MHT Stage Managers on Broadway: David (O’B) O’Brien is Production Stage Manager of Godspell, the current revival is at Circle In The Square Theatre. Thom Gates is Stage Manager for Newsies -- he did the out of town tryout at Paper Mill Playhouse and is continuing for the show’s limited Broadway run, opening in March.

January 31, 2012

Jamie Grayson (Male Authority Figure -- Hairspray, 2008, among many others over several seasons), award winning “baby guru” TheBabyGuyNYC, is gearing up for taping of the Martha Stewart Baby Shower Show, which  airs February 17 on the Hallmark Channel. Check local listings. Jamie says: Set those DVRs :)

January 30, 2012

Audra Vaillancourt – former costume shop technician for several seasons, currently touring the world – yes, the world – as wardrobe head with Cirque Dreams. The group performs at military bases; she’s so far been to Japan, Okinawa, and other Pacific ports, and is currently in the Middle East – and having a ball!

Amanda Myers (2011 feature dancer, Louise in Carousel) currently choreographer and assistant director/music director for a production of Carnival! She reports: Going well so far :)

Jelani Alladin (Teen Angel-Grease) is performing in Julius Caesar right now as Julius Caesar at NYU; upcoming: performing at Joe’s Pub April 29 in a cabaret called No Time Like The Present.

January 5, 2012

Veteran MHT performer and director Jim Middleton has been cast as Coach Van Buren in Gurtman and Murtha's National Tour of Damn Yankees.

December 23, 2011

Matthew Rose (2011 Assistant Musical Director and Children’s Theatre Musical Director) has been accepted at the prestigious and highly competitive Goodspeed Music Direction Intensive at the Goodspeed Musicals Music Theatre Institute in Connecticut. He’ll be busy day and night at the week long class that covers multiple facets of being/becoming a great music director.   http://www.goodspeed.org/about.aspx?id=1938

Charles South (Danny - Grease, feature dancer – Swing)  will be going to the Goodspeed Opera House New Artists Festival in January …"should be fun."  Coming up also: playing Rosesncrantz in Hamlet and Guido Contini in Nine next semester, at University of Hartford. "Can’t wait for Nine!"

Amanda Myers (Louise in Carousel, Feature Dancer in Swing) having a wonderful time touring Japan with her college singing group: "Went north to the disaster area for two days, it's about 100x's worse than New Orleans, the only thing I had to compare it to. We cooked food and had a Christmas party at a standing community center in the mountains for those effected by the disaster and it was good to see them smile, some who haven't in a very long time, especially when we sang Silent Night in Japanese and they joined in."

December 21, 2011

Megan Glogower (Frenchy in Grease) playing Amber and Kelsey Self (Sandy in Grease, Tuptim in The King and I) will be mom, Velma, in Hairspray, coming up at their school, Belmont University in Nashville, TN. 

Jelani Alladin (Teen Angel in Grease) will be Julius Caesar and Octavius Ceasar in NYU’s upcoming Julius Caesar; then performing at Joe’s Pub.

Carman Napier (Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde, Rizzo in Grease) cast as Daisy in Side Show next semester at Boston Conservatory; then on to play God in Children of Eden.

December 15, 2011

Darrin French to be a featured dancer and singer in 42nd Street, the 70th Annual Dolphin Show at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. The Dolphin Show is famously known for being the largest student-produced musical in the nation and is a campus tradition. Performances are Jan. 20-28, 2012. For more information on the show and ticketing, visit: http://nudolphinshow.org/

Richard Gatta, a member of the 2007 company perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of Charlie Davenport in The Music Man, has signed on for the national tour of Billy Elliott.