A FLASHBACK: "Giants in the Sky"

From my cabaret, "Use What You Got". Signature Theatre 2007

Helen Hayes Awards 2008

Congrats to all of my friends who received the award tonight! Congrats to Eric for Best Direction in Meet John Doe. Jon Kalbfleisch for Merrily We Roll Along. Heidi Blickenstaff for Meet John Doe, Marc Kudisch for Witches of Eastwick, Nancy Robinette and J. Fred Shiffman for Souvenir, Matt Gardiner for everything he won (I've lost track)!
And for everyone who was nominated as well. Congratulations all around, and in the immortal words of Tory Ross: "Well Done!"
Here are some photos of the mayhem...

THEATRICALLY: Year in Review

I am so blessed to have been involved in 5 amazing productions this past year. I am so thankful and greatful to have been given these amazing opportunities. It truly has been a fantastic year for me.
1st up was Into the Woods at Signature Theatre.

I had a blast as the bratty little Jack. The cast was wonderful, and it was such a great time romping through the woods with all of them. It was a special treat to have Angela Lansbury as the voice of the Giant. I loved when the giant would walk and the theatre shook, and leaves would fall. Amazing.






Next was Meet John Doe at Ford's Theatre. I had such a fantastic time with this show and it was great to work at Ford's Theatre. The cast was made up of some of my best friends, so that made it even more pleasurable. And it was nice to play a bad guy for once...actually I think it is the only time I have ever played one. I loved it!













In Summer came two different performances of my newest cabaret, Use What You Got. I had a great time, and Jenny Cartney lent such a wonderful skill and know how by helping me put it together and performing it with me. The audiences were enthusiastic and responsive, and sang along loud and proud. I really feel like I relaxed into it the second time (at the Signature Open House in August). This cabaret made me fall in love with cabaret as an art form again, and I have been working on putting together two other cabarets since this one has passed. Cheers and thanks to all who came and supported me.
















Funny Girl was done as a concert this past Fall, with Jacqui Piro Donovan as Fanny Brice. She was incomparable. It was great to hear the score to Funny Girl, which I never heard as I tended to avoid Barbara Streisand like the plague before working on the show. I fell in love with the show, and will always hold in my memory the image of Jacqui belting out the last notes of the reprise of "Don't Rain on my Parade" while red lights blasted the theatre and red mylar glitter rained down on her. Breathtaking.
















And finally, the ticker. tick,tick...BOOM! contained the biggest role that I have ever played. I am so glad to have had the amazing team that we had around us. I had an amazing time with the cast and crew of the show. The show was an incredibly important experience for me to have, and it taught me so much. More than anything, it taught me to listen. To many things.








Whew! What an amazing year! It is hard to believe as I write and look back on all of it. Thanks to all of the theatres, their staff, my beloved cast mates, and to fate, chance, luck, and yes, God, for all of these wonderful journeys. I can't wait to start more journeys in 2008.
Happy New Year to all!
Luv,
SGS

He's the Best Cow...

I got this photo sent to me from a picture phone, saying only "from the girls at Signature".
Wow. Milky White in drag in the elevator.
The girls at Signature truly rock.
:)
Luv, SGS

Stephanie Waters as Cinderella

(Sketch by Bob Perdziola, show photos by Carol Pratt, backstage photos by Donna Migliaccio and me).

I had never met Stephanie before Into the Woods, yet had seen her picture in the lobby of Toby's Dinner Theatre all the years that I worked there. (She starred in several shows, most notably The Wizard of Oz, for which she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award).

I didn't put the two together until one night after the show at Cap City, where I suddenly said, "THAT'S IT!!!" and put 2 and 2 together.

She is a first class performer,

and such a delight to be around after the show is over. Nothing really shakes her. She is as stable as anything, and more grounded than most people that I know. How many performers that you know would go down to New Orleans and volunteer to help, and not just for like a week, either. She is going back again this summer...I respect her so much for that.

During the opening, I danced most of the night away with Cinderella...uh...I mean Stephanie. Although, on that night, it was difficult to see a difference.

When she finally changed out of her Cinderella ball gown in act 2 for the last time, I captured this sad goodbye to her enchanted dress. She felt that the dress had become such a part of her.

She was always such a good sport about the show, and when asked to have a mini discussion with me (as dance captain) during a 10 minute break, I would approach her and say, "I know that you are on your break, but can I ask you a question or two?", whereupon she would reply, "Oh, I don't care about breaks or equity crap...what do you need? Let me help you..."

I thought that this trait was amazing. She was just there to do the best show that she could, and didn't give one rat's ass about anything else.

She will always hold a special place in my heart because of her genuine kindness, charm, and beauty. Inner and outer.

She is threatening to move back to our parts in a year or so, and I only hope that it is true. Our theatrical community could benefit from having a little Stephanie Waters floating around in it.

She's good people.

And I miss my Cinderella so much already.

Goodnight Cindy,

Love,

Jack

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Shouldn't you consider planned parenthood?

Arlington Alert: BLIND GIANT ON THE LOOSE

The closing night of Into the Woods, where the sound cue usually played the "thunk!" effects of the giantess being hit in the head, the sound crapped out for some reason, never leaving the effect that the giantess was killed. Which means that the old gal ain't dead yet... so folks...I thought that I would pass on to you that somewhere in Arlington, there is a blind giantess wandering around, who is really pissed off.

Exercise caution near wooded areas.

Fairy Tales Gone Wild!

(Photo left to right of Lauren Williams, Dan Cooney, Channez McQuay, Erin Driscoll, and Florrie Bagel)

The next week's posts will be dedicated to remembrances of Into the Woods. Be sure to check the post below for a further story of Jack and Milky White's exploits!

I guess this is goodbye old pal...

So, I said goodbye to my cow, and much more than that tonight.

Tough night.

I will miss this inanimate object.

I loved him/her.

Why I say this is that the cow that got delivered to us was a male cow! The prop designer had to do some brainstorming to figure out how to build up the udders over the cow's fake penis. They forgot one detail...Milky White still had his testicles, which hung near the tail. So...this was quite the sexually confused cow.

She/He also had 3 other major surgery procedures while receiving a somewhat botched sex change. She had jaw surgery (they had to cut into her jaw and insert some sort of hinge device to make the jaw open and close). They also had to cut open her chest to make an escape hatch for the crew to get the shoe, hair and cape out of. She/he also had wheels inserted into her hooves. All operations were a success, but she/he did have some side effects after recovery: sometimes for no reason at all, her jaw would randomly drop open. I said backstage, and well out of her hearing range that she was out there mugging for laughs by doing the whole jaw bit. The heifer even had the nerve to drop her jaw right as I sold her one night, and right before I sang "Goodbye Old Pal" to her, I shut her jaw for her. She did develop quite the comic timing...

Another after effect of the surgery to her hooves was...well...she was sometimes difficult to guide her certain ways. If she didn't want to go a certain way, she would let you know, and end up rolling the other way. She/he was really evolving into quite the diva.

During tech week, she tripped on a bit of tree trunk and ended up breaking her ear off....I felt awful...this cow was purchased from an outdoor nativity company and cost a pretty penny, and here I am guiding her onto stage in tech week no less, and she does a roll job and loses an ear. In hindsight, I think she fell on purpose to try to get more attention, but I'll let that go.

They fixed up the ear with liquid nails, and she was good to go for the rest of the run.

Until this weekend. This cow did NOT want this show to close.

Closing weekend, every time the cow and I exited after the Witch's transformation scene, her wheels would catch the black fabric masking that was hung in vom 3. The fabric would rip and get caught in her wheels. It was as if she was clawing at things to keep from leaving the stage.

She had not done this the entire run. It was bizarre.

Then it happened. Saturday matinee, Dan Cooney as the Baker and I were in our scene where we were fighting over the cow, and then there is her big death scene, where we make it look like she keels over. Well, I was NOT grabbing her by the ear, but somehow I must have nudged the ear and it just fell off in our struggle. I somehow caught the ear in my armpit and when on fighting with Dan over possession of the cow. I thought to myself, I'll just keep the ear in my armpit and not acknowledge that it happened...then thought...that is ridiculous, everyone in the audience knows that her ear just fell off. So we guided her to the ground, and instead of me doing the usual business of checking her heartbeat, I just held up the broken ear at Dan and said, "Milky White is dead!".

I don't think that she liked me making fun of her condition like that. I carried her offstage and she was quickly spirited away to the backstage crew, who used white gaff tape to tape the wayward ear back on for the time being.

After the show, she was glued again, and the ear was held on as the epoxy hardened by a bandage. She looked like Van Gogh.

She was very difficult to deal with after that, even the closing night, when I entered with her at the top of the show, I put her where I wanted her to be, and her wheels shifted, and she moved 2 inches over. (More into the light).

Diva.

All of this considered, she was not just a fiber glass cow from a Nativity company, she was another actress/actor/actron? in our show, and I felt sad taking the photo that you see at the top of this post.

That photo was taken after the final bow of the closing performance, and I ran back on and got someone to take a picture of me and she/he together.

After the picture was taken, I said, "Well...I guess this is goodbye old pal..." and then found myself welling up in the eyes, like a 10 year old.

Why????

I don't know.

Every time I looked at this cow onstage, I looked at it as if it were my dearly beloved dog, Buddha. I guess I just projected so much emotion onto this fake cow that I actually felt sad leaving it.

What is her future? I guess that she will sit in Signature Theatre's prop storage for an indeterminable future...(until they need a cow again..?!).

I secretly hoped that she would be trusted to me to keep her until the time arose that Signature would need another cow (meaning probably never), and that she could grace my backyard till then. (She was built for the outdoors anyway).

But, alas, she will be somewhere in a dusty corner of a storage unit pining for her return to the stage, whenever that will be.

I will always be fond of my wayward, diva, transsexual cow, and her many whims. She forced me to be a better actor, because she never let me relax in a scene with her, as she was never predictable. I thank her for this.

She was truly "the best cow".

Love,

Stephen

Into the Woods...Closing day

(Photo of Eleasha Gamble and Erin Driscoll by Carol Pratt)

Well, here it is, at last. Closing day of Into the Woods. I feel like we were all just dancing in the lobby to celebrate the gala opening. Now it is done.

I am about to leave to the theatre for the matinee (leaving a little bit early due to the snow...roads are not the best).

It has been a fairy tale come true to be a part of this show, and I will be sad to see it end.

More to come later.

Love,

SGS

Hiding from the giant...

If you ever wonder where Jack goes while he hides from the giant, and until the Witch finds him, here is the road map... first of all, I sort of saunter through the underbrush for awhile...

Then I go and try to use the wardrobe room computer, but look...Lucinda is checking to see if Prince Charming has e-mailed her...

At that point, I usually get hungry, and enjoy my usual dinner of potato soup, while reading "Fables", a comic book about my fable brethren, and catching up with mom. Jack has survived on Potato soup. Don't know why, it is just what it is.

Sometimes I just sit and look out onto the gorgeous village of Shirlington and wonder how is it that a few months earlier, I would be staring out into an alley instead of a gorgeous street, and wondering where time went and how any of this is possible. I thank Signature Theatre for giving Jack many places to hide and consider these facts.

Love, Stephen Gregory Smith

"Just give me the boy!"

I just wanted to show these pictures, as it makes me laugh, Ebony and Ivory considered.

Eartha Kitt goes "Into the Woods"...

Here is the ONLY Catwoman with some of the cast of ITW.
This is for you, Mom!

Catwoman came Into the Woods!

How random is this? Eartha Kitt was at our Saturday Matinee! Yes, THE Eartha Kitt! She is friends with Dan Cooney's girlfriend, and they all came down to see Dan in the show! I actually shook hands with Catwoman!
(Ok...as a geek, and TOTAL Batman TV show fan, it blew my mind).
How cool is that?

"We had to go through thick and thin..."

(Photo of me, Dan Cooney, and Stephanie Waters and Lauren Williams by Carol Pratt)

Wow. First 5 show weekend of ITW. Quite exhausting. But what a great time. Great houses this weekend...populated with anyone from J. Fred Shiffman to Anthony Rapp.
This show always feels fun to do. That is kind of rare...when a show, despite its work load is enjoyable and doesn't feel like work while you are doing it...While I love Mondays as a day off, I won't lie and say that come Monday night at about 7ish, that I don't think about that prologue starting it's incessant vamp, and the first "I Wish" being sung...
Last Monday, Matty and I had a "date night" and had dinner at The Olive Garden (I am an Italian food addict) and then saw Pan's labyrinth...this Monday...(today actually), we will have dinner....somewhere, and go to see Notes on a Scandal, but we will be joined by Dan Cooney (Our Baker in ITW, also, the former Mr. Poe in Nevermore).
It will be my next to last day off, as I start rehearsals for Meet John Doe at FOrd's on February 6th. (And our day off is Sunday...so...for 3 weeks, I will be running all over town, car pooling with Jim Moye, who is our Cinderella's Prince/ Big Bad Wolf, and who is also John Doe! We will be travel cohorts in this next 3 weeks, as we are not one mile from each other (he is being put up in the new town houses opposite Signature).
I will be enjoying a nice day of house cleaning, blogging, dusting, and grocery shopping tomorrow.
Details to follow.
New "Good Ink" as some of my cohorts call it:
Arlington Sun Gazette
DC Theatre Reviews (Scroll Down)
Washington City Paper
Thanks to Joel for being OVERLY sweet...
So, until tomorrow, I am gonna sign off and sleep easy.
Goodnight, Arlington.
SGS

Out of the Woods...

Photo of Donna Migliaccio and me, by Carol Pratt.

What's up this weekend in the woods?
Well...Funny enough, I have been listed as "gay" for the first time in a Washington Blade review...I mean, not that I am keeping it a secret or anything, but...
It's funny. I always was like "Why is everyone else listed as gay in the cast in a review, and I am not?". Heh. Now I am...and I'm all like...weird about it. Not mad or embarrassed or anything, because I am not in the closet at all, it is just sort of weird to actually feel labeled.
Just weird. Not saying that it is good or bad...it was just a little jarring to read at first. Here is the link to the review.
On another woodsy note, Donna has done a very funny "Photo Essay" on what fairy tale characters do when they're "dead". Here is the link.
I am on break now in between the first 5 show weekend in the new theatre, about to walk the neglected pug, and trying to think about what I am going to eat. Nothing is really coming to mind.
I met a lovely lady with her child who came to see both My Fair Lady, and today Into the Woods. She came with her 6 year old son, who loved the show, and also had loved MFL. He loved the dancing in it so much that he demonstrated some of the "Little Bit of Luck" dance for me. It was so cute! The lady informed me that she reads this blog, so I want to send a special hello to her and her son, and strongly urge her to put her son into dance classes soon, since he is already so talented!
That is all for today...I think.
Off to pug, dinner, nap, second show, in that order.
Love,
Steve

"...and home before dark..."

(Photo by Carol Pratt of April Harr Blandin, Sean MacLaughlin, Florrie Bagel, Erin Driscoll, Donna Migliaccio, Stevie Cupo, Lauren Williams)


There ARE some tickets left for Into the Woods, I have found out. Not for all dates but for some..these tickets will go fast, and I don't think there is any possibility of extension, so if you want to catch this first show in the new Signature Theatre, I would get your tickets soon!

Here is some of the press:
Washington Post
Variety
TheatreMania
Talkin' Broadway
DCist

Jack

Photo by Carol Pratt
Well, this is me as Jack in Into the Woods. This costume is awesome. Tickets are almost totally sold out, but there might be one or two left. I doubt it, though. Check Here and see.

Gala Opening...Part 2, or " Prom Pictures"

When folks get really dressed up a funny thing happens. They pose together for pictures like it is the Prom all over again. I guess we never really lose that instinct.
Here are some of my "Prom Pictures"...



First up, Eleasha and I, yes-even complete with the second photo to show the whole dress...What's up with my hair? Ugh...In between growing it out from it being so short for the past year. I wish it would get longer already!



















Next up we have me and Lauren "Little Red" Williams. Notice that I have lost the tie already. (I can't wear ties for long) I would estimate 2 alcoholic beverages at the time of this picture. Hmmm...maybe 3?




















Next up, me and the hubby. Of course, because I get psycho about having good pictures of us together, I insist we take 2, because I wasn't really happy with the face he was making in the first one, then I wasn't happy with the face I was making in the second one. Oh well. Not too bad, I guess.



















Here we have the Lovely April Harr Blandin and Harry A. Winter. Sweet picture.




















Matt and Eleasha. Estimated alcoholic beverages: Questionable. Matt is like this with or without liquor.

















Lovely picture of Priscilla Cuellar and Erin Driscoll. Aren't they lovely?















Lastly, Erin Driscoll and myself. I don't know about her, but I'm not even gonna estimate my own level of beverage intake shown here. Let's just say that we were having fun. So if Helen Hayes is "Drama Prom", as it is called around town, then maybe the Opening of Signature was our own "Winter Ball"...or..."Harry Winter Ball"...? No, that's not it either...whatever it was, it was damn fun. As you can see from this photo below.