Breaking a Leg

[HostDave]

By Timothy Rubacky, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Development

American river cruises are often not associated with great entertainment. However, the American Queen breaks all the molds as her sheer size as the biggest steamboat ever built presents all sorts of options that smaller replicas of riverboats are unable to duplicate. While we bring aboard all sorts of special entertainers with our theme cruises, ranging from bands to balladeers and from historians to one-man shows, we supplement that special entertainment with the Steamboat Syncopators (our onboard orchestra) and the amazing talents of pianists, singers and duos who perform in the Main Lounge Bar and the Engine Room Bar.

However, the two-deck Grand Saloon, modeled after Ford’s Theater in the style of a river town’s opera house complete with a proscenium stage, is the venue for our showboat-style shows. It’s utterly amazing what these four-person troupes are able to do on each voyage. There are no background singers; each of the cast members is a star in their own right. The casts rotate but in today’s blog, I wanted to introduce you to what we call the “Red Team.”

CHRIS J. HANDLEY
Originally from Buffalo, NY, Chris has a BFA in Musical Theatre from SUNY Fredonia and is currently living in New York City when not on the American Queen. In New York he has performed with Broadway stars Karen Akers, Melanie Vaughan and Eric Michael Gillette. Across the country, he has performed in such shows as: The Producers (Leo), Hello Dolly! (Cornelius), She Loves Me (Georg), Singin’ In The Rain (Cosmo), Into The Woods (Baker), Wizard Of Oz (Lion), Lucky Stiff (Harry), Romeo and Juliet (Nurse/Tybalt), The Robber Bridegroom (Goat), You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Charlie), Beauty and The Beast (Beast), Chorus Line (Zach), The Pajama Game (Pop), Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (Dodd), High School Musical, Blood Brothers, Crazy For You, West Side Story, Full Monty, and Annie. He received Buffalo's Artie nomination twice for Reefer Madness (Jimmy) and Assassins (Booth). Chris originated the role of Gary, a neurotic greeting card salesman in Mating Habits Of The Urban Mammal, a new musical by TONY nominee Michael Leeds (Swingin’ on a Star), Peggy Gordon (Godspell) and Timothy Graphenreed (The Wiz). On the web, he plays opposite Guiding Light and Days of Our Lives stars Tina Sloan, Ellen Dolan and Emmy-nominee Molly Burnett in the multiple-award-winning soap, Empire. He appeared on Celebrity Ghost Stories and is the creator of a new comedy series, This Just In. Stay in touch with him online at www.chrisjhandley.com.

CASEY KILROY
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Casey has had a diverse career, ranging from full body costume work as Zoe in Sesame Street Live! to performing as a back-up singer with symphony orchestras across the US for Broadway star Gary Mauer. The daughter of a pastry chef and a self proclaimed trouble-maker, Casey grew up a gymnast and later studied tap dancing and voice, landing her first professional theatre role at the age of 15. A highly sought-after and well-known political organizer, she holds degrees in both Political Science and Musical Theatre from Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA. Although she has mostly been in political ‘hibernation’ since college, she has left the performing world on a few occasions to lend a hand to some high-profile campaigns. For the past two years, Casey sailed the oceans perforing her one-woman show, Five Foot Two. Casey is also no stranger to a life on a riverboat. In 2006, she worked for two years aboard boats in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska and she is excited to be back home on the American Queen. When she isn’t on the road or on the water, Casey can be found in Pittsburgh working on independent films with her husband Andrew. Follow her travel journeys at www.caseykilroy.com/blog

MICHAELYN OBY
Michaelyn Oby is a sultry vocalist with a voice reminiscent of those legends of old. She exemplifies the elegance and eloquence of a golden era, while bridging the neo-soul movement of her fellow contemporizes with a transcending grace rarely found within those artists of today. Michaelyn has been said to embody the emotional captivation of Billie Holiday, the stylistic clarity of Ella Fitzgerald, as well as the popular tinge of Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Music will never be the same when Michaelyn hits center stage. A native of Milwaukee, WI, Michaelyn was born to accomplished musicians, Michael and Joyce Oby. Relocated to Memphis,TN, she began singing at a young age and fast gained the title as "the little girl with the big voice." Michaelyn has enjoyed a gratifying professional career and has graced many stages in including historic Beale Street in Memphis and has opened for musical legends such as the late Isaac Hayes. In those rare instances where she is not on stage performing, Michaelyn can be found in her second home, the studio, recording and composing.

CARSON TURNER
Carson Turner is no stranger to the stage. When he was only two weeks old he played baby Jesus in the church Christmas show. Since the very young age of three he has been taking dance lessons and quickly found a passion for performing. When he turned six, his mom took him to see "Annie" and he immediately wanted to be an orphan. While in college at Union University he took over as the youth minister of a church in downtown Jackson, TN where his passion for young people really grew. From there he went on to perform in Japan and Germany. After that he moved back to Memphis, TN and has constantly been on stage. He spent a couple of years in Indiana working for Matt Davenport Productions at Holiday World. While at home in Memphis he works within the Shelby County School district as the choreographer for many high schools and has also choreographed for numerous theatres including the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Memphis. He is the current reigning Mr. Mid-South on a platform to get young people off the streets and back into a positive atmosphere of living. He has been nominated for numerous awards including Best Choreography at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards.

If it sounds like the folks above are a talented bunch, you’re right! It isn’t easy to get people on their feet after savoring one of Chef de Cusine Regina Charboneau’s home-style dishes in the J.M. White Dining Room but every time they perform, without fail, this skilled group brings guests to their feet at the end of each show.