Shows – Page 41 – Conrad Askland

April 9, 2007June 30, 2007

Disney HSM 2007

Disney’s High School Musical run at McIntyre Hall (Mount Vernon, WA) has wrapped. Thanks to all for a very fun run. Special kudos to our tech crew on this show – thank you for all your hard work.

Here on my website I have a whole section just for High School Musical related articles and photos – check out the “High School Musical” link on the right bar navigation.

HSM 2007 PROGRAM CREDITS

Disney’s High School Musical
Book by David Simpatico
Original songs by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil; Ray Cham, Greg Cham and Andrew Seeley; Randy Petersen and Kevin Quinn; Andy Dodd and Adam Watts; Bryan Louiselle; David N. Lawrence and Faye Greenberg; Jamie Houston.

Music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle

Based on a Disney Channel Original Movie Written by Peter Barsocchini

Theater Arts Guild Production March 23 – April 7, 2007
Produced by Jann Barem, Clarence Holden and Harold Page
Directed by Scott McDade
Musical Direction by Conrad Askland
Choreographed by Donna Carroll and Jennifer Newell
Lighting Design by Steven Craig

CAST
Troy Bolton – Ryan McNamara
Gabriella Montez – Miranda Zickler
Sharpay Evans – Havalah Calderon and Adria Finch
Ryan Evans – Cody Adelman
Chad Danforth – Mikel Armstrong
Taylor McKessie – Emma Lynn
Kelsi Neilson – Sarah Damstra and Mandy Vander Mey
Zeke Baylor – Stefan Vanden Kooy
Martha Cox – Kaela Springer
Jack Scott – Mason Eger
Ms. Darbus – Laurie Miller
Coach Bolton – Bruce Vilders

Cheerleaders – Ellis Jones, Haylie Ingman, Carly Richter and Lisa Wallace

Jocks – Jake Updegraff, Justin Lawrence, Connor Crosby, Tyler Luvera, Miles Lee, Jeff Huschka, Michael Peterson

Braniacs – Emily Lester, Alec Hernandez, Madeline Furlong, Lauren Leer, Mathias Struck

Thespians – Pete Grace, Rebecca Wright, Amelia Furlong, Lauren Sigfusson, Chloe Roberts, Emma Ferguson, Nicole Jennings

Skaters – Lindsee Nichols, Demi Fair, Chelsea Hawkinson, Courtney Blunt, Jana Collins, Kyle Mitchell

Wildcat Dancers – Mikalah Barem, Adria Finch, Gina Wallace, Braelyn Whited, Miranda Peterson, Malia Woodard, Felisha Palomera

Wildcat Students – Teylor Wilber, Kiralee Nichols, Ashley Christoferson, Dorothy Howard, Laura Andrich, Emily Watilo, Emily Shapiro and Hanna Ermi.

Voice of Ms. Tenny – Shelby Celia
Voice of Decathlon Moderator – Rebecca Wright

UNDERSTUDIES
Gabriella Montez – Lauren Leer
Taylor McKessie – Lauren Sigfusson
Zeke – Jake Updegraff
Martha Cox – Miranda Peterson
Ryan Evans – Pete Grace

PRODUCTION STAFF
Producers – Jann Barem, Clarence Holden and Harold Page
Director – Scott McDade
Musical Director/Conductor – Conrad Askland
Choreographers Donna Carroll and Jennifer Newell
Stage Manager – Dave Wright
Set Designer – Scott McDade
Design Consultants – Harold Paige and Steven Craig
Costumer – Cathy Pfahl
Lighting Designer – Steven Craig
Makeup / Hair Designer – Amy Vermulm
Makeup Assistants – Nicole Trepus and Claire Miller
Props Managers – Amanda McDaniel and Suzann McLamb
Director’s Assistant – Shelby Celia
Choreographer’s Assistant – Tessa Bisby
Costume Assistants – D.J. Walker and Cecilia Andress
Dance Captians – Adria Finch and Miranda Peterson
Audio Engineer – Kyle Blevins
Audio Tech 2 – Milton Grambo
Baksetball Coaches – Anton Fero and Bruce Vilders
Volunteer Coordinator – Ann Nelson
Set Construction Lead – Don Willcuts
Set Construction Crew – Mark O’Brien, Phillip Brown, Bob Jones, Joriah Barnett, Walter Pfahl, Aaron Haba, Roger Ragusa, Leif Barem, Glen Huschka, Bruce Vilders

Scenic Painter – Karen Bakke
Set Painters – Elizabeth Haba, Alicia Huschka, Glen Huschka, Elizabeth Risser, Kathy Lester, Karen Gardner-Brown, Kathy Brackett, Clarice Lee, Ebony Lee, Debbie Mitchell and Dave Mitchell

Productin Photographers – Gary Brown and Eric Hall
Program – McDade and Company
Program Assistants – Jann Barem and Harold Paige
Program Photographer – Scott McDade

RUNNING CREW
Fly Lead – Dave Mumford
Fly Crew – Spencer Demarais, Nate Young, Roger Ragusa and Leif Barem
Stage Crew – Chelsea Lankford, Madelynne Nore, Lauren Reilly and Anna Oomen
Light Board Operator – James Yandel
Follow-spot Operators – Wes Furlong and Cameron Craig

ORCHESTRA
Conductor/Keyboard 1 – Conrad Askland
Keyboard 2 – Brianne Weaver
Guitar 1 – Luke Hansen
Guitar 2 and Saxophone – Kyle McInnis
Bass Guitar – Peter Bridgman
Percussion – Oscar De La Rosa
Drums – David Bridgman

April 1, 2007April 1, 2007

Keytar Photos

Thanks to Gary Brown for these photos from our half time show for Disney’s High School Musical. I ham it up by playing a Roland Keytar through a JP8000 synth. The best part is at intermission when the kids come down to the pit to see all the musicians. On some shows I’ve let the kids each take turns playing my Keytar. They start by asking “What’s that?” and I say “It’s a keytar!” – then they say “What’s a keytar?” and I say “It’s a keyboard that wants to be a guitar!” – and the great thing about kids is: That’s a perfect reasonable explanation to them and they accept that. I’m sure it makes it more fun for them to watch the half time show after they’ve seen the keytar up close and played it themselves.

Audiences have been really fantastic for this run. They are very enthusiastic to jam with the band by clapping and singing along to our jams. Each show’s jam is a little bit different – and I know each night how much the crowd enjoyed it by their lion-like screams and yells when we’re done. Life is good.

The keytar I use is the Roland AX-1 – I used this for a couple shows when I toured with Freddy Fender but he didn’t care for it much – “Dude, why do you have to play so many notes?” – I don’t think he ever heard of Keith Emerson.

It was really fun to dust off my keytar for this show. Disneys High School Musical is very “bubble-gummy” – and the keytar came to mind as the perfect complement to the show. Opening night I picked it up out of storage and we worked up a jam with the band.

I predict the keytar will be the new secret weapon of the Vikings when they regroup and once again being their world domination.

HISTORY OF THE KEYTAR

A keytar is a keyboard or synthesizer worn around the neck and shoulders, similar to a guitar. The word “keytar” is a portmanteau of “keyboard” and “guitar”. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement, compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands.

Originally the creation of guitarist Steve Masakowski, the keytar was commercially introduced in 1978 as the Moog Liberation. The first Liberation owner (#1001) was Spyro Gyra keyboardist Tom Schuman (with numbers 1002, 1003, and 1004 owned by the band Devo).

Perhaps one of the earliest printed use of the term “Keytar” was circa 1980 in an interview of Jeffrey Abbott (owner of Moog Liberation #1005) by Tom Lounges of Illianabeat magazine (now Midwest BEAT Magazine)

The keytar was made popular in the 1980s by hair bands, as well as synthpop and New Wave groups. Changing trends in music diminished the keytar’s popularity shortly thereafter. The keytar has enjoyed new visibility due in part to software innovations from companies like Musiclab (RealGuitar), UltimateSoundBank (PlugSound) and the Williams (Keytar V-1).

THE ROLAND AX-1

The Roland AX-1 is a keytar (a shoulder-held clavier keyboard worn like a guitar) that does not produce its own sounds but controls other devices (such as keyboards, sound modules, and samplers) via MIDI.

Henrik Klingenberg of metal band Sonata Arctica played an AX-1 before upgrading to a Roland AX-7.

More recently, Jake Hallman, pianist for Eric Lee Beddingfield and County Line was seen playing an AX-1 at several live shows, a rarity in country/Southern rock music.French Maestro Jean-Michel Jarre has used the AX-1 Both a Black(with customised lower Octave having reversed colour keys)and also the Red Version during his Europe in concert tour back in 1993

Imogen Heap formerly of British pop duo Frou Frou sported an AX-1 while touring with Frou Frou and on her solo tours.

ALTERNATE NAMES FOR A KEYTAR

* keyboard guitar
* Synth-Axe
* remote keyboard
* portable keyboard
* belly-synth
* synth guitar (not to be confused with MIDI Guitar)
* master keyboard (as most were used as MIDI controllers)
* electroponce
* Schmidtkeytar
* Kaytar
* Piano guitar (in french Canada)

Peter Bridgman – Bass Guitar

Oscar De La Rosa – Percussion

Luke Hansen – Guitar

David Bridgman – Drums

More pics of Conrad with his Keytar

Brianne Weaver – Keyboards

April 1, 2007April 1, 2007

Pit Band Musician Photos – High School Musical

Exceedingly rare and vintage pit band photos of the musicians for Disney’s High School Musical presentation at McIntyre Hall 2007. These musicians were VERY fun and intense to work with. When we get a tight groove going on it feels more like we’re cruising down the street with the subs cranking.

UPDATE – MORE BAND PHOTOS HERE!

Most of the musicians I’ve worked with before on other productions and they are all my first choice players to work with right now. They consistently rise to the occasion and raise the bar where most others would have folded and settled for “just ok”.

These photos are courtesy of Gary Brown at Stage Images – he’s doing a lot of photography for live shows now and prints are available online. Gary is kind enough to spend a little time taking pictures of the musicians which they REALLY appreciate. Pit orchestras are usually overlooked when it comes to photo opportunities, so players rarely have pictures of themselves playing their instruments.

But Gary, I think I should point out that all of these musicians are devlishly handsome except for me. I think you accidentally hit the “ugly” button when you took my photos. Does anyone know a good photoshop airbrush artist?

UPDATE 04/07 – Gary took some new pics of me and I really like them. Check out the KEYTAR PHOTOS – Thank you Gary!

HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC BY DISNEY – PIT BAND PHOTOS

Oscar De La Rosa – Percussion
Oscar is the “mojo” of our group

Luke Hansen – Guitar
Luke grows guitar amps in his backyard

Kyle McInnis – Guitar and Saxophone
Plays the best “Mario Brothers Theme”
this side of the Mississippi

In the Orchestra Pit
Throw a flank steak into the pit – we’ll keep playing

David Bridgman – Drums

with Peter Bridgman – Bass

Conrad Askland – Conductor and Keyboards
Five keyboard rig for fast changes

Conrad warms up the crowd for Act II
with his “Keytar” – a keyboard that wishes
it was a guitar

View from the Drums looking up at the Balcony
in McIntyre Hall – Skagit College Campus

The Band is Focused and Intense

Brianne Weaver – Keyboards

March 29, 2007

Ray Cham – HSM Song Composer – Dies

Our condolences to the family of Ray Cham. Ray was one of the songwriters for Disney’s High School Musical.

Ray Cham, 2006 Emmy-nominated Songwriter/Producer, passed away in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 4, 2007. Cham passed away from injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident. Cham was 35.

Ray Cham was described as …a great musical talent & genius, who hadn’t even begun to tap his full potential yet.
– Ron Fair, Chairman, Geffen Records

Ray Cham was co-writer with his brother for music and lyrics to “Get Your Head In the Game” – arguably the most well known song from High School Musical. He was also a 2006 Emmy Nominee for Outstanding Original Music with Getcha Head in the Game.

We are currently running High School Musical and I can tell you that the “Getcha Head in the Game” song is one that really binds the cast together. It’s a great positive message for everyone, not just kids. I think it’s every composer’s desire to create music that outlives themselves, and in that respect the Cham’s have hit a bullseye with this song. Kudos on that.

RAY CHAM is survived by his wife Alexandria Cham, two children Raymond Jr. and Romijn of Los Angeles; and his brother, Emmy-nominated co-writer Greg Cham of Los Angeles.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Ray Cham started his career in 1998 working as a musician and arranger for TLC, Aaron Hall, Morris Day, Tracy Spencer and Brandy. He was a producer, arranger, musician and songwriter, having written for Christina Aguilera, Sting, Mya , Sounds of Blackness, Miami Sound Machine, and Hoku. He developed and arranged the live shows for many artists including Toni Braxton, Kenny Loggins, Monica, Earth, Wind & Fire, Aguilera and Destiny’s Child.

Most recently he was a songwriter, producer and music supervisor for many of the Disney musicals and television shows – including the CHEETAH GIRLS and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. He was a 2006 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the song GET’CHA HEAD IN THE GAME that he co-wrote with his brother Emmy-nominee Greg Cham, and recording artist/composer and Emmy nominee Drew Seeley. He was music supervisor and composer for the Disney Channel film GOTTA KICK IT UP, and most recently wrote, produced and did tour arrangement for the CHEETAH GIRLS CD and tour.

Through his company Last Man Standing Inc., he was developing talent as well as writing songs for the next HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL movie and CD, as well as developing Seeley as a solo artist. Ray Cham most recently worked with Seeley on the recent HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL live show where Seeley was the male lead vocalist.

Memorial services will be held on TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2007 @ 11:00 a.m.

Pre-Service @ 10:30 a.m.

Westchester Christian Church

(site of Breath of Life Seventh-day Adventist

8740 LaTijera Blvd., Westchester, CA 90045

General viewing will be held on:

MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007 @ 4:00 p.m. â€“ 8:00 p.m.

Holy Cross Mortuary – located at:

5835 W. Slauson Ave., Culver City, CA. 90230

March 28, 2007March 28, 2007

Disney HSM – Cast and Musician Photos

Disney’s High School Musical opened at McIntyre Hall on March 23, 2007 for a three week run. Here are some photos of the HSM cast and musicians in rehearsal. Full cast is almost sixty strong and the live pit band is seven musicians (and six keyboards!).

High School Musical Cast at McIntyre Hall – Warmups

HSM Cast in General Rehearsal

HSM Musicians Setting Up In Orchestra Pit

Rhythm Section Compares Notes

Conductor’s Keyboard Rig

Oscar De La Rosa – Percussion

Scott McDade – Director

Cathy Pfahl – Costume Design

Theater Arts Guild Gobo

Jann Barem and Harold Paige

March 15, 2007March 16, 2007

Disney High School Musical

Mount Vernon, WA – Disney’s High School Musical opens at McIntyre Hall (Mount Vernon, WA) on March 23, 2007 for a threek week run. Included in the run is a school show and a bargain night on Thursday March 29th.

This show is the latest craze with pre-teen audiences. See it and find out what the fad is all about. It’s silly, it’s fun and great family entertainment. And the message of the play is fantastic: Don’t accept what others think about you, follow your dreams.

I can tell you we have a very strong ensemble chorus and we’re all looking forward to the opening. If you have a child in elementary or middle school, this would be a great show to see with them.

See you at the show!

March 15, 2007

Dracula Overture Remix Entries

One of these two entries will win a $100 prize for the best remix of my Dracula Overture. Will post voting results in about a week.

Read about the Dracula Overture.

March 11, 2007

Captain Hook Joke

Here’s my new favorite Captain Hook joke. Now you know that us Scandihoovians tell a lot of jokes. However, we make no claim that any of them are actually funny…..

A pirate walked into a bar and the bartender said, “Hey, I haven’t seen you in a while. What happened? You look terrible.
“What do you mean?” said the pirate, “I feel fine.”
Bartender: “What about the wooden leg? You didn’t have that before.”
Pirate: “Well, we were in a battle and I got hit with a cannon ball, but I’m fine now.”
Bartender: “Well, okay, but what about that hook? What happened to your hand?”
Pirate: “We were in another battle. I boarded a ship and got into a sword fight. My hand was cut off. I got fitted with a hook. I’m fine, really.”
Bartender: “What about that eye patch?”
Pirate: “Oh, one day we were at sea and a flock of birds flew over. I looked up and one of them did a dump and it hit me in my eye.”
“You’re kidding,” said the bartender, “you couldn’t lose an eye just from bird droppings.”
Pirate: “It was my first day with the hook.”Â

March 7, 2007

The Apple Tree

Mount Vernon, WA – Currently working on the first act of The Apple Tree which will run at Stanwood Auditorium (April 13, 2007), Philip Tarro Theater (April 14, 2007) and Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church (April 15, 2007).

The first act of the Apple Tree is based on “The Diaries of Adam and Eve” by Mark Twain. It is a comedy that conjuctures the humorous infighting of the first husband and wife, and their interaction with the snake in the Garden of Eden.

Music is by Jerry Bock with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick; the same writing team that created Fiddler on the Roof in 1964. The original run of The Apple Tree musical opened on October 18, 1966 at the Schubert Theater in New York City. It had a very successful first run with 463 performances. The original actors were Barbara Harris, Alan Alda and Larry Blyden.

A revival of The Apple Tree is currently running on Broadway in New York by the Roundabout Theatre Company. This musical revival opened in December 2006 and stars Kristin Chenoweth, Brian D’Arcy and Mark Kudisch.

February 27, 2007April 13, 2016

Real World Augustus Gloop

I’ve been writing music for Charlie and the Chocoloate Factory, including a theme song for Augustus Gloop. I ran across this article today about a boy in London who is 8 years old and weighs 200 pounds. His mother says he will only eat junk food and she refuses to stop feeding him.

The English social services there actually reviewed whether he should be taken out of the home. They ruled today that he can stay, which is a good thing for him as it sounds like the food is pretty good.

Gosh darn it all, his mother tries to feed him fruits and vegatables but “he just spits them out.”

Hey, this is the REAL AUGUSTUS GLOOP! Read the Augustus Gloop CNN Article.