Posts Tagged ‘Rock of Ages’

Tonys Set Has No Love for Bret Michaels

June 8th, 2009

As any Broadway vet will tell you, one thing you always need to be aware of when you’re on stage is the set itself. One wrong step and you could be in a world of hurt. That’s a lesson Bret Michaels learned the hard way during Sunday night’s Tony Awards.

As part of the show’s opening number, the rock ‘n’ reality star had joined his band Poison to sing their bar band classic "Nothin’ But a Good Time" with the cast of Broadway hit Rock of Ages. And when the Rock of Love star went to make his exit from the stage — wham! — he came face-to-face with a piece of scenery that was being lowered down onto the stage.

Ouch!

Though it looked pretty bad at the time — early reports indicated that Bret’s nose had been broken — a spokesperson for the Tonys says the rocker’s schnoz is still intact and that the whole incident was a matter of Bret "missing his mark."

Constantine Talks About Rocking the Tonys

June 7th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff

The Tonys will be rocking in every which way tonight. And at the rehearsal for the show, OK! caught up with American Idol’s Constantine Maroulis, who busts it out eight times a week in the Broadway hit Rock of Ages.

Maroulis plays Drew Bowie, a hopeful wine-cooler drinking rocker who dreams of making it to the big time. And he’s the first Idol contestant to snag a Tony nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.

Where were you when you heard that you were nominated for a Tony?
I was in my apartment in the city and I woke up right in time as they announced my name in my category.  My mom and my cousins called. And I had the obligatory agent/manager calls, the publicist and producers. Basically, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing since. It was crazy. My mother was blown away. She is still hung up on me not winning American Idol. She can’t believe her boy didn’t win. But this is what I’ve always dreamed of.  I’ve been watching the Tonys since I was a little kid.

Who are you bringing to the Tonys?
My family will be with me — my beautiful mother will be my date. I’m also bringing my sister Anastasia, my brother, Athan, his wife, and some friends. I got a bunch of $900 tickets. I’m the youngest of three, but we have a massive family. It’s really awesome to bring everyone together. And all the cousins in Brooklyn and Long Island all going to be watching. It’s been quite a ride for them these last few years.

How are you preparing for the Tonys?
I’m trying to stay focused and do my show. Unlike every other award show, we do ours every night and it’s very challenging. It’s lot fun and we feed off the energy of the audience, but wailing Journey and Whitesnake eight shows a week is not an easy task. So I’m taking it day by day and not thinking of what’s at stake.

What is it like performing at the Tonys?
It’s different. We’re comfortable in our theater. We’re comfortable with the sound  levels and the way the stage feels underneath us. Radio City is massive and one of the most famous venues in the whole world. There’s a whole new crew. There’s an elevator that’s bringing us in. And of course, there are about 100 cameras on us as well. I worked with this TV crew on American Idol. A lot of the camera guys, the assistant director, and the guys in the booth worked on American Idol because they’re the best in the business. So they got the best to do this show. It’s sort of like a crash course in Radio City performing.  I’ve never been up on that stage. I’ve never been to the Tonys either. So I’m thrilled and honored.

Idol alum scores a Tony nom!

May 5th, 2009

Tony nominee Constantine Maroulis only wants one thing from American Idol tonight.

 

Now starring in the new Broadway production Rock of Ages, for which he was nominated for leading actor in a musical, Constantine says, "It would be nice for them to mention it tonight on rock night in front of 30 million people.

 

"It’s sort of a big deal, and it would be great for our show."

 

Constantine is the first Idol alum to be nominated for a Tony award.

 

"I’m very excited and blessed," he shares. "We have a great show, and this a great cast. I’ve been in tons of shows, but this a team effort, and the show got a best musical nomination, which is amazing," he reveals to the TV Fanatic.

 

Constantine found out about the nomination while lying on his home couch.

 

"I fell asleep watching Sports Center. I woke up this morning around 8:30 a.m. and said let me turn on the television, and they were on my category. They mentioned my name and I was sort of floored. Then my phone started ringing."

 

In Ages, Constantine plays Drew, a struggling wannabe rocker sweeping floors in a bar on the Sunset Strip, dreaming about the day he’ll make it big.

The show features a kick-ass medley of ’80s hits, and yes, you do wind up singing along!

I’ve been saying that Constantine would be in this very predicament after watching him sing his heart out at the show’s opening night last month.

Now he only has one thing to think about: should he thank Idol judge Simon Cowell if he wins!

 

"I haven’t thought about that," he laughs.

 

The 63rd Annual Tony Awards airs on June 7 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

TV Weekly Recap: Idol Alum Rocks on Broadway!

April 10th, 2009

I loved my time off last week in the Caribbean, but I was so glad to be back in NYC this week and indulge in one of my favorite pastimes: musical theater!

Catching a preview of Brunch, The Musical was a nice warm-up for my main dish Tuesday night: the Broadway opening of Rock of Ages, which stars American Idol alum Constantine Maroulis!

Constantine plays Drew (or should I say Wolfgang Von Colt!), a young guy who dreams of making it big on the Hollywood Sunset Strip rock scene in the 1980s.

This musical comes with a soundtrack of ’80 hits you’re guaranteed to know and sing along with.

Being the originator of a Broadway role makes Constantine the first Idol eligible for a Tony nomination, though the singer isn’t trying to dwell on that.

“I don’t really think about stuff, I’m just so blessed to be able to create a role on Broadway,” he told me at the show’s opening after-party.

“All that stuff will come if it’s meant to happen. I just want people to love our show as much as I do.”

Of course, if Constantine does find himself with a statuette in his hands on Tony night, he won’t forget his Idol roots.

He’ll give a shout out from the podium, just like past Idol winner Carrie Underwood did when she won Entertainer of the Year at the American Country Music Awards this past Sunday.

“I owe so much to American Idol, I would thank them, thank 19 Entertainment, thank the judges, I’d thank everybody!” Constantine declared.

Simon, cue up your DVR. He might have this one in the bag!?

Catch Constantine in Rock of Ages, now playing at the Brooks Atkinson Theater in NYC.

Fashion alert: I was catching up on few past episodes of The Real Housewives of New York City when I spotted Jill Zarin wearing some fabulous multi-colored earrings that I was dying to cop myself.

So I did a little research. Turns out they are the Gwen Earrings by designer Kendra Scott and thoroughly affordable!

Those Housewives know how to be fabulous, and frugal!

Until next week, fellow Fanatics!

Constantine’s Idol Crush!

March 10th, 2009

American Idol’s final countdown to the winner begins tonight!

While most of America will be watching the Top 13 sing for their lives, one former Idol, Constantine Maroulis, will only have eyes for the newbie at the judge’s table: Kara DioGuardi!

"I think Kara is amazing, I’ve had the biggest crush on her forever," he told OK!’s Rana Meyer at a rehearsal for the Broadway opening of Rock of Ages, where he plays the lead role.

"I remember her on a show from a few seasons ago, The One, on ABC. She was the lone bright spot," he continued to gush. "She’s an incredible songwriter. She’s fronted a band, is a solo artist. And she’s beautiful."

Talk about devotion! Constantine’s even come up with a plan to get Rock of Ages, a musical featuring hot hits from the eighties, right in front of his fave judge’s eyes.

"Hopefully, they’ll put us on the show," he said. "They’ll do a big ’80s night and have us on there and we can kick some butt."

Of course, Constantine plans to do just that when Rock of Ages opens April 7 at New York City’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

And he wouldn’t mind if a few of his fellow Idol alum are in the audience.

"Carrie Underwood is such a huge star. I’m sort of honored to have been in the running with a girl like that who has become so big," he said.

"Hopefully she comes and checks the show out. I know she loves the ’80s and she sings the hell out of it."

Just like we hope all the Idols do tonight.

American Idol airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Constantine Maroulis: Tony Nominee?

February 18th, 2009

Constantine Maroulis: Tony nominee?

That could be a reality sooner than you think. The fourth season American Idol alum is reprising the role of Drew in the ‘80s-inspired musical Rock of Ages, which he first starred in off-Broadway last November.

Here’s the interesting part: As the originator of his newest Broadway role, Constantine will be the first Idol alum eligible for a Tony nomination.

An Idol with a Tony? Jennifer Hudson would totally give props.

This won’t be Constantine’s first time on the Great White Way. He made his Broadway debut in The Wedding Singer in 2007. Constantine also performed in the touring company of Rent and appeared in the Off-Broadway production of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.

In Ages, Constantine will be joined on stage by Broadway vets Amy Spanger and James Carpinello.

Preview performances of Rock of Ages begin March 17 in New York City. The show opens on April 7.

Catch American Idol’s first live results show tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox.

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