The Last Midnight: March

Jitney
Opened: January 19, 2017
Closing: March 12, 2017
Tony Awards: N/A

The Present
Opened: January 8, 2017
Closing: March 19, 2017
Tony Awards: N/A

Stage to Screen: Part 2

I figured why not make this an annual thing (If applicable)

• Best Actor
• Denzel Washington- Fences as Troy Maxson
• 2005 Broadway Revival of Julius Caesar
• 2010 Broadway Revival of Fences
• 2010 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
• 2014 Broadway Revival of A Raisin in the Sun
• Best Actress
• Emma Stone- La La Land as Mia Dolan
• 2014 Broadway Revival of Cabaret
• Meryl Streep- Florence Foster Jenkins as Florence Foster Jenkins
• Original Broadway Production of 27 Wagons Full of Cotton
• 1976 Tony Award Nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play
• Original Broadway Production of A Memory of Two Mondays
• 1976 Tony Award Nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play
• 2004 Delacorte Theatre production of Mother Courage and her Children

Meryl Streep
Best Actress Nominee

• Best Supporting Actor
• Lucas Hedges- Manchester By the Sea as Patrick Chandler
• Original Off-Broadway Production of Yen
• Michael Shannon- Nocturnal Animals as Detective Bobby Andes
• Original Broadway Production of Grace
• 2016 Broadway Revival of Long Day's Journey into Night
• 2016 Tony Award Nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play
• Best Supporting Actress
• Viola Davis- Fences as Rose Maxson
• Original Broadway Production of Seven Guitars
• Original Broadway Production of King Hedley II
• 2001 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play
• 2010 Broadway Revival of Fences
• 2010 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play
• Naomi Harris- Moonlight as Paula
• Frankenstein  at The Royal National Theatre
• London, England
• Nicole Kidman- Lion as Sue Brierley
• Original West End Production of The Blue Room
• 1999 Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actress
• Original Broadway Production of The Blue Room
• Original West End Production of Photograph 51
• 2016 Laurence Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actress
• Michelle Williams- Manchester By the Sea as Randi
• 2014 Broadway Revival of Cabaret
• Original Broadway Production of Blackbird
• 2016 Tony Award Nomination for Best Actress in a Play

Viola Davis
Best Supporting Actress Nominee

• Best Original Song
• "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)" and "City of Stars" from La La Land- Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
• A Christmas Story, the Musical
• 2013 Tony Award Nomination for Best Original Score
• Dogfight
• Dear Evan Hansen
• "How Far I'll Go" from Moana- Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
• In the Heights
• 2008 Tony Award for Best Original Score
• 2008 Tony Award Nomination for Best Actor in a Musical
• 2016 Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music
• Hamilton
• 2016 Tony Award for Best Original Score
• 2016 Tony Award for Best Book
• 2016 Tony Award Nomination for Best Actor in a Musical

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Casting Goals: Wicked

So with the rumored Wicked movie being released in December 2018 (I believe) I figured why not do a Casting Goals for the show (Either movie or a stage version)

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba

Lena Hall as Elphaba

Rachelle Ann Go as Elphaba/G(a)linda

Jessica Keenan Wynn as Elphaba

Eva Noblezada as Nessarose

Jessica Lange as Madam Morrible

Jenna Russell as Madam Morrible

Sierra Boggess as G(a)linda

Still Hurting: The Color Purple (Broadway Revival)

Here is a segment that I've been meaning to do, but I've completely forgot about it.

As I've told you guys before The Color Purple 2015 Broadway Revival was pure brilliance and this marvelous and perfect production closed way to soon and should have enjoyed a much healthier run! While the run lasted over 100 performances it still could have and should have been longer. This is such a beautiful show with a beautiful cast in a beautiful production.

Something's Coming: Miss Saigon (Broadway Revival)

You get a double wammy today! P.S. I realized I've been spelling Alistair's name wrong for a long time now! I spelled it with two "L's" sorry Alistair!

Synopsis: In the turmoil of the Vietnam War, Chris, (Alistair Brammer) an American soldier, and Kim (Eva Noblezada), a Vietnamese girl, fall in love and marry but are distressingly separated when Saigon falls.

Why I'm Excited: Guys we have talked about this over and over and over and over again. You know how much I love this show. Have you seen all the bootlegs I have of this show? It's a lot! I mean come on! Rachelle Ann Go everyone!

Alistair Brammer and Eva Noblezada
2014 West End Revival

Kwang-Ho Hong and Eva Noblezada
2014 West End Revival

Company

2014 West End Revival

Something's Coming: War Paint

This is a new post series which has to do with upcoming Broadway shows (Or just any show in general) that I would love to see or am going to see. I'll just attach a quick synopsis (Copied from Wikipedia) why I am excited for the show and a few promo shots. Here we go.

Synopsis: War Paint tells the remarkable story of cosmetics titans Helena Rubinstein (Patti LuPone) and Elizabeth Arden (Christine Ebersole), who defined beauty standards for the first half of the 20th Century. Brilliant innovators with humble roots, both women were masters of self-invention who sacrificed everything to become the country’s first major female entrepreneurs. They were also fierce competitors, whose 50-year tug-of-war would give birth to an industry that would forever change the face of America. From Fifth Avenue society to the halls of Congress, their intense rivalry was ruthless, relentless and legendary—pushing both women to build international empires in a world dominated by men.

Why I'm Excited: I just find the basis of this show so interesting. I think it is a story about two strong women who really broke the ceiling. Also come on watching Patti LuPone be a ruthless makeup empress. Who wouldn't want to see that?

Christine Ebersole, Mary Ernster and Patti LuPone
Chicago Out-of-Town Tryout

Patti LuPone and Douglas Sills
Chicago Out-of-Town Tryout

Christine Ebersole and John Dossett
Chicago Out-of-Town Tryout

War Paint beings previews on March 7th and officially opens on April 6!

Carmen Cusack as Elphaba

Just watch this people. Her riffs are amazing!

Casting Goals: Allegiance

In honor of seeing Allegiance in theatres I decided to do a dream cast for this show. Here we go...

Rachelle Ann Go as Kei Kimura

Ethan Le Phong as Sam Kimura (1940's)

Sierra Boggess as Hannah Campbell

Jon Jon Briones as Tatsuo Kimura

Kwang-Ho Hong as Frankie Suzuki

Run and Tell That: Allegiance

Note: I repeat I am terrible at organizing thoughts. We all know this. I also apologize for the briefness in this review I am doing it from mostly memory and I didn't take great notes. I was more focused on watching the show as I have never seen it before.

"The book of Allegiance.... was a little much at times and while it had some great emotional moments the actors failed to rise to the level of intensity required."

There isn't really an interesting back story to me seeing this I was bored and wanted to get out of the house. Seeing Allegiance was quite different from seeing Miss Saigon in theatres. While Allegiance didn't have those terrible documentary videos to suck you out of the moment Allegiance didn't have the same power and intensity that Miss Saigon had while on the big screen. Allegiance is based off a true story about how after the bombing of Pearl Harbor thousands of Japanese-Americans were sent to internment camps where they lived until the end of the war. The story was a beautiful one and the score, composed and written by Jay Kuo, was very pretty, but it was rather forgettable and the songs could have been more emotional and heart gripping. The book of Allegiance written by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione was a little much at times and while it had some great emotional moments the actors failed to rise to the level of intensity required. The comedy in the book was very good and was at the appropriate moments. The pace of Act 1 felt rather slow while Act 2 felt like mach 5 speed. It was rather confusing at the beginning of Act 2 because you knew time past, but you weren't sure just how much time had passed. The direction by Stafford Arima was rather choppy and very overdone at times. I felt that Arima Broadwayfied this story. The actors either went over the top on little moments or were barely simmering on boiling points. The choreography by Andrew

Katie Rose Clarke, Lea Salogna, George Takei,
Telly Leung and Michael K. Lee

Palermo was beautiful, but at times unnecessary and not needed at times. It actually would pull you out of the moment. The design of Allegiance was very beautiful from the sets designed by Donyale Werle while very stunning they felt a bit much at times, but still were very beautiful. The lighting by Howell Binkley was stunning and set the mood perfectly and complimented the sets. The costumes by Alejo Vietti were also very well done. Anyway let's get onto the specific actors. The only character in the show that was a real person is Mike Masaoka portrayed by Greg Watanabe while a skilled actor his portrayal was nothing special. Next we have Katie Rose Clarke who gave the surprise performance of the night as Hannah Campbell, the army nurse who falls in love with Sam Kimura. Clarke has such a beautiful voice and her portrayal of Hannah was excellent. The way she portrayed her love for Sam and trying to hide it. As well as her longing to help the poor Japanese-Americans even though she knows what could happen to her. Also her chemistry with the entire cast is absolutely amazing. Especially the bond between her and Telly Leung as Sam Kimura. Their very first duet "I Oughta Go" was absolutely hilarious from the comedic timing to how well their voices blend together. Hannah is the most well written role in this show in my opinion. Clarke plays this role to perfection and her voice is just absolutely gorgeous. Clarke was the clear knockout performance of the night in this show. Next we have the role of Tatsuo Kimura, the father of Sam and Kei, portrayed by Christopheren Nomura who did not have the vocal strength to fill this role. Nomura was a great actor and has a great voice, but he could have been a lot more powerful as the controlling, stubborn father. I think he could have raised the intensity up a notch and then he would have commanded the stage. Other then that Nomura was a wonderful actor with a very nice voice. Next we have the foil to Sam Kimura's character which is the role of Frankie Suzuki portrayed by the crazy talented Michael K. Lee whose portrayal of his character was on the same

Telly Leung and Katie Rose Clarke

level as Katie Rose Clarke. Lee knew the right moments to be funny and when to be dramatic. His rendition of the song "Paradise" is quite possibly the best song in the show. The song showed off all of his talent and his well placed comedic timing. Next we have the role of Sam Kimura in the 1940's portrayed by Telly Leung who just like Greg Watanabe is a skilled actor, but his portrayal of the role was nothing special. His chemistry with Lea Salonga and Katie Rose Clarke is crazy good. He has an excellent voice, but when the time came for intensity he fell short. I felt he could have raised the stakes higher. While his comedic timing was great his dramatic timing (Is that even a thing?) lacked. We then have the role of Sam's older sister portrayed by Lea Salonga who was rather disappointing throughout the entire show. She had no intensity or vocal power that was required. Her rendition of "Higher" while beautiful lacked something. I also think the song itself could have been better written. I think Salonga's emotional intensity could have been notched up several more heights. Specifically when ****SPOILER**** When Hannah gets shot. ****END SPOILER**** She also could have been more intense during "How Can You Go?" both her and Telly Leung could have been much more intense and in each other's faces. Last, but most certainly not least we have the man who is responsible for bringing this whole project together George Takei who portrayed the duo role of Sam Kimura (Present Day) and Ojii-San (1940s). Takei is a truly amazing actor and human being for having not only lived through this difficult time, but who also was willing to go back and relive that experience

Michael K. Lee and Female Ensemble

eight shows a week. In the opening scene Takei portrays an older Sam Kimura who is getting ready for a Pearl Harbor rememberance ceremony. During this opening scene Takei seemed stiff and frigid and I don't mean as a creative decision. It was almost as if he had stage fright. When Takei became Ojii-San you could see he was much more comfortable because the character was closer to his personality. The only part that was wonky with Takei as Ojii-San was when ****SPOILER**** Ojii-San died because it was obvious he had a heart attack, but then he acted as if the pain went away and he was fine he then smiled and their was this weird death rattle type sound before the lights went out, ****END SPOILER**** Anyway the ending of the show was very beautiful and heartfelt, but it did feel a little weird. I don't know why it just did. Overall Allegiance is a beautiful show and it has lots of potential. I just hope the writers don't give up on it and maybe take it on a US Tour because I would see this show again if the option was available.

"Gaman. Dignity, pride as we stand side by side. Even when all hope seems gone. Gaman. Gaman. Gaman..."

A Day in the Life

I am going to see Allegiance in cinemas today and then after that I might go see Laughter on the 23rd Floor at Walnut Street Theatre. Today is a theatre day for me.

Interview Series!

Hello Everyone! I am going to be trying something new this year! I will be starting interviews! I shall interview many different people (or at least try to) and I will ask them about what they currently have up and coming and if they have any projects they are currently working on as well as any dream roles they would love to play. The series will be called Sunday in the Park with (Insert actor or actresses name)

Magic to Do: Talent Show

So Talent Show was last Thursday and I didn't hit this one high note and I got uber emotional during the song. I have no idea where any of that emotion came from. I will post it as soon as I get the video.

Unexpected Song: As If We Never Said Goodbye

The show Sunset Boulevard is probably one of the most infamous shows of from all of it's lawsuits to rotating leading ladies and constant rewrites. In my opinion this is the best and strongest song in the show. "As If We Never Said Goodbye" is so beautiful and is literally a love song from Norma to Hollywood. Sure you could sing this song as if it were about a guy, but what makes it so much more haunting is Norma doesn't sing it that way. She sings it to the studio. It shows how fixated on a return to the big screen she is.

Betty Buckley (West End, Broadway)


Elaine Paige (West End, Broadway)


Glenn Close (2016 West End Revival, LA, Original Broadway, 2017 Broadway Revival)


Patti LuPone (Sydmonton Festival, West End)


Ruthie Henshall

Casting Goals: Sunset Boulevard

In honor of Sunset Boulevard returning to Broadway I figured I would make a list of all the crazy talented women whom I would love to see play the iconic role of Norma Desmond! As always comment and leave suggestions.

Helena Bonham Carter

Cynthia Erivo

Lena Hall

Lady Gaga

Jessica Lange

Jenna Russell

Lea Salonga

Sherie Rene Scott

Meryl Streep

Hannah Waddingham

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Anjelica Huston

When I tweeted some of these amazing ladies here were their responses!

@Mermanesque @OpenAirTheatre Yes please!

— Jenna Russell (@jennarusselluk) August 27, 2016

@Mermanesque you are on a roll #OUTOFTHEBOX

— Cynthia Erivo (@CynthiaEriVo) September 15, 2016

@Mermanesque yessssssss

— sheryl lee ralph (@thesherylralph) February 11, 2017

Magic to Do: College

I can officially say I am going to commit to Ithaca College! Ithaca was my number 1 choice and I've officially been accepted as of today!

Overview of the Campus

Famous Alumni Include!!!

1. David Boreanaz
2. Kerry Butler
3. Michelle Federer
4. Jeremy Jordan
5. Ricki Lake
6. C. C. H. Pounder
7. Aaron Tveit