Theater Geek
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Gypsy, 16–17, 45, 84, 192
Hair, 42, 124
Halliday, Andy, 42
Hammerstein, Oscar, II, 111
Harris, Amy B., 17–18, 93, 200
Harrison, Randy, 99
Hell Week, 150–176
Herzog, Seth, 88, 126
Heyman, Marshall, 127, 128
High School Musical, 9, 146
High School of Performing Arts, New York, 6–7
Hilfiger, Ally, 202
Hill, Jonah, 145
Holliday, Jennifer, 90
Hope, Bob, 91
House of Bernarda Alba, The (García Lorca), 11, 84
Howard, Bryce Dallas, 8, 12, 128–129
Howard, Ron, 128
Huffman, Felicity, 8
Idol Camp, 9
I’m in the Band, 104
Interlochen Center for the Arts, 10
InTheater magazine, 139
Into the Woods, 29, 43, 49, 50, 69–74, 101, 115–118, 120–121, 150, 151, 168, 171–174, 176, 192–194
Jacoby, Miles, 109
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, 86, 92, 101, 123
Jerry Springer: The Opera, 60
John, David, 126
John, Elton, 51, 87, 159
Johns, Glynis, 179
Kakutani, Michiko, 96
Karmel Hotel, Loch Sheldrake, 4, 5, 80–81
Kasofsky, Paul, 131
Katzman, Debbie, 22, 24, 58–60, 62, 63, 65–66, 114, 206
Katzman, Harry, 36, 37, 49, 56, 108, 121, 153, 195, 198
childhood of, 58–63
college orientation and, 112–115
in Fiddler on the Roof, 63–64
in A Funny Thing Happened onthe Way to the Forum, 57, 66–68, 111–112, 114–115, 166–168, 171, 180–181, 184–188
at graduation ceremony, 197
in Grand Hotel, 22
in Guys & Dolls, 169–170
in Les Misérables, 22, 64–65
in Me and My Girl, 159
in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 22–23, 58, 187
personality of, 20
physical appearance of, 20
University of Michigan and, 24, 66, 112–115, 168–169, 206
Keenan-Bolger, Celia, 24
Kids Incorporated, 127
Kittrell, Konnie, 16, 22, 30, 32, 33, 35–37, 49–51, 66, 89, 108, 110, 116, 123, 133–136, 156, 196
Kleiner, Ellen, 125, 134, 141, 198–199
Krakowski, Jane, 11
LaChiusa, Michael John, 63
LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, New York, 7
Lane, Nathan, 68
Lansbury, Angela, 51, 97, 161, 190
Larsen, Michael, 90, 97, 98, 100, 101, 122, 124, 125, 131, 141, 148
Larson, Jonathan, 64
Lawson, Paula, 83
Lee, Sally, 39
Leigh, Jennifer Jason, 7–8, 76, 126, 199
Les Misérables, 1, 2, 8, 10, 22, 64–65, 126
Lesher, Lawrence, 151
Levenson, Keith, 86, 202
Levy, Shawn, 8, 82, 201
Liberace, 91
Light in the Piazza, The, 63
Lippa, Andrew, 32–34, 107
Lipstein, Skylar, 14
Little House on the Prairie national tour, 28–29, 118, 120, 193–194, 206–208
Little Night Music, A, 36, 50, 59, 61, 110, 179, 181–183
“Little Priest, A,” 105
Little Prince, The, 59, 91
Lloyd Webber, Andrew, 35
Louderman, Taylor, 115
Louiselle, Bryan, 145
Love, Courtney, 13
“Lovely,” 186–187
Lunden, Joan, 128
LuPone, Patti, 54, 63
Mablin, Jamie, 33, 73
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, 203–204
Maltby, Charlotte, 73, 168, 195
Maltby, Richard, Jr., 195
Mamet, David, 3
Man in the Ceiling, 34
Man of La Mancha, 123
March, Joseph Moncure, 32
Marmor, Ellis, 141
Martin, Barbara Fine, 131, 132, 134–136, 138, 139, 143, 145, 154
Masterson, Mary Stuart, 8, 126
Mazzie, Marin, 2
McDonald, Audra, 155
Me and My Girl, 51, 56, 110, 159
Me Nobody Knows, The, 47, 87, 200
Meat Loaf, 128
Meester, Leighton, 201
Meigs, Matthew, 58
Menchell, Ivan, 94, 144
Mendoza, Justin, 11, 21, 52–53, 55, 105, 160–162, 165, 189
Menzel, Idina, 107
Merrily We Roll Along, 60, 92, 123, 193
Michele, Lea, 8–9
Mickey Mouse Club, The, 127
Midsummer Night’s Dream, A, 50, 128–129, 151
Miller, Bernie, 91
Moore, Demi, 145
Moore, Mandy, 9, 20, 141, 198
Morenoff, Adam, 88
Mostel, Zero, 68
Muktananda, Swami, 83
Muller, Brian, 30, 37, 49, 56, 104, 108, 168, 195, 198
Camper Showcase hosting by, 116–117
in Dark of the Moon, 27
at graduation ceremony, 197–198
in Into the Woods, 69–70, 73–74, 115–118, 120–121, 172–174, 176, 192–194
on Little House on the Prairie national tour, 28–29, 118, 120, 193–194, 206–208
in Oliver!, 26
in Our Town, 119–120, 175
physical appearance of, 25, 174–175
Muller, Nancy, 26–28, 118, 174
Murney, Julia, 15–16, 123, 136
Murphy, Jeff, 49, 54–55, 110, 156–157, 161–165, 178–179, 189, 190
Music Theatre International, 64
“My Death,” 86
Mystery of Edwin Drood, The, 22–23, 58, 187
New York Times, 6–7, 38, 41, 96, 98
New York Times Magazine, 93
Nightengale, Eric, 130, 149, 203
19 Entertainment, 9
Nirvana, 124
Nixon, Richard, 41–42, 129
“No More,” 176
Nye, Larry, 12, 146, 153
Obama, Barack, 40
Ohringer, Jane, 130
Oliver!, 26
Our Time Cabaret, 91–94, 108, 116, 125, 136, 137, 144, 147–149, 157–158, 195–197
Our Town (Wilder), 119–120, 175
Parker, Alan, 6–7
Pascal, Adam, 82–83
Passion, 2
Performance Weekend, 177–194
Peter Pan, 97
Phantom of the Opera, 192
Phillips, Bijou, 130, 132
Phillips, John, 130
Plautus, 57
Players Ensemble, Stagedoor Manor, 144, 152–153
“Poor Thing,” 162, 190
Portman, Natalie, 7, 8, 128–129, 139
“Pretty Little Picture,” 167
Prince, Hal, 164
Professional, The, 7
Quinn, David, 82, 87, 96, 122, 130, 133
Raimondi, Michael, 119, 120
Rashad, Phylicia, 155
Rausch, Erich, 204–205
Rent, 64
Ripple, Gregory H., 136
Road Show, 37
Robards, Jason, 199
Robbins, Noah, 24, 207
Roberts, Todd, 5–6, 140, 167–168
Rodgers, Richard, 42
Romano, Hilda, 79
Romano, Jack (Jacob Behar), 81, 89, 90, 92, 95, 125, 147, 148, 195–196, 201, 203
background of, 79–80
death of, 122–124
exaggerations of, 77, 79, 98–99
finances of, 95, 97–98
health of, 100–101
influence of, 76, 94
personality of, 77–78
photographs of, 78, 200
teaching methods of, 83–86, 101–102
winter acting classes of, 96, 97
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, 79
Rudin, Jennifer, 10,
12, 34, 195
Runaways, 87, 147
Rushkoff, Douglas, 44
Ruyack, Jack, 131
Ryan, Amy, 8
Saines, Emily Gerson, 12
Saks, Mark, 77, 97, 98, 138
Samen, Jonathan, 130, 132, 135, 140, 204
Samuelson, Carl, 4, 5, 38, 46–47, 75–76, 78–82, 89–93, 98, 101, 122–128, 130–131, 138–141, 143, 145. See also Stagedoor Manor
death of, 137
death of Elsie and, 136–137
photographs of, 125, 200
Samuelson, Cindy, 46–47, 89, 90, 131, 135, 139–140, 142, 143, 145, 148, 149, 180, 193, 197, 204
Samuelson, Debra, 46–47, 75, 76, 81, 89, 90, 122, 136, 139–140, 143, 193
Samuelson, Elsie, 4, 46–47, 76, 81–82, 89–90, 98, 122, 124, 129–134. See also Stagedoor Manor
death of, 136
health of, 135–136
photograph of, 133
Sanford Meisner Studio, New York, 97
Saposnick, Cookie, 82, 90, 140
Saturday Night, 37
Schaefer, Ron, 90
Scharlow, Rob, 67–68, 112, 152, 166, 167
Scheman, Michael, 84, 90, 92
Schumacher, Tom, 34
Schustman, Scott (Scott Tyler), 126
Season, The (Goldman), 30, 150
Secrest, Meryl, 37, 62, 164
See What I Want to See, 63
“Send in the Clowns,” 179, 181
1776, 41–42
Shanley, John Patrick, 152–153
Sharp, Jeff, 82
Sherman, Jonathan Marc, 77, 94, 101–102, 144
Shiva, Alexandra, 137
Showbiz Today (CNN), 126
Side by Side by Sondheim, 8, 50
Silver, Nicky, 39, 41, 43, 77
Simmons, Brad, 141
Singer, Amy, 31, 32
Singer, Mike, 30–31, 34–35, 188–190, 197
Singer, Rachael, 20, 34–35, 37, 49, 74, 198
in Aida, 51, 52
Boston Conservatory and, 34–35, 51, 205–206
childhood of, 30–31
in 42nd Street, 51, 56
at graduation ceremony, 197
illness of, 177–179, 181–182, 188–190
in Me and My Girl, 51, 56
Natalie Walker and, 108–111
physical appearance of, 30, 32
in Sweeney Todd, 48, 50–57, 104–106, 110, 160–162, 164–165, 183, 189–192, 196–197, 205
in The Wild Party, 33
Singer’s Saving Grace, 106
“Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” 169
Slater, Helen, 126
Small Business Administration, 81
Smith, Peg, 9, 127
Sneak Peak, 158–160
Sondheim, Stephen, 2, 3, 21, 29, 62–63, 111, 144, 164, 171, 192. See also specific shows
Spamalot, 5
Spolin, Viola, 96
Sprague, Austin, 156
Spring Awakening, 9, 32
Stagedoor documentary, 78
Stagedoor Mafia, 9, 203
Stagedoor Manor. See also Katzman,
Harry; Muller, Brian; Singer, Rachael
alumni of, 7–9, 125–126, 130, 141–142, 199–202
Camper Showcase at, 116–117
casting agents at, 11–12, 32, 126, 128, 138, 147
casting announced at, 19–20, 48–50
celebrity kids at, 13, 128–130
cell phone use at, 148, 170
costume shop, 5–6
daily schedule at, 52
Dramafest competition at, 144, 155–156
enrollment at, 10, 89, 93, 145
establishment of, 4
Festival Week at, 94, 144
finances of, 10, 89–91, 93, 125
first day at, 6
gay students at, 88, 129, 134–135, 147–148
graduation ceremony at, 197–198
graffiti at, 13–14, 198
Hell Week at, 150–176
ideology of, 3, 83–84
inaugural season at, 75
location of, 4
minimum age for campers at, 144
move to Karmel Hotel, 80–81
Our Time Cabaret of, 91–94, 108, 116, 125, 136, 137, 144, 147–149, 157–158, 195–197
Performance Weekend at, 177–194
photograph of, 5
Players Ensemble at, 144, 152–153
reputation of, 10
Samuelson daughters take over, 139–143, 149
Sneak Peak at, 158–160
social hierarchy at, 55–56, 87
Sondheim festival at, 36–37, 50
sports at, 154
staff of, 10–11
staff talent show at, 204–205
thirtieth anniversary celebration at, 141–142
waiting list for, 145
water supply at, 103–104
Stan, Sebastian, 12, 19–20, 55–56, 201
State University of New York at Oswego, 75
Stefaniuk, John, 129, 158–160
Steingold, Dana, 14, 69, 138
Stevens, Julie, 92
Stone, David, 12
Stop the World—I Want to Get Off, 44–45
Streep, Meryl, 156
Streisand, Barbra, 35
Sullivan County Community College, 90
Sunday in the Park with George, 37, 60
Sunset Boulevard, 35
Sweeney Todd, 37, 48–57, 62, 63, 65, 97, 104–106, 109–110, 146, 150, 151, 155–157, 160–165, 183, 189–192, 196–197, 205
Sylvain, Sylvain, 96
Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, The (Busch), 40
Telsey, Bernie, 145
Teran, Jason, 93
Tesori, Jeanine, 76, 86, 92, 94–95, 203
Theater Games (Spolin), 96
Theater geek, defined, 1–2
Things We Never Said, The (Sprague), 156
Thompson, Howard, 38
Thurman, Uma, 32
Torch Song Trilogy, 130
Tyler, Mia, 128
Tyler, Steven, 128
University of Michigan, 24, 66, 112–115, 138, 168–169, 206
Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall, The, 20
Van Zandt, Caitlin, 69, 199
Vanity Fair, 139
Vietnam War, 41
Wagner, Brent, 24, 138, 206
Walker, Natalie, 106–111, 116, 117, 162, 178–183, 189, 191, 197, 202
Walsh, Tommie, 39
Washington Times, 1
Waxman, Murray, 91–92
Weich, Ronald W., 40
Welles, Orson, 181
West, Emily, 96
West Side Story, 50, 89, 123, 154, 157, 158, 183
Wheeler, Hugh, 191
Whitty, Jeff, 118
Who’s Tommy, The, 50
Wild Party, The (Lippa), 32–34, 107
Williams, Casey, 44–45, 84–85
Willis, Bruce, 10
Windham, New York, 43, 75
“With One Look,” 35
“Worst Pies in London, The,” 53, 189, 190
Young and the Fair, The, 50, 168–169
Young Playwrights, Inc., 144
YouTube, 144, 168–171, 180
Zakes, Carin, 45
Zambello, Francesca, 16, 120, 207
Zeiner, Jeffrey, 45, 80
Zellwegger, Renée, 148
Zikaren, Shirley, 135–136
Zilberberg, Raymond, 21, 63, 182
About the Author
Mickey Rapkin is a senior editor at GQ magazine. His first book, Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory, was published by Gotham Books in 2008. Rapkin has written for the New York Times and Entertainment Weekly. He lives in Manhattan.
* This section (pp.9–13) is adapted from The New York Times, July 27, 2008. Copyright © The New York Times All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of the Material without express written permission is prohibited
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