tdf STAGES Feature: Rewriting a Musical He Stars In
During dress rehearsals and preview performances, a new musical constantly adds, deletes, and changes songs. This can be stressfully exhilarating for the composer, who has to crank out fresh material, and for actors, who have to learn it on the spot. But when you’re the composer and the actor, you face twice the intensity. Just […]
During dress rehearsals and preview performances, a new musical constantly adds, deletes, and changes songs. This can be stressfully exhilarating for the composer, who has to crank out fresh material, and for actors, who have to learn it on the spot.
But when you’re the composer and the actor, you face twice the intensity. Just ask Jeff Bowen (above, second from left), the composer and co-star of Now. Here. This. at the Vineyard Theatre. The show began previews on March 7, and before its official opening on March 24, he says it “may be totally different every night”…
Artists
Jeff Bowen
Actor/Music and Lyrics/Vocal Arrangements- Broadway: [title of show] (2009 Best Plays yearbook, Broadway.com Audience Award). Off-Broadway: NOW. HERRE. THIS, [title of show] (Vineyard Theatre, Obie Award, Drama League Nomination), SPARKLEFEST 2000 (Dixon Place). Music & Lyrics: VILLAINS TONIGHT! (Walt Disney Company), 53rd Drama Desk Awards, Actors fund 125, numerous Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS events. TV writing: “Glass Houses” (ABC Studios). Composition recordings: [title of show] (Original Cast), “Wonderland” for Broadway Bares Openings, and “Poppy” for Over the Moon: Broadway Lullaby Project. Internet: the [title of show] show. Member: ASCAP, AEA, WGAE, Dramatist Guild and the National Audubon Society.
Reviews
NOW.HERE.THIS. Review Quotes
“GOOD NEWS! NOW. HERE. THIS. IS ENDEARINGLY GOOFY AND ADORABLE!
The lovable gang from ‘title of show’ is back.
A blend of good humor and good feeling with an audience-embracing
brio that never flags.”
-Charles Isherwood, The New York Times
“A FUNNY, EMPATHETIC, ENTERTAINING SHOW. SWEET, PEPPY AND TUNEFUL!
If it takes a tuneful musical to remind people to seize the moment
and enjoy life more, NOW. HERE. THIS is perfect for the job.”
-Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press
“A TOUCHING, PLUCKY AND HEARTWARMING ODE TO ART AND FRIENDS!
NOW. HERE. THIS. is bubbly, larky and sweetly cosmic!”
-David Cote, Time Out New York
“I LOVED IT!
NOW. HERE. THIS. is giddy philosophical fun!”
-Jesse Oxfeld, New York Observer
“ADORABLE!
As musicals struggle to survive, I’d bank on this
quirkily unnatural selection. You’ll enjoy yourself!”
Michael Feingold, Village Voice
“A TREMENDOUSLY ENTERTAINING NEW MUSICAL!”
-Dan Bacalzo, Theatremania
“CHEERS FOR NOW. HERE. THIS.!
A distinctively original and delightfully quirky musical.”
-Michael Sommers, New Jersey Newsroom
“A DELIGHTFUL COMBINATION OF CHILDLIKE GIDDINESS AND ADULT SELF-DEPRECATION!”
-David Sheward, Backstage
“ANOTHER GEM!
Thoughtful entertainment that doles out equal doses heartfelt humor, humanity, and hindsight.”
-David NouNou, Stagezine