Entertainment Spotlight:
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
The cast of HSMTMTS attempts to remember some of the most challenging pieces of choreography from the show.
The cast of HSMTMTS attempts to remember some of the most challenging pieces of choreography from the show.
A fresh new face in the entertainment industry, actor Nicholas Coombe has quickly become one to watch. You can catch Nicholas starring in Ron Howard’s highly anticipated comedic drama series 68 Whiskey for Paramount Network. In 2019, Nicholas starred in the live-action feature film Dora and the Lost City of Gold. When not on set, you can find Nicholas in the studio creating new music with his band The Beanie Kids. Nicholas took some time to answer our hard hitting questions. Check it out:
I did! I watched as many films, shows and documentaries as I could about the U.S. army and 68 Whiskey medics. We also had some basic training and technical advisors on set that would guide us through the scenes and how to correctly perform each specific task.
I can disco like nobody else. Throw on some Earth, Wind & Fire, and my booty will be shaking so much you think there’s an earthquake.
True stories. I’m fascinated with history. So, anything that’s within that realm I get excited about. There are so many insane true stories out there to be told! Truth is stranger than fiction my friends.
Private Anthony Petrocelli is a fresh-faced, gullible 17-year-old who looks 16 and acts like he’s 15. He is genuine and naïve and wants to be the best soldier he can be.
It would be called “Boz is the G.O.A.T” and the song would be about Petrocelli wishing Boz were a human so that they could go on adventures together. Petrocelli would be tap dancing and Boz the goat would be tapping along with his cloven hooves. This picture below is a good representation of how it would look:
I love indie rock music. I’ve listened to tons of music growing up but a few bands that I’ve always stuck by are The Wombats & Paramore. I love the full band aspect and the raw vocals they have.
4:50 AM – Wake Up
5:30 AM – Drive to work
6:30 AM – Hair and Make-Up (Whist eating a breakfast sandwich)
7:00 AM – Rehearse and block the first scene of the day
7:01 AM – I need coffee (I’m not a morning person)
8 AM – I need coffee (Still not a morning person)
9 AM – I think I’m addicted to coffee (Officially not a morning person)
Rinse and repeat until 6 PM
6:30 PM – Drive home and listen to Stuff You Should Know podcast (It’s so good!!)
It’d be a dream come true to be part of an epic franchise. Something like Star Wars or Lord of The Rings. I’m down. I’ll play an elf with luscious locks. Or Jabba the Hutt. Let me know, and I’ll be there.
The new iPhone 11 Pro has the super wide angled lens! If you put it really close to your nose it looks ridiculous. You basically have a 2-D head. It’s definitely something worth exploring hahaha.
Working away on The Beanie Kids EP release! And some other sneaky projects that will be announced soon!
Thanks for taking the time, Nicholas! Catch 68 Whiskey on Wednesdays at 10pm on the Paramount Network.
Actress and singer Andy Allo will be coming to screens in May as a customer service rep for the digital afterlife in the new series, Upload. You might recognize Andy from Chicago Fire or Pitch Perfect 3, or indeed from The Hero, starring Sam Elliot, Black Lightning, and The Game. Musically, she collaborated with Prince on her album, Superconductor, and has worked with the legend’s New Power Generation as a singer and guitarist. She has performed on Jimmy Kimmel, Guitar Center Sessions, Billboard Sessions Exclusive, and most recently completed a short run with Enrique Iglesias. We sat down with Andy to ask our burning questions about the vision of the afterlife that Upload brings to life.
Nora is such a layered, complicated character but who at her core, cares deeply about the people in her life. That’s something I completely relate to. She has such a big heart.
It’d look like the Hawaii. I went to Maui last year for the first time and it was life changing. Hiking, beaches, great food, amazing people.
Wow there’s so many but if I had to choose, I’d say I’m most excited for audiences to see the Upload process.
Ooo, this is hard! I feel like I’ve had different theme songs for different chapters of my life but one theme song I always come back to is “Bad Mama Jama” by Carl Carlton
Kacey Musgraves ‘Butterflies’ and DVSN 'Mood’
Chapstick, my guitar and as much as I wish this weren’t true, my phone. Especially now while isolating, it’s how I stay connected to my friends and family.
Working with Prince was unreal. I look back on it now and I still can’t believe it.
It happened pretty quickly. From my first audition to booking the role was about 10 days. My call back with Greg was one of the most fun auditions I’ve done. He kept printing out new scenes for me to do and we just played.
My amazing co-star, Robbie Amell, would always order this turkey sandwich that we ended up calling the Robbie Special. At first I would make fun of him but then one day I tried it and it was delicious! So I started ordering one along with him every day and we’d be sitting there eating our Robbie Special sandwiches together. It was hilarious. Oh! One more. There was one day that I got done working early so I went into the hair trailer and started trying on the other casts wigs and then walking on set trying to distract everyone. That was fun.
Music for me is so personal and allows me to share my feelings and stories through song. It’s like therapy. Whereas acting allows me to take a break from myself in a way and explore a different character. There’s pieces of me in it but I’m challenging myself to embody another person, give them a voice and tell their story. They are both incredibly satisfying and freeing.
Thanks for taking the time, Andy!
We’re huge fans of @benee-music and her screaming goat. Check out her full Tumblweeds episode for more show and tell and more BENEE!
Hong Kong-based actress, musician, and film producer Josie Ho most recently appeared in a radical cameo role opposite Nina Dobrev in the film Lucky Day. Next up, Josie will star in the period adventure Edge of the World. Additionally, Josie recently announced her next project Mother Tongue, a suspense thriller directed by Mike Figgis. Her band, Josie and The Uni Boys, is collaborating with acclaimed director Tony Kaye on a musical documentary feature called The Hong Kong Sound. Last but not least, Josie also produced and will be seen in the upcoming indie-thriller Habit starring Bella Thorne and Gavin Rossdale.
Yes, thank you for paying attention to my work! I’m doing a few thriller films as a coincidence. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to perform for magnificent stories, wonderful directors, and always a superb character arc. Some of my films are also arthouse or cult genre—they are shot beautifully and are frightening!!
I’m currently working on a Punk/Rock song—it’s almost a tribute to the film Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, describing how bad girls behave. The vibe is kinda like the band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
I only truly discovered my sound after I started my band Josie and The Uni Boys. I’m still learning from my vocal teacher. I’ve had an injured voice before, but she helped me get my true voice back. I used to imitate other singers, but I didn’t understand why I wasn’t belting correctly. So my dearest teacher, whom I followed for over 30 years now, still acts like a “Godmom” to me. She taught me everything.
The biggest lessons learned from producing films are how to be a mediator, negotiator, and a top salesperson. I’m still learning tons of things, so I guess I might have to keep learning ‘till I drop!
Well.....eating, sleeping, binge-watching, or reading on my sofa are my biggest hobbies right now…as well as eating in my sleep...haha!!
Thanks for taking the time, Josie!
Laura Dreyfuss may be know for her lead role as Zoe in the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, Madison McCarthy on Glee and McAfee Westbrook on the Netflix series, The Politician, but she’s also working on her career as a solo music artist and we’re all here for it. Laura took the time to answer some of our questions about herself and her experiences. Check out what she had to say.
I love making music I can dance to and I love writing things that are very specific to my experience.
Kacey Musgraves!
He has such a good heart and we always keep each other laughing.
It was wild! It felt like such a celebratory night and I met so many people I admire. Getting to dance at the end of the night with my cast was so much fun.
Getting to work with such amazing artists is what is so mind blowing. I feel so fortunate to get to do what I love and work with people that inspire me so much.
Yes! Coming soon :)
Check out Laura’s latest single, Better Drugs, available everywhere now, and stay tuned for more in 2020!
From bringing characters to life on screen and stage to writing and recording hip-hop lyrics, Miriam A. Hyman has many talents. She can currently be seen in season three of The Chi, where she plays Dre, who is newly married to Nina, and a new step-mom to Kevin (Alex Hibbert) and Kiesha (Birgundi Baker). She played Bolingbroke in The Public Theater’s and WNYC’s production of Richard II. Originally scheduled to begin the 2020 Free Shakespeare in the Park season, Richard II broadcasted on WNYC as a free four-part radio play from July 13-16, 2020. When she isn’t on set, Miriam is a songwriter and hip-hop lyricist, recording under the moniker Robyn Hood. She also writes for others, is a ghostwriter for former Yale grad classmate Lupita Nyong’ o, and co-wrote the single Melanin by Ciara (featuring Nyong’ o, Ester Dean, City Girls, and fellow The Chi cast-mate La La Anthony).
Because art should mirror life, the Dres of the world actually exist and they matter. I think it’s imperative that we offer options and variety as it pertains to family and love. All races, ethnicities can I identify with family and love so why should it only look one way? It can’t, not any more. The level of toleration for this type of exclusion has reached it max.
I have an acronym for it and I apply it to all my life professionally and privately. I describe it as being H.O.T.: honest, open and truthful. I think my lyrics are raw, fun and thought provoking. What my music gives me that acting does not is the full liberty to express what I want how I want. It doesn’t have to be censored in anyway. It can be as creative or not as I choose. With acting, I lack full autonomy as it pertains to the text and character, what I’m saying and who I’m playing. The only way I have the ultimate say is if I’m in the writer’s seat. Being a lyricist gives me that opportunity and privilege.
#BlackExcellence365: I feel I embody the mission by being a consistent force of positive energy. Through my music and through the characters I portray on TV, film or theater, be it an August Wilson play or Shakespeare, I will always do my part to exhibit black excellence. I will continue to uplift, challenge and inspire via my actions, my lyrics, my contributions in my community. I will march, make donations, speak up on behalf of myself and others that are underrepresented. I say it in my song “Brotha George,” the last track on my EP, Alter Ego: “my existence is resistance.” I embody black excellence by just being.
Well, for starters, I would raise the level of access that is offered to young black actors. I would make casting fair and create more opportunities i.e. roles on and off camera. I would diversify the reps that speak on behalf and pitch this talent. I would give these artists more of a choice which translates to having more of a voice. Lastly, I would level out the playing field so racially, balance always exists amongst these artist and the rooms they are learning to navigate.
I’m most excited about the change that is coming about in our country and globally. I’m grateful that the discussion of systematic racism is on the lips, hearts and minds of many. I’m believing in revolutionary optimism as we tear down the many prejudices that have plagued this country.
Thanks for taking the time, Miriam! Catch The Chi on Showtime on Sundays at 9pm.
Photo: The Rikers Brothers
Week Ending June 24th, 2024
The number in italics indicates how many spots a name moved up or down from the previous week. Bolded names weren’t on the list last week.