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'Hamilton' Musical Ends in Chaos in San Francisco's Orpheum Theater

The wildly popular musical "Hamilton" ended in chaos Friday night in San Francisco's Orpheum Theater.

What audience members thought was an active shooter ended up being a medical emergency, officials said.

People reportedly heard there was someone with a gun inside the theater and started screaming, leading others into a panic, running out of the theater and sending the "Hamilton" cast backstage.

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“Make sure you’re in it for the right reasons” - Chatting with LEGALLY BLONDE’s Maris McCulley

I would like you to meet Maris McCulley. Maris is performing the role of Elle Woods in the National Tour of Legally Blonde (a role she has also performed regionally as well as internationally). Ms. McCulley has also performed with Royal Caribbean Productions, Prather Entertainment Group (PEG), Arizona Broadway Theatre, and The Phoenix Theatre. It was a privilege to have the chance to interview this talented actress who has had an amazing journey playing this role!

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Bringing the Barricades to New Jersey

Gas Lamp Players, located in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, is doing something that most youth theatre companies would rather not do- putting on one of the most well-known musicals of all time- Les Misérables. I was able to talk to Broadway Veteran Stephen Buntrock, who played Enjolras, leader of the student revolutionaries, during the Broadway run of the show in 1997-1998 who is co-directing this complicated production alongside Kristy Graves. 

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Startup Building Industry-First Career Tools for Professional Actors

​Ned Donovan and Tony Aidan Vo, two New York actors with a foot in the tech world, have launched a startup company called Audition Cat (Consolidated Audition Tracker). This upcoming app brings all-new career management tools to the acting community. Ultimately, this app will empower actors to build stronger industry relationships and make more informed decisions pertaining to every future audition.

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Katie’s Art Project is Connecting Artists and Children

Katie’s Art Project is an incredible non-profit organization that connects children with life-threatening illnesses with artists in their community to create and collaborate on a lasting legacy through art. Not a one time program, it is an organization that strives to connect the artist and child through a project that cannot be created in just one day, but one that takes time to fill a common goal and build relationships. I was fortunate to be able to speak with the President and the founder of the organization, Stephanie Klemons, a Broadway actress, choreographer, director, and educator.

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New York Christopher Peterson New York Christopher Peterson

Help Bring the Untold Stories of Women in History to the Present

If you think too as far back as your grade school classroom, you might recall being asked to research and profile an impactful person in history. How many remember being frustrated by the apparent lack of information on influential women? There are women in our past that have done extraordinary things. They were inventors, scholars, artists, leaders, pioneers, and warriors, but their stories seemed to have been nearly omitted from history and are instead overshadowed by their male counterparts. Unless a woman played the role of royalty or heretic, humanity has failed to write down her story.

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Texas Christopher Peterson Texas Christopher Peterson

Theatre Sues Company for Failing to Pay Donation

Are family members of the Tyson Food Company being cheap with a Texas theatre? According to a lawsuit filed by the Zach Theatre in Austin, TX, that appears to be the case.

According to court documents, theatre officials are accusing Carla Tyson of coming up short on her word of donating $500,000 to the Zach to fund the construction and operation of the Topfer Theatre, in exchange for having a lobby named after her mother, Twilla Jean Tyson, and a wall featuring the name of her sister, Cheryl Jean Tyson.

Tyson paid $255,000 in August 2013, making her next payment smaller than the agreed $100,000. She owed $45,000 in June 2015 and $100,000 in June 2016 and June 2017. But those three last payments were never sent, the lawsuit says.

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HAMILTON's Isaiah Johnson discusses Puerto Rico and not beating yourself up between performing jobs!

I would like you to meet the amazing Isaiah Johnson. Isaiah just finished up playing the role for George Washington (a role he originated in the 1st National Tour) in Hamilton in Puerto Rico which has Lin Manuel-Miranda reprising his role of Alexander Hamilton. Isaiah has performed on Broadway in The Merchant of Venice (w/ Al Pacino), Peter and the Starcatcher, Side Show (2014 Revival), The Color Purple (2015 Revival). Isaiah will be starring in the upcoming original series for the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) titled David Makes Man, which is from Academy Award Winner Alvin McCraney (Moonlight) and Warner Horizon Scripted Television.

The first time I saw him perform was in D.C. and he has been someone I have admired ever since. So to have the chance to interview this amazing artist is an honor and a privilege.        

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“Be kind to yourself and others!” – Chatting with ALADDIN'S Alicia Charles!

I would like you to meet the wonderful and talented Alicia Charles. This newlywed will be returning to the ensemble of Aladdin at The New Amsterdam Theatre. I first met this amazing artist while we were both performing in a production of Guys and Dolls at The Asolo Repertory Theatre (Directed by Josh Rhodes). Before making her Broadway debut in Aladdin, Alicia performed in the 2010 National Tour of West Side Story as well as regionally for major theatre companies such as the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, and Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) in Houston. I feel very fortunate to have the chance to interview this positive and beautiful spirit before her return to Agrabah.  

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