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.
