February 2012
21 posts
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Venus in Fur – Where Nina Arianda SHUTS IT DOWN →
Excerpt: After leaving the Lyceum Theater the other night, I felt blessed. Not only because I witnessed a thought-provoking, surprising and engaging drama. Not only because I saw the two leads, Nina Arianda and Hugh Dancy, give committed performances, both worthy of Tony nominations with the former assured to take down the top prize. No, I am grateful because the entire package is theater...
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Smash: "Meet Joe DiMaggio" →
Excerpt: I’ve pretty much accepted that I will watch Smash in real time and will enjoy some aspects of it week after week. What other show has Megan Hilty and Savannah Wise walking down 45th street past the marquees for Bonnie and Clyde and Private Lives, two shows that are not even open anymore?
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Glee 3x14 "On My Way" →
Excerpt: First off, kudos to Darren (and Darren’s face) for nailing that number. But that montage…that was so beautifully done, you would think we started watching a live-action Pixar film by way of Sam Mendes (American Beauty). I think we all were watching fearing the worse and deeply concerned over David’s heartbreak. We may not have seen his entire character arch from bullying jock to the...
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The Voice - Enter Tony Vincent →
Excerpt: As far as singing competitions on television, The Voice is the only one that really strikes me as enjoyable.American Idol, X-Factor and such have some combination of factors in the show’s run-through that turn me off and usually, the winner is incorrect or there is too much emphasis on crafting a story or personality or a talented person is voted off…you know, the standard-faire.
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Glee 3x13 "Heart" →
Excerpt: You know…it would be easy to hate this episode because the characters we once knew (and loved) are now parodies of the caricatures of the characters they once were, or something…but Glee somehow charmed me into the sap and nonsense. After the terrible episode last week, that can only be a good thing. Since its return from hiatus, they seem to be making a conscious effort to go for the fun...
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Smash: The Callback →
Excerpt: Hey, as a story arch, that is some fine stuff right there. Throw in a continuation of Julia and Frank’s adoption process, Eileen’s divorce (and her producer funding troubles), Karen’s boyfriend, some Broadway cameos, some shots of 44th street and we have a great episode…on paper at least. Where the show stumbled was in the execution.
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Stop What You Are Doing. "Smash" Has Arrived! →
Excerpt: And oh, excited I am. In fact, watching the pilot episode took me back to the time when I watched the pilot episode of Glee(don’t look at me like that; comparisons between the two are bound to come up). After decades of major television networks avoiding televised musicals and Broadway references (less the Tonys), major television executives, creative teams and the masses are finally...
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"Anything Goes" Underwhelmed Me...So It Goes →
Excerpt: I find the general storyline to be really fun and engaging in that classic musical sort of way. Light on depth, big on pizzazz revolving around the most standard of romance-based storylines: star-crossed lovers. But the show does not really live up to that idea. For one, Reno Sweeney somehow is the lead who pops up for a flashy, up-tempo number every now and then. Each supporting...
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Glee 3x12 "The Spanish Teacher" →
Excerpt: Shun me for turning my back on a boundary-breaking show, one I really used to love and I have no shame in admitting that, but who can say with a straight face that last night’s episode had much in the way of highlights? I can’t and I am a pretty good actor.
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Subtlety Is Golden; Enter "Assistance" →
Excerpt: Akin to one of your friends sharing stories over dinner or a cocktail on a Friday evening, what the characters endure and how they cope with the work environment resonates well. The entire production is pitched to those whom have worked in an assistant position, but I feel that anyone, especially 20-somethings in a subservient position, can connect with material instantly. No over-the-top...
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Anonymous asked: I really enjoyed Seminar and Assistance too! (I didn't see Seminar this weekend, though.) Technically, Assistance hasn't opened yet, though. Did you mean you saw first preview?
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Glee 3x11 "Michael" →
Excerpt: A Michael Jackson tribute episode is a great idea because while his untimely (and unfortunate) passing resurrected a nostalgic reflection on his impact in music (and his personal life to a lesser extent), his work as a performer is iconic and timeless that would appeal to many age groups. He has a large body of songs to choose from, a performance style that was ahead of its time, but can...
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Do You Hear the People Cheering...Swift is Out! →
Excerpt: Does anyone else wish they had special news delivered to them like that? “Samantha, great job in tonight’s show! Oh by the way, we are casting you in one of the most iconic roles of all time in a film adaptation of one of the most iconic musicals of all-time. Take your bow honey and enjoy the rest of your bloody evening!
January 2012
20 posts
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Chat It Up: Gerard Canonico, Pt. 2 →
Excerpt: Because two is greater then one and at the risk of saying “awesome” more then 4 times in one entry, I’ll just leave you part two of my interview with Gerard Canonico (Check out part one right here). Many thanks to him again for taking some time out to answer some questions and if you are not already, follow him on Twitter!
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Chat it Up: Gerard Canonico →
Excerpt: Gerard, amidst his crazy schedule, was kind enough to answer some questions for me and from the moment he teased me for calling him a “veteran” of theater, I knew this was going to be fun and he would reach a new tier of awesome. Like, so much fun, I needed to split this interview into two separate entries because there was too much awesome for any one post. Like, so much awesome that if...
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Glee 3x10 Yes/No →
Excerpt: Not that this was a set-the-world-on-fire number, but it was fun and the Grease recreation works. Laughed-out-loud at Kurt’s Rizzo impression. This was not really a song suited for Mercedes, but I am glad that most of her numbers this season have departed from her Blues/R&B overdose of last season. Sam, for all of his utter uselessness, can at least carry a number.
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"The Book of Mormon" is awesome and... →
Excerpt: What else I can I say that has not already been said about the show…it’s not just unique, dramatic, uplifting, hysterical, poignant, epic, passionate and creative. It is an enthralling experience that comes out of nowhere with its unconventionalality. It also has nary a low point because it is unique, dramatic, uplifting, hysterical, poignant, epic, passionate and creative. In fact, its...
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"On A Clear Day..." is a little Dull, no? →
Excerpt: Disclaimer over…on to the show. I’ll state outright that Michael Mayer is one of my all time favorite directors. Spring Awakening and American Idiot are top-notch and I have a feeling the upcoming Smash will be on my television rotary of watching/blogging. My issue with On A Clear Day starts with him…his updated concept has a twist in the proceedings, but very little thought otherwise....
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Chat It Up: Nick Blaemire →
Excerpt: At my last outing at the still-awesome Godspell, I took the stage during the end of the Act I “wine” party. Mind you, I was dressed with some flair - “Fiyero” equestrian pants, boots and suspenders – as if I was a member of the production (which some people did confuse me for…small victories!). I saw Nick Blaemire and George Salazar off to one-side of the stage and went over to say hello....
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Nope...Not Tired of Talking About "Les Miz" →
Excerpt: Look, I am not expecting this film adaptation to blow me away…and I never was, quite frankly. Even so, casting is only one of the components of any production. They still have to get the cinematography, the direction, the music, the staging, the costuming, etc… on-point for any serviceable feature. Besides, even some of those cast that I am excited for may misfire or the not-so-good cast...
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NRNW Central in 2012...Oh, and Spiderman's... →
Excerpt: I really do not have a hook for this entry other then sharing whats going on in NRNW Central in early 2012…well, that was until I saw the “interesting” Spiderman publicity stunt on CNN and could not pass up the opportunity to discuss…how could I not? That was button-pushing television for so many reasons.
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December 2011
31 posts
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Ciao "Bonnie and Clyde"...You Were Not That Bad →
Excerpt: Oh, the darkness is upon us. In a few days, we will be losing some of our own from the Great White Way and while I can’t get worked up over Private Lives (Have not seen it) or The Addams Family (Wanted to see it, but had a bad experience at the box office that deterred my desire), we are losing the not-so-bad Bonnie and Clyde.
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Open letter to Santa - Theater 2012! →
Excerpt: Christmas is almost over. I ate about four families worth of food by indulging in all of the temptations of my “See-Food Diet.” I think we need to run down some last minute Theater-related things on my “Wish List” because there is a lot to discuss. You with me? Cue my entrance music…
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Facebook + Blog Talk Radio
My social media takeover continues with a Facebook page for the blog and an accompanying radio show. “Like” me and follow the new show; I will try to make it worth your while! Especially because we have some special guests, giveaways and contests fast-approaching!
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The Spectacle that is Godspell (Plus, First... →
Excerpt: Davenport Theatrical Enterprises’ answer to that question was brilliant; update the “stories” with some modern touches, stage the show impeccably and put together one of the best ensembles in many a season. The production goes off without a hitch and has this quiet assurance of “yea, we got this!” The moment you see John blast the horn (following an amazing acapella version of “Tower of...
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Is "Asuncion" Spanish for 'Awesome'? It should... →
Excerpt: After a (well-deserved) extension, Jesse Eisenberg’s Asuncion (yes, apparently, our favorite Mark Zuckerberg is a writer) ended yesterday at the Cherry Lane theater. Where do I get the petition circulating for a Broadway transfer? I kind of loved this one. Not that it was without its flaws; in fact, there was only one, maybe two things I can point out as being sub-par. However,...