News

Original work WELCOME WANDERERS premiering at Shakespeare in the Canyon

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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

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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.  

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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

Theory of Relativity Wins Nine Awards at 2021 KCACTF

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Since it’s awards season everywhere else, we might as well hop on the bandwagon.  I’m absolutely delighted to share that The Theory of Relativity–originally filmed and digitally presented in October 2020 and revived for the Region VI KCACTF Festival in February 2021–garnered an impressive list of nine (9!) awards at the national level for KCACTF.  Chip Chandler wrote a lovely article for WTAMU, and below is the complete list from KCACTF.  Many, many congratulations to all involved. I’m also quite honored to receive two recognitions for Direction and Musical Direction.

KCACTF National Awards

Special Achievement in Innovative Use of Technology –Theory of Relativity

Special Achievement in Overall Production Design–Theory of Relativity

Special Achievement in Stage Management—Caitlynn Sandoval

Special Achievement in Performance—Abbi Roe

Special Achievement in Performance—Michael Olinger

Special Achievement in Ensemble Collaboration Performance and Production– Theory of Relativity

Special Achievement in Overall Production–Theory of Relativity

Special Achievement in Directing—Bradley J. Behrmann

Special Achievement in Musical Direction—Bradley J. Behrmann

https://www.wtamu.edu/news/2021/09/wt-theatre-wins-major-awards-for-special-filmed-production.html

“4 YEARS!”

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Just Pretend Green Room

After a four year hiatus, I am so very pleased to be returning on staff for Youth Sing Praise.  As a participant, this program was one of the most formative experiences of my young life, and serving on staff in many roles over the years has always been a highlight of my summers.  This year, I’ll be choreographing the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic and YSP standard, Joseph…

Pack a picnic.  Pack the family.  Pack the amphitheatre.

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WT’s Theatre Program Receives National and Regional Awards

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CANYON, Texas—One of six invited collegiate productions in a competitive regional field of sixty-eight from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arkansas, WT Theatre’s production of Musical of Musicals: The Musical performed for a regional audience and national critics at the Abilene Civic Center, February 25-28, during the Region VI Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). In addition, WT theatre students competed in individual events for national and regional awards and commendations.

National Awards:

Outstanding Musical Theatre Performer and Kennedy Center National Musical Theatre Fellow – Zachary Perrin
Distinguished Musical Theatre Performance- Macy Watts
Distinguished Musical Theatre Performance- Caleb Aguilar
Distinguished Performance and Production – The Ensemble of Musical of Musicals
Zach Perrin Macy Watts Caleb Aguilar

National Commendations:

Christine Lisa Basse- Musical Theatre Performance
Micaela Grenier- Musical Theatre Performance
Royal R. Brantley- Direction of Musical of Musicals
Crystal Bertrand- Choreography for Musical of Musicals
Bradley J. Behrmann – Musical Direction of Musical of Musicals
Christine Lisa Basse Micaela Grenier

This is the third year in a row that WT theatre has advanced a production to the regional competition. A rare achievement, the “three peat” appearance by WT Theatre is their seventh overall regional performance since starting competition in the KCACTF in 1994: The Homage That Follows (1997), The Old Boy (2005), Rabbit Hole (2009), Iphigenia 2.0 (2013), Brooklyn (2017), Luna Gale (2018) and Musical of Musicals (2019).

Originally published on WTAMU News on April 12, 2019: https://www.wtamu.edu/news/wt-s-theatre-program-receives-national-and-regional-awards.aspx 

Retreat to Broadway Resource Guide frames conversation for RENT LIVE

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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.

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West Texas A&M Appointment

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Bradley J. has been appointed as Visiting Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at West Texas A&M University for the 2018-19 Academic Year.  Teaching duties include Acting I & II, Musical Theatre Rep I & II, Playscript Analysis, and Musical Theatre Direction.  He will also music direct Musical of Musicals:  The Musical and Spring Awakening.  

While the appointment prompts a short-term move to Amarillo, TX, he will continue to maintain active voice studios in NYC and San Diego as well as via Skype.  This appointment heralds the dawn of a new era of Texas BBQ.west+texas+am+web

 

Summer 2018 at La Jolla Playhouse

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YP@LJP

For a third summer, Bradley J. will return to teach musical theatre at La Jolla Playhouse as part of the Young Performers Workshop and Young Performers Academy programs.  To learn more about how to register your student for these exceptional training programs at one of the nation’s top regional theatres, click here.

Private studio time will also be available for lessons or coachings in musical theatre or classical voice for singers of all ages.  Click here for more information about taking lessons in San Diego this summer.