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| Topic Started: Feb 15 2010, 06:23 AM (368 Views) | |
| mouser | Feb 15 2010, 06:23 AM Post #1 |
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It's almost March and Grease comes to Pittsburgh......about time they started to advertise !!!!! http://thetartan.org/2010/2/15/pillbox/broadway_in_the_burgh Broadway comes to the ’Burgh Shows in the city introduce both actors and audiences to the perks of the Great White Way While the Big Apple may be hours away by train, car, or plane, New York City’s rich theater programs and talented performances are a lot closer than that. Broadway shows have marked out Pittsburgh as a stop for many of their performances, and many of the city’s drama students, notably Carnegie Mellon alumni, are also making a splash on stages across the country. Pittsburgh is fast becoming a cultural hub, not only a city to visit for many touring shows as they make their rounds, but also as a fountainhead of aspiring talent. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s history tells the story of the transformation of the city from industry town to vibrant cultural center as a series of renaissances. Arguably, Pittsburgh has had a long history of reinventing itself: going from smog and steel to sustainable industry, shifting from trust belt city to a center for the arts to flourish. The Trust, formed in 1984 by Jack Heinz and a small group of his friends and companions, made it its mission to transform the run-down downtown into an urban hub. After restoring the Stanley Theater, now known as the Benedum Center, the trust began working its way through the downtown area, revitalizing it with theaters, open spaces, and public art projects. Now, thanks to the Trust, the downtown area boasts over 14 different performing arts venues and is still going strong. However, while having facilities to host cultural events is a start, other components are crucial in making Pittsburgh the success story that it is. Performers, technicians, and dramatists are needed to put on the shows, and an audience must come to support them. The various universities in the city provide eager actors, and the smaller venues in town provide great jumping points for a career in show business. .... coming up at the Benedum is Grease. For those unfamiliar with the plot of the show, the show is set in the 1950s and follows the lives of 10 teenagers in high school as they go through the familiar conflicts of life and love. Billed as a rock and roll musical, it confronted issues of gang violence, teenage pregnancy, experimentation, and rebellion. Sandy and Danny, the two main characters, go through an unresolved love affair from over the summer break that blossoms into a mess of misunderstandings and hurt feelings during the school year. Sandy, the new kid at the Rydell High School, finds that she has a lot to learn about fitting in, especially if she wants to be part of the Pink Ladies, the school’s most popular group of girls. Danny also has to overcome his pride to accept how attached he is to Sandy. Eventually, after sock hops and slumber parties, the two finally confront each other about their feelings. The show runs from March 9 to March 14. Interestingly, Taylor Hicks of American Idol fame will be playing the part of Teen Angel for this performance. |
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| kaitlin45 | Feb 23 2010, 06:45 AM Post #2 |
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Thanks, mouser, for finding this. I was hoping to do Pittsburgh if he did a shadow gig; I've seen the play 4x now and can't do tickets for that. But it doesn't look as if that gig will be happening.  I'm really glad there is pre-press for the play and I hope to see a follow-up piece giving the readers more on Taylor and why he's the shining star of the show.
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| mouser | Mar 2 2010, 07:17 AM Post #3 |
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Taylor Hicks puts heart and soul into Teen Angel in 'Grease' http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10061/1039523-325.stm Tuesday, March 02, 2010 By Kate McCaffrey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Taylor Hicks plays Teen Angel in the touring musical "Grease," which will be at the Benedum Center March 9-14.From Alabama bars to Asian arenas, mall Easter Bunny to Broadway, unknown to mocking "Saturday Night Live" skits, Taylor Hicks, that gray-haired, harmonica player of fickle "American Idol" fame, has had an unlikely ride. In 2006, Mr. Hicks' fans, the Soul Patrol, voted him into first place to win the coveted (and disparaged) "Idol" crown. Since then he has enjoyed the highs -- No. 1 and No. 2 Billboard slots for his debut single and album, respectively -- and endured the lows -- getting dumped by Arista Records two years later -- a pattern that now seems par for the course. These days Mr. Hicks can be found wearing a costume he describes as "Liberace meets Elvis Presley meets Gram Parsons" and singing "Beauty School Dropout." For the past two years he has been touring the country, playing the role of Teen Angel in Broadway's version of "Grease." Last week, he took some time out while in Milwaukee to talk about the show, his unlikely Broadway training and why being the greatest musician in the world won't get you anywhere if you just sit in your room. What's your schedule been like since you started touring with "Grease"? I see you're coming to Pittsburgh from Milwaukee then to Buffalo and Ontario. How many days out of the year are you on the road? Let's not talk days, let's talk years. I've been on the road four years straight. I think I left when I was 28 and I think I'm 33 now. It's been one big blur, but it's been one big fun blur. How does that affect your songwriting? Is it hard to find time to write and squeeze in time for your own music when you're constantly on the road like that? You have to be disciplined. You have to just, you know, find that creative outlet. And, to a certain degree, I've had a blast building the character of Teen Angel and the role. Thinking of things that could work and you know, just having the discipline to have a creative outlet. Performing in a musical like "Grease," does it take a different kind of discipline and stamina than performing with a band? It's interesting. I spent two years of performing music for an hour and 45 minutes five nights a week. This has been kind of a reprieve to a certain degree. And it is a grueling process, but, for me in the role, it's not as physically demanding. But what you do with your time on stage has been the most challenging. How's it the most challenging? You just have to make sure when you're on stage, you have to make sure you make the most impact, to leave the most remark. That's the key for my role as Teen Angel and also coming out and singing the encore performance with every encore show. If five years ago, before you won "American Idol," if someone told you you'd be touring with "Grease," what would you have said? I would have probably said they were crazy. But now that I've gotten into this arena it's just been a wonderful combination for me as a live performer and me as a musician to kind of bring some of my strengths as a performer out and Broadway has done that. Were you into Broadway or theater as a kid? I never did theater. Only twice as Santa Claus when I was a kid ... which was kind of interesting. When did you play Santa Claus? The Christmas play in eighth grade and the Christmas play in second grade. I just remember them stuffing me. I must've been a cross between Santa Claus and Stay Puft (Ghostbuster's Marshmallow Man) 'cause I just remember being stuffed with a bunch of pillows. I'll go even one step further. I was the Easter Bunny at the local shopping mall as well. I've been able to be quite a few interesting characters in my time. When were you the Easter Bunny? I was the Easter bunny when I was 16 to 17. It's not the most ideal characters for training for Broadway, but it'll do, you know. Do you have a new appreciation or critical eye for musicals now? I'm still just in the very beginning stages of the musicals and theaters. I've definitely caught the acting bug through it. I'm really blessed that I've had the opportunity. I know how hard it is to get to Broadway. Will you do more in the future? If the right role came along, I would definitely do some. Music wise, do you have anything new in the works? I do actually. I'm planning on working on a record during the summer of this year. And hopefully releasing it soon. As Teen Angel, you're the voice of reason and wisdom. Is there anything you've learned since winning "American Idol" that you'd want current contestants to know? To stay in the business, you know, work and tour as much as you can. ... Make sure you tour. That's the thing. You have to be out there and tour and be with the people. People want to know that you're tangible. So some people would say that participating in "American Idol" discredits musicians and their work. Do you think people take your music less seriously than they would have maybe had you not won "American Idol"? Um ... yeah, I think ... it does. ... The thing that I was always taught by older musicians is not how you get there, it's if you get there. And I think when you get there is ... the most important part is what you do with it when you get there. Does that make sense? And I think any way that you can get there is the way that you should get there. I think ... you gotta find a way to expose yourself. You can't just sit in your house and be a great musician. You have to get out there. "Grease" comes to the Benedum Center March 9-14. Tickets cost $22-$66. Call 412-456-6666 or visit www.pgharts.org. |
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| Gr8fulheart | Mar 2 2010, 09:16 AM Post #4 |
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Great interview! This has been the quickest (4) years, & look at all he has accomplished within that time span. 
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| mouser | Mar 8 2010, 07:23 PM Post #5 |
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 After winning "American Idol," Taylor Hicks was offered larger roles in other Broadway shows, but turned them down, opting for the small but flashy role of Teen Angel in "Grease." "Teen Angel was appropriate," he says. "I wanted to take a small role and expand on it if I liked it and was successful. You can take a small, flashy role and make it as big and over the top as possible." Edited by mouser, Mar 9 2010, 06:14 AM.
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| mouser | Mar 9 2010, 06:15 AM Post #6 |
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Angelic 'Grease' role fits Hicks comfortably !By Alice T. Carter, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, March 8, 2010 While growing up in Birmingham, Ala., Taylor Hicks' dreams included becoming a performer and experiencing a big snowstorm. He fulfilled the first by becoming the season five winner of "American Idol," having his blues band, the Taylor Hicks Band, record an album that went platinum and making a 2008 Broadway debut. After experiencing snowstorms that led to several cancelled shows of the national touring production of "Grease" -- in which he plays Teen Angel -- Hicks also has had his fill of snow, he says during a phone call from Milwaukee, Wisc. "Grease" opens a week-long engagement Tuesday at the Benedum Center, Downtown. Most widely known as a 1978 hit movie, this latest Broadway-revival production of "Grease" adds songs from the motion picture, including "Sandy," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Grease" and "You're the One That I Want," to the score of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey songs from the original 1972 stage production that include "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightning" and "We Go Together." It's a widely popular tale of good girls, greasers, hot cars and teenage lovers set in Rydell High School sometime in the 1950s. Performing in a musical was not something Hicks had originally envisioned. "I tried to work on being a well-rounded entertainer," he says. "But this is something I did not perceive." Before making his Broadway debut in "Grease," Hicks' stage roles had been limited to appearances as Santa Claus in school plays, first in seventh grade and then in his junior year. "My first acting coach was Kathleen Marshall," he says, referring to the former Squirrel Hill resident who directed and choreographed the Broadway revival of "Grease" in which he appeared as a replacement. "That's the only acting or theater training I had." After winning the 2006 "American Idol" competition, Hicks was offered larger roles in other Broadway shows, but turned them down in favor of Teen Angel, a small, but high-profile cameo part. "Teen Angel was appropriate," he says. "I wanted to take a small role and expand on it if I liked it and was successful. You can take a small, flashy role and make it as big and over the top as possible. ... Having experienced it, it's a perfect fit. It allows me to express my music side and my performing side. It's a culmination of what I worked for." After playing on Broadway for three months, he headed out on the road with an 18-month contract for the same role in the national touring production. While on the road, he likes visiting with fans, having his picture taken with them after shows and signing records for them. "It's not how many tickets you sell. It's how many lives you touch," he says. A veteran of one-night appearance tours with his band and as an "American Idol" winner, Hicks also is enjoying the luxury of the "Grease" national tour that allows him to spend a week or more in a single location. "It's great to be able to visit cities like Pittsburgh and get out into the country again," he says. "You can sink your teeth into a city." While in Pittsburgh he's also hoping to sink his teeth into the city's best cheeseburger. "I like to visit restaurants and see something of the local flair," he says. "I like to find who has the ultimate cheeseburger." http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/theater/s_670658.html |
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| tishlp | Mar 9 2010, 01:47 PM Post #7 |
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I love that long list of media blitz appearances for Pittsburgh. 
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| Gr8fulheart | Mar 9 2010, 04:22 PM Post #8 |
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The Thursday Blitz sounds exciting. This girl will have to catch up later, since I will be leaving early in the morning & may not return until late in the evening. Much gratitude to our dependable team here, who will make sure we have these to view at a later time. In advance: THANX♥ |
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| mouser | Mar 10 2010, 06:48 AM Post #9 |
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A review of the entire production that seems fair and balanced. A general , generic overview of the show without any specific comments. Review: Production of 'Grease' has fans humming By Alice T. Carter, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, March 10, 2010 When fans of "Grease" leave the Benedum Center humming "You're the One That I Want" they're likely thinking as much about the production as the song itself. Those who believe they were born to hand jive -- ticket sales as well as opening night audience enthusiasm indicates there are a lot of them -- are almost certain to love this production. Set in the now distant and legendary year of 1959, this musical comedy follows the loves, dreams, delusions, rivalries and relationships of greaser guys, in-crowd Pink Ladies and a sprinkling of nerds, class clowns and cheerleaders during their senior year at Rydell High School. The show is a popular staple at high schools and community theaters so it's only natural that parents, grandparents, teachers and scout leaders have nary a qualm about taking youngsters to see this show. Faulty memories or sanitized productions may not have prepared them for the raunch and language they will encounter here. Members of Rydell High School's class of 1959 smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol to excess, swear and deliver enough middle finger salutes that it's a wonder that the ever watchful teacher/hall monitor/chaperone Miss Lynch doesn't drop dead from heart palpitations. There are abundant but not overt indications that a whole lot of sex is going on off-stage, One scene is driven by Betty Rizzo's concern that she may be pregnant and the climax of the show suggests that girls who want to be popular and accepted in high school should tart themselves up and prepare to put out. The clearly satisfied customers streaming out of the Benedum may be oblivious or don't care about those disclaimers. It's easy to overlook them in a show that clearly works overtime to entertain. This is a big, well-produced national touring production with a huge cast of 26 headed by Josh Franklin and Lauren Ashley Zakrin as the cute but ambivalent young lovers Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski. Along for the ride is American Idol winner Taylor Hicks in the tiny cameo part of Teen Angel. Those coming to see Hicks should know that his role in the show is small — a nicely rendered but single song in the second act — plus a showcase appearance during the curtain call. Even Dominic Fortuna, who plays DJ Vince Fontaine, gets far more exposure, especially as he's on stage alone for an amusing 10-minute pre-show during which he interacts with and warms up the audience to great success and applause. Performers such as Laura D'Andre as Betty Rizzo, David Ruffin as Kenickie, Bridie Carroll as Jan and Will Blum as Roger turn their secondary characters into real, recognizable people. Broadway choreographer and director and former Pittsburgher Kathleen Marshall pumps the show full of lots of action and high-kicking, fast stepping, clever dance numbers. Scenic designer Derek McLane provides colorful, clever set pieces, notably Danny's car that transforms before our eyes from rust-bucket clunker to a candy apple red vehicle worthy of the name Greased Lightning and the oversize drive-in diner decor ice cream cone from which Hicks as Teen Angel makes his act two appearance. Costume designer Martin Pakledinaz and wig and hair designer Paul Huntley contribute the pencil skirts, leather jackets, crinoline puffed dresses and the bangs, pony tails and pompadours that enhance period and character. The strength of this enduring musical is in its score, created by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey with additional songs by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St. Louise and Scott Simon. This national touring production of the 2007 Broadway revival includes songs from the original 1972 stage production such as 'AoeSummer Nights,'A 'AoeGreased Lightning'A and 'AoeWe Go Together'A as well as four more — 'AoeSandy,'A 'AoeHopelessly Devoted to You,'A 'AoeGrease'A and 'AoeYou'Are the One That I Want," — that were part of the 1978 hit movie version. The result is a whole lot of head bobbing going on as audience members of a certain age mouth the catchy lyrics along with other theatergoers who are a whole lot too young to remember the '50s first hand. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/theater/s_670933.html |
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| mouser | Mar 10 2010, 06:54 AM Post #10 |
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TONIGHT MARCH 10, 2010 THE BCEFA BENEFIT WITH CAST OF GREASE BCEFA Benefit With Cast of GREASE Held at Hard Rock Cafe, 3/10  Monday, March 8, 2010; Posted: 12:26 PM - by News Desk http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes3/events.aspx?LocationID=87&eventID=41385&MIBEnumID=3 ONE NIGHT ONLY: We Go Together...A Cabaret with the Cast of GREASE the Hard Rock Café, 1 Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, Wed Mar 10 at 10:30 pm. benefitting Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/100404 Don't miss your only chance to see the cast of "Grease" up close and personal at a special benefit for the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. For just $20, you'll have the opportunity to meet the cast and bid on one of a kind items including autographed show posters, tickets to the musical and more. This one-night-only performance is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10th at the Hard Rock Cafe at Station Square.  DO NOT KNOW IF TAYLOR WILL BE ATTENDING .  Clay Connor as Special Guest Performer Edited by mouser, Mar 11 2010, 08:09 PM.
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