November "WONG NOTES"

(3 November 2001)
Well, November is here and everything is quiet on the EASTERN FRONT. We all tried to see as many shows as possible for $25 last month. What a great bargain for all Equity members. I started taking BIKRAM "HOT" YOGA CLASSES with JOHN SALVATORE (GREG - 2001 TOUR). After closing in ACL at Paper Mill he started teaching full time. I guarantee you'll get a workout like you've never had before. If you think my warm-ups are hard, these classes will have you buying stock in Ben Gay. Last seen limping out of class were CLIVE WILSON, JANE SUMMERHAYES, and MATT WEST.

Our very talented NADINE ISENEGGER (Val - 2001 TOUR) has just signed to return to KISS ME KATE in the beginning of November.

TIM FEDERLE (MARK - 2001 TOUR) can be seen in the RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR. He's the one with big smile.

MATT JOHNSON (Zach - NIKKO TOUR) wrote to say he is now living in the D.C. area with his brother. He had a great summer playing Zach for Nick Demos's company of ACL at the Lyric theater in Oklahoma City. He went on to say that his Cassie, SHANNON LEE JONES, blew her knee out after two performances. Shannon, a talented actress, singer and dancer: we wish you well and wish that you are dancing in no time.

LORI MARSHBURN (Cassie - Nikko Tour) called to say she is on tour with CHICAGO, playing the part of Hunyak, the Hungarian. She said, "learning Hungarian was tough, but I survived." CHICAGO will close and re-open in Las Vegas at the Venetian Hotel in February.

ANTHONY INNEO (Zach- B'WAY) is off to California and Aspen for two weeks to pitch a show he wrote to some money people. Good luck TONY and come back with your pockets full.

J. ELAINE MARCOS (Connie-NATIONAL TOUR): If you haven't seen her lately it's because she's been in Toronto attending her brother's wedding.

RITA O'CONNOR (Sheila- B'WAY) is living in PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND and is teaching Theater and Dance. RITA danced in PROMISES, PROMISES, COCO,and FOLLIES for Michael Bennett.

LUIS VILLABON (Paul - PAPER MILL 2001) comes back from LA with Assistant Choreographer credit to Paula Abdul for Dana Carvey's latest film entitled MASTER OF DISGUISE (where he got to call "ACTION" for the dance scenes), and goes back into NAKED BOYS SINGING! for a month.

ROBERT TUNSTALL (BOBBY - PAPER MILL 2001) was also invited on the set by Ms. Abdul!!! 

TRISH GARLAND (JUDY-ORIGINAL) was in town for a short visit to see shows, CLIVE WILSON and DONNA MCKECHNIE. Everyone says she looks as beautiful as always.

TROY GARZA (DANCE CAPTAIN - B'WAY) (we hear through the grapevine) is assistant director to RICHARD SABELLICO up at the HELEN HAYES in NYACK. Good luck, TROY. We will let you know the name of the project as soon as we know.

LESLIE BECKER (CASSIE - NJ Arts Center) gave a splendid performance as GERTRUDE LAWRENCE in VICTORIA RACIMO'S LADY IN THE DARK.

SUSAN MATHIS (VICKI - NORTHSHORE MUSIC THEATER) is currently in SWINGING ON A STAR at the STAGE DOOR THEATER in FLORIDA. She will also be in SWINGTIME CANTEEN from DEC-MAY. The most wonderful news most of all is that she married PETER HULT on April 28, 2001. They now live in FORT LAUDERDALE, but plan to return to NYC in the near future.

DENNY DANIELLO (company manager -NIKKO TOUR) Called to say he's just bought his first home. It's in PENNSYLVANIA an hour away from PITTSBURGH across from his old high school and a few miles from his parents. What more could anyone ask for.

ALEC TIMERMAN (Mark - NATIONAL CO.) was last seen with tattoos on his arms and shoulders, dark glasses, and a rapper's hat at the Galaxy Diner on 9th Ave. Oh, yeah... it was HALLOWEEN.

LAURE BALONE writes that she has gotten the lead in a French musical, CONTES DE NOEL, which will take her to Beirut for four weeks in December.  In November she performs in the musical JOYEUSE in France. However, LAURE twisted her knee badly and is waiting to hear if she needs an operation. What's the question? "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU CAN'T DANCE ANYMORE?"

NOVEMBER 1 marked JOHN SALVATORE'S 40th Birthday and what a BIRTHDAY BASH his partner MARK EVANS organized! First of all if you haven't been to LIPS NEW YORK you haven't experienced GREENWICH VILLAGE. Our waitresses, all Drag Queens, were named GINGER SNAPPED, PEPPER MINT, CHITA, and JOAN RIVERS. JOHN was totally surprised because MARK had told him he was going to have a drink and then go to the theater. The guest list included: Chorus Liners J. ELAINE MARCOS, CAITLIN CARTER and her husband MARK, PAUL BUSHMAN, REGAN PIERCE, DJ CHASE, and CINDY MARCHIONDA and her main squeeze MICHAEL MCGUIRE (an actor on "GUIDING LIGHT"). Other guest attending were: TOM VIOLA, BRIGG BERNIE, LEE RAINS, BRIAN LOEFFLERY, ROGER PRESTON-SMITH, ENRIQUE and JASON (co-workers of Mark Evans), Bikram Yoga Teachers: GEORGIA, DAVID BOOZ, JANET, CHRISTINE, NIKKI, and MICHELLE. We were delighted to meet TOM and BILL SALVATORE, JOHN'S older brothers,who presented him with a family gift of a Get Away Weekend Trip anywhere. Of course Mark gets to go too that Lucky Guy. We had a very entertaining evening when all the waitresses performed their lip sync specialties. GINGER SNAPPED performed "TITS AND ASS" , CHITA danced and sang a LATIN number and gave us that RIVERA DANCE BREAK and PEPPER MINT over powered us with her 6' 10'' HAIR-DO and HEELS as MIMI in RENT. Of course JOAN hosted the evening with the RIVERS touch. After a few hours JOHN was warmed up and entertained us with one of HIS characters, DARRYL. If you've never seen DARRYL he's the one that Danced with Alvin Aily and got all the solos because he was Alvin's "lubber".

Well, I'm up to 12 classes in BIKRAM YOGA. It is the HARDEST thing I've ever done in my life. I would rather dance for 10 hours a day than take a BIKRAM YOGA class. I finally figured out why. I have spent my entire life going to class to make me be a better performer or to keep myself in shape, all external reasons. This is the first time I'm going to class for ME and MY BODY. For my mental state, for my circulatory system and all the organs that allow me to function all day. It's easier to say "I'm going to class to keep my technique up" rather than "I'm going to class to detox my blood stream." So if I can get any of you ACL members to go to John Golterman, a performer making the transition to Yoga teacher, I think you'll be glad you went. Please try it. His studio is at 250 W 26 St. New Students Pay $20 for 7 classes (consecutive days). There are many schools around but let's help a fellow performer realize his DREAM of owning his own SCHOOL and making it a SUCCESS. John Salvatore (ACL) and Mark Ries (Fosse) are some of his teachers.

In loving spirit,

Baayork

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