Latest news with #7Stars
Buzz Feed
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Jason Schmidt On 'Outsiders' Broadway Role & Songwriting
Whether he's belting out a tune on the Broadway stage or headlining a concert, Jason Schmidt knows how to capture an audience. The multi-talented performer has made waves with his acting, recently appearing as Buddy in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, original music, and his Broadway debut. To celebrate the release of his new single '7 Stars," I stopped by the Jacobs Theatre to catch up with Jason about portraying Sodapop Curtis in Broadway's The Outsiders, and his journey into songwriting. Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. BuzzFeed: I grew up reading The Outsiders, and it's connected with so many people all over the world. What is your own connection to the book? Jason: Growing up, my dad would read to me and my three sisters — he read us The Outsiders, the Percy Jackson books, The Hunger Games, all those. I can still remember images in my head as he read to us, where I pictured the Socs as kind of large and spooky! At the beginning of our show, when the Socs first jump Ponyboy, that scene feels a lot like how I envisioned them as a kid. The Outsiders was also my mom's favorite movie for a long time. She loved Matt Dillon [who played Dally in the film], and so I watched the movie when I was younger as well. How about your connection specifically to Sodapop? In the show, he's the middleman between Darry [Darrel] and Pony, and I think that's who I am a lot of the time. I'm the people pleaser, I'm making sure everyone is laughing and having a good time, and so I really resonate with that plot line and his arc. When Soda snaps at the end, it comes from having fought the whole show to keep Darrel and Ponyboy in good graces with each other, and it's not working. As soon as I read for Soda, he was a character that I felt was right down the middle for me. Honestly, he's taught me a lot about the looseness of life. In another S.E. Hinton novel, Tex, she says, "Some people go, some people stay," and he's definitely someone who stays. He loves Tulsa, and he loves his life there. Soda doesn't ask for much. If more comes, that's great. If it doesn't, he goes with the flow. I'm not like that — I'm someone who holds onto life pretty tightly. So that's where he differs from me, and I think I'm learning to let go a bit more and go with the flow. You have a great sense of comedic timing, and Soda has his share of humorous moments in the show. Are any of these moments improvised? Thank you! They're very scripted. Adam Rapp wrote them amazingly. In the early days of the process, there'd be a little improvising here and there, but with planning around a national tour and all that, they want it to be a repeatable show. We've locked into the script as it is for the most part. I'm always playing around with how a line lands and the timing of it. It's funny — at this point, I probably have four or five versions of every line that I know work well. Some nights, I'll try a different version. But if I'm tired or something, I'm gonna go with the tried and true delivery (laughs). For the most part, I try to listen and be responsive to the other actors in the scene. I think that humor is such an important part of the show because it's so dark. A lot of sad stuff happens, and there's not a lot of comedy. It's nice to get the audience to laugh a little bit, like before "Runs in the Family (Reprise)" where Pony and Darrel get in a fight. I love playing a role that brings the humor and lightens it up for a moment. While Soda adds humor to the show, he also has a really emotional scene at the end of Act 2. Is it difficult to get into that more emotional headspace? Not really, to be honest. Beneath the comedy, Soda is using it as a defense mechanism, and he's using it to cut through the emotional moments that his brothers are dealing with. So while he's very comedic, there's always an undertone of reality. Soda is not the most book-smart, but he is very emotionally intelligent; he really understands other people, where they're at, and what they need. That keeps me kind of locked into the reality of the show, which makes it pretty easy to slip in. I also think the writing is incredible, so it just leads me right along. The music of The Outsiders has many fan-favorite songs, especially "Throwing in the Towel." What is your favorite part of performing it? I love performing that song with whoever is on for Darrel that night, usually Brent Comer most of the time. I love doing it with Dan Berry, Victor Carrillo Tracey, and John Patrick Collins as well. It's such a beautiful connection of brothers. I remember growing up, there was a mentor of mine who I really wanted to do a duet with. And we were like, which song should we do? It was pretty evident there's not a lot of male and male duets to sing together, so I love being in a show that provides so many. It's such a special moment between the brothers. Hearing how men have been impacted by the show is super important to me. We've watched brothers kind of lean their heads on each other's shoulders, and put their arms around each other as they watch the show. I think that's the most special part of "Throwing in the Towel." When you're in between scenes, what is the vibe like backstage? We're having so much fun! Whoever's on for Darrel, we're backstage together the whole time, messing around. We're just chatting it up in between scenes, and we've got fun things backstage like our whiteboard. There's always something on the board like 'This or That,' where everyone marks their tallies. That's always fun. I have a great time in my dressing room with Daryl Tofa [who plays Two-Bit]. We write all sorts of little ditties. The rumble is one of the most unique moments I've ever seen on a Broadway stage. Can you tell me about what goes through your mind when you perform that scene? At this point, it's pretty much muscle memory, though they've added more rain than we used to have. I'm really focused on the actions and making sure everyone's safe. A lot of nights, we're joking around on stage, and whispering in each other's ears, things like that, especially when we hold in a position. Davis Wayne is my main partner in the scene, and we have fun whispering stuff to each other. It's this huge, violent scene, but everyone's just giggling, and saying jokes, and being nice to each other. Early on in previews, the band told us that they could hear all of our mics in the pit, and loved hearing how funny everybody was. It's such a cool scene and we know the impact it has, but when you're in it, it's about safety and having fun, and lightening the tension on stage. I remember watching you all perform the rumble at the 2024 Tony Awards! Oh yeah, I blacked out, for sure. I mean, the adrenaline's crazy. There's a thing you talk about, red light fever, where you need to be more careful when the adrenaline is up, because your body would do more than you normally do. We all talked about that before the performance, but it was so fun. It was like the best 10 minutes of my life. Theo Wargo / Via Getty Images I definitely want to chat about your original music. What inspired you to get into songwriting? I had two close friends in college who really inspired me to delve into it more. It's something I was always very interested in. I started writing in high school, but none of that stuff was good (laughs). My friend Andy was releasing his first album freshman year of college. I asked him questions about producing the music and releasing it, and he really inspired me to keep writing. Once I got going, it just snowballed, and I was writing all the time. What I love about songwriting is it's a form of self-exploration and self-expression. The exploration part of it is super rewarding for me, and it's very journalistic, so I can find a lot of things about myself through doing it. Sometimes I'll write a song and not really know what it means, and then months later, I'll finally understand! Jason Schmidt / Via The Outsiders I love your new single, "7 Stars." What was it like writing that song? Thank you so much! It was very special, partially because it was my first session with the producer, Simon Gooding, and it was the first thing we ever wrote together. Now we've been writing a lot more music together, but this was the session that was like, "Oh yeah, this dynamic definitely works." A lot of the songs I write are super personal to my life. "7 Stars" definitely has a taste of that, but it was kind of a story I invented in my head, and let my imagination run wild. Where I grew up in Arlington Heights, a lot of people will go to the same three or four colleges, and then they'll come back and get a job there. I definitely was somebody who left. I love the suburbs of Chicago. I'd love to be back there at some point, someday, but I knew that for my life, I needed to move out and to leave. Writing about people who got stuck there, but knew they were born to leave, was a super fun experience for me. I know tons of people like that; I feel like that in my life. I think I'm an explorer. I don't love staying in one place for too long. That kind of "born-to-leave energy" will pop up at certain places. Like, it's time to move on and continue with this crazy journey. What's up next for your music? I'm really excited! When I started releasing music, I was pretty young. Now, there's more planning and preparation that goes into it. I think when you listen to my first EPs, the styles are pretty varied, and I didn't exactly know what I wanted a 'Jason Schmidt' song to be. I've been writing for a long time, and I feel like we've really narrowed what I want my music to sound like and the story I want to tell. I'm very excited for people to hear that final sound. "7 Stars" is a taste of it, and I think the next stuff I'm doing really hits the pocket. So I'm very excited about that! Finally, you recently headlined a show at Elsewhere in Brooklyn. What is the biggest difference between performing on a Broadway stage versus a concert stage? Broadway is arguably easier, in some ways. It's scripted. For the most part, I know exactly what I'm going to do. You can practice it, and you can really rehearse it. With music, I never plan out what I'm gonna say about the songs, or where I'm gonna take breaks. When I see a concert, I think it's less fun when I can tell they've planned everything out. You're there to see the person, and I don't care if they flub or stumble over their words. I want to hear the artists' raw and unfiltered thoughts. I try to do that for myself, where I'm interacting with the crowd, and I'm essentially improvising. When I get off stage from my own shows, I feel like I poured all my energy into this last hour and a half. I think that's my goal with my music shows; I want to feel like I get off stage and have nothing left.
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Heading to a GE2025 rally? Here are a few nearby places to grab a bite
The 7 Stars coffee shop at Anchorvale Crescent is situated near a rally field. ST PHOTO: CHERIE LOK Heading to a GE2025 rally? Here are a few nearby places to grab a bite SINGAPORE – Fireworks, crossbows and handcuffs are banned at election rallies, but food is still very much welcome. So fret not about having to forgo a proper meal in order to avoid missing out on the action. Whether you are sitting down for a full dinner or grabbing a bite on the go, here are some places to fuel up at in five of the hottest constituencies this election season. Tampines sells sandwiches that can be eaten on the go. PHOTO: The spiciest showdown of all is set to unfold in Tampines, where four parties are vying for control over the constituency. Prime yourself with a fiery meal from The Masala Point, a stall located a stone's throw from the open field at 33 Tampines Central, where some of the group representation constituencies' biggest rallies will be taking place. It serves up home-style Indian dishes like chicken briyani ($7.50), egg prata ($2.40) and mutton curry ($3). In search of something more snackable? Try its vegetarian or sardine curry puffs (80 cents). For a milder option, turn instead to NetViet Vietnamese Cuisine, parked under the same roof. Crispy spring rolls go for $5 for four pieces, while banh mi filled with chicken or pork is priced at $5.50. Those walking from Tampines MRT station may find themselves spoilt for choice in one of the three nearby malls. Tampines 1 , for example, has sandwiches from by Swee Heng. Alternatively, hop over to Tampines Mall for local delights from Lee Wee & Brothers, or grab a gimbap from My Korean Mom's Kimchi in Century Square. If you can spare the time to queue, check out Damascus Delights, a tiny Syrian restaurant nestled on the first floor of the MRT station. A chicken shawarma wrap starts at $8.50, and can cost up to $20.50 if you opt for Arabi lamb. If the rally you are attending takes place instead at Temasek Junior College, seek sustenance at the New Hawa Restaurant across the road. There is also Domino's Pizza, as well as Subway, located along that stretch, and, if all else fails, a trusty 7-Eleven. Sengkang Thai food from Nakhon Udon Thai Kitchen. ST PHOTO: CHERIE LOK A PAP contingent helmed by Dr Lam Pin Min faces off against a WP team made up of incumbent MPs He Ting Ru, Jamus Lim, Louis Chua and newcomer Abdul Muhaimin in Sengkang. Both teams have been busy trying to win hearts on the ground, as well as online, with Dr Lam in particular taking to Facebook to connect with residents through food. Check out his recommendations: the Taliwang chicken cutlet omelette rice from Kawan Bowl ($6.90) at Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre, for one, as well as Big Fat Boy Fried Hokkien Mee at the 7 Stars coffee shop at Block 338 Anchorvale Crescent. Next to the latter, you will find Nakhon Udon Thai Kitchen, which dishes out hearty Thai classics like tom yum soup (from $8) in doubly quick time. On the other side of Sengkang East Road, across the street from the field next to The Vales condominium that has been earmarked for rallies, is the Happy Hawkers coffee shop, selling bak chor mee, mala xiang guo (spicy stir-fry hotpot) and Western food. The other rally site in the GRC, North Vista Secondary School, is a 10-minute walk from two eating houses: Sengkang 266 Coffeeshop – home to popiah, rojak, fish soup and more – and yet another Happy Hawkers outlet at 267 Compassvale Link; this one stocked with lok lok (steamboat-style skewers of meat or vegetables) and kolo mee. Punggol There is a King of Fried Rice stall located near the field where rallies in Punggol will be held. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO The calm waterfront haven of Punggol will be roused to battle when Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and company lock horns with a fresh-faced WP team led by senior counsel Harpreet Singh, who has been touted for months as one to watch. Rallies can take place at one of two sites: Yusof Ishak Secondary School, or the field across from the multi-storey carpark at Block 670 Edgefield Plains. Fuel up before the fight at the Happy Hawkers coffee shop situated near the field, which includes stalls such as Maruhachi Donburi & Curry, King of Fried Rice and 671 Roasted Delight. Or cross Wave Bridge to unlock a whole host of other food options. Oasis Terraces is lined with a respectable variety of cuisines, from Crystal Jade GO's dim sum, to takeaway rolls from Sushi Express. Those who get there early may also want to sit down for a leisurely dinner at Labula Mala Sichuan Restaurant or tuck into brunch classics at Anna's Cafe. Farther afield, the wonders of Waterway Point await, furnished, in the typical fashion of heartland malls, with a reliable roster of takeaway kiosks: Crave, Pezzo, Stuff'd and Wok Hey, just to name a few. It is a 15-minute bus journey from Edgefield Plains or a 10-minute walk from Yusof Ishak Secondary School. Those headed to the school will also find yong tau foo, chee cheong fun and nasi lemak at Shi Fu Eating House nearby, as well as the highly rated Tan's Noodles in Waterway Terraces I's Foodgle Hub. East Coast Mukmin Restaurant is situated near Bedok Stadium. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN East side, best side – the perennial war cry of flag-waving 'Easties' – has officially entered the political lexicon, with the PAP launching a website titled after the popular catchphrase. To prove their point, east-siders typically extol the gastronomic abundance of their backyard. And, indeed, those headed to rallies at Bedok Stadium will face no dearth of options. It is surrounded by institutions like the 44-year-old Mukmin Restaurant, beloved for its traditional Malay dishes – for instance, nasi sambal goreng and nasi rawon (rice with buah keluak beef soup), each costing around $5 – and Ocean Curry Fish Head. Across the road is The Marketplace @ 58 and a cluster of surrounding coffeeshops. Fried carrot cake, min jiang kueh, porridge, bak chor mee, vegetarian food – you name it, it has it. Some of these stalls are only open till midday, however, so double check before dropping in for dinner. Still hungry after watching the men in white take on their WP rivals, or vice versa? Head to Master Prata Express, which operates until midnight daily. Here, rally-goers can recharge with a drink – teh tarik ($1.50) perhaps, or a good ol' iced Milo ($2.30) – or a two-piece prata set with chicken curry ($6.50). The smaller rally site of Victoria Junior College, on the other hand, is slightly more isolated, perched as it is on the edge of a private housing estate. Grab a bite at 50A Marine Terrace Market, a 15-minute walk away, or drop by ThaiPan Restaurant at Mandarin Gardens for some zi char. West Coast-Jurong West A burger from W39 Bistro & Bakery. PHOTO: W39 BISTRO & BAKERY On the other end of the best-side debate is the west of Singapore. To locals, it is an underrated treasure trove; to east-dwellers, a far-flung wilderness not worth the journey. But 2025's hustings may just change their minds. With the stage set for an epic rematch between a PAP squad led by National Development Minister Desmond Lee and the Progress Singapore Party's A-team of members Tan Cheng Bock, Leong Mun Wai and Hazel Poa, Singaporeans from all over the country now have a compelling reason to journey west. The gladiatorial arena of choice is Clementi Stadium. The two sides will also duel at the field next to West Coast Park, flanked solely by the trusty golden arches of McDonald's. Clementi Stadium, on the other hand, has a few more options in its quiver. W39 Bistro & Bakery, which sells beef burgers ($26) and carbonara ($16), is located a three-minute walk away, as is Zi Zai Vegetarian restaurant and its meat-free versions of local delights like mee goreng (from $6.80) and laksa ($5.80). Then there is Haq-Insaf's Eating House, purveyor of chicken tikka masala (from $10.90), mutton rogan josh (from $14.80) and nasi goreng ayam ($7.50). It is open until 4am, so it also makes for a good post-rally meeting point, where one might end a fiery night on an even hotter high. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Miami Herald
04-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Dangerous pork and pastries among a Kendall bakery's inspection problems
Inspectors found no living and moving violations at a Kendall bakery and custom cake maker, but they did find cleanliness problems and in-use knives shoved into a dark place they shouldn't be. Monday's visit to Caliz Cake Design, 15588 SW 72nd St., by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspectors Wenndy Ayerdis and trainee Margaret Alvarez resulted in 'Re-Inspection Required,' the Ag Department's version of a failed inspection. Ag Department inspectors can't shut a place down. They can, however, order food into the garbage and take equipment out of action. The inspectors did. Here's some of what they found: MORE: Pinecrest's Wayside Market failed its most recent state inspection ▪ The food service area ice machine had 'black mold-like grime encrusted on the interior.' ▪ In the processing area, knives used for cutting bread for sandwiches, instead of being in a knife rack, were kept 'wedged between the two preparation tables across from the stove.' ▪ In the same area, the 'table and floor mixer attachment joint was found with old food residue.' ▪ Also, there was 'heavy dust accumulation on the fan installed above the preparation tables near the fryers.' ▪ The lids on containers for flour and powdered sugar had 'dust and old food residue encrusted' on them. ▪ 'Burned on grease deposits and carbon residue were encrusted on the exterior of multiple baking trays, pots and pans throughout the processing area.' ▪ 'Single-use aluminum baking cups for mini flan found being reused and stored throughout the processing area.' ▪ 'Grease was accumulated on filters of hood system installed above the fryer units and gas stove' in the processing area. ▪ In the food service area, there wasn't a splash guard between the handwash sink and the coffee machine. ▪ Food service area employees weren't 'wearing hair restraints while engaged in open food handling and preparation.' ▪ Food employees in both food service and food processing areas, 'did not wash hands between entering and exiting food preparation area and prior to donning gloves to handle food items.' ▪ Five 2-pound packs of 7 Stars Smoked Pork in the customer reach-in cooler 'were unable to be determined to come from an approved source, with no valid permit or manufacturer information provided by the establishment.' Also, the pork was only 71 degrees when it needed to be 41 degrees or under. Stop Sale on the pig flesh. ▪ At the hot counter, where food needs to be kept at 135 degrees or higher, the cheese pastelitos were 83 to 85 degrees and the beef pastries were 83 to 86 degrees. Stop Sales hit both, which were trashed. ▪ No probe thermometer was there to measure the fried eggs, sliced ham and cheese in the processing area. 'Food establishment needs to obtain a thin-stem probe thermometer by next routine inspection.' ▪ A Stop Use Order hit a silver General Electric refrigerator with an ambient temperature of 51 degrees. Refrigerated food needs to be kept at 41 degrees or less.
