By Julianne Homokay
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
Rachel Murray has a vision. The founder of Lake Arrowhead Vocal Academy and former lead singer of the Rebel Pebbles is on a mission to bring Broadway to the mountain.
Her show, the “Broadway Review,” won’t be exclusively by Andrew Lloyd Webber or Stephen Sondheim, however. This venture, at least as far as the book goes, is totally original. She hasn’t written the show yet: It is Murray’s goal to build it around the talent.
At her Academy, “I’ve been working with all these amazing singers, some are so talented.” She’s opening up auditions to the community as well. “I want a big variety of all different kinds of talent.”
She thinks the time is right for a show like this. “I feel like the community could really use a great musical…there’s a great need for that.” So, she’s looking at including numbers from several traditional musicals, say Follies, Cabaret, Oklahoma! and Man Of La Mancha, and writing connecting material with scripted introductions and set-ups between numbers.
Even though the show is a community endeavor, Murray will be aiming for a production value as close to actual Broadway performances as possible. To that end, she has enlisted James Miller, a dance teacher at Lake Arrowhead School of Dance, to choreograph some of the numbers. Miller has an extensive background in musical theater and movie musicals.
Rachel Murray and Jeff Heisler’s first collaboration: the cast of Bugsy, 2014
Also to that end, Murray will be collaborating again with her old friend Jeff Heisler of Heisler Theater. He will be involved as a production consultant as Heisler Theater provides technical support with costumes, lighting and personnel.
It’s no coincidence the auditions and the show will take place at the Tudor House. “Jeff and I became friends when we were both working at the Tudor House many years ago,” said Murray. They both left and worked elsewhere for a few years but, after Murray started holding her Academy events at the Tudor House, Heisler Theater returned a few months later. In fact, Murray has gotten the band back together, so to speak.
Gaye Gamble Heisler, Rachel Murray and Jeff Heisler at Christmas Carol, 2023
“I will be performing in the Broadway Review as well as Jeff and [his wife] Gaye,” who also works with Heisler Theater. “Jeff and Gaye will be debuting their vocal talent by singing a duet together.”
So, what will Murray be looking for at the community auditions? “The main thing I am looking for in the auditions is the ability to sell a song!” She is looking for strong voices and the ability to pull off a character that’s age-appropriate. Murray isn’t worrying about headshots, resumes or a typical 16- or 32-bar cut performers would normally need for a professional audition (although if you have that stuff, great!).
If those auditioning cannot provide their own accompaniment, that’s not a problem either; they can sing a cappella. Miller may be teaching a basic dance combination to see who can move, so clothes and shoes folks can move in are recommended, but even that’s not totally necessary. Murray truly wants this show to be a community effort.
“We just want people to come,” she said
Auditions for the Broadway Review will be held at 3 p.m. on March 3 at the Tudor House, 800 Arrowhead Villa Road, Lake Arrowhead. For more information or if you cannot make the audition date, email rachelmurray1111@gmail.com or call (909) 362-2468.
The Broadway Review will be held at the Tudor House from May 24-26. Tickets are on sale at heislertheater.com.
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