Latest news with #Collette
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
New Brunswick's Justin Collette is the ghost with the most in ‘Beetlejuice' musical
TORONTO - Even the walls of Justin Collette's dressing room scream, 'Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.' While most theatre actors would choose a Zen-like atmosphere in their backstage quarters, Collette prefers a little anarchy. Hanging around the room are nearly a dozen fan sketches of the living dead trickster he portrays in 'Beetlejuice: The Musical,' as well as drawings of his goth teen sidekick Lydia and the grotesque sandworm that invades her suburban home. 'This is like a fifth of fan art I've been given — so many cool, cool things,' Collette says with a smile, while the music of Italian rock band Måneskin blares over a speaker. 'I have to ship much of it home because it's hard to travel with anything on the road.' Collette is preparing for opening night at Toronto's CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, where 'Beetlejuice: The Musical' runs for six weeks, until July 19. It's the longest stop for the travelling show where he plays the character made famous by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton's 1988 dark comedy film. The New Brunswick native says he's excited to plant himself in a city where he once lived. Everything about his life on the road is a routine, including the hours leading up to his nightly performance. He comes into his dressing room, surveys the fan art, and then settles into a chair as makeup artist Andrew Ozbun begins to apply his Beetlejuice face. It's a process that Ozbun says once took an hour, but he now manages to finish in about half that time. Over the past 2 1/2 years, Collette has been criss-crossing North America, playing the wisecracking Beetlejuice practically every night. It's a gruelling role that calls for high energy, spastic movements and improvised witty quips. Before the show, Collette slips in and out of the character with ease, adopting the gravelly voice and wide-eyed mannerisms like he's flipping on a switch. 'One of the things about doing this for like 900 shows is that my facial muscles are atrophying,' he says. 'I don't know how Jim Carrey isn't lopsided because I have to get dry needled all the time to get my eyes and jaw to work.' Despite the physical challenges, Collette is buzzing about this opportunity to entertain Canadian audiences for a good chunk of the summer. He spent his early career in Toronto sharpening his skills as an improv comedian, and the crew has draped a banner of little Canadian flags across his wardrobe as a reminder of his homecoming. 'I feel like here I can relax into my own sensibilities,' he says of performing for locals. 'Because I kind of agree with them on what is good and what isn't, because I'm one of them.' Collette made his name on Broadway in the 2015 adaptation of 'School of Rock,' playing Dewey Finn, the music-obsessed teacher first portrayed by Jack Black in the Hollywood comedy. On stage, Collette took over the role from Alex Brightman, who decided to leave 'School of Rock' to become live theatre's first Beetlejuice. 'He was so excited about how funny it was,' Collette remembers of his friend's leap to the ghostly character. 'When I went to see (it), I agreed. It really was like nothing I'd ever seen on Broadway.' Collette didn't think he'd ever get to play Beetlejuice, until one day the opportunity arose for him to audition for the lead part in a travelling production of the show. 'I knew exactly how I wanted to do it,' he says of the character. 'It's hard to explain. I heard the cadence of how I was going to (speak) ... even when I read the script. I just knew.' After Collette got the part, he began refining his version of Beetlejuice to make it independent of his predecessors. 'I don't think it looks good when somebody does an impression of somebody else's character in one of these things,' he says. 'It's just diminishing returns because you'll inevitably just get compared to them.' Collette did lift a few mannerisms from the cinematic source material, he admits. Most notably, he liked Keaton's 'open-legged goblin run' in one scene of the movie, which he uses several times in throughout the musical. '(It's) little things, because I don't want him to be unrecognizable, right?' Collette says. 'So you've got to borrow some stuff.' Staying in the Beetlejuice role this long hasn't lost its appeal for him either. Collette says he's set personal goals for his portrayal, and then pushed himself to go further by 'sharpening movements and trying to dig into moments to mine them for little comedy bits.' Each night, as he stares out into the crowd of theatregoers and costumed Beetlejuice fans, he rises to another challenge of making Beetlejuice a little more his own. ''Make it your own' sounds so lame to me,' he interjects. 'You have to figure out who you are.' And with that, his makeup is finished, and Collette is buzzing with mischievous energy. Surveying his dressing room one last time, he pauses before whipping out one of Beetlejuice's trademark phrases, punctuated by his hearty growl. 'It's shooowtiiime!' he shouts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
New Brunswick's Justin Collette is the ghost with the most in ‘Beetlejuice' musical
TORONTO – Even the walls of Justin Collette's dressing room scream, 'Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.' While most theatre actors would choose a Zen-like atmosphere in their backstage quarters, Collette prefers a little anarchy. Hanging around the room are nearly a dozen fan sketches of the living dead trickster he portrays in 'Beetlejuice: The Musical,' as well as drawings of his goth teen sidekick Lydia and the grotesque sandworm that invades her suburban home. 'This is like a fifth of fan art I've been given — so many cool, cool things,' Collette says with a smile, while the music of Italian rock band Måneskin blares over a speaker. 'I have to ship much of it home because it's hard to travel with anything on the road.' Collette is preparing for opening night at Toronto's CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, where 'Beetlejuice: The Musical' runs for six weeks, until July 19. It's the longest stop for the travelling show where he plays the character made famous by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton's 1988 dark comedy film. The New Brunswick native says he's excited to plant himself in a city where he once lived. Everything about his life on the road is a routine, including the hours leading up to his nightly performance. He comes into his dressing room, surveys the fan art, and then settles into a chair as makeup artist Andrew Ozbun begins to apply his Beetlejuice face. It's a process that Ozbun says once took an hour, but he now manages to finish in about half that time. Over the past 2 1/2 years, Collette has been criss-crossing North America, playing the wisecracking Beetlejuice practically every night. It's a gruelling role that calls for high energy, spastic movements and improvised witty quips. Before the show, Collette slips in and out of the character with ease, adopting the gravelly voice and wide-eyed mannerisms like he's flipping on a switch. 'One of the things about doing this for like 900 shows is that my facial muscles are atrophying,' he says. 'I don't know how Jim Carrey isn't lopsided because I have to get dry needled all the time to get my eyes and jaw to work.' Despite the physical challenges, Collette is buzzing about this opportunity to entertain Canadian audiences for a good chunk of the summer. He spent his early career in Toronto sharpening his skills as an improv comedian, and the crew has draped a banner of little Canadian flags across his wardrobe as a reminder of his homecoming. 'I feel like here I can relax into my own sensibilities,' he says of performing for locals. 'Because I kind of agree with them on what is good and what isn't, because I'm one of them.' Collette made his name on Broadway in the 2015 adaptation of 'School of Rock,' playing Dewey Finn, the music-obsessed teacher first portrayed by Jack Black in the Hollywood comedy. On stage, Collette took over the role from Alex Brightman, who decided to leave 'School of Rock' to become live theatre's first Beetlejuice. 'He was so excited about how funny it was,' Collette remembers of his friend's leap to the ghostly character. 'When I went to see (it), I agreed. It really was like nothing I'd ever seen on Broadway.' Collette didn't think he'd ever get to play Beetlejuice, until one day the opportunity arose for him to audition for the lead part in a travelling production of the show. 'I knew exactly how I wanted to do it,' he says of the character. 'It's hard to explain. I heard the cadence of how I was going to (speak) … even when I read the script. I just knew.' After Collette got the part, he began refining his version of Beetlejuice to make it independent of his predecessors. 'I don't think it looks good when somebody does an impression of somebody else's character in one of these things,' he says. 'It's just diminishing returns because you'll inevitably just get compared to them.' Collette did lift a few mannerisms from the cinematic source material, he admits. Most notably, he liked Keaton's 'open-legged goblin run' in one scene of the movie, which he uses several times in throughout the musical. '(It's) little things, because I don't want him to be unrecognizable, right?' Collette says. 'So you've got to borrow some stuff.' Staying in the Beetlejuice role this long hasn't lost its appeal for him either. Collette says he's set personal goals for his portrayal, and then pushed himself to go further by 'sharpening movements and trying to dig into moments to mine them for little comedy bits.' Each night, as he stares out into the crowd of theatregoers and costumed Beetlejuice fans, he rises to another challenge of making Beetlejuice a little more his own. ''Make it your own' sounds so lame to me,' he interjects. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. 'You have to figure out who you are.' And with that, his makeup is finished, and Collette is buzzing with mischievous energy. Surveying his dressing room one last time, he pauses before whipping out one of Beetlejuice's trademark phrases, punctuated by his hearty growl. 'It's shooowtiiime!' he shouts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2025.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Pride is a blessing': Plattsburgh fest focuses on acceptance, unity
PLATTSBURGH — The Strand Center front lawn echoed with applause and cheers during this year's Pride Fest flag raising that celebrated community, acceptance and identity. Friday's Pride event brought together attendees from all over, including families and local organizations that promoted healthy self-expression and LGBTQ+ acceptance in the North Country. Emily Arriaga, a Plattsburgh local attending her first Pride in the city, described the event as "really great," and expressed a deep appreciation for the chance to celebrate openly in her hometown. "Pride is being able to be who you are without any backlash," Arriaga said, a sentiment shared by many throughout the day. Christopher T. Hathaway, a parent, attended to support his child. "My daughter is gay and I am here to show my support for her and her girlfriend," he said. Hathaway emphasized the importance of treating one another with respect as a family. "We are all God's children and we should live like everyone is our brother and sister," he said. 'I am glad there aren't any anti-Pride people hanging out." Jennifer Titus-Malone, who moved to the North Country from South Georgia, described Plattsburgh's Pride as a welcoming and supportive space with "a real sense of community." "Pride means I am free to be myself in public," she said. Titus-Malone reflected Friday on the culture shock here compared to her experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the South. "Pride is an honor of everyone who has come before us," said Mario Chicas Chanduvi, who attended his first hometown Pride. He emphasized how meaningful it was to see what the event has grown into. "It is an honor to see," he said. "Growing up here, we didn't have these outlets. Pride is a blessing. Pride is an honor of everyone who has come before us. It means to be true to oneself, to be who you are without worrying." Andrew Vernon, attending his first Pride event, liked seeing the support of the community in full effect. "I have never been to a Pride event before, but I am really liking it so far," he said. "The vibes are great." Crystal Collette, CEO of Planned Parenthood of North Country NY, said downtown was "filled with excitement, raw energy, and positivity" during the celebration. Collette describes Pride as "a time to celebrate family, be yourself and come together," noting its importance during a time of national challenges for LGBTQ+ people. She also expressed disappointment and shame for the federal government, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and community. "Pride is especially important this year," Collette said. "Transgender people's entire existence is being invalidated by the actions of our federal government." Alyssa O'Brien, co-owner of Whistle Stop Fusion Barbecue & Craft Mocktails, praised the event's strong turnout. "This is our first Pride participating as a business," she said. To O'Brien, Pride is about being able to be yourself. 'It isn't rocket science," she said. "Some people just want to be themselves, and be free to express themselves with the support of a community behind them." She recalled attending her first Pride event in Plattsburgh more than 20 years ago, acknowledging that it can be intimidating at first, but encouraged anyone interested to just get out and be with people. 'Come out here, be around other people who think like you and act like you and look like you," O'Brien said. A running theme throughout the event was acceptance, community and the power of standing together to celebrate Pride and to honor the original Stonewall protest that started it all. Before raising the rainbow flag or Pride flag, which is a symbol of LGBTQ pride and LGBTQ social movements, on Friday, Collette introduced speakers Connie Mandeville, drag king of Haus of Starr, and Ali Webbinaro, North Country Regional Representative for Gov. Kathy Hochul. This year's Pride event was hosted by The Strand Center for the Arts, in collaboration with Planned Parenthood of the North Country NY, the city of Plattsburgh, the Plattsburgh Queer Collective, Haus of Starr and the Alliance for Positive Health.
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
A new hydrogen-powered cruise will launch next year. Here's what that means.
A new hydrogen-powered cruise will launch next year. Here's what that means. Show Caption Hide Caption How to travel more sustainably Travel more sustainability with these eco-friendly tips. ProblemSolved, USA TODAY The cruise industry is exploring alternative fuels to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) offers some emissions benefits over diesel but may not be a long-term solution. Green methanol and hydrogen fuel cells offer greater potential but face storage and safety challenges. Batteries are viable for short-term, localized emission reduction but lack the capacity for entire voyages. Cruise ships can often be seen as symbols of excess and environmental waste, but behind the scenes, the industry is working to create a cleaner course for the future. While sustainable fuels for cruise ships are still not widely available, preparation for that day is well underway. The industry aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and is investing heavily in adaptable propulsion systems and a range of potential power sources. 'We're still, I think, in the … position where every fuel has its benefits and its drawbacks, and not one of them with a clear winner,' said Matthew Collette, a professor of naval architecture and marine engineering at the University of Michigan. Most recently, Viking said it will take delivery of its first hydrogen-powered ship in 2026. Collette walked USA TODAY through the pros and cons of some of the current leading alternative fuel candidates for cruises. Here's what to know. Can cruise ships run on liquefied gas? ▶ What it is: LNG, which stands for liquefied natural gas, is 'a liquefied version of the natural gas that comes to your house,' according to Collette. As of August 2024, 19 cruise ships operated by Cruise Lines International Association's oceangoing member lines were capable of using LNG as their main propulsion fuel. ▶ Pros: When burned cleanly, combusting all of the methane, LNG can reduce global warming impacts by around 10% compared with the diesel fuel many modern cruise ships use, Collette said. LNG also contributes less to air pollution in ports. 'It's much cleaner than diesel fuel in terms of soot, sulfur (and) other things that can affect the local region around the cruise ship,' said Collette. ▶ Cons: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and if any escapes unburned through the atmosphere, it has a high global warming potential. 'And it probably isn't going to get us anywhere close to net-zero for CO2 production, because it's only about 10% better than diesel fuel,' he added. Other potential options include bio-LNG, which could get closer to net-zero by pulling carbon out of the air during the production process, though Collette said that has not yet been seen 'at any large scale.' Can cruise ships run on green methanol? ▶ What it is: 'Green' denotes methanol that is produced without using fossil fuels. 'So, you're getting it from a biological source, or you're synthesizing it from renewable energy to make hydrogen, and then you capture some carbon, and you can make methanol,' Collette said. ▶ Pros: The fuel could also get the industry close to net-zero by removing carbon from the atmosphere to make the fuel. 'So, it has a nice circular property,' Collette said. Unlike LNG, it also doesn't need to be cooled to -162 degrees Celsius (about -260 degrees Fahrenheit). ▶ Cons: Green methanol has a lower flash point than diesel fuel, and the vapors are noxious. 'There's a lot of concern around explosion, leaks, because it's a little bit more dangerous than diesel fuel for those things,' he said. The fuel is also bulkier, taking up roughly twice as much volume. Can we have eco-friendly cruising?: What to know about zero-emission ships. Can cruise ships run on hydrogen fuel cell? ▶ What it is: Cruise ship operators can run hydrogen through a fuel cell 'and you basically get clean power,' according to Collette. 'It's not being combusted,' he said. 'It's being chemically reacted in a fuel cell, and the properties of that process are very low impact in terms of the environment.' ▶ Pros: Hydrogen can be made by electrolyzing water, resulting in a zero-carbon fuel. 'It's just H2, so that's really nice,' Collette said. 'Virtually everything else about hydrogen is not nice.' ▶ Cons: The fuel is very difficult to transport and store and is explosive. 'It's incredibly bulky,' he added. 'The energy density is worse than methanol, and it has to be stored under either pressure, which is probably unrealistic for a cruise ship, or liquefied.' In the latter case, it requires cooling to below -253 degrees Celsius (-423 degrees Fahrenheit). Can cruise ships run on batteries? ▶ What it is: Batteries allow cruise ships to operate emissions-free during voyages. Over 15% of cruise ships launching within the next five years will have battery storage, according to CLIA. ▶ Pros: Cruise operators could use battery power in sensitive regions, such as Antarctica or parts of Norway. 'You could certainly think about switching over to battery power for, you know, six to 12 hours at low speed and then have zero emissions locally while you're doing that,' said Collette. In ports without shore power infrastructure, ships could also shut down their diesel engines and run on battery power for several hours. Batteries can also be used for hybrid propulsion, using batteries to help shoulder some of the load. ▶ Cons: Batteries don't currently have the energy density to power large cruise ships on a standard seven-day itinerary. 'I think we're a way away from that type of energy density, even with lithium-ion batteries,' Collette said. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
The Age
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Creative Australia chair retires after Venice furore
The chair of the federal arts agency, Robert Morgan, has stood down three months after the board's controversial sacking of Australia's appointed representatives to the Venice Biennale. Morgan's retirement from Creative Australia was announced by Arts Minister Tony Burke late Friday just weeks before an independent review is to publicly report on the process that led to the sacking of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino. The leadership change has raised hopes in the arts sector that the sacking could be revoked in time for Australia to attend the Venice Biennale in 2026. Morgan and Creative Australia chief executive Adrian Collette have borne the brunt of criticism over the board's decision in February to abruptly cancel the Biennale invitation of Sabsabi and Dagostino. The move had followed questions in parliament that day about Sabsabi's historic works. The pair told Senate estimates the decision had been taken to avoid 'the worst kind of divisive debate', and 'an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia's artistic community'. It was the discovery of an 18-second 2006 video artwork, Thank You Very Much featuring images of the 9/11 attacks on the US that Collette told senators had prompted him to call an emergency meeting of the board the evening of February 13. Collette said there was a possibility the agency might be unable to find a replacement in time, leaving Australia without a presence at the event. Collette announced Morgan's departure in a note to staff.
