#Paul Heesang Miller

[thediaryofatheatrekid]

Casting Goals: Shrek

“Things are looking up here in Duloc!”

Ben Lewis as Shrek

Lindsay Mendez as Princess Fiona

Blaine Alden Krauss as Donkey

Jon Jon Briones as Lord Farquaad

Thayne Jasperson as Pinocchio

Dan’yelle Williamson as Dragon

Adam Bayjou as Barker/Papa Bear/Thelonius (Shrek u/s)

Eymard Cabling as Bricks (Farquaad u/s)

Ashley Blanchett as Ensemble (Dragon u/s)

Jose Useche as Ensemble

Alicia Schumway as Fairy Godmother/Bluebird

Michael Graceffa as Gnome/Pied Piper (Pinocchio u/s)

Paul HeeSang Miller as King Herold/Big Bad Wolf/Captain of the Guard

Kimmi Neuschultz as Mama Bear

Carmen Ruby Floyd as Mama Ogre/Humpty Dumpty (Dragon u/s)

Casey Garvin as Papa Ogre/Straw (Farquaad u/s)

Usman Ali Ishaq as Peter Pan (Donkey u/s)

Sophie Patrice Golden as Queen Lillian/Wicked Witch

Connie Bahng as Shoemaker’s Elf/Blind Mouse

Heath Saunders as Sticks/Bishop (Shrek u/s)

Marie Eife as Sugar Plum Fairy/Gingy (Fiona u/s)

Alex Hairston as Teen Fiona/Baby Bear/Blind Mouse

Riza Takahashi as Ugly Duckling/Blind Mouse

Tyler Sapp as White Rabbit (Pinocchio u/s)

Angela Wildflower as Swing (Fiona u/s)

Drew Nauden as Swing (Donkey u/s)

Jonalyn Saxer as Swing

Micaela Martinez as Swing

Mike Baerga as Swing

Nick Gaswirth as Shrek (s/b)

Honorable Mentions: Anneliese Van Der Pol as Princess Fiona Billy Porter as Lord Farquaad Lucas Steele as Lord Farquaad Ryann Redmond as Princess Fiona

[heckyeahmisssaigon]

Broadway revival cast

Paul HeeSang Miller - Santa Fe (Newsies)

[whileiamdying]

Episode 11: “Tomorrow’s Reason”

Shotguns, peacocks, golf, acid. Editor Terry McDonell recounts his 1984 visit, along with George Plimpton, to Hunter S. Thompson’s home in Colorado, including never-before-heard archival tape; a poem by Pablo Neruda, translated by Alastair Reid and read by Antonio Gueudinot; and actor Paul Heesang Miller reads “William Wei,” a short story by Amie Barrodale.

[dailyconradricamora]

Conrad Ricamora & More to Lead Jeanine Tesori & David Henry Hwang's World Premiere Soft Power

Broadway alums Conrad Ricamora (The King and I) and Alyse Alan Louis (Amélie) will star in Soft Power, a new work that is slated to make its world premiere with Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group. Described as a "play within a musical," Soft Power features a book and lyrics by Tony winner David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly) and music and additional lyrics by Tony winner Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home). Tony nominee Leigh Silverman (Violet) directs the production with choreography by Tony nominee Sam Pinkleton (The Great Comet). Soft Power rewinds our recent political history and plays it back, a century later, through the Chinese lens of a future, beloved East-meets-West musical. In the musical, a Chinese executive (Ricamora) who is visiting America finds himself falling in love with a good-hearted U.S. leader (Louis) as the power balance between their two countries shifts following the 2016 election. The cast of Soft Power will also include Billy Bustamante, Jon Hoche, Kendyl Ito, Francis Jue, Austin Ku, Raymond J. Lee, Jaygee Macapugay, Daniel May, Paul HeeSang Miller, Kristen Faith Oei, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Geena Quintos, Trevor Salter and Emily Stillings. Soft Power will play Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre from May 3 through June 10.

[newyorktheater]

David Henry Hwang was attacked by an unknown assailant with a knife and nearly died. That experience, along with the playwright’s shock at the results of the 2016 Presidential election and his oft-expressed ambivalence towards the patronizing but gorgeous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “The King and I,” all make their way into “Soft Power,” an unusual musical by Hwang and composer Jeanine Tesori that inventively and oddly presents the themes of East-West divide that Hwang has long explored in such works as “M Butterfly” and “Chinglish.” “Soft Power” is clever, highly entertaining, hilarious, in places downright inspiring, and chock full of stimulating intellectual, cultural and political argument that forces us to look at American society, and the very nature of democracy, in a different way. “Soft Power” is also, ok, confused….but not confusing.

The heart of “Soft Power” is a spoof of “The King and I” that reverses and updates the story so that the “king” is Hillary Clinton (Alyse Alan Louis) and the “I” is a Chinese musical  producer named Xūe Xíng (standout Conrad Ricamora, who was, in a delicious irony, one of the stars in the last Broadway production of “The King and I.”)  The reversal reflects Hwang’s irritation at such American musicals “where the white hero goes to some dangerous land and civilizes the backwards natives. The writers get all these details wrong. And the locals somehow speak with stupid accents — in their own country.” At the same time, though, such shows make Hwang cry.

The David Henry Hwang who expresses these views is a character in “Soft Power,” portrayed winningly by Francis Jue. The first half hour of “Soft Power” is a set-up for the musical spoof to follow. Xue Xing meets with David Henry Hwang (called DHH in the program) in 2016 to entice him to write a musical for the Chinese market.  His idea is to use it as a vehicle to bring Chinese values to the world, which is what he says “soft power” means, and what the United States has done for decades through such “international products” as Catcher in the Rye and Saturday Night Fever.

DHH is going to a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, and invites Xue along, where he gets to meet the candidate and get a selfie with her. The two men are both shocked when Hillary loses. Then DHH is stabbed….

“In the moment before I lose consciousness,” he tells us in front of the curtain, “a whole world passes before my eyes. I hear … violins?” – and the curtain opens to offer a musical from China’s point of view – which, like American musicals, shows Xue traveling to the dangerous land of New York, the details are all wrong (the Golden Gate Bridge is in New York), and the locals (Asian-American actors in blond wigs) all have stupid American accents, and carry guns. What follows is a mock razzle-dazzle em musical.  At “the most famous American restaurant of all” – a gussied up McDonald’s —  rolling-skating chorus boys deliver elegant burgers, while Hillary  dances for the voters in a sparkling red tuxedo pantsuit, which she strips off to reveal a skimpy Wonder Woman costume. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court explaining the electoral college system using a suspiciously all-gold ballot box.

Presumably, this has all been DHH’s hallucination brought on by blood loss.

Then , however, Act II begins with a panel by Chinese experts fifty years in the future, during the intermission of the 50thanniversary performance of “Soft Power.” The panelists describe it as a landmark in Chinese art, an example of a new type of theater invented by the Chinese — “’Shūo chàngjù’ — literally ‘spoken and sung drama.’” This very funny scene sharply satirizes Western paternalism towards Asian art by flipping it (“There were no American artists per se. Only native craftspeople.”)

But is this still DHH’s hallucination, or have we dropped that?  The context of the musical we’re watching becomes  unclear. And when the musical picks up again after the panel discussion, the parallels to “The King and I” seem dropped as well.

Soft Power’s creative team is well versed in the American musical form. Director Leigh Silverman (Tony-nominated for Violet, who has been at the helm of some 30 stellar productions Off-Broadway) has put together a fine production on the relatively small stage at the Public Theater. Tesori, Tony-winning composer of “Fun Home” and “Caroline or Change”, has composed 13 songs that range from beautiful ballad to comic hip-hop, lushly performed by a 22-piece orchestra in full view on multiple tiers above the stage. Choreographer Camille A. Brown (Tony-nominated for Choir Boy) provides some expert moves for the performers, most of whom are Asian-American, many of whom are Broadway veterans, all of whom are first rate.

Yet, for all the experienced talent involved, “Soft Power” doesn’t feel like a fully realized musical (in the manner of, say, “The Book of Mormon,” which also includes a satire of “The King and I.”)  I doubt whether even the creative team of “Soft Power” could graph its plot.

This personally strikes me as an almost insignificant complaint in a show that, thanks to Hwang’s passion and sense of urgency, has the potential to change the way we look at the world, and at our own culture. “Soft Power” is at its most powerful when Xūe criticizes American society and democracy in ways that are frankly hard to refute. “Communism in China has raised hundreds of millions out of poverty. “But here in America, you have too much freedom,” he says to DHH in one of many such pointed observations. “You really believe your voting will force the rich to give up their money? Here, you cannot even force your mentally ill to give up their guns. “

Francis Jue as David Henry Hwng

Conrad Ricamora and Kendyl Ito as father and daughter

Conrad Ricamora and Francis Jue

Alyse Alan Louisas Hillary Clinton and company

Conrad Ricamora and Alyse Alan Louis

Alyse Alan Louis and Conrad Ricamora

Soft Power at the Public Theater Play & Lyrics by David Henry Hwang Music & Additional Lyrics by Jeanine Tesori Choreography by Sam Pinkleton Directed by Leigh Silverman. Orchestrations by Danny Troob; music direction and supervision by Chris Fenwick; dance arrangements by John Clancy; scenic design by Clint Ramos; costume design by Anita Yavich; lighting design by Mark Barton; sound design by Kai Harada; sound effects design by Bart Fasbender; video design by Bryce Cutler; hair, wig, and makeup design by Tom Watson; special effects by Lillis Meeh; music contracting by Antoine Silverman; and additional orchestrations by Larry Hochman and John Clancy

Cast: Billy Bustamante (Xue Xing Standby), Jon Hoche (Chief Justice/Hāli Aòhālā/Ensemble), Kendyl Ito (Jing/Prof. Lǐ Bìyù/Ensemble), Francis Jue (DHH), Austin Ku (Bobby Bob/Jū Míng), Raymond J. Lee (Randy Ray/Yáo Tuō/Veep/Ensemble), Alyse Alan Louis (Zoe/Hillary), Jaygee Macapugay (Betsy/Lóng Lín Kūn/Ensemble), Daniel May (Ensemble), Paul HeeSang Miller (Ensemble), Kristen Faith Oei (Ensemble), Geena Quintos (Airport Greeter/Ensemble), Conrad Ricamora (Xue Xing), Trevor Salter (Ensemble), Kyra Smith (Ensemble), Emily Stillings (Swing), Emily Trumble (Zoe/Hillary Standby), and John Yi (Swing). Running time: 2 hours including one intermission Tickets: $105 to $150 Soft Power is on stage through November 10, 2019

Soft Power Review: David Henry Hwang’s Sly Reverse Chinese Musical about America David Henry Hwang was attacked by an unknown assailant with a knife and nearly died. That experience, along with the playwright’s shock at the results of the 2016 Presidential election and his oft-expressed ambivalence towards the patronizing but gorgeous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “The King and I,” all make their way into “Soft Power,” an unusual musical by Hwang and composer Jeanine Tesori that inventively and oddly presents the themes of East-West divide that Hwang has long explored in such works as “

[darrencriss-news-blog]

millerp323: haven't seen this guy in a while and now he's a #superstar! good to see you, #darrencriss!

[thediaryofatheatrekid]

Casting Goals: Seussical

“Oh, The Thinks You Can Think”

Happy New Year ya’ll!

This cast list is based off of the version that the The Virtual Stage Co. produced with a few more ensemble roles added in and swings.

Jinkx Monsoon as Cat In the Hat*

Ryann Redmond as Horton The Elephant

Brittney Johnson as Gertrude McFuzz

Alex Hairston as Mayzie La Bird

Anneliese Van Der Pol as Sour Kangaroo

Kevin Chamberlin as Mr. Mayor

Nikki Renée Daniels as Mrs. Mayor

Ashley De La Rosa as Bird Girl/Ensemble (Mayzie u/s)

Cailen Fu as Bird Girl/Ensemble (Mayzie u/s, Kangaroo u/s)

Casey Garvin as Wickersham Brother/Ensemble (Horton u/s)

Hayden Milanés as Wickersham Brother/Ensemble

Thayne Jasperson as Wickersham Brother/Ensemble (Cat u/s)

Zurin Villanueva as Bird Girl/Ensemble (Gertrude u/s)

Aaron J. Albano as Ensemble

Jose Useche as Ensemble

Katie Ladner as Ensemble (Horton u/s, Kangaroo u/s)

Madison Alexander as Ensemble (Gertrude u/s)

Paul HeeSang Miller as Ensemble (Mr. Mayor u/s, Wickersham Brother u/s)

Tara Tagliaferro as Ensemble (Cat u/s, Mrs. Mayor u/s, Bird Girl u/s)

Ahmad Maksoud as Swing (Mr. Mayor u/s, Wickersham Brother u/s)

Benjamin Yates as Swing

Cherry Torres as Swing

Connie Bahng as Swing

Mike Baerga as Swing

Honorable Mentions: Emmy Raver-Lampman as Mayzie La Bird Joseph Morales as Horton the Elephant

*In this production Cat in the Hat portrays the following: Dr. Dake, Mr. McGurkus, General Ghenghis Khan and Yertle the Turtle

[thediaryofatheatrekid]

Understudy Love: Miss Saigon (2017 Broadway Revival)

All of these people are understudies except for Lianah Sta. Ana who is the Kim alt.

Kim: Lianah Sta. Ana/Emily Bautista

Engineer: Billy Bustamante/Adam Kaokept/Marcus Choi

Chris: Colby Dezelick/Graham Scott Fleming

John: Nkrumah Gatling/Antoine L. Smith

Ellen: Paige Faure/Ericka Hunter/Kimberly-Ann Truong

Thuy: Julian DeGuzman/Adam Kaokept/Paul HeeSang Miller

Gigi: Ericka Hunter/Kimberly-Ann Truong/Carol Angeli

[thediaryofatheatrekid]

Casting Goals: Head Over Heels

“Admired, but untouchable reflection, a vision of nowness!” 

David Bedella as Basilius

Hannah Waddingham as Gynecia

Lindsay Mendez as Pamela

Rachel Zegler as Philoclea

Kathryn Allison as Mopsa (Pamela u/s)

Nicholas Barasch as Musidorus

Manila Luzon as Pythio

Christian Šebek as Dametas

Hayden Milanés as Ensemble (Musidorus u/s, Dametas u/s)

Heath Saunders as Ensemble (Pythio u/s)

Karis Oka as Ensemble

Madison Alexander as Ensemble (Philoclea u/s)

Marie Eife as Ensemble (Mopsa u/s)

Michael Graceffa as Ensemble (Dametas u/s)

Paul Heesang Miller as Ensemble (Basilius u/s)

Sydney Parra as Ensemble

Blaine Alden Krauss as Standby (Basilius, Musidorus, Pythio)

Hannah Clarke Levine as Standby (Gynecia, Pamela, Mopsa)

Cooper Howell as Swing

Corey Kline as Swing

Kimmi Neuschultz as Swing (Pamela u/s)

Lindsay Roberts as Swing (Gynecia u/s)

Zurin Villanueva as Swing (Mopsa u/s)

Honorable Mentions Dee Roscioli as Gyencia Jon Jon Briones as Basilius Julia Murney as Gyencia Nick Spangler as Musidorus Nicole Parker as Gynecia Saycon Sengbloh as Pythio

[thediaryofatheatrekid]

Casting Goals: Hello, Dolly!

“Give me an old trombone! Give me an old baton! Before the parade passes by!”

We’ll replace “I Put My Hand In” with “Just Leave Everything to Me” because it’s a better intro and Lillias would sing the hell out of it!

Lillias White as Dolly Gallagher Levi

Brian d'Arcy James as Horace Vandergelder

Corbin Bleu as Cornelius Hackl

Ruthie Ann Miles as Irene Molloy

Usman Ali Ishaq as Barnaby Tucker

Kathryn Allison as Minnie Fay

Kabir Berry as Ambrose Kemper

Rachel Zegler as Ermengarde

Ellyn Marie Marsh as Ernestina Money

Alicia Schumway as Ensemble

Charlotte Mary Wen as Ensemble (Ermengarde u/s)

Cicily Daniels as Mrs. Rose/Ensemble (Dolly u/s, Irene u/s)

Cooper Howell as Ensemble

Gabriela M. Soto as Ensemble

Gisela Adisa as Ensemble (Ernestina u/s)

Grasan Kingsberry as Ensemble (Cornelius u/s)

Hannah Clarke Levine as Ensemble

Jackie Kraft as Ensemble (Ermengarde u/s)

Javier Ignacio as Ensemble

Julius Sermonia as Ensemble

Kevyn Morrow as Judge/Ensemble (Horace u/s)

Madison Alexander as Ensemble (Irene u/s, Minnie u/s)

Mara Lucas as Ensemble

Marcus Shane as Ensemble (Ambrose u/s)

Michael Graceffa as Ensemble

Mike Dorsey as County Clerk/Ensemble (Cornelius u/s)

Nancy Anderson as Ensemble (Dolly u/s)

Nicholas Rodriguez as Ensemble (Horace u/s)

Paul Heesang Miller as Ensemble

Ramone Owens as Ensemble

Ricky Ubeda as Ensemble

Tara Tagliaferro as Ensemble

Tyler Sapp as Ensemble (Barnaby u/s)

William Ryall as Rudolf Reisenweber/Ensemble (Horace u/s)

Allyson Kaye Daniel as Swing

Eric Anthony Johnson as Swing

Hannah Solow as Swing (Ernestina u/s)

Jose Useche as Swing (Ambrose u/s)

Mallory Maedke as Swing

Pedro Garza as Swing (Barnaby u/s)

Honorable Mentions: Hannah Waddingham as Dolly Gallagher Levi Josh Grisetti as Cornelius Hackl Norm Lewis as Horace Vandergelder Nikki Renée Daniels as Irene Molloy

[thediaryofatheatrekid]

Casting Goals: The Music Man

“Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little“

Ramin Karimloo as Harold Hill

Audra McDonald as Marian Paroo

Claybourne Elder as Marcellus Washburn

Jon Jon Briones as Mayor George Shinn

Andréa Burns as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn

Loretta Devine as Mrs. Paroo

Jennafer Newberry as Ethel Toffelmier

Rachel Zegler as Zaneeta Shinn

Usman Ali Ishaq as Tommy Djilas

Ali Louis Bourzgui as Ensemble (Tommy u/s)

Arbender J. Robinson as Constable Locke/Ensemble

Brandt Martinez as Ensemble

Brian Rivera as Oliver Hix (Mayor u/s)

Connie Bahng as Ensemble (Zaneeta u/s)

Daisy Hobbs as Ensemble

Domonique Paton as Ensemble (Ethel u/s)

Ellen Harvey as Ensemble (Mrs. Paroo u/s)

Eric Anthony Lopez as Charlie Cowell/Ensemble (Marcellus u/s)

George Psomas as Ensemble

Giuseppe Bausilio as Ensemble

Hannah Florence as Ensemble

Jackie Kraft as Ensemble

Janinah Burnett as Alma Hix (Mrs. Paroo u/s)

Jose Useche as Ensemble (Tommy u/s)

Justin Albinder as Jacey Squires (Tommy u/s)

Maria Eberline as Ensemble (Eulalie u/s)

Paul A. Schaefer as Ewart Dunlop (Hill u/s)

Q Lim as Mrs. Squires/Ensemble (Marian u/s)

Sumayya Ali as Maud Dunlop (Eulalie u/s, Ethel u/s)

Wesley J. Barnes as Olin Britt

Alexander Ferguson as Swing (Hill u/s, Mayor u/s)

Darlesia Cearcy as Swing

Eric Badiqué as Swing (Marcellus u/s, Mayor u/s)

Ilda Mason as Swing

Madison Alexander as Swing (Marian u/s, Zaneeta u/s)

Paul HeeSang Miller as Swing

Honorable Mentions: Ann Harada as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn Seth MacFarlane as Harold Hill

[thediaryofatheatrekid]

Casting Goals: Camelot

“Where are all the simple joys of maidenhood?”

So... with the news of Lincoln Center’s next major revival being Camelot, I decided to finally sit down and watch the pro-shoot that’s on YouTube.

Michael Xavier as King Arthur

Emilie Kouatchou as Queen Guenevere

Michael Maliakel as Sir Lancelot

André De Shields as Merlin/Pellinore

Erik Martenson as Mordred

Paul A. Schaefer as Sir Dinadan (Arthur u/s)

Sharrod Williams as Sir Sagramore

Casey Garvin as Sir Lionel

Adam Kaokept as Ensemble (Merlin/Pellinore u/s)

Anastasia Remoundos as Ensemble

Chloe Davis as Ensemble

Daisy Hobbs as Ensemble

Drew Nauden as Ensemble

Eric Anthony Lopez as Ensemble (Lionel u/s)

Grasan Kingsberry as Ensemble (Dinadan u/s, Sagramore u/s)

Greg Mills as Ensemble (Arthur u/s, Merlin/Pellinore u/s)

Jacob Gutierrez as Ensemble (Sagramore u/s)

Janet Saia as Ensemble

Juliane Godfrey as Ensemble

Kathryn Allison as Ensemble

Kimmi Neuschultz as Ensemble

Madison Alexander as Ensemble (Guenevere u/s)

Marla Phelan as Ensemble

Mike Baerga as Ensemble

Minami Yusui as Ensemble

Monté J. Howell as Ensemble (Arthur u/s)

Paul HeeSang Miller as Ensemble

Pomme Koch as Ensemble (Mordred u/s)

Q Lim as Nimue/Ensemble (Guenevere u/s)

Robert Ariza as Ensemble (Dinadan u/s)

Samantha Sturn as Ensemble

Sara Jean Ford as Ensemble (Nimue u/s)

Sir Brock Warren as Ensemble

Steven Grant Douglas as Ensemble (Lancelot u/s)

Taeler Cyrus as Ensemble

Tyler Sapp as Ensemble

Yesy Garcia as Ensemble

Zal Owen as Ensemble

Ahmad Simmons as Swing (Mordred u/s)

Brian Shimaski Liebson as Swing

Grace Morgan as Swing

Kyle Barisich as Swing (Lancelot u/s)

Milika Cherée as Swing

Sumayya Ali as Swing (Nimue u/s)

Honorable Mentions: Alistair Brammer as King Arthur Jordan Donica as Sir Lancelot