Grant Tilly: News

Jersey Boys Toronto hit a million audience members today.  Who would have thought a year and a half ago when we started out that the show would still be going so wrong and end up with over a million bums in seats... well, the producers, I guess.  Congrats to our one millionth customer who's headed down to New York for a weekend to see the Jersey Boys on Broadway.  Hope everyone out there is having a great summer and staying out of the heat!

This Friday, my musical, Red Fightin' Blue opens at Talk is Free Theatre in Barrie.  I was up in Barrie (at the Foxx lounge, a bar and music venue in downtown where the show is being performed) to attend the last rehearsal I could before opening, and the show is going to be a blast.  What an interesting experience to have so many people working on your show, and to only be the playwright (usually I'm also the producer, or co-director, or whatever it takes to get the show up and running).  I think that's why it's been so great to turn this show over to a great team, and just drop in every once in awhile to see how things are going.  Red Fightin' Blue previews this Thursday, and then runs May 7th to 15th-- hope you can make it!

Had a great time a few weeks ago, as some fellow Jersey Boys and I were invited to sing the Canadian and US national anthems for the home opener.  What a blast, singing in crazy harmony for 46 thousand people-- Live!  And, very cool to watch the game from the "Comfort zone" (four lazy boy seats front row-- never been that close for a game).  Also, gearing up to join three other Jersey Boys cast members to head up to the "Stars come out Gala", the annual benefit for Theatre by the Bay, always a good time with an amazing group of people.  And it's spring... life is good.

Wanted to wish everyone a happy holidays.  The other day, eight Jersey Boys Toronto Company members and I were singing at the EZ Rock radio station here in Toronto, and I thought you might enjoy a listen, just follow the link!: http://www.ezrock.com/media/1039910

Otherwise, things keep rolling along.  I've started in on re-writing Red Fighting Blue, and the process has begun on a new album of my original songs.  And of course, Jersey Boys continues as crowds keep coming in!  And I'd better go... I'm on for Norm today...

Just last friday I picked up the demo for a new show I've written for families about Canada, My Side of the Country.  We had a great workshop of the piece this summer, but as usually happens after a workshop you wind up asking, "Okay, what happens now".  I'm very grateful that Levon Ichkhanian stepped in to produce an excellent demo of the show.  With only 8 hours of studio time, the cast pulled off some magic and captured the energy of what makes this show so much fun.  Thanks as well to Greg Kolchinsky at Trubbleclef Studios for making it sound so good.  And now... the real work begins.

On a side note, I've started getting back into the open mics... a CD is in the works!

I've just realized that it's been 8 months since I've updated this website, time seems to be going by quickly-- it's been a bit bizarre to be in one place for so long after so much moving around!  Having a great time with Jersey Boys, how great to be able to sit down and do such a great piece of theatre.

The other great thing about being in one place is the chance to get some work done.  Just last month there was a workshop of my new musical for kids, My Side of the Country through Scriptlab, a group that develops musical theatre.  Thanks to a great group of people I had a chance to see the show up on its feet.  More news on that show to come.

Also, coming up next year, Talk is Free Theatre will be producing a new version of my show, The Christian Republican Fundraiser in Dayton Tennessee under the name Red Fightin' Blue in May 2010.  Check out their website at www.tift.ca for more info!

What a difference a year makes. Exactly a year ago, I started my first day of rehearsal with Roseneath Theatre for Chris Craddock's "Wrecked!", a play for Teenagers about Alcoholism which toured the United States from Tacoma, WA to New Hampshire and down to North Carolina. Then it was up to Sudburry for "The Buddy Holly Story" to play Ritchie Valens and do some guitar and hip swayin' at the Sudbury Theatre Centre-- some great work with great people. After Buddy, the process began to put together my Musical "The Christian Republican Fundraiser in Dayton Tennessee" for the Toronto Fringe in July, which, thanks to a talented cast and creative team, ended up getting killer reviews and being a hit of the fringe, and then going on to be remounted at the Diesel Playhouse for the Best of Fringe (see the press page for reviews).
In August it was to Kingston to play Roy in the new Canadian Musical "Anne and Gilbert" which later toured across Ontario. I also hit the road with Jeff Straker and David Hein as our Singer/Songwriter group "Three Guys from the Prairies" toured music venues and house concerts across Ontario, from Picton to Manitoulin Island.
And lastly, I became a member of the Canadian National Company of the Jersey Boys. What an amazing opportunity to work with some incredibly talented people on a knock-out show. I'll be playing Bob Gaudio as we perform live at Nathan Phillips Square tonight, which is going to be a blast.
It's been great to work with and meet so many talented people in one year-- I have been blessed. All the best to everyone for a great 2009.

We're going into week three of the Anne and Gilbert tour-- so far we've seen some incredible historic theatres across Ontario, from Huntsville, to Lindsay, to North Bay. This week we're mostly around Toronto, hitting the Rose theatre in Brampton, and then Barrie and Markham. People seem to love this show-- and it's great to be home and hear so much on the radio and see our billboard on the highway heading into Toronto.

The Three Guys from the Prairies tour was a great success too, hitting everywhere from Picton to Sault Ste Marie to Manitoulin Island. The guys and I are looking at our schedules and seeing whens the next time we can all hit the road...

When the A and G tour ends next week, I'll be heading back to Calgary for some time with my father, and of course for a wedding-- one of my best friends from back in the day is getting married!

And... I have other news, but I'm just waiting now for everything to be confirmed, but I'll post the info as soon as I know...

The three guys from the Prairies are heading out! Tonight Hamilton, then Manitoulin Island, Sault Ste. Marie and South River (near North Bay). I've had a great time playing with these guys in Picton, Ottawa, and last night at the Bread and Circus in Toronto. Both Jeff Straker and David Hein are fantastic performers and musicians-- AND good driving company, which will be important as there's a lot of road between here and Manitoulin...
Afterwards-- a quick stop down to New York city for a good friend's wedding, and a chance to check out the New York Musical Theatre Festival for a few days. I've spent most of my life making a living in Musical Theatre and have yet to see a show down there, so it's about time. Then, on the 23rd of September Anne and Gilbert resumes it's tour of Ontario. I'll post the dates of the tour in the Calendar, we're playing quite a few centres near Toronto as well.

The Fringe was amazing. And crazy, insane, so it's nice to be out in Kingston for a few weeks doing "Anne and Gilbert" the musical sequel to "Anne of Green Gables". We opened this past friday to a great review, and will run until August 30th-- check the website for more details http://www.1000islandsplayhouse.com/anne&gilbert.htm Great to do a great show and be able to jump in the St. Lawrence every day.
Later in September, we'll take the show on the road from September 22 to Oct 11 around Ontario.
So in the break... I'm hitting the road with The "Three Guys from the Prairies". We'll be spending a good part of three weeks touring around Ontario, hope you can make it out to one.

What a great ride we've been having with "The Christian Republican Fundraiser in Dayton Tennessee". After 10 days of sold out houses and rave reviews (check the quotes in the review section) we've been asked to remount for the "Best of Fringe" festival at the Diesel on july 23, 24, and 27th. If you haven't had a chance to see this talented cast in action, get down to the Diesel, we'd hate for you to miss it. Tickets can be bought through the diesel playhouse at dieselplayhouse.com.

Buddy Holly in Sudbury has finished, and I've put Ritchie Valens away for now, though who knows the next time I'll be swayin' with my guitar, playin' La Bamba? But for now, I am back in Toronto and knee deep in preparations for the Fringe. A fantastic cast of actor/musicians has been assembled and we're in the process of bringing "The Christian Republican Fundraiser in Dayton Tennessee" to life! Speaking of which, we're having a fundraiser to help with the process of bringing this show about. Friday June 6th at the Cameron house, cast members Jason Chesworth, Jason O'Brien, Jackie English, and Kate Unrau will be joined by other musicians for an amazing night of music from 7-9 pm. I'll also play a few tunes... Including a song about pancakes.
And if you have a chance, check out the website for the show--www.christianrepublicanfundraiser.com, it has all the dates and details for the show. Hope to see you there.

We closed the "Wrecked!" tour on a high note in Ottawa and after a quick stop home in Toronto I'm up here in Sudbury for "Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story!" at the Sudbury Theatre Centre. It's so nice to be in one place for the next 6 weeks, with such a great theatre... after a busy tour it feels like a bit of a holiday.
There are quite a few exciting things coming up:
My Musical, "The Christian Republican Fundraiser in Dayton Tennessee" will be at the Cameron House for the Toronto Fringe (July 2 --13th). More on that later...
Afterwards, it's off to Kingston to perform in the Musical "Anne and Gilbert" in August, looking forward to that as I'm a bit of a Nancy White fan, who wrote music for the show.
The show will have a three week break in September before resuming with an Ontario tour... so...
Well, we've been having such a great time with our "3 guys from the Prairies" show, we're taking it on the road. Jeff Straker, David Hein and I (all ex-pats of prairie provinces) will be spending September 1st to 22nd touring Ontario. Hope to see you at one of those shows!

The U.S was amazing. The other day we counted something like 28 states that we drove through, and we had the chance to perform everywhere from Tacoma WA, to Concord NH, down to Durham NC, not to mention pulling out the guitar for a few songs at Brother's coffee in Gillette Wyoming. Once I have a chance I'll upload a few pics of some of the beautiful historic theatres we had a chance to play.
Now we're back in Toronto, and there's a few gigs coming up: Concord Cafe on March 3rd with Trevor Campbell, Alison Jutzi and Friends, and then a reprise of our standing room only gig "Three Guys from the Prairies" with fellow ex-pats David Hein and Jeff Straker-- this one is catered with "Prairie themed food", you may have to come to find out what exactly that is...
And afterwards we finish off the tour-- a few weeks around Ontario, and then a final week in Ottawa. And after that... a workshop and a bit of Buddy Holly, more on that later.

After a somwewhat harrowing 4 day drive from Toronto, we have arrived in Tacoma, and performed our first show here in downtown at the Pantages... if you happen to be in the neighbourhood, please come down and say hello!
Also, a big thanks to everyone who came to the "3 Lads" at the Bread and Circus-- it was such a success that we're looking at doing another one once we're all back in Toronto. Meanwhile, I'll be doing some travelling and hopefully collecting a few songs along the way. Next stop, Billings Montana.

"Wrecked!" is a play for young audiences by Edmonton playwright Chris Craddock with Roseneath Theatre. Starting mid January, we'll be touring theatres across the states (and by across, I mean from Tacoma, Washington to Durham, North Carolina) and then coming back to do Ontario, ending up in Ottawa in April. Lots of time on the road, and hopefully lots of inspiration from it. I'm going to be sneaking in whatever music gigs I can in there, so come by if you can.

Back in Barrie, once more-- third times a charm I hear, and so far things are going quite well. Emily has opened and the combination of new cast along with those from the remount has been fabulous. And while doing the acting... keeping the singer Songwriter going! If you're in the neighbourhood, I hope you can make the following:

Moonsoon in Barrie, 11 pm show with Alison Jutzi

Free Times in Toronto, 8 pm with Trevor Campbell and Alison Jutzi.

Check out the calendar section for more specific details!

So, I'm writing from the new place I'm living in on the Danforth-- as per my father's advice, i am not including the address on the website (as I did with the last one... yeah.).
First off: Gig, next Thursday 25 october, Bread and Circus with Jeff Straker and Michael Cooper-- I have a new bunch of songs I'm itching to try out, and may do the STD song again.
And some wonderful theatre gigs coming up, including a remount of Emily in Barrie, and a great tour of "Wrecked" for Roseneath theatre that will go across Ontario and into the states. And on a more personal note, just finished a trip out to Nefoundland and met my new cousin Cole-- congrats Andrea and Peter! Also won a Singer/Songwriter open mic night at O'Reilley's while I was there, but don't think I'll be able to make the finals... Hope to see you all at a gig!

Pumpboys has opened, and it's been awhile since I've had so much fun in a production-- maybe it's because it's being done in almost the round and something about the closeness of the audience... We run until the 1st of September, so if you're in Barrie or the area, get your tickets! Now that the show is up, It should be a great few weeks of performing and maybe a little writing while getting to know Barrie.

Just started the Humber Songwriting intensive today, should be a great week of workshops and writing-- though also bizarre as I'm taking a musical theatre writing master class through ScriptLab with Canada's Queen of musical theatre (and if you don't know who she is, you should) Leslie Arden. See, Musical theatre has all these rules: perfect rhymes, progressing the action of the story, and the pop/rock/folk songwriting... doesn't. Well, a couple: be specific, and get to that damn chorus!! But I hope to get some new music/songs/and inspiration out of both.
Once the course is over it's back to Calgary for a wedding (congrats Ben and Kelly) and then we start the remount of Pump Boys and Dinettes for Theatre by the Bay in Barrie, with almost the same group of wonderful people as last year. So, busy, and the new year (I think I'll always look at september as the start of a new "school year"-- it's beaten into us for so long) looks like it will have a workshop of a play of mine and some great acting opportunities. I'll let you know.
Oh-- and I'm adding the fabulous miss Sara-Jeanne Hosie to my links page, check her out, as she is indeed fabulous.

This Monday (April 16) I will be in Barrie at the Gryphon Theatre for "The Stars Come Out Concert" a fundraiser for Theatre by the Bay. We'll be performing two numbers from Pumpboys and Dinettes, and I'm happy to announce that I'll be in the cast later this summer at theatre by the Bay. This fundraiser has some INCREDIBLE people in it-- some of the best talent in Canadian theatre, so I reccomend it. Get more info at www.Theatrebythebay.com.
Also, there's going to be a fundraiser for ForOpera at Ryerson, with another batch of great Canadian talent. I think for this one I might do "My God's better than your God" if they let me. The date is set for April 30th.
And lastly, it's not a fundraiser, but I'm looking forward to playing a small part in The Last best Spring Thaw: The Words and Music of Mavor Moore. I never had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Mavor Moore, but all of us in the theatre benefit even now from everything he's done for us. Hope to see you there.

Just got back from Calgary, where I had a great time catching up with old friends, hanging out with my Dad, and seeing some fantastic theatre at ATP. Barely made it out there actually, as the flight was scheduled to leave Toronto right as that crazy blizzard hit, but after a quick stopover in Vancouver (yes that is odd) I made it home. It was good to see everyone, and I hope to be back soon.
Also, we had the workshop of my new play "A Vancouver Apartment" through Talk is Free Theatre. Much thanks to Adam, Caden, and Krysten for their work and bringing the characters to life, and to Arkady for putting it all together. Now I just have to figure out what to do with it...
And if you missed the gig at Free Times in February, I have another one coming up on the 19th at Mitzy's Sister. Details are in the Calendar section, so drop by, have a beer! Hope to see you soon.

Wow, looks like this is the first little note of the new year, and it's all ready February-- that was a quick month...
If last year was the performing actor year (from Missisauga to Saskatoon to Barrie to Port Carling to Collingwood to Morrisburg... 6 gigs almost consecutive-- thankful for the work, but it's nice to live in one place for more than 2 months at a time), this year so far is the year of the writing. I'm involved with some fantastic collaborators writing a new opera based on Forum Theatre through Ryerson University-- a great creative experience, that will be in the fire until June. As well there's a workshop/reading of a two-hander play I've been working on "A Vancouver Apartment" at Talk is Free in Barrie at the end of this month.
And-- getting back to the singer/songwriting-- upcoming gig on the 28th of February at Free Times, where I'll get the chance to try out some new songs on an unsuspecting lot. See the Calendar page for details and come by and be a guinea pig...

Came back into Toronto last night, and a mere 28 hours after the final bow in Morrisburg of "A Chirstmas Carol" I was able to get an extra ticket to SoulPeppers' "A Chirstmas Carol" here in Toronto.
Bizarre. How strange to watch a different take on a show you've just done. Both being adaptations, it was so interesting to see what each production left out, kept in, or gave more focus to (not to mention hearing your lines said with different intent). I loved the SoulPepper, but nothing can compare to the way we partied it up in the Fezziwig scene in Morrisburg.
My Father will be coming to town for Christmas this year, and thanks to a Christmas tree all ready in the house from a festive cousin, I am set! Should be a nice Christmas with family here.
Oh, and being that this is a Singer/Songwriter website and all, I thought it might be good to do a gig-- I'll be playing with "Songwriter's Unite" at Graffiti's on January 5th, a nice way to start off the new year. More on that once other players are confirmed.
To all my friends in town, back in Calgary, or across the country-- have a merry christmas and safe holiday.
tilly

Back in Toronto, ScriptLab is holding the inagural "Canadian Musical Theatre Week" at the Papermill Theatre in Toronto. I wish I could be there, but then again, it's nice to be performing. I believe I was even scheduled in for the last Sunday showcase-- oh well, maybe next year.
Took the day off yesterday to go to Ottowa. Hadn't yet been to our capital, but it is beautiful. I've been told it's too much to hope that the canal will freeze over by the time the contract ends but I will be going again.
We open a Christmas Carol tomorrow, we've already been playing it to preview audiences, and I have again been lucky to find a great cast.