Happy Memorial Day!

Oh hi there! Didn't see you sneak up on me! :) Well, it's memorial day and once again I am way behind on my update. Whoops! But you're getting one now so just be happy.

A LOT has been going on in the last couple of months. I mean honestly, when isn't there a lot going on in my life? 

I'm STILL doing my show "American Fork Idol" at the Desert Star Theatre in Murray. We close next weekend finally. These runs are long, but I've certainly had such a blast doing the show. I should do a behind the scenes video sometime and show you how fun and crazy the cast is backstage. Oh what the audience doesn't see. It's great! It's one of those bitter-sweet type things you know (in regards to the show closing). I will miss all the peeps, but it will be fun to move onto the next production and have something fresh and new.

What is the next show? Well, I'm musically directing and conducting the orchestra for Seussical: The Musical at the Sandy Amphitheater. This is my 3rd Season with Sandy, and I love working for them. The best part of my contract is getting to conduct the orchestra. What an amazing and rewarding feeling to be the leader of such amazing instruments and music. So so cool. For those of you unfamiliar with Seussical, it sounds kind of cheesy I know. However, the production was written by the same team who wrote Ragtime in which many of you have seen me in. It is such pretty, clever, memorable music and I am happy that I finally get to work on it.

I've also joined forces at Rodgers Memorial Theatre in a different fashion (other than Directing/Designing). I'm now lending my expertise and serving on their marketing committee. Committee makes it sound like a large group of people, but it's really just two of us. Our team is responsible for making sure the current theatre operations get marketed better, and then we are also preparing to open the new theatre and heading up the marketing efforts for that. The new theatre breaks ground on Thursday morning @ 10am in Centerville, and will open for its' first production January 2011. This has been a LONG process in the making, and I'm so excited that it's actually a reality. We submitted a proposal to the Eccles Foundation in hopes of obtaining more funds needed to keep the project going. This is HUGE for Davis County, and I am glad I get to be apart of the original team to make it happen.

Amongst all these major commitments of mine, I have managed to have some more quality time with Bailey, my dog, and to see and spend time with friends. I started going back to church regularly, and it feels good. I transfered my membership from my home church in Layton to a great congregation in Murray. I've even started writing music again and finished a song last night. I'll post lyrics and music soon. 

Haha, anyway, that's the update for now. I'll write more again soon, I promise!

-T

Ha ha ha! April Fools!!

So tonight after my show, American Fork Idol at Desert Star (go see it. It runs through June 6th!) I was driving home listening to the nightly talk-radio show on KSL, The Nightside Project. Tonight they were discussing April Fools jokes...some that people played today, or some that people remembered from years past. It motivated me to call and tell everyone about a joke I played when I attended Utah State years ago. The joke still gets talked about!

It was April 1, 2004. I was in the computer lab working on a project. My friend Jon was also in the lab. I was a student in the Utah State Theater program, Jon was studying music at the time, however, did many productions with the Theater program. Being the actor that I am, I HAD to come up with some kind of good April Fools joke and Jon was there to help!

The Theater program was getting ready to hold auditions for all their shows that would be produced in the coming school year. We decided it would be perfect to post a cast list for "The Laramie Project" which was the first show of the following school year. So we typed up a list with names of familiar Utah State Theater students....and the not-so-familiar ones. Once the list was typed, we snuck down to the call board and posted the list.

The reaction was PERFECT! People began to see the list and many of course, surprised! Some were upset that they missed the auditions...others were excited that they were pre-cast in the show without even having to audition. The best was when oue professor Kevin Doyle got frustrated that he was left out of the decision process for casting the show. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! :) 

To top it all off, in our department's end-of-year banquet, awards were given out for "Best Actor, Miss Congeniality, etc..." Each recipient received a certificate and trophy/prize. Well, the award for Best April Fools joke was announced. Jon and I were pleasantly surprised and rushed up to get our prize, and of course they all yell "APRIL FOOLS!" and we receive nothing...LAME!! 

It feels good to know the joke lived on for much discussion years after I was finished! :) 

Hope you had a fun April Fools day and didn't crush anyone's life while doing so!

-T

Everything Today is Thoroughly Modern!

My most recent production I have been working on, Thoroughly Modern Millie opened last weekend to great success. We had been heavy into rehearsals since the beginning of January, and it's amazing how fast opening came. This has been one of the smoothest easy-going processes ever. The production team I got to work with was just so perfect.

The Deseret News came on Saturday and gave their review of the show. It was a really nice review. (See Below).

I have now started rehearsals for the next show...I'll be playing in Desert Star Theater's American Fork Idol starting at the end of March. It's a very funny show spoofing, of course, on the hit show American Idol. It is full of all the funny inside quirks people are familiar with if they have seen the show...with a little Utah twist to it. I'm really excited to be on stage performing again and in a different, cheesy style of theatre. COME SEE IT!


THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE REVIEW:

'Millie' cast has fun with the '20s
By Erica Hansen

Deseret News
Published: February 25, 2009

"Thoroughly Modern Millie," through March 21, Rodgers Memorial Theatre (801-298-1302); running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes (one intermission)

Meet Millie Dillmount — a Kansas City girl who moves to the Big Apple in the 1920s. Quickly adapting to the "modern" scene, she cuts her hair, shortens her hemline and lands a job as a stenographer — with the very modern plan of marrying for money, not love.

As with any great tale, high jinks ensue — in this case, when a white slavery ring, run out of the Hotel Priscilla, is discovered.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie," directed by Leslie Giles-Smith, is the latest offering at Rodgers Memorial Theatre.

Saturday night's cast, under the musical direction of Trevor Jerome, sounded great, had a nice energy and seemed to enjoy bringing the '20s to life.

Maggy Lawrence's bright eyes and wide smile were perfect for Millie (double cast with Sarah Makus), and ditto for Millie's love interest, Jimmy, played on Saturday night by Jon Rash (double cast with Chad Craner).

Both had lovely singing voices, which especially lent themselves to the beltier moments. However, the two seemed a bit stiff during their moments of dialogue, but that could easily mellow during the run of the show. Lawrence's physical comedy was really well done.

Mrs. Meers, the villainous white hotel owner who disguises herself as Asian, is played by Megan Call (Alison W. Jensen). She had a lot of fun with the role, but her accent was really hit and miss.
Her big number, "They Don't Know," was fun, but the choreography left her noticeably winded. Her sidekicks, Landon Cole Welch and Trent Brown (Adam Jones, Kyle Allen), were delightful — I found it odd that Rodgers cut one of their early numbers, which was not only disappointing but diminished a joke later in the play. The trio was very funny during "Muqin."

The other two leads did a fine job. Jessica Lesser (Angie Winegar) had a lovely soprano voice, but Todd J. Wente (Drew Thompson) seemed to struggle with his part of the rich boss — fumbling lines and struggling to hit some of the notes. But he delivered his comedic moments very well.
The set, designed by JD Madsen, was effective, though some of the moving pieces were very rickety — which was noticeable when the characters were locked in jail cells but didn't dare to touch the bars.

Saturday also had a handful of sloppy set changes and light cues that ought to work themselves out. Susan S. DeMill's choreography was fun.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" is a night of lighthearted theater, and Saturday night's audience enjoyed the journey back in time to when jazz was hot and being a "modern" was all the rage.
Sensitivity rating: One dance scene takes place in a speakeasy, where the characters drink.

"Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cooooold out there today....."

Remember that quote? It's from the hilarious film, "Groundhog Day!" Well, yesterday was officially Groundhog Day; the day when Puxatony Phil comes out of his cage to predict whether or not Winter will continue for six more weeks. The old-fashioned tradition is if he sees his shadow and gets "scared" we have six more weeks; if not, we are moving on to spring.

Each year I eagerly wait for this moment. By this point of the season I am so sick of the winter, and driving in the snow, I am rooting for him to not see his shadow and be happy. Well, of course it was not any different this year. That stupid rodent saw his shadow...again...and we are stuck in this inversion-fested season. Who freaking died and left him in charge huh? It's such a joy walking outside and feeling like you've just smoked six packs of cigarettes without even lighting one up. I love having to scrape my window off each morning before I can drive to work.

I just want to wear shorts and flip-flops and ride my motorcyle around. I can't wait for this dreaded winter to be over and things can be sunny and warm!!

25 Interesting Facts about Trevor

So on Facebook, there has been this chain going around. You are suppose to post 25 Random Facts, Habits, Goals, etc. You then tag at least 25 friends and they do the same, and post on their page. Well, I've been getting tagged on so many notes from other people, I figured it was time to do one too. So here you go...facts you know, or forgot you know, or didn't know. :) 

**DISCLAIMER: These facts, habits, or goals about me are in no particular order. Only the order that they come into my head as I write. ;-)***

1. I wear a "doo-rag" to help make my hair look good everyday....and yes it's because I am black. 

2. I once had long hair that went down to my shoulders. Don't worry, it will never happen again; some sort of early mid-life crisis or something. 

3. Music is my passion. I have been playing the piano since I was about 10 years old. I started teaching piano 3 years later.

4. Theatre is my bigger passion. I have acted, directed, musically directed, conducted many orchestras, designed lighting, sound, set, and stage managed. I feel like I have major job security and will never get bored :) in the last year I have Directed, Musically Directed and/or performed in 6 shows...which calculates a show every two months haha.

5. I have a dog that I adopted after she was abandoned at the West Valley City Library 2 years ago. She is a Border Collie/Lab mix and the best dog ever. Her pet peeve seems to be when I spin in circles in the kitchen (yes, I dance around my kitchen-make fun!). 

6. I ride a motorcycle (bullet bike) which seems to be surprising to so many people. Many have said they just can't picture me on one. It's the most fun investment ever. I've joined the Utah Sports Bike Association and meet lots of fun people. I learn from the most trained and experienced riders around and feel so much more safe when I ride. I am taking the Advanced Rider Training course this summer and will start spending some time at the track.

7. I played an Ethiopian Jewish Baseball player in a feature film (THE YANKLES) in the summer of 2007. I took three and a half weeks off from my full-time job to play the role. It had Don Most (from the original Happy Days cast) in the movie as well. It is currently in post production and set to be released sometime this year. I have not seen one second of footage from the film, and am freaking out about seeing myself and my fake Ethiopian accent on tape. **Check our movie out on IMDB.com.

8. I once played the best April Fools joke on my theatre department at Utah State University (back in 2004), which still, to this day, gets spoken of. The scoop: The department was holding auditions for next year's season of shows, and my friend Jon and I decided we would post a "cast list" for the Laramie Project which was the first show of the next season. Everyone fell for it...even one of the Directors who was offended that this was cast behind his back. APRIL FOOLS!

9. I have never traveled outside of the country. The places I want to go really soon (within the next 5 years) are: 1. Prague, Czech Republic. 2. Spain 3. Australia 4. Paris 5. London. One of those top 5 choices within the next 5 years....I would love to do one a year, however, I'll need to be rich first.

10. I used to want to be a pilot when I "grow up." I even joined an Air Force auxiliary organization called the "Civil Air Patrol" and started taking flight lessons as I promoted in rank. However, with my vision being as it was, it appeared that I would not end up in that route. Ultimately, I ended up going the Broadcast Journalism route....ok, cool.

11. I am not the only person in the family with "musical talent." My oldest brother Aaron, who is also a Pastor, has actually released two CDs. He is a Christian Rap artist known as S.O.U.L.J.A. AND SOOO GOOD. I was actually featured on his second album in a song of his as a "report interviewing him." I would ask questions, he'd answer/rap back. Wicked cool...check him out: www.pastorsoulja.com

12. In an earlier note, I mentioned how theatre was a huge passion of mine. Ultimately, I would love to work professionally in the field. Well, I would say I am already, however, I would want to go even more professional, by making the move to Broadway! It WILL happen, I know it. I continue to get so much great experience here in Utah, and it is only grooming me for the "big dogs!"

13. I once had two warrants out for my arrest...crazy huh!? No, I didn't murder anyone haha. That's just what happens when you forget about a traffic ticket that's been sitting in your glove box for over a year. Whoops! There was a moment this past fall, where my car's registration was past due, and I had a warrant out (that I lazily hadn't taken care of yet). I got pulled over (for the faulty registration) and totally thought I was going to get arrested...they called a backup officer/car and everything. I was freaking out. In the end, they impounded my car and gave me a citation for expired registration, and let me go with a warning about the warrant haha. You better believe I took care of that the next day haha. NOTE TO SELF: Pay traffic ticket; register car. Done! "So I lost my keys, and uh, that's that!" (inside joke)

14. I've only been sunburnt once in my life. Believe it or not, we black folk do get darker, the more time we spend in the sun. However, I have only been burnt once in the past (when I was a wee little lad.). It was on my neck and I was BARELY burnt. I did cut it close though, this past summer when I went to Hawaii. I got home from my trip extremely dark and my back (where I didn't put sunscreen) was peeling pretty bad. 

15. I am slightly color blind. It's funny. When we play games at home for Sunday dinner with the family, I always have to be blue, because I know I can recognize that color. I have a hard time distinguishing browns, greens and reds. But I get by pretty well. 

16. My favorite TV show of all time, and still to this day, is I Love Lucy. I have every single season on DVD and never stop watching them haha. When I was in the pre-teen years, I used to record the show on TV using my VCR and watch it every night before going to bed. Other favorite shows these days include: Will and Grace, Arrested Development, Scrubs, Alias, and 24. 

17. I once broke my arm when I was Kindergarten. It's a funny story. We (my brother Chad and I) were playing War with the neighborhood kids. The big kids were running and jumping over the fence to get around, and I wanted to fit in. My brother warned me that I could only jump the fence should I REALLY need to (like if my gun was on the other side). So...later I threw my gun over the fence so I could hop over it and retrieve it. Well, upon trying to climb the fence, I fell off, and broke my arm...it was literally broken in a "Z" shape. So gross. I spent all night in the hospital because they couldn't operate having eaten right before that. But I had a cool looking cast when I was done...I even think it was pink...LOL...awkward.

18. I bite my nails. I'm really trying hard not to but...ok really, i haven't done anything to break the habit, but know it's bad. Oh well. 

19. I actually don't work in Broadcasting, however, I do work full time at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center in downtown SLC. I am the Catering Manager and oversee local events and Weddings for the hotel. I've been the three years now and LOVE IT.......well, I've been there three years now anyway. While working at the Hilton, I've won the companies highest honor (nation-wide), the Spirit of Hilton award, as well as Manager of the Quarter. 

20. I have to admit I thought this project was only 20 random things and now I'm at 20 and realized i still have 5 more to go....Ugh....

21. My favorite food has to be Chinese. Yum, yum yum...followed by Italian. I do not, however, like the taste of SUSHI! It makes me want to vomit like a drunk man on the street. YUCK! But then again, I'm also the worlds pickiest eater, and it's funny that I work in the Catering Industry. 

22. My favorite wine is any kind of sweet Riesling. I love me some wine, and pretty much have a bottle in stock at all times. 

23. My Favorite Musical of All time: Ragtime. Such a powerful story/message and the music is just amazing. I've played the lead role in this show two times, and have Directed/Musically Directed/Conducted the show as well. Others that are right up at the top as well include: The Color Purple, Title of Show, and Sweeney Todd!

24. Contrary to popular believe, I have never plucked my eyebrows. My assistant Jessica, is determined that I do; that they cannot possibly that perfect. Well, Jess...THEY ARE!

25. I have 1,040+ friends on facebook. It's weird and not a huge effort was really put in to get there. I am grateful for all the many friends that I have made through all of the million things that I do in life. :)

Obama for your Mama!

So...Obama is our new president; how cool! Yet it's so weird at the same time. I can't say that I've ever been heavy into politics, but it's been really fascinating this year to follow what's going on and actually "live" through this historic time. I sit and think about how he must be feeling (tired? excited? overwhelmed?). I think about how crazy it must be to be living a semi-normal life one day and then become president the next. If it were me I'd just constantly have butterflies.

We were joking in the office today about how long it will take for him to get gray hair haha. You know it will happen...and rightly so...it's a stressful job!

Feb, one of the black girls in my office, was talking to me today about how she has had a few people come up to her and ask her "how she feels today now that we have a black president?" It's kind of a silly/funny question that people have. I tend to put color aside and just think of all the good changes he can make and bring to our nation. Yes it's wonderful that he is our country's first black president, and that we have come so far in terms of accepting "race" but Obama becoming president is no more of a beneift to me than it is to any other ethnicity.

But really, I'm just so excited to see what good things will come out of our new leader.

I have faith that good things WILL come and that we really will start to see change in america

....change in the way we think...the way we live...the way we operate and function. I just really can't wait.

The 2008 Throwdown: A Mass Update

Hey Peeps!

Happy New Year! It's been a while since I've update, but things have definitely been busy the last little while. I can't beleive we are alread into 2009. Um, one question...Where did freaking 2008 go!?!?

2008 was a good year. I thought I'd recap on everything I got to do this year:

January - April: "The Civil War" at Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley (playing leading roles Frederick Douglass and Clayton Toler). By far one of the best, and most powerful shows I have been apart of to date.

March - May: "Feelin' Groovy-A 60's Review" at Rodgers Memorial Theatre in Centerville. Put together and Arranged Music, Directed and Musically Directed the Show. A very tiring project, but worth the experience and it had a really neat outcome.

May-June: "Ragtime: In Concert" at Sandy Amphitheatre in Sandy. Directed, Musically Directed, and Conducted this production. What a freaking fun project. I had to come up with a simple concept/design that would be achieved with very little budget. The Orchestra became part of the set and background, and the cast dressed in "concert black" to simplify costuming. It turned out to be a successful production, and Sandy has now decided to do another concert production this upcoming season.

July: This month took me on trips to both Hawaii and Las Vegas. I spent 7 Days in Hawaii...BEST TRIP EVER. Met one of my dear friends Kristine who transferred with our company (Hilton) for a promotion. I stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Villiage Resort on the Big Island (Ocean View Room). My roommate Andrew flew over and joined me for a couple of days in Honolulu where we stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Villiage Resort (in an awesome Suite with Ocean View!!) We had some great site seeing and beach time. It was my first true vacation in YEARS and felt so nice to get away from work for a while.

Later that month I joined a bunch of my good friends for a fun weekend trip to Vegas. It was in honor of a couple of friends Birthday's. We rented a nice Toyota Highlander and had a fun trip down. It got pretty wild and crazy at times, and I randomly ended up at this classy "strip club" and had an interesting night there....WTF!? haha

August: I had a fun trip to New York City with my best pal Scott M. Primary purpose of the trip was for call-back auditions for the Hairspray National Tour. While we were there we got to see 4 shows (Title of Show, Hairspray, Gypsy, and A Tale of Two Cities). It was sooo fun and laid back. I'm glad Scott was able to join me. I stayed at the Hilton right across from Ground Zero (Terrorist Attack Site). I could literally see down into the huge empty pit from my room. It was crazy.

September: Moved out of the Hudson House where I had lived for almost 3 years, and got a new house downtown in the Rose Park Area. Moved into a neighborhood where 3 sets of dear friends already lived. It's soooo nice living down town, and next to a park where my doggie can run around and play. I moved in with a great roommate, Ashely, and we have such a fun time together.

September-November: I played Dracula in Frightmares at Lagoon again. They built us a stage this year, so it felt much more like a real show this year. Of course it was fun having my roommate in the show with me along with other fun friends.

October - January: MUSIC MAN!!!! I ended the year working on "The Music Man" in Park City at the Egyptian Theatre. I worked on the show as the Musical Director and Conductor. It was a fun project. It felt pretty long and tiring, simply because it ran over each major holiday of the season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year). But I was so glad I got to be apart of it. The orchestra was such a delight and sounded so good for how small it was (7-Pieces was all). We ended the run after 31 totall performances.

And now look....2008 is over and we are off to a busy 2009. Already I have opened a show "The Wizard of Oz" in which I designed lighting for. Now, I'm Musically Directing the show "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at Rodgers Memorial Theatre in Centerville. It opens on February 20th so be sure to come and see it!

Alright, that's all for now. :)

-T