More than a dozen stars of Broadway hit musicals will travel from around the country to participate in this year's annual Broadway Against Bullying, a fundraiser for NoBully, the San Francisco-based nonprofit that takes anti-bullying efforts to schools nationwide. The stellar gala performance takes place Monday, December 2 at Club Fugazi, the North Beach home of the long-running show Steve Silver's "Beach Blanket Babylon."
From Cleveland to Jersey
As one of the original cast members of the mega-hit musical "Jersey Boys," Daniel Reichard remains grateful for his success by giving back in a variety of ways.
"This is in the middle of a crazy concert tour," said Reichard in a phone interview from his New York apartment, where he happened to be in the middle of rehearsing songs for his sixth annual Manhattan Christmas cabaret show and fundraiser.
"The NoBully folks asked me to do it a few months ago, but I didn't realize how crazy it would be," Reichard said. He's also currently touring the U.S. as part of "Midtown Men," a four-man musical show with fellow cast members from the original production of "Jersey Boys." "But it's gonna be so worth it, because it's an experience that gets me out of the world that I'm used to. It's great to be part of an event and be a part of an organization that truly has a uniquely positive place in the world."
Only days after his December 2 appearance at Broadway Against Bullying, Reichard will be back in New York for his holiday show, which this year raises money for The Actor's Fund. Then it's back on tour with his other show.
The eighth of nine children raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Reichard attended college at the University of Michigan. With the two school's longstanding football rivalry, Reichard said that at Midwestern college gigs, "I get booed on both sides of the border."
He explained that at one point in the "Midtown Men" show, some audience banter ensues. "One of the other guys called me out for going to U. of Michigan, and my response was, 'Does it look like I was on the football team?'"
Although he struggled like any young performer, Reichard's talents did land him some select roles early on.
"I describe my experience as like climbing a staircase," he said. "I didn't have too many times where I was struggling," he said of his roles in regional theatre and Off-Broadway, including "Forever Plaid," the lead role of gay artist Keith Haring in the Public Theatre play "Radiant Baby," and a featured performance in the 20th anniversary edition of "Forbidden Broadway."
"I got to be in these shows with some amazing veterans," said Reichard. "Then 'Jersey Boy's came along, which has been an absolutely phenomenal experience."
Local patrons of fundraisers like the NoBully concert, and other nonprofit shows like the ongoing "Help Is On the Way" performances, get a chance to see musical theatre actors and dancers show off their other skills with favorite songs that might be out of their usual repertory. Many of the solo and group numbers are developed by the performers in between shows and rehearsals.
Such is the case with "Midtown Men," which had grown as the Jersey Boys cast member performed at various private parties and fundraisers. "That's how we grew the show," said Reichard. "And three and a half years ago we decided to tour it." That show includes occasional symphony versions as well.
Reichard also got a chance to sauce up his squeaky-clean image as part of the Broadway Bares fundraisers, held annually at New York's (soon to be closed) Roseland Ballroom. The annual show, which features male and female performers in sexy themed strip numbers, was an experience Reichard joked as "torture."
"I spent three months preparing for the idea of it, and then I turned 30, so it was a bit of a celebration," said Reichard, who performed initially with other Jersey Boys castmates, but remained clothed. He was asked to perform as co-MC for a recent edition.
"It's a little bit badass, and its fun, and tons of my friends are in it," he said. "And that night itself is electric. Every actor says it's one of the biggest thrills."
For the NoBully concert, Reichard's contribution will be a bit more traditional, and clothed.
"This Christmas, I'm getting into the essence of the standards of songs made famous by Mel Torme and Dean Martin. I like the traditional and nostalgic." Reichard joked about the "utterly white and WASPy" aspects of Andy Williams and his 1960s TV specials, but noted the vocal quality of his work, particularly his numbers with his singing brothers as "nearly perfect."
Safe Schools
NoBully's Executive Director Nicholas Carlyle, who is also an attorney and psychotherapist, experienced firsthand the reality of bullying at school in the U.K. An Oxford University graduate, Carlyle's human rights focus includes being chairman of the non-profit section of Amnesty International in Britain. He also researched with the late Professor Eric Rofes the effects of school bullying.
Although NoBully started ten years ago, the annual gala is now in its third year. Previous concerts included a 2012 edition of Broadway Against Bullying, and choral performances with actor-singers Taye Diggs (in 2012) and "Glee" star Darren Criss (in 2011). Caryle said he's happy to have so many acclaimed performers participate in his organization's fundraisers.
"Bullying touches everybody, and many of the artists have talked about their incidences of being bullied, and in one case being a bully," he said from the group's offices in the San Francisco Presidio. "It doesn't feel good to be on either side."
No Bully began in San Francisco in 2003 as a collaboration of educators, psychologists and lawyers committed to preventing the current generation of students from enduring the bullying that they experienced when they were in school. Today, No Bully is helping schools in California, Oregon, Washington, Texas and beyond stop bullying and transform into learning communities which are inclusive of everybody.
"We partner with schools over the course of the year for prevention and responding to bullying," which, Carlyle said, "is both getting more awareness, but also more attention via documented cases via social media.
"The incident rates sadly remain at about one third of all students being a target," he said. "What we have seen, though, over the last four or five years, is a much more heightened reporting in the media. At the same time, we have seen an increase in making schools bully-free."
No Bully maintains an outreach versus lobbying stance. When asked about specific LGBT-focused work, and conservative opposition to perceived 'pro-gay' advocacy in schools, Carlyle clarified the broad issues the group covers.
"We recognize that bullying happens for all sorts of reasons," he said. "LGBT students are targeted, but also students because of their race, size or perceived difference. It actually makes it easier for us to get into schools since we're not just an 'under the radar' pro-gay organization. We can see how there are certain religious and political organizations that would go after us."
Carlyle dispelled stereotypes of proper English schoolboys. "Bullying in England in the 1970s was awful," he said of his own childhood. "There were extraordinary levels of anti-gay and anti-Jewish bullying. England can be horribly racist. It comes back to social justice. If we have schools where it's tolerated, school becomes so uncomfortable for students that they're denied a full and safe education."
This is why, Carlisle said, "We are honored to have the support of these incredibly talented performers who have taken time out of their busy performance schedules to help bring an end to this epidemic."
Wickedly Talented
Could the character of Elphaba, the green-skinned protagonist in Stephen Schwartz's hugely successful musical adaptation of Gregory Maguire's novel "Wicked," be considered an example of the ultimate bullied student overcoming adversity?
Who better to ask than Julia Murney, who played the role on Broadway and in its national tour, and who will also perform at Broadway Against Bullying?
"Absolutely," said Murney in a phone interview from New York. "She is someone who has to find a way to properly channel her anxiety and anger by the way she's being treated. Her initial introduction at school is her job of taking care of her sister, and it's what she does with pride, even when the dust gets kicked in her eyes too often."
The musical and literary variations on "The Wizard of Oz" offers a sympathetic back-story to the iconic Wicked Witch of the West.
"She could turn around and become evil when her powers manifest themselves," said Murney of what she cites as one of her favorite characters. "But there is a teacher who sees good in her and helps her rise above the petty attacks. I think it speaks to very many people that there is a feeling of wanting to feel special, and everyone has special gifts, whoever they are."
Murney's familiarity with the iconic role goes back to her having read the novel, and having worked with composer Stephen Schwartz. Long before she became one of many prominent actresses to portray the role, "I loved the book, and ran around telling everyone, 'You have to read this.' "
Murney noted how the characters did shift a great deal in the stage adaptation, with Elphaba's roommate Glinda taking on a greater role.
"You have to have some point of view," said Murney. "The notion of these two girls who are so different becoming women who are similar in so many ways is extraordinary."
While she's aware of the show's enormous popularity among teenage girls, Murney doesn't think it was intentional. "They didn't say. 'Let's write a show about girl power.' It's just a great story that happened to wildly resonate with people. By the time of the song "For Good," that song is universal, but you can personalize it for 'doing good.'"
Raised in New York City, Murney attended the La Guardia School of the Arts, which was the inspiration for the film "Fame." The diversity among her classmates somehow precluded bullying, she said.
"It was one of the most integrated schools, from race to religion to sexual orientation," she said. "We had a transgender classmate in the dance department. He was fabulous, and he was just himself. The kind of bullying we see today didn't exist. But it was also a bubble. I think about kids today who love musical theatre, but who live in places like Nebraska and don't have people to talk to about that."
As a dedicated actress, Murney considered the motivation for bullying behavior. "Certainly, bullying comes from fear, for whatever reason," she said. "Some of us want to be in a pack, and the pack has to agree on everything. I've always been stunned to see the kind of anger and vitriol that comes from people who are specifically racist or antigay. Take gay marriage. It has zero effect on others. I want to say, 'These guys have nothing to do with you.' I mean, terrible straight people get married all the time."
In her former role as Elphaba, Murney has received some rather intense fan letters, particularly from kids who empathize with the suffering character.
"I'm not a trained psychologist, just a singer," she said. "I can't get directly involved or invested. The best we can do is wish them well." And helping out in fundraisers by offering her singing talents is another step.
"We can at least try, and hopefully some kids will see something that inspires them."
Broadway Against Bullying takes place Monday, December 2 at 7 p.m. at Club Fugazi. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard (Green Street). Tickets are $75 for general admission seats. A limited number of premium tickets are available for $150 and include reserved seats, tickets to a post-performance dessert reception at North Beach's famed Rose Pistola with the cast, and a VIP gift bag.
Carl Pantle (San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus) will serve as Musical Director. CBS5's Liam Mayclem will serve as emcee for the evening.
Along with Reichard and Murney, performers include Colin Cunliffe ("Pippin," "Evita," "The Addams Family"), Josh Franklin ("Anything Goes," "Ghost," "Jersey Boys," "Legally Blonde"), Jay Armstrong Johnson ("Catch Me If You Can," "Hair," "Hands on a Hard Body"), Rebecca Naomi Jones ("American Idiot," "Passing Strange"), Patrick McCollum ("Wicked," "Peter and the Starcatcher," "Rocky"), Missi Pyle ("Bare," the films "Galaxy Quest," "The Artist," and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"), Keala Settle ("Hands on a Hard Body," "Hairspray," "Priscilla Queen of the Desert," "South Pacific") and Alysha Umphress ("American Idiot," "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever").
To purchase tickets, visit www.bab2013.eventbrite.com or call the Beach Blanket Babylon Box Office at (415) 421-4222.
For additional information on No Bully, please visit www.nobully.com and their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nobully.