Clay News!

Well, going on stage during a play for an autograph sounds like the person was high or something! Nobody in their right mind would do that. How freaking stupid was that.

I still disagree with you about these two ladies. I don't think either of them did anything that was worth some of the comments to them on CH. I am glad GGB and MsMarm put an end to it. I don't think anyone even had to make excuses for them because they didn't do anything wrong under the circumstances.

I haven't seen Spamalot. If it is part of the show to invite audience members on to create some comedy, I would assume they expect and WANT some outlandish things to go on.

But I don't know if that is the situation...just not familiar with the show.

Yes Frazz, at the end of the play they call out one of 4 seat numbers and they go and get that person and bring them up on the stage. The King asks the person their name (first and last) there is some banter ad lib what not with the name. The person is given an award/certificate and gets a picture of the cast. This happens near the very end of the show. The other night a Clayfan (one I have seen post on several boards for years) was called up. Clay's big number toward the end is "You Can't Succeed on Broadway without Jews" (very funny number). The lady didn't want to give her real last name, so she gave her real first name and used the name "Claystein" as a last name. Well there are fans giving her such a hard time about that Like she "embarrassed" Clay. Than last night another Clayfan was called out to go up on stage. While the King was doing his thing and Clay was kneeling by her as Sir Robin she said "Hi Clay" to him. Again - she was being stoned today at the CH.

I agree with you totally! I think the cast would love for something outrageous to happen. We are talking Monty Phyton here - not Shakespeare. THEY bring the people up knowing anything can happen. Who knows what all has happened in the past. I do know that one person said "Hi Niles" to David Hyde Pierce when he was in the show as Sir Robin. Niles not being his real name or a name in Spamalot - but his character name when he was on Frasier!

OK than. I can honestly say that I were called up on stage i would do much more outrageous things.

I think "Claystein" is very funny!

Back in my old days I would often get called up in performances where they wanted audience members (theater, improv, magic shows...I even got to be the girl who got kissed by the whale at Sea World.). I always made sure to get a major laugh for myself. That was why they called me up. I looked like I might do something.

WHen I went to the Leno show for Constantine's performance, it really pissed me off that the Leno people had no interest in me being one of the people who make fools of themselves on stage before the taping.

WHen I was performing in audience participation things myself, I loved the show offs (they did not have hecklers, whom I would not enjoy in the places I performed at). Attention grabbers give you, as the performer, something to play with and react to. Last thing you want is normal polite grown ups.

Gee, I wish you could post that at The Clack House where some are SURE those ladies embarrased Clay I agree Claystein was funny!

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Sorry, but the fan who went up onstage and called Clay by his name was wrong. You don't do that in the theater. It's not a concert.

If he were in The Three Sisters, or even a musical as straight and serious as Les Miserables, I'd agree with you. For this? No. Here's a scenario for you: Let's say he's playing Phantom of the Opera, and the Phantom is walking down the aisle right next to the audience, making some kind of menacing entrance that's very effective. Under those circumstances, I would think that some nitwit squeaking "HI Clay!" would be inappropriate and really embarrassing.

However, Spamalot is a free-wheeling farce in which they actually make reference to his status as an American Idol, where they are constantly throwing in current pop culture references and all kinds of anachronisms, and we are talking about one particular moment in the play where they actually ask an unprepared, randomly chosen member of the audience to come onstage. They then enter into adlibed comments about her name and possibly other stuff. Clearly it's a moment where they've dropped the fourth wall and they have created a scenario of controlled anarchy where the normal theatrical conventions are not quite relevant. Now, if she were to jump up and make a pass at him, it would be really inappropriate. However, from what I understand, the befuddled, stage-struck woman who got hauled onstage found herself quietly saying hello. She did not disrupt the scene or cause any problems.

Also, and I respect your right to disagree with me on this matter, Badger, but I find one of the women who was most strident on the matter to be a disagreeable harpy on a regular basis and she's one of the reasons why I don't spend more time over there.

Yeah, what abrahammy said.

Though now it has been suggested, I might very well make a pass at Clay for the sheer comedic factor. Fling my leg into his arm, Marx Brothers style...no wait, I did that with Athan, and unremembered GSers insisted I was molesting Athan.

"Hi Clay"? I think that is so very sweet!

p.s. Badger, I think your point of view is also valid, and I love it that you post your views.

Truly, just as much as I enjoy posting my own.

I really want to know heartfelt opposing views to ANYTHING I believe.

One of my AIDS Project L.A. coworkers (my smoking pal, whom I adore) is a Republican lesbian. I am FASCINATED to know what she believes and why.

Not that you are a Republican lesbian...even remotely....

Yep, perfectly put Abrahammy.

My guess is you are referring to EP. She is the one who sent me on my rant here yesterday. I am so glad she got edited and a reprimand - and I am not one who is big on modding. She was really out of control yesterday and I felt so bad for the Clayfans she was going after, especially the "Claystein" lady who is a CH member and always seems so wonderful. She is also a heavy poster at The Clayboard where I do post. Talk about someone ruining your special experience I think EP needs a Clay break or something.

I know several people who need Clay breaks. I really like Clay, but I do not enjoy the Clackhouse, and yesterday was a good example of why. However, EP was not actually the specific person I was thinking of.

Oh, I know there were others, but EP is the one who really bothered me. You know, I completely understand feeling protective toward Clay of all the crap written about him. That stuff can be so disheartening and tough on fans, but the way some go after other fans is even more disheartening for me, and I bet Clay. I would think he would be a lot more concerned for those two ladies than he would be for himself. I think he would just prefer his fans be respectful to each other.

BTW, so far I have not renewed my fan club membership. I love the man dearly, but I am not sure I have really gotten much for the last two times I plucked down my $30 to join. I have not gotten to use the pre-sale tix the last 3 tours as he didn't come close enough to me, and I sure don't care about Clay lip-balm or a Clay tote. I never wear or carry anything with a pic of some celeb on it . I love his blogs, but he sure doesn't blog all that often that I am not sure I want to spend another $30 to read them. I will have to think about it some more. I mean Clay lip-balm?? I guess that is better than that damn ugly gray rubber bracelet we got last year

This is a very interesting discussion about the fan issues in the Clay fandom. And the event that triggered it off sounds like much ado about nothing.

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I think the cast would love for something outrageous to happen.

I would think they look forward to it. The unpredictability of what someone outside of the cast will do makes an interesting challenge for a cast member.

Like Abrahammy mentioned about the letting down of the 4th wall - all bets are off when that happens. And to just say "hi Clay," well for NY theater, that's pretty mild.

Hi Lau!

I just love this pic! He looks so happy!

Lancaster Eagle Gazette

Get to Know Me

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Mandy Wilkins is the recent recipient of the prestigious Mary M. Good Humanitarian Award.

Wilkins, 31, was born and bred in Lancaster. She graduated from Fisher Catholic in 1995 before graduating from Ohio University with a bachelor's degree in special education with an accreditation in early childhood education in 2000.

Wilkins is a preschool special needs teacher at Forest Rose School, where she has been teaching for eight years. She also is the basketball and track coach for Franklin County MRDD. She also has officiated volleyball for 11 years.

In 2006, she and her fellow teachers at Forest Rose were awarded the Heroes in Education from the American Red Cross in 2006.

<snip>

On your nightstand there is a picture of ...

"Clay Aiken with a pink bow. Everyone that knows me, knows my infatuation with him! Someday we will get married."
<snip>

If you were given three final wishes, what would they be and why?

"1. Meet the man of my dreams (a.k.a. Clay Aiken). We could start a school for children with special needs (because his background is in special education) and then get married and have beautiful, talented children.


Hee!

ETA a small Clay mention in a sports/humour article:

Time News Online

No backup plan was needed

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I also would have participated in more noble activities, like raiding my mother's refrigerator, er, visiting my mother, or maybe I could have taken my 15-year-old daughter to the movies (of course, these days I'm her last choice for a movie date). But she did accompany me to the Super Bowl party and sat transfixed. She's a big football fan and I doubt if she'd have gone to the movies with either her celebrity heartthrob (Clay Aiken) or her idol (Miley Cyrus).

Love this pic of Clay signing autographs at the stage door!



Bringing this over from The Clack House.

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Wandering the blogs to see if I could find any NJU reviews of Clay in Spamalot, I came across this gem:

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Last night Gwen and I went to see Spamalot featuring Clay Aiken. Wellllllllllllllllllllllll guess what? He's good. He has the timing down, his accent is close enough and funny, and there is just SOMETHING about him that draws your eye to him on stage. He has a real charisma, real star quality. Bravo Clay. Now marry me. Thanks.

A fantastic interview with Clay!! BUT, I cannot see page 3 as my laptop does weird things like that sometimes. I have no idea why I can read the first two pages, but page three won't show up. If someone would be so kind as to copy and paste page three here for me to read - I would be very grateful!

http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=560459&pn=1

Page 3:

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How does eight Broadway shows a week compare in difficulty to
ten weeks of competition on American Idol?

Sixteen weeks! Without question, Idol was harder because there was the rehearsal period, kind of like I was telling you about for this, and the performance period all put together. There were so many different things involved, with eight-hour days, 10-hour days, 13, 14, every day of the week on Idol. Here, it is eight shows a week, but only two and a half hours a night. The weekends are unbelievably exhausting because we do five shows, but Idol does beat it as far as the amount of work. I don't think people understand how much work is involved for the contestants on that show. It's not just showing up on Tuesday and Wednesday night. At the same time, it's different than a touring schedule. On tour, I do five shows a week, and they're not as physically exhausting because I'm not dancing. But I'm sleeping on a bus and traveling to a different city every night, so it's six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Are you surprised that so many American Idol alums have turned up on Broadway?

Not really. My situation is slightly different because I went into a show that was kind of unexpected; it's not a singing show. The other people who have done stage work from Idol have done shows where singing is important, and Idol finds people who are vocally talented. Fantasia was unbelievable in The Color Purple, but we always knew she could sing; we knew she had the ability to perform on stage. And we knew, because she was on Idol, that she had the ability to work hard. The same, I think, is true for everybody who has done [Broadway]. Diana DeGarmo was there with Fantasia, Frenchie Davis, Ruben [Studdard] is about to head out [on tour in Ain't Misbehavin'], so it doesn't surprise me that much. If you can handle three weeks of Idol, you've got the stamina [to do Broadway] because it's very stressful. I will say this, though: If I ever hear Simon Cowell insult someone on the show by using "You belong on Broadway" as a put-down, he can kiss my butt for that!

There you go!

People on Broadway are, without question, the most talented people in the country because they're doing seven things at once! They're dancing and they're singing and they're acting and they're speaking in tongues and they're playing piano and tapping. I mean, if Simon uses that as an insult again, he can kiss it! If you think about the people who are most well known for being phenomenal at their craft—Glenn Close as a prime example—the reason they're so good is because they started on stage. If you can do this Broadway thing, you can do anything. I'm considering running for President! [Laughs.]

How do you see your career progressing? Will you continue to do covers or record new music?

We did the cover thing last time; it's not a goal to do that again right now. Our next album is going to be all new stuff. That's kind of what I wanted to do last time and we took a detour. We're in the process of working on it. There's not horribly much to say about the next album, but we're hoping it's out in May.

I'm not going to compare myself to anybody. I don't know that I want to be on the spectrum. I don't plan to be on the radio. I'm not cool enough to be on radio. I'm still dorky and not relevant enough to some people to be on radio, and it's not a goal of mine. We've got this amazing producer who's going to do the entire album, and one of the challenges for him has been not worrying about radio, because he's been so attuned to trying to make hits. We're like, "Uhhh, nooo," because once you try to cater to the radio stations, you stop catering to (a) the listener and (b) me. I was discussing this very thing with my executive producers the other day and we said, if you try to make the music fit what you think radio is going to want, you're going to miss the mark. But if we just go out and do what we do well, then it's going to be natural and maybe radio will like it. It's not something that I'm averse to; I would absolutely love it if it happens, but it's not something to work toward at the expense of doing what we want to do.

You were a teacher before American Idol, and now you're involved with UNICEF. Do you see yourself performing for the rest of your life, or could you walk away and do something totally different?

I'm never really good at answering that question; the answer changes every day. I enjoy what I'm doing right now. As long as I'm having fun, I'm going to continue to do it. When it stops being fun, I'll stop. But right now, it's fun.

See Clay Aiken in Spamalot at the Shubert Theatre.

Thank you so much Frazz!!

My pleasure, FC. Thanks for bringing the link!

I'm late getting back here - I saw Spamalot this past Sunday afternoon.

Firecracker, I know I told you I'd get a picture of Clay at the stage door. I even stopped at Duane Reade on my way to the theater to get fresh batteries for the camera. I went to the stage door and was in good shape because there were only about 15 - 20 people waiting there.

But it was so cold. And it was raining a bit. And the wind was whipping through Schubert's Alley. So a few minutes after I got there, a theater rep came out and told all of us that no one was coming out between shows. They had another show at 7:00 that night. I went over to the restaurant that overlooks the stage door area and had a little something and watched for awhile. And no one did come out! And I cannot blame them. Actors, singers, etc. need to be very careful in this weather.

So sorry, no picture!

Spamalot was great - very, very funny. If anyone feels like laughing for a few hours, go see it. Its so silly its funny (if that makes sense).

Clay was okay in his part. He still has a little ways to go to really seem comfortable and be totally in synch with the whole company. He seemed a little stiff when he first came out. But he did a good job on that crazy dance he has to do on his knees like a Russian dance.

Very fun day.

Actually I just read that TPTB make the decision about whether the actors go out and do the stage door thing. It was decided that the wind was a danger. I read all about how horrible the weather was last weekend when I was at The Clack House. Sorry you had such awful weather to deal with, but so glad you enjoyed the show!! I have been to NYC just once in my life and I did not get to see a Broadway show. That was the one thing I was sorry about during that vacation. Do you live near NYC?

Thanks so much for planning on getting a pic for me I appreciate that! I have been so lucky to see tons of stage door pix and videos so I do get to feel a part of this exciting time for Clay. Sorry you didn't enjoy his performance more I have been reading lots of good reports though on some Broadway boards and Monty Python boards. I really thought they would all be negative about him.

Thanks again for letting me know how it went for you!

Interesting what you read, Firecracker. I assumed the guy who came out was someone representing the theater and it looks like it was.

Silly me, I was willing to wait in the wind because I was going to be able to get very close to get my pic of Clay! I really wanted to meet him. I liked his performance; just saying it can probably get better.

And yes, I live close to NYC. I'm about a 40 minute busride to that theater.

How exciting that you live so close to Broadway and can see lots of shows! I bet you saw Con a few times then too!

Yes, Jerome and Clay told some fans afterwards that there is someone who deterimes if the situation is safe for the actors. They don't want anyone to get hurt or sick due to being out in bad conditions.

I wish you had gotten to meet him. I would have loved to hear what you had to say about him.

Every review I've read has uniformly stated that Clay's doing himself proud in this show. I am so glad he did this; it appears to have been one of those bold, weird moves that really revitalize a person's career.

That's good to read, Abrahammy. Have these reviews been from prof. critics? A friend told me after I told her mine that our local paper had a writeup and the review was similar to mine. Doing fine in the role.

A professional Review!
I hope it's okay to post this here.

http://media.www.hofstrachronicle.com/medi...t-3212038.shtml

Clay Aiken joins 'Spamalot' cast

By David Gordon in B-Section
Issue date: 2/14/08


After three years of immense success, Monty Python's "Spamalot" continues to draw in the crowds. "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken has recently been added to the cast, making his Broadway debut

When Monty Python's "Spamalot," the musical extravaganza based on the classic 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," opened in 2005, the citizens of Broadway knew they were in for something huge. After all, it boasted a script and lyrics by original Python member Eric Idle, direction by Academy and Tony Award winner Mike Nichols and starred Tim Curry ("Rocky Horror Picture Show"), Hank Azaria ("The Simpsons") and David Hyde Pierce ("Frasier").

Unlike so many "big name" projects that end up floundering, "Spamalot" not only lived up to expectations, it managed to exceed them. It ended up winning Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Director and Best Featured Actress for Sara Ramirez. (An unknown when the show began, Ramirez went directly from her final performance to the role of Dr. Callie Torres on "Grey's Anatomy.")

Now, almost three years since it opened, "Spamalot" is still delighting Broadway audiences with its giddy silliness. While Curry and Azaria have been replaced by less recognizable names (Broadway vets Jonathan Hadary as King Arthur and Rick Holmes as Lancelot, Knight of Ni, etc.), David Hyde Pierce has been replaced by someone just as recognizable, if not more: "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken, making his Broadway debut.

Aiken follows a multitude of "American Idol" participants into their Broadway debuts-Fantasia Barrino, Diana DeGarmo and Frenchie Davis among them. His part isn't very large (he plays Sir Robin, among other roles), but for him, they've added verses of songs here and there, as well as a number of lines. He sings well (unsurprisingly), is a solid dancer (the "Fiddler on the Roof"-inspired "You Won't Succeed on Broadway if You Don't Have Any Jews" is a show-stopping highlight) and nails almost all of the jokes.

Jonathan Hadary is a solid King Arthur, the one person on stage who must keep order amidst the coconut clacking, French-taunting, cow throwing and farting in everyone's general direction. Hannah Waddingham, London's Lady of the Lake, has joined the Broadway cast also, and is just as good, if not better, than role-originator Ramirez. She even manages to take her big second act number, the "Diva's Lament," up an octave and sends her powerhouse soprano to the farthest reaches of the balcony.

It's hard to single out any member of the supporting players-they all look like they're having such a great time that it's infectious. Rick Holmes is a fine Lancelot, and fills Azaria's other part, the Knight of Ni, very well. He even manages to deliver a Clay Aiken joke-he's the Knight who says "Ni, Ni, if I was invisible, I would just...," which, of course, sends the Claymates in the audience into raucous cheers.

Christopher Seiber, the original cast member who has returned for a brief time before he plays Lord Farquaad in the upcoming "Shrek: the Musical," is a scene-stealing, scenery-devouring comic gem as Sir Galahad.

True, some of the jokes are lost along the way-lines and sight-gags skewering Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera," but this is because the audience comprises of mostly out-of-state or international tourists who aren't culturally aware of them. Eric Idle's book and lyrics (with music by John DuPrez) are an example of goofy brilliance.

Mike Nichols' quick-pacing and superbly self-deprecating direction hasn't been lost through the years, and Casey Nicholaw's bouncy choreography is as fresh as ever. The design elements-sets and costumes by Tim Hatley and lighting by Hugh Vanstone-are quite pleasing as well.

Monty Python's "Spamalot" is the perfect cure for the doldrums of winter. Aiken finishes his run at the beginning of May, but not to worry: there's always a new, famous face waiting to join King Arthur at his "very, very, very round table."

Good review !