Thanks to all who braved the storm and came to FODapalooza II at People! A great time had by all, made all the better by their signature drink which we were calling "Margermellon Wadderitas" by the end of the night (made with fresh watermellon!). Read on for news and for opportunities to sub at The Madison Avenue Baptist Church!
The New Musical...
I will be returning to 1950's Russia on my birthday. (June 30! The day all your coupons expire, so get to the grocery store fast.) Prospect Theater Company will be bringing back a concert version of Iron Curtain for this year's 10th Anniversary benefit.
WHEN: Monday, June 30, 2008 (My birthday!)
(Also the one-year anniversary of Jeff Bratcher and Alexandra de Suze! Surely you've heard of Alexandra de Suze!)
6:30 - 7:30pm Cocktail Reception
7:30pm Concert Reading of Iron Curtain
Post-Show Party with Artists
WHERE: The Engleman Recital Hall, Baruch Performing Arts Center
55 Lexington Ave (at 25th St.) NYC. Here's the Google Map
COST: $100 tickets - Cocktail Reception, Concert, Post-Show Party
$60 tickets - Concert & Post-Show Party
available by calling (212) 352-3101, or visiting www.ProspectTheater.org.
Are there comp tickets for members of Actors Equity you ask? No! It's a benefit, people --
for a company that's bringing amazing original work into the world. So, pony up and I'll see you there!
An uproarious musical comedy set during Broadway's Golden Age of the 1950's! Follow the adventures of an unsuccessful composer / lyricist team as they are kidnapped by the KGB and taken to the USSR to ghost-write communist propaganda musicals. Will they choose fame or freedom? Don't miss this encore concert presentation of Prospect's 2006 sold-out production.
Book by Susan DiLallo * Lyrics by Peter Mills * Music by Stephen Weiner.
The morning after this gig, three of us will hop on a train and head up to Annandale-on-Hudson to begin rehearsals for the next show...
The Old Musical...
Remember when I said three of us will be hopping a train the morning after Iron Curtain to start our next gig? This is it! I'll be playing Gilhooley in OF THEE I SING at The Richard B Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College.
WHEN: August 1-10 2008
(Click this link for the times on each day. They vary a lot.)
WHERE: The Richard B Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College,
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
It's a college. Street addresses don't apply in their universe. Here's the downloadable map and driving directions.
COST: Tickets, priced $45, available by calling (845) 758-7900, or by clicking here for their online box office.
"Love Is Sweeping the Country" in this delirious lampoon of campaign shenanigans centered on the romantic entanglements of bachelor candidate John P. Wintergreen. This production of Of Thee I Sing is jam-packed with the wholesome goodness of FODs! Not only is this my second go-around with the wonderful Will Pomerantz as director, it will also include the characterysingydanciness of FODs Marcus Neville, Rich Silverstein, Amy Justman, Andy Gale, Chad Harlow and Nikol Wolf! Not to mention the piano stylings of Jim Bassi! Check out the article on Playbill.com.
Dougbytes
***I recorded a demo of "Climb" for composer/lyricist team Marisa Michelson and Josh Cohen. Marisa has just been chosen as an honoree with the American Musical Voices Project: The Next Generation with Signature Theatre in Virginia. The song should be on their website soon.
***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.
***I continue to sing through my Sunday mornings at The Madison Avenue Baptist Church with choir director Paul Stephan, singers Renee Jarvis, Julia Mintzer and Christopher Preston Thompson, and the fabulous Reverend Susan Sparks. The sermons are now podcast! (The choir is not.) By the way, you know who is taking over for Julia when she moves to Boston? Alexandra de Suze! Surely you've heard of Alexandra de Suze! This coming Sunday, I'll be singing my first Sandi Patty solo! See below for subbing opportunities.
Please Don't Panic! I'm as busy as a marriage clerk in California (can I hear an "AMEN!"), but for you, I'll find the time. Should you need a face to represent your California winery, a bass/baritone for your song about the Redwood Forest, or the voice of the Golden Gate Bridge, let's create something great together.
And now the monthly Two Items of Interest for FODs...
Be a sub for the The Madison Avenue Baptist Church
Remember that time, a couple of paragraphs ago, when I talked about seeking subs for my church gig? Well sit down, we're going to talk about this. Every now and then, one of the four of us can't be there on a Sunday, and if someone is to take our place and make the money, it should be you. So, I'm compiling a list for our truly extraordinary music director so we're never in a bind. If you are a professional singer, are a proficient sight-reader, can handle styles ranging from classical to gospel/rock to gregorian chant, will work hard on the music before you show up to sing, and feel pride in being the vehicle that brings a loving and accepting congregation closer to their spiritual needs, e-mail me with your voice part and contact information. Please do not pass this on to your other singer pals. I am only comfortable recommending you, the known quantity. (Unless you know Barbara Cook or Cheyenne Jackson. They'll be okay.)
Phenomenal Voice Teacher now has a blog...
I study voice with the incomparable Joan Barber. She is an excellent technician who goes the extra step to understand the anatomy behind vocal technique. One lesson, I showed up and she had downloaded and article entitled "Special Considerations in the Vocal Training of the Bass Singer." Well, now you can benefit from her too. If you're in New York City, check out her website and sign up for a lesson. If you live elsewhere, you can check out her blog "Being Vocal". Enjoy. Learn. Sing. Tell her I sent you. (By the way, a voice lesson makes for a great birthday gift. Did I tell you mine's June 30? I'm just saying...)
Life is good here. Shawn's parents are coming into town this week and on Friday, we'll be heading to Henry's End Restaurant to celebrate Father's Day (last Sunday), my birthday (June 30--did you know?), Shawn's and my second wedding anniversary (June 18) and his parents' 50th wedding anniversary (June 20). Said the man taking the reservation, "Oh, no pressure here!" Final touches are being put onto the apartment before their arrival: new air conditioner (the old one doesn't leak anymore, but doesn't blow cold air either. The heat wave was interesting.), q-tip holder, and THE BEST THING EVER--The Tie-o-Matic: I'm actually giddy with excitement about this one.
I did not run this week, but I did walk to work, ate vegan lunches, and did not get a cupcake from Billy's Bakery. Oh, Billy's Bakery. Why can't I quit you?
Take some breathing time for yourself, tell me your birthday (mine is June 30), pull up your pants and wear a belt, 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
and, oy vey, I'm also on Facebook
Doug's song stylings on BroadwayDemo.com
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