Urinetown (that’s right!)

It has been a month for shows!

Yesterday I went to see my good friend Meagan Little (she plays Hope Cladwell) in the River View Theater Company’s performance of Urinetown. Yes that is the name of the musical, and no, it’s not bad. I’ve listened to the songs of the show and did a little research about the show before I went (I’m just that kind of theater goer) but I was not prepared for the show to be as good as it was.

The show is just wildly funny and the vocals of the cast was amazing, everything from the set to the choreography captivated my attention. Even just little staging details that you pick up on… Hear no Evil, See no Evil, Speak no Evil. Staging with a candlestick, rope, knife, wrench, etc… (a la CLUE). And although some of the cast told me that they dropped lines/cracked on stage, I wasn’t able to tell. I just thought that it was a fabulous show.

The Riverview seemed to be a very well run company, especially for being in it’s first season… So kudos founders Angie Kells (who also directed the show) and Jeff Cook (who was the light and sound board technician). I also feel that I should mention that David “Doc” Lindquist’s (who also plays Caldwell B. Cladwell) and Angie Kells’ choreography was great for the show and really fit the songs. Just excelent.

See for yourself.

I’m here!

Cop Song (ooh Flashlights!)

Little Sally counts her money

Hope listens to Bobby’s Heart

Shhh….

Ah, there it is. It’s saying…..We all want a world, Filled with peace and joy……

Officer Lockstock, Caldwell B. Cladwell & Officer Barrel Dance

Poor Hope

Oh Yes! Urinetown is still playing for another weekend. At the Memorial Civic Theater in Richmond IL.

May 16th @ 8:00PM
May 17th @ 3:00PM and 8:00PM
May 18th @ 7:00PM

So if you have the chance and are close by, check it out. You won’t regret it, it’s just a great show.

Learn more! http://www.riverviewtheatre.org/default.aspx

Peter Pan

The Round Lake Area Park District just put a on a cute little 45 minute show “Peter Pan”. Since I know the most of the cast and crew (and since this is the last Dance/Theater show they will be doing for awhile) I decided to go and watch. This version incorporated Disney Music, both from the movie and the covers that various artists have done on Disney Mania.

The choreography was very fun and the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves (which I think, in a show like this, is the most important thing).

Some of my students and former students were in the cast. The 3 Choreographers were also my students (and class mates). Well done ladies! You really made the kids come together and it was a joy to watch. I hope you enjoyed it as much as the kids seemed to!

And now… Photos from the show.

Waiting for the show to start

The Stars Dance (with flashlights… look at the pretty patterns!)

Smee tying Tiger Lily up

Wendy Pouts because Peter Flirts with Tiger Lily

The Lost Boys and the Children Captured

Wendy Tells a Bedtime Story

An Accidental Post

My intention for this entry was to post one of my favorite songs, from one of my favorite musicals. The opening song from The Sound of Music. But, as it always happens when I look for something on Youtube I ended up finding something I didn’t even know existed. The inspiration for this post.

I was intrigued by the preview photo in the list and thought it would be a clip from a stage version of the show. It turned out to be a clip from the Royal Variety Show 2006 which I didn’t know anything about until tonight. According to Wikipedia

“The Royal Variety Performance a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, normally the reigning monarch. The performance showcases a variety of family entertainment, including comedy, singing, dance, circus and other specialty acts, with many of the performers being popular celebrities. The event is organized on behalf of, and all proceeds are donated to the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund.”

So here is the clip from the variety show, of Connie Fisher and the children who played the Von Trapp children in the London production in 2006. I think it is simply wonderful. They all seem to be having such a good time on stage and I love Connie’s voice

I am always amazed at the things I can find/learn about without ever leaving my desk (or, as in the case this evening, my bed).

Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd “The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (an adaptation of the stage musical) is an amazing Horror/Musical film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd, Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett and Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin. It took me forever to see this movie but I now find myself infatuated with it and the music attached to it.

Okay, so it can be a little gory at times. But the blood and gore are done in a stylized way and were not too disturbing. There is also some crass language, but the bulk of both of these are done in song which makes them easier to stomach I think.

I can’t get the music out of my head. One of my favorite songs is “My Friends” (below). I love the melody and the vocals at the end of the song.

Note: the original video I had posted here was taken off of Youtube because of copyright issues (no I didn’t put it up…) I’ve replaced it with one that only shows pictures from the movie and fixed some of this post to reflect that change.

While I can listen to the whole soundtrack, I find myself repeating this song as well as “Pretty Women” and “Epiphany”.

The use of color in this film is amazing. As you can see from the pictures in the clip above the bulk of the film is shot dark and moody. Which makes the scene where Mrs Lovett is singing about her dreams (in the song By the Sea) really stand out as it is done in really happy colors.

I love Johnny Depp in creepy roles and him singing is a bonus. I think that he and Helena blend their voices beautifully.

If your interestead and haven’t seen the movie yet I would. Also if you haven’t visited the site http://www.sweeneytoddmovie.com/ I would do that as well, it’s got all sorts of fun stuff on it. I enjoyed this movie so much and now that I’ve finished with this post I will be watching it again.