BMT's 'Guys & Dolls' on Rogers Daytime!

We're on television!

Cecily Restivo-Petroff (Miss Adelaide) and Noel Fernandes (Benny Southstreet) were interviewed on Rogers Daytime about our show!  You can check it out by clicking here and you'll find them about five minutes into the show itself.  You might even catch a photo of the Hot Box Girls in rehearsal!

Enjoy!

Synergy Grand Opening in Snap! Brampton

Add the 'event planner hat' to the collection, I guess.

I had a hand in planning the grand opening of Synergy Performing Arts Academy's second location in September.  I had learned quite a bit from the whole experience, and I have to say it was a relative success from all accounts.  We had a fairly decent turnout with help from attractions like magician Gord Cadabra and string quartet Paganini Strings.  We had great support from local Brampton businesses like Green Cup Roastery, ROCK-IT Designer Clothing and The Dress People and more who donated some stellar raffle prizes.  I was crossing my fingers for the Green Cup Roastery gift basket ... alas, not meant to be.

SNAP! Brampton was by to photograph the event - and I got an email today that we're in the latest edition!  I snagged a few copies from the local library and snipped out a copy of the article for myself.  Check it out!

Find me in a sea of burgundy!

Pick up your copy of SNAP! Brampton in most local businesses and community centres!

SHOUT! in Snap Dufferin!

Check it out - the zany 'shopping cart picture' has hit the press!  We're in this month's issue of Snap Dufferin for our barbecue fundraiser at Zehr's in Orangeville.  Many thanks to Tammy for the visit!

A Glowing Review from the Orangeville Citizen!

I hadn't realized how much time had flown by when suddenly - tech week hits!  Our dress rehearsal's Thursday, and that snuck up on me!  Time flies when you're having fun, don't it?

Again and again, the Orangeville Citizen delivers on spreading the word of Shout!  Dan Pelton, our biggest fan it seems, won't be able to see the actual production, but managed to stop by a rehearsal and watch a run of the show.  He loved it!

My favourite quote from the article is what he had to say about my castmate, Abi Adekoya:  "It is said silk has the same tensile strength as steel. From a musical standpoint, Ms. Adekoya proves the point with poignant, yet powerful, vocals that must be heard."

Oh, he called my character a 'manslayer', too.  It is very accurate ... the character, I mean.  Either way, you must read this review and call the number on the bottom to reserve tickets - we've only got a one-weekend run!

Blogger's note:  I would like to kindly correct that the role of The Red Girl is played by Justine Christie, and the role of The Blue Girl is played by Samantha Russell.  Everything else is dandy!

SHOUT! Fundraiser Barbecue at Zehrs - With a Stop at Blightys!

We had a blast doing something rather unique in a community theatre experience - a meet n' greet in costume!  We were treated - again - to perfect London rain, making those Union Jack minis the least favourite costume thus far.  At least those sky-high go go boots and big-hair wigs kept us partially warm!  Alison works as a cake baker and decorator at Zehrs Grocery in Orangeville, and they were rather wonderful hosts to us as we pranced around, talking to shoppers and kidnapping their children to get their faces painted by Liz ... er, Ms. Orange, if you please, for a meager donation to our leggy cause.  Liz even had some of her Barefoot Sandals for sale with proceeds going to the production.  (They're really cute - check 'em out on Etsy!)  Burgers and hot dogs were grilled with sauteed onions, a chance to win some awesome prizes, we even had Sarah, a good friend of Alison, come by with her Austin Mini - with Austin inside!  After a few hours of jaunting in heels, we visited our friends at Blightys Tuck Shop for a quick hello before we headed home.  We did have rehearsal the next day - we had to go home and take care of our feet!

Unfortunately, my camera's batteries were not prepped, because I'm that guy, yet again.  With a little help from our friends, I've managed to procure some pictures of our visit to Blightys to show.  We had a some photo ops with some generous patrons with donations, and Tammy from Snap Dufferin came by to give us a little press love.  (The shopping cart was her idea - genius!  Thank you, Tammy!)  You'll see it in May's issue of Snap Dufferin, which I'll promptly post here.

In the meantime, gander on the gams that strolled through 'Corrie Street' in Orangeville's Blightys Tuck Shop!  And thanks to all for your support at the barbecue!  Let's hope the tally racks in some big bucks!

Stay tuned for the Snap Dufferin article!

The 'Mod Rainbow'!

Wigs!  Go go boots!  Union Jack dresses!  Oh, man - this was fun!

Dan Pelton from the Orangeville Citizen is very good to us; he wants to keep us in the press and opted for another photo shoot - in costume!  The Mad Hatter Pub in Orangeville has an old-school British telephone box we were hoping to climb into like a bunch of college coeds - alas, it was bolted shut.  The weather certainly did cooperate for our 'London shoot' (rain!), so we pulled out our Union Jack umbrellas and mugged for the camera.  Lookit those colours - we felt like the rainbow in that storm! 

(I had a little fun with Picnik.com to give them a vintage '60s feel, and a little text flair.  Like?)

from left: Abi Adekoya, Samantha Russell, me!, Justine Christie, Elizabeth Glenday

SHOUT! in the British Canadian!

Well, whaddayaknow!  We received a little surprise with a feature article in the British Canadian newspaper!  You can pick up your copy in Orangeville at Blighty's Tuck Shop - and get me a Galaxy candy bar while you're there!  And your tickets for the show!

click to enlarge

Many thanks to the British Canadian for the press!

SHOUT! Front Page of the Orangeville Citizen!

 Check it out!  We made the front page of the Orangeville Citizen today!

Thanks so much to the Winchester Arms for letting us entertain their patrons on Tuesday night, treating them to a preview of what's to come from our show!  We had them singin' and dancin', laughin' till their faces hurt, it was a great time!  It was a positive experience for us as a cast, getting those performance jitters out of the way.  We've got a few more chances, too, being this the first of many previews to come around the Orangeville community!

SHOUT! On The Radio!

We are radio stars!  Thank you, Erin Radio 101.5!

Samantha (that's Sam to me, The Blue Girl to you) gave an interview on Erin Radio's Best Medicine Comedy Show with Ray Young yesterday to talk all things Shout!  Ray has a great gig going himself: not only is he comedy king in one of the most successful community radio stations in Ontario, but he has the coveted role of Daddy Warbucks in Orangeville Music Theatre's production of Annie, playing in June 2011!  It's a family affair with Ray, too - his daughter, Shayna (a very good friend of mine!) will be in the production, as well!

SHOUT! in the Orangeville Citizen!

This post was originally published on my handmade jewelry blog, Design by Cassandra, on February 11, 2011.

If you live in the Orangeville area, betcha you'll seen us in the Citizen!  Click on the article to enlarge!

Blogger's note:  On behalf of the reporter, I'd like to correct the names Josh Priess and Cassandra Watsham.  Onward!

This picture was taken when we were goofing off at the piano between breaks, but we gave it our all with lots of gusto and photo-snapping!  Maybe we'll get a chance to see the rest of the photos!

Brampton Music Theatre's RENT Voted Best Community Theatre Production!

This post was originally published on my handmade jewelry blog, Design by Cassandra, on February 11, 2011.

The votes have been cast on BroadwayWorld.com's Toronto Awards, and Brampton Music Theatre's Rent wins big as best community theatre production!  Hard work pays off!

Check out the others that made the final cut:

Best Community Theatre Production: Rent, Brampton Music Theatre
*and bonus points for BMT's 2nd runner-up Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat!