We at the WANZeGRAM posed a few questions to Anthony so our subscribers can get to know him a little better. Check out Anthony’s answers then click on the link provided to reserve your seat to meet and experience WANZIE’s betrothed, in person, during his Command Performance at the Parliament House on Sunday, June 29th. Q. Where are you from? A. I am from the great state of North Carolina. I wish I could say I was born and raised there, but alas, I cannot. I was actually born in New Mexico - which does make for an interesting factoid, but gets in the way of me being a true Southerner.Q. When and how did you first know you wanted a career in the performing arts? A. The funny thing about me and performing arts is that as a child, I was always doing skits and plays at church and school, and singing and dancing around the house, fantasizing about being famous. BUT something happened to me when I entered the dark ages they call puberty, and I completely forgot about my love for performing. It wasn't until high school when I started doing theatre again. And it really wasn't until college when I realized I wanted to try and make a career out of the theatre.Q. What was your first professional performing gig? A. My first professional performing gig was the summer I turned 16. I worked as a "local" actor at Snow Camp Outdoor Drama in the historical drama The Sword of Peace, in which I played a range of characters, including Quakers and soldiers, and made $10 a show. That summer I also got talked into doing their children's theatre tour of Jack and the Beanstalk, in which I played the back end of Jack's TAP DANCING cow, and I also got roped into doing the musical Li'l Abner.Q. What lead you to Japan? A. My job with Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan totally fell into my lap. I went to the Southeastern Theatre Conference's fall audition conference and auditioned for over 70 companies, and Universal just happened to be in the mix. After watching my audition, they called me back and had me learn some material, which I sang for them and they videotaped, and then three months later they called and offered me a job! If they hadn't hired me, I don't think I would have ever found myself in Japan - and I doubt I would have ever started making YouTube videos. It was all very serendipitous.Q. When and why did you post your first YouTube performance, and what song was it? A. Haha. Well, my relationship with YouTube has changed a lot since I first created my account. I opened my account after some friends and I made a comic music video to "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge (which I still have posted online). I was the one who did all the video editing, so it was my responsibility to publish our little movie online. After that, I didn't really do anything with YouTube. This was before YouTube videos were all the rage, so other than giving my friends a way to post our video on MySpace, I didn't understand why anyone would want to post themselves singing online. Then one day, I was singing "If I Didn't Believe In You" from The Last 5 Years by Jason Robert Brown, in my little Japanese apartment, and I decided to record myself so I could hear how I sounded. Well, as I was singing (and recording myself) my phone went off, so I spent the whole time I was recording searching for my cell phone - while still performing the song. After it was all said and done with, I thought the video was hilarious and ended up putting it on YouTube. And the rest is history!Q. Who are you favorites in the business of creating music and or lyrics for Broadway musicals? A. Usually I'm really bad at choosing favorites. I tend to feel guilty for leaving people/things out. BUT, I can easily say that Stephen Sondheim and Adam Guettel (The Light in the Piazza) are two of favorite musical theatre composers.Q. How did you first come to know of Kenny Howard and Michael Wanzie? A. I don't really remember the specific details on how Michael and Kenny came into my life - it now just feels like I've always known them. But I know they emailed me after finding me on YouTube and then became my champions and personal PR team when I entered the RENT contest! The rest of history!Q. Would you briefly explain the RENT contest and how that all turned out, and why you decided to remain in New York? A. The RENT contest: Well, long/story short, I stumbled upon this online contest sponsored by RENT's official website, where you submitted a video of yourself singing a 60-second selection from RENT. After voting happened, the top three with the most votes would be flown to New York City, where they would be put up, given tickets to the show (as well as a backstage tour), and a chance to audition for the casting directors of the show. Well, being in Japan, and itching to get out, I figured it'd be a great opportunity to possibly advance my career while being out of the country. So I submitted myself and with the help of some very dedicated friends around the world (a.k.a. Michael and Kenny - as well as my ex, Ashley, in Australia), I finished second! Well, right before I flew to New York to claim my prize and have my much-anticipated audition for Mark, RENT announced that the show would be closing in June. I was a little bummed, but flew to the city anyways and had what I thought was a great audition! I was thinking that even though the show would be closing on Broadway, it would still be touring. Well, a few days after I get back to Japan from my trip it is announced that Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal will be taking over as Mark and Rodger on the tour. Strike two! No Broadway, and the tour is going to be starring the two men that originated the show. Well, at this point I figured it was all said and done with. But then I find out that even though RENT would be closing on Broadway shortly, they STILL recast the role of Mark with a guy who just graduated from College. SO needless to say, RENT is NOT my destiny. HAHA.Q. Besides the fabulous booking at the Parliament House, what, if any, other offers or possibilities have come about as a result of your YouTube postings. A. Besides my FABULOUS booking at the Parliament House, YouTube has also provided me with some other opportunities. I have been introduced to a new musical theatre composer who has cast me in a few workshops of his new material! And I have been introduced to a casting director for a very reputable theatrical company who is going to call me in to audition soon!Q. Now you’ve had the opportunity to spend some time with him, what do you make of Kenny Howard? A. All I know is that Kenny has the most amazing apartment in New York, and I'm anxiously awaiting the day he gives me a set of keys and asks me to make myself at home. HAHA. But seriously, Kenny is a sweetheart and I am so glad to have met him!Q. Is it true that you accepted a ring from WANZIE and why? A. Well, I was hoping for a more formal announcement, on some kind of cream and gold parchment with calligraphy, but I suppose this email bulletin is as good a place as any. Yes, WANZIE and I are virtually engaged. Even though we have never actually met, he has wooed me via his many love emails, and even mailed an engagement ring to me while I was in Japan. Of course, it was plastic. So before anything is OFFICIAL, I'm waiting for an actual rock. :-)Q. Aside form performing FROM YOU TUBE TO YOU what are you looking forward to in regards to your Orlando visit? A. While I'm REALLLLYYYY excited about doing From YouTube To You, I'm also really excited to just get away from New York for a bit. And I'm also really excited about finally getting to meet the love of my life in person, WANZIE. And maybe go to Disney for a day.Q. Anything else you may want our subscribers to know about you? A. I want your subscribers to know that I have worked really hard to put together a fantastic evening of original music for their viewing and listening pleasure, so I hope to see them ALL on the 29th - all 3,000+. Seriously. Let's have a huge party! It's going to be AMAZING! Kenny agrees! And also, by original music, I mean music I've never recorded and put on YouTube! So for any of your subscribers who have seen any of my videos, this will be a totally new experience.EDITOR’S NOTE: You now know WANZIE’s virtual fiance’ just as well as WANZIE does. Now, won’t you join in the continuation of this long distance romance as Anthony Johnson gives his command performance for WANZIE at the PH? ANTHONY JOHNSON
in a Command Performance for Theater Impresario and Fiancé’ Michael Wanzie By Special Arrangement with Producer Kenny Howard Sunday, June 29th, 2008 @ 6 PM The Footlight Lounge @ the PH  Musical Accompanist John B. de Haas Tickets Only $10 Click Here - Reserve Now
 never
looked back. With hundreds of television shows, films and commercials
to his credit, he has become a familiar face on the entertainment
scene. Leslie is the 2006 Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his delicious portrayal of “Beverley Leslie” on Will and Grace. Audiences will recognize Leslie from his performance as “Brother Boy” in the feature film version of Del Shores’ adaptation  of his
play Sordid Lives with Olivia Newton-John, Delta Burke and Beau
Bridges. He will perform that role as a special guest star in the
television series based on the play and film for the LOGO network,
which will be in production in 2007. He has had recurring roles on the
television series Boston Legal, Hidden Palms, and Reba.
He is starring in the soon-to-be-released feature film Wanted:
Undead or Alive, with Chris Kattan. He will be starring in HBO’s 12
Miles of Bad Road, with Lily Tomlin and Mary Kay Place, written and
produced by Linda Bloodworth Thomason and Harry Thomason. The series
will be going into production in 2007 and set to begin airing in
January 2008.On stage, Mr. Jordan won the Ovation Award, The Garland Award and The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his portrayal of “Preston Leroy,” the aging, sodden, barfly in Del Shores hit play Southern Baptist Sissies. Leslie’s autobiographical, one-man show Like a Dog on Linoleum, performed to sold-out audiences at the Elephant Asylum in Los Angeles, the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs, the Bailiwick Theater in Chicago, the 14th Street Playhouse in Atlanta and the Lorraine Hansberry Theater in San Francisco. Mr. Jordan has also enjoyed considerable success as a writer. His play Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies That Have Plagued My Life Thus Far, ran to sold-out houses in Los Angeles and had a successful seven-month run  Off-Broadway
at the Playhouse on Van Dam in New York. His screenplay Lost in the
Pershing Point Hotel, won the Los Angeles Independent Film
Festival’s Production Grant Award, winning the competition from over
600 other scripts. Subsequently, it was made into an independent film
that is currently being distributed by Northern Arts Entertainment. He
is currently writing a book for Simon and Schuster entitled My Trip
Down the Pink Carpet.His book, as well as the stage show of the same name which is coming to The Footlight Theatre in July, is an autobiographical compilation of witticisms and wisdoms he has collected along his often turbulent, yet touching life course. The “trip” (the stage show as well as the book) is saturated with star encounters with show biz legends such as CLORIS LEACHMAN and FAYE DUNAWAY along with co-stars RUE McCLANAHAN, BOY GEORGE, PAUL HOGAN, MARK HARMON, BEVERLY D’ANGELO and current screen legend GEORGE CLOONEY, taking the audience on a journey that is a true “cause celebre” mixed in with his encounters and a colorful assortment of family, friends and bands of “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” all of whom Jordan is more than willing to “Cher”. The show was recently hailed in New York as a "tour de force”. Tickets are moving
fast. Don't get left out of this very entertaining, very unique
evening of comedy and hysteria. Get your tickets now.
Exclusively
available through the WANZIE.com
Online Box Office!
Extended
by Popular
Demand – The towel wearing group of bare-chested boys who compose the
cast of BATHHOUSE THE MUSICAL, will be adding two new dates to their Parliament House
engagement!
 BATHHOUSE THE
MUSICAL NEW NATIONAL TOUR COMPANY:
EXTENDED FOR TWO SHOWS ONLY: Saturday, June 14th @ 7:30 PM Sunday, June 15th @ 6:00 PM ALL SHOWS @ the Footlight Theatre @ the Parliament House Orlando’s claim to having some of the nation’s most popular theme parks will surely remain intact with the  impending
visit of
rising star LESLIE JORDAN, when he brings his own version of an amusement joy
ride to the Footlight Theater @ The Parliament House on Tuesday, July
8th at 8:00 PM. for one night only. But let’s be perfectly clear
on
one thing ... there’s won’t be any kiddie attractions at this ferris
wheel of fun. In fact, in all fairness, this show has to be
declared
off limits for those with less than 21 years of life experience under
their belts. Jordan’s new stage production MY TRIP DOWN THE
PINK
CARPET certainly has a magical journey tone to it’s title, but it’s
content is a far cry from any Disney-esque renderings. The diminutive dynamo and acclaimed Emmy award winning television star (Will & Grace), having conquered multitudes of performance mediums on the strength of his own unique character and convictions, is in the midst of a banner year of exciting, new career achievements. His sassy, one-of-a-kind Southern branded humor and innate storytelling abilities has brought Jordan legions of fans through his memorable performances on stage, television and film. Unapologetically and to a great extent, lovingly, Jordan gives his Southern heritage and how it provided the basis for his adult values, its rightful due. Tickets are now on sale, exclusively at the WANZIE.com Online Box Office! Don't miss out on this incredible evening of hilarity.  It's baaaack! VarieTEASE CARNIVALE makes a return to
the
Footlight Theatre at the PH! The smash hit of the 2007 Orlando
Fringe Festival, and runaway summer spectacular is back for a limited
time, beginning on Wednesday, June 25th! Only four shows and
tickets
will go fast! The cast includes old favorites and some new
surprises!
Boys, Girls, Kings, Queens & Everything In Between.Tickets available for all four shows! Only at the WANZIE.com Online Box Office: Footlight Theatre @ the Parliament House $15.00 
You
know the drill. Send in your prayer telling God why, he or she should choose you to
win a free pair of tickets to see Cirque’s La Nouba at Downtown
Disney on Friday evening June 27 at 9 PM.
If you are not comfortable praying you may send your Dr. Seuss-like poem entitled "Why I Want to go to the Circus", instead. God will divinely inspire our SUPER SACRED SECRET PANEL OF HOLY JUDGES to determine the winner of the tickets. If you  don’t feel like praying or writing poetry, you can always
buy your own tickets, to the WANZeGRAM night or any other performance
at Orlando’s Cirque du Solei La Nouba between now and Saturday
June 28th at a special Florida residents discount of $20 off category 2
seating.That means you get an $86 ticket for only $69! Proof of Florida residency required. The special discount is only available by phone. Call and make a reservation for the 9 PM show on Friday June 27th and then watch your WANZeGRAM for pre-show meet and greet information so you can T-up with WANZeGRAM WadMaster Rich Charron and his husband Brian, as well as with WANZIEandDOUG prior to the show. Or call and make a reservation for the night of your choice without the meet and greet with other subscribers, but in either case be certain to ask for the Florida Resident Special when placing your ticket order. LA NOUBA FOR ONLY $69.00! - 407.939.7913
Contest submissions should be sent directly to WANZIE no later than midnight on Monday, June 23th. Winners will notified by email on Wednesday, June 25th and will be posted in the WANZeGRAM on the 27th. Good
luck, and may God bless.
I don’t mean to in anyway make light of the plight of the Scouts who found themselves camping in the path of tornado, but I’m sorry, the Jesus freaks can’t have it both ways. If God is to be thanked for sparing people from disaster, and if we are to believe he sends disasters to punish people, than clearly he had it out for these particular Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts by the way, have been hi-jacked by the Mormon Church, just in case you didn’t already know that.  Two
years ago I dated an Eagle Scout. (Hi Benjamin).A Scout is supposed to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Reverent about what, I’ve always wondered. And obedient to whom, just exactly? Many Eagle Scouts are well past the age of consent and I do so like a young man in uniform, and with so many of our enlisted servicemen stationed in Iraq, you almost have to turn to the Scouts if you want to date a man in uniform. And since I have a somewhat controlling personality, it’s nice to know that when you date a Scout you will be going out with someone who strives to achieve obedience. Plus they’re good with knots. And speaking of knots, did you know that Don Knotts, of The Andy Griffith Show fame, was actually born Jesse Donald? Well he was. Knott's Berry Farm is a brand name of two separate entities: a theme park (America’s first) in Buena Park, California, and  a
manufacturer of food specialty products (primarily jams and preserves)
based in Placentia, California.California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort opened on February 8th, 2001, the same year President George W. Bush took the Oath of Office and then almost immediately began not keeping it. Itt, the cousin of TV’s The Addams Family, spelled his name with two t’s. T. Robbie Pigott, who has two t’s at the end of his name always places a T preceding the Robbie.  Robbie
Douglas was one of the boys on My Three Sons, who was married
to Katie, played by Tina Cole of The King Cousins fame.I saw the King Cousins perform at Disney’s Top of the World. Disney’s Island at the Top of World (1974), which was a huge flop, starred David Hartman. David Hartman, who is perhaps best remembered for his stint on Good Morning America (1975-1987), was also in the original cast of Broadway’s Hello Dolly, which debuted in 1964. 1964 was the year of the New York World’s Fair.  The New
York World’s Fair featured a Wonderful World of Scouting
Camp/Pavilion, which was staffed by a different 130 Boy Scouts
each and every week during the fair. Throughout the entire run of the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair, no Tornadoes tore through the Scout’s encampment and not a single Boy Scout lost his life. Back then, God still liked the Boy Scouts. I’m WANZIE and
that’s all I wrote! 
you can always view the latest version online: Click Here!
|
satire
in which no one is safe from scrutiny. Praised for reinvigorating the
very notion of what a musical could be, URINETOWN catapults the
"comedic romp" into the new millennium with its outrageous perspective,
wickedly modern wit, and sustained ability to produce gales of
unbridled laughter.
