 With Ed Popil "Mrs. Kasha Davis" and Tom Smalley "Aggy Dune". By Messenger Post Media
Posted Dec. 21, 2015 at 10:33 PM Rochester-based actress and singer Janine Mercandetti will perform a one-woman cabaret show, "Janine Mercandetti: Out of Costume" Dec. 31 at the JCC CenterStage in Brighton. Are you thinking ahead to the new year? Thinking about ways to ring in 2016? Here at Messenger Post Media, we wanted to share five creative ways to celebrate this New Year's Eve. Happy New Year! "Janine Mercandetti: Out of Costume"/"Big Wigs" Rochester actress Janine Mercandetti's roles in local productions are many and varied: The Witch in "Into the Woods" at JCC CenterStage. The title character's anguished mother in "The Who's Tommy" at Blackfriars. Woman 1 and 2 in assorted performances of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" at Nazareth and Downstairs Cabaret. That's naming just a few. On New Year's Eve at the Hart Theatre in the JCC, Mercandetti puts the costumes and makeup aside for a different role — Mercandetti herself. "Janine Mercandetti: Out of Costume" is the actress and vocalist's first cabaret performance, a one-woman show — though with a guest appearance by local drag star Mrs. Kasha Davis, an alumna of "RuPaul's Drag Race." MaryJayne Waddell directs and co-created the show with Mercandetti. "Out of Costume" will begin at 7 p.m. Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 at JCC CenterStage's Hart Theatre in the Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester, 1200 Edgewood Ave., Brighton. Tickets are $26 for reserved seating ($24 for JCC members, $20 for students). To reserve tickets, call 585-244-0600 or visit www.jccCenterStage.org. The "Big Wigs" show — featuring Mrs. Kasha Davis and Aggy Dune in a tribute to such icons as Tina, Cher, Barbra, Celine, Liza and many more — is at 9 p.m. after Mercandetti's show. Tickets are $29 ($27 JCC members); visit www.jcccenterstage.org. To read the rest of the article click here! I can't believe my show is only 2 weeks away!!! HOW did that happen? This has been quite a journey and a wonderful challenge for me both personally and professionally. I am truly proud of what my creative team and I have put together. SO excited! Speaking of exciting . . . I am thrilled to share that my show is heading overseas this summer for a mini tour! Details on that to follow very soon! See the world premiere first at JCC CenterStage before we take it on the road! Here are some silly pictures from rehearsal with my brilliant director and friend, Broadways MaryJayne Waddell. We look forward to seeing you in the theatre! xo
 Marc Cataldi (arranger), MaryJayne Waddell (director), Kevin Lieb (piano) & Brian Clicker (musical director). I had my first true rehearsal with my artistic team yesterday for Out Of Costume and guys, I am JAZZED!!!! My creative team is AMAZING!!!!! I'm freaking excited for my show!
Honestly, my favorite thing about this whole process, other than the fact I get to challenge myself by doing something I've never done before, is being surrounded by such incredibly talented artists who I love to work with and who I trust artistically without question. We are having so much fun! Cause' let's be real, as elated as I am to do this, it's a daunting and scary undertaking. But I am proud of the work we are creating. It will continually evolve until opening night. I really do hope to see all of you in the theatre. About the show: You know her as the booming voice of The Witch in Into the Woods, the hair-impaired Daphna in Bad Jews, the passionate wife of Leo Frank in Parade and the quirky half of the couple in The Last Five Years. Now, one of this area's favorite and most versatile performers is getting "out of costume" for a premiere event at JCC CenterStage. Finally, Janine Mercandetti sheds her theatre skin in her first ever cabaret performance! No quick changes, no huge wigs, no outrageous characters or costumes. Just fantastic music from a woman with a heart, soul, and voice that will rock your New Year’s Eve! End 2015 at the JCC with Janine. You’ll be ready to greet 2016 with a song in your heart and a dream in your soul! With special guest star Mrs. Kasha Davis from Ru Paul's Drag Race. Two Performances! Wednesday, December 30th at 7:00p.m. Cheese and wine reception with Janine following the show. New Year’s Eve! Thursday, December 31st at 7:00p.m. Concessions available in the lobby. Tickets: $26.00 reserved seating $24.00 for JCC members $20.00 for students JCC CenterStage website  Logo by Dan Howell I am ecstatic to announce that my one woman show will make its world premiere debut at JCC CenterStage! Check out all of the exciting details below and make your plans early to ring in 2016 with me! About the show: You know her as the booming voice of The Witch in Into the Woods, the hair-impaired Daphna in Bad Jews, the passionate wife of Leo Frank in Parade and the quirky half of the couple in The Last Five Years. Now, one of this area's most versatile performers is getting "out of costume" for a premiere event at JCC CenterStage. Finally, Janine Mercandetti sheds her theatre skin in her first ever cabaret performance! No quick changes, no huge wigs, no outrageous characters or costumes. Just fantastic music from a woman with a heart, soul, and voice that will rock your New Year’s Eve! With music from composers long adored and soon to be adored like Stephen Schwartz, John Bucchino and Frank Wildhorn, you’ll hear Janine’s rendition of “Meadowlark” from The Baker’s Wife and “Home” from The Wiz. Plus songs that you recognize like the jazzy “Feeling Good” and of course a belt or two in a way that only Janine can deliver. End 2015 at the JCC with Janine. You’ll be ready to greet 2016 with a song in your heart and a dream in your soul! With special guest star Mrs. Kasha Davis from Ru Paul's Drag Race. Two Performances!
Directed by MaryJayne Waddell Musical Direction by Brian Clickner Accompanist: Kevin Lieb Created by Janine Mercandetti and MaryJayne Waddell Tickets: $26.00 reserved seating $24.00 for JCC members $20.00 for students JCC CenterStage website  This past weekend, we celebrated the legacy of one of my greatest mentors and friends, John Haldoupis. It was a magical night that I will cherish for always. Jack, as his friends call him, was the Artistic & Managing Director of Blackfriars for 35 years. It's strange to think that he has only been in my life for 5 years. It feels like 25. I found my artistic legs as an adult under his leadership. He's someone whose opinion I value and trust on and off of the stage. To say I will miss collaborating with him is an understatement. I am thankful he will forever be in my life as a friend and mentor behind the scenes. I am excited for him to pick up his career as an artist. I wrote a post about him in April on my website. You can read more about him here. The night after the event I posted this on facebook . . . "Three and a half hours of pure joy. What a special special evening. I'll never forget this night. I love you, Jack." Here are some photos (provided by Michael Fisher, Nic Minetor and Sharon Vandazande) from rehearsal that day, the show at Xerox Auditorium and the after party at Blackfriars Theatre. Here's to you, Jack!  This was drawn by the amazing Henry DuRocher! He plays Cinderella's Father and The Steward in our production of Into The Woods. He is SO VERY TALENTED in every way. And a wonderful person to boot. Thank you, Henry! XO  Here are some fabulous shots from our preview performance. Photos by the awesome Michael Fisher.  With friend and mentor John Haldoupis. As I work on all of the publicity for John Hadoupis' final show at Blackfriars and his retirement event at the end of next month, the reality of him leaving is finally starting to sink in. And it’s a tough reality for me. Jack has been one of the greatest artistic mentors of my life.
Although there are so many little tidbits (and big ones too) that I have picked up from him, there is a defining moment in our history together that forever changed me as a performer. It was during Shipwrecked, An Entertainment! That show was only the second time he and I had worked together and I had the harrowing task of playing over 30 different characters in the production. To be blunt, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever tackled as an actress. I was excited and completely terrified. I have always been an artist that really needs rehearsal. I need it to play and explore and be terrible and I usually find my groove about a week before opening. But for this show, it just wasn't happening. I felt so out of body. And the closer we got to opening, the more petrified I became that I wouldn't get it and feel dropped into the show. So, the day before our first tech rehearsal, I emailed Jack to apologize for how bad I was and to assure him I would find it and that I was better than what he was seeing. His response was nothing new per say, but the way he said it to me changed me as an artist and I carry that email around with me in my rehearsal bag to this day as a reminder. He told me I need to have confidence. He told me he hired me because he knew I had the talent to deliver this show and that I had to know it too. He told me whether I felt secure or not, when the audience is out there, I have to own the performance and deliver every single action and intention with conviction. He told me to stop apologizing for my work and to believe in myself and my talent the way he believed. Jack has not only been one of the greatest artistic mentors of my life but he has also become one of my most cherished friends. He has seen me through some of my highest highs and lowest lows. I still have the Lamb Chop stuffed animal he gave me to try and help “add some cheer” after my Mom passed. When I was deciding whether or not to move home from LA, I remember pacing the driveway of the home I lived in and talking to him for over 2 hours about what the hell I should do. And whenever I book a role in town, I always wake up to a personal message of joy and congratulations from him. Although I will likely never be lucky enough to collaborate with him again onstage, I am grateful he will forever be my friend. So . . . I will miss his collaborative spirit and the genuine love he has for the work and for his artists. I will miss his special and unique artistry and vision as a director and designer. I will miss his kind and loving faith in and respect for me as an actress and person in the theatre. Jack, I love you. Your legacy will carry on in this community for decades to come. You have helped shape and define what art is in Rochester. You have helped shape the lives of so many artists you’ve worked with. Especially this one. You will be missed more than I think even you know. Thank you. <3 xo P.S. I will be performing is Jack's farewell event - Look, He Made A Hat: Celebrating the Legacy of John Haldoupis. More information on my Schedule page. You guys . . we had our first sing/read-through of Into The Woods and oh my goodness! I am FLOORED! My castmates are literally AMAZING! I had chills in so many different parts and found myself moved to tears in several songs . . . did I mention it was the first time through it? It's such a blessing to be surrounded by so much talent in this community. . Dream cast. Dream score. Dream script. Get your tickets here! xo  The cast of Into The Woods at our first sing-through. (I'm hiding in the back behind the pretty lady in pink.) Photo by stage manager Kat McNally  I love binding new scripts. It makes me joyful. #immadork #betterthanchristmas I had my first music rehearsal for Into The Woods today and I am JAZZED! Although we don't officially start rehearsing until March, our fabulous MD wanted to get an early start on a couple of things. It was fun! This score is everything. Sondheim is such a gift to artists. I can't believe this is the first full length production of his work I have done.
We also had our first costume fittings and WOW. I have a feeling this production is going to be special in every way. I can't wait to meet the rest of the cast and and dive face first into this brilliant piece! xo Happy 2015! I am elated to share that I have been cast as The Witch in what is sure to be a kick-ass production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's smash musical Into The Woods! The Witch has been a dream role of mine since I first heard the soundtrack umpteen years ago. I am ecstatic and honored to finally have the opportunity to play her alongside an EXCEPTIONAL company of artists at JCC CenterStage this spring! (Seriously, they're amazing. Our cast is sick!) I am so excited to dive into this show and this character. This is going to be FUN! For more information on the show, visit my Events page or visit the CenterStage website! Hope to see you in the woods! xo  |
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