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Shuler Hensley is a multi-award winning star of film, television, who is currently starring on Broadway in the hit musical, The Music Man. Beginning his career in the Theatre, Shuler was cast by Susan Stroman and Trevor Nunn as Jud Fry in London in the National Theatre's revival of Oklahoma!. Shuler wowed critics and theatre-goers alike for his haunting interpretation of Jud, and he received the coveted Olivier Award–London theatre's equivalent of the Tony–for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical. Shuler subsequently made his Broadway debut in November 2000 portraying the relentless Inspector Javert in Les Misérables. In February 2002, the Trevor Nunn version of Oklahoma! was transferred to Broadway, and with it the opportunity for Shuler to reprise his critically acclaimed performance of Jud Fry. Shuler again became a proud award winner, this time of Broadway's “Triple Crown”--the Tony, the Drama Desk, and the Outer Critics' Circle.
Book Vs. Movie “Musicals in March” The 1931 Play Green Grow the Lilacs Vs the 1955 Musical Oklahoma!It's “Musicals in March” time here at Book Vs Movie The Margos are very excited to start our annual look at famous musicals and the inspiration for them. This episode is dedicated to one of the most successful Broadway shows of all time and the play Green Grow the Lilacs (1931) written by Oklahoma native Lynn Riggs. Riggs came up with the story of Oklahomans Curly, Laurey, and Ado Annie who live in a part of the world that will change dramatically in just a few short years. (Oklahoma became a state in 1907.) Curly is a cowboy (portrayed on Broadway by Franchot Tone) who is in love with Laurey Williams (June Walker) and the path to their relationship takes twists and turns. In this production, which takes place in 1900, American folk songs are used and sung by Tex Ritter on stage. Soon-to-be revered acting teacher Lee Strasberg played a Syrian “peddler” and just as in the musical, Curley is on trial for accidentally killing a farmhand (here his name is Jeeter.) In the early 1940s, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein took the original play and infused it with more romance, intrigue, dance, ballet, and some of the most memorable songs in Broadway history. When Oklahoma! originally opened on Broadway (March 31, 1943), it became a massive hit that ran for over 2200 performances and won a special Pulitzer Prize in 1944. Some of the actors who played in the original show include John Raitt, Florence Henderson, Alfred Molina, Celeste Holmes, and Jamie Farr. The story is funnier and more robust than the play and the history-making ballet sequence left people breathless. The 15-minuter performance was choreographed by Agnes de Mille (her first Broadway gig!) and represented the desire Laurey has between Curley and Jud Fry. After running for five years and several revivals for the last 80 years, the funny thing about Oklahoma!--because the TONY Awards did not exist until 1947, it never won any major theatrical awards for the original run. The 1955 film stars Shirley Jones, Gordon McRae, Rod Steiger, and Gloria Grahame and was directed by Fred Zinnemann in 70-mm widescreen (available on Disney+) with most of the outdoor shooting taking place in Arizona. It would go on to become a classic with several Academy Award nominations and was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2007. So, between the original play and the musical adaptation--which did we prefer? In this ep the Margos discuss:The story behind the original play and the theater world of the 1930s The impact on the culture of the musical in the 1940sThe differences between the film and stageStarring: Gordon MacRae (Curly McLain,) Shirley Jones (Laurey Willaims,) Gene Nelson (Will Parker,) Gloria Grahame (Ado Anni Cames,) Charlotte Greenwood (Aunt Eller,) Rod Steiger (Jud Fry,) Eddie Albert (Ali Hakim,) James Whitmore (Andrew Carnes,) and Barbara Lawrence as Gertie Cummings. Clips used:Oklahoma! themeOklahoma! original trailer“The Persian Goodbye” “Kansas City” Curley kisses LaureyAli Stroker “I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say No” (2019 TONY Music by Richard RogersBook Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.comEmail us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.comMargo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/ Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine
Book Vs. Movie “Musicals in March” The 1931 Play Green Grow the Lilacs Vs the 1955 Musical Oklahoma!It's “Musicals in March” time here at Book Vs Movie The Margos are very excited to start our annual look at famous musicals and the inspiration for them. This episode is dedicated to one of the most successful Broadway shows of all time and the play Green Grow the Lilacs (1931) written by Oklahoma native Lynn Riggs. Riggs came up with the story of Oklahomans Curly, Laurey, and Ado Annie who live in a part of the world that will change dramatically in just a few short years. (Oklahoma became a state in 1907.) Curly is a cowboy (portrayed on Broadway by Franchot Tone) who is in love with Laurey Williams (June Walker) and the path to their relationship takes twists and turns. In this production, which takes place in 1900, American folk songs are used and sung by Tex Ritter on stage. Soon-to-be revered acting teacher Lee Strasberg played a Syrian “peddler” and just as in the musical, Curley is on trial for accidentally killing a farmhand (here his name is Jeeter.) In the early 1940s, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein took the original play and infused it with more romance, intrigue, dance, ballet, and some of the most memorable songs in Broadway history. When Oklahoma! originally opened on Broadway (March 31, 1943), it became a massive hit that ran for over 2200 performances and won a special Pulitzer Prize in 1944. Some of the actors who played in the original show include John Raitt, Florence Henderson, Alfred Molina, Celeste Holmes, and Jamie Farr. The story is funnier and more robust than the play and the history-making ballet sequence left people breathless. The 15-minuter performance was choreographed by Agnes de Mille (her first Broadway gig!) and represented the desire Laurey has between Curley and Jud Fry. After running for five years and several revivals for the last 80 years, the funny thing about Oklahoma!--because the TONY Awards did not exist until 1947, it never won any major theatrical awards for the original run. The 1955 film stars Shirley Jones, Gordon McRae, Rod Steiger, and Gloria Grahame and was directed by Fred Zinnemann in 70-mm widescreen (available on Disney+) with most of the outdoor shooting taking place in Arizona. It would go on to become a classic with several Academy Award nominations and was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2007. So, between the original play and the musical adaptation--which did we prefer? In this ep the Margos discuss:The story behind the original play and the theater world of the 1930s The impact on the culture of the musical in the 1940sThe differences between the film and stageStarring: Gordon MacRae (Curly McLain,) Shirley Jones (Laurey Willaims,) Gene Nelson (Will Parker,) Gloria Grahame (Ado Anni Cames,) Charlotte Greenwood (Aunt Eller,) Rod Steiger (Jud Fry,) Eddie Albert (Ali Hakim,) James Whitmore (Andrew Carnes,) and Barbara Lawrence as Gertie Cummings. Clips used:Oklahoma! themeOklahoma! original trailer“The Persian Goodbye” “Kansas City” Curley kisses LaureyAli Stroker “I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say No” (2019 TONY Music by Richard RogersBook Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.comEmail us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.comMargo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/ Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine
October is the month for show openings, it seems! Broadway News: The Broadway revival of David Mamet's American Buffalo, starring Emmy and Tony winner Laurence Fishburne, Oscar and Golden Globe winner Sam Rockwell, and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss, will begin previews at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre the week of March 22, 2022. The limited 16-week engagement was in rehearsal when Broadway was shuttered due to COVID-19. Pass Over also closed on Broadway on Sunday, October 10. Chicken & Biscuits held their opening night on Sunday, October 10. We received a first look at the new Funny Girl revival starring Beanie Feldstein. Tina the Tina Turner Musical reopened on Friday, October 8. Adrienne Warren is playing Tina for a few more weeks before she takes her final bow on October 31. Lackawanna Blues cancelled opening night and performances on October 8th through October 10th, due to Rueben Santiago Hudson's back injury. Tina Satter's Is This A Room held its opening night on Monday, October 11.. The play stars Emily Davis as former Air Force intelligence specialist Reality Winner during her FBI investigation. Reviews have not come out yet at the time of this recording so we will read the reviews on our next episode. Casting: The national touring production of Tony-winning revival of Oklahoma! will begin performances at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 9 before heading out on a 25-city tour across the country. Leading the company is Sasha Hutchings as Laurey Williams, Sean Grandillo as Curly McLain, Chris Bannow as Jud Fry, Barbara Walsh as Aunt Eller, and Sis taking on the role of Ado Annie Carne. Follow @BwayPodNetwork on Twitter. Find co-hosts on Twitter at @AyannaPrescod and @CLewisReviews. Tickets for Is This A Room and Dana H. playing in rep at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway are on sale NOW! Purchase HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ben Crawford has appeared on Broadway as the title role in Phantom of the Opera, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Mr. Salt), the title role in Shrek The Musical, Big Fish (Edward Bloom u/s, Don Price), Les Misérables (Javert and Valjean u/s) and On the Twentieth Century (Bruce Granit u/s). He has also starred in over twenty regional productions, including such leading roles as Che in Evita, Starbuck in 110 in the Shade, Luther Billis in South Pacific, Jud Fry in Oklahoma! and Frederick Barrett in Titanic. Ben also performs with symphonies and orchestras across the U.S. and Canada and his recordings include the movie soundtrack for Frozen. He was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and earned a BFA in Music Theatre from The University of Arizona. In episode 109, Ben chats with NYC-based actress and host Maggie Bera about his training at University of Arizona, his difficult transition to New York, how he booked his very first Broadway show, and how he's staying positive during the COVID pandemic shutdowns. Listen to the very end to catch a brand new lightning round segment! Coach with Ben by visiting https://www.bencrawfordcoachings.com. To join the Actor Aesthetic Alliance Facebook group, click here. Spread love and don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the Actor Aesthetic Podcast on your favorite podcast app. Visit actoraesthetic.com for more info. Follow Maggie Bera on social media Instagram: @actoraesthetic / @maggiebera Facebook: www.facebook.com/ActorAesthetic/ Email: maggie@actoraesthetic.com
Kyle Scatliffe (Former Hamilton Broadway and Philip Tour's Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson) is on the pod for three INCREDIBLE episodes! This week we discuss how he grew up playing basketball, playing Jud Fry in 5th Avenue Theatre's production of Oklahoma!, and what it was like being nominated for an Olivier for his performance in The Scottsboro Boys. Kyle is currently starring in To Kill A Mockingbird on Broadway, click here for tickets! https://www.telecharge.com/eventoverview.aspx?cityName=NY%20City%20Area&productId=12196 Kyle is also featured on my #LasVegust eps! 130, 131 Beyonce watching Michelle fall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElZYipV81QM Crazy For You 25th Anniversary Concert-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XJHla-oY9M Poor Jud Is Dead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lksmmJMEUPI Seattle Times review of Oklahoma!-https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/oklahoma-seen-in-a-new-light/ Scottsboro Boys Olivier performance-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUJeujFehjg Les Miserables Tony Awards performance- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42IQ29b8YIU
This week on Pardo's Turn, I was lucky to have on Eric Ulloa to sing an excerpt from "The Gun Song," from Sondheim and Weidman's ASSASSINS. As the author of 26 Pebbles who recently played Jud Fry in Oklahoma at Theatre Under the Stars, his perspective is illuminating and fresh; we also have a great chat about diversity on stage, and his time with ON YOUR FEET!
John Pyka discusses character development for the solo performer. He talks about why it is important to have a character, how he came up with Big Daddy Cool, and teaches his 12 step program of character development. For nearly 30 years, John has been entertaining audiences around the world with his distinctive theatrical fusion of vocal music, magic, and situational comedy with larger-than-life characters. He is an award-winning actor, singer, and magician who has appeared on MTV, A&E, ABC, PBS, and the BBC. He has also appeared with the touring production of the Broadway Musical “Closer Than Ever” and as “Big Daddy Cool” in the Off-Broadway production of Swingin' At The Roxy. John has played some of the great characters in theater like The Cowardly Lion, Jud Fry, Rooster Hannigan, Marryin' Sam, Norman Bulansky, Buffalo Bill, and Mr. Bumble. He has created several original characters, including the 1940s swing magician Big Daddy Cool, the past-his-prime vaudevillian Uncle Eddie Sparks, and the World Heavyweight Champion strongman Johnny Awesome! John is the creator and producer of popular variety shows like The Magic Cabaret, Opry Mills Olde Time Family Theater, The Opry Mills Holiday Family Theater, and Music City Magic. He is also the producer and host of the Dieselpunk Podcast, The Voice of Dieselpunk He is also the producer and host of the weekly YouTube web-show The Roll N Go Game Review Show. John has authored 4 books on magic, including the best-seller Theatrical Magic. Show Notes: Website – http://bigdaddycoolshows.com/ Theatrical Magic - http://amzn.to/2tdQJrb Theatrical Magic Kindle - http://amzn.to/2stSNic Download the 12 Step Program here: https://wellattended.com/blog/050-character-development-solo-performer-john-pyka/ - Download our free marketing resources at https://wellattended.com/resources
Shuler Hensley, the creature from "Young Frankenstein", talks about the development of his character in the new Mel Brooks musical, as well as his seeming affinity for playing monsters; sings a bit from "The Phantom Of The Opera" in German, recreating the role he played in Hamburg a decade ago; recalls the experience of playing Jud Fry in "Oklahoma", contrasting the London and New York runs; describes the cast's training in simian mannerisms and theatrical flying for "Tarzan"; and draws an unexpected parallel between "The Great American Trailer Park Music" and a Jessye Norman recital. Original air date - November 23, 2007.
Shuler Hensley (2002 Tony Award winner for Oklahoma!), the creature from Young Frankenstein, talks about the development of his character in the new Mel Brooks musical, as well as his seeming affinity for playing monsters; sings a bit from The Phantom Of The Opera in German, recreating the role he played in Hamburg a decade ago; recalls the experience of playing Jud Fry in Oklahoma, contrasting the London and New York runs; describes the cast's training in simian mannerisms and theatrical flying for Tarzan; and draws an unexpected parallel between The Great American Trailer Park Music and a Jessye Norman recital.
Shuler Hensley, the creature from "Young Frankenstein", talks about the development of his character in the new Mel Brooks musical, as well as his seeming affinity for playing monsters; sings a bit from "The Phantom Of The Opera" in German, recreating the role he played in Hamburg a decade ago; recalls the experience of playing Jud Fry in "Oklahoma", contrasting the London and New York runs; describes the cast's training in simian mannerisms and theatrical flying for "Tarzan"; and draws an unexpected parallel between "The Great American Trailer Park Music" and a Jessye Norman recital. Original air date - November 23, 2007.