Kevin Massey's News

JOSHUA, THE MUSICAL: I'm playing Joshua in this 1 hour excerpt from a new musical. Below is the quick info. Drop by if you can. IT'S FREE! www.joshuathemusical.com

FRIDAY JULY 16! Staged readings of Joshua: The Musical
will be performed at the CITA (Christians in Theatre Arts)
Conference in the Studio Theater at Theatre Row (410 W
42nd St). Shows at 1:30PM & 3:15PM

We just closed the First National Tour of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, the MUSICAL on June 27th in Kansas City in front of 6 crowds of arounc 7000 each night. It was a wonderful way to spend 10 months! Thanks to all who were a part of it.

FOOTLOOSE (St. Louis MUNY): I am working with our choreographer, Michelle Lynch, from Little House again playing Willard in this outdoor production. After having such a great experience at another huge outdoor theater, Kansas City Starlight with Priarie, I am excited to work at the legendary MUNY. Luckily Footloose doesn't have any winter scenes, so I expect to be at least a little cooler onstage than with Prairie! Check out the MUNY website for more information: www.muny.org

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: I will continue to develop the role of Almanzo Wilder in this new work that we began last summer at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN. I'm looking forward to working with the great creative team and cast again with some new people on board. Check out the new website for all the official information: www.littlehousethemusical.com

Recording: I have been working on recording a wonderful song that a good friend of mine, Jay Zimmerman, wrote for me. We are in the process making it happen! It is a process, even just for one song. Hopefully this will lay the groundwork for future recordings. I will post more information when the song is completed.

New York Theatre Barn presents: Rob Rokicki & Mike Ruby. We will sing selections from his show LOVE, NY.

SMOKIN'!: The Songs of Jay Alan Zimmerman. My friend Jay has put together some new and old songs that 5 of us will sing. Here's the angle: "You shouldn't, but you're gonna anyway: smoke, drink, eat donuts, fall in love with the wrong people. So come celebrate your vices with hot next-gen Broadway singers Kevin Massey, Lori Marinacci, Matt Lutz, Mick Bleyer, Sierra Rein and her puppet. Written by Jay Alan Zimmerman."

"I am performing my first solo cabaret show on Sunday May 17 @ 9:30pm at The Duplex in Manhattan's West Village. I would love for you to join me. It is a 60 minute show that will be directed by my beautiful and talented wife Christy Hall (www.christyhall.net).

The title of the show is "New Voices, Old Sounds." The "new voices," besides myself, include composer/lyricist team Jeff Thomson & Jordan Mann (http://www.thomsonandmann.com/), who were recipients of the 2008 Jonathan Larson Award, composer/lyricist Rebekah Melocik, and composer/lyricist Jay Alan Zimmerman (http://musicbyjaz.blogspot.com/). All four of these talented individuals will contribute their own original songs to the show, each song sounding as if it could have been plucked anywhere from the 1930s to the 1960s...thus the "old sounds" portion of the evening.

I will also be joined onstage by my good friend Kevin Massey (Broadway's TARZAN and BIG RIVER) and Rebekah Melocik.

NCTF (National Corporate Theater Fund): I will singing a song from LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE to help honor Jane Fonda, John Breglio, and USA TODAY. The evening will be hosted by Michael Ritchie & Kate Burton with Elaine Stritch.

TARZAN, das Musikal (Theater Neua Flora): Yes, it's in Germany. I was called to fly out immediately and help share the role of Tarzan in the German production. I will be here a couple months, learning the entire show in German (both dialogue and songs). The show has changed quite a bit since the Broadway production, so I will also be learning many new flight patterns, many of which go out into the house. It is a great show over here, so I am very excited and eager to jump in! You can find more info, pics, etc about the show here.

Last dates for performing as Tarzan: as of today, I am scheduled to play Friday night (27 March) and Saturday night (28 March). Both shows are at 20:00.

BONNIE & CLYDE (reading): This would be my second reading of the show directed by Jeff Calhoun. I'm excited to see the new material!

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE (reading): We are doing another in-house reading to see how the changes to the show are coming along. It will be great to have the creative team and original leads back together again.

ASTEP/Inauguration Concert (Joe's Pub): I'll sing in the opening number with my good friend Lindsay Mendez and some other peeps on Songs for a New World. Here's the rest: The performance, featuring Lance Horne and Mary-Mitchell Campbell (music director of The Public Theater production of Road Show and founder of ASTEP) as music directors, will boast the talents of Seth Rudetsky (Broadway Chatterbox, The Ritz), Jeff Blumenkrantz (A Class Act), Debra Barsha (composer-lyricist of The Public's Radiant Baby), Nathan Lee Graham (Wig Out!), Lauren Kennedy (Sunset Blvd, Spamalot), Jenn Colella (Urban Cowboy, High Fidelity), Jenn Foote (A Chorus Line), Scott Sowinski ( NYCO Sweeney Todd), Lea DeLaria (On the Town) and Lauren Flanigan (NYCO Diva) and will benefit the amazing work of Artists Striving To End Poverty (ASTEP).

Says Emmy-award winning Horne: "I can think of no better way to celebrate the dawn of this new era than spending 'Day One' with some of the best voices and biggest hearts on Broadway." 100% of the proceeds from the evening will go to supporting ASTEP's mission to create positive change for young people in need across the globe.

LOVE, NY (New World Stages, Stage 2): I'm playing one of the leads in a concert version of this new show. It features songs from a very talented, up and coming song writing team of Robert Rokicki and Michael Ruby. The cast looks fantastic as well, so it should be a great night. An announcement just came out on Broadway.com including info on tickets and casting.

ANTONY & CLEOPATRA by Samuel Barber (NYCO at Carnegie Hall): I will be playing the role of EROS and making my New York City Opera and Carnegie debuts simultaneously. It will be starring Lauren Flanigan and Teddy Tahu Rhodes, both regulars at the MET and other major opera houses throughout the world. A larger press release can be seen here at the PlaybillArts webpage

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE (The Guthrie Theater): I'm playing the romantic lead, Almanzo (aka Manley), in the world premiere of this new work. It has a fantastic creative team: Francesca Zambello - director, Rachel Sheinkin - book, Rachel Portman - music, Donna DiNovelli - lyrics, Michele Lynch - choreography, Mary-Mitchell Campbell - MD. Melissa Gilbert, the original Laura from the TV series, is playing Ma in this production. The Guthrie is a fantastic theater in Minneapolis, MN, and we will mark the debut of a musical on their McGuire Proscenium Stage in their newly opened theater complex. I am very excited about this project and it's potential. More information can be found at The Guthrie theater's website. The cast announcement can be read at Playbill.com.

ZOAE Arts Group (The Bowery Poetry Club, NYC): Featuring singer-songwriter Caleb Travers, poet Kevin Gosa, and actor/singer Kevin Massey. Caleb Travers is a indie rocker with a heart that resonates with soulful country lyrics and sounds; Caleb's album is entitled "Blue Weathered Dreams". Kevin Gosa is a classically trained saxophonist and has played for our series, but this time he will return to read from a collection of his poems. Kevin Massey is a Broadway caliber talent in acting and singing. Kevin Gosa and Kevin Massey will be collaborating on the poems: Gosa will read and Massey will bring them to life through his voice and body. Saturday, May 17, 7-10 pm. $10. The Bowery Poetry Club at 308 Bowery (just south of the corner of Bowery and Bleeker). For more info go to www.zoaearts.com.

BONNIE AND CLYDE, reading: I was asked to be part this upcoming reading recently by Jeff Calhoun, who directed me in BIG RIVER. It's got some great people on the creative side (Frank Wildhorn, Don Black, Ivan Menchell) so it should be a lot of fun. Plus, I think my character gets to kill B&C in the end....nice!

BLACKAMOOR ANGEL by Carl Hancock Rux & Diedre Murray: Carl Hancock Rux brings excerpts from his new cabaret opera, with music composed by Deirdre Murray, to Joe's Pub. Directed by Karin Coonrod, Blackamoor Angel is the story of a mixed race agitprop troupe in Weimar era Berlin, and their performance of a circus opera based on the life of Angelo Soliman. A member of 18th Century Vienna's elite, the former slave Soliman was a companion of Mozart, the first African Freemason, and a tutor to the royal family. He was also the first person to be stuffed, mounted, and displayed in the imperial Naturalienkabinett. Ticket information can be found at Joe's Pub website.

MACBETH by Giuseppe Verdi with Opera Memphis: I'm looking forward to my first Verdi opera. I got cast as Malcolm in this production at Opera Memphis. I was last there in 2003, so it will be good to visit the old haunts. Ticket information can be found at the Opera Memphis website.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL at North Shore Music Theater: I will be playing the role of Fred, Scrooge's Nephew. This marks my first Christmas Carol and my debut at NSMT. I'm really looking forward to spending some time in MA again.

THE MIKADO by Gilbert and Sullivan: I just got hired to be Nanki-Poo. This will mark my first G&S experience. It almost happened at USF, but the timing is right for this one. This will be the first time I have worked with Fargo-Moorhead Opera and the first time I have been in North Dakota. Needless to say, it will be full of discoveries.

J@Z : JAY ALAN ZIMMERMAN at the ZIPPER THEATER: This is a collaboration with one of my dear friends from NY. He is putting together a collection of many different UNIQUE pieces. It should be a really fun evening. If you are fans of Cheryl Alexander, Rebekah Jacobs, or Kevin O'Conner, come on out because they will be performing as well! www.thezipperfactory.com Mention the code NOWHEARTHIS for a discount when buying two tickets.

THE CHANGELING by Middleton: This is a reading directed by Karin Coonrod in association with the Red Bull Theater. I do not know if it is open to the public, but I am always excited to be a part of a play.

TARZAN: I will be a vacation swing for them as one of the performers got hurt unexpectedly.

ANGELS THE MUSICAL: I'm playing one of the leads in the reading of this new musical. You find out more about the project at www.angelsthemusical.com

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre): I will be playing the lead role of D'Artagnan in this new musical in Chicago. The creative team is so talented and fun, that I hardly feel like I am working. I'm excited about this project as I have never worked in Chicago before, I am helping to create a lead role, and there is potential for it coming to NYC. click here for the CST info

You can hear a podcast interview with me about the show by following this link theaterinchicago.com

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL - THE MUSICAL: I was cast in a new reading for a stage adaptation of the Disney hit movie "High School Musical." I played the lead, Troy, opposite another friend of mine from Tarzan. The reading went very well and is in talks for future development. You can see more about the movie by clicking here.

PERRY: I filmed my first TV pilot earlier this year. I am played Perry in a new sitcom called PERRY. This marked my first professional camera work. There was a screening at MAKOR near Lincoln Center in June.

TARZAN: I just got cast in the new upcoming Disney Broadway musical called TARZAN. I am the first Tarzan understudy as well as a member of the ensemble cast. Rehearsals started December 27th here in NY; previews begin March 24th (my birthday!), and we officially open on May 10th. We are supposed to keep most of it a secret, but we're able to say that it will be "innovative and intimate." After that, let your imagination run wild. click here for more info

PIPPIN by Stephen Schwartz and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL by William Shakespeare (Utah Shakespearean Festival): I will be playing the role of Pippin this fall in Cedar City, UT with the Utah Shakespearean Festival. I will also be 2nd French Lord in their production of All's Well That Ends Well, the second show in their 3 show rotation. Cedar City is right next to both Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, and an easy ride from Las Vegas. So, come out and visit if you are near! Visit www.bard.org for more festival information and tickets.

BIG RIVER - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: the American Sign Language Revival - I am now a part of the national tour as of February 22nd. This is the same production that I was with on Broadway, but I have some different roles which will be fun. If you want to know where we will be, you can follow this link for the Big River Tour stops.

Toxic Audio: the Off-Broadway, all a cappella show at the Houseman Theater. For those of you who have been asking, yes I was cast in the show back in September...unfortunately it closed before I even started rehearsal. Ce la vie, eh!

CARMEN by Bizet: a full length opera with the Asheville Lyric Opera & South Carolina Opera. I’ll be singing Remendado (the gypsy tenor). The performances are Jan 28-29 in NC, Jan 31 in Johnson City, TN, and Feb 4-5 in Newbery, SC. You may visit www.ashevillelyric.org for more information.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS by Diedre Murray, Randy Weiner, & Diane Paulus: a gospel/R&B retelling of Shakespeare's A WINTER'S TALE. I am doing the music prep work for this show. If you get a chance, you should check it out. I saw it right before opening night, and it was really powerful. The first half literally ends like a good ole tent revival! The show is now officially opened as of December 13th. It is being co-produced by Music Theatre Group and The Women's Project. Follow this link for ticket info, etc www.womensproject.org Tickets are also being sold at TKTS.

ZYKLON by Peter King & Julian Barry: a reading of an opera in two acts which (I think) is based on a true story of a Nobel Prize winning (for his work on fertilizers) Jewish scientist who is better know for inventing mustard gas and Zyklon B which is eventually used on his own people in WWII. I play a variety of characters in this one. I haven’t heard the whole thing yet, but it seems to be pretty interesting. It is in the genre of a modern opera…not too out there though. Monday, December 13 @ 6:00 pm, CUNY Graduate Center, Elebash Recital Hall (5^th Ave and 34^th Street) I think tickets are free. Let me know if you would like to come, and I will reserve your spot.

THE SHOULDER by Dan Hurlin and Dan Moses Schreier: songs from a musical based on the true story of an Iowan farmer who, having lost his eyesight, must find a means to visit his stroke-ridden brother, and chooses to make the 250 mile journey on a “garden tractor” riding lawnmower. I play the young version of this tractor guy. It’s a really neat piece. 7:00 pm, Joe’s Pub 425 Lafayette St. (b/t East 4^th and Astor Place) Tickets $20; www.telecharge.com or 212-239-6200 The direct link to Joe’s Pub announcement is http://66.40.251.27/caltool/index.cfm?fuseaction=detail&performanceID=254

DOWN AT THE INFERNO by Rick Mckim: songs from a new rock musical based on Dante’s Epic of the underworld. I play Keith, the guy that gets led through all the different stages of the underworld. You’ll get to hear some true, classic rock. It’s fun. The famous person in the cast is Alice Ripley. 7:30 pm, Symphony Space: Thalia Hall (2537 B’way @ 95^th St.) Tickets $12 for adults and $10 for students or rush starting at 5:30pm; call 212-864-5400 or boxoffice@symphonyspace.org