In the past ten years, American Idol has gone from a glorified karaoke competition to a weekly spectacle that continues to rival Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour. I turned to Cutting Edge alum and Idol season one runner-up Justin Guarini for some expert insight into the evolution of Fox’s search for a superstar.

Syd: What would you consider to be the biggest changes that Idol has undergone over the past ten years?

Justin: The biggest change (and most obvious) is the production value. The basic principal has stayed the same. The show finds amazing singers from “Anytown, USA,” puts them through the toughest test of their entertainment lives, and lets America choose who it feels is the very best. The bells and whistles have all been placed around that over the years. For example, there is now a bigger stage with more lights, a huge orchestra, iTunes downloads of the contestants’ latest performance, bigger and longer national tours, and the new judges. But the beauty for me will always be that the show doesn’t work without the talent and the perseverance of the performers who give their all week in and week out.

Syd: What is the effect of this change?

Justin: Ha! More for the kids to do each week! Seriously, they work like mad doing interviews, recordings for iTunes, learning multiple songs, and flying around here and there. It was crazy my year. Now, it’s just insane. But they manage to make it work, and I’m amazed by them.

Syd: Do you miss any aspects of the show that have been changed since season one?

Justin: I love how [the format] has grown and changed; however, I miss the impact that the first season had on everyone from the performers to people all over the world who got to be a part of it’s magic.

So there you go. According to Cutting Edge’s resident expert, the show’s increased production value has created the American Idol with which we are familiar today. What do you think have been some of the major changes to the Idol format since season one? Do you miss the simplicity of Idol at its beginning or prefer the extravaganza and celebrity mentors that flow across our television screens on Wednesday and Thursday nights?

Thank you to Justin for taking the time to answer my questions.

~Sydney Fenkell

More on Justin Guarini and Cutting Edge Entertainment

www.JustinGuarini.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Many articles have been loaded to this blog that pertain to one particular cast member who has risen above the rest. It is no secret that the cast member who has made the most permanent impact on Cutting Edge Entertainment is our American Idol himself, Justin Guarini. Everyone knows the rough-outline of Justin’s story; he joins the cast of CEE as a just another face wanting to entertain at events, later auditioning for some “unknown” reality TV program and finishes second to another budding superstar, then fades –as most assume- into obscurity. However, it’s never that simple and it’s always more uplifting than assumptions allow.

After the conclusion of his run on American Idol and the subsequent public-thrashing of his movie with fellow alum Kelly Clarkson, Justin stayed true to his goals and continued to work at perfecting his craft. As a host for the TV Guide Network’s coverage of The Oscars, The Grammys and The Emmys, Justin was still in the public eye while keeping his eyes on projects that truly spoke to him. In keeping with that theme Justin returned to one of his first loves, the stage, for a run in several Broadway shows – with a few stops at some local venues, as well, for a role in my favorite show.

Widely known as the show that revived Broadway, at least for a new generation, “Rent” became a staple for the reinvention of the “rock musical”. The Tony-winning musical (1996; Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical) spent over twelve years –and 5,124 performances- at one of Broadway’s most underrated houses, the Nederlander Theater. Known as the only working theater south of 42nd street in New York, the Nederlander was the launching pad –excluding its run at the New York Theater Workshop- for a landmark show that “speaks to Generation X the way that the musical Hair spoke to baby boomers”.

After successfully appearing on Broadway in “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” and in Green Day’s “American Idiot”, Justin tackled a role that not only required the pipes to rule a stage, but also the emotion to portray a powerful, yet tragic character. The role of Roger is one of conflict and pain, but one that reaches for the positive ending even if that conclusion is tough to see. The play follows Roger and his friends (Mark, the filmmaker; Mimi, the exotic dancer and Roger’s new love interest ; Tom, a philosopher anarchist; Angel, the drag queen percussionist with a heart of gold; Maureen, the performance artist and Mark’s ex-girlfriend; Joanne, the lawyer and Maureen’s current girlfriend; and Benny, Mark and Roger’s landlord, ex-roommate and hypocrite) as they struggle to survive in New York’s East Village while dealing with love, drugs, the onset of the AIDS epidemic and the relationships that develop between them.

Being a self-professed “Rent-head” –no, I have not slept outside for tickets in NY or have followed the actors around, but I do know the lyrics to every song and get choked up, every time, during Tom’s reprisal of “I’ll Cover You” during the funeral scene- I struggled to wrap my head around the thought of someone I knew playing the role of one of my favorite stage characters. It was not difficult to imagine Justin playing the role, but this would be the fourth different Roger in my fourth different viewing of the show. His true “star-power” was showcased throughout the performance as he transitioned from a soul lost within his own world and to the wide-eyed dreamer who rediscovers his art and his heart within a new love.

Attending a show within a smaller setting -the Surflight Theater in Beach Haven, NJ – is unlike seeing a performance in New York or downtown Philadelphia, bringing a fresh perspective on the stage itself. This permits an intimacy that is not provided during a large theater setting. The ability to get closer to the actors makes the emotion easier to grasp and allows you to enter the experience and not just watch it. It was a great experience, especially for a first timer –Alicja, who attended the show with me had not seen it previously. Despite the afternoon performance –on a dreary day, no less- and the minimal crowd, which was alluded to during “Maureen’s Performance”, the cast did not falter and presented the show as it was meant to be.

Thank you to the cast and crew for a marvelous performance.

Congratulations, Justin, on making Roger your own. Jonathan Larson would be proud. I know your family at Cutting Edge is.

No Day but Today…

~Brian

More on Justin Guarini and Cutting Edge Entertainment

www.JustinGuarini.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

On Saturday, December 5, 2009, Cutting Edge Entertainment was given the great honor – for the second time in a row – of participating in the Kids Wish Network’s ‘Holiday of Hope’ event at Shriner’s Hospital here in Philadelphia.

In the spirit of the season and the event Cutting Edge spared no expense, bringing out the big guns to make this special day for the kids as magical as possible.  We brought the sound, the lights, and of course great entertainers and personalities,  including former American Idol runner-up Justin Guarini, former Eagles cheerleader and alum Monica Devlin, former Philadelphia Eagles lineman Brandon Whiting, Michael Lacivita (current Cutting Edge MC) and myself.

To say that this was an unforgettable and rewarding afternoon would be an understatement.  The joy and excitement that every contributor brought to the children at Shriner’s Hospital will stay with us and all of the volunteers for a long time to come.  There were bags of gifts and prizes for all, and the people at the Kids Wish Network truly created an event that will be remembered for years to come (we still remember the first one).

The following Monday I received an email from Margo Carter, Facility Coordinator for the Kids Wish Network, which read:

Hi Pedro!

I just wanted to thank you and Michael for all you did on Saturday! You guys, along with Justin, were a HUGE hit and the kids loved it!!!
It really is events like this that bring joy to these kids who have so much other stuff to deal with and the fact that you gave up your Saturday afternoon to hang out with them means a lot!!

If we are ever back in the area I will definitely be giving you a call and if you ever get the urge to visit sunny Florida, please look us up!!

Thanks again for everything!
Margo Carter

You’re very welcome Margo, and thank you for the opportunity to bring a little more joy to the kids this holiday season.  Happy Holidays Everyone!

-  Pedro Coelho
Creative Director
Cutting Edge Entertainment

P.S. Special thanks to Eli at Majestic Images for these photos, and for donating his time for this cause.

Majestic Images – www.majesticimages.net

For an Entertainer, Hell hath no fury like a posse of sugar-crazed thirteen year-olds at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

In a career that mirrors the best of roller coaster rides, I consider my time at Cutting Edge Entertainment as one of the definitive high points. It was here that I truly honed my skills as an entertainer, as opposed to just being a Vocalist/Musician (now, now… for all of you Vocalists and Musicians out there, no offense meant, much love to ya).

I believe it was my mother who first brought the ad in The Bucks County Courier Times to my attention which said something like “looking for young, energetic personalities,” and something about “having to be a good dancer.” I thought that it seemed right up my alley…and indeed it was.

After what can only be called an interesting social audition (we basically did a speed-dating-round-robin-get-to-know-you-social-chat-without-the-dating-part-conference), we moved on to the dance audition. It was kind of different, but certainly interesting as far as auditions go(Let’s just say Craig has a very unique style of auditioning, but in the context of the industry very effective).

I remember being a bit tentative about jumping in the middle of the dance circle we formed, but it really wasn’t anything more than what I’d done numerous times before through out my years in Junior & Senior High School. The fact that I’d gotten to know everyone made me forget about the usual fears, so in I went.

I came out an employee.

The Bar & Bat Mitzvah business can be the butt of jokes for the outsider (which I take liberties ribbing Craig about frequently) but inside the business there’s a serious amount of preparation and presentation that goes into each event. For just short of two years, I learned what it took to entertain people of all ages. From getting the whole crowd warmed-up and excited for the night’s events, charming the lovable Grandparents into getting up and on the dance floor, facing and conquering dreaded thirteen year-old gangs that could sense weakness as easily as they could surf the web, assisting and preparing the post-synagogue ceremony, and of course making the Bar/Bat Mitzvah feel like a million bucks.

All the while I danced, sang, played, told a few jokes (poor ones) and soaked up each moment. I learned where I could improve as well as role-modeled myself off of my amazing co-workers night after night.

As my tenure with Cutting Edge came to a close, I realized that my entire experience with the company was a proving ground, and was an integral part of the lifelong preparation I’ve been given for a life in the entertainment business. Now, I entertain across the nation, I have my own sketch comedy show at www.SketchedOutTV.com, and am working on my third studio album. Among all the feathers in my cap, though, my time with Cutting Edge stands out, as a pivotal point in my career helping pave the way for all I have done since, and – as always – a second family.

-Justin Guarini

Justin’s sketch comedy show – www.SketchedOutTV.com

Justin Guarini photo by Matt Beard

In March of 2002 Justin Guarini came to me asking for a few months off to go to California to be on a new reality television show.  Little did I know it would be his last request as an employee.  That June I went to Australia for a month, only to return to a media frenzy that not only will I never forget, but that turned Cutting Edge Entertainment upside down (in a good way) for quite some time after.  Who could have predicted that this unknown reality show (yes, American Idol) would have become what it is today.  Although Cutting Edge has had near misses on Idol since Justin, he will always be our number one.

-Craig

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

It was the Summer of 2003…

I’ll never forget when Craig invited me to the after party for the premiere of “From Justin to Kelly,” starring none other than Cutting Edge Entertainment  alum Justin Guarini and American Idol,  Kelly Clarkson. I was fourteen at the time and a big fan of Justin’s. Needless to say, I was so excited to be at the premiere and to experience everything that it entailed – flashing paparazzi cameras, red carpet, reporters, cameramen, and even a man holding an umbrella for Justin to shield him from the rain as he signed autographs for fans. But little did I know that the best part of my night was going to take place after the credits had started rolling.

After the movie had finished, I had started to walk out into the lobby of the theater. As I was walking, I heard Craig, who I had previously known, calling my name. He asked me where my mom was, I showed him, and he immediately ran over to talk to her.

About six minutes later, Craig came back over to where I was standing and said, “Syddi, come with me. We are going to the after party.” As I heard what he said, I couldn’t believe it. Craig knew how much it meant to me to meet Justin, stood out in the rain with me for twenty minutes while Justin finished signing autographs. Was he really going to take me to the after party too?

Sure enough, a few minutes later I was in Craig’s car with two other Cutting Edge staff members at the time, Monica and Alison. I hadn’t met either of them before, but they immediately made me feel as if I had known them forever.

When we got inside the restaurant where the party was taking place, I was quickly introduced to the rest of the Cutting Edge family. Once again, everyone who I met was beyond friendly, and not to mention, an amazing dancer as well. I couldn’t have asked for a more fun group of people to spend the night with.
I also got a chance to talk to Justin again. He remembered me from earlier and made sure that we got a picture together.

Just before the night was over, Craig found me again. This time, he wanted to make sure that I met Kelly Clarkson. We pushed through the crowd, and he introduced me to her and took a picture of us together.
My night at the From Justin to Kelly premiere and after party is one that I still tell my friends about to this day. Thanks, Craig, for making it so amazing.

-Sydney Fenkell

www.cuttingedgedjs.com