The Forrest Theatre Host Jekyll and Hyde

This week at this Forrest Theatre Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde visit the city of Brotherly Love. The book and lyrics of Jekyll and Hyde is by Leslie Briccusse. Music and Co-conceiver Frank Wildhorn and Co-conceiver Stever Cuden characters attack the stage at the Forrest bringing the duality of Jekyll and Hyde to Philadelphia audiences.

The good doctor is played by Constantine Maroulis, best known to the majority of Americans as a finalist on American Idol, but he is also a Broadway veteran of shows like Rock of Ages and The Wedding Singer. Female leads are played by Emmy Award winner Deborah Cox as Lucy and Teal Wicks as Emma, the doctor's fiancée. Cox first appeared on Broadway in the lead role in Elton John and Tim Rice's musical, Aida. She is also a Grammy nominated and multi-platinum recording artist and film and television actress. Wicks is best known for her role in Wicked, where she played Elphaba in the Los Angeles Company of that show.

Should you invest in tickets for Jekyll and Hyde? Fans of Maroulis will buy tickets just to see his performance. And Cox (as well as her understudy Emmy Raver-Lampman who was playing the role the night we were there) are well worth the ticket price. Raver-Lampman as Lucy owned the stage, stealing the show from Maroulis, and showing the audience just how good a 'bad girl' can be. She steals Teal Wicks' thunder as Jekyll/Hyde's fiancée, although when the two sing together they can't be beat. This show is owned by the women in the cast. (Sorry Constantine, loved you in American Idol, but the ladies own the stage in J&H.)

The show was directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun who recently staged Disney's Newsies and he brings the same look and feel to J&H. Lighting by Jeff Croiter and Sound by Ken Travis are also reminiscent of Newsies. Anyone who has seen Newsies will recognize the work of  these three as J&H progresses. (Not that this is a bad thing.)

The show is on it's way to Broadway, and hopefully they'll tighten up on the road. They missed a few opportunities to connect with their audience when a humorous line fell flat, but it's worth the ticket price just to hear Cox or River-Lampman as well as Teal Wicks sing. Some songs could use some work especially early in the show. Also of note, the chorus is Broadway ready, giving a tight and enjoyable performance every time they take the stage. 

Fans of Cox/Raver-Lampman, Teal Wicks, and Maroulis will enjoy the show. Maroulis' fans will think he's been robbed by the ladies in the cast but it's worth it to see his transformation from Jekyll to Hyde.  



**The author was provided with tickets as compensation for posting about Jekyll and Hyde's performances in Philadelphia. Any opinions are her own and have not been changed by the provision of tickets.

Give Teens and Tweens an Experiential Holiday Gift They'll Never Forget

Still stuck on what to get your tween and teen grandchildren for the holidays? Why not give them the gift of Cirque Éloize | iD. Take your whole family to see this innovative experience at the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia the week after Christmas. The new Cirque is full of up to date moves and music sure to appeal to tweens and teens. (and adults alike)

This Cirque show is full of music and moves your grand kids will be familiar with because the show sports the looks of break dancing and the X Games. iD shows off Cirque Eloize's reputation as one of the foremost theatre circus acts combining music, dance, and theatre.

Cirque Éloize | iD will be at the Merriam Theatre in Philadelphia Wednesday, December 26 - Sunday, December 30, 2012. Some dates have matinees as well as evening performances.

These are the perfect tickets to get for tweens and teens when you don't want to buy them some electronic gadget or game but want a family friendly gift where the whole family can go together, Cirque Eloize is it. Tickets are available, priced from $25-$65 so it is possible to take the everyone.

Montreal-based Cirque Eloize has seven productions and has presented them in more then 3,000 performances in 375 cities and 30 countries worldwide. They recently formed a strategic partnership with Cirque du Soleil that will help Cirque Eloize further enhance their presence on the world stage of theater circus productions. So look for Cirque Eloize to come back year after year with a new production.

Take time to buy those tickets today. While the soundtrack may not be your personal favorite, it is sure to be a hit with the grand kids (and even your kids.) And shopping from your seat and not on your feet is so much easier!

**The writer received tickets to see Cirque Eloize iD as compensation for writing this post. The content was not influenced by said tickets and opinions are my own.

Tragedy At Sandy Hook Elementary School

The recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School has brought up the issue of better gun control. But the other and as important issue is how our country views mental illness and how we help our citizens who have mental health problems.

Liza Long recently wrote a blog post called I Am Adam Lanza's Mother and posted it on  The Blue Review and reposted it on The Anarchist Soccer Mom and called it Thinking the Unthinkable.

Her blog post details her day to day life with her 13 year old son who suffers from mental illness. She tells the story of her family's daily life, living with the possibility of her son will have an episode that results in calling paramedics and police and a trip to the local hospital. Where her other children have to run and lock themselves in the car while she attempts to wrestle whatever weapon her son has away from him.

She asked the social worker what her options were to deal with her son's increasingly frequent disturbance. She was told the only way to deal with it was to have him charged with a crime. She quotes the social worker as saying  “If he’s back in the system, they’ll create a paper trail,” he said. “That’s the only way you’re ever going to get anything done. No one will pay attention to you unless you’ve got charges.”

The sadness of having to charge someone who is ill with a crime in order to get the appropriate treatment for them horrifies me. In the United States we are failing our citizens who are mentally ill. Before we have another Sandy Hook or Columbine, let's make a concerted effort to help the mentally ill before they hurt someone. Whether it's their families or others. It's time for a call to arms, not to arm ourselves with guns but to arm our citizens with the knowledge and the power to care for the mentally ill.

Liza Long is an author, musician, and classicist. She is also a single mother of four bright, loved children, one of whom has special needs.

On Stage In Philadelphia

Photo used per Allied-

This week in Philadelphia, Tony award-winning Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet made it's Philadelphia premiere on December 11-December 16, 2012 at the Forrest Theatre. The Forrest in located on Walnut Street and is an easy commute from suburban Philadelphia, South Jersey or Delaware.

Why do you want to call NOW for tickets? This show is the story of a famous recording session when Sam Phillips (better known as the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll) brought together big names Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis for an unforgettable night in the recording studio. The show follows this incredible jam sessions and is filled with over 20 hits you all know like "Blue Suede Shoes," "I Walk The Line," "Fever," "That's All Right," "Great Balls of Fire" and the famed "Hound Dog." Who could resist an evening filled with songs we all know and love?

Get ready for a night of toe tappin' singing and an audience who is dying to sing along with the cast as they see this "Million Dollar Quartet" take the stage and show all the newbies how Rock was REALLY done. We were there opening night and the audience was on their feet, clapping and some singing along as the show came to rousing close.

Yes, we've had some greats since their time, but these are some of the biggest names from the beginning of rock 'n' roll. They showed all the rockers who followed them just how it's done.

While it's not really Elvis, Jerry Lee, Carl or Johnny (that would be quite a trick!) the cast does a great job of taking you back to the '50s and making you feel like you're right there listening to the men who started it all.

It would be hard to say which of the actors gave the best performance. Why? Because it didn't seem like they were acting at all. They literally became their characters, and got the audience to believe they had been transported back to the 1950s as these young men came into their own as artists.

Starring in Million Dollar Quartet are Martin Kay as Jerry Lee Lewis, Robert Britton Lyons as Carl Perkins, Cody Slaughter as Elvis, and David Elkins as Johnny Cash. They rocked the stage singing over twenty great songs. (I listed these artists from stage right to stage left because I was hard put to decide who had given the best performance.) Vince Nappo owned the stage as Sam Phillips the legendary rock 'n' roll promoter and marketer. Kelly Lamont played the part of Dyanne, Elvis' girlfriend and sang some notable songs on her own. Rounding out the cast are Billy Shaffer on drums and Corey Kaiser on base.

The show is directed by Eric Schaeffer, book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. Designs by Derek McLane(scenic design), Howell Binkley(lighting design), Jane Greenwood(costume design), Kai Harada (sound design), and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision.)

Million Dollar Quartet is a story of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations of these young men as they rock their way across the stage telling their tales. Songs ranged from rock to gospel, R&B, and country, this show truly had something for everyone. So get your tickets today, they won't last long!

Get your tickets now. They won't last long!


***Disclosure: This policy is valid from 12 December 2012 This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact  nancycels@aol.com. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content. The owner of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner of this blog receives compensation for some posts or advertisements, she always gives her honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blogger's own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Artisan Living With Autism Makes Beautiful Blankets

Blankets By Brent on Facebook

 

Who is Brent? He's a talented artisan who makes blankets in a variety of colors and sizes. He has been making his blankets for over 20 years. He is also a man who lives with Autism but who has not let it limit him. He's put his creative skills to use and crochets blankets for family, friends and the public to enjoy. He sells his work at the West Grove Farmer's Market and through personal contact.
Visit his small business Facebook page Blankets By Brent.

Brent showing one of his blankets

 

Support Brent's business. Order a blanket from him. The blankets are unique and not quite rectangular in shape. Brent combines colors and designs in each blanket and follows his creative muse. All the blankets are different. Give a gift this winter that will warm your body and your heart.

 

Brent lives in suburban Philadelphia at  Juniper Hill Farms with other men with autism.

Juniper Hill offers a unique opportunity for a small group of men living with autism to experience life on a farm. To find out more about Juniper Hill, you can visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/JuniperHillFarms.

At Juniper Hill Brent helps to take care of the fiber animals and hopes to someday be able to crochet shawls and neck warmers from his own alpaca's fiber. 

 

Holidays, Shopping, Hell? Not Necessarily

 

It's holiday time again and you're headed to the hell, oh I meant the mall to shop. You know the parking lot will be a crush. You are dreading that long walk from the farthest reaches of the parking lot that you know is waiting for you when you get there. What do do? Ah! I have a magical way to get that parking space you want near the door.

 

'How do you do that' you ask? I'll tell you. The best part is not only is it easy, it is free. As you leave your house imagine the entrance you want to park near at the mall. Then imagine the parking space. You know the ones, five spaces from the mall or less. The primo spots. Where it's easy to drop off packages as you shop so you do not have to drag them all over the mall with you. Ah, yes, I see you are familiar with those spaces!

 

As you drive to the mall imagine the spot. Think positively. See it in your head as you drive. When  you get to the mall, ta da! You'll often find that the very spot you imagined is available or a driver who is parked there is just walking away from the entry door. Magic I tell you! And the power of positive thinking too.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to my readers. (Who will likely be parked in my favorite spaces the next time I go to the mall!)

Women Helping Women

I have to admit, I've been very proud of my sex lately. I've watched women bond together to help families suffering through Hurricane Sandy, I've seen women generously getting together to raise money for everything from AIDS research to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to St. Jude's to Cradles to Crayons. And I've seen them generously reaching out to their friends or colleagues on a one on one basis.

What makes women so giving? Why are women always out there willing to help someone in need? Whether storm victims or abuse victims or someone with a child who needs help, I've seen women reach out to help each other in times of need. Women supporting women. Supporting others who are in need.

I have to say, I'm proud of them, all these other women. Some of them are people I know either through business or just casual contacts, some are family, some are total strangers, but all of them have one thing in common--they care. And they do something about it.

I've personally seen people reach out to help my daughter who has a disability or two, but who is really quite capable with a little help from her friends--that's the key. All of us need a little help now and then. You never know when it will be your turn to need help, so it's always time to give help if you can.

So if you can give, just a little, to someone else in need this holiday season please do. And it doesn't have to be monetary giving. Give your time. Your efforts. Your smile. Take the time to listen to someone who is lonely and needs an ear. Those are equally appreciated. I know, we're all busy, but fit it in. Your holidays will be the richer for it.