Saturday, January 27, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Marat / Sade
If you haven't seen Marat / Sade at Yale Drama School yet. I would highly suggest going now. The acting is fabulous. The ending bloody perfect. However, the set alone is worth the whole $18. GO NOW! It closes on Saturday. This show deserves more than just the 7 performances it is doing.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Day 1 of Semester 4
I never remember the horror that is the first week of a semester. I always forget that I sign up for classes that I know I am going to hate, and thus put myself into a situation where I have to try and figure out what the hell to do. Maybe I just fine my pain entertaining.
So what does one do when the going get's tough?
I take my friend Hollywood to CVS. Where we decided it would be nice to pretend to buy A Light Bulb type tap lamp, those eye cover pad things, and diet pills. This was followed by sing-a-long to Spring Awakening, and the two of us going to get food.
Michael: You going to get real food?
Hollywood: If by real food you mean protein bars. Yes.
It is for reasons like this that I love Trinity.
It also doesn't hurt that my friend bought an Hermes bag for a backpack.
Now, I must return to watching "The Wedding Date", and hoping that day two goes better.
Oh, I forgot. I GOT A DATE!
So what does one do when the going get's tough?
I take my friend Hollywood to CVS. Where we decided it would be nice to pretend to buy A Light Bulb type tap lamp, those eye cover pad things, and diet pills. This was followed by sing-a-long to Spring Awakening, and the two of us going to get food.
Michael: You going to get real food?
Hollywood: If by real food you mean protein bars. Yes.
It is for reasons like this that I love Trinity.
It also doesn't hurt that my friend bought an Hermes bag for a backpack.
Now, I must return to watching "The Wedding Date", and hoping that day two goes better.
Oh, I forgot. I GOT A DATE!
Review #2 Fences
When I attended the Hartford Stage Company presentation of August Wilson's Fences, I did not plan on ever writing a review. I went with a dear friend and was going for an enjoyable evening at the theater. However, it was this piece that inspired me to start a blog about my theatrical journeys. The performances of Wendell Wright, Don Mayo, Wanda Christine, Che Ayende, Ray Anthony Thomas, Rob Riley and Hannah J. Maximin make up a family that was by far one of the best I have ever seen. I had never read a play of the late August Wilson's until I took African American Theatrical Literature last year from Prof. Nick Davis; if you ever attended Northwestern take very class from him that you can. After reading "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom", "Joe Turner's Come and Gone", and "Fences", I discovered why this man is arguably the greatest African American playwright, and for sure one of the most important playwrights of the 20th century.
"Fences" which takes place in the decade of 1950 in Wilson's 10-Decade 10-Play Cycle is one of his more famous works. After reading it three times and now having seen it performed I can easily understand why. The text even though it is so simplistic connects with the audience. The power of the words allows the characters to become so believable. It is performers like Wendell Wright, the man who took on the role of the father, Troy, Maxon, who make these theater experiences unforgettable.
When I entered Hartford Stage, Scott Bradley's beautiful stage design had me anxiously awaiting the start of the play. Between Bradley, lighting designer R. Lap-Chi Chu, and director Jonathan Wilson the team created something that truly fulfills the wonder that is August Wilson.
This being the 20th anniversary revival of the play, the late Wilson could not have asked for a better production. From Hartford it moves to the Dallas Theater Center and then to the Portland Center Stage. I wish that I could provide more details from this production; however, unlike my normal mode in the theater I was not taking notes, but instead was just enthralled by what was happening onstage. The friend I attended with was also amazed, and he had never read or seen any of Wilson's works. There are few things that I would recommend as much as this, and I am actually hoping to go back one more time. If that's the case I will re-work this review. However, I can simply say that Wilson's production of August Wilson's "Fences" at Hartford Stage is not something you should miss.
"Fences" Hartford Stage Company - www.hartfordstage.org Now until February 11th.
"Fences" which takes place in the decade of 1950 in Wilson's 10-Decade 10-Play Cycle is one of his more famous works. After reading it three times and now having seen it performed I can easily understand why. The text even though it is so simplistic connects with the audience. The power of the words allows the characters to become so believable. It is performers like Wendell Wright, the man who took on the role of the father, Troy, Maxon, who make these theater experiences unforgettable.
When I entered Hartford Stage, Scott Bradley's beautiful stage design had me anxiously awaiting the start of the play. Between Bradley, lighting designer R. Lap-Chi Chu, and director Jonathan Wilson the team created something that truly fulfills the wonder that is August Wilson.
This being the 20th anniversary revival of the play, the late Wilson could not have asked for a better production. From Hartford it moves to the Dallas Theater Center and then to the Portland Center Stage. I wish that I could provide more details from this production; however, unlike my normal mode in the theater I was not taking notes, but instead was just enthralled by what was happening onstage. The friend I attended with was also amazed, and he had never read or seen any of Wilson's works. There are few things that I would recommend as much as this, and I am actually hoping to go back one more time. If that's the case I will re-work this review. However, I can simply say that Wilson's production of August Wilson's "Fences" at Hartford Stage is not something you should miss.
"Fences" Hartford Stage Company - www.hartfordstage.org Now until February 11th.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Review #1: The Great American Race
Hilary Chadwick states early on in "The Great American Race", one of three musicals that were work shopped this year in the Goodspeed Festival of New Artists," Street driven is different." I translated that into meaning that this show was normal, well developed, witty, or maybe just something that was cute. However, "The Great American Race" with lyrics, music, and book by Patrick Barry none of these are really options. The show zoomed around the idea of Dale Earnhardt Jr. being somebody that an audience could connect with, but Dale with two wives and three kids, none of who he actually cares about, is not exactly easy to connect with in anyway.
I appreciate the fact that the musical is trying to discuss a subject that is masculine, unique, and could possibly bring a new NASCAR audience to the theater. However, as a friend poignantly pointed out, NASCAR fans aren't theater fans, and that won't be changing anytime soon. Do you really see a bunch of NASCAR fans from South Carolina or Tennessee running to the Goodspeed Opear House or any theater for that matter to see the new NASCAR show?
The cast was made up of one equity actor, Adam Monley, once a member of the "Mamma Mia!"cast, one Hartt School Instructor, two children, and fourteen Hartt School Senior Musical Theater Majors. At this moment, I am trying to figure out who was good. Oh, hold on, the 10 to 12 year old boy, Julian Miyta. Adam Monley failed to connect with the audience or the character, Mike Morris, the Hartt School Instructor completely surprised me with what seemed like a lack of vocal training, and only three Hartt School students stood out, Hilary Chadwick, Jacob Ottosen, and Robert Devlin.
Chadwick was the one amusing female voice. Jacob Ottosen was probably the most energetic and alive of any character onstage, minus Miyta. Devlin seemed to have some emotion and some connection with the character. Now, it must be understood that this was a scripted reading, and is an earlier step in the process of this new work.
There were some cute songs. The two children sing a rather adorable song called "Daddy", the ensemble comes together to sing the one song with some potential "The Great American race", Oh and the most clever moment of the show in my mind was at the end of "Don't Hang Your Hat on Me" when Monley does a cute little turn and places his hat on the top of Hartt student, Blythe Evans, head after the pianist Paul Feyer has scaled the piano.
With a book that needs major reworking, a lack of connection to a very distant character, and the up hill battle that the show would face to find an audience, I am trying to see the shows future up that hill. However, the vehicle that this show hopes to be lacks gas, passengers, and a steering wheel. I don't see it racing it's way onto any other stage anytime soon.
"The Great American Race" - Goodspeed Opera House - Goodspeed Festival of New Artists - January 19, 2007
I appreciate the fact that the musical is trying to discuss a subject that is masculine, unique, and could possibly bring a new NASCAR audience to the theater. However, as a friend poignantly pointed out, NASCAR fans aren't theater fans, and that won't be changing anytime soon. Do you really see a bunch of NASCAR fans from South Carolina or Tennessee running to the Goodspeed Opear House or any theater for that matter to see the new NASCAR show?
The cast was made up of one equity actor, Adam Monley, once a member of the "Mamma Mia!"cast, one Hartt School Instructor, two children, and fourteen Hartt School Senior Musical Theater Majors. At this moment, I am trying to figure out who was good. Oh, hold on, the 10 to 12 year old boy, Julian Miyta. Adam Monley failed to connect with the audience or the character, Mike Morris, the Hartt School Instructor completely surprised me with what seemed like a lack of vocal training, and only three Hartt School students stood out, Hilary Chadwick, Jacob Ottosen, and Robert Devlin.
Chadwick was the one amusing female voice. Jacob Ottosen was probably the most energetic and alive of any character onstage, minus Miyta. Devlin seemed to have some emotion and some connection with the character. Now, it must be understood that this was a scripted reading, and is an earlier step in the process of this new work.
There were some cute songs. The two children sing a rather adorable song called "Daddy", the ensemble comes together to sing the one song with some potential "The Great American race", Oh and the most clever moment of the show in my mind was at the end of "Don't Hang Your Hat on Me" when Monley does a cute little turn and places his hat on the top of Hartt student, Blythe Evans, head after the pianist Paul Feyer has scaled the piano.
With a book that needs major reworking, a lack of connection to a very distant character, and the up hill battle that the show would face to find an audience, I am trying to see the shows future up that hill. However, the vehicle that this show hopes to be lacks gas, passengers, and a steering wheel. I don't see it racing it's way onto any other stage anytime soon.
"The Great American Race" - Goodspeed Opera House - Goodspeed Festival of New Artists - January 19, 2007
My Picture.
I am not exactly down with computers. Our relationship has always been very sketch. Since I cannot figure out how to post picture from my MacBook to my blog. I am just going to post a picture of me.
This is my partner in crime - Gina. When it comes to going to fabulous events in the city, she is always my date and I am always hers. Our past times are open bars and celebrity stalking.
More photos of both to come in the future.
This is my partner in crime - Gina. When it comes to going to fabulous events in the city, she is always my date and I am always hers. Our past times are open bars and celebrity stalking.
More photos of both to come in the future.
I wanna be where the theaters are....
I cannot lie. I feel like I am violating everything that I believe in by being so excited for Disney's sixth venture in its journey to take over Broadway, "The Little Mermaid". Hopefully, Francesca Zambello will guide this production to be one of Disney's best since the last two, "Tarzan" and "Mary Poppins", haven't exactly been anything to be particularly excited about.
Excluding the fact that "Tarzan" offers Josh Strickland, which is not exactly an unpleasing sight.
"Mary Poppins" provides you the opportunity to watch the title character to fly out of the theater, and be scared shitless for the little children in their nightmare sequence.
I know that come March 18th. I will be first on my cell attempting with all my power to obtain two tickets to see the show in Denver. To experience this, achievement or catastrophe, will be well worth the plane ticket.
I mean honestly the moment when they start singing, "We are the daughters of Triton," they may have to resuscitate me.
Oh, if there is real water. I will finally fall and support this organization.
Friday, January 19, 2007
What's Coming
For years, I have thought about writing a blog about my many adventures, views, and bitchy opinions on the theater world of today. The theater world today never falls to make me want to die or cry. From readings of new musicals to openings to regional theater. From the creme de la crem to the worst things ever seen by modern light. You will hear about them all. This spring I will be seeing for thirty-five shows, and do my best to make sure that you know what is going to happen next before it actually happens. I would greatly appreciate any involvement from readers though. It makes this whole process so much more fun.
So get ready the curtain is coming up on a new type of review.
Michael
What's Coming Soon:
Reviews: High Fidelity, Grey Gardens, Mary Poppins, The Clean House, The Little Dog Laughed, Hartford Stages Fences, and many more... From my recent past.
My currrent adventures as the dramaturg on Trinity College's Cloud Nine...
And of course, the latest gossip and random shit... (What would a blog be without that.)
So get ready the curtain is coming up on a new type of review.
Michael
What's Coming Soon:
Reviews: High Fidelity, Grey Gardens, Mary Poppins, The Clean House, The Little Dog Laughed, Hartford Stages Fences, and many more... From my recent past.
My currrent adventures as the dramaturg on Trinity College's Cloud Nine...
And of course, the latest gossip and random shit... (What would a blog be without that.)
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