Mile High Theatre Guy

This week I had the opportunity to talk to Joshua Tavares (Angel Schunard) from the 20th Anniversary Tour of Rent! We talk Rent Fandom, Jonathan Larson, Peasants Feast, Advice for young ones wanting to get into theatre, Day to Day on the Rent Tour and more!  Joshua Tavares  (Angel Schunard) is a native Hawaiian actor/singer who is over the moon to make his national tour debut in this dream role. University of Hawaii at Hilo, AMDA NY. Huge thanks to Wojcik/Seay Casting, the entire production team and his beautiful family and friends. Aloha! @babatavares Rent Plays the Buell Theatre February 28th to March 1st In 1996, an original rock musical by a little-known composer opened on Broadway… and forever changed the landscape of American theatre. Two decades later, Jonathan Larson’s RENT continues to speak loudly and defiantly to audiences across generations and all over the world. And now, this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning masterpiece returns to the stage in a vibrant 20th anniversary touring production. A re-imagining of Puccini’s La Bohème, RENT follows an unforgettable year in the lives of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out. With its inspiring message of joy and hope in the face of fear, this timeless celebration of friendship and creativity reminds us to measure our lives with the only thing that truly matters—love. Click here to get tickets This episode was made possible thanks to the fine people at the Denver Center for The Performing Arts 

The Donnas!  DAN’YELLE WILLIAMSON DIVA DONNA/MARY GAINES Dan’yelle, a Broadway veteran with a passion for storytelling, is delighted to share in the legacy that is DONNA SUMMER all over the US! Last seen in the American Premier of Life After and a Holiday Celebration Concert in Tokyo, Japan. Broadway: Memphis, Scandalous and Rocky. Additional credits: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sister Act, Disgraced, Mamma Mia!, The Lion King (National Tour) and Wicked (Chicago). Film soundtrack: 12 Years a Slave. Agent: DGRW INC. IG: @dubbzlove / danyellewilliamson.com ALEX HAIRSTON DISCO DONNA Dreams come true. Broadway: Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. Nat’l Tour: Motown. Regional: West Side Story, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Hairspray, Chicago. NCL Vocalist: Vegas!, Legally Blonde, Priscilla, Burn the Floor. NCSA High. Thanks mom, dad, family, teachers, Tara Rubin Casting and the best at CGF! Romans 12:12 alexhairston.net @alexasusual OLIVIA ELEASE HARDY DUCKLING DONNA/MIMI Originally from Sicklerville, NJ, Olivia Elease Hardy is thrilled to be joining the cast of SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical as her First National Tour! Now a rising senior Musical Theatre major at The University of Michigan, she could not be more excited to be a part of this incredible production! Purchase tickets for the Sun, Feb 2 evening performance for $54 (including orchestra seats) at denvercenter.org https://www.denvercenter.org/ https://thedonnasummermusical.com/

This is a recording at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October 2019 due to the large amount of members of the press we were asked to submit questions that would be asked by a single interviewer from the Summer: The Donna Summer Musical Producers.  The Donnas!  DAN’YELLE WILLIAMSON DIVA DONNA/MARY GAINES Dan’yelle, a Broadway veteran with a passion for storytelling, is delighted to share in the legacy that is DONNA SUMMER all over the US! Last seen in the American Premier of Life After and a Holiday Celebration Concert in Tokyo, Japan. Broadway: Memphis, Scandalous and Rocky. Additional credits: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sister Act, Disgraced, Mamma Mia!, The Lion King (National Tour) and Wicked (Chicago). Film soundtrack: 12 Years a Slave. Agent: DGRW INC. IG: @dubbzlove / danyellewilliamson.com ALEX HAIRSTON DISCO DONNA Dreams come true. Broadway: Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. Nat’l Tour: Motown. Regional: West Side Story, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Hairspray, Chicago. NCL Vocalist: Vegas!, Legally Blonde, Priscilla, Burn the Floor. NCSA High. Thanks mom, dad, family, teachers, Tara Rubin Casting and the best at CGF! Romans 12:12 alexhairston.net @alexasusual OLIVIA ELEASE HARDY DUCKLING DONNA/MIMI Originally from Sicklerville, NJ, Olivia Elease Hardy is thrilled to be joining the cast of SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical as her First National Tour! Now a rising senior Musical Theatre major at The University of Michigan, she could not be more excited to be a part of this incredible production! Purchase tickets for the Sun, Feb 2 evening performance for $54 (including orchestra seats) at denvercenter.org https://www.denvercenter.org/ https://thedonnasummermusical.com/

CEO of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Greg Harris hosts a Mimi Summer as she donates 2 artifacts to the Museum collection.  Summer: The Donna Summer Musical https://thedonnasummermusical.com/ Denver Center of the Performing Arts tickets for the Sun, Feb 2 evening performance for $54 (including orchestra seats) at denvercenter.org She was a girl from Boston with a voice from heaven, who shot through the stars from gospel choir to dance floor diva. But what the world didn’t know was how Donna Summer risked it all to break through barriers, becoming the icon of an era and the inspiration for every music diva who followed. With a score featuring more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits including “Love to Love You Baby,” “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff,” this electric experience is a moving tribute to the voice of a generation. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: https://www.rockhall.com/

JAN 28 – FEB 9, 2020 BUELL THEATRE  MAP SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL https://thedonnasummermusical.com/ https://www.denvercenter.org/tickets-events/summer-the-donna-summer-musical/ JOHN GARDINER NEIL BOGART/GUNTHER/SOMMELIER “I Feel Love” from Broadway: Jersey Boys (Tommy DeVito), A Bronx Tale (Rudy). “Heaven Knows” he’s toured: The Lion King (Timon), Jersey Boys, A Bronx Tale. “Worked Hard For the Money” regionally: Million Dollar Quartet (Tuacahn), The Tempest (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Big River (St. Michael’s Playhouse), Sound of Music (Flatrock Playhouse). “Last Dance” with school – BFA: Northern Kentucky University / MFA: University of Alabama. He shares the Summer stage with “Hot Stuff” wife, Kyli Rae, and has “Unconditional Love” for their son Finnegan. IG: @GardinerNYC STEVEN GRANT DOUGLAS BRUCE SUDANO Steven is thrilled to share the Summer stage with this incredible team of artists. National Tour: Ghost The Musical (Sam Wheat). Regional: All Shook Up (Chad) at Flat Rock Playhouse, Cabaret (Cliff) at The Gateway and the premiere of A Sign of the Times (Dennis) at Delaware Theatre Company. Special thanks to Des, Sergio, Michael, Felicia, Dodgers and Gregg. Proud AEA member and BFA graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth. “For Lillian, Hazel, Olive & Gustaf. Love to Mom and Dad, always.” @stevengdouglas ERICK PINNICK ANDREW GAINES NY credits include The Tin Pan Alley Rag and A Christmas Carol. National tour of Sunset Boulevard and European tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. Romeo & Juliet (ASF), A Christmas Carol (DTC), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (PTC), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Engeman), and Once on This Island (ATL). Graduate of James Madison University. erickpinnick.com

What's going on in the world of theatre  Little Shop Company Sondheim Tribute at Carnegie Local Theatre Summer: The Donna Summer Musical Contest

We talk national anthem and the Denver Broncos Summer: The Donna Summer Musical Alex's journey to the Stage!  Read Alex's professional bio  Alex's Insta: @alexasusual Click here to read more about Summer: The Donna Summer Musical Click here to listen to my interview with Costume Designer Sue Makoo 

The loss of a legend, Jerry Herman passes away at the age of 88 Allee Willis Composer and Lyricist for the Color Purple passes  Top 10 list of streamed musicals according to Playbill.com  My Escape to Margaritaville What's Playing In Denver?

Short Segment from the Buell Theatre for Kids Night on Broadway at the Blue Man Group Speechless Tour

October 2019 I traveled to Cleveland with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts for the opening night of the National Tour of Summer The Donna Summer Musical. This is my interview with Sue Makkoo Associate Costume Designer for Summer The Donna Summer Musical at the Connor Palace Theatre.