I met Sue Lawless, in person, at a directors union meeting, a few years ago. I recognized her from the Whisk commercials that permeated the airwaves when I was a kid. Sure she was older and stouter, but the twinkle in the eye was the same and the enthusiasm for entertaining had not waned. (No one reads a membership list with such panache.) Sue has a great sense of humor. I had been looking for a director who shared my humor to stage my plays. Would this Broadway veteran consider an Off-Off Broadway minimalist festival? Yes, if the story is good and the collaborators willing and professional.

Sue has directed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, earning an Obie Award and Drama Desk Best Musical Director Nomination, and at regional theaters, including Actors, across the country. She has directed stars like Richard Kiley, Colleen Dewhurst, Zoe Caldwell, Patricia Neal and Jason Bateman. Sue has directed cabaret, opera, dinner theatre, summer stock, industrials and theatre for young audiences.  She has guest directed, taught and lectured at Opera McGill at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, the Tisch School of the Performing Arts at New York University, the University of Virginia and Mt. Holyoke College.  Her credits include nearly 500 plays, musicals and operas.

In addition to directing, Sue has performed in the New York theatre off-Broadway scene, in her own music/comedy cabaret show with her partner, Ted Pugh, on television in soap operas, commercials, and variety shows, including  The Tonight Show.

This is Sue’s second year working with JLT, and we are fortunate to have her. Join us in honoring Remembering Ossie, June 18, and get some  Audition Tips for Actors and Singers before the play reading at 5:30PM . Whether in showbiz or dreaming of a career change, the workshop will do you good!

I met Grenoldo Frazier at the St. Louis Black Rep, where I was directing Robert Johnson Trick the Devil, a few years ago. He was playing “Stokes,” the blind piano player at a Georgia juke joint. I was blown away by his virtuoso playing and singing. I wanted to do something different, something along the lines of an operetta. We were a bit too successful in rehearsal because the producer commented that the audience wouldn’t listen to the dialogue “with all that music!”  Elton John may have the moniker, “Piano Man,” but Grenoldo is somewhere in the Beyond. Ask anyone who say our mainstage cabaret, Billy, Lena and The Duke: A Night of Ellington Music!  He made that piano sound like a band! This will be Grenoldo’s third year at the Jamboree, and he is a gift to JLT. So be sure to be at the Jamboree opening weekend, June 3 and 4, for The Genius of Ray, Pts. 1&2, and to learn what goes into The Making of a Musical on Saturday, June 4, 5:30PM.

Grenoldo  is a three-time Audelco award winner for Best Supporting Actor, Music Director and Arranger, and for Composer in Robert Johnson . . . God’s Trombones and Deadwood Dick, respectively. Some of his compositions include: the John Henry Ballet for Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Off-Broadway production of Moms, Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope and Mama I Want to Sing. He was Musical Director for  Bricktop at New York City’s famed Rainbow Room, A Thrill A Moment:Motown Revue and Hot Dishes—Birdland, and for the National Tour of Your Arms Too Short To Box With God. Grenoldo has performed with Pearl Bailey in Hello, Dolly! and with Clarice Taylor of  The Cosby Show in Moms Mabley. He’s also appeared in the soap,  One Life To Live , and as the voice of “Disco D” on Sesame Street.

I am just making the acquaintance of the fellows from the African American Collective Theatre (ACT.)  When I called Alan Sharpe to tell him that I wanted his play, BrotherHOODS, to be a part of the Jamboree, he asked if he could bring his company members to perform it. I explained the financial situation. But he still wanted to bring his guys and assume the cost for their travel.  Well I can’t say “no” to such dedication and commitment.  So let’s welcome the Brothers from Chocolate City, D.C. and have a big turnout for them on Friday, June 10th!