Here I am in NYC, a Starbucks in Midtown, all thumbs on my iPhone about to run to auditions for Paramount’s Newsies. How are you, dear reader?
Short and sweet, I flew in yesterday morning to meet Team Secret of My Success for auditions. Working with Tara Rubin Casting, the actors’ songs, scene work and monologues are taped by Paramount Casting Director Trent Stork for review. Let me tell ya, the welcome response to new work generated by August Rush is going to be delivered upon tenfold next season in this original music adaptation of the 1987 Universal picture which starred Michael J Fox. Sitting back and listening to this new score by Chicago’s own Michael Mahler and Alan Scmuckler was a pleasure to hear repeatedly. The A-list roster of talent was thoroughly impressive. I imagined what it must be like for Alan and Michael to hear their songs sung again and again, one incredible artist after another. The professionalism of those auditioning was remarkable; some incredibly exquisite musicianship and characterizations and it was so evident they loved the material. Most of them were off-book and practiced, completely memorized and performing full-out. Hysterical comic bits in the book scenes were perfectly timed and made for, again, an extraordinary compliment to the merits of the writing.
The professionalism of those auditioning was remarkable; some incredibly exquisite musicianship and characterizations and it was so evident they loved the material.
Last night I met a friend of some thirty years, Darren Mathias, for dinner at a great new hot spot, Bea, delicious food and drinks on 43rd St. What a lively crowd where I just happened to run into some transplanted Chicago actors and then, (surprise!) Trent catching up with Gerald Caesar, Tyler Lain and Will Herndon stars from his cast of Legally Blonde!!!
Now I’ve got to run the block to Pearl Studios on 8th Ave to complete our knock out cast of Newsies in the works!
Keep good thoughts!
Love and thanks,
Jim