Note from Jim Brickman

Hey ASU Gammage -

Bringing my 15th Anniversary Holiday Concert to Tempe gives me the great
opportunity to spread the holiday spirit – even without snow!

Music brings people together, especially Christmas music.  Sitting in a hushed
auditorium, as I play songs from “Greensleeves” to “The Gift”, I know that each
of you will be lost in your private thoughts.  While you are enjoying the
concert, songs will stir up memories of Christmas past, and uplift the spirit of
the season.

There’s a renewed feeling in every holiday concert.  I attribute that to my love
for collaboration.  I’m grateful to work with such talented guests who stimulate
my creativity, and enhance every performance.  Joining me this year are my good
friends, singer Anne Cochran, Mark Masri and electric violinist Tracy Silverman.
Anne and Tracy have been with me since the 1998 holiday tour.  We become a
family on the road, spending every day and night together for over a month, and
traveling across the country on a tour bus.  Anne and I have been friends since
we went to high school in Shaker Heights, Ohio.  Her rich soulful voice adds a
new dimension to the Christmas songs you’ve been loved for years. You’ll be
amazed by the eclectic sound Tracy creates on his bright yellow violin.

I know you’ll enjoy celebrating with us. From the warmth and nostalgia of
“Brickman-ized” classic hymns and carols, to the joyful contemporary holiday
favorites, the festive holiday atmosphere radiates through the theatre, and
spreads into the streets.

Happy Holidays,
Jim Brickman

Greeting from Cast Member of 'Grinch'

Hi Tempe,

My name is Carly Tamer and I also play Cindy Lou Who in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, coming to ASU Gammage, November 17-21. I am in fourth grade and I am nine-years-old. I am so thrilled to be part of this great Christmas show! We rehearsed in New York City and had a blast working together. The cast and crew are such a talented bunch and we have quickly become a family of Whos!

I actually saw Whoville come alive as we danced and sang our hearts out. The song "Whatchamawho" is particularly fun to perform because the dancing is crazy and fast and just about the whole cast is in it. We use some very unusual Who toys and props! I can’t wait to bring it to Gammage and for you guys to see it for yourselves!

I remember when I got to see Stefan Karl in full makeup as the Grinch for the very first time -- my jaw really did drop! He became even more Grinchlike! He may seem scary at first, but as you’ll see in the show, Cindy Lou Who makes his heart grow and change. While performing is extraordinarily fun, there is still other work to do for the kids. We have school each day with our fabulous tutor April. In addition to our schoolwork, she plans field trips for us in each city we go to. I can’t wait to see where we go in Tempe. I have heard so many wonderful things about Gammage and how pretty the campus and city are.

Keep an eye out for a bunch of Whos around town. You’ll notice us by the way we walk and talk! “Whoooooo!”

xoxo

Carly

Hello from the Road ... Brooke Boyd

Hello Everyone, I’m Cindy-Lou Who, how do you do-Who?! :)

Well, I am really Brooke Boyd and I am 10-years old.  I am so excited to be in
my first tour ever of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”! I play the youngest
“Who” daughter in “Whoville”.

I’ve had the greatest  time in rehearsals and I can’t wait for you all to see
the show!

We will be on the road soon and I am most excited about our stop in Tempe,
Arizona!! First of all, I have been to Arizona many times because my Grandma,
Uncle, Aunt, Cousin, Acting Teacher and many other people I know live there.  I
live in California so it is easy for me to go for a visit.  Most of all, I am
really excited to have them all see me perform at the amazing ASU Gammage .
They have told me the theater is beautiful and really big… 3,000 seats!! Of
course they all go to the theater and have seen this wonderful place so I am
sure I will be in awe when I am standing on that stage!!

Our amazing cast will be performing at ASU Gammage from November 17th – 21st and
there will be plenty of “Fah Who For Aze” to welcome Christmas.  So, when you’re
finished shopping for your “Whatcha-ma Whos” come see the show cuz “This will be
our song, you and I belong, heart to heart together, this Christmas Season!!”

-Brooke Boyd (Cindy Lou-Who)

Kellis Group at School to Work

Last Thursday high school students from four schools across the Valley participated in the ASU Gammage School to Work Workshop. Students from Raymond S. Kellis High School in Peoria, Camelback High School and Bostrom High School in Phoenix, and Learning Foundation for the Performing Arts in Gilbert got an inside look at what it takes to put on a show at ASU Gammage.

The School to Work workshop teams students with ASU Gammage staff to learn about the responsibilities of the different departments at ASU Gammage and the process of bringing a show to the ASU Gammage stage using real life scenarios. The students got a crash course in arts presenting from the ASU Gammage staff, and in just a few short hours were making decisions about choosing a show, developing fundraising strategies, creating marketing plans, reading technical riders, setting up a show at the box office and learning how to navigate budgets. After learning all about their assigned departments the students report to the rest of the group what their department needs to do to present a show. After working all morning students were taken on an exciting backstage tour of the set of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST by Company Manager Deb Barrigan. Students loved the chance to get an up close look at the set and costumes, and to learn more about what it like to work with a national touring company.

It truly is a joy to share what we do here at Gammage with students, and to the School to Work workshop gives us an exciting opportunity to introduce them to potential careers in the arts that they might not have ever thought about.

Thanks so much to all of the students who participated in last week’s workshop, great job.

Here is some feedback from one of the students:

My experience at the recent School to Work program was interesting. I had no idea what to expect. Coach Moore, my volleyball coach, said I would like it….but I was not sure. Coach Moore really does not take “no” for an answer so I knew we were going. Anyway, she got the head coach, Vicky Bauler, to take us. Coach Bauler is the BIGGEST Beauty and the Beast fan so she said “YES”. So off we went to find out what this was all about.

Turns out it is really cool!! We got to learn about all the work it takes to bring a Broadway show to a city. We broke into small groups and learned about how departments work together to make the show happen. It was super interesting. Then we got to tour the set. I learned a lot and I had fun. I hope we get to do this again.

Nicole ,Raymond S. Kellis High School

Message from Colleen (Exec. Director of ASU Gammage)

(Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Executive Director of ASU Gammage)

Recently returned from NYC to see more shows as part of my duty as Arizona’s Tony Award voter, I have 60 to season this season!

It’s fall and time for Tony season and football! No, this is not a mistake for this new season on Broadway the two go hand in hand. LOMBARDI the new play on Broadway about the legendary coach and the namesake of the Super Bowl trophy is playing at Circle in the Square. Call it kismet, but following a trip to Lambeau Field and watching my husband’s beloved Packers I flew to NYC to see LOMBARDI. Dutifully attired in my Packer jersey (#12) I ran into Thomas Kai, the director in the lobby. (You will remember that Tommy was the director for IN THE HEIGHTS and came to ASU GAMMAGE to help Lin Manuel Miranda work back into the show, Tommy even joined us for our TalkBack).

Tommy was delighted to see me in my Packer jersey and commented that it helped to set the correct tone. The play focused on Vince the coach and home life with his indomitable wife Marie. The PACKER National was in full attendance. This play marks another first on Broadway; one of the producing partners is the NFL. The NFL was so excited about LOMBARDI that there are plans for other Broadway shows. Hmmm. …CARDINALS the musical. We’ll see.

Inspiration abounds with the PITMEN PAINTERS at the Manhattan Theatre Club at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. This is a great story of British miners who discover their talent and love for culture and they proceed to capture the attention of the visual art world. A true story that underscores that creativity is not the sole province of one class. These fine actors came from across the pond in the West End where PITMEN PAINTERS is a huge success.

Cherry Jones dominates the stage and gets a hold of you and does not let go in MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION. The play is about the business that Cherry’s character is in and her conservative daughter coming to grips with it. While the play feels long in the run and does bog downed in parts, seeing Cherry Jones is worth it.

Always keeping an eye out off Broadway, plus following up on a rain check performance of Edward Albee’s ME, MYSELF & I at Playwright’s Horizons which closed out my trip. The first time I was scheduled to see the show one of the leads who plays a twin was out sick. So the theater graciously rerouted us to later performances. The story of a twin trying to separate himself from family was Albee-lite, but I do love the fact that Playwrights Horizons invests in new work and is the most patron accommodating theater.

Already planning my next trip as TONY letters await for BRIEF ENCOUNTER, LIFE IN THE THEATRE and TIME STANDS STILL (which I saw last year but it must have missed the Tony nom deadline). See you at ASU GAMMAGE or on ole Broadway.

- Colleen Jennings-Roggensack