January 30, 2006
THAT’S ANDY is a finalist in Chicago’s Theatre Building Stages Festival! Keep your fingers crossed as we wait to hear. The final selections will be announced February 28. Check out their website at

www.theatrebuildingchicago.org

We are working on rewrites, especially focusing on the opening section. The first number has new and improved verses and the second number, Look At Me, is drastically changing…for the better!

December 14, 2005
We did a 45-minute mini-version of the show for North Shore Music Theatre! They are a big proponent of new musicals outside Boston. They seemed to be interested.

March 14, 2005
Reading #3 at Roundabout Rehearsal Studios. Full show. Starring George Dvorsky as Mayor Utter, Beth Leavel (B’way and off: The Drowsy Chaperone, 42nd Street, The Civil War, Lone Star Love) as Betty Sweet, Joan Barber as Miss Frazzle and Christian Johansen as Andy. Now we were cooking on all cylinders! Out were Mr. and Mrs. Prim and in was Betty Sweet, created by the phenomenal Beth Leavel. The show has found it’s voice at last and it is just getting tighter and tighter.

August 8-21, 2005
First staged workshop of THAT’S ANDY at Northern Stage Theatre in Vermont. Done in conjunction with the education department of Northern Stage, we were allowed the luxury of a two week ‘retreat’ up in beautiful Vermont to completely focus on the show. The talented cast of kids and local actors really helped to shape the piece and we finally had a complete show, Act 1 AND Act 2! It was helpful for Bobby, the director, to be able to fully stage moments. For example, “Gonna Be”, the audition number, really came to life when the staging and choreography were added. Christian Johansen was discovered he. He’d go on to do our next reading in NYC. Many new numbers were added here. Several only to be seen in Vermont before disappearing into the ever-growing THAT’S ANDY trunk!

June 28, 2005
Reading #2 at Ripley-Grier Studios. A revised Act 1 and portions of Act 2. The characters of Mr. and Mrs. Prim make their first of two appearances before being written out. Starring George Dvorsky (B’way and off: The Scarlet Pimpernel, Passion, Pete ‘n’ Keely), as Mr. Prim, Laura Bell Bundy (B’way and off: Hairspray, Wicked, Ruthless) as Mary Martin, Audrey Lavine (B’way: Rags, Carrie, Anna Karenina) as Mrs. Prim, Joan Barber (B’way: Follies, The Sound Of Music, Big, Beauty and the Beast) as Miss Frizzle, Christian Anthony (B’way: The Lion King) as Zorah and Eamon Foley as Andy. In round two we are thrilled to get some Broadway powerhouses involved. A special ‘shout out’ to George Dvorsky and Joan Barber for being so involved, committed and supportive of this project from then ‘til now! Also, hello!, Laura Bell Bundy! It always amazes me the successful and talented people that are willing and interested in donating their time and talents to an unknown project. God bless you all.