My Favorite Broadway Twitter Accounts

Tweet tweet!

We live in the era of social media and Broadway performers have taken advantage of it, especially Twitter.  From inspiring aspiring performers to sharing bad auditions, these accounts are some of my favorites.


1) Lesli Margherita

If you don't know who Lesli Margherita is, please do some googling.  She made waves in her Broadway debut as Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda and has been entertaining ever since.  Looking for laughs?  Check out her Twitter.  Looking for inspiration? Check her Twitter.  Looking for poop jokes?   You guessed it; it's all there.

2) Sierra Boggess

I check Sierra Boggess' Twitter whenever I'm feeling down and need a pick-me-up.  You can always catch her tweeting "You are enough.  You are so enough.  It is unbelievable how enough you are" all the time and that's usually what I need to hear.  It's also in her Twitter bio!

3) Lin-Manual Miranda

This man needs no introduction.  He's already made history and his Twitter is not far behind.  Check out his remixes, family updates and good morning and goodnight tweets to his fans.  It's almost like reading something from a close friend.

4) Laura Benanti

Laura Benanti's Twitter is now swarmed with her hilarious Melania Trump impression, a.k.a Benania, but she also throws in honest tweets about her life as a mother to her daughter, Ella and throwing shade at whoever deserves it.

5) Patti Murin

I've been obsessed with Patti Murin ever since listening to Lysistrata Jones for the first time and her Twitter does not disappoint.  Right now she's working on a little show called Frozen, but when she's not tweeting about that, expect live updates during The Bachelor, pictures of her adorable dogs and playful banter with her Broadway performer husband, Colin Donnell.

If you don't have a Twitter account, get one and follow these people ASAP.  I promise you will not be disappointed.

Break Legs,
Sydney

My Favorite Tony Awards Performances

The Tony Awards is my favorite awards show and the only one I can watch all the way through.  It feels the most genuine, with everyone supporting one another and the true glee and surprise that comes hearing your name after "And the Tony Award goes to..."

But my favorite part is, of course, the performances!  I have compiled a list of five of my favorite Tony Awards performances for you.

1)  Dreamgirls from the 1982 Tony Awards

Jennifer Holliday.  Jennifer Holliday.  Jennifer Holliday.  She brings down the house with her amazing rendition of "And I Am Telling You (I'm Not Going)."  I get chills and tears in my eyes every time she finishes this song and belts to the back of the theater.  If you haven't seen this clip, do yourself a favor and check it out, over and over again.

2) Anything Goes from the 2011 Tony Awards

Ever tried to belt your face off after a three-and-a-half-minute long tap dance?  I've played Reno and take it from me, it's not easy.  But Sutton Foster does it without missing a beat and no visible strain whatsoever.  She is the definition of a triple threat and the amazing ensemble in this number only adds to the unbelievable performance.

3) The Wedding Singer at the 2006 Tony Awards

The best word to describe this show is fun.  This performance offers just a taste of the headbanging, heartbreak and hilarity to come.  The musical version of the classic Adam Sandler film about a wedding singer who falls in love with a betrothed waitress definitely delivers.  Here is Stephen Lynch and the company of The Wedding Singer.

4) Spring Awakening  at the 2007 Tony Awards

Looking for an angsty musical about teenagers growing up in 19th century Germany?  Here it is.  Starring a pre-Glee Lea Michele and pre-Mindhunter Jonathan Groff, the cast delivered a fiery rendition of "Mama Who Bore Me," "The B*tch of Living" and "Totally F*cked," cementing this out-of-the-ordinary musical in Tony Awards history.

5) Rent at the 1996 Tony Awards

One of my favorite musicals of all time is Rent.  I get chills just thinking about it and I will always cry.  This performance was even more impactful and heart-wrenching because Jonathan Larson, the playwright and composer, was never able to see it.  Keep that in mind as you watch this cast and try not to bawl your eyes out.

What are your favorite Tony Awards performances?

Break legs,

Sydney 

Shows I'm Excited for in the New Year

2018 means new resolutions, new relationships and new reaffirmations.  But what I am most excited for is new shows premiering on Broadway or looking for a theater.  Here is a list of what I am looking forward to.

1) Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman is one of my favorite movies so seeing it onstage would be a dream come true.  Samantha Barks is going to be a great Vivian and I would love to see Orfeh's return to the Great Legally Blonde, Orfeh!
White Way.  I've missed you since

2) Beaches


Another one of my favorite movies is (hopefully) making it to the Great White Way.  I fell in love with this story after randomly stumbling upon it when I was in high school.  I ended up sobbing at the ending and rewatching multiple times.  I cannot imagine anyone but Shoshana Bean playing Bette
Midler's role and hope that this show makes it on Broadway or at least tours near my town.  I'm praying to Saint Genesius for this one.

3) Mean Girls

Who doesn't want to see this classic teen flick amplified by song and dance?  I've heard great things about this show's out-of-town tryout and I hope I get the chance to see it once it opens in a few months.  I've also been a huge fan of Kate Rockwell since I saw her in Rock of Ages so seeing her take on the role of Karen would be icing on top of the already sweet cake.


4) King Kong

I'll be honest, I am not too familiar with the movie, King Kong but I would definitely buy a ticket to see that gorilla puppet in action.  This is a Broadway first and I think it will draw huge crowds consisting of technical theatre lovers as well as diehard movie fans.

5) Escape to Margaritaville

My parents said they might just have to see this show once it opens on Broadway, which is huge.  I've always wanted to experience Broadway with them and I will see anything they want.  But that is not the only reason I would love to see this show.  It sounds like pure fun and who doesn't love Jimmy Buffet?  I love a good jukebox musical and hope this one finds great success.

What shows are you excited about in 2018?

Break Legs,
Sydney

Some Recent Plays

When my mom asked what I wanted for Christmas I gave her a long list of plays that I was just dying to read.  It was an eclectic list, with each play bringing something new to the table.

The plays I received and read include God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, Agnes of God by John Pielmeier, The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh, Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley and Really Really by Paul Downs Colaizzo.

Each was special for different reasons and had an impact on me.  Here is what I thought of each play.

1) God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza

This play received a lot of buzz when it made its Broadway debut in 2009, detailing a conversation between two sets of parents discussing a playground fight between their sons.  This "civil" meeting turns ugly as the parents act worse than the children in question and quickly spirals out of control.

It is a quick read, but don't think you won't feel anything.  The tension during most scenes is so thick and I felt a rollercoaster of emotions.  I was angry, confused, understanding and sometimes even felt myself growing confrontational, wanting to jump into the play and slap some sense into these parents.

2) Agnes of God by John Pielmeier

Taking a darker turn, Agnes of God is about a psychiatrist brought in to interview a young nun accused of killing her newborn baby.

I did not know much about this play, but the summary intrigued and I am glad I read it.  It kept me guessing as to who-dun-it and every time I thought I figured it out, new dialogue would cast doubt in my mind.  If you are looking for a play that truly makes you think, this one is for you.

3) The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh

After a string of child murders closely linked to one man's stories, he is interrogated for the crimes.  Detailed retellings of the stories add to the eerie tone of this play.

I am a huge horror fan so I was excited to dive into The Pillowman.  I could not put this play down.  Katurian's stories enthralled me and wondering if he was going to make it out alive kept me turning pages.  The twist that comes in the middle of the play keeps the plot moving and adds another dimension to the already addicting story.  I'm going to admit, this play gave me nightmares but I highly recommend it to any mystery or horror fan.

4) Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley

A true American classic, three sisters reunite to help the youngest after she shoots her husband.  All three realize that what they really need in life is each other.

I performed a scene from this play in a drama class in high school and I always wanted to read the whole thing, wondering what happened to each sister.  This three-act play beautifully tells the story of three sisters coming to terms with how their lives have gone and working together to find true meaning.  While the play did not answer all of my questions, I found closure in the sisters' relationship, knowing that the would be alright if they stuck together,

5) Really Really by Paul Downs Colaizzo

After a college party gone wrong, many students are left questioning what really happened behind a closed bedroom door.

Being a women and gender studies minor, I was instantly drawn to this play.  While it starts out slow, the mystery of who is telling the truth drew me in.  Colaizzo does a great job of creating flawed characters who propel the story and accurately portray what can happen after a rape allegation on a college campus.  The ending infuriated me for many reasons, but I won't give anything away.

If you are looking for a new play or plays to add to your shelf or reading list, I recommend you check out any of the plays above.


Break Legs,
Sydney

Let the Memory Live Again...

I was fortunate enough to experience Cats two weeks before it closed on December 30 and it has taken me until now to fully process my thoughts on the show.

Cats is one of those shows that receives a lot of flack.  Some even started a campaign against the revival after its return announcement.  I had a theatre professor who claimed it was the "worst show ever," and even had someone apologize to me when I said I was going to see it.

But I have always had a soft spot for this show for many reasons:

1) I am a cat person through and through so anything involving cats is a yes from me.

2) Cats definitely takes advantage of the Aristotelian element of spectacle.  The costumes, the set and, of course, the dancing is fascinating to me.  It is unlike anything else I have ever seen live and I appreciate the commitment to looking and acting like cats as humanly possible.  Also, when is someone going to release the Cats workout regimen because it would definitely whop me into shape.

3) The music. The music. The music.  As I sat in the dark mezzanine of the Neil Simon Theatre listening to the first notes of the overture, I was covered in goosebumps and could not stop from smiling, bouncing in my aisle seat.  Andrew Lloyd Webber knows what he is doing and I could not contain my excitement as each song changed (My favorite song is "Macavity," by the way.)

The revival of Cats blew me away and I was so sad to see it close just a few days ago.  If you were able to see it, consider yourself lucky.  It is truly an important part of the theater that need not be forgotten.  Never let the memory fade.


Break Legs,
Sydney

Make Way For The King!

After a long wait, the musical adaptation of King Kong will finally make its appearance on the Great White Way.

After a successful 2013 run in Melbourne, the musical's arrival on Broadway was delayed due to the huge scale of the production.  The production features a one-ton, six meters tall gorilla puppet in the title role.

Along with the four-year delay comes brand new additions to the creative team featuring Thorne, Drew McOnie and Perfect.   No cast has been announced.

King Kong will conquer Broadway in Fall 2018.

To buy tickets to King Kong, click here.

Break Legs,
Sydney

Happy Birthday Christian Borle!

One of the most in-demand Broadway Leading Men celebrates his birthday today.

That's right, it's the versatile Christian Borle's 44th birthday.  Let's take a look back and some of his most memorable and award-winning roles.

Borle (R), with Delta Burke and Angela Christian(L)
Photo Credit: Getty Images

1. Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie

A few years after his Broadway debut, Borle stepped into the leading male role in Millie, after Gavin Creel, playing opposite of his then-girlfriend Sutton Foster's Millie.


2. Multiple Roles in Spamalot

Just two years after Millie, Borle played the roles of Prince Herbert, Minstrel, French Guard, Not Dead Fred and Historian in the hilarious musical adaptation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  These roles led him to his next starring role.

Borle and Bundy bow in Legally Blonde.
Photo Credit: Pinterest

3. Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde

Borle was just the guy for the musical adaptation of Legally Blonde and he played perfectly opposite Laura Bell Bundy's Elle.  This role earned him a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.  His performance was filmed and broadcast on MTV.









4. Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher

Borle won a Tony Award for his portrayal of the most feared pirate captain on the high seas, terrifying and captivating audiences at the same time.

5. Shakespeare in Something Rotten!

It's not easy to play the Bard, but someone had to in Something Rotten, and who better to cast than Christian Borle.  He embodied this role so well that he won his second Tony Award, delighting the audience with his witty and sexual humor.

6. Marvin in Falsettos

While most of Borle's roles are on the comical side, Borle took on the role of Marvin, a gay father trying to balance a teenage son, ex-wife, and boyfriend in the 1980s.  While Falsettos is not devoid of comedy, the amount of versatility an actor needs to portray Marvin is immense and Borle did it beautifully.

And last but not least, you can currently see Christian Borle on Broadway.

7. Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The witty musical adaptation of the same name opened on Broadway in April of 2017, with Borle in the beloved role of Willy Wonka, the quirky and curious candy inventor.  To purchase tickets to see this show and Borle, click here.

Borle in his current role, Willy Wonka.
Photo Credit: YouTube

Once again, Happy Birthday Christian!

Break Legs,
Sydney