[Advertisement]

[Advertisement]

[Advertisement]

Follow Spot
by Michael Portantiere


    24 Hours Can Go So Fast

    The 24 Hour Musicals, created from scratch over a 24-hour period by a bunch of insanely talented artists, unfolded last night at the Gramercy Theatre as a benefit for The Exchange, a not-for-profit organization that develops new theatre work through productions and its development center in the Catsklls, The Orchard Project. Here are my pix of the four mini-musicals and of the after-party at the National Arts Club. For more information, click here

    ********************

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Michael Longoria, Nellie McKay, and Theresa McCarthy in Multiphobia; book and lyrics by Brian Crawley; music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane; directed by Ted Sperling; musical direction by Andy Einhorn; choreography by Denis Jones.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Tracie Thoms, Marnie Schulenberg, Rachel Dratch, and Mandy Gonzalez in Rachel Said Sorry; book by Gina Gionfriddo; music and lyrics by Lance Horne; directed by Maria Mileaf; musical direction by Fred Lasson; choreography by Melissa Rae McMahon and Sean McKnight.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Roger Bart, Scarlet Strallen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Cheyenne Jackson in Dr. Williams; book by Rinne Groff; music and lyrics by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek; directed by Trip Cullman; musical direction by Oran Eldor; choreography by Sean McKnight and Melissa Rae McMahon.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Richard Kind and Alicia Witt in Islands; book by Jonathan Marc Sherman; music and lyrics by Robin Goldwasser and Julia Greenberg; directed by Sam Gold; musical direction by Wendy Cabot; choreography by Denis Jones.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Among the company members seen decompressing at the party after their ordeal was Broadway heartthrob Cheyenne Jackson.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Roger Bart (late of Young Frankenstein) and Tracie Thoms (late of Rent).

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Jesse Tyler Ferguson (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live).

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Michael Longoria, who spent three years playing two roles (Joe Pesci and Frankie Valli) in Jersey Boys.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Broadway vets Richard Kind and Denis Jones.


    Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 1:09 AM | Item Link


    Michael Portantiere comes to BroadwayStars with more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for such media outlets as TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has also contributed articles and reviews to AfterElton.com, Playbill, and Stagebill, and has written notes for several major cast albums. Additionally, Michael is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several notable websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.)
    He can be reached at [email protected]


    The last five columns written by Michael Portantiere:

    07/13/2010: Presidential Material

    07/04/2010: Hardy Boy

    06/29/2010: High School Stars

    06/21/2010: Falling in Love Again

    06/17/2010: A Meeting of the 'mos (and Their Friends)

    For a listing of all features written by Michael, click here.

[Advertisement]

[Advertisement]