This was a question that has been percolating in my mind for quite some time and caused a lot of soul searching for a vast multitude of reasons. I go and see shows and support people I know, friends, etc… just like most anyone else, but not everyone writes their thoughts down… so why do it?
I think the better question is “why am I questioning myself?” Afterall I already have a bit of a following on the Pure Dancing with the Stars blog with my predictions and not everyone is going to agree and really opinions shouldn’t have to agree. Take it with a grain of salt and move on that is the constant mantra over there. (You think I’m kidding? There are a lot of passionate fans over there and they get offended by everything big and small… it is getting rather ridiculous if you ask me.)
But predicting who is going to get what score is very different from reviewing a production that your friends and acquaintances are in. There are more (familiar) egos at stake and are much more prone to bruising… everything is so subjective. Over in the Pure TV Network it is a series of media sites with several writers with differing opinions, while this is a blog of my own thoughts.
So how did I get started in reviewing in the first place…?
During the summer of 2012 I was helping a friend organize her thoughts for possibilities of a cabaret show based on the various men in her life. She was in only one major relationship in her life and she ended up marrying him, but she always found herself in other situations that dealt with men while in college and thereafter.
That got me thinking, if I was as beautiful of a vocalist as she was what songs would I use in the cabaret show of my love life… Or lack of one? I have had my fair share of ups and downs when it came to men… Most of the people I surrounded myself with were men… But considering my major of choice was that really any surprise?
Take that a step further: of a conversation a friend of mine and I had about wishing that our lives were just one big musical how would that sound like? What moments in our lives would we just break out into song for? A massive soundtrack of my life so to speak would be the better way to describe it.
Well… ironically enough, I have been to a few weddings where one of the party favors that the guests were allowed to bring home with them was a CD of various songs that the happily married couple put together that they felt best describe their life. So I decided to conjure up a list of songs that would make up the story of my life up to the current moment in time. Each song below is a defining moment in my life when it comes to my interactions with relationships… Unfortunately for you I won’t tie the songs to any names, what’s the point?
Since I am a huge show tunes fan I will provide two lists… One that involves the mainstream / pop / radio songs. The other would be strictly show tunes. Unfortunately for you, you are not going to be able to see who or what each of the following songs would pinpoint in my life… but that is the joy of it, no?
So here are the list of songs… in no particular order:
Sometime last year I posted a list of musicals that I would be more than happy to be a part of no matter the role. After a year of going through shows and productions and doing more researching and listening and watching I decided to expand on that list.
So what other shows are there that my desire to audition is driven by a particular vocal piece that I want to be a part of? Well considering that “What Was a Woman To Do?” from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was on the list… here are a couple more: Jekyll & Hyde – “Girls of the Night”
Ever since the latest concept soundtrack of Jekyll and Hyde came out I found myself singing along to this piece over and over and over again… there is just something that resonates with me that I can’t help but want to be a part of this number, can you blame me?
With such an upbeat opening number about why one has to work a “9 to 5” job… story of my life… well anyone’s life that involves a “9 to 5” job that is. 😀
It has been almost a year and a half since I step back onto the stage (in the matter of speaking) and decided to see if I could continue to be on stage as much as possible and for as long as I am able until I burn out.
As one would notice via my Thespian Page, I have been extremely busy in the second half of 2011 and throughout 2012. I have met plenty of new friends and acquaintances, found myself reanalyzing my beliefs and perspective with several groups and manage to integrate myself into others. All in all I do not have any regrets and in fact 2013 looks to be as busy if not busier on many levels.
Earlier in the year I posted a short list of musicals that I wanted to be a part of… it doesn’t matter the part. In that same post I mentioned that I don’t usually have a wish list of plays that I must be a part of, and that still stands true to an extent. Continue reading →
So there was a lot of speculation as to you which songs got cut, added, adjusted, revised, etc… So I figured that I would provide a quick and simple table to help you understand where the changes were made (if any)…
Keep in mind that I using the “Highlights Soundtrack” for comparison purposes that was released on the 21st of December… and all notes in regards to what was in the film is based off of what was from memory… since I saw this film on Christmas Day.
Later this week I will post a more complete list using the song list as shown on the Wikipedia page (once information can be confirmed) Continue reading →
Sound familiar? If you are friends with me then at some point in time I have said these very words either out of jest or actual boredom. Considering this is me the latter is more likely to be true.
When in community theatre, the actors and production team are usually asked to provide a bio for the playbill so that audience members coming to see the production would have an idea as to who has done what in the past, or their thoughts of the show/people, etc.
However… for me… that has become rather dull and boring, and I rather blame a good friend of mine for that. In the very few shows I have either been with him or seen him in he has always provided an entertaining and off the wall bio that is sure to crack a smile on anyone.
Me on the other hand? Bleh… I go the “traditional” route as I would put it.
There is one bio that I am itching to use one day if someone would let me:
[…] is a multi-linguist that has traveled throughout the Eastern hemisphere as a tour guide and is highly knowledgeable in not only the various dialects but a vast variety of cultures as well. She is also well versed in a plethora of martial arts / fighting styles and is skilled with the katana which has scalped many heads of her opponents.
Oh the inside jokes to be had. If you are confused there was a post about ignorance I wrote a few months ago that touches on the above that as now become a running joke that I use to sort of “break the ice” in a way. Continue reading →
On a whim I decided to purchase a ticket to see Il Divo & Orchestra in Concert World Tour for the first of their two night stay in Chicago. Personally I have been a fan of Il Divo since their self-titled first album back in 2004, like most other women that fell in love with the group over the years the one song that caught my attention back then was the Spanish cover of Unbreak My Heart as sung by Toni Braxton: Regresa a Mi.
Still so good and dare I say it probably even better live. The staging for their current world tour is very similar to their DVD concert Live in London.
For that particular number the men dressed down a wee bit from their normal full Armani suits and serenaded the crowd… but one of the songs that they opened with was their rendition of Come What May from Moulin Rouge.
Their music repetoire to me appears to stretch across a vast variety of styles and songs, going from balladic pop (like Unbreak My Heart and Unchained Melody) to musical theatre (Impossible Dream, Somewhere), Latin / dance (La Vida Sin Amor) to other popera songs (Time to Say Goodbye). Their latest album and tour set list also largely reflects their expanding repetoire though if I were honest I would have liked to have heard more songs / music in the vein of the Latin / dance song: La Vida Sin Amor. However, this quartet isn’t known for their Latin roots, but rather for their romantic classical sound so I can’t complain too much since that is the sound that drew me to them in the first place. What was another major draw for me? The fact that not all of their songs was in English, in fact the majority of their covers are done in other languages be it Italian, Spanish, or French (as some of the primaries) which is a reflection of the international feel of this group (David is from the United States; Carlos is from Espana; Sebastian is known as the Frenchman in the group while Urs is Swiss).
Taking a look at the released set list for the current World Tour:
ACT ONE
ACT TWO
Come What May
Dove L’Amore
Adagio
Nella fantasia
Medley (La Vida Sin Amor / Ti Amero / Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman / Angelina)
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
Everytime I Look At You
Passera
Unchained Melody
My Way
Senza Parole
Melanconia
Si Tu Mi Amas
Mama
Hallelujah
Crying
Ven A Mi
Regressa Mi
Por Que Tu Me Amas
Somewhere
There have been a few changes and adaptations from this original set list but the majority of the songs are correct. Il Divo balanced some of the songs from their newest album with plenty of old favorites from their previous four albums. They went through the entirety of the spectrum of music while staying true to themselves as artists and performers. They are entertainers in the same vein as the boy bands or pop princesses from the turn of the century but they entertain in their own way that just brings the audience and fans back for more. Continue reading →
