this ain't yo mamma's musical, punk

So yes. American Idiot. I had been curious about it, which fueled my desire to see it. It's kind of an interesting idea, marrying punk rock with musical theater. It's been done before, of course, in shows like Rent, Spring Awakening, Hair. What interested me the most though, was the idea that this show is about our own time and our own issues, not about living in America at the end of the millennium, or during the 1960s or 1890s Germany. The concept here is inherently relatable to our lives today since we're living it. Aside from that, I know of and like Green Day, and it sounded like fun in a loud and angsty sort of way (how could someone not love a show that was called "Hair's sullen, cynical grandchild"?)

This is, essentially, how I summed it up to someone a few days after I saw it. It was good. Good, not great. Was it the best thing I've ever seen? No. Would I see it again? Yes. Would I recommend it? Also yes.

Plot? The time is now. The show follows three young men (introduced early on, but names promptly forgotten, at least by me) coming of age in our own turbulent times, confronted by a sea of conflicting messages constantly being blared over the airwaves by the media. And boy, are they PISSED OFF about it. An hour and a half and 21 musical numbers ensue, following Johnny (an excellent, excellent John Gallagher, Jr.) who struck out to the big city to play in band (maybe?), met Mimi (whoops, I mean, well, actually she's called "whatsername") and does some serious drugs doled out by "St. Jimmy". Johnny's friend Tunny goes with him, decides to join the army, goes off to fight and comes back wounded. Their other friend, Will, is all set to go off with them but finds out his girlfriend is pregnant. Time for him to get off the couch and grow up.

All of them do a lot of growing up, actually, in this fast-paced show. Green Day's music is like poetry (no, seriously) and although I went in knowing a handful of songs, I have had several of them in my head since we've returned (damn it). My friend Heidi is well-known in our circle for reading her Entertainment Weekly and therefore knowing her shit, and she told me that the album American Idiot was written sort of like a rock opera, with a theme running throughout. The transition of this music to the stage seemed like a natural progression, and the music actually lends itself to this kind of dramatization and aggressive, physical, non-jazz hands style dancing.

So - what worked for me? The amazing cast and their tremendous energy. Every one of them gave 110% for the entire show- especially the girl in the opening song, who made her entrance upsidedown on a trapeze like thing. She hung there for a good long time, bopping and head banging along with the music. Then she came to the ground, got off and started dancing. Dude. I can barely headbang standing up without getting dizzy, after doing all that, I would have fallen down or something. I also now have a serious crush on John Gallagher Jr. I loved at the end (SPOILER ALERT HERE, people!) the curtain had gone down and came back up on the whole cast holding guitars. They played and sang "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" which is one of my absolute favorite songs. Also loved the voice of "Whatsername" Johnny's love interest, played with serious awesomeness by Rebecca Naomi Jones.

So what didn't work for me?? Oh, I don't know. I didn't hate it or anything, I'm just kind of lukewarm about it, I guess. I had issues with the "plot" such as it was. I didn't feel a strong connection with the characters. I remembered "Johnny" but not really any of the others. If you don't know their names, how can you be expected to care about them and what happens to them?

I remember reading somewhere that it was a good idea to listen to the cast album prior to attending the show, to really hear and understand the music and what was happening. I mean, I'm not a dummy and so it wasn't like I didn't understand what they were saying, but there was a lot going on and it was really LOUD. And I think sometimes they could have gone further - this music has strong messages in it, you have tvs all over the set, just go for it. I left with kind of an "oh" feeling, not quite knowing what they wanted me to get out of the show. Although, I have been sitting around pondering it since last Tuesday, so maybe it did something right after all?? I just didn't know though - Is it a call to action? A call to awareness? Am I supposed to leave happy? Sad? Pissed off? Should I go off and start a revolution? Is the answer that maybe there ARE no answers and maybe I'm an American Idiot myself??

Afterwards, we went to Junior's for some post-show discussion and snacks. I had cheesecake (strawberry shortcake cheesecake, in the interest of full disclosure) and Heidi (surprise!) had soup.

just one look and i can hear a bell ring...

We arrived in NYC last Monday and stayed until Thursday morning. I wanted to cram the visit as full of stuff as possible, including shows. I was a little worried, because although I personally see no problem with spending my days in darkened theaters, my dear friend might not have agreed with my plans. As I planned the trip, my list of must-sees dwindled - mainly because so many of them closed in the meantime - A Little Night Music (we were a few weeks too early to see Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch take over in this show.), God of Carnage and Sondheim on Sondheim were a few on my list that closed before we got to town. I also wanted to see American Idiot, La Cage, Promises, Promises and Everyday Rapture. The nerd in me wanted to go to the Addams Family to see what had been changed since I saw it here in Chicago. So much to see, so little time. In the end, we decided on two - Mamma Mia! (one of the rare shows open on Monday) and American Idiot.

I love, love, love, love, love, Mamma Mia! I've seen it twice here in Chicago, the first time was at the Auditorium Theater and the second, last January, in Rosemont, and I just love it to pieces. I'd been wanting to see it on Broadway, just because I thought it would be a great evening of big, splashy fun.

And it was. The cast was wonderful, the best I have seen, and included Beth Leavel as Donna. She was amazing. She sang her face off, she was hilariously funny. The rest of the cast was good as well and included John Dossett as Sam - he also played Herbie in the Bernadette Peters Gypsy - I was so sure I recognized his voice from somewhere, and after a phrase in "Knowing Me, Knowing You" I was like "Herbie!!" I had been a little nervous about our Sophie, as her bio indicated she'd been on the recent national tour - and the Sophie we saw in Rosemont SUCKED a whole bunch - but it was not this girl, Natalie Gallo, who was a fantastic Sophie.

The plot, let's face it, is completely ridiculous but WHO CARES? The music is happy, cheery froth, and there is nothing better than standing up at the end and singing "Waterloo" with the rest of the audience and the cast in their awesome metallic 70s gear. The thing that still bothers me, that I notice every single time, is the line in "Thank you for the Music" which is the original and goes "I've been so lucky, I am the girl with golden hair" when Sophie is not actually golden haired. I just sit there and go, no, you're not. The logo bride isn't golden haired either, so I'm not sure what's up with that. Is she singing "Thank you for the Music" as a song that she learned from her mom? But it seems to be delivered like the rest of the songs, as the character's dialogue, and the rest of it seems to fit - "mother says I was a dancer before I could walk..." etc. So I don't know. I guess it is not one of those things that we are supposed to think too much about.

It is such a feel good show, I left the theater on a cloud of ABBA-induced euphoria. How can I resist you, indeed.

NYC or Bust!

Even though I'd been to NYC (many times) before, Heidi had not. I wanted to be sure we did all of the great stuff that one needs to do on a first visit. Fortunately, I had some assistance in planning the itinerary:

"lemme see... first stop, fish market, nom, nom, nom... next stop, stachoo liberty, and den I am finking bwoadway show. Whaddabout Cats? Dat my favwite."

(Oh yeah, he was a big help, all right!)

ask not what top model can do for you....

So. I heard that Fuerza Bruta is set to close on July 11, considerably earlier than anticipated. I mentioned this to my friends in the car yesterday and none of them had heard of it. "What's it about?" they asked "Is it a musical?" and I was at a bit of a loss, not having seen it myself. I said the audience stood and... stuff... sort of happened above them.

Then it occurred to me - I said to them: do you remember that photo shoot on America's Next Top Model? Where the girls were on that plastic thing in the water? Tyra saw Fuerza Bruta in New York and that's what inspired the photo shoot.

And the lights went on - my friends totally remembered that (it is, in fact, the reason I had originally heard of Fuerza Bruta - right after that photo shoot, I saw an ad for it in Time Out New York and was like "So that's what she was on about.") and said that I should have told them straightaway that it was from Top Model. I mean, duh. As Angelea from the 716might have said, bitch, please.

So, Fuerza Bruta, here is a tip for you, and I'm giving it to you for free: people here don't seem to get you. It's all like "forza whata?" and your ads (and lukewarm reviews) don't seem to be helping your case. I have heard great things about you, and would totally go except you are too rich for my recently returned from New York City vacation blood (and I missed my chance to go for free!). So you've got to step it up in the final days of your Chicago existence. USE YOUR TOP MODEL LINK. People might not know their performance art, but I guarantee you, they know their Tyra. People all over the place will have the same epiphany as we did in the car: "Oh, the thing from Top Model?? That looked cool! You should have SAID!"

It will totally work....

billy elliot in chicago

I'm back!! New York was fabulous, as always and watch this space for photos and details of all of our exploits. Last night though, it was Billy Elliot at the Oriental Theater back in sweet home, Chicago. It was my second time seeing Billy (the first one was in NYC a year or so ago - I did a double show day with a matinee Billy and an evening Road Show) and I was eager to see how the Chicago production measured up to the Broadway one. I remember liking the show immensely, laughing, crying, etc etc (and also being stuck in the middle of a row in the balcony and missing the intermission bathroom dash but whatever. The show was good.) but I wondered if it was just a combination of being-in-New York excitement and emotionality? Seeing it again, would I have the same responses?

Happily, this time I was with my friends (Heidi had gotten two tickets as a Christmas gift and I was her plus one - thanks, Heidi!!!), I was sitting on an aisle and made the intermission run smoothly (but hello? the restroom in the loge in the Oriental Theater has THREE STALLS. Three. Is that nuts or what?) and the show was just as good as I remembered.

The action of the show is set against the miners' strike of 1984 and young Billy's father and brother, indeed most of the men in his town are on strike, fighting for their jobs, their community, and their way of life. PM Margaret Thatcher was intent on breaking the union and dismantling the state-owned mining industry. The playbill synopsis says that in 1984 more than 300,000 men worked in mines in Britain, but now there are less than 1,000. Most of the coal used there now comes from abroad.

Amidst all this turmoil, is young Billy Elliot (played last night by JP Viernes who was just so adorable, I wanted to dress him up in corduroy and put him on my bookshelf). His dad sends him to boxing lessons which he hates and he inadvertantly ends up in a ballet class, where he shows some potential. Through training with Mrs. Wilkinson he is able to audition for the Royal Ballet School in London. This is his ticket out of this town, a chance to be more than a miner and he is able to take it.

This show is wonderful for so many reasons - it is about a kid, but the show is not necessarily for kids. The first time we see Billy, his friend asks him a question about the strike, the response to which is "Fook if I know!" There is a hard edge here - my favorite scene is "Solidarity" where the striking miners clash forcibly with the police sent to "keep the peace" and Mrs. Wilkinson's ballet class dances around them. It is a powerful scene - the innocence of youth combined with the brutality of the circumstances of the miners. I cried again - during that scene, the letter scene with Billy and his mom, "He Could Go and He Could Shine" when his father realizes that Billy's talent could give him real opportunities, and becomes a scab, breaking the picket line to try and provide for his family, Billy's song "Electricity" where he answers the question "What does it feel like when you're dancing?" I am crying now, just typing this. Seriously. It's a serious show, set to great music by Sir Elton John (and no, Crocodile Rock does not sneak in to the proceedings. It is all original music) with an uplifting story, lots of heart, and killer dance numbers.

On to the cast. The role of Billy is being shared by four young actors. We saw JP Viernes, who, as I mentioned, was absolutely adorable. He danced his face off last night and I enjoyed his overall performance very much. His father was played by the excellent Armand Schultz, Grandma Cynthia Darlow was imported from Broadway and her "We'd Go Dancing" was "Loovleh." I'd been very excited about Emily Skinner's Mrs. Wilkinson and - gosh, do I love her voice - but I had a little trouble understanding her through her northern dialect accent. I barely caught a word of her first song "Shine" and I couldn't avoid a mental comparison with Haydn Gwynne, whom I'd seen on Broadway and listen to on the cast recording. Still, she was good in the role, and it must be kind of hard to sing out full blast and try to keep the accent in place too, if it's not your native one. It also all seemed kind of loud, like they were all shouting all the time - maybe it was where I was sitting??

I didn't notice many changes in the actual show from the Broadway production, although there were a few places where I felt vaguely like I remembered an extra scene or two before - like I was sure Billy's dad confronts him about not going to boxing "Where have you been going?" "Boxin' where do you think?" etc. but that didn't happen - he wasn't caught lying to his dad (and I was sure that he had been and that maybe? His dad slapped him or something? Did anyone else see the Bway show? Did this happen or did I just make that up??)

The one thing I DID notice was the cut of the final verse of "Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher" and I only noticed this because it happens to be one of my favorite verses in a show possibly ever. The ballet girls sing "Oh my darlin', oh my darlin', oh my darlin' Heseltine, you're a tosser, you're a wanker, and you're just...a...Tory... SWINE!" and it made me laugh very hard the first time I heard it. Although I think I was the only one laughing, since I'd followed the strand of who "Heseltine" was and also knew the meaning of "tosser" "wanker" and "Tory swine". The cut is a little puzzling, because yes, it is offensive, if you know what all those things mean, but it wasn't cut for language, since there is ample use of "fook" and "shit!" and "bastard" and it's not like anyone would be mad that Heseltine was insulted, and it's not like they needed to do it to make the show shorter. Anyway. If you want to hear it, get the OCR because it's on there. It is also on a special short Elton John disc of songs that he sings from Billy Elliot, including Electricity, Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher and the letter. And I am telling you, it is worth the price of purchase/download/whatever to hear Elton merrily singing "You're a tosser, you're a tosser, and you're just a TORY... SWINE!!!" at the end of the song (he leaves out the "you're a wanker" part, but whatever. It's still worth it.)

Billy Elliot will be at the Oriental Theater for the forseeable future so go if you can.

How 'bout a midnight Patti party?

Patti's book! In September! Some serious Diva Dish involved, from what I understand. Now here is my problem, y'all: to pre-order or not to pre-order?? Because I like the feeling of going to the bookstore right as it is opening (easy too, because it is conveniently located across the street from my office) and finding what I want, having it in hand and taking it home. With the pre-ordering, it is easier, I guess, but not as satisfying. I remember I did NOT do the pre-order thing with the Harry Potter series, I always got them at the store the day they came out. Except for the last one, which I DID pre-order, and then I ended up going to NYC (to, funnily enough, see Patti in Gypsy at City Center) and I decided I couldn't wait and bought a copy of it there. I even stopped off at one of the midnight party things, I had just seen the show at City Center -- I was wandering around, looking for a taxi, didn't find one and decided screw it and started walking. I ended up by Columbus Circle where there is a bookstore (Barnes & Noble, I think). I was curious and it was almost midnight, so I went in. There were so many people (in costume!) and it was so nuts, I went back out again and found a cab there. I bought the book the next morning at the Barnes & Noble across from Lincoln Center and spent the morning reading it over waffles at Nice Matin. I read up until the matinee of Grey Gardens that afternoon.

I did not lug that tome around the city with me - although, come to think of it, that was the night I met up with Sarah, Kari, Sally, Bob and Gator and we had dinner and saw Gypsy (so I saw it three times when I was there. You are not allowed to judge me.). One of the Ugly Betty cast members and her boyfriend sat in front of me and totally obstructed my view - the book might have come in handy then because I could have either hit them both over the head with it (just kidding!!) or SAT on the damn thing so that I could see. I remember by the stage door that night there were people reading the book. I mean, really??

Sorry, that was a bit of a digression. The point is though, I have two copies of Harry Potter and the whatever the last one was called, because I couldn't wait to get home to my pre-order. What to do? Pre-order Patti and hope it comes early? Go to the store first thing? What if they (gasp!) don't have it??

Do you think any stores will be having midnight parties? Dress up as Reno Sweeney/Evita/Mrs. Lovett and sing showtunes?? Wouldn't that be awesome? Maybe in New York... sigh...

"You're the Top": Sutton Foster to Star in Broadway Revival of Anything Goes - Playbill.com

Oh hell yes!!! New York, I'm coming to see you next year, that is for sure. And I am looking forward to seeing Ms. Foster when she comes to Chicago - although to me she will always be Coco the sign girl who dated Brett on Flight of the Conchords.

"You're the Top": Sutton Foster to Star in Broadway Revival of Anything Goes - Playbill.com

powerless

Friday had dawned sunny, sticky and humid. I had the day off, did some shopping, met a former colleague for lunch, bought some shoes, sat in traffic in the huge construction-y mess that is now Golf Rd by Old Orchard Center. Around 3:30 it started getting dark and stormy looking. I didn't mind, I like a good rain storm, so I was contentedly watching Jeopardy in dark coolness. 4:00 it's getting darker and darker. Like scary dark. I have a sudden realization that I'd left a pair of shoes outside to dry in the sunshine after I'd stepped in a massive puddle earlier in the week, and that if the dark sky opened up they'd be soaked once again. Sprinted outside to grab the shoes. The wind had picked up, so once back inside, I went straight to the tv to see what was up. Just as I was thinking "Wouldn't it suck to have your power go out and have no air conditioning on such a hot sticky day" we heard a loud explosive sound.

And the power went out.

Frantic calls to ComEd ensued, as the wind whipped and the thunder clapped and the rain poured. I figured out how to use my iPod radio (yay!) to try and find a weather report. Without tv or any other radio, how were we supposed to know when to take cover? There could be a tornado under my nose, for all I knew, and no way to know if I should grab the cats and go to the basement.

The storm subsided, but we were still in darkness. You know how you hear on the news about areas that lose power in big storms and the newscasters say something like "power won't be restored to these areas for several days" and you think (from the comfort of your brightly lit and air conditioned home) "Sucks to be them!!" Well, now we were them. It was our whole block.

It's so strange, isn't it, the things you notice when something like this happens. Each time I went into the bathroom, I automatically flipped the lightswitch before I realized oh, yeah, lights are out. You can't read or watch tv (unless you use a flashlight or candle light) you can't go online (well, I couldn't anyway, because I don't have wireless on my laptop). We couldn't open our refridgerator. We ordered out, ate by flashlight and kept a look out for the ComEd guys. They did come, actually pretty quickly. But it was the same thing each time. They'd park, look at the pole, get out a big rod, do something, get in the truck and go away. Late Friday evening, they came back, put a guy in a cherry picker and had him up there, fussing with wires. Then it started raining and storming again, and they went away. Only thing to do was go to sleep, and even that was weird. I do this thing in the morning where I turn over and pick up the alarm clock so I can see what time it is. I did that Saturday morning and was greeted with darkness. I had hoped that I would wake up and everything would magically be restored, but alas.

More frantic calls to ComEd for status updates, and the message was different every single time I called. No news. No estimates on restoration times. At one point I spoke to a person and she said that the estimate was "several days" without power. Eventually we decided to get a generator to save the contents of the fridge (my cheese curds!) and freezer. No sooner had we gotten the thing hooked up and running when the ComEd guys showed up again. They thought everything was fixed (uh, no, guys, sorry) and had to see what was up. We went out to pick up some lunch and when we were back --- the lights were on! The clocks were flashing!! I've never been so happy to turn on a light in my entire life.

rainy days & mondays...

So the weekend didn't turn out to be as crazy as originally projected (except for Friday, which was MORE crazy than I could ever have even dreamed. In a good way). Because it was raining and cold on Saturday, we didn't make it to the Botanic Garden. And there was a bit of a hiccup on the David Sedaris front as well. I had thought that the tickets were for Sunday, had written in my calendar that it was Sunday, had mom convinced that it was Sunday, would have sworn under oath that those tickets were for Sunday. Late Saturday afternoon, it occured to me to get the tickets out and make sure all was in order. Opened the envelope, looked inside...

Yeah. Tickets were for Saturday, that very day, at 3:00. It was, at that point, almost 4:30.

So, yeah. I am a moron, and we should always check the tickets, is the moral of that story. But no David Sedaris. Boo.
Went to Superdawg with Heidi instead, and then we planned our TRIP TO NYC at the end of June (WOOOOO!!!!). It will be awesome - I need a vacation, Heidi's never been to NYC, and yeah. Pretty much awesome.

Was late for the Tony watching - I came in about half an hour after it started. I wasn't very attached, since I hadn't seen anything (except for the Addams Family, which was pretty much shut out of all the major categories. I think it is weird about Kevin Chamberlain getting the featured actor nod over, say Nathan Lane, since I thought you could cut out all the Fester stuff easily...). I mean, I do follow the shows and stuff like that, but I wasn't invested in anything. It looked like a bunch of duds this year, if I am honest. None of the musicals really appealed to me (although, full disclosure here, we did get tickets for American Idiot. I'm curious). And the performances were underwhelming. Is Catherine Zeta-Jones always so god awful??? Or is it just because she lost her voice?? Anyone?

And don't get me wrong here, you all know I love me some Glee, but Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele were essentially pointless filler. Hunktastic filler, in Matthew's case, but really?? That could have been left out completely so that, oh, I don't know, some of the winners could actually make speeches? All the major categories are always left to the end, when they are hurrying to wrap up the show. So they get to say two words or something like "SHUT UP! It's been 29 years!" which is hardly fair to them.

Anyway. Happy Monday - and don't forget your umbrella (ella ella).

chicago celebrates

So lucky for me I had the day off - allowing me to go to the Blackhawks parade!!! I didn't want to take my usual 7:04 am train (FOOL) instead opting for the 8:29 which would, theoretically, get me downtown by 9:00. Plenty of time to grab breakfast and score a decent spot for the parade. See any flaws in this plan yet?? Yeah, a million other people had the same idea. The trains were running late because of all the people in Hawks gear packed onto them. When my dad dropped me off, there was a train pulling up (it was 8:20 and I can only assume the train was the 8:15 running late). Dad thought maybe I could catch that one, and if it was merely a timing issue, I may have been able to make it. But no. Packed.

Whatever. Eventually I caught a train. I got downtown at 10:00. Parade allegedly to start at 10:30. No breakfast, no leisurely strolling to score a good spot. I grabbed a vitamin water and a snickers and joined the red and black shirted throngs on the street. Originally headed to Wacker and Washington but got nowhere. Turned around and walked on Madison instead. I was aiming for Daley Plaza, but just like FORGET IT. There were people everywhere. I was not surprised or anything but the original plans were out the window. I ended up on LaSalle and Washington, across from City Hall, and I wedged myself into a pretty decent spot. Much experience in this regard, from weaseling my way into spots at concerts, etc. It's a good thing I am little, is all I can tell you.

There were people everywhere - standing in windows in their (airconditioned) offices, sitting on top of bus shelters and newspaper boxes, climbing up street lamps, sitting in parking garages and leaning out the open parts. The crowd was friendly and excited - at one point an inflatable soccer ball appeared and made the rounds of the crowd (mainly on my side of the street). I even got a hand on it once (after it hit me in the head). There were chants of "Let's Go, Blackhawks!" and confetti showered down on us (and sometimes whole newspaper pages).

It was hot - we were packed in like sardines and all of a sudden it was 70 degrees and humid. Originally, I'd planned to bring an umbrella but was not able to find one small enough to stick into my bag. I figured I'd pick one up downtown (ha). I didn't but it didn't much matter - it didn't rain and also there wouldn't have been any room to open it anyway.

And then there they were!!!!!! On top of double decker buses, there was our team! And there was the Cup! We cheered and hollered and clapped and gave those boys the party they deserved when they won the thing in the first place.

When they finally passed, the crowd started streaming into Washington Street after them. I attempted to make my way to the rally and actually got to Wacker. It was pretty near impossible to get to the corner of Michigan and Wacker from where I ended up - it was all stanchioned off. Did I mention it was hot? And that I was wearing my red Hawks t-shirt with number 31 on it (Niemi!!) and jeans?? So I attempted to get to Michigan Avenue via Lake St. and it was just hugely crowded. So I never did get to the rally, I went and bought a cold drink and something else to wear instead. What? I was supposed to meet a friend for lunch and museum touring, and I didn't want to go all smelly and sweaty and gross.

But I was there, joining the city in the biggest celebration we've had, I think pretty much ever. And it was unbelievably exciting and wonderful. It was great to see the city come together, and a once in a lifetime "you've gotta be there" kind of event.

Now, I am exhausted. I will post pictures tomorrow.

action packed weekend!

Tonight: Sex and the City2 with my girls

Tomorrow: I am planning to attend the parade/rally for the Blackhawks and then go to MSI with a friend and her darling little girl.

Saturday: allergy shot and the Botanic Garden (what a lovely pair!)

Sunday: David Sedaris at Steppenwolf and also the Tony's!!! I haven't seen any shows this year, as I have not been in NYC since 2 Decembers ago (BOO) but I've been following via Playbill, Broadway World, etc etc etc so I know about the shows and I'm excited, as always, to watch. I wish there was more than one day and one telecast celebrating theater but I guess I've gotta be happy with what I've got for now, right?

here come the hawks, the mighty blackhawks....

Well, how awesome was THAT?? What a great time, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the game. Honestly. It must be so hard to be a commentator for hockey, it is so fast-paced, half the time I didn't even know where the heck the puck was. Sometimes like in football, the commentators go off into lala land and they're not even talking about the game, but in hockey, something is happening every minute. Wow. Just wow. I got SO into it, I was yelling at the tv, making up rude nicknames for the Flyers players and saying things like "Penalty box for you, bitches!" etc. Where does it come from? I don't know. I thought I was going to pass out from the anxiety and then it went into overtime, and I sat with my hands clasped. I probably have bald spots from where I was tearing my hair out.

I am only sorry that they didn't win while they were at home, so that we could give them the proper celebration when it happened. On the other hand, I am not sure I could have sat through another game like that, with all the suspense. The parade and rally is tomorrow and I conveniently have the day off, and I am going to try and go. In the meantime, celebrate, Chicago!! Wheeee!

Glee Update: here comes the dentist...

Gleek Alert! Just read that John Stamos will be cast as Will's rival for Emma's affections - her dentist.

insane or inspired??

Oh what a circus... Evita's coming back to broadway (in 2012)!
Ricky Martin Will Join Elena Roger for Broadway Revival of Evita - Playbill.com

Glee-cap: Journey to Regionals

Remember how last week everybody was in a funk? It got worse with the announcement that Sue Sylvester was going to be on the panel of "celebrity" judges for regionals. See, Will? I TOLD you it was a bad idea to mess with Sue's emotions. Hell hath no fury like the fury of Sue Sylvester scorned. Plus, there was the ultimatum delivered by Principal Figgins, namely, place at Regionals or the club is disbanded. At a meeting to decide their set list for regionals, everybody pretty much sat around crying instead. The situation was so futile even Will cried - in his car, as "Don't Stop Believin'" played on his radio.

But wait!!! That gave him some inspiration. "JOURNEY" he wrote on the blackboard the next day. It's not just the winning that matters, he told the dejected crew, but the journey they have taken to get there. What better way to express that than through (wait for it) the music of Journey?? New Directions' Regionals setlist included "Faithfully" "Anyway you want it/Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" and of course, "Don't Stop Believin'". They came, they sang, they conquered. But was it enough??

Quinn went into labor just as Vocal Adrenaline took the stage. Jesse rocked out to "Bohemian Rhapsody" - and Quinn was rushed to the hospital. Yeah, "Bohemian Rhapsody" rocked (Jonathan Groff, I kind of love you now). This is serious competition. There was one other group (called "Oral" something or other. I keep wanting to call them "Oral Fixation" but that's not what it was.) which was kinda odd because it was supposed to be Midwest regionals. Where was Chicago, huh??? Did we or did we not just bring the world the most recent American Idol??

Rachel talked to Shelby and tried to convince her to come co-direct New Directions with Mr. Shue. But alas. Shelby told her she wanted a life, a house, a dog... a family. Jokingly, I said, as Shelby, "I'm going to adopt Quinn's baby!!" And later, she DID. I am pretty sure you can't just walk into the hospital and adopt a baby like in one day, but whatever. She adopted her and named her "Beth" just like Puck wanted. At least she didn't go with Jackie Daniels.

The regionals "celebrity" judges were Sue, the news guy, Josh Groban and Olivia Newton-John. Olivia wanted to vote for Oral whoever, because they did a mashup of Olivia and Josh songs. She disparaged New Directions for their ragtag appearance and lack of production values, only to be defended by... Sue. Cut to the stage for the announcement. Oral whatever was announced as the runner up, leaving New Directions face to face with Vocal Adrenaline (another perfect moment for a West Side Story style dance rumble, yes?)

And, the winner is....

Do you need to ask?? This show follows the Whedon model of not allowing any of our beloved characters to be too happy. So naturally, the winner was Vocal Adrenaline. New Directions did not place at all, and so was disbanded. Emma went to bat for the kids with Figgins. "Some things are worth fighting for," she tells Will, and she is totally not talking about their relationship, either (maybe). Will tells her he loves her (then you shouldn't have been slutting it up, Shue) and "dentist or no, this is not over." The kids call him to the auditorium before this conversation can go any further.

They sing a very heartfelt rendition of "To Sir With Love" and who is that lurking around in the background?? Sue Sylvester, of course! She confronts Will in the choir room, as he is packing his stuff up (which is weird, actually, because he has an office somewhere else, doesn't he?). She tells him she came mainly to gloat, but that really, although she had won, she was not sure she wanted to live in a world where she couldn't make fun of his hair and try and thwart his every movement. Because of that, and because what Olivia Newton-John and the others said back at judging really hit home, Sue convinced Figgins to give the Glee club another year.

Which we really pretty much knew, since the danged show is renewed for two more seasons. Still, hooray! One more year! Will tells the group the news, and broke out his ukelele to sing "Over the Rainbow"in the style of the Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Rachel takes instant charge, telling them they'd better start rehearsing for sectionals, but Will tells them to take the summer off and enjoy themselves.

One more thing though - when Sue was talking to Will, she said during judging, it was easy to make the decision over who should win and it cut to her filling in her ballot. Her choice for #1?

New Directions.

Happy summer, Gleeks!

Don't Stop Believin'!!!

It's Tonight, Hawks Fans, It's Tonight!!!

if Glee had a year book...

Glee-cap of last night's Journey to Regionals to come later, but first, a year book entry homage to Glee, inspired by some of my actual year books:

Dear Glee!!
OMG, I loved sitting next to you in choir this year. I hope we have some classes together next year (with that cute Mr. Shue!) Have a great summer. See you at the pool. Hope you get some guys.
Don't Stop Believin!!!

Have a time, xoxoxo,
Kristen

Hawkey 101 :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Blackhawks

Everything you need to know about da game but were afraid to ask!!
Hawkey 101 :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Blackhawks

Puckin' A (or, I suppose, Puckin', eh?)

I'm sorry, but it's going to be pretty Hawk-centric around here until the Stanley cup finals are over (ONE. MORE. GAME!). It's weird, I know, since I am not (usually) a crazy sports fan, but I've now become obsessed with this game and our team. It's kind of like Jane come March Madness time. I sat in front of the tv yesterday, watching the game. When we were at the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, the game was on, and I was keeping an eye on it while I was eating (love you, Jane!).

I knew it was pretty bad though when my dad said yesterday that he was going to watch a movie on tv (I think it was 'Entrapment'). I just stared at him, askance. "But the GAME is on," I said. I've even gone to Wrigleyville Sports in Macy's to gear up. I went back there today, and the guy greeted me like an old friend. Oh, dear.

But whatever, right? It's so nice to have something to cheer about in Chicago, even though I still think it's nutty that they're playing ice hockey in June. Like, it's a zillion degrees outside and hockey seems like such a winter sport to me. Anyway. It seems like everyone in the city is pretty excited. I took a walk bright and early this morning, to bring y'all the following:

The fountain in Daley Plaza has gone red in support of the Hawks!

The Picasso is also a big fan...

As are the Art Institute Lions...

isn't it rich???

Night Music Will Soar Longer: Peters and Stritch to Join Broadway Cast - Playbill.com

Ooooohhh, I was so mad that I was not going to get to NYC in time to see Angela Lansbury & Catherine Zeta-Jones in this... looks like I will have to start planning a July trip!