PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Helluva Two-Show Day at Broadway's On the Town With Samantha SturmBroadway regular Samantha Sturm, a member of the high-energy ensemble delighting audiences nightly in the new revival of On the Town, shares a recent two-show day at the theatre. Sturm, last seen as The Acrobat in Matilda, shares her morning routines and takes us backstage at the Lyric THeatre.
By
Matthew Blank
November 25, 2014
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Helluva Two-Show Day at Broadway's On the Town With Samantha Sturm
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Helluva Two-Show Day at Broadway's On the Town With Samantha Sturm
Broadway regular Samantha Sturm, a member of the high-energy ensemble delighting audiences nightly in the new revival of On the Town, shares a recent two-show day at the theatre. Sturm, last seen as The Acrobat in Matilda, shares her morning routines and takes us backstage at the Lyric THeatre.
40 PHOTOS
Good morning! I'm about to vacuum my living room! Isn't this exciting?! (I promise it gets better)
Samantha Sturm
Hey Ryan Steele, I can take pics brushing my teeth, too! Does this make me as cool as you now?
Samantha Sturm
Bundle up, folks. It's a cold one! I love the cold… (This is a lie. I hate the cold.)
Samantha Sturm
Breakfast/lunch time! This bagel and coffee shop is my jaaaaaam.
Signing in for the matinee. Notice the giant coffee. We need a lot of energy to get through the show.
Samantha Sturm
Hey, look! It's Eloise Kropp and her green juice!
Samantha Sturm
I finally have makeup on, so you are allowed to see my whole face. This is Jonathan Sharpless, one of our amazing hair people!!
Samantha Sturm
Getting my wig and hat pinned on for the matinee! I get my hair on early so that I have ample warm-up time.
Samantha Sturm
Stephen Hanna casually stretching.
Samantha Sturm
Warming up!
Samantha Sturm
Petite allegro!
Samantha Sturm
We like to get our ballet on here at the On The Town.
Samantha Sturm
Our incredible swings/dance captains, Chip Abbott and Paloma Garcia-Lee!! We would be lost without them. They rock.
Samantha Sturm
It's the places call, which means Veronica (the wealthy business man's wife) and Bobo "the baby" dockworker need to do their pre-show dance/handshake ritual.
Samantha Sturm
It's quite an involved pre-show dance/handshake ritual….
Samantha Sturm
"Stick it!!!"
Samantha Sturm
Still going…..
Samantha Sturm
Almost done! phew….. NOW we can start the show.
Samantha Sturm
Just finished our first Miss Turnstiles of the day!
Samantha Sturm
"Excuse me ladies, but it's places for act 2. Would ANYONE like to don a corset?!"
Samantha Sturm
Dinner time! I love me some sushi with Megan Fairchild and Michael Rosen :)
Samantha Sturm
This is Magnus, one of our wonderful doormen. Hey, Magnus!
Samantha Sturm
Signing in for show numero 2. Weren't we just here?
Samantha Sturm
Holly Butler nails the between show look, perfectly pairing style and comfort.
Samantha Sturm
A very official scientific study has proven that eating a snowman cookie makes the 2nd show of the day easier. It's science.
Samantha Sturm
All pin-curled! I'm so excited!!! I see you, Kristine Covillo!! That cookie is kicking in, now.
Samantha Sturm
Why, hello, Jay Armstrong Johnson. Nice of you to pop in!
Samantha Sturm
I got ready extra early so I could sew up some ballet slippers.
Samantha Sturm
Wig time, again! Thanks for keeping me pretty, Jonathan!
Samantha Sturm
Dylan, one of our brilliant musicians gets ready too. Doesn't he look sharp?!
Samantha Sturm
Oh heeeeey Julius Carter and Alysha Umphress. I'm not gonna lie, I think we have the prettiest cast on Broadway. I mean, look at these gorgeous people!
Samantha Sturm
Scott Rowen is very excited to call the second show.
Samantha Sturm
Angela Brydon and Mikey Winslow are ready to go!
Samantha Sturm
Just finished Miss Turnstiles. We didn't win. Again.
Samantha Sturm
Fofi (your friendly neighborhood drunk hooker) just wanted a quick sip of water (gin) to get through. Eloise did not approve.
Samantha Sturm
We did it!! We made it through 2 shows!!!
Samantha Sturm
Who is this handsome guy? Why, it's Ryan VanDenBoom, my favorite person to see at the end of the day :)
The production, which marks the 70th anniversary of the classic musical, is directed by Tony winner John Rando, who helmed the recent, critically acclaimed City Center Encores! and Barrington Stage productions of On the Town. It also features choreography by Joshua Bergasse, who choreographed the Barrington Stage production and is making his Broadway debut as a choreographer with this show. The cast is headed by Tony Yazbeck, Jay Armstrong Johnson and Clyde Alves as the sailors on 24-hour shore leave who take on the Big Apple; Megan Fairchild, Alysha Umphress and Elizabeth Stanley as the women who steal their hearts; and Jackie Hoffman in the role of Madame Dilly with Tony Award winner Michael Rupert as Judge Pitkin, Allison Guinn as Lucy Schmeeler, Tony nominee Phillip Boykin and Stephen DeRosa.
"The Bronx is up, the Battery's down, and three sailors are hoping to get just a little bit lucky on their one day of leave in the Big Apple," according to press notes. "From the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Coney Island to Times Square and Carnegie Hall, On the Town zigzags through New York City as the sailors and the three high-spirited young women they meet chase love, dreams, and each other during an unforgettable day in the city that never sleeps."
The score features the standards “New York, New York,” “I Can Cook Too,” “Lonely Town” and “Some Other Time” and are being played with their original orchestrations, performed by what is the largest orchestra on Broadway, with 28 musicians led by musical director James Moore.
The production also has scenic and projection design by Tony winner Beowulf Boritt, lighting design by Drama Desk nominee Jason Lyons, costume design by Tony Award winner Jess Goldstein, sound design by Tony nominee Kai Harada and hair and makeup design by Leah Loukas.
On the Town is produced by Howard & Janet Kagan; Severn Partners Entertainment; Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman; Paula Marie Black; Nigel Lythgoe; Michael J. Moritz Jr.; Ken Mahoney/Michael A. Alden/Dale Badway; Ambassador Theatre Group; Margie and Bryan Weingarten; Kim Schall; Michael Rubenstein; Terry, Louise and Chris Lingner; Allan S. Gordon and Adam S. Gordon; Corey Brunish and Brisa Trinchero; Stephanie Rosenberg; Domnick Laruffa Jr. and Rob Hinderliter; Neal Rubinstein/Jeremy Handelman; Lizbeth Bintz; Riki Kane Larimer; Dennis Grimaldi/Robert Sher/Mary Maggio/Hello Ent.; Matt Ross/Ben Feldman/Pamela Cooper; and Barrington Stage Company.
The Broadway revival is also offering the first-ever mobile lottery system. TodayTix allows those interested to enter the mobile lottery via the app, available in the App Store or Google Play Store. The entry period begins each day at midnight and continues until winners are notified via push notification three-to-four hours before the selected performance begins. Winners will be offered the opportunity to purchase $20 tickets and can pick up their tickets from the uniformed TodayTix concierge outside of the theatre. Lottery tickets and seat locations are subject to availability.
Next year, Carnegie Hall's house band will perform Bernstein’s “Kaddish” Symphony, unfinished works by Schubert, and the final concert of Conductor Bernard Labadie.
