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IN THE MOOD Singers & Dancers
IN THE MOOD will be auditioning Singers & Dancers for our next tours in the summer of 2020. Please see the audition information at https://inthemoodlive.com/auditions/ for more information.
String of Pearls Orchestra
IN THE MOOD will be seeking highly qualified musicians for our next tours during the summer of 2020. Please see the audition information at https://inthemoodlive.com/auditions/ for more information.
Bud Forrest (Music Director and Pianist) is a former Juilliard student who earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY and did graduate work in music at Catholic University in Washington, DC. He was accompanist to the world-famous “Singing Sergeants”, the official chorus of the United States Air Force. Throughout his thirty years in Washington, DC he had been pianist for events at many of Washington, DC’s political events including performances at the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Smithsonian Institution. In addition, Bud was a pianist for touring Broadway shows appearing in the Washington, DC area. In 1993, World USO selected IN THE MOOD to be an official entertainment for the 50th Commemoration of World War II. From 1994 to 2019 this show has traveled to over 48 states (Alaska and Vermont here we come!), Canada, Europe, New Zealand and four times to Australia for over 110 sold-out performances. In 1997, Bud and his String of Pearls Orchestra were featured at an Inaugural Ball for President and Mrs. Clinton. Now celebrating the 26th year of touring, Bud and IN THE MOOD are looking forward to many more years of bringing the best decade of 20th century American popular music—the 1940s and the Big Band era to fans worldwide.
Production Team
Alexander Le Vaillant Freer (Lighting Director) is a Los Angeles based lighting designer. Alexander’s work tends to be multi-faceted and includes traditional theater, immersive and installation-based work, and architectural. He holds an MFA in Lighting Design from California Institute of the Arts, and is an alum of Stephens College. Previous design credits include: The Cripple of Inishmaan (Stella Adler Studios, NY), Miracle on 34th Street (Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena CA), Gorgeous (The Actors Company, LA), Plunge (Son of Semele, LA) Elizabeth Hammond-A Eulogy, Archipelago (Son of Semele, LA), Fantômas-Revenge of the Image (Whuzen, China), Francesca Francesca (Edinburgh, Scotland), Ocean of Milk (Prague, CR), of Light (Reykjavik, Iceland), Titanic-A Devised Piece (Moscow, Russia). Website: www.levaillantdesign.com
John Nocera (Sound Engineer) is originally from Providence, R.I., and now resides in Connecticut. He has 29 years of international touring as a freelance engineer. Most recently John has toured with Nuclear Cowboyz and Disney On Ice. This is his fourth year with IN THE MOOD and is excited to be a part of this experience.
Meghan O’Beirne (Wardrobe Supervisor) is excited to be joining IN THE MOOD as the wardrobe supervisor on her first touring experience! Meghan has an expansive background in costume design and management as well as wardrobe supervision, with her most recent job experiences within the past year being workroom supervisor at a sewing design studio in Maryland, wardrobing for Synetic Theatre in Arlington, VA, and costume designing for Winnie The Pooh at the Alden Theatre in McLean, VA. She has also worked in the Theme Park industry and enjoyed her time at Busch Gardens Williamsburg supervising in the costume shop, where she was given the opportunity to costume design two shows: OktoberZest and NightBeats Re-Vamped. Meghan is from Baltimore, Maryland originally and received her MFA in production design, concentration in costume design, from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2015. She is extremely passionate about costumes and wardrobe and is always enthusiastic for the next opportunity! www.costumesbymeghan.com
Creative Team
Bud Forrest (Creator and Executive Producer) is a former Juilliard student who earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY and did graduate work in music at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.. He was accompanist to the world famous “Singing Sergeants,” the official chorus of the United States Air Force. Throughout his thirty years in Washington, D.C. he had been pianist for events at many of Washington, D.C.’s political events including performances at the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Smithsonian Institution. In addition, Bud was a pianist for touring Broadway shows appearing in the Washington, D.C. area. In 1993, World USO selected IN THE MOOD to be an official entertainment for the 50th Commemoration of World War II. From 1994 to 2019, IN THE MOOD has traveled to over 48 states (Alaska and Vermont here we come!), Canada, Europe, New Zealand and four times to Australia for over 110 sold-out performances. In 1997, Bud and his String of Pearls Orchestra were featured at an Inaugural Ball for President and Mrs. Clinton. Now celebrating the 26th year of touring, Bud and IN THE MOOD are looking forward to many more years of bringing the best decade of 20th century American popular music—the 1940s—and the Big Band era to fans worldwide.
Alex Sanchez (Stage Director and Choreographer) is pleased to serve in his tenth season as director/choreographer of IN THE MOOD. New York credits: Red Eye of Love , Amas Musical Theater/Dicapo Theater(Joseph Callaway Award Winner Best Choreography). Far From Heaven, Playwrights Horizon, Fiorello, New York City Center Encores! Where’s Charley?, New York City Center Encores. Giant, The Public Theater (Lucille Lortel Award Nomination). Regional credits: Directed and choreographed Evita, The Marriott Theater. Choreographed Wonderful Town, The Goodman Theater, West Side Story, The PaperMill Playhouse, Guys and Dolls, Goodspeed Opera House (Connecticut Critic Circle Award Nomination). Far From Heaven, Williamstown Theater Festival, Roman Holiday, Guthrie Theater, 42nd Street, Stratford Shakespeare Festival,(Broadway World Toronto 2012 Award Winner). Giant, Dallas Theater Center, Follies, Chicago Shakespeare Theater,(Broadway World Chicago 2011 Award Winner & Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination), On the Town, Marriott Theater (Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination). A Little Night Music, Berkshire Theater Group. Camelot, Glimmerglass Opera, Aladdin, St. Louis Muny, The Little Mermaid, St. Louis Muny & Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Mary Poppins, St. Louis Muny, Kansas City Starlight & Marriott Theater, Beauty and the Beast , Alabama Shakespeare Festival. SDC Dancebreak Alumni. Alex performed in 10 Broadway shows and was a soloist ballet dancer with Ballet Chicago. A special thank you to Lainie Sakakura, Avelina and Isabela Sanchez for being my inspiration, love and support. Website: Alexsanc.com
Vic Schoen (Arranger) was an icon of Hollywood. It is impossible to list all his credits but they do include being the arranger/conductor for over 20 years for the Andrews Sisters. He was music director for Paramount and Universal Pictures. Vic scored Road to Morocco with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby and The Inspector General and The Court Jester with Danny Kaye. Television specials include those of Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Andy Williams, Ethel Merman, Shirley MacLaine, Perry Como, Maurice Chevalier and Pat Boone. He was the arranger/conductor for the Dinah Shore television series for 3 years. Vic arranged/conducted all of Patti Page’s hit recordings. Other collaborations include Ella Fitzgerald, Al Jolson, Dick Haymes, Betty Hutton, Carmen Miranda, Mel Torme and Eddie Fisher. He was an arranger for many of the famous big bands including Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Les Brown. A number of the music arrangements for IN THE MOOD are from the pen of Vic and we are very proud to carry on his great tradition as we dedicate each performance to his memory.
David Bandman (Arranger) a native of Waukegan, IL, David is a graduate of The University of North Texas where he played trombone in the premier One O’Clock Lab Band. As a euphonium player he was the winner of the first ITEC (then TUBA) international jazz euphonium competition. David is a composer/arranger for the Big Apple Circus in New York City and for the world traveled IN THE MOOD. He has written dozens of big band charts that are being played in high schools and colleges all over the country. David is retired from The United States Air Force Band, Washington D.C. where he played trombone and euphonium and is now a freelance musician, writer and teacher. He has recently released his first highly acclaimed jazz euphonium CD Can I Play Too where he arranged the music of Herbert L. Clarke arranged for big band and available at euphoniumjazz.com. “Solo work reflects musicianship by one of the greatest soloists I’ve ever heard!…tailored arrangements made everything “fit” perfectly and are superb”…Sammy Nestico.
Linda Tomlin (Costume Designer) has worked with IN THE MOOD since 2000. Through the lens of historic materials and early Vogue publications, she has brought the memory of the 1930s and 1940s to the show. Originally from New England, Linda has spent most of her life in California. Currently residing in Virginia, she is wife to Bud Forrest, creator of IN THE MOOD. Linda’s passion for design includes costumes, period textiles, restoration and conservation, fine linen, and needlework. She is president of her own company, Details In Design, LLC, specializing in fine hand embroidered linens for churches and the home décor industry as well as hand embroidered monograms. Linda is also the director of the Williamsburg School of Needlework dedicated to teaching hand embroidery to help students start their own businesses throughout the U.S.
Jeff Greenberg (Lighting Designer) is a lighting designer for theatre, dance and opera. His recent credits include Grease at the Eldorado Hotel/Casino in Reno, NV; the National Tour of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story; Man of La Mancha starring John Davidson, Titanic the Musical and Nunset Boulevard at the Ocean Professional Theatre Company. He also designed the 100th Anniversary national tour of Titanic the Musical for Boebe Productions and Windwood Theatricals which toured the U.S. and Canada during the fall of 2012. Other credits include the world premier of Starry Messenger, and Questions About Angels at Theater for the New City; The Sea Gull at Montclair State University; On Your Toes, The Drowsy Chaperone, Ragtime, Lady Be Good, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Stand By Your Man, It’s Only a Play, Dial M for Murder, and The Last Night of Ballyhoo at the Surflight Theatre; The Odd Couple, Clue the Musical, and Oklahoma at the Allenberry Playhouse; and the world premier musical A Girl Called Dusty at the Provincetown Repertory Theatre. Other theatres where he has designed include Blue Heron Performing Arts Center, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey; New Jersey Repertory Company; 12 Miles West, the Penobscot Theatre Company, and Lake George Opera. From 2004-2007 Jeff was the lighting designer and production manager for the international tour of IN THE MOOD, a 1940s musical revue, and prior to that he was the Lighting Supervisor with the American Indian Dance Theatre. In 2005, Jeff was nominated for a Vivian Robinson/Audelco award for outstanding lighting design for his production of Robeson in New York. His lighting for The Brothers Karamazov received the Newark Star Ledger’s Best Lighting award for the 2002-2003 New Jersey theatre season. He has an MFA in Lighting Design from Brandeis University, and a BFA in Technical Theatre from Ithaca College. www.jeffgreenberglightingdesign.com
Casting Consultant: Mungioli Casting, Inc. New York, NY
Bow Ties obtained from www.bowtieclub.com.
Some of the vintage women’s shoes obtained from www.remixvintageshoes.com.
Women’s pants and swing dance outfits obtained from www.revampvintage.com.