Category Archives: Musical

Musical theatre is in my blood.

Spamalot (The Vegas Edition)

To sum it all up, I was a little disappointed. Yes I laughed out loud at a lot of points, but the show, on the whole, is…unsatisfying. And it’s not just because I’m a Python geek and knew all the skits. It’s just not that well written…which I guess places Eric Idle in the lower echelon of writers which to me is unsatisfying. Maybe Python was so funny because of the collaboration…I don’t know. The conductor was left handed (something you wouldn’t notice if you didn’t have a musical director sitting next to you) which meant that the strings are always placed on the side opposite the conductor’s baton (normally they’re located on the house left side of the pit, but here they were located on the house right side). How quickly does seat D101 sell out for people seeing the show for the second time? You get some pretty … Continue reading →

The Rat Pack: Live At The Sands

Last night, Laura, my dad and I headed up to Wilshire Blvd. to see The Rat Pack: Live at the Sands. Drinks at the bar – I had a Sailor Jerry & Coke (they didn’t have any Captain) and Dad and Laura had a Malibu Pineapple. Before the show, Laura and I got some lindy bombing in at the very front of the theatre and it was INCREDIBLE. I mean we’d lindy bombed theatres on two previous occasions (Jersey Boys and Pajama Game), but this time there was more room (even if it was on carpet). The last song, I finished with a frog(with a long hold)-tuck-turn-dip that was SOOO clean and smooth. 😀 We also experimented with a balboa cross-break/salsa transition that works REALLY well. We got applause after our first dance and at the very end. Then on with the show. Frankie was dead-on (voice and look). Sammy … Continue reading →

Jersey Boys, Across the Universe, Misbehavin’ Nightly, Pajama Game and Enchanted (i.e. The Past Three Weeks In Entertainment)

Jersey Boys The show is a lot of fun. The story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, it’s definitely rated R (they’re from f*ckin’ Jersey after all), but a lot of fun. It’s a biopic musical! Well then again, all biopics about music stars are musicals…I just don’t think I’ve seen the jukebox musical format applied as a biopic and I love it! Across the Universe Wow, two jukebox musicals in one week? You’d think I’d be sick of it, but I’m actually having a heck of a time. Across the Universe is the jukebox movie-musical (has that been done before?) starring the Beatles and an incredibly talented cast (definitely triple threats). Directed by Julie Taymor (the “person” responsible for The Lion King musical), the movie is very enjoyable and taught me a lot of Beatles music. The soundtrack is amazing! It’s chock full of musical goodies and I’ve … Continue reading →

Nunsense and [tap] The Mystery [tap tap] of Edwin DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD

Nunsense – Torrance Theatre Company It’s like Altar Boyz but with “better music”. It’s a comedy routine by nuns that has heart and some poignant points to make about religion. If you get a chance, go check out Torrance’s production (CLOSING THIS WEEKEND – GET TICKETS NOW!) because it’s got (for my money at least) the funniest nuns ever to hit the comedy circuit! The Mystery of Edwin DROOOOOOOOOOOOOD The show is a play within a play based on an unfinished work by Charles Dickens. The meta-play providing the structure for The Mystery of Edwin Drood is that of an English performing troupe which was very fun…especially when you have the cast willing to get you a beer (unfortunately you have to reimburse them) and play cribbage with you (or at least pretend to play and asking how to play). Because it is an unfinished work, the performance troupe offers … Continue reading →

The Rocky Horror Show at the Maverick

The best part of Rocky Horror Show (on stage) is audience participation.  While they were selling “Prop Bags” which added some audience element, it’s the callbacks that really do it.  According to one of the box office girls, there are enough in existence callbacks that you can just talk throughout the entire show (which is just annoying).  Luckily last night’s callbacks were just the tasteful fun ones.  Anytime Brad mentions the castle and its “phone”, say “Castles don’t have phones, asshole” Anytime Brad says, “Brad Majors”, say “Asshole”    If Brad takes off his glasses, say “Super asshole” Anytime Janet says, “Janet Weiss”, say “Slut” When Frank-n-furter pauses on the word anticipation during “Sweet Transvestite”, shout “Say it!”  Ask Frank-n-furter:      “What’s your favorite color?” (Act 1)        Last night’s response:  Magenta    “Where do you get your drugs?” (Act 1)        Last night’s response:  Columbia    “What do you put on your … Continue reading →

Jekyll and Hyde and Why I’m Pathetic

Jekyll and Hyde is a fascinating musical adaptation of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel featuring the schizophrenic, “chemical”-addicted Victorian doctor trying to destroy the “Duality of Man”. I don’t remember ever reading Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but somehow the concept has always been present in popular culture. Anyone know why? I mean it can’t just be The Pagemaster (featuring Leonard Nimoy as Jekyll and Hyde), can it? Anyways. T. Eric Hart did a fascinating job as the aforementioned Doctor, but the real star of the show is the music. Frank Wildhorn is an incredible composer. His music has this indelible movie-soundtrack quality that makes it so much fun to listen to. Yesterday at my singing lesson, I briefly talked with my vocal coach about the upcoming Sweeney Todd adaptation and I voiced my opinion how in the beginning of the trailer, Johnny Depp sounds a LOT like Jack … Continue reading →

Good Luck Chuck and Ragtime

So I was supposed to drive to Riverside for West Side Story (Performance Riverside) and then down to San Diego (Starlight Theatre) for Ragtime. But when I woke up at 1:17pm, I decided against rushing out of the house to WSS (I feel a bit like a heel though, since I knew folks from Torrance’s WSS were in it) and decided instead to head down to San Diego early and catch a flick. Good Luck Chuck This movie fits in the same vein as Wedding Crashers…rated R, lots of sex, lots of jokes. Great fun if you don’t mind a little crudity. The premise is that Dane Cook gets hexed by a Wiccan girl he refuses to have sex with as a child. Every girl he sleeps with will marry the next man they date. Then he meets Jessica Alba, an accident prone girl whom he really likes. Chaos ensues, … Continue reading →

A Weekend In The Country

[Bonus points if you understand the title reference] So here it is…Labor Day Weekend 2007. I spent the weekend at the King Frederick Best Western in Solvang. The whole purpose of the trip was to see PCPA’s Urinetown, but I also ended up finishing Pearl Harbor by Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen. The theatre ended up being less than a 1/10 of a mile from our hotel, and it felt really fun to walk to the theatre, see the show and then walk back to the hotel. I’ll have to make this Solvang trip more of a regular thing to see more theatre and walk back to my room. 😉 Urinetown…Not the Place, The Musical The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) presents Urinetown in Santa Maria and at Solvang’s TheatreFest. At first Officer Lockstock seemed a bit too over the top with his gay act, but after a … Continue reading →

War and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Luke Adams (fellow cast member from Torrance’s Joseph (2004) and Camelot (2005)) was cast as the Beast in Starlight Theatre’s outdoor production and did an incredible job. I was lucky enough to head down there for the closing performance. We left Orange County around 3:30 with the hopes of catching a movie before the show. Success on both fronts! War featuring Jason Statham and Jet Li This was a very exciting film, portraying the tale of Rogue, a Yakuza (Japanese mob) hitman who pits Yakuza members in San Francisco against the Triad (Chinese mob), and John Crawford, a member of the FBI’s Asian Organized Crime unit out to avenge his partner’s death (to the extent of all else – his marriage, his son, etc.). Aside from Jet Li and Jason Statham being incredible fighters, the story was really solid and really enjoyable. At least that’s what I can claim – … Continue reading →

The Full Monty

I have loved this musical ever since David Sidoni (of Newsies and OCHSA fame) played “Big Ass Rock” for a warm-up at Orange County Song and Dance Summer Camp many years ago. And I’ve been waiting to see it ever since I chose not to go to the national tour at OCPAC back in 2003 (long story about surgery and not sure I would be able to sit down in a chair for that long a time). It’s been gone for 4 years! I’m so grateful to Music Theatre West for producing it! The show is absolutely genius. I just love David Yazbek’s music and lyrics. And the story is very thoughtful as well. It deals with men not able to be men in their lives (being unemployed makes it kind of hard to bring the bread home) and finding courage to do something that not many people do…strip. It … Continue reading →