Show Business- The Movie

There is an interesting documentary called Show Business, the Movie being released on DVD October 16. It chronicles four musicals- Wicked, Avenue Q, Taboo and Caroline or Change- from the very beginnings of writing to workshoping to Broadway success or failure. I read quite a bit about it when its limited theatrical release happened in New York and Los Angeles back in the spring. It should be a great example of the creative process. Sounds like a movie night for nerds- I'll let you know when. Here is the web site with information about it.

Choices

I can't cure people of their incompetence, I can only make them take responsibilty for their inability to control it.

You're the CD I Want

Max and Laura make their big cast album debut on Oct. 2. I feel like we've all been through so much with them. Can't wait to hear it- even when Grease is bad, it's good.

Whistle Down the Wind

Great news! Whistle Down the Wind- a musical written by Andrew Llyod Webber in the mid 1990's- will finally have a North American tour. This show was produced in London with quite a bit of success and a Broadway-bound production was directed by Harold Prince at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., but never made it to the great white way. It is my favorite Andrew Llyod Webber score and the story is wonderful and different. Based on a 1960's movie starring Haley Mills (and written by her mother in book form), WDTW follows a group of Louisana children struggling with the recent loss of their mother as the discover a mysterious man (a murderer that just escaped from prison) hiding in their barn. Upon questioning the man, they come to believe he is Jesus and he has returned to earth to take care of them all. The man, manipulating the innocence of the children, convinces them to take care of his needs and in return he will raise their mother from the dead. This is a powerful show about trust, desire, conviction, innocence and redemption. I have waited so long to see it and would love to do it someday. If you haven't heard the score, it is available from the London production- a must have for your collection. The song "Try Not to be Afraid" is short, but it is by far one of Llyod Webber's best. The tour begins on the west coast but is to be east bound by the summer. Check it our here.

Frankly My Dear, It's a Musical

It was bound to happen sometime- the premier production of Gone With the Wind, the Musical will be in London in spring of 2008. Funny how such and American story will make its debut across the ocean. The accents should be entertaining.

That's My Girl

Honeymoon in the Ozarks, anyone?

How... Is the Show?

This Indian knows how to sit... and that's no bull.

Annie Get Your Gun Photos

I condition at least twice a week, never blow dry and only use organic sponge rollers- other than that, my lovely locks are pretty much matinence free. Which is good since I have my own wild west show.

Let's go on with the show! What do you mean I have a rooster on my head?
Are we going to trust that girl with a gun with that look on her face?

AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG!

Did you know that today is "National Talk Like A Pirate Day"? If not, now you do, so shove off this moarnin' with a yo ho ho and a shiver me timbers.

Loose Ends

Working on a show now- not much time to post. The usual hick-ups are occuring along the way, for this show, however, it is more of an all-out belch. We'll get it.

Legally Blond Live

The producers of Legally Blond, the Broadway musical have announced that a performance of the show will be aired on MTV on Saturday, September 29 at 1:00pm. So few Broadway musicals ever get taped, much less shown on public television while still running in New York and being a hit show. Maybe this will begin a trend-

Friday!

Finally it is Friday! Amanda and I have been working on AGYG costumes and we have cleaned out the storage, put up new hanging racks and pulled a lot of things we can hopefully use. Effie has started working at the restaurant as well, soon we will have the entire cast! Lots of work, but lots of fun. Just one short month till showtime!

When Pigs Fly

Hairspray... Again

I just saw Hairspray (the movie version of the musical based on the movie.. whew, another one of those!) for the third time. It has been so long since I've seen a movie that I completely forget and tune out everything else that is going on around me and just have a good time- and I've seen a lot of movies. This movie has a great score, a great message about being the oddball- but it's not preachy, and wonderful singing and dancing. I leave there so happy and ready to see it again! If you haven't seen it, go see it. Don't wait for it on DVD, you need to see it big (pardon the pun). If you have seen it, go see it again- I'm up for number four if anybody needs a friend.

EEEEKKKKKKKK!

This is a picture from Camila's sight of a rehearsal the other night. I'm really not sure what to think of it other than, oh my! You can really see what happens when we don't have a summer show, but we still EAT like we had a summer show. For anyone that might be interested, you have to be in the "clique" in order to eat too. Long story- ya'll will get a kick out of it.

Mamma Mia

A first look at a production still from the movie version of the Musical Mamma Mia starring Meryll Streep and Pierce Brosnan. Great show (I've seen it three times)- hope it's a great movie musical as well.

One Week Down

One week down of school. Very tired. Worked at the restaurant too. Very tired. Doing a show too. Very tired.

Disney MGM Studios... I Mean Hollywood

Disney has announced that beginning in January 2008, the Disney MGM Studios will be renamed Disney Hollywood. This used to be my favorite park out of the frou on the Walt Disney World property, but it seems like in the past few years it has been ignored and not had any improvements or additions that dazzle. It was also a disapointment when they took the actual working studios out of the park. It used to be you could walk through the soundstages and see actual tv shows in production. I remember seeing the Mickey Mouse Club (the one with Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake) being filmed as well as Wheel of Fortune and an adventure show starring Hulk Hogan- oh well, that may be the answer there- but anyway, part of the thrill of going there is gone, although it is still great fun. Fantasmic is one of the most amazing shows on the property and the Indiana Jones Stunt Show is a blast. Hopefully the park will get a new boost of excitement with the name change.

Fumble Out of Bed and Stumble to the Kitchen

Dolly Parton has announced that 9 to 5, the muscial version (for which she wrote the music and lyrics) of the movie will play Broadway in 2009.

Children of Eden

I just read that Children of Eden, the Stephen Schwartz musical based on the stories of Adam, Eve and Noah will be heading for Broadway in the 2008-09 season. Originally written in the early 1990's, Children of Eden had a production in London, at the Paper Mill Playhouse in NJ in the late 1990's (it is this production from which the cast album comes from) and many regional productions, but it has never hit Broadway. This musical has the most beautiful Stephen Schwartz music ever! After his mega-hit, Wicked, I'm sure he will have no trouble getting anything produced.