December found me under the sun and on the sand in Santo Domingo at the Hilton Coral. On my last day there nature decided to send torrential rains which quickly turned into a major hurricane. All I could do was laugh as I stepped out of bed into a foot of water. Planes delayed, island flooded, a holiday to remember. I spent Christmas and New Years in Asia with Cuz Chester Lee and family. We attended Alice and Henry Tam's New Year's Eve bash in the suburbs of Hong Kong. The city's holiday season surpasses New York 100 times. There were fairy lights outlining all the buildings in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, and thousands of people shopping for those holiday bargains. When the ball dropped in Times Square, Hong Kong and three other locations, I thought of all those people freezing in New York's Times Square. However, we were enjoying the weather in the upper 70's and getting that summer breeze from the South. Will tell you all about my trip to Beijing and Xian in January's WONG Notes.
FOUND: FRED LLOYD (Wardrobe Supervisor - International, National, B&T) now at University of Mississippi. Anyone wanting to get in touch with him can contact him at his e-mail address. Click here to read his e-note to us.
FOUND: DAVID INLOES (Greg, Don - National 1980-81, National/International 1985, European 1986). Has long since retired from the business and lives in Long Island with his partner. Click here to read his e-note to us.
Holiday greetings came from:
DANA WINKLER (Cassie - Regional)
JOE LANGWORTH (Mark - B'way)
KEN LEIGH ROGERS (Butch - International)
MITZI HAMILTON (Val - B'way/ Sheila - International)
PATTI FORD (VAL - Nikko Tour)
DENNIS EDENFIELD (Don - National)
GINA PALIGIA (Diana - International)
RONNIE DENNIS (Richie - Original)
BRANDT EDWARDS (TOM - Original)
THOMMIE WALSH 111 (Bobby - original)
J. ELAINE MARCOS (Connie - B'way Tour of America)
STEPHEN NACHAMIE (Paul - Regional)
MICHELLE BRUCKNER (Sheila - B'way Tour of America)
PAUL DELCIOPPO (Tech staff - B'way Tour of America)
SANDY ROVETA (Cassie - London)
SANDOR RACZ (Greg - Vienna)
RAY KENNEDY (Bobby - Regional)
KIMBERLY DAWN NEUMANN (Val - National)
MICHAEL WATSON (Don - International)
ROBERT GINN (Associate Producer - Australia)
DJ CHASE (Al - 2001 Tour)
MERETE MUENTER (Bebe - Regional)
PAUL FRANK LIBERTI (Larry - Regional)
HOWARD LEVITSKY (Associate conductor - International/Atlantic City)
LORI MARSHBURN (Cassie - Nikko Tour)
LARRY BRIMMER MUNSEY (Mark - Atlantic City)
KEVIN CRAWFORT (Butch - International)
COLLEEN HAWKS (Judy - 2001 Tour)
ROBERT TUNSTALL (Bobby - 2001 Tour)
PETER BARRY (Mark/ Larry - London)
MATTHEW KILGORE (Mike, Roy - Regional)
JENNIFER ANN LEE HO (Connie - International)
CLIVE WILSON (Larry - Original)
MATT WEST (Bobby - B'way/film)
BETH POLITO (Bebe - National)
MICHAEL SERRECCHIA (Frank - Original)
REAGAN PIERCE (Kristine - 2001 Tour)
BOB AVIAN (Associate choreographer - Original Production)
DONNA DRAKE (Trisha - Original)
CAROLINE KIRSCH (Lois - Original)
GIANNI SALVUCCI (Mark - Italy)
MICHELLE MICHAELS KRISTIN KLEIN (Kristine - International)
SAMMY WILLIAMS (original Paul)
ALPHONSES STEPHENSON (MD - B & T and B'way)
JOSE RIVERA (Costumes designer - Regional)
ALDO PASSERINI (MD - ITALY)
LARRY BLANK (MD - National)
ROY MILLER (Associate producer - Paper Mill)
TIM FREDERLE (Mark - 2001 tour)
NICK DEMOS (Mark - Atlantic City)
LAUREN WAGNER (Bebe - 2001 Tour)
MICHAEL SERRICCHIA's (Frank - Original) life partner Michael Robinson e-mailed to say: "We are happy to let you know that we are now the proud owners of M2 Galleries. We have galleries in the Henredon furniture showrooms in New York, Dallas, and Chicago - with nine more opening in 2004. The gala opening in New York is set for the evening of January 21. The gallery/showroom is on the top floor of the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Ave. The Dallas showroom has its gala opening on the 15th of January located in the Dallas Decorative Center.
BRANDT EDWARDS (Tom - Original) writes from his home town in Mississippi. Says MS is dull but he does get to travel for infusions of real life. His Mom still lives alone at 83 and Tim, his partner of 6 years, owns an art gallery in downtown Memphis. So he and his dog Toby are in town weekends and spend weekdays in the country. Sounds like there is a life after ACL.
PATTI FORD (Val- Nikko Tour) lets us know she and her ACL husband Whitney haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Patti hasn't been in touch since her grandfather passed away and she and Whit are in the process of moving. Their ACL baby Lilah Rose is growing and doing well. The Wilcoxsen's send us Holiday Greetings.
MITZI HAMILTON (Val/B'way - Sheila/International) will enjoy New York with her friends Thommie Walsh and Gene Foot. She's excited about working with director Tony Stevens again. in Chicago. This time round they will be doing PAL JOEY.
MATTHEW KILGORE (Mike, Roy, u/s Larry and Mark - regional) says he's currently performing in the ensemble of Annie Get Your Gun at the Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire, IL and having a great time working in the US again after spending 9 of 12 months last year overseas with 42ND ST. in Russia.
KEN LEIGH ROGERS (Butch - International) sent us a lovely message that he was happy to be back in the City for the holidays after directing SPUNK at Carnegie Mellon, his day job.
BETH POLITO (Bebe - National ) e-mailed to say: "I always seem to run into someone who has an ACL connection. We are everywhere !!!!!! spreading the light and love the show has blessed us with. Peace to you and yours this holiday season. love, Beth."
MATT WEST (Bobby - B'way/film) just in from St. Louis had lunch at his upper West Side hangout Lenge. However, this time he was sporting a real Hart on his left hand.
MICHELLE COX MICHAELS KRISTIN KLEIN (Kristine - International) Writes: "We are loving our life in Nashville." Hannah, her daughter, is taking serious guitar lessons and she continues to teach school.
STEPHEN NACHAMIE (Paul - Regional) Congratulations on winning the 2003 NORTH CAROLINA TRIANGLE AWARD for BEST CHOREOGRAPHER for recreating Jerome Robbins' choreography in WEST SIDE STORY. Stephen is happy to be in his new studio apartment in the city.
SCOTT PEARSON (Zach - National/B'way) wrote from San Francisco to say he celebrated another Sagittarius birthday and had dinner with DONNA DRAKE. She was in town for the opening of the 2003 version of Christmas with the Crawfords. Scott says she did a great job directing this very funny production. Scott says Donna looks great & claims the Atkins Diet has made her a new woman.
ROSELLA LOBUINDO (Diana - Italy) lets us know her ACL baby Rachel is now four and she and her ACL soundman MAX DI ROLLA are in their 3rd year producing The Full Monty, a huge success in Italy. When she gets a chance to breathe she will send us some photos for our A Chorus Line Babies.
CAROLINE KIRSCH (Lois - original) says she teaches for the Academy of the Arts and is directing ACL for them. "The kids are so talented and eager, and I feel that I want to pass it on to them so that they know it the real way. The images of all of the originals are right in the front of my mind and I must say, they're wonderfully pleasant and exciting images!"
HOWARD LEVITSKY (Assistant MD, Atlantic City) writes, "I am a vocal coach and accompanist. Will be happy to add ACL family members to my client list! E-mail him here.
JOSE RIVERA ( Costumer- National /Regional) writes: "Not sure if I'll be heading east soon, busy here designing the national tour of UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN for Windwood Theatricals."
J.ELAINE MARCOS (Connie - VISA Tour) left the summer tour of FLOWER DRUM SONG so she could start her new job in the Public Schools. She still continues to perform her stand-up comic routines
JOE LANGWORTH (Mark - B'way) e-mailed to say he was still on tour with THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE but took time off to see Camelot at Arena Stage where he did SOUTH PACIFIC last season. Joe said he had fond memories sitting in the theater.
DANA WINKLER (Cassie- Regional) wrote to say she was back at Westchester Broadway Theater (where she did Singing' in the Rain earlier this year) doing a new musical version of Miracle on 34th Street. Dana says "The cast is so wonderful, and overall it's just a lovely experience." She isn't dancing in this one and will enjoying time with my friends and family for the holidays.
TIM FEDERLE (Mark - 2001 tour) still having a great time in GYPSY on B'way. He has been on for the role of TULSA several time.
LUIS VILLABON (Paul - 2001 Tour) is happy to be back in the City, back to hitting his favorite restaurant MALECON. Pilates is his favorite excercise every day.
PARKER ESSE (Tom - Paper Mill) called to tell us he was choreographing WILL ROGERS FOLLIES in Houston, Texas. He also said he really enjoyed performing in CAMELOT at Arena Stage recently. He got to be involved in two combat ballets and was a High Stepping Stallion for 3 very active Knights.
EAST COAST REPORT:
ROBERT TUNSTALL (Bobby - 2001 Tour), New York Reporter, writes:
Happy Holidays!
This past month has been incredible!
First off...
Congratulations to KENDRA KASSEBAUM (Val - Gateway) for landing her second Broadway show! She'll be seen in the upcoming Stephen Sondheim musical Assassins at Studio 54!
Go gurl!
I had the great pleasure of seeing PRISCILLA LOPEZ (original Diana - Broadway) in Anna in the Tropics. She's so beautiful on stage and really had great depth to her character. My favorite part was when she told her husband "c'mon...Let's dance!" and she lit up the stage!
TODD MICHAEL SMITH (Mark - Hawaii) is doing great. We got to catch up after a Thanksgiving matinee I attended. The groom-to-be is still kicking it out in style in Hairspray. I'm looking forward to his April wedding date.
ERIC DYSART (Richie - Paper Mill) also did an excellent job in the show!
The Delightful DENA DiGIACINTO (Diana - Hawaii) joined me for the performance. We gave them a standing ovation at the end, since the rest of the audience seemed to suffer from tryptophan trauma.
ROXANE CARRASCO (Dance captain - Euro. tour) got rave reviews for her performance as Anita in West Side Story at North Shore. Congrats!!! She's back on Broadway in Chicago now and will be playing Velma Kelly for the week of Dec. 28th - Jan. 4th.
MATT JOHNSON (Zach - Niko tour) called to say hello and told me he was heading down to Brazil for some R&R. Very good choice :)
Over the holidays I was shopping in a mall in North Carolina. (can you imagine?) When what did I hear, but the voice of CLAYTON CORNELIUS, ringing in my ear. (Butch - Niko tour). He was visiting family as well and we got a big kick out of our random meeting. He's out on the National tour of Hairspray covering the lead role of Seaweed.
Before all the holiday happiness, I was asked to do a benefit for a youth choir program. It was my first one man show, entitled: "Dance like nobody's watching." I'm happy to report was a huge success...raising $10,000.00 for a great cause.
TIM FEDERLE (Mark - Paper Mill) and I begin rehearsals next month for "Dancebreak," which is an annual showcase put on by the Stage Directors & Choreographers Foundation. We're performing for choreographer Matt Williams who was one of six chosen to present work for a captive audience of Broadway producers, directors and writers. This year's choreographers also include Mia Michaels, Robert LaFosse, Jody Riplinger, Lainie Sakakura, Bob Richard.
I hope everyone has a safe and OUTRAGEOUS NEW YEAR!!!!
...and remember....
"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it."
Love to all,
Robert
Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season. Thanks for writing and letting me know how you all are doing. I'm so happy to know that more members and fans of ACL are logging on. Our numbers are rising. Thanks again for helping me with the site. I couldn't do it without your input.Please e-mail me and let me know what's going on in your life.
In loving spirit,
Baayork
