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by Michael Portantiere

Rooms Full of Talent

  • Rooms Full of Talent

    Rooms, "a rock romance" by Paul Scott Goodman and Miriam Gordon, opened at New World Stages last night. And though the after-party was held more than 30 blocks north of the theater, at Calle Ocho (on Columbus Ave. between 81st and 82nd), EVERYONE showed up. Here are my photos of the shindig.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    The mega-talented Leslie Kritzer and Doug Kreeger star in Rooms as Scottish musicians and lovers Monica and Ian.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Paul Scott Goodman, whose other credits include the musicals Bright Lights, Big City, Him & Her, and Alive in the World.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Two generations of Schwartzes: Scott Schwartz (left), who directed Rooms, with his dad Stephen, the composer/lyricist of such shows as Godspell, Pippin, and Wicked

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Jesse Vargas (left), musical director of Rooms, with the ubiquitous Broadway maven Seth Rudetsky.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Rudetsky with Celina Carvajal, who understudies the role of Monica and who has appeared on Broadway in Tarzan, Dracula, 42nd Street, and Cats.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Here are Kritzer and Kreeger with Broadway star Raúl Esparza, who appeared in a previous version of Rooms that was presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2005.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Among the other notables who attended the Rooms party were Jenn Colella (Urban Cowboy, High Fidelity, etc.) and maestro John McDaniel...

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    ...Kerry O'Malley, who'll soon be appearing in 1776 at the Paper Mill Playhouse, with Jeffry Denman, who recently starred on Broadway in White Christmas...

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    ...Karen Ziemba, last seen on Broadway in Curtains, with Stephen Schwartz...

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    ...and the hilarious Rachel Dratch, of Saturday Night Live fame.


    Published on Tuesday, March 17, 2009


    Michael Portantiere has more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has interviewed theater notables for NPR.org, PLAYBILL, STAGEBILL, and OPERA NEWS, and has written notes for several cast albums. Michael is co-author of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: BEHIND THE MYLAR CURTAIN, published in 2008 by Hal Leonard/Applause. Additionally, he is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several major websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.) He can be reached at [email protected]


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