The Phony Goes To...

Poor Frizelda, a teen witch with raven colored hair, is isolated in the woods of Winston Salem in 1692. Her mother protects her the best she can but everyone knows that mornings are for going to market and there Frizelda meets Reginald Walter the witch hunter. It's love at first sight. When he glimpses her pearly white fangs he's a besotted fool willing to do anything. He'll even turn on Mr. Salem the head witch hunter Frizelda's mother had an affair with 18 years prior. Witch-ever outcome, witch-ever way it goes, one thing is for sure--love can shine through the darkest of clouds as proven during DON'T RAIN ON MY LAPTOP from the show GET OUTTA HERE DEMON!

The Final NYC Phony Award of 2011 Goes To~~~

An international team of astronauts is sent on a mission: To stop the sun from exploding. But when the spacecraft comes to a sudden halt, it is clear that a saboteur in the mix. Amanda and fellow male astronaut join forces when they realize they are both from Hackensack. And obviously "You can trust everyone in Jersey."

Will the sun explode? Will Amanda's potential for love be ruined by her friend's wife back on earth? See what happens in this out-of-this-world, out-of-this-species musical, A Voyage to the Sun featuring the song "I Left My Heart In Hackensack."

The Audience Voted...

Called a "trannys-formational" musical, The Solution Cuts Both Ways brought home the Phony award this week. This tale follows a secret passion that inspires a once beef-of-a-man to live out a normal life as a tranny, Robin. Her free spirit and passion touches her closest friends. But when the two sons of Robin's lady friend plan to overthrow their mother's lifestyle in "Throw Mamma From the Tranny," you wonder if the whole cast will make it through alive...

This show is best enjoyed with Gatorade or vodka (straight, of course).

Don't forget to VOTE for BNHM, Rob Schiffmann and Ralph Buckley by March 31.

The St. Patrick's Day Phony Goes To~

"I Squeezed My Love Like a Bagpipe" from the musical, The Great Regret, is the story about "a Scottish man's irrational enthusiasm for St. Patrick's day." The show takes the audience on a journey from Scotland to the US as a man tries to escape a mistake that continues to haunt him. Will he find refuge in the new world or will he find that his avengers and night terrors came after him?

Come see BNHM Thursdays at 9PM to see more musicals come to life!

This Week's Phony Goes To...

A multi-lingual journey to the French Alps, Climb, You Bastards featuring the hit song "T2 (2 Tempo)" walked away with the highest honor at the Phony Awards.

BNHM in TONY

Time Out New York gives BNHM a shout out in the MUSIC Events listings.

"[Improv is] an old game, but somehow this gang makes it seem fresh."

Come join the gang every week from now until April 21 at the Triad Theater on the Upper West Side.

Gary Adler joins BNHM TONIGHT!

From Avenue Q to W. 72nd Street, pianist Gary Adler guest stars on the keys tonight at Broadway's Next H!T Musical.

www.broadwaysnexthitmusical.com

TODAY: LIVE with Greg Triggs on BLOG TALK RADIO

Don't forget to catch BLOG TALK RADIO: Musical Theater Talk at 3PM for a live conversation with BNHM's host, Greg Triggs!

Use the "chat room" or call 347-237-5224 to submit questions!

Scene from 2/10

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.

SPOTLIGHT BIO: Deb Rabbai

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?

LIVE Radio Chat with Greg Triggs This THURSDAY @ 3

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!

"Improvisation News"~Review

Improvisation News reviewed our show in 2010. Check out what they had to say!

Did you see the show? Feel free to sign up on the site and write your own review! Don't forget to share!

That's What He Said...

"So much in the world has changed since the last time we got together in late 2010. If you remember the MTA was screwing up, the government was handling snow removal poorly, Lindsay Lohan was in trouble. So much has changed."

-Greg Triggs, Host; February 10, 2011

Introducing the Runners-Up from 2/10~

-"Battle for Atari" from the musical 1980s Economics

-"At Home With My Snuggie" from the musical I-did-a-rod

-"I Ain't Your Bitch, Bitch" from the musical The Streets, Yo

And The Winner Is...

After a night of red carpet glitz and some of Broadway's finest moments, taking home this week's Phony Award was (drum roll...) "Winona Ryder & Lindsay Lohan Went Shopping" from the Broadway Musical, Stolen Days.

Stay tuned for more highlights from the opening night of Broadway's Next H!T Musical.

3 Days

3 Days until the first show of this run of Broadway's Next Hit Musical at The Triad. I am excited, nervous, exhausted and ready to start. I wonder what songs I will sing. I wonder what characters I will play. I wonder what hilarious $&%t my fellow cast members will do that will make me pee myself.

If you wonder these things too, come find out on 2/10, 17, 24 & 3/3 at 9pm at The Triad!

SPOTLIGHT BIO: Rob Schiffmann

In this new weekly spotlight biography section, we will introduce the cast of Broadway’s Next H!T Musical to you. This week we start with actor, musician and new daddy, Rob Schiffmann. He is the second longest running member with the group.

If you have any questions for Rob, please post below and we will get you some answers!

Who or what inspired you to do improv?
Nina Furst, my acting teacher in 5th grade. She taught theater through improvisation and still continues to today.

How long have you been singing/improvising?
Singing since the age of 4, when I started playing the piano. Improvising since the age of 10. Rocking since the age of -7 months (I was 2 months premature).

When you aren't found at the Phony Awards, where might you be out in the city?
At Chicago City Limits, playing with my band The Hillary Step, seeing a movie or most likely, playing with my 6 1/2 month old daughter Abbey!

How do you keep it all together when you are up on stage doing your thing?
Slow down, listen and PLAY!

What is your most memorable moment in improv?
I was in a show once where I was playing the evil villain "80s Man". I had just been defeated and my daughter, who I had oppressed for years, was getting married as I lay dying. The person playing the reverend said, "Dearly beloved....". Just then I stood up and said, "We are gathered here today to get through this thing called LIFE". The lights then went out and the piano played a scary chord and that was the end of the show. The audience lost their mind and somewhere Prince smiled!

Message from Rob~
www.thehillarystep.com -- if you like my songs, check out the ones I have written on my new CD, "Note to Self"!!

Come see Rob and the rest of the cast starting this Thursday at 9PM at the Triad Theater.
http://www.broadwaysnexthitmusical.com/

Roll out the Red Carpet

Only one week until the Phony Awards hit NYC. Do you have your seats to New York's only spontaneous Red Carpet event? http://www.broadwaysnexthitmusical.com/