Urinetown Star Richard Fleeshman on Dating Samantha Barks & Grossing Out Brits
While Richard Fleeshman still considers himself new to the musical theater scene, the 24-year-old actor is racking up quite a list of credits, including Legally Blonde in the West End, and the Broadway and London productions of Ghost. Prior to his career as a theater heartthrob, the actor and singer-songwriter was a steady presence on the small screen and the radio airwaves. Now, Fleeshman is starting a revolution in the London premiere of Urinetown, opening March 11 at the St. James Theatre. Broadway.com caught up with the versatile performer to chat about wacky show titles, cramped dressing rooms and his lady love, Samantha Barks. You’ve played an American in three musicals, but you’re northern English through and through. How did this come about? [Laughs.] I know, and I just keep hoping I pass as one! What’s good, I suppose, about playing any accent is that you can lose your own skin and be as far away from yourself every night as possible, though it did feel like a particular challenge on Ghost. It’s one thing to do an American accent in front of a load of people on the West End and quite another going over and doing it in front of a theater full of native New Yorkers! And you’re not feeling too nostalgic for the grandeur of your onetime Broadway dressing room, with its spaciousness and balcony? [Laughs.] There I was in a three-room suite with a balcony that had at different times also housed Sting, Nathan Lane, and Elizabeth Taylor and now here I am at the St. James Theatre in London sharing a converted office backstage with five other men. Did you consult with your former Ghost co-star Caissie Levy? I certainly did! At first I thought, “This doesn’t sound like my kind of thing,” but I rang Caissie and she said it was this great satirical musical and that Bobby Strong was an amazing part and that I should take it. So I did [laughs]. Wow, there’s a change. How does that feel? Don’t get the violins out just yet! It was incredible to have that palatial set-up in New York but it also could be quite lonely. Now, I’m with Simon Paisley Day and Jonathan Slinger, and I could not be in better company. Did you even know what Urinetown was when the offer came your way? Not at all. Musical theater isn’t the world I come from and even though it has taken over my life over the past few years, there’s still a vast amount of musicals from the early 2000s that I don’t know anything about. That’s OK, you’ve got plenty of time yet! How do you find the demands of this role compared to Sam in Ghost? This is a big sing, but the part itself is different in terms of the angst and screaming and crying and God knows what else Ghost entailed. In terms of the strain on my voice, it’s not nearly as bad. But every role has its difficulties. It’s an incredibly tough job, and I don’t think someone can appreciate how hard people in musical theater work if they’ve never done it. To have the discipline you need to be on form and healthy and to give the necessary commitment really is an amazing thing. View Comments
You have a tie to Les Miz at this moment in your life [Fleeshman is dating film star Samantha Barks]. How is it going? It’s going wonderfully, thank you! We get asked about [our relationship] a lot and are really trying to keep it private. Not in a boring way, but just because it is private to a certain extent. But, yes, it’s all great and thank you for asking. Star Files Your Ghost co-stars Caissie Levy (Les Miserables) and Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman’s Guide) are both on Broadway now—time for a New York visit? God, I would love to, maybe if I get some downtime after this. Caissie and I went through such a lot on that show and she is such a good friend. And I really think Bryce is one of the most talented actors I have ever worked with—I would love to see his show. Richard Fleeshman I was just saw Bobby Strong described as one of the 100 greatest parts in musical theater. I heard that as well, which is amazing! I can attest to that—I am having literally the time of my life playing it. But I also should say that I probably haven’t heard of most of the 99 others [laughs]. It’s fascinating how squeamish some Brits seem to be about the title of Urinetown. I saw you on breakfast TV and the hosts could barely bring themselves to say it. I know, but it is breakfast time and the BBC and I’m sure they’re scared that Mrs. Whoever from Berwick-upon-Tweed is going to write a complaint letter about it. It was fine, though. By the end, [the hosts] were shouting the title out with me, and we were all chanting “Urinetown! Urinetown!” [Laughs.]
“They go out and collect small electronics, mobile phones, and send them to another organization which recycles them,” said education manager at the zoo, Melissa Grippin. Many electronics, including cell phones, have coltan in them. That’s a mineral typically mined from areas where gorillas live, an already vulnerable species. The campaign runs from February to April, and if you want to get involved you can reach out to Melissa Grippin. Once items are collected, shipping to the organization that recycles them is free. Contact her at (607)724-5461 ext. 235 or by email at mgrippin@rossparkzoo.com to register a team. In addition, the Binghamton Zoo will become a regular collection site, outside of the campaign. The group that collects the most items to be recycled will be invited to the zoo on World Gorilla Day in September. If there’s less of a demand for coltan, there’s a better chance for gorilla habitats in Africa. “Recycling these things helps to protect gorillas in the wild, and also the recycling also generates funds that goes directly back to gorilla conservation,” said Grippin. “Gorillas are really only found one place in the world and if we lose them, we lose them forever in that region. So it’s really important to protect the species and protect the individuals we have left in the wild.” “As a thank you, we’ll have them come in for a little guided tour and a little ceremony, thanking them for their generous collection,” said Grippin. It’s the first year the zoo is taking part, and it’s asking community groups and organizations to join too, by collecting some everyday objects. “Gorillas are incredibly endangered in the wild and the pressure is on them, particularly from mining, it’s really great so there’s a lot of issues with gorillas in the wild and their numbers have really decreased,” said Grippin. (WBNG) — The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park is asking you to answer the call for the campaign, ‘Gorillas on the Line.’
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The NBA basketball jersey given to Michael Jordan on the day in 1984 when he first signed with the Chicago Bulls will go up for auction in December, Julien’s Auctions announced on Monday.The red and white jersey emblazoned with Jordan’s name and the number 23 is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $400,000, the auction house said.The basketball legend, age 21 at the time, smiled and held up the jersey at his first press conference as a member of the Bulls. He went on to become the heart of the Bulls dynasty that won six NBA championships in the 1990s. Jordan’s career was back in the spotlight this year in documentary “The Last Dance,” which attracted a large television audience. An autographed pair of his Air Jordan sneakers sold for $560,000 at an auction in May, a record for sneakers.Hannah Malin, business development manager for sports for Juliens Auctions, said Jordan items have drawn interest because he has transcended the world of athletics.Jordan is “a pop culture phenomenon,” she said, “so everything he’s done holds so much more importance.”Other sports items for sale at the December auction will include a Kobe Bryant jersey and a Lakers basketball signed by Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in February.Bids will be taken online, by phone and at a live auction in Beverly Hills on Dec. 4. Topics :
January 21, 2016 Blizzard 2016, Press Release, PSA, Weather Safety Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf and state officials are urging Pennsylvanians to pay close attention to weather forecasts and take steps to be ready for the first snowstorm of 2016, and one of the most significant widespread storms to impact the state in several years. Governor Wolf has declared a state of emergency to ensure state agencies can respond with resources as quickly as possible.“We are urging Pennsylvanians to stay calm, but be prepared,” Governor Wolf said. “State agencies are preparing for the worst, tracking conditions in real time and collaborating on our response. Residents should prioritize their safety and heed all warnings from law enforcement and emergency officials.”Current forecasts call for the storm to enter the state late in the afternoon on Friday in western Pennsylvania and late in the evening on Friday in eastern Pennsylvania. Snowfall will continue through Saturday evening, with the highest amounts along and south of the turnpike corridor. Amounts will diminish from south to north toward I-80. Some locations in southern Pennsylvania could see 12-18 inches or more of snow.PEMA Tips“This is not a time to panic or overreact to forecasts,” said Richard D. Flinn Jr., director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). “We know this storm is coming, and every Pennsylvanian can take advantage of the time we have to make sure they and their families are ready with home and car emergency kits.”Flinn said families should be prepared to survive for up to three days at home without outside assistance. A home emergency kit should contain:non-perishable foodbottled water (one gallon per person per day. A family of 4 needs a minimum of 12 gallons)medicationsflashlight with spare batteriesfirst aid kitwarm clothing; andany specialized items such as baby supplies or pet food.Flinn also said power outages should be reported immediately to your utility provider. If you do lose power, don’t try to heat your home using a generator, your stove, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window. Carbon monoxide from these sources can build up in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that can incapacitate victims before they’re aware they’ve been exposed. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often mistaken for the flu and include nausea, headaches, dizziness, disorientation and fatigue. If you suspect you’ve been exposed to carbon monoxide, leave the home or building immediately and call 9-1-1 or seek medical attention.PennDOT TipsPennDOT actively monitors and is prepared to combat winter weather with its roughly 2,200 trucks, plows and salt spreaders operated by 4,800 department operators statewide. While the department has more than 733,000 tons of salt and over 570,000 tons of anti-skid on hand, motorists are urged to use common sense and caution in traveling in this and other winter storms.“Whenever there’s any type of precipitation, drivers need to adjust their speeds and travel plans accordingly,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. “Our crews are out around the clock during storms, but roads won’t be bare while it’s snowing. We ask the public to join us in making roads safer by postponing unnecessary travel and, if they must drive during storms, to plan for extra time and drive according to the conditions on the road.”To help motorists make decisions about travel, Richards encouraged visiting www.511PA.com for travel information such as incidents, winter road conditions and to view traffic cameras. The public can also track more than 700 department and contracted trucks on interstates and expressways statewide with the site’s new “Plow Trucks” option.Richards also noted that when traveling at any time during the winter, drivers should have their vehicle emergency kits packed or restocked. The kit should contain items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families have such as baby supplies, extra medication and pet supplies.The commonwealth’s ReadyPA campaign encourages citizens to take three basic steps before an emergency occurs: Be Informed, Be Prepared, Be Involved. More detailed information, including free downloadable emergency home and car kit checklists and emergency plan templates, is available online at www.ReadyPA.org. The free ReadyPA app is also available for both Apple and Android devices.State Police TipsState police are also reminding motorists that planning ahead for winter is a good way to avoid weather-related problems.“If at all possible, residents should avoid driving in harsh winter conditions,” said Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, Colonel Tyree C. Blocker. “If it is necessary that you drive, there are a number of additional actions that drivers can take to make our roads safer for ourselves and others.”If it is necessary that you drive, the state police offer these winter weather driving tips:Patience is key to safe winter driving. Reduce your speed and leave an extended following distance.Just slow down! Driving too fast for conditions is one of the leading causes of crashes in bad weather. It takes much longer to bring your vehicle to a stop and the chances of having to take evasive action to avoid a crash are much higher.Check that your car is ready for winter travel. Check that your tires are properly inflated and clean snow and ice from your entire vehicle. Not only is it unsafe, it’s also illegal. Additionally, if snow or ice is dislodged from your vehicle and causes injury, you could be looking at a steep penalty.Remember to turn your headlights on if you are using your windshield wipers. It’s much harder to see other vehicles in less than ideal conditions, so make sure others can see you.Be familiar with your planned route of travel. Winter weather can lead to road closures, so have an alternate route in mind if needed.Department of Health TipsThe Department of Health advises residents that the best way to protect you and your family from the cold is to stay indoors. If you must go outside, be alert for frostbite and hypothermia – the two most common cold-related health problems.Frostbite is injury to the body caused by exposure to very cold temperatures. It causes a loss of feeling and color in affected areas such as the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Symptoms include: a white or grayish-yellow skin area; skin that feels unusually firm or waxy; and numbness. Hypothermia is caused by an unusually low body temperature. Symptoms in adults include: shivering/exhaustion; confusion/fumbling hands; memory loss/slurred speech; and drowsiness. Symptoms in infants include bright red, cold skin and very low energy. Seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one has symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite. Infants and older people are more at risk for cold-related health problems.“The Department of Health wants to remind Pennsylvanians to take extra steps to protect themselves during severe winter weather. Extreme cold, high winds, or heavy snow, can be hazardous if the proper precautions are not taken,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy. “Everyone should be aware of the increased risk of falling on snow and ice.”If you must go outdoors be sure to bundle up with several layers of clothing, such as water-resistant coat and boots, and cover your hands and head. Shivering should not be ignored. It is the first sign that you should go inside.Cold weather puts additional strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the extreme cold. In addition to dressing warmly, before shoveling snow warm up muscles with 10 minutes of light exercise and stretching and take rest and water breaks instead of trying to do the entire job at once.When possible, push snow instead of lifting it. If you must lift, bend your legs and not your back.Avoid twisting motions that can stress your back; and if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath or other symptoms of a heart attack, seek immediate medical care or call 9-1-1.Like Governor Tom Wolf on Facebook: Facebook.com/GovernorWolf Governor Wolf, State Officials Provide Update on Winter Storm Preparations, Resident Safety
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NEW DELHI: Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt on Monday said that the national wrestling camp should not be postponed despite four grapplers testing positive for COVID-19 at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Sonepat. The camp is scheduled to start on September 15.Speaking to IANS, the wrestler-turned-politician suggested that the grapplers must accept the challenge and follow the COVID-19 protocols more carefully. “None of us have the answer to how many days this virus will remain. The national camp is important for the wrestlers. Already, so much time has been wasted because of this virus. I know some wrestlers tested positive, but I want to say that they are safer at the SAI centre than outside,” the former wrestler said. “Everybody must follow the guidelines and stay safe. Only a few months are left for the Tokyo Olympics to start and wrestlers need to work very hard for that. In my opinion, the camp must go on. Wrestlers need to take up the challenge and focus,” he said. A few wrestlers have demanded the postponement of the national camp after four wrestlers Deepak Punia (85kg), Rahul Aware (61kg), Navin (65kg) and Krishan (125kg) had tested positive. However, the Wrestlers Federation of India (WFI) didn’t give any importance to such calls. Deepak has been discharged from the hospital and has left for his home in Jhajjar, Haryana. IANS Also Watch: GMCH Superintendent: No Shortage of Beds at GMCH
DEFENDING champion of the Guyana Cycling Federation’s senior road race title, Geron `Lone Soldier’ Williams, is expected back home tomorrow to defend his title at this year’s championship which will be staged on Sunday.Williams, who is based in the United States riding for Team Foundation and is currently the only cyclist wearing the local (Guyana) Continental Cycling Club’s uniform, is, according to reports, performing creditably on the U.S. circuit and will be bringing with him that form and experience.Only two Sundays ago, Williams placed second to Australia’s track champion in a 35-mile criterium and was expected to participate in two more criteriums over the past weekend. However, no word has been received by Chronicle Sport as to his performances in those two events.According to reports, Williams has some fine-tuning to do to his contract with Team Foundation before he can be released by the team to return to Guyana to defend his title.With a mere five days before the national road race is staged, Williams might have a problem acclimatising to the current weather conditions in Guyana, but, being the `Solider’ he is, with grit and determination he will surely `throw out his belly’ to give his many supporters lots to talk about.Williams, unlike the other cyclists to face the starter, will not have domestic riders to help him during the 103-mile event which gets underway from Homestretch Avenue and proceeds to Camp Soweyo on the Linden Highway before turning back to finish at the place of origin.Williams could very well be coming up against the likes of his fellow U.S.-based Guyanese riders like Raynauth Jeffrey and Paul DeNobrega, who are already home for the event, as well as Andrew Hicks, Hamza Eastman and Christopher Holder who have all stated their intention to be home for the championships.The above names mentioned will join Jamal John, Walter Grant-Stuart, Alonzo Ambrose, Enzo Matthews, Mario King, and Romello Crawford who are all locally based.With this powerful lineup, Sunday’s event promises much excitement.
Oghenekaro Etebo who scored his first goal in Getafe shirt on Saturday will most likely miss tonight’s La Liga clash with Real Valladolid due to muscle tear he sustained in the clash with Eibar.The former Warri Wolves star picked up the injury in the 1-1 draw at the weekend. Results of the tests carried out on the injury showed yesterday that Etebo would need to rest the leg for a few days.After opening scoring for Getafe in the 69th minute, Etebo was replaced by Jason after picking up the injury. Etebo back to Spain on Loan It was the midfielder’s first goal in Spain after 23 league games which include 14 appearances during his loan stint at Las Palmas in the second half of the 2017-18 season.Getafe Manager, Jose Bordalas, confirmed the injury after the game against Eibar.“Oghenekaro Etebo and Timor David have muscle problems. We will see the extent of the injuries after Monday tests,”he told a news conference on Saturday.Bordalas released his 21-man list for the trip to the Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla on Monday morning with Etebo not included in the squad.The former CD Firense of Portugal star, who has made himself a vital cog in Bordalas’ system with his ball-winning skills and midfield contributions jouned the Deep Blues on a six-month loan deal in January after struggling for playing time at Championship club Stoke City.He has made nine league appearances for Getafe since his arrival at the club.Getafe occupy fifth position in the table with 48 points from 30 games, a point behind fourth-placed Athletico Madrid.Share this:FacebookRedditTwitterPrintPinterestEmailWhatsAppSkypeLinkedInTumblrPocketTelegram
Overview Related Stories Beat writers predict mixed outcomes for Syracuse-North CarolinaSyracuse basketball’s biggest challenge Monday: Defending North Carolina’s diverse offenseSyracuse basketball opponent preview: What to know about No. 7 North Carolina Published on February 29, 2016 at 1:25 pm Contact Jon: jrmettus@syr.edu | @jmettus Tyler Roberson – Brice Johnson Create bar chartsDajuan Coleman – Kennedy MeeksCreate bar chartsBig NumbersNorth Carolina is averaging 10.83 turnovers per game this season — the lowest mark for the program since turnovers were first recorded in 1981-82. The Tar Heels are 29th in the country in turnovers per game, but third with a 1.7 assist to turnover ratio.Only one team has shot 50 percent or better against UNC this season — Maryland shot 50.8 percent on Dec. 1. The Tar Heels have held 18 consecutive opponents under 45 percent shooting from the floor. Comments Positional ComparisonAdvertisementThis is placeholder textMichael Gbinije – Joel BerryCreate bar charts
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Meanwhile in the Junior B Munster Football Semi Final Cashel King Cormacs lost out to Cromane of Kerry in Knockaderry .Despite clocking up a flurry of goals in the final minutes of the game Cashel King Cormacs went down 4-03 to 2-14 to the Kerry side who now play Ballybrown in the final. Photo © Tipp FM Thurles Sarsfields are through to the All Ireland Junior B Championship Final after securing victory over Kilkenny and Leinster champions John Lockes.The Mid Tipp club ran out 3-14 to 10 point winners over the Callan based club..They now go on to face Kilnadeema-Leitrim of Galway after they defeated Killavullen – the side that beat Thurles Sars in the Munster Final earlier this month.