Showing posts with label SLC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SLC. Show all posts

Friday, March 6, 2020

Dear Evan Hansen at the Eccles

I really wanted to see Dear Evan Hansen so, even though I knew it was coming to the Eccles Theatre this season, I decided that I didn't want to wait that long and took a road trip to Las Vegas to see it at the Smith Center last year.  I thought the message that you are not alone was extremely powerful and I fell in love with the music.  I couldn't wait to see it again!  I had the chance last night and I loved it just as much!  Evan Hansen (Stephen Christopher Anthony) suffers from anxiety and feels insignificant and all alone ("Waving Through a Window").  Heidi (Jessica E. Sherman), his busy single mother, doesn't know what to do to help him ("Anybody Have a Map?").  His one friend, Jared (Alessandro Costantini), is only nice to him so his parents will pay for his car insurance and he is too scared to talk to Zoe (Stephanie La Rochelle), the girl he likes.  His therapist encourages him to write letters to himself to build his self confidence but Connor (Noah Kieserman), a deeply troubled young man, intercepts one of his letters from the printer because it mentions his sister Zoe.  When Connor takes his own life, his parents, Cynthia (Claire Rankin) and Larry (John Hemphill), find the letter and, assuming it is a suicide note written to Evan, reach out to him.  To comfort them, he pretends that he and Connor were friends ("For Forever").  When Cynthia and Larry press for more information, Evan asks Jared to create a history of emails between him and Connor ("Sincerely, Me").  Larry and Zoe struggle to reconcile Evan's version of Connor with the difficult son and brother they knew ("Requiem").  Zoe tells Evan that the only nice thing Connor ever said to her was in his suicide note, which Evan wrote ("If I Could Tell Her").  Alana (Ciara Alyse Harris), another lonely student at school, wants Evan to do more to keep Connor's memory alive ("Disappear") so they create The Connor Project.  Evan gives a heartfelt speech about loneliness ("You Will Be Found") at a memorial assembly for Connor and it goes viral.  He begins a relationship with Zoe ("Only Us") and bonds with her family ("To Break in a Glove") to the exclusion of Emily, Jared, and Alana ("Good For You").  When the truth is finally revealed ("Words Fail"), Evan realizes that he was never really alone ("So Big/ So Small").  Evan was played by the same actor that I saw in Las Vegas and I found him to be incredibly endearing.  His portrayal of a boy who doesn't feel like he fits in made me laugh and cry.  My favorite song from this show has always been "You Will Be Found" but last night I was particularly struck by "Waving through a Window" because I think we have all felt like outsiders at one time or another and the words to this song are so poignant.  I really like the use of social media, which is depicted on large moving panels, because, even though the world seems increasingly connected, so many people struggle to find a connection.  I love this musical so much and I highly recommend seeing it if you have the opportunity.  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through March 14 (go here for tickets).

Friday, January 24, 2020

Fiddler on the Roof at the Eccles

I have always been a really big fan of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.  I have seen it dozens of times and I even got to play Fruma-Sarah in a production so I was thrilled when the show had a revival on Broadway because I knew that the touring production would eventually come to SLC.  I had the chance to see it last night and it was just delightful!  Tevye (Yehezkel Lazarov) is a poor Jewish dairyman living in the small Russian village of Anatevka.  He clings to his traditional way of life as a protection from the harsh realities of life but his three oldest daughters push against tradition when it comes time to find a match.  As I sat in my seat at the Eccles Theatre I anticipated every single musical number with a huge smile on my face:  "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man," "Sabbath Prayer," "To Life," "Sunrise, Sunset," "Do You Love Me," "Far From the Home I Love," "Chavaleh," and "Anatevka,"  It was really hard for me not to sing along because I know every word.  I really liked this production because the sets are very simple and stark and use a lot of weathered wood.  It seemed very appropriate considering the harsh conditions of Russia and it really helped to set the mood.  I also really liked the monochromatic costumes which also served the same purpose.  What made this production seem very fresh and new was the choreography.  I especially enjoyed the staging of "To Life" because the slow-motion dancing as the Jews begin to interact with the Russian villagers is very dramatic.  I also really enjoyed the bottle dance during the wedding (I even liked the fact that one of the dancers dropped his bottle because it made it seem so much more authentic) because it is incredibly athletic (the main dancer could kick his legs so high)!  The entire cast is outstanding but I especially enjoyed Lazarov's interpretation of Tevye because he is almost sarcastic in his delivery.  I laughed out loud when he tried to kiss Golde (Maite Uzal) during "Do You Love Me" and it was heartbreaking to see his anguish during "Chavaleh."  I also really enjoyed Nick Siccone as Motel the tailor, especially when he hides under the wagon when talking to Tevye.  This was such a fun evening for me!  I always love seeing the old classics from my youth because they are the shows that turned me into a fan of musical theatre.  I recommend this production (go here for tickets) because it is sure to put a smile on your face.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Play That Goes Wrong at PTC

Last night I went to see the madcap comedy The Play That Goes Wrong at Pioneer Theatre and I don't remember when I have laughed so much!  The titular play is Susie H. K. Brideswell's The Murder at Haversham Manor and it is being performed by the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society.  The cast consists of Maxwell Benjamin Chesterwitz (Jordan Sobel) as Cecil Haversham/ Arthur the Gardener, Chris Daniels (William Connell) as Inspector Carter, Jonathan Harris (Brandon Contreras) as Charles Haversham, Robert John Parry III (Greg Balla) as Thomas Colleymoore, Dennis Timbertop (Eric Santagata) as Perkins the Butler, and Sandra Wilkinson (Ruth Pferdehirt) as Florence Colleymoore.  It is directed by Chris Daniels with Set Design, Costume Design, and Hair Design by Chris Daniels.  The Fight Choreographer is Chris Daniels, the Stage Manger is Annie Macdonald (Kirsten Wyatt) and the Sound and Lighting Technician is Trevor Santos (Archelaus Crisanto).  Literally everything that can go wrong does go wrong with this play including a set that is slowly falling apart, misplaced and malfunctioning props, a sound designer who keeps playing Duran Duran instead of the real sound cues, a missing dog, an actor playing a dead body who can't stay still, an actor who can't remember his lines, and a leading lady who is injured and must be replaced by her unprepared understudy.  The script is absolutely hilarious but it is also extremely clever with references that theatre people will definitely enjoy (be sure to read the playbill for The Murder at Haversham Manor within the playbill for The Play That Goes Wrong).  The entire cast is outstanding with brilliant comedic timing.  The physical comedy will make you laugh out loud!  My favorite scenes involved a drawn out fight between Sandra and her understudy for the chance to play Florence, when Thomas and Cecil break their swords and have to finish their duel with their arms, and when Perkins must finish the show handcuffed to a chaise lounge because the prop keys have been lost.  The set is fantastic because it falls apart so spectacularly, especially the study!  I don't think I stopped laughing through the entire show (I was even laughing before it started because the technical crew was searching the audience frantically for the missing dog).  This is a production that everyone will enjoy and I highly recommend it for a fun night out!  It runs at PTC through December 21 (go here for tickets).

Note:  This play makes references to Duran Duran and Hamlet so it was basically written for me!

Saturday, December 7, 2019

A Broadway Christmas with Ashley Brown

Last night I braved the downtown traffic to see an absolutely delightful Christmas concert with the Utah Symphony, the choristers of the Madeleine School Choir, and Broadway star Ashley Brown.  I really love hearing Christmas music performed live so I have been looking forward to this concert for a long time and it definitely filled me with Christmas cheer (after the hassle of getting to Abravanel Hall).  The orchestra was under the baton of guest conductor and amusing master of ceremonies, Michael Krajewski, and they began with a festive version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and then "Christmas Day," a lovely arrangement of several traditional carols by Gustav Holst.  The choristers of the Madeleine School Choir sang "All Is Well" by Michael W. Smith and their voices were beautiful!  Ashley Brown, who originated the role of Mary Poppins on Broadway, joined the orchestra for "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and "Winter Wonderland."  The choristers then performed a medley of Hanukkah songs, including "The Dreidel Song" which I sang when I was in choir!  Brown returned to the stage for a dramatic rendition of "I Wonder as I Wander."  To close the first half of the concert she performed my very favorite Christmas song!  It isn't officially Christmas until I hear "O Holy Night" performed live and Brown basically blew the roof off Abravanel Hall with her version!  I loved it!  After the intermission, the orchestra played a rock and roll version of "The Skater's Waltz" which was a lot of fun.  Brown sang an interesting arrangement of "Jingle Bells" and then Krajewski dramatically demonstrated the proper technique for playing the whip and joined the orchestra for "Sleigh Ride."  The audience gave him a standing ovation with repeated calls for an encore!  It was hilarious!  Next, Brown and the choristers performed a medley featuring "Ding Dong Merrily On High," "Silent Night," "Angels We Have Heard On High," and "Joy to the World."  She concluded the concert with what she called a medley of Christmas songs that people love to hate because they are played on the radio so often.  This included "All I Want For Christmas Is You," "Happy X-mas (War Is Over)," and "Feliz Navidad."  I loved this concert and I recommend getting a ticket for tonight's performance of the same program (go here) but give yourself plenty of time to drive in the crazy holiday traffic!

Friday, December 6, 2019

A Christmas Story at the Eccles

I love the movie A Christmas Story so much!  I actually remember seeing it in the theater when it was first released and since then I have probably seen it at least 812 times.  My sister and I like to watch it continuously on Christmas Eve in our separate houses and quote all of the lines to each other over social media ("It...it was...soap poisoning").  Because I love the movie so much, I was a little bit wary when I heard that the musical version was coming to the Eccles Theatre.  I am not a fan of turning popular movies into musicals but, even though the songs are incredibly contrived, I found the show last night to be really delightful.  Ralphie (Ian Shaw) desperately wants an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time for Christmas but his Mother (Briana Gantsweg), the Old Man (Christopher Swan), his teacher Miss Shields (Lauren Kent), and even Santa Claus (Daniel Mark Smith) himself tell him that he'll shoot his eye out!  All of the fun scenes from the movie are brought to life on the stage including when Randy (John Mahanna) eats like a piggy, when Schwartz (Seth Black Diamond) triple dog dares Flick (Jay Hendrix) to stick his tongue to the flag pole, when the Old Man wins a major award, when Ralphie says the F-dash-dash-dash word while helping his father change a tire, when Ralphie gets into a fight with Scut Farkus (Ty Huffman), when Ralphie gets a certain bunny costume from Aunt Clara, and when the Bumpus Hounds (played by Hoss and Stella) eat the turkey forcing the Parkers to eat Christmas dinner at the Chop Suey Palace!  While I didn't find the songs to be particularly memorable, I did really enjoy the staging and the young cast is extremely talented.  I especially enjoyed the choreography for "Ralphie to the Rescue!" and the fabulous tap dancing in "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out."  Shaw gives an earnest and heartfelt performance as Ralphie and Mahanna (the understudy) is absolutely hilarious as Randy but, in my opinion, the actors who steal the show are Hoss and Stella when they chase the Old Man around and when they break in to eat the turkey (they got the loudest applause).  This is not the best musical I have ever seen but I certainly had a lot of fun watching it and got a big dose of Christmas cheer!  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through Dec. 8 (go here for tickets).

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Balanchine's Ballets Russes

I usually prefer seeing full-length ballets rather than a grouping of one-acts but my friend convinced me to see Ballet West's production of Jewels last season and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to see Balanchine's Ballets Russes last night.  I am glad that I did because it was wonderful.  This production features three of George Balanchine's earliest works as a choreographer when he was under the tutelage of Sergei Diaghilev in Paris while a member of the famed company Les Ballets Russes.  The first piece is Le Chant du Rossignol (The Song of the Nightingale) which tells the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about a Nightingale (Sayaka Ohtaki) who saves an ailing Chinese Emperor (Christopher Sellars) from Death (Katlyn Addison) and features music from Igor Stravinsky.   The sets and costumes for this ballet are recreations from the originals by Henri Matisse and I found them to be very striking.  I liked the athleticism of the choreography for the Warriors, Chamberlains, and Mandarins. Both Ohtaki and Addison (one of my favorites in the company) danced their roles beautifully.  The next piece is Apollo and it was definitely my favorite of the evening.  This ballet depicts the birth of the Greek god Apollo, his interactions with the Muses of poetry (Calliope), mime (Polyhymnia), and dance (Terpsichore), and his ultimate ascension to Mount Parnassus.  The choreography is very elegant and I especially enjoyed the innovative patterns and shapes created when Apollo (Chase O'Connell) dances with Calliope (Emily Neale), Polyhymnia (Chelsea Keefer), and Terpsichore (Beckanne Sisk).  I was particularly struck by how well the choreography interprets each particular Muse (my favorite was Polyhymnia).  I liked the simple costumes and the stark set with just a staircase representing Mount Parnassus.  Stravinsky's music for this ballet is incredibly beautiful and I was very moved by it.  The final piece is Prodigal Son, based on the parable from the Bible, and it is very dramatic.  The Prodigal (Christopher Sellars) is a rebellious young man who leaves his home only to be seduced by a Siren (Allison DeBona) and robbed by her followers.  Wretched and alone, he returns home and is forgiven by his father (Trevor Naumann) and sisters (Lillian Casscells and Victoria Vassos).  The costumes and set for this ballet are recreations of the originals by the expressionist artist Georges Rouault and, once again, I thought they were quite striking.  The choreography between the Prodigal and the Siren is frenzied and provocative but the final scene of forgiveness between him and his family is quite affecting.  I enjoyed hearing the music of Prokofiev, who wrote the score for this ballet, for the second night in a row!  After this production, as well as Jewels last season, it looks like I am becoming a fan of the one-act ballet!  Balanchine's Ballets Russes is an evening of three compelling ballets that is not to be missed!  Go here for tickets.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Miss Saigon at the Eccles

After I was able to see Les Miserables in London on a study abroad trip, Miss Saigon went to the top of the list of musicals I most wanted to see.  I finally had the opportunity to see it when the Broadway touring production came to SLC several years later and, while I absolutely loved the show, I was a little bit disappointed.  The Capitol Theatre stage couldn't accommodate the helicopter used in the fall of Saigon so a hologram was used instead.  I have always wanted to see the actual helicopter and I got my wish last night when a new production came to the Eccles Theatre.  This musical is based on Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly but it is set in Vietnam near the end of the war.  Kim (Emily Bautista) is a recently orphaned young girl who comes to Saigon from a rural village to be a bargirl at Dreamland, a brothel owned by the Engineer (Red Concepcion).  A U.S. Marine named Chris (Anthony Festa) is disillusioned by the war and is captivated by Kim's innocence.  The Engineer arranges for him to spend the night with Kim and they fall in love and begin a relationship.  Kim's cousin Thuy (Jinwoo Jung), to whom she was betrothed, has become an officer in the North Vietnamese Army and comes to Saigon to take her back home.  She refuses, believing Chris's promise that he will take her with him when he returns home, but he inadvertently leaves her behind in the chaos at the end of the war.  Three years later, the Engineer is in a reeducation camp but is asked by Thuy, now a commissar in the new Communist government, to find Kim.  When the Engineer finds her, Thuy is horrified to find out that Kim has had a son with Chris and tries to kill the boy.  Kim kills Thuy instead to save her son and turns to the Engineer for help.   He ultimately decides to help her because he believes that her son is his ticket to America and the three of them flee to Bangkok.  When Chris, who is now married to Ellen (Ellie Fishman), learns of his son's existence he travels to Bangkok to see him.  Kim believes that Chris is finally coming back to get her but, when she learns that he is married, she makes the ultimate sacrifice and begs him to take the boy with him.  The music in this show is incredibly beautiful and emotional and the principals all have amazing voices!  I especially loved "The Last Night of the World," "Too Much for One Heart," and "The American Dream."  Bautista's powerful rendition of "I'd Give My Life for You" made me cry (and I was not alone).  I loved the dramatic staging for "The Morning of the Dragon" and "Fall of Saigon." The helicopter is only on stage for a few minutes but it is absolutely spectacular and gave me goosebumps.  I loved this revival and I highly recommend it with the proviso that "The Heat is On in Saigon" and "What a Waste" are a bit raunchy (a couple sitting near me left after "The Heat is On in Saigon" which is the first number in the show).  It runs at the Eccles until October 20 (go here for tickets).

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Utah Opera's La Traviata

Last night I was able to attend opening night for Utah Opera's production of Verdi's tragic masterpiece, La Traviata, and it was a magnificent performance!  Violetta Valery (Anya Mantanovic) is a beautiful and glamorous courtesan who lives only for pleasure.  Even though she is suffering from consumption, she hosts a lavish party at her home and encourages her guests to sing a wild drinking song.  When she grows too tired to dance, a young man named Alfredo Germont (Rafael Moras) stays behind and declares his love for her.  She resists him because she likes her simple life of pleasure.  However, when he leaves she realizes that she is in love with him.  They leave Paris and live happily together until Alfredo's father Germont (Michael Chioldi) comes to ask Violetta to leave Alfredo because their relationship is scandalizing the family and ruining his daughter's prospects for marriage.  Violetta tearfully agrees to sacrifice her love for the sake of Alfredo and returns to Paris.  She attends a masquerade ball hosted by her friend Flora (Quinn Middleman) with one of her former patrons, Baron Douphol (Christopher Holmes).  When Alfredo sees her with the Baron, he treats her with such contempt that his father tells him of her sacrifice.  Later, Alfredo begs Violetta to forgive him and she dies in his arms.  I loved everything about this production!  The music in this opera is very well known and the three leads sing their roles brilliantly.  Mantanovic is incredibly passionate as Violetta in Act 1, especially in the aria, "Sempre Libera," and tragic in Act 3 when she sings "Addio, del passato bei sogni rrdenti."  Moras has such a beautiful voice and I enjoyed his interpretation of the impetuous Alfredo.  His version of "Libiamo ne' lieti calici" is incredibly stirring.  I was also very impressed with Chioldi because his rendition of "Di Provenza il mar" gave me goosebumps!  The chorus is also outstanding, especially at the end of Act 2 when they denounce Alfredo for his treatment of Violetta ("Di donne ignobile insultatore").  As always, the sets and costumes are wonderful and I especially liked the juxtaposition between the opulence of Violetta's Paris home with the more modest villa she shares with Alfredo in the country.  Another aspect of this particular production that I enjoyed was the collaboration with the Ririe Woodbury Dance Company.  Members of this company (Dominica Greene, Nicholas Jurica, Megan McCarthy, Brian Nelson, Bashaun Williams, and Melissa Rochelle Younker) perform a waltz during Violetta's party and the gypsy and matador dances at Flora's masquerade and these dances are exquisite.  Even if you are not a big fan of opera you are sure to recognize many of the arias in La Traviata and I highly recommend seeing Utah Opera's production!  It runs at the newly renovated Capitol Theatre through October 20 (go here for tickets).

Saturday, August 17, 2019

The Book of Mormon at the Eccles

I saw the Broadway touring production of the musical The Book of Mormon when it first came through Salt Lake City in 2015 and the excitement and energy in the crowd was palpable!  The audience laughed out loud, cheered, and even gave a standing ovation after the song "Sal Tlay Ka Siti" (which is in the middle of the show!).  It was one of the most memorable theatre experiences that I have ever had so, of course, I wanted to see it again during its return visit to SLC.  After a busy week back at school, seeing The Book of Mormon last night was so much fun!  After spending some time at the Missionary Training Center learning how to preach the gospel around the world ("Hello"), Elder Price (Liam Tobin) and Elder Cunningham (Jacob Ben-Shmuel) are called to serve in a remote village in Uganda.  Elder Price is very disappointed in the location because he wanted to go Orlando, the most wonderful and magical place on Earth, and in his companion because Elder Cunningham has a tendency to lie to compensate for his low self-esteem but he realizes that he will be a great missionary no matter the circumstances ("You and Me But Mostly Me").  When they meet their fellow missionaries in Africa, they get some advice about dealing with any unusual feelings they might be having ("Turn It Off").  The elders begin teaching ("An American Prophet") but the villagers are more concerned with poverty, famine, AIDs, and a violent overlord than in hearing their message.  However, Nabulungi (Alyah Chenelle Scott), the chief's daughter, is interested because she is hoping to leave Africa and go to paradise ("Sal Tlay Ka Siti").  Elder Price becomes discouraged because Uganda is nothing like The Lion King and decides to go home leaving Elder Cunningham, who has never actually read the Book of Mormon because it is so boring, to teach Nabulungi ("Man Up").  He begins embellishing the message with references to Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Lord of the Rings ("Making Things Up Again") and, after he baptizes Nabulungi ("Baptize Me"), he converts the rest of the village.  Meanwhile, Elder Cunningham decides to return after having a dream about being in Hell with Jeffrey Dahmer, Genghis Khan, Hitler, and people who drink Starbucks coffee ("Spooky Mormon Hell Dream").  They eventually get in trouble for their false teachings but they realize that they have made the lives of the villagers better and decide to stay in Africa ("Tomorrow is a Latter Day").  It is absolutely hilarious and I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes, as did everyone sitting around me.  My favorite number is "Turn It Off" because I love the choreography and Andy Huntington Jones is fabulous as Elder McKinley, a missionary trying to pretend that he is not gay!  There is quite a bit of profanity and some might be offended by the content but if you understand going in that it is a satire, this show is a lot of fun.  It runs at the Eccles Theatre until August 25 (go here for tickets).

Note:  The cast has mentioned how much fun this show is to perform in Salt Lake City.  They get reactions here that they don't get in other cities, especially during "Sal Tlay Ka Siti," and it sometimes throws them off!

Friday, June 28, 2019

RENT at the Eccles

I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a RENThead but I absolutely love the musical RENT and I have seen it many times (when PTC produced it several years ago I saw it three times during the run).  Last night I went with my sister Kristine to see the 20th Anniversary Tour at the Eccles Theatre and it was one of the best productions of this show that I have seen!  This musical is a modern version of Puccini's La Boheme, which is one of my favorite operas, and it tells the story of one year in the life of Mark Cohen (Logan Marks), an aspiring filmmaker, and Roger Davis (Joshua Bess), a musician, and a group of their friends as they try to stay true to their art, find love, struggle to pay their rent, and deal with the devastation of HIV/ AIDS.  The story about living every day to the fullest is incredibly powerful and the music is fabulous.  I judge every production by the actor playing Roger (I listen to the Original Broadway Cast recording over and over because I love Adam Pascal, who originated the role) and I really liked Bess.  His characterization of Roger was very different from what I've seen before but I liked it and his voice was amazing.  As soon as he started singing "One Song Glory," I was enthralled by his performance.  I also loved his version of "Your Eyes" and, while Deri'andra Tucker was not the strongest Mimi I've ever seen, their version of "Without You" brought tears to my eyes.  The rest of the cast was also incredibly strong and I especially enjoyed Lyndie Moe, as Maureen, and Lencia Kebede, as Joanne, when they sang "Take Me or Leave Me" and Devinre Adams, as Tom, when he sang the reprise of "I'll Cover You."  Javon King, as Angel, absolutely stole the show with his rendition of "Today 4 U" and I really loved his dancing (in high heels).  I'm so glad that I got to see this fabulous production.  RENT runs at the Eccles Theatre through Sunday and I highly recommend it (go here for tickets) with the proviso that it has very mature content (some people left at intermission).

Note:  I have my students read at the beginning of every class period.  One day a student asked me how long we were going to read and I answered by singing "Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes" from "Seasons of Love."  Most of the students looked at me as if I had lost my mind (a common occurrence) but the theatre kids all recognized it!

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Grease at PTC

When I saw the Broadway touring production of Grease a number of years ago, I have to admit that I was really disappointed because the stage musical is so different from the iconic movie.  I love the movie (I have seen it more times than I can count, even on the big screen) so I just couldn't help but compare it, often unfavorably, to the musical.  I wondered if I would have the same reaction to PTC's current production last night.  Unfortunately, despite great performances from a talented cast and really fun choreography, it just fell flat for me.  I couldn't turn off the voice inside my head which kept pointing out the differences from the movie (I had a similar reaction to the stage version of The Sound of Music).  Like the movie, Rydell High School during the 1950s is the setting for the romance between bad boy Danny Zuko (Pascal Pastrana) and good girl Sandy Dumbrowski (Emma Hearn), but, unlike the movie, the characters hardly spend any time together before the big finale.  Danny has more scenes with Patty Simcox (Lindsie Kongsore) and Betty Rizzo (Alex Kidder) than with Sandy and she doesn't even go to the sock hop where he wins the dance competition with Cha-Cha DiGregorio (Ashley Marinelli).  Many of the songs in this version are different from the movie.  It was very jarring to me when I would anticipate a particular scene and a different song would be performed such as "Rydell Alma Mater" at the beginning of the show, "Freddy, My Love" during the sleepover, "Alone at the Drive-In Movie" when Sandy walks out on him, and "All Choked Up" when Sandy's transformation is revealed.  All of these songs are performed very well but I was expecting to hear "Grease," "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee" (which is performed in a different scene), "Sandy," and "You're the One That I Want" (which is added after the bows).  The song "Mooning" is a lot of fun but I didn't really care about the romance between Roger (Michael Schimmele) and Jan (Kate Cassidy Ryan) and "Shakin' at the High School Hop" and "Rock and Roll Party Queen" go on for too long making the second act really drag.  Also, I didn't really care for how "Beauty School Drop-Out" is staged because it is very incongruous and played merely for laughs.  Having said that, I loved "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin'," and "Born to Hand Jive" because they are staged very much like in the movie!  To be fair, the actors do a great job with the material and the sets and costumes evoke a fun nostalgic vibe, especially The Burger Palace.  Most people will really enjoy this production which runs through May 25 (go here for tickets).  I think I will just stick to the movie from now on.

Note:  This is truly petty but it even bothered me that Rydell's colors are blue and yellow in this show because they are red and white in the movie!

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Snow Patrol at The Depot

I love the band Snow Patrol!  I have been a fan for a really long time and I try to see them whenever they come to town.  The last time they came to SLC was, however, quite a while ago.  Last summer they released a new album called Wildness and I absolutely love it.  It is one of those rare albums where I love every single song and I play the whole thing on repeat, especially on long road trips.  I really hoped that Snow Patrol would tour with this album and I was cautiously optimistic when they started playing dates in Europe and around the world.  I was thrilled when they announced a U.S. tour and I got a ticket for the SLC show before they even went on sale!  The show was last night and I was able to join my friends Bobby and Esther (ironically I met Esther for the first time the last time Snow Patrol was in SLC).  They played quite a few songs from the new album, including "Empress," "Don't Give In," "Life on Earth" (which is my favorite from the album), "Heal Me," and "What If This Is All the Love You Ever Get?"  They played my very favorite song, "Run," in the middle of their set and Gary Lightbody dedicated it to their two opening acts, Ryan McMullan and Billie Marten, and joked that the song was older than they are!  He also joked about all of the phones during the song and that he would watch all of the videos on social media later and hear all of his mistakes.  I loved it and I didn't hear any mistakes!  They played a nice variety of their earlier hits, including "Chocolate," "Take Back the City," "Crack the Shutters," "Open Your Eyes," "Set the Fire to the Third Bar" (which they rarely play live), "Make This Go On Forever," "Shut Your Eyes," "Called Out in the Dark," "The Lightning Strike," "Chasing Cars," and "You're All I Have."  They ended the evening with "Just Say Yes" which is one of their most upbeat songs and it got the crowd jumping.  They had some great lighting effects and video projections like you would see at an arena show, particularly with "Life on Earth" and "The Lightning Strike," but their performance felt intimate and Lightbody was very engaging with the crowd.  I really love Lightbody's voice (it is so haunting) but I also find him to be strangely appealing in a slightly nerdy and spastic sort of way.  It was a fantastic show!  I loved seeing them again and it was so much fun to hang out with Bobby and Esther!

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Rachmaninoff & Shostakovich

As a card carrying Russophile (I absolutely love Russia and have been there twice), I have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time!  Not only did I get to see Ballet West's production of Onegin on Friday night but I also got to see a Utah Symphony concert featuring the works of Rachmaninoff (my favorite) and Shostakovich last night!  I loved both the ballet and the concert so much!  The orchestra began with Dances of Galanta by Zoltan Kodaly.  I was unfamiliar with this piece but I really enjoyed the Hungarian folk music heard throughout and I loved the themes played by the woodwinds.  Next the orchestra continued with Concerto No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra by Sergei Rachmaninoff.  I love this piece so much, especially the second movement which is incredibly romantic and emotional but tinged with just a bit of melancholy.  Soloist Simon Trpceski played it brilliantly with a lot of expression.  He was so energetic and fun to watch!  He literally bounced up and down on the piano bench and his fingers seemed to fly up and down the keyboard.  The concert concluded with a powerful rendition of Symphony No. 12 by Dmitri Shostakovich.  This piece is quite dramatic and I really loved the themes played by the brass and the timpani, especially the triumphant conclusion.  It was an amazing evening of music and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Ballet West's Onegin

Even though I studied British literature in college, I have a great passion for Russian literature and Alexander Pushkin is one of my favorite Russian authors.  I would have to say that The Captain's Daughter is my favorite piece by Pushkin but Eugene Onegin would definitely be a close second.  I love the opera based on the novel with music by Tchaikovsky (I wish Utah Opera would program it again) so I have been looking forward to Ballet West's production of Onegin since they announced their season.  I was lucky enough to see it last night and it was absolutely glorious!  I loved everything about it including the story, the music, the choreography, the performances, the sets, and the costumes.  A young girl named Tatiana (Katie Critchlow) is preparing for a ball in honor of her birthday with her mother (Emily Adams), her sister Olga (Jenna Rae Herrera), and friends from the countryside.  Lensky (Joshua Shutkind), a poet engaged to Olga, arrives with Onegin (Adrian Fry), his friend from St. Petersburg.  Onegin is worldly and sophisticated and Tatiana falls desperately in love with him.  She impetuously writes a passionate letter declaring her love to him and has her nurse deliver it.  Prince Gremin (Dominic Ballard) attends the ball and falls in love with Tatiana but she ignores him in favor of Onegin who, thinking her a silly girl who has read too many romantic novels, rejects her and tears up her letter.  Onegin soon grows bored with the company and flirts outrageously with Olga.  Lensky challenges him to a duel and Onegin ends up killing him.  Years later a disillusioned Onegin visits Prince Gremin in St. Petersburg and is shocked to discover that his friend has married Tatiana.  He realizes that he is in love with the beautiful princess and writes her a letter.  In a reversal in fortune, she rejects him and tears up his letter.  The magnificent music by Tchaikovsky is the perfect backdrop for this tragic love story.  It isn't as well known as some of his other more iconic scores but it is no less dramatic and passionate.  I especially loved the music during the duel because it is so heartbreaking.  The choreography is incredibly innovative.  I enjoyed the wild abandon of the folk dances in the countryside, particularly the leaps across the stage by the women in the ensemble, juxtaposed with the elegant and stately waltzes at the ball in St. Petersburg.  I was blown away by the tumultuous and acrobatic final Pas de Deux between Onegin and Tatiana.  Critchlow and Fry danced their roles brilliantly, executing some of the trickiest throws and maneuvers I've ever seen with such emotion!  The elegant sets and beautiful costumes in muted jewel tones transport the audience to imperial Russia for a few hours and it is a journey that I definitely recommend taking!  There are two more performances today at the Eccles Theatre (go here for tickets and more information).

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Sweat at PTC

Last night I went to see Sweat, the latest production at PTC which chronicles the demise of the industrial town of Reading, Pennsylvania when the once enviable jobs at factories are outsourced.  I didn't know anything about this play when I walked into the theater but I found it to be incredibly compelling.  The action takes place at a working class bar frequented by Tracey (Margot White), Jessie (Susanna Florence), and Cynthia (Nafeesa Monroe) who work the line at a local manufacturing plant.  Cynthia's estranged husband Brucie (Vince McGill) wanders in and out with a cautionary tale about how he lost his job at another factory when management wanted to cut costs and shut the workers out when the union took a hard line.  Stan (Christopher Duvall), a former factory worker severely injured on the job, is the bartender who lends a sympathetic ear.  Oscar (Xavier Reyes), the barback who is viewed as an immigrant because he is Hispanic, is trying to find a better job.  When Cynthia is given a promotion from the line to low-level management, Tracey, who also applied for the job, believes it is because Cynthia is African-American and she blames her when the factory wants to cut salaries and benefits and then locks them out.  Jason (Callum Adams) and Chris (Hassiem Muhammad), the sons of Tracey and Cynthia, respecively, who also work at the factory, blame Oscar when he crosses the picket line to take a job at the factory leading to tragedy.  What I found so interesting about this story is that the audience is clearly meant to sympathize with the workers who have given more than twenty years of their lives to a company that only cares about the bottom line but playwright Lynn Nottage also wants her protagonists to be held accountable for lashing out at the wrong people (Hispanics and African-Americans) instead of blaming corporate America.  This production is so well done and the ensemble cast is outstanding.  Every single character elicits sympathy and understanding even when expressing opposing viewpoints.  Almost all of the action takes place in one location and the choreography moving the characters in and out of the bar is very innovative.  The bar itself is fabulous with so much detail (I loved all of the sports pennants and neon signs for local beers).  I really enjoyed this production but it should be noted that there is an excessive amount of profanity (many people around me left at intermission) and there were several racial slurs that really upset me.  Sweat runs at PTC through April 13 (tickets may be purchased here).

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Fun at the Jazz Game

Tashena and I have been trying to get together for a Jazz game since January but with one thing or another we couldn't find a time that worked for both of us (she is so busy).  Since the regular season is ending soon (the Jazz have clinched a spot in the playoffs) I decided that I better get my act together and make it happen.  We went to the game last night and watched the Jazz play the Washington Wizards.  We always get to the arena early so that I can buy Tashena a shirt (this is tradition) and so we can get something to eat.  Because of the remodel of the Vivint arena there are so many great choices for dinner but I am partial to Hires (even though it is so expensive).  When the game started I mentioned to Tashena that I hoped the Jazz would win.  She answered, "Umm.  They're playing the Wizards!"  Apparently the Wizards don't have a very good record but they definitely gave the Jazz a run for their money and took the game to the final seconds which was a bit tense.  Tashena really likes Donovan Mitchell (whom she refers to as her husband) and he got an amazing breakaway to dramatically dunk the ball.  About halfway down the court he looked to see if anyone was close to him and got the biggest grin on his face when he saw that there wasn't!  Mitchell ended the night with 35 points to lead the Jazz to a 128-124 victory.  It was a great game but, honestly, I had such a good time just being with Tashena.  I haven't spent much time with her lately and I think we spent more time talking and laughing than we did watching the game.  She told me that I was embarrassing her about twenty times (mission accomplished), made fun of me for cheering every time Kyle Korver had the ball, and had me set up a Snapchat account so she could send me funny pictures!  It was such a fun night!  After the game she told me how glad she was that we were able to go!  I feel the same way!

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2

I am now officially on spring break (such as it is) and I can think of no better way to begin the long weekend than by hearing Rachmaninoff performed by the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall.  The concert last night was an incredible experience and it took away all of the stresses of the preceding week (the end of the term is always difficult).  The orchestra began with a piece called Play by Andrew Norman.  The composer was there to introduce it and he called it a journey from chaos, where the instruments compete with each other rather jarringly, to peace in which the instruments cooperate with each other in harmony.  The percussion instruments control all of the other instruments and seem to turn them on and off at various times.  Norman also ascribed different moods and emotions to each instrument (my favorite was the "angry" clarinet) and has them make sounds in unusual and unexpected ways, such as having the horn players hit their mouthpieces and having the pianist strum the strings directly.  It was very unusual but I enjoyed it.  This piece required a high level of concentration and engagement to listen for all of the different emotions and moods so the next piece, Vocalise by Sergei Rachmaninoff, was a nice break.  It was lovely, with a beautiful theme performed by the strings, and I closed my eyes and let it envelope me.  After the intermission, the orchestra played Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, one of my favorite pieces, and they performed it brilliantly!  I love Rachmaninoff because he is so emotional and tempestuous and this piece is, at times, incredibly dramatic with themes that are repeated until they build to a swelling crescendo, and, at other times, it is poignant and filled with so much longing, especially the second movement with a theme played by the piano and then echoed throughout the orchestra.  Soloist Alexander Gavrylyuk, with fingers flying up and down the keyboard, interpreted this piece beautifully and was rewarded with a thundering ovation.  The Utah Symphony can always be counted on for a lovely evening!

Note:  A shortened version of this program will be performed tonight as part of a new series called Unwound.  You can dress casually, applaud whenever you want, participate in a variety of activities in the lobby, and purchase food and drinks before the concert.  Go here for more information and tickets.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Casablanca In Concert

I absolutely love the Utah Symphony Films In Concert Series!  Last night the film shown on the big screen with the score played live by the Utah Symphony was Casablanca, widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, and it was simply amazing!  Casablanca is one of my favorites and I've seen it many times, even on the big screen, but last night is definitely the best viewing experience I’ve had!  Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) is a hard-drinking club owner who is only out for himself in Casablanca, a haven for European refugees desperate for exit visas to escape the Nazis during World War II.  He ably navigates the the world of black marketeers, corrupt officials, and German officers until Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) walks into his club with her husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a hero of the resistance in need of safe passage.  Ilsa was once Rick's lover in Paris but she abandoned him, and even though he has documents that will ensure safe passage for her and her husband, he is bitter and refuses to help her.  Ilsa loves Rick but she admires and respects her husband and will do anything to help him continue his work with the resistance, even sacrifice her own happiness, but is Rick willing to sacrifice his own happiness to help them?  I have to admit that I am usually so riveted by the action on the screen that I don't pay much attention to Max Steiner's score.  However, hearing it played live by the orchestra brought the music to the forefront and it added so much to the story!  I noticed that elements of the song "As Time Goes By" by Herman Hupfeld are incorporated beautifully throughout the score as a leitmotif for Rick and Ilsa's doomed relationship, adding to the poignancy of their scenes.  One of my favorite moments in the film is when "La Marseillaise" is sung to drown out a German drinking song and, once again, I noticed that elements of this anthem are used throughout to highlight the political intrigue.  I loved this concert and I highly recommend getting a ticket for tonight's screening (go here).

Friday, March 1, 2019

Muse at the Vivint Arena

I have seen Muse perform live many times and every show is a light and sound extravaganza.  Last night, when the band was in town in support of their latest album Simulation Theory, was certainly no exception.  It was an awesome concert!  I really love Simulation Theory and I was happy that they played quite a few songs from it.  They began the show with the Alternate Reality version of "Algorithm" and then played "Pressure," "Break It to Me," "Propaganda," "The Dark Side" (my favorite song from the album), a rousing version of "Thought Contagion" which got the Vivint Arena rocking, and the Acoustic Gospel version of "Dig Down."  Every song was accompanied by incredibly theatrical lights, lasers, visuals, and choreographed performers in various LED light up suits.  I loved it!  They also played the hits, and some more obscure tracks, including "Psycho," "Uprising," "Plug In Baby," "Supermassive Black Hole," "Hysteria," "Madness," "Mercy," "Time Is Running Out," and an epic version of "Take a Bow."  They ended their set with "Starlight," which is my favorite Muse song, and the obligatory confetti and streamers.  For the encore they played "Algorithm," a kick-ass medley of "Stockholm Syndrome," "Assassin," "Reapers," "The Handler," and "New Born" complete with a giant cyborg skeleton looming over the stage, and "Knights of Cydonia."  Matt Bellamy was in full rock-star mode wearing leather pants, neon shutter shades, and a variety of leather jackets (including several with LED lights) and he spent much of the evening shredding while on a runway extending into the crowd.  It was quite the spectacle and I absolutely loved it!

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Once at PTC

When I saw the Broadway touring production of Once several years ago, I didn't know anything about the musical.  However, it quickly became one of my favorites because of the bittersweet love story and the incredibly beautiful music!  So I was thrilled to see PTC's version last night and I fell in love with the show all over again!  A Guy (Roderick Lawrence) is singing one of his songs on the street in Dublin when a Girl (Hillary Porter) hears him and strikes up a conversation.  She really likes his song but he tells her that he wants to give up on music because all of his songs were written about a girl who left him to go to New York.  She encourages him to sing more of his songs and eventually helps him record a demo.  He begins to have feelings for her and tells her that he may have written the songs for another girl but now he is singing them for her.  She knows that she needs to reconcile with her estranged husband for the sake of her daughter and that he needs to go to New York to play his music for his former girlfriend so she convinces him to go.  If you have ever had someone come into your life for just a brief moment but have a profound impact on it then this story will break your heart.  I had tears streaming down my face at the end.   The staging of this show is quite different from the Broadway version but I really liked the use of the turntable and the guitar motif.  The entire cast is unbelievably talented (all of the secondary characters in the show play a variety of instruments live on stage) but I was especially impressed with both Porter and Lawrence (I really loved Lawrence in this role).  They have beautiful voices and are outstanding musicians (piano and guitar, respectively).  Their renditions of my three favorite songs, "Falling Slowly," "If You Want Me," and "Gold," gave me goosebumps!  This just might be my very favorite production by PTC!  There is quite a bit of profanity (they are Irish, after all) but if you are not bothered by that I highly recommend this wonderful show (go here for tickets) which runs through March 2.
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