Beyond Survival

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Bret

How do we as artist’s find a way to feel successful when we aren’t making money full-time in our craft?  It’s a question I deal with constantly as a mentor.  I struggle with it myself as a working-actor.  Let’s face it, New York City is expensive.

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Here’s my  thoughts on making sense of survival work, and thriving at the same time.   Currently outisde of auditions I am, giving sightseeing tours, doing social media marketing, mentoring other actors, catering every now and then, and doing concert work.  It keeps me busy, but it also teaches me tools that many people in this world never learn.

What are you doing for thriving work?  Leave a comment below, and join the conversation on Facebook.

 

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5 Reasons to Leave Times Square Alone

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Bret

In the news we were told that people were considering attacking Times Square and I was stunned.  You know, Manhattan is a very small Island,  most of us who live here avoid Times Square as much as possible but it really is just not possible.  I couldn’t understand, why Times Square?  Why any place really?  But, I decided to give anyone considering this my 5 reasons why Times Square should be left alone:

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5. Most of the People in Times Square aren’t even American! - It doesn’t take much time walking through Times Square to start to feel like you might be in another country.  Sometimes there are so many languages being spoken, they make a cacophony of alien Sounds.  So, let these people get safely back to their country, they might even be from yours.

4. It’s just billboards – Look Up!  It’s just billboards.  Lots of paper, wood, and neon lights.  What good will that do?

3. ….and fake Mickey Mouses – …who are mostly foreigners.  They aren’t even working for any major corporation.

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2. Broadway Theatres – a big majority of the buildings in Times Square are old historic Broadway houses.  Who goes to Broadway shows?  People like me.  I also plan to work in one again, so just leave them alone please.  If you want to take a tour of the Broadway Theatres, I give sightseeing tours with Broadway Up Close.

1. New Yorkers are open-minded – New Yorkers are some of the most open-minded and accepting people in the world.  We appreciate diversity, even celebrate it!  So please, leave our city alone!

Now it’s your turn!  What is your “favorite” thing about Times Square?  Tell me in the comments section below!

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If It Only Even Runs a Minute

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Bret

broadwaymusicalEvery now and then I get asked to perform at events around the city. I love getting to sing, and challenge myself with new material. However, no concert has impressed me more than the one I did last Monday. IF IT ONLY EVEN RUNS A MINUTE, is a tribute to under-appreciated musicals, and is a Musical Theatre lover’s heaven!
Jennifer Ashley Tepper and Kevin Michael Murphy follow through with such amazing research and humor. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I never want to miss another one, and neither should you!!

I was privileged to sing a song called, SMASHING NEW YORK TIMES from, A BROADWAY MUSICAL. Look up the show folks, it closed opening night!! They gave me the honor of opening the show. It would be an honor to return! Check out the press release below to see the amazing talent that I witnessed following my performance! And make sure to follow @runsaminute on twitter!

If It Only Even Runs a Minute 11, With Loni Ackerman, Brandon Victor Dixon, André De Shields and More, Held April 22

By Michael Gioia
22 Apr 2013

Brandon Victor Dixon
Brandon Victor Dixon

The 11th edition of the Bistro Award-winning series If It Only Even Runs a Minute is held April 22 at (le) Poisson Rouge. This edition features a cast reunion of the entire original cast of Maltby & Shire’s Starting Here, Starting Now: Loni Ackerman, George Lee Andrews and Margery Cohen.

If It Only Even Runs a Minute 11, which begins at 9:30 PM, features rare songs, behind-the-scenes tales and photos from Broadway musicals that may not have been fully appreciated the first time around.

Ackerman, Andrews and Cohen will share stories about creating Starting Here, Starting Now and sing numbers that they originated in 1977.

Also scheduled to perform are Kacie Sheik (Hair, February House), Cale Krise (The Book Of Mormon, Fat Camp), Daniel Everidge (Grease, Fat Camp), Bret Shuford (The Little Mermaid, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Bertilla Baker (Titanic, Asylum), Marlene Danielle (Cats, West Side Story), André De Shields (The Wiz, The Full Monty), Brandon Victor Dixon (Motown, The Scottsboro Boys), Jake Epstein (American Idiot, Spider-Man), Scott Fagan (writer of Soon), Danielle Gimbal (Pool Boy, The Fix), Leah Hocking (Billy Elliot, All Shook Up), Christopher Ketner (The Sound of Music), Kelvin Moon Loh (American Idiot, Here Lies Love), Brynn O’Malley (Annie, Sunday in the Park with George), Michon Peacock (Chicago, Georgy), Monet Julia Sabel (6 The Musical), Amanda Michelle Savan (Fancy Nancy, Cruel Shoes), Ryan Speakman (Camelot, Oliver), Larry Spivack (Metamorphosis, Triumph of Love), Taylor Trensch (Matilda, Bare), Renee Claire Bergeron (A Man Of No Importance, Whistle Down The Wind), and Freida Williams (Starmites, Jesus Christ Superstar), among others.

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According to press notes, “The show features performances, as well as stories, from original cast members and writers of several of the featured shows.”

If It Only Even Runs a Minute 11 features songs from and stories about A Broadway Musical, Georgy, Greenwich Village USA, Haarlem Nocturne, La Strada, The Last Resorts, Rockabye Hamlet, The Scottsboro Boys, Soon and Starting Here, Starting Now.

If It Only Even Runs A Minute is created and produced by Jennifer Ashley Tepper and Kevin Michael Murphy. Caleb Hoyer is the musical director.

(le) Poisson Rouge is located at 158 Bleecker Street. Tickets are $15 plus a two-item minimum. For tickets, visit lePoissonRouge.com. For more information, visit IfItOnlyEvenRunsAMinute.com.

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Pride and Prejudice

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Bret

Jennifer Blood and I had the privilege of singing a new song from a musical version of Pride and Prejudice by an amazing writer, Lawrence Rush.

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Check out the video below, and tell me your thoughts in the comments below.

 

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Childhood Friends

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Bret

This year marks the 14 year anniversary of my move to New York City. Yes, two of those years were spent on Staten Island finishing college, but a move from the middle of America to NYC is worthy of celebrating.

You have probably caught on, that I love New York City, even with it’s crowded expensive streets. I was reminded last night just why I love New York.

Four friends performed a fully staged concert of Songs for A New World, a musical song cycle by one of my favorite composers Jason Robert Brown. Nick Adams, Michael James Scott, Ashley Brown, and Jessica Rush. It was such a beautifully sung concert, but even cooler, a really fun convergence of Broadway artists coming to support other artists. I felt so lucky to have just worked with Ashley in her concert in Baltimore, done Hairspray in Concert with Nick, and know Michael through the circles of NYC.

But the coolest was seeing my childhood friend Jessica shine!  We performed together in shows as kids, and her Dad, Ken Rush, was a huge influence on my performance career as he was my Freshman year of High School Drama Teacher. Also, I saw friends from College, and all other walks of my professional life, as well as being there with my spouse.

It was a fun reflection last night, on how full my life is and how our paths have the potential to come full circle.  Check out these pics of my friend Jessica Rush from Middle School, and then the poster last night at Songs for a New World.

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She hasn’t changed a bit!  Who has come full circle back into your life now?  I want to hear about it in the comments below.  Or post a story on Facebook or Twitter.

 

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