DIALING THE PHONE WITH A PENCIL...A CABARET MEMOIR
Andrew H. G. Clements brings his new show "Dialing the Phone with
a Pencil" to MO PITKIN'S HOUSE OF SATISFACTION (34 Avenue A, NYC -
212-777-5660 -
http://www.mopitkins.com/
) for one performance only on Sunday, July 1st at 7:00 pm. Upon winning
Mo Pitkin's and Minty Fresh Comedy's CABARET STAR! 2007, Andrew went
to work on what eventually became his latest performance offering.
He decided that he wanted to structure the show using several different
formats - the confessional/memoir cabaret, the Vegas-style lounge/club
acts of the 50s and 60's, and the mix tapes of his childhood. Musical
director is Brett Kristofferson. Other involved in the production
are Chris Root Heinz, Paul Maddison and Thomas Whitfield.
"Dialing the Phone with a Pencil" blurs the lines
between the reality and surreality of Andrew's past and present,
further blurred by the cocktails made by his onstage bartender.
Part improvised, part scripted, Dialing the Phone with a Pencil
is an evening of ribald storytelling, eclectic music, and a delicate
balance of pathos and perversion.
Andrew began his performing career at a young age,
lip synching to original cast albums on fireplace hearths across
his hometown of Queensbury, NY. After brief flings with other career
options (a butterfly, a Jem Doll fashion designer, and a magician,
amongst countless others) Andrew finally went for the gold and began
performing for paying audiences at the age of twelve in community
theatre productions and in several youth theatre programs in the
Adirondacks.
High school saw him honing his classical music skills,
performing works by Bach, Durufle, Faure, Britten, and many others.
In 2002, after earning a BFA in Acting from SUNY College at Fredonia,
Andrew toured the eastern half of the US in the National Theater
of the Performing Arts production of The Magic of Invention, after
which he moved to Astoria, NY, where he still resides.
Some of his past theatre roles include The Baker in
Into the Woods, Curly in Oklahoma!, Arnold in Torch Song Trilogy,
Yvan in Art, Lenny in Rumors, a Carol Channing-esque Benjamin Franklin
in The Magic of Invention, and Polonius in a severely misguided
production of Hamlet. Andrew has also been involved in projects
in other mediums, including an independent film Lycian, several
commercials, a home design/feng shui television pilot, and readings
for several films and television sitcoms.
Musical director Brett Kristofferson has recently
been musical director at the Professional Performing Arts School
in Manhattan, where he has musical directed CARNIVAL, INTO THE WOODS,
BAT BOY and GYPSY. Other favorite musical directing gigs include
the revue BED, BOYS & BEYOND (Cast album: Dink Records) and SLUT!
THE MUSICAL (developmental reading). In cabaret, Kristofferson has
served as musical director for Christopher Puckett, Marina Macneal,
and the Storefront revues, TAKING THE WHEEL: THE MUSIC OF JOHN BUCHINNO,
and IT'S AN ART: THE MUSIC OF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ. As a composer/lyricist,
Kristofferson's work has been heard in numerous venues around New
York City, including The Duplex, Don't Tell Mama, and Manhattan
Theatre Source. He has composed several musicals, including THE
RED HOUSE, INSANITIES, IN HER PLACE (lyrics by Angela Shultz) and
most recently, a backstage musical spoof, AS THE CURTAIN RISES (book
and lyrics by Brent Peterson.) His song, "The Whole Wide World"
was nominated for Song of the Year by MAC (Manhattan Association
of Cabarets).
There is a $12 cover plus a 1-drink minimum.
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