Category: News

Original work WELCOME WANDERERS premiering at Shakespeare in the Canyon

bradleyjbehrmann

While a midsummer night may bring dreams, this year it will also bring laughs. The historic Texas Outdoor Musical, performed now for 58 seasons in Palo Duro Canyon, introduces Shakespeare in the Canyon with a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream premiering on July 9 at 8pm at the Pioneer Amphitheater and running Tuesdays in July. Just before that at 7:20pm on the Margaret Harper Terrace, arriving patrons will be able to see the premiere of the new work Welcome Wanderers, a mini-musical commissioned for Shakespeare in the Canyon with Music, Lyrics, and Book by Bradley J. Behrmann.

Inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we meet the Fairies of Palo Duro Canyon, just convened from their day of adventures where some of them met up with the mischief-maker, Puck, having observed a group of “rude mechanicals” rehearsing a play. Delighted by these amateur actors, the Fairies decide for themselves that they can do better and declare a contest for the best story right then and there.

This creative process has been an incredible assignment to write, compose, arrange, and direct this piece with (to paraphrase Leonard Bernstein) “a plan and not quite enough time.”

Performers include members of the Texas cast and orchestra including:

  • Peyton Hastings as WAXWING
  • Bradley Seals as BOBCAT
  • Mary Lantz as SNAKEBITE
  • Anna Martin as DUSTHEAP
  • Allie Meredith as TICKSEED
  • William Kielwasser as LONGGRASS
  • Kaeclyn Tenorio as SHORTGRASS
  • Brayden Mahetekar as STUMBLEWEED
  • Claire Newey as SODPOODLE
  • Amryn Cowen as SNEEZEBLOSSOM
  • Alexa Teleki as BLUEBONNET
  • Alyssa Haken as WINDALONG
  • Mitchell Hernandez as HEMP/GUITARIST
  • Lyric Foster as GUITARIST
  • Indra Aguirre as VIOLINIST
  • Tanya Kolesnik as VIOLINST
  • Carson King as BASSIST
  • Ray Barber as VOCALIST
  • Allison Brueggeman as VOCALIST
  • Lucas Dickson as VOCALIST
  • Joshua Moreno as VOCALIST
  • Grace Philipbar as VOCALIST
  • Darcy Golla, Stage Manager
  • Bradley J. Behrmann, Director
  • Stephen Crandall, Artistic Director

Welcome Wanderers performs at 7:20pm on July 9, 16, 23, and 30. Procure tickets to A Midsummer Night’s Dream at 8pm on Tuesdays in July on texas-show.com!

While green shows are a staple of Shakespeare festivals the world over and typically feature variety acts (What is a green show?), this 25-minute musical lives squarely between musical theatre, vaudeville, and children’s theatre.

YouTube Channel Relaunches

bradleyjbehrmann

Friends, what a moment of celebration it is to invite you to my YouTube channel–Professional Musical Theatre Nerd! This channel has been years in the making: working on shows, cultivating friendships, and helping performers. Special thanks to Julia Cuppy for a now-long-ago favor, Ashlee Espinosa for your savvy guidance, and The Spark File community for a real level-up of this project. The work goes on, but I invite you to kick ball change over to my channel, click subscribe, and make yourself at home.

With gratitude to students of West Texas A&M University Theatre Program and RJ Flud.

WT streams Monstersongs

Monstersongs streams this weekend via video on demand through Monday, Nov. 1.  Turn it on while you wait for trick-or-treaters or tune in at the witching hour.  

bradleyjbehrmann

If you haven’t heard much from Bradley J. lately, it’s because I’ve had my head down for the last few months working, scheming, and collaborating on the first musical of the WT Theatre season–Monstersongs.  This spooky song cycle by Rob Rokicki (Broadway’s The Lightning Thief) reveals the hidden life of monsters.  We meet the Mummy, Medusa, the Troll under the bridge, and more–all sharing their side of the story.  The music is clever and catchy, and the student talent performing these songs is next-level.  

If you will recall, one year ago, WT opened The Theory of Relativity–a recorded and filmed theatrical experience geared specifically for a digital audience.  We found so much value in that process that we wanted another crack at it.  The production value in every aspect is higher–partly due to the ability to meet and rehearse more safely in pandemic times.  I’m excited to share with you the product of months of collaboration–a musical with lots of heart and a touch of spook that truly rocks!

Monstersongs streams this weekend via video on demand through Monday, Nov. 1.  Turn it on while you wait for trick-or-treaters or tune in at the witching hour.  

Run time:  50 minutes

Stream available with ASL interpretation.

Stream Monstersongs
Attend the Live Screening
WTAMU Theatre Presents “Monstersongs”, Available for Streaming

Retreat to Broadway Resource Guide frames conversation for RENT LIVE

bradleyjbehrmann

2019 rtb artsed rent resource guide cover page photo

On January 27, 2019, RENT arrives to the small screen with the latest version of the live musical television events that have come to be an annual occurrence across the major networks.  Rent Live will air on FOX; check local listings for times.  In conjunction, the very cool non-profit Retreat to Broadway–whose Speakers Bureau includes Anthony Rapp himself–has produced its second Arts Education Resource Guide.

I was delighted to serve as Coordinator for the 2019 edition of the Arts Education Resource Guide and to collaborate with Retreat to Broadway Director and Founder Brian F.B. Reavey.  The 70-page resource is intended to be used by schools, families, theatre groups, book clubs, community groups, watch parties, church groups, etc. as a companion piece to the upcoming RENT Live broadcast.  The Guide contains distinct sections pertaining to specific themes such as “Identity,” “Social Issues,” and “Art & Expression,” but each section contains activities that encourage viewers to explore, create, and reflect.

To support Retreat to Broadway through the #ArtsEducation Initiative and receive a copy of the Resource Guide, make a contribution for as little as $10 by clicking here.

Read more about the Arts Education Initiative on broadwayworld.com.

iconsquare57a17b22-cb00-4298-8be2bb80bf4f4245

Cyrano marks Off-Broadway debut

bradleyjbehrmann

ASF_Cyrano_23

I’m thrilled to be making my Off-Broadway debut this month as Le Bret in Cyrano de Bergerac.  

This well-known French classic will be performed in English, featuring Sephardi and Jazz standards for a world premiere adaptation.

The cast includes: David Serero (Cyrano), Mary Albert (Roxane), Andrew Edward Erwin (Christian), Cesar Munoz (De Guiche), Gordon Gray (Ragueneau), Bradley J. Behrmann (Le Bret), Isaac Cruz (Ligniere), Lauren Berkman (Duenna), Cameron Addicott (Valvert), Elena Du Pisanie, Benjamin Culpepper, and Shawn Chang.

Performances:
April 12th at 3pm
April 15th at 7pm (opening night- Followed by a cocktail party accessible with VIP tickets)
April 17th at 8pm
April 19th at 8pm
April 22nd at 7pm (closing night- Followed by a cocktail party accessible with VIP tickets)

Tickets are $26 and $36 (VIP tickets including access to the VIP party).

Performances will take place at:
Center for Jewish History
15 w 16th St
New York NY 10011

Plot: Hercule Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac, a cadet (nobleman serving as a soldier) in the French Army, is a brash, strong-willed man of many talents. In addition to being a remarkable duelist, he is a gifted, joyful poet and musician. However, he has an extremely large nose, which causes him to doubt himself. This doubt prevents him from expressing his love for his distant cousin, the beautiful and intellectual Roxane, as he believes that his ugliness would prevent him the “dream of being loved by even an ugly woman.”

http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/shows/cyrano-de-bergerac_323727/cast/

Bradley J. judges 2017 Ben Vereen Awards Wellness Through the Arts Competition

bradleyjbehrmann

WP_20160606_13_32_08_ProOne facet of the Ben Vereen Awards that deals with the holistic health of high school students is the Wellness Through the Arts (WTA) program.  In conjunction with the esteemed musical theatre competition, the WTA (a pet project of Mr. Vereen himself) solicits essays from area high school students who have faced issues with bullying and obesity.  Five winning essays become the raw material for a new piece of musical theatre.  This year, Behrmann served as judge for the essay competition.

At the 2016 Ben Vereen Awards, members of the J*Company Youth Theatre performed the original piece “I Am,” composed by Behrmann with lyrics adapted by Jamie Gilchrist.  The following excerpt is from the performance on May 29, 2016 at the Balboa Theatre in San Diego.

See original article on the Wellness Through the Arts commission here.

First NYC performance with Broadway Artists Connection April 17

bradleyjbehrmann

bacpicThe Broadway Artists Connection (BAC) presents its season kick-off event, “Broadway Artists & Friends Open Mic & Mingle,” hosted by six-time Broadway veteran Heather Parcells on Monday, April 17th at 6:30pm (doors open at 5:30pm).

The evening will be kicked off by a stellar lineup of Broadway pros, followed by selected artists at the legendary Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Performers and audience will be treated to an up close view of artists newest works (mash ups, duets, pop tap, original songs, classics), make invaluable industry connections and support our community of artists.

Broadway artists performing include: Charlie Marcus (A BRONX TALE, PETER PAN); Beth Nicely Johnson (SOMETHING ROTTEN, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, WHITE CHRISTMAS, SPAMALOT); Hollie Howard (HAIRSPRAY, MAMMA MIA!, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN); Lawrence Merritt (PIPPIN, ON THE TOWN, APPLAUSE, DEAR WORLD, GOLDEN RAINBOW, NO WHERE TO GO BUT UP, NO STRINGS); Sarah McLellan (42nd STREET); Erin Kernion (Radio City Rockette). Charles West (SCARLETT PIMPERNEL, CYRANO); D’Vorah Bailey (CANDIDE & Cabaret artist); Abbie Cooper (42nd STREET ALL SHOOK UP, WHITE CHRISTMAS Nat’ Tour) Kate Wesler (PIPPIN Nat’ Tour); Heather Parcells-HOST (TUCK EVERLASTING, FINDING NEVERLAND, SOUL DOCTOR, WONDERLAND, A CHORUS LINE, CHITTY, CHITTY BANG, BANG); Musical Direction by Brad Ross.

Producer: Tamlyn Brooke Shusterman (42nd STREET, Dame Edna). Associate Producers: Malini Singh McDonald & Will Branner. Stage Manager: Will Maitland Weiss.

The fun continues as selected artists & friends take the mic to sing for NYC Casting Director Jason Styres, who will be crowning two participants the “future of Broadway.”

Selected performers include: Shelby Andersen, Austin Archer, Max Bartos, Bradley J. Behrmann, Will Branner, Gregory Driscoll, Jazley Genovese, Grace Gramins, Lindsay Grant, Jarrad Green, Jessica Humphrey, Megan Jenkins, Molly Jevans, Kelsey Ryan, Sean Seymour, Rayme Sciaroni, Samantha Tullie

To find out how you can sing in a BAC event, email info@broadwayconnects.org. TICKETSon sale now. $20 cover (plus $20 food & beverage minimum per person) For more information, visit www.broadwayconnects.org.

The Broadway Artists Connection is a charitable nonprofit that nurtures artists of all levels (Broadway, aspiring, re-entering & under-served) by providing opportunities for them to perform, make industry connections and participate in mentoring programs. TICKETS ON SALE NOW.

[Article re-published from BroadwayWorld.com on March 28, 2017.  See original article here.]