BOTOC Kahncepts: Epilogue
Epilogue: Where Does Creativity Come From?
During the Kahncepts Presentations, someone said, “How do we be creative?” Someone else said, “Some people just aren’t creative.”
Bull. One of the purposes of acting class is to show you the heretofore darkened path to your intuition. And your intuition IS your creativity.
Here’s some of my own experience, strength and hope.
1. My Father Gave Me a Work Ethic.
My father was generally one of several places:
- at work, happily working,
- en route to or from work, happily working on the train,
- at home, at his desk happily working,
- at home, drinking martinis after happily working,
- at home, in the basement fixing something after happily working,
- at the club, happily working at running the club (he was the President for a long time),
- at the club, playing golf, blowing off steam from happily working,
- at the club, drinking martinis and eating seafood, blowing off steam from happily working,
- out at a party drinking martinis with their friends, blowing off steam from happily working,
Bear in mind, however, that I grew up in Chicago, so the golf only happened in late spring, summer and early fall (tops five months a year) and on vacations. So there was mainly a lotta happy working and a lotta martinis. Which is kind of who I was before I got sober. A work/alcoholic sans martinis (I preferred a nice glass of chardonnay).
Don’t worry – I’m not upset about any of this. I hadda great time. (Until I stopped having a great time.)
But I learned how to work like crazy. My father taught me to work until it was done. Then work a little bit more. Then have a couple bottles of vino. (Yes, he did say, “Everything in moderation, even moderation itself.” But I didn’t listen.)
2. My Mother Scared the Crap Outta Me.
You know how there are grades? Like A, A-, B+, B, etc?
Yah, we didn’t have those in my house. We only had A and A-.
I got an A or an A- or I was dead.
‘Nuf said.
3. My Mother, The Gorgeous, Human Think Tank.
My mother always has fabulous ideas. She is wildly creative and incredibly artistic when it comes to things like fashion, entertaining, decorating, and landscaping, etc. (and she was always the Best Dressed on the North Shore of Chicago. Yes. I know this is shocking to you. How could such a divine creature produce the likes of fashion-free me? I tried while I acted – I did the hair and the make-up and the shoes and the contact lenses. Even wore earrings. But honestly, I couldn’t compete. She was and still is simply too divine.
Whenever I had to do anything creative at school, my mother brainstormed with me. It was Mama who came up with my award winning State of New Mexico 5thgrade report cover idea; not me. She suggested I base my 6th grade short story on the book ONE BY ONE (I totes got an A). It was her idea that I use not one but TWO report covers for my Greece & Rome Report (also 6th grade; also an A); and she provided me with the fake pearls for the cover of my story, EVERYONE HAS AN AUNTIE MAME, I HAVE AN AUNTIE JANE, in 7th grade – yup, another A (and based on her sister, my Aunt Jane). She would tell you that while these were, in fact her ideas, the execution was all mine. And while that’s true, the early success of this combination — her “big” ideas and my ability to execute them via – you guessed it – hard work – gave me, I believe, the confidence to follow in her footsteps and come up with the ideas on my own.
4. My Smart Friends Taught Me Stuff.
When I was in high school, I had to write my first three-three essay. Do y’all still do these?
Uch. I hated them. We hadda come up with an hypothesis like, “Hamlet’s Tragic Flaw Is His Inability To Take Action” (yes, I stole that off the internet), and then provide three arguments to support the topic statement with three examples in support of each argument. It would look like this:
HYPOTHESIS/TOPIC SENTENCE
Argument I
Example 1 with quote
Example 2 with quote
Example 3 with quote
Argument II
Example 1 with quote
Example 2 with quote
Example 3 with quote
Argument III
Example 1 with quote
Example 2 with quote
Example 3 with quote
I wrote my essay and showed it to my friend Michael the savant musician and artist. I’d followed the directions exactly, but Michael said it was boring. “Whaddaya mean?!” I squealed. “Isn’t that what they want?!”
“Nope,” quoth Michael. “They want more. Do it like this maybe,” he said. (Below the differences are in bold and additions are in red.)
HYPOTHESIS
With additional quote
TOPIC SENTENCE
Argument I
Example 1 with quote
Quote and then Example 2
Two quotes and then Example 3
Argument II
Additional quote
Quote and Example 1
Example 2 with quote
Example 3 with two quotes
Additional Quote and Argument III
Example 1 with quote and more Example 1
Quote and then Example 2
Example 3 with quote
As soon as I started revising the essay, I saw that when I did it Michael’s way, my arguments were so much more expressive and convincing! And I was having so much more fun writing! I used the basic outline that I’d been taught, but I let the material and my hypothesis dictate the direction it took and ended up – you guessed it! Getting an A AND enjoying myself.
What’s the lesson here? DO follow the instructions to the letter FIRST, but then – let gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo and see what happens!
5. My Husband Reminds Me.
Sometimes Bob just BLOWS ME AWAY with his insight and imagination. He’s not even TRYING to be creative – but he just IS. It’s so irritating.
While I am almost ALWAYS trying to be in my right brain thinking outside of the box, I’m not entirely certain Bob believes that there even IS a box. (Or a right brain.) In fact, I’m fairly certain that he thinks the whole concept of “the box” is a conspiracy theory (fyi, he feels the same way about Kangen Water (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHLO4tpBYjA) and Eastern Medicine). Nevertheless, sometimes I’ll pose a question to him – about someone’s acting issue, or an exercise I’m creating – and he’ll solve the problem effortlessly and immediately – after I’ve been crunching it for days, weeks or months. How? He comes at it from a completely different direction than I do. And he’s not even TRYING to be creative. Just rational.
6. In Conclusion.
In my case, I believe my creativity came from a combination of
- the instillation of a great work ethic from my parents,
- a lack of knowledge that anything other than greatness was even a possibility,
- permission, encouragement, inspiration and motivation to be inventive and innovative from my mother, and
- constant reminders of reality.
Even if you got NONE of this as a child or an adult, now you have ME and I’m giving you ALL of it. So you HAVE it.
So git to usin’ it.
BOTOC: Kahncepts? Over and out.
THE END
BOTOC: Kahncepts Results #28
Teaching a Kahncept is Just Like Acting!!!! How?
Chapter 13. Miscellaneous.
A. Don’t Burn Your Steps (from the Thursday Night Kahncept:
For years I didn’t use Stashwick’s term, ‘Don’t Burn Your Steps,’ and in fact I used ‘Do It In Real Time – Live Through It,” instead, because I never really grokked Don’t Burn Your Steps. Puja M said she thought of Don’t Burn Your Steps as an opportunity to add stuff – cool shit, clever things – moments, while Do It In Real Time – Live Through It to her just meant be organic.
Puja M
They’re one and the same. You never just wanna add stuff in. You always wanna look at what just happened and have a thought about it. You don’t want to just look at where you’re going and add something to get there. And you never wanna “just be organic.” Always make a choice. Nick C said it was like a poster he once saw in a NY subway: “Slow down. You can’t be late if you’re dead.”
B. Surprise! There are Reversals in Music according to Thursday Night’s Reversal Kahncept:
Music, they said, frequently reverses at the bridge. Just like in literature, it’s a surprise — like the high notes in Dream On from Steven Tyler/Aerosmith (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6Qd9VR1gD8).
Adam K
Our fave parts of music are the reversals – the surprise parts. Art is similar. Dali has reversals in his paintings — his wife to Lincoln, for example (http://www.authenticsociety.com/about/GalaMediterraneanLincoln_Dali). In dance you have a stall, pop and lock (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc_hUhEmJzs).
Carrie W talked about Aristotle’s POETICS and story.
Carrie W
All reversals set up an expectation and then defy it. Surprise comes from incongruity. “A good joke is a disrupted syllogism.” “In mother Russia, the tv watches you.” We infer the first part. Laughter is rejection. Robert McKee (STORY) calls it a rush of insight. When we have to accommodate the disparity between our expectation and what happens, we laugh. Or gasp in order to burn off and diffuse the energy. Laughter also tells those around us that all is ok. You can get hi on reversals.
C. Teacher Tyler P says How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything.
Whatever you did in these Kahncept Presentations mirrors what you do in your acting. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should worry. Remember the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreyfus_model_of_skill_acquisition): it takes tiiiiime. So if you’re relatively new to LK&Co. and you’re doing B or C work, don’t panic! You might only be at the
1. Novice
- “rigid adherence to taught rules or plans”
- no exercise of “discretionary judgment”
or
2. Advanced beginner
- limited “situational perception”
- all aspects of work treated separately with equal importance
or
3. Competent
- “coping with crowdedness” (multiple activities, accumulation of information)
- some perception of actions in relation to goals
- deliberate planning
- formulates routines
level. AND THAT’S TOTALLY FIIIIIIINE! You’re on your way!
But! If you’ve been here a lot longer, you might need to look within!
A great game from Mark S, Jeremy B and Ben B’s Ohs and Other Little Words Kahncept for Monday Evening
So…
Chapter 1. Alchemy.
A. Have a premise.
B. Keep the faith.
C. Do your couch time.
D. Be consistent.
E. You can’t just be linear.
F. You need to bring you.
G. You gotta relax, stay in the now and stay outta the result.
Chapter 2. Ya’ Gotta Let The Input Change the Output.
A. Be in the moment.
B. Those of you who listened, flourished.
Chapter 3. Ya’ Gotta Be Specific: Clean & Clear.
A. Make sense.
B. Don’t be messy.
C. Be Accurate.
D. Make Text-Based Choices.
Chapter 4. Ya’ can’t Bore Me.
A. Don’t just read offa the page. B. Surprise us.
Chapter 5. Ya’ can’t Have Technical Trouble. Prepare. Do your homework ahead of time. Don’t wing it.
Chapter 6. Ya’ Gotta Stay in the Sceeeene!
Chapter 7. Ya’ Gotta Be Fat Free. eKahnomical.
Chapter 8. Be Original! And in Performance, Only Copy if You’re Improving Upon Greatness.
Chapter 9. Ya’ Gotta Come In and Go Out With A Bang!
Chapter 10. Ya’ Gotta Show The Fuck Up.
Chapter 11. Ya’ Gotta Love It.
Chapter 12. “My Teammates/Co-Workers/Co-Stars Don’t Work as Hard as I Do and They Bring The Whole Project Down. I Can’t Do It All Myself!”
Chapter 13. Miscellaneous.
BOTOC: Kahncepts Results #27
Teaching a Kahncept is Just Like Acting!!!! How?
Chapter 12. “My Teammates/Co-Workers/Co-Stars Don’t Work as Hard as I Do and They Bring The Whole Project Down. I Can’t Do It All Myself!”
Julia W
Ah, but you must. Because isn’t it your mug out there? You have two choices: (1) no show – see above for my opinions about that -, and (2) show up and do your best. Matt was the only one in his group who bothered to show up for his Don’t Burn Your Steps Kahncept and TRUST ME! He came off a HELLOFALOT better than his teammates did. I’m STILL pissed off at them. But when I think about Matt? I smile.
And what an opportunity for you! Or are you convinced that everyone is more brilliant than you are? If so, quit now. Please. But if not, have at it! Do something PHENOMENAL!
So…
Chapter 1. Alchemy.
A. Have a premise.
B. Keep the faith.
C. Do your couch time.
D. Be consistent.
E. You can’t just be linear.
F. You need to bring you.
G. You gotta relax, stay in the now and stay outta the result.
Chapter 2. Ya’ Gotta Let The Input Change the Output.
A. Be in the moment.
B. Those of you who listened, flourished.
Chapter 3. Ya’ Gotta Be Specific: Clean & Clear.
A. Make sense.
B. Don’t be messy.
C. Be Accurate.
D. Make Text-Based Choices.
Chapter 4. Ya’ can’t Bore Me.
A. Don’t just read offa the page. B. Surprise us.
Chapter 5. Ya’ can’t Have Technical Trouble. Prepare. Do your homework ahead of time. Don’t wing it.
Chapter 6. Ya’ Gotta Stay in the Sceeeene!
Chapter 7. Ya’ Gotta Be Fat Free. eKahnomical.
Chapter 8. Be Original! And in Performance, Only Copy if You’re Improving Upon Greatness.
Chapter 9. Ya’ Gotta Come In and Go Out With A Bang!
Chapter 10. Ya’ Gotta Show The Fuck Up.
Chapter 11. Ya’ Gotta Love It.
Chapter 12. “My Teammates/Co-Workers/Co-Stars Don’t Work as Hard as I Do and They Bring The Whole Project Down. I Can’t Do It All Myself!”
BOTOC: Kahncepts Results #26
Teaching a Kahncept is Just Like Acting!!!! How?
Chapter 11. Ya’ Gotta Love It.
So many of you complained about this assignment in much the same way that you complain about having to go to an audition that you think is wrong for you. Listen, in most cases? You gotta go. Best to find a way to LOVE it, otherwise you know you’re gonna drag that negativity into the room with you.
Lili M, Kristi S, and Trevor T in their Monday Night Don’t Move On Your Funny Presentation
“No, Les, I never drag negativity into the room with me!!!! I save that for you!”
How thoughtful. And?! I DOUBT IT.
I suggest you look at the very things you find uninteresting, upsetting, discouraging, frustrating and irritating and find a way to adore doing them. The most successful presentations did this.
Thursday Day’s Thoughts Out Loud with Courtney (Coco) P, Jennifer S & Stephanie J
Trust me: NO ONE WANTED TO DO THIS ASSIGNMENT. But those who pushed through to find their bliss ended up acing it and having an amazing, growth-filled, confidence-producting, friendship-creating, ability-increasing experience. So please, don’t just stop at the requirements. Do more! Find an interesting way to do the uninteresting stuff.
From Thursday Day’s Thoughts Out Loud game by Courtney (Coco) P, Jennifer S & Stephanie J
Do you like lectures? Giving them? Receiving them? ‘Course not. So find a better way! Don’t just stand up there in front of us reading off a piece of paper. You hate it, we hate it, everyone’s miserable. Lie on the couch, get on the treadmill, play basketball, throw a pot, cook something – do whatever you do to get into your right brain and come up with something fun and fabulous – a way to disseminate that information that would be coooool for you!
Stephen S, KC M, Ursula T, Nathalie J, Marcienne D, Courtney P on the couch
So…
Chapter 1. Alchemy.
A. Have a premise.
B. Keep the faith.
C. Do your couch time.
D. Be consistent.
E. You can’t just be linear.
F. You need to bring you.
G. You gotta relax, stay in the now and stay outta the result.
Chapter 2. Ya’ Gotta Let The Input Change the Output.
A. Be in the moment.
B. Those of you who listened, flourished.
Chapter 3. Ya’ Gotta Be Specific: Clean & Clear.
A. Make sense.
B. Don’t be messy.
C. Be Accurate.
D. Make Text-Based Choices.
Chapter 4. Ya’ can’t Bore Me.
A. Don’t just read offa the page. B. Surprise us.
Chapter 5. Ya’ can’t Have Technical Trouble. Prepare. Do your homework ahead of time. Don’t wing it.
Chapter 6. Ya’ Gotta Stay in the Sceeeene!
Chapter 7. Ya’ Gotta Be Fat Free. eKahnomical.
Chapter 8. Be Original! And in Performance, Only Copy if You’re Improving Upon Greatness.
Chapter 9. Ya’ Gotta Come In and Go Out With A Bang!
Chapter 10. Ya’ Gotta Show The Fuck Up.
Chapter 11. Ya’ Gotta Love It.
BOTOC: Broadway! Awards
BOTOC: Broadway!
December 12-16, 2011
Awards
Judges
Aline Bui
Julia Black
Lesly Kahn
Best Participation/Attendance
- 3rd Place Thursday Day: RUMORS
- 2nd Place Tie: Tuesday Eve: TWELVE FABULOUS PEOPLE / Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS
- 1st Place Monday Eve: BEYOND THERAPY
Best Following of all the Rules Listed on the Assignment
- 3rd Place Monday Eve: BEYOND THERAPY – Marty Soole
- 2nd Place Thursday Day: RUMORS – Mallory McGill
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Ginifer King, Helen Highfield, Victoria Kelleher
Best Presentation of Script
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Saku Ee
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE
Best Party Planning
- 3rd Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Alex Quijano
- 2nd Place Tie: Friday Day: THE LION KING / Thursday Day: RUMORS – Kalie Samovar
- 1st Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Nikki Hayden
Most Unexpected Outcome
- 3rd Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE
Best Last Minute Understudy
- 3rd Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Carrie Witta for the lights
- 2nd Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Alex Quijano as Olive’s Other Dad
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Jeff Meacham as Leaf Coneybear (we love you and your grandmother, Joel!)
Best Handling of Double-Casting
- 3rd Place Monday Eve: BEYOND THERAPY
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE for the two Olives
Best Bios
- 3rd Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING
- 1st Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS
Best Program
- 3rd Place Monday Eve: BEYOND THERAPY – Nate Jackson, Arriane Alexander
- 2nd Place Tie: Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS / Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS -Nikki Hayden made me look gawgeous!
- 1st Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Saku Ee
Best Use of Music
- 4th Place Monday Eve: BEYOND THERAPY
- 3rd Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS
- 2nd Place Tuesday Eve: TWELVE FABULOUS PEOPLE – Marcienne Dwyer‘s song
- 1st Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Mike Gilbertson on drums and guitar
Best Musical Direction
- 3rd Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS
- 2nd Place Tie: Friday Day: THE LION KING – JD Barton / Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Nikki Hayden
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Ginifer King, Helen Highfield & Victoria Kelleher
Best Producer
- 4th Place Tie: Monday Eve: BEYOND THERAPY – Marty Soole / Thursday Day: RUMORS – Mallory McGill / Tuesday Eve: TWELVE FABULOUS PEOPLE – Will Hawkes / Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Lili Mirojnick and Josh Crotty
- 3rd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Dean Li with Gina Novish, JD Barton and Saku Ee (Hilary Bauman)
- 2nd Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Ginifer King, Helen Highfield, Vikki Kelleher
- 1st Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Nikki Hayden
Best Casting
- 4th Place Tuesday Eve: 12 FABULOUS PEOPLE
- 3rd Place Tie: Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS / Thursday Day: RUMORS – Mallory McGill
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Dean Li
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Ensemble
Raciest
- 4th Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE - Adam Korson‘s erection and Lesly as the object of his lust
- 3rd Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Ensemble STREETCAR kissing scenes
- 2nd Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Rachel Germaine for “Tits & Ass” Striptease
- 1st Place Thursday Day: RUMORS – Jay Ellis in KC’s pink feathered cock sock and not much else
Best Props
- 3rd Place Monday Eve: BEYOND THERAPY
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Saku Ee for the Zebra Leg
- 1st Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – India deBeaufort, Anna Campbell
Best Hair & Make-up
- 3rd Place Tie: Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Ellen Wroe as Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere / Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – India deBeaufort
- 2nd Place Tuesday Eve: 12 FABULOUS PEOPLE – Cheryl Lynn Bowers for The Queen of Hearts
- 1st Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Cher Tenbush
Best Costumes
- 4th Place Tie: Thursday Day: RUMORS / Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Lilah Richcreek and Tyler Ritter for Princess Jasmine & Aladdin / Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Alison Turner, Bianca Lopez, Bettina Olivieri, Allison Pocchia and Nikki Hayden for my addictions
- 3rd Place Monday Eve: BEYOND THERAPY – Theresa Jun-Tao
- 2nd Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Ensemble
- 1st Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Gina Novish
Best Sets
- 3rd Place Tie: Thursday Day: RUMORS – KC Morgan and Mallory McGill / Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Nikki Hayden for curtains and suspended stars, among other things
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Saku Ee (Hilary Bauman, Kantu Lentz, Linda Kang, Heather Habecker)
- 1st Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Josh Crotty and family and Lili Mirojnick for the five fabulous backdrops!!!!
Best Lighting
- 3rd Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Carrie Wiita
- 2nd Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS
- 1st Place Friday Day: THE LION KING
Best Choreography
- 4th Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Adam Korson
- 3rd Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Josh Crotty and India deBeaufort
- 2nd Place Tie: Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Allison Poccia / Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Angelique Cabral for “I Speak Six Languages”
- 1st Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – JD Barton (for six numbers in a week!)
Best Use of Space
- 3rd Place Thursday Day: RUMORS – Mallory McGill & KC Morgan
- 2nd Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Josh Crotty & Lili Mirojnick for so many sets in ONE room
- 1st Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Saku Ee for use of entire building
Best Adaptation
- 3rd Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Lili Mirojnick
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – JD Barton
- 1st Place Tie: Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Chris Schneider, Ensemble / Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Nikki Hayden
Best Puppetry
- 2nd Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS
- 1st Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Hilary Bauman
Most Fun Had
- 3rd Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Jeff Meacham as Leaf Coneybear
- 2nd Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Adam Korson as Chip Tolentino
- 1st Place Tie: Thursday Day: RUMORS – Courtney Parks as Chris / Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Victoria Kelleher, in general / Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Angelique Cabral, in general / Friday Day: LION KING – Saku Ee, in general
Best Daring to Suck
- 3rd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Kristina Campo (Zasu)
- 2nd Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Adam Korson (Chip)’s Unfortunate Erection
- 1st Place Thursday Day: RUMORS – Jay Ellis and the Pink Feathered Cock Sock
Best Monologue
- 3rd Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Van Hansis (aka Mini Van) as weird dude in Triage
- 2nd Place Tuesday Eve: 12 FABULOUS PEOPLE – Mike Manning
- 1st Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Nick Clifford as Lesly Kahn talking about Chinese Food
Best Moment in a Song
- 3rd Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – “I Speak Six Languages” with Angelique Cabral
- 2nd Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – “My Friend The Dictionary” with Jackie Geary
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – The “I Love You” Song with Ginifer King, Helen Highfield and Eyal Podell
Best Supporting Actress
- 3rd Place Tie: Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Kate Johnson as Mrs. Banks / Thursday Day: RUMORS – Ursula Taherian / Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – India deBeaufort as Jane
- 2nd Place Tie: Friday Day: THE LION KING – Lydia Medeiros as Timon / Friday Day: THE LION KING – Hilary Bauman as Pumbaa
- 1st Place Tie: Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Ellen Wroe as Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere / Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Angelique Cabral as Marcy Park / Tuesday Eve: TWELVE FABULOUS PEOPLE – Nawal Bengholam as Coco Chanel
Best Supporting Actor
- 3rd Place Tie: Thursday Day: RUMORS – KC Morgan as Ken in Act I / Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Doug Simpson as Uncle Albert
- 2nd Place Tie: Thursday Day: RUMORS – Jay Ellis as Lenny / Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Vinoj Zacharia as Michael
- 1st Place Tie: Tuesday Eve: TWELVE FABULOUS PEOPLE – Jeremy Brandt as Ted Nugent / Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Eric Nenninger as Mr. Banks
Best Song
- 3rd Place Tie: Friday Day: THE LION KING – “Be Prepared” with Collin Palomares, Saku Ee, Kantu Lentz, and Ryan Nolan / Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – “Sister Suffragette” and “The Life I lead” with Kate Johnson, Eric Nenninger, Kristi Sexton and Lili Mirojnick
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – “Hakuna Matata” with Lydia Medeiros, Hilary Bauman, Dean Li and JD Barton
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – “I Love You” with Ginifer King, Helen Highfield and Eyal Podell
Best Ensemble
- 3rd Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS
- 2nd Place Tuesday Eve: TWELVE FABULOUS PEOPLE
- 1st Place Tie: Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE / Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS
Best Direction
- 4th Place Tuesday Eve: TWELVE FABULOUS PEOPLE – Will Hawkes
- 3rd Place Thursday Day: RUMORS – Mallory McGill
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – JD Barton
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Ensemble
Best Actor
- 3rd Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Chris Schneider as Douglas Panch
- 2nd Place Friday Day: THE LION KING – Collin Palomares as Scar
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Ryan Bailey as William Barfee
Best Actress
- 3rd Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Rachel Germaine as Lesly Kahn
- 2nd Place Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Anna Campbell as Mary Poppins
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE – Victoria Kelleher as Rona Lisa Peretti
Best Show
- 3rd Place Tie: Friday Day: THE LION KING / Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS
- 2nd Place Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS
- 1st Place Tuesday Night: SPELLING BEE
Best Bios
3rd Place (an 8-way tie):
- Friday Day: THE LION KING – Dean Li (Young Simba) . . . is making his Broadway debut in THE LION KING. He’d rather be in a boyband circa 2001, but this will do. He prepared for his role as Young Simba by watching THE LION KING as a five year old in 1994. Shout outs to his mom, his management team, and Joe Jonas for being a musical and theatrical inspiration.
- Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Lilah Richcreek is personally responsible for half of Whole Foods’ yearly gross income.
- Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Allison Poccia spends her days coming up with new erotic emoticons (.) (.)
- Friday Day: THE LION KING – Sammy Obeid wrote, in response to Monday Night’s MARY POPPINS, “Yeah, but did those motherfuckers have Circle of Life??? Get ‘em guys.”
- Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Nikki Hayden is raising a three year old and currently stars in every commercial on television. She is shocked to be awake right now.”
- Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Jordan Davis wishes he was a little bit taller, wishes he was a baller, and wishes he had a girl who looked good. He would call her.
- Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Joshua Sawtelle grew a beard and is now stopped by the TSA on a regular basis.
- Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Bianca Lopez speaks fluent Spanish, manages a food truck, and fulfills any other stereotypes you can think of.
2nd Place (a 10-way tie):
- Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Kate Johnson (Mrs. Banks) . . . would like you to know that she does not have a great English accent, so if it changes to Irish or another European ethnicity throughout her performance, you are not to judge her. Had it been a southern accent, everything would have been fine. She would like to thank Lesly Kahn for never teaching dialects.
- Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Rachel Germaine will be portraying tits on a stick, which isn’t a huge stretch.
- Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Vinoj Zacharia (Michael): “He would like to thank his wife for all her love and support through his affair with Lesly Kahn.”
- Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Trevor Torseth (Constable, Mr. Dawes, Sr., Company): “Trevor Torseth is a big, stupid dummy head. He often loses and can’t find things. He’s been known to lock himself out of other things. And he rarely understands or even remembers the simplest things. You may have seen Trevor in many different things. And he very much enjoys pushing himself deeply into the most wonderful things. He would greatly appreciate the opportunity to thank one particular thing. Thanks, thing, and he hopes more than anything things enjoy this thing.
- Friday Day: THE LION KING – Linda Kang (Giraffe) is only 5’3”.
- Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Ryan Caltagirone was born on 7.8.81. You’re welcome, world.
- Friday Day: THE LION KING – Hilary Bauman (Pumbaa) – Her acting career began while serving five to life in Joliet Women’s Detention Center, where she formed the one-woman improv team: Solitary Con-Fun-Ment. Hilary had caught the acting bug! And Hepatitis C. She now enjoys performing across the greater San Pedro area . . . as long as it’s not within fifty feet of a minor. Or 100 feet of a service animal.
- Friday Day: THE LION KING – Collin Palomares (Scar) . . . is thrilled to be playing the evil villain as opposed to the nice guy next door who never gets the girl and will spend the rest of his life sulking in the shadow of his more awesome friend/brother/opponent. [He] . . . received his BFA in Acting from somewhere you’ve never heard of.
- Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Alison Turner is an acting teacher/dogwalker/valet/nanny/lover of all things Oprah and constantly looking for more forward slashes to add to her title.
- Thursday Night: 50 YEARS OF FABULOUS – Justice Leak has a burgeoning career as a rap artist under the moniker Just-[ICE] and is hoping his daily application of L’Oreal Sublime Bronzer will make him more street.
1st Place (a 5-way tie):
- Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Josh Crotty (Bert): FUCKIN BURGERVILLE PUNCHIN STUFF TOM WAITES SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 2 GIRL ONE GUY PRON BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY WHERE THE FUCK IS MY HOVER BOARD MAZTO PEARL SNAP SHIRTS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IS THE BEST MOVIE EVER BOARD GAMES NORTH CAROLINA ORIGINAL NINTENDO EYEBALLS JACK DANIELS JOHNNY CASH IF YOU CELEBRATE PASSOVER ON AN OVERPASS YOU WILL GO BACK IN TIME FUCK DRUMS ANIMAL COWBOY BOOTS STEVE LARGENT I WANT TO REMAKE URBAN COWBOY THE MAGNIFICENT 7 AND COOL HAND LUKE SO GOD DAMN BAD BEIN REALLY FUCKIN HIGH BLOW JOBS TATTOOS DAVE CHAPPELLE I MISS PLAYIN BALL I WILL BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF TIM TEBOW MY DAD HUGS 501′S THE COUVE!!!!!!!! BOB HIRSCH.
- Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Jennifer Landon (Andrew the Dog) – Woof.
- Friday Day: THE LION KING – JD Barton (Simba) – . . . Look past the incredible musculature and unparalleled male masculinity and see a lion who is just looking to belong.”
- Monday Night: MOTHA’ FUCKIN’ MARY POPPINS – Lili Mirojnick (Director, Ellen, Company) – “Blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah acting blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah, blah blah blah, blah blah blah debut. Blah blah blah blah blah blah mom, dad, blah Lesly Kahn blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.
- Friday Day: THE LION KING – Mike Gilbertson . . . moved to LA to play acoustic guitar for a closing number for an at times insane Jewish woman’s acting school’s end of the year musical theatre competition between all the classes which only perpetuates this thin invisible layer of competitive nature between them all thus causing not only spite and malice between ‘em but this deep need and desire to please the very teacher that put them there in the first place. This is BOTOC!
Special thanks to Julia Black and Aline Bui, without whom I would not have survived this process!
BOTOC: Kahncepts Results #25
Teaching a Kahncept is Just Like Acting!!!! How?
Chapter 10. Ya’ Gotta Show The Fuck Up.
Not showing up for stuff is an excellent way to be sure no one knows you exist, so that no one is thinking about you when they are casting something. It’s a great way to lose friends and ensure no one wants to work with you. It’s a fantastic opportunity to piss me off, make me worry and make me go gray even faster.
Not only does no-showing not inspire your classmates with a sense of confidence in you (and therefore a willingness to be there for you to coach you last minute on stuff, for example), but it really makes ME question your motivation and commitment. And while that might not matter on the classroom level, make no mistake: it definitely matters on the will I or won’t I refer you to this rep, that casting director, that producer or that network level. It totally matters when I’m trying to figure out who to give my coaching time to when the waiting list is really long. It completely matters when I have ten thousand emails to return and only time to respond to a couple. I know one of you was unexpectedly called out of town because of a family crisis. But others elected to no-show. And I saw it.
I know I’m only a lowly acting coach, but I am also a Jew and VERY big on exacting my pound of flesh. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shylock)
So…
Chapter 1. Alchemy.
A. Have a premise.
B. Keep the faith.
C. Do your couch time.
D. Be consistent.
E. You can’t just be linear.
F. You need to bring you.
G. You gotta relax, stay in the now and stay outta the result.
Chapter 2. Ya’ Gotta Let The Input Change the Output.
A. Be in the moment.
B. Those of you who listened, flourished.
Chapter 3. Ya’ Gotta Be Specific: Clean & Clear.
A. Make sense.
B. Don’t be messy.
C. Be Accurate.
D. Make Text-Based Choices.
Chapter 4. Ya’ can’t Bore Me.
A. Don’t just read offa the page. B. Surprise us.
Chapter 5. Ya’ can’t Have Technical Trouble. Prepare. Do your homework ahead of time. Don’t wing it.
Chapter 6. Ya’ Gotta Stay in the Sceeeene!
Chapter 7. Ya’ Gotta Be Fat Free. eKahnomical.
Chapter 8. Be Original! And in Performance, Only Copy if You’re Improving Upon Greatness.
Chapter 9. Ya’ Gotta Come In and Go Out With A Bang!
Chapter 10. Ya’ Gotta Show The Fuck Up.
BOTOC: Kahncepts Results #24
Teaching a Kahncept is Just Like Acting!!!! How?
Chapter 9. Ya’ Gotta Come In and Go Out With A Bang!
Ellen W & Jordan D sang a rap song they wrote at the end of their Listening Kahncept
While some groups had thrilling beginnings and endings, others . . . .did not. Please don’t begin a presentation like this:
“So, I guess we should start now?”
“Um, we’re gonna begin with the lecture part.”
“Hello, welcome to our presentation.”
Uccccccccccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Similarly, please don’t end your presentations like this:
“So, I guess that’s it.”
“Um, are we done now?”
“Yah, thassit.”
It’s just as bad as slinking out of the audition with your tail between your legs, a frown on your face and dumping your sides in the nearest trashcan.
One Reversal Kahncept never really even ended . . . it might still be going on. You know who you are.
So…
Chapter 1. Alchemy.
A. Have a premise.
B. Keep the faith.
C. Do your couch time.
D. Be consistent.
E. You can’t just be linear.
F. You need to bring you.
G. You gotta relax, stay in the now and stay outta the result.
Chapter 2. Ya’ Gotta Let The Input Change the Output.
A. Be in the moment.
B. Those of you who listened, flourished.
Chapter 3. Ya’ Gotta Be Specific: Clean & Clear.
A. Make sense.
B. Don’t be messy.
C. Be Accurate.
D. Make Text-Based Choices.
Chapter 4. Ya’ can’t Bore Me.
A. Don’t just read offa the page. B. Surprise us.
Chapter 5. Ya’ can’t Have Technical Trouble. Prepare. Do your homework ahead of time. Don’t wing it.
Chapter 6. Ya’ Gotta Stay in the Sceeeene!
Chapter 7. Ya’ Gotta Be Fat Free. e Kahnomical.
Chapter 8. Be Original! And in Performance, Only Copy if You’re Improving Upon Greatness.
Chapter 9. Ya’ Gotta Come In and Go Out With A Bang!
BOTOC: Kahncepts Results #23
Teaching a Kahncept is Just Like Acting!!!! How?
Chapter 8. Be Original! And in Performance, Only Copy if You’re Improving Upon Greatness (in Rehearsal it’s OK Just to Copy).
First off, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS, in which I clearly stated you must use only original material. That means no using scenes I’ve used in class (i.e., CRAZY TERRY), no using games I or any of my staff or any of your prior teachers have used in class or coaching (Stashwick’s Missiles/Yes game), no using prizes I have given out in the past (i.e., Dare to Suck Suckers),
Tuesday Evening Team Dare to Suck: Mike G, Hannah L, Aimee S
no using clips I have shown in my Intensive (WYLIE COYOTE), etc. It means COME UP WITH YOUR OWN STUFF. Go FURTHER than I’ve gone. INNOVATE!!!! CREATE!
The Friday Day Threes Kahncept (Nate, E-Kan, Halley & HD) group did a great job of this, as did the Monday Night Listening Kahncept (Alison T, Ellen W, India D, Jack M, Jordan D and Zach L) with their Obstacle Course.
Halley
Again, it’s just like your acting: sometimes we think we’re acting when we’re really just impersonating or imitating other actors we like. We gotta stop that.
So…
Chapter 1. Alchemy.
A. Have a premise.
B. Keep the faith.
C. Do your couch time.
D. Be consistent.
E. You can’t just be linear.
F. You need to bring you.
G. You gotta relax, stay in the now and stay outta the result.
Chapter 2. Ya’ Gotta Let The Input Change the Output.
A. Be in the moment.
B. Those of you who listened, flourished.
Chapter 3. Ya’ Gotta Be Specific: Clean & Clear.
A. Make sense.
B. Don’t be messy.
C. Be Accurate.
D. Make Text-Based Choices.
Chapter 4. Ya’ can’t Bore Me.
A. Don’t just read offa the page. B. Surprise us.
Chapter 5. Ya’ can’t Have Technical Trouble. Prepare. Do your homework ahead of time. Don’t wing it.
Chapter 6. Ya’ Gotta Stay in the Sceeeene!
Chapter 7. Ya’ Gotta Be Fat Free. eKahnomical.
Chapter 8. Be Original! And in Performance, Only Copy if You’re Improving Upon Greatness.
BOTOC: Kahncepts Results #22
Teaching a Kahncept is Just Like Acting!!!! How?
Chapter 7. Ya’ Gotta Be Fat Free.
Don’t add stuff in just because you think it’s cute or funny – don’t do it in your acting; don’t do it in your presentation, don’t do it in your spaghetti (pasta does not go well with, i.e., meringue). Be Fat Free. Be eKahnomical.
E-Kan S, Halley K, JD B, & Nathan C in their award-winning Threes Kahncept
In their Reversals Kahncept, one group threw a lotta extras in their talk show sketches. The ideas were great, but they included everything but the kitchen sink. Those things weighed down the overall performance and took away from all the great moments.
So…
Chapter 1. Alchemy.
A. Have a premise.
B. Keep the faith.
C. Do your couch time.
D. Be consistent.
E. You can’t just be linear.
F. You need to bring you.
G. You gotta relax, stay in the now and stay outta the result.
Chapter 2. Ya’ Gotta Let The Input Change the Output.
A. Be in the moment.
B. Those of you who listened, flourished.
Chapter 3. Ya’ Gotta Be Specific: Clean & Clear.
A. Make sense.
B. Don’t be messy.
C. Be Accurate.
D. Make Text-Based Choices.
Chapter 4. Ya’ can’t Bore Me.
A. Don’t just read offa the page. B. Surprise us.
Chapter 5. Ya’ can’t Have Technical Trouble. Prepare. Do your homework ahead of time. Don’t wing it.
Chapter 6. Ya’ Gotta Stay in the Sceeeene!
Chapter 7. Ya’ Gotta Be Fat Free. eKahnomical.
BOTOC: Broadway! THE LION KING
Lesly and Jolie and Jesse’s Friday Day Ongoing: THE LION KING
As I was going about my work on Friday morning I noticed that the Kahnstitute had somehow transformed into the jungles of Africa. There was the steady beat of drums,
there were wild animals lurking in the hallways (lions, hyenas and zebras among others), and then? I heard the faint strains of Hakuna Matata. OMG, it was THE LION KING. Again, I was at once thrilled and terrified.
Upon entering the Yellow Room, I was thrilled to see guests like Gloria C, Theresa JT, Aline B, Julia B, Alison T and Lilah R, as well as co-teachers Jolie, Jesse and Eyal (who also ran camera; thank you EL!). There was a beautiful painting of a sun (which, I later learned was painted by Kiki L), a wonderful Playbill and a full script waiting for me on my couch. Gina N then entered as Rafiki in full costume and make-up. She was just stunning. She sang along with the song on tape.
Halley K then sang CIRCLE OF LIFE.
She was joined by several animals including Cher T as a bird, Linda K as a Giraffe, Melanie L as a zebra, Heather H as a cheetah and honestly it felt like there were ten more. I know Kristina C was Zazu the bird, Jessica K was something, Hilary B was something else and Lydia M was something else.
All held small puppets on sticks and danced with them. The number culminated with Dean L as Young Simba the Lion being held aloft by the other animals.
The amazing choreography was by JD Barton.
We then met Collin P as the evil Scar. Collin was truly inspired in this role. As Eyal or Jesse said, he found his ideal casting: a villainous beast.
Chaffee G played his father,
Kristina C, the bird.
Throughout it all, Mike drummed spectacularly well. The costumes by Gina N were phenomenal – as later described, they were sort of THE LION KING meets ROAD WARRIOR: lots of repurposed fur and feathers, earth tones and animal prints. Cher T’s make-up and hairstyles were spectacular.
We were all shocked when we were moved en masse into the Purple Room to the sound of Mike’s drumming. It was dark and scary in there with bones on the ground and tusks mounted on the backdrop in the distance. They’d made use of the film room lights and created a completely different environment from that of the Yellow room. Kantu L, Ryan N and Saku E were fantastic Hyenas and Chaffee was a most proper and concerned Mufasa (Simba’s father).
I just adored the song Collin sang with the hyenas (“Be Prepared!” I think I’m gonna make it the official Kahnstitute song). The choreography was just fabulous. Cher’s hyena’s make-up was freaky and fantastic. There was a sock puppet battle behind a sheet in which Mufasa died; it was adorable.
Next we were ushered into the hallway where Collin as Scar announced his ascendance to the throne and we were all his subjects. Such a fantastic use of the space! Wow.
Soon we found ourselves in the Green room where Lydia M as Timon and Hilary B as Pumbaa rescued Simba who’d run away after finding his father dead. They were just fantastic – two incredibly specific characters that we loved.
Dean L’s Simba magically morphed into JD B (by slipping under the table and transferring the fur). Well done!
The production designers had apparently found all the plants in the house and moved ‘em into the Green room for Hakuna Matata, which did not disappoint! Again, the choreography was great, the costumes terrific, the make-up – epic, the performances ebullient. Halley K as Adula Nala did a lovely scene with JD who executed a thrilling lift with Halley.
Gina was back as Rafiki, again in full costume and make-up.
And then we were ushered into the Yellow room. You’d think all this schlepping woulda been a pain in the ass, but it was so much fun! The cast shepherded us and was so committed! We were all only too happy to accommodate their site-specificity. This new scene opened with Kiki as Simba’s mom subjected to the cruelty and lunacy of Collin as Scar. There was another clever puppet show culminating in the death of Scar; it was all so well done.
When Sarabi (Kiki) and Simba (JD) were reunited, Jolie started sobbing (as did Sarabi/Kiki). Everyone was moved.
Mike then accompanied himself on the guitar for the acoustic reprise of Circle of Life and then the whole cast joined him and sang it together. Just great.
An enormous amount of work went into this show. Dean L was the Executive Producer and Casting Director. I thought he did an amazing job in all of his roles, but as Jolie said, he clearly has a gift when it comes to casting, especially with regard to the choice of Collin for Scar (Collin claims Dean called him and pitched the role so well that he accepted it before he even read the script!). Some of the newest members of class were not given much to do and while I understand that was because their skills were unknown, it made me sad – I wished there had been more double casting so everyone could have really sunk their teeth into something. Again, JD B’s choreography was unparalleled, and I’m told he had the patience of a saint in teaching six numbers in as many days to a cast of twenty, most of whom were NOT dancers. Gina’s costumes were truly outstanding, Kristina C actually made her own costume and Saku’s props were original and clever (I’m keeping that Zebra Leg forever!).
I was also impressed by the lighting – each room had a completely different feeling and mood – and all of this was done on a budget of nada. While I’m not sure how long the show ran, I can say that the cut was perfect – not too long, not too short. Eyal, who is extremely familiar with the show as he has two small children, was most impressed with how well it was edited. Eyal also wondered how the class was going to accommodate the stilt-walking with which the show is associated. JD said, “All of our animals were on stilts. They were just tiny stilts.”
Kantu L helped Cher with the make-up; so much attention was paid to detail – down to the puddle in the forest! Eyal suggested that we all remember this and do it in our acting in the future. It was Saku E’s idea to move the audience from room to room. She was also responsible for the wonderful program, which included this note: “To Lesly Kahn: All set design elements are temporary and have been KC-approved for your viewing pleasure. There is no need for you to worry about your walls.” Soooo thoughtful! Kantu L and Heather H created the bones in the boneyard and Kantu glued all of the feathers onto Gina’s costume, one at a time.
The drum Mike used was made from a real tree in Africa. Wow.
When I mentioned the new prize suggested by Tuesday night class (that the winning class get to mount their play in a theatre for a night), Hilary said, “I have a whole set of hyena puppets I didn’t get to use!” ‘Nuf said.
The program also included wonderful advertisements and clever notes. Plus everyone signed my program (THANK YOU! I love it!). The bios were great, highlights including
- Dean’s: “. . . is making his Broadway debut in THE LION KING. He’d rather be in a boyband circa 2001, but this will do. He prepared for his role as Young Simba by watching THE LION KING as a five year old in 1994. Shout outs to his mom, his management team, and Joe Jonas for being a musical and theatrical inspiration.”
- Collin’s: “. . . received his BFA in Acting from somewhere you’ve never heard of.”
- Gina’s: “This is her first time playing an Old World monkey shaman.”
- Halley’s: “She would like to thank . . . her future husband, Elton John.”
- Heather ‘s: “ . . . played Snow White in her first grade play. . . . she was given the role because she had short, dark brown hair. She missed recess for three months to rehearse.”
- Hilary’s: “Her acting career began while serving five to life in Joliet Women’s Detention Center, where she formed the one-woman improv team: Solitary Con-Fun-Ment. Hilary had caught the acting bug! And Hepatitis C. .. . She now enjoys performing across the greater San Pedro area . . . as long as it’s not within fifty feet of a minor. Or 100 feet of a service animal.”
- JD’s: “ . . . Look past the incredible musculature and unparalleled male masculinity and see a lion who is just looking to belong.”
- Linda K: “Linda K (Giraffe) is only 5’3”.”
- Mike G: “. . . moved to LA to play acoustic guitar for a closing number for an at times insane Jewish woman’s acting school’s end of the year musical theatre competition between all the classes which only perpetuates this thin invisible layer of competitive nature between them all thus causing not only spite and malice between ‘em but this deep need and desire to please the very teacher that put them there in the first place. This is BOTOC!”
- Sammy O: “. . . in response to Monday Night’s MARY POPPINS, “Yeah, but did those motherfuckers have Circle of Life??? Get ‘em guys.”
11.12.16 LK FRIDAY DAY BOTOC: BROADWAY - THE LION KING
Stay tuned for the BOTOC: Broadway! Awards!
