Whatever Wednesday - A Beautiful Noise

Ladies afternoon at Bass Hall to see A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.  We are all fans and were eager to see the show. It was created in collaboration with Neil himself - his story as a kid from Brooklyn who went on to become a musical icon.  Over 120 million albums sold and a catalogue of classics. Plus a few marriages and struggles along the way. 


 

The lead playing young Neil, Nick Fradiani had an uncanny voice.  Close your eyes and it was Neil himself singing. 

So many songs - I love "Cracklin' Rosie", "I'm a Believer", "I Am, I  Said", "Play Me",  "September Morn", "Song Sung Blues", and so  so  many more.  What's your fave?

And of course - the showstopping "Sweet Caroline"... SO GOOD...SO GOOD...!

If the touring  production comes to your town, check out A Beautiful Noise. 

Whatever Wednesday - Shucked

I enjoyed a Sunday matinee at Bass Hall on August  3rd.  Shucked is a Tony Award winning  musical and the road cast is excellent. As you can tell from the title, this is a very corny show.  Seriously, the first song is "Corn".   The lead character's name is Maizy.  Aw, shucks - she is  so sweet, but can she  save the town in Cob County?

Maizy is almost engaged to Beau and he grows the  best corn.  But there's a crop  problem and no answers.  Maizy decides  to be the first person  to actually leave the town to find answers.   She ends up in Tampa, FL.  (Don't ask too many questions. Yes, this is very silly.  But entertaining).  Anyway, she meets Gordy (he's a corn specialist - i.e. scamming  old ladies and their feet) and brings him back to their town.  Oh, there's a lot of jealousy.  Maizy and her best friend Lulu get crossways. 

Lulu (Miki Abraham) stands out. What a voice!  Her song "Independently Owned" was a wow.  And  her duet with Maizy (Danielle Wade) "Best Friends" is gorgeous. 

"Corn Mix" is one of the finale songs.  This  whole show was just  heartfelt, funny, punny, and we left with smiles. 
 

Monday Moments - Six the Musical

 Divorced, beheaded, died...Divorced, beheaded, survived.

Six, the Musical is a lesson in her-story, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into eighty minutes of 21st century  girl power. (program blurb)

I enjoyed this Broadway touring production on  December 2nd at Bass Hall. The Queens sing their version of what really happened. The theme joins into female empowerment and friendship. While there are certain  things  that  are beyond  our control, our past refines  us, not defines  us. (program blurb)

Excellent voices, production, and very clever lyrics.  

RIP Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr

Monday Moments - Hadestown

If you've followed this blog, my friends, you know I love the theater and Bass Hall in Fort Worth, TX.  We are very fortunate to get excellent Broadway touring  companies. Hadestown was no exception. I treated myself to a ticket for a Sunday matinee and was transported to the underworld. It was worth the trip. 

I did my homework ahead of time and reviewed some Greek mythology. This is the story of Hades - God of the dead and ruler  of the underworld. His wife Persephone is the goddess of the seasons. She spends half of the year with him causing fall and winter. The other half is spring and summer above. 

Hermes is the fleet footed guide and messenger of the gods. He transports the souls. 

Orpheus is a beautiful man - son of the muse of epic poetry, lyrical singing, and  plays the lyre. 

He falls for Eurydice - a tree nymph who's bitten by a snake and descends to the underworld where Hades falls  for her.   Orpheus manages to sneak into the underworld to rescue her.  A battle for souls ensues. 

The Fates - three goddesses determine the destinies of mortals.  The Chorus sing, speak, and dance in unison - representing the voice of the citizens. 

All in all  - this musical just hits the soul. The voices are tremendous, the acting superb, the production is tight.  There are a lot of underlying  themes going  on too - there's a lot to think about after it's over. But when it starts with "The road  to hell" and ends with "  Doubt comes in" - oh, you are in for quite a ride. 

Amen and Hallelujah!

 

Dreamgirls

Treated myself to a Sunday matinee musical at Bass Hall.  The Jubilee Theater presented Dreamgirls, and it was fabulous. 

 I had great seats in the orchestra parterre level. 

Dreamgirls was a hit on Broadway and in the movies (starred Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, etc).  It's a tale of music dreams, girl groups, greedy managers, friendship, love, lust, and power. Good songs, dancing,  and amazing voices made this a wonderful  afternoon. 

The signature song, "I'm Not Going, "  sung by Effie (Contessah Irene Davis) is a show-stopper. The woman can SING and this one hit deep in the soul. 

I was glad that Bass Hall was filled to the brim. Folks could witness the talented Jubilee ensemble in a larger lovely setting. The final curtain drew everyone to  their feet.  Fabulous afternoon. 

Showtime - Anastasia

Two Sundays ago, I cleaned up for the theater and treated myself to a matinee musical at Ball Hall. The touring production of Anastasia was topnotch.

In a journey to the past, we see a glorious life in czarist Russia- beauty and splendor. In just a few scenes, shots ring out and the family is dead. Clever scene changes bring us to a young girl sweeping streets for money. She meets two con men who decide she could pass for Anastasia, the young daughter of the Czar. Myth and rumor says she's alive and her grandmother in Paris is offering a reward for her safe return.

Strange circumstances, dreams, comments make this girl more than just a pawn for these men. Maybe?  Just maybe?  She could truly be Princess Anastasia.

The show through song and dance weaves this old tale into magic. Voices were strong. Acting was very good. The sets were gorgeous - one of the prettiest shows I've seen. It was a splendid afternoon where an audience was whisked by theater to Russia and Paris. Anastasia.... I believed in her.

Motown The Musical - a toe tapping Sunday

Get Ready, Get Ready........to tap your toe.......reach out and touch somebody.....ain't no mountain high enough.......ABC, Easy as 1,2,3......it's a Ball of Confusion........but not if you're with My Guy or My Girl

Hitsville USA - the roots of Motown and Berry Gordy. Quite the story and the epitome of the American Dream

Motown the Musical tells the story of Berry Gordy's dream and the soul/pop/R&B glory of so many artists - - Diana Ross and The Supremes, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, Martha & the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Commodores......  The list is endless and the songs are etched in the songbook of my life.

I wanted to be Diana Ross when I saw her on Ed Sullivan. She was exotic and talented and sexy and beautiful.

And Michael Jackson..........oh my goodness - he was an old soul in a young body - so talented with that sweet voice and those dance moves.

I treated myself on Sunday to a ticket in the mezzanine at Bass Hall.  The lights went down, the show went on, and I was tapping my toe.  Bliss, absolute bliss - the voices were extraordinary and the dancing was like air.

I highly recommend Motown The Musical if the show rolls through your town.

Theater Musical - Once

 I took myself to Bass Hall in Fort Worth on Saturday, and treated myself to an orchestra seat to enjoy the musical "Once".  It was originally a movie created by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. A boy and a girl meet - he's Irish, she's Czech and they bond over music for a brief period of time. But once is the spark that changes their lives. It's a nice little love story about chance, dreams, and two cultures.

 Excellent cast and voices. These photos are courtesy of an email from Bass Hall. No photography during the performance!

The musicians were superb and the song "Falling Slowly" is sublime. It won an Academy Award, and it's haunting. If a touring production of "Once" arrives in your town, treat yourself to a ticket and two hours of magic.

Van Cliburn Part 2 (Deux)

More angles of the angels at Bass Hall. So dramatic and such a pretty day for an international piano competition. Thursday 5.28.09 was splendid for a semi-final round and I enjoyed my afternoon immersed in a completely different world. I kept my mouth shut and listened to the musicians, to the audience, and then read the paper for what I should have heard or appreciated.

The kids all sounded great to me. Nary a false note in my humble opinion. I've read reviews that there's grandstanding, or rushing, or a steely sound. Huh?? Mariangela Vacatello (Italy) played a Nocturne for the Left Hand that was awesome. I hope she doesn't lose points just because her right hand rested on the top of the Steinway. Ran Dank (Israel) played chamber music with the Takacs Quartet. He was absolutely fine on his Brahms Piano Quintet in E Minor. The Quartet was a tad annoying - lots of violin drama and shaggy hair shaking. It was hard to see our sensitive young man, but he sounded lovely to me. Finally, Evgeni Bozhanov (Bulgaria) an obvious crowd favorite, proved flamboyant, dramatic, and fun. I personally liked the more "modern" White Lies for Lomax by Bates. It proved intricate, familiar, and intriguing. Hmm - does it sound like I know what I'm talking about. Nah.

All in all, there's pacing. There are sound levels - loud, quiet, playful, and moody. Between movements, the silence is like the white space in a poem. Take your time, pause, and then move on. And there's plenty of drama to keep one's interest. Kinda like writing. Sometimes, there's description and sometimes there's action. Just keep turning the pages and you'll enjoy the full story or experience.

Whew! Check out http://cliburn.org for the live webcast and information. This prestigous competition keeps Ft.Worth Texas on the music map. Kudos to Bass Hall, Sundance Square, Parking lots, and the City of Fort Worth - all an entertainment experience extraordinaire.

Joanne

(hiding her Billy Joel CDs for awhile)

Van Cliburn Part 1

Angel trumpets call. Steinways glisten. Bass Hall, Fort Worth TEXAS beckons - attend the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and you won't be disappointed. Fabulisimo - is that a word?? If not, it is now. Wow!

I know nothing about classical music, but left my writing computer to support the arts. Enter a whole new world, a realm of language with movements, artistry, and some damn fierce tinkling of the ivories. I attended the first semi-final performance this afternoon and was amazed at the skills. I didn't know when to clap - oops, not at the movements, but rather at the full blazing crescendo of sound. Don't cough, don't shuffle your feet, just embrace the sound and swoon - whether it's Beethoven, Brahms, or Liszt.

I'll be honest. I grew up with Billy Joel or Elton John banging the ivories, and I bet these kids could throw out some boogie-woogie. However, I'll discuss in Part 2 - sonatas in a minor key, suites for piano, or a nocturne I really liked. (yea - we're talking left-hand, baby.

I thought about this event and writing. There's a lot of similarities - pacing, drama, and arcs. I'll save that for part II

For anyone reading this in the vicinity of Fort Worth - get out there. Support a superb event and eat a burger at Billy Miners. Yum.

Joanne