So, a while back, I went to Monday Night New Voices, hosted by Scott Alan and the cast of [title of show]. Wonderful evening, featuring the music of Jeff Bowen. And if it's possible to fall in love with a set of vocal chords, I have done it. And I know what I'm talking about, because I was obsessed with Natalie Weiss before it was cool. So listen up kiddies, you all better hop on the Mike Harrison train before it pulls out of the station. Seriously. I did some myspace stalking and felt like sharing the love.
www.myspace.com/mikeeharrison
I stage doored Wicked and gave Annaleigh Ashford his myspace link, and she was like, "Good, I'm glad."
Joy Behar has approved this message. Updated On: 5/30/08 at 12:31 AM
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
Don't you love him? I feel like he's the love child of Kate Shindle and Daniel Breaker, but raised by Shoshana Bean and Titus Burgess, and I'm fairly sure that he has some relation to Susan Blackwell and Jackie Hoffman. Don't you think?
That's one convoluted family tree. I think you may need to throw Michael Buble and Shaun Barrowes as cousins or something.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
wow. He sounds great! Has he been in anything recently? I could totally hear the influence of his talented family tree...haha. He and his "adopted mother" Shoshana should do a duet together.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
OMG - I first saw Natalie Weiss in Scott Alan's 'Dreaming Wide Awake' at Birdland. She was filling in at the last minute for one of the performers who was ill. She turned out one of the most amazing performances in the show... even better than most of the seasoned professionals. Check out some of her excellent videos on Youtube.
< Patty Duke (the original Neely O'Hara) & me (March 8, 2010)
Isn't he amazing? But I don't want this thread to be come solely about Natalie Weiss (even though she's AMAZING). This is a Mike Harrison thread, set up to worship him in all his vocal pyrotechnic glory.
I did some more facebook/myspace/friendster stalking, and I've learned a good bit about him. He's been in dozens of musicals, actually. He was Jamie in L5Y, Cable in South Pacific, Mary Sunshine in Chicago, Lord Evelyn Oakley in Anything Goes, to name a few. This boy sang at SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO (i didn't know white people could do that)! He was also, until recently, a member of BLUE JUPITER, a professional acapella group. I found some clips of them, and Mike was by far the best thing in the group. I wonder how they are even coping without him. These days, he is keeping himself busy singing backups for Nick Howard (the guy that sings that song from THE HILLS), gigging with the Starlight Orchestra, and the most exciting thing... he is planning a Make-A-Wish benefit filled with Broadway SuperSTARS in the fall. OMG. Don't you just love him?
on a totally seperate note I actually love Nick Howard and Natalie Weiss so other than the fact that he has a great voice, he is automatically great in my book by association!
Ok, one of Mike's friends just sent me a PM, and they told me that he auditioned for America's Got Talent, got called back several times, and that they ended up telling him he was too talented, professional, and polished for their show. How lame is that? Although, it makes perfect sense, because that show sucks. It should be called America's Got Mediocre Singers and Some Decent Jugglers. But seriously, couldn't you see him on American Idol? He's like a more charismatic version of Elliot Yamin.
omg...i totes love him...i met him at broadway bingo, and he was sooooooo nice. i didn't know he could sing like that!!!! what songs do you think would fit his voice?
what parts would you like to see him play?
i think i would like him to sing "Don't Cry Out Loud"
and i'd LUV to C him play Emmit in Legally Blonde!!! check my blogg!
I was at that Scott Alan event at Birdland and I don't remember any Natalie Weiss. There were many amazing singers there, but i have no recollection of her. Updated On: 5/30/08 at 10:17 PM
I would love to hear him sing "A Song For You" by Donnie Hathaway. I also think that he could do a mean rendition of "Jesse's Girl".
As for parts I think he should play: (in no particular order) -Jekyll/Hyde in Jekyll and Hyde -Jesus in Godspell -Peter in JCS -Minister in A New Brain -Jamie in L5Y (AGAIN!) -Man 1 in Songs for a New World -Any single part of EDGES -Any single part of GLORY DAYS -Fiyero in Wicked -Jason in Bare -Deena in a gender/race reversed production of Dreamgirls -Marty Thomas's part in Xanadu -Roger in Rent
And Craig, I don't know about him playing Emmett. I don't think that's really his style. I mean, don't get me wrong, I would be the first in line to buy tickets, but that part is the most vocally lame thing on Broadway now. He doesn't even get to belt an A.
1. How CUTE is he?!?! I love his little baby face. In love.
2. Do you not realize who those people with Mike are?! While, yes, he is with the "assistant from Little Mermaid", her name is Heidi Blickenstaff, and she is surrounded by her fellow cast members from the upcoming Broadway hit musical, [title of show]. Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Susan Blackwell, Larry Pressgrove, and Helen Hayes Award Winner Heidi Blickenstaff. Seriously, have you never heard of them? They are amazing. titleofshow.com. Go there now. It will change your life.
3. Back to Mike, he must be really good friends with them by the looks of this photo. I'm even more IN LOVE!
4. Maybe he could understudy Hunter and Jeff when it goes to Broadway. Wouldn't that be amazing?
I don't know if you are joking about him Craig, but everyone should really go check out his page because he is one of the better male vocalists that I've heard in a while....let's show him some support!!
Ok, so Mike just sent out a myspace bulletin, thanking the broadwayworld community for all of the visits to his page. HE READS THIS BOARD! If you have anything to say to him, you can post it here, and he'll read it!
I'll go first.
You have got to be one of the most amazing vocalists I have ever heard. Your voice is a gift. Please keep putting up more songs on your page. Can you get some youtube videos up? I'm sure you have some. If you get your music out there, you will definitely be big. And the theater community would eat you up. Do you have any videos of Last Five Years or South Pacific? I would love to see those. Also, have you seen Wicked? Because you would make an amazing and soulful Fiyero. Just saying...
I was just about to write that Joy. I recently friended Mike on Myspace due to your suggestion and saw that he thanked the BroadwayWorld community for their support. Definitely a fan and hope his voice catches on in the community!
Ok, so I just saw RENT tonight. I've seen in 12 times now, and the last time I saw it, Drew Lachey was in it (which is funny, because they just announced today that he's going to be in spamalot). It got me thinking, and I totally think that you could be Mark. You would be so much better than Drew (and no offense if Drew is reading this board - JK!) I mean, i posted earlier that you should play Roger (and you should) but I think that you could really do an awesome Mark.
Off-topic: Has there ever been a white Collins? That could work, right?