I was contacted last year from someone who “represented” a number of actors, including Adam Pascal, when we were doing “Rent.” They knew we were doing the show (MTI publishes a list) and wanted to know if we wanted to have Adam Come out for a master class and performance with our kids. The fee would be something like 4K. I went to my boosters, who calculated out that we could use this as a fundraiser and end up paying back the 4K and make some on top of that.
When I called back to arrange this, suddenly he wasn’t available. I had thought it odd that they had offered him, as I knew he was on tour with “Something Rotten,” but I thought that they must know what they’re doing. They offered to get me Wilson Jermaine-Heredia, which was still wonderful, as he could still speak to the experiences he had on Rent. Went through the approval process and then HE was suddenly unavailable.
Then they offered (though it really felt like “pushed”) a guy I’d never heard of who had been in the ensemble of the original touring company. Because there was no name recognition, my boosters (and I) knew we were never going to sell enough tickets to make back the investment. They kept trying to sell this to me for a good 3 weeks before I asked them to please stop.
Then, months later, we were doing “Into the Woods” and were offered a visit by Chad Kimball, who we all knew from “Come From Away,” but had appeared as one of the princes at some point. We were so burned by the previous time that we were extremely hesitant. I, again, wondered how this would work out with his Broadway schedule, but was assured that he would work it out. We started the process and, hard to believe, it fell through again. They offered us yet another tour ensemble person who nobody knew. We passed.
Message- be very careful before getting your hopes or the hopes of your kids up.
Original Message------
Hi Jennifer,
I am curious if you decided to have him come out to speak or not. I have been contacted as well, unsolicited. Part of me thinks...why not? But snoopy around on the internet makes me apprehensive. I would love to know if you, or anyone has had him speak and their thoughts.
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Amy Seaman
Theatre Manager
Clarkston MI
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