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westendwithsteph · 4 years ago

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Frozen: The Broadway Musical Review

With Frozen due to open in the West End in a few months (although who knows what will happen with COVID-19 causing all the theatres to close), it seemed like the perfect time for me to review the show when I saw it in New York last December.

Frozen is a musical based on Disney’s film by the same name and was playing at the St James Theatre in New York City, until it was sadly closed during the COVID-19 lockdown. It follows the same story as the film. Anna, the feisty, positive, younger sister, sets off on a journey to find her older sister, Elsa, after she accidentally sets off an eternal winter in Arendelle at her anointment to become queen and runs away to the mountains. Anna meets Olaf, the snowman, Kristoff, the mountain man, and his reindeer, Sven, along the way and they help her on her quest to save her sister. It is a story of sisterly love and learning to love and accept yourself for who you are.

The musical, despite following the same story, brings lots of new songs and music, as well as keeping some of the classics from the 2013 movie. The first characters we properly get to meet are young Elsa and Anna, who sing ‘A Little Bit of You’, which is about them making a Olaf for the first time, and also leads to young Elsa hitting young Anna with her magic, which is really the beginning of the end for Elsa until the end of the musical when there is of course a happy ending (it wouldn’t be a Disney story without one!). I was fortunate enough to see Fiona Morgan Quinn as young Anna and Suri Marrero as young Elsa in this performance, and they were beyond phenomenal! Both had amazing voices and brought such an exciting energy to the stage. Their acting was very natural, but big enough for the whole theatre to see, they were an absolute pleasure to watch. I have seen a lot of children in stage shows and they are always amazing, but I was completely blown away by these two. They continue their excellent performances through a couple more songs, before magically growing up into Caissie Levy (Elsa) and Patti Murin (Anna) at the end of ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman?’

(photo from @fionamorganq on Instagram)

Having described the kids as phenomenal, I am left with no words to describe the voices of Levy and Murin. They both have such power in their voices, while still being able to portray the struggles both sisters have been through. I will not say anything more about the two leads, because it is not necessary. They were cast for a reason and they show it.

One of the only things I did not love about the show was the set and staging for ‘In Summer’, Olaf’s solo song. Ryann Redmond plays the role of Olaf and does a great job of acting with her own face and body as well as puppeteering the snowman puppet (which is very cleverly designed but I will get into that later). My dislike was nothing to do with her, it was the set. Practically the entire show is full of incredibly detailed, realistic sets, except for ‘In Summer’, which has a cartoony style to it, and I know it is to show that he’s imagining, but since it’s the only time in the show where this style is used, I felt it was out of place and took away from the overall vibe of the show. If the cartoon style had been woven more into the show, especially around Olaf’s parts, I think it would have worked better, but it was only used in this one circumstance and I did not like that.

However, while I am on the topic of sets, I must talk about how stunning the rest of them are. Christopher Oram was the scenic and costume designer on this production, and I adore his designs. The sheer detail that goes into each of them is unmatched in any other show I have seen, and I ended up spending £19 on the souvenir programme, so I would be able to fully remember them! For anyone who does not know, programmes in England are usually only £10 maximum, so forking out nineteen is unheard of for me, but I could not resist. I would genuinely say that the sets alone make this production worth seeing. The costumes compliment each set amazingly as well, it makes the scenes absolutely stunning to look at.

(Kristoff (Jelani Alladin) and Anna (Patti Murin). Photo: Deen van Meer)

The special effects (by Jeremy Chernich) are so magical, and the lighting design (by Natasha Katz) just takes them to the next level. Lighting design and special effects seem to go hand in hand in this show, so I could not possibly know who designed which parts, I imagine it was a collaboration between the two though. One of the standout moments to me is when Elsa sets off the eternal winter. She touches the edge of the stage and the whole theatre turns to ice. Shards of ice shoot out of the wings and the floor is covered in dry ice smoke to look like snow. The set pieces to disguise the wings transform into snowy cliffs and its just incredible. The set change got a round of applause from the audience. It was magical to watch. The other major special effects moment I remember is near the end. The people of Arendelle are coming to capture Elsa and punish her for the eternal winter, and to protect herself Elsa makes huge icy spikes shoot up from the ground to block them out. They look so much like ice and are quite scary really. If I were one of the people of Arendelle I would certainly count them as a good reason to stay back!

(Caissie Levy as Elsa in Frozen: The Musical. Photograph: Deen van Meer)

Now I do not want to make this review too long, but it would be a crime of me to not discuss Olaf and Sven. Olaf is done in a sort of Lion King-esque style. He is a puppet attached to the actor. His feet were joined onto her feet and she controlled his arms, mouth, and head with her hands, using a not-quite-classic puppeteering set up. When they first came on, I was concerned that having the actor be taller than the Olaf puppet would be distracting, but it was quite the opposite. I found that I stopped noticing she was there and focussed mainly on the puppets face. But even on the occasions I did look at Redmond, she was mimicking the facial expressions and it almost added more to the character. Sven on the other hand, was slightly different. He was not a puppet per say, but I do not know if he could be classed as a costume either. He looked and acted just like a reindeer, but of course was not really one. He has only one person inside, controlling him (Adam Jepsen and Andrew Pirozzi switch off playing him, but you never see their faces, so I am not sure which one I saw!). The design is ingenious. It unfortunately is very difficult to explain though, but believe me when I say it is incredibly effective.

(Collin Baja and F. Michael Haynie in 'Frozen' North American Tour. Photo by Deen van Meer)

I adored watching Frozen and wish I could have seen it again while I was in New York City, but time and money were against me (NYC is awfully expensive!). I am extremely excited for it to come to London and will definitely be there as soon as I can. The cast list includes Samantha Barks as Elsa and Stephanie McKeon as Anna, two extraordinarily talented actors. Assuming it is going to be the same, or similar, to the Broadway production, I could not recommend seeing it enough, especially if you have children who love Frozen. But even if you have no children, it is so beautifully done that I have no doubts it will be enjoyed by adults too, I certainly loved it.

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janiedoe · 5 years ago

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OH BY THE WAY, ABOUT NYC

I went to see The Lion King and Frozen on Broadway...

Lion King was amazing, I kinda cried when I saw the cast walking down the small corridors between seat rows and singing and dancing Circle of Life... I mean... EVERYTHING WAS SO BEAUTIFUL

BUT FROZEN ON BROADWAY...

B R E A T H T A K I N G

Caissie Levy’s voice is LIFE. She’s the perfect Elsa. Ans the lighting and the scenery changing and tHE FUCKING DRESS CHANGE IN LET IT GO BLEW MY MIND

if you happen to be in NYC before february (which is the month Caissie, Patty -Anna- and Noah -Kristoff- will leave the production), PLEASE get some tickets to see the show, I swear is the best money you’ll spend IN YOUR LIFE

words can’t express..

I laughed A LOT. The show is super different from the movie with new songs and new lines, but its a lot funnier. AND I CRIED A LOT, I still can’t believe humans can do that... the singing, the dancing, the acting, the music, the lighting, the scenery, the EVERYTHING

oh lord

#frozen #broadway #frozen on broadway

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followingliz · 5 years ago

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NYC- Broadway Shows- Come From Away

If you’re on a tight budget you may think- there’s no way I can afford to see a show. If you’re thinking to see the Lion King at minimum 120$/ ticket or Hamilton at the whoping 500$/ticket- yeah it might be a little out of your price-range (certainly out of ours) but there are easy ways to see some fantastic shows for not that much.

It’s called rush-tickets. Now, not all the shows offer rush tickets. You have to check out the playbill website for a list of shows that do- but rush tickets are the best thing in the world. Because you can see fantastic, amazing theatre for a fraction of the price.

Alex’s first Broadway play was Come From Away. I saw this show ( which opened on Broadway in 2017) last year and let me tell you- this is a FANTASTIC show! If you are in NYC you absolutely must go see it. If you get to the box-office about and hour before it opens you should be lucky enough to get partial-view or balcony seating for only 32$/ticket. And, as everything happens in the center of the stage you wont miss hardly anything at all. If you get there a bit later- as we did ( around 12pm)- you might get standing room tickets.

Standing room tickets have one single downside- you have to stand for the entire show. But if the show is good you hardly notice and this show is only about an hour and half- absolutely do-able.

The best thing about standing room tickets is that you are standing at the back of the orchestra sections. Which means two things: your view is fantastic AND the person sitting in front of you probably paid 5x as much for their ticket. All the standing room “seats” are assigned so you don’t have to worry about anyone taking your spot. It was great.

Come From Away seems on it’s surface a play about 9/11 but it is more a play about 9/12 and humanity and kindness and this little town in Newfoundland Canada. It has fantastic songs, great acting and an excellent flow. This time round I was really able to appreciate how the play keeps moving. It doesn’t allow you to wallow in the sad moments only to acknowledge them and give them their due respect. It moves smoothly from the sad/ deep to the happy and funny often combining them. Unlike more traditional musicals you don’t really have the opportunity to applaud after every song which means that at the end of the play- when you are finally allowed to applaud you can feel the release and comradery of the entire audience. It’s a play that leaves you feeling good, kind, hopeful and full of respect for the cast who clearly are a family. AND unusually, the play still has most of it’s Original Broadway Cast.

(not my photo cause there was a standing ovation and we couldn’t see over the people)

#broadway #come from away #nyc #rush tickets #things to do in nyc #new york city #new york #cfa #tourist #travel #theatre #travelblog #travelblogger #show #travelgirl #adventures

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omgchickmik · 4 years ago

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story

My story.

one of my earliest memories was playing with my favorite toy horses. Big Girl, Joe, Jane and Jim. I was playing them with my sister and I think my grandma had gotten me them. There was just something about horses that I absolutely had to have. Growing up was spent in the pool, riding bikes with my best friend Niki, swimming at grandma and grandpa’s, tree house adventues with my sister Kristi and Niki and playing and playing with Barbies, Maple Town and of course horses.

I was a bit of a stinker if I didn’t want to do something, I DID NOT WANT TO DO SOMETHING. Like dance. Fuck dance. So I would sneak over to grandma’s house (mom and dad would freak like you would wtf is my child!?) and I would be at grandma’s and be like grandma will tell you that dance sucks and I shouldn’t do it. Grandma and grandpa always had my back.

The biggest best thing evvver was taking horse back riding lessons. I started when I was in pre school and it was the best thing evvver. I would watch any tv show, westerns, Mr. Ed anything that had horses in it just to watch horses. My sister took lessons with me but soon it was just me taking lessons.

I remember the first time I fell off, I was cantering and froze when the trainer asked to slow the horse down. around and around i went faster and faster then the horse cut down the middle I fell but my leg was still in the striupp so i got dragged a little bit till the horse came to the trainer and stopped. My mom flipped. but i was like ok, i get back on now. That’s what jim from man from snowy river said. not shaken up at all.

I wondered why there was a blimp in my mom taking me to lessons and my grandparents. Bc apparently after that my mom was like i am not taking you riding anymore and of course in came grandma and grandpa to take me to lessons. I remember i would blow kisses to them everytime i passed them by in the ring :).

All i wanted was a horse. my mom said when i was 10 i could get one. so when i turned 10 and didnt have a horse of my own i was a bit upset. and durning this time my family decided to move to west palm beach, about an hour away from where i was. but all my best friends were there and grandma and grandpa i coulnd’t believe this shit! and no one asked me! sooo i hid, threw out checks i thought were going to the house, what a brat i was. and made a fuss when it came to moving.

we did move and i found a best friend there, jackie, she had not 1 horse but 3!! the coolest person ever. we hung out all the time, playing barbies, horses, pretending to be horses, being tom boys, swimming having the best time. then i started taking riding lessons and the cooolest thing i started showing horses! my dream come true! and so was jackie!

soon we got a call from her mom i wanna say who said go to this barn and try out this horse. so we did. his name is sinful and we became bessst friends. first we leased him and showed him then turning 11 my dad, grandpa and a neighbor built me a barn! and sinful came to stay at our house i had a horse!! We did all the compeitions and won so many as well. we did western, english, jumping but i would say our favorite was trail rides and trail rides with jackie.

in middle school jackie and i had different classes and i didn’t have that many friends. i took to another favorite thing of mine. movies. i would watch, the lion king, twister and the cable guy. enter jim carrey. i wanted to be jim carrey., i would dress up like ace ventura nearly every friday for ace ventura fridays. i was not cool but jackie accepted this and contuned being my best friend.

in high school i took drama and was introduced agaikn to chorus something i did in elementary school. and the chorus kids took me in and introduced me to broadway.

i thought broadway was trash but they took me to see rent and i reconsidered. i was then deciding i wanted to be maureen in rent and needed to go to nyc stat!

i got accepted into amda and as my parents tried to convince me not to go i went and made some incredible friends and actually learned how to dance. all the while i was there i was still missing sinful and horses. so when i came home to go to fau - i was not happy about - i made a point to get back into horses and started competing in the jumpers with alfonso.

the coolest horse show is called wef. and i wanted more than anything to ride in wef. i got a job to pay for lessons and by the 4 years i finally got to show in jumpers at wef! while at fau i met some amazing people and roomed with one my best friends smisek who introduced me to alternative music and a person who just loves music and i wanted to love music as much as she did.

so we went to some shows together and saw eric hucthinson. during this time my sister was making a album of her own and performing something i never thought one could just do. and while at amda i started making up songs for people but didn’t think anything of it. till i saw eric and he was funny and also made up songs. so smiske and i went to open mics and as a grad present my dad got me a keyboard that i took to nyc.

moving back to nyc i went to auditions for theater but didn’t care and came home and said i was going to pursue a career in songwriting and they were actually excited, which surprised me.

i went to see eric play and asked him after hwo to get a start as a songwriter and he suggested, playing open mics. so i did.

i met a boy who turned out to be a shit and wrote songs about him, then met a very nice producer and he recorded and helped me put together my songs. and i finally had something to offer and started playing out.

my mom says you never know if you dont ask. so i asked this one artist if i could open for them. they said yes. then i wrote to eric asking the same thing. then i saw him in person randomly at a bar and talked to him and after that he wrote me back saying to look out for dates. i did. and then he reached out to me to open for him.

i did a fucking great job on that show! and he asked me to open for him again. during this time i was working at a riding barn in the bronx and had to yell to talk to students and compete with all the other trainers talking, so my voice was upset. needless to say at the next show my voice bombed and cracked in multiple spots and i felt like a complete failiure.

i went home and decieded to change my voice teacher and found ron. and i decided to leave my teaching job and try to get a job at soulcycle.

while working at soulcycle i was working with ron on finding my voice. i got signed to this silly college label and released my first full length album with dave and did a kickstarter to help get a little bit more money to finish it.

playing a show for one of the pre kickstarter shows i met brian. i wasn;t that into him at first, as his friends introduced him as a douche. but when he came to another show, brought people and hung out at karaoke later i began to get into him.

we started dating and then we fell in love!

i got to open for dweezil zappa bc my dad had entered me into this submission to open for him. after soundcheck he asked if i would be interested in joining his band and going on tour. i thought he was crazy. but he was serisous.

he sent me about 40 songs to learn and i went to la to rehearse, ron and i worked over time. i got to go on my first tour! it was so cool! i had a bottom bunk and would make sure i prioritixed my voice when it came to the tour and go lots of sleep. we played amazing places like red rocks and also got to to europe for the first time and went to finland and even norway! the band is incredible and made me feel so good and happy to be with them. i wanted to be able to pursue my own music so i didn’t continue in their band but i hope one day they ask me to sing with them again.

back in nyc i was at soulcycle and they were kind of poops to me. but i started a musical sketch team called misc. filled with amazing funny peoeple and we make up funny sketches with music and my good friend pete plays all the music for us! but that started bc the magnet theater would never let me into their musucial improv teams so i created my own.

brian and i got married on a rooftop in bk and it was amazing! so perfect! we did so many of the crafts and all of the flowers. we got this cute dog finn and cat hiccup!

i then thought it would be fun to move down to nc to be and spend time with my family and sinful! so we moved here last oct and have been since. its been fun to have a yard, dishwasher, dryer and washer! I now teach my own spin classes and i get to see sinful everyday and try to make him the happiest pony ever! finn loves going to the barn too! and it’s been fun spending time with my nephews and niece. i hope i help them feel better about somethings like school they don’t really like. i also helped kim move out of mom and dads house and into her own and aj into his apt which was so cute. and now i am finally learning and developing the business side of my music and all my little side hustles. i feel really happy and grateful.

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lostbandar · 5 years ago

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Come November and the air is crisp, the lights have started sparkling, hot chocolates are a chocolatier, everybody is buying gifts and all is red and we are getting ready for our old man Mr Santa. Well in all this excitement we decided to visit in November and with our 5-year-old daughter who was visiting NYC for the first time. The sight of the fall season with its colourful trees was a perfect welcome we were looking forward too.

This trip was a completely new experience as this was my daughter’s first international trip and we were worried about meals, sleep, weather and of course jet lag.

Our trip started with a direct flight from Delhi to NYC on Air India, which lands early in the morning NYC time. You get a full day to reach your hotel and settle in for the crazy vacation ahead. It took us around 1.5 hrs to reach Manhattan from the airport.

As we were not travelling outside New York, so our base for the whole trip was Hotel Pennsylvania. The location is just perfect, it is 10 min from Time Square, 15 min from central park and 5th Avenue. With 24hr restaurants near the hotel, food is never a problem, especially when you are jet lagged. The most amazing Penn Station, which is across the street. Most of the Hop on Hop off tours are being sold outside the hotel gate, you can choose from a couple of operators.

First things first … you are going to walk a lot so a Stroller is a must. Either get one with you or you can buy it in NYC. We bought it from a Kmart store 5 min from our hotel. And I can’t tell you how useful and convenient it was. Next is a 7-day unlimited subway pass, which will save you loads of money and time. Ohanna used to sleep by 6 in the evening and we used to cover her with a blanket and take her everywhere we went. I came back super fit after the trip, with all the walking and pushing around the stroller. When visiting USA kids might take 2-4 days to get over Jet lag. So keep the first few days travel plans light keeping in mind the sleep patterns and the exhaustion.

The first day itself we went to Times Square in the evening. It was really sad to see that the Toy store had closed down, but none the less there was a lot to do. After clicking loads of pics we went into M&M store right around the corner. It is really huge and fun for both adults and kids. You can get all kinds of M&M toys, clothes, mugs and accessories. Don’t forget the free instant photo booth.

A Broadway with your kids is a must. You can buy last minute discounted tickets from TKT located at Times square for some the most amazing Broadway shows like Lion King, School of rock, etc. We saw Mary Poppins and it was in a very vintage looking theatre with beautiful balconies and interiors.

Bronx Zoo

• It is by far the best and the biggest zoo I’ve ever been to. You can buy discounted tickets from their site or at the gate itself. In summers it is highly recommended that you do it online to save time standing in the queue, also it is free on Wednesdays. A very sturdy stroller can be hired at the entry gate for kids; I did and would really recommend it. Day is full of surprises, fun and lot’s of learning for kids and adults alike, with exhibits like sea lion feeding, birds of paradise, flamingos, polar bear, Siberian tiger, African lions, giraffes, penguins, African safari, train in summers, 3D show, bugs carousel and a huge canteen-cafe with good food and very nice coffee.

Staten Island Ferry

It is free and perfect for watching Statue of Liberty and later catching up with old friends. By evening we were exhausted and came back early, but not before spending time at Time square. You will go crazy with the 10000 plus eating joints in the city with a huge variety of cuisines to choose from. Try new places every day.

Central Park

We were extremely lucky with a beautiful sunny day to spend in the central park. The bright sun, fall colours on trees and the fresh crisp air are all we needed to make it perfect. Grabbed a quick bite and we were at one end of the park. Your kids will love the play areas they have built; they are so safe and full of interesting swings and obstacles. Next was the ice skating rink, it was super tiring and so much fun, It’s a must. Soaked the sun and started our long walk in the park going over and under bridges, crossing ponds big and small, statues, various courts and much more. The place was brimming with people running, exercising, cycling, walking their dogs or generally chilling on the lovely green benches. It has a small zoo too if you don’t get time to visit the Bronx.

Coney Island

Being winters we had to give it a pass as luna park was closed and the aquarium was under renovation. But summers you definitely can’t miss it.

Shopping at 5th Avenue and exploring the village- Soho-

On one hand, 5th avenue has huge stores on both side and on the other hand in Village you can find small boutique and designer stores and few of the most interesting restaurants and cafes in Nyc. Check Out High Line park built on an abandoned raised metro line.

Disney on Ice Show:

We found out about the Disney on Ice show in the time out the magazine for kids and were lucky to get tickets for it. Had to take the train to Newark for the magic show with all of the Disney characters. Got late coming back that day and experienced flurries, as it was really cold that day. It was a very special experience

10 Things not be missed

• Museums – Rose Center for Earth and Space, the Egyptian Art space at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History. Don’t forget to read up on all the free museum days throughout the week

• Indoor Amusement parks- Kidz Village, Funtime America

• Cycling tours- http://www.mustseecentralpark.com/‎,

http://www.viator.com/nyc/bike-tours,

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=bikerentals&find_loc=New+York%2C+NY

• Toy Stores – The Lego Store, Disney Store, Dinosaur hill etc.

• Candy Stores – M&M, Dylan’s Candy Bar, economy candy, etc.

• Places to eat – Chipotle, Nathan’s, McDonald’s, Dunkin Doughnuts, Krispy Kreme, Deli’s for salads, breakfast, meals, pizza, Cheese Cake Factory

• Empire State Building and Rockefeller centre

• Macys Store– Their special shopping windows around Christmas and the famous Macy’s parade

• Photo Booths for those candid shots

Apps for just making it all easy

• Head out- for events, tours and entry tickets

• Uber – Taxi

• Yelp- Finding restaurants nearby

• Google maps

• Air BnB

• Trip advisor

• Time Out Magazine for stuff to do in the city with your kids

Bon voyage

New York with my 5 yr. Old – 10 Things to do with kids in New York Come November and the air is crisp, the lights have started sparkling, hot chocolates are a chocolatier, everybody is buying gifts and all is red and we are getting ready for our old man Mr Santa.

#featured

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lindsglenne · 6 years ago

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I created a tag?

This week the novelization of the musical Dear Evan Hansen is being released. The YA book by Val Emmich, takes this beloved musical and bringing it to a wider audience. Earlier this year, I read the book for the musical—essentially, the script that included the lyrics to the songs—and I really fell in love. I then scoured the internet and watched all the clips to the show I could find and listened to the soundtrack incessantly. The novelization is just the next step in the obsession.

I have never been in any kind of theater production—I always said you could put me on a stage to dance in front of thousands of strangers, but open my mouth to talk or sing? NO WAY. However, I do have a great love for musical theater that has only grown since the openings of Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen. For the release, I thought answering questions about my love of musical theater would be fun. There are probably musical theater tags already out in the universe, but I put together these questions myself. Let’s begin:

How Many Shows Have You Seen (if you can, name them):

I’ve technically only seen one musical in NYC on Broadway (Grease), but when I was living in LA, we had a lot of opportunities to see different shows. However, I watched many movie musicals so I included those too.

Stage: The Lion King, Grease, 42nd Street, Movin’ Out, Stomp (this counts, right?), Hamilton, Book of Mormon, Finding Neverland, Chicago, An American in Paris, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Bat Boy, Urinetown, Seussical, Aladdin, Rent, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Billy Elliot

Film: Funny Face, Rent, Grease, Singing in the Rain, Cabaret, An American in Paris, My Fair Lady, Chicago, Hairspray, Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music, West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Little Shop of Horrors, The Producers, Nine, Dreamgirls, Jesus Christ Superstar, On the Town, Les Miserables, Annie, All That Jazz, all Disney musicals

That’s all I got, but I’m probably missing some.

2. First Show You Saw:

My dad showed me Grease the movie version at about five years old and I was obsessed, but my first live show was The Lion King at age nine. It blew my mind! My favorite Disney Movie was turned into this beautiful and colorful stage show, what more could I ask for?

3. Last Show You Saw:

The last show I saw was Aladdin in Los Angeles. I’m on the email list for when tickets go on sale for Hamilton in Jacksonville for the 2019/2020 season

4. Bucket List Shows:

Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress (both of which I saw bootleg versions on YouTube), Heathers, Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast

5. Dream Casting:

Hands down, original cast of Hamilton. I don’t know what could be better than that.

6. Favorite Obscure Show:

It may not be obscure but I’ve never met anyone else who has even heard of this show but Billy Joel’s Movin’ Out. I saw this when I was 13 and I think the main reason why my parents took me to this was because all the choreography was done by Twyla Tharp, a goddess in the dance community. I remember Act 1 being really cool, but Act 2 was kind of out there and weird. But the dancing as a whole was incredible.

7. Favorite Female Role:

Eliza from Hamilton gets me every damn time. I also think that Christine in Phantom of the Opera is one of the hardest roles to play.

8. Favorite Male Role:

Collins from Rent, Evan from Dear Evan Hansen

9. Best Soundtrack:

If you had asked me this five years ago, I would have said Rent, Chicago, and Wicked, but Hamilton kicks all their asses ten times over. Very few soundtracks can I sit there and listen in full.

10. Favorite Song:

“Candy Store” from Heathers is CONSTANTLY stuck in my head and I love it, “Turn It Off” from The Book of Mormon is genius, and the triplet of Schuyler Sisters songs from Hamilton: “The Schuyler Sisters”, “Helpless”, “Satisfied”.

11. Favorite Film Adaptation:

Nothing can compare to Cinderella starring Brandy and Whitney Houston. I also think they did a really great job of adapting Chicago for the screen. It’s a hard show to make translate in a movie setting, but it’s amazing.

12. Most Overrated Musical:

Cats. I mean I’ve never seen it but everything I know, I just don’t get it.

13. What Musical Made You Cry:

I was really REALLY obsessed with Rent for a while and it would always make me cry, but once again, Hamilton wins

14. Made You Laugh:

Book of Mormon, come on.

15. Best Choreography:

Mia Michael’s choreography has always been some of my favorite pieces of work from her time on So You Think You Can Dance and bringing it to Broadway was a little risky. However, it added so much whimsy to Finding Neverland, I loved it. An American in Paris is another one where the dancing is so important to the overall story. I remember sitting there and wishing I was up there dancing that classical lyrical jazz that is so rare nowadays.

16. Favorite Show Experience:

For my college graduation present, my family went to London. It was my first trip to Europe and I was beyond excited (it still goes down as my favorite trip I’ve ever taken).

We got tickets to Billy Elliot on the West End and I was ecstatic. I had been dying to see the show for years and to see it in London was a dream come true.

Another incredible experience was when I got to see Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal (the original Mark and Roger) in Rent. They were performing in LA for only two weeks and my sister and I got tickets. It was especially great because the first time I saw Rent it was pretty disappointing.

Oh, and Grease because it’s the only show I’ve seen on Broadway. Such a full-circle moment.

17. What Song Makes You Cry When You Hear the Opening Bars:

Oh, so many! “I’ll Cover You Reprise” from Rent, “Words Fail” from Dear Evan Hansen, “She Used to be Mine” from Waitress, and of course, “It’s Quiet Uptown” from Hamilton.

If you’ve never seen this performance of Chris Jackson singing “One Last Time” from Hamilton at the White House for President Obama, you are seriously missing out.

18. All-time Favorite Show:

It’s so hard to really pick a favorite because I’ve matured throughout my life and my favorites have changed through the years.

Nostalgia reasons: Grease

Middle school time: Rent and Chicago

High School time: Wicked

Currently: Hamilton

If you couldn’t already tell, I really like Hamilton…

Musical Theater Tag I created a tag? This week the novelization of the musical Dear Evan Hansen is being released.

#billy elliot #book #book of mormon #chicago #cinderella #dear evan hansen #disney #grease #hamilton #literature #musical #musical theater #reading #rent #the lion king #waitress #wicked #ya

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broadwaydena · 6 years ago

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Frozen the Musical

On July 11th I saw the matinee performance of Frozen the musical. I sat in the orchestra and paid $152 for my ticket. I know I probably could have gotten it cheaper at TKTS booth, but I had just arrived in NYC that morning after leaving my home for the airport at 2am. I had scored cheap tickets for another show that night, so I figured I could splurge on this one.

Since it was a matinee, the audience was filled with families with young children. The kids were all well behaved. The only time they made a peep was when Olaf was entering the story. Some of them squeeled or giggled when they heard his voice. It was actually a cute moment.

I really liked that they adapted yes but expanded the story. I felt like Elsa and Ann were more fleshed out thanks to extra songs. I liked the new approach to the trolls/hill folks. The spectacle of things being iced over was ok but not as magical as I was expecting. The snow at end looked cool when it was coming down but was just confetti that pelted you. Lol I found some in my bra later that night.

Performers were amazing. I’m glad I saw it with this original cast. Caissie Levy was a perfect Elsa. I love her rendition of Let It Go and that she made it her own. Patti Murin was born to play Anna. She has great comic talent. She was fresh and funny. John Riddle was handsome and devilish as Hans. I kind of wish I hadn’t known the plot line because I think he would have fooled me. Jelani Alladin is not the Kristoff of the movie. He is far less goofy. His Kristoff has confidence and a bold spirit. And he is handsome to boot. Kevin Del Aguila nearly stole the show as Oaken. Greg Hildreth is perfect as Olaf. Not sure they can ever replace him. And Andrew Pirozzi as Sven is amazing once you see that costume and realize how physically taxing that role must be. Kudos to him. The ensemble kept up with the leads. The entire cast worked seamlessly together.

Now keep in mind that I am a huge Disney fan. I never saw Beauty & the Beast on Broadway but I have directed it, so I am familiar with the script. I saw Mary Poppins 3 times. I saw Newsies. I saw Lion King on Broadway and tour. I saw Aladdin on Broadway twice. I didn’t care for Lion King. Once it gets past the puppets, I get bored. Aladdin was ok because of the genie but I don’t care for the actress who plays Jasmine. Mary Poppins I’ve always loved. Newsies I loved the movie and didn’t understand why they took so long to bring it to the stage. Frozen performance wise however is probably my favorite of the Disney musicals.

I am giving it

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

(out of 5).

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on-edi-r-e-ct-io-n · 6 years ago

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Make Money with Social Networks 10 lover boys for Selena Gomez! Who will be her next love interest? We're hoping for #3! link

Apparently my director went to see a production of West Side Story a few years ago, and the guy playing Chino forgot his gun before coming out for his final scene. Once it got to the big scene where he is supposed to shoot Tony, he screeched “Poison Boots” and kicked the actor playing Tony until he went down. The girl playing Maria then had to jerk the shoe off of Chino’s foot, and had to do the gunshot scene asking “How many kicks Chino? How many kicks, and one kick left for me”.

#1direction #niall #beautiful #Washington #DC

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o-n-edir-ec-t-i-o-n · 6 years ago

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How i Make Money with With my Blog You've never seen One Direction like this before! #7 will make you cringe. link

#zayn javaad #1d #style #Milwaukee #Wisconsin

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emilyemcnabb · 7 years ago

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Our Trip to New York City {with teens in tow}

Check out Our Trip to New York City and find out how we did it our way, with two teens in tow.

We finally did it – we traveled to New York City for a 5 day trip that wasn’t business related, and I am certifiably hooked on the city life! Here’s what I’ve come to realize about my self: I don’t care much for tropical getaways or theme park destinations, but I love traveling to new cities and diving into the culture.

This trip came about because we were planning to travel to Seattle for a family wedding, but after pricing flights for a family of four it became apparent that we’d get more for our money by staying on the East coast instead. Now that the kids are teenagers, NYC seemed like a great place for all of us to get inspired. My daughter has a very ‘alternative’ style so she was able to see things from a more diverse setting; my son is a chip off the old block and is fascinated by city life; and the hubs and I are suckers for food, culture, nightlife, and people watching.

We traveled in late June and got lucky with the weather. It was perfectly warm, sunny, and lacked humidity for most of the week. We didn’t follow a typical “tourist” agenda; instead we explored things more freely and asked the locals where were the good places to go. Here’s a list of the things we did, and where we went. There were surprises along the way, and so much inspiration around every turn.

Our Trip to New York City

Where we stayed: We booked a flight + hotel package through one of the travel sites, choosing The Lucerne for our stay. We chose it for it’s location, and for it’s good reviews. It’s in the Upper West Side two blocks from Central Park and the Museum of Natural History. After doing our research of the different areas/neighborhoods in Manhattan, we knew we wanted to be in a more residential zone as opposed to a highly-trafficked tourist area. This turned out to be a VERY good decision.

MONDAY

We arrived at the hotel mid-afternoon, dropped our bags, and headed outside to explore our neighborhood. Just three blocks west is a park along the Hudson River, with the Boat Basin Cafe overlooking the marina. We sat outside and enjoyed a snack, cocktails, and the gorgeous weather and view. One of the unexpected highlights of that outing was stumbling across this original Banksy art piece, “Hammer Boy.” We’ve been fans of the artist’s work for a few years but never imagined we’d see one in person…much less on the same block as our hotel!

The rest of the day was spent strolling along (we found the cutest used book store!), relaxing, and having dinner outside at a sidewalk cafe. Afterwards, we got fresh baked cookies from Insomnia Cookies and they were the BEST cookies I’ve ever bought. Crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside…perfection! It’s located right across the street from our hotel so it became a daily stop.

TUESDAY

Tuesday was jam-packed and definitely our most “touristy” day. After sleeping in, we got ready and headed off to the Met…but not before stopping for some street vendor food! When in New York you have to get street food, right! We all got something different and shared. From hot dogs, to meat on a stick, to gyros, it was all delicious!

A lovely stroll through Central Park took us straight to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where we spent hours perusing the halls of ancient Egyptian artifacts, Greek & Roman statues, and art by Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Picasso, Rockwell, and more. We also saw a specialty exhibit by a Japanese fashion artist, that was so interesting!

After the museum we were rushing to get ready for our night out. We had gotten Broadway tickets the day before, to see….wait for it….Cats! I know, so retro, right. We met with the concierge who just happened to be a former Broadway dancer, and she gave us the scoop on the theaters and seating available at various shows. Sure we would have loved to have seen The Lion King, Wicked, or Dear Evan Hanson, but the tickets available were pricey with bad views. So we went with the next best family-friendly show available, and that was Cats. We actually enjoyed it immensely and the kids REALLY loved it.

A trip to New York City wouldn’t be complete without a walk through Times Square. It made perfect sense to check it out after the show. To see the place lit up like that at night was iconic. We didn’t spend much time there because we were starving! On to a local pub for dinner at 11pm!

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday was our day to chill out and not have a schedule, however we ended up with some of the most memorable experiences. We slept in all week (except the hubs who was up early walking the streets, testing out coffee shops & bagel shops) so didn’t get started each day until close to lunch time. On this particular day we happened upon AG Kitchen for lunch and a cocktail, which inspired my sparkling mojito recipe. The food was terrific with kind of a Cuban-Brazilian mashup.

After lunch we hopped on the subway down to discover Chelsea Piers and hang out at the Waterside Park. Surprising to me, it was the end of June and children were just getting out of school for summer break; there were several end-of-year parties taking place.

Our son was on a mission to visit Midtown Comics Store (he’s a big comic book enthusiast) so we made our way back up to 40th Street to find it. Lucky for us, Jack’s Restaurant & Bar was across the street so the hubs and I went inside for some happy hour cocktails while our son was at the comics shop…for over an hour! Jack’s was small and very quaint inside, and a charming place to catch our breath after all that walking.

As dinner time approached, we ate at what I would describe as the quintessential “hidden gem” of a restaurant, that only the locals know about. Coppola’s Italian restaurant was right across the street from our hotel but we never gave it much thought because the sign was very inconspicuous; it just says “osteria & pizzeria” but it is OH-SO-MUCH-MORE! As you go down some stairs to enter this dark, cozy, restaurant lined with old brick walls, you immediately feel like you’ve just joined a secret club. This is not just a “pizzeria,” it’s classic & authentic Italian cuisine, and the wall to wall crowd inside is a testament to that. One of our favorite finds!

One of the nice things about traveling with teenagers is that we adults can have a night out without worries of a babysitter. As darkness fell, we asked about seeing some live jazz music and were directed to Cleopatra’s Needle, a 13 block walk from the hotel. It was open mic night but as with everything else in NYC, it was next level! Their version of open mic is not your typical version of open mic. These were obvious professionals who seem to get together for jam sessions and to sing/play for each other. WOW, were they good!

THURSDAY

We were back to structure and schedules on Thursday as we set out for the Museum of Natural History for a few hours before meeting up with an old friend for dinner and a night out. I have to say that the history museum was my least favorite part of the trip. Unlike an art museum where you see one of a kind pieces wherever you go, I feel like most history museums are pretty much the same. We’ve been to the Smithsonian before so this was kind of like that on repeat. I wish we had gone to the MoMa instead.

Dinner was at the hotel restaurant, Nice Matin, which serves up delicious French cuisine. We met up with one of my oldest girlfriends (25 years and counting) and her new beau as we had a belated celebration of my birthday.

Afterwards, the kids went back up to the room while we headed out for the night. I was dead set on finding a rooftop bar so once again we asked for a recommendation. We ended up at The Empire Hotel rooftop bar where I finally got a view of the city, from some place other than street level. The bar is set up where the center is indoors and there are two rooftop terraces flanking it. A very beautiful place to be. From there we made our way back down to Midtown and ended the night in a local joint with inexpensive drinks, then a slice of New York style pizza!

FRIDAY

Although we had most of the day in the city, it was travel day so we did a little bit of local shopping before heading to the airport.

After this trip to New York City, I wish we were independently wealthy so we could afford to live there or at least visit often. It IS pricey but it was worth it. My top takeaways, advice, and to-do’s are:

Don’t visit like a tourist, live like a local and experience the best of the city. Ask the residents for places to go instead of going to all the ‘most popular’ places. Duck inside off the wall shops or eateries. You’ll probably find a hidden treasure.

I highly recommend staying in the Upper West Side, and The Lucerne Hotel. It was so nice being in an area that wasn’t wall to wall people like Time’s Square or even Midtown. In the mornings we saw nannies with strollers and people going to the gym instead of tourists or business people.

Take advantage of the night life. Whether you’re 25 or 65, there’s got to be something you’ll love to do after dark. Wine bars, jazz lounges, comedy clubs, or neighborhood pubs – it’s vacation after all!

Don’t schedule every minute of every day. There’s SO much to see and do but I don’t regret one bit that I didn’t go to the Empire State Building or shop at pricey department stores, or see the World Trade Center Memorial. I know those things are iconic but at the end of the day that’s not what feeds my soul. I’m much more inspired by the art I saw, the amazing food I ate, and the moments of relaxation in the park by the river, or at the jazz club.

The things I do wish for next time are: visit the Museum of Modern Art, walk along The High Line, spend more time in Central Park, and of course eat and drink my way through the city.

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The post Our Trip to New York City {with teens in tow} appeared first on Celebrations at Home.

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hottytoddynews · 7 years ago

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Warsing with her family on graduation day

After growing up in Manhattan, Avery Warsing was only 17 when she arrived in Oxford four years ago. Before stepping onto the Ole Miss campus, the young lady had never been to the south. She has now completed her undergraduate career at Ole Miss, but her story is far from over.

HottyToddy.com: Avery, thanks for meeting with us on a Saturday. I always enjoy meeting other Yankee fans (LOL). (The same day we met, the Yankees defeated the Red Sox 4-1 in 16 innings at Fenway,)

Avery Warsing: Thanks for inviting me for this interview. I hate to disappoint though, but I’m actually a Red Sox fan! (Boooo Yankees!)

HottyToddy.com: How does a girl who grew up in Manhattan find and then select Ole Miss?

Avery Warsing: Well, my high school was very small and liberal arts focused, and I did not excel in that environment, so I started my college search by looking for bigger schools. I also looked farther from home because I wanted a place to start new and forge my own path. Add my potential interest in Greek life and all the pieces added up to Ole Miss.

HottyToddy.com: Describe life as a juvenile/teenager growing up in NYC.

Avery Warsing: Growing up in a city gave me a lot more freedom at a younger age than I think most kids experience. I could walk or take the subway to anything I wanted to see or do. The city is also a very diverse environment, in terms of ethnicity, culture, and opinions, and I loved being exposed to so many different things.

HottyToddy.com: Returning to the Sox, as much as I dislike to, who was your favorite player in Beantown and why?

Avery Warsing: I think my favorite has to be Big Papi, David Ortiz. He’s just such an absolute legend and the Sox were lucky to have him.

HottyToddy.com: Apparently the “Broadway Bug” bit you at an early age. Tell us about some of your favorite plays.

Avery Warsing: I think my favorite Broadway musical has to be The Lion King. Everything about it is spectacular from start to finish; the music, the set, the artistry of it all, it’s quite breathtaking. My other favorites are Wicked and Dirty Dancing, which I actually saw in London in the West End before it came to the US.

HottyToddy.com: When you and your dad arrived here for the very first time (orientation), what was it like?

Avery Warsing: Hot!! And crazy humid, I was not prepared! But the campus was obviously super beautiful and the people were so nice that I loved it here immediately. It’s a nice town and a good community and it shows.

HottyToddy.com: We understand you had a mutual love affair with your sorority. Living in the house apparently agreed with you.

Avery Warsing: Yes! I lived in the house my sophomore year and I wish I could have lived there longer! It was so much fun being surrounded by sisters all the time; there was always someone to help with Organic Chem homework or talk about a rough day with or eat snacks and watch movies with. And the food was amazing!

Warsing with her sorority sisters

HottyToddy.com: I cannot imagine someone spending four years here without a car, however, you showed the University that it can be done.

Avery Warsing: Yeah, it’s not the easiest thing living here without a car but it definitely can be done. Being from the city I had no use for a car or drivers license, so I didn’t get one before I moved here. I have a learner’s permit now though, so I’m making some progress, haha!

HottyToddy.com: Tell our readers what you like most about the school.

Avery Warsing: That’s a hard question because there are so many things I love about Ole Miss! Football season and tailgating in the Grove is an experience unlike any other so that might be my favorite thing. That being said, I also love the campus, the people, and the traditions that make Ole Miss so special.

HottyToddy.com: Were there any negatives?

Avery Warsing: There aren’t many I can think of. Going through sorority recruitment was one experience that had many positives and negatives. Overall it was a hard week for many of us to deal with. The environment grows competitive and toxic when there’s no reason for it too, the women searching for homes are all beautiful and bright and we shouldn’t have to tear them down during the process.

Warsing working during her time in Oxford

HottyToddy.com: Politically speaking, how did you find the leaning of your classmates as your senior year coincided with the presidential election.

Avery Warsing: I think this election year was destined to be crazy no matter where you lived or what your political opinions were. But I was surprised to find so many people my age were conservative. In New York, the only conservative people were older people. But that’s one of the reasons I chose to move away from home for college, to experience different viewpoints and understand other people.

HottyToddy.com: You are now headed to DC to advance your education in Speech Therapy. What does the future hold?

Avery Warsing: Right now I’m about to start my Master’s program in Speech Pathology in Washington, DC, which I’m really excited about! I hope to do well and become a certified SLP in a few years. After that? Definitely visits back to Oxford to cheer on my Rebs!

HottyToddy.com: We almost forgot to ask you about the one semester you spent in Spain.

Avery Warsing: Yes, I studied abroad in Alicante, Spain for part of my junior year. I went there speaking no Spanish and I think my program director thought I was a little crazy for doing that. Luckily my host mom spoke some English and I was able to learn the language, the culture, and travel around Europe in my free time. 10/10, would absolutely recommend studying abroad!!

HottyToddy.com: Let’s do a lightning round:

“South”……Avery….”Warm” “Travel”….. “…..”Plane” “Food”……..”……”Biscuits” “Animals”…..”……”Dog” “Movies”…….”…….”Wonder Woman” “History”……”…….”Important” “Math”……..”…….”Hard”

HottyToddy.com: Avery, in wrapping up, if you had to do it all over��again, would you return to the Magnolia State?

Avery Warsing: Without a doubt, yes. Living here has shaped me in ways I never expected and I’m going to miss it terribly when I move to DC. I’ll be back to visit as often as I can though; where else is a girl supposed to get her chicken on a stick??

I would love to be this “Wonder Woman’s” agent as this young lady is headed for stardom. Even if she didn’t obtain a drivers license while at Ole Miss, she proved you really don’t need one. It would be fascinating to fast forward 15 years to see what she is doing. 2016 might not have been the year for the First Lady POTUS, but watch out for Avery. I wouldn’t bet against her!

Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at [email protected] or call him at 985-852-7745.

The post Oxford Encounters: “Avery Warsing – The Girl From NYC Who Made The Ole Miss Adjustment” appeared first on HottyToddy.com.

#hottytoddy #olemiss #oxfordms #oxford ms #mississippi #university of mississippi #the grove

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demitgibbs · 7 years ago

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Behind the Scenes: Cirque Du Soleil’s ‘OVO’ Comes to Sunrise & Miami

Cirque du Soleil will be performing in Florida in July 2017 with “OVO,” its newest touring show in arenas. The show will perform in Sunrise at the BB&T Center from July 13-July 23 and in Miami at the American Airlines Arena from July 28-30 as part of a global tour in arenas around North America.

Thrilling more than 5 million people worldwide since the show premiered in Montreal in 2009 as a Big Top show, “OVO” will embark on a new journey, performing the same captivating production, but now in arenas, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy a Cirque du Soleil show in their own town.

“OVO,” meaning “egg” in Portuguese, is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It is love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.

Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 160 million spectators in more than 400 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries.

It was a pleasure to sit down with the Artistic Director of “OVO,” Tim Bennett, for this exclusive Hotspots interview:

What was your first job in a theater?

At 19 I was hired to do a dance show at Hershey Park in central PA. It’s a theme park adjacent to the chocolate factory. That was my first professional job.

When did you know entertainment would be your career?

I always did school plays growing up, but when I was in junior high school I started to feel the very strong urge to go into acting. The summer after I graduated from Junior High, I went to NYC (first time) and saw my first Broadway show – the original production of ‘Chicago.” I was so impressed and inspired by it, that I decided there was nothing else that would fulfill me as much as working as an actor.

When you were acting, what was your favorite part(s)?

I’ve always loved farces – classic 5 door farces with fast paced action, mistaken identities, chases, slamming doors, bad puns, and girls in their underwear. There was a farce called “Scapino” that was a modern day telling of an old Moliere play. Jim Dale had done it on Broadway back in the 1970s. I had the opportunity to play the title role and had more fun with it than any other role that I’ve ever done.

You have also directed many shows, other than Cirque, which was your favorite(s)?

I have two – because they were very different jobs. The first is “The Lion King,” where I was the Resident Director of the Las Vegas company. I enjoyed working on “Lion King” more than any other show. I love the story and its universal message, the music, and the many styles of storytelling – from puppetry, shadow play, clowning, modern dance, praise poetry, and classic musical theatre. We also had a wonderful cast of Broadway veterans, who were amazing artists. Being able to work on that show was a real gift.

But I didn’t create “Lion King,” as Resident Director I maintained it. As an original director/choreographer, my favorite show was “Urinetown.” I love the story and message of it, as well as the very farcical playful way that it is written. I also love the opportunity as a choreographer, to create material that pays homage to (some say parodies) other classic musicals and their styles.

How did you come to get hired by Cirque?

I saw my first Cirque show, “NouvelleExperience,” on the Santa Monica Pier back in the early 1990’s and absolutely fell in love with it. The wild imagination that spawned the costumes, music, make-up, and Cirque environment, as well as the incredible acrobatics blew my mind. I thought that it was one of the most creative shows that I had ever seen, and thought to myself “I really want to work with this new company Cirque du Soleil.” At the time, I was still a performer but I had no acrobatic skills, so there wasn’t a place for me. Fast forward a few years to when I moved to Las Vegas with “The Lion King.” There I was surrounded by Cirque shows, and I went to see every one of them. My passion to work for Cirque was reignited. My job at “The Lion King,” was very similar to what I do for Cirque, and when “The Lion King,” eventually closed, I reached out to Cirque right away.

Your title is Artistic Director. What exactly does that entail?

I’m responsible for the artistic integrity of the show. My job is make sure that the show is as exciting, surprising, fresh, and looks as great as it did on the day that it opened. I’m also responsible to maintain the original director’s vision of the show. I do whatever is necessary to make sure that happens. I run rehearsals, work with the coaches in trainings, cast and integrate new artists, work with the Performance Medicine teams to keep the acrobats healthy and rehabilitate injuries, give notes on the shows to artists and the technical departments, add new acts or change existing ones, and coordinate with the PR teams to create events. I also do a lot of operations work from budgeting to scheduling, to casting, and long range planning for the show.

I’m not going to ask you what your favorite part of “OVO” is as I think that would be unfair, but is there a particular act that gets talked about more than the rest?

We have a few unique acts that come up a lot in conversation because they aren’t seen a lot of places, or because our particular take on them is different and special. We have a Chinese “foot juggling” act that most people haven’t ever seen before. It’s a team of 6 Chinese acrobat Ants who juggle various pieces of their “food” and then eventually each other…with their feet.

We have an act that is a combination of trampoline and a crazy huge climbing wall – the biggest of its kind. Since crickets can jump 300 times their body height, we have our crickets jumping, bouncing, and leaping all over the wall via the trampolines. Finally, we have a straps act where our two butterflies soar and dance at the top of the arena in what is the most beautiful and exciting love duet that I’ve ever seen. Audience members always comment about it.

What makes “OVO” special, and what should the South Florida audiences expect from “OVO”?

There are a number of things that make “OVO” unique. It is one of the most playful, colorful, positive, and energetic of Cirque’s shows. It also has a great Brazilian flavor – from its samba music to its characters, to its name (OVO is Portuguese for “egg.”) We also have some of the top circus artists in the world, working alongside Olympic gymnasts and world champion acrobats in some acts that are pretty unique. It’s not a Cirque show that you’ve ever seen before.

But I think what makes it the most special is its message. It’s a story of inclusion, and how a community of insects first reject a “Foreigner” insect because he is different from them. They don’t understand him or his ways and therefore they are threatened by him. Over the course of the story, they realize that they and the stranger are more alike than they are different, and they come to understand and eventually accept and even love him.

What I really love is that “OVO” is a wonderful representation of the culture and world of Cirque du Soleil itself. Inclusion is one of the greatest strengths at Cirque. Our production consists of a troupe of over 100 artists, technicians, and staff from 21 different countries working together as story tellers to amaze and delight audiences. We are a mix of many languages, skin colors, religions, and cultures – French, Russian, American, Ukranian, Brazilian, British…and many more. We work as a team without regard to politics or borders, and the trust between us has to be uncompromising. If we can all work together at the circus to do what we do, there is no reason why others around the world can’t do the same.

Tickets which start at $35 for adults (subject to change) and $25 for children. Senior, military, student discounts and family 4-packs are all available at cirquedusoleil.com/ovo.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2017/07/12/behind-the-scenes-cirque-du-soleils-ovo-comes-to-sunrise-miami/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/162902477060

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cynthiajayusa · 7 years ago

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Behind the Scenes: Cirque Du Soleil’s ‘OVO’ Comes to Sunrise & Miami

It was a pleasure to sit down with the Artistic Director of “OVO,” Tim Bennett, for this exclusive Hotspots interview:

What was your first job in a theater?

At 19 I was hired to do a dance show at Hershey Park in central PA. It’s a theme park adjacent to the chocolate factory. That was my first professional job.

When did you know entertainment would be your career?

When you were acting, what was your favorite part(s)?

You have also directed many shows, other than Cirque, which was your favorite(s)?

How did you come to get hired by Cirque?

Your title is Artistic Director. What exactly does that entail?

I’m not going to ask you what your favorite part of “OVO” is as I think that would be unfair, but is there a particular act that gets talked about more than the rest?

What makes “OVO” special, and what should the South Florida audiences expect from “OVO”?

Tickets which start at $35 for adults (subject to change) and $25 for children. Senior, military, student discounts and family 4-packs are all available at cirquedusoleil.com/ovo.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2017/07/12/behind-the-scenes-cirque-du-soleils-ovo-comes-to-sunrise-miami/ from Hot Spots Magazine http://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2017/07/behind-scenes-cirque-du-soleils-ovo.html

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