NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Scenes at Nick Blaemire's A Little More Alive Musical With Cast Member Michael TacconiThe Kansas City Repertory Theatre production of Nick Blaemire's new musical A Little More Alive played a run through May 11 on the Rep's Copaken Stage. Cast member Michael Tacconi documented the experience.
By
Matthew Blank
May 14, 2014
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Scenes at Nick Blaemire's A Little More Alive Musical With Cast Member Michael Tacconi
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Scenes at Nick Blaemire's A Little More Alive Musical With Cast Member Michael Tacconi
The Kansas City Repertory Theatre production of Nick Blaemire's new musical A Little More Alive played a run through May 11 on the Rep's Copaken Stage. Cast member Michael Tacconi documented the experience.
23 PHOTOS
Before rehearsals start, Van Hughes and his band Teen Commandments play a show at Glasslands in Brooklyn. We danced HARD. Check out their music! They're on Spotify, so you could be having a dance party in your room right now.
Michael Tacconi
The first day of rehearsal has finally arrived! All of us sit together to read and sing through the play. This beta version of the script is hot off the presses of Nick Blaemire's brain. Changes are on the horizon...
Michael Tacconi
Our first week in Davenport Studios in NYC! Trying to get all the music really solid before our flight to Kansas City in a couple days. Cian McCarthy, our music director, leads the way!
Michael Tacconi
The incomparable Mr. Clyde. Truly making a star turn in this piece of theater.
Michael Tacconi
Our set design by Wilson Chin! Can't wait to see this model all grown up into the real thing!
Michael Tacconi
Jesse Vargas, in charge of arrangements and orchestrations, and Cian snuggle up by the piano to rewrite the groove to a song. Geniuses at work.
Michael Tacconi
Right before we left for Kansas City, we hosted a send off concert at Rockwood to share some of this music with our NYC friends. Nick stands in for Dan Jenkins' vocal while Dan performs in Stage Kiss at Playwrights Horizons.
Michael Tacconi
After dropping off our bags and settling into our rooms, three boys enter Gates BBQ and leave as men. Fat men. We didn't learn our lesson either...
Michael Tacconi
Eric Rosen, Artistic Director of KC Rep, hosts the cast and creative in his beautiful home one of our first nights upon arrival. It feels great to finally be here!
Michael Tacconi
Costume fitting with Alison Heryer and crew! Testing out different suits and jackets for this young go-‐getter. Ready for this thing to be tailored and in action.
Michael Tacconi
Lindsay Mendez, Nick Blaemire, and Kayla Foster pump up the room for our Mexican themed BBQ. If you haven't had margaritas with your ribs and beans, you're missing out.
Michael Tacconi
The first day of tech! Van Hughes ponders which fine mixture of herbs will make his marijuana for the show. Cory Pattak, our lighting designer, begins creating cues while Nick pretends to be productive surfing Facebook.
Michael Tacconi
Emily Hayes, Stage Manager extraordinaire, gives notes and chats with Cory about how to make the lighting even better.
Michael Tacconi
Nick, Jesse, and Cian all spitball ideas for new orchestrations and arrangements. These guys have been working around the clock to keep up with script changes and notes from Sheryl. Synergy, all day, everyday.
Michael Tacconi
The morning of opening night! Van, Sheryl Kaller, our brilliant director and resident mother, and I cheese it before learning a new song to put in for the first time TONIGHT. New musicals are crazy and great.
Michael Tacconi
Opening night places are called! Of course, the cast has time for a quick photo.
Michael Tacconi
Our ALMA contest winners got to come to opening night and hang with us for a bit! Such cool peeps! Amanda, Matt, Olivia and Talia even brought us a handmade poster and friends for Mr. Clyde!
Michael Tacconi
What a family! Opening night is over, but we have a 5 show weekend ahead. Thanks Kansas City Rep for having us!
Michael Tacconi
Monday AND Tuesday off our last week? Don't mind if I do. A group of us sneak away to Tablerock Lake in the Ozarks for two days of log cabin/campfire living.
Michael Tacconi
Mr. Clyde is our lazy bear in the show, so we knew we were destined for a great vacation when we pulled up to this cabin.
Michael Tacconi
Cast attempt at a selfie after checking out of our cabin.
Michael Tacconi
On our way back to civilization, we stop at Red Oak 2, an incredible outdoor art installation by artist Lloyd Davis. These guys (named Bo and Duke) came to greet us and we even got to meet Lloyd himself! One of the highlights of the trip.
Michael Tacconi
Can't believe it's closing night. The run went by too fast, but the audiences in Kansas City were amazing. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @littlemorealive to see where the roadtrip takes the show next!
Directed by Tony nominee Sheryl Kaller, currently represented on Broadway with Mothers and Sons, the new musical features book, music and lyrics by actor and writer Blaemire (Glory Days). The show is being produced by Kansas City Repertory Theatre through special arrangement with Hunter Arnold and TBD Theatricals.
The cast comprised Tony nominee Daniel Jenkins (Big River) as Gene Fuller; Van Hughes (American Idiot) as Nate Fuller; Michael Tacconi as Jeremy Fuller; Lindsay Mendez (Wicked) as Lizzie; Kayla Foster as Molly; and in a separate cast who only appear in interstitial "home videos," Jenny Powers (Grease) as Maggie Fuller; Tony nominee Stephen Kunken (Enron) as Robert Hutchens; Christian Maldini as Young Nate; Patrick Gibbons as Young Jeremy; and Lukas Parrish as 4 Year Old Nate.
A Little More Alive is described as a "captivating new pop musical, in which two estranged brothers reunite at their mother's funeral. An unexpected discovery upends every memory they have – and it becomes their mission to learn the truth about their family; but, along the way, Nate and Jeremy find that no one is exempt from the gray area between right and wrong."
