New York... The First 2 Months

I wanted to give an update on my goings on since I've moved to New York.

These first 2 months have been really great, and such a change from my life in Ohio.  In the first 6 weeks I have worked for a convention staffing company, got headshots taken, got a job with Spirit Cruises as a singing waiter, met so many great people (some famous, some musical theatre famous, and many neither), went to a few auditions (some great, and some not so), did a little modeling, made connections with people I haven't seen in years, and made a lot of new friends too.  It has really been quite a ride, and daily I say to myself and to friends how glad I am that I came out here.  No matter the outcome, I know I made the right decision for right now.  All I can hope for is the clarity of this calling for all my major life decisions.

At my apartment in Astoria, we had an overlap of roommates/subletters so I had to move out for 2 weeks.  As it worked out I'm spending these 2 weeks in Brooklyn.  I've not quite been here a week yet.  The new apartment is so beautiful, but it is a longer ride from the city than my place in Astoria and I'm anxious to get back to the life I was beginning to carve out there.  I really can't complain though because through this sublet, I've met more wonderful people and got to be involved in the reading of a new musical being co-authored by the lease holder of this apartment.

For the past 2 days, I have also been doing background work for the show "30 Rock" on NBC. It was so much fun and I got to rub elbows with most of the leads on the show!  If you want to catch the episode, it will be the season finale this season.  I played a wedding attendee.  For most of the scenes it will likely be hard to spot me but there is one quick shot where I walk in front of the very beautiful and talented Julianne Moore. (Amazing!!)  It was an awesome experience and I look forward to doing it again.

Spirit Cruises are really great lunch or dinner cruises that take you around the southern tip of Manhattan where you get delicious food, beautiful views of the city, and a breathtaking view of the Statue of Liberty.  There is also a DJ who plays dinner and dance music, and the waiters (like myself) perform Pop and R&B songs along the way.  In case anyone is interested in seeing me on a Spirit Cruise, here's a link to their website: www.spiritcruises.com  When you book the cruise, mention my name and that you'd like to be on a cruise that I'm singing on.  There are group rates available too.

While I was looking for a job, I also had time to revamp my website!  If you haven't had a chance to look it over yet, give it a look-see now! www.barrydebois.com

Over all the city has been wonderful to me, and please keep sending up good thoughts and prayers as I continue this adventure.  I miss my Ohio friends and family very much, and look forward to the next time I can make it there.  Keep supporting the arts and Downtown Canton while I'm away!  Here are some of my suggestions:

www.artsinstark.com

www.playersguildtheatre.com <-(vote for their "Annie" competition)

www.cantonfirstfriday.com

www.irisdowntown.com

The City That Never Sleeps... yeah, that suits me

A lot of my friends have asked me what my next project is, or if I'm auditioning for this or that, and I've had to keep skirting the answer with "Oh, I'm just enjoying a break from shows", or "I think I'll be busy". The truth is... and I can finally say it... I'm moving to New York City!


This is completely impractical.

There are better looking, more talented, better connected people that go and don't make it.

I have a good job.

My family and friends are here.

I am building a name for myself here and have lots of opportunities to perform and do good things in Ohio.

I'm 3 years away from 30.


I know. No really, I know. You are reading the words of a person who is at times cripplingly practical. And yet, after years of consideration, I'm ready to try this. I've answered most of these reasons not to do it with a pretty convincing argument. I don't care to list them all here because, frankly, I don't have to convince anyone but myself that it's the right thing to do. But for those of you who care about me and are concerned, it's really going to be OK.

SO... For you who have been so wonderful to me through the years while I've been performing around North East Ohio, thank you so much. I'll keep you posted about my endeavours in the city, and hopefully *knock on wood* I'll get a tour that comes through Ohio and you can see me again! And let's be real, some day I'm probably coming back here. It might even be sooner than I hope, but it certainly won't be with a head held low. For now, this is really what I feel called to do.


Love and Gratitude,
Barry DeBois
www.barrydebois.com

Co-Hosting My101.7 Thursday Nov 12 from 7am to 9am

I will be Co-Hosting on MY101.7 with Gary Rivers from 7am to 9am on Thursday, November 12. I'll be chatting with Gary and promoting "An Old Fashioned Canton Christmas" (www.cantonchristmas.org).

If you don't live in the Canton area, you can listen online at www.my1017.com!

If Only In My Dreams

I'm finally liking Christmas again. I don't think I ever hated it, but I started off loving it, possibly too much, and it's been a bit of a roller coaster since then.

When I was a kid, Christmas was one more magical escape. It was another chance to believe in wishes and elves and flying. I remember feeling my excitement grow as the world became increasingly red, green, and white. People were kinder to each other, and there was always this sense of anticipation. I loved every ceremony. Trimming the tree, wrapping the gifts, Christmas Eve candle light service, waking up way too early at Mom's and seeing what Santa left, breakfast at Grandma's with the fancy plates and silverware, then off to Dad's for more gifts and food.

But as with nearly everything I loved as a child, there was a fall. A disenchantment. An earth-rattling disappointment. Like the moment you realize that all the people you know and look up to, your parents, your minister, your grandparents, your teachers, are completely fallible and flawed. I don't remember what age I was, but I do remember the first Christmas that I no longer loved it. I don't know what hurt more, my loss of "Christmas Spirit", or my knowledge of my loss. Christmas came and went that year and I was emotionally unaffected. I felt robbed. I mourned the loss of an era in my life when I could just enjoy and not question.

When I was a senior in High School I became deeply spiritual. I read the Bible daily and hung out with Christians who weren't afraid to answer my tough questions. More importantly, I wasn't afraid to ask these people tough questions. That was an enormous change from my childhood experience up to that point. Questions were generally not accepted with a welcoming conversation. I became very Christ-centered, and my view of the Christmas season had a new season of it's own in my life. One of deep spiritual connection and holy gratitude. But as I have learned with everything that's shiny and new, the shine eventually fades and you're left with realness again. For better or worse.

Then I became an adult. Christmas became buying shit. Who wants what and hasn't been bought it yet. And with a family my size, that's an expensive and stressful chore. Add a girlfriend into the mix, and you're a broke young professional running around on Christmas Eve with all the other dads at the mall buying useless crap and resenting everyone's importance they've placed on this ritual.

Why why why couldn't Christmas be what it was when I was a kid? You were chauffeured around, the world looked like Disney World, and everyone made such an effort to speak nicely to you and each other. And perhaps most importantly, you weren't socially obligated to give useless crap to every one. When I was growing up, my family could probably have been described as economically lower-class across the board, but by the time I was an adult, everyone was doing just fine financially. We didn't need to buy each other sweaters because we had 7 sweaters in the closet. I wondered how to make it all worth it again. Then I came up with an idea for our family to take all the money that we would spend on each other, and give it to a family that was actually in need. The kids would still get their gifts, but the adults would adopt a family.

Finally! A purpose for the gifts again. We bought for a family what was probably a pretty wonderful Christmas one year, and I felt really great about it. Of course, you can't please everyone. My Grandma, one of the sweetest little ladies you could meet, wasn't happy. She wanted at Christmas to buy things for her family. I learned that year that getting gifts from Grandma was as much a gift to her as it was to me. She loves blessing her family and missed that immensely the year we adopted a family. Right or wrong, we didn't want to break Grandma's heart, so we went back to buying each other gifts.

So where am I headed with this? I think the best moments I've had at Christmas were the times when I was closest to God, the few times when I gave a family member the perfect gift that wasn't just another box on the pile, and when I was helping someone or a cause that truly needed it. Well, those first and second instances, I can't help you with. But the last one, giving to where it is truly needed, I would implore you to do.

The areas to which we are all drawn to give are different, and that's ok. You can't save the world alone, but you can make it better in the ways and areas that you are able to. Personally, I am most drawn to the the needs of kids and the arts. That's why being attached to an organization like An Old Fashioned Canton Christmas is really important to me, and easy for me to pour work into. I believe in the 2 organizations that will benefit from our production. The Stark County Hunger Task Force and The Canton Palace Theatre are time-tested organizations that do great work and are in great need.

Shameless plug, or sincere appeal? I guess all that I care is that you read it and will consider it. I also think you won't be disappointed with this production. It's really packed with entertainment for all ages. If you're interested in the show, which is November 14th at 7:30pm at the Palace Theatre, go to www.cantonchristmas.org for more information, or www.cantonpalacetheatre.org for tickets.

May this season be your favorite yet.

RENT opens Friday and goes Viral w/ Video Clip

Once again, RENT at the Players Guild opens this Friday, September 11th! Here is a video of one of the songs taken at our sitzprobe (first rehearsal with the band) this past Sunday:

YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pVXP2P-a3M
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=126874498257

Please share this video with your friends!

Performances are:

Fri. Sept 11th - 8pm
Sat. Sept 12th - 8pm
Sun. Sept 13th - 2:30pm
Fri. Sept 18th - 8pm
Sat. Sept 19th - 8pm
Sun. Sept 20th - 2:30pm*
Fri. Sept 25th - 8pm*
Sat. Sept 26th - 8pm
Sun. Sept 27th - 2:30pm

*performances that I am playing Roger, otherwise I'm playing Steve

Box Office: (330) 453-7617 (Tues- Sat. 10am-2pm)
or
http://www.playersguildtheatre.com/ticketing/showdates.php?s_id=34

Order today!

http://www.barrydebois.com/

RENT

As you've probably heard from me by now in one way or another (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, shouting at you in a bar), I'm in RENT at the Players Guild Theatre! I am playing Steve and understudying Roger.

Performances are:

Fri. Sept 11th - 8pm
Sat. Sept 12th - 8pm
Sun. Sept 13th - 2:30pm
Fri. Sept 18th - 8pm
Sat. Sept 19th - 8pm
Sun. Sept 20th - 2:30pm*
Fri. Sept 25th - 8pm*
Sat. Sept 26th - 8pm
Sun. Sept 27th - 2:30pm

*performances that I am playing Roger

Box Office: (330) 453-7617 (Tues- Sat. 10am-2pm)
or
http://www.playersguildtheatre.com/ticketing/showdates.php?s_id=34


So what can I tell you about this production? Well, it's a spirited and talented cast of people who really GET this show. The messages of love, friendship, and hope in the face of death, pour out from this experienced cast. Some of these songs are really going to blow you away. The band is ROCKIN and air-guitar inducing. The staging is very cool, with a few tips of the hat to the original production, and some inspired new things to see in terms of set design. The set is a big dirty playground of a canvas for the cast to perform on.

Bonus! We're making a cast recording! CD's will be available opening night and at every performance, and what I've heard of the recordings is really fantastic. It was a blast going into the studio with such a talented group of people, under such fine musical direction and production.


If you don't know anything about RENT, here's a synopsis:

Rent is based loosely on Puccini's opera La Bohème. It follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York's East Village. AIDS and both its physical and emotional complications pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom Collins, and Angel; Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble; Benjamin has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends; and Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general, always behind the camera recording the events but never playing a part. Rent is easily one of the most touching modern rock musicals ever written.

The musical received accolades such as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Tony Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Book, Tony Award for Best Score, Drama Desk for Outstanding Book and Drama Desk’s Outstanding Musical.


And now I take off my salesman's hat and give you an actual blog post...

If you've never seen RENT, and you've lived in NE Ohio all of your life, expect to be taken just slightly out of your comfort zone. In what ways? RENT dives into a world that is very different from one that we often see in Canton. This, to me, is a beautiful thing. I love the relative safety, quaintness, and home-town feel that I grew up in here, but there are real people, with real lives, that live, love, and survive very differently from us. I think that RENT paints a beautiful, honest picture of a lifestyle that is different from what many of us experience here. So often artists, African Americans, homosexuals, and drug addicts, are portrayed as caricatures that are a wacky sidekick or comic relief. In RENT, they are the real people that the story centers around. The masks are off and the humans are shown on stage. I think it's an important production to bring to Canton, as I am personally passionate about opening people's eyes to a world that is earth-sized, not state, or city, or family sized. It's something I work on in my own head, and encourage others to do the same.

Also, the music ranges from rock to pop-rock to gospel in influence. It's at times jumping, crazy, exciting fun, and at times gut-wrenchingly beautiful.


So what are you waiting for?! Go to the Players Guild website, or call the box office (330-453-7617) to reserve your tickets to this groundbreaking production for North East Ohio.

My101.7 Radio Co-Host

Hey everyone! I just wanted to give the heads up that I'm co-hosting again on the My101.7 morning show with Gary Rivers and Amy Malone this coming Monday, February 2nd from 7am to 9am.

I'll be shooting the proverbial breeze, and also promoting West Side Story at Cassidy Theatre, February 27th - March 15th. Details at www.barrydebois.com or www.cassidytheatre.com

Tune in on Monday morning!!