The Official Blog of Broadway’s Next H!T Musical, NYC’s original and award-winning fully improvised musical comedy. Get show information, cast thoughts, and more!
You know her as Bitsy von Muffling from Sex and the City. You couldn't get enough of her in Gypsy & Hairspray. You are hoping to see her up close and personal. Well now you can! New York stage and TV star Julie Halston will be co-hosting THIS MONDAY, March 14 at 9PM at the Triad.
This week a few celebrities found their way into the audience of Broadway's Next H!T Musical including Michael McGlone from "The Brothers McMullen" & Geico Commercials, and all the way from L.A. Peter Vogt arrived ripped right off the set of a Gary Marshal film.
Greg:You would recognize him from “Princess Diaries 2” and the grumpy neighbor of “Hannah Montana.” How about a hand for Mister Peter Vogt…the man who single handedly ruined Billy Ray Cyrus’ family.
This week we introduce Robert Z. Grant, the tallest member of BNHM! Our resident design guy, Robert is responsible for creating our amazing show posters each week.Take a look at the gallery and check back after each show for the next hit poster!
If you have any questions for RZG, feel free to post them up!
Who or what inspired you to do improv?
My former boss at a design agency used to listen to me and my coworker riff off one another all day long. She was taking an improv class and suggested that I check it out. It was an instant fit for me, and I have been learning, teaching and performing improv ever since.
What was your first gig in musical improv?
I formed a troupe with some fellow improvisers, which we named Codependent Theater Company (aka CodeCo). We were hired to go to Iowa where my brother and one of my high school classmates owned a bar and performance venue called the Vaudeville Mews. We played 4 shows that first weekend. We were invited back 3 more times. We STILL talk about those shows.
How do you keep it all together when you are up on stage doing your thing?
I regularly fight with myself about the idea of 'keeping it together.' I try to be in a place where I am not blocking or stifling my impulses. The danger of 'losing it' at any moment is part of the thrill for me.
Where do you get your ideas for show posters? The BNHM gallery of show posters is unique-- no other improv company documents their shows this way. I started creating the posters as a labor of love when I first joined the show in 2005. And now we can all look back and remember some of the brilliant shows we've been a part of, audience and performers alike. The ideas for the posters usually come from some simple place, phrase or object that happened in the particular show. Obviously, song titles and show titles play a big part. I try to find a simple, visual way to evoke the story of that musical. Sometimes the inspiration doesn't come right away, but once I lock into an idea, I get kind of obsessed until the poster's finished.
Is there any connection between your design gig and doing improv? Both require imagination, good observational skills, good listening, plus the ability to find inspiration in the smallest moment and build on it to create something you could not possibly have anticipated.
What is the strangest suggestion you have gotten?
No strange suggestion comes to mind...a good imagination can usually put even the oddest things into some context. The suggestions that throw me are not strange, but lewd. People sometimes write suggestions that they think will make an improviser uncomfortable. When I have a song title in our show that is profane, for instance, I feel a lot of pressure to elevate it while still staying true to the title. Problem is: suggestions like that only have momentary shock value-- it's a one-note joke. No one really wants to hear a song called "F*ck me harder, Mommy!" (At least, I don't want to meet that person... and I don't want to sing that song. I have rejected two song titles in my improvising history, and that was one of them.)
What is your most memorable improv moment?
The question I like to ask fellow improvisers after their shows is whether they did something in the show that surprised them. Anytime I surprise myself is a memorable improv moment for me. I can still remember the chorus of the first improvised song I ever sang... I surprised myself that I had the ability to create music that way.
When you aren't found at the Phony Awards, where might you be out in the city?
After living in NYC for more than 23 years, I regularly lament that there are no more "undiscovered" places to enjoy. Just last night, I found a hidden gem... you can find me there. ;)
What question have you never been asked, but have always wanted to answer?
"How did it feel tonight to make your Broadway debut?"
Just elected school President, Priscilla (Deb Rabbai) has to choose who her VP will be…
Priscilla:Gosh, I don’t know who it should be. Tevin (Stefan Schick):You probably don’t want someone with a sordid past like mine, with all the shoplifting and coke and cyborg mother. Mr. Bingetois (Rob Schiffmann):You know, back in the year 2000 they elected someone president who was just like that.
Welcome to this week’s SPOTLIGHT BIO on BNHM original cast member, Deb Rabbai.You can follow her on her personal BLOG!
If you have questions for DEB feel free to post one in COMMENTS.
Who or what inspired you to do improv?
When I was 16 years old (just two short years ago... OK, maybe it was a bit longer ago than that) my high school acting class went to an improv show at a place on the upper east side called "Chicago City Limits". This was before Whose Line Is It Anyway was on TV. Anyway, I saw their improv show and I was blown away. Immediately I was hooked. The cast was so talented, funny, clever, interesting and exciting. I wanted to be as smart, funny and clever as they were so I created an internship for myself with them and took classes there for three years. I joined any improv group that would have me so I could get more and more experience. But Carol Schindler who was in the cast and one of my improv teachers was a great inspiration to me.
Which came first the singing or the improv?
Well, believe it or not they both started when I was 16 years old. I wanted to be in a band and my dad felt that I should learn to sing properly so I wouldn't damage my voice and thus began my weekly voice lessons.
What was your first gig in musical improv?
I think it was one of the very earliest of incarnations of this exact show. It was on 28th street in a black box theatre. We hadn’t totally figured out what the format would be so it was basically a night of improvised songs. So. Much. Fun.
How do you keep it all together when you are up on stage doing your thing?
I think practice makes perfect, not to say that I'm perfect. I think that practicing feeling uncomfortable onstage and not knowing what to do next is a great way to get ready for the show. I think listening really helps me onstage. As long as I'm listening and staying present I can probably be pen to having an authentic perhaps even interesting or funny response to what is happening. Also having an open mind and heart help. I have a mantra that I say before any show, well, actually before anything stressful.
What is the strangest suggestion you have gotten?
It wasn't in a BNHM show but I think the most unusual suggestion I've ever gotten when doing an improv show, when asked for what you will dress up as for Halloween: A Portuguese Man O'War. This suggestion was given by a 10 year old BTW.
What is your most memorable improv moment?
One of the most memorable moments was during one of our shows when my father was in the audience. I got onstage and pulled out a song title from the bowl and before I'd looked at it, I dedicated the song to my father. I then looked down at the song title and it was "Sex, Penis, Vagina, Boob, C**k, Balls." Here's to you dad!
When you aren't found at the Phony Awards, where might you be out in the city?
I might be at a voiceover audition or working as a standardized patient at Mount Sinai hospital. You might see me on the subway heading here or there. I might be teaching my improv class at Nola studios. I might be on my way to a tap class, you just never know!
What question have you never been asked, but have always wanted to answer?
How were you able to start so far behind the eight ball in life and find your way to where you are today?
Tune in to BLOG TALK RADIO: Musical Theater Talk, on Thursday, February 17 at 3PM and catch Greg Trigs, host of Broadway's Next H!T Musical. You can ask Greg questions through the Chat Room or possibly call in to 347-237-5224.
If you can't be there to listen to Trish Causey talk with Greg LIVE, check out this SITE for an instant replay. If you have questions for Greg that don't make it to the radio, post them to the BLOG, TWITTER, or FACEBOOK!
