"Rent" cast profile: Zach Kidd

Zach Kidd acquires an addiction to musical theatre in the ensemble of "Rent"!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
ZK: I play "The Man" in the ensemble. My character is the drug dealer...very sleezy and extremely creepy.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
ZK: My only other show so far has been the GHS production of "The Wizard of Oz" this past February, where I played the Tin Man.

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Rent"?
ZK: I auditioned because I had seen the movie and I loved it. I also knew a lot of the people auditioning and that always makes things more fun. :)

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number in the show?
ZK: Definitely "What You Own."

GCP Girl: What has been your favorite part of this experience so far?
ZK: Being able to connect and make friends with another group of people and have a great time and a great show!

GCP Girl: Why should people see "Rent"?
ZK: People should see "Rent" because it really does show some extreme diversity and that love knows no bounds, and that our time is limited, so love as long as you can. That is what I hope audiences can take away from the show... also, the music is incredible!!! :)

GCP Girl: Which musicals would you like to see GCP produce in coming seasons?
ZK: Honestly, I am new to the theatre world, and I don't know that many shows...so I really just don't know...but I would love to be a part of anything that they would have me in! :)

GCP Girl: What would you tell someone who is thinking of auditioning for a show at GCP?
ZK: Definitely go for it! They are an amazing community and it is one of the greatest experiences you could ever have!!!

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
ZK: This was one of the greatest experiences that I have ever had! I owe it all to my wonderful cast and crew, who have become some of the greatest friends anyone could ever ask for, and to our outstanding directors Erin, Leannis, and Kristin! Thank you guys for all you do, it wouldn't have been the same without you!!!

Thanks, Zach! This is the last weekend for "Rent" - have you seen it? If not, what are you waiting for?!!! Check back later today for my special tribute to the show!

xo xo GCP Girl

A farewell to "Rent"!

"Rent" closes this weekend at the Vam York, so as a farewell, I have written my own little "One Song Glory" to commemorate the occasion!

To the tune of "Camptown Races" (with many, many apologies to Stephen Foster):

"Rent" has come and had its day
Doodah, doodah
Everyone in Gainesville saw this play
On the doodah stage

The shows were sold-out nights
Steven Butler danced in tights
Kelley and Sissy had their fights
On the doodah stage

Peter filmed his video
Doodah, doodah
No thanks to Damario
On the doodah stage

Kevin got to cry
Ashleigh nearly died
Phil found glory on a western ride
On the doodah stage

Now Jerry is a happy man
Doodah, doodah
He's paying all the bills he can
For the doodah stage

This show has been a blast
Too soon it's in the past
Congrats and cheers to the talented cast
On the doodah stage!

Ta-da! You know you love it. ;-)

xo xo GCP Girl

"Rent" cast profile: Peter Romberg

Peter Romberg plays Mark, a New Yorker documenting a year in the life of his friends, in "Rent"!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
PR: I play Mark, a bohemian independent filmmaker who struggles with selling out.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
PR: I was in "Anything Goes" as a sailor and in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" as Leaf Coneybear.

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Rent"?
PR: "Rent" holds a very special place for me, and I was deliberating whether or not to try out, then I realized that I just had to go for it. No day but today.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number in the show?
PR: "What You Own."

GCP Girl: What has been your favorite part of this experience so far?
PR: The emotional struggle every night onstage.

GCP Girl: Why should people see "Rent"?
PR: It is an amazing show that affects everyone in the audience. Not many people get to participate in a show like this in the audience, and it truly is an opportunity everyone should have, to feel emotionally connected with the characters and to be a part of such a moving show.

GCP Girl: Which musicals would you like to see GCP produce in coming seasons?
PR: My favorite musical, "The Last 5 Years," but it will never happen because it is for two people only. Maybe as a one night special?

GCP Girl: What would you tell someone who is thinking of auditioning for a show at GCP?
PR: Just do it. No day but today. It’s a blast and we are a welcoming family.

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
PR: This show freaking rocks!

Thanks, Peter! If you haven't seen "Rent," this is the last week -- get your tickets before they sell out!

xo xo GCP Girl

"Rent" cast profile: Scott West

Scott "Scooter" West trades in his medieval gear for '90s New York City attire as an ensemble member in "Rent"!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
SW: I am in the ensemble; the one named character I play is Steve of the Support Group. Steve sings the solo for "Will I," so I see him as a relatively normal person, 9-5 job, apartment-and-a-dog kind of guy. I imagine he contracted HIV from one of the less publicized ways, likely a blood transfusion.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
SW: I was in and directed a number of shows at the end of high school and early college. The experiences that made the most impact on me were playing Elliot, a lead in a little-known musical called "Journey to Friday"... sort of an angst-y, modern version of Grease, and Charlie Brown in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." As a senior in high school, I was proud to be able to take a drama class mostly made up of students from a cancelled shop class and get them interested in theater by directing the monologue-driven play "Juvie," a topic that was unfortunately all too familiar to the students at my school. Since "Charlie Brown," I have focused on being a member, and eventually a leader, in the Theatrical Combat troupe Thieves' Guilde, Inc. I am currently the group's VP as well as Lead Medic and one of the Sword Trainers. We perform annually at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire and at other smaller venues around Florida.

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Rent"?
SW: The primary reason for my long absence from theater since early college is time. I couldn’t fit rehearsals for a stage show around classes, spending time with my family, and my commitments with the Thieves’ Guilde. During this time, I made a short list of shows that I would just make time to participate in. "Rent" is at or near the top of that list. I was thrilled to be cast and given the chance to solo for this production.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number in the show?
SW: It is difficult to choose a favorite musical number with such a music-driven show. I’d have to say “What You Own” toward the end of Act 2.

GCP Girl: What has been your favorite part of this experience so far?
SW: I would have to say that just being on a stage under lights with other talented vocalists has just been a wonderful experience.

GCP Girl: Why should people see "Rent"?
SW: First of all, 'Rent" is just packed with consistently good, interesting songs and a realistic story that doesn’t pull any punches. Larson takes a group of social misfits and forces you to relate to them and feel their joys, pains and the pervasive fear that existed in mid-90’s New York City. What you will take away would be nothing less than an increased understanding of the human condition.

GCP Girl: Which musicals would you like to see GCP produce in coming seasons?
SW: Of course everyone’s pipe dream would be "Les Miserables," so keep watching for the rights to become available! Other than that, there are some fantastic musicals GCP has not done in a long time: "Jesus Christ Superstar," "1776" or "Into the Woods" would be on my short list.

GCP Girl: What would you tell someone who is thinking of auditioning for a show at GCP?
SW: I think that doing a show anywhere is always a worthwhile experience, but GCP is easily the most professional experience you can ask for in a volunteer community theater in this area.

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
SW: I want everyone to know that "Rent" is being produced for you by a group of talented, genuine individuals who either already loved, or have grown to love, this show. The standards we set for ourselves are extremely high for each individual show and I think that shines through in our performances, so don’t think that a Wednesday night show will be any less energetic and fun than a Friday night show.

Thanks, Scott! Congrats to "Rent" on a packed weekend - let's send the show off this week in style!

xo xo GCP Girl

"Rent" cast profile: Ashleigh Beatty

Ashleigh Beatty plays Mimi, who is not your typical girl next door...

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
AB: I'm playing Mimi, a streetwise girl who's pretty down on her luck financially. She's an "exotic dancer" or stripper, whatever you want to call it. Mimi has a tough exterior but underneath she has a soft side and longs for friendship and love.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
AB: I found my passion for theater about 10 years ago at GCP when I was in "Annie". Since then, I've done many shows at various theaters, but I've mostly been involved with my high school's theater at PK Yonge. In the new GCP theater I did "Singin' in the Rain" and now I'm very excited to be doing "Rent." :)

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Rent"?
AB: I auditioned for "Rent" because it is different from any other show I've done and I thought it would be a great experience. I also really loved all the music; I knew that those were songs that I could hear over and over again without getting sick of them.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number in the show?
AB: I like all of them! It's hard to narrow it down. I really like doing "La Vie Boheme" a lot because it's such a high energy song and it's fun to perform, but I also really love "Glory" even though I'm not in it because it's such a pretty song. I always creep in the wings to listen to it.

GCP Girl: What has been your favorite part of this experience so far?
AB: Getting the opportunity to play Mimi has been amazing and I'm not even lying or being fake at all when I say that I've enjoyed every part of it, even when people make fun of me.

GCP Girl: Why should people see "Rent"?
AB: I think that people should see “Rent” because it’s a show unlike any other. It has amazing music and a powerful storyline; a lot of times with musicals they have one or the other. This show is very different for the GCP, and I think that if people are open minded and willing to go out of their comfort zones a bit, they will fall in love with “Rent.” I hope that the audiences leave feeling entertained and moved, and with all the songs stuck in their heads.

GCP Girl: What musicals would you like to see GCP produce in coming seasons?
AB: I personally would love to see "Little Shop of Horrors" or “Sweeney Todd.” I think that those would be a lot of fun to be in and to watch.

GCP Girl: What would you tell someone who is thinking of auditioning for a show at GCP?
AB: To just go for it. I almost didn't audition for "Rent" because I thought there was no way that I would get in, and now I'm soooooo happy I did!

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
AB: I don’t actually do heroin, or strip, or break into random guys' houses when I’m bored. I do however have the best ass below 14th Street....or so I’ve been told...

Thanks, Ashleigh! "Rent" is still going, but some shows are selling out, so get your tickets ASAP!

xo xo GCP Girl

"Rent" cast profile: Kevin Anderson

Kevin Anderson plays anarchist professor Tom Collins in "Rent" at the GCP!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
KA: I play Tom Collins. He is a professor who is fired for his theory on AIDS. He's also friends with Mark and Roger. Collins is a bit older then his friends, a very grounded person but a big teddy bear -- you know, like your favorite uncle who lets you get off the hook when you've done something bad. He falls in love with Angel. Their relationship is quite perfect; you could say it is love at first sight.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
KA: I've been acting since freshman year and feel in love with the art and the people in this art. My first show at the GCP was "The Wiz." I played the scarecrow. I was also in "Anything Goes" and "Soul of Broadway." I've done a lot of stuff at GHS, like "The Wizard of Oz" and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Rent"?
KA: "Rent" holds a special place in my heart. My uncle loved the show and I grew up listening to the "Rent" soundtrack. It totally amazed me that GCP would have even thought about "Rent." It was something I was so afraid of, but with the help my friends and uncle, I auditioned.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number in the show?
KA: Christmas Bells!! it's full of energy and color, it captures New York on stage, and it's pretty awesome.

GCP Girl: What has been your favorite part of this experience so far?
KA: Rehearsals are a blast. We always have a good time learning the songs and blocking. This is a great and funny cast; we have a ton of new faces in the cast, which is so awesome!

GCP Girl: Why should people see "Rent"?
KA: People should come see "Rent" because it's such a beautiful story of how we should live life and not worry about tomorrow, and that we should love each other. I feel like people will walk away from the theater not thinking of the things our society frowns on, but the message that Mr. Larson beautifully wrote. This is not your ordinary Gainesville Community Playhouse musical -- it's a real story telling the lives of real people, and I think people will walk away stunned on the message that it holds, like I do every night.

GCP Girl: Which musical would you like to see GCP produce in coming seasons?
KA: "Rent" has opened so many doors for future productions. I would really like to see "La Cage Aux Folles," "A Chorus Line" or "Cats." ;)

GCP Girl: What would you tell someone who is thinking of auditioning for a show at GCP?
KA: DO IT. Trust me, the GCP is such a cool place, and we have fun while putting on such awesome shows.

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
KA: Well......COME SEE "RENT"! please :)

Thanks, Kevin! "Rent" resumes its run tonight at the Vam York! Only two more weeks and tickets are selling fast!

xo xo GCP Girl

"A Christmas Story" cast list!

Congratulations to the new cast of "A Christmas Story"!

Ralph Parker (as adult): Adam Lishawa

Ralphie Parker (child): Gary Wells

Mother: Laurel Ring

The Old Man: Ed Hunter

Randy: Nadia Cox/Xavier Ayala-Vermont

Miss Shields: Madeleine Escarne

Flick: Aaron Goll

Schwartz: Noah Cox

Esther Jane: Kelly Belanger/Marissa Lloyd

Helen Weathers: Celia Shankman
Scut Farkas: Caroline Bourdreaux