RETURNING TO ASU GAMMAGE

I last played ASU Gammage about 15 years ago, and I can't wait to return! I have fond memories of the theatre & the beautiful people of Tempe. You see I played Gaston in the National tour of Disney's BEAUTY and the BEAST. It was a fantastic production that I loved being a part of. During our stay there in Tempe , my wife and I discovered that we were expecting TWIN BOYS, and it threw our lives into a wild party! The cast was behind us, the Disney company was behind us and we felt such support from our new Tempe friends as well.
What could have been a scary part of our working actor lives ended-up being quite amazing and bright !

It's now years later and I'm returning again to the great ASU Gammage. My sons are healthy and both freshmen in highschool. THANKfully they have no interest in the theatre. As much as I relish my life & career onstage ... I would HATE to drag a family member into this crazy world! You have to be a bit nutz to do what we do, day-to-day, year-to-year. Auditions, classes, union meetings, shrinking paychecks, changing rules, It's NOT the theatrelife of 15 to 20 years ago.

But , Tempe will love WHITE CHRISTMAS! I just know it! We have a top-notch cast, and this show is PERFECT to put anyone into a great holiday spirit! I've been looking forward to this production all season long. And the only 'negative' part is… it only lasts as long as the holiday season. Fans of the movie will be thrilled with the show, and fans of the songs will leave Gammage humming and trying a few tap steps ,mark my words !
When you watch me in the show, you'll see how much FUN I'm having, and that's with just a small role.

Put all of us together and you have one BIG Christmas party!! Please enjoy!

Tony Lawson

ASU GAMMAGE PRESENTS ITS 2011 SCHOOL TO WORK PROGRAM

As a graduating senior, it was a pleasure to get to experience what a working professional does day-to-day in the performing arts. When we arrived, we did not know what to expect for our day, but we were welcomed and treated with kindness and respect. We were given assigned groups and worked closely with each other as well as with the other groups to determine the best practices for bringing Blue Man Group to ASU Gammage. We made executive decisions within our teams and then connected with other groups to determine how to solve problems which affected all of us. It was a wonderful experience and one which will help me form my own decisions as I begin my college application process. Thank you for giving us this opportunity and helping us to discover our own passion.

Sincerely,
Omar Mohamed
12th Grade
Sonoran Science Academy

Nearly 40 students from Phoenix’s Sonoran Science Academy and Arizona School for the Arts took part in the “School to Work” program.

Since its inception 17 years ago, School to Work has been an interactive workshop that highlights potential career choices in arts administration. During the workshop, students interact with ASU Gammage employees and learn what it takes to run one of the top arts presenting theaters in the United States.
“I am proud to open our doors to these students; this could have a lasting effect on what career choices they make in the future,” says Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, ASU Gammage executive director.
The students were assigned a job in an ASU Gammage department such as the box office, marketing, cultural participation, accounting and technical production. They were tasked with working together as a staff to execute projects and solve problems. At the end of the workshop each department presented a final report of the work they performed within their departments.

Students also got an exclusive backstage tour with the company manager of BLUE MAN GROUP, which performed at ASU Gammage November 1-6.

Q&A with Bhurin Sead from the Blue Man Group


Q: Tell us why you are excited the Blue Man Group is stopping in Tempe.
A: I'm definitely excited about our time here in Tempe. It’s a nice treat to be performing at universities. There's always a great energy and buzz in the city that carries over into the shows.

Q: Besides performing will you have time to explore Tempe/AZ? If so, what do you plan on doing?
A: We usually have our mornings and afternoons free, so there will definitely be lots of biking, running and exploring. It’s great that Tempe has bike lanes available, makes exploring easier. I like to seek out local restaurants and farmers markets in my time off. I feel like you can grasp a lot of a city's culture through their food.

Q: Have you ever performed at ASU Gammage in the past?
A: I've never performed at Gammage before. We just did our first show last night and it's a beautiful space. The crowd really enjoyed themselves.

Q: What’s your favorite part about being a part of Blue Man Group?
A: My favorite part of being part of Blue Man Group is the opportunity to be creative on a daily basis. Being a character that doesn't speak challenges us to think of new ways to stay engaged while telling a clear story, whether it's through the music or moments of stillness. We're constantly on our toes and reacting to the moment which allows us to live in it each night.