DON'T QUIT YOUR NIGHT JOB, the acclaimed comic evening, featuring a revolving cast of Broadway's brightest performing without a net, returned to the stage on Thursday, August 20th at to its new venue, Julia Miles Theater (424 W 55th St/9th Ave).
The August 20th show featured a mix of DQ veterans like SHREK THE MUSICAL stars Sutton Foster and Brian d'Arcy James, as well as first-time guests including 2009 Tony winner Karen Olivo and three-time Tony nominee Martha Plimpton. The performance also put the spotlight on 'Twittergate' casting director Daryl Eisenberg who took a moment away from her "Twitter" to apologize for her actions and said she was trying to be informative rather than hurtful. After her public mea culpa, Eisenberg then accepted a special "gift" from "the people who were directly talked about in the tweets."
It was brought to BroadwayWorld.com's attention last Wednesday via a slew of emails to our "Twitter Watch" inbox, that one of the more than 200 Broadway-related Tweeters that we were picking up the feed of, was a casting director, Daryl Eisenberg, who was 'tweeting' during auditions with her take on some of the performers (mentioning none by name) with live comments, both good and bad, after they'd auditioned. EVERYONE started talking about story including The New York Times which ran an article on what has now become known as 'Twittergate', you can read the Times feature by clicking here.
DON'T QUIT YOUR NIGHT JOB is where Broadway goes to let its hair down. Filtered through the unique humor of its creators, DON'T QUIT is a late night happening of improv, music, sketches and offbeat performances you won't see anywhere else. Proceeds go to benefit the Theatre Development Fund's Open Doors Program.
DON'T QUIT began over three years ago as a one-off benefit at Joe's Pub, which grew into ten sellout months. That was followed by a commercial production off-Broadway in2007 and then a long run at the Zipper Factory, playing to oversold houses monthly, through the venue's closing in early 2009.
Over the years, DON'T QUIT has welcomed an astounding array of entertainers: Huey Lewis,Hank Azaria, Julianna Margulies, Michael McKean, Marc Shaiman, Alicia Witt, Anthony Rapp, Sara Ramirez, George Wendt, Bebe Neuwirth, David Hyde Pierce, Julie White, Patrick Wilson, AndRea Martin, Marc Summers, Kelli O'Hara and Mo Rocca are just a few of the many guests who have appeared on the show.
Open Doors is the Theatre Development Fund's theatre arts mentoring program for high school students, started in 1998 by TDF with playwright Wendy Wasserstein. Its goal is
to explore the relevance of theatre in the lives of today's youth. The program matches distinguished theatre and dance professionals with students who have no prior exposure to theatre for an entire school year. Mentors accompany students to performances on and off Broadway, introducing them to the artists who create and perform NYC theatre.
DON'T QUIT is proud to have raised over $30,000 for Open Doors since 2006.
DON'T QUIT YOUR NIGHT JOB's official website is dontquitnyc.com.
Photos by Peter James Zielinski
Alison Cimmet and Brian d'Arcy James
Steve Rosen, Asmeret Ghebremichael, and Jason Kravits
Steve Rosen and Martha Plimpton
Sutton Foster and Brian d'Arcy James
Rachel Maier and Daryl Eisenberg
Karen Olivo and Maurice Murphy
Howard McGillin, Marc Kudisch, Sarah Saltzberg, and Steve Rosen
Rachel Maier and Sutton Foster
Brian d'Arcy James and Marc Kudisch share...a moment...
David Rossmer and Steve Rosen
Alison Cimmet and Sutton Foster
Brian d'Arcy James and Sutton Foster
Brian d'Arcy James and Sutton Foster
Maurice Murphy, Asmeret Ghebremichael, and Derrick Baskin
Casting Director Daryl Eisenberg, of 'Twittergate' fame
David Rossmer, Steve Rosen, and Daryl Eisenberg
The Gay Bride of Frankenstein, David Rossmer, Steve Rosen, and Daryl Eisenberg
No 'Twittering' here for Daryl Eisenberg
The 'Don't Quit' gang and Rebecca Kasper serve Daryl Eisenberg a dish for 'dishing'
Daryl Eisenberg gets a good old fashioned, low tech treat from Rebecca Kasper
Rebecca Kasperie serves up a pie in the face in 'real time' for Daryl Eisenberg
Daryl Eisenberg, Steve Rosen and David Rossmer
Daryl Eisenberg
Sarah Saltzberg
Jason Kravits, Sarah Saltzberg, and Steve Rosen
Martha Plimpton
Marc Kudisch, Alison Cimmet, and Greg Hildreth
Steve Rosen
Martha Plimpton
Marc Kudisch
Martha Plimpton
Steve Rosen, Marc Kudisch, Alison Cimmet, and Martha Plimpton
Brian d'Arcy James
Brian d'Arcy James
Howard McGillin and Steve Rosen
Brian d'Arcy James
Brian d'Arcy James and Howard McGillin
Sutton Foster
Steve Rosen
David Rossmer and Sarah Saltzberg
Karen Olivo
Karen Olivo
David Rossmer and Karen Olivo
Karen Olivo
Marc Kudisch, David Rossmer, and Jason Kravits
Marc Kudisch and David Rossmer
David Rossmer and Steve Rosen
Greg Hildreth and Jason Kravits
Sarah Saltzberg and Jason Kravits
Marc Kudisch
Jason Kravits
Maurice Murphy, Sarah Saltzberg, Marc Kudisch, Alison Cimmet, and Jason Kravits
Sarah Saltzberg, Marc Kudisch, Greg Hildreth, and Jason Kravits
Howard McGillin
Howard McGillin
Howard McGillin
Howard McGillin, Maurice Murphy, Greg Hildreth, and Alison Cimmet
Maurice Murphy
Greg Hildreth, David Rossmer, Alison Cimmet, and Steve Rosen
The cast of 'Don't Quit Your Night Job' for August 21st, 2009
