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Amanda Pekoe of NYC’s The Pekoe Group, shares her Tony Awards predictions and sheer love of theatre

Posted on June 4, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

LCT Young Angels Party Corey Gosselin, Ryan Meitzler, Jessica Ferreira, Jenny Dorso, Briana Lynch, Mara Roberts, and Amanda Pekoe Photo courtesy of Amanda Pekoe/The Pekoe Group

Christopher Lueck and Amanda Pekoe at the Obie Awards 2017 Photo courtesy of Amanda Pekoe/The Pekoe Group

League of Professional Women Big Mingle Briana Lynch, Jenny Dorso, Maria Mangiameli, and Amanda Pekoe Photo courtesy of Amanda Pekoe/The Pekoe Group

‘In and Of Itself’ Opening Night Jessica Ferreira, Jenny Dorso, Amanda Pekoe, and Christopher Lueck Photo courtesy of Amanda Pekoe/The Pekoe Group

The 71st annual Tony Awards, hosted by Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Tony award-winning actor and singer Kevin Spacey, are coming up on Sunday, June 11 and will be broadcast live at Radio City Music Hall in NYC and on CBS at 8 p.m. It is always an honor to speak to Amanda Pekoe, founder of NYC’s The Pekoe Group, about her thriving business and her sheer love for all things theatre.

Each year, Amanda offers her Tony predictions for theatre’s biggest night! Click here for more on the nominees and here for further information on the Pekoe Group.

Another shot of Amanda Pekoe, Christopher Lueck, and the Pekoe Group at the Tony Awards/Photo courtesy of Amanda Pekoe/The Pekoe Group

Sleepless Critic: It’s a very exciting time for The Pekoe Group and your team. The Pekoe Group recently celebrated its eighth anniversary. How are you feeling about year eight?

Amanda Pekoe: I’m really excited about our team and the high level of work we are doing. Our digital department has expanded and we’re seeing huge ticket sales results from our digital campaigns. We also won an award this year for the poster design for the Off-Broadway musical, The View UpStairs.

SC: Congratulations! It’s an especially busy time leading up to the Tonys every year. Please tell me how the Tonys impact your business.

AP: Awards season is such a busy and magical time of year. I love when shows and artists are recognized for their tremendous work and talent. This year is particularly exciting because there are so many new musicals and different points of view being expressed in the writing on stage. I’m very grateful to continue to be a part of the social conversation.

SC: The 71st annual Tony Awards, hosted by award-winning actor and singer Kevin Spacey, will be held on Sunday, June 11. This is a special year as the Tony Awards is returning to its traditional venue, Radio City Music Hall. It was at the Beacon Theatre last year. It must be nice that it has returned to its roots.

AP: I am looking forward to it being back at Radio City Music Hall. It’s such a large and beautiful venue, and so many people get to actually be in the theatre for the awards.

SC: Kevin Spacey is a wonderful and unexpected choice to host. He is not only an award-winning actor, but has proven to be a song and dance man many times over. It is surprising that this is his first time hosting.

AP: I think Kevin Spacey will have a great time hosting the Tony Awards. I’ve never met him in person but I think he’s so talented. I love him in House of Cards!

SC: It is wonderful to have an insider at the Tony Awards each year and you’ve been predicting the winners for about five years now. Groundhog Day the Musical, Come from Away, Dear Evan Hansen, and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 are the nominees for Best Musical. What nominated show do you think stands out to win this year?

AP: All four of these shows are so terrific and so terrifically different from one another. It’s been such a well-rounded season of new musicals and they all offer something very special. I think Come from Away and Dear Evan Hansen are neck-in-neck, but I’m rooting for Dear Evan Hansen. I think the music is incredible and the story is extremely relatable for anyone who has ever felt like they’ve been on the outside looking in and not being seen. I know I sometimes do.

SC: Best Play nominees include Indecent, A Doll’s House Part 2, Oslo, and Sweat. Which ones do you think will prevail?

AP: The plays are tough because they are all so good. Sweat is a Pulitzer-Prize winner! Of all the shows, I think my favorite would have to be Oslo. I thought it was one of the most well-written plays I have watched this season and the topic was fascinating. The play’s rhythm moved so well and featured tremendous performances.

SC: Denis Arndt for Heisenberg, Chris Cooper for A Doll’s House Part 2, Corey Hawkins for John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation, Kevin Kline for Present Laughter, and Jefferson Mays for Oslo are all up for Best Actor in a Play. Cate Blanchett for The Present, Sally Field for The Glass Menagerie, and Jennifer Ehle for Oslo, Laura Linney for Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes, and Laurie Metcalf for A Doll’s House Part 2 are up for Best Actress in a Play. Who do you think are the big standouts?

AP: These actors and actresses are all so great in these roles. My personal favorites have been from the great and hilarious show, Present Laughter‘s Kevin Kline and Jefferson Mays in Oslo. As for the actresses, Laurie Metcalf in A Doll’s House Part 2 and Jennifer Ehle in Oslo.

SC: The nominees for Best Actor in a Musical are Christian Borle for Falsettos, Josh Groban for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Andy Karl for Groundhog Day the Musical, Ben Platt for Dear Evan Hansen, and David Hyde Pierce for Hello, Dolly! Best actress nominees in a musical include Denee Benton for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Christine Ebersole for War Paint, Patti Lupone for War Paint, Eva Noblezada for Miss Saigon, and Bette Midler for Hello, Dolly! Patti Lupone and Bette Midler in the same category! Who do you think will win?

AP: I’m in love with Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen. At every performance, he barely leaves the stage and sings his heart out. As for the actresses, it’s really hard for me to say. Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole are forces of nature in War Paint and Bette Midler, well, there are no words. These are three greatest of the greatest performers all gracing the Broadway stage in the same season and how awesome is that! I think Denee Benton and Eva Noblezada are both so talented and very strong singers. This really is a tossup. The category features some of the most gifted actresses and all of their performances are stunning. I wish they could all win together.

SC: What is The Pekoe Group’s specialty and what goals do you have for The Pekoe Group’s future? I’ve noticed you often offer marketing advice to those who follow you on social media.

AP: Our specialty is working with experienced producers, finding new audiences, and new ways to talk to traditional audiences. Click here to check out our blog for marketing tips and pointers.

Besides our work, Christopher Lueck and I have been co-teaching a marketing class for CUNY Baruch College’s Masters Program in Arts Administration and that’s been really fulfilling.

Looking ahead, we hope to connect even more new audiences to theatre productions they’ll love.

SC: What is the best or easiest way a business can contact the Pekoe Group?

AP: Reach out to us on facebook or twitter: @ThePekoeGroup

Lexus Broadway in Boston presents musical spectacle ‘Wicked,’ returning by popular demand

Posted on May 29, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

A simple hat can make quite a statement. Back by popular demand with its astounding sets, phosphorescent costumes, and multi-faceted story, Wicked is the Grammy and Tony award-winning musical spectacle that may make audiences reject those ruby slippers because Oz feels like home. The award-winning musical Wicked, presented by Lexus Broadway in Boston, sweeps into the Boston Opera House once again on Wednesday, June 7 and will remain there through Sunday, July 23. Click here for tickets and more information on Wicked.

Glinda and Elphaba Photo by Joan Marcus

Could Glinda the Good and young, ambitious, and somewhat naive Elphaba, before she became the Wicked Witch, actually have been friends? What did happen before Dorothy and Toto arrived? Based on Gregory Maguire’s best-selling book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the splendid musical adaptation, Wicked, introduces an entirely new way of interpreting L. Frank Baum’s classic tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Elphaba Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

Glinda Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

Elphaba and Glinda Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

Madame Morrible and Elphaba Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

Elphaba Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

Elphaba and the Wizard Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

Featuring a mix of beloved, familiar Oz characters while also introducing new ones, many parts of Wicked turn Oz on its ear in a clever and beguiling way, unraveling its own set of mysteries. It also introduces a darker side to Oz, revealing deep, relatable issues of prejudice and balancing that with hope, love, and treasured moments of welcome humor.

Wicked arrives at the Boston Opera House, 539 Washington Street in Boston, Massachusetts from Wednesday, June 7 through Sunday, July 23. Click here for more information and tickets. Subscriptions and group tickets are also available. Click here for a closer look at Lexus Broadway in Boston’s 2017-18 season and follow Lexus Broadway in Boston on Facebook and Twitter.

The Company Theatre will hold auditions for Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’

Posted on April 23, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

While the award-winning Company Theatre continues their sold-out run of Academy of the Company Theatre’s (A.C.T.) musical production of Disney’s The Lion King, Jr. through Sunday, April 30, another Disney production will soon be in the works. The Company Theatre is going under the sea for the adult version of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, with auditions will soon be held on Wednesday, May 3 and callbacks on Thursday, May 4. Both dates take place at Company Theatre in Norwell, Massachusetts at 6:30 p.m. Click here for further information.

Company Theatre presents Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ this summer. Courtesy of the Company Theatre

Based on the beloved Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name, The Little Mermaid follows the adventures of Ariel, the mermaid daughter of the mighty king of the sea, King Triton. Accompanied by a crab named Sebastian and a cute little fish named Flounder, Ariel gets a glimpse of a world above the sea and longs to take on that great adventure with unforeseen consequences. Under the Sea, Kiss the Girl, and Part of Your World are just a few of the unforgettable songs composed by Alan Menken from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, a heartwarming story for the entire family.

Directed by Zoe Bradford and Jordie Saucerman, choreography by Sally Forrest, and musical direction by Steve Bass, all roles are open for casting and will take place at the Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive in Norwell, Massachusetts. Audition candidates should be strong singers and be prepared to sing a song from the show in the show’s key or a song in a similar musical style. A headshot or snapshot and a resume is preferred at the audition, but not required. Audition candidates may bring their own sheet music, but the music score will be available with accompaniment. Please dress appropriately to learn and practice a dance combination.

If unable to attend auditions and are located out of state, the Company Theatre is also accepting video submissions at sally@companytheatre.com. All submissions must be sent by Tuesday, May 2.

Performances for Disney’s The Little Mermaid will be held from Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30 and continuing Wednesdays through Sundays through Sunday, August 20. Click here for tickets and for further information about the auditions, email sally@companytheatre.com, or call 1-781-871-2787. Family and Friends Friday offers limited amount of discounted tickets for four or more. Click here for more information about the Company Theatre’s fabulous 2017 season and follow them on Facebook.

Hingham Civic Music Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!’ on beloved musical’s 75th anniversary

Posted on April 14, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

Hingham Civic Music Theatre, a theatre group whose most recent productions included The Wizard of Oz, Young Frankenstein, Once Upon a Mattress, and their most ambitious musical to date, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, is going country. This spring, Hingham Civic Music Theatre presents the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Oklahoma! in recognition of the show’s 75^th anniversary. Click here for a sneak peek.

Frank Mellen as Ike Skidmore, Roy J. Harris as Andrew Carnes, and Erin Thomas as Ellen in ‘Oklahoma!’

A sweeping musical with suspense, comedy, romance, and some of Broadway’s most memorable numbers, Hingham Civic Music Theatre proudly presents Oklahoma! for two weekends only from Saturday, April 22 through Sunday, April 30 at the Sanborn Auditorium in Hingham, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and for tickets.

Photo courtesy of Hingham Civic Music Theatre

Directed by Nathan Fogg and musically directed by Sandee Brayton with choreography by Tara Morrison, Oklahoma! is based on Green Grow the Lilacs, a 1931 play by Lynn Riggs. Set in the Oklahoma territory at the turn of the century, settlers explore the beauty and dangers of life on the range where some may be facing their biggest challenge yet: love. Oklahoma! includes an exciting array of popular musical numbers including People Will Say We’re In Love, Oh, What a Beautiful Morning, I Cain’t Say No, and the title track, Oklahoma.

Cowboy from ‘Oklahoma!’ Photo courtesy of Hingham Civic Music Theatre

Help support Hingham Civic Music Theatre as they raise money to upgrade their sound and lighting equipment for this production, their fall musical, Shrek, and for the quality of future shows. Click here to be a part of this fundraising campaign.

For tickets and further details, click here or email hcmttickets@gmail.com. Group and discount tickets are available. All performances will be held at the Sanborn Auditorium, 210 Central Street in Hingham, Massachusetts and follow Hingham Civic Music Theatre on Facebook for upcoming events and more.

Urban Improv, celebrating its 25th anniversary, presents annual, celebrity-filled improv fundraiser, ‘Banned in Boston’

Posted on March 26, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

Urban Improv is celebrating its 25^th anniversary and presenting their annual fundraiser, Banned in Boston, an evening of delicious food from top restaurants, celebrity improv, and much more on Friday, April 7 at House of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts at 6 p.m. This is a 21+ event.

Photo courtesy of Urban Improv

Hosted by Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, this year’s celebrity roster is once again brimming with acclaimed faces in entertainment such as WGBH’s Jared Bowen and Emily Rooney, Matt Siegel from Kiss 108, WCVB’s JC Monahan, Tom Hamilton from Aerosmith, and musician Sally Taylor. Political leaders such as Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Marty Walsh, arts and educational leaders will be present such as Matthew Teitelbaum of Museum of Fine Arts and Anita Walker, Massachusetts Cultural Council. Enjoy delicious food from a wide array of restaurants such as Mei Mei, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, East Coast Grill, Eastern Standard, and Area Four. Click here for the full guest list, ticket information, and more.

Cissa Campion, Marketing Director of Urban Improv, offers a closer look at Urban Improv, its mission, and why their annual musical revue Banned in Boston is the funniest fundraiser of the year.

Jeanne Denizard: The annual Banned in Boston fundraiser provides educational workshops guiding youth on how to best deal with tough, real life situations such as racism, violence, and bullying. Please tell me more about the workshops.

Cissa Campion: Banned in Boston is Urban Improv’s only annual fundraiser. Urban Improv’s highly effective, interactive drama programs help young people explore challenging situations in their lives. We work with kids from 4th grade through high school. Whether it is peer pressure, cyber bullying, racism, homophobia, or violence, students role-play scenarios based on their own choices and experience the consequences of their actions in a safe environment.

Our atmosphere of openness and respect allows students to express themselves, leading to stronger self-esteem and improved conflict resolution, cooperation, and leadership skills. Urban Improv helps students grapple with issues they face every day and equips them with the skills they need to become leaders who communicate our messages of nonviolence, tolerance, and respect. We call it “A Rehearsal for Life.”

Urban Improv has presented to thousands of students at schools and community groups throughout Boston, New England, and beyond. It has been able to provide thousands of free workshops to Boston schools since its inception in 1992, 25 years ago.

JD: What would you say is the best reason one should attend Banned in Boston?

CC: Come for the laughs and because it’s such a good time. It’s a one-night-only event on Friday, April 7. We have this incredible roster of celebrities under one roof and all bets are off! No rubber chicken and boring speeches at this fundraiser and enjoy delectable food provided by the city’s top restaurants. Support a great cause that is having a powerful effect in this city.

Click here for more information and tickets to this hilarious, one night only event starting at Lansdowne Pub for a cocktail reception at 9 Lansdowne Street at 6 p.m. Banned in Boston musical revue at House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne Street kicks off at 7:45 p.m.

Urban Improv is located at 670 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. Click here for more information on Urban Improv, its upcoming events, and how to support this dynamic organization.

Zumix will celebrate 25th anniversary on grand scale with ‘Boston DJs with Zumix’ benefit

Posted on March 21, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

Music lovers unite! Zumix, East Boston’s non-profit organization geared toward empowering youth through music, has saved the best for last. Featuring 20 Boston DJs past and present, live performances, special guest sets, silent auction, and much more, Zumix brings their 25^th anniversary year to a grand close with ‘Boston DJs for Zumix’ on Friday, March 31 at 8 p.m. This sensational benefit will be held at Zumix, 260 Sumner Street, East Boston, Massachusetts. Click here for tickets and more information.

New radio station 94.9 FM Zumix Radio Photo courtesy of Zumix

After streaming online for 10 years, the evening benefit will also celebrate their new, growing community station, 94.9 FM Zumix, a station that serves a bilingual audience and features a wide range of programming. All proceeds of ‘Boston DJs for Zumix’ support Zumix’s dynamic, free teen music programs in songwriting, community radio, creative technology, instrument instruction, and performance. Click here to make a donation.

Youth DJ on the mic Photo courtesy of Zumix

The featured DJs are as follows: Adam 12, Akrobatik, Baltazar, DJ Bean, Jim Braude, Julie Devereaux, Fast Freddy, Mike Gioscia, Lori Grande, Merilee Kelly, George Knight, Carolyn Kruse, John Laurenti, Dana Marshall, Jess Phaneuf, Matt Phipps, Morning Guy Tai, Nancy Quill, Neal Robert, Nomadik, and Zumix DJs.

Zumix accepting an award from Michelle Obama Photo courtesy of Zumix

Winner of the National Arts and Humanities Youth Programs Award from the White House and providing music lessons and other technology to lower income families, Zumix’s mission is to empower youth to express themselves through music and make positive changes throughout their community and the world. At first started as a songwriting program, Zumix students enjoy in-school and after school events throughout the year. Songwriting, radio, audio technology, and performance are among the renowned programs offered by Zumix for youth ages 7 through 18 and over 1,000 students attend classes.

Annual Walk for Music community event Photo courtesy of Zumix

For tickets to ‘Boston DJs for Zumix,’ click here or call (617) 568-9777. Click here for more information on their upcoming concerts, events, and festivals. Follow Zumix on Facebook and Twitter.

Cohasset Dramatic Club presents the local premiere of the romantic musical, ‘If/Then’

Posted on March 7, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

It’s a story about love and the single woman in the Big City with a twist. For Elizabeth, portrayed by Ann McCoy, a newly-single woman about to make a fresh start in New York City, life has become a world of daunting, yet wonderful possibilities. From the producers of the Pulitzer prize-winning team behind the show, Next to Normal Cohasset Dramatic Club is proud to present the first non-professional production of If/Then, an insightful, contemporary musical about a recently divorced woman caught between choice and chance.

Originally starring Idina Menzel and based on a book by Tom Kitt with music and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, If/Then contains moving musical numbers such as A Map of New York, You Never Know, and Surprise. Directed by Lisa Pratt, musically directed by Sarah Troxler, and choreographed by Tara Morrison, Cohasset Dramatic Club presents If/Then for two weekends only on March 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25 at 7:30. One matinee performance takes place on March 19 at 2 p.m. All performances will be held at Cohasset Town Hall at 41 Highland Ave in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and for tickets.

Other ways to support Cohasset Dramatic Club is to become a volunteer, become a subscriber, and make a donation. Sign up for their email list to learn about upcoming events and more. Click here for more about the Cohasset Dramatic Club and follow them on Facebook.

Bay Players of Duxbury presents romantic comedy, ‘Lovers and other Strangers’

Posted on February 11, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

Sometimes laughter is the best medicine, even around Valentine’s Day. Bay Players of Duxbury is proud to present a collection of comedic and romantic stories with Lovers and Other Strangers by Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna. A hit on Broadway and adapted into a film starring Bea Arthur, Lovers and Other Strangers is five tickling tales of love, sex and marriage set in the 1970s. Among its many topics, it takes a lighthearted look at sexual freedom, gender roles, and women’s lib as relationships evolve over time. Lovers and Other Strangers is a perfect show with a Valentine, a friend, or with a group.

Lovers and Other Strangers will be held for two weekends only. Performances take place on Fridays February 10 and 17 and on Saturdays February 11 and 18 at First Parish Church at 842 Tremont Street (Rte 3A) in Duxbury, Massachusetts at 8 p.m. Directed by Michael Pevzner and showcasing an intimate cast of ten local actors, click here to get more information or tickets to Lovers and Other Strangers, call 781-269-9885, or email Bay Players at tickets@bayplayers.org. Tickets are also available at the door. Group, student, and senior rates available. Follow Bay Players of Duxbury on Facebook for updates, upcoming auditions, and more.

The Boston Pops perform at Boston Marathon film premiere ‘Boston’ on One Boston Day

Posted on February 9, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

Conquering distance with each stride is easier said than done. Hailed as one of the most demanding and beloved marathons since its inception in 1897, for many, The Boston Marathon encapsulates a lifelong goal. It takes the utmost endurance, agility, stamina, and determination for some the fastest runners in the world to conquer and suffer during the awe-inspiring journey from Hopkinton to Boston.

In its 120^th year, the Boston Marathon is getting its first feature-length documentary film, Boston. It will explore the extensive history and the building momentum of the Boston Marathon over the years, the stories of its runners, and the devastating events of 2013. Jazz instrumentalist and Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal, best known for creating the haunting score of the Netflix’s drama series, House of Cards, is composing Boston’s extraordinary soundtrack. On Monday, February 13, Beal will conduct the BSO and record the soundtrack at Boston Symphony Hall. He will then lead the Boston Pops for a live performance on One Boston Day on Saturday, April 15.

Hosted by WBZ-TV and anchors Lisa Hughes and David Wade, the Boston Pops orchestra performs Beal’s original Boston score live at the world premiere screening of Boston on Saturday, April 15 at the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston. Sponsored by John Hancock, a portion of each ticket sold to this special performance will support Martin’s Park, which is being built on Fort Point Channel. The Martin Richard Foundation was founded to commemorate Martin Richard, the eight year-old boy who was killed five years ago during the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013. The park is named after him, the youngest of the victims. Click here to make additional donations to Martin’s Park.

Take a closer look at the upcoming film, Boston here. Click here for ticket information or call 800-982-2787. Follow the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Twitter, and like them on Facebook.