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THIE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME opens June 23rd at Marian University Theatre! Tickets on sale now for $25 with discounts available for seniors and students. Tickets may be reserved at 317-280-0825 or online.
Q & A with Mr. Braithwaite – TJ Ford Cunningham
As we approach the final weekend, join us for a little Q & A as we learn more about a cast member of BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL!
Today, we talk about all kinds of things with our Mr. Braithwaite – TJ Ford Cunningham!
TJ Ford Cunningham
Q: Tell me all about your character!
A: Mr. Braithwaite is a part of the miner’s union but accompanies Mrs. Wilkinson’s ballet classes in the community center. He’s fiercely loyal to both his fellow miners and Mrs. W., and is always down for a good time at the Rose & Crown.
Q: What brought you into the theatre/performing arts scene here in Indianapolis?
A: Growing up in Indy, I participated in a lot of performing arts around the city, mainly centered around school theatre and music. I spent four years in college studying IT, and though performing with the Singing Hoosiers was an amazing opportunity, I still longed for being a part of a production. After moving back home from school, I jumped back into it like I never left.
Q: For fun, what’s the last thing you do before you go out onstage?
A: Check my pants to make sure they haven’t ripped. I’ve probably ripped a total of 12 pairs of pants in my stage career. Big ass, big problem.
Q: After BILLY ELLIOT, what’s on your calendar?
A: Trading in my mining boots and hard hat for fishnets and heels! Playing a Transylvanian in Zach Rosing Productions’ ROCKY HORROR SHOW.
Q: Didn’t I hear that you just started a new podcast?
A: I have a podcast with my friend Matt Altman called the Kween’s Vernacular where we get drunk and spill some tea on celebrity gossip and all things black queer intersectionality. Give us a listen on iTunes, Soundcloud, or Stitcher if you’re interested!
Tickets available online and by phone (317-280-0825) for the Indiana Premiere of BILLY ELLIOT:THE MUSICAL!
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Tagged #BillyElliotIndy, 2016, bobdirex, cast, downtown, indystage, musical, musical theatre, theatre, tickets
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Q & A with our own Billy Elliot – Thomas Whitcomb!
As we approach opening night, join us for a little Q & A time with some of the BILLY ELLIOT cast!
Today, we spend a little time catching up with the leading man himself, Thomas Whitcomb!
Thomas Whitcomb
Q: Tell me all about your character!
A: Billy, when really picked apart, is just a kid who’s trying to figure out where he fits in. His whole life his family has pushed him to do manly things, such as boxing. Although, this is not what Billy truly feels happy doing. He finds what really makes him happy and comfortable is something that people who know him aren’t very fond about. Many people can relate to this situation. This a very simple take on it. The character and plot become very complicated when set against the miners strike of the 1980s. Also, in an area where ballet, which is what Billy becomes interested in, is looked down upon. With all this against him, Billy gets very discouraged. However with the support of his ballet teacher, he pulls through and becomes what he wanted to be all along. The character of Billy is a very dynamic one that many can relate to the root of his conflict. A very interesting role.
Q: When did you first start performing?
A: I started performing when I was about 9; I did a summer theatre camp. Although, up until then, I basically performed for my family all the time! But one summer my mom signed me up for this camp. It was just a week long and the camp included teaching you to act, sing, and dance. At first, I was beyond shy. I was the only boy in a camp full of girls. But after awhile, I got really into it. I made friends and really enjoyed all aspects of the camp. At the end of the week, we performed all that we learned and it was my first time in front of an audience. I loved it! The next spring I had my first audition for my first show, How the West Was Dun, and I made it. I had a blast and I haven’t stopped since. Been doing it for about 8 years now!
Q: Who do you think should come out to see BILLY ELLIOT?
A: I think everyone should come out and see BILLY ELLIOT! It’s because this story is about a boy who has such a strong passion for something. I think anyone can appreciate that. Most people have a passion for something and this is the perfect representation of that. Also, people should come to see it if they value the spirit of family, friendship, and perseverance. These morals show through greatly in this musical. Lastly, people should come to see it to smile, cry, and have a good laugh. This show is packed with all different kinds of exciting things. So everyone should see it!
Q: After BILLY ELLIOT, what’s on your calendar?
After BILLY ELLIOT is finished, I plan to appear in Jesus Christ Superstar at Footlite Musicals this August. I will also be attending Plainfield High School as a senior. After that, well whatever comes my way!
Tickets available online and by phone (317-280-0825) for BILLY ELLIOT!
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Tagged #BillyElliotIndy, 2016, bobdirex, cast, downtown, indystage, musical, musical theatre, theatre, tickets
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Official Cast List of BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL!
CAST LIST:
Billy Elliot: Thomas Whitcomb
Mrs. Wilkinson: Holly Stults
Mr. Elliot/Miner: Bill Book
Tony Elliot/Miner: Tyler Ostrander
Michael Caffrey: Jack Ducat
Grandma Elliot: Miki Mathioudakis
Billy’s Mother/Miner Wife: Trisha Shepherd
Mr. Braithwaite/Miner: T J Ford
George/Miner: Dan Scharbrough
Big Davey/Miner/Dream Dance: Bradley Kieper
Miner/Dress/Grandpa/Dancer/Scab: Sean Seager
Miner/Older Billy/Dream Dance: Stu Coleman
Lesley/Miner/Dream dance: Dejuan Jackson
Mr. Wilkinson/Miner/Dream Dance/Scab: John Hayes
Pit Super/Miner: Dennis Jones
Miner/Police/Scab: Frank Ebels
Miner/Gym Rat/Dream Dance: Matt Rohrer
Dance Captain/Miner Wife/Young Grandma: Audrey Brinkley
Clipboard Woman/Miner Wife: Tori Gowdy
Miner Daughter: Jayla Gowdy
Debbie Wilkinson/Ballet Corps: Gwendolyn Stout
Susan Parks/Ballet Corps: Isa Armstrong
Margaret Gormley/Ballet Corps: Kylee Booher
Keely Gibson/Ballet Corps: Kennedy Martin
Tracy Atkinson/Ballet Corps: Taia Baker
Alison Summers/Ballet Corps: Laney McNamar
Angela Summers/Ballet Corps: Bella Doss
Tina Harmer/Ballet Corps: Erin Elberfeld
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!
Posted in Blog, Content, Meet The Cast
Tagged #BillyElliotIndy, 2016, bobdirex, cast, downtown, indystage, musical, musical theatre, theatre, tickets
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TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY – Q&A with Anthony Snitker!
Join us every Thursday for our special TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY feature! Each week, obviously on Thursday, you can join us for a little Q&A with some of the cast!
This afternoon, read a little more about Anthony Snitker! He’s playing Claude in HAIR!
Anthony Snitker
Q: Tell me all about your character Claude!
I think Claude says it the best, “I’m Aquarius, destined for greatness or madness.” But to elaborate a bit more Claude’s a lover. He’s sensitive, sweet, and a pensive thinker. He cares a lot about doing the right thing for himself and is very much aware of his conscious. However, sometimes that puts him at odds with some the things his tribe stands for which he loves very deeply. He’s in a constant search of happiness, sense of being, and asking those existential questions. So at the base of it all he’s a complicated conflicted sweet guy but in the most beautiful way.
Q: 2014 is a very different time from when HAIR was first produced. How is this tribe bringing 2014 to a story that takes place in the 60’s?
Even in 2014 I find that this show still remains relevant to today’s audience. Obviously we’ve evolved as a culture, and the show may not be as shocking to today’s audience as it was in the 60s, but the show is still about love and hope, something anyone can relate to. We’re still fighting for equal rights for all Americans, free love, and being environmentally conscious. It was only recently that we ended a very unpopular war. Racial tensions still pop up in the news. Yes, we’ve evolved but have we really changed that much? HAIR points out the hypocrisies in even today’s society. It so brilliantly asks and challenges it’s audience to look at how they can make change rather than sit on the sidelines and be disappointed.
Q: Who do you think should come out to see HAIR?
I think it’d be great if Mike Pence took a day off from banning gay marriage and came to the theatre. But really this is wonderful show that everyone should come see.
Q: Who in the show is most like their character?
While I think everyone in the tribe believes in the core values of the hippies. I especially see a lot of similarities between my character Claude and me. Without getting too deep… For example, Claude puts on a North Country accent in the show and likes to tell people he’s from Manchester, England when he’s actually from Flushing, NY. As a kid I used to put on a British accent just for fun and pretend I was from England, but that might have had something to do with my obsession with The Spice Girls at the time. Now I like to tell people I’m from Chicago because of the amazing experience I had in college. Also, it takes too long to explain to people where McGregor, IA is.
Q: For fun, what’s the last thing you do before you go out onstage?
One of the last things I do before I go onstage is brush my teeth, floss, and use mouthwash. I hate worrying about whether or not I have bad breath on stage especially when we’re working so closely with one another. I also love a good hug or two from anyone who’s near me.
Q: After HAIR, what’s on your calendar?
Ahhh! The week literally after HAIR I’m moving to Los Angeles for a fantastic opportunity with my partner. I have a job and place already out there and I plan on pursuing more theatre and/or film. I’m very excited but at the same time it’s breaking my heart to leave so many wonderful friends behind. Our cast has grown really close and it’s really hard to even think about not having these amazing crazy people in my daily life.
Do you follow BOBDIREX on Twitter? You should! There’s a ticket deal for tonight! Call 317-280-0825 to purchase by phone or buy tickets online!
FIRST FRIDAY FEATURE – Q&A with Erin Cohenour!
As we approach opening night, join us every Thursday for our special TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY feature! Each week, obviously on Thursday, you can join us for a little Q&A with some of the cast!
…except it’s happening on Friday this week!
Thursday was HUGE, we had the final dress rehearsal for HAIR and got too busy to post! However, in today’s TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY FIRST FRIDAY FEATURE, we talk to the famous Erin Cohenour!
Erin Cohenour
Q: Tell me about your character Jeanie!
I’m still figuring Jeanie out, because she’s much deeper than I thought. She’s free-spirited, spacey, and hedonistic, but she’s also insightful, spiritual, and feels things really deeply. I think she’s an interesting counterpoint to the sex positive message of the show- it’s a wonderful thing to be in touch with your sexuality and to experience it freely, but there are consequences. The women’s studies nerd in me has to point out that reproductive rights didn’t really catch up to the sexual revolution until about 5 years after the show debuted.
Q: Who do you think should come out to see HAIR?
Anyone who was around when the original came out, and anyone who is interested in history. HAIR is one of those rare shows that transcended the medium of musical theatre to become a real cultural touchstone. It’s iconic. If you were around in 1968, you heard those songs, whether it was a cover on the radio or from the soundtrack record, and seeing the show will bring back all of the memories of that unique moment in time. And if you’re interested in modern political and social history, the show talks about just about every major issue of the 1960s.
Q: You’ve done a lot of theatre all over town – Phoenix, TOTS, Footlite, Beef & Boards, burlesque, etc. – how is this show different from shows/roles you’ve worked on in the past?
This show has been a great change of pace for me. I’ve gotten really used to working at a really quick pace at Beef & Boards or creating my own material for burlesque- and being an unabashed control freak, I love those things. But I’m really trying to take the show’s message of “freedom” to heart, and this more collaborative process has been helping me to do that- Bob and Kenny want us to really take our time, discover new things within the material, and “just jam.” It’s really helped me to relax a bit.
Q: When did you first start performing?
I was performing my “death scene” and singing in gibberish for all of my parents’ friends by the time I was 3 or 4, and as a pre-teen I did some shows for Young Actors (a great organization that we share space with at the Athenaeum.) I didn’t start performing in community theatre until I was a senior in high school, and started to pursue it professionally about 5 years ago.
Q: What’s challenging about performing HAIR for an audience in 2014?
I think the most challenging thing about performing HAIR in 2014 is that so many people think that the issues we discuss in the show aren’t a problem anymore- that it’s purely historical. So many people in our country are still held back by racism, sexism, and inequality, and I think one of the biggest mistakes we make is to assume we live in a “free and equal” society. We’ve certainly come a long way since 1968, but I hope people are able to see the parallels to our modern struggles instead of just seeing the show as a period piece.
Q: What’s on your calendar after HAIR?
Next up for me is a bikini competition in the fall. Hopefully after being topless onstage, being judged in my bikini will be a breeze.
HAIR opens Saturday, July 5th! Tickets available online and by phone at 317-280-0825!
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Tagged #HAIRIndy, 2014, bobdirex, cast, downtown, indianapolis, indystage, musical theatre, theatre, tickets
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TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY! — Q&A with Danna Sheridan!
As we approach opening night, join us every Thursday for our special TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY feature! Each week, obviously on Thursday, you can join us for a little Q&A with some of the cast!
In today’s TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY, we hear more from stage manager extraordinaire, Danna Sheridan!
Danna Sheridan
Q: Tell me about one of your favorite rehearsal moments so far!
Earlier this week, we ran the end of the show for the first time. I won’t give spoilers(!) except to say that it is very powerful and moving. As the cast started singing the final song, almost all of us, one by one, started crying. The finished the song, and there were just tears streaming down my face. It was an intensely introspective moment – I can’t really put my finger on what happened to each of us – but I hope the audience walks away with that same sudden shock of emotion.
Q: Since this is your first show with BOBDIREX, tell me about your experiences working with Bob Harbin.
Bob spends a lot of time getting to know his actors, and getting to know me. Before we started rehearsals, he and I sat down for a couple of hours and learned about each other’s lives. He’s a very open person, and I think that allows the cast be more vulnerable around him. He uses these personal relationships with the cast to help them find their characters. It’s very cool to see how he encourages us to put our real selves into the show.
Q: Who do you think should come out to see HAIR?
I think people whose parents were alive during the Vietnam War (like, people my age – in their late 20s and 30s) should come see the show and try to understand what it was like for their parents to go through these kinds of situations. Watching this show got me to ask my parents about that period for the first time ever. I never knew my dad had gotten a draft number; I never knew what it was like for him to see his brother get drafted. I had never talked to my parents about their fears and concerns and how they felt about the government. When they opened up to me, it was really interesting to hear them voice some of the same things we still hear today. It was a wonderful first-person history lesson for me – there’s more substance to this show than just happy hippies.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about stage managing in general?
I think I’m stealing the language from a friend of mine, who is also a stage manager, but for me, the thrill lies in the execution of many creative people’s visions. The director, the choreographer, the music director, the lighting designer – they all have a specific vision and message for the show – and I’m the one who gets to pull it together at the very end. I’ve always been more of a “facilitator” than an artist, and stage managing allows me to play on my strengths to bring these beautiful shows to an audience. I love that!
Q: What brought you into the theatre/performing arts scene here in Indianapolis?
I moved to Indianapolis after college, and I auditioned for a show about a year after I moved here. I wasn’t cast, but the Joanne Johnson, the stage manager, called me and asked me to work backstage. (I think I’d written on my audition form that I stage managed in college, and she wouldn’t hang up the phone until I agreed to work crew!) I worked that show, and then the next season, I assistant stage managed “West Side Story” for Joanne. I’ve been working backstage in Indianpolis ever since.
Q: You’ve done a lot of theatre all over town – how is this show different from shows/ you’ve worked on in the past?
What I think is cool about this cast is that they – we – have truly become a tribe. We’ve been rehearsing all over town (thank you to the organizations who’ve let us use their spaces!), and that’s given our tribe this very nomadic sense of loyalty and trust, which is awesome. And I think the characters in this show are so loosely written that the actors are able to bring a huge piece of themselves to their role. You can see all of that on stage. It makes the show feel honest and real.
Tickets available online and by phone (317-280-0825) for HAIR!
(PS. Like BOBDIREX on Facebook & receive 25% off opening weekend tickets!)
Posted in Blog, Content, Meet The Cast
Tagged #HAIRIndy, 2014, bobdirex, cast, downtown, indianapolis, indystage, musical theatre, theatre, tickets
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TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY – Q&A with Claire Wilcher!
As we approach opening night, join us every Thursday for our special TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY feature! Each week, obviously on Thursday, you can join us for a little Q&A with some of the cast!
In this edition of TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY, we hear more from the infamous Claire Wilcher!
Claire Wilcher
Q: Tell us about your character Sheila!
Sheila takes being a hippie pretty seriously. She has her silly moments, but I think that’s sort of out of character for her. For Sheila, being a head and spreading the tribal message isn’t just because it’s fun and free – it’s her calling and purpose. Sheila is the most “real” person I have played in a while. For being such a free spirit, she’s rather realistic and grounded. It’s nice to actually sing in Claire’s voice for a change. She’s not a caricature at all – I can play her from a more genuine place.
Q: What about HAIR will surprise Indianapolis audiences?
That it’s still relevant. It still just makes sense. The hippie lifestyle may not make headlines like it did in the 60s, but its general philosophies are still very dear to many people. The messages of peace, of fear, of boldness are loud and clear and will resonate with theater-goers.
Q: After HAIR, what’s next on your calendar?
I’m writing a Fringe Festival show with Three Dollar Bill Comedy, the sketch group I helped form. It’s a musical all about Indiana and its quirks. After that, I’m going camping out west with a good friend. We’re gonna hike the Grand Canyon and just be outside for a while. It’s going to absolutely rule.
Q: Who do you think should come out to see HAIR?
People who don’t need to see a kick line or a spotlight to know that it’s a good show. People who want to witness real sharing and appreciation for our fellow tribe members. People who have lost touch a little bit with the world around them. People who stare blankly at the news when they get home from work. People who are mature – and I don’t mean a certain age. I mean a certain ability to see what’s going on onstage and understand that it’s not frivolous or shocking.
Q: What’s it like doing a show set in a time period long before you were even thought of?
It’s magical. I’ve been very interested in the 60s, the hippie movement, the whole scene for a long time. I grew up on all the folk/protest music and it’s still my favorite thing to listen to. It was such a time of transition and question for everyone, parents and children, governments and citizens. And it wasn’t that long ago – that’s what’s so crazy.
Q: For fun, what’s the last thing you do before you go out onstage?
Usually I’ll say a sweet little word to my Pop and then slap someone on the ass.
Tickets available online and by phone (317-280-0825) for HAIR!
Posted in Blog, Meet The Cast
Tagged #HAIRIndy, 2014, Bob Harbin, bobdirex, cast, downtown, indianapolis, indystage, musical theatre, tickets
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TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY! — Q&A with Jenny Reber!
As we approach opening night, join us every Thursday for our special TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY feature! Each week, obviously on Thursday, you can join us for a little Q&A with some of the cast!
In today’s edition of TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY, we hear more from Jenny Reber!
Jenny Reber
The question: “HAIR is all about the Tribe. What’s your favorite part of being a part of THIS tribe & how has it affected your approach to rehearsals?”
JENNY: According to Webster, a Tribe is a “large family” and that is exactly what this cast is. I have never been in a show where everyone feels so comfortable with each other and with themselves. It’s actually really inspiring and has made me view society in a different way. Every rehearsal isn’t a gathering of friends or a cast, but a family reunion.
Get your HAIR tickets online now!
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Tagged #HAIRIndy, 2014, bobdirex, cast, downtown, indianapolis, indystage, tickets
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TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY! — Q&A with Paige Scott!
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As we approach opening night, join us every Thursday for our special TRIBE MEMBER THURSDAY feature! Each week, obviously on Thursday, you can join us for a little Q&A with some of the cast! Our first Q&A features the one … Continue reading
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