November Update with Doug!

Hello Friends and Family!
Doug here, sending out love and support for my FOD's (Friends/Family of Doug) that sustained injuries trying to get into shopping malls on Black Friday. May you heal quickly and be able to bring the Hanukkah presents to me in person when they release you from the hospital.
November has made me a schoolyard bully, a lion, a robot, and a career coach. December will make me an ineffective father, an Unsolved Mysteries-type narrator and a muppet. How can such things be? Read on for the answers and my ususal two items of interest!

Another chance to catch Pinocchio of Chelsea...
After a packed-to-the-gills presentation directed by Robert Bartley for Musical Mondays on November 19th, Pinocchio of Chelsea [Music, Mark Janas; Book and Lyrics, Peter Napolitano] will have another presentation of just one song (the one in which I'm a schoolyard bully) for...
Arts and Artists at St. Paul's, (John F. Znidarsic, Artistic Director), presents Songbook: Tomorrow's Broadway Today 2
WHEN: Tuesday, November 27th, 6:00 pm
WHERE: The Donnell Library Theater, 20 West 53rd Street, Between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
COST: (What's our favorite word?) FREE
Questions: Call Arts and Artists at (212) 265-3495, ext. 336.

Concertgoers will hear words and music penned by Gerard Alessandrini, Charles Bloom, Ryan Cunningham, Patrick Dwyer, Rick Hip-Flores, Alison Hubbard, Marcy Heisler, Mark Janas, Peter Napolitano, Noel Katz, Ben Moore, Portia Nelson, Kim Oler, Joshua Saltzman, Brian Sherman and Richard Pearson Thomas.
Performers scheduled to interpret the works of these writers include Sherz Aletaha, Mick Bleyer, Mat Drago, Courtney Fabrizio, Brian Fahey, Brandon Jones, Joseph Kolofsky, Elena Mindlina, Jessica Reed, Marissa Rosen, Emily Senn, Doug Shapiro, Joel Walker, Tim Woods and Vanessa Yeaton.

-------------------------

Another chance to see me very quick and very free...
FOD Shani Murfin is directing a scene from Gina Gionfriddo's After Ashley, for a class with director Wendy McClellan as one of a series of six scenes. I'll be playing Austin, a man who has made a name for himself by writing a book about his wife's murder and is attempting to balance his career along with an insolent teenage son. Fellow actors in our scene are Trip Langley, Reed Prescott and Kristin Wetherington. The presentation of scenes will take place without intermission:
WHEN: December 11th, 7pm (Guests are asked to stay for the entire presentation)
WHERE: The Recital Hall of The Abrons Arts Center, located at 466 Grand Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
DIRECTIONS: Take the F train to East Broadway or Delancey; the D or B trains to Grand Street; or the J or M trains to Essex Street.

-------------------------

Branching out into career coaching...
With fourteen years experience marketing myself as an actor and speaking engagements at both Emerson College and Villanova University, I have taken on my first two clients for career coaching. If you are a theatre professional interested in finding new strategies to bring your art to the right people, REACH out your hands, my Brother and Sister FODs and COMPOSE that e-mail to me! Can I read an A-MEN! Type louder and let me read an [insert foot stamp] A-MEN! (Operating System is standing by.)

-------------------------

A quick run-down of further highlights...
I'm not referring to my hair. Tried highlights once. Very silly for me, but if you want highlights or a very good, very low-priced haircut, e-mail Cara.

***I participated in another reading of Dr. Dolittle for Theatreworks USA, playing multiple roles including the lion and a sadistic jungle guard. This coming week, I will be the reader for their Romeo and Juliet auditions.

***I donned two cardboard boxes to play the central character in Stephen Girard's Robots in the Workplace, which was taped at New York University. Two upcoming projects with NYU include being the "Unsolved Mysteries" voice for Extinction of the Purple Dinosaur regarding a fatal assault against Barney; and an audio version of Alien in which all the characters are the Muppets.

***After seeing a stunning dance performace of Red with the Errol Grimes Dance Group, I had the chance to meet André De Shields, who participated in the project. I shared the story of the mostly-Jewish, 25 member cast with which I performed Ain't Misbehavin' twenty years ago at French Woods. His response, "I wish I had been there to see that."

***I'm stepping out with my top hat, puffy shirt, and wreath-on-a-stick with the The Yuletide Carolers for a second season. Most gigs are private, but you can catch us strolling around Summit, New Jersey on December 9 from 12-3. Bring the kids! Fellow carolers in the "New York" group are Lisa Cartmel, Sally Swallow, Blair Brown, Brittany Noelle Mayer, Chris Dilley, Paul Woodson and Justin Herfel (with whom I will never perform because he's the other bass. Nice guy, though.) By the way, do you know who also loves the Christmas Holidays and sings beautifully? Alexandra de Suze!!! Surely you've heard of Alexandra de Suze!

***Every Thursday at 7:00 a.m. Jill Burk and I continue to be the voices of New York Times for InTouch Radio reading news and periodicals for the visually impaired over the air.

-------------------------

Please Don't Panic! I may be busy, but it's still the season of giving. Should you need the voice of a Christmas Elf for your ad campaign, a crooning 1940's standard sung, or just feel it's darn well time we got together for a warm beverage--I'm here. Dry your eyes now and let's go create something.

------------------

And now the monthly Two (by which I mean Three) Items of Interest for FODs...
My beautiful sister Andrea is looking to make the move back to the New York City area from North Carolina and we want her here! She is both an MSW (Masters of Social Work) and LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and currently has a thriving practice in Raleigh. Andrea is looking to purchase an established psychotherapy practice in the five boroughs to precipitate the move. She is also open to the possibility of a partnership with someone that has a good referral base. If any of you FODs out there have a psychotherapist in your circle who is retiring or changing professions, please let me know and I will get the information to Andrea.

-------------------------

Mike Chadwick [fiancee of the sister of FOD Sara Wordsworth] hosts a site called ChoirPros.org which lists vocalists available for work all across the United States. The site is free for people to browse, post jobs, etc. Singers can join for a lifetime subscription of $10 (which just one job more than pays for). For more information, log on to www.choirpros.org and let them know you're a FOD! By the way, do you know who is spectacular with choral singing? Alexandra de Suze!!! Surely you've heard of Alexandra de Suze!

-------------------------

This last one is in the spirit of the Holiday Season. FOD Elizabeth Barnett has found her calling and is planning to attend Jivamukti's Yoga Teacher Training funded by people who love and support her. Any amount, no matter how small would be considered a blessing. She has found a great deal of peace and joy through Yoga and is making it a life goal to share this with others. I found this request very touching. If you care to help her out this season, mention you're a FOD and please send donations to: Elizabeth Barnett, PO BOX 30073, New York, NY 10011

------------------

Life is good here. Shawn and I just completed the "Everything you wanted to know about New Jersey relatives but were afraid to ask" Thanksgiving tour. Brilliant things were achieved with leeks, cranberries and string beans (all separate dishes). We continue to come down from the effects of Lillie Belle Farms and The Chocolate Show in New York City.

Take some breathing time for yourself, tell me your birthday, and thanks for being in my life. Please let me know what's going on in yours! (and enjoy the upcoming Merrys and Happys.)

As Always,

Doug Shapiro
(917) 929-0998
www.dougshapiro.com
doug@dougshapiro.com

Doug's LinkedIn Profile
Doug's MySpace profile
Doug's song stylings on BroadwayDemo.com

October 2007 Update with Doug!

Hello Friends and Family!
Doug here, reminding you to turn your clocks back on Sunday, November 4 at 2:00 am. The extra hour of sleep is my gift to you.
For my FOD's (Friends/Family of Doug) near Manhattan, I'd like to introduce you to two lovely music makers: Amanda Baker, who makes music with the group Blue River, and Joan Barber, who makes music come out of your mouth. Read on and meet the ladies!

Reminder: You yearn to take a look at the shiny new DougShapiro.com. (Surprises are on the way, too.)

Back in NYC for a few months...
Rejuvenated by the wide open spaces of Colorado (or possibly propelled by all the Mexican food we ate), I hit the ground running again. I saw as many shows as possible featuring the work of FOD's in the New York Music Theatre Festival as well as Pygmalion and Xanadu, shared some singing and soul in many auditions and callbacks, waged violent battles with iPods and printers and hard drives (oh, my), and deftly applied my theatrical training to seven seconds of walking away from the camera in the deep background of the upcoming Sex and the City movie. But wait, there's more...

The Salon in Philadelphia...
No, I'm not here to tell you about heading south for an artificial tan. Please. Only the Sephardic Jews "tan". The rest of us Jews "red." I'm talking about the "salon" which is a regular meeting of the creative minds in the Villanova University Department of Theatre. Professors Michael Hollinger and Harriet Power invited me down to speak to their Graduate theatre students about the business side of theatre. My fellow panelist was Elizabeth Pool, casting director and resident dramaturg for People's Light and Theatre, and together we covered topics ranging from seeing yourself as a product (and choosing your audition materials accordingly) to techniques of non-icky networking through informational meetings. Afterwards, there was food. I do so love food.

I also believe in the responsibility of mentoring the next generation of artists and was very touched by this subsequent e-mail: "I wanted to thank you for coming to our first salon to talk about the acting profession. The practical advice you gave was immensely encouraging, and you've really inspired me to focus on acting again. I was really discouraged and disillusioned after graduating college. However, since starting the M.A. program, and especially after having you and Elizabeth come and talk to us, I've decided I am going to pursue it again."

This event hit a chord with me and I am looking forward to doing more of the same. If anyone knows of a school that can use my business of theatre perspective for a seminar or wants to talk one-on-one, just let me know.

The Voice of The New York Times...
I now have a regular gig with InTouch Radio (reading news and periodicals for the visually impaired over the air). 20-Year InTouch veteran Jill Burk and I are the voices of the Thursday New York Times every week at 7:00 am. We already have a good rhythm going and I'm feeling very NPR. (Do you know who else is applying to work with InTouch radio? Alexandra de Suze!!! Surely you've heard of Alexandra de Suze!).

Song Stylings Yet to Come...
Styling #1: A selection from Impossible But True, an adaptation of Rip Van Winkle by Dan Furman and Mary Liz McNamara, for the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.

Styling #2: Pinocchio of Chelsea, [music by Mark Janas, book and lyrics by Peter Napolitano, and directed by Robert Bartley] which reinvents the classic children's novel as a contemporary urban fantasy about a wooden teenager searching for a world in which he truly belongs.

Musical Mondays Monday, November 19, 6:30PM Snapple Theatre Center, 210 West 50th Street, Corner of Broadway Reserve at 212 989-6706 or musicalmondays@aol.com Admission $10.00

Styling #3: Caroling caroling through the town with the The Yuletide Carolers. (By the way, Brittany Noelle Mayer saw my casting notice in this newsletter last month, auditioned, and will be singing with me! I'm kvelling up a storm.)

Please Don't Panic! I may be busy, but I'm not unreasonable. Should you need that Thanksgiving Pilgrim voiced, Quirky Office Guy photographed for your ad campaign, or Baritone Love Kitten role sung--I'm here. Papa Doug will provide.

This just in! Styling #4: After three callbacks, I just got the call for the lead role in a backer's audition for a swell new musical. I'd say the name, but I just got the news and I'm not sure how to punctuate the title of the show. Stay tuned for November update with Doug for details...

------------------
Let's talk about the Ladies of Song...
Joan Barber. I have been studying voice with Joan Barber and got two call backs the week I started. If you are looking for a terrific, reasonably priced voice teacher who has been there, done that, is still doing it and will custom tailor your lessons to bring out the best in what YOUR VOICE can be--go to www.joanbarberstudio.com.

Amanda Baker. This delicious and talented chanteuse sings with Blue River. (She also sang at our wedding) Amanda, along with David Wander and Dave Rubin, will be delivering Blues, Honky-Tonk and Swing at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Harlem. November 3, 2007 at 10:30p.m. I plan to be there taking advantage of the fried green tomatoes and the extra hour from Daylight Savings Time before singing in church the following morning. (You know who will also probably be there? Alexandra de Suze!!! Surely you've heard of Alexandra de Suze!).

------------------
Life is good here. Shawn and I are about to have the bathroom redone and will be moving in with our designer in Hoboken, NJ for the duration. I was not consulted on design concepts because I would have suggested purple walls with muppet decals and the bathtub from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. (Hit the link and then scroll down to "Fifth Floor, prefects' bathroom". Warning: Harry Potter fans' lives will be eaten by this site.)

Take some breathing time for yourself, tell me your birthday, and thanks for being in my life. Please let me know what's going on in yours!

As Always,
Doug Shapiro
(917) 929-0998
www.dougshapiro.com
doug@dougshapiro.com

Doug's LinkedIn Profile
Doug's MySpace profile
Doug's song stylings on BroadwayDemo.com

Doug Shapiro Schedule September, 2007

Hello Friends and Family!

I am writing you from Pagosa Springs, CO. Today, the Nature Lady decided to replenish the Hot Springs with some rain, so it's a good day to be inside The Pagosa Baking Company with a mocha, a fresh cinnamon roll, and a laptop.
For my F.O.D.'s (Friends/Family of Doug) in the New York City/New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA, and Coral Springs, FL areas, I have an audition for you. Read on and you'll see!
(And if you're not interested in my monthly e-mail lovin', just let me know and I'll take you off my e-mail lovin' list.)

DougShapiro.com is shiny and new!...
I first met Kate Botello down in Florida, when I was in The Kid from Brooklyn and she was bringing down the house as Judy Garland in Beyond the Rainbow. (It's true. Sometimes they let women play Judy Garland. You should also check out Kathy St. George.) Well, while Zinging the Strings of Your Heart, Kate can also design your website. She and her husband Ray Weigel are Traverse City Web Design and have reworked mine. It is now up and running with voiceover and movie clips, a downloadable media kit, and the ability to blog. Go ahead, Tiger. Don't be shy. You know you want to take a look at the shiny new DougShapiro.com.

Two and a half weeks in New York...
In between working on The Complete History of America (abridged) under the direction of Igor Goldin with The Barnstormers and the planned vacation here in Colorado, I hit the ground running. I auditioned all over the place, had several callbacks for great gigs, and started meeting again with my artist group at 7:30 am (oy vey) on Wednesdays (Guess who's also in it?! Alexandra de Suze!!! Surely you've heard of Alexandra de Suze!). Not you should worry. This will not be an e-mail about the gigs that got away. There are actually some big things to report.

Buffalo Wild Wings...
My brother Lee was the first one to hear the spot for Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants and recognize my voice. So, the spot is definitely playing in Florida. (By the way, Lee is studying to be a helicopter pilot. How cool is that?) Again, this is a very funny spot in which a man gets hit by a truck and, since the man is so lucky to be alive, we the bystanders decide to forego the ambulance and get him into the nearest Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant to enter their sweepstakes. You can hear the spot on DougShapiro.com.

Doug on Demand, thankyouverymuch...
I played an Elvis impersonator who is also a werewolf.
(Hey Mom! Ever think your son would ever type that sentence?)

F.O.D.'s Mike Turney and Tony Wolf are the creators of The Action Room, and they have landed a new monthly half-hour sketch comedy TV show. It will be on a new startup on-demand cable network Illusion TV, which will launch October 1, 2007. I will let you know when I have more information as to what cable package you need to access this network.

Sing with Doug, the Yuletide Jew!... This Holiday Season, I have been asked to sing again with The Yuletide Carolers and they are having auditions at the end of this month. Show up and mention that you're an F.O.D. They have good arrangements, gorgeous costumes, and they are well-organized. The following audition is specifically for the NY/NJ area, but singers in the Philadelphia, PA and Coral Springs, FL areas can contact them through the website for auditions in those areas. ------------------- SINGERS AUDITIONS Seeking NY and NJ Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass singers, age 20-40, to Christmas Carol for upscale public and private parties. Strong ability to sight read and sing four part harmony, a Cappella. Prepare a standard holiday carol. All positions paid. WHEN: Sunday, September 30, 2007; 11:00am to 2:00pm PLACE: South Orange Performing Arts Center ADDRESS: 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07070 (25 minute train ride from Penn Station, NY to South Orange, NJ. Take NJ Transit--Morristown Line. For train schedule: visit NJTransit.com.) Visit our Website at: TheYuletideCarolers.com. ------------------

Please Don't Panic! I'll be back from Colorado by the 24th of this month with no plans to go away again until we travel to Austria in the Spring. Should you need that audio book recorded, character voiced, or song sung I'm here. Papa Doug will take care of you.

Life is good here. The sun is coming out again and tonight is the all you can eat BBQ with horse drawn wagon ride with after-supper sing along. In honor of Kate Botello and my new website, I will suggest "Swanee" or "The Trolley Song." I will also bring my running shoes. Tomorrow, we're taking a coal fired choo-choo on a Durango & Silverton Narrow gauge RR tour. My Stepmom has asked me to pick up a long-horned cattle skull in Durango. Yee-Haw!

Take some breathing time for yourself, tell me your birthday, and thanks for being in my life. Please let me know what's going on in yours!

As Always,

Doug Shapiro
(917) 929-0998
www.dougshapiro.com
doug@dougshapiro.com

Doug's LinkedIn Profile
Doug's MySpace profile
Doug's song stylings on BroadwayDemo.com

Welcome!

Be sure to visit Doug online at http://www.dougshapiro.com.