Stage Rush TV: Episode 13

Talking points:

• Red set designer Christopher Oram kicks off Stage Rush’s Tony series!
• The cast of White’s Lies somehow enjoys themselves, despite the horrific writing
• Broadway grosses

What do you think, Rushers? Have you seen Red? What did you think of Christopher Oram’s set? Did you find White’s Lies as embarrassing as I did? Leave your questions, thoughts, and suggestions in the comments!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 12

 

Talking points:

• Tony nominations announced: predictability and disappointment
• Collected Stories: another well-developed Donald Margulies relationship
• Stuffed and Unstrung: foul-mouthed, hysterical puppets without a script
• Enron’s producers act hastily and close the show
• Broadway grosses 

What do you think, Rushers? What are your reactions to the Tony nominations? Do you think the Best Score category should have been eliminated this year? Do you think Memphis is a worthy opponent for Fela? Do you think the producers of Enron are acting too fast by closing the show? Leave your thoughts, questions, and suggestions in the comments!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 11

Talking points:

• Seeing American Idiot, during Green Day’s surprise appearance
• Interviewing God of Carnage standby Charlotte Maier
• Charlotte gives Stage Rush a video tour of her dressing room at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre
• Broadway grosses
  

What do you think, Rushers? Were you one of the lucky audience members to experience Green Day at American Idiot? Were you in the audience during either of the two performances that Charlotte Maier went on in God of Carnage last February? Can you believe the amazing view Charlotte has of the Imperial Theatre from her dressing room window? As always, leave your thoughts and questions in the comments!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 10

Talking points:

• Brian d'Arcy James to return to Next to Normal
• The four shows I saw this week… in 30 seconds: Million Dollar Quartet, Next to Normal, La Cage aux Folles, and Everyday Rapture
• The At This Performance concert inspires with stellar understudy talent
• Broadway grosses

What do you think, Rushers? Are you beaming that Brian d’Arcy James will be coming back to Next to Normal? Did you see him in the show’s off-Broadway run? What did you think of the four shows I saw this week? Did Million Dollar Quartet make you leave smiling? Did you find Everyday Rapture to be a bummer, like I did? Have you been to an At This Performance concert? As always, leave it in the comments!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 9

Whisper House's Holly Brook introduces!

Talking points:

• Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson gets EMOtional
• Seeing Anyone Can Whistle from a mile away
• Chicago’s ensemble talks stunt casting
• Broadway grosses: Why American Idiot isn’t a sellout 

What do you think, Rushers? Have you seen Andrew Jackson? Does it deserve to get an open-ended off-Broadway run? Did you pay for better seats to Anyone Can Whistle than I did? Do you think I’m right about the people who are buying tickets for American Idiot? Leave it in the comments!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 8

 

Talking points:

• Interviewing Chicago ensemble members Melissa Rae Mahon and James T. Lane on the stage of the Ambassador Theatre
• Loss #2 at the American Idiot ticket lottery
• Broadway grosses 

Please leave your thoughts, questions, suggestions in the comments!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 7

Talking points: 

• Interviewing Chad Kimball’s understudy, Bryan Fenkart, from Memphis
• Loss #1 at the American Idiot ticket lottery
• Million Dollar Quartet rocks out at a private jam session
• Broadway grosses
  

Have you seen Bryan Fenkart go on for Huey in Memphis? Have you won the American Idiot ticket lotto yet? Do you plan on trying your luck at it? Do you think Hunter Foster should not have taken a non-singing role in a Broadway musical? Please leave any questions or suggestions for topics in the comments!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 5

Duncan Sheik introduces this week’s episode! 

Talking points:

• Duncan Sheik spills details on Spring Awakening movie
• Sheik in concert in South Orange, NJ
• Broadway double-header: rushing A Little Night Music and The Miracle Worker
• Broadway grosses 

What do you think of the Spring Awakening movie news? Are you disappointed that Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff won’t reprise their roles in the film? Are you still terrified of the prospect of McG taking the wheel, or do you think it will be his ticket to respected filmmaker-dom? Were you as disappointed with The Miracle Worker as I was? Did you fall in love with A Little Night Music? Please tell me in the comments!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 4

Talking points:

• The Broadway portion of Las Vegas
• The Scottsboro Boys has a rush policy, but no rush tickets
• Evan Rachel Wood backs out of Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark
• Steven Sater: Spring Awakening film could begin production as soon as fall
• Broadway grosses

Please leave your thoughts, questions in the comments below!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 3, LA Edition

Coming to you from Los Angeles this week! Please excuse the wind interference—we weren’t aware of it until we had finished (low-cost equipment here). I had a real, live soldier of the Hollywood entertainment industry collaborating with me this week—my good friend Michelle Mogavero . Having a “crew” was very exciting.





Talking points: 

• Rush FAIL: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 
• Upcoming interview with Lynne Shankel, former music supervisor for Company, music director for Cry Baby and Altar Boyz. 
• ASTEP's New York City Christmas benefit concert
• Raul Esparza’s performance of “O Holy Night” (YouTube) 
• Broadway grosses 

Please leave your thoughts, questions in the comments below!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 2

Talking points: 

• Interviewing Jeremy Stolle at the Majestic Theatre and getting a backstage tour
• Rushing A View From The Bridge and TKTS-ing Next Fall 
• Broadway grosses 

We had an awesome amount of comments last week. I loved responding to everyone. Please keep them coming this week. In addition, please ask me any questions you’d like me to address or throw out any topics you’d like me to discuss in next week’s episode. I’m taking your suggestions and I’d love for you guys to contribute to the topics list next week!

Stage Rush TV: Episode 1

After a year, I finally come from behind the curtain, much like Oz, and get in front of the video camera (eek!). I present to you the first episode of Stage Rush TV! Every week, I’ll cover any shows or events I’ve been to, weigh in on the week’s Broadway news, and discuss any theater-related topics whirling around in my brain. 

Please excuse the first-time-in-front-of-the-camera nerves. I promise people, I will get better. I’ll also make these videos shorter; we wouldn’t want The Lion King to close before the video ends. 

Talking points: 

• How I fell hard for Broadway
• Attending the All About Me press conference
• Seeing Phantom of the Opera and my upcoming Q&A with Phantom understudy Jeremy Stolle
• The media goes spoiler-crazy with Next Fall
• Jersey Boys sells a shockingly-low number of tickets (for them) 

Please leave your thoughts, retorts, agreements, and disagreements in the comments section—all are welcome! This way, we can actually turn this into a discussion, rather than just my big head floating on the screen jabbering. In addition, please email me, tweet me, or leave a comment letting me know if there are any topics you’d like me to address in the next episode.