Old News, New News

Back in early 2006 (prior to my college graduation), I had the pleasure of working with Stage Stars Records, the premier Musical Theatre accompaniment/karaoke record label. Alongside 8 other cast members, we rehearsed and laid down vocal tracks for a July 2006 release of INTO THE WOODS, Stephen Sondheim's fairy tale musical.

On January 3, 2011, Stage Stars released a new album entitled, SONDHEIM SOLOS, MALE SELECTIONS, which is part of a composer series that the label is currently producing. You can find me on track #1 with, "Any Moment," taken from the previously recorded ...WOODS album.

Bennett Studios

"Melvin and the Boy" by Lauren Castillo

"Melvin and the Boy," released on July 5, 2011, is now available for purchase at your local bookstore or online. Grab yourself a copy, curl up on the couch with your little one(s) and enjoy this timeless tale for years to come!

For Children Who Want Pets and Parents Who Don’t

By Pamela Paul
Published: July 6, 2011

"And you can add an eco-friendly flourish to the message! In “Melvin and the Boy,” the first book to be both written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo (who previously illustrated “What Happens on Wednesdays,” among others), a boy’s parents tell him he can’t get a dog, a monkey or a bird. But when the nameless boy (substitute your child’s name here) is captivated by a turtle in the park, he’s allowed to bring a pet home.

Alas, the turtle, which the boy names Melvin, seems unhappy in his new environs. This awakens an empathetic awareness in the child: “In the morning, I tell Mom and Dad that Melvin isn’t having much fun at our house,” he says, and then willingly releases Melvin back into the park, where he is probably better off, as endpapers describing the lives of turtles make clear.

Now, what to do with an unwanted pet pig?"


For the full article click here.

More Reviews:

“Emotionally true and therefore highly satisfying.” --Kirkus Reviews

"With pared-down, rhythmic words and mixed-media illustrations filled with spot-on body language and details from an urban child’s world, Castillo elevates the familiar theme of a child’s unrequited yearning for a pet, adding a welcome twist when the boy, not the parents, is the first to recognize that Melvin belongs in the wild.” --Booklist

NOW GO PURCHASE!

CHRISTMAS IS HERE

I'm super excited to announce the release of CHRISTMAS IS HERE, my sister's 7th illustrated children's book - available out on shelves (or online sites) TODAY! Pick up a copy for yourself, your son or daughter, niece or nephew or just about anyone who has a love for Christmas, amazing art work, or better yet, the word of the Bible. Check out the trailer below and share with others...

Congratulations, Laurie!

Wishing you all "good tidings of great joy" this Holiday season!

CHRISTMAS IS HERE, Words from the King James Bible, Illustrated by Lauren Castillo.

Music courtesy of Kevin MacLeod at Incompetech.com
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available for purchase October 5, 2010

PRAISE:

"The theme--that the most basic meaning of Christmas has remained the same over the centuries--is conveyed with a warm and captivating simplicity that even the youngest child will understand." --Starred, School Library Journal

"Gorgeous watercolor illustrations in a subdued palette of twilight grays set off the falling snowflakes in the modern scenes, while the biblical scenes are brilliantly lit by starlight. Castillo's smudgy style infuses all with wonder." --Starred, Kirkus Reviews

TO PURCHASE ONLINE: http://tinyurl.com/2epfgdc

More at http://laurencastillo.com

GLEE Audition

could i be the token male jew alongside rachel berry OR possibly a band member who also sings? who knows? the decision is now in the hands of fellow gleeks and more importantly, casting.

if you have the chance, check out my audition upload. link below:

GLEE AUDITION

OH, and if you still have a myspace account, you can contribute to the voting process by giving me gold stars! ;-)

peace.

FX's 'Rescue Me'

Spent most of yesterday (3.3.10) down in Tribeca working on the set of 'Rescue Me.'

If you watch the show, look for me in Episode 12: Menses and Episode 13: Press. Season 6 premieres Tuesday, March 20th on FX.

Thanks to Sean at Barbara McNamara Casting!

SNL - Women's Curling

Hope everyone got a chance to watch 'Saturday Night Live' this weekend. I thought Jennifer Lopez did a great job hosting, despite recently parting ways with her record label, as well as the a push back on the release of her new film, 'The Back Up Plan.' I believe she had agreed to host the show prior to any of the bad news, so there was no turning back...

Although I was called in to work on the ESPN Classic skit: Women's Curling, you wouldn't have been able to spot me due to the nonuse of wide camera shots. Nonetheless, i had a great time hanging on set with J-Lo and the hilarious Kristen Wiig. Watch below:

TROUBLE

This week I'm lucky enough to be taking part in the workshop of a new rock musical called...

Music and Lyrics by Ella Grace
Book and Direction by Michael Alvarez
Musical Direction by Alex Lawrence

Nylon Theatre Company and Saving Grace Productions will be conducting all aspects of the workshop. According to press, TROUBLE has had previous workshops in London, however this will be the musical’s first U.S. workshop with hopes for a spot in the 2010 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

The workshop dates are February 1-3 from 10-6 in Manhattan, with the first reading at 6:30pm on the 3rd. Space TBA.

For further information check out the website at: www.troublethemusical.com