The “Very Queer Christmas Carol” is thrilled to welcome the one and only Jason Michael Snow to our cast. Sadly, our beloved @scottevansgram has to bow out because of illness and we are so bummed to lose him but so grateful to have super talent @jmspinafore step in as our new Butch!
The show is going to be so much fun and we hope you will join us this Saturday, December 13th at 7:30 PM at the LA LGBT Center. Ticket link in @therococompany bio or at lalgbtcenter.org
“The theatre is a wonderful place, a house of strange enchantment, a temple of illusion.” • Sir Noël Coward. A few months ago, I was lucky enough to reconnect with an old collaborator and dear friend who has taken the lead in bringing The Cowards to the next level. Carl White is that man, and he is changing my life. Now a major Broadway producer, about to open A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, he (and Gregory Rae and Martian Entertainemnt) chose my play as his next project and I am over the moon honored. The first thing he did was bring the magic that is award-winning Broadway director Michael Wilson. This man masterfully directed Cicely Tyson to her first (and long-overdue) Tony for The Trip to Bountiful, Angela Lansbury and Candice Bergen in The Best Man opposite James Earl Jones, is Elizabeth Ashley’s go-to director, directed Harriet Harris in Old Acquaintance, Rachel York and Betty Buckley in the divine LA production of Grey Gardens and, most presciently, Olympia Dukakis in The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore—a play that is highly referenced and explored in my play. Just the tip of the iceberg of why this man is stardust to me and, if know me at all, the fact that a man whom these incredible women have trusted for years is now directing me and my play is absolutely bonkers—and also makes all the sense in the world.
Then, my work husband for life, Graham Wetterhahn, came back on board to make his New York lead producing debut. There ARE smart straight men in the theatre! Next came my long-time friend Craig Burns and my favorite Charlie Hano who built metaphorical drag queen’s necklace of giant jewels has joined the cast, and I am in AWE! Taylor Schilling, Brandon Uranowitz, Eva Reign, Isaiah Stannard, Ari Notartomaso, Makai Hernandez, Charlie Barnett (returning to the piece), and Veanne FUCKING Cox!!!!!!! Most of these people have never met me; I’ve only ever worked with one of them (Charlie), and NONE of them owe me anything! They literally read the play and said yes……bwahahahahaha (cries!). It’s all pretty surreal for the little theatre kid who was always picked last.
This is all for my Mom and Noël, both have taught me I am enough.
I’ve been waiting 23 years to say this…… “GOOD MORNING, BALTIMORE!” This October I finally become a Turnblad! There is no other way this could have possibly made sense than for it to happen in @marissajaretwinokur ’s first helmed production of the show that made her a star and changed my life from the wings. There aren’t words to describe the full circle moment this is for me as an actor, Marissa as a director and our friendship as a journey! Performances start October 10th at @5startheatricals
Imagine being my mother?!?!?! Absolutely exhausting. She deserves a medal of honor.
Happy Mother’s Day April Leigh. The icon. The legend. The best.
She hates instagram and will probably tell me this is somehow going to get me arrested but I’m doing it anyway.
I love you, Mom. Sorry for all the times I was too much and thank you for all the times you taught me to be even more.
