AYAA Dream Season Project

Hey, everyone! About a month ago, I contacted a ton of young actors about being a part of a special project for AYAA. In this project, I asked them to create a dream season for a fictitious theatre. This stemmed from a Facebook tag trend I originated a few years ago where I had people create dreams seasons and then tag five friends to encourage them to create their own. I wanted to bring this same concept to AYAA.

The rules: 
1) The name of the imaginary theatre
2) The names of all the shows
         **VERY IMPORTANT: Please only picked shows that can be licensed. They be restricted licenses (like Mamma Mia) but they cannot be shows that cannot be licensed at all (like Wonderland, unfortunately.) The point of this is to show theatres near us what shows kids our age want to audition for.
       **You can pick anywhere from 4 to 12 shows
3) The dates the shows would run
4) The age range for the cast (Welcome to do shows with adults or just youth productions!)

I also noted they could include what they would like their role in the production to be.

Here are their responses!

Audrey Coleman
Triple Threat Theatre Company

Heathers- August 11-28
ages 18-21
Thoroughly Modern Millie- October 6-23
ages 13-18
** I would love to choreograph this show
Sweeney Todd- December 1-18
ages 13-20
Legally Blonde- January 19 - February 5
ages 14-20
The Little Mermaid- March 2-19
ages 10-18
Little Shop of Horrors- March 30 - April 9
ages 13-18
A Chorus Line- April 20 - May 7
ages 15-21
** I would love to direct this show
Addams Family- May 18 - June 4
ages 13-18
** I would love to costume this show
In the Heights- July 13-30
ages 15-21

Bryce DiLullo
Beautiful Unified Terrific Theatre Squad aka B.U.T.T.S. teeheehee
Show 1) Rocky The Musical
Show 2) Macbeth
Show 3) James And The Giant Peach (Musical)
Show 4) The Scarlet Pimpernel (Musical)
Show 5) Hamlet
Show 6) Camelot (Musical)

Show 7) (Grand Finale) Rent


Carter Palumbo
Rêves Theatre
Sister Act- August 18th to 28th
Bonnie & Clyde- September 15th to 25th
Carrie: the musical- October 20th to 30th
A Christmas Carol- December 8th to 17th
Heathers: the musical- February 2nd to 12th
Addams Family: the musical- March 23rd to April 2nd
Anything Goes- May 25th to June 7th

Emma Welch
Star Theatre 2016 - 2017 season:
Joseph and the Amazing… September 13-17
Much Ado About Nothing October 4 - 8
Addams Family Musical November 1 - 5
The Crucible November 15 - 19
White Christmas December 7 - 10, 13 - 17
Catch Me if You Can February 7 - 11
Peter and the Starcatcher March 14 - 18
110 in the Shade April 18 - 22
The Foreigner May 16 - 20
Mary Poppins June 20 - 24


Ethan Shanker
ENCORE! THEATRE
Bare: A Pop Opera
Ages 14-19
August 7-28
     **I would love to play Peter
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Ages 14-21
September 14- October 9
American Idiot
Ages 15-19
November 1-21
       **I would like to play angsty teen #4
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Ages 13-19
December 4-25
     **I would love to play Chip
The Producers
Ages 14-21
January 9-30
     **I would love to play Carmen Ghia
Aida 
Ages 10-21
February 7-28
Rock of Ages
Ages 15-21
March 31- April 23
     **I would love to play Franz
Once on This Island
Ages 10-21
May 5-28
Jekyll and Hyde
Ages 15-21
June 21- July 19

Jake Bonar
The Adultish Teen Theater
September 3-17- Rent 
Ages 15-19
October 25-November 3- Avenue Q
Ages 15-19
December 10-24- White Christmas
Ages 12-18
January 30-February 15- Spring Awakening
Ages 15-19
March 7-March 23- Legally Blonde
Ages 15-19
April 27-May 10- Heathers
Ages 15-19
June 8-31- Next to Normal 
Ages 15-19

Julian Mendoza
Green Room Theatre
Guys and Dolls
August 8th-27th
West Side Story 
November 7th-28th
Into the Woods 
January 11th - Feb 1st
Hairspray 
March 26th-April 14th
RENT
May 22nd-June 8th
The Phantom of the Opera 
July 7th- July 28th

Linda Pauley (yes, adults can be a part of AYAA too!)
Starbright Theatre

1. Next to Normal – January (age 16 to 19)
2. 13, the Musical – February ( age 12 – 15)
3. Avenue Q, the school edition – March (age 14 to 19)
4. Beauty and the Beast – April (age 8 to 19)
5. Dogfight – May (age 14 to 19)
6. Phantom Tollbooth – June (age 8 to 13)
7. Les Miserables – July (age 11 to 19)
8. 7 Brides for 7 Brothers – August (age 13 to 19)
9. Disney’s Jungle Book – September (age 8 to 13)
10. Jekyll and Hyde – October (age 14 to 19)
11. Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells – November ( age 8 to 13)
12. A Christmas Carol (musical) – Menken/Ahrens version – Dec ( age 8 to 19)


Starbright Theatre would also try to be one of the first theatres in the country to license Phantom of the Opera IF it EVER becomes available to community youth theate…….and also acquire rights to produce Disney’s Frozen Jr. when that show becomes available as well.

Mackenna Goodrich
Chandler Boulevard Theatre Company

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Ages 10-19

August 26th - September 11th
**Dream role: Olive

She Kills Monsters

Ages 12-19

September 15th - October 9th
*Dream role: Lilith

Little Shop of Horrors

Ages 15-19

October 13th - November 20th
*Dream role: Audrey II

Guys and Dolls

Ages 15-19
*I want to choreograph this show

December 1st - December 18th

Rent

Ages 15-19

December 29th - January 15th
*I really want to direct a gender bent version of this show/play Mark

All Shook Up

Ages 15-19

January 26th - February 26th
*Dream role: Miss Sandra

Aida

Ages 10-19

March 2nd - April 2nd
*Dream role: Amneris

The Producers

Ages 15-19

April 13th - May 14th
*I want to choreograph this show. I love big gay dance numbers.

Catch Me If You Can

Ages 10-19
May 25th - June 25th
*I want to choreograph this show

The Drowsy Chaperone

Ages 12-19

July 6th - July 30th
*I want to direct this show

Mark Munoz
The Wild Party
August 3-27
Bridges of Madison County
September 6-30
The Nance
October 13-21
35mm Musical Exhibition
October 30-November 16
Rent
November 29-December 25
In the Heights
January 20-February 17
Beautiful
February 28-March 14
Kinky Boots
March 20-April 19
Sweeney Todd
April 30- May 27
Sister Act
June 15- July 18

Nick Hambruch
1) Catch Me If You Can
2) Jekyll and Hyde
3) Company
4) Noises Off
5) Assassins
6) Big Fish


Odd Squad Theater Company

Sam Primack
Star Theatre
Memphis- August 8-27 (I would love to play Huey) 
American Idiot- October 9-30 (I would love to play Johnny) 
Pippin- November 7-28
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson- January 11- February 1 (I would love to play Andrew Jackson) 
Rent- March 26-April 14 
Last 5 Years- May 22-June 8 (Starring me and Lily Castle) 
Parade- July 7-28 (I would love to play Leo Frank) 
All ages are 14-19

Sarah Davidson
New Classics Theatre
August-September
GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER
October-November
PETER AND THE STAR CATCHER
December
ELF: THE MUSICAL
January-February
CURIOUS INCIDENT OF DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME
March-April
KINKY BOOTS
May-June
HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL

AYAA Interview: Hale Stewart

Hale Stewart is a talented young actor who started his theatre career "at Notre Dame Prep, but...found [his] home at Greasepaint." Hale has been nominated for two Zoni Awards, for Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and The Cat in the Hat in Seussical, but at Greasepaint. Last year, Hale placed in the Top 10 in the 2015 English Speaker's Union National Shakespeare Competition at Lincoln Center. Ladies, Hale is a Libra who enjoys long walks on the beach and Star Wars. He will be attending Northwestern University in the fall, studying theatre. Hale was asked to interview after his NYA Artist of the Year Award for 2014-15.

Full Real Legit Name

Hale Christopher Stewart

Where were you born?

Downtown Phoenix, Good Samaritan Hospital

What’s home like? Brothers? Siblings? Parents? Pets?

I live with my mom and my younger brother. My older brother is in college at NAU, and we have a yellow Labrador named Moose.

When and why did you start performing?

I started seriously performing my freshman year. I didn’t have anything to do after school one day, so I went to a Drama Club meeting. The rest is history.

First show you ever saw?

The Lion King, when I was like 7 or 8.

First Broadway show you ever saw?

I know it’s basic, but Phantom.

Most influential show you ever saw? Why was it so influential?

I saw a production of Curtains at Notre Dame 6 or 7 years ago. It was what first opened my eyes to maybe performing in high school.

Favorite show you’ve ever been in? Why?

The Producers at Greasepaint. It’s one of my favorite shows, and it was a dream role. So many great friends were in that cast, and I had the best fun. Into the Woods is a very close second.

And if your favorite isn’t one, favorite youth show? Why?

#theproducers

Most challenging acting experience? Why?

I’d say probably Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet or Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. I love Shakespeare more than I like most foods, but he’s a pain in the ass (can I swear?) to perform. Straight plays are hard enough because you can’t lean on singing, dancing, or any flashy stuff to wow the audience. So, not only were we judged solely on acting, much of the audience couldn’t understand what we were saying most of the time. Good times.

Hale as Leo Bloom with Cami Benton as Ulla in Greasepaint's
The Producers (2015).

You played Leo Bloom in the Producers at Greasepaint during this season. What was your favorite part of playing that character? What was different about that experience than other shows you had been in before? In addition, you have done a lot of shows at Greasepaint. What is unique about Greasepaint?

I SO loved playing Leo. Dream role. Anyway, like I said before, so many awesome friends were in that cast and it just made the whole thing so much better. As far as the role itself Leo was so high energy. I was playing opposite one of my very best friends as my Max and being able to play off of him every night was just so magical. Also, we were on stage for pretty much two and a half hours straight, so there was a lot of sweating. Greasepaint is home, there’s no other way I can describe it. It’s home, and the people are my family.

Hale and Johnna Watson as the Sowerberry's in Oliver! at
Greasepaint (2015).

In Oliver! at Greasepaint, you portrayed Mr. Sowerberry. What did you gain from that experience? What attracted you to audition for Oliver!? Why do you think the story of Oliver! continues to be popular?

Oh, boy. Oliver! I didn’t really gain a lot from that role, just because it was so small. But it was tons of fun. Honestly, I only really auditioned because my brother was. Also, my Mrs. Sowerberry (hi Johnna) told me to audition and I couldn’t say no to her. Although, to be quite honest with you, I’m not too sure why it’s still popular. It seems like it would lose steam because it's so different from modern musical theatre, but it keeps on going.

This season as well, you performed in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at Greasepaint. What are the challenges that came along with playing Benedick? Performing Shakespearean text? If you could play any other role in Shakespeare’s canon, who would it be?

Benedick was another dream role for me. I’ve been really lucky this year. Again, the challenges that come with doing any of Shakespeare’s shows are really tough, but you learn so much from it. Benedick was unique in that I had to go from a cynical wiseass to someone who is actually, legitimately in love (and not make it sappy), but I had a lot of fun. Also, we set it in the 40s, so the swing dancing was pretty tough. I’ve already been lucky enough to play another awesome Shakespeare role (Mercutio), but I’d love to play Iago in Othello at some point. Basically, I want to be just like Kenneth Branagh.

This year, you were nominated for an AriZoni award for your portrayal of the Cat In the Hat in Seussical. What was the experience of playing the Cat like? How does it feel to be nominated for a Zoni? Did you enjoy performing in a show like Seussical, which tends to be geared towards younger audiences?

You had to bring up Seussical, didn’t you? The Cat was different because he didn’t really have anything important to add to the story. He was just kinda there screwing things up. But I did have fun. Being nominated for a Zoni was so unexpected and I felt so special just to be considered. Honestly, I loved being able to perform for younger kids because when they saw me at the stagedoor, some of them actually thought I was the Cat in the Hat! I felt like a Disney character.

In 2015, you traveled to New York to compete in the English Speaker’s Union Shakespeare competition. What did you perform? What was that experience like? What did you gain from it?

I performed the “Queen Mab” speech from Romeo and Juliet and Sonnet 116. It was such an amazing, validating learning experience. I’m really not a competitive person (which makes you wonder why I did a Shakespeare COMPETITION in the first place) so I was kind of scared that everyone would be kind of cutthroat and try to be better than everyone else, you know? But we all spent so much time together and everyone was so amazing that we just ended up all becoming great friends. We still talk.

At Notre Dame Preparatory, you have performed in many roles, including Bobby Strong in Urinetown (NYA Award), Gomez Addams in the Addams Family (NYA Artist of the Year Award and ASU Gammage High School Musical Theatre nomination) and this year, Edward Bloom in Big Fish. Which of these characters was your favorite and why? What have you gained by performing in shows at your high school? How is working on a high school production different from working on a community theatre production?

I don’t know if I can pick a favorite from them. I had so much fun with all. Gomez was funny because I had to completely change my whole look and demeanor and everything. A goofy teenaged redhead doesn’t usually get asked to play a middle-aged Latin dude. Performing with my high school has taught me just how important every single aspect of a show is, from the ground up. Every little thing has to mesh in order to produce a great show. I’d probably say high school productions are more work but also less intense than community theatre, just because high school shows are sometimes young actors’ first roles.

Hale and Jack Rose in the Producers at Greasepaint (2015).

Favorite character you got to play during the 2015-16 season?

Leo Bloom

Favorite person you got to play opposite of during the 2015-16? (Romantically or otherwise)

Otherwise, Jack Rose. Romantically (although our characters hated each other) Johnna Watson or Bailey Smith. Also, Jack Rose.

Dream role? Dream role of the opposite sex?

Oh man I have a ton. I’ve always wanted to play Mark in Rent or Seymour in Little Shop, but trust me, I have tons more. Opposite sex, maybe Elizabeth Proctor [in The Crucible].

Theatres in Arizona you would love to work with, but haven’t?

I would’ve loved to work at VYT or Hale (just to make the obvious joke).

Craziest stage experience (mishap, funny improvised joke, etc.)?

So we had a school show for Seussical. Fun fact: it was actually my middle school that came to the show. Anyway, towards the end of the first act, the clover gets taken by the Wickersham Brothers, and our Horton had to run down the stage steps and chase them. But here’s the thing: he fell off the stage and sprained his ankle. I was off stage at the time and so I walked on to make my triumphant entrance and I’m like “Why does everyone look so… oh.” We had to cancel the rest of the shows. But our Horton was a champ; he was back for the next weekend of shows (with a cane).

Weirdest show you’ve ever been to? (Whether it be the nature of the show, casting decisions, etc.)

I went to Ruthless at Phoenix Theatre. That was just a weird show in general.

Hale playing Rapunzel's Prince in Into the Woods. 

Favorite costume you’ve ever worn? Least favorite?

Favorite: Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods. Basically I wore yoga pants (super comfy) and a t-shirt with like a baggy, buttoned tunic thing over it. Easy peasy. Least favorite was probably my opening costume for Much Ado. It was a completely authentic sailor suit. Pure wool. And tight. Yuck.

Best youth production you have ever seen?

Probably Rent at Spotlight.

What is your go-to audition song?

“Purpose” from Avenue Q or “Being Alive” from Company. All hail Sondheim.

Advice for young performers? Auditions? Behavior? Life?

This applies for all of the above topics: It’s not as serious as you think it is. You’ll be fine.

Favorite actors and actresses? Stage? Screen?

I’m a huge fan of anything Ewan McGregor does. Also Chris Pratt, Kenneth Branagh, and the almighty Harrison Ford.

Hale (Benedick) with Patrick Steward (Claudio), Liam Thibeault
(Don Pedro), and Alex Tuchi (Leonato) in Greasepaint's Much Ado
About Nothing. (2015)

Favorite plays?

The Crucible, Noises Off!, and anything Shakespeare.

Favorite musicals?

Rent, The Producers, Into the Woods

What is the best showtune of all-time?

I don’t know if “The Time Warp” from Rocky Horror applies, but it’s damn fun.

Musical/play on Broadway currently you’re dying to see?

Am I trash if I say Hamilton? Also American Psycho.

Favorite movie? TV Show?

Star Wars, end of discussion. Also, the Office.

[A/N: I've said it before and I'll say it again: The Office is the greatest TV show of all time. I'm watching it now.]

Secret guilty pleasure?

I won’t say anything specific. But I will say… Backstreet’s back.

Personal mantra(s)?

Just go for it.

Performer you would die to perform with?

For some reason, I absolutely love Brian d’Arcy James. Also, Stephen Colbert. Funniest guy I’ve ever experienced.

How do you feel about the atmosphere of youth theatre around Arizona? What do you like about it? What do you feel like can be improved?

I love it, love it, love it. The theatre community has been so good to me and everyone involved. I’d like to be able to get more cross-theater stuff going on just so everyone can meet everyone else.

Most underrated show?

I don’t know if you could say it was underrated, but I think Something Rotten! should’ve won Best Musical. Fans of Fun Home, please don’t shoot me.

What’s your “adult” plan? Keep performing professionally or…?

I’m not planning on ever being an adult, actually. But yeah, acting professionally is the dream.

Upcoming projects?

I’m taking a break for the summer probably, but I’m going to Northwestern University, studying theatre so you bet your ass there’ll be projects there.

Thank you Hale for doing this interview with me! We've been trying to do this interview since like July and I am so grateful we finally got around to it!

AYAA's May MUSICAL Madness: Round 1, Part 1

Hey, everyone! So I am from a big sports family, so March Madness is a big deal in my house. I thought "hey, I feel like AYAA should do a theatre version of March Madness, but in May!" So, over the next few weeks, we will be pitting musicals head to head and finding out which so reigns supreme.

Today, I present to you part 1 of Round 1. There are 64 shows total, but I thought voting on 32 pairs was a lot to do in one sitting, so here are 32 musical pairings. All you have to do is pick your preferred musical out of the pair. 

Here is the schedule of May MUSICAL Madness:

Round 1 Part 1 - May 2nd

Round 1 Part 2 - May 8th

Round 2 - May 14th

Sweet Sixteen - May 20th

Elite Eight - May 23rd

Final Four - May 26th

Championship Round - May 29th

Winner announced - May 31st

So please follow the link below to vote on part one of May MUSICAL Madness!:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zjMlm-WifpKsChNZqVZwKWirlnrM_-XDt2Bn34l7TJc/viewform

Also, if you are interested, here is the full list of shows in contention:

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

42nd Street

Aida

Annie

Annie Get Your Gun

Avenue Q

Beauty and the Beast

Billy Elliot

The Book of Mormon

Cabaret

Carousel

Cats

Chicago

A Chorus Line

Company

Dreamgirls

Evita

Fiddler on the Roof

Follies

Grease

Guys and Dolls

Gypsy

Hair

Hairspray

Hello Dolly!

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

In the Heights

Into the Woods

Jekyll and Hyde

Jersey Boys

The King and I

Kinky Boots

Kiss Me Kate

La Cage aux Folles

Les Miserables

The Lion King

Little Shop of Horrors

Mamma Mia!

Man of La Mancha

Mary Poppins

Matilda

Me and My Girl

Memphis

Miss Saigon

The Music Man

My Fair Lady

Newsies

next to normal

Oklahoma!

Once

The Phantom of the Opera

Pippin

The Producers

Ragtime

Rent

Rock of Ages

Smokey Joe's Cafe

The Sound of Music

South Pacific

Spamalot

Spring Awakening

Sweeney Todd

The Wiz

The Wizard of Oz

**Note: I didn't include anything that opened in the past couple of years because there is no way to know if it will be an enduring show or a passing fad. And I couldn't include all shows. I had a list of criteria that helped me pick shows, but obviously there are shows that I really like that I couldn't include because of space.