Barry DeBois -News-

The Katie Thompson Incident

2011-01-17T10:26:00.000-05:00

Something very cool happened to me the other day that I think deserves blogging.

I tweeted this before going to play guitar in the subway:  

@bdebois 
Busking at Columbus Circle 1 train downtown platform from 2 to 4ish with Zach Miko. Come say hello! 
(http://twitter.com/#!/bdebois/status/24534796059283457)

Later, my friend Amiee Collier (who lives in Cleveland) texted to me "Is this you?" and referenced this tweet:

@katiethompsonKT 
There are two guys singin "halleluia" at the 59th street subway platform (1)with a guitar. It was so amazing. I even "woo!-ed" at them:)
(http://twitter.com/#!/katiethompsonKT/status/24552127846162432)

I confirmed to Amiee that it was about us and she said "you got "woo!ed" by one of my idols"  

The amazing coincidence is that Amiee just happens to subscribe to my tweets and Katie Thompson's, read both, and put them together in her head. Pretty awesome. Then I tweeted:  

@bdebois 
Holy crap! Zach and I got tweeted about by Katie Thompson! @katiethompsonkt http://www.twitter.com/katiethompsonkt/status/24552127846162432 
(http://twitter.com/#!/bdebois/status/24569681054535680)

And that's when I got a second and equally awesome shoutout from Katie:

@katiethompsonKT
@bdebois ahahahhahaaaaa:) ! You guys were so good! Broke my heart- so good:) 
(http://twitter.com/#!/katiethompsonKT/status/24586389475557376)

And THAT was a good day.

For more on Katie Thompson (who is a FANTASTIC singer/pianist), check out her website (http://www.katiethompson.com) or youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/woakate).

And of course, for more on me: (http://www.barrydebois.com)

New York... The First 2 Months

2010-03-18T22:47:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-07T16:59:00.001-05:00

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

2009-11-11T09:44:00.003-05:00

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

2009-11-04T10:08:00.002-05:00

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

2009-09-08T06:01:00.001-05:00

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

2009-08-19T10:35:00.004-05:00

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

2009-01-27T17:34:00.001-05:00

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!!

West Side Story

2008-11-19T08:45:00.011-05:00

BU-DAAAAAAA DUM. badadaaaa. pa-dum, pa-dum, padum padum. pa-dum, pa-dum, padum pa-dum. *snap* - *snap* - *snap*...

Feel free to read that while listening to the first bit of the Prologue to West Side Story, and you will get an idea of what I sound like every time I listen to the album.

I am so excited to announce that I will be playing Tony in West Side Story at Cassidy Theatre in Parma Heights, OH February 27th through March 15th.

West Side Story remains one of the best known, most loved, and most parodied musicals in American Theater. Everyone knows it, most people love it, and almost everyone can laugh with it in a very respectful way. We laugh at the IDEA of gangs dancing and singing while fighting, but the reality is that somehow, someway, West Side Story more than pulls it off.

The music is simply brilliant. It's the kind that is pretty, yet complicated the first time you hear it. The next few times you listen to it, you are trying to figure it all out. Then finally you get to a place where you are comfortable with it and it just never seems to get old.

The story is classic. A Romeo and Juliet type adventure full of forbidden love, social injustice, gang-imposed segregation, and lessons learned at terrible costs. It's a beautiful story that I recall being very skeptical of when I was young. I remember thinking that Tony and Maria fall in love way too fast. I thought that it was a cool show, but unrealistic. But as I've grown, I've learned how quickly people can connect. I've learned that if the right 2 people happen to be at the right dance in the right gym on the right night, it doesn't matter what the rules say, they will fall for each other. And Tony and Maria fall fast. I learned that the story is not unrealistic, it's simply uncommon. But what common story would be worth telling? I believe, and hope to bring to the character of Tony, that had he and Maria lived to the age of 100, they would still light up when the other walked in the room. That if they had run away to a place where they could be free, they would not have given up at the first sign of trouble. They were in it for the long haul, and somehow, they knew that amazingly quickly.

The choreography is out of control. This is an area that I will be the first to concede I have no right to talk about. Luckily, Tony is not usually required to dance much in the show (phew). All I know is this: Traditionally, this show has crazy sweet choreography and I saw some awesome work from the choreographer and the other auditioners. It's going to be hot and Latin-infused and hot and fun and fresh and hot.

On a personal note... If you had asked me 6 months ago what my top 3 roles that I would want to play that I hadn't yet played were, they would have been as follows:

1)Jamie - The Last Five Years

2)Mark (or Roger or anyone) - Rent

3)Tony - West Side Story

If you had told me 6 months ago that I would get to play 2 of those parts in the next year, I would have laughed at you. The fact that I will be able to check off 2 of those parts plus all the other unexpected parts I've gotten to play in that time is something I can't even put words to. I am so incredibly lucky. Yes, I understand they are community theatre shows. But to that I say, screw you, and have you seen some of the community theatre in NE Ohio? It's not all perfect, but there are some serious gems out there if you invest a little time to look for them. And I feel like I've been lucky enough to be a part of a few of those gems. As I discussed recently with a fellow NE Ohio theatre-maker, It doesn't matter if you have a huge budget, a tiny theatre, a rich community, big names, or a soap box in the back yard. Great theatre comes from a group of great individuals with a bit of talent and lot of heart. I have high hopes that we can deliver just that, come February!

Yours,

Barry

The Last Five Years

2008-09-08T10:31:00.006-05:00

I am very excited to say that I will be playing Jamie in The Last Five Years at the Players Guild Theatre in Canton, OH from September 19th to the 28th.

I can honestly say that this role was the highest on my list of wanna-plays. This is a show that has a very close place to my heart. Jamie is a character who, from his good to his bad, I connect with very strongly.

The show is a 2 person musical. It chronicles the relationship of Jamie and Cathy from their first date, to their wedding, and finally to their divorce. The twist is that from scene to scene, Jamie goes forward in time while Cathy goes backward, and the only time we really get to see them in a scene together is at their wedding were they share a beautiful duet.

The Last Five Years is probably not for everyone. Some may call it angsty and long winded. I would suggest that it is a step-by-step analysis of how this particular sort of relationship can fail. It's a relationship where the woman needs the man to define her, and the man needs the woman to worship him, then go away. I think it strikes an especially resounding chord for people who are in the arts and tend to have these seemingly conflicting, but somehow related issues of self-worth and ego. It's no surprise then that few people outside of the musical theatre world have heard of The Last Five Years, while it remains a favorite among angsty and egotistic actors (as I would include myself in this category). The characters are real, flawed, delightful, and stubborn.

And then there is the music.

Jason Robert Brown writes complicated, intentional, haunting music, and The Last Five Years is no exception. The lyrics dance from insightful, to hilarious, to downright heartbreaking at the turn of a verse. I have listened to this music for 4 years and still don't hesitate to put it on my iPod and give it another spin, while I have all but retired most of my albums I've bought just this past year. The orchestra is made up of only strings and a piano. It makes for a unique sound that can be slow and sweet or surprisingly slamming, and takes learned hands to pull it off right which we are lucky to have in the piano masterings of Rob Kovacs. The music is another way this show connects with more than just theatre-geeks. Fans of indie-pop, classical, and piano-rock like Ben Folds fall in love with this music.

So here's my wrap up. If you know me, I'm asking that you come see this show. It has a lot of messages in it that I want to be a part of giving to you through this piece of art. I have never endorsed a show I've been in that way. I might say it's good, come see it if you like. But, in this case, I'm saying that if you want to see a part of me, come see this show. And with the talent I have beside me (Courtney Vignos and Tiffany Stoker) it's going to knock your freaking socks off.

For tickets, contact the Players Guild Theatre:
(330) 453-7617 or
Click Here to order online

For more info on the show, here are a few links:
Wikipedia - The Last Five Years
Jason Robert Brown

Peter Pan: Update

2008-06-04T13:18:00.004-05:00

Just a quick update to say that Peter Pan is going extremely well!

We have had glowing reviews and, more importantly, houses full of children and adults that are laughing and dancing and clapping and having a wonderful time. It's an absolute thrill to do every night, and if you don't have tickets yet, I suggest you grab them quickly! See the Performance Calendar above for remaining show dates.

Check out my Home page for links to our reviews!

For ticket ordering and more show information, go to www.ugothooked.com.

Get Hooked!...

2008-03-31T08:40:00.007-05:00

I'm very happy to announce that I have just been cast as Captain Hook/Mr. Darling in Peter Pan at the Player's Guild in Canton, Ohio. This will again be a very challenging role for me for a number of reasons, and I'm very excited because I'm really on board for this challenge. For starters, this will be my first villainous role, and it's a role I've always been interested in.

I have always had an affinity for the story of Peter Pan. I was one of those boys that would stare out the window and wait to be swept away to Neverland. I loved the idea of tricking pirates, swordfighting, and building forts. What more could a boy want, really? I specifically remember watching the film "Hook" when I was just starting to grow up, and I tried very hard to remember if I ever was a lost boy, or perhaps Pan himself, and somewhere along the way found myself in the real world.

The story of Peter Pan is the embodiment of so many things that are important to children, and boys especially. Escape from the torment of real life, father complexes, rejection of love and emotion and what that can do to a person. There are so many underlying psychological things about the story of Peter Pan that I think people latch onto subconsciously, and that is the reason it has such longevity. It's not about a boy who flies through an open window and takes children on adventures. It's about what happens when emotions are rejected and eventually forgotten. It's about the love/hate/fear/trust relationships children often have with their fathers. Although we all would love to be the carefree Peter Pan, we also see the sad, lonely character that he is. That alone tells us amazing things about ourselves. We knowingly idolize a character that gets to live a completely self indulging life at the expense of not experiencing any real love, or touch, or change. All of which can be wonderful things, but all of which carry the risk of immense pain.

So, if I were to be completely honest, my dream role would be Peter Pan. It's easy to identify with a self absorbed careless mess of fun. Also, who wouldn't love to fly? Unfortunately, I've surely surpassed my Pan-Playing age. In fact, the Players Guild has kept in line with the long standing theatre tradition of casting a woman as Peter. Fortunately, in our case, the heavy role will be on the very capable shoulders of the talented Amanda Medley. But there is another long standing theatre tradition for this show that is also being upheld, much to my satisfaction. This tradition being the dual casting of Captain Hook/Mr. Darling. I think that productions that are missing this element miss out on an entire layer of the story and magic of Peter Pan. I don't believe that children need every analogy to be as blindingly obvious as casting Hook and Mr. Darling with the same actor, but I think that in the case of Hook/Darling it just works. It's also very gratifying for the actor to be seen as a stern and almost cold father, then as a monster, and finally as a reformed man.

Personally, I have a lot to spill into this complex mix of characters. I have experienced many pieces of Hook/Mr. Darling in my youth, and am ripe for creative outlet. I am also reaching a point in my life where I am irreversibly a man. There's no being a boy again, and it's a fact that many men my age struggle with. I am also at an age where men start to look in the mirror, and more frighteningly, at their daily actions, and they see their fathers. It's a time where, more than ever, you make conscious decisions, based on the goods and the bads that you've experienced, that make you the kind of man you will be for the rest of your life. I'm very excited to sink my hook into these characters.

And of course, every monster has a weak side. They need to be in constant control, and henceforth often have human punching bags in their closest associations. Mr. Smee is the embodiment of this character type, and I am very pleased to be teaming with the ever-funny Ross Rhodes again as he takes on this role.

The last piece of our production that I will share at this time is on the topic of pirates, and the "color" of our show. Without giving away too much information, I will leave you with these impressions. Pirates are a dirty, nasty, murderous lot, and these are the pirates that you will see in our production of Peter Pan. And pirates don't live in pastel jungles, nor do they wash their clothes and polish their buttons. They live in a dark world of blues, greys, and blood red. This will not be Disney's Peter Pan.

Tuesdays With Morrie

2008-01-08T12:47:00.000-05:00

I have been cast as Mitch Albom in the play "Tuesdays With Morrie" at the Players Guild Theatre in Canton, OH. We open January 18th and play through the 27th. Visit the Player's Guild Theatre's Online Boxoffice to order tickets, or call 330-453-7617.

While I am going through the rehearsal process for this show, and have mentioned the play to people and have learned something from their reactions; If you haven't heard of the book yourself, you at least know 20 people that have. This story has touched so many lives through the book, and now the play has the opportunity to tell the story to another audience. Morrie Schwartz was a fascinating creature to the end of his life with lessons that speak to all of us about living and dying.

I invite you to come and take a look at this production. Personally, it is the first play (non-musical) I have done since middle-school. I am very excited for the challenge, and can't wait to see you in the audience!

Note: This play does not star Martin Scorsese, as this picture may seem to imply.

Welcome, 2008!

2008-01-03T17:01:00.000-05:00

This year is already shaping up to be a great year, starting off with a new Homepage (updated Header and Bio) and ACTUAL plans to get headshots underway. Furthermore, I am starring in a 2 man play at the Players Guild Theatre in Canton called "Tuesdays With Morrie". I will devote a thorough post to it this weekend filled with details. I have lots of interests and all kinds of opportunities available to me this year for making beautiful art with great friends all around the country, and I'll keep you posted as these opportunities come to fruition. Thanks for being a fan, and meet me on Facebook if you haven't already!

Cheers!
Barry

Facebook Page!

2007-11-26T14:00:00.000-05:00

Attention Facebookers,

I now have a page on Facebook where you can give me a little love, while keeping up to date on upcoming shows I'm involved in. Wanna be friends? Follow the Link!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=19156897992

Videos

2007-11-20T11:22:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally got my old videos posted again. There was a serious bug within googlepages that was not allowing me to post embeded youtube videos that has apparently been fixed on their end. So, check out the old videos, and I've got a few more coming your way shortly, as soon as I transfer some recordings made during Aida to Youtube :)

I'm not even promising headshots any time soon, because it's the holidays and I have no idea when I'll get time for them now. Thanks for visiting!

New Website!!

2007-10-19T10:07:00.000-05:00

While it's not entirely where I want it to be functionally, it is finally where I want it to be physically. Welcome to www.barrydebois.com Pop a cork of something! Enjoy the new site. I've got some ideas of new things to come, but for now, thanks for stopping by!

Aida Reviewed by Canton Repository

2007-10-16T07:49:00.000-05:00

http://www.cantonrep.com/new/index.php?ID=381527

Here is the review by the Canton Repository's Dan Kane, for your reading pleasure. It's a very positive one, and I'm quite pleased with it. So, if you were on the fence about coming, hopefully this will push you over!

Every Story Is a Love Story

2007-10-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

Aida!

This production has been a real test on me and the rest of the cast, but it's finally born tomorrow. This is an exceptional cast with a top-notch production team. It really is beyond community theatre for this area in my humble (yet not-so-humble) opinion.

I invite you to go here for an synopsis of the show (stolen from the touring cast). It's a touching story with a powerful score, and I'm very happy to say that we have the cast to really make it shine.

The show is set in the historic Lincoln Lion's Theatre in Downtown Massillon. If you've seen a movie, or happened to catch a play here, you'll barely recognize the stage. Taking up the center is a massive pyramid structure that also acts as platforms for performing on, and houses the infamous tomb that is central to the storyline of the show. The design is really quite remarkable.

There is a 9 piece orchestra that rocks the challenging and beautiful music written by Elton John and Tim Rice (their follow-up collaboration to Disney's "The Lion King"). The songs are powerful to say the least. This is not your grandparent's opera. It's a high-energy rock musical that tips it's hat musically to shows like Rocky Horror and Rent.

The show is being produced by Rivertree Christian Church as a giant donation to the Lincoln Lion's Theatre. All proceeds will be donated to it and various Massillon community charities.

So, if you're in the Massillon/Canton area any time in the next 2 weekends, come see me as Radames in Aida! Check out my calendar (above) for dates and times, or click here to order tickets online. See you there!

P.S., If you're on Facebook, here's a link to the event!

Aida!

2007-08-24T13:19:00.000-05:00

First the big news, then I'll get you caught up to the present, because I know it's been a while...

I'm very happy to announce that I have been cast as Radames in the Rivertree Players production of AIDA! This show will take place at the Lincoln Lions Theatre in Massillon, Ohio in October. More details will surely be passed on to you later. It's an exceptional cast with a very notable production team, so I am extremely excited about it.

The past few months have been an awesome and challenging experience performing with the Canton Cabaret. We've had 3 shows to date, and the last one (Remembering Moonlight Ballroom) was incredibly well received. I was very proud to work with Michael Sonata, Courtney Vignos, and the Canton Cabaret Orchestra lead by David Kolinski-Shultz. I can't wait to do more shows with this cast in the future. Thanks to those of you that I don't know that took the time to view my website after seeing the show and send me emails, they are greatly appreciated!

So it's been a great summer of performances, and this fall looks to be filled with the same! God Bless, and I hope to see you at Aida!

Updates

2007-06-12T12:21:00.000-05:00

Updated Experience page, links, and my bio. Hope to have a decent pic on my front page soon (I'm aware it looks a little hokey without one). Also, "Broadway Through the Ages" opens this Friday with the Canton Cabaret at the Metropolitan Center in downtown Canton, so come check it out!!

94.1 WHBC Radio Spot

2007-05-13T22:27:00.000-05:00

Rather exciting news: I just finished recording and editing a radio spot that will air on 94.1 WHBC in Canton all this week in regards to the Canton Cabaret opening next weekend, May 18th. I recorded 5 songs (I sang on 2) and compiled them with a voice over read by director Jon Tisevich. Sooo, listen to 94.1 this week to hear it, or just listen to it here:

http://www.box.net/shared/gdl2kmh74i

The Latest

2007-04-30T14:53:00.000-05:00

Canton Cabaret's opening weekend got pushed back a week because of construction. Therefore, May 18th is opening night. See the calendar for new dates.

Last rehearsal was the first time we got to hear the orchestra, and they are (excuse the lingo) off the hook. I can't wait to sing with these guys (and gal). David Kolinski-Shultz has done an amazing job arranging the music for this show, and I don't say that lightly at all.

So that's the scoop. Follow this link to order your tickets for opening night, and get a meet-and-greet with the cast after the show!

Update

2007-03-15T11:45:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I last posted. Just wanted to say a few things that are going on music-wise.

I'm part of the newly formed Canton Cabaret, which now finally has a website :) which I'm not listed on yet :( That's ok, probably half of the people are not yet on the site. The June 17th Father's Day Matinee Brunch I will be directing (scary) so mark your calendars.
I'm working with a few members of Monophonic Mass along with other friends to assemble a cover band. Details to come...

Not yet bullet-worthy but I'm going to rework the media section a little and add more pictures soon. I won't even promise head shots this time, cause I'm not sure when I'll get to that. So that's all I have to announce, check back soon!

Canton Cabaret

2007-02-12T12:33:00.000-05:00

It took a while to make this post because I wanted everything to be official, but I'm now officially part of the newly formed Canton Cabaret! I'll post more information as it comes to me, but our first show is May 12th in the currently being renovated former Knights of Columbus Ballroom in Downtown Canton. The following is a link to the website, but it's not up yet apparently. I'll post it again when I know that it's working.

www.rainbowrepertory.org

Updated Links

2007-01-25T16:28:00.000-05:00

I cleaned up the Links page. It was a bit of a mess before. It seriously took me a few days because I know virtually nothing about HTML. I know how programming works though, so I have to test and retest things until I reverse engineer how to do things in HTML. If anyone has a good HTML reference website, let me know. Again, thank God for Google. Although, they are being wieners about a certain Google Reader problem. That's all for now!

Monophonic Mass Laid to Rest

2007-01-16T17:10:00.000-05:00

Well, for all intents and purposes, my band Monophonic Mass has played it's last song. I am unendingly grateful to the fans we gained and friends we've made. It's a sad and exciting time for me. I now have the freedom to do a lot of things in music, which are in the works. At the same time, I'll miss the "Mass". Thanks to all for the fan-dom, and to my band-mates for great music and memories. So, wish me luck, and send me encouragement to get off my ass and make some new music!

Headshots Coming

2007-01-15T08:32:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I didn't get the chance to take headshots this weekend, but by next week I should finally be able to get some real photos up in the media section.

Anthem of the Nation

2007-01-15T08:29:00.000-05:00

I'll be singing the Star Spangled Banner again for the Hoover High School wrestling match on Senior night this Thursday. Buy tickets early. Just kidding, but feel free to come for the anthem and stay for the match. I should probably not tell them that I'll be cheering for GlenOak :)

New Old Music

2007-01-09T14:39:00.000-05:00

I posted a few old recordings I have in the media section.

"To Make You Feel My Love" I made in 2005 for my girlfriend. I'm playin the guitar and singing both voices. I also wrote this arrangement of the Bob Dylan song. I'm a huge fan of the Billy Joel and Garth Brooks versions as well.

"Fall Together" is from the album Monophonic Mass. Adam Domer wrote the music, and I wrote the Lyrics. We both worked on the Beach-Boys-esque harmonies throughout the song.

You can stream them, or download them. I hope to get some more current music up soon, and pictures. For now, enjoy!

Gospel Fest 2

2007-01-08T17:01:00.000-05:00

Just to update, I will be singing in a male quartet in this show, and with my church choir. The quartet is singing a Acappella song called "I Feel Good". It's one of those songs I grew up listening to and wishing I was in a quartet to sing it. I'm finally singing with 3 extremely capable singers who will rock this song out. It's worth coming to the show for this song, seriously. OK, maybe not seriously, but it will be one of the highlights of the evening.

Gospel Fest

2007-01-05T13:40:00.000-05:00

Grace United Methodist Church is hosting an annual Gospel Festival on Sunday, January 14th. I will be singing with the choir as well as with a quartet. It's always a great time, so come get your praise on.

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-22T09:57:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to everyone! I probably won't post to this blog again until the New Year, at which time I should have some musical announcements. If you're looking for a spot for Christmas Eve service, join me at Grace United Methodist Church in North Canton. Until the new year, have a wonderful holiday!

Slow Times

2006-12-16T01:13:00.000-05:00

Ok, so performing has been slow since Kenny Rogers, but the band is taking a break over the holidays, and I'm rather enjoying not running around like an idiot while trying to get shopping done. So this is just a post saying that I'm still alive, and will pick up with shows again in January. Until then you can see me singing at Grace United Methodist Church . Our Christmas Eve service is at 7:30pm. It's on Christmas Eve. If you don't know the date, don't bother coming :)

Seasons of Love

2006-12-10T20:58:00.000-05:00

I linked to the Seasons of Love Video from the Tunes For Troops Show we did a few weeks ago in the Media section. It focuses more on 18 year old Heather Culotta; a friend of mine and a huge talent headed for New York and straight to the top. But, I thought it was fun to see. Contrary to comments posted on Youtube, it is not lipsynced, the video is just off from the audio on the movie. We are, and she is, really singing that. Great job Heather! Thanks to Sandy Valley High School's students and patrons for your VERY generous donations to Tunes For Troops.

Kenny Rogers Christmas and Hits

2006-12-07T11:27:00.000-05:00

Last night I had the absolute pleasure of performing with Kenny Rogers and Linda Davis in Youngstown, Ohio at the Chevrolet Centre. I was a part of the James Center Choir that was comprised of about 16 singers under the direction of Gerrard Stewart. We performed for an audience of about 5,500 people on a homey set designed to look like a classic Christmas morning with five children from the James Center also on stage and completing the picture.

On our end, it was a rather last-minute thing, but such is entertainment. We got the music a week and a half before the show, and showed up ready to do our best. When we arrived at the Chevrolet Centre, we were greeted by a friendly stage manager who ushered us to our dressing room, and quickly to the stage to walk through the show. As we walked on the stage our eyes fell on a small woman wearing a simple hat, sweater, and scarf. This was not a costume, she was clearly just keeping warm in the large, nearly empty stadium. When she turned around and saw the children her face lit up and she ran and hugged each one of them and told them how happy she was that they were there. I quickly got the idea that she was an important person around the set, and later found out she was indeed Linda Davis. After a sincere and warm greeting to the children, she turned to us, the choir, and shook each of our hands and thanked us for performing that night.

After a brief rehearsal, we waited in the dressing room for the show to start. We had plenty of time to relax and look over our music as we all ate the food provided for us. The show started at 8pm with Kenny singing his hits and a few new songs with moments for Linda to sing a few of her own. The audience was a classic country audience complete with lots of flannel and quite a few white hairs, and many people who looked more like Kenny Rogers of yesteryear than he did himself. I'll also note that the band Kenny toured with was exceptional at what they did. Beautiful backup singing, solid drumming, and an absolutely phenomenal fiddle player were the highlights.

At intermission, Kenny came to us and talked with us briefly, giving us a small pep-talk, and sincere thanks for performing with him. After a few pictures and handshakes, he went to his dressing room for a rest. At this point the choir was in full cream robe and green stole attire, ready to take on a large audience. The performance of about 7 Christmas songs went very well, and the last note we hold with Kenny and Linda is a huge ringer, inspiring the audience to give us a big standing ovation.

I can't express how warm and friendly the entire cast and crew was to us. It was an experience I'll keep close to me for a long time.

Bring Him Home Video

2006-12-01T10:54:00.000-05:00

At long last, I posted the Bring Him Home video from a performance at the North Canton Playhouse. I'm pretty happy with it. With any live recording you feel like there were better nights you wish they had captured, but this night I'm pretty happy with. Thanks to Chris Marchant for rockin the Violin. Check it out in the Media section.

Rocky Cancelled

2006-11-29T16:36:00.000-05:00

Bad news, all. The one time showing of Rocky Horror at the Players guild that I was to be in just fell through. Sorry I promoted the heck out of this to you all for it to get cancelled.

Kenny Rogers Christmas Show

2006-11-28T15:05:00.000-05:00

I forgot to mention the fact that I am performing in the Kenny Rogers Christmas Show in Youngstown, OH. I am part of a small Chorus backing Kenny on December 6th. Kenny will perform his regular show, and the last half hour or so will be the Christmas Show, so only come if you're a fan of his regular music. Kenny Rogers is a musical icon, and has quite a list of hits. Learn more about him and his music at www.kennyrogers.com. Buy tickets to the show here.

National Anthem

2006-11-28T07:49:00.000-05:00

No huge news. Tonight I'm singing the National Anthem for the North Canton Hoover Wrestling openhouse. I'm excited for rehearsals for Rocky Horror to begin soon. I started revisiting my lines and remembered what a ridiculous, fun show it is to do. Stay posted, and I'll keep you updated on progress with Rocky.

News News!

2006-11-15T11:39:00.000-05:00

Awesome news that probably won't affect you! I tried to figure out a way to get my News section of my webpage to feed in from a blog that I could manage separately from my website. While I'm still sure there is a way to do it, I don't know this way. So, I set up a blog to look as much like my site as possible, and starting today I have the links jump from my Googlepages site to my Blogger.com and back. (Note the Blogger banner at the top) While I'm rather O.C.D. and the fact that the news section doesn't look EXACTLY like the rest of my website drives me a little crazy, I am pretty happy with how much i could customize the blog site to look like my old news page.

There are two big bonuses (it's a word, I just looked it up) to my news page being a blog. The first is editability (not a word). I had to do a lot of fiddling with html that I'm not at all properly trained to do. This was mostly because Googlepages is very buggy compared to Blogger. Also falling under editability are niceties like spell check, automatic date-time stamping and the like. The second is News Feeds. I again know very little about news feeds, but I do know people can subscribe to my News page (my Blog) and have all my news pop up automatically on their own readers. There are other bonuses that I'm skipping that will be nice too like the archive list on the panel to the right. I will also probably start naming my news articles so they are easier to scroll through on the archive list.

So that's a lot of stuff that's not music related that is exciting about my website. It's also something that's been bothering me a lot that is finally pretty much fixed. If my web site was in Beta before today, i would say this is the official first release of bdebois.googlepages.com. Also, I will keep this News page as an update center for my webpage, performances, and upcoming events. My point is this is not a say anything blog, so I will try to keep it somewhat professional and performance related. Enjoy, and subscribe!

2006-11-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Announcement! I just accepted the part of Brad Majors at the Players Guild Theatre! One night only, on New Years Eve we're performing Rocky Horror Show Live at the Players Guild with an elite alumni cast. There's going to be a big party with food, drinks, and costumes until midnight. Then the wildest Rocky Show ever to hit the Players Guild begins! Do you want to sip diet coke and shmooz around a lame party watching Dick Clark's replacement play host to 3rd rate performances that try to keep you awake until midnight? Or, do you want to join a crazy time in Downtown Canton with Rocky-heads wearing leather and fishnets and possesing very few inhibitions! Damn it, Janet, come to the Players Guild on New Years Eve!

New Years Eve:
9:00pm--- Dance Party in the Great Court of the Cultural Center for the Arts

11:00pm--- Rocky Costume contest for each major character

11:30pm--- A set from local band Astravolt

12:00pm--- The Rocky Horror Show!

2006-11-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

Tunes For Troops went on this past weekend. Very cool. We raised over $2000 to buy iPods to send to U.S. Soldiers overseas. Look ahead to more Tunes For Troops shows in the near future.

2006-10-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Onward to the next show. My band, monophonic mass is playing at Phantasy Night Club in Lakewood on November 3rd. Come out and see us! We're debuting at least one, probably two new songs, both of which I'm very excited about. Oh, and friends got some better footage of "What You Own" and "Bring Him Home" from A Night On Broadway so as soon as I can get my hands on them, they'll be up in the media section. I think that's it for now, but come see my band in Cleveland, it will be awesome!

2006-10-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

On with the show! Hopefully the weather hasn't been too hard on my voice this weekend. I'm still working on getting a good video of "What You Own" and "Bring Him Home".

2006-10-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

I added a video of "What You Own" from this weekend to the Media section. The first person to sing on it is my friend Chris Marchant (playing Mark). I come in after him as Roger. The band was going way too fast, but this is the only recording we have so far. Hopefully we'll get a better one up soon. The show is going as well as can be expected. I hope to post a video of "Bring Him Home" because it turned out to be my better performace by far.

2006-10-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Well, last night was opening night and I must say that it went much better than I feared. I'm generaly harder on a show that I'm in than necessary. Betty Blast and the Bitty Bunch showed up, and they loved it. As long as I can make an old lady tell me she loves me, I can usually sleep well at night. Call me insecure. That's not to say the show is without flaws, but I do think it's worth checking out. See the calendar above for show dates and times.

2006-10-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

To reserve tickets to the show, follow this link: http://www.northcantonplayhouse.com

2006-10-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

I'm in a show at the North Canton Playhouse that opens this Thursday. This is my first time doing a show at this theater, and the first time doing a review of different broadway shows all in one show. There are things to be said for both. It lacks a common storyline with themes and characters to follow. On the other hand, you get all the good songs from some of your favorite shows all in one sitting. It should be an experience. This is not an advertisement for the show, but my own thoughts on it. It is a small theater with a limited budget and an amature cast. That being said, there are moments of shear talent and entertainment that would turn larger theater's heads. Come and enjoy A Night on Broadway. Here is the official description:

"A Night on Broadway celebrates the theatre's 30 years with an entertaining, fun-filled evening of enchanting Broadway Music! A talented cast will perform selections from the hit Broadway shows, 42nd Street, Singing in the Rain, Gypsy, West Side Story, Rent, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Hairspray, Mama Mia, Wicked, Jekyll & Hyde, Jesus Christ Superstar and many more! Whether you are a Broadway Musical lover or not, there is no doubt you will leave the theatre humming a familiar tune!"

Barry DeBois sings:
"Bring Him Home" (Les Miserables)
"Seasons of Love" (Rent)
"What You Own" (Rent)
and various chorus numbers

Note: I also updated the "Experience" page. Take a look. It's a general overview of the things I've done in music over the past few years. If you are interested in using me for your upcoming projects, email me at bdebois@gmail.com

2006-10-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Calendar Added! Enjoy.

2006-10-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my very first website! So there are things I'm loving about Google Pages, and some very annoying bugs, but it's very free, so I really can't complain too much. Please test all the links, and let me know if something doesn't work. If you don't know me, then snoop around the site and get to know me. I plan on posting more content as I come up with things :)