NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Tour of Dangerous Beauty With Bryce RynessBryce Ryness, a Drama Desk Award nominee for Broadway's Hair, takes Playbill.com on an exclusive backstage tour of the new musical Dangerous Beauty, enjoying its world premiere staging at Pasadena Playhouse.
By
Matthew Blank
February 23, 2011
Jenny Powers, of Broadway's Grease and Little Women, plays the title role, Veronica Franco, in the show directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller (Next Fall). Veronica is forced to become a courtesan in 16th-century Venice when her family fortune is lost. She's separated from her true love. Rivals and politicians pressure her. And the Plague and the Inquisition add spice to her times.
Ryness, who plays her rival Maffio, takes Playbill.com on a detailed tour of the new musical. From his 6:30 PM departure for the theatre to the end of his night nearly five hours later, Ryness provides a look at backstage, dressing room, green room and onstage activities of the hard-working cast and crew.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Tour of Dangerous Beauty With Bryce Ryness
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Tour of Dangerous Beauty With Bryce Ryness
Bryce Ryness, a Drama Desk Award nominee for Broadway's Hair, takes Playbill.com on an exclusive backstage tour of the new musical Dangerous Beauty, enjoying its world premiere staging at Pasadena Playhouse. Jenny Powers stars as celebrated courtesan/poet Veronica Franco. Read the Playbill.com story.
33 PHOTOS
Hi. My name is Bryce Ryness, and I'm going to lead you on a tour of the backstage goings-on at Pasadena Playhouse's production of Dangerous Beauty.
Bryce Ryness
6:30 PM. Had to start here. Before leaving for the theatre every night we bathe our daughter, Mercy Jane, and get her ready for bed.
Bryce Ryness
6:45 PM. After a short walk down El Molino Avenue, I arrive at the Playhouse, where flower boxes line the artists' entryway. Here are our flower boxes, signed by the entire cast and crew and tended by the Friends of The Playhouse.
Bryce Ryness
7 PM. Signing In. Marcus Choi was in the midst of signing in when I arrived.
Bryce Ryness
7:20 PM. Fight call. There's a pretty aggressive sword fight at the top of the second act between myself and heroine Jenny Powers (who plays "Veronica"), which we rehearse before every show.
Bryce Ryness
7:22 PM. Without giving too much away, I lose the fight. Can you tell?
Bryce Ryness
7:23 PM. After the Maffio/Veronica sword fight ends, James Snyder (who plays "Marco") clocks me for debasing Veronica (in the show), as Michael Rupert looks on. It doesn't go well for me in this show...
Bryce Ryness
7:30 PM. Half-hour call. Amidst putting on our costumes, James and I recreate our standard attire and activity when we were roommates in college.
Bryce Ryness
7:32 PM. Jessica Keller warms up for the sensual and expressive Benoit-Swan Pouffer choreography.
Bryce Ryness
7:37 PM. Matt Tyler and Jessica Keller practice one of the many acrobatic lifts in the show.
Bryce Ryness
7:39 PM. Hair Room. Jenny Powers and Meg Gillentine get their wigs on and bolted down.
Bryce Ryness
7:44 PM. I've worn eyeliner in a few shows... and I still hate putting it on. This is me, in the midst of rebellion.
Bryce Ryness
7:46 PM. Jessica Vosk and Meg Gillentine make sure their make-up is fierce... and it IS! Yes.
Bryce Ryness
7:47 PM. One dressing room away, Angela Wildflower Polk, Katherine Malak and Iresol Cardona make sure their make-up is fierce, too...AND IT IS. Yes.
Bryce Ryness
7:48 PM. Final prep in the Megan McGinnis/Morgan Weed dressing room. Morgan ("Guilia") lends Megan ("Beatrice") a hand.
Bryce Ryness
7:49 PM. Morgan Weed. One more touch of mascara...
7:50 PM. Star Jenny Powers has her Act One wig placed lovingly on the mic pack on top of her head.
Bryce Ryness
7:51 PM. Hi, Jenny. Smile for the camera!
Sarah Hatten gets our leading lady ready for the stage.
Bryce Ryness
7:55 PM. Five minutes to places. Green Room. The cast cycles through a little photo booth I set up...starring Laila Robbins in the vertical center row.
Bryce Ryness
7:56 PM. Courtesan shoes. Ready to go!
Bryce Ryness
7:58 PM. Places! Clockwise from top: Nigel Columbus, James Snyder, Morgan Weed, Marcus Choi, John Antony, Angel Reda and Megan McGinnis come together on deck to bless the show, crew, audience, technicians, etc.
Bryce Ryness
8:35 PM. PSM Joe Witt, hard at work calling the show.
Bryce Ryness
8:39 PM. The men of Dangerous Beauty gather for a family picture in the Green Room.
L-R, around the table: Michael Baker, Marcus Choi, James Snyder, Michael Rupert, Matt Tyler, Joe Mandragona, John Antony, Nigel Columbus
Bryce Ryness
8:42 PM. From the Stage Left upper platform. Meg Gillentine (foreground) stands in repose with her courtesan sisterhood while the action commences out of frame.
Bryce Ryness
8:50 PM. Music director and All-Around-Amazing-Human-Being Fred Lassen conducts the nine-piece orchestra.
Bryce Ryness
9:10 PM. Clockwise from top left: Michael Baker ("Bishop Della Torre"), Joe Mandragona ("Tintoretto"), Matt Tyler ("Grand Inquisitor") and Marcus Choi ("Tron") prepare for their entrances.
Bryce Ryness
9:30 PM. Two minutes to Act Two. The Madame & The Courtesans!
(Clockwise from far left): Katherine Malak, Laila Robbins, Angel Reda, Meg Gillentine, Jessica Vosk, Iresol Cardona, Angela Wildflower Polk and Jessica Keller.
Bryce Ryness
10:02 PM. Vocal Booth. Megan McGinnis, Morgan Weed, and I look, terrified, into the camera. Moments later we belted out "Lions of the Sea" with vim and vigor.
Bryce Ryness
10:43 PM. Show done! The whole cast gathers for a quick group shot seconds after the grand drape descends.
Bryce Ryness
10:44 PM. And we celebrate another successful show! I would like to take this opportunity to point out that the most enthusiastic gesture is by Tony Award winner Michael Rupert.
Bryce Ryness
10:55 PM. Rehearsal. James and I are playing an evening of our original songs on Feb. 28 at Barre On Vermont (1714 North Vermont) and grabbing every last moment of rehearsal we can. Jessica Vosk and Dangerous Beauty drummer MB Gordy will be guestin
Bryce Ryness
11:06 PM. Ghostlight and houselights illuminate the majestic and historic Pasadena Playhouse.
Bryce Ryness
11:09 PM. Goodnight Pasadena, Playhouse! Come see Dangerous Beauty at this picturesque venue now through March 13. Ticketing and info at www.dangerousbeautythemusical.com.
Dangerous Beauty by Jeannine Dominy (book), Amanda McBroom (lyrics) and Michele Brourman (music) features James Snyder (Drama League Award nominee for Broadway's Cry-Baby) as Veronica's love Marco; Bryce Ryness (Drama Desk Award nominee for Broadway's Hair) as her rival Maffio; Laila Robins (Broadway's Heartbreak House) as her mother Paola; Michael Rupert (Legally Blonde, The Happy Time, Tony winner for Sweet Charity) as the poet Domenico; Megan McGinnis (Broadway's Little Women, Ovation Award nominee for the Rubicon Theatre's Daddy Long Legs) as Veronica's dear friend Beatrice; John Antony (Broadway's Passion) as powerful senator Pietro; and Morgan Weed (Second Stage Theatre's Next to Normal) as Giulia, who is betrothed to Marco. According to Pasadena Playhouse, Dangerous Beauty, based on a true story, "tells the tumultuous tale of Veronica Franco, a celebrated courtesan/poet of 16th-century Venice. Forced to become a courtesan...she ultimately embraces the courtesan life because it affords her extraordinary education and access. It is not long before she is the most influential woman in the cultural and political life of her beloved city. As Veronica's star rises, however, Venice is ravaged by war, plague, and the Inquisition. When Veronica finds herself on trial for witchcraft, she realizes that only her personal integrity can save her."
The musical is adapted from the New Regency screenplay "The Honest Courtesan" written by Jeannine Dominy, released as the film "Dangerous Beauty." It's inspired by the scholarly book "The Honest Courtesan" by USC Professor Margaret Rosenthal.
The cast also includes Michael Baker (York Theatre's Yank!) as Bishop Della Torre; Joe Mandragona as Tintoretto (national tour of All Shook Up); Nigel Columbus as Raamberti (national tour of Monty Python's Spamalot); Marcus Choi as Tron (Broadway's Wicked); Matthew Tyler as Granad Inquisitor (West End's The Phantom of the Opera); Irasole Cardona as Courtesan/Wife (Broadway's The Lion King); Meg Gillentine as Courtesan/Wife; Jessica Lee Keller as Courtesan/Wife/Dance Captain (ABC's "Dancing With the Stars"); Katherine Malak as Courtesan/Wife (Off-Broadway's White Widow); Angela Wildflower Polk as Courtesan/Wife (Kirk Douglas Theatre's Venice); Angel Reda as Courtesan/Wife (Broadway's Chicago); Jessica Vosk as Courtesan/Wife (West End's Kristina).
Performances continue to March 13 at the Pasadena Playhouse. Pasadena Playhouse is at 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, CA. For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.
The musical is the newest project by Hunter Bird, one of the creative minds behind the immersive Off-Broadway revival of The Phantom of the Opera, Masquerade.
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