Thommie Retter and Stage Door Designs have joined forces to produce and present THIS WAY TO BROADWAY, A Concert Featuring Today's Talented Youth. Their first event will be held at the 777 Theatre in New York City on Monday the 13th of May at 7pm.
A couple of BETM alumni will be appearing in this show: former Small Boy Alex Dreier and headlining will be Trent Kowalik. The details:
http://cabaret.broadwayworld.com/articl ... 3-20130506
This Way to Broadway
-
porschesrule
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9377
- Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:02 am
- Location: Rhode Island, USA
-
angelenroute
- Billy
- Posts: 3831
- Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:05 am
- Location: Malverne (Long Island), NY
Re: This Way to Broadway
On Monday night I attended This Way To Broadway, the newest adventure from Broadway star and Master Dance Teacher Thommie Retter of Retter Entertainment in partnership with Ellen Sauchelli and Stage Door Designs. Thommie is known to fans of Billy Elliot The Musical not just as Broadway's Mr. Braithwaite, but also for hosting many mega-star events for fans of the show.
In Billy Elliot The Musical, Thommie as Mr. Braithwaite exclaims, "Let's have some proper dancing!" as he then performs a show-stopper for the ages. And he's since become that same champion for success that Mr. Braithwaite was for Billy in the show. Since the show closed on Broadway, Thommie Retter, or "Mr. Thommie" as many of his students call him, has become a fierce champion for Broadway kids both in New York City and worldwide. Whether it's teaching tap, prepping his students for auditions, or offering intensive training for the big stages of Broadway through various classes and performance events, Thommie has been Braithwaiteing for every chance to help the Broadway superstars of tomorrow make it big!
In This Way To Broadway, he stepped completely out of the spotlight and let the kids run the show. Led by superstar hosts for the night, Isabela Moner and Adam Dorfman, the audience was treated to over two dozen young performers all under the age of 18 who sparkled, wowed, and belted their way through number after number of Broadway-quality magic. It was truly an amazing night filled with more talent than you can even imagine. I just found myself sitting there thinking, these kids are truly the Tony Winners of the next two decades and beyond, and here they are, some of them still just in grade school!
Of course the evening also promised one young performer who had already won his first Tony. No 11-year-old boy anymore, Billy Elliot himself, 18-year-old Trent Kowalik was on hand to perform at the conclusion of the event. He was introduced by Adam Dorfman, who told the audience he'd always wanted to be cast as Michael in the show but had missed his chance. "But maybe," he said, "Trent could help me live that dream right here tonight? Whattaya say, Trent?" Trent came out on stage and Adam and he performed part of the Expressing Yourself dance!!! It was a dream come true for Adam, and a magical Broadway moment for all in attendance!
Trent then danced an absolutely killer tap number. Thank God we were up on the second floor of this theatre building because if not, there would have been major subway disruptions and closures with the falling debris. Thankfully the building itself absorbed the shock and thunder of his record-fast dancing feet, and all was well. Amazing!
Billy Elliot Fans got another star of the show too! The one and only Alex Dreier sang an awesome number, "Singing The Blues". Alex is currently ON BROADWAY still as part of the incredible cast of The Assembled Parties. Go see it!!! http://www.theassembledpartiesbroadway.com/ Annnnnnd there was a special on this night because we got TWO Dreiers for the price of one!!! Alex's sister Missy performed as well! They were both great!!! And can you believe there's yet ANOTHER Dreier out there wowing people in the performing arts too? Allie Dreier will soon be on ESPN performing with the cheerleading championships! Wow, what a talented family!
Sadly, I'm supposed to be doing actual work for my day job right now and not writing theatre reviews, so I have to stop there. But please don't let my omission of reviews of each performer say anything to your heart other than they ALL deserve your praise and attention. Please look them up and cheer them all on!!! Most importantly, watch for their names in lights at a Broadway Theatre in the very near future!!!
ZACHARY BROD *** VICTORIA DENNIS *** SCARLETT DIAZ
ADAM DORFMAN *** ALEX DREIER *** MISSY DREIER
REBECCA GOLDFARB *** CASEY GORAB *** ABBEY ROSE GOULD
BAILEY GREY *** EMMA HOWARD *** SHANNON HOWARD
JENNA IACONO *** EMMA JOANIS *** ALICIA KACZOR
SEBASTIAN KACZOR *** TRENT KOWALIK *** JOY KATE LAWSON
ISABELA MONER *** ISIS NOEL *** ALLIE RENNER
BELLA RETTER *** LIZA RETTER *** MARCUS SHACKNOW
SHO SCOTT *** MARSIYA VLAD *** MATTHEW WECHSLER
CLARA YOUNG *** VIOLET YOUNG
For Billy Elliot The Forum,
Sean Patrick Brennan
In Billy Elliot The Musical, Thommie as Mr. Braithwaite exclaims, "Let's have some proper dancing!" as he then performs a show-stopper for the ages. And he's since become that same champion for success that Mr. Braithwaite was for Billy in the show. Since the show closed on Broadway, Thommie Retter, or "Mr. Thommie" as many of his students call him, has become a fierce champion for Broadway kids both in New York City and worldwide. Whether it's teaching tap, prepping his students for auditions, or offering intensive training for the big stages of Broadway through various classes and performance events, Thommie has been Braithwaiteing for every chance to help the Broadway superstars of tomorrow make it big!
In This Way To Broadway, he stepped completely out of the spotlight and let the kids run the show. Led by superstar hosts for the night, Isabela Moner and Adam Dorfman, the audience was treated to over two dozen young performers all under the age of 18 who sparkled, wowed, and belted their way through number after number of Broadway-quality magic. It was truly an amazing night filled with more talent than you can even imagine. I just found myself sitting there thinking, these kids are truly the Tony Winners of the next two decades and beyond, and here they are, some of them still just in grade school!
Of course the evening also promised one young performer who had already won his first Tony. No 11-year-old boy anymore, Billy Elliot himself, 18-year-old Trent Kowalik was on hand to perform at the conclusion of the event. He was introduced by Adam Dorfman, who told the audience he'd always wanted to be cast as Michael in the show but had missed his chance. "But maybe," he said, "Trent could help me live that dream right here tonight? Whattaya say, Trent?" Trent came out on stage and Adam and he performed part of the Expressing Yourself dance!!! It was a dream come true for Adam, and a magical Broadway moment for all in attendance!
Trent then danced an absolutely killer tap number. Thank God we were up on the second floor of this theatre building because if not, there would have been major subway disruptions and closures with the falling debris. Thankfully the building itself absorbed the shock and thunder of his record-fast dancing feet, and all was well. Amazing!
Billy Elliot Fans got another star of the show too! The one and only Alex Dreier sang an awesome number, "Singing The Blues". Alex is currently ON BROADWAY still as part of the incredible cast of The Assembled Parties. Go see it!!! http://www.theassembledpartiesbroadway.com/ Annnnnnd there was a special on this night because we got TWO Dreiers for the price of one!!! Alex's sister Missy performed as well! They were both great!!! And can you believe there's yet ANOTHER Dreier out there wowing people in the performing arts too? Allie Dreier will soon be on ESPN performing with the cheerleading championships! Wow, what a talented family!
Sadly, I'm supposed to be doing actual work for my day job right now and not writing theatre reviews, so I have to stop there. But please don't let my omission of reviews of each performer say anything to your heart other than they ALL deserve your praise and attention. Please look them up and cheer them all on!!! Most importantly, watch for their names in lights at a Broadway Theatre in the very near future!!!
ZACHARY BROD *** VICTORIA DENNIS *** SCARLETT DIAZ
ADAM DORFMAN *** ALEX DREIER *** MISSY DREIER
REBECCA GOLDFARB *** CASEY GORAB *** ABBEY ROSE GOULD
BAILEY GREY *** EMMA HOWARD *** SHANNON HOWARD
JENNA IACONO *** EMMA JOANIS *** ALICIA KACZOR
SEBASTIAN KACZOR *** TRENT KOWALIK *** JOY KATE LAWSON
ISABELA MONER *** ISIS NOEL *** ALLIE RENNER
BELLA RETTER *** LIZA RETTER *** MARCUS SHACKNOW
SHO SCOTT *** MARSIYA VLAD *** MATTHEW WECHSLER
CLARA YOUNG *** VIOLET YOUNG
For Billy Elliot The Forum,
Sean Patrick Brennan
-
CJ-Rochester
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 4675
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:35 am
- Location: Rochester, NY
Re: This Way to Broadway
Thanks for the review Sean. It sounded like a fantastic event!
I'm so glad to hear Isabela and Adam were the hosts. Ever since I saw the two of them on Youtube a few months ago I was impressed with their talents. Did they do their "Spring Chicken" number? You can tell Adam would make an excellent Michael.
Here's that number, if anyone hasn't seen it before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF3DNr3qpDU
I'm so glad to hear Isabela and Adam were the hosts. Ever since I saw the two of them on Youtube a few months ago I was impressed with their talents. Did they do their "Spring Chicken" number? You can tell Adam would make an excellent Michael.
Here's that number, if anyone hasn't seen it before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF3DNr3qpDU
:/
-
angelenroute
- Billy
- Posts: 3831
- Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:05 am
- Location: Malverne (Long Island), NY
Re: This Way to Broadway
They didn't, but she performed yet another incredible number and he started the show with an original piano number he wrote, composed, and performed. I'm telling ya these kids are ridiculously talented!!!
-
angelenroute
- Billy
- Posts: 3831
- Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:05 am
- Location: Malverne (Long Island), NY
Re: This Way to Broadway
The Playbill for This Way To Broadway can be found online here:
http://www.playbillvip.com/show/vip/Thi ... 162/page/1
Page through by clicking the arrows on the left or right of each page.
Sean
http://www.playbillvip.com/show/vip/Thi ... 162/page/1
Page through by clicking the arrows on the left or right of each page.
Sean
-
porschesrule
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9377
- Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:02 am
- Location: Rhode Island, USA
Re: This Way to Broadway
This Way to Broadway: Our Time, produced by Thommie Retter and featuring the talented kids of the Broadway community in NYC, will take place on June 1, 2014.
The event is one night only and will be presented at The Actors Temple, 339 W 47th Street, NY, NY.
Sam Poon has posted on his Facebook fan page that he will be co-hosting the event and will be tapping for the first time (in public) since his Billy Elliot days.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Poon ... 23?fref=nf
https://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Way ... 4636885408
http://www.playbillvip.com/show/vip/Thi ... 906/page/2
https://www.telecharge.com/eventovervie ... Acomment&f
The event is one night only and will be presented at The Actors Temple, 339 W 47th Street, NY, NY.
Sam Poon has posted on his Facebook fan page that he will be co-hosting the event and will be tapping for the first time (in public) since his Billy Elliot days.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Poon ... 23?fref=nf
https://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Way ... 4636885408
http://www.playbillvip.com/show/vip/Thi ... 906/page/2
https://www.telecharge.com/eventovervie ... Acomment&f
-
CJ-Rochester
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 4675
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:35 am
- Location: Rochester, NY
Re: This Way to Broadway
Thanks for posting this. I see some other notable names in this talented lineup: Alex Dreier, Emma Howard, Brionna Trilling.
:/