Holy Crap! Hunter Parrish Is Cute!!

This wasn't supposed to be my post for today.  I had a plan to start my "Best of 2011" today, but I changed my mind when I saw the video of Hunter Parrish singing "Beautiful City" from the current Broadway revival of Godspell.  It's no secret that I am involved with the show, but I thought it is the perfect message for this time of year.  We get so caught up in the holidays and it can be a very stressful time for so many families.  Our country has seen a tough economy continue, we've watched political parties battle each other for their own good, not the greater good, and the United States is anything but united.  So, do me a favor, take a moment in your busy day and listen to this incredibly moving song.  The reactions I received from posting this on my personal Facebook page included:

"The song is beautiful. I'm listening to it again right now."


"I am not a big fan of musicals, but that song you posted is unreal."

"Beautiful!  Thanks for sharing-I can't wait to see the show."

And the best one....
"Holy Crap!  Hunter Parrish is cute!!" (Indeed he is and he's in his underwear for the opening part of the show.)

So no matter what your personal beliefs are,  I bet you can believe in building a "Beautiful City"

Enjoy this song.....and let me know what you think in the comments below:



To purchase tickets to the show, click here.

To download the soundtrack on iTunes, click here.

My New York

I started the day with this view.  I knew it was going to be a GREAT day.  

I walked the streets a little longer last night even though I should have been in my hotel room resting for my shoot today, but I wanted a little more time to reflect on the city I consider home.  It's no secret that I love NY, but it's been such a great journey for me:  seeing where I started in NY and where I am in NY now.  It reminds me of one of my favorite songs from Sondheim's show, Merrily We Roll Along called "Our Time".  This section of the lyric still sticks with me:

"Years from now,
We'll remember and we'll come back,
Buy the rooftop and hang a plaque:
This is where we began,
Being what we can."

These lyrics resonated with me all day as I had the wonderful opportunity to rehearse for a great project that I am shooting today, watch two longtime friends make their dreams come true with the Broadway show, Godspell, and then meet with the entertainment editor of iVillage.(I have been fortunate to do a few press junkets with them and I look forward to more!)

Now for my fellow musical theatre geeks, here are a few photos from today's incredible invited press rehearsal for Godspell.  If you would like to see some of the video footage, head to Broadway World (A prize to the first person who spots me in the video. Tell me where I am sitting in the comments below.) and be sure to read Producer Ken Davenport's blog on today's event.

 Director, Daniel Goldstein, and Choreographer, Christopher Gattelli.

 The cast!

 Hunter Parrish being interviewed by NBC.

 Ana Maria Perez de Tagle from Hannah Montana is in the cast too.  I last interviewed her here during the Kids' Choice Awards week.

Hello! It's Stephen Schwartz.  Wow!

Godspell: Production Updates

As I've mentioned in this space before, I invested in the upcoming Broadway revival of Godspell.  This is the first time audiences will see a full scale production of Godspell since it made its debut on Broadway in 1976. (For my musical theatre historians, it debuted off-Broadway in 1971.)  It's time for a new generation of theatregoers to enjoy Stephen Schwartz's first blockbuster show.  If you are headed to New York in the fall, be sure to check out the production directed by my Stagedoor pal, Daniel Goldstein, and produced by NYU pal, Ken Davenport.  Tickets go on sale today with previews beginning October 13th and opening is scheduled for November 7th. (I will be there!)  The production will be at the Circle in the Square Theatre cleverly positioned right next to Schwartz's other behemoth production, Wicked which plays at the Gershwin.  The cast has yet to be announced, but a huge open call happened last week with over 1,000 hopefuls attending the casting call.

If you are interested in finding out more about the production, follow Ken's blog:  DAY BY DAY:  The Producer's Perspective.  Ken is documenting the daily activities of mounting the revival from 100 days until the first performance.

To purchase tickets, click here.

"Prepare Ye".