Thursday, February 18, 2010
Long list of theatre bloggers
I wouldn't say being a theatre blogger out here in the Bay Area is a lonely endeavor, but it's not like it's an over-crowded market either!
So, it's kind of fun to check out the list of bloggers at the Independent Theatre Bloggers Association site.
You know what would be even more fun? If they pulled in an RSS feed of each blogger's headlines...or their Twitter streams. Something to lure you to click on every single one of the bloggers mentioned.
That's my free advice for the day :)
But in the meantime, enjoy checking out other theatre geeks!
So, it's kind of fun to check out the list of bloggers at the Independent Theatre Bloggers Association site.
You know what would be even more fun? If they pulled in an RSS feed of each blogger's headlines...or their Twitter streams. Something to lure you to click on every single one of the bloggers mentioned.
That's my free advice for the day :)
But in the meantime, enjoy checking out other theatre geeks!
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Plays that changed your life
Hat tip to San Jose Merc theatre writer Karen D'Souza for pointing me to an article in the New York Times about the "plays that changed your life". D'Souza shares some of hers, including Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
And the answers in the NY Times run the gamut, from musicals to drama, new and old.
My list would have to include:
The original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd...kicking off my lifelong admiration for every note spilling out of Sondheim's brain
The original Broadway production of Fences, starring James Earl Jones...I alter saw his co-star, Mary Alice, in the elevator in the Equity Building, and it's one of the few times I actually spoke to a famous actor and told them what their performance meant to me.
The Steppenwolf production of Grapes of Wrath once it came to Broadway, starring Gary Sinise and Terry Kinney, and the Broadway production of House of Blue Leaves, starring Joh Mahoney, Swoosie Kurtz and Christine Baranski...truly as gripping productions as I have ever seen. And both featuring endings that leave you, I can only describe it as: Shattered.
It's funny, because I'm a musicals person. I rarely see straight plays, particularly these days when I see maybe one or two shows on broadway a year, if I'm lucky. But clearly, straight plays have wormed their way into my brain (and heart) pretty well!
So. What are yours?
And the answers in the NY Times run the gamut, from musicals to drama, new and old.
My list would have to include:
It's funny, because I'm a musicals person. I rarely see straight plays, particularly these days when I see maybe one or two shows on broadway a year, if I'm lucky. But clearly, straight plays have wormed their way into my brain (and heart) pretty well!
So. What are yours?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Holiday Theatre Plans?
So, what theatre are you going to see during this holiday season?
The one confirmed show on my list is the latest offering from San Jose Rep, which is the only season subscription I have: Around the World in 80 Days. It doesn't seem particularly holiday-ish, but perhaps it qualifies simply by being very festive. I'm seeing it in a couple of weeks.
The other show I need to see and have yet to buy tix for is Plaid Tidings over at the West Valley Light Opera in Saratoga. It's a Christmas-focused sequel to Forever Plaid, and this production features a couple of guys I know. I have to get off my butt on this one, since it only plays through December 6th! (What up with that anyway?)
Finally, my buddies over at Bus Bar Theatre in Los Altos are putting on Seasons Greetings, which sounds like a wacky, holiday farce from playwright Alan Ayckbourn. It's playing through December 20th, like any good holiday show should!
What are you going to see this holiday season?
The one confirmed show on my list is the latest offering from San Jose Rep, which is the only season subscription I have: Around the World in 80 Days. It doesn't seem particularly holiday-ish, but perhaps it qualifies simply by being very festive. I'm seeing it in a couple of weeks.
The other show I need to see and have yet to buy tix for is Plaid Tidings over at the West Valley Light Opera in Saratoga. It's a Christmas-focused sequel to Forever Plaid, and this production features a couple of guys I know. I have to get off my butt on this one, since it only plays through December 6th! (What up with that anyway?)
Finally, my buddies over at Bus Bar Theatre in Los Altos are putting on Seasons Greetings, which sounds like a wacky, holiday farce from playwright Alan Ayckbourn. It's playing through December 20th, like any good holiday show should!
What are you going to see this holiday season?
Labels: Bus barn Theatre, San Jose Rep, theatre, West Valley Light Opera
Saturday, August 18, 2007
My review of Foothill Music Theatre's Carousel
I saw Carousel last weekend, but only had the time to sit down and record my thoughts just now...sorry about the delay, especially given the show closes this weekend.
The review is here over at my personal blog, where I do all my reviewing.
And I will give you the same warning about bias with which I kick off the review:
Bias to the positive: I know the two leads and the director, and am inclined to like them and their work.
Bias to the negative: Carousel is on my list of "shows I never have to see again", and truth be told I saw this precisely because of bias to the positive listed above. Moreover, I'm not even a Rodgers & Hammerstein fan in general. They have two other shows on my aforementioned "never have to see again" list. [Sound of Music and South Pacific, if you must know.] Oklahoma! is my favorite R&H, but I'm not sure it would even make my top ten list.
Meanwhile there are plenty of people who think Carousel is one of the greatest musicals of all time. I could say "what do they know?" And they could say the same about me!
There is no accounting for taste, and you should bear that in mind when reading my review which, to be honest, rambles on a lot more about the show itself than about this production. (A pet peeve of a least one friend of mine...who hates when reviewers do that.)
Caveat Lector :)
The review is here over at my personal blog, where I do all my reviewing.
And I will give you the same warning about bias with which I kick off the review:
Bias to the positive: I know the two leads and the director, and am inclined to like them and their work.
Bias to the negative: Carousel is on my list of "shows I never have to see again", and truth be told I saw this precisely because of bias to the positive listed above. Moreover, I'm not even a Rodgers & Hammerstein fan in general. They have two other shows on my aforementioned "never have to see again" list. [Sound of Music and South Pacific, if you must know.] Oklahoma! is my favorite R&H, but I'm not sure it would even make my top ten list.
Meanwhile there are plenty of people who think Carousel is one of the greatest musicals of all time. I could say "what do they know?" And they could say the same about me!
There is no accounting for taste, and you should bear that in mind when reading my review which, to be honest, rambles on a lot more about the show itself than about this production. (A pet peeve of a least one friend of mine...who hates when reviewers do that.)
Caveat Lector :)
Labels: Carousel, Foothill Music Theatre, Musical Theatre, theatre
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Rehearsal pics from FMT's Carousel
A little bird sent me links to all sorts of great info about Foothill Music Theatre's impending production of Rogers & Hammerstein's Carousel.
There is audio, video and photography to be found at this link. There are even links to audio files that must have been used to train folks to get the right accent for the show. I love the one entitled Pronunciation of "EYA". What? I can't just watch a few Pepperidge Farms commercials and copy that guy?
So if you want a MAJOR sneak peek at Carousel, which opens in just a couple of weeks, this is the palce to go.
I'm just going to listen to the hornpipe music!
There is audio, video and photography to be found at this link. There are even links to audio files that must have been used to train folks to get the right accent for the show. I love the one entitled Pronunciation of "EYA". What? I can't just watch a few Pepperidge Farms commercials and copy that guy?
So if you want a MAJOR sneak peek at Carousel, which opens in just a couple of weeks, this is the palce to go.
I'm just going to listen to the hornpipe music!
Labels: theatre
