Where in the World is the Nymph Errant Day 1

Just like with businesses, home values, and so many other things… Nymph Errant is all about Location, Location, Location.  Well, ok, maybe not all about… there’s a lot about love, romance, sex, and singing too… but location is up there.

Over the next week or so I want to play a little game, my loyal Moonies. 

Where in the World is the Nymph Errant.  Each day I’ll have a picture, and somewhere in that picture our intrepid heroine Evangeline Edwards, will be hidden.  The game has two parts, one you must find her, and two, you must discover where she is given a few hints.  This is all on your honor, so have fun with it!

Clue 1.  This location was renamed by Cole Porter (but just by one letter!)

Too easy?  Do you know the location? 

Clue 2.  It is fabled to be the inspirational spot for Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale.

Almost got it… it’s on the tip of your tongue…

Clue 3.  Coco Chanel opened one of her first shops here…

Have you got it?

Clue 4.  In 2011 it hosted the 37th Annual G8 summit.

You’ll find out the answer in our next installment.

By the way, did you find our Evangeline in the picture?  She’s there.. I swear.

If you can’t find her in the picture, come see her on stage.  Sharon Rietkerk stars in Cole Porter’s Nymph Errant playing through October 23, 2011.  For tickets call (415) 255-8207 or click here.

Choosing a Play: the Decision to Produce Silk Stockings.

I am always fascinated by the process Artistic Directors use to choose the plays for their seasons.  In the next few weeks I hope to sit down with our A.D., Greg MacKellan, and ask him about next season's terrific line up.

But for right now, I did get a chance to talk to him about Silk Stockings specifically. Find out why 42nd Street Moon produced Silk Stockings in the interview below.

Come check out Cole Porter's quaint 1955 hit, Silk Stockings at the Eureka Theatre through May 22.  For tickets click here or call (415) 255-8207.

The Mystery of George Spelvin

I received a call from a longtime patron of ours the other day, a representative of George Spelvin. She wanted to renew his subscription for the upcoming 2011-12 season.

Now, this probably doesn’t seem odd, but I was in the middle of reading a scene, from Strike Up the Band, between George Spelvin and Horace J. Fletcher.

“What an odd coincidence,” I thought.

George Spelvin

Do you know who George Spelvin is? He is a man of particular mystery in the Kaufman script. And here he has a representative calling on his behalf, somewhat mysterious in and of itself.

I began to do a little digging (not hard with Google and Wikipedia) and discovered what many of you may already know, but just in case you don’t….

George Spelvin is 125 years old. He has been in more plays than any other actor in history. Most importantly… he doesn’t exist.

It is a pseudonym used in the theatre (mostly American) for a number of reasons, but generally always to stand in for the name of an actor.

Spelvin has stood in for actors playing dual roles; union actors wishing to remain anonymous when performing in non-union theaters; and often when there is literally no actor at all. For instance, when the director doesn’t want the audience to know a character will not actually appear on stage, such as in a mystery or melodrama. I’m sure there has been a production or two of Harvey, where Harvey is played by George Spelvin.

He has also appeared as the name of a character in Strike Up the Band, Christopher Durang’s The Actor’s Nightmare, in an episode of Fibber McGee and Molly, and the I Love Lucy episode, “Don Juan is Shelved.”

Benjamin Knoll

Spelvin comes from an illustrious family that also includes, Alan Smithee (cousin according to the IMDB), and his English relatives Walter Plinge and David Agnew. Can you tell me who these gentlemen are?

Do you have any favorite pseudonyms? Do you have a pseudonym that you have ever used?

Oh, and to find out why our George Spelvin, played by the devilishly charming Benjamin Knoll, is so mysterious, come to the Eureka Theatre April 6-24 for George & Ira Gershwin and George S. Kaufman’s Strike Up the Band. For tickets click here or call (415) 255 -8207.

And the Award Goes to: 42nd Street Moon Receives 20 nominations!

In January, The San Francisco Bay Times released its "The Top 10 of 2010" list of Theatrical performances. 42nd Street Moon is on the list - twice!  Then in just the past few weeks Moon has been nominated for 9 BroadwayWorld.com awards and 11 Bay Area Theater Critic Circle (BATCC) Awards.  

While the BATCC Awards are chosen by a closed ballot, the BroadwayWorld.com Awards are chosen through public voting.  Please visit the voting site by clicking here, and help 42nd Street Moon take home the following awards (all for Murder for Two):

Scott Weinstein

Joe Kinosian

Adam Overett

Best Musical: Murder for Two

Best Special Theatre Event: Murder for Two

Best Director of a Musical: Scott Weinstein

Best Featured Actor of a Musical (Local): Adam Overett

Best Lead Actor of a Musical (Local): Joe Kinosian

Best Lighting Design: Cathie Anderson

Best Sound Design: Carole Davis

Our BATCC nominations include:

Klea Blackhurst

Both our casts for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Lady, Be Good! were nominated for Best Ensemble Cast.

Klea Blackhurst picked up a nomination for Best Solo Performance for Everything the Traffic Will Allow.  

Our resident maestro Dave Dobrusky picked up TWO nominations for Best Musical Director for Very Warm for May and Lady, Be Good!

Speaking of directors, Chris Smith was nominated for Best Director for Lady, Be Good!

Our fine Moonie actors picked up three nominations: Maureen McVerry (Very Warm for May) and Rena Wilson (Lady, Be Good!) for Best Supporting Performance - Female, and Anil Margsahayam (Very Warm for May) for Best Principal Performance - Male.

Rena Wilson

Maureen McVerry

Anil Margsahayam

Finally, Lady, Be Good! and Very Warm for May were nominated for Best Production.

We are certainly proud of each of these nominations.  42nd Street Moon strives with each new show to increase our production values and from the positive patron comments we often receive and these nominations, it's a pretty good indication that we are headed in the right direction! 

Again, please help us sweep the BroadwayWorld.com Awards by voting here. Voting ends March 31, 2011.

Thank you all for your support. We look forward to seeing your response to our upcoming 2011-2012 season!

And tell us what do you think?  Did the nominating Boards get it right?  Were there other Moonies that got slighted?  Leave a comment!

Klea Blackhurst : Secrets of Successful Singing Revealed! A review of MoonSchool’s first Master Class.

Klea Blackhurst (right) with
U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg Ann Wagner

On February 5th, New York’s powerhouse singer, Klea Blackhurst, swooped into MoonSchool and taught an amazing Master Class in singing and song interpretation.  Ms. Blackhurst was the perfect choice to launch the Master Class series at 42nd Street Moon.  Klea is an experienced performer of both theatre and cabaret.  Her singing style is athletic, confident, forceful, grounded and joyous [see video below!].  Throughout the three-hour session, Klea let her skills shine without ever eclipsing the performers or forgetting that she was, indeed, there to teach.  The class was accompanied by Mr. Barry Lloyd, an accomplished musician and performer.  Klea and Barry blended beautifully as teachers and mentors.

from top left clockwise: Eliza Leoni, Julia Baron, Klea Blackhurst
Chelsea Nenni, Barry Lloyd, Jonathan Shue, Buzz Halsing,
Moon Education Director Dyan McBride, and Chloe Condon

The format was fairly simple.  Seven Bay Area performers and MoonSchool students-Seth Michael Anderson, Julia Baron, Chloe Condon, Buzz Halsing, Eliza Leoni, Chelsea Nenni and Jonathan Shue were asked to prepare a musical theatre song.  After singing, they would work with Klea on whatever she deemed important.  The audience was made up of friends, singers, teachers and those interested in learning about the process of singing.

Barry fixing rhythms and arrangements!

Each singer had approximately 15 to 20 minutes with Klea and Barry.  The technique that seemed to get the most play during the class was exploring a physicality in singing that had force and confidence.  If a singer thought they were singing with full emotion or breath, Klea helped them see that there was much more power within themselves.   Singers learned that breath is not just a casual act.  It IS singing. In Klea’s words, “Breath is the umbrella and everything else is underneath.”  Barry fixed rhythms and discussed better/different arrangements or markings in the music.

Chelsea and Klea connecting!

Other techniques that were explored were “ping” singing (forward sound), articulation of consonants for energy, using one’s gestures to help sing with confidence and Klea’s theory of mind, body and spirit as the core of singing.  Her basic philosophy being any “problem” which occurs in singing is a result of an issue in either the mind (artistry, thought, objectives/tactics, lyrics), the body (physicalization, acoustics, what you can and can’t accomplish when singing a certain song) and spirit (performance magic, being in “the zone”).  

Chelea Before working with Klea and during!

Each singer had moments of brilliance.  They were all open and playful.  Klea and Barry both remarked that they were grateful to have singers who were willing to try anything they were given.  All singers were prepared, off-book and knew what they wanted to work on.  Some wanted to connect with their body, while others wanted to re-charge a piece they’d sung for a long time.  Whatever the need, Klea and Barry worked on it and then some.  How wonderful it was to have singers and teachers that reveled in the beauty and fun of music.  Our first Master Class was a success all the way around!

Klea with Buzz

MoonSchool’s next Master Class features the return of Darren Criss. The handsome and talented star of Fox TV's hit show, Glee began his career with 42nd Street Moon!

Stay tuned for all the exciting details!