Life Moves Pretty Fast. Go See "For the Record: Dear John Hughes" Now!
March 2015
The cast of "Dear John Hughes" with Evan Rachel Wood | Photo: Rony's Photobooth
For the record, “For the Record” is my new obsession.
The last few years have seen this LA-based
cabaret, from creators Shane Scheel,
Christopher Lloyd Bratten, and Anderson Davis,
steadily gain attention, rave reviews, and recently a string of sold out audiences.
If you love movies, movie soundtracks, live theater, fresh talent, and/or general merriment,
you will love the "For the Record" series, which FTR's website declares, "breathes new life into the movies by adapting the works and movie soundtracks of iconic directors into a theatrical concert setting.
My first experience with FTR took me through the filmography of beloved director John Hughes, where truly, you couldn't ignore the performances if you tried. The cast features a rotating company of regular and guest actors, including Rumer Willis and Evan Rachel Wood, who appear on select dates.
Audience members sit mere feet away from the action, and in many cases, wind up spontaneous background players to the traveling cast as they dance and sing from all corners of the intimate space. It's an original experience that makes for a unique night out - a musical odyssey that's fun from start to finish. In Hughes-speak, you're Chicago and FTR is Ferris Bueller on parade.
The last few years have seen this LA-based
cabaret, from creators Shane Scheel,
Christopher Lloyd Bratten, and Anderson Davis,
steadily gain attention, rave reviews, and recently a string of sold out audiences.
If you love movies, movie soundtracks, live theater, fresh talent, and/or general merriment,
you will love the "For the Record" series, which FTR's website declares, "breathes new life into the movies by adapting the works and movie soundtracks of iconic directors into a theatrical concert setting.
My first experience with FTR took me through the filmography of beloved director John Hughes, where truly, you couldn't ignore the performances if you tried. The cast features a rotating company of regular and guest actors, including Rumer Willis and Evan Rachel Wood, who appear on select dates.
Audience members sit mere feet away from the action, and in many cases, wind up spontaneous background players to the traveling cast as they dance and sing from all corners of the intimate space. It's an original experience that makes for a unique night out - a musical odyssey that's fun from start to finish. In Hughes-speak, you're Chicago and FTR is Ferris Bueller on parade.
Photo: WaldenPonders
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The synopsis reads:
Dear John Hughes includes acclaimed coming of age 1980′s teen films Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty In Pink, Some Kind of Wonderful and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of The Breakfast Club, the John Hughes classic which epitomizes one of the most influential pop cultural contributions of our time and changed the way many young people looked at everything from class to friendship, love to sex, fashion, and music. These themes are explored throughout Dear John Hughes by this ‘brat pack’ for the modern age that includes leading talent from stage, the recording world and screen as well as rising stars – all embodying iconic movie characters and giving them new musical voices. The immersive concert mash-up, where iconic music and moments from the John Hughes’ movies spring to life with an epic new wave inspired soundtrack, includes songs such as "Don’t You Forget About Me", "We Are Not Alone", "If You Leave", "Pretty In Pink", "If You Were Here", "True" as well as classic moments like "Danke Shoen", "Twist And Shout", "Try A Little Tenderness" and many more. |
WaldenPonders spoke with two "Dear John Hughes" cast members: Tomasina Abate, an FTR veteran, Disneyland concert performer, and "Powerhouse Rockstress" (per her Twitter bio), and actor Alex Wyse, who makes his LA debut with the production and incidentally, brings the house down with his vocals, as well.
Tomasina Abate as "Mrs." | Photo: WaldenPonders
Do you have a favorite John Hughes film, and why do you think his work has become iconic?
AW: Of course, I watched "The Breakfast Club," and I loved "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." There are a few, though, that I had to catch up on! I think there’s a universal thing about feeling like an outsider, feeling like a teenager, looking for love and the stakes being so high, especially when you’re young, it feels like life and death. I think John Hughes shows that very well. TA: The Breakfast Club is the one and specifically the Ally Sheedy role. It’s just juicy, and I think it still holds true today in today’s society. I think there’s still those categories in life, people are labeled and judged accordingly. If you were to choose one of those labels (Brain, Athlete, Princess, etc.) for yourself, or another John Hughes character you relate to, what/who would it be? TA: Out-there. I do have similarities to a basket case. I’m not as introverted, but as far as being crazy in the head... (Laughs) Yeah, definitely. AW: I like Duckie. I just think he’s cool. He’s viewed as this outsider, but he still carries so much self-esteem, and that’s something that I love about him. Do you have a favorite movie soundtrack? TA: I have to say, I was a huge Grease fan. AW: I just listened to musicals. Singing these songs is crazy for me, because I’m used to rocking out to Sondheim, and so now I have to rock out to rock songs! |
How did you get involved with FTR?
TA: I think it was maybe 2 years ago, I was invited to be in another version of "John Hughes" as "The Basket Case," Ally Sheedy’s role. I did many productions with "For the Record" after that. I did Scorcese, Tarantino, Baz Luhrmann. I’ve been a part of the FTR family for about 2-3 years now. AW: I came with a friend of mine to see the Baz Luhrmann show, and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. When I found out that they were doing a John Hughes version, I came and auditioned ‘cause I knew I had to be a part of that. I’m so happy to be a part of this company, because I think these are some of the most talented people I’ve worked with in a while, and it’s given me a really nice sense of community here in Los Angeles. We have so much fun, so I’d be very honored to be a part of anything that they do. How would you describe the FTR experience to a newbie? AW: I know that with this show in particular, the audience is here for a good time. They come for a party, and then that kind of energy fuels our performance, and then together we create this celebration. It becomes this environmental theater piece, and we tell our own John Hughes story. TA: You’re like inside the movie. I think that’s one of the coolest parts. I can see every nook and cranny [of the guests]. At one point, I’m on one of the go-go boxes - spread eagle - and there’s a lady at the bar looking at my crotch. (Laughs) It’s very intimate. I think that you definitely feel the performance more in that way. 
Alex Wyse as "Duckie" and stage musicians | Photo: WaldenPonders
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Going into your respective careers, Tomasina, when you're not in FTR, you're often in Disneyland performing concerts for the visitors of Tomorrowland. What's your favorite aspect of performing live?
TA: It’s exhilarating. There’s a certain aspect of fear, you know, it’s like riding a roller coaster - that adrenaline that you get when you're on stage because you’re just in the moment. It’s just right now, me and the audience, having a moment together. You can't do that with film or television. That’s the part I love the most - being able to live right now. Once I’m on stage, it’s my time. It’s just me being who I want to be.
Working in Tomorrowland, have you ever thought about a futuristic innovation you'd most like to see one day?
TA: Oh my gosh! Well, can I just start with, let’s get rid of the gasoline cars? The biggest thing is clean air, and that really isn’t something of the future, it’s something of the past, but that’s what I would love to see. Especially as a singer, I just want to breathe some clean air!
Tomasina, folks - smart and sexy! As for you, Alex, one of my favorite shows is "Masters of Sex", and you appeared in three of Season 2's episodes (including critical favorite "The Fight") as bellhop "Elliot." What was that experience like?
AW: I’m so excited you know it! That makes me so happy! I got that out of New York, and I was filming here on-and-off for like a month, so that experience was totally thrilling, because it was my first time on an LA soundstage, and working with those actors was wonderful. So, I was trying to take that all in and just try to enjoy it and focus and do the work. I was really nervous. I mostly did [scenes] with Michael Sheen, and he’s one of the most focused on and off camera. He’s always just very much in the zone when he's on set, so I really tried to get on that train and be focused with him. When I could bring my work ethic to match his, which is incredible, then it was transcendent.
Audiences can also catch you in "X/Y", starring America Ferrera, which was just released on iTunes and VOD.
AW: I filmed that like 2 years ago. I did a couple scenes with America Ferrera, and it was lovely. And so was Ryan Piers Williams (Writer/Director and Ferrera's husband), they were really fun to work with.
It takes a lot of guts to follow your passion, especially moving across country, so what advice would you give to someone with similar aspirations?
AW: I would say the best way to break into this business is to be British (Laughs). Look like Eddie Redmayne or Tilda Swinton, and you’ll be great. I think they’re the same person, different days. It’s like Tilda Swinton happens on weekends - that’s when Eddie Redmayne lets his hair down. He was in so many movies this year! I could give real advice, but I like that better! (Laughs)
TA: It’s exhilarating. There’s a certain aspect of fear, you know, it’s like riding a roller coaster - that adrenaline that you get when you're on stage because you’re just in the moment. It’s just right now, me and the audience, having a moment together. You can't do that with film or television. That’s the part I love the most - being able to live right now. Once I’m on stage, it’s my time. It’s just me being who I want to be.
Working in Tomorrowland, have you ever thought about a futuristic innovation you'd most like to see one day?
TA: Oh my gosh! Well, can I just start with, let’s get rid of the gasoline cars? The biggest thing is clean air, and that really isn’t something of the future, it’s something of the past, but that’s what I would love to see. Especially as a singer, I just want to breathe some clean air!
Tomasina, folks - smart and sexy! As for you, Alex, one of my favorite shows is "Masters of Sex", and you appeared in three of Season 2's episodes (including critical favorite "The Fight") as bellhop "Elliot." What was that experience like?
AW: I’m so excited you know it! That makes me so happy! I got that out of New York, and I was filming here on-and-off for like a month, so that experience was totally thrilling, because it was my first time on an LA soundstage, and working with those actors was wonderful. So, I was trying to take that all in and just try to enjoy it and focus and do the work. I was really nervous. I mostly did [scenes] with Michael Sheen, and he’s one of the most focused on and off camera. He’s always just very much in the zone when he's on set, so I really tried to get on that train and be focused with him. When I could bring my work ethic to match his, which is incredible, then it was transcendent.
Audiences can also catch you in "X/Y", starring America Ferrera, which was just released on iTunes and VOD.
AW: I filmed that like 2 years ago. I did a couple scenes with America Ferrera, and it was lovely. And so was Ryan Piers Williams (Writer/Director and Ferrera's husband), they were really fun to work with.
It takes a lot of guts to follow your passion, especially moving across country, so what advice would you give to someone with similar aspirations?
AW: I would say the best way to break into this business is to be British (Laughs). Look like Eddie Redmayne or Tilda Swinton, and you’ll be great. I think they’re the same person, different days. It’s like Tilda Swinton happens on weekends - that’s when Eddie Redmayne lets his hair down. He was in so many movies this year! I could give real advice, but I like that better! (Laughs)
Don’t you forget about missing Tomasina, Alex, and similarly awesome people in "For the Record: Dear John Hughes", as well as "For the Record: Baz Luhrmann"! Shows run Thursday-Sunday through April 5th, and will return following a production hiatus. Tickets are available at DBAHollywood.com and ForTheRecordLive.com.
#FTRHughes Photo Gallery:
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