Friday, June 20, 2008

Into the Woods


Camping, yes, camping. I'm headed upstate to relax. Too bad that I'm exhausted as I type this at my desk at work. How am I going to find the strength to hike 14 miles!! I must remember that I must sleep tonight!! Must!!!

Here's a pic of the area. I'll have tons more!

Have a great weekend to all! I'm off the grid!

Yikes!!!!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Lin-Manuel Miranda


He's an inspiration for me now. He didn't wait for a show to cast him. He created a story, found a group of collaborators and won a Tony Award on Sunday (Okay, there's a lot in between). Playbill did a "cue & a" with him. Click the title for the entire article. Here's my favorite questions



Zodiac sign: Capricorn (I'm sure he knew this would happen)

MAC or PC? Mac, ever since Apple IIGS, baby!

How you got your Equity card: In the Heights, baby

Sunday in the Park with George- Tony Awards 2008

I weep when I hear this song! I love Stephen Sondheim.

'In the Heights' - 2008 Tony Awards Performance - 96000

Monday, June 16, 2008

Canteen Boy

This has to be one of the funnies SNL skits ever!

Top Grossing Movie of the Weekend


Who cares what movie makes the most money over the weekend. The first weekend box office shows how well the marketing campaign was. Big deal!! When are going to stop thinking more money equals better quality. I bet it's not better than the TV show.

The Tony Journey




Unlike other years, I wasn't as excited about this years Tonys. Last year I was all about Spring Awakening (it really touched me).

This years the best play was locked with August: Osage County. I have to say it was one of best plays I've seen in years with some of the best ensemble acting I've seen in a while. It was raw, exposed and filled with so many layers that by the famous table scene you're just in awe at what's said. More importantly it started in Chicago by a popular theatre company (Steppenwolf) and transferred to Broadway! It's those stories that you want to hear come Tony time. In fact, this year is all about the journey to Broadway and the Tonys.

Passing Strange was another show that's been in the workshop phase for a little bit. From Berkley Rep in California (2006) to the Belasco Theatre (2008). The show has an all black cast, but not when it first started. All lot can happen before a show ends up on Broadway. This show has a special place in my heart because it's about a black man from a middle class background who's on a search about what it means to be a black man. That's significant because most shows marginalize the black experience to being on drugs, a gangster, or slave. This show shoves all that in your face and says the black man's experience can be as varied and textured as any other group. For that it alone should have one the Tony.

The dark horse and funniest of the shows nominated was Xanadu. If you come to NYC and don't want to see August or Passing Strange see Xanadu. It's 90 minutes of absolute fun! If you don't know the movie, don't worry Douglas Carter Beane's book is well written and will have you laughing out loud (unless you have no sense of humor). I want to see it again, but with my time to limited I need to see other things (39 Steps).

I didn't see "In the Heights" (I just can't see everything), but a group of friends and I are going as soon as we get our schedules together. My expectations are high, so it better be good!

My congrats to the winners! Let the new plays and musicals begin! Unfortunately the Brits are at it again with Billy Elliot!