Thursday, May 28, 2009

Patinkin plans tour of old Chicago haunts :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bill Zwecker

Patinkin plans tour of old Chicago haunts :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bill Zwecker

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If you can't afford to shell out $500 for the Goodman's Gala celebration, you can try and catch a glimpse of Mr. P around the city this weekend (maybe he'll finally want to hop aboard the U505?)

fun times in no. 10

There are moments when I really love Hugh Grant. This moment is one of them, brought to you by Love, Actually and its writing God Richard Curtis, as well as the good people of youtube...

omigod, you guys!

I have a confession to make: until last night I was a "Legally Blonde: The Musical" virgin. I had not listened to the original cast album, or seen the MTV show, or any of that. Not for any particular reason, or anything, there was no chip on my shoulder vis-a-vis the show, I just never got around to seeing it. The vision in my mind was gosh, that's a lot of pink, but other than that, it was pretty much a blank slate. I was excited when I heard it was coming here, and so I rounded up my BFF, and we got our pink on (like there needs to be a reason for this) and hit the show last night. Since it was a Wednesday, the house was not crowded. I don't think they even opened the balcony. I got a lovely discount from the box office (thanks, man!) and so we were in the 9th row. It is the closest I have ever sat in that theater.

Pre-show we had a great dinner at La Rosetta - no waiting and delicious food - so suck it, Petterino's! (Oh, I don't mean that. Next time, I'll make a stinkin' reservation...) Onto the show. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like it - during the first song, I was like, Oh, no... squeaky sorority girls screeching "Omigod, you guys!" in song?? What was I thinking? And oh, the pink. So much pink. But somewhere in the first act, I just got into it. Our Elle was played by Lauren Ashley Zakrin who was apparently a finalist in the MTV Show "Legally Blonde the Musical: the Search for Elle Woods" and I liked her fine. She was cute and perky as a little blonde button, sort of Kristin Chenoweth-y in parts of her voice, but without as much range (does that make any sense? She just reminded me a little of KC). I really had nothing to compare her to, since I have not heard Laura Bell Bundy or Becky Gulsvig and so, you know, like I said, she was fine. I wasn't overwhelmed, or anything, but I thought she was a good Elle. I even cried a little, at the end. I was just that into it.

And it was just bubbly and fun. I left the theater happy (and, naturally, singing "omigod, omigod, you guys..." which I will probably do now for the rest of the week) and that's all I really ask for in a theater going experience. I would also totally see it again, because I liked it that much - any takers?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

legally blonde tonight!

Right across the street from the office, at the Oriental Theater, mucho convenient for an after work event, yes? Also, I got a sweet deal on the tickets - 9th row, center 99bucks for the pair. Thanks, B'way in Chicago!



Tuesday, May 26, 2009

decisions, decisions...


I have a bit of a dilemma here. Will my complete and total devotion to Mr. Butler and all of his works outweigh my extreme dislike of the hugely overrated Ms. Heigl - enough to see this film?


Monday, May 25, 2009

...memorial day...

Saturday was Chicago's annual Memorial Day Parade. As members of a Gold Star Family (one that has lost a solider) we were invited to a breakfast and wreath laying ceremony prior to the parade. The breakfast was nice, held in the famed Walnut Room at Macy's although of course, everyone there wished that they didn't have to be there - because being there meant that another soldier had been lost. But anyway. Mayor Daley spoke, and the Grand Marshall of the Parade, a general of something or other. The wreath laying also included speeches from the Mayor, Governor Quinn, and a few more other military types. "Taps" was played - and there is nothing more sad than watching military men and women in uniform and those out of uniform, saluting the flag while that mournful song is playing. These people are the true heroes among us, the real American Idols. I may not agree entirely with the reasons we are at war, but I support, wholeheartedly, the men and women (some of them not yet even 25) who are fighting to uphold our freedom and our values overseas. I hope you all come home safely and soon, and that there will be no more need to award grieving mothers flags with gold stars on them.

So. Onto the parade. The Gold Star Family members had a lovely little special place to sit, next to the reviewing stand which again was very nice and thoughtful. A little short on excitement, that parade was, with never ending legions of high school ROTC groups marching along. In every instance, the head cheese would yell to the kids: "Eyes! Right!" and a bunch of heads would swivel in our direction at once which was a little bit unsettling.

Friday, May 22, 2009

just remember...

...tell them how they are missed,
but say not to fear
it's gonna be all right
with us
down here...
* Photo originally uploaded by weissfineart on flickr because I can't find the ones I took Memorial Day 2007 *

Thursday, May 21, 2009

excuse me...

Have I stumbled accidentally into bizzaro world (or possibly bizarro world)? I'm out sick for one day and all hell suddenly breaks loose - Kris wins Idol (more on this in a second), someone drives into Petterino's (yeah, that's a terrace, you idiot, not a drive thru window...) Did I sleep through the apocalypse yesterday or what?

So yes - the biggest Idol ever - and I was asleep for it. I literally slept all day yesterday, with small breaks to eat, steam my ever clogged sinuses, and feed howling cats. This stupid Idol finale was two whopping hours long - and then, Ryan Seacrest smugly informed us on Tuesday - it was set to run long. What on earth could they possibly do in 2 hours? It takes only 5 seconds to go "Adam, you're the next American Idol" (for instance). And now I'll never know what they did (although rumor has it Kara disrobed and dueted in a bikini with Bikini Girl) and KRIS ALLEN won the "crown." In all honesty, I'm not that crushed over it - I actually kinda like Kris. Tuesday night, I think he did the best - he probably figured he had nothing to lose. He sang "Ain't No Sunshine" which was the week that I sat up and went "Hey, I like this guy!" Because prior to that, he'd always been one of the "mystery dudes" I was forever confusing him and Matt. Then the distinction became clear - he can sing, Matt cannot. I think Kris also did the best with the really craptacular "winner's song" penned by Kara and some other people. His vibe is sort of chill, singer songwriter, the kind of guy we'd go and hear at HOB or maybe even on the Rock Boat. And you know I love those guys, so maybe it's all for the best. And I guess the lesson here is never underestimate the power of the Southern Vote (in life, as in American Idol. Those red states are just killer.) Or the vote of Danny Gokey's right-wing christian fans, who were apparently urged to shift their support to Kris by Danny's pastor. Or maybe the nation's just not ready for guyliner. I was just surprised, that's all, when I woke up this morning, nursing a Nyquil hangover and sleepily asking my mom "Did Adam win?" "Kris won" she told me and I was all like "What?" but good for him and all that. I am sure Adam will be just fine, and you know some of the best stuff happens to those Idols who don't win - observe Daughtry, Kellie Pickler (seriously - if that chick can get a record deal, so can our Adam!) and Constantine Maroulis and his awesome hair who are both now nominated for a Tony. And don't forget J-Hud who won an Oscar.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

so you had a bad day...

So last night I watched the 2 hour season finale of 24. I've been watching it off and on this season - I'd followed it pretty seriously when it first came on and then it became incredibly ridiculous so I broke up with Jack Bauer, seriously the unluckiest man possibly on this earth. But geez, I just couldn't resist it this year. It's still ridiculous and it takes itself SO very seriously. There is no humor in the show like at all. I personally think it would have been hillarious to show the show's teasers and previews with that song "So You Had A Bad Day" but that would require a sense of humor and everyone involved seems pretty devoid of that trait. Like yesterday, Renee asked Jack something like "Do you regret anything you've done today?" To which I responded, naturally "Yeah - getting out of bed this morning!" He really does have the worst days pretty much ever.

However, what they lack in humor they more than make up for with with weirdo plot twists (what you think is the point early on turns out to have nothing to do with anything! They spent whole hours of the show talking about this big old baddie named Debacle or some such and it turns out he wasn't even the Ultimate Evil. Jon Voigt was, but then he wasn't even really...and then the President's daughter had him killed... see? All twisty and turny) and of course, blowing stuff up, and you can't beat Jack Bauer's "interrogation techniques" by basically shouting at your suspect "WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?" or "TELL ME THE NAMES!" Jack says pretty much all of his lines like that and then he shoots them for good measure. Awesome.

Yesterday he was dying from this incurable toxin and he still managed to kick through a room of baddies (handcuffed!) armed with nothing more than a scalpel. You can't beat that. And then the ultracool FBI chick came blasting in on her helicopter and commenced to take out a whole bunch of baddies while hanging onto an SUV and shooting left-handed. And now it appears she's going rogue - since Jack's in a coma, Renee will get her own spinoff. Or her own storyline next season. Oh and I really liked the Battle of the Nerds happening between Chloe and Janice (played extremely nerdishly by Janeane Garofalo - did you know garofalo means cabbage or something in Italian by the way?) the two of them clacking furiously on their computers in order to save the world etc. Loved it.

I also really love the world of 24 in that they were the first to have a black president (David Palmer - who is now selling insurance for AllState AND Heading the Unit. What a guy!) and a woman president (Allison Taylor, played by Cherry Jones). Taylor is a good President, I suppose, although why on earth would you make your kind of dim witted daughter your Chief of Staff? Conflict of interest much??

Yeah, so anyway. I got all sucked into watching 24 and I didn't do much of anything else last night... Tonight, I will be watching the "showdown" between Adam and Kris and THEN I shall be watching "Glee" which makes me nearly giddy with excitement (or maybe it's the very large cup of tea I am drinking??) Who can tell?

Monday, May 18, 2009

tickets! tickets! tickets!

It has been a ticket buying kind of day - sparked first by an email I received from the Harris Theater for Music & Dance. Subscribe now, it tells me, special packages available. One such package, the Broadway Luminaries Series (can it really be a "series" if it is just two shows?) includes the following:

Stephen Sondheim
An Intimate Exchange with the “Master of the Musical”
Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 7:30 pm

The single most influential force in bringing the Broadway musical into the modern age, Stephen Sondheim, speaks with WTTW’s John Calloway about the state of American musical theater and reflections on his own creative process as he celebrates his 80th birthday. An audience Q&A with Sondheim will follow the conversation. (Can you imagine? I'd have to write down questions in advance, or something, since I don't think I'd have 2 brain cells to rub together on the actual day...)

- AND -

Christine Ebersole
An Evening of Song with Chicago’s Own Nightingale
Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 7:30 pm

Fresh off her second Tony Award win for Grey Gardens, Ms. Ebersole makes her Harris debut with a unique line-up of Broadway show tunes and standards.

Well, naturally, I wanted to go. So I click the handy "Subscribe Now!" button on my email and it takes me to a page with descriptions of the series, identical to the ones that you see above, and... no place to actually purchase the series. Uh, what? There was a link that said "Buy tickets" which made me think I'd be able to use it to, you know, buy the tickets, but then it tells me that tickets aren't available online yet. Why send the email, Harris Theater, telling people to subscribe online if you don't actually let them actually purchase the series online?? I called the box office, finally, and bought the tickets that way. I asked the guy why I wasn't able to buy them online and he went "That's weird. You should be able to." Well thanks loads, dude, I know I should have been able to. But I wasn't... Sigh. Anyway, it's fine, calling them works (even if you have to wait on hold forever and listen to the same REALLY BAD music on a loop...) And I have my tickets!

I also managed to score tickets to see Kylie in October! I don't know why I couldn't get them during the presale, but I was able to get them once they went onsale to the general public.

In other news, I am also soon going to be purchasing tickets for Legally Blonde this month and am also going to see if I can get any to see the CSO's gala concert featuring the divine Ms. Renée Fleming in October. According to their website, single tickets for that event go on sale in June. If they are not through the roof, I will be there with bells on. Which I will silence, once in the Presence of the Diva, naturally.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Brian Denehy - not dead, but leaving the St. James...

So my mom & I have this joke - she once told me that the talented actor Brian Denehy had passed away. She was very very very certain about this, even though I had seen him on a teaser for the show Just Shoot Me ("They must have filmed that before he died," she told me.) and also after he'd won a Tony for Death of A Salesman (apparently from Beyond the Veil?). It appears she'd mixed him up with another famous Brian who'd been on tv or something who really had passed away (so she tells me. We aren't sure who this Brian could have been though, but apparently was a dead ringer - HA - for Mr. D.) But now, every time we hear about him or see him, we will declare - look! Not dead!

** UPDATE ** Apparently, the famous Brian that did actually die that my mom was mixing up with Brian Denehy is Brian Keith. She figured this out by googling "Famous Brians." I looked up some pictures and there is a bit of a similiarity, in all fairness to her.

And so the very much alive Mr. Denehy had taken the Goodman by storm this past year with his Desire Under the Elms, which transferred to Broadway, where NY audiences (and Tony voters) were largely underwhelmed. It got zero Tony nods and will be closing on May 24.

Mr. Esparza’s Infinite Playlist



So I am still getting Time Out New York, as part of the free subscription I got when I joined HipTix for my Sunday in the Park with George tickets. I also read Time Out Chicago, which is, you know, more helpful to me as I live for the moment, in Chicago. But TONY is so much cooler... it's fun to read. The issue that I received yesterday included all the hot things you lucky New Yorkers get to do this summer, including seeing Twelfth Night with my Favorite Bobby, Raul Esparza. Mr. Esparza created a mix tape that his character would give the girl if the story was set today... Go to TONY's website and listen to it for yourself!

1 "Tears All Over Town," A Girl Called Eddy

2 "Waiting in Vain," Bob Marley
"Duke kicks back with a little reggae (this all takes place on an island, after all). He likes the tenacity expressed here: 'It's been three years since I'm knocking on your door?/?And I still can knock some more…' The guy's not gonna give up. Though I suspect he secretly likes the Annie Lennox version better."

3 "I Will Wait for You," Astrud Gilberto

4 "Make You Feel My Love," Bob Dylan

"She hasn't made up her mind yet, he's going black and blue and crawling around, and there's a highway of regret and he'll dry her tears and go to the ends of the earth for her, all to make her feel his love. Who can resist?"

5 "Stormy Weather," Louis Armstrong
"Apparently, she can."

6 "Glad to Be Unhappy," Frank Sinatra

7 "Almost Lover," A Fine Frenzy
"Goodbye, my almost lover. Goodbye, my hopeless dream. Cool song. Duke has flawless taste."

8 "I Still Care for You," Ray LaMontagne

9 "All You Need Is Me," Morrissey
"Getting a little angry now. Duke's always thought a great deal of himself. Check the psycho hee-haw lyrics: 'There's a naked man standing, laughing in your dreams / You know who it is / But you don't like what it means… / You don't like me, but you love me / Either way you're wrong / You're gonna miss me when I'm gone.'"

10 "Free Fallin'," John Mayer
"Duke's moving on. He thinks. See, he's leaving her behind. And there's this little confusing thing happening: There's this hot guy, Cesario, his new friend. Really understanding. Really good friend. Really hot. Looks amazingly like that girl from The Devil Wears Prada. I mean, if she were a guy. And sometimes when they hug, Duke gets a little excited feeling in his belly. I mean, he's not gay or anything. Not that there's anything wrong with that. If you could see this guy, you'd understand. It's a little weird. Duke's free falling."

11 "I Can't Make You Love Me," Bonnie Raitt
"Is this the acceptance phase? Or is he a sexually confused stalker?"

12 "It Don't Matter to the Sun," Rosie Thomas

13 "New Favorite," Alison Krauss
"There's someone else. There's someone else. Oh my God! His worst nightmare."

14 "Wake Up Call," Maroon 5
"Homicidal love song. You know, Duke Orsino is a little unstable. Gets very angry, fast. Has no problem telling Cesario, his great bromance, that he'll kill him if it turns out that he and Olivia have hooked up."

15 "If You're Not the One," Daniel Bedingfield
"Asks the question, why do I feel this way if we're not supposed to be together after all? Duke's answer: Wait. Is it the guy standing next to me who makes me feel this way? Is he the one? I think he is. Okay, I like boys, then. Wait. The dude is a girl? Okay, I like girls again. And everything ends happily ever after. If you say so, Shakespeare."

kidney now!


Where have I been for the past two years, that I hadn't watched 30 Rock before this season?? It does wacky with such verve. It makes me laugh out loud. It puts crazy songs in my head (ie "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" and "Muffin Top") and interesting catchphrases into my vocabulary (most recently "Blerg!" which is a really great little adjective that can say so many things and yet means completely nothing, and "mind grapes" which makes me shake with out of control laughter every time I watch the episode - is it the one w/Conan? Whatever.) I wish that I didn't have to suffer through The Office while waiting for it to come on. I used to really like The Office but it is so so so very painful now and even my great love of Jim and Pam can't make me sit still through an entire episode. Anyway, the Season Finale was last night and it was a little loopy but still great.


Thursday, May 14, 2009

the next american idol?

stomp to the death, bitches!



So it was down to the final 3 on ANTM last night - Aminat, Teyona and Allison. It was the usual drill - Cover Girl commericals and photo shoot. Teyona, unexpectedly fell apart during the commercial, which started getting me worried for her, since she was my pick to take it all. Allison and Aminat both did well. In the elimination (I only have... two... photos in my hands... said Tyra, playing up the drama, as usual) it was Aminat who was sent home, leaving Allison and Teyona left to stomp to the death, Brazilian style, in a fashion show. This left me worried for Allison who was my secret favorite - in the past, she was not the best walker. At go-sees, she was stiff and awkward - just nerves?? And on top of that, it was a swimsuit fashion show. There was nothing too weird about the runway - last cycle, McKey and Sam had to stomp it to the death uphill! Both of them totally rocked it - I was pleasantly surprised by Ms. Allison. Then was the final panel - and both girls had to show up in bikinis from the fashion show. I mean, really? They couldn't have let them change or something? Both of them looked stunning - seriously, if Allison had pulled her hair back a little more often at panel, she would have wowed them. But alas, there can only be one America's Next Top Model... but it was a tough choice...
In the end, I was right! And Teyona was crowned the winner!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

i had that dream again...

I have a recurring dream where I'm somewhere normal and... my teeth are loose and start coming out. Gross, yes? Last night, it started happening and I went to the dentist (strangely calm, I was, too) and the dentist rushed the two fallen teeth into some ice, like they do with accidentally chopped off digits, and was going to put them back in using some kind of newfangled sort of headgear thing.

Then I wake up freaked out and instantly have to test them somehow - no, they're there, they are all in one piece, not in pieces... I have this one quite a bit - wonder what it means??

people get ready...

Hey everybody who regularly attends events with me (you know who you are)! Remember when Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick appeared in Chicago in the pre-Broadway run of The Producers? And remember how I said repeatedly "we should go!" but we didn't?? And by the time y'all thought it would be a really good idea to go, all the buzz around the show made getting tickets impossible? And then the show left town and got a gazillion Tony's? And then you really could not get a ticket for love nor money? Well, that's not true, actually, you could get in for a whole bunch of money... And yes, I am still bitter about this and have vowed not to miss shows like this when they roll around again. Point? (Yes, I do have one!)

Hedy Weiss says that Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth are coming to town with The Addams Family musical... which I think starts in November. So prepare yourselves. We are going.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

this 'n that

I took a bit of a mental health day today - slept in until 8:00, hung around, did laundry, some dishes, some cleaning... went with my mom to the doctor (thus giving my ulcer something else to gnaw on. Happily, I believe all will be well..All my fingers and toes are crossed here for you, doll.) watched American Idol.

It dawned on me that 8 years ago today, I graduated from college. 8 years. A lot has happened in those 8 years, you know? But it all seems like yesterday that Cara and I were trooping down 18 flights of stairs when some moron in Mertz burnt popcorn or drank too much at Hamilton's and set off the fire alarm. Or that I was taking the shuttle to the now defucnt Mallinkrodt campus for my education classes, because 8 years ago I thought I'd grow up to be a high school history teacher. Or that I was working out for whole hours at Halas, Cara and I did the side by side stairmaster thing and we'd listen to music or do homework reading... Anyway, so yeah. I feel old today.

In other news, it's down to bottom 3 onIdol tonight. My pick for the top two - moving onto the action and cheese packed finale - Adam and Kris. Gokey was the weakest link this week - back to Wisconsin for you, Danny boy. Adam and Kris rocked it the hardest this week - Kris did a Kanye song - AWESOME. But what the hell was up with the judges??

Monday, May 11, 2009

this weekend...

I was pretty much at the theater all weekend for the final group of performances of the Spring Program. I actually don't mind at all - because as one of the best job perks ever, I get to go and watch the show whenever I want to... So I'm in the lobby at our table trying to get people to give us donations, but then I also get to sneak in and watch the dance. And that makes it all worth it, especially during a program like this where I loved all of the pieces (mostly). I mean, really? I could sit and watch Carousel (A Dance) over & over & over again. I even took my mom to the last show on Sunday as a Mother's Day present. But whew! I just kind of need an extra day of weekend now, though...


When I wasn't watching the show, I was reading Jennifer Lancaster's new book:
Which naturally I bought the day it came out, at Border's across the street. Jen is totally awesome and I loved the book. I technically grew up in the 80s, but wasn't at an age where I was dressing/shopping for myself and therefore I missed out on pretty much all the fashion trends of which she speaks. I was not in a sorority either, and there were whole chapters of this book that I didn't really understand but whatever. She's funny, not fake at all, very honest about who she is and what has led her to where she is now. Plus, she loves cupcakes. So it was a brilliant way to pass my time between shows on Saturday...

Friday, May 08, 2009

i should be so lucky...

So as you can see from my widget - Kylie Minogue's on tour! She's coming to Chicago! I have been fascinated with Kylie since she appeared on The Vicar of Dibley as the object of Hugo Horton's affections ("the beautious midget" as Dawn French's Vicar Geraldine Granger called her. How much do I love Dawn French? Very much, is the answer you seek.) and of course, I love that crazy "I just can't get you out of my head" video and of course the locomotion of her early days and holy cow, this is her first ever North American tour! Too bad she's not at the United Center or some such, maybe they didn't know if she could fill it? Instead, she's someplace called the Congress Theater - they have a website and all, so I suppose that means it is real, even though I have never heard of it before. But the pre-sale tickets have apparently all pre-sold, so there will be no Kylie show for me, at least not yet.

We'll see, I guess...

Widget

Thursday, May 07, 2009

straight up, now tell me...

I'd envisioned a reality tv world dominated by quirky girls named Allison - for Idol, the red-haired rock chick Allison Iraheta and ANTM's Allison - quirky, birdlike, with huge eyes usually filled w/a deer in the headlights expression. Half of that equation is correct - model Allison has made it into the top 3. Sadly, Idol Allison was booted last night. What is wrong with you, voting public? She was only 17, but she could SING.

The results show last night kind of dragged - I mean, they only really need 15 minutes from Seacrest going "THIS... is American Idol" (I am obsessed with the way he says it. Do you think he practices in front of a mirror or something? 'Should I go This IS American Idol? Or This is AMERICAN Idol? Or This is American IDOL?' Because I totally would. Gotta build a sense of suspense or whatever, you know?) to the end where they say "So and so, you've got the lowest number of votes and you're going home." They don't really need to fill a whole hour - the Ford commercials are usually lame, and the group medley - I left the room yesterday, that's how much I didn't want to hear it. I like that they are having former Idols come back and sing, because that's like a return to the roots kind of thing for them. So I loved that Daughtry was back (his early ouster, by the way, was the reason I stopped watching the Year of Katharine McPhee. THIS IS WHERE YOU'D USE YOUR SAVE, COWELL!) I mean, seriously. He's gone quadruple platinum or whatever. What's she done lately?) and I was all right with No Doubt showing up, but what in the hell happened to Paula?? I adored her back in the "Cold Hearted Snake" and "Straight Up" days of my youth, but whatever it was she was "singing" last night was not so good. And it's kinda mean, you know, to make the finalists wait through all of these things to hear their fate. In a fair world, Gokey would have gone down, but the world of Idol is a cruel one, that doesn't always make sense. Top 3: Adam, Kris and Danny.

Onto the Models - Tyra photographed the girls yesterday in a weirdly themed model as baby bird picture set in the Brazilian jungle (or is it rainforest?). All of them did fairly well, and their critiques at panel were all pretty even. So who goes home? It ended up being Celia, the tall blonde, old (at the age of 25!) fashionista who was nearly eliminated that week she ratted out Thalia. Too bad, I liked her. I think Aminat has been given one chance too many. Final 3: Teyona, Aminat, Allison. They have to do a commercial next week, which is tricky. Aminat tends to muddle her words like Dani did several cycles ago. But then again you never know how they are going to do. Allison might have trouble in a runway showdown.... I think Teyona is the likely winner. Just a guess.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

looks like i will have to go to the Harris Theater now...

Even though its lobby looks a bit like an airport hangar but not nearly as interesting. According to Hedy Weiss in today's Chicago Sun Times, next Season at the Harris will bring the return of Baryshnikov as well as this:

"Two Broadway luminaries also are set for the Harris' 2009-10 lineup. Broadway master Stephen Sondheim arrives March 4 for a conversation with broadcaster John Callaway, and Christine Ebersole of "Grey Gardens" fame will perform a one-woman show of Broadway tunes on March 25."

songs in the key of loud

They came, they saw, they "rocked" and they met Slash (but really dude, with the hair? whatever.) Yes indeed it was rock 'n roll night on... American Idol (trying to get the Seacrest-esque drama happening here) and the top four were... well, they were all pretty loud, actually. First up - Adam who rocked the house but looked a teeny bit scary (really dude, with the eye liner?). I love him though and want him to win. Funny sign in the audience called him "Glam-bert." Love that, too.

Next up, Ms. Allison, with fierce new hair and snarly Joplin (no jorp-jomp here!) vocals. She sang Cry Baby which was, yes, loud, but really good and why aren't people voting for her? Danny and Kris came out in a (loud) Styx duet, which was only okay but had delicious harmonies. Neither of these guys are rockers, though, which came out in their individual performances, Kris strumming his guitar to "Come Together" which I didn't hate, and Danny singing an Aerosmith song, which I did hate. He even did the Steven Tyler scream at the end of the song which was horrific. YIKES.

Then Adam and Allison had an awesome duet. These are your top two, people. If there is any justice in the world of Idol, bottom two would be Kris and Danny, and I would send Danny home, but he has some sort of weird appeal to people that I am not understanding.

Monday, May 04, 2009

live, love, laugh & be happy...

Happy Monday! Maybe this is just the cinnamon dolce latte talking, here, but I feel really good this morning. This is, in part, to the above mentioned latte, and the upbeat rendition of "The Red Red Robbin" song that came on my ipod this morning, courtesy of Mr. Patinkin, but also I think due to the bright yellow sweater I'm wearing today. I never thought I could pull off yellow, but I am loving this little sweater. Who could be grouchy when feeling like a big, cheery sunburst? I am also over my worrying about this flu thing, since I talked to my friend & bio guru who set me straight. Swine flu, shmine flu. But please keep your coughing to yourself, anyway, ok?

Sunday, May 03, 2009

the singular sensation


I was excited when I heard that A Chorus Line was coming to town, because while I had meant to see it on a trip to New York, it just never happened. And once it moved in just up the street from my office, I'd taken to walking by and humming the opening strains to "One." It's just one of those shows, at least to me, that's so iconic, I felt like I had to see it at least once. So. Today was that day. I had not been back to the Oriental Theater since we saw Wicked there - two years ago? Or three? I don't remember now. I'd gotten us seats in the balcony - not the very cheapest seats, because I hate being that far away, but the next level. We were next to some very noisy older ladies who asked us if we'd mind when they started singing along at the end. Oh, yeah, because I totally paid good money to listen to you two... I hoped they were joking.* I also hoped that the guy coughing his lungs out me wasn't suffering from the H1N1 type A Virus but before I could ask him if he'd been to Mexico lately, the show started.

I'd been warned that it was boring - I was not bored. Some of the show moved a little bit slowly for me, and I had no idea why they made such a big deal over this Cassie - when she had her big "showstopping" number, I wasn't particularly blown away by her dancing. She was leagues better than I will ever be, I will tell you that for free, but I don't know, I didn't think she was all that great. Maybe I shouldn't have seen it the day after I spent my whole afternoon at the ballet (because everything is beautiful at the ballet) because they set the gold standard for me vis-a-vis the solo girl dancing. The ensemble danced really really well, but Cassie only stood apart because of her red leotard.

It was also very 70s in its sound and even in the way that the show was staged but when they all came out in their glittery gold costumes for "One" at the end, it was thrilling. Even with a croaky old lady singing along (loudly) with them.** So yeah. I liked it. Not my favorite show, or anything, but I liked it.


* they weren't.
** see? I told you. Not joking.
The picture is from www.achorusline.com

this weekend...

Is Spring finally here? I think so! Yesterday I was working at our Spring Program and let me just tell any of you in Chicago - if you like dance, don't miss this. I'm not just saying that, either. Catch a sneak preview here. I don't know anything about dance except that I like to watch it, and I think this program offers something for everyone - first the classic Les Noces by Nijinska - the Stravinsky score is striking (oh all right, fine, it made my teeth hurt a little) and the dancing is amazing. It is, like Sacre, about a peasant ritual in ancient Russia - fun times! A wedding not for love but for obligation. It is told in a series of tableaux (is that right?) showing the bride and groom, and the village celebrating the union. Next on the program is Tomasson's Valses Poeticos - a series of duets between two dancers, as he says "like love letters between two people" - sublime. That's all I can say. Two dancers, lots of great solo work, accompanied by a solo piano. Intimate and flowing. Arpino's Round of Angels comes next - sweeping, soaring, acrobatic, beautiful. And of course, the best is saved for last - Wheeldon's Carousel A Dance. It uses music from the show, but it is not Carousel told through dance (if that makes sense). It is the start of the love story of these two characters, Billy and Julie, with the rest of the company forming the "machinery" of the Carousel. I could just sit there and watch it forever, and I'm not even kidding. Come see for yourself!

Today I'm off to A Chorus Line. I've heard mixed reviews about this show, but I'm excited anyway. I guess we'll see, right?