"When You're In Vegas...."

You know, sometimes I really hate technology. Since my last post, the WiFi at my house has been acting up so I couldn't post anything, but I think I'm okay now!

So I'm trying out this new thing where I'm doing research on Broadway shows I have not posted about or have no idea about. One show I will start off with is the musical Honeymoon in Vegas, which is based off of the 1992 film of the same name featuring Nicholas Cage, James Caan, and Sarah Jessica Parker. The book was written by Andrew Bergman (who wrote and directed the original screenplay) with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. [If anyone is planning on seeing this show, it officially opens on January 15th! The current production stars Rob McClure as Jack Singer, Brynn O'Malley as Betsy Nolan, and Tony Danza as Tommy Korman.]

"It's A Helluva Town!"

Happy belated Christmas! Well, two days after Christmas--better late than never, I always say.

So I thought I'd post about a show I don't think I've ever posted about before due to my prior lack of knowledge of it; the musical On The Town, music written by Leonard Bernstein ( and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, based off of the 1944 ballet Fancy Free by Jerome Robbins. (A lot of  shows take place in New York City; I've mentioned that once, I think.)

"The Lovely Ladies Always Cheer Adolpho...."

"Wait, she's posting more than twice a month? Unspeakable!" Yes, I found the time to post again!

One show I want to talk about is one that my former high school is performing in January (and one I volunteered to help out with in costuming)― The Drowsy Chaperone.

 

 

The show made its début in 2006, telling the story of The Man in the Chair, an agoraphobic Broadway fan, as he listens to his favorite 1928 musical The Drowsy Chaperone. As the record continues, telling a story of a Broadway star and tycoon and the events on their wedding day, The Man in the Chair includes his personal footnotes and revels in the story that will aid his 'non-specific sadness'.

 

It's weird hearing of my younger friends being involved in it but I know the show will be great!

 

I don't know the soundtrack that well (yet) but I do know this song, "I Am Adolpho", for two reasons; a good friend of mine at the high school is Adolpho and a Musical Theatre senior that I know sang this song for his showcase. This song is flipping hilarious too and is a great audition song for a guy with a wide range. When I know the show better, I will post more about it!

 

 



"Impossible Things Are Happening Everyday!"

Very rarely will I post twice a day, but yet here I am.

Since I did not post about Cinderella this week, I shall do it now!

So Cinderella takes a twist from the 1950 cartoon Disney version. Yes, the basic story line is the same, but  there are some interesting changes.

"'Cause I Am Miss Baltimore Crabs!"

In a couple of weeks, a theatre company in town is hosting auditions for their teen summer camp production for Hairspray. A good portion of my friends aren't auditioning for it, and I can't decide if I like the show or not. One thing I can say is I strongly dislike the Penny recording in the Original Broadway soundtrack—it's too "wimpy" for me, and since it's a role I've considered being if I ever audition for it, I'm taking this to heart.

I think what I like the most about the dance-heavy show is its theme about equality, which I am a strong believer in. Plus, Velma Von Tussle is oddly one of my favorite musical theatre villains. I got respect for her ambition , even though her way of thinking is a bit racist and elitist. (Michelle Pfeiffer was great too.)

Book of Mormon Appreciation

If there's one show I will never stop giving praise and show admiration for, it's Book of Mormon. I first heard it back in the beginning of 2012 and I didn't understand it at first. But as I began to study more about it, I realize how funny and brilliant it is. I'm so excited to go see it in Boston in April! Fun fact: the original Elder Cunningham (Josh Gad) was Olaf in Frozen and I personally hope he'll be asked to be Olaf when Frozen goes onto Broadway!

This performance shows one of my favorite songs, Hello. I love how creepy Elder Grant is, it's hilarious!

The Truth of the Disney princesses

Yes, I'm aware this isn't fully about theatre but it can be related to the Broadway shows that came from the Disney movies (well, except for Pochantas.......it's not quite there yet). But I find this video hilarious—plus, the guy sings wonderfully.

Click here.......if you dare to do it. I bet you won't!

Comparisons between Frozen and Wicked

So Disney Pixar recently released a box-office and family-friendly success Frozen. Released on Nov. 27, the story is about two sisters left a kingdom after their parents were lost at sea—the elder, Elsa, has this power where everything she touches turns into ice and runs away from civilization after her powers were discovered; the younger, Anna, craves for a relationship with her sister (who shuts herself away from Anna) and longs to be in love and free from that household. (I know the story is more complex, but this is the abbreviated version.) 

Meanwhile, thespians around the world are well aware of Wicked, the prequel to The Wizard of Oz. It describes the backstory of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and how she became the witch we all know and love, but by rebellion against the wizard Oz. 

I personally believe Frozen and Wicked have extremely similar qualities. Here are 10 I noticed (feel free to comment). 

1. Idina Menzel plays (sings, rather) both main female leads (Elphaba and Elsa), who were both misunderstood and ran from the societies they knew and grew up in. (Not to mention their key songs, Defying Gravity and Let It Go, are about going against the crowd and becoming the person they were meant to be.)

2. Both female leads (Elsa and Elphaba) have magical powers the townsfolk fear. 

3. Both supporting girls (Glinda and Anna) are constantly loyal to their companion and seem opposite of them. 

4. Both supporting girls are played by well known blondes of the same name (Kristen Bell and Kristin Chenowith). 

5. Both supporting girls have character songs that show them as caring and wanting to reach out and connect to their buddy (Popular and Do You Want to Build a Snowman?).

6. Both supporting males (Fiyero and Olaf) sing songs about having a carefree life and not realizing what they're singing can really mean. (Dancing Through Life hints that Fiyero will become the Scarecrow and In Summer hints that Olaf doesn't understand he would melt in the sun.)

7. Both supporting girls (Glinda and Anna) fall in love with men that don't return their affections. (Boq fell in love with Elphaba's sister Nessarose and Hans was only using Anna to gain the throne.) 

8. There are animals that are important in the story. (Sven the reindeer accompanies Kristoff and Anna as she goes to find Elsa and Doctor Dillamond was a talking Goat professor at Shiz and partly inspired Elphaba to go against the Wizard.)

9. Both main females had some harm come to their sisters (Anna became frozen in ice and Nessarose was crushed by a house). 

10. Marriage was mentioned in both stories. (Kristoff's family insisted that he and Anna should wed and almost set up a marriage, while Glinda was engaged to Fiyero, Elphaba's love.)

Carly Rae Jepsen as Cinderella?

Despite the backlash she's getting because of "Call Me Maybe", Carly Rae Jepsen doesn't sound that bad as Cinderella.

http://notsoplainbutinsanejane.tumblr.com/post/75654310295/queeniewasablonde-carly-rae-jepsens-first-in

Suggested Top 10 Broadway Musicals Of All Time

Every person involved in theatre has their own opinion about what musicals and plays are their favorites and which ones should never have been thought of. Now I know people have their own opinions different from mine but I don't agree with this YouTube video of ranking the top 10 broadway musicals:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nrQuZ0a65EU

10. Wicked

     Yes I agree it's a good show and it should be on this list but it's still a recent show and a cult phenomenon among teen thespians. Eventually this show will climb higher but as of now, it's fine where it is in placing.

9. The Producers

    The show isn't terrible. (I looked it up a while ago when it was rumored that was what my school was putting on; the director later chose Jekyll and Hyde). It has a sense of adult humor and plays on mature jokes while having little plot twists. However, the fate of at least one of the producers could obviously be seen the moment the two think of producing the worst Broadway show ever.

8. Rent

    LOVE RENT. It's personally one of my favorites but then again, the older and more traditional generations might not appreciate it as much (it has strippers and the majority of the characters have AIDS) so its placement on the list is fine with me!

7. Oklahoma!

    I personally hate Oklahoma! and I think it's just awful. It has absolutely no meaningful moral to teach anybody, nor does it really have a plot—it's honestly about two guys vying to take a girl to the dance later that night and the less-creepy one wins her heart and marries her. That's literally it. I find it pointless and it should never have been on this list.

6. A Chorus Line

    I hear it's a very good show if you want to become a dancer or are good at dancing. I scarcely know a lot about it and the music, besides the mirror scene and the song "Nothing" (possible future post?). But it faces what people will say and do for auditions to "make it in", which I can relate to, so I'm neutral about it.

5. Chicago

    I can tolerate Chicago "and all that jazz." I love "Cell Block Tango", but just like for A Chorus Line, I do not know this show as well as I should and I do apologize. It's on my bucket list for "Musicals I Should Know More About."

4. The Lion King

    This show definitely deserves to be on this list. Besides being a hit Disney movie, it's well-written, has a meaningful plot, and the costuming is just absolutely cool and amazing. I mean, it's not every show where you see people galloping around in animal costumes. Well, it's more than the average costume, I'm just so fascinated by the design of them!

3. Cats

    If there's one musical I despise more than Oklahoma!, it's Cats. "Why," do you ask? I just don't get it. I like the costumes and the songs have a nice rhythm, but I don't understand it. It's literally about cats in an alleyway, they sing about themselves and about some cat being chosen to be reborn. It's so foreign to me. I do not see what is the hype for this show. For being a classic and for being on Broadway for this long, yes it should be on the list. But that's it.

2. Les Misérables

    First off, listen to how the narrator pronounces it, it's hilarious! Anyway, I really and truly enjoy this musical. It has a strong plot and developing characters that move the audience with them on their journeys and the songs are just so gosh darn powerful, I almost cry. It's wonderful.

1. The Phantom of the Opera

    It was only a matter of time before this show would come up. I admit, it deserves to me the first on this list. Partly because Christine, the damsel in distress, actually develops in her character and realizes what is happening to her and the opera house instead of being ditzy and foolish. Four for you, Christine! Plus, I always feel so bad for the Phantom because he goes through all of this trouble to get a girl. Poor guy.