All That Chat - re: TOP SOLO PERFORMANCES TOP OSF PRODUCTIONS, TOP ACTING EMBAMBLES AND SPECIAL AWARDS

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re: TOP SOLO PERFORMANCES TOP OSF PRODUCTIONS, TOP ACTING EMBAMBLES AND SPECIAL AWARDS

Posted by:	Richard Connema 02:27 pm EST 12/27/14
In reply to:	MY TOP TEN ACTING AWARDS FOR REGIONAL DRAMA/COMEDIES & MUSICAL - Richard Connema 02:17 pm EST 12/27/14

I grouped the following into these categories -------------------------- SOLO PERFORMANCES -------------------- KAREN MASON---BAY AREA CABARET—FAIRMONT== her show was called “Secrets of Ancient Divas” and she wowed the audience with her powerful and crystal clear voice with her warm and endearing personality. MAESTRO---BERKELEY REP---Hershey Felder was brilliant as Leonard Bernstein talking about his life. BARRY LLOYD---SOCIETY CABARET---His take on Cole Porter songs were skillful with his distinguish controlled baritone voice. He also did a wonderful tribute to composer and lyricist Murray Grand laster that year. EACH AND EVERY THING—THE MARSH---Dan Hoyle who is a skilled performer in recreating voices of people he met was excellent in his newest solo performance. TERRY BAUM---HICK: A LOVE STORY—CRACKPOT CRONES---she brought life to this hard-living butch reporter, Lorena Hickok who had a “romance” with Eleanor Roosevelt. HERSHEY FELDER---MONSIEUR CHOPIN---BERKELEY REP—Once again Hershey morphed into Fredic Chopin where he talked about his relationship with George Sands and played brilliantly on the piano Chopin’s lovely melodies . DARLENE POPOVIC---SOCIETY CABARET---Her show was called “Love and Laughter” and she delighted the audience with her stories and songs of relationships between male and female . MICHAEL URIE---BUYER AND CELLAR—SHN---He was fine, funny and fabulous as a wanna be actor Alex who gets a job as a custodian and clerk of the basement of Barbra Streisand’s fabled estate. AN AUDIENCE WITH MEOW MEOW---BERKELEY REP---Meow Meow voice was outstanding in range and textue. She had terrific comic timing, improvisation wit and some fetching audience participation. JAI RODRIGUEZ----SOCIETY CABARET—He did a bang up show talking about his life and struggles to come out a gay man to his family of strict Catholics . LESLIE UGGAMS---BAY AREA CABARET---she exemplied the old time Broadway professionalism in her 80 minute “Classic Uggams”. At age 73 she still had a melodious voice and she could still belt out a tune. This was also my last night with Eddy and he was over the moon with her voice and talking to her afterwards. He left this earth on a high note. KATHLEEN TURNER---RED HOT PATRIOTS—BERKELEY REP----she beautifully morphed into Molly Ivins, a liberal Texas firebrand whose syndicated columns ran in 400 newspapers. She caught the brassy, sharp-written columnist in all of her glory ------------------------------- TOP ACTING ENSEMBLES ----------------------------- L.PETER CALLENDER, TOBIE WINDHAM AND NICHOLAS PELCZAR---I could not distinguish each separate actor since they all gave outstanding performances RON CAMPBELL, DARREN BRIDGETT, MICHAEL GENE SULLIVAN---HOUNDS OF THE BASKERVILLES--THEATREWORKS---once again I could not distinguish each separate actor since each played their various roles brilliantly STACY ROSS AND JAMIE JONES---GIDION’S KNOT—AURORA---Two very excellent actresses held the audience for 75 minutes spellbound their confrontation of words. KIT WILDER AND THOMAS GORREBEECH ---SLEUTH---CENTER REP OF WALNUT CREEK—Also both were outstanding in this two character play. ARWEN ANDERSON, PATRICK RUSSELL AND KAREN GRASSIE ----77%---SF PLAYHOUSE SANDBOX they gave magnetic performances in a play that needed more work. CARRIE PAFF, MARK ANDERSON PHILLIPS, MICHAEL RAY WISELY, JASON KOPOOR AND BEN EUPHRAT ---IDELATION----SAN FRANCISICO PLAYHOUSE. ---. Once again it has one of the great cast of the year and each gave a fantastic performance. CONOR HAMILL AND MELVIN THOMPSON---THE TRAIN DRIVER---OFF BROADWAY WEST—they gave gripping performances. Conor gave a robust performance with a striking Boar accent. Marvin as a simple Black man who has seen more hardships then his white counterpart. ---------------------- SPECIAL AWARD TO ------------------- MOTOWN, THE MUSICAL---SHN. ---book was weak but all those amazing singers and dancers made up for the weak book of Berry Gordy and Motown Records. PIPPIN---SHN---I saw the original and this revival which won the Tony was just as good. It had a new approach and it was a brilliant and magical production. KINKY BOOTS--SHN ----This was filled with likable pop tunes and intense ballads thanks to Cyndi Lauper’s score and Harvey Fierstein’s book celebrated the diversity and preached a conventional and conversant message about respecting other people’s variances. ELF---THE MUSICAL—SHN---A clever little old fashioned musical with delightful brassy musical numbers. ------------------------ THE BEST OF THE OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ------------------------- Once again the Oregon Shakespeare Festival presented an excellent season at the beginning of Spring. Outstanding and hilarious was “The Coconuts”. Mark Bedard as Groucho, John Tufts as Chico and Brent Hinkley as Harpo were pure enjoyment and there actually morphed into these three zany brothers. The seventeen member cast really rocked in this fast pace screwball comedy The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window has an awe inspiring OSF cat who expertly approached the playwright’s character study of the 60’s. The Comedy of Errors was fantastic. It took place in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s. It was one of the most endearing and funniest production of the play I had ever seen.

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re: TOP SOLO PERFORMANCES TOP OSF PRODUCTIONS, TOP ACTING EMBAMBLES AND SPECIAL AWARDS

Posted by:	dreambaby 01:51 pm EST 12/30/14
In reply to:	re: TOP SOLO PERFORMANCES TOP OSF PRODUCTIONS, TOP ACTING EMBAMBLES AND SPECIAL AWARDS - Richard Connema 02:27 pm EST 12/27/14

I so enjoy and appreciate these Richard - especially with the moving report of Eddy's and your pleasure in the Leslie Uggams performance. Wishing you good health, and much joy and pleasure in 2015!

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