Wednesday, December 24, 2014

NPT Holiday show videos!

Our Holiday show "Highlights" video and especially our 12 Days of Christmas Sponsor video shows how we are changing the "shape of the paper"  (Seth Godin's blog below)



Gold Sponsor 12 Days of Christmas

Holiday Show Highlight Reel


The thing about a clean sheet of paper

...is that it still has edges.
It's tempting to believe that creativity comes from starting fresh. But even when we start fresh, we approach projects and problems with self-created boundaries.
You can't do real work without edges, without something to leverage, but those edges don't have to be the same edges as everyone else uses.
Creative people often excel because they change the shape of the clean sheet.

Friday, December 12, 2014

NPT Holiday Show Review and pictures

Very excited to share the Holiday Show's review and some pictures with you!
 http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/ct/

Also a testimonial from one of our sponsors (Day #3) in the 12 Days of Christmas:
Dear Kristin, 
I don't even possess the words to describe last night, but I'll try..
It was swooooning, joy, laughter, love and more.  The cast, the kids, the music, the humor, 
with my favorite clients in a party holiday atmosphere.  Like a dream..
Just Wow!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for a night I will always cherish and memories I will never forget. Thank you for getting me involved with your confident exuberance when I was on the fence. It was the best, and most fun thing I have ever done in our 18 years in business.
I hope our paths cross again, as it is always our desire to participate and support a worthy cause.
Happiest of Holidays, 

Jay Martel
203-268-7800
A-CPC Advanced Certified Professional ChildProofer








Sunday, November 30, 2014

SOLD OUT! HOLIDAY SHOW!

Sometimes it is a good thing when you haven't heard from me in a while.  And in this case, that is so true!  Our December 10th Holiday Show at Fairfield Theatre Company is sold out!  It has been for a week or so, but we were still selling "Standing Room".

If you were waiting till the last minute to get tickets though, don't despair.  I have 10 sponsors who might not use all their allotted tickets and so about a week before the show we may "find" a few more tickets to offer to the waiting list.  If you want to be on that list please call the theatre's box office at 203-259-1036.

This show has so many "moving parts" that I am actually holding my breath to see how it all comes together!  I have been rehearsing each part separately.  The Broadway stars have their songs and parts that they have been working on by themselves, and will rehearse together on Dec 9/10th.

The children's choir singing with me on "Do you hear what I hear?" has rehearsed with me once and will rehearse on the 10th again.   The two little "Broadway star" winners have rehearsed with me here at home twice. The "Gold chorus" (four outstanding adults from our audition/competition) have rehearsed here at my home twice.  The music director and stage manager have met twice or three times with me to secure all the details.

There will be dancing from Miss CT, dancing from the Broadway stars, singing from everyone. Cute little "letter to Santa" readers.  MUCH audience participation!

Sorry to make this short and sweet, but I gotta get back to memorizing my own stuff for the show.


Saturday, November 1, 2014

Congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS to the three winners from our SO YA WANNA BE A BROADWAY STAR event last weekend.  All the singers did a great job and received constructive feedback from our professional judges.  

All three winners will perform with NPT at their next two shows!  

Gaby  Richer 10 years old

    Shay LaRusso 17 years old



   Lina Marie Schoenweiser 19 years old.

Judges and the winners! 

more great shots by Bonnie Lee Photography













Saturday, October 11, 2014

NPT BREAKING NEWS

BREAKING NEWS!

WATCH FOR THE NEW PARADIGM THEATRE ON CHANNEL 12 THIS WEEKEND!
 
TWO MORE ENTERTAINMENT PROS ADDED TO THE LINEUP OF JUDGES!
 
Be sure to watch, “Our Lives” with Gwen Edwards on Channel 12 as she interviews Youth Board member, Kelsey Llewellen and Producing Artistic Director, Kristin Huffman about the Audition Event, So Ya Wanna Be a Broadway Star set for OCT 24TH.   It will air five times this weekend.
 
EXCITING NEWS!  We have two more Entertainment pros to add to our lineup of judges. If you would like to be heard and given professional feedback (as well as possibly being chosen to sing in two more shows with our Broadway stars) please be sure to PREREGISTER online at our event page.http://www.nptheatre.org/nptevents/broadwaystar-2/
 
The set up onstage and with our professional accompanist is like a real Broadway audition.  The twist is that the participants and the audience will also have a chance to listen in and learn from the constructive comments given by the judges.
 
Adding to our already stellar lineup of judges are:
 
John Reid is the Producing Artistic Director and Executive Director of the Fairfield Theatre Company (FTC), one of the most active and well-respected performing arts organizations in Connecticut and the surrounding region. He produces over 200 live-music concerts a year in several venues, which range from 225 to 1450 seats. Productions feature artists such as BB King, Jewel, Buddy Guy, The Lumineers, Alice Cooper, Lyle Lovett, Leon Russell, Foreigner, John Hiatt, Booker T, Boz Scaggs, Peter Frampton, Pat Benatar, Taj Mahal, the B-52’s and many, many others.  John is also the cohost of the Friday afternoon “Radio FTC” program with Bruce Swan on WPKN. 
John has an extensive background in music and theatre, having played music and acted professionally since he was a teenager.  He served as the Producing Director of the Roundabout Theatre Company’s Conservatory and Ensemble Company in New York City and produced, directed and acted in numerous Roundabout Ensemble productions.  He has been featured in many television commercials and voiceovers.  He studied acting with Stephen Strimpell, Hal Holden, and Gene Feist, while living in New York City.
 
 
Karl Gastayer has recently transitioned to the Klein’s Director of Operations, however, over the last 3 years Karl has served as Executive Director of the Klein Memorial Auditorium, a 1400 seat performing arts center in the heart of Bridgeport, CT. While at the Klein, Karl has revamped theater operations, successfully negotiated union contracts, implemented a new systems, established new staff positions and initiated partnerships with other arts and education organizations. Karl’s proudest achievement has been the creation of an extensive arts education program free to Bridgeport students. In the twenty years prior to becoming the Klein’s Executive Director, Karl was a stage manager, technical director, sound and light board operator, stage carpenter, company manager, theater electrician and is experienced all aspects of theater. He has run two theater companies, taught theater at university and middle school levels, toured with road shows throughout North America, worked as an electrician revamping large and small theater lighting systems all over Connecticut, created new theater spaces, made a living as a working actor, supplied work for other working actors and created new theater pieces as a writer, director, choreographer and is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

CAN'T BELIEVE IT

I tell ya, I can't believe how lucky we get with the judges that say yes to helping us with So Ya Wanna Be A Broadway Star each year and this year is no exception.

Paul Bogaev is of course amazing and so supportive of all the work we have been doing so he will be our head judge as we chose three people to join us in our Broadway concert the next night and to be featured in our Holiday show at Fairfield Theatre company in December.

And now to add to our panel of judges we have David Friedman: After spending several years conducting musicals on Broadway, includingGreaseJoseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Song and Dance, David went to Hollywood where he was the conductor and vocal arranger on such Disney classics as Beauty & The BeastAladdin,Pocahontas, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This led to David writing music and lyrics for Disney’s Aladdin and the King of Thieves, scoring three animated television series (Happy NessSky Dancers andDragon Flyz) and the film Trick, and a 13-year stint as music supervisor and vocal arranger of Broadway’s Beauty & The Beast. Take a look at more about him here!

Just amazing to me that people will get to sing for these folks (there are two or three more awesome folks on the panel as well) and hear their thoughts on how they did, how they could improve etc.  

In real life not only would you not get a chance to sing for them (it would be their assistants who heard you...maybe) you would also not get to hear what they thought. Mostly you would be "thank you".  

And the audience gets to hear and learn as well.  Please help us get the word out. 


Friday, September 12, 2014

SO YA WANNA BE A BROADWAY STAR EVENT


The New Paradigm Theatre to host 3nd annual,
“So Ya Wanna Be A Broadway Star”
October 24th in Fairfield!
An exciting evening of performance in front of Broadway and Entertainment professionals that will entertain and educate!


Where:           St. Anthony’s Church 149 S. Pine Creek Road, Fairfield CT
When:            October 24th  Friday,   5-7:30pm

Details:

Three age categories of singers will perform for Broadway and Entertainment professionals/ judges and receive constructive feedback to further their careers as well as exciting prizes for those chosen to perform with NPT the following night. This year's judges will including music producer, Paul Bogaev  (Film: Chicago, Dreamgirls, Across the Universe, as well as Broadway’s Aida, Tarzan, Chess, Les Miz, and its newest musical, Pretty Woman). 


Three Age Categories:   8-12 years old       13-17 years old      18 years old to Adult

Awards include being featured in upcoming New Paradigm Theatre (NPT) production  with Broadway stars on October 25th  (St. Anthony’s benefit)  and December 10th  (NPT Holiday Show at the Fairfield Theatre Company) as well as photo session for headshots, makeup/hair and clothing consultation, business of theatre consultations, and much more.

Past winners have also been featured in appearances following the competition on TV and stage. “The chance to sing in front of Broadway decision makers and to network with them was invaluable.” -  Cidalia Alves 2012 winner.

Mentoring is a large component of NPT’s mission statement and includes our Youth Board of Directors, an “active learning” partnership with It’s Relevant.com, After School at the Klein, College Intern Program and much more.


Register by visiting our website link:  http://www.nptheatre.org/nptevents/broadwaystar-2/

Admission for audience :                 $15 (at the door)
Registration for Performers:            $45 (online only)

 Watch this short video to see a recap of our past events:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-FKGpoFj7g

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Joan Rivers' earrings

I was so sad to hear of Joan Rivers passing.  It made me think back to the time I met her while performing Company on Broadway.  We did a month of "Previews" on Broadway and then our "Opening" and Joan came to our last Preview.

I got so star struck whenever any of the TV or Film people came back to meet us and I think I mumbled something about how cute her earrings were and how I hadn't picked my own out for the Opening Night party the next night.

She offered to send over some and again I think I mumbled something about that being great and not thinking clearly I thought she was loaning me something so I think I said I would send them back afterwards.

She was gracious and so tiny too.  The next day I got a huge shopping bag delivered backstage with a note that said "For the Wrestling girl".  I did karate on my husband "Harry" onstage.   So I looked into the bag to find at least 12 pairs of earrings!  I chose the longest, sparkliest ones and then shared the rest with my female cast members.

Well, I kept another purple pair too and every time I wear either pair I think of her.

The picture below is what all my Opening Night photos looked like.  I was still so blown away that she really sent me earrings.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

NPT sings for St. Josephs in Trumbull

I remember when my mom would drag me to senior homes or various charities to sing when I was young. One time she took me to a school she was teaching at for the severely profoundly mentally challenged when I was only 9 and I remember singing for them and being so intimidated and a bit scared.  But as I continued doing these things with her and my father, I started to realize the importance of using your gifts to make a difference in other's lives.

With no children of my own I now drag our Youth Board kids to do these things and I think they realize how important it is already.  See the pix below of our wonderfully talented and thoughtful group singing at St. Joseph's in Trumbull.   The seniors loved it.

One story I will share is that an older lady came up to me at the end to tell me now much she enjoyed it. Dominic, our youth board treasurer and a sophomore at Notre Dame High school had made a point of singing some of "It Only Takes A Moment" from Hello Dolly to her.  She was obviously moved and had giggled and even shed a tear.  After the woman talked to me at the end, the physical therapist came up to me and said "That was amazing as that woman never speaks to anyone. It must have really moved her".

It's stuff like that that keeps me going.  And of course we shared it with Dominic too.