NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day With Catherine Ricafort at Broadway's Honeymoon in VegasFollowing an acclaimed engagement at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse, the new musical Honeymoon in Vegas, based on the 1992 Castle Rock Entertainment film of the same name, now plays Broadway's Nederlander Theatre. Cast member Catherine Ricafort, who is featured as Mahi, documented a wintry two-show day at work!
By
Matthew Blank
February 04, 2015
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day With Catherine Ricafort at Broadway's Honeymoon in Vegas
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day With Catherine Ricafort at Broadway's Honeymoon in Vegas
Following an acclaimed engagement at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse, the new musical Honeymoon in Vegas, based on the 1992 Castle Rock Entertainment film of the same name, now plays Broadway's Nederlander Theatre. Cast member Catherine Ricafort, who is featured as Mahi, documented a wintry two-show day at work!
76 PHOTOS
Good morning, New York! Waking up in a onesie is the only way to start a two-show day.
Catherine Ricafort
I check in with my Ma and Pa, all the way out in California! Thank goodness for Skype.
Catherine Ricafort
Lots of inspiration on my wall from various shows I've done! No, I'm not a musical theatre nerd at all...
Catherine Ricafort
I just woke up, but it's already lunch time. The Filipino food from the place next door to my apartment is the bomb.
Catherine Ricafort
My boyfriend Scott is memorizing lines, as he's heading out tomorrow to join the national tour of Dirty Dancing as "Robbie"! I take a quick pic then dart away as he's trying to concentrate...
My cousin Gileann stayed over last night, and now she's headed back up to Vassar for her spring semester.
Catherine Ricafort
Got my snow boots, vest, and fuzzy hat on - almost ready to head out into the cold.
Catherine Ricafort
First stop: "Caffino." They just opened this local coffee shop a couple months ago, and I'm especially glad for it on a two-show day.
Catherine Ricafort
It's a gorgeous winter day. I'm from warm and sunny California, but I've learned to appreciate the cold here. Sometimes.
Catherine Ricafort
Am I in Greece? Oh wait, this is Astoria! I love my neighborhood, and get to pass this park on the way to the train every day.
Catherine Ricafort
Look what I found at my subway stop! Happy I have good friends like Tony Danza, Brynn O'Malley, and Rob McClure to wait for the train with me.
Catherine Ricafort
The elevated train by my window doesn't faze me anymore...
Catherine Ricafort
I've arrived at the theater - can't wait to play onstage and off with this awesome company today!
Catherine Ricafort
Time to sign in!
Catherine Ricafort
The ladies are called onstage for a quick spacing rehearsal with our amazing Dance Captain Barry.
Catherine Ricafort
Now it's time to begin the trek upstairs to the dressing room.
Catherine Ricafort
More stairs...
Catherine Ricafort
And even MORE stairs...
Catherine Ricafort
Phew, made it to the dressing room! I stop to chat with our lovely swings. Jessica just made her Broadway debut the other day, and Jonalyn got her a box of Schmackary's to celebrate. We definitely deserve some Schmackary's after all the stairs.
Catherine Ricafort
Welcome to my dressing room station! How many Hello Kitty items can you spot...
Catherine Ricafort
We have various Tony Danza posters all over the theater.
Catherine Ricafort
On my way downstairs to get my wig, I stop by to say hello to our awesome stage management team! They just approved my vacation request, so I am extra happy :)
Catherine Ricafort
Before the show, David Josefsberg can always be found drinking a concoction prescribed by Nancy Opel: chopped garlic, onion, ginger, lemons, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and hot water. It sounds gross, but if you hear the way he sings "When You Say Vegas" and "Higher Love", you'll want to try it too!
Catherine Ricafort
Down to the basement to get our wigs on. Isaac gets Zack ready for the opening number.
Catherine Ricafort
"Places, please." My dance partner Grady McLeod Bowman warms up by lifting me insanely high into the air with one arm. No biggie.
Catherine Ricafort
Next costume: the ladies who lunch. Love shopping onstage at Tiffany's with Tracee Beazer!
Catherine Ricafort
Our gorgeous showgirls Leslie Flesner and Erica Sweany pause for a pic before heading onstage to kick their faces!
Catherine Ricafort
Next costume: Card Girl. Seriously, this is my whole costume.
Catherine Ricafort
We would not be able to get through the show without our amazing dressers! Rosalynn takes a break before she works some quick-change magic.
Catherine Ricafort
I bump into Zachary Prince on the way to the stage - no wait, I mean J.R. Brown.
Catherine Ricafort
If you want to know how to rock a track suit, look no further than Gaelen Gilliland in her Joanne Klein costume.
Catherine Ricafort
In Vegas, you meet a wide array of characters.
Catherine Ricafort
I thought the boys liked me as the Slot Machine Lady, but I guess they like Sapphire De La Tour better. I don't see why.
Catherine Ricafort
Water cooler talk, Honeymoon in Vegas style.
Catherine Ricafort
Getting ready to put my wig on as "Mahi" for Act 2!
Catherine Ricafort
Thanks Jessie, for making Mahi look fabulous and ready for "Friki-Friki!"
Catherine Ricafort
Our leading lady Brynn O'Malley poses with rising star Twan Baker after their scene in Act 2. Twan's Broadway credits include the revival of Annie with Brynn, and our own JRB's Bridges of Madison County!
Catherine Ricafort
Hold me closer, Tony Danza. He is an amazing leading man both onstage and off - he's always cheering us on before we perform!
Catherine Ricafort
Waiting in the wings.
Catherine Ricafort
Phew, just finished performing "Friki-Friki" with the incredible Rob McClure! We celebrate having survived another romp on Mahi's pink Jeep.
Catherine Ricafort
The Garden of the Disappointed Mothers does Side Show. This is only one of many skits done offstage every day to entertain Brynn O'Malley during her break in Act 2.
Catherine Ricafort
The Flying Elvises fill up on water after dancing their faces off in "Higher Love!"
Catherine Ricafort
After the matinee, I introduce Tony Danza to my Uncle Dan (who flew all the way in from Las Vegas) and my brother Juan after they watch the show. What a bunch of handsome guys!
Catherine Ricafort
Albert and I swing by our merchandise counter to check out the swag. That looks like it could be a great leotard for my next audition.
Catherine Ricafort
Dinnertime. It's too cold to go outside, so Erica and I both order in on Seamless for a picnic in our dressing room! Burgers and fries are the most satisfying fuel you can have between shows.
Catherine Ricafort
But...I need my coffee break! So I venture out to Paris Baguette across the street with Albert. We've known each other since doing Mamma Mia, and it's great to be in a show together again :)
Catherine Ricafort
Feeling energized after that coffee. Excited to do another show!
Catherine Ricafort
They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway...
Catherine Ricafort
Back for round 2. Our stage door is hidden in a back alley, where the walls are filled with signatures from back when Rent was playing in our theatre.
Catherine Ricafort
A peek into the star dressing room! The amazing Robert Hartwell transformed Tony's dressing room for Broadway Quick Change. I'm pretty jealous.
Catherine Ricafort
On two-show days, our crew gathers onstage to play a high-stakes poker game on our very own prop poker table! Rob McClure and Matthew Saldivar join in. Those are official Honeymoon in Vegas cards they're playing with.
Catherine Ricafort
Before the second show, Ray Lee, Albert Guerzon and I rehearse in the Nederlander mezzanine for our next #CoWerkers YouTube video. That may be a toy piano and a Sailor Moon binder, but the music is serious.
Catherine Ricafort
So many friends in the audience tonight, we are pumped!
Catherine Ricafort
Glad we have Jonalyn's custom Disney artwork to look at on the stairs, as it distracts us from the huffing and puffing as we climb more steps.
Catherine Ricafort
Thank you Jonalyn for this custom art piece featuring the #CoWerkers!
Catherine Ricafort
It's half-hour, and time to celebrate Tracee's birthday!!!
Catherine Ricafort
The company gathers in the stairwell to sing Happy Birthday to Tracee!
Catherine Ricafort
Five minutes later, the cake has been demolished.
Catherine Ricafort
My Ventura County homies Jonalyn Saxer and our drummer Jamie Eblen check out an article in our hometown newspaper about all three of us going to the same middle school, then now performing in the same show!
Catherine Ricafort
Stretching in the basement before the second show. I think Albert's warming up his face too.
Catherine Ricafort
Our hallway is full of Opening Night greetings from other shows. So much love :)
Catherine Ricafort
I pop into the boys' dressing room - they are ready to go to Hawaii in Act 2!
Catherine Ricafort
I love the Hawaii swag on Chris' locker. Mahi approves.
Catherine Ricafort
Important intermission activity. Old school NES really helps us get into character.
Catherine Ricafort
The coolest musicians on Broadway get ready to open Act 2 onstage!
Catherine Ricafort
"Mahi" auditions to be a substitute in the string section. Our Concert Master Todd Reynolds doesn't seem too impressed though...
Catherine Ricafort
Gaelen really did a great job retouching her makeup and hair for Act 2.
Catherine Ricafort
Our stage manager Andrea catches some rulebreakers. Ray and Albert, didn't you see the sign?!
Catherine Ricafort
Mahi is really happy that she gets to work with Teihutu, aka George Merrick, to lure Jack Singer away from Betsy.
Catherine Ricafort
Mahi has another Hawaiian partner in crime: Raymond!
Catherine Ricafort
Joaquin, our security guard, challenges me to a game of Jenga during Act 2.
Catherine Ricafort
I lost.
Catherine Ricafort
Show is over, and the fabulous Nancy Opel is ready to take her wig off and head home after a day full of making audiences laugh!
Catherine Ricafort
Our friends Jaygee Macapugay from Here Lies Love and Ali Ewoldt from the upcoming revival of The King and I came to support us in the show!
Catherine Ricafort
I give a tour backstage to Kelly Marteney, one of my best friends since 7th grade! She always knows how to give a sensible bevel.
In addition to director Gary Griffin and choreographer Denis Jones, the creative team also features three-time Tony Award nominee Anna Louizos (scenic design); Emmy Award winner Brian C. Hemesath (costume design); Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (lighting design); Tony Award winner Scott Lehrer and Drama Desk Award winner Drew Levy (sound design); Tony and Grammy Award winner Don Sebesky, Larry Blank, Jason Robert Brown and Charlie Rosen (orchestrations); Tom Murray (music director); Charles G. LaPointe (hair and wig design); and Kathy Fabian/Propstar (props).
Honeymoon in Vegas has a book by "Blazing Saddles" and "Fletch" writer Andrew Bergman and a score by three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown. The musical, according to press notes, "tells the story of Jack Singer (Rob McClure), a regular guy with an extreme fear of marriage, who finally gets up the nerve to ask his girlfriend Betsy (Brynn O'Malley) to marry him. But when they head to Las Vegas to get hitched, smooth talking gambler Tommy Korman (Tony Danza), looking for a second chance at love, falls head over heels for Betsy. What happens next is anybody's bet!"
The Broadway musical is produced by Dena Hammerstein, Roy Gabay, Rich Entertainment Group, Dan Farah, Metro Card, King's Leaves, Dan Frishwasser, Leslie Greif/Thom Beers, Suzi Dietz & Lenny Beer, Howard Hoffman/Anna Czekaj, Important Musicals, Sharon Karmazin, L.G. Scott, Martin Markinson in association with Ken Greiner/Ruth Hendel, Krauss Freitag/Boyle Koenigsberg, Rick Steiner/Bell-Staton Group and Paper Mill Playhouse.
The original cast recording is available from Universal Music Enterprises. The recording is produced by composer and three-time Tony Award winner Brown and Emmy Award winner Jeffrey Lesser.
The Nederlander Theatre is located at 208 West 41st Street. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com or by calling (877) 250-2929.
