Author: Colin Douglas
The UnSanctioned Obama Musical Revue
44—The Musical
Do you remember Joy? Do you remember feeling safe and proud about living in the United States of America? Can you recall what it was like waking up and not reading about some outrageous, late night revengeful rant from an immature, egotistical Chief of State, aimed at anyone who actually has the wellbeing of our country at heart? Remember when it was a pleasure to listen to the intelligent and empathetic voice of a Commander in Chief we actually admired and respected? When hate and anger wasn’t the climate of the sycophants in charge of running this country (into the ground), and the Presidency wasn’t considered a “regime of doom”?
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The Healing Power of Art
A New Brain
Not long after he won two Tony Awards for his 1992 groundbreaking production of FALSETTOS, composer and lyricist William Finn suddenly became ill. At first he was misdiagnosed with a brain tumor. Then later Finn learned that he was suffering from a disease called arteriovenous malformation. Following an extremely risky brain surgery that could’ve either killed him or destroyed his creative talents, Finn not only survived the ordeal but celebrated his survival with creativity. Joining forces with co-book writer, James Lapine, Finn created an autobiographical musical in 1998 entitled A NEW BRAIN. It’s an ode to defeating death, re-evaluating life choices and a glorification of the healing power that art provides.
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Composer, Conductor and Pianist
Rachmaninoff and the Tsar
Sergei Rachmaninoff was an unbelievably creative genius. Seldom does an artist achieve the kind of popularity that Rachmaninoff enjoyed during his own lifetime. In addition to his renowned talent as a composer of Romantic classical music, as well as his brilliance as an accomplished concert pianist, Rachmaninoff became the highly-respected Conductor of Russia’s Bolshoi Theater. However, political turmoil in Russia prompted Rachmaninoff and his family to leave Moscow for Germany and other countries, but he often returned to his homeland again and again. However, following the 1917 Russian Revolution, Rachmaninoff reluctantly decided to leave his homeland for good. He and his family emigrated to America, where they lived on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. There, among his many other achievements, the gifted composer arranged The Star-Spangled Banner to mark the 200th anniversary of Francis Scott Key’s piece that became America’s National Anthem.
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Polyamory, Pythagoras and Pistachios
How To Transcend a Happy Marriage
Where to begin? There’s just so much to unpack in this play that it’s difficult to know where to start. I don’t want to give away any of the delectable morsels of the plot, but suffice it to say that Sarah Ruhl’s two-hour, two-act play features a lot, including polyamory, Pythagoras and some pistachios. But there’s much, much more.
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Time-Honored Traditions
Fiddler on the Roof
We all could use an evening in the theatre to be entertained, inspired and to escape the merciless heat we’re currently experiencing. And given the current climate of this nation, both politically and meteorologically, a good production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is exactly what we need right now. And what we have at Music Theater Works is a great production, filled with new innovations and time-honored Traditions.
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A Fanciful Feel-Good Charmer
Amelie
The walls of Joe Allen’s, one of my favorite restaurants in New York City, are adorned with theatre posters. That’s not unusual for a Broadway eatery, except that the window cards are all from musicals that flopped. If the poster for AMELIE is hanging there it’s because, when it premiered on Broadway five years ago, the musical didn’t do very well. The show only racked up 83 performances before the producers eventually pulled the plug. That’s not what you’d call a smash hit.
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You Can’t Stop the Beat
Hairspray
Do you wanna forget your troubles and just get happy? Well then hurry over to the Grand Theater in Highland Park High School. Bursting with happy hits, heaps of heart and clouds of hairspray for days, Uptown Music Theater’s Summer production is an entertaining, energetic and infectious confection that absolutely should not be missed! It also delivers a strong, positive message about equality. From the snappy opening number, “Good morning Baltimore,” to the show’s rousing finale so filled with pep that “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” this magnificent, multi Tony Award-winning musical comedy is definitely a crowd pleaser for theatergoers of all ages.
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Losing is Not an Option
Billie Jean
“Champions keep playing until they get it right.” That’s how legendary tennis pro Billie Jean King summed up the initiative and motivation that propelled her life and, in fact, her entire career. Losing is not an option because “Victory is fleeting and losing is forever,” Ms. King quipped during a news interview.
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Opposites Attract
True West
As the lights come up, we find Austin at work on his screenplay, sitting at the kitchen counter of his mother’s clean and tidy house. Through the windows we can see that we’re in the picturesque foothills of Southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains, not far from Lost Angeles. All is calm and orderly, but that’s about to change. Lee, Austin’s resentful and ill-tempered estranged older brother, unexpectedly drops in. Swaddled in dirty, sweat-stained clothing and badly in need of a shower and haircut, Lee is clearly the polar opposite of well-groomed, preppy and highly-educated Austin. But as they say, “Opposites Attract.” And by the final curtain of this dark comedy, the kitchen has turned into a ragged desert landscape, the two brothers seem to have swapped identities and they’ve both become part of the wild, True West.
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Being True to Yourself
Arthur & Friends Make a Musical
At Lakewood Elementary School, Mr. Ratburn’s class is getting ready to write and perform a show for everyone in Elwood City. All of Arthur’s classmates are excited, inspired and busy writing stories that showcase an aspect of each kid’s personality. But Arthur, who most of his friends find boring, needs some creative motivation. After envisioning his buddy Buster’s mystery thriller, his friend Muffy’s fashion forward fantasy, Arthur is inspired by his schoolmate Brain’s dinosaur drama and even swayed his little sister DW’s obsession with extraterrestrial aliens, Arthur tries to write a story that’s equally as exciting.
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