By Melissa Griegel . . . .
Out of the Box Theatrics launched their celebratory fundraiser at their new home at 154 Christopher Street (formerly the New Ohio Theatre) on January 29th. Michael Urie (Spamalot, Once Upon a Mattress) hosted the event which included a cocktail party, a silent auction, and performance excerpts from their upcoming mainstage productions and their Building the Box staged reading series. OOTB was founded by Liz Flemming, a low-vision actress who wanted to create a space for under-represented and undervalued artists. The non-profit theater is dedicated to offering inclusive and equitable opportunities in the industry. “In addition to theatrical productions, our new space will afford us the opportunity to host a variety of community events such as open mic nights, trivia nights, cabarets, and free workshops,” said Flemming, the theater’s Founding Producer and Artistic Director.
Krysta Rodriguez (Spring Awakening, Into the Woods), Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls), Brenda Braxton (Chicago, Smokey Joe’s Cafe) and Marc Kudisch (Thoroughly Modern Millie, 9 to 5) were among the performers who gave the guests a taste of what’s to come at OOTB this year. Upcoming shows include Inspired by True Events, See What I Wanna See, Call Me Abigail, Trash, and Starstruck. Nasia Thomas (The Last Five Years) and Krysta Rodriguez capped off the evening with a powerful duet of “Happy Days are Here Again”. Other creatives and performers presenting work included the team from Inspired by True Events: Ryan Span, Michael Herwitz, Mallory Portnoy, Jack DiFalco, Dana Scurlock, Lou Libertore, See What I Wanna See: Michael John LaChiusa, Adam Rothenberg, Emilio Ramos, Marina Kondo, Call Me Abigail: Shelli Pentimall Bookler, Trash: Nathaniel Claridad, Andrew Morrill, Joey Caverly, Chris Ogren, Starstruck: Sherri Barber, Mary Ann Statton, and Cynthia Meng. Emily Saliers wrote the music for Starstruck featuring Krysta Rodriguez. Brenda Braxton is in Call Me Abigail, and Marc Kudisch is affiliated with See What I Wanna See, Call Me Abigail, and Starstruck.
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asked Michael Urie what it was like rehearsing for Once Upon a Mattress while still doing eight shows a week in Spamalot. “It was wild,” he said. “I had done double-duty before. I once rehearsed Hamlet during the day while performing in Torch Song at night, and the director asked, ‘You are not going to do Hamlet with a Brooklyn accent, are you?’ But I had never done it with a musical. Both of these musicals are pretty massive and I have big parts, so it was very physical. I was dancing all day, and then doing a show at night. It was a lot.” He is really enjoying his stint as Prince Dauntless at New York City Center Encores. “I love a room full of women,” he said of working with all of the powerful women he has had the opportunity to work with on Once Upon a Mattress such as Sutton Foster, Lear deBessonett, Harriet Harris, Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Lorin Latarro, Jenny Gersten, Amy Sherman-Palladino, “They are all brilliant; they are the best of the best.” Krysta Rodriguez echoed these sentiments. “It is not only important, but it is imperative to have the female voice be heard and be part of the artistic process.” Rodriguez is currently in the pre-Broadway workshop of Smash, a show she was in on television. “I was a fan before; I am a bigger fan now. The musical is very different from the show, and I am playing a different character, so it’s been a great experience.”
The evening included a silent auction with in-person experiences donated by the Syncing Ink at the Apollo Theater, Spamalot, My Son’s a Queer, Brenda Braxton, Michael Urie, Ryan Spahn, and Tony winners Greg Kotis (Urinetown), Richard Maltby Jr. (Ain’t Misbehavin’), and Jason Michael Webb (MJ the Musical). For more information on upcoming shows and events at OOTB, or to make a donation, visit www.ootbtheatrics.com.
Photos by Melissa Griegel Photography
Featured Image: Host Michael Urie
