Quit Your Whining

This is the kinda stuff that's going to send me to hell, but I think it's hilarious. It's like the song "Schadenfreude" from Avenue Q.

Another Cape and Sword Alum Breaks Into the Big Time!!!

For those who don't know, Cape and Sword is the drama society at my beloved alma mater, St. Joseph's Prep. Under the director of the multi-talented Tony Braithwaite, the organization has many alums making a big splash in all aspects of the entertainment world. For the 3 people that read this blog, you know that I brag about my boy Mike Rady all the time being on Melrose Place.

Anywho, another Cape and Sword Alum, Alyse Wojciechowksi, hit the big time this week when she took over the role as the daughter in "Mamma Mia!" on Broadway! The picture above has Alyse (BTW her stage name is Alyse Alan Louis) with Tony Award Winner Beth Leavel. Leavel is taking over as the mother a.k.a. the Meryl Streep part.

A few cool connections here:

1) Beth Leavel won her Tony Award in The Drowsy Chaperone as the title character -- one of my favorite shows of all time that I was lucky enough to see her in. The Prep is going to be one of the first high schools in America to produce the Drowsy Chaperone this Spring. Hmmm, I wonder if AXB will try to get BL to join us for a workshop? :)

2) I have to brag a bit about the my only 2 encounters with Alyse on the Prep stage. First, her and Dan Schwartz (Fiddler on the Roof) beat out myself and Kate Brennan (1776) as best couple at the 1st Annual Tony Awards -- kinda cool to lose out to someone who went on to star on the Broadway stage.

Second, I was in a reading of The Mystery of Edwin Drood with Alyse and many other alums in August 2007. Alyse played the title role and I was Neville Landless. Anywho, this reading was the moment when the seed was planted to return to the world of acting. Three months later I was cast in my first professional show, The Fantasticks (Kimmel Center), and a year later I moved home to pursue things on a full-time basis. She's on the Great White Way and I live at home....cue the Charlie Brown music....

He's a Bad Mother....Shut Your Mouth....

I'm talkin' bout Michael Caine. What happens when you take a cup of Gran Torino and mix it with a pinch of Taken? You get Harry Brown starring Michael Caine as a bad ass. Just like with Liam Nesson in Taken, I think it's awesome when someone you don't expect does a 180 to be a convincing action star. This movie looks like it could be fun.

Everybody's Fine

Just saw this trailer for a new Robert DeNiro movie with a pretty stacked cast. It may turn out to be cheesy, but I'll see anything with Sam Rockwell and for whatever reason, this movie is a close second for what I most excited to see right after "Up In The Air." If you haven't seen that trailer yet, click here now! (Side note/early prediction: "Up In The Air" will win one -- if not all 3 Oscars this year for Picture/Director/Actor)

PS...excuse the random subtitles :)

Otto Battles Swine Flu

Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician posted these pictures this afternoon. I can't tell if it's a joke or not but I found them to be a funny way to heighten awareness about Swine Flu on college campuses. Enjoy!

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Yearning for the Comedic Days of Old...

Was recently sent this clip of Martin Short on Letterman telling a fabulous story about playing poker with Johnny Carson. Anytime I hear a great Carson anecdote, I always pine for the days when he ruled late night TV. The same way I feel when I watch Mad Men or hear Sinatra and the Rat Pack, I wish I could time travel to a world where Carson, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon et al still ruled supreme. Unfortunately, AXB and I have had numerous conversations were that type of world and celebrity doesn't exist anymore when the product star and reality world is given priority in Hollywood.

Bus Stop Opens Tonight!!

After a wonderful preview last night, "Bus Stop" at Montgomery Theater opens tonight! There's only a handful of seats left for tonight's performance so go here now to reserve a spot right away. I play Bo Decker, a bullheaded and naive cowboy, along side a wonderful cast that includes:

Paul Dake as Virgil

Jessica Foley as Elma

Tim Moyer as Dr. Lyman

Joy Orlemann as Cherie

Lynn Mastio Rice as Grace

Kristopher Yoder as Carl

Joseph Jude Zito as Will

Here's some pictures from of the production courtesy of our Sound Designer, Mr. Brian Wise:

The Blueprint 3

In honor of Jay-Z's "Blueprint 3," here's an awesome video put together by Rhapsody that shows Mr. Carter creating each one of his previous album covers. You don't even have to know the albums to appreciate the video -- although some knowledge does make it more enjoyable.

And go get the album -- it's wonderful. Right now, my favorite is "Off That ft. Drake" but that changes about every hour :) I love him going after Bill O'Rielly and Rush Limbaugh.

Big Week for the Class of '99

It's a week of openings for myself and two of my best friends in the world this week:

1) Mike Rady, who is taking Hollywood by storm, continues this trend this Tues, Sept 8th at 9pm on the CW's "Melrose Place." I was lucky enough to be on set with Mike about a month ago and could not be happier for a better guy. Watch the show!!! You know you want another guilty pleasure in your life, right?

2) Locally, Joe Mallon stars in "Little Shop of Horrors" at the Devon Theater in a great role as The Dentist which begins previews on Wed, Sept 9th. Check out the production to see Joe as a variety of characters who make brief appearances throughout the show -- you'll be blown away by Joe's voice and comedic abilities. I'll be there for the 2pm matinee this Saturday.

3) Any finally, a plug for myself -- I'll be sporting a full cowboy outfit as Bo Decker in Montgomery Theater's "Bus Stop." We preview on Thurs, Sept 10th and open officially on the 11th. Word on the street is that Hova himself changed the release date of the much anticipated "Blueprint 3" so that we wouldn't have to go head-to-head on the 11th.