News about RSMT ALUMNI
News about RSMT ALUMNI
David Bedella:
Bedella was born in Chicago, Illinois. Having graduated from Merrillville High School in Merrillville, Indiana he had roles in Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley from 1992 to 1995, where he played Caiaphas, in 2000 HMS Pinafore and Brutus in a 2002 productions of Oh What A Night With Luke B.
Bedella then won his most famous role in Jerry Springer - The Opera, where he played both the Warm Up Man "Jonathan Wierus"(in the First Act) named after the 15th century occultist Johann Weyer and Satan in the Second Act. For this role, Bedella received the 2004 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Bedella then appeared a recurring role as the plastic surgeon Dr. Carlos Fashola in 2004 in the British hospital drama Holby City. He then went on to play the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and had a 16-month run playing Frank N Furter in the 2006/2007 UK tour of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show.
Bedella has also had minor roles in a number of movies, including Batman Begins, Red Light Runners and Alexander.
In 2008 he played the role of Alexander Molokov in a concert version of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall on May 12–13, 2008, and performed in the West End gala performance of Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at Soho Revue Bar.
Since 2009, Bedella has provided voices of some characters in the UK and US narrations of Thomas and Friends such as Carlos, Victor, The Mayor of Sodor, and A Cuban Man. In 2012, Bedella replaced fellow cast member Matt Wilkinson as Victor in the UK narration in Blue Mountain Mystery, though Wilkinson remains a cast member of the CGI series, respectively. In 2015 he replaced fellow cast member Keith Wickham as the Mayor of Sodor in the UK narration starting with season 19, and like Wilkinson, Wickham still provides voices for the show.
In 2009/2010 he reprised his role as Frank N. Furter in the UK tour cast of The Rocky Horror Show.
In October 2011, he appeared in a concert of the new musical Soho Cinders at the Queen's Theatre, London.
In 2012, he played Arnold in Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song Trilogy at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London.
For the 2011/12 festive season, David made his panto debut as Blackheart, in Robinson Crusoe and The Caribbean Pirates at the New Theatre, Cardiff with Christopher Biggins, Paul Zerdin, Lucy Sinclair, Alexander Delemere, Stephanie Siadatan & Gary Jerry.
In 2013, he appeared in By Any Means, and in 2014, he starred as popstar Frankie Parsons in the Inside No. 9 episode "Last Gasp".
On 16 January 2015, it was confirmed that Bedella would be joining Mel Brooks' The Producers as Roger De Bris.[2]
He reprised his role as Frank N Furter in the Rocky Horror Show in London, alongside the show's writer, Richard O'Brien.
He is currently playing the role of Kevin Rosario in the Tony Award-winning In The Heights at the Kings Cross Theatre in London, for which he won an Olivier Award for best supporting actor.
Some news about some of RSMT’s Alumni. We will add more articles as we get them. This month we feature David Bedella, Brian Lynch and Adrian Weaver.
Brian Lynch
His personal résumé is impressive: Broadway national tour star, Jeff Award-winning choreographer, college musical theatre instructor.
Brian Lynch brought his many talents and expertise to North Central College to serve as fine arts director. In nine year’s time, he has built an expansive fine and performing arts program and attracted world-class artists of every genre to North Central College’s five performance venues and art galleries.
When the College’s state-of-the-art Fine Arts Center opened in 2008, Lynch booked artists year-round to perform in the center’s acoustically perfect Wentz Concert Hall and black box Madden Theatre. Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra were the first to perform in “the Wentz,” followed by other renowned artists like cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Bernadette Peters, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Amy Grant, Vienna Boys Choir, Colbie Cailat and many more.
While performing in Wentz Concert Hall, Ma said, “What a beautiful, beautiful room. It sounds amazing. I love this hall.” During his 2009 concert, Herb Alpert remarked, “Listen to that. You can hear the last sounds of the drum fading away. Now THAT is a tribute to the acoustics in here. Can we take this place with us?”
Acoustics for the 13,000-square-foot concert hall were created by the Talaske Group, acoustical consultants for Chicago’s critically acclaimed Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park.
North Central kicks off its 2016-2017 fine arts season in Wentz Concert Hall with top talent like Richard Marx, Black Violin, The Manhattan Transfer & Take 6, The Subdudes, En Vogue and Kevin Eubanks. Chicago Sinfonietta and DuPage Symphony Orchestra again present their season performances in the Wentz, their suburban home.
The College’s Madden Theatre is a perfect setting for the new season’s jazz and cabaret artists, while Pfeiffer Hall and the thrust stage in Meiley-Swallow Hall showcase dance, theatre and musical productions.
Lynch has enjoyed many proud moments as fine arts director. “Having Yo-Yo Ma, the greatest cellist on our stage, feel so comfortable and relaxed in our space to laugh and enjoy himself was memorable,” says Lynch. “He poured out his soul on our stage to nearly a thousand people.”
An especially cherished moment came during a tap performance by the late Gregory Hines in Pfeiffer Hall. “He asked people from the audience to join him on stage and tap,” says Lynch. “Many of our dance students tapped with him, and this legend of dance thanked me from the stage for keeping the art form going. As an artist I will always remember that.”
Lynch joined North Central’s theatre faculty in 1995, after starring as Jean Valjean in the national tour of “Les Misérables.” He taught dance and acting and wrote the College’s original curriculum for a new musical theatre major and dance minor, creating a comprehensive program with opportunities for students in theatre, musical theatre, directing, dance, theatrical design and technology.
The national community of actors took notice when two student musicals, directed and choreographed by Lynch, appeared at the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. He brought back summer theatre, too, expanding community involvement in the College and in theatre.
A.D. Weaver was signed with the Gray Talent Group this past fall and they have kept him very busy. From April to may he will be performing in the regional production of Frog and Toad in Bloomington IN.
A.D. a Chicago based Singer / Actor, and native of Gary, IN knew from a young age that he would be an entertainer. Playtime was often substituted for choir rehearsals and practicing speeches for school assemblies. At age 8 he auditioned for Broadway conductor Rob Mikulski and won a role in a production of Little Shop of Horrors. By the time he entered high school it was clear what he wanted to be. Throughout high school he began to record and tour with recording gospel choirs and star in local theater productions. By 19 A.D. began to achieve success in theater professionally starring as Coalhouse in the NIETF foundations Unity Event production of Ragtime. His classical voice training has garnered him lead roles in Phantom of The Opera, Les Miserables, The Secret Garden and many others. Recently he has been seen performing in Chicago with Theater47, ETA Creative Arts, and Black Ensemble Theater to name a few.
As much as he is a classical vocalist, he's a soul singer at heart. When not on the theater stage or in front of a camera he can be seen singing in bands across the region for weddings, corporate events, fundraisers and church. He has credits working as a live and session background vocalist for artists on major labels and well established independent artists. A.D. is an artist committed to hard work and self – growth. You can often find him working with his vocal coach or honing his craft in acting and dancing classes.
He gives back by visiting his old high school and community theater programs coaching and mentoring young aspiring performers – “Never forget who believed in your gift when no one else would listen”
When the going gets tough…. you get tougher and you WIN!! A look at Adrian’s Young Career:
