The past 6 weeks with @ohanaarts has been exactly what my heart has needed. I am so proud of all the students who worked so hard to give the gift of theatre to their community. I am grateful for the new friendships I made and will cherish the memories with my new Ohana.
It was the thrill of a lifetime to be in the same room with President Barack Obama. The energy in Detroit is palpable and I am proud as a new Michigander to vote in this once in a lifetime election.
I implore anyone who is undecided to do your due diligence and make an informed decision. Turn off the cable news and drown out the noise. To me, the choice is crystal clear - one candidate believes in democracy and the other embraces authoritarianism. To those who say, “he doesn’t really mean it”, or “he was joking”, why would you take a chance? His rhetoric is hateful, racist, dangerous, and uninformed. Also, the majority of his former cabinet (and hundreds of lifelong Republicans) have endorsed his opponent. Not only that, but lifelong, non-partisan generals have warned of his fascist ideology.
I am voting for a future where there is room for everyone at the table. I am voting for the rights of women to make decisions about their own bodies. I am voting for the opportunity for everyday Americans to make a living wage. I am voting for common sense gun legislation. I am voting for the rights of LGBTQ+ people. I am voting for democracy. I am voting for freedom. I am voting for KAMALA HARRIS.
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#Kamalaharris #timwalz #harriswalz #vote #voteblue #democracy #freedom #voteearly #makeaplan #anewwayforward #wearenotgoingback
Opened the last show of the season! The Fantasticks holds a special place in my heart. I fell in love with this show when I played Matt when I was seventeen. That experience was very formative and now to revisit it all these years later feels extra special. I feel so lucky to play this score and am amazed by its beauty every time my hands touch the keys. Cheers to the cast and crew on a wonderful opening.
Director: John Saunders
Choreographer: Bella DePaola
Music Director: Eric Shorey
Scenic Designer: Andrew Gmoser
Costume Designer: Daniel Hewson
Assistant to the Costume Designer: Sam Landy
Costume Shop Technicians: Sarah Goethe-Jones, Ava Burckhardt
Lighting Designer: Andrew Gmoser
Sound Designer: Sean McGinley
Wigs and Make-Up Supervisor: Emily Allen
Props Designer: Paul Colarusso
Production Supervisor: Eoghan Hartley
Technical Director: Alan Highe
Carpenters: Isabelle Sterling, Alan Highe
Wardrobe Supervisor: Julia Kehrley
Production Stage Manager: Tori Moss
Assistant Stage Manager: Johanna Baronowitz
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#thefantasticks #musicaltheatre #musicdirector #pianist #machaydntheatre #trytoremember
Te adoro, West Side Story.
So many people to thank for bringing this masterpiece to life at the @machaydntheatre . @bryanknowlton and @mcguiremoves — thank you for your support and collaboration. I’m so proud of what we accomplished in such a short amount of time. To @mattlevinstein for being the best assistant MD. I literally could not have done this without you. To my band for playing this epic score and making it sound like 30 people. I’m humbled by all of you. To the cast and crew for their dedication to keeping this story alive. To @john_a_saunders for trusting me to lead the music and for always having my back. And to @muchydutchy for keeping my sane and making sure I eat. I love you. And to Henry for all the licks.
Photos by @ak_photographyanddesigns
#westsidestory #musicdirector #musicaltheatre #machaydntheatre #leonardbernstein
Sad to hear about the passing of Disney legend Richard M. Sherman. I was lucky to meet him on the opening night of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang national tour I did back in 2008. Him and his brother Robert (who passed in 2012) basically wrote the soundtrack to my childhood. You probably know more songs they wrote than you realize. What a legacy.
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#richardsherman #shermanbrothers #disneylegacy #disneymusic #chittychittybangbang #marypoppins #itsasmallworld #theresagreatbigbeautifultomorrow #feedthebirds
This is a big one. After 21 years, countless apartments, hundreds of auditions, a career shift, and so much more, I am leaving NYC with my husband. I am fiercely proud to announce that Eric got a job as the Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. After my summer update at the Mac-Haydn Theatre, I will be joining Eric to begin our new chapter. I can’t even begin to process the gratitude I have for everything New York has offered me. This city is where I met my best friends and my husband. It’s where I made mistakes, celebrated successes, yelled at tourists for walking too slow, saw the most incredible theatre, and met artists who have endlessly inspired me. While I won’t miss the daily grind, the subway, or the prices, I will miss my incredible friends. My New York family. I dreamed of moving to New York and made it happen. While it didn’t turn out the way I imagined, I can’t imagine it being any other way. Thank you, New York. You smell and I love you.
My brief stint on the Disney Fantasy has come to an end. It was such a fun month. Until we meet again…✨
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#DCL #disneyfantasy #pianist #rememberthemagic #caribbean
Look at this handsome man! This is one of Eric’s new Music Director shots. (I zoomed in on the face, but that’s a piano he’s resting on.) He has worked so hard these last few years to establish himself as a professional MD and it is really paying off. I’m so proud of him. And now he has some fabulous shots to represent everything he has accomplished as well as the bright future ahead! Photos by @sarahjenkinsphoto
