Active Staff Member, Rhyn McLemore, Stars in The Spitfire Grill

Rhyn McLemore is currently starring in "The Spitfire Grill" at Cape Fear Regional Theatre in North Carolina. The musical, with music and book by James Valcq and lyrics and book by Fred Alley is based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff.

Check out this great article about the production and Rhyn!

*Image courtesy of Andrew Craft of the Fay Observer.

Ben Bartolone, Active Company Manager, has BROADWAY DEBUT!

Ben Bartolone, Company Manager for The Active Theater, is onthe verge of his Broadway debut! The musical, for which he co-wrote the book, is called WEAKER PEOPLE: A DANGEROUS NOTION. The story focuses on bullying in our schools. ALL proceeds are going to OPERATION: RESPECT, an anti-bullying charity run by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame. Channel 7 News came to the first rehearsal, and you can see some of the footage here:

Weaker People: A Dangerous Notion debuts on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, March 19th, 2012. The Reception is at 7PM with an 8PM curtain.

Sarah Shahinian's Solo Directing Debut!

Sarah Shahinian, our Associate Artistic Director, is about to start working on her first professional SOLO directing project: “RESPECT: A Musical Celebration of Women” at the Lyceum Theater in San Diego. Rehearsals begin March 19th, with the first performance on April 18th. Tickets are on sale through August, possibly longer! Sarah has done a lot of assistant directing, so this is a big step up for her, and she's loving every second of it so far. Being able to run auditions and treat actors the way she's always wanted to be treated. And she couldn't be more excited about her fabulous cast! Stay tuned for more updates about her directing adventures!

Molly Sorohan Joins Cast of Mary Poppins

Active Theatre Member Molly Sorohan left NYC in a whirlwind last week to join the cast of the national tour of Mary Poppins. She will be an ensemble member covering two character parts.
This is Sorohan's second time on the road in the company of a national tour. Last year she completed the tour of 101 Dalmatians with fellow Active member Jose Luaces.
The Mary Poppins tour plays the west coast this summer, with stints in Sacramento, Seattle, San Diego and Portland before coming back east to play Chicago and Toronto later this year. For a complete touring schedule, check out the website here.
Sorohan is thrilled to join the cast, but will miss her Active peeps!

Active Theatre Artistic Director Returns to Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company

This summer Active Artistic Director Nathaniel Shaw will return to Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company to direct Damn Yankees, Hairspray and A Chorus Line. This is Shaw's second season with the company. Last season his production of Hair was nominated for 13 New Hampshire Theatre Association awards, with Shaw himself garnering nominations for Best Director and Best Choreographer. Active looks forward to news of Shaw's continued success and congratulates him on his upcoming nuptials...

Sarah Shahinian Plays Eponine in Cleveland

Active Company member Sarah Shahinian went on for Eponine this week in the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary tour.  She understudies Eponine as a member of the ensemble.  She is also featured as Young Whore.  For those Cleveland-area fans who missed it, Sarah will go on tonight and both shows on Sunday, too.Way to go, Sarah!
The Les Miz tour plays Cleveland through the 17th of April, then moves on to Dayton, OH, Denver, CO, and Fayetteville, AR.  For a full tour schedule, check out www.lesmis.com.

A Chance to See Active Company Member Jason Emanuel... in a Dress.

When the curtain goes up on The Family Shakespeare tonight at the June Havoc Theatre, Active's own Jason Emanuel hits the boards as a 17th century aristocrat, donning a wig, pantaloons, and occasionally, a dress-- er, a nightshirt.  This historical drama is based on the true story of the Bowdler family, who were responsible for publishing the Complete Censored Works of Shakespeare.  The play questions censorship and examines the  nature of innocence, featuring some fabulous actors along the way.  We're so proud to have one of our own in the cast! The show runs tonight through April 30th at the June Havoc Theatre at 312 W. 36th St. 

Eric Percival Stands Out in Schreiber Studio's Changing Room

Active Theater Company members know Eric Percival for his astute observations during weekly company scene study class.  He is a dedicated crafstman, drawing on his impeccable training to communicate exactly what each scene needs to take it to the next level. He is a valued company member and remarkable actor.
It turns out that Eric Percival is a NY critic's darling as well!  In The Changing Room at Terry Schreiber Studios, Percival has been deemed a standout in an ensemble of talented actors.  Backstage.com declares that "Schreiber pitches the performances at just the right level, and he elicits strong work in a number of the roles. Eric Percival is cheerfully dense as Barry, the English version of a good ol' boy."  Prominent blogs have claimed that "In such a large cast, in a play without a real story, it is hard for actors to make themselves distinguishable, especially when all are in shorts and the same striped shirts, but Eric Percival makes Barry Copley his own."  Click on the link to read the full review. 
Unfortunately the production is entirely sold out for the duration of the run.  The Active Theater wishes a hearty congratulations to Percival and the rest of his excellent cast.  We're cheering him on every step of the way!

Need Something to do Tonight?

What are you doing this evening? Watching Idol? Hitting the gym? Lamenting the negligible state of live theatre in this country? Yearning for an uplifting expression of the human spirit? Well, don't get down, get Active! Come support company member Jose Luaces in R.Evolucion Latina's first Choreographer's Festival. This is your LAST CHANCE to see the sexy Luaces (most recently seen as a woman in the critically acclaimed Venus Flytrap) at the Manhattan Movement Arts Center at 248 W. 60th St. He is working with choreographer Luis Salgado (In the Heights) to create groundbreaking Latin dance. "If you loved Burn the Floor," says fellow company member Elizabeth Walsh, "you'll love this show."

Sarah Shahinian on the road with Les Mis 25th Anniversary

Sarah Shahinian continues to blaze a trail across marquees nationwide as she tours with the 25th anniversary tour of Broadway's Les Misérables. The company has been playing to sold-out houses for more than four months now and the momentum the show is building shows no sign of slowing. Shahinian tugs at the heart strings of audiences everywhere as she performs in the ensemble and covers the role of Eponine, the character known for singing the time-honored show-stopper, "On My Own." Shahinian's first tour performance as Eponine was in Louisville, Kentucky, on March 13th, 2011. The tour will be coming to your city soon, so run, don't walk, to get your tickets now at www.lesmis.com. Don't miss out on this amazing theatrical event!