My television is busted. I couldn’t watch my new favorite show, Glee.

I had to get my musical theatre fix, so here is Lea Michele singing “On My Own” at the Hollywood Bowl Les Miserables Concert.

I’m not all bitter and twisted (Anymore)… But my outlook’s changed, I’m just a bit more realistic in how I look at matters of the heart an I’m afraid to take chances… There’s  chance to be taken at the moment in my life, It could change a lot… I don’t know whether to risk it all… but then again “Nothing comes of nothing”

This song makes me happy…

It’s a little bittersweet though…

not really a happy ending kind of song in my opinion…

You’re in my arms
And all the world is calm
The music playing on for only two
So close together
And when I’m with you
So close to feeling alive

A life goes by
Romantic dreams will stop
So I bid mine goodbye and never knew
So close was waiting, waiting here with you
And now forever I know
All that I wanted to hold you
So close

So close to reaching that famous happy end
Almost believing this was not pretend
And now you’re beside me and look how far we’ve come
So far we are so close

How could I face the faceless days
If I should lose you now?
We’re so close
To reaching that famous happy end
And almost believing this was not pretend
Let’s go on dreaming for we know we are
So close
So close
And still so far

- So Close – John McLaughlin – Enchanted

Me “Taking Chances” Jumping off “Idiots Bridge” in Bled, Slovenia during the summer:

"Idiots bridge"

All images © FOX

[Ed. Note-- Hello monsters! You all know Erika, Glee recapper extraordinaire. Presented is her recap of last week's show. Season 1, Episode 10: "Ballad" SPOILER ALERT, duh.]

Last week: Everyone was handicapped and Sue Sylvester was human.

Will has a pop quiz for our favorite little singers: What is a ballad? Brittany says it’s a male duck. That would be a mallard, sweetie. Kurt contends that it’s a love song, which is close, but not quite. Apparently, new sectional rules require a ballad (Thanks indirectly to Rachel). On that note, just how many songs will New Directions be performing at sectionals?

Anyway, Will is dividing the Gleeks into pairs to sing ballads. Matt (the not-Asian football player) is at the hospital because of a… spider in his ear? Or would that be a nifty tool that many stumped writers refer to as a plot device? So Will is taking Matt’s place for the time being.

If that isn’t enough, Will wants the pairs to be decided by fate. The match-ups are as follows: Puck with Mercedes, Artie with Quinn, Finn with Kurt, Tina with “Other Asian” (Does anyone know his name?!), and Santana with Brittany. Kurt looks like his wildest dreams are about to come true.

Will, who is saddled with Rachel, does not look as enthusiastic. Artie asks for clarification on what a “ballad” is and clever Rachel suggests a demonstration. Will and Rachel sing the Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross duet “Endless Love”. The voiceovers speak for themselves.

While Kurt, Puck, and Finn are thinking about Diana Ross, underwear (er…lack of it), and butts, Rachel is falling head over heels in love with Will. Will, on the other hand, realizes he made a bad call. No, really?

Meanwhile…Quinn is getting married. No, wait, she’s just getting into a white lacy dress in preparation for the Chastity Ball. Huh. While her mom gushes, Quinn is missing her Cheerios uniform. The fallen cheerleader captain is putting on the baby pounds, which makes her dress just a tad too small. Her mother is delightfully unsuspecting… right? Quinn’s dad, excited about the dress, the ball, and Glenn Beck, announces that he’s invited Finn over for Sunday dinner. The daughter looks… terrified.

Rachel is traveling down a dark road. She schedules a present and gives Will a satin, star-covered tie. What?

In other news, Emma is back! And blurting things about Will’s major sex appeal. We love Emma. Sit tight, kiddies, because Will has the harrowing tale of Susie Pepper to share with our dear guidance counselor.

Susie is strange, socially awkward, and mildly attractive. Oh, and completely obsessed with Will. Or was. Until Will got sick of the presents and the stalker phone calls at 3am and told her to stop. She then attempted suicide with… the hottest pepper in the world? Only in Glee. Luckily, she lived, after an esophagus transplant, three days of a medically induced coma, and intense psychotherapy.

Emma, in her wisdom, suggests that Will should sing his feelings to Rachel.

Kurt and Finn are working at their ballads. Finn snaps at Kurt. Kurt blames it on girls. Is he trying to turn Finn? We’re rooting for you, Kurt.

Finn, completely clueless, spills on his anxiety about Quinn giving away the baby. His baby. Er…what he thinks is his baby. Kurt has a song ready for Finn to sing. And we learn that Kurt plays piano. Why are all these children so talented?!

Finn gives a rendition of “I’ll Stand By You” from The Pretenders.

He sings it… to the sonogram. Maybe he should think about investing in a better football helmet, once he’s done paying baby bills.

However, he should have done this with his computer facing away from his door because Momma Hudson walks in and sees him singing to the sonogram. Busted! She confronts him and he breaks down in tears. She holds him and tells him that everything is going to be okay—the perfect, understanding parent.

Quinn, however, is not happy. She is pissed that Finn broke down and received comfort from his mother because no one can patch up her chew toy. Right? Honestly Finn, baby that is not yours aside, what do you see in her? The other Gleeks look on, pitying the constant baby drama.

Kurt is acting as an inside agent. And still trying to convince Finn to be gay. “It’s because she’s a girl,” he says. Our Kurt admits to being madly in love with Finn, his “knight in shining armor.” He says it only got stronger after bonding over Glee, football, and skin care. (O…kay?)

Kurt finds Finn’s stupidity “charming.” His ultimate plan? Get close to Finn so that he’ll be the shoulder for Finn’s tears when Quinn disappoints him. Which she will. Hopefully.

At practice, Will has a ballad for Rachel. Emma is also present, saying that she wanted to learn the “power of the ballad” for SAT prep.

Actually, she was there for moral support. Also, Will needed a witness, in case the plan went foul.

Will sings a mash up of “Young Girl” by Union Gap and “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by The Police. Wow. Will has quite the dreamy voice.

Emma and Rachel are loving it, especially when he belts it out on the piano.

I’m sorry to say this Will, but this was NOT a good idea. Rachel totally misses the intent. Emma’s moral support evaporated into breathless fan girl applause.

Oh, and now Susie Pepper is stalking Rachel.

So Kurt is helping Finn dress for dinner at the Fabray’s. They discuss their respective dead parents (because Finn is raiding his dad’s old clothes) and get onto the subject of the baby. He compares himself to his father and gushes about how pathetic he is because he can’t tell Quinn’s parents what is going on. Kurt suggests having the right weapon.

Kurt suggests that Finn use that “power of the ballad,” which is like the Gleek equivalent of the Force. Use the Ballad, Finn, use the Ballad!

Meanwhile, Will comes home to… Rachel? Oh snap.

As it turns out, Terri let her in. That crazy woman, amused by the crush, is exploiting Rachel’s feelings and applying it to housework. Like cleaning.

Terri is afraid that Will is going to leave her. Angry with his “slightly” unbalanced wife, he storms out of the house to take Rachel home.

Rachel tries to practice the ballad with Will. Her song choice? “Crush” by Jennifer Paige. Yikes.

Just as she gets started, Will cuts her off and asks her about Puck. Go Will. Massive save.

Later, Susie is threatening Rachel about Will… or is she?

As Rachel storms off to stalk Will or something, Mercedes is chatting on the phone with Tina about pregnant hamsters. And the baby drama.

She and Puck are just getting ready to start their rehearsal when Mercedes tells him about the group’s plan to sing a ballad to Quinn and Finn. Puck feigns indifference. And then blurts out that he’s the father.

Whoa, Puck! Mercedes, however, stays relatively cool. She tells Puck that Quinn chose Finn and to stop messing with her life.

Poor Puck. He really lacks sympathy.

It’s dinnertime with the Fabrays! Daddy Fabray is toasting to his wonderful family when Finn freaks out. He retreats to the restroom and calls his new best bud, Kurt. Kurt tells him to relax and remember what they practiced. Uh oh. That did not sound good. About to give him more advice, Kurt is cut off with, “I have to go. They’ll think I’m pooping.” Finn spends a couple of seconds in the mirror getting pumped.

Go get ‘em, tiger.

Wait… what?

Quinn’s warning alarms start to go off when Finn walks back in with a kitchen radio. Finn, ignoring Quinn’s protests, starts to sing “Having My Baby” by Paul Anka.

BAD FINN. VERY BAD FINN.

At first, the Fabray family thinks this is a cute joke. Finally, Daddy Fabray gets the message and stops the music. He is pissed.

Cue family conference time. Daddy Fabray is mad, Mommy Fabray is quiet, and Quinn accuses her mother of knowing all along and not helping her when she needed it. She says that in their family, “If you don’t talk about it, it doesn’t exist.”

Quinn is kicked out.

She begs her father for forgiveness, and help.

He leaves and tells her to get out.

Finn and his mother take in the pregnant teenager.

Then, to distract us from all the serious drama (PHEW!), Susie and Rachel have a bathroom heart-to-heart. She tells Rachel that they’re alike, looking for “boys we can never have.” Susie, the cautionary tale, leaves Rachel with a lot to think about.

Rachel and Will are now in practice. Will stops her before she says anything else and lays his cards on the table. He seems to be bracing himself for the worst when Rachel says she understands. She even brought pink flowers as an apology. Oh, and a note that says:

Will consoles her and tells her that someday there’s going to be a boy that will like everything about her. Then they ditch practice.

But Kurt and Finn are still at it. Kurt actually looks like he feels bad for what his master plan did to Quinn. Yeah, your plan kind of sucked, Kurt.

Trying to lighten the mood, Finn turns the subject to Kurt’s ballad. Kurt blurts, “I honesty love you.” Finn, our star quarterback who always wears his helmet, thinks that this is the title to a “positive and nice and stuff” song.

Mercedes comes in and saves Kurt a potentially awkward explanation. They lead Finn into the choir room. The rest of the Glee club starts the beautiful rendition of “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers. Artie and Mercedes sing the leads. Chills.

Finn is smiling and Quinn is on the verge of tears. The club drags Finn and Quinn out of their chairs for a Glee dance circle and lots of hugs. Mercedes has a killer high note that rounds off the episode with a hopeful, wonderful feeling.

Next Week [Ed. Note: Tonight, we know]: Sue returns to being a kitten-eating monster, we meet the competition, and people turn into hippies.

LIST OF WORKS IN MS

Poetry

Published in print magazines and online

A maverick collection is scheduled for  publication  in NYC 2010

Fiction

Hysteria

Living With Lesley Dying For Fame- excerpt first published on the net in Suspect Thoughts a journal of subversive writing out of San Francisco

A large back catalogue of short stories for adults

Children’s Fiction

The Alien Being With Child

Yukio Moon

The Mega Words Spouted By Benjamin Christmas

The Bantam God

The Crowing Of Tom Flight

Cody Columbus And The Glasshouse Secrets

Toylett Town

Alphabetica Botanica La La

Twelve Full Length Stage Plays- some being re-written as adult fiction.

01 The Place On The Plaza

Set in a café bar on Sunset Plaza LA the play explores the colourful complexity of relationships amongst the ‘bizarre’ characters that run the place. It has an extremely violent conclusion- a black singer-songwriter beats up on his estranged white Californian trophy wife.

02 Rumours From The Balcony

We are simultaneously on three ‘balconies’- Beverly Hills, San Diego, West Hollywood. The Californian lifestyle is ruthlessly exposed. At the heart of the play an ageing starlet enlists the help of her gay major domo to assist in her suicide. It is lush film noir brought to the stage.

03 Consorting With Seers

(This is the work that almost got there at The New End, Hampstead. Lady Pamela Kalms loved it. Pluto Productions screwed it. The Tidal Theatre in New York also said they wanted to do it. And it got real close at The Mandel Weiss Theatre in La Jolla San Diego. It was to have been the opening production for my former agent’s production company.)

Two women in their sixties, tired of sitting at the top of their respective crap heap- dysfunctional families, one Jewish, one lapsed Church Of England, find mutual solace in their fascination for all things psychic. The work is shot through with revelations both material and spiritual and the conclusion is deeply poignant.

04 Living With Lesley Dying For Fame

Lesley, an art teacher, does a very good Barbara Streisand. His neighbours run a small hotel- ex musical hall people they have a psychotic son who is ‘dating’ Lesley’s daughter. The two families decide to rehearse a ‘show’ for charity. The play largely explores fringe and extreme emotional experience and in some way makes a stab at explaining the cross-dressing/transgender phenomena.

05 One Day In The Diet Of A Boot Sale Junkie

This is council estate territory. It is black and comic. The fat heroine is trapped inside an obsessive love of boot sales and obliviously married to a swervy husband. By the end of the play we know that she has incurable cancer.

06 Dame John And The Bedsit Title

Dame John is the country’s leading Pantomime dame. His girlfriend is the daughter of an English Lord- she lives in a bedsit in Fulham. On her many journeys to California she indulges in serial killing and trophy collection. The play is structured in such a way that it can be played by four people or as a tour de force for two.

07 Waiting For Mary

Rural Surrey. The hideously deluded owners of a vast manor house seek to have their land become sanctified as the equivalent of Lourdes.

08 The Cretan Return

This is a spin on Alan Aykbourne territory. (His theatre at Scarborough said it was too ‘hot’ for them) Very fit and very wealthy old people behaving very badly in both Surrey and Crete. Delicious and salacious fun and dollops of poignant darkness. I wrote the central female roles for Maggie Smith and Judy Dench.

09 The Man Who Sheltered Butterflies From Rain

The play that seriously explores ugly and beautiful and evil and good. A brilliant half-caste American poet beaten up by rabid female journalists. A magical aftermath. Incredibly violent but deeply mystical.

10 Blue Box And Twigloo

Middle-class veneers are stripped bare in this savage attack on token ‘greenism’. The two families are not likely to be in a position to save themselves so why be so ‘in your face’ about trying to save the planet.

11 Bitter Suite- a one act play/screenplay

Vicky is living in a condemned building in Cardiff. She is haunted by her upbringing, her dying mother and her dead grandmother. Her child Iona was taken from her. She has resorted to talking to angels.

12 Dot.Com, Mouse and Wizzie Tough It Out

 Children’s theatre.

 Lyrics And Collaborative Songwriting

With John Cambridge (PRS) Current Collaboration

Many songs developed to full demos. This is my major and most productive ongoing collaboration.

With Lamont Dozier of Holland/Dozier/Holland

Five songs written with him in Beverly Hills.

With Phil Collins On/Off Prospective Collaboration

With Jez Larder and James Gregory

Six songs For ‘Dot.Com, Mouse And Wizzie Tough It Out’

Demos were produced for a possible production by The UK National Youth Theatre. James is a twenty+ keyboard whiz and Jez works for Microphonic UK who produced Bowie’s last album.

With Dominic Shaw (Rain) The Rock Album ‘Cerulean Blue’

Hit and Run Music/Phil Collins/Tony Smith loved this but didn’t know how to market it.

With Patrick Nunn (Classical) ‘Sanctus Natalis’

Patrick is hopefully still interested in composing for this sung-through nativity.

Stage Musical Librettos

Venice Beach

The beach by day versus the beach by night. A love story. A cast of bizarres. This is Hair meets West Side Story. Well, that was the plan. For the time being my errant mate Phil Collins has first choice on it. But other composers are possible.

Sanctus Natalis- A Peoples Nativity

A lyrical sung through musical at the heart of which is the unsung miracle- that Mary was never stoned to death by irate elder women. It also explores the pagan origins of ‘the miracle birth’. I have ambitions for this to become the seasonal performance. I’m looking for a crossover classic/rock composer to work with me on this. My last literary agent tried to get me McCartney but he seldom collaborates or gives anything away. (See Patrick Nunn above)

The Ugly Sisters Waltz

This is The Follies meets Cinderella. Very high camp theatre indeed. Has cult potential.

Move over Hans Gruber, the bitch is back. And she’s writing for RvR. In the first of a new series where she gives her movie views, alien slayer Ellen Ripley rips into Mamma Mia. Man, she’s tough…

By Ellen

“I have a curious streak that gets the better of me sometimes. That nagging feeling of ‘surely it can’t be that bad’ has led me to make some questionable DVD choices. With this spirit of adventure in mind, I’m hoping you won’t close your browser window when I admit that I’ve seen Mamma Mia.

Within three minutes of the opening credits, I realised that the only way to survive the saccharine dialogue was to wash it down with neat bourbon – but it’s taken me months to piece together what bothers me most about this kind of film. It’s not that people want to see them. It’s that producers and movie studios are making them so poorly.

There’s a wealth of great musical romances in the world, dating back to the early days of film. Singin’ in the Rain was released by MGM Studios in 1952. At its conception, the film was a vehicle, a catalogue of the songs already featured in musicals released by MGM in the preceding 30 years. Producer Arthur Freed chose songs based on their popularity and the romantic storyline was later crafted around them.

Sound familiar?

But while the precedent for this kind of production meant that a feel-good romp by the Aegean Sea was almost guaranteed to be a commercial success, it seems no one took the time to ask if this was a film worth making. It might sound like I’m being unnecessarily critical of Mamma Mia, but where Singin’ in the Rain has heart, Mamma Mia is never more than soft sand and glitter balls. Gene Kelly performed Singin’ in the Rain’s title number with a fever of 103; co-star Debbie Reynolds had to be carried off set after finishing her dance scenes to song ‘Good morning’ after bursting the blood vessels in her feet (Dominic Cooper says he was very comfortable on location in Skopelos, thank you very much). It’s the teeth-grinding dedication of it all that shows up on screen, that sense that the actors are giving the performance of a lifetime.

Meryl hid wherever she could from Pierce's warblings

The worst thing that Singin’ in the Rain can be accused of is irony. The plot involves Debbie Reynolds’ character overdubbing the lines of famous movie star Lina Lamont. The songs are in fact sung by Jean Hagen, who plays Lina on screen. It’s also interesting to note that while the film is quick to point out the injustice of an uncredited performer singing for someone else, MGM don’t give any credit to the young lady who sang for Debbie Reynolds. By comparison, the worst thing Mamma Mia can be accused of is Pierce Brosnan, singing for himself. Why would you do that to an audience?

All in all, never let it be said that audiences shouldn’t succumb to the occasional good love story. A Hollywood romance and a mug of cocoa is possibly the best answer to the cold winter nights ahead. All I ask is that the love stories are just that: good. And maybe that Pierce Brosnan doesn’t sing again.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK…

RIPPING RIPLEY? or RIP-OFF RIPLEY?

I was bored last night so…

I took an orange:

And some whole cloves:

I poked some wholes in that orange, inserted some cloves, and 45min later lookie what I had:

A pomander!I had no idea that’s what it was called. When I was little I had this craft book that had this in it. I’ve wanted to make one forever! And I finally did. It smelled soooooo good in here last night because of it.

This evening I had a super late supper (9pm! That’s late for me…):

Some sort of Smoothie Green Monster in a Bowl. Yum. With some cereal and some raisins mixed in. (thanks Kath and Angela and Liz! lol

Why was supper so late?

I tried out for a musical today!!!!!

So crazy. I don’t usually do this sort of thing. I don’t even know why I did it. I’ve always been interested in musicals and stuff… so I thought, why not? I just want a small part, but it will be fun to be involved! And if I change my mind… I change my mind, but it’s better to at least try then not and regret it. 

LOL. We’ll see. I’m more worried about whether or not I’ll have time, you know? A girl can only take so much on her plate before she collapses. Right now though I’m on the sort of high you get from pushing your boundaries.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is back on stage at the Old Globe for its 12th straight year! It runs through December 27th, with a special Family Day event on December 20th.  Tickets are $39-$79 for adults and $29-$59 for children (3-17 years old).  For more information, visit the Old Globe website.

And check out the photos below for a sneak peek at the show!

At the FCT AGM last night it was announced that the 2010 Easter Show will be ‘Just So’ by ‘Honk’ creators Anthony Drewe and George Styles.  You can read much more about the show here.

The show will take place from 14 – 17^th April and be performed at St Brides Centre, Gorgie.

Cameron Dyer will make his Directorial Debut.  Already, work has been underway and plans are looking very exciting!  Set to an eclectic, upbeat score, Kipling’s “Just So Stories” are woven with wit and imagination into a song-filled journey through the jungle.  This show provides an excellent mix of characters, giving opportunity to all ages.

Auditions are being held on Wednesday 23^rd December at Trinity Academicals Rugby Club, Craighall Gardens from 1000 – 1600. Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes that are suitable for doing movement in.  It is also advised to bring a packed lunch as there may not be time to go to the shops.

The day will take the format of morning workshops followed by small group auditions in front of the directing team.  It will be a brilliant experience and involve lots of fun, dancing and meeting new people.  All material will be learnt in the morning so there is no need to prepare anything in advance.  Please be prepared to stay until 1600 although there is chance you may be able to leave before depending on when each group is seen.

Rehearsals are due to start on Friday 8^th January 1830 – 2100.  Rehearsals will be held on a Friday evening and a Sunday afternoon, although some principals may be called for occassional rehearsal on a Wednesday evening.

Here’s a little taster.

It’s not everyday you find a TV series you want to keep watching every week for the rest of the year, or its life on the airwaves.

It’s not that I don’t have the time or the resources for such an endeavor- on the contrary, we have unlimited cable and owing to the fact that I am hopelessly FUNemployed, I have all the time in the world for the consumption of inordinate amounts of popular culture – it’s just that there is so much crap out there, and I have little patience for the kind of drama and bullshit that local TV shows offer, and the kind of drama and crap that foreign (often reality) TV shows offer as well.

But then, I switch on the TV for yet another possibly (un)fruitful TV watching (I am a professional couch and mouse potato now), happen to go to JackTV, which offers shows for single, white, straight males  (wrestling, boxing matches, combined with animation, stand-up comedies, comedies and a lot of other shows for bros – meaning pretty much your average low-brow fanfare), but imagine my surprise when they show scenes from an unfamiliar TV show which, to my surprise, ends up being a very interesting one at that.

Spanish teacher Will Shuester (Matthew Morrison) gets it into his head that he wants to take over the Glee Club of the high school where he is teaching. Into his inexperienced, overly enthusiastic and idealistic and totally unprepared lap fall a bunch of teenaged, hormonal angsty misfits whose drama in their lives rival that of those sung in the songs they sing for the club: Rachel Berry (Lea Michelle) intent on being famous and snagging aforementioned Mr. Shuester, gay soprano Kurt (Chris Colfer), paraplegic Artie (Kevin McHale), stuttering goth girl Tina (Jena Ushkowitz). Add to this mix is not-so-bright quarterback Finn (Cory Monteith) who believes he has gotten his hot, picture-perfect, All-American blonde girlfriend, the chastity-belt-wielding Quinn Fabray (Diana Agron), who, in fact, has gotten pregnant through his bestfriend  Noah “Puck” Puckerman (Mark Salling). Throw into the mix Mr. Shuester’s arch-enemy, gym teacher Sue Sylvester (the hilarious Jane Lynch – pretty much the only good thing in the L-Word) and his none too supportive wife, Teri (Jessalyn Gilsig). But Mr. Shuester’s idealism gets the better of his critics and by teaching his Glee club members the importance of understanding and respecting the physically-disabled, he makes a formidable advisor for the Glee Club. Thus is the first episode of “Glee”.

Very interesting, no? But, here’s the catch: Yes, you’ve heard of this familiar or similar stories from “One Tree Hill”, “The O.C.”, “Party of Five”, “Beverly Hills” or some such combination of genres (Buffy the Vampire Slayer comes to mind), but the difference is that this TV show is a musical, and the characters sing out their frustrations and joys seamlessly into the storyline.

Who can resist a show which the song below?

Or this?:

Yes, I thought so, too.

Next up, next episode. I love this show!

Trivia: Matthew Morrison, Lea Michelle and Jena Ushkowitz are all Broadway alumni.

I’ve been re-listening to the Follies in Concert recording from 1985, and I still can’t believe how much that audience loses its goddamn collective mind.  They just wet themselves.

It made me remember what Clive Barnes, in the New York Times, wrote about the show’s score, back in 1971:

Mr. Sondheim’s music comes in two flavors-nostalgic and cinematic. The nostalgic kind is for the pseudo-oldie numbers, and I must say that most of them sound like numbers that you have almost only just forgotten, but with good reason … The cinematic music is a mixture of this and that, chiefly that. I doubt whether anyone will be parodying it in thirty or forty years’ time.

So now that, nearly forty years later, everyone is parodying Sondheim’s style, and bearing in mind that Clive Barnes got it right with other shows, such as A Chorus Line; and with the added consideration that he is no longer alive, having died last November, I still think it can now be said:

You were wrong, Clive.  Very wrong.  And you were a bitch about it. 

Up yours, Clive.

January 2010 is going to be a wild month for the Footsteps of a Nobody show. First it will go to Long Beach, then to Burbank, then to New Jersey, and finally land back in Australia, in Geelong West.

Produced by Aspinauts Players in Association with Walking Into Bars, FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY is a powerful one woman rock-musical both written and performed by Donna Williams, author of the international best seller, Nobody Nowhere; Autobiography of an Autistic Girl and musically backed by The Aspinauts. This is a unique opportunity to witness the author herself perform a story that has changed the lives of millions.

Through vibrant song, characterisations, gestural signing, evocative spoken word, and musically supported by the band, The Aspinauts, Donna takes us on a journey from a seemingly deaf, psychotic, ’feral’ child to life on the streets and ultimately on to her fight for equality among others.

REVIEWS OF DONNA WILLIAMS’ WRITING:

She allows us to understand our own perceptions as never before. NEW YORK TIMES

Evocative, poetic, compelling, shocking, gut wrenchingly moving. WEEKEND REVIEW

Deserves every superlative a reviewer can muster. THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Powerful enough to make one reassess what it means to be human. MODE

By turns fascinating and harrowing. PEOPLE MAGAZINE

23/01/2010 8:00 PM FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY @ The Woodbin Theatre 15 Coronation Street Geelong West, 3218

Cost: Adults:$22.00 | Concession:$20.00 | Students: $15.00

BUY TICKETS ONLINE HERE: http://www.donnawilliams.net/theatre.0.html

ENQUIRIES: bookings@donnawilliams.net Show runs 8-9pm.

Disabled access is available.

Show is suitable for teens and adults.

Question time available after the show.

Donna Williams, Dip Ed, BA Hons.

Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.

Autism consultant and public speaker.

http://www.myspace.com/nobodynowherethefilm

http://www.donnawilliams.net

http://www.aspinauts.com

I love Broadway Musicals. If I lived in New York and had the money I would see every show on Broadway. When I win the lottery (ha! like that will happen) I will fly in for every opening night. What a wonderful luxury that would be. Once again they have produced a musical based on something near and dear to my heart “The Addams Family.” The casting is near perfect with Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia.  I hope it does justice to the Charles Addams comic strip which I love. It opens this month in Chicago and moves to Broadway in March.

I have seen a few Broadway shows that toured in California, but mainly no. “Why” you ask if I love it so. Money is the answer. Who can afford $80.00 to $200.00 a ticket. I wanted to see Wicked but I sent my kids (I got a heck of a deal) and their spouses instead as a Christmas present. I did see Phantom of the Opera (twice) and Little Shop of Horrors. The best though was seeing Yul Brenner in The King and I, twice no less. There is a funny story that goes with the first time I saw it. In fact it is one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. But that is another post for another day.

So, I have actually had a good couple of days.  I had a pitch with PitchQ.  They’re a service that records your pitch and posts it online.  I submitted a pitch to a specific call and got to go in and record it without paying the usual fee on the website.  It was a really great experience.  The guy behind the service is really cool, supportive, and open about the process.  He says they accept about 2-3% of the pitches they receive, and then have about a 1% success rate.

He also said if you’ve written a zombie script, you’re in.  Which reminds me that I have that zombie idea that I keep meaning to write about.  It’s actually web series in my mind — but maybe I could Love Actually that thing up.

And I found out last week that I got a promotion — I’ll now be Lead AE on a full season of a reality show, which is exciting.  It won’t start until February, but it’s a decent raise, and an excellent job.  I’ll even get to edit the webisodes, which I am stoked about.  Because I have a strong attachment to the idea that the web is the new distribution method… as soon as it figures out how to do that.

I also watched the entire first season (so far) of Glee.  Which I love.  Like, I want to work on that show because it is everything I love: musical numbers, awkward high schoolers, comically over the top bad guys you love, and occasional really touching and honest moments.  Also, the gayness.  The only thing that would make it better would be otters.

This entry is part site update and part blog.

Updates~
You may have noticed the new music player i’ve added, it kinda refuses to start playing automatically, despite me adding the short code, so i’ve pretty much given up on that but i guess it works out for the best since background music can be annoying at times. I will be adding more songs to the playlist soon, but right now it plays “On My Own” from the musical Les Miserables, but this is the Glee version, sung by Lea Michele.

I’ve also opened the TRINKETS section, only avatars are up right now but i will be adding more bit by bit. I’ve added some Michelle Pfeiffer and Wicked icons, here’s a little taster:

Go to the trinket section to check all of them out =D

Blog~
So today i woke up early to go yum cha with my family, we haven’t been in ages so it was a bit of a treat. This time we managed to order just the right amount of dim sum so we didn’t have to take any left overs home hehe, thats the thing with dim sum, everything looks small but it is actually quite filling. Anyways, as the title of the entry says, today has been about new things. After going yum cha we went to Kingston and finally bought my grandma a DAB radio because she could no longer listen to the Spectrum AM558 chinese radio show on our old radio due to the digital switchover. The radio has a CD player and an ipod dock! It looks so pretty i actually kinda want it for myself, though i probably wouldn’t actually use it since i have my ipod and ipod speakers and also my laptop to listen to music with. Plus i rarely listen to the radio anymore, i only listen to it when i’m in the car lol.

After buying the radio we had to head to the apple store in the bentalls centre since i booked an appointment at the genius bar to get my macbook looked at. The grey plastic bit around my macbook screen and keyboard top were starting to chip away for some reason, and since i bought the apple care plan i thought i’d see if they could do anything about it. Thankfully it was something that the care plan could cover and they fixed it there and then since they already had the parts in store. When it was done, i realised they actually changed the whole keyboard, so now my laptop looks brand new from the inside xD. The keyboard and touchpad feel really weird though because they have this “rough” feeling to it when its new, but since i’ve been using my macbook for just over two years now, the old keyboard’s plastic had kinda been worn down and turned shiny and smooth. But oh well, i’m not complaining since they gave me a new keyboard hehe, i’m actually really glad i bought the apple care plan, and i definitely recommend anyone who has a mac and doesnt have the care plan to get it. The care plan is for 3 years and it really does come in handy since you’re obviously gonna be using your mac for more than a year. I mean not long ago my charger went on the fritz and cos i had the apple care they just gave me a brand new charger, which without the plan would have cost me around £46 to buy a new one!

Got home and my uncle and my little cousins were at my house and so were my other aunt and uncle who come to visit my grandma every sunday. It was really nice to see my little cousins, my uncle comes down every month to see my grandma but i was uni when they came down last month, so i’m really glad i got to see them today otherwise the next time i see them would have been at christmas. Little kids actually grow up so fast! My little cousin Gemma is already 11 and just took her 11+ exam! Its kinda weird when i get to see my little cousins grow up, it feels like its too fast, especially the ones who have just about turned double figures, they seem so eager to grow up and it seems a bit scary, i’m just thinking “aww no, stay a kid a while longer”. I swear the childhood period is getting shorter these days. Also i feel so old, even though i’m only 20 haha. If everyone stayed being kiddies i wouldn’t feel so old xD.

Anyways tomorrow is another day and with it shall bring a new blog entry. So until then~

♥ Veronica ~x

As I said yesterday, we went to see Calamity Jane. Watching it brought back childhood memories of  going with my grandma to see the local operatic society’s production of Calamity Jane. My grandma is partly responsible for my affection for and vague familiarity with a random selection of musicals, because she used to take me to the annual production put on by the local operatic society. I also remember going to shows at the Leicester Haymarket Theatre (which is sadly no longer in existence, although it’s been replaced by the Curve Theatre, which looks very swish) on more than one occasion, although these trips may have been with my parents rather than my grandparents or maybe with all of them. I wish I could remember more about these bits of my childhood.

I was probably about ten years old when I went to see Calamity Jane with my grandma. Watching the show yesterday, the memories that came to me weren’t just of the songs and the story, but the recollection of how I felt when I was watching it. I had very clear memories of sympathising with Calamity because she was a girl who wanted to wear trousers and practical boots (i.e. men’s clothes) and Wild Bill Hickock (and everyone else) was always telling her to put on a “pretty” dress.  I wore dresses as a child because I was a good girl and did what I was told, but really I was much happier in jeans and a t-shirt and jumper and I didn’t like being told what I should or should not be wearing.

Calamity Jane may well have been the first (albeit semi-fictitious) woman I’d come across who rebelled against the stereotype of dresses for girls, trousers for boys and was quite, well, subversive, I think. She wanted to behave in the way she wanted, not in  the way society thought she should behave and, for the most part, she did. She certainly didn’t conform to the 1870s ideal of womanhood- she doesn’t even conform to the 2009 ideal of womanhood!

Of course, I was (and still am, really) most indignant when Calamity finally succumbs and wears a dress, thereby ‘winning’ the affections of Wild Bill. It is at this point that Calamity changes, in my eyes, from a forerunner of feminism to just one of a long litany of fictitious women who transform from perceived ugly ducklings to swans and get the leading man as their reward. Because, of course, the only way to get a decent man (which is, naturally, the only way a woman can possibly be happy) is to conform to society’s  ideal of what a woman should be – pretty, submissive, charming and homely. This is a lesson we women all must learn, so it is still in 2009 shown to us at every opportunity; on television, in films and in theatres, and not just in musicals written in the 1950s (which at least have the ‘excuse’ of being written in the 1950s!).*

In fairness, Calamity doesn’t lose everything of herself – even after she gets together with Bill she’s still quite feisty,  riding off to bring Katie back to Deadwood – but seeing her standing demurely in a wedding dress in the last scene felt a bit like a defeat. I hope she doesn’t let Bill change her too much.

___________________

*Having thought about this a bit more, I’m not sure that today’s society and media teaches the ideal of a homely and submissive woman (although she must still be beautiful and charming), but the idea that a woman can only find true happiness when she has a man is still what is portrayed, for the most part.

00345.0000 SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON THE TOP

Music: Richard Rodgers
Words: Oscar Hammerstein

Link to Lyrics and Chords
Link to Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones’ Performance

Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry,
When I take you out in the surrey,
When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on the top.
Watch that fringe and see how it flutters,
When I drive them high steppin’ strutters;
Nosey folks’ll peep through their shutters,
And their eyes will pop.

The wheels are yellow, the upholstery brown,
The dashboard’s genuine leather,
With isinglass curtains you can roll right down,
In case there’s a change in the weather.
Two bright side lights winkin’ and blinkin’,
Ain’t no finer rig I’m a-thinkin’,
You can keep your rig if you’re thinkin’
That I’d care to swap
For that shiny little surrey with the fringe on the top.
All the world will fly in a flurry,
When I take you out in the surrey,
When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on the top.

When we hit that road hell for leather,
Cats and dogs’ll dance in the heather.
Birds and frogs’ll sing all together and the toads’ll hop.
The wind will whistle as we rattle along,
The cows’ll moo in the clover,
The river will ripple out a whispered song,
And whisper it over and over:
Don’t you wisht you could go on forever?
Don’t you wisht you could go on forever?
Don’t you wisht you could go on forever and a-never stop?
In that shiny little surrey with the fringe on the top.

[mood | silly]

[listening to | Maybe from Annie]

Feeling a bit silly today, I decided to pop in the Broadway musical Annie. It brings back fond memories for me, because I grew up watching the movie and starred in an off-Broadway version of the play. I was watching said movie, singing along, and the song (You’re) Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile came on. I found myself laughing hysterically because it’s true: you can be wearing the best outfit ever, but it means nothing if you don’t smile.

So I propose that everyone who reads this should try something: this next month instead of frowning, smile! It takes more muscles to frown than to smile, and frowning makes you look sour and grumpy. Everyone should smile more, and laugh more, because this world would be bland and depressing without laughter and happiness. I myself am smiling despite having a hard week, but your know what? I don’t care about the reason why because I’m choosing to look on the bright side and smile. I’m tired of people thinking I’m so sad and emo and depressed all the time. I’m a fun and happy person for the most part, and I try to let people see that. Sure, even I have days where I don’t want to be happy, but I don;t ruin it for everyone else by being negative! I smile and be happy because I know that I have every reason in the world to be happy.

I think that’s about it. So do yourself a favor and smile, darn ya.

Victoria

((PS: I have hurt my ankle, but rest assured it isn’t serious. Don’t worry about me, I’m tough enough to grin and bear it.))

Looking for something to do this weekend that’s worth the investment?  Check out Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama’s production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”  The production ends on Sunday, November 22, but it is worth the rushing to get a seat.  Tickets range from $10-25 with discounts for students and seniors.  For more information click here: http://tinyurl.com/yg3lcxn

Why miss out anyway?   See the next big stars before they are famous.
Some of the creative arts greatest talents are former students of  Carnegie Mellon Drama’s program:

* Van Hansis, actor (As The World Turns)

* Maura West, actress (As The World Turns)

* Rob Marshall, film director, nominated for a 2003 Academy Award for Chicago.

* Ted Danson, actor (Cheers, Damages)

* Jack Klugman, actor

* Ethan Hawke (briefly attended), actor

* Pablo Schreiber, actor

* Andrew Kober, actor (Hair)

* Gabriel Macht, actor

* Gaius Charles, actor (Friday Night Lights)

* Ann Roth, costume designer (The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley)

* Eugene Lee, scenic designer (Saturday Night Live)

* George Romero, film director

* Dagmara Dominczyk, actress (The Count of Monte Cristo)

* Erik Jensen, actor/playwright

* Stephen Schwartz, film and theatre composer

* John Pasquin, film director

* John Wells, executive producer/creator (The West Wing, ER)

* Patrick Wilson, actor (Angels in America, Little Children, Watchmen)

* Blair Underwood, actor

* Billy Porter, actor/singer

* Laura San Giacomo, actress

* Sourced from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_Mellon_School_of_Drama

I’m sorry my blog entries are so short at the moment. I’m going to try and write a longer one tomorrow. I meant to do this today, but when I sat down at the computer it was later than I expected it to be and I was feeling more tired than I expected to feel.

I feel tired in a nice, tired-after-having-a-good-afternoon-and-evening-out kind of a way. A group of librarians, plus a curator and a journalist, went to see one of our friends/colleagues performing in a production of Calamity Jane. She was playing Katie Brown and a mighty fine job she did, too. It was lovely to see her in her element, doing what she loves to do and doing it so well.

After the performance we went on a short but rather windswept walk to a fish and chip shop and had a tasty meal of fish/veggie burger/sausage/fishcake and chips. I had the fishcake and chips.

It was good.

Okay,  I have seen that classic movie musical, Oklahoma.  There is this song performed with a racy theme called, ” I Can’t Say No!.”  I found the following video on You Tube posted by Miss Broadway Dork who does the number with a great voice. However, her great personality and rendition of this song made me laugh and smile this morning.

I hope it does the same for you and brings out your inner “floosie.”

Saturday, November 21, 2009 | Daily Podcast Episode 1321

ABOVE: Wet Your Pants Comedy Film Festival, 12 pm, Carmel Community Playhouse.

• Indiana Ice USHL Ice Hockey at the Pepsi Coliseum
• Chicago The Musical at the Murat Theatre
• A Christmas Carol at the Indiana Repertory Theatre
• College Football: Connecticut at Notre Dame
• Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration in Metamora
• Wet Your Pants Comedy Film Festival at Carmel Playhouse
• Indianapolis Winter Farmers’ Market at the Chatham Center
• Florence Henderson and the ISO at Hilbert Circle Theatre
• Follow the North Star at Conner Prairie
• 2009 International Festival at the Indiana State Fairgrounds

Free publicity for your upcoming events! Submit an event.

Went to a developmental reading for a new musical called “Boynton Beach Club”. Been going to a lot of readings and it continues to amaze me how many talented people there are in NY that are not big names. The thing about Boynton is the cast is an older cast given that the show is about a group of widowers in Florida that  explore dating and relationships at a second stage in their lifes. If you took away their age, it would almost be like any teen comedy about the trials and tribulations of dating. All the older actresses were strong actresses with range, humor and a prescence. The only name in the cast was Tovah Feldshuh.  It was good to see a cast that clearly enjoyed what they were doing. It shows that life for actresses do not end at 30 or 40. I am not commenting about making money or fame, rather I am talking about the magic of performing and being good at your craft. In theatre there is no editing to make it work so it is all about the actor and actress. The musical was fun and charming but still in developmental phase.

This is a HOT event and it’s going fast!!

Buy Tickets!!!

Come and support The Ali Forney Center & Broadway Speaks OUT with a star studded cast!!!

See you on November 30th!

The Ali Forney Center houses gay and lesbian youths who are homeless.

As the visibility of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people grows in our society, more and more LGBT teens are finding the courage to come out of the closet. Tragically, as many as 25% of these teens are rejected by their families, and many end up homeless on the streets.

Join Broadway Stars & NYC Favorites:

TONY AWARD WINNER BD WONG

Nick Adams (Guys&Dolls, A Chorus Line)

Tituss Burgess (Little Mermaid, Guys & Dolls)

Kate Pazakis (Jerry Springer the Opera)

Anthony Hollock (Hair, Mr. Broadway 2009)

Frankie James Grande (Mamma Mia, Mr. Broadway 2008)

Megan Reinking (Hair)

The HoneyBuns-Lauren Elder, Haven Burton, & Meabh O’Neill

Sean Bradford (The Lion King)

Jeffery Self & Cole Escola of LOGO TV

Michael Buckley of WhatTheBuck Show

Martin Gould Cummings

ORDER TICKETS – They are going fast!!!
https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/7492015

Produced by: Broadway Speaks OUT

Sponsoring: BSO & The Ali Forney Center

Sponsored By: Dixon Place & NEXT Magazine

for information on AFC visit www.aliforneycenter.org
for information on BSO visit www.broadwayspeaksOUT.com