Shows – Page 41 – Conrad Askland

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.

February 20, 2007

Brigadoon Cast List Posted

Â The Brigadoon Cast List has been posted at the Lyric Light Opera of the Northwest website. Please visit that link for updated casting information.

Cast List as of 02/19/07Â

Thank you to all who auditioned for Brigadoon!Â And, congratulations to those who made the cast list:

Tommy Albright – Troy Wageman
Understudy – John Hepola

Fiona MacLaren – Megan Chenovick
Understudy – Natalie Howell

Jeff Douglas – TBA
Understudy – TBA

Meg Brockie – Jeanette dâ€™Armand
Understudy – Laurie Miller

Charlie Dalrymple – James Scheider

Mr. Lundie – Bob Nydeger

Harry Beaton – Ryan Edwards

Jean MacLaren – Natalie Howell
Understudy – Elisa Fuller

Jane Ashton – Elisa Fuller

Archie Beaton – John Hepola

Mary Beaton – Laurie Miller

Andrew MacLaren – Clarence Holden

Anne MacLaren – Kathleen Kernohan

Bonnie MacGuffie – Kelly Pollino

Angus MacGuffie – Tom Mueller

Frank (the Bartender) – TBA

Kate – Ashley Rinas

Sandy Dean – Kristina Howell

Maggie – Stacy Lazanis

Fishmonger – TBA

Francis – Emma Asgharian

***PLEASE NOTE: Actors with understudy roles are double-cast in other roles. ALSO: Roles of men and women of the town may be switched around as we begin rehearsals and I am able to try out people in the various roles. Regardless of this, those people who are given speaking roles will have one of the men/womenâ€™s speaking roles.

Ensemble

Anna Jenny
Trina Jenny
Sarah Jenny
Luke Thompson
Erin Hemenway
Kalli Roberts
Elizabeth Sunderland
Kris Hemenway
Sarah Holcomb
Debbie Wolf
Kelli Bates
Jonathan Wolf
Katie Hudak
Christine Wolf
Jordan Rinas
Robin Carpenter
Ali Rinas
Juanita Kolbeck
Tess Gribin
Lauren Lippens
Abi Rinas
Sarah Howell
Kelli Niemeyer
Bianca Campbell
Kristina Niemeyer
Kelli Denike
Rebecca Wright
Calli Johnson
Francis Roane
Caitlin Edwards
Launi Kucera
Alex Hollingsworth

February 19, 2007February 19, 2007

Dracula by Steven Dietz

Cast photos, set pics and cast/crew credits for the live stage production of Dracula presented by the Skagit College Theater Department at McIntyre Hall (Mount Vernon, WA) February 2007.

Dracula by Steven Dietz
From the novel by Bram Stoker

Originally produced by the Arizona Theatre Company, Tucson/Pheonix, Arizona. David Ira Goldstein, Artistic Director. Robert Alpaugh, managing director.

Check out Conrad’s scary Dracula Overture – it’s creepy!
UPDATE – New Dracula Overture Remix Competition!

2007 McIntyre Hall Dracula Cast

Dracula – James Padilla
Van Helsing – David Cox
Mina – Lydia Randall
Maid/Female Attendant – Suzann McLamb
Harker – Alex Mutegeki
Seward – Mark Pedersen
Lucy – Erin Hemenway
Waiter/Attendant 1 – Miles McGillivray
Attendant 2 – Jared Conforti
Vixen 1 – Carolyn Travis
Vixen 2 – Christina Stephens
Renfield – Trey Hatch

Director Damond Morris

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

Under my sheets with Dracula and a flashlight in my hands, I flipped through page after page, unable to put the novel down and too frightened to read on. I was nine when I first read the novel Dracula and twelve when I saw the 1931 film on TV. Dracula is a creature that scares me in a primal way. Like snakes, spiders, bats and rats he gives me a creepy crawly feeling in the pit of my stomach. What happens in the night just outside your window while you are sleeping? We all know there are no such things as monsters, right? Just be sure you don’t invite them in.

Oh, and your neck, be sure to check your neck… Enjoy the show!

– Damond Morris

Dracula Crew

Director – Damond Morris
Costume Design – Maura Marlin
Set and Lighting Design – Steve Craig
Sound Design and Music – Jerry Fortier and Conrad Askland
Additional Music – Ian Hansen
Technical Direction – Mark O’Brien
Stage Manager – Dinah Steveni
Assistant Stage Manager – Christine Dykema
Makeup – Mary Bingham
Properties Mistress – Cathy Savage
Scenic Charge Painter – E.A. Risser
Special Projects – Michael Marlin
Technical Assistant – Tarah L. McKitrick
Costumer Crew – Carolyn Travis, Lydia Randall, Crystal Dominguez, Kathleen Luther, Lindsey Bowen, Michelle Beach
Makeup Assistant – Nicole Trepus, Ellen Palmer
Lighting Technician – James Yandle
Lighting Crew – Nate Young, Ryn Bishop, Michael Mejia, Randy Kivett
Stage Crew – Quat Hatch, Dory Hurtado, Nate Young
Fly Crew – Nate Young
Producer – Andy Friedlander

CAST PHOTOS – Click for full size image

Harker – Alex Mutegeki

Waiter/Attendant 1 – Miles McGillivray

Attendant 2 – Jared Conforti

Dracula – James Padilla

Vixen 1 – Carolyn Travis

Vixen 2 – Christina Stephens

Seward – Mark Pedersen

DRACULA STAGE SET DESIGN

Prop – Wheelchair

Stage – Trap Door

Set – Sanitarium Window

Set – Renfield’s Table

Set – Lucy’s Crypt

Set – Dracula’s Casket

Set – Bedroom

TECH PHOTOS

Bedroom Scene from Sound Booth

Keyboards for live FX and Music

Hydraulics underneath Orchestra Pit

Harker monologue

Conrad Askland at keyboard rig

February 19, 2007March 10, 2007

Peter Pan Tinkerbell Live Sound

Here’s a simple way to do live sound effects for Tinkerbell in stage productions of Peter Pan.

Use a colored laser pointer for Tinkerbell, preferably a professional projector made specifically for this effect (you can rent these). In the picture above you’ll see a nose flute, kazoo, metal chain to rustle for tinkle effects, a mouth buzzer and an inexpensive slide whistle.

Use these together to create realistic Tinkerbell audio fx while running the projection system. Tinkerbell is sometimes happy with light hearted buzzing sounds and sometimes angry with aggravated buzz type sounds. The slide whistle is good for “yes” and “no” responses to Peter Pan dialogue.

Since these are lighter ambient type sounds, you’ll probably want to use a condensor microphone, not a dynamic mic. If you don’t understand that, your sound engineer will. Just tell him “condensor mic”.

Total cost for Tinkerbell sound props is under twenty five dollars.

You can rent a professional Tinkerbell laser beam projector from ZFX, Inc at www.zfxflying.com