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CASTING UPDATE: MAY 2006

The 2006 StrawHat Auditions were a great success, and several people have dropped us a line to let us know how things played out: Forestburgh Playhouse Artistic Director Norman Duttweiler reports that all but one of his non-Equity company were cast through the StrawHat Auditions. We look forward to his list of names, but in the meanwhile we know that Jesse Einstein is among them… Zele Avradopoulos reports that she's inked a six-month contract with Allenberry Playhouse. She's been cast in The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (Frieda), The Boyfriend (Lady B) and Into the Woods (Cinderella's mom, Granny and the Giant). Her duties through the season will also involve stage-managing for Pump Boys and Dinettes, Catch Me If You Can, and Lucky Stiff… Randall Jarrett writes that he, too, is busy at Allenberry, currently in rehearsal for Lucky Stiff…

"Thank you so much for the opportunities that you give young talent! Thank you for a great weekend of auditions and for your hard work...being a West Coast boy, it was so valuable to have my first NYC audition experience in a "safe" atmosphere. Thank you so much!" -- Will Earl Spanheimer (2006)

News from Hatters past: Esther Stilwell (2001, 2002, 2003) has been cast as the understudy for The Lady of the Lake in the National Tour of Monty Python's Spamalot. Esther earns her Equity card with this contract, after having toured as Grizabella in the 25th Anniversary Tour of CATS… Barrett Foa (1997, 1998) is now in his second year starring in Avenue Q on Broadway. On May 1st, he and co-star Amy Sanders performed and discussed their experiences in a Q&A forum titled "Inside the Musical" at Norwalk Community College in Connecticut… Steven Fales (1998) ended his run of Confessions of a Mormon Boy at the SoHo Playhouse on April 16th. Steven's play has been celebrated across the country, with Variety calling it "… a rare blast of lyricism," while the New York Times called the show "compelling confessional theatre." Congratulations are in order: Steven has been nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Solo Performance. Meanwhile, plans for a tour are in development… Bekah Nutt (1998, 1999, and 2000) dropped in at this year's auditions to say hello; she has just ended a two-year stint as Sophie in the National Tour of Mamma Mia… Jordan Bass (2001, 2002, and 2003) is currently touring the nation with Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan… Randy Blair (2003) appeared in the recent movie of The Producers… Corey Pajka (2005, 2006) toured last fall in a bilingual production of Don Quixote… Jermaine Risby (2004) recently appeared in a Chicago production of Naked Boys Singing… Scott Porter Good (2004) appeared recently in a NYC production of Purlie… Amelia Sheperd (2001 - 2005) cancelled her 2006 audition because she is on tour - and receiving her Equity card - with TheatreWorks USA's Are You My Mother?… Alan Ostroff (2001, 2003, and 2004) has branched into playwriting: his first play, Tradition, enjoyed a reading at Chelsea Studios on March 12th. Keep your eyes open for more word on this project: Alan has submitted his script to the New York Fringe Festival…Intern Staffer Katherine McClain (2003, 2004, 2005) is heading to Barrington Stage Company for a developmental workshop of the new musical Burnt Part Boys. She writes, "I'm playing a scrappy 13 year old girl in a 1962 Virginia mountain mining community. It's a good script, a meaty role, I get to sing bluegrass…and lets just say that this is the venue Spelling Bee came out of…William Finn is basically producing, as I understand it. So I'm pretty excited!"

"I wanted to write to inform you of what StrawHat Conference does for my life. 2 Years ago I attended and received a job at the Red Barn Playhouse in Michigan for the shows of Cabaret and Once Upon A Mattress. It was one of the best summers of my life. I attended your conference 2 weeks ago and was informed that I will be playing the role of Irene Malloy in Hello Dolly at Galveston Summer Musicals and will also be featured in America the Beautiful and My Fair Lady. A HUGE thanks to the people behind StrawHat for filling my summers with work and contacts that will launch my future career in musical theatre." -- Tiffany Borelli (2003, 2005)

Our StrawHat Interns and their compatriots from Pace University are excited about their up-coming summer jobs: Megan Rosenblatt will go to Forestburgh Playhouse, Lara Hayhurst and Trey Compton will head for Fort Salem Theatre, then Lara moves to the Theatre Barn in Lebanon, NY to play Hope Cladwell in Urinetown… Faith Dobbs and Kenneth De'Lia have signed on as members of the Patchwork Players at Weathervane Repertory Theatre… Mikey Lo Balsamo and James Sloan spend the summer in Maine at the Arundel Barn Theatre… Norman Payne is slated for roles in 42nd Street, Hello Dolly, America the Beautiful, and one other original musical with Galveston Summer Musicals in Texas…

At the end of last season, The New London Barn Playhouse offered a very special event to the 2005 Company: a two-night engagement at Danny's Skylight Room to present a showcase of their talent to invited agents and casting directors. Hatters that participated in the New London season and showcase were Trey Compton, Jason Cook, Greg Etling, Lara Hayhurst, Ian Laskowski, Alyssa Malgeri, Jermaine Miles, Megan Rosenblatt, and Lauryl Trenholme-Pihl. What a wonderful opportunity for these young talents! Let's hope the New London Showcase becomes a tradition….

Finally, we are pleased to list the top performers of the 2006 auditions: the StrawHat Stars who received 10 or more callbacks from our member theatres this season.

We look forward to hearing from these favorites about their plans for the summer - and yours! Email us at info@strawhat-auditions.com and we'll add your news to the site.

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