Sherz Aletaha News

STACEY ORISTANO, currently appearing in Off-Broadway's acclaimed musical DISASTER! in the role of 'Jackie' -- and known to millions for her roles in the acclaimed TV series 'Bunheads' and 'Friday Night Lights' -- will be featured in tomorrow evening's (Tuesday, 2/11) broadcast of Bravo-TV's 'Watch What Happens Live' as the guest bartender.

BroadwayWorld, so much to tell you! First, I'll start with what's happening this week. On Thursday, 2/13, the cast is heading to Broadway Sessions. Yippee hooray! 'What's Broadway Sessions?' Thanks for asking, friend. Let me tell you all about it. The wonderfully talented, Ben Cameron, hosts a variety hour/open mic on Thursday evenings at the Laurie Beechman. It usually features certain performers from the musical theatre world and this week, we're up! The 'Disaster!' cast will be there after our show, and we hope you'll come hang out with us (and even get in on the fun and sing too!). Head towww.broadwaysessions.net for all of the info. If you really love us, you'll come to Disaster! at 7pm and then continue the fun by heading down the street to the Beechman.

We might have had the most entertaining performance of Disaster! yet this week, and when I say entertaining, I mean for us cast members; the audience seemed to enjoy the show but we were losing it backstage. On Tuesday nights, our curtain is usually at 7:30pm but something was wrong with the sound system so we held curtain until 8pm to give the stage management team time to fix whatever was happening (in all honesty, I have no clue what was wrong but bless our awesome sound engineer, Nissa Syverson, for dealing with the madness).

Happy February, everybody! A moment of truth, this is my least favorite month of the year. It's cold, it's dark, our senses are assaulted by Valentine's Day (barf), but luckily it's short, and I get to spend it doing pelvic thrusts and body rolls Off-Broadway. Silver lining!

DISASTER!, the critically-acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre, will welcome new cast members in February. David Hibbard, previously seen on Broadway in Elf, Billy Elliot, Spamalot, A Class Act, Once Upon a Mattress and Cats (2,197 performances as Rum Tum Tugger), will take over the role of casino owner Tony Delvecchio on February 4th. Max Crumm, best known for winning the reality television series 'Grease: You're the One That I Want!' and subsequently starring in the Broadway revival as Danny Zuko, takes over the role of Scott (replacing original cast member Robb Sapp) on February 14th. And as previously announced, award-winning comedian, writer and actress Judy Gold -- currently seen on the reality series 'Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-off,' and known for her acclaimed Off-Broadway shows The Judy Show - My Life as a Sitcom and 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother -- will take over the role of Shirley (currently played by Annie Gold) on February 10th.

Well, it's the end of January which means it's the end of my month as a guest blogger for Broadwayworld.com. But here's the exciting surprise: the blogs will keep on coming through February. I was informed by the lovely folks over at Broadway World that you guys have enjoyed my little musings, so they've offered to extend my stay as a guest. Since I'm an attention whore, obviously I said yes.

Last week was a pretty great one on the Barricuda. We survived another snow storm (Why, oh why, oh why-o? Why did I ever leave Southern California...) and luckily New York did not stand us up. We had a great audience who trekked out into the grossness to laugh at us. Even pianist and late night sidekick extraordinaire, Paul Shaffer, endured the Polar Vortex. Fun Fact! He played on the original track for Barry Manilow's 'Daybreak' which happens to be our closing number. Full circle.

So, my blogs are usually kind of sassy and silly, but I'm about to get real, y'all! If you don't mind, indulge my sentimental side for a moment. Last night, I missed my first performance of Disaster! which was slightly heartbreaking, but it was for a good reason. I was actually swung out of the show which means that our swing goes on for my track and I get to sit in the audience and watch. A few blogs ago, I told you about my role in the show and how I understudy three principles. We have limited time for understudy rehearsals so being swung out is a way for me to watch, learn, and take notes. I came prepared with track sheets for the roles and a list of moments I really needed to focus on. My BroadwayWorld peeps, I had to actively tell myself to do my job! I was having such a great time as an audience member that I had to force myself to pay attention as an actor.

The last few performances of Disaster! were very special for me; my mama was in town from California and in the audience!

So I'm realizing that I haven't really told you guys what I do in Disaster! My bad, BroadwayWorld. I'm one of three ensemble members, and I also understudy three roles:

Alright guys, real talk. There's a certain cast member who needs to be called out.

This post is 100% a love letter to Mary Testa. You're welcome, Broadway World! Know why? Cause Mary Testa is the best-a (yup, that happened) and here are the reasons why:

In case you live under a rock or you're a bear in hibernation or you're my mother on the west coast who calls to tell me it's 80 degrees and perfect outside, I just want to let you know that it's freaking cold in New York! At this point, I have a decent amount of east coast winters under my belt, but it happens every year; it's winter, it's freezing, I stare at my closet and revert right back to the California girl I am while thinking, 'why do I have so many cocktail dresses? I need a sweater or something...'

DISASTER!, the 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street), has just announced that it will welcome new cast members in the coming weeks.

Happy 2014, everyone! I'm Sherz Aletaha (first name sounds like more than one Cher, last name...just sound that one out...) and I'm currently in the Off-Broadway Musical 'Disaster!' A little bit about our show: it's a parody of 1970's disaster movies with lots of amazing songs from that decade, it takes place on a floating casino named The Barracuda, and it's performed by the most lovable group of crazies in New York City. If you've seen the show, you know it's a great time and super funny (My besties Tina Fey and Amy Poehler picked us as their 'Must See' theater pick for Entertainment Weekly and then we braided each other's hair and talked about boys. **One part of that sentence is true**) but I'm so excited to share what our awesome cast and crew are up to behind the scenes.

Presented by Mary J. Davis, DISASTER! is the hilarious, acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street). DISASTER! is written by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick, directed by Mr. Plotnick, and has choreography by Denis Jones. A send-up of the 1970s disaster movie genre, DISASTER! features some of the best songs of the 1970s, including 'Hot Stuff,' 'Don't Bring Me Down,' 'I Am Woman,' 'Alone Again Naturally,' 'Signed Sealed Delivered,' 'Knock On Wood,' 'Daybreak' 'Sky High,' and more.

Mary Birdsong (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, "Reno 911") will join the cast of DISASTER!, the hilarious, acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street) on Monday, December 9th. Ms. Birdsong will take over the role of lounge singer "Jackie," played by Michele Ragusa, whose final performance will be on Friday, December 6th.

DISASTER! -- the hilarious, acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street) - is getting into the holiday spirit by adding a performance to this week's schedule - and by offering a discount for those who come with canned goods (to be donated to charity). Those who come to the St. Luke's Theatre today, November 29th with 2 canned goods will be eligible to purchase $25 tickets to that afternoon's special matinee performance at 1:30 PM. All collected canned goods will be donated to charity. The St. Luke's Box Office will open at on Friday, 12/29 at Noon ($25 tickets are available IN-PERSON ONLY on a first-come, first-served basis while supply lasts).

DISASTER! -- the hilarious, acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street) - is getting into the holiday spirit by adding a performance to this week's schedule - and by offering a discount for those who come with canned goods (to be donated to charity). Those who come to the St. Luke's Theatre on Friday, November 29th with 2 canned goods will be eligible to purchase $25 tickets to that afternoon's special matinee performance at 1:30 PM. All collected canned goods will be donated to charity. The St. Luke's Box Office will open at on Friday, 12/29 at Noon ($25 tickets are available IN-PERSON ONLY on a first-come, first-served basis while supply lasts).

Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick's musical Disaster! written by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick, is directed by Jack Plotnick, choreographed by Denis Jones and music direction by Larry Pressgrove. Playing at St. Luke's Theatre, Disaster! just opened last night, November 4. Tickets are: $49.50-$79.50 and can be purchased at www.DisasterMusical.com. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the after party festivities below!