PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Sunbathing, Sutton and Inspiration from Jonathan Taylor Thomas!" A Three-Show Day at 50 Shades! The Musical With Tim Murray50 Shades! The Musical, a parody of the best-selling book series, plays midtown's Elektra Theatre. Company member Tim Murray documented a particularly busy three-show day at work and play with his castmates.
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Matthew Blank
July 01, 2014
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Sunbathing, Sutton and Inspiration from Jonathan Taylor Thomas!" A Three-Show Day at 50 Shades! The Musical With Tim Murray
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Sunbathing, Sutton and Inspiration from Jonathan Taylor Thomas!" A Three-Show Day at 50 Shades! The Musical With Tim Murray
50 Shades! The Musical, a parody of the best-selling book series, plays midtown's Elektra Theatre. Company member Tim Murray documented a particularly busy three-show day at work and play with his castmates.
41 PHOTOS
Just climbing out of bed. Yeah, I still live on a lofted bed cuz COLLEGE FOREVER!!
Tim Murray
Warming up by singing Lisa Loeb. It doesn’t feel right to warm up to anything else when wearing black rimmed glasses. I’M PENSIVE!
Tim Murray
I NEED COFFEE ALWAYS.
Tim Murray
MORE coffee with my roommate Sammi Cains on our way to the train.
Tim Murray
Asking strangers when they think we’re gonna get an elevator at this station cuz I really can’t waste my energy climbing stairs… I’m in a show.
Tim Murray
Catching up on some reading on the train.
Tim Murray
The train ride from Astoria to Manhattan is long enough that I usually finish the back of a couple DVD boxes before I reach my destination. #fastreader
Tim Murray
This one is touching!! You really can’t fight the moonlight.
Tim Murray
Off to the gym before our first show. Yes, I always make that face when I work out.
Tim Murray
On my way to the Elektra Theatre I stopped by Times Square to yell “I WONDER WHICH SHOW TO SEE!? I HEAR THAT 50 SHADES IS PREEEETTY SWELL!!” Then did a back tuck into a full split, but the camera wasn’t fast enough to catch all that.
Tim Murray
Stopped by the Nederlander to have a quick laugh with my Newsie friends!
Tim Murray
Our poster!!
Tim Murray
Our awesome music director Mike Murray looking pretty cool with that Shooter McGavin pointer finger on his way into the theatre.
Tim Murray
Checking in at my dressing room spot with my personal heroes: Nancy Kerrigan, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Jessie Mueller.
Tim Murray
Lavondo Thomas, our rad bass player looking super cool in the hallway. He’s on the phone with BEYONCE!! Beyonce Smith, a friend of his who lives in North Dakota. Who did you think I meant?
Tim Murray
Alec and Dan, who play Elliot and Taylor, getting weird before our first show.
Tim Murray
Warming up to the Heathers Cast Recording. If you haven’t seen it yet you SHOULD. Look how much I’m FEELING IT!!
Tim Murray
Then Alec Varcas jumped out and scared me, which was super rude.
Tim Murray
David Andino who is leaving us soon for the Cinderella Tour cuz he’s a staaaar!
Tim Murray
Alec was on the cover of Next Magazine for 50 Shades! So Chris Grace super imposed his face onto his body. This is an image you will never be able to erase from your mind.
Our incredible sound engineer Kim Carbone checks me for lice. PSYCH, she’s helping me with my mic, cuz my hair is unruly.
Tim Murray
Our head of wardrobe Emily Winokur helps Casey Rogers put on her wig.
Tim Murray
Intermission of show number one! Chloe Williamson takes a selfie of us with this big ole camera.
Tim Murray
Mike Millan (of the New Off-B’way Musical Piece of My Heart-GO SEE IT) and I send each other “Backstage Botwin” photos. Something we made up when we want to channel our favorite heroin from “Weeds”. -NancyBotwinlova4life
Tim Murray
Chloe Williamson and Kaitlyn Frotton belting it out in the dressing room before they go on.
Tim Murray
Casey Rogers shows us what an “inner goddess” looks like in her down time.
Tim Murray
Daniel Bentley and I take our first break between shows at Schmackary’s! I only smell the cookies though. Not allowed to eat them on my WWMKE diet: What Would Mary-Kate Eat. (wipes crumbs from mouth). What??
Tim Murray
Ashley Ward and Chloe Williamson enjoying the sun and a picnic of the finest packaged junk from Starbucks before show number two.
Tim Murray
Alec Varcas soaking up some sun before our next show! He wears about that much clothing in the show so… TICKETS CAN BE FOUND AT 50SHADESTHEMUSICAL.COM. I am fully clothed the whole time, so… TICKETS CAN BE FOUND AT 50SHADESTHEMUSICAL.COM
Tim Murray
Miley Cyrus wishes she was Chloe Williamson. For real. Come hear this girl sing. It will blow you away.
Tim Murray
Just hanging with my BESTIE Chris Grace. He’s obsessed with me.
Tim Murray
JV Mercanti and I are trying to re-write one of my plays as a TV pilot. He sends me notes daily and I re-write during intermission. WRITING IS HARD. (Pulls hair out. Weeps. Screams. Passes out. Curtain).
Tim Murray
Lauryn Hill sings during this part and I walk over to them and say “your teacher says take off your robes.” No, this is what we wear for the finale, but isn’t "Sister Act 2" the greatest?? (Almost done with show number 2!).
Tim Murray
“Hey! Aren’t you in 50 Shades?” Chloe Williamson and Chris Grace getting a little loopy before our third show of the day!
Tim Murray
IMPORTANT: Every show should have a designated fart corner. Be considerate of your fellow cast members/crew and keep it in the corner! Ashley Ward and I use ours often.
Tim Murray
Our awesome backstage crewmember Danny Morales taught me this fun game where you sniff pretend crack off someone’s shoulder when they least expect it. It’s a lot like tag… he’s it!!
Tim Murray
Daniel Bentley looking ripped! He also barely wears any clothes in the show so get your tickets! Oh, me? I’m pretending to be Violet. Hey Sutton! Love everything about you forever.
Tim Murray
The boys on their phones at intermission of our last show. Weirdly, I did not receive any texts from them during this time. They must be writing me e-mails about how much they enjoyed me taking photos today. I’ll check my mail later.
Tim Murray
Our star Amber Petty KILLING it in a number I’m about to go sing with her. Oh, I guess I should put this camera down for that.
Tim Murray
Ashley Ward getting ready for the final entrance of the night! And then we’re off to partaaaaaay. (Re: eat cheese fries, watch "Game of Thrones," fall asleep by 11.)
Tim Murray
Thanks for letting me share a day at 50 Shades, Playbillers!! This was ridiculously fun! Now it’s time for home!
The cast comprises David Andino (The Buddy Holly Story), Kaitlyn Frotton (Scab), Chris Grace ("That Awkward Moment"), Adam Hyndman ("The Sing Off"), Tim Murray ("White House Down"), Amber Petty (voice of Sirius/XM's Radio Margaritaville), Casey Rogers (Catch Me If You Can), Alec Varcas (Spamalot), Ashley Ward (Baby Wants Candy) and Chloe Williamson (Save The Date). Directed by Al Samuels and Rob Lindley, the musical features a book by Al Samuels, Amanda Blake Davis, Emily Dorezas, Jody Shelton, Ashley Ward and Dan Wessels, and music and lyrics by Amanda Blake Davis, Jody Shelton, Ashley Ward, Al Samuels and Dan Wessels.
Here's how the show is billed: "50 Shades! the Musical - The Original Parody opens with a trio of girlfriends setting aside staid book club fare in favor of a sexier sort of page-turner. Interest piqued, they devour the novel while the notorious characters', Anastasia and Christian, delicious affair comes to life before their eyes. The musical is an uproarious rollercoaster ride through this unlikely bestseller. The show features a sassy original score with musical influences ranging from traditional musical theater to R&B to Gilbert and Sullivan, including the provocative 'I Don’t Make Love...' and 'There's a Hole Inside of Me.'"
The production has set and costume design by John Dunnett, lighting design by Herrick Goldman, choreography by Mindy Cooper and sound design by Matt Kraus. Joy Dewing is the casting director, and Michael Thomas Murray is musical director.
After nine months of patiently waiting for a moment that could have never come, this standby is now enjoying his first week of performances as Bobby Darin.
