Ryan Scott Oliver

April 7, 2008

Recorded at the Clive Davis Department of NYU

More details soon

This weekend I will be playing percussion for Prospect Theater Company’s Dark Night Series, Museum Pieces, When Art Inspires MORE Than Life. Technically I’m not playing for all of the mini-musicals but it’s a catchy title for this article right?

8 Musical Theater Writing Teams
create 10-minute musicals inspired by
8 Artworks Exhibited in New York City

February 23-26, 2008 at the West End Theatre
263 West 86th St., between Broadway and West End
Saturday 2/23 @ 3:00, Sunday 2/24-Tuesday 2/26 @ 8:00
Buy Tickets!

Featuring Pieces by: Frederick Alden Terry and John Herin, Marisa Michelson and Joshua H. Cohen, Deborah Abramson and Amanda Yesnowitz, Carol Hall, Drew Fornarola and Marshall Pailet, Michael Mitnick, Hyeyoung Kim and Michael L. Cooper, Brian Lowdermilk and Kait Kerrigan.

Directed by: Dev Bondarin, Marlo Hunter, Christine O’Grady, Cara Reichel, and Stefanie Sertich

With Performances By: David Andrew Anderson*, Erica Aubrey*, Sarah Corey*, Alexander Elisa*, Karla Mosley*, Doug Shapiro*, Tina Stafford*, Alexandra de Suze*, Blake Whyte*, Michael Winther*

Musical Director: Dan Feyer

Stage Manager: Marcie A. Friedman*

Conceived and Curated by Donald Butchko and Cara Reichel

* Indicates Member of AEA

Those that know me know that I am not [usually] a fan of straight plays. For me, there needs to be a number after I’ve heard people talking for a minute. From time to time however I like to prove them all wrong and see a play. When a friend is working on it or someone really gives me a strong sell. This time however neither holds true. This time the reviews were absolutely so rediculously over the top that I simple had to see it. This time it was August:Osage County.

Coming to us from the windy city, the town of an eight year tenure of mine, is this Steppenwolf gem. I saw it last night, Friday, January 25th. Clocking in at around three hours in length and filled with twisted dirty in your face no holds barred dialog. The set, designed by Todd Rosenthal, is a magnificent three-story open doll-house back stage with the first floor up-stage where most of the action takes place. This tale of a dysfunctional family will resonate with anyone who has ever had their own dysfunctional family episodes and even those that have not. Read the NYT review and check out augustonbroadway.com for more info and tickets. Limited engagement at the Imperial extended through April 13th.

NYU proposal project

More details soon

And a very merry Christmas to you too. I know, not the most uplifting topic this holiday but one always worth talking about. Because when issues move from the spotlight they tend to move out of our thoughts. So allow me to focus the spot.

An article of some controversy was brought to my attention from the 1992 Rolling Stone issue #626 featuring Wayne’s World on the cover. The article that caused the stir is touted ever so boldly beneath the headline for Wayne’s World and Elton John is The Origin of AIDS.

I don’t expect that you will have a copy of this issue laying around however I just purchased it for $6.00 off Ebay. It did spark enough controversy to shed some light on the subject, however brief.

More recently, someone I know literally stumbled upon a documentary about this very topic. After some quick research, I discovered that at least a 90min version of this document is available on Google Video along with an entire website. Please take the time to review both of this and provide feedback here.

Tomorrow, I will be performing with Peter Mills on piano for reading of his new musical, Honor. Set to go up in the spring of ‘08. Details about the reading are below.

HONOR: A NEW MUSICAL
music & lyrics by Peter Mills, winner of the 2007 Fred Ebb Award
book by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel
directed by Cara Reichel

As You Like Itis transplanted to feudal Japan in this passionate
tale of romance and the redemption of family honor, told through action-packed
martial arts choreography, elegant lyrics, and an intricate score. Join us on Monday
evening, December 3rd as the creators of this new show share in-progress excerpts
from Act I in a staged reading
format.

Monday, Dec. 3, 2007 at 8pm
at Manhattan Theatre Club Studios
311 West 43rd St., 8th floor

Good afternoon,

I first want to thank all of you that made it out to see The Rockae. There was some great press. (Check out my previous post for links!) The day after Rockae closed I was in the studio rehearsing for two shows I have this week with Spectre Box. The band consists of Dana Haynes on piano, Kent Thompson on guitar, Eric Day on bass and myself on drums. The music consists of some smart originals plus some great covers like Bjork’s Bachlorette and a folky version of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy.

Spectre Box is the pure, “from scratch” collaboration of those who live to hunt, conjure and spawn new theatre. A collage of Weimar cabaret, burlesque, dance, music, Lecoq, Feldenkrais, vaudeville, and, most of all, the gems and detritus of our collective imagination, Spectre Box spins out a haunting, taunting, darkly hilarious NYC of our dreams and nightmares. It is pitch black performance with tragic, comedic, beautiful, sexy women that may or may not be ghosts in this theatrical seance. Spectre Box is not a safe place to be, but you will want to come in.

“Touched” is a choreographed happening; equal parts Weimar cabaret, rock ‘n roll, theatrical explosion and underground party.

Spectre Box Presents Touched

Uncle Ming’s
225 Avenue B, Second Floor (view Google Map)

Thursday, October 18th and Friday October 19th
Show starts 9PM
Doors open at 8:30 PM
$15 Buy tickets

Good afternoon,

I can’t believe that it’s already October! My summer sure did go fast but I had a great time. Saw some great shows such as La Vie down at Spiegelworld and Rent with the original leads Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal. And I had the chance to spend time with some of you.

After Fitz & Walloughs closed I had a small break before my next show began. My daytime career reached a new milestone as I accepted the offer to become Interactive Director for the creative agency, The Concept Farm (more on that in another post). On September 15th, my sixth show with Prospect Theater opened, The Rockae. Pete Mills’ first musical that has received great reviews from The Village Voice, Theatermania, Talkin’ Broadway and Backstage.

We have only 8 more shows left so please consider coming to check it out sometime either this weekend or next week. Tonight through the weekend then next Wednesday through Sunday with two shows on Saturday.

And, I’ve finally been able to launch the new version of AlexanderRea.com. You can view performance news and video from the past seven years and even subscribe to other blogs posts including my recommendation for arts, food and entertainment along with news from my daytime career along with my photography and videography. You can log into your very own account using this email address and selecting to receive a new random password.

A partner event of the 2007 NY Musical Theatre Festival

BUY TICKETS NOW

Pent-up King Pentheus takes on Dionysus and his frenzied female fans when the god of wine and theater returns to Thebes. Get ready for moshing Maenads and thrashing catharsis in this rock musical adaptation of Euripides’ classic, The Bacchae. Drama Desk-nominated writer Peter Mills fuses the intensity of hard rock with the violence of ancient Greek tragedy.

September 15th through October 14th, 2007
at the Hudson Guild Theater (view Goole Map)
441 West 26th St.

Music & lyrics by
Peter Mills
Directed by Cara Reichel
Adapted by Mills & Reichel from Euripides’ The Bacchae

Choreography by Marlo Hunter

Music Direction by Kevin Haden

Stage Management by Bailie Slevin

Scenic Design bySarah Pearline

Costume Design by David Withrow

Lighting Design by Lily Fossner

Sound Design by Daniel Erdberg

Production Manager is Mary E. Leach

Featuring: Nancy Reneé Braun*, Michael Cunio*, Matt DeAngelis*, Victoria Huston-Elem*, Mitchell Jarvis*, Jillian Laub, Stephanie Lo, Jaygee Macapugay*, Meghan McGeary*, Venita McLemore, Andrew Miramontes*, Tracey Petrillo*, Michelle Pruiett*, Rashidra Scott*, Gordon Stanley*, Laura Beth Wells*, Erin Wilson*, Simone Zamore*

*member, Actors’ Equity Association

PRAISE FOR THE ROCKAE:

“At its best, the show simply rocks… [the songs] show off the vocal power of the ensemble,
making good on the premise that rock opera just might be the best way of conveying the
intensity of Greek tragedy to a modern audience.” — The Village Voice

“A sexy rock ‘n’ roll event, both wildly erotic and blaringly electric… [that] surges with
animalistic intensity while also retaining a humanity found in Euripides’ original.” — Theatermania

“A rock musical that’s not only rock, but actually a musical, too. And a sizzling one…
with an erotic, go-for-broke urgency strong enough to make you want to join in the
reveling yourself.” — Talkin’ Broadway

“A sexy good time up until the inevitable bloody end… that leaves you in thrall
to the rock ‘n’ roll god of wine and ecstasy.” –Backstage

Welcome to the new AlexanderRea.com. This site is still in Beta. What does “beta” mean. Well it’s an industry buzz word from my day job lifestyle. I’m going to do my best to keep this site up to date with the latest goings on in the variety of things that I do. From my day-job as an Interactive Director for online advertising to shows that I am performing in and even some recommendations for great places to go or things to see. Right now, please enjoy the complete archive of seven years of performance news and video. You have to be logged in however to post a comment. Your user-id is your email address and you will have to request a new password if this is your first time