Broadway Monday

Gypsy A consummate show-biz musical suggested by the memoirs of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. She was once just plain Louise, the awkward daughter of an unstoppably ambitious stage mother. When her pretty sister runs away from the family's minor vaudeville act, Louise tries to fulfill her mother's dreams. But it's not until trouping with Momma dwindles to appearing in burlesque, that Louise finally finds pleasure in the spotlight.

Considered by many to be the last great musical comedy, Gypsy tells the backstage tale of vaudeville entertainer turned stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and her overbearing mother, Rose. Stephen Sondheim's lyrics--composed in advance of Jule Styne's infectious music--provide a tight structure and natural language to the 1959 score, which produced more than its share of Broadway standards, including "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Small World," "Some People," "If Momma Was Married," "Together Wherever We Go," and the climactic "Rose's Turn." Although the role of Rose has seen subsequent memorable interpretations by Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, and Bette Midler, the show was written for Ethel Merman, and she remains the definitive stage mother.

The role of Momma Rose has been played by many as listed above, but in addition to and currently Patti LuPone. The current revival cast of Patti LuPone, Boyd Gaines, and Laura Benanti all garnered Tony Awards for their performances a few weeks ago at the event.

I've never seen Gypsy on stage, but have watched many clips and footage. Yes, the show is based on the daughter's memoir, but the obvious star of the show is Momma Rose, and if you are going to talk about Momma Rose the first name from your mouth, in my opinion, should be The Merm. Enjoy.

Gypsy is currently playing at the St. James Theatre.

Wii Shit

Ok, so let's talk about the Wii Fit.

First, this is an amazing game/invention. There is no denying the incredibleness and accuracy of this little board. It is engaging, fun, helpful, educational, and more fun.

Secondly, I only have one complaint, and it's really not so much a complaint as it is a "whaa? Geez, that was rude!"

When you initialize the Wii Fit game, it is necessary to go through a body test which includes among many other factors, your weight, height, body mass index, and balance. After all the information is gathered your Wii Fit Age is determined along with a weight classification, all while your cute little cartoon avatar Mii watches from the sidelines.Much to my surprise, after I was classified as obese, (that's not the surprise) my Mii totally tubbed out!! How rude!

Now let me expound: I was not offended by the classification. I'm aware of my huskiness. But to take it out on my defenseless little Mii is unacceptable... ;)

Of course, until I meet a goal or actually lose some weight, I am forced to look at me and my lovely in avatar form and be further reminded that I need to spend hours on the Wii Fit.

I do, however, find solace in the fact that I am queen at the Super Hoola Hoop! That's right baby! These hips are Calorie Incinerators!

Stay tuned for more Wii action shots, guest Miis and hopefully some reduction in my avatar's girth!

honestly

I have to admit that we have become obsessed with a couple of things in the last few weeks. So if it seems that we have come up missing, it's because we have fallen into the rabbit hole of the documentary Grey Gardens. In actuality, we have fallen in love with Little Edie Beale. What a fascinating woman. Grey Gardens is a documentary by Albert & David Maysles from 1976 about the reclusive aunt and cousin of Jackie Kennedy. It's a no frills account of the lives of these two women and the mansion they inhabited in The Hamptons, and it is absolutely enthralling. A true study in the human psyche and our need for each other on a social level. Pause the music, and take a look at some actual footage from the film:

Last year, Grey Gardens made it to Broadway and Little Edie was brilliantly brought to life by Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole. You can bet your booty that this will be a feature of Broadway Monday soon! The following is a clip from the show which gives a good sampling of a chat with Little Edie.

Absolutely obsessed we are.

i enjoy being a girl

***TMI Alert***

Don't say I didn't warn you

So today I wake up to the always lovely surprise of starting my period. Happy Thursday! Yes, I count my days...not because I hate surprises, but because my 40's have brought the delight of "fluctuating" visits from Aunt Flow. "A period every three weeks?!" you say? Yes sir, may I have another!

This afternoon I was schlubbing around the house, dragging my pulsing uterus behind me, lamenting the misfortune of this monthly event when it dawned on me that this summer marks a momentous occasion.

Thirty years ago this summer I was a bright-eyed 11-year-old looking forward to my first day of middle school in a few weeks. Oh the promise of a new school, new teachers, one step closer to high school...and then it happened...I got my period. I was not one of those girls longing for the day I could say I was a "woman". I thought it was gross, inconvenient, girly, embarrassing...I actually still think most of those things. Anyway, you get the idea. I started early, which most likely means I will be plunging into menopause early too and I feel just the same about that event as I did about the whole bloody mess that got this started.

So let's help turn my frown upside down with a group sing-a-long!

Join in nice and loud now!

"Happy Menses to me, Happy Menses to me..."

Wowee Wednesday

Helen Hunt

So, continuing my obsession with hot, smart women we have Helen Hunt as this week's Wowee. She came to define the first real awesome Thursday night lineup for NBC during the 90's. Mad About You was the quiet little show that could as it chugged along with Seinfeld and Friends on the peacock network.

Every week I looked forward to 30 minutes of smart, sexy, funny Helen Hunt.

What can I say? She wowed me with Quarterback Princess in 1983,and continues to do so now.

to grandmother's house i went

I've long since known this fact, but was reminded of it again this weekend:

My grandmother is the kindest, most-loving, good-hearted, sincere person I have ever known. I spent the day with her yesterday having lunch and helping with errands. She turned 85 last week, looks fabulous, and plays a mean piano heard in today's music from her church quartet! I grew up watching them perform countless songs in church, but this song is by far my favorite. I used to sneak to use her record player and listen to it over and over. Funny the things we do as kids.

My grandma has been by my side from day one. Always loving and supporting me no matter what. From my first steps as an infant to my first steps as a gay adult. Never a judgment. Never a harsh word. Only unconditional love and smiles taking the place of parents that can't or won't offer the same gift. Her "I love you" is special, different, heartfelt, sincere, and full. No one makes me feel better.

Broadway Monday

The Pirate QueenI have been holding back using a show involving my favorite Broadway star, Stephanie J. Block in a Broadway Monday for fear that I may incur eye-rolls and "of course"es. But, I can no longer ignore and shun one of the most beautiful shows I have seen, and I feel it would be negligent of me continue to hide the beautiful music from Boublil and Schonberg's The Pirate Queen any longer. So here goes!

This spectacular new musical adventure tells of a compelling, inspiring woman: a heroine who led an extraordinary life as a pirate, chieftain, lover and mother in 16th Century Ireland. Her quest to protect her people - and save her one true love - embarks her on a thrilling voyage that climaxes in a heated confrontation with the one woman more powerful than her... her fierce rival Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Celebrating the real-life story of legendary Irish Chieftain Grace O'Malley, The Pirate Queen combines classic storytelling and a sweeping score with the powerful, vibrant traditions of Irish dance and song, to create a new musical event and an epic romance. The Pirate Queen features an original score from the world renowned Tony Award®-winning team of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, direction by Tony Award-winner Frank Galati and a spectacular cast of 40 led by Stephanie J. Block, Hadley Fraser, Linda Balgord, Marcus Chait, Jeff McCarthy and William Youmans. We were fortunate enough to see two incarnations of this show. We traveled to Chicago to attend a preview during the out of town tryout, and then again in NYC May of 2007. The show changed a good bit between Chicago and New York, but all for the best. The story tightened up and clarifications were added that helped the storyline. I can't say it was the best story I have ever seen brought to the stage, but I will be hard pressed to find another show that is as beautiful in the departments of lighting, costumes and music. The recording still brings chills when I listen to it today.

I can't tell you how great it was to finally have Stephanie's beautiful voice resound through my car and home! The entire talented cast was spectacular and it afforded us the opportunity to be exposed to the wonderful Hadley Fraser and our friend Nick Adams.

Neuton..use your Neuton!

Please welcome the newest member of our green lawn maintenance family, Sasha's little brother, Neuton! After a season of killing ourselves, 1950's style, with a reel mower on the places Sasha can't reach, we finally decided to get this awesome cordless, electric powered mower that so gets top honors for cuteness and efficiency! Neuton is emissions-free, low-noise, and cute as a button! How many mowers do you know that leave little lizard tracks in their wake? It cuts like a D-R-E-A-M! The yard looks awesome after we turn this duo loose!
In case you haven't seen big sister Sasha's video today, here is an easy hookup! Enjoy!

pantie wars at the gun show

I just about dropped my teeth when I saw this link on the sidebar of a page I was reading:

Battle of the Biceps

This is our friend Nick who is currently starring in A Chorus Line, much to Mario's chagrin apparently. Let's just say that our boy Nick DOES have the better body! Mario is no slouch either, but if I had to choose it would be the beautiful smooth physique of one Nicholas Adams!

Mario and Nick in rehearsals
(I think we have a winner!)Woohoo Nick! Check out Nicks blog for all the backstory. This story has been highlighted in many magazines and newspapers as this little "competition" has been going on for about a month. I think it's awesome that Nick is grabbing headlines for his dynamite body. Hopefully along the way they will notice that he is an amazing dancer and a fantastic person.

May 2007, NYC

won't be registered at Wal Mart

After telling someone in conversation that we were going to LA soon, she asked me disgustedly, "You're not going out there to get married are you?" My immediate response was, in my opinion, the only thing I could say: "No, but what if we were?"

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me tell you that I have rarely seen such a display of what we here in the south call, crawfishin'. All of the sudden this person was all "Oh well I was going to say "You better tell me if you do!" in a fashion that would suggest that she had already bought a wedding gift.

Herein lies the problem with so called open-minded conservatives that want to keep one toe in the progressive/liberal pool (the vast majority of people living here): you can't pretend to embrace liberals and be open to change all the while listening to Brush Lintball and driving around town with a Rudy 08 sticker on your minivan. It will catch up with you eventually, and when it does you will feel just a stupid as you sound.

Wowee Wednesday

Lisa Marie Presley

Thank goodness eligibility for Wowee Wednesday does not hinge on one's choice of significant other. Were that the case, you would not be lucky enough to enjoy today's celebration. Let's face it. Lisa makes some not so good choices in the love department. Hence the four marriages.

So much for sanctity but, I digress. Today is for Wowees, and that's it.

There is no denying the fact that Elvis and Priscilla created a beautiful child! As Lisa Marie ages she looks more and more like her mom, but flashes of dad are ever-present when even a faint grin crosses her face. I think Elvis was adorable so that might be why I like Lisa so much. That and the fact that I tend to have a penchant for hot and brooding slightly-bad girls! I just never get tired of looking at her!

So go on...wow to her!

Wow, tell me who you see at 2:46

tomato crisis? what tomato crisis?

Does this little piece of news make it sound like the Republicans are itching to get rid of as much evidence as possible in order to feign dumb when the charges are levied against Bush and his cronies?

Of course Browning states the obvious that it would look pretty suspicious for him, a Republican, to get rid of the ballots, but I just fee like they are priming the pump. What do you think?

Broadway Monday

South Pacific

South Pacific is the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about the lives of U.S. military men, nurses and the residents of the Polynesian island they occupy during WW II. The 1949 musical—the first show that Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein produced as well as wrote—played to an estimated three and a half million people. It was the second-ever musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama.The cast album was the No. 1 album for sixty-nine consecutive weeks.

I picked South Pacific for this week's Broadway Monday for a few reasons. Those reasons being: the central story is pertinent even today as our nation finds itself in the grips of racial tension and war once again; although I am writing this a full 24 hours prior to the Tony Awards, I feel very confident that this revival will win so it should be featured; and the music from this show speaks for itself. Anytime an original cast makes it to the point of recording the music for the show, as a consumer there is a bit of crossing-your-fingers and hoping that the producers took the time, and made it good. No fear in South Pacific's case. This is an absolutely spectacular recording complete with rich, full orchestrations, and voices that send chills. I always knew the score was spectacular, but this version is totally wow. You may be surprised to find that you know a lot of the music yourself. Do yourself a favor and visit iTunes or Amazon for samples.

South Pacific is currently playing at the Lincoln Center Theatre.

what a way to make a livin'

Squeeeel! Got our tickets yesterday!

We're goin' to LA ya'll!

Hello. Does separation of church and state mean nothing? Is anyone else paying attention?

"Southern Baptists target political arena"

tap tap tap...is this thing on?

Wowee Wednesday

Gillian AndersonI do believe that I fell in love with Gillian Anderson the moment I saw her as Agent Dana Scully on the X-Files. It was also the moment I realized I was a dorky/nerdy boy inside as I joined legions of dorks and nerds who drool over the hot FBI agent who knows how to work a pantsuit.

Choosing Gillian as this week's Wowee puts me back on task as loving the tough, smart girl with a great voice. I'm beginning to be predictable, huh?

A second X-Files movie is coming in the near future, and I am already all a twitter!

Now THIS is called making a change!

Say what you want about Ikea, yes their stuff is cheap (sometimes it's quality cheap too) but mostly they have innovative ideas about products and styles. I for one an mesmerized when I enter a store. It's what it must feel like to smoke crack. That's it! It's affordable domestic decorating crack! I feel better now that I have named it.

Back on point...In March 2007, Ikea challenged their customers to use less plastic and encouraged them to "Bag the Plastic" cutting the plastic bag use to 50% in their stores. I was astounded to see that not only did they hit the goal, but obliterated it by reducing plastic bag use by 92%! WOW! Read the full press release here.

So, a polite tennis clap goes out to Ikea for the encouragement/forward thinking, and a huge Arsenio Hall salute to customers for heeding the call, looking ahead, and thinking about our planet. Now take a deep clean breath because through the details of this program, Ikea has planted over 725,000 trees to help reduce their carbon footprint.**IMHO, the only way we are going to solve this plastic bag situation effectively is to attack it like Ikea. Do not make the choice paper or plastic. The choice should be: #1 no bag, #2 remember to bring your own reusable bags, #3 pay for your bags ($.50 ea) or #4 schlep your stuff out to the car by hand and deal with the black bean cans rolling all over your floorboard and driveway and maybe then you'll remember your own bags next time! :) **

Broadway Monday

Taboo

Set in London in the 1980s, this show follows the decadent lives of Leigh Bowery and George O'Dowd (the future Boy George) and those who frequent the club Taboo.

Most of the show takes place in Taboo, the former location of what was once the city's hottest dance club. The show is based on the New Romantic scene of the 1980s; the life and career of colorful pop singing sensation Boy George, who rose to prominence in the '80s with his band Culture Club with such tunes as "Karma Chameleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?"; the performance artist Leigh Bowery, Boy George's friend Marilyn and club host Steve Strange from Visage. The show premiered in London at the newly opened Venue Theatre on January 29, 2002. Rosie O'Donnell was so enamoured with it that she decided to finance a Broadway production. After 16 previews, it opened on November 13, 2003 at the Plymouth Theatre where, hampered by mostly scathing reviews, it closed after 100 performances. The cast, included Boy George (credited under his real name, George O'Dowd), Euan Morton, Raul Esparza, Sarah Uriarte Berry, and Jeffrey Carlson. O'Donnell reportedly lost her entire $10 million investment in the project.

I didn't get to see this show before it closed, but I was able to secure a bootleg copy (shhh) and although the storyline was a bit odd, the talent of the cast and the beauty of the music is hard to ignore. The talented actor Euan Morton who plays Boy George, is a wonderful find as far as voices are concerned. wow.

This show is a classic example of Broadway politics and clicks. If it hadn't been trendy to hate Rosie, and New York liked Boy a bit more, we'd still be seeing this cult favorite shine. It did very well in London, but was shut down quickly in the States despite the resounding positive themes of individualism and acceptance.

Viva La Difference

Remarkable

I watched with sadness, and hope today as Hillary Clinton suspended her campaign to be the first female president.

I was so proud to hear her speak of the strides that have been made in the last year as she and Barack Obama sometimes slugged it out to the finish line. She has made me proud to be a supporter, a Democrat, and most of all to be a woman. As she said in her speech today,

"You can be so proud that, from now on, it will be unremarkable for a woman to win primary state victories, unremarkable to have a woman in a close race to be our nominee, unremarkable to think that a woman can be the President of the United States. And that is truly remarkable."

Well said.

I'm also proud to say that I am one of nearly 18 million little cracks made in the glass ceiling of politics.

If you missed this historic speech today, you can catch it in it's entirety here.

I think we can all agree that this has been a grueling primary season. These candidates have proved themselves in so many ways and their resilience and stamina is incredible and, I think, unheard of. My heart is, and has been with Hillary, but it is now time to focus on Barack as an incredible leader that will take the helm in January. I am excited to finally have a candidate to focus on for the general election. I'm also excited that we have such a strong candidate in Barack Obama.

By now, you've no doubt figured out that I love music. One of my most favorite things of the day is picking out a song for my post. It may be pertinent to the topic. It may not. It might make a light bulb moment happen. It might leave you scratching your head. Either way makes no difference to me. I'm fully aware that I may be the only one to get the joke or meaning, and that's okay. I just love that music can yank on our emotions be that up or down.

While picking today's music, I ran over "The Wings". It's the main theme from "Brokeback Mountain" IMHO, it is one of the saddest pieces of music I have ever heard. If you haven't seen the movie, it may not have this effect on you. If you have seen the movie, then your chest may very well be as heavy as mine is right now.
Incredible.

Putumayo World Music

If you have a hankering for music from different parts of the world, or a penchant for the beat of a different drummer, then the Putumayo World Music is what you need! I have lost count of the number of CD's I have from this company. You name the country and style, Putumayo has a collection for you!
Here is a little introduction to Putumayo and the many sights and sounds they offer! Enjoy!


Putumayo World Music - EPK from Putumayo World Music on Vimeo.

Wowee Wednesday

Sheryl Crow

Oh Sheryl Crow...I've loved you for years now. It seems that you just keep getting better and better. Your songs hit the mark everytime and your talent cannot be denied. I'm just so glad we have such a talented woman in the oft ditsy music industry. You never fail to restore my faith in American musical talent.

I had the giddy pleasure of seeing her at the Roxy in Atlanta a few years ago and WHAT A TREAT! Small theatre, balcony seats, what more could a girl ask for?A woman after my own heart!