Musical Theater in the Face
Quibbles on Musicals and More
Muzak Accompaniment IV: Sea Cruise – Semi-Live!
Apr 29th
I’m going on a cruise, and I’m neither telling you the cruise line nor the ship. (it’s a secret) and it’s definitely neither Carnival nor Disney. But like Carnival (and unlike Disney), it has a showband to my delight – replete with rhythm section, reeds, trumpets, and trombones. It’s interesting to note that the music is semi-live, which means that some tape and click track enhances their accompaniment to the production shows. I call this a blessing in disguise since I’m as much of a showband addict and at least it has some live music along the canned.
I’m not much of a music snob, and I’m not all against canned music. But if it’s purpose is to enhance the showband, that’s fine. If Disney keeps on using it for all the production show exclusively, that’s also fine if it’s their way – I’m a Disneyphile and all I care in the shows are about the Characters onstage. I’m writing an article on muzak and live shows, and will be posting it after my cruise.
newsflash: A New IE Spontaneous Musical and A Hub on BOIS
Oct 21st
I’m back from that, er, delay, and with a new PC, I’d like to share some stuff with you.
First, I dedicated a Hubpages to the great theatrical attraction Break Out In Song. It displays how the humble “spontaneous musical,” that is, musical theater out of the blue, came about and my opinions on the four productions all over New York. It also includes my suggestions on songs they should do n the near future (“We Need A Little Christmas,” anyone?)
Speaking of New York and Spontaneous musicals, the famous Improv Everywhere returns home to do a sequel to their famous Food Court Musical in Queens. This new project, Grocery Store Musical, is a bit chamberlike compared to its Los Angeles presucessor, but it’s worth watching whether you have seen either one, both or neither. It tells the tale of the customers’ decisions to make usage with different fruits (squishing them together), and it’s a great watch. I usually buy me groceries at the most boring of places (in my perspective): the Walmart Supercenter.
As they say in the theater world, it’s curtains, for now, from the Whiz Kid Forte!
Break(ing) Out in Song
http://hubpages.com/hub/breakoutinsong
Grocery Store Musical
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnY59mDJ1gg
A New Kind of Beast in Carrollwood
Sep 28th
Why have bread when you can have a schadenfreude
I have seen the original stage performance of Beauty and the Beast on Broadway over fifteen years ago, and found it so magical, since I have seen the originating Disney movie. For those of you who want a change of pace fron Alan Menken’s witty and romantic songs, then head on over to Carrollwood’s version of this tale. Produced by Play’n Around Traveling Children’s Theater, this production harbors a different feel, with original music and audience participation to boot. Also, children get the most out of it, learning lessons about literacy and seeing the hearts of others. The audience can meet the actors and meet and take pictures of their favorite characters after the show. Tampa Bay locals don’t need to head to a high school production of the Disney musical they grew up watching it – they can head to the Carrollwood Cultural Center to experience a whole new Beast.
For me, I’d stick with the Menken-infused musical theater version…
A Hubpages Post on A Plea
Sep 22nd
I just signed up for Hubpages, an article-writing site, and I decided to share this poignant story with you.Most of you have heard about the sad tale of Alex Barton, a Asperger’s-stricken kindergartener outcasted by his class under his intolerant teacher, Wendy Portillo. Now living with him in Palm Beach, his mother, Melissa, field a lawsuit against the school district where his class voted him out. Seeing the severity of autism discrimination and misunderstanding, I wrote letters persuading the St. Lucie County school board, the superintendent, Mrs. Barton, and Autism Speaks to have one high school perform HONK!. It may be a mere children’s musical, but it’s a musical theater piece that would change Portillo’s heart towards autistic students. (Note that George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who wrote the show, are my personal web friends.)
Please read my article and comment on what you think of the scheme!
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-Can-We-Love-Autistics-Warts-and-All
Tiffany J. L. Alfonso
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