Tag Archives: Theatre-on-the-Hill

Reflection: Zenobia the Original Musical Production Coming 2013

This was released for public viewing not that long ago:

According to YouTube:

A promotional video for the original musical, “Zenobia,” being premiered in Bolingbrook, IL in 2013 by Theatre-on-the-Hill, a not-for-profit community theatre. Book and lyrics by Lorrisa Julianus, music by Angela Salvaggione. Comments have been deactivated to discourage abuse, but if you are interested in participating in any capacity or attending, please contact us at www.tothbolingbrook.com.

Overview: Zenobia – who was sold into slavery upon birth – is a slave in the household of Danathus, King of Palmyra. While there she falls in love with the young prince: Alexander, who chooses the rebellion against the Roman oppressors which pushes her into the arms of his uncle, Danathus. Together, Danathus and Zenobia expand the empire until his untimely death where she continues the expansion at the chagrin of the Roman Emperor: Aurelian.

How to describe this musical? Epic… that is the best way to describe it.
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Comparison: Theatre-on-the-Hill’s Back to the 80s (Adjusted Song List)

Earlier in the summer, Theatre-on-the-Hill put on a production of Back to the 80s. In every production that I have seen thus far there has been some adjustments and changes between the original song list and the final song list that was listed in the program. Below is a table of all the songs that were in the original production versus what was listed in the program.

If there are no changes to the song then there will be no notes 😉

Song Title Original Artist Notes
ACT ONE
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go Wham!
Kids In America Kim Wilde
Girls Just Want To Have Fun Cyndi Lauper
Footloose Kenny Loggins
Mickey Toni Basil
Video Killed the Radio Star The Buggles
Believe It or Not Peter Cetera Song not included in final song list in program.
Let’s Hear It For The Boy Deniece Williams
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) The Proclaimers
You Give Love A Bad Name Bon Jovi Song not included in final song list in program, however was a part of the production.
Man In The Mirror Michael Jackson
ACT TWO
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now Starship
Love Shack The B-52s
Total Eclipse of the Heart Bonnie Tyler
Walking On Sunshine Katrina and the Waves
Get Outta My Dreams
(Get Into My Car) 		Billy Ocean Song not included in final song list in program. Only the intro of the song was used.
Centerfold J. Geils Band
Lost in Your Eyes Debbie Gibson Song not included in final song list in program.
Never Gonna Give You Up Rick Astley
Material Girl Madonna
Don’t Worry, Be Happy Bobby McFerrin
Come on Eileen Dexy’s Midnight Runners Song not included in final song list in program.
(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life Bill Medley /
Jennifer Warnes

Comparison: Theatre-on-the-Hill’s Back to the 80s (Original Song List)

It is no secret that Theatre-on-the-Hill’s latest summer endeavor was the jukebox musical: Back to the 80s. Originally created in 2004 in Sydney, Australia written by Neil Gooding with original musical adaptation by Scott Copeman, Back to the 80s features pop songs and music from the 80s. Knowing this, I decided to take the time to breakdown all the songs as listed on the original website and provide a U.S. release date with additional notes (if necessary). Also where available I have included music videos of the songs from YouTube:

Song Title Original Artist Year Released Notes
ACT ONE
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go Wham! 1984 Recorded 1984
Kids In America Kim Wilde 1982 Recorded 1980
Girls Just Want To Have Fun Cyndi Lauper 1983 Recorded 1983
Footloose Kenny Loggins 1984 Recorded 1983
Mickey Toni Basil 1982 Recorded 1981
** Note: Mickey was originally a cover for Kitty by Racey that was released in 1979.
Video Killed the Radio Star The Buggles 1979 Recorded 1979
** Note: Video Killed the Radio Star was widely known as the first music video to premiere on MTV in the U.S. in 1981 despite the video having been released in the U.K. in 1979.
Believe It or Not Peter Cetera 1981 Theme Song: The Greatest American Hero
Let’s Hear It For The Boy Deniece Williams 1984 Recorded 1984
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) The Proclaimers 1993 Recorded 1988; Released 1988 in U.K.
** Note: Since it was released in the U.K. in 1988 it fit the 80s fold, however it was not officially released in the U.S. until 1993.
You Give Love A Bad Name Bon Jovi 1986 Recorded 1986
Man In The Mirror Michael Jackson 1988 Recorded 1987
ACT TWO
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now Starship 1987 Recorded 1986
Love Shack The B-52s 1989
Total Eclipse of the Heart Bonnie Tyler 1983 Recorded 1982
Walking On Sunshine Katrina and the Waves 1985 Recorded 1983 / 1985
Get Outta My Dreams
(Get Into My Car) 		Billy Ocean 1988 Recorded 1987
Centerfold J. Geils Band 1981 Recorded 1981
Lost in Your Eyes Debbie Gibson 1989 Recorded 1988; Released 1988 in the U.K.
Never Gonna Give You Up Rick Astley 1987 Recorded 1987
Material Girl Madonna 1985 Recorded 1984
Don’t Worry, Be Happy Bobby McFerrin 1988 Recorded 1988
Come on Eileen Dexy’s Midnight Runners 1982 Recorded 1981 / 1982
(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life Bill Medley /
Jennifer Warnes 		1987

Review: Theatre-on-the-Hill’s Back to the 80s

Show: BACK TO THE 80s
Music and Lyrics: Neil Gooding
Original Musical Adaption: Scott Copeman 		Location: Theatre-on-the-Hill
Director: Michael Fudala
Vocal Director: Sharon Hand

Theatre-on-the-Hill‘s latest summer foray is the family friendly musical Back to the 80s. At first glance one would say that Back to the 80s is Grease set to the 80s and using popular 80s music. With a storyline revolving around various cliques that would be familiar to any audience member:

Set in the USA, Back To The 80’s tells the story of the senior class of William Ocean High School that graduated in the 1980’s, as remembered and seen through the eyes of middle-aged Corey Palmer (Scott Bovaird).

The then 17-year-old Corey (Caleb Hand) is madly in love with his next-door neighbour, Tiffany Houston (Kristina Parro), one of the coolest girls in the school. However, she barely notices this, as she is too busy mooning over Michael Feldman (Victor Rachal), the hottest guy around. Michael and his friends (Jon Worlton, Jonathan O’Brien, Kayaun Pierce) are athletic and good-looking – the kind of guys that Corey and his two best friends (Jon Slowik and Troy Schaeflein) dream of being. However, while they may not be the coolest guys in school, they are still one up on Feargal McFerrin III (Kevin Nepomuceno), whose best friend is his computer, and who believes the crazy notion that one day CD’s will replace cassette tapes.

Several new students arrive at the school – Mel and Kim Easton (the all-singing, all-dancing twin cheerleaders played by Rachel Slowik and Teri Karl respectively) and Eileen Reagan (Deana Vazquez), who tries desperately to fit in.

Meanwhile the teachers are having issues of their own: Mr Cocker (Scott Boland), after being in a relationship for a year with the apparently conservative English teacher, Miss Sheena Brannigan (Guinevere McGahan), confiscates an old edition of Penthouse from a student, only to discover a wedge that could drive them apart.

Throw in a Star Wars dream sequence complete with Yoda (Joseph Bovaird), high-energy dance routines, the obligatory 80’s party scene, copious amounts of blue eye-shadow, twenty cans of hairspray, as well as some of the most popular songs ever written, and the result is a musical that will not only delight and amuse an audience of any age, but will also inspire any young cast.

Scott Bovaird, the narrator going through his memories of his senior year probably had the one of, if not the most, difficult part in the whole show. Being a narrator is one thing, the fact that what he says or does pretty much cues everyone else in the cast, well that’s a different thing entirely. Scott has been strong and consistent through every viewing of the production. Though he didn’t have much to do as an actor, he does some measure of singing that was not just respectable, but well-done. Singing songs like “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” made famous by Wham!, “Shot Through the Heart” aka “You Give Love A Bad Name” by Bon Jovi, and “Love Stinks” from the J Geils Band.
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Personal Endeavors: Stage Musical “Wish List”

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Ask any actor/actress that enjoys being a part of theatre, chances are they probably have a short list of shows and/or roles they’d love to play. I’m no different despite this being more of a hobby for me than anything. Although I don’t have a stage play short list (I am usually game to most anything) I do have a musical theatre short list… two of those musicals I have either already done or am doing, so what do I have left?

Well let’s start with what I have already done:
– City of Angels
Yes, I was even willing to grow a beard for a show. =) I loved the musical: City of Angels ever since I first heard “The Tennis Song”, so when I read up on the synopsis of the show and started listening to more of the music I knew that this was a production I just HAD to be a part of. Little did I know what the director at Theatre-on-the-Hill had in store for me…

City of Angels is NOT based off the Nicholas Cage movie of the same name. Instead it is about a writer whose is hired to adapt a popular book of his for the big screen. As we follow the writer go through the perils of working in Hollywood we are also watching scenes from his movie unfold concurrently. Changes he has made in the script are seen live on the stage as it happens.

What I love about this particular show is how two seemingly separate storylines are intertwined. There are particular moments in the shows where you see only one story or the other, and sometimes you see them both happening concurrently. Sure it forces you to think more than the average show, but once you get it, it makes the whole thing even funnier and worthwhile.

There was one conversation I had with a friend whose career is in the performing arts and we agreed that if someone is truly serious about acting and performing they better damn well be willing to make a fool of themself on stage. Pride, image, ego, etc goes right out the door, there is simply no room for it. If you’re not willing to “look ugly” on stage, then you’re not really serious about acting.

I swallowed my pride for my art and to this day people still remember that role. That’s making an impression. People don’t always remember the leads or the straight forward roles, they tend to remember the crazy, off beat, quirky characters. Plus you have fun along the way. =)

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Reflection: Since my original top ten “bucket list” is done… Now what?

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This has been bothering me for a few years, a few as in the past three or four years… why? Well, let me explain:

While I was in college, I created a “Top Ten” bucket list that I felt was semi-realistic and would be something that would keep me busy for decades to come… right… “decades”. More like “decade”… as in one, as in less than a decade. Granted anyone that knows me well, know what I really want out of life… but in the meantime a bucket of things to do in the meantime would always help… right? Right… little did I know.

I have always believed in the willingness of trying anything at least once, possibly twice just to make sure the first wasn’t a fluke. Then, if it turns out to be something I truly enjoy, then I’ll pursue the activity further in the future, possibly bring more people into coming with me. If in the end it just wasn’t my cup of tea, then at least I could say that I gave it a shot. I mean think about it… If everyone did as much as they could just once in their lives they would find hundreds, if not thousands of things they could be interested in and pursue… Instead of just staying in a small little circle.

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REVIEW: Theatre-on-the-Hill’s God of Carnage

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As posted in the TribLocal, the following is my review of Theatre-on-the-Hill‘s production of God of Carnage written by Yasmina Reza.

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This past weekend, Bolingbrook’s Theatre-on-the-Hill introduced another amazing comedy to the suburbs, and didn’t disappoint. God of Carnage is an ambitious, hilarious and very difficult story about two affluent couples who come together because their sons got into a fight in school that resulted in one of the boys getting two teeth knocked out. What starts out as a very civil and reasonably open minded meeting unravels into an in-depth look at the human psyche and how these people are nowhere near as civil as they appear to be, finally asking the question: “What do we know, really?”

So what do we know, really? Well, the small and stellar cast is comprised of Theatre-on-the-Hill alums Bill Smith and Erika Enigk Grotto, who play the elitist Raleighs, as well as newcomers Leann Hoffrogge and Zachary Johnson-Dunlop as the more working class Novaks. Each performer brought to life a vibrancy to characters that are not only relatable as individuals, but as the show progresses, create the realization among audience members that a situation like this could very well happen (or already had) in their own lives.

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Comparison: TOTH’s Den of Thieves (three weekends later)

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So by the time of this writing I have seen seven (and a half) out of eight showings of Bolingbrook’s Theatre-on-the-Hill‘s production of Den of Thieves. One would think that after the first one or two shows, or even three in this case I would be sick of seeing this show already. The truth of the matter is, I’m not.

For someone with a little bit of theatre background, I can honestly say that seeing shows multiple times does not bore me as one would probably expect. More often than not it is a combination of a good script, with fantastic direction, and amazing actors that would typically drive the average theatre goer into seeing a production multiple times.

In the case of Den of Thieves, not only were there three versions of the show to watch but live theatre brings to the table an element of unpredictability that you can’t find anywhere else.

Where else would you find Hugh Jackman blowing up at an audience member for a cell phone going off in the middle of A Steady Rain? Where else could you find mishaps go wrong and watch an actor really show off their acting chops AND improv skills at a drop of a pin?

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Comparison: TOTH’s Den of Thieves (Boochie and Little Tuna)

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One of the reasons that I enjoy watching productions at Theatre-on-the-Hill is the cast, more specifically when shows are double cast for whatever reason.

In the case of TOTH’s production of Den of Thieves, two of the roles are split between two actors. The role of the exotic dancer/stripper Boochie is split between newcomer Seneca Lee Evensen and musical theatre veteran Jacqueline Schultz. On the male front the role of Lou “The Little Tuna” Pescatore is split between stage veteran Joseph Mennella and the latest protege, Cameron Nowicki.

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Review: Theatre-on-the-Hill’s Den of Thieves (Original Draft)

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When I was approached to write a review for Theatre-on-the-Hill’s Den of Thieves, my first instinct was to wait until the second weekend of performances so I could compare and contrast actors in the roles that were double cast. But when I asked about deadlines it was brought to my attention the intent of the review was in the hope to bring in a larger audience for the remaining three weekends of performances.

So, below is the original idea that I had for a review for Theatre-on-the-Hill‘s production of Den of Thieves. There are notable differences between my original review and what was ultimately sent out to TribLocal as an official review, but the spirit of the review is still there for the most part. Which one do you like more?

Author’s Note: I will be posted my thoughts about various other productions that I saw in the past few years just to keep for posterity. Anything that is legitimate will be notated with an all capitalized REVIEW, whileas anything that is just my thoughts would simply be Review. Capeesh?

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REVIEW: Theatre-on-the-Hill’s Den of Thieves

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I was asked to review Theatre-on-the-Hill‘s fall production of Den of Thieves, and naturally I was honored to obliged. Then came a few issues:

This production of Den of Thieves has two roles that are double-cast, meaning that the performance dates are split between multiple actors. Theatre-on-the-Hill is notorious of doing this, particularly during the summer musical shows, this happens a lot less often during their Spring or Fall shows.

So which cast version to review upon? Well I went Opening Night, which wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t fantastic either. Then I went on the following Saturday night performance which was by and large the better of the two… so guess what my “legitimate” review was about?

This show will be open through the month of November 2011 in Bolingbrook. The version below was edited for the TribLocal online newspaper. I will include my original version in a bit.

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