2010 Tony Award

Hey, where is my Tony nomination???? I guess I have to get a lead in a show to get nominated! OK OK OK I will try, and keep holding on to that dream! So was I watching the Tony Awards or was this The Oscars or Grammys? In the attempt yet again to make the ratings high, The Tony awards is pulling out all stops to make it full of celebrities. If they would just stay true to who they are, I think the telecast would do much better. Why did Greenday perform twice? I am so confused!!!!

One of the great parts of the Tony telecast was the host Sean Hayes, his performance on the show was hilarious! My favorite moment of Sean's was him running through the audience singing "Don't Rain On My Parade", in a Spiderman costume. His jokes were theatrical, political, and so relevant to the audience that was watching the show. BRAVO SEAN HAYES!

Just like 2009 The Tony had major sound problems, and it is appalling that it happened two years in a row! EEEK! Fire the sound guy please!

I'm going to say something that could get me in so much trouble, as I have many friends in this show. However this my blog, and I have to be honest and it's just my opinion! MEMPHIS sucks, and I can't believe it won The Tony for best musical! That is just an awful show, with a terrible book, terrible over staged choreography, and the music sounds straight from a cruise ship! IN MY OPINION the best musical of the season was clearly FELA, and they got seriously robbed!

Another crazy moment was Catherine Zeta Jones singing "Send In The Clowns", although she seemed emotionally connected. The head bobbing was killing me, if she twitched her head one more time, I was going to run on stage and snatch it off. I know she started in musical theater, but couldn't they direct to her, to focus her head. It drove me up a wall!

Denzel Washington, although, I love his performance in Fences, but his speech, came across as not caring, and blah! It was not hopeful for a major celebrity! Or inspirational for someone like me who idolizes his work. He needs to pull up, and if you gain weight, find a suit that fits!

Christin Cheneowith, officially gets on my nerves..I know that is a sin to say. I appreciate her talent, but I'm sick of that squeaky voice, and annoying persona! America has embraced her as there sweet heart, when meanwhile she is ANNOYING. However, I would not want to see another actress play, Glinda in Wicked, or Sally in Your A Good Man Charlie Brown, as she was superb in those roles. I will never take away from her gift, but yet she is becoming more and more self indulgent. I miss the honesty she used to have, although corky, yet honest, and pure. All of that is gone, and she needs a break to rethink it, I believe!

Highlights for me; Scarlett Johansson deserving win and speech, Bill T. Jones win and speech, La Cage performance, Fela performance, Sean Hayes Everything, Be Be Neuwirth and Nathan Lane presenting, Lea Michelle belting out "Rain On My Parade", and my favorite moment of all times Viola Davis speech and overly deserving win!

The Tony Awards all and all, were entertaining, lots of surprises this season. I just hope we can get back to being honest to the work, and not trying to sell tickets for tours, and ratings with celebrities.

The Commercial World

I have been in a five week commercial class, that my manager made me go take, here in New York City! I want to thank my management team for doing so, because it was a flawless experience. I am taking class from one of the biggest commercial casting directors in New York City, Barry Shapiro! I was so pleasantly surprised at how amazing this class has been for me. I have learned so many tricks to the trade, and how to get people interested in me as a commercial actor. I will miss this class, because we not only learned tricks, but we had a blast while doing. Barry is a man full of knowledge, and you can tell he teaches from the heart. He is very direct in his approach, but so much fun at the same time. I will be so comfortable auditioning for Barry, because I have the inside on his likes and dislikes. This commercial world is so foreign to me, because it is taking all your acting training, and throwing it out the window. It is just making faces, and playing heighten emotions in a very swift period of time. Some things we learned was dissecting commercial copy, performing solo short and long copy, cue cards, eating on camera, improv for commercials, and dialogue auditions. The most exciting part about this for me, is after taking this class, I have just booked my first commercial agent here in New York City. I will be sent out on those types of gigs, and will feel so comfortable auditioning for this interesting world. I'm truly, proud of myself, for taking all these classes, and now being able to try and make it all happen. Wish me luck on my film auditions and commercial auditions, here goes trying to live the dream! FYI blog friends, If you want to do commercial acting Barry Shapiro's class is highly recommended!!!!!

Todrick hall Singing My Order at McDonald's Drive Thru Twitter @toddyroc...

This is Todrick Hall from this season of American Idol, and a musical theater performer, in such shows as The Color Purple! I don't know him personally, (surprisingly), however, I admire his creativity and talent. I think he has a gift as a performer, and think he left Idol way too soon. Maybe the season would have been more interesting if they kept a pop star, instead of some of the boring performers they had on there. That is beside the point, I just fell in love with his, McDonald Commercial project, and I hope the right people see this. Watch this video, and enjoy my blog friends.

When is too much too much!

50 Cent is doing a movie, in which he lost so much weight that you can't even recognize him! Don't get me wrong I would do things for roles, like lose weight or pack on pounds. However, this just looks so unhealthy, and I hope he went about it in the right way. He is actually the same weight, and waist size I am now! However, his face looks so unhealthy and like death is knocking at his front door. I guess that is the way he supposed to look being that he is playing a cancer patient! I'm intrigued to see the movie, because why go through all this if you CAN'T ACT! Did I say that? (not little J.R.) OK I don't have the right to call him out yet, but I will wait and see the movie! There is a rumor the film might go straight to DVD! Anyway, I hope his acting is superb, because if it isn't, would all the weight loss be worth it? Is 50 cent a real actor? Has he been training up for this role, to prove skeptics like myself wrong? These are the questions rumbling through my head! I remember the great actress by the name of Meryl Streep, (LOL) who played a cancer patient, and all she did was put on some make up, and shave her head. Her acting was so extraordinary, that you didn't care what she looked like, you believed every single moment the actress spoke! Is this a gimmick, or is 50 cent for real? Is his real name 50 cent? What will he call himself in the movie credits, so I can take him serious???? Hmmm, I guess we will all wait and see if the proof will be in the final product. Which blog friends, you know J.R. Whittington will be blogging on this acting/weight loss issue!

Fences

It was like a dream comes true, when I got to sit six rows back in the orchestra and watch an extraordinary revival of Fences on Broadway! It has been 23 years since this production has last seen the bright light of a Broadway stage. This production of this play was so well directed, and staged brilliantly! I might have changed some of the set design, being that I am from Pittsburgh, and have been to the Hill District many of times, and the set didn't feel like home to me! It was an extra nice experience for me, as I could envision the neighborhoods, and identify with the text when it spoke of different things, streets, and just plain Pittsburghese!!!! With that said, I need to give a large BRAVO shout out to the late August Wilson, who writing is so powerful, thought provoking, real, and timeless. This man was a genius, and gone way too soon. I'm not just saying that, because he is from my home town. LOL August Wilson was a true genius, and now as an older man, I can realize his talent even more.

To see the shows stars, and folks I idolize, (Denzel Washington and Viola Davis) on stage was so awesome for me. Did they live up to the hype? Oh yes they did and more. I now am a huge fan of both of these actors, and wouldn't miss a thing they do on stage and film. Viola Davis, is the real deal my friends, and her performance is honest, stunning, and magnificent! Some of the choices she made, were so off the wall, and worked so well, that I couldn't help but tear up! Denzel Washington, has a new take on his character Troy, and you don't just think of him as a butt hole. You realize that this man, truly does care about the people around him, although he has a harsh way of showing it! Denzel had some moments that reminded of me the great James Earl Jones, and I was thrilled to see the man in action up close. The other highlighted performance for me was Stephen Mckinley Henderson, who has such a heart in his simple, honest, beautiful performance. I also enjoyed Mykelti Willamson, who played the same character he played in Forrest Gump, however, he does it well. I also say if it ain't broke, then don't fix it! My two least favorite performances were that of Chris Chalk and Russell Hornsby! Although, I will say that Hornsby last moment in the show was beautifully done. Hornsby performance throughout the rest of the piece felt very contrived and not real to me. Which is unfortunate for a man with so many credits, and maybe I saw him on a bad night???? Chris Chalk on the other hand, lacked the passion needed to convince me that, his dad is crushing his dream of football! Chalk's performance was OK, but I would have done more homework, and dug deeper to find more moments. I will say this Chalk and Hornsby criticism by me, (just J.R.) wasn't that I thought they were horrible. They were just OK, and I am being nit picky and wanted different choices, and more honesty in the moment from both actors.

All in all Fences is a must see if you are New York City. For three reasons only: Denzel, August and Viola!!!!! This piece is probably the best acting I have ever seen on a stage, LIVE! RUN TO SEE FENCES! You have to see why this show is nominated for 11 Tony Awards!

Monique Midgette

One of my dearest friends in the world, is Monique Midgette. She is a musical theater performer like no other, and a voice that is powerful and it will blow your hair back. I love to hear Monique sing, she is so talented, and I have never been more obsessed with someones vibratto. Her voice has a gospel sound, with a mix of Broadway swished all up and through it! She also has a knack for singing classic soul music, such as Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Anita Baker, and her favorite Darlene Love. She is also so present on stage, and her acting chops are raw, pure, and present! I have followed my friends theatrical career, and enjoy watching her on that big stage. Some of her credits include; Sessusical on Broadway, Civil War on Broadway, Marie Christine on Broadway, and currently in The Lion King! You might not know the name yet, oh, but you will, she will be a broadway star, and very soon. Monique will have Tony nominations, and all kinds of trophies on her mantal. She has been patient and silent, waiting for her starring break. I feel it in my bones, that it will be coming soon! Watch out world for Monique Midgette, Broadway's next big star.

Nathan Lee Graham

So I have an amazing friend, who is so terrific and talented. I cherish his friendship, because he inspires me as an actor. You might have seen him in movies such as Zoolander, Sweet Home Alabama, and Hitch! Just to mention a few of his works, because this man is a working fool! He has an acting style like no other, with honesty and commitment to his work. He is the one man, I would love to work with, but would be terrified to do a scene. Mr. Graham is known to steal the scene from everyone, even the likes of mega star Will Smith! He will take a scene, grab hold of it, spin, twirl, flip, and jump all over that scene, until it is left on the ground with nothing! LOL! What you don't know about Nathan, is he is not just a screen star, he has an amazing voice, and we met doing the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, many years ago. He was also in musicals like Showboat, The WIld Party (Bway) and will soon be seen this fall in the musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert! His cabaret act is one of the best in town, and if you get a chance to see it, you will be doing yourself a major treat. For more information on Nathan check out his reel: www.nathanleegraham.com