Broadway Bares: Happy Endings

     I won't lie.  I had something to prove with Broadway Bares this year.  I've been doing my thing as a choreographer for a while now, but for some reason people haven't been thinking of me as a performer recently.  I'd go to auditions, deliver on the floor, but just haven't been getting gigs in that capacity.  So I challenged myself to throw down and show that I still 'got it.'  Mission accomplished.

     

     I performed in the "Pied Piper" number choreographed by the incomparable Peter Gregus.  In it, Marty Lawson played the piper who beckoned all his punk-rock, kilt-wearing mates to join him in a throw down testosterone-laden aggressive 'jig.'  We DESTROYED the number.  There were kilts, there was stripping, there were men dancing down.  I have never danced harder or been more naked at Broadway Bares, and I loved every minute of it.  And I'm so grateful for these incredible shots captured by Kevin Thomas Garcia and Matthew Murphy, returning photographer gods that every year document the insanity that is the evening.  

     In addition to my performing duties, I once more assisted mega-talent Michael Lee Scott.  After our collaboration on "Broadway Bares: Beach Burlesque", it was pure joy to get in the studio with him and help out with his number.  For "Happy Endings", he created the "Goldilocks" strip.  Andy Mills played the hapless twink who stumbled into the den of the bears.  And WHAT bears!  Finally, a Broadway Bares tribute to hairy men.  It was a blast welcoming a new crowd into the community!  Pictures of the "Goldilocks" strip below.  Woof!

Official recap of Broadway Bares: Happy Endings HERE.
Talented Photographers KEVIN THOMAS GARCIA and MATTHEW MURPHY.

Assistant Directed Broadway Bares: Beach Burlesque!

     I love BCEFA.  I'm just going to say it.  It is an incredible cause that is close to my heart, and in true Broadway fashion they know how to put on one damn good show.  Last summer I assistant directed BROADWAY BARES: MASTERPIECE for Josh Rhodes and Lee Wilkins.  And the show was utterly fabulous.  Imagine my surprise when I got an email out of the blue asking me to assist again!  This time, though, I got to be much more hands-on.

     BROADWAY BARES: BEACH BURLESQUE was a 'touring' company.  Instead of the mainstage show at Roseland with a cast of over 200, this version was intimate.  26 dancers.  Fire Island.  Fun in the sun.  MICHAEL LEE SCOTT directed and I assisted.  The beauty of BEACH BURLESQUE is that all the performers got to be in multiple numbers.  And because it was a smaller show with a smaller staff, I got to have more responsibility and really show what I could do!  I assisted Michael in creating choreography for the opening number "Burlesque is Back", the Elvis strip "A Little Less Conversation", a beachy strip with naked bathing beauties to Madonna's "Rain", and a cowboy fantasia "A Big Man."  I also got to lead my own rehearsal in restaging the iconic "Humpty" number originally choreographed by the badass DENIS JONES.  Oh, and transitions.  All the little bits and pieces that kept the show flowing along.

     The entire experience was incredible.  The cast were amazing performers and awesome human beings.  The production team and BCEFA liasons were phenomenal.  It was my first experience of Fire Island and it was just magic.  Oh, and in addition to assisting, I strapped on my performer shoes and strutted my stuff with all the rest.  What a dream team!

     You can check out the official recap HERE with a synopsis and photos from the show.

     Oh yeah, and this happened.  Still got it.

Choreographer's Canvas 2011

Debuting ANOTHER piece. I gotta say, I feel like I'm really starting to get some nice momentum. This showcase features 15 great choreographers and it's new and different to consider them my 'co-creators' instead of 'people I want to hire me.' Rebecca Thomas, a choreographer I just danced for with R.Evolution Latina, is also presenting. In the space of a month I went from performing FOR her to presenting a piece ALONGSIDE OF her. That's kind of a cool transition!

I'm really excited about the number I'm presenting for a number of reasons. It will be the LONGEST number I've choreographed so far. It has the most complex story of anything I've worked on. There's some really fun costuming moments. Very athletic. Very intense. Strong acting intentions and character. It's a story/theme that I think is worth exploring. I think it's pushing boundaries and will get a reaction. And I feel that there are really well-defined choreographic moments and a structure to the number. After working on something abstract, it's nice to return to clarity. I'll try to get footage, but it might be a bit tricky with this one. Hope to have video up...eventually.

KOH sizzle montage

Choreographed a tv pilot about male strippers. This is a montage of the more 'bump and grind' footage. I created specific movement profiles based on each actor's character. The veteran was confident and barely giving anything to be sexy whereas the underage kid was swinging from the pole and going crazy. The silver spoon dude who didn't need the money was just stripping to show off. Etc. Bits of choreo here and there but mainly character and making sure the actors looked authentic and comfortable. And sexy. Probably NSFW.