The Princess And The Frog – AMC 12 Downtown Disney, Anaheim, CA

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YES! That’s what sums up this movie at the end of the day for me – it was such a wonderful experience to watch that I can barely express it! I mean it’s New Orleans jazz! It’s Goliath the Gargoyle singing, dancing and casting voodoo spells! It’s got Jim Cummings as an adorable, endearing Cajun firefly – reusing his Jambalaya Jake from Darkwing Duck voice! It’s got a story that rips your heart out, stomps it all over the floor, laughs at you, and then perfectly sews it back up and makes you laugh with joy! Rule Number One of the bayou – never ask directions from a gator. I got confused by the typography, geography…choreography! Gator down! Look in the gumbo! I’ve been looking for you all morning! What a coincidence! I’ve been avoiding you all morning! Disney is doing a decent and amazingly fun thing by tying in … Continue reading →

The Christmas Music Of Mannheim Steamroller – OCPAC

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Video Intro/Announcement by Chip Davis saying due to recent neck surgery he can’t play for a while (and in which he stomps fake snow off of his pristine white sneakers) Act 1: Hallelujah Band Introductions by Ron Cooley Feliz Navidad Deck The Halls We Three Kings Catching Snowflakes On Your Tongue Messengers Of Christmas Away In A Manager Faeries Good King Wenceslas White Christmas Act 2 – This is where the fun really started – the video screen stayed lowered and they played a Renaissance Christmas feast on the upper portion while you could see the band through the bottom half of the scrim: Gagliarda In Dulci Jublio Wassail, Wassail (which is a hot mulled cider) Carol Of The Birds (projected images of large flocks of birds) I Saw Three Ships Video cast member shouts out, “Hey Chip! How about something we can dance to?!” God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen … Continue reading →

Fruit of the Spirit: Patience – The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul (half time/full time Lindy) segue to Jon Week 5 of fruit of the spirit Week 1 – Galatians 5, fruits of the spirit, fight against the flesh, communicable aspects of God (the fruits), walking in the Spirit Week 2 – 1 Corinthians, love is patient and kind, Corinth had many attributes except love, opposite is fear, meeting the needs of others, counterfeit is loving someone because you need something from them Week 3 – joy and sorrow can coexist, in suffering and trials you…, opposite is hopelessness, counterfeit is blessings Week 4 – peace is confidence in God’s control of our lives, counterfeit is someone who just doesn’t care, opposite is anxiety and worry, can’t be peaceful with so much to do and being so scattered Today – Patience James 5:7-16 7 So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for … Continue reading →

The Alley Cats Christmas Show – Curtis Theatre, Brea, CA

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Absolutely hilarious! With some very poignant melodies and humbling harmonies (especially the Luther Vandross arrangement of O Come All Ye Faithful with the Alley Cats Litterbox Choir), The Alley Cats are in rare form as always (they ARE America’s premier doo-woo group), and Toby, Juan, Mando, and Royce have a great time singing (Let It Snow * Bohemian Rgapsody – o mama mia let it snow), dancing (CHINESE FIRE DRILL!! and OMG Single Ladies) and heckling each other for two solid hours of entertainment. Oh yeah, and I got to stand on stage and sing “Five golden rings” while being decorated as a Christmas tree. 😀

Planet 51 (2009)

Planet 51 – Century 20 @ Bella Terra, Huntington Beach, CA

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Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. The trailer sets up the idea of an astronaut on a routine mission to a supposedly barren planet only to discover the planet is fully inhabited. But it gets better than that – the planet’s civilization has a parallel timeline to Earth but it’s about 60 years behind us (and with various technological differences like hover technology) – so they’re at the peak of the 50’s, listening to rock and roll and watching drive-in movies about – an alien invasion by the humaniacs. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! [As far as I could see,] The vocal cast was unlisted at the end of the film (an interesting choice), but it’s quite an all-star cast: Dwayne Johnson (who doesn’t sound like himself at all, making him an even more versatile actor than before) as wayward astronaut Chuck Baker, Justin Long as the “alien” Lem who … Continue reading →

Fruit of the Spirit: Peace – The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul , segue to Peletah – deliverance in Hebrew New song He walks through the fire with us Jon Philippians 4:4-9 22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Need to lower expectations CS Lewis – expectations are everything, how we walk through life, hotel, honeymoon suite, described as pretty good, not very opulent, same room described as jail cell, pretty good Always shifting and changing As we learn to walk the road of faith with the fruits We are constantly under attack by forces that want to destroy our peace and joy; steal our love from us Definition of peace: confidence and trust of God’s wise control of your life Believe that He’s a God that’s for us, not against us Philippians 4:4-9 – 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation … Continue reading →

Spring Awakening – OCPAC

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Spring Awakening – OCPAC It’s Rent but with German La Boheme influences! Talkback with (some of) the actors Ilse Moritz Hanschen Swing (Krista Pioppi) Wendla Talkbacks need question screeners – No self-undulating praise rambles – No gushing adoration for the cast – No “how to be an actor” questions My question: Did you have any inhibitions mounting this production?

Mary Poppins – Ahmanson Theatre

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Wow…Ashley Brown AND Gavin Lee! Absolutely amazing performances! I love how Bert is completely in control of the set and lighting – at least when Mary lets him. During “Jolly Holliday”, a couple in the chorus were wearing the film version costumes! Well at least Dick Van Dyke’s costume…Julie Andrews’ costume was trimmed down (at best). I really like Mary and Bert’s costumes (pink dress and purple tux – but not pimpish…English). She actually said supercalifragilisticexpialidocious backwards! And so did Bert! And then they spelled it out! To be fair I’m quite fond of Ms. Andrews’ recitation and Mr. Van Dyke’s “indubitably”. No loving to laugh? No man with a wooden leg named Smith? Sure I’m satisfied with the show’s conclusion, I just love that song. Similar fate for the Dawes, Tomes, Mousely, Grubbs, Fidelity Fiduciary Bank and Stay Awake. I like the replacement …I just miss it. OMG!!! Step … Continue reading →