Last Night’s Show: Mr. Green’s Opus

Last Night’s Show: Mr. Green’s Opus at Birdland and Small Talk with Stephanie J. Block

(where were you)

Last night David Green gathered former students and friends for a night of music to celebrate his dedication to performing arts education. Among Mr. Green’s former students from the Orange County High School of the Performing Arts were Stephanie J. Block, Matthew Morrison, Becca Ayers, Lindsay Mendez, and Krysta Rodriguez. Also, joining in the performance were Sebastian Arcelus and Marissa Perry. Plus, Mr. Green brought along some recent graduates who made their Birdland debuts to a packed house.

The evening started off with, “The Least Famous Writing Team”, a song written by Mr. Green and his collaborator, John Glaudini, for this special occasion that both celebrated the opportunity to perform at Birdland, but was also charmingly self-deprecating. After this fun introduction, Mr. Green took the audience through the various songs he has written throughout his career. He started with a series of songs from Neverland, a musical based on Peter Pan told from Wendy’s perspective. Other songs included a song inspired by the television show Bridezilla, holiday songs (“If I Had One Wish” and “Thankful”) that were originally written to benefit the Joyful Child Foundation performed by Stephanie J. Block and Matthew Morrison, and original songs performed by Sebastian Arcelus and Krysta Rodriguez. A highlight of the evening was a series of songs from a new musical that Mr. Green wrote entitled How The Nurse Feels about a high school production of Romeo and Juliet. Singing the female lead was Lindsay Mendez who brought down the house with “That Girl Isn’t Me” a song about the complexities of being a high school drama student. She was then joined by other cast members for a comedic number about the challenges of finding straight guys in musical theater (“Mr. Wright”), and was then joined by Matthew Morrison for a duet about falling in love. Later Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus returned to the stage for a touching number where they played parents, which prompted Stephanie to remark, “If you’re 30, you’re a parent. Damnit.”  To close the show Mr. Green presented another piece written specifically for the evening that he dedicated to “a couple hundred kids along the way.”

We spoke with one of those “kids,” Stephanie J. Block, after the show to get her thoughts on the evening, her upcoming projects, and, of course, what she wore.

“The music that you heard tonight was by John Glaudini and David Green. David Green, I auditioned for him when I was fourteen for a group called The Young Americans, which is kind of a performance group that’s out in California. I was going to an all-girls Catholic high school, and David said, “I really think you should come to the Orange County High School of the Performing Arts.” So, my parents were dragging their feet. They didn’t think it was appropriate. They wanted me to really stay true to my curriculum and my studies, and he was able to get them to allow me to go to school. So, it changed my life. I mean it changed my whole dedication to the arts. I was going to school from seven in the morning- depending on what show we were doing- till about ten o’clock at night, and most of that was dedicated to music and acting. He’s just something special, because it’s true: I sang a song tonight called One Small Life, and it’s true his life has changed so many, and I just think he’s all heart, and he’s real, and I think people will recognize that in who he is and also in his lyrics.”

Do you have a favorite memory from performing in high school?
“I played Mama Rose when I was seventeen. I think every teenager needs to play Mama Rose and they need to play Tevye. I think it’s very important. In fact my mother had to be my dresser, because I was so furious with the quick changes and the volunteers that were there that I was like, “I’ve got to be on stage. Come on people! Chop-chop,” and my mom was like, “I think I’m the only one that can ever dress you,” and that was in high school, so the diva was already popping out then.”

How are 9 to 5 rehearsals going?
Totally exciting. We have our press day tomorrow (July 15th), which Dolly Parton will make the announcement of what the future of the show is, hopefully announce the Broadway house, and our opening Broadway date. We’re working fast and furious. We leave in about a month, and we’re in really great shape. It’s so fun. It has so much life to it. You know, just the one song, 9 to 5, has such a pulse that it carries through the whole show, so I think people are really going to leave the theatre excited and have this inner-metronome inside.

And, of course, tell us about what you are wearing?
“Loehmann’s. I’m all about TJ Maxx, the Marshalls, and the Loehmann’s. You spend the money on the bags and the shoes, but everything in between:  Loehmann’s.”

Complete Cast List:

Sebastian Arcelus
Becca Ayers
Scott Barnhardt
Stephanie Block
Jessica Burrows
Adam Mantell
Lindsay Mendez
Matt Morrison
Marissa Parry
Teri Ralston
Sarah Remley
Krysta Rodriguez
Joelle Teeter

For more information about the California Conservatory of the Arts click here.

By Jaimie Geddes and Victoria Myers