Success seems to follow Active staff member Sarah Shahinian like a love-sick puppy.  Her performance in Women on Love earned her an  "outstanding supporting actress in a musical" nomination in Planet Connections Festivity's one-night theatrical event, run by Active's own Glory Bowen.  Shahinian is also currently assistant directing a new rock musical called Bloodties for the New York Musical Theater Festival this year.  For dates, ticket prices and more information, click the logo. And the shining star in the glittering crown of her recent conquests is landing a spot on the 25th anniversary Broadway tour of Les Misérables, where she will understudy the role of Eponine.  The tour will begin its run at the Papermill Playhouse, delighting audiences through the hoildays, then hitting the road at the beginning of 2011.

Angelica-Lee Aspiras is Active's Jill-of-All-Trades.  She joined Active after playing Lainie in Two Rooms by Lee Blessing.  She is currently an integral part of the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show, where she does everything, including but not limited to presenting Hot Pockets as prizes, KJ'ing features and appearing in sketches. Additionally, she just began recording vocals for Nella Khanis' song poem series Defying the Truth.  Khanis is a painter and writer from Russia, and Aspiras' assistance is vital in arranging the musical composition for the lyrical autobiography.  They have plans to complete this one-of-a-kind project in the fall of 2010. Currentl, Angelica is performing in the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's production of Miss Saigon in the role of Mimi.  The company's three-city tour will conclude this month in Schenectady, NY, after making sit-down stops in Pittsburgh and Toronto.  She's no stranger to Saigon, as she just finished Houston's Theatre Under the Stars' production in the role of Gigi.

Company member Amy Miller Brennan has been heating up the stage at Arkansas Repertory Theatre as Pattie in their production of Smokey Joe's Cafe.  Next on her agenda is starring in a new show called Motherhood the Musical from the producers of the theatrical phenomena Menopause the Musical and 9 to 5.  Motherhood is to be directed by Broadway great Lisa Shriver and will play at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Click the logo for details on dates and ticket information.  It's not to be missed!

Jason Watson adds many facets to the jewel that is the Active Theater.  As the company photographer, he ensures that the numerous Active functions and productions put their best faces forward using his keen artist's eye.  As a performer, he just completed covering the roles of Bill and Harry in the national Broadway tour of Mamma Mia! starring daytime drama star Mathew Ashford from Days of our Lives.  Watson is also slated to sing the role of Marius in the time-honored favorite, Les Miserables,  in a benefit concert in October.  We expect to see many more great things from Watson as his career continues to skyrocket.

Company member Mike Daly played the role of Jim Hickman in an industry reading this summer for Universal Pictures.  The reading was a huge success and the future looks very bright both for Daly and Universal's Rocket Boys.  Keep an eye on www.TheActiveTheater.com for updates on its progress.

Here's a little news from Bryant Sullivan. His Long-Form team Badass Swimteam has two shows this week at The Creek and the Cave in Astoria.  Wednesday June 16th and Saturday June 19th, both at 8:30pm. Click the logo for more details!

Amy Miller Brennan will be rockin' out as "Pattie" in Smokey Joe's Cafe at Arkansas Rep from June 4th - June 27th. A tribute to one of popular music's most prolific songwriting teams, whose works have been immortalized by talents as varied as Elvis Presley, Big Mama Thornton, the Coasters and Peggy Lee. Click the logo for details, and if you're in the area, check it out!

Eric Percival can be seen throughout June in The Picture of Dorian Gray as Basil Hallward, the enigmatic genius who paints the titular portrait.  This headliner show of Manhattan's Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is selling out fast, so reserve your tickets now!  Critics call it "a great adaptation with wonderful direction and staging, and a great role for Eric Percival as the lead."  If you miss Dorian Gray, you can still catch him in the Midtown International Theater Festival in Closure, in which he plays a married man navigating the politics of friending his childhood first love on Facebook.  Eric's previous foray into the MITF earned him an award for Outstanding Lead Actor.  The versatile actor recently finished a run on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead at the T. Schreiber Studio, in which his Rosencrantz was met with critical acclaim. One reviewer noted, "It is a wonderfully comic role, and Mr. Percival has great fun with it."  Another raved that "Percival is outstanding, giving a energetic, rich and touching performance and demonstrating a terrific grasp of the cadences of the language."

Amy Miller Brennan has met with huge critical acclaim in her latest role--that of "Ellen" in The Actors' Playhouse's production of Miss Saigon in Coral Gables, Florida.  Critics' comments include:  "Amy Miller Brennan, a Carbonell-nominee, who was seen recently at Actors' Playhouse in The Marvelous Wonderettes, plays the role of Ellen, the American wife of the love-torn GI and steals the scene whenever she is present."  And "Amy Miller Brennan brings a belting power to the thankless role of Ellen, the wife whose very existence helps turn a love story into a tragedy."

Stephanie Youell Binetti was last seen as the beautiful and spunky "Grace" in the Fulton Opera House's production of Annie, directed by Marc Robin, who just directed Active's production of Romance, Romance.  Stephanie's beautiful smile, stunning stage presence and gorgeous voice made her a stellar choice for the role.  In addition to performing on Broadway and regional theater stages, Stephanie plays an integral part in the workings of The Active Theater as its Secretary and interim General Manager.  

This fall, Heather Lee Harper brought new life to the character of Patricia "Katie" Crenwell in the cult hit Manson:  The Musical.  Though the show was born in Chicago, End Times Productions remounted the dark and biting satire in New York City to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the events that led to the family's infamy. She is currently involved in the world premiere of When We Have Gone Astray at The Seeing Place Theater, where we see her as Cassie, a broke, alcoholic actress who moonlights as a call girl, desperately searching for success in life and love.  For tickets and show information, visit www.seeingplacetheater.com.

Sarah Shahinian will be at Syracuse Stage for the holidays, helping to bring Louisa May Alcott's time-honored classic Little Women to life. She will be playing the unruly, creative, and unconventional sister "Jo"... not too much of a stretch there! She will then be going straight to Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma for a new Stephen Schwartz project called Snapshots, directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. Click either logo for more details!

David Ojala keeps a lot on his plate.  He was instrumental in bringing to life a new piece by Jonothan Lyons at the Here Arts Center titled The Tenement, the dark and poignant story of a six-foot rat looking for love in a world of people; eventually and ironically finding work as an exterminator.  For more information on this groundbreaking production visit www.thetenement.net.  He also opened The Gallery Players' House of Blue Leaves on September 12, running through September 27.  In this hilarious piece by John Guare, he plays an MP officer who inadvertently saves the Pope from being blown up.  For tickets call (718) 595-0547 or visit galleryplayers.com.  And, closer to home, David is working side by side with Glory Bowen, the director of Active Theater Company's upcoming Two Rooms, as the Projection Designer.  Keep a close eye on this website for ticket information and show dates.

Raissa Dorff is being recognized and acclaimed for her work both on the stage and behind the scenes.  She is currently reprising the role of Dorothy Dix, the famed woman reporter and advice columnist in Terranova, playing now through September 22 at The Actors' Playhouse.  It is the true story of the 16-year-old Italian immigrant Josephina Terranova, who in 1906 killed her aunt and uncle to free herself from their abuse and was acquitted for the murders.  Terranova appeared at the New York International Fringe Festival and was one of 20 shows out of the 200 chosen to continue in the Fringe Encore Series.  For tickets and show times, visit www.monrealeproductions.com.  And because of her outstanding work with The Active Theater Company, Raissa was also recently selected to be the Assistant Artistic Director of the organization.

Stephanie Youell Binetti spent a good deal of her summer soaking up the sun at Cape Cod while bringing audiences to their knees with her smooth sounds and shimmying as DeLee in Cape Playhouse's production of Smokey Joe's Cafe.  Now that she's returned to New York City, she'll be performing the lead role of Meg in Marrying Meg in the New York Musical Theater Festival with Broadway greats Michael McCormick (Curtains), Lisa Howard (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Kathy Fitzgerald (9 to 5).

Nathaniel Shaw summered at Sacramento Music Circus playing Caleb in the American musical theater classic, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  Nathaniel's experience with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and his extensive resume of leading roles in regional theaters all over the country made him a standout in this time-honored favorite.