Happy Easter one and all! Every Easter we are likely to see the film JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR on TV. This year we will be very sad when we see it because we have lost our beloved CARL ANDERSON who played a wonderful Judas. Unfortunately, Carl lost the fight to a blood-related disease. We'll miss that incredible voice on this Earth, but I know he's singing somewhere in Heaven. Yes, my film SUPERSTAR will now be upstaged each year by THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. I'm sure for the next 50 years we'll see it all over the tube until someone else comes along and makes a new one. I'll be too old to come wiggling out of the caves! Speaking of wiggling, we had pot luck dishes this Easter at Uncle Mon Kwong's house, and there was no wiggling out of it! I was going to go to Ollie's and order some eggplant with ginger (a great dish), but I did volunteer to make fried eggplant with mozzarella. While cooking I filled up on eight slices before the taste and size was to my liking. I never want to see an eggplant again! My dish was a hit, as well as cousin Sharon's baked ziti. But the most loved was cousin Henry's wife Marion's Pineapple/Strawberry Cheese Cake. Better than JUNIORS in B'klyn! And that's saying something. I was so proud of my Chinatown children that auditioned for THE KING AND I from PS124 on Division Street.Cousin Chester's wife, Roseanne, translated the flyers into Chinese and went to all of the day care centers and schools to put them up. A special thanks to her for all of her hard work, as well as Zoie Lam, Steven Eng, Sharon Lee and Dana. They helped put the children through the vocals and all of their bows. Now...what's been happening in your neck of the woods...???
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
THOMAS J. WALSH 3RD (Bobby - Original) or Thommie Walsh, has officially obtained his license to sell Real Estate in New York. He is working with Douglas Elliman and gives us his e-mail address in case anyone is interested in buying or selling a co-op or condo: TWALSH @elliman.com. (Please use the link, DO NOT copy the address as it has a deliberate error in it.)
LAUREN S. WAGNER (Bebe - 2001 Tour) e-mailed to say she is having a great time selling Real Estate for JC De Niro & Associates. If you are looking for a place or if you are looking for her you can reach her at: lauren @jcdeniro.com. (Please use the link, DO NOT copy the address as it has a deliberate error in it.)
LUIS VILLABON (Paul-National) invites everyone to CORE PILATES, where he recently became certified as an instructor and is featured on an up-coming episode of QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY. It's a beautiful boutique studio with great views and professional discounts! Call 212.260.5464 for details!
CORRECTION:
BARBARA TARTAGLIA (Bebe - Italy) reminds us that when she played in the ACL production at NYU she played opposite Steven Nachamie as Diana Morales.That Bebe role was far behind her.
GRADUATING:
TYM BYERS (Richie - Regional) is graduating...FINALLY!!! Tym's final Senior Dance Concert are classic works by Martha Graham and Sean Curran. Tym will be also dancing a piece by a new face on the modern dance scene, Larry Keigwin, who appeared in Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY and in DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES. Larry has formed his own company and will be setting a new piece on the 2nd Ave Dance Company.
OTHER NEWS:
MICHAEL SERRECCHIA (Frank - Original) is back in New York at the Design Center promoting his newest artist. He also e-mailed us to say he's teaching Musical Theater at UNT this semester and also directed the first-ever combined Opera, Theater and Dance production at North Texas. The student performers are from all three departments, Opera, Dance and Theater, and the 26-piece orchestra is from the world-renowned UNT music department. The production is A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.
KELLY BISHOP (Sheila - Original) sent invites to her birthday party in New Jersey in May. Friends will have to drive or take the railways and knowing Kelly, it'll be worth every mile. By the way, her husband, Lee Leonard (who had one of the leading TV daytime shows in the 60's), will be celebrating his birthday also. I'll let you know how it all turns out in May.
PARKER ESSE (Don - Regional) says he'll be teaching a B'way Musical series at New York University this summer. He got started teaching in Connecticut at Lee Lund's Studio. Lee Lund was a favorite dancer of Michael Bennett in HENRY SWEET HENRY and in COCO.
JUSTIN ROSS (Greg-B'way and Film) e-mailed all of his New York friends to celebrate his official move to LA. He'll give his last party at his downtown Village apartment. His shindig happens to be on the same day as Kelly Bishop's. So Thommie Walsh has agreed to cover Justin's party and I'll cover Kelly's. Justin moves to LA to produce shows and direct films. Good luck, Justin.
KIMBERLY DAWN NEUMANN (Val - National) writes to report for those of you who have been asking (and those of you who haven't, but might have been wondering what she's been up to lately), she is performing in the staged concert version of FINIAN'S RAINBOW at the IRISH REPERTORY THEATER. She is dancing and discretely singing as "Susan Mahoney." Kim says the character is supposed to be mute, but there are so few women in the show she's having to coyly carry the entire second soprano section whenever she's not dancing...it's a challenge for sure. She asks, is ventriloquism a special skill?:-). Kim says she would love to see you all in the audience if you get a chance. She says she is still writing her articles for FITNESS MAGAZINE and WEIGHT WATCHER.
MATT WEST (Bobby - B'way and Film) celebrated his 10th Anniversary of the opening of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on B'way with champagne and hors d'ouvres before the matinee. The gathering, at his beautiful Architectural Digest midtown Manhattan Apartment, glowed as the sun shined in for the first time in weeks. Several days later, we had our monthly sushi meeting and he announced he'll be choreographing Elton John's new musical for B'way. He told me the name several times but I was so into my sushi, I only know the word "Vampire" is in the title. Good Luck Matt...we hope this runs for 10 years or more!
MERETE MUENTER (Maggie, Bebe - Regional) back from Europe from her job as Artistic Director of the Czech/American production of West Side Story. Her adventures, which lasted 3 months, gave her enough fuel to write home about for a year. We're expecting her novel to be out soon.
D. J. CHASE (Al - 2001 Tour) emailed to say Hi and send regards from his Kristine,REAGAN PIERCE.
STEPHEN NACHAMIE (Paul - Regional) says Hello and that he is busy directing and choreographing.
TROY GARZA (Dance Captain B'way) still busy producing and will write soon.
Seen Auditioning at RIPLEY-GRIER/CHELSEA STUDIOS:
MIKI YAMASHITA (Connie-2001 Tour)
MATTHEW KILGORE (Mike-Regional)
And now, a few words from our NEW YORK REPORTER: ROBERT TUNSTALL (Bobby-2001 Tour)
Spring is in the air....
Flowers blooming ... Birds a chirpin'
On to the dish and my newly bought merkin.'
Happy April Everyone!
This time of year always brings a warm glow to my heart. Mostly because it marks the start of my heart <beat> ing...a few some odd 30 years ago...oh, who am I kiddin'.....20 odd...very odd...years ago.
<hehe>
Fellow Taurean and love of my life KIM SHRIVER (Shelia, Paper Mill) is having a fabulous birthday bash this month. I SO wish I could attend, but I'll be engaged in the wedding of another ACL alum, MR. TODD MICHAEL SMITH (Mark, Hawaii), that particular weekend. I'm sure both celebrations will be out of this world.
CAITLIN CARTER (Cassie, Paper Mill) has been in touch recently. She's doing well and currently in San Francisco, CA. A busy girl, flying in to NYC for the recent Can-Can at Encores, starring Patti LuPone. Her next project is coordinating the "Career transition for dancers Gala" to be presented in October of this year.
DJ CHASE and REAGAN PIERCE (Paper Mill's Al & Kristine respectively) are doing well. Always good to hear from them and their worldly travels.
I've seen HALDEN MICHAELS (Roy, Paper Mill) several times out and about. He's always got a smile and a good laugh to share :)
MICHAEL GODDARD (Greg, Turning Stone) made a surprise NYC appearance. He seems to be enjoying life on the road with the national tour of The Producers.
BLAINE SAVAGE (Zach, Euro tour) wrote from LA, he's doing great and always entertains me with his funny stories. I met his sister (mother of my student Jessica) the other week. She's simply stellar.
KURT KELLY and SHANE RHODES (Larry - Mike, Paper Mill) are always entertaining during auditions. I hear that Shane got to play Rum Tum Tugger in Cats last year at Sacramento CLO. Purrrrrrrfect!
You know, that was my audition song that got me into acting school.
<Go figure>
I sang: "Da-Rumm-Tumm tuggar is a ....."
They said: THANKS! Can we hear your monologue now?
I'm sure it was the song...
Love to all,
Robert
....and remember...
"A word to the wise ain't necessary. It's the stupid ones who need the advice."
-Bill Cosby
Thank you Robert, as always, you are clever and fun to read. But most of all, in touch with the ACL community. Well, that's all for this month. Will have more to tell you next month. Please write and let me know what you are up to. The website needs your input to be a success. Write me at: baayork@achorusline.org
In loving spirit,
Baayork
