A lot of people ask me when I knew I wanted to become an Actor. I always wanted to sing and dance, and tormented my three brothers while pursuing it. Just watch these two videos below.
We were also promoting our local production of Oliver, starring Bret Shuford as Oliver.
By Adam Hetrick
09 Jan 2012
UnsungMusicals artistic director Ben West will stage the revised production that will played a limited, three-week run through March 17. It officially opens March 4.
In addition to Goldyn (A Chorus Line, On the Town), Reuter (Spamalot, Shrek) and Shuford (South Pacific, The Little Mermaid), the cast will include Stacey Harris (Lone Star Love, White Noise) and Dennis O’Bannion (White Christmas). Additional casting will be announced shortly.
The staging will restore previously cut dialogue and songs, including “I Gotta Have You,” “New York Gal,” “Old Fashioned Girl” and “Please Take It Back.”
Make Mine Manhattan is described as “a loving send-up of New York City’s most infamous borough. Struggling actors, disgruntled theatre critics and hapless out-of-towners all bite the Big Apple in this sparkling entertainment.”
The production will have choreography by Rommy Sandhu, musical direction and arrangements by Fran Minarik, lighting design by Joe Hodge and costume design by Martin T. Lopez.
For tickets, priced at $18, visit SmartTix.com, or phone (212) 868-4444. For more information, visit UnsungMusicals.org.
I’m so excited for January, because we are heading on a cruise. The Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas. After doing 108 shows of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular a vacation is much needed.
I’m so excited, because this cruise ship is HUGE!! It has all kinds of amenities.
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I also can’t wait to see their Chicago!!
As I’ve mentioned previously, the Radio City Schedule was hectic! But I wanted to share some of the fun stuff that I’ve been up to.
Last week I was featured in a blog interview called Theatre Buff. Buff meaning, muscular. Also meaning, I’m half naked in some of these pics, so be forewarned. I definitely believe in letting the hair that God gave me be in all the right places. No smooth operator for me, but it’s all about the interview right?
Click Here to read the Interview
I also was featured in a couple Holiday viral videos that circled the web.
Meet Carol:
I hope your holiday was filled with wonderful laughs, and love.
I got an email from my friend in Los Angeles asking me why I was staring at him from the newsstand, and this picture attached.
That’s right! I’m on the cover of a magazine!
There are a few more photos inside, but the article has nothing to do with me. I booked this job in September and it was so random. It was a nasty rainy day, and I was supposed to go all the way to the west side highway practically. However, I didn’t feel like it. I go out on a lot of go sees thanks to my agents, so never assume I’m going to book it.
Then my agent called and said they want you to come in no matter what. You are their number one choice. Then I did, and booked it!!
The Photos are courtesy of Aaron Goodman, an awesome and fun Photographer. I had a blast spending the day shooting these photos with him, and the editors of the magazine. Plus they fed us lots of food, and cupcakes!! What?!?!
I’m going to be a vocalist in the brand new Radio City Christmas Show premiering this year on November 11. I’ve never performed on the Radio City Stage, but am thrilled to be a part of such an experience. I’m in the Blue Cast, which means we do the first half of the day.
I’m nervous, because we perform between 12-16 shows every week. I’m posting the schedule here, so if you want to make sure you see (or hear) me, come on those days.
Merry Christmas!
Just like Debbie Gibson used to sing, I just got a small job Out of the Blue. I’m heading to Los Angeles Monday to perform with the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert on America’s Got Talent.
Somehow, in saying yes to this job, I didn’t think about the fact that I would have to wear 3 inch heels. That’s a new adventure for me. Also, I have to shave my chest, including my pits. Another new adventure. Here we go!
It’s so fascinating how just showing up and putting energy into the universe, little things like this will pop up. However, it’s going to be a whirlwind trip, so don’t think of it as too glamorous. Plus, I’m going to be a human cupcake with all the “girls” so good luck finding me. Nonetheless, it’s going to be an adventure.
I’m definitely going to warm up to some Debbie Gibson.
Stephen and I just went last night with a group of friends to experience a new theatre piece in NYC, Sleep No More. It’s loosely based on Macbeth, but does not tell quite a linear story. I say experience rather than, see, because that is what it is, it’s an experience of theatre. I’m a fan of Halloween Haunted Houses, and of course that was the first thing I though of when we were going to this. However, this did not involve cheesy acting, paper sets, and hokey sound effects, the quality of the experience is an all around artistic triumph. The “dancers” who were carefully cast, including a friend of ours who played the porter, are able to create emotional honesty, and are perfectly cast in each role. It’s hard to imagine, from my perspective, the amount of rehearsal, and physical therapy to get through each performance.
The experience to me is flawless, however, the audience needs some etiquette lessons. They have established rules that protect everyone, especially the performers: You must wear a mask at all times, and no talking. However, some of the people in the “audience” acted as if they were in the performance. It was very frustrating to see a Dungeon’s a Dragon’s fan, think they were playing a video game by holding one of the performers hands. But, the cast does not let that distract them, they seamlessly go about their flawless performances.
Please go see this show, and support these amazing performers. It’s hard to describe to you the experience, you must experience it yourself. 
All around, there were no huge surprises for The TONY awards last night. I thought it was an incredibly perfect show all around. They fixed the sound problems (mostly) that plagued the last two or three awards ceremony’s. (there was one sound issue during Sister Act’s performance) It was a definite sweep for The Book of Mormon, rightfully so, but the one surprise to me…Nikki M. James
She gives a very honest performance, don’t get me wrong, but considering the other actresses in the category, it was the only surprise. This is going to be huge for her, I look forward to seeing where her career goes. I love this article on playbill.com, she is already looking for her next job:
I recently had the pleasure of being a reader for auditions here in NYC. It was for a regional theatre, and it was incredibly enlightening.
So many times as actors we get stuck in the idea of needing to work. So much so, that we forget where the work lies. We think the work is just about getting to know the right people, and being liked. Of course, knowing the right people is part of working in the business, but that is not why we go into this business. I watched many people come into this audition, unprepared, dropping lines, even with the pages in front of them, and shaking in their boots at the sight of the people behind the table. It is OK to want the job, in fact, you SHOULD want the job, but part of the job is coming in prepared for the audition.
Often times, and I make this mistake as well, actors think, “They will see beyond the words on the page, and like me for me,” or “I’m really good at cold-readings, so I’ll nail this.” But the difference between someone who prepared the work on the page, and the one who barely did, is night and day. For example, there was one monologue that each person that came in for the show had to do, regardless of the role. After hearing the monologue 15 times in just part of the day, we as the listener, become aware of bullet point jokes. If you as the actor, miss the first, then the second, then the third joke, then you missed the entire monologue as we are concerned. Most of these actors didn’t even realize there were jokes in the monologue. That is where the preparation comes in.
The point is, an audition should never be about who’s in the room, who’s behind the table. It should be about the material you have prepared. Going into the room, focused on what is on the page in front of you, what you want from the scene, or who/what you are singing about in the song, will make you stand out far more. Believe it or not, it will also make you less nervous, because the material is why we choose to do this art form. It’s the FUN part, the PLAY part of what we do. Take the time to prepare the material before each audition. Find someone to help read and analyze the material, coach with someone.
I am offering up my services to coach people on audition sides, songs, scenes, whatever you need. I continue to be a professional working actor, and want to help you be the same. Feel free to email me, or suggest your friends to me, my rates are very cheap, and my locations are flexible. Bret@bretshuford.com
