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Under A Rainbow Flag has an excellent 10-person cast, and I will be introducing them to you over the next couple of weeks before the show opens. I asked them to provide a bio of their work, their thoughts about working on Under A Rainbow Flag, and some anecdotes from their theater experiences in which something has gone hilariously wrong. Today, meet Kevin Webb, James Nedrud, Donterrio Johnson, and Nick Stockwell. And remember, previews for Under A Rainbow Flag start on March 21! You don't want to miss it. Get your tickets here now! |
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To purchase tickets on-line, please go here. |
 Donterrio Johnson, an alumni of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, is proud to be of his first production with PFP. His credits include: Kennedy The Musical Workshop (Ensemble), Hairspray (Seaweed),
Godspell (Judas), Singin' In The Rain (Sid Phillips),
Urinetown (Bobby Strong), Aladdin (Jafar). Film Credits: The Nam (General) You will be able to see Donterrio next in BrightSide Theatre's RENT The Musical in June. He would like to dedicate this performance to Ryan, The Family and Big Head! God Bless.
"Working on Under The Rainbow Flag has been such an experience. It's always a pleasure to create a character no one has ever seen before, but it's even more gratifying to have the writer there with you every step of the way and encouraging your ideas for the character. I've never worked with such a supportive and encouraging production team.
"I've had many accidental moments on stage, but one in particular that always seems to stick out is during a production of Grease I was in. During the production, I played Danny Zuko and Teen Angel. One night I was kind of on autopilot, kinda just going through the show, because we were toward the end of a long run of the show. So it was time for me to sing Teen Angel's big song 'Beauty School Drop Out' and I'm set to go on, I hear my intro music and I'm a half a step from walking on stage when I realize that I'm wearing the wrong costume, and not just any wrong costume - I'm wearing the 1950s track costume with short shorts and everything. But as they say, "The show must go on." I went on stage, short track shorts and all. Needless to say I never went through a show on autopilot ever again."
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James Nedrud is very excited for his first show with PFP! James is  recently back in Chicago after performing dinner theatre in the Grand Canyon. James has worked with various Chicago theatre companies, including Metropolis, Boho, Porchlight, Emerald City, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Many thanks to supportive friends and family, especially Tommy!
"Regarding my experience with this show, I haven't before been a part of a new work of this caliber. Having the complete freedom to create a character from the heels up in such a welcoming and supportive environment has set a new bar in my career. I have enjoyed each moment of the creative process and am extremely proud to be a part of this cast and project!
"An anecdote: When I was playing Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard,
the final scene was perhaps the most exciting to play each night because Joe is shot from behind and, at least in my production, falls down the stairs into the sunken living room of the Desmond mansion. On closing night, as I was walking towards the front door, Norma kept pulling the trigger of the gun, yet all that came out was "click...click...click...". Perhaps the gun wasn't loaded or the blanks were duds. Either way, I just continued out the front door. I hope it's a sign that Joe Gillis lives on and I will have a chance to play that role again someday!"
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 Nick Stockwell is originally from Boulder, CO, where he attended the University of Colorado earning a BFA in theatre performance. He moved to Chicago in spring of 2010. Since his arrival, Nick has been active in many different productions from theatre to musicals to film, as well as working down at Navy Pier on The Tall Ship Windy and coaching the speech and debate team out in Buffalo Grove High School. Nick as an ensemble member of Pride Films and Plays. He is very excited about Under a Rainbow
Flag and is so grateful to David and Leo for the opportunity. He would like to thank his Mother, Father, Sister, and all the brave men and women who have ever protected this great country. More info www.nickstockwell.com.
"My experience with UARF goes back to the staged reading that Pride Films and Plays did of the show last year. This was the first time I had ever worked a new musical and I was initially blown away by the story and then, learning more and more about Jon Phillips, I easily saw how this could have inspired Leo to write this show. We put in a lot of work for the staged reading and the reaction of the audience certainly let me know that this was a piece that should continue along. After the reading, we all gave Leo our two-cents' worth and when I found out that I would be continuing with the show for the full staged version, I was eager to see the new script. I loved the changes and have been having a great time at rehearsal with this amazing cast. I'm eager for everyone to see this show and look forward to opening!
"My freshman year of college I lucked my way into a production of
The Learned Ladies where I was playing the role of Tutors to Belise. It is 3 characters (all non-speaking) who have very short little bit parts. The final tutor was the dance instructor. The first night of dress rehearsal, the costume they gave me was a blue "Romeo" style top and then white tights and a dance belt. When I went out on stage, I saw everyone on the crew out in the audience immediately either laughing or turning red....When the stage lights were on me, the tights were so sheer that they practically disappeared and it looked like I was wearing only the dance belt. They did get me a thicker pair of tights before the opening of the show, but not a whole lot thicker."
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Kevin Webb could not be more thrilled to be a part of the world premiere of this exciting musical. Kevin was recently seen as John Wilkes Booth in Billy Pacholski's production of Assassins at The Viaduct. Kevin could also be seen strutting in a towel in The Ritz (Circle Theatre) and doing burlesque in Forest Fantasies and Stranger Here Myself (Lingerie Lyrique - company member as Lee O. Narcissus). Kevin can next be seen on the HMS Pinafore (Light Opera Works). He is proud to be a company member of Pride Films and Plays. M.M., Roosevelt University; B.M., University of Mississippi. For more information, visit www.kevinwebb.org. "Working with Leo, David, and the cast and crew has been such a rewarding experience. It's rare that an actor gets to feel as integral in shaping a character than when collaborating on a new script. Both Leo and David have been so receptive to ideas brought forth by the actors throughout this entire process. Because of this, the connection between actor and role (at least for me) has become a much more honest and personal relationship."
I asked Kevin to relate any scary or funny things that happened to him on stage...and he had a lot to say!
"-There was the time my wig flew off mid-scene. How did I make the moment work? I turned the wig into a weapon. -The time an audience member was too drunk to realize she was at a show and decided to join the burlesque performers onstage.
-The time I was punched in the nose during the Oklahoma dream ballet fight sequence.
-Or the time (this year) I performed a 3-man singing boylesque act with apple-shaped pasties at a biker convention." |
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