So, 2008 has arrived. A long over due Happy New Year.
Man, 2008 has been a pretty decent year thus far:
School is in full swing: Week dos. Pretty awesome here, actually.
Surprising that GCC could be okay, but it is. Theater rocks.
The theater class is full of musical dorks: I've made three awesome friends in there.
And the other classes are good too, I've met a few cool people and seen some familar faces.
So, yeah education is on track to be great.
Work is still work, which is so ridiclious, still hating every moment I spent in the LTA.
It's like hell on earth, they treat me like crap and yet I stay because I fear branching out and attempting to find a new job, so yeah.
I went to NY with Jazzy and Jon to originally see Maury, which turned into a disaster.
They put Jazzy and Jon onstage, and stuck me with this odd woman who looked like a mix of Ugly Betty and this girl I did shows in Kingsway with named Emmy, and she was so annoying, I had to get the heck out there: She made me take her picture out of nowhere. I was just sitting minding my own business when she shoved a camera phone in my face. I was literally like "WTF.."
So, I skipped out and RAN for the Neil Simon Theater and got a mezz seat for the matinee of the happy-juggernaut: HAIRSPRAY! &hearts. Oh how musical theater can make life so much better. :D
The show was wonderful, as usual. I'll repost my review down below for more:
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I love Hairspray, it's seriously one of my all time favorite musicals. It has a herorine, I can relate to and the music is amazing and the perfomances are so full of engery and the dancing is wonderful. I've seen it three times prior and I went yesterday for my fourth and I'm hooked once more: More viewings are to come, I can promise you that!
Understudies were Kasey Marino as Corny Collins [Clarke Thorell, the original Corny returns on Friday]
Gretchen Breiber was on as Prudy/Matron/GymTeacher
And Lauren Kling had joined the cast to temporarily replace Tammy due to the spot left by Hayley Podschun.
The show is so positive and happy, and just full of energy and joy: Tracy's journey from Good Morning Balitmore to exploding through the doors of the Baltimore Eventorium to upset the Miss Hairspray paganet is just one of the most wonderful transformations in theater. She goes from trying to make a difference, to making it.
Shannon Durig is an amazing Tracy: Her voice is pitch-perfect and her acting is incredible, she truly embodies all that Tracy should be. Having seen her once before, she is wonderful and just makes the role a pleasure to watch.
Geogre Wednt was an interesting Edna, he had the comedy and his voice was good, but he seemed long winded and seemed very small in such a big role. Sure, he had the chops, but the longwindeness distracted from the performance. As compared to my favorites: Blake Hammond, Bruce Vilach and Paul G. Voigt, he lacked.
Niki Scalera was a great Penny, her voice is amazing and her acting is fun, but she lacks what Diana Degarmo did in the nerdy department. I did enjoy her chemistry with Tevin, it really worked. Overall, a fantastic performance. [PS: I saw her as Jane in Tarzan, she was wonderful]
Kasey Marino is officially my favorite Corny, he was charming and cheesy and his voice was amazing. He is also younger than most of the Cornys I had seen, [he usually plays Brad.] So, it was refreshing to see a younger Corny, but it worked very well. Best deliever of "You can't fire Corny Collins from the Corny Collins show." ever.
Ashley Parker Angel has gotten much better since I first saw him, he was better the second time I saw him, but he was much much much better this time: His singing has improved and he's gotten more into character, despite a few flubbed lines, he was good.
Tevin Cambell was wonderful as always as Seaweed, he has been with the show for sometime now and he is just so wonderful to listen to and embodies the character so well. He and Niki had great chemistry as well.
Naturi makes a cute Inez and her voice is so great, I wish she could show it off more. Darlene Love is just a powerhouse, she knocks "I Know Where I've Been.." out of the park everytime. She's just brillant. How the roof of the Neil Simon is still holding I have no idea.
Gretchen was a funny Prudy/Matron/Gym Teacher: You can pretty much NEVER be too big for that role, no limit to the random things that can be said--> Like during the dodgeball scene, she said when holding the dodgeball bag infront of her "Yeah, I have balls." It was HILARIOUS.
I love the Council Kids, they never get any love, but the actors who play the Council Kids are so great at what they do and get very little praise for their roles. I love Lori Eve who plays Shelley and the swing who covered Brad and the swing who covered IQ and the rest. They are just wonderful.
Ashley Spencer was the 2nd best Amber I have seen, close behind Brynn O' Malley, who was terrific. Despite being sick, which I honestly couldn't tell, she was simply wonderful, she was so kooky and ditzy and fun to watch. And her delievery of Amber's lines was far better than Jordan Ballard [I disliked her VERY much] and her singing was better than Haylie Duff [She was good.] Michelle Pawk was a decent Velma, she got better as the show went on. Her Miss Baltimore Crabs was good, but not amazing. But, her acting was fantastic.
Tom Rooney was my favorite Wilbur behind Scott Davidson, who is the U/S for Wilbur: His singing was great and his acting was wonderful as well. By far better than Jere Burns. I really liked Tom and Geogre's chemistry.
The stage door was a ZOO: because of Ashley Parker Angel: A school group invaded: I got a picture with Niki, Ashley Parker Angel, Shannon, Tevin, Darlene, Kasey and the swing for either IQ or Brad, I am still not sure. Geogre doesn't come out and Ashley S was very sick so she skipped stage door. And Tom walked passed without a sound, however I did want to meet him, but it was too late.
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So, yes, life is pretty good.
My parents are nuts, they are planning on moving.. SOMEWHERE.
If they move out of NJ or Logan, I'm moving in with my grandpa, because I refuse to mess up all that I'm currently invovled with.
Currently listening to a musical flashback: The Wedding Singer!
Yeah, crazzzy how I havent listened to it in forever, but I still really love it.
:jams to POP: :D
2008: Looking brighter every day. :D
Lyrical Love:
(Spoken)
JULIA
Did you see the bride?
She looks so perfect.
HOLLY
I know. Don’t you hate her?
JULIA
Hate her?
She’s so happy!
(Sung)
She turns around
And she meets his gaze
The lights are dim,
There’s a smoky haze
They share a smile
And a secret wave
It’s a moment built to save
They start to move
Across the floor
The room is frozen,
Wanting more
The happy couple on display
With nothing standing
In their way
It’s so romantic I could die
Right here and now
It’s gonna be that way for us
I know somehow
Someday when it’s me
I’ll know our love
Was meant to be
Not one single complication
Or cause for hesitation
Someday when the dream
Is coming true
All you’ll need is me
And all I’ll need is you
(Spoken)
HOLLY
Julia, take that veil off!
JULIA
Okay!
(Sung)
They stop and pose
For a photograph
He jokes aorund
Just to make her laugh
The room is full,
But they’re all alone
They have a language
All their own
And I’m so jealous I could cry
And yet I know
It won’t be long
Before you say
We’re good to go
Someday when it’s me
I’ll know our love
Was meant to be
Not one single complication
Or cause for hesitation
Someday when the dream
Is coming true
All you’ll need is me
And all I’ll need is you
I know not every marriage
Lasts when things go bad
I’ve seen the warning signs
I call them “Mom” and “Dad”
But soon you’ll take my hand
And pledge your love to me
Till then I’ll just get married vicariously
----Someday from The Wedding Singer: The Musical
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