Back in March of 2020, I was two weeks away from starting rehearsals as Friar Laurence in a new cutting of Romeo and Juliet by director/producer Sean Hagerty of Shakespeare@ (the same company for whom I played Polonius in Hamlet in 2019) in Jersey City, NJ. Then covid stopped the world.
Flash forward to today, August 24, 2023, and I’m about to start rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet at last! Some of the cast members have changed, the cutting is even sharper, the new venue is fantastic, Shakespeare@ has been rechristened The Curtain, and I’m still so excited to play Friar Laurence opposite my buddy (and my Laertes) Aria Shaghasemi as Romeo, with Sean directing. Our Juliet is the wonderful Anita Pomario, making her U.S. debut with this role. There is going to be a lot of smoldering between those two!
We held a private launch event this week for patrons and Jersey City politicians, and it’s so great to see how much local support there is for this new classical company in Jersey City. This is going to be a terrific and exciting new production; I’ll share more information soon!
I’m honored to see some more listener praise bubbling up on Amazon for my narration of Ethan Gaskins’ wonderful debut novel, Rattle Man. You can download and listen to this terrific Nordic space opera from Amazon, Audible, or other major audiobook sellers. Treat yourself to the audiobook today. It’s a great ride!
Somehow, despite the fact that I’ve been acting since I was 14, I had never actually done summer stock. Until now. Director Clayton Phillips and Artistic Director Sarah Rozene invited me to venerable Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth, NH to play the plum role of Dr. Einstein in their production of the classic dark comedy, Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring.
I have never worked with a lovelier bunch of human beings. I can’t say enough good things about the cast and crew and whole company. Plus, having buddy David Sitler (who played Owen in my 2014 The Foreigner at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre) playing opposite me as the evil Jonathan Brewster made it all the more fun. And the stunning natural surroundings in tiny Tamworth were an absolute joy every day. We had one week of rehearsal in an old barn by a gorgeous river (really) and then two weeks of performances in the little 280-seat gem that is Barnstormers Theatre. And on one of my morning bike rides, I saw a black bear—from a safe distance! What a beautiful area. It was like stepping back in time, or visiting Brigadoon.
And it happened so fast! Three weeks from start to finish. But I will carry many happy lasting memories from this summer idyll. It was a genuinely lovely experience in a magical place. I was honored to be included in the Barnstormers’ 93rd season!
REVIEWS!
I’m humbled by the lovely response to my interpretation of Dr. Einstein.
Broadway World:
Sidekick Sellon is a fun-loving sot—nervous and impish, always making his supporting role shine. The best moment of the show is when he is ready to turn himself in to the authorities for his crimes only to be congratulated and set free by the bumbling Lt. Rooney.
In the film, Dr. Einstein was played by German actor Peter Lorre whose accent and speech pattern still remain iconic. Sellon resists doing a Lorre impression except in the way he says “Johnny.” While he retains the German accent, he makes it his own.
So much of this play is reactionary and, like Ahnquist, Sellon has terrific facial expressions in response to the play’s building insanity. He also makes the character oddly endearing and likable.
Gosh. Things have been so busy, and there’s more coming. But I wanted to post about a couple of awesome projects I’ve completed so far this year.
In May/June, I spent 2 weeks in Atlanta, GA shooting a wonderful role in a terrific sci-fi/noir TV pilot shot entirely in 360 degree VR! It’s currently called: REST: A Stack Overflow Exception. This pilot is an amazing rethinking of a pilot I shot a few years back (Emily2410). The magical Michele Martin and I reprised our roles as Emily and Sylvester; everyone else was new to the project—although I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of them on other projects by the brilliant Charles Huddleston, including Nija Okoro and John J. Tague. Add Kenny Johnson (SWAT) and Hari Williams, and we simply had a dream cast. Fun shoot locations included a local railway museum that has been used by Spike Lee, among other notable directors, an ominously empty warehouse, and a mirror-filled space filled with gigantic overstuffed thrones in lurid colors.
The script is clever and great fun (the world Charles has created is fascinating!), and shooting in 360VR was a fun challenge for us all. Since the camera can see everything in all directions, the director and crew had to be in the next room, watching on monitors. If post production is done in time, Charles will be submitting the pilot to the Sundance VR Festival this fall, and to other festivals in the U.S. and Europe in coming months. Stay tuned, and have your VR headset ready!
Wow. The last Broadway show we saw before lockdown was The Minutes (with the original cast). That was March of 2020. Between the pandemic (and two cases of covid myself) and my being out of town a lot in 2022 performing, my husband and I had not taken the plunge and returned to seeing Broadway shows.
After I got back from doing Forum at the wonderful Maltz Jupiter Theatre at the end of December 2022, we agreed we really wanted to start going back to live theatre in NYC—but we also agreed we would still do it masked. Thanks to TDF, we were able to catch a bunch of wonderful productions, many of which were about to close. It felt so good getting back to being audience members again, and seeing a lot of truly wonderful pieces and performances. And so far we haven’t caught the latest version of covid. I’m fine with keeping my N95 mask on for seeing shows, especially since most audience members don’t wear masks anymore. I’m used to it, and it’s one less thing to worry about. I’m just so glad to be seeing productions in NYC again!
I woke today to the news that the great artist and lovely human Frank Galati has passed. In the Asolo Repertory Theatre’s 2013-14 season, Frank directed me in a gorgeously detailed PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME! In the rehearsal room with Frank, every word, every silence, every image, and everyone’s input mattered. He wept a lot. We laughed a lot. I learned a lot. That same season, his equally brilliant husband and soulmate Peter Amster directed me in VANYA AND SONIA…what a double gift. And to top it off, that season I also had the honor of playing ex-preacher Jim Casy in a stunning revival of Frank’s monumental Tony-winning adaptation of THE GRAPES OF WRATH. I was so glad I got to see Frank again last March, trim and beaming, when he came to cheer on Peter’s peerless direction of THE 39 STEPS at Gulfshore Playhouse. Frank and Peter. What a team. What talent. What love. What larks. Frank, to paraphrase Jim Casy, the whole shebang you created onstage was holy. A world of artists and humans will miss you. Dearest Peter, we are all holding you in our hearts.
Two Jim Casy quotes from Frank Galati’s adaption of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath:
This here ol’ man jus’ lived a life an’ jus’ died out of it. I don’t know whether he was good or bad, but that don’t matter much. He was alive, an’ that’s what matters. Heard a fella tell a poem one time, an’ he says, “All that lives is holy.” Got to thinking’, an’ purty soon it means more than the words says….
I got thinkin’ how we was holy when we was one thing, an’ mankin’ was holy when it was one thing….when they’re all workin’ together—kind of harnessed to the whole shebang—that’s right, that’s holy.
The great Frank Galati.Opening Night for Philadelphia, Here I Come! at Asolo RepPhiladelphia, Here I Come! at Asolo RepThe Grapes of Wrath at Asolo Rep
Last year, aka 2022, was really had on a lot of people–including many of us in the arts. For me, the year included a show closed due to covid, a second case of covid for me (and first for Tim) from that production, and a lot of stress around covid testing for two more shows in the course of the year.
But you know what? It also included working with a lot of truly wonderful people, and enjoying some gorgeous Florida weather, too! I still managed to work on three excellent productions and narrate a wonderful new novel. So I have a lot to be grateful for despite the challenges. Here it is 2023 and as a certain Sondheim character famously declares: “I’m still here!” I don’t take that for granted.
Farewell, then, 2022, and welcome 2023! What do I see on the horizon? Contracts aren’t signed yet, but I’ve been offered another Shakespeare production (YAYYYYYY!!), been asked my availability to shoot a reboot of a promising pilot (YAYYYYYY!!), and may have something seasonal next holiday season as well. Time will tell! And I am also moving forward with my first full-length novel and my first blank verse comedy; I’m incredibly excited about both.
Stay tuned—and I wish you and yours a safe, healthy, happy, abundant new year!
CAROUSEL at Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach, FLThe 39 Steps at Gulfshore Playhouse, Naples, FLA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Jupiter, FLNew Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel Audiobook: Rattle Man, by E.H. Gaskins
All good things must come to an end, sadly. Our hilarious production of Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum closes today after delighting audiences and critics alike. Below are some swell images by Jason Nuttle Photography.
Huge thanks again to the one and only Jen Werner, our utterly fantastic director, Caryl Fantel, our wonderful music director, Ariel J. Reid, our delightful choreographer, Suzanne Clement-Jones, our tireless production stage manager, and Jynelly Rosario, our superb assistant stage manager. And an extra thank you and shout out to Producing Artistic Director Andrew Kato, who makes everything possible at the gorgeous Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Another round of thanks to our amazing backstage crew, our musicians, and all the front office folks who keep the theatre humming and keep the great shows coming. And thank you to all the friends, family, and utter strangers who came to see Forum and share in our zany antics for a couple of hours. Your support means the world to us all.
This was my fourth show at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre—and my first since their remarkable expansion, which now makes it the envy of all regional theatres. The facility has incredible potential. But nonprofit theatres are still hurting in a big way due to the covid lockdown. High costs during covid meant the theatre couldn’t finish the renovations as planned. If you have anything to spare this holiday season, I can think of no theatre more deserving of your donation than the Maltz Jupiter. I hope you’ll consider a donation today. They give a lot of artists work, and treat us all with respect and love. That is not a given in this business. They are leading the way.
On to my next projects after the holidays! More info soon. ❤️
Below is the first review for the just-released audiobook of E.H. Gaskin’s wonderful sci-fi/fantasy novel Rattle Man which I recorded in October.
I love this story and am honored to have become its voice. I’m so glad to know listeners are enjoying the fruits of our labors!
If you listen to the novel and enjoy it, please do leave a positive review on Amazon, Audible, and/or Apple. Every single good review helps boost visibility and sales for Ethan’s wonderful first novel. It’s so hard for a new author and a new novel to get noticed these days, so your vote of confidence really helps. Thanks in advance!
I’m still waiting for a producer to figure out this needs to be a major motion picture!
I’m so excited! At last the audiobook of Rattle Man by talented young author (and former performance coaching student) E.H. Gaskins is OUT!
I am thrilled and honored that Ethan asked me to narrate this tale, the first of three in his new Ymiran Chronicles series. If you are a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, you will absolutely LOVE this new book. Wonderful characters, great scenes worthy of any space opera, and a fairy tale twist: the book is Ethan’s own spin on the classic Rumplestiltskin tale. I won’t spoil any of the surprises—and there are a bunch of them!
I spent 24 hours in the recording booth with the wonderful folks at Voiceworks Audio creating 52 speaking characters to bring you this almost 13-hour science fiction audio adventure. Great studio, and this story is a great a ride!
You can buy the audiobook on Audible, Amazon, or Apple today. And if you enjoy, I hope you’ll spread the word to your family and friends. This is a terrific first novel. Not only does it deserve a lot of reads/listens, it deserves to become a feature film! I hope some smart producer out there is looking for the next Guardians of the Galaxy—because here it is!
