Michael McGurk News

What do you get when you take a group of actors, 6 weeks of skate school, and a beautiful outdoor theatre? You get the regional premiere of Tuacahn's 'Starlight Express'. This past Thursday was the last time my quadruple threat cast (they can now add skating to their acting, singing, and dancing skill set) performed this high-octane show that has been thrilling audiences throughout Southern Utah all season long. For those that don't know the show it is the most unique experience on stage that you can have next to Cirque du Soleil. The concept is simple; through the mind of one young boy we get a glimpse into his imagination as he puts his trains to the test race after race. We have the good guys (Rusty & Poppa), the bad boys (Greaseball & Electra), and the girls who pine for them (Pearl & Dinah). All of this while skating on and off the stage as well as throughout the audience (the skate track actually weaved through the seats of Tuacahn) as they try to be the fastest train on the track.

Tonight we said good-bye to our good friend Miss Millie Dillmount. 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' was the third show in our season here at Tuacahn that we learned and it came straight off the heels of opening 'Mary Poppins' and 'Starlight Express'. It was a whirlwind of an experience as we had only about 4 weeks to get it ready for an audience. What made it even crazier was that we could only rehearse for about 5 hours a day as we were doing our other two shows at night, oh and did I mention it was about 115 degrees during the day at the time and we were rehearsing outside for about half of the process. At the helm of this monumental task was our director/choreographer Jeffrey Denman. Now I have known Jeffry for a couple years but have never had the opportunity to work with him so I was very excited when he showed up to share his 'Millie' with us. I have to say if it had been anyone other than Jeffry, I don't think we could have pulled it off. His passion was immense and as he put us through the paces and shared his vision of Hi-Boys and Flappers we all had this sense that our production was going to be a spectacular endeavor. Everything was going smoothly for me until a bit of tragedy hit my life and I had to fly home unexpectedly to celebrate the life of my beloved Grandma, Rose Ebenhoch and her passing on June, 19th. It was an extremely difficult time for me but I couldn't have asked for a more supportive group of friends to help me get through it. Once I returned and got back into the swing of things with the show it seemed as if the elements were plotting against us, from sweltering heat one day to complete downpours during tech, it made the process that much more special for us. But eventually we got through it all and opened the show to an overwhelming response of praise and cheers for us.

Well gang we have reached the final week here at Tuacahn. It's kind of surreal to think that in five short days this whole experience will be coming to an end. Now you would think that I have done about everything I could possibly do in this lovely town, after all we have been here for, oh, 7 months. Well that is not the case, you see the Grand Canyon is about 3 hours away so a few of us decided why not take a quick road trip there and back. So my friends Nicole, Michael, Clay, and I hopped in the company van and made our way out to the North Rim for some of the most spectacular sights we have encountered on our stay here. I knew it would be about a three-hour trip so again I had to set my alarm for the lovely hour of 6:45 am so that I could take care of my dog, Sara, before I made the trek to Arizona. As I rode my moped over to the apartments in 45-degree weather all I could think of was sleep and a heater but I finally made it there where my friends suggested we make a quick trip to Starbucks before we set off on adventure. Sounds good to me!!!

Reuniting for the first time since Parade, Brooke Sunny Moriber and Emily Klein will premiere a duet from Love Quirks, whose studio cast recording is now available on iTunes. The audience can expect to hear 24 songs from Bisen-Hersh's catalog featuring material from Love Quirks, More to Love, Stanley's Party, Malka, If Adele Can Do It, So Can I and The Final Frontier... including 3 premieres! Songs will include 'Thanksgiving Day', 'It's Not You, It's Me', 'I'm Not Interested in You', 'I Like Big Girls', 'Dear Facebook', 'It's Not You, It's Me' and 'Can You Believe I Was Ever Sad We Broke Up?'.

Yesterday's photos included shots from PIPPIN, Broadway's MATILDA, the national tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON, FOOTLOOSE, and the final SIP from the 25th Anniversary National Tour of LES MISERABLES. Plus, photos from freeFall Theater's SPRING AWAKENING, featuring Rachel Potter and Chase Peacock, Ogunquit's JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and more!

Tuacahn Center for the Arts Presents Disney's Mary Poppins at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre May 30 - October 25, 2013. For Tickets call: 435-652-3300 or go to: www.tuacahn.org. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below!

According to the Hartford Courant, the Connecticut Critics Circle has announced its nominations for the 2012-13 theater season. Scroll below for the full list of nominees!

One of A.R. Gurney's lesser known works, ANCESTRAL VOICES, is getting a run over at Music Theatre of Connecticut, where the intimate setting is just right for the nostalgic look at one family, seen through the eyes of a boy growing up in Buffalo before World War II.

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's award-winning professional theatre company, continues their 2012/2013 Season with 'Ancestral Voices.' The play runs February 1-17 at MTC Studio Theatre in Westport.

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's award-winning professional theatre company, continues their 2012/2013 Season with 'Ancestral Voices.' The play runs February 1-17 at MTC Studio Theatre in Westport.

This fall, Broadway veteran Michael McGurk brings his boyish good looks, award-winning talents and professional experience to Petaluma's Cinnabar Theater for the world premiere of 'So Nice to Come Home To: A World War II Musical.' McGurk plays 2nd Lt. Kenneth Downey, a young American soldier who befriends a middle aged woman determined to become an essential part of America's war effort.

This fall, Broadway veteran Michael McGurk brings his boyish good looks, award-winning talents and professional experience to Petaluma's Cinnabar Theater for the world premiere of 'So Nice to Come Home To: A World War II Musical.' McGurk plays 2nd Lt. Kenneth Downey, a young American soldier who befriends a middle aged woman determined to become an essential part of America's war effort.

So Nice to Come Home To: A World War II Musical will make its world premiere at the Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma. The show features music by Richard B. Evans, lyrics by Kate Hancock, and a book by both Evans and Hancock, and is based on two plays by J.M. Barrie.

Mozeltoff to Sacramento Music Circus on another strong production of a classic musical. Playing thorough August 19 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, the current production of "Fiddler on the Roof" follows tradition while creating a laid back, down to earth staging. That staging sometimes takes away from the humor of the show, but also manages to create a unique interpretation of an often-performed show.

Tradition is the theme as the 2012 Music Circus season continues with the all-time classic musical Fiddler on the Roof, at Wells Fargo Pavilion from tonight, August 14 - 19. Preview the show with Adrienne Barbeau, Bob Amaral and more on stage in the production photos below!

Mother-son pair Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy have more than star power. They embody love and sweetness every moment they stand on stage together. And the special "Till There Was You" duet they sing each night through August 5 at Music Circus - more than enough to leave a few damp eyes in the theater - is only a small portion of the magic these two create next to the beautiful California Musical Theatre summer 2012 cast of "The Music Man."