Showing posts with label Movie Musicals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movie Musicals. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The Wizard of Oz opening soon!


Golden Stone Productions presents “The Wizard of Oz” from July 31st - August 16th.

This is the timeless classic of Little Dorothy Gale of Kansas, who like so many girls her age, dreams of what lies over the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and carries her away over the rainbow to another world. Come join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion and Toto as they travel the universe of Dorothy's imagination. Sing along and celebrate the 70th anniversary of America’s favorite The director of “The Wizard of Oz” is Ron Marquette. Assistant director is AnnChris Warren. Musical direction by the duo of Liz Toleno & Linda McCarthy. Scenic Artist/Design by Richard Prouse. Lighting Design by Jason Boyd. Set Construction/TD is Nick Avossa. Costumes by Danny Paul.

The cast includes Allie Miron(Saugerties) as Dorothy, Rich Hack (Rhinebeck) as The Cowardly Lion, Victoria Howland (Kingston) as Glinda, Tony Curtis (Saugerties) as the Scarecrow, Owen Jones (Lake Katrine) as the TinMan, Pat Kiernan (Ulster Park) as the Wizard and Ed Kleinke (Saugerties) as Uncle Henry with many other highly talented local actors to complete the production.

Performances will be July 31st – August 16th with Friday and Saturday’s evening shows starting at 7:30pm and matinees on Sundays at 3:00pm. All performances are in the Quimby Theater on the SUNY Ulster campus. Tickets are $18 or $12 (seniors/students). There will also be an opening night special family package of 5 tickets for $50(advance purchase only). For reservations, visit www.goldenstoneproductions.org or phone 845.687.4758. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Melvin Zindler, crusader, died in Houson July 30

Melvin Zindler the crusader who was responsible for the closing of the "Best little Whorehouse in Texas" died in Houston, TX on July 30. He was 85. Melvin Thorpe the character in the stage musical and movie musical is loosely based on this man.

I'm always interested in the real stories that are behind certain musicals - long time readers will remember my post on the background of Chicago .... but back to Melvin Zindler.

"Mr. Zindler, with his cheerfully admitted plastic surgery, closet of peacock fashions, blatant hairpieces and blue-tinted glasses, was best known for his first foray into investigative journalism, in 1973. He exposed a widely tolerated bawdyhouse known as the Chicken Ranch in La Grange. The case was the basis for the musical and movie “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”

Mr. Zindler was an early consumer advocate and action reporter, campaigning against scams, medical abuses and unsanitary food conditions. His regular Friday “rat and roach reports” had the KTRK coffee shop closed for violations at least three times." (more)

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a stage and film musical, based on a story by Larry L. King. Drawing from the true-life Chicken Ranch in La Grange, Texas, the original play addresses the issue of private behavior in conflict with public law. The real events adapted for the musical involved a zealous reporter (Marvin Zindler), whose coverage led to the closing of the Chicken Ranch. (more)

Censorship
The film version of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas presented some difficulties for its film company, Universal Studios, particularly with regards to advertising the film. In parts of the United States in 1982, the word "whorehouse" was considered somewhat obscene, resulting in the film being renamed The Best Little Cathouse in Texas in some advertisements, while television advertisements for the film were either banned outright in some areas, or the offending word was censored. During interviews, Parton sometimes referred to the film as "The Best Little 'Chicken House' in Texas".

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

References in Science Fiction Double Feature

There are a lot of references to old sci-fi and horror movies in Rocky. In some ways the show is both gently mocking and a love letter to the genre. I poked around and have tried to put together some information on the opening number of the show: Science Fiction Double Feature.

I've tried to make this as complete as possible, but I'm sure I've missed something. All these actors/movies are way before my time. I hope you enjoy the following:


Michael Rennie was ill The Day the Earth Stood Still, but he told us where we stand.

* Michael Rennie was an British Actor (1909-1971) best known for his role as space visitor Klaatu in the 1951 science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still.

And Flash Gordon was there in silver underwear; Claude Rains was The Invisible Man.

* Flash Gordon is a cartoon strip (1934) created to compete with Buck Rodgers. There were several movies made that also featured the character. Claude Rains (1889-1967)was another British born actor who starred in a number of Hollywood films including The Invisible Man a 1933 film based off of H.G. Wells novel of the same name.

Then something went wrong, for Fay Wray and King Kong - they got caught in a celluloid jam.

* Fay Wray is the actress that starred in the 1933 movie King Kong incidentally she also had a role in Doctor X (see below) King Kong, of course, is about the giant gorilla - and has been remade several times.

Then at a deadly pace It Came From Outer Space. And this is how the message ran...

It Came from Outer Space is a 1953 Science Fiction 3-D film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush, and Charles Drake. It is about a
meteor crash that occurs near Sand Rock, Arizona. After visiting the crash site, John Putnam notices a strange object at the impact site, and comes to believe the meteor is not a meteor at all, but an alien spaceship.

(chorus)
Science fiction, double feature. Doctor X will build a creature.

The double feature, also known as a double bill, was a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatre managers would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown.

The double feature arose partly because of a studio practice known as "block booking," a form of tying in which major Hollywood studios required theaters to buy B-movies along with the more desirable A-movies. The U.S. Supreme Court decided that this practice was illegal in United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. in 1948.

Doctor X is a First National/Warner Bros. horror and mystery film from 1932. It is inspired by the life of a famous music director/producer/writer, RV Singh. It was directed by Michael Curtiz and stars Lee Tracy, Fay Wray, and Lionel Atwill. The film is notable for having been shot in Technicolor and being produced before the motion picture Production Code. Thus, adult themes such as murder, rape, cannibalism, and prostitution are interwoven into the story.

See androids fighting Brad and Janet.
Anne Francis stars in Forbidden Planet. Wo oh oh oh oh oh At the late night, double feature, picture show.

Couldn't find anything definitive on androids fighting. Brad and Janet most likely is a reference to the characters in the show.

Anne Francis (born September 16, 1930, in Ossining, New York) is an American actress, famous for her role in the science fiction film classic Forbidden Planet (1956) and as private detective Honey West in the television series Honey West (1965-1966).

Forbidden Planet is a 1956 science fiction film and a subsequent novelization by W.J. Stuart. The film features a number of spectacular special effects (Oscar nominated), groundbreaking use of an all-electronic music score, and the first screen appearance of the famous Robby the Robot.[2] The film's characters and setting were inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest,[1] though the plot is very different. Also notable is its very effective execution and use of well designed sets, flats, props, matte paintings and sound stage scenic paintings. The production was supervised by Dore Schary, the film's uncredited executive producer.

I knew Leo G. Carroll
was over a barrel when Tarantula took to the hills.

Leo G. Carroll (October 25, 1892–October 16, 1972) was an English character actor, best known for his roles in several Hitchcock films and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. He also stars in Tarantula.

Tarantula
is a 1955 science fiction film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Leo G. Carroll, John Agar, and Mara Corday. Among other things, the film is notable for the appearance of a 25-year-old Clint Eastwood in an uncredited role as a jet pilot at the end of the film.

The plot concerns a biological researcher, Professor Gerald Deemer (Carroll) who is trying to prevent the food shortages which will result from the world's expanding population. With the help of atomic science, he invents a special nutrient on which animals can live exclusively, but which causes them to grow to many times their normal size. In his laboratory, he houses several oversized rodents and, inexplicably, a tarantula.

When his researchers try the nutrient, they develop runaway acromegaly and one of them is driven mad, half destroys the lab (freeing the animals) and attacks Deemer and injects him with the solution. As a result, Deemer gradually becomes more and more deformed while the now-gigantic tarantula ravages the countryside. A sympathetic doctor (Agar) and Deemer's female assistant (Corday) investigate the mystery of the clean-picked cattle bones and the eight-foot pools of arachnid venom, and the spider is eventually destroyed, after several failed attempts, by a napalm attack launched from a fighter squadron led by Clint Eastwood.

And I really got hot
when I saw Janette Scott fight a Triffid that spits poison and kills.

Janette Scott (born December 14, 1938) is an English actress. Scott was born in Morecambe, England. She is the daughter of the actress Thora Hird and Jimmy Scott. She started her acting career as a child actress which turned into becoming a popular leading lady. Her second of three husbands was the popular American singer Mel Tormé. Mother of rising singing star, James Tormé and broadcaster/actress Daisy Tormé.

The Day of the Triffids
is a 1962 British film adaptation of the science fiction novel of the same name by John Wyndham. Triffids are strange fictional plants, capable of rudimentary animal-like behavior: they are able to uproot themselves and walk, possess a deadly whip-like poisonous sting, and may even have the ability to communicate with each other. On screen they vaguely resemble gigantic asparagus shoots.


Dana Andrews said prunes
gave him the runes, and passing them used lots of skills.

Dana Andrews (January 1, 1909 - December 17, 1992) was an American film actor. Starring in many films including State Fair and Night of the Demon.

Night of the Demon is a black-and-white horror film from 1957, based on the story "Casting the Runes" by M. R. James. The film was cut slightly for its U.S. release under the title Curse of the Demon, with a shorter 83-minute running time, and was distributed as the lower half of a double-bill with Hammer's The Revenge of Frankenstein. Ironically, Night of the Demon now enjoys the greater reputation of the two.

But When Worlds Collide, said George Pal to his bride, "I'm gonna give you some terrible thrills". Like a...

When Worlds Collide is a 1951 science fiction film based on the 1932 novel co-written by Philip Gordon Wylie and Edwin Balmer. The movie was filmed in Technicolor, directed by Rudolph Maté and was the winner of the 1951 Academy Award for special effects.

Producer George Pál considered making a sequel based on the novel After Worlds Collide, but the box office failure of his 1955 Conquest of Space made it impossible.


(chorus) Science fiction, double feature. Doctor X will build a creature.
See androids fighting Brad and Janet.

Anne Francis stars in Forbidden Planet.

Wo oh oh oh oh oh
At the late night, double feature, picture show. I wanna go.
Oh oh oh oh
To the late night, double feature, picture show. By R.K.O.

RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As Radio Pictures Inc. and then RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum (KAO) theater chains and Joseph P. Kennedy's Film Booking Offices of America (FBO) studio were brought together under the control of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in October 1928.

RCA chief David Sarnoff engineered the merger in order to create a market for the company's sound-on-film technology, RCA Photophone. By the mid-1940s, the studio was under the control of investor Floyd Odlum.

RKO has long been celebrated for its cycle of musicals starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the mid- to late 1930s. Katharine Hepburn and, later, Robert Mitchum had their first major successes at the studio. Cary Grant was a mainstay for years. The work of producer Val Lewton's low-budget horror unit and RKO's many ventures into the field now known as film noir have been acclaimed, largely after the fact, by film critics and historians. The studio left its deepest mark with two of the most famous films in motion picture history: King Kong and Citizen Kane.

Wo oh oh oh To the late night, double feature, picture show. In the back row.
Oh oh oh oh
To the late night, double feature, picture show.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Disneyland Hosting Premere of Highschool Musical 2

Here comes the second installment of the Disney teen box office smash High School Musical. Will this one live up to the expectations of its teen fans? Hard to say, but Disney is trying to recapture the magic of the first installment. Whatever you think of the movies, you do have to admit they have introduced a whole new generation to musical theater. I think their success is largely due to the fact that on some level, you can relate to some character.

For a Backstage look at the new High School Musical 2 you can check out this video.

California's Disneyland Resort will host the world premiere of Disney Channel's "High School Musical 2" Aug. 14. Stars of the movie, along with director-choreographer Kenny Ortega and other celebrity guests, will appear.

Hosted at AMC Theatres in Disneyland Resort's Downtown Disney, the 6 PM screening of the teen sequel will mark the first time a movie made especially for Disney Channel has premiered at the Resort. (more)

Previously on High School Musical:
1-18-2007 High School Musical 2
4-6-2006 Update on Disney's High School Musical
3-23-2006 Broadway goes Mainstream


Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Friday, June 01, 2007

First Night of Rocky Auditions

Thanks to everyone who came out for Rocky Auditions tonight. We had some really great candidates show up. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the Auditions. As a shameless reminder ....

Auditions will be Sunday June 3 and Monday June 4 from 6-9PM

All State Insurance Office
696 Dutchess Turnpike
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

All roles are open! For More information: a list of Roles, background info, plot synopsis, and Broadway production history read this.

The show will be running at the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center October 19, 20, 21, 26, and 27, 2007.

Hope to see you Sunday or Monday!

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Friday, May 25, 2007

Friday Theater Bits

Again I've collected a number of interesting tidbits not really long enough to do a full post on. So here for your enjoyment is interesting little bits of theater news.

Adams Family the Musical:
A musical of "The Addams Family" is in the works, with a planned premiere on Broadway in the 2009-10 season. Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice ("Jersey Boys") are writing the book, Andrew Lippa ("The Wild Party") is writing the score and Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott ("Shockheaded Peter") will direct and design.

13 headed towards Broadway in 2008
Jason Robert Brown's new musical 13, which played a world-premiere engagement in January at Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum, is looking toward a 2008 Broadway bow.

Grinch to play the St James theater
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, which was a hit at the Hilton Theatre last year, will have a new home this season. The musical based on Theodore Geisel's classic book will play a limited engagement at the St. James Theatre beginning Nov. 1. The holiday-hating Grinch will stay in residence at the St. James the recent home of The Producers through Jan. 6, 2008.

Cast of National Tour of Disney's High School Musical Announced
Broadway stars Ron Bohmer and Ellen Harvey will lead a cast of youngsters for the forthcoming national tour of High School Musical. Disney Theatrical Productions presents the road production of the stage version of the Disney Channel original movie.

Tony Awards Tickets on Sale
If I only had the $200+ dollars to spend to go to the Tony Awards ..... Wouldn't it be Loverly? Someday I'll have the $$$ and the time. Not to mention I'm not allowed to travel more then a hour away from the Hospital per doctor's orders until the baby is born ...

And Last but not least the Quote of the Day from Mr Excitement News
"Legally Blonde the musical opened on Broadway last week. It's a can't-miss for anyone who'd like to see the movie again for 200 bucks." --David Spade

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater


Saturday, April 21, 2007

The Rocky Horror Show - Auditions!

I'm excited - not that I'll be trying out for this show -there's not really a role for me, but I'll most likely be helping out as assistant director.

Audition info for Trinity Players Rocky Horror Show peforming at the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center October 19, 20, 21, 26, and 27, 2007.

Auditions will be held June 1, 3, 4 from 6-9PM

All State Insurance Office
696 Dutchess Turnpike
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

Contact: Phillip Corso (director) 845-452-2830

No appointment necessary. Vocal selections and accompanist will be provided at auditions

Roles to be cast:

Usherette- (Alto, Female 20's-40's) Sings "Science Fiction" at the beginning and end of the show.
Narrator- (Non-singing role) Could be played by a male or female. People auditioning for this role will only have to read and will not be required to sing.
Brad- (Tenor, Male 20's-30's) The Hero
Janet- (Soprano, Female 20's-30's) The Heroine
Riff-Raff- (Tenor, Male 20's-40's) Servant
Magenta- (Alto, Female 20's-40's) Servant
Columbia- (Alto, Female 20's-30's) A groupie
Frank-N-Furter- (Tenor, Male 20's-40's) A Sweet Transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania...
Rocky- (Tenor, Male 20's-30's) Should be physically fit (bodybuilder, swimmer, or gymnast, etc.)
Eddie/Dr. Scott- (Baritone, Traditionally Male 20's-40's) This is a double role, Nephew and Uncle.
4 Phantoms (2 men, 2 women)- (20's-30's) Sexy singers and dancers... in this production the phantoms will be in S&M costumes.

*** Due to the nature of the costumes and subject matter of the show, all actors must be 18+ years of age

About the Show: The Rocky Horror Show is a long running stage musical (opening in London initially, on June 19, 1973) that inspired the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was written by Richard O'Brien, who returned to his native England after growing up in New Zealand. The musical was developed by O'Brien in collaboration with Australian theatre director Jim Sharman, who had already gained extensive experience directing rock musicals with the groundbreaking Australian productions of Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. (more)

Plot Synopsis: The theatre usherette introduces us to tonight's film: a sci-fi double feature. And so the film begins. Commentary is provided throughout the show by the Narrator, who expands on plot information and acts to drive the story onwards.

Janet and Brad, a young couple, become engaged on attending a friend's wedding. Driving home through a torrential downpour, their car breaks down and they are forced to seek refuge from the storm in an old mansion house. The inhabitants of the house are highly unconvential: the "sweet transvestite", Frank'N'Furter, his gothic servants (Riff Raff and Magenta) and girlfriend (Columbia).

Frank'N'Furter exhibits his current laboratory specimen to the newcomers: Rocky, who is destined to become Frank's sexual plaything. Upon interruption from Columbia's ex boyfriend, who is murdered by Frank, the household retires to bed.

During the night, both Brad and Janet experience a sexual awakening at the hands of Frank'N'Furter. As a result, Janet sleeps with Rocky. Eddie's uncle, Dr. Everrett Scott also arrives, seeking him. Frank is revealed as an 'alien'. In the resulting confusion, all parties are drugged by Frank'N'Furter and compelled to perform in his 'floor show', a celebration of hedonism.

The 'floor show' culminates in the murder of Frank by his servants, who wish to return to their home planet. Blasting off from Earth, they leave behind Brad, Janet and Dr. Scott in a state of bewilderment, but sexually awakened.

Broadway Production: The Rocky Horror Show originally went on Broadway in 1975 with the Roxy cast from Los Angeles, except for Graham Jarvis who was replaced by William Newman, and Bruce Scott who was replaced by author Richard O'Brien himself. It opened March 10th at the Belasco Theatre. "We did a week of sold-out previews to audiences who loved it," said Kim Milford (Rocky). "Then opening night, the critics sat there in silence and looked at us like we just crawled out from under a rock." The critics trashed the show and it closed after 45 performances.

The Rocky Horror Show had a short revival on Broadway from October 2000 to January 2002 and featured Tom Hewitt, rock singers Joan Jett and Sebastian Bach (from October 2001 to January 2002), funny lady Lea DeLaria, and Daphne Rubin-Vega of Rent fame. From October 2001 to January 2002, several guest celebrities played the narrator role normally performed by Dick Cavett, including magicians Penn & Teller, New York Post columnist Cindy Adams, MTV personality Dave Holmes, and talk show host Jerry Springer among others. It is suggested that the revival, like other shows running at the time, closed early because of financial losses during the time after 9/11.

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Springtime for the Producers means closing

The producers of The Producers have announced that the show will be closing Sunday April 22, 2007 after 2,502 performances.

The 1968 film, The Producers, was adapted as a critically acclaimed Broadway musical by Mel Brooks in 2001. It originally starred Nathan Lane (who reprised that role during the show's first few months on London's West End) and Matthew Broderick (incidentally, he and Lane provided the voices of adult Simba and Timon in Disney's 1994 film The Lion King) and won 12 Tony Awards, breaking the record held for 37 years by Hello Dolly! which had won 10. The replacement cast starred Richard Kind and Steven Weber in Lane and Broderick's respective roles and had a detrimental effect on the success of the show, prompting the show's producers to briefly re-hire Lane and Broderick for another run. Although the musical has many scenes and jokes taken directly from the film, there are still many differences. Ulla has a much larger role, as does Springtime for Hitler director Roger DeBris. The character Lorenzo St. Dubois (LSD), a hippie who played Hitler in the 1968 movie, does not appear in the new version. Overall the musical is much more upbeat and ends more happily, with even the Nazi character Franz Liebkind being portrayed more sympathetically and getting a happy ending.

The humour of the show is accessible to a wide range of audiences, and draws on ridiculous accents, caricatures of homosexuals and Nazis, and many show business in-jokes. The Producers is closing on April 22 at the St.James Theatre. Young Frankenstein, another Mel Brooks movie turned musical, will open there. (more)

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Sunday, January 28, 2007

Dreamgirls Headed for a Broadway Run

It looks likely that Dreamgirls is headed for Broadway the first revival since 1981 [Correction: Dreamgirls was previously revived on Broadway in 1987, running 177 performances at the Ambassador Theatre (June 28-November 29) ]. As you may know Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical, which opened on December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. The musical ran for 1,522 performances, and won six 1982 Tony Awards.

Show Broadway History:
It is based upon the history of Motown act The Supremes, Dreamgirls follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called "The Dreams", who become music superstars. It features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen, and was directed by Michael Bennett, produced by Bennett, Bob Avian, Geffen Records, and The Shubert Organization, and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters. The original Broadway production, which won six Tony Awards.

The musical was adapted into a motion picture by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and opened in limited release on December 15, 2006. The feature film version of Dreamgirls stars Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé Knowles, Anika Noni Rose, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Keith Robinson, and Danny Glover.

Show Background:
Dreamgirls to craft a musical about Black back-up singers, which was given the working title of Project #9. Project #9 was had its beginnings as a project for Nell Carter. Playwright Tom Eyen and composer Henry Krieger first worked together on the 1975 musical version of Eyen's play The Dirtiest Show in Town. Carter appeared in the musical, and her performance inspired Eyen and Kriegerworkshopped for Joe Papp; Carter was joined at this time by Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine, who were to play her groupmates. The project was shelved after Carter departed to appear in the soap opera Ryan's Hope in 1978.

A year later, Project #9 was brought back to the table, after catching the interest of successful Broadway director/producer/choreographer Michael Bennett. Ralph and Devine returned, and Bennett had Eyen, who was to direct, begin workshopping Big Dreams, as the musical was now known. Joining the cast at this time were Ben Harney, Obba Babatunde, Cleavant Derricks, and twenty-year-old gospel singer Jennifer Holliday as Carter's replacement (after Carter accepted an offer from NBC to star in Gimme a Break).

However, Holliday left the project during the workshopping phase, as she disliked the material and was upset that her character, Effie White, died at the conclusion of the first act. Eyen, Bennett, and Krieger continued to iron out the story and songs. Cheryl Gaines was at one point cast as a replacement for Holliday.

After two mildly successful workshops, Holliday returned to the project, now known as Dreamgirls. However, she found that the Effie character's role had been reduced significantly in favor of Sheryl Lee Ralph's Deena character, and Holliday eventually quit the project again. After acquiring funding from music industry mogul David Geffen and fellow co-financiers ABC Entertainment, Metromedia, and the Shubert family, Bennett called Holliday back and agreed to rewrite the shows second act and build up her character. (read more)

1-22-2007 Dreamgirls a Dream at the Box office
12-9-2006 Dreamgirls Christmas

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Monday, January 22, 2007

Dreamgirls a Dream at the Boxoffice

Another dreamy weekend for Dreamgirls at the box office this weekend. One of my theater friends has informed me that I simply MUST go see this movie. She claims it is one of the best she's seen in a long while. So I hope to get to see in either later this week or next.

As you may know, the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical went to the movie musical Dreamgirls. The movie remained in the top five highest-grossing films of the past weekend. Dreamgirls brought in $8,711,000 at the box office, making the film the third highest-grossing motion picture of the weekend. That's one place higher than the previous weekend, where the film placed fourth, bringing in $8,122,000.

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Thursday, January 18, 2007

High School Musical 2

There is news that the Disney Channel has in the works High School Musical 2 and it should be airing in August.

As many of you may remember Disney's High School Musical started as a TV movie, and has branched out to several DVD versions, a chart topping CD album and a stage version of the play (locally it will be playing in tarrytown in Feb, and several groups are rumored to be doing the show this summer and fall)

And then they are planning a High School Musical on Ice. disneychannel.com/highschoolmusical.

I'm excited because it is good to see teens and youngsters getting into musical theater. Yes it is a show that is like candy (sweet, mindless and not-necessarily good for you), but then so is Guys and Dolls and Grease to name a couple of traditional musical theater titles. HS Musical actually deals with a few topics that face teens today.

Looking for High School Musical MP3's?


Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Dreamgirls Christmas

Dreamgirls opens Christmas Day. There are 13 clips from the movie on IESB.net.

There is about 20 minutes worth of footage from the Broadway musical based film. The brief clips are titled Wigs, Here to Protect You, Teach Us the Song, Jimmy Don't Belong to No One, I Am a Woman Now, Deena's Singing Lead, "Dreamgirls," Ease Up, I Can't Play That Part, Jimmy & Lorrell Backstage, "One Night Only," "Listen" and "Effie I Need You."

It looks really good. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Previously:
10-17-2006 Dreamgirls Movie Musical

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Community Theater in the Mid Hudson Valley of New York. Information on shows, auditions, and our general adventures onstage, backstage and in the audience.