Children and Art
So, I have a feeling that my dear friend Ashleigh Drake Teicher, who is often teased in my blog for her constant recreations of the Jason Robert Brown repertoire. You see, her senior recital was this past Friday night and I completely forgot about it. I'm retarded sometimes. It would have been wonderful to attend her recital, as I'm certain there was more than Jason Robert Brown to be heard--and I'm certain that those in attendance were given a real treat to hear and see Ashleigh perform other songs. Ashleigh is the real deal, folks. I can't say enough about her gifts as an actress and a singer.
I did get to see 42nd Street at the Starlight Dinner Theatre on Saturday night. I showed up with Lisa at Grease on Saturday night (Lisa was filling in on the spotlight), and Steve was warming the cast up and asked me if I'd like to see 42nd Street. Since I've already seen this Grease about a million times, I thought it would be fun to see a different show--even if 42nd Street doesn't rank in my top twenty shows.
Now realize, I have seen some top notch productions of the show--including Seaside Music Theater's sensational production and the recent Broadway revival (Seaside's was better...I'll take Elizabeth Murff over that bitch Christine Ebersole ANY day). But, I really enjoyed Starlight's production. While it certainly lacked in some areas (the direction was "creaky" at best), it shone in others (the choreography, many of the performers, etc.). One thing that is starting to bother me about Starlight is their constant desire to miscast actors who are too young for their roles. Of the principal players, only the actress playing Peggy Sawyer, the Billy Lawlor, and the Bert Barry were age-appropriate. Everyone else was ridiculously young. Only Kristen Owen, who played Dorothy Brock very nicely, was believable in a role she's twenty years too young to play. Kyle Harden, an actor/singer I greatly admire, suffered as Julian Marsh--facial hair is NOT going to make this boy believable in a role he too is twenty years too young to play. Aside from this, when the kids start-a-tap-dancing, all of this is pretty forgivable. The choreography is wonderful, and I can't say enough about how terrific Steve and his three-instrument orchestra sounds. You see, I remember sitting in the theatre with Steve and Judy back in the day when this was the Mark Two Dinner Theatre and then the Orlando Broadway Dinner Theatre--and they used CANNED music. It brings a greater appreciation for the work of wonderful musicians and the amazing quality they bring to live theatre.
********************************************************************************
"Children and Art" is one of my favorite songs from Stephen Sondheim's Pulitzer Prize-winning Sunday in the Park with George. It's definitely in my top twenty favorite musicals, and I'm thrilled to report that it's getting a rare staging by UCF's MFA Musical Theatre program at the beginning of April. Last night, I heard them rehearsing "Sunday" which is the finale to both acts. If you haven't heard this song, it is a truly gorgeous, not to mention haunting number. It sounded absolutely BEAUTIFUL. It made me rush home to watch the DVD of the original production (featuring beautiful performances by Bernadette Peters, and in an even richer performance, Mandy Patinkin), where it took everything within me to hold back the tears during the entire second act, especially during the simple, but devastating "Children and Art."
I will admit that I haven't seen any of the rehearsals for this production of George, but just hearing it makes it seem like a show NOT to be missed. John Bell, who covered the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebation for the Sondheim Review and who also heads the musical theatre program at UCF, is directing--therefore, I know it will be a loyal rendering to the piece. Sondheim fans...get your tickets now. It will be the inaugural production in the News-Journal Center's Gillespy Theatre (the thrust space). As most know, the News-Journal Center is the new permanent home of Seaside Music Theater.
********************************************************************************
Speaking of Seaside Music Theater, I'm really looking forward to my summer with them. Jesus Christ Superstar seems like it's going to be an intense production, with the crucifixion scene based on the Dahli painting Corpus Hypercubus. And then, of course, another of my Sondheim favorites, A Little Night Music, directed by one of the most amazing directors I know, Bill Theisen.
Okay, kids, I have to do some work.
Love to you all!
XOXO!
I did get to see 42nd Street at the Starlight Dinner Theatre on Saturday night. I showed up with Lisa at Grease on Saturday night (Lisa was filling in on the spotlight), and Steve was warming the cast up and asked me if I'd like to see 42nd Street. Since I've already seen this Grease about a million times, I thought it would be fun to see a different show--even if 42nd Street doesn't rank in my top twenty shows.
Now realize, I have seen some top notch productions of the show--including Seaside Music Theater's sensational production and the recent Broadway revival (Seaside's was better...I'll take Elizabeth Murff over that bitch Christine Ebersole ANY day). But, I really enjoyed Starlight's production. While it certainly lacked in some areas (the direction was "creaky" at best), it shone in others (the choreography, many of the performers, etc.). One thing that is starting to bother me about Starlight is their constant desire to miscast actors who are too young for their roles. Of the principal players, only the actress playing Peggy Sawyer, the Billy Lawlor, and the Bert Barry were age-appropriate. Everyone else was ridiculously young. Only Kristen Owen, who played Dorothy Brock very nicely, was believable in a role she's twenty years too young to play. Kyle Harden, an actor/singer I greatly admire, suffered as Julian Marsh--facial hair is NOT going to make this boy believable in a role he too is twenty years too young to play. Aside from this, when the kids start-a-tap-dancing, all of this is pretty forgivable. The choreography is wonderful, and I can't say enough about how terrific Steve and his three-instrument orchestra sounds. You see, I remember sitting in the theatre with Steve and Judy back in the day when this was the Mark Two Dinner Theatre and then the Orlando Broadway Dinner Theatre--and they used CANNED music. It brings a greater appreciation for the work of wonderful musicians and the amazing quality they bring to live theatre.
********************************************************************************
"Children and Art" is one of my favorite songs from Stephen Sondheim's Pulitzer Prize-winning Sunday in the Park with George. It's definitely in my top twenty favorite musicals, and I'm thrilled to report that it's getting a rare staging by UCF's MFA Musical Theatre program at the beginning of April. Last night, I heard them rehearsing "Sunday" which is the finale to both acts. If you haven't heard this song, it is a truly gorgeous, not to mention haunting number. It sounded absolutely BEAUTIFUL. It made me rush home to watch the DVD of the original production (featuring beautiful performances by Bernadette Peters, and in an even richer performance, Mandy Patinkin), where it took everything within me to hold back the tears during the entire second act, especially during the simple, but devastating "Children and Art."
I will admit that I haven't seen any of the rehearsals for this production of George, but just hearing it makes it seem like a show NOT to be missed. John Bell, who covered the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebation for the Sondheim Review and who also heads the musical theatre program at UCF, is directing--therefore, I know it will be a loyal rendering to the piece. Sondheim fans...get your tickets now. It will be the inaugural production in the News-Journal Center's Gillespy Theatre (the thrust space). As most know, the News-Journal Center is the new permanent home of Seaside Music Theater.
********************************************************************************
Speaking of Seaside Music Theater, I'm really looking forward to my summer with them. Jesus Christ Superstar seems like it's going to be an intense production, with the crucifixion scene based on the Dahli painting Corpus Hypercubus. And then, of course, another of my Sondheim favorites, A Little Night Music, directed by one of the most amazing directors I know, Bill Theisen.
Okay, kids, I have to do some work.
Love to you all!
XOXO!