The Director of Cabrillo Stage’s first offering for the 2014-15 season is Janie Scott. “I first heard about the musical “Altar Boyz” when it opened Off Broadway in 2005. It’s a really high-energy show about a Christian boys band. The five actors are on stage singing, dancing and acting for the full 90 minutes of this one-act musical.
We were fortunate to get our first choice for each of the five players — Curtis Reynolds, Jamar Martinez, Brian Conway, Jamens Nanthakumar and Jordan Sidfield. I enjoy the show because of the clever tongue-in-cheek lyrics about the theme and the choreography and energy it requires.” Scott said that there is also a five-piece ensemble on stage for the performance.
The musical takes place as the final concert of the national “Raise the Praise” tour by the five-member group, Altar Boyz. Four of the group are Matthew (Nanthakumar), Mark (Reynolds), Luke (Martinez) and Juan (Conway), while the fifth member is Abraham (Sidfield), who, as explained in the show’s opening number, is Jewish. The players address the audience directly referring to the location of the concert. The Altar Boyz perform their songs and choreographed dancing in the style of boy bands while telling about the group and its origins, and discussing each member’s strengths and demons.
Scott said that there are “Altarholics” that attend all productions of Altar Boyz. “No matter where it is playing they will be there to enjoy and take part in this audience-friendly musical knowing all the lines and song lyrics.”
Scott informed us that she had just retired as a professor at San Jose State University after 26 years and was looking forward to keeping busy as a Director and Choreographer wherever she was needed. One of her most memorable moments on stage happened during the Cabrillo Stage production of Peter Pan in 2000.
“I had just been lifted up to the top of the pirate ship when the wire I was suspended from suddenly came loose. Fortunately I had landed on the platform on the top of the ship’s mast before it disappeared, otherwise I would have had a long fall onto the stage. I went through the scene anyway, brandishing my sword and saying my lines as if nothing had happened. Then came time for me to fly back off the mast down to the stage to fight the pirates. Fortunately there was a ladder built onto the mast so there I was scrambling back down to the stage instead of flying grandly, and the cast just stood there with their mouths open in amazement.”
Scott’s professional career has allowed her to work with many musical theatre greats including Harold Prince, Stephen Sondheim, Trevor Nunn, and Michael Bennett. She was seen in the original National and International touring companies of A Chorus Line as both Maggie and Diana Morales. In the Broadway production of Peter Pan she played as Wendy opposite Sandy Duncan. After the Broadway production of Merrily We Roll Along, she joined the original LA Company of Cats as Rumpleteaser. In 2002 she returned to the New York stage to perform in the 20th Anniversary concert reunion of Merrily We Roll Along, under the direction of Tony award-winning director Kathleen Marshall. Scott has worked summer stock, dinner theatre, regional theatre, Opera San José, Santa Clara Summerfest, and television as a performer, director, or choreographer.
She has been a returning Director and Choreographer for Cabrillo Stage for fifteen years while also appearing as Peter Pan and as the lead in Annie Get Your Gun in 2003. For Cabrillo Stage she has directed and choreographed La Cage Aux Folles, A Chorus Line, Hairspray, Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, Swing, Honk! and Some Like It Hot. She has also choreographed for Cabrillo’s productions of Annie, Peter Pan and My Fair Lady.
At SJSU she taught dance and musical theatre history, music theory, jazz dance technique, dance pedagogy, dance appreciation, musical theatre performance and served as Artistic Director for Company One.
“I’m not retiring from show business,” said Scott, “It’s been my life and there are so many talented young people that I can help to develop their careers. I want them to have as much fun and the memories that I have.”
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Crocker Theater Box Office hours – Tuesday through Friday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 noon to 4 p.m. . Tel#: 831-479-6154. Tickets along with season subscriptions for sale at www.cabrillostage.com