Accomplice @ Metropolis

Check out the cast photo from opening weekend of Rubert Holmes' thriller Accomplice, running now through April 21, 2013 at Metropolis Performing Arts Center.  I've been pleased to finally work on a production at Metropolis.  I'm understudying the lead, which has been a fun challenge in this "one set, two act, four scene, four character thriller."  If you get a chance - go see it!  It's funny, witty, and full of a handful of twists.  Get more info here.

Music in the Air Photos

Some lovely photos from last weekend's performances of Music in the Air.  We sang to a sold out house Saturday evening, a full house Sunday, and both standing ovations.  The benefactor of the show, Harry, had seen the original production on Broadway in 1934 gave a sweet curtain speech with the most important part hitting home for the actors and the audience: "please be sixteen again with me tonight and enjoy the show."

A special thanks to the George Williams College photographer and cast member Amy Norton O'Donnel for the fabulous photos.

with my fabulous dance partner, tenor Ryan Douglas Wells

 

Music in the Air Opens Saturday!

Come see me as Tila and a featured dancer in Music in the Air this weekend!  

Ticket info here (hurry - the orchestra seats are already sold out!)

Music in the Air: Hair and Makeup Inspiration

Lots of times costumers, or the makeup artist (hair/wig designer in large theatres) will have sketches, ideas about hair for you.  Sometimes, they leave it up to us to decide, so I've done a little research for young hair styles in the 30s and late 20s.  (Small towns, country towns, were sometimes behind, although I think Tila is a stylish gal in her own way...that or copying her BFF.)

Photos from: Squidoo, Absolute Astronomy, Warez for You, Immortal Empherma, Rick Steve's Europe, Chelsey

Show opens one week from today!  More info here.

Music in the Air Rehearsals Start

Choral rehearsals for Music by the Lake's Music in the Air started last Sunday.  I'm looking forward to being back on stage after a mini kids show only hiatus.  The music is fun, operetta based, and catchy and the ensemble sounds fabulous!  Next rehearsal is Sunday the 24th for a sing through and costume measurements!  It's going to be a quick process - the Show opens July 21st.  I'm excited to be back in beautiful Lake Geneva for a summer show!

Cinderhood Promotional Video

Chicago Opera Playhouse created this promotional video for the children's show I'm currently in: Cinderhood (I play Little Red Riding Hood, The Fairy Godmother, and Cinderella's Wicked Step Mother).  It's a fun 45 minute musical romp about what happens when half the cast shows up to do Cinderella and the other half prepared to do Little Red Riding Hood.

Check out the video to see clips from the show.


Cinderhood Promo 2012 from Hannah Goering on Vimeo.


Cinderhood is currently playing around the midwest and Chicago Land.  Please contact me for more information about additional bookings.

My Next Production - Music in the Air

I'm delighted to announce that I'll be returning to Music by the Lake in Williams Bay, Wisconsin after performing the role of Jean MacLaren in Brigadoon there last year!  This summer I'll be dancing the role of Tila in Music in the Air by Hammerstein and Kern.  Performances are July 21st & 22nd.

More details coming soon.

Secret Garden Reviews

"Its holiday season production by the company, featuring elegant direction and choreography by Stacey Flaster (one of several women who have emerged in recent years as major musical theater talents in this city), it is being beautifully sung and acted...Flaster’s staging expertly captures the contrasts in Eastern and Western visions of magic and death."
-Chicago Sun Times


"This very well-meaning show surely delivers the most beautiful garden one could expect. There were gasps of pleasure in the audience, especially from the young."
 -Chicago Tribune


"The expert staging by Stacey Flaster works  to create just the right tone and atmosphere to create a ghost story."
-Chicago Theatre Critic


Light Opera Works does a stellar job with its large scale musicals using a full orchestra in the marvelous Cahn Auditorium located on the campus of Northwestern University. Roger L. Bingaman brings this hauntingly beautiful music to life as he conducts this orchestra and the voices that Flaster has assembled fill the theater with the richness and tone of the music and lyrics in this sterling piece...The ensemble players are up to the highest of standards:Barbara Clear,Maggie Clennon Reberg,Erin Thomas Lobo,Phil Higgins,Kristin O’Connell,Patrick Byrnes,Rob Riddle,Peter Oyloe,Harmony France,Jon Landvick,Maggie Clennon Reberg,Daniel Spagnuolo,Jennifer T.Grubb,Christen Boulette,Loren J. Connel, Kirsten Lendyke and Amy Orman- great job!
-Around the Town Chicago


There are four chances left to see The Secret Garden at Light Opera Works.  Friday, December 30th at 8pm,  Saturday December 31st at 2pm and 8pm, and closing on January 1st at 2pm.  Purchase your tickets now.




Image from: http://www.lyricspond.com/artist-secret-garden

Secret Garden Opening

Secret Garden opens tonight!  Come see show for a heartwarming evening filled with gorgeous music (...and find out what the rest of my costume looks like).  Runs through January 1, 2012 at Light Opera Works.

My Tech Week Essentials

Tech week can be a long process...especially in tech heavy shows with lots of moving parts (like the Secret Garden).  Lots of late nights mean our dressing rooms have to be filled with things that make us feel good.  Here are my tech week essentials that you'll always find in my dressing room.

Alka Seltzer Plus Tablets -for staying healthy, and keeping colds at bay among sick cast mates

Magazines - for reading during offstage time.

Emergen-C 

Mini Notebook - for jotting down blocking changes and director's notes.

Cheese Its - my current backstage snack.

Super Chill Sparkling Water - Keeps me hydrated backstage when I want a little flavor in costume.

Organic Throat Coat Tea - Soothes my throat after a long day of singing or when I'm feeling tired.

Silk Robe - for covering up during snack breaks or when wandering around in a corset and tights.

Vitamin Water Zero 

That's what's in my backstage bag on any given day.  What's in yours?

The Secret Garden Opens December 26th!

Purchase your tickets for the beautiful, haunting story of the Secret Garden.  "Part Victorian thriller, part enchanting love story."  It has one of the prettiest scores of music around and is sure to leave you feeling full of love...and a little teary eyed.  Secret Garden runs from December 26, 2011 through January 1, 2012 in Evanston, Illinois.

Understudying Mary Lennox

I've been understudying the role of Mary Lennox for my upcoming production of The Secret Garden and it has been fun and challenging to channel my inner ten year old.  Last night's rehearsal was an understudy work through and I had a surprising amount of fun romping about the stage as Mary.

Purchase tickets to the show here, opening night is 12/26/11

The Secret Garden

Music by Lucy Simon

Book & Lyrics by Marsha Norman

Photo credit: SecretGardenMusical.co.uk

A little preview of the show...Here's a recording of me singing Mary's act two opening song, "The Girl I Mean to Be" at a vocal coaching yesterday morning before rehearsal.

Secret Garden Character Inspiration

My character inspiration board for the dreamers of Secret Garden...ghosts of Victorian people who have died of cholera in British colonized India in the early 1900s.

"They are only a ghost if someone on earth is holding onto them."

Secret Garden Rehearsals Have Started!

Rehearsals for Secret Garden have started!  It's going to be a fabulous show, with a great concept and cool set.  We started with dialect, music rehearsals, and design presentations and had our first staging rehearsal the other day.  We're also rehearsing in the brand new Light Opera Works' Rehearsal Studio, which is lovely!  The sprung dance floor is the full size of the stage and the rooms are filled with props and photos from past productions.  Read more about the new space here.

Hello, Dolly! Photos

Better late than never...some photos from last year's winter production of Hello, Dolly! with Light Opera Works.  That's me on the right front in the light light green skirt and pink sash during the production number of "Dancing."

"Before the Parade Passes By," the end of act one production number that was preceded by the dance number above and a three minute quick change into a marching band uniform.  It was a great number that often received mid-song applause and ended with a high D6 for the sopranos.  I'm on the left in the second row of band members, the second person of Dolly's shoulder.

Photos by Ocken Photography

Cinderhood: A Children's Musical

Tonight is opening night for the children's musical Cinderhood with Chicago Opera Playhouse.  It's a fun, short musical of what would happen when half the cast prepares to perform Cinderella while the other half want to do Little Red Riding Hood.  Come see me as Little Red who even has her own lament song "There's No Fair in Fairytales."

Show Details:

Wednesday, October 12th @ 6:30pm

North Park Covenant Church, 5250 North Christiana, Chicago

Free Admission

Little Red Riding Hood Character Inspiration

Loving this quirky photo inspiration for playing Little Red Riding Hood in the upcoming production of Cinderhood with Chicago Opera Playhouse.  My sassy Little Red will be debuting October 12th on Chicago's north side.

Grand & Glorious Wooden Boat Show

Photos from our little Music By the Lake musical revue before singing the opening of the  36th Meeting and International Boat Show in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

With Linden Christ, Michael Brown, Timothy Rebers, Taryn Whipple, and Matthew Richardson
Directed by Christine Flasch (below)

A Brigadoon Wedding Photo

Act One Wedding Scene
with Matthew Richardson as Charlie Dalrymple
and Jerry Miller as Mr. Lundi

There my heart forever lies...Brigadoon Closing

Brigadoon had a spectacular run at Music by the Lake this past weekend.  The setting was as beautiful as the show!  This particular production has been especially hard to let go of.  I so enjoyed everyone in the cast and crew and loved getting to figure out who Jeannie Dalrymple nee MacLaren was.  I'll always hold her in a special place in my heart.

"Brigadoon, Brigadoon, there my heart forever lies..."

with Dan McNeil as Harry Beaton