Our first steps into the realm of professional Broadway Musical Theatre came in 2004 when "Roofless" was discovered by Stephen Schwartz and ASCAP's Michael Kerker. We were invited to workshop a preview at the ASCAP/Disney Theatricals Musical Theatre Workshops in Burbank, CA. This part of our story is pretty well-covered in the rest of our blog.
(Left: JP & Julian lift Rachel, Center: Stephen Schwartz introduces us at Disney, Right: Andrea G as "Lil Tiff")
THX TO OUR FIRST LA CAST OF ROOFHEADZ:
THE ASCAP/DISNEY WORKSHOP CAST (Los Angeles)
Mike Fruga*
Julian Thomas*
David Holmes*
Johnny Polygon*
AnnaMaria Pasley-Horn*
Sufe Bradshaw
Pamela Holt
Rachel Genevieve
Andrea G
Jerome Johnson
* performers originally from Tulsa who joined us in LA.
Production assistance from Tyffny Johnson & Jeremy Griffin
TABLE READINGS:
What followed was several years with multiple table readings (about every 6 to 10 months) juried by Stephen Schwartz, Michael Kerker and a table full of other industry professionals. We would usually do a reading of ACT I, say goodbye to our actors and spend the next hour getting critique and advice from the panel.
To be honest, the table readings all kinda blur together, so here's a COMBINED list of all the ROOFHEADZ over that 4 to 5 year period. (Most of them did multiple readings with us)
THE LOS ANGELES TABLE READING CASTS:
Lij Kerai
Mike Fruga
Joe Holt
Sufe Bradshaw
Julian Thomas
Walter Randall
Elizabeth (Bate) Randall
Nicole Butler
Cynthia Addai-Robinson
Sydnee Stewart
Shonte Brown
Haran Jackson
Nick Huff
Production assistance from Tyff Johnson & James Sims
Big thanks to Michael Kerker & Stephen Schwartz and the dozen Industry professinals who have sat on our panels (Click here for a full list)
ASCAP also set up a week-long workshop on the "Roofless" book (story & script) for us. This was conducted by Kevin Bannerman and Stuart Ross. Huge thanks to them as well!
SONG DEMOS featuring Tulsa's Best
In 2005 at the start of the Table Reading period, we needed to record some new demos to play during the readings. Some of the very best vocalists in Tulsa - from R&B, Gospel, Musical Theatre & Opera - came together and volunteered endless hours learning the material so we could record in a live setting (not pieced together from multiple studio takes) to get the "cast recording" vibe. The results were pretty amazing as you can hear below.
ROOFLESS DEMO WORKSHOP CAST in TULSA, 2005:
Kathryn Stefanic-Holder
Nita Smothers
AnnaMaria Pasley-Horn
Evangeline Hope
Branjae Jackson
Andresia Moseley
Rosa Thomas
Kelley Childers Friedburg
Lawrence Rosenborough
Desmond Dansby
Gabe Royal
Jerome Johnson
Fred Custard
Michael Todd, Body Percussionist
Quinton Davis, FORREST PRODUCTIONS, Live Recording Engineer
James Sims, Videographer
Jared Perry, Rehearsal Beatboxer
Additional assistance from:
Jessica and Ben Beresh, Nita Smothers, Tyffny Johnson, Lawrence Rosenborough
In-Kind Donations from:
FORREST PRODUCTIONS, Tim Kennard (2 full days, live recording sessions)
HIGHER DIMENSIONS FAMILY CHURCH ( Recording facility)
RUDISILL REGIONAL LIBRARY (Rehearsal facility)
ROOFLESS DEMO WORKSHOP CAST in TULSA, 2005:
Kathryn Stefanic-Holder
Nita Smothers
AnnaMaria Pasley-Horn
Evangeline Hope
Branjae Jackson
Andresia Moseley
Rosa Thomas
Kelley Childers Friedburg
Lawrence Rosenborough
Desmond Dansby
Gabe Royal
Jerome Johnson
Fred Custard
Tim Long, Musical Director
Michael Todd, Body Percussionist
Quinton Davis, FORREST PRODUCTIONS, Live Recording Engineer
James Sims, Videographer
Jared Perry, Rehearsal Beatboxer
Additional assistance from:
Jessica and Ben Beresh, Nita Smothers, Tyffny Johnson, Lawrence Rosenborough
In-Kind Donations from:
FORREST PRODUCTIONS, Tim Kennard (2 full days, live recording sessions)
HIGHER DIMENSIONS FAMILY CHURCH ( Recording facility)
RUDISILL REGIONAL LIBRARY (Rehearsal facility)
PREPARING TO SUBMIT TO THE
NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL
As a final step, we did a Tulsa table reading in 2009 as a final test of the newest updates before we submitted the show to NYMF.
(L to R: Stephen King, Jerome Johnson, JFresh, Michael Fruga, Branjae Jackson)
(L to R: Taylar Smallwood, Tyff Johnson, Jessica Beresh, Janna Smith)
(L to R: Jerome Johnson, JFresh, Michael Fruga)
TULSA TABLE READING CAST!
Mike Fruga
J Fresh (from Dallas)
Branjae Jackson
Roderick Hudson
Stephen King
Jerome Johnson
Taylar Smallwood
Tyffny Johnson
Jessica Beresh
Janna Smith
Production assistance from Dionne White & Nita Smothers.
The event was videotaped for us by James Sims and Chris Johnson.
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