Mr. and Ms. Broadway 2012

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Lots of people made a big impression on the theatre scene in the year just past.  I've been celebrating them each month of the year, and highlighted 20 rising stars just yesterday (HERE).  But these two people had a particularly amazing 2012.

MR. BROADWAY 2012WARREN CARLYLE

What he accomplished in 2012: Well, he started the year with the closing of Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway, which he directed and choreographed, as well as the revival of Follies, for which he provided some excellent choreography ("Who's That Woman?" a particular stand out, along with "The Story of Lucy and Jessie").  Next up: the direction and choreography for Chaplin, which divided critics, but was ambitious and (in my opinion) far more a success than a failure.  And he has ended 2012 with the choreography for the critically-acclaimed revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood and the funny, showstopping dances for the sweet stage version of A Christmas Story: The Musical.  Quite a year, indeed.

Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway

Follies: "The Story of Lucy and Jessie"

Follies: "Who's That Woman?"

Chaplin

Chaplin

The Mystery of Edwin Drood: "Ceylon/A British Subject"

The Mystery of Edwin Drood: "Jasper's Vision"

A Christmas Story: "Ralphie to the Rescue"

A Christmas Story: "A Major Award"

MS. BROADWAY 2012DIANE PAULUS


What she accomplished in 2012:  Perhaps she didn't have quantity in 2012, but she sure left a big mark on the the theatre season.  Despite a public thrashing in the media by no less than Stephen Sondheim, she stuck to her guns and brought a controversial, critically-acclaimed and Tony Award-winning revival of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess to Broadway.  Not everyone loved it (including me) but you have to give credit where it is deserved.  I always admire those who push the envelope.  And she ended the year up north a bit commanding a new production of Pippin, which looks likely for Broadway this year.  A mix of Fosse tradition and Paulus re-imagination (with circus acrobatics, no less), it sure seems like an interesting mix.  2013 could be her year again.

THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS




Pippin





RELATED ARTICLES:

• The Best and Worst of 2012: Performance Categories HERE
• The Joys and Disappointments of 2012 HERE
• The Best and Worst of 2012: Non-performance Categories HERE
• 2012 in Review: Top Broadway News Story #2: Les Miserables (The Movie) HERE
• 2012 in Review: Top Broadway News Story #3: Rebecca HERE

Jeff4.122

2012 in Review: Top Theatre Stories # 1

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HAPPY NEW YEAR, READERS!
Looks like my # 3 story of 2012 could end up being a top story of 2013! (Click HERE)

While the film version of Les Miserables, and now, Rebecca, continue to make headlines in the new year, so too will the top story.  It is a little TV show called Smash that is really probably the most important theatre story of the year.  OK, it isn't breaking any kind of ratings records.  In fact, after a HUGE debut, ratings dwindled.  And then they got better.  And then the network, NBC, ordered a second season.  Considering respectable, but not great, ratings, and better than great (as in enormous) budgetary considerations, the network still renewed it.  Apparently, the prestige of the series, and the steady - and slowly growing - core audience is enough.

Yes, theatre fans, to America at large, our beloved Broadway (and live theatre for that matter) is widely thought of as prestigious.  The biggest national tour conglomerate has "Broadway" in its name, and each city in its network has "Broadway" in its series title, too.  Live theatre continues to have a stellar reputation - a treat that even the middle class can save for for an extra special night out.  Having a Wicked t-shirt is a status symbol in Peoria, and saying you've seen The Lion King anywhere ups your cultural quotient.  And so it makes sense that a TV series about how it is all done would had to the struggling network's "cultural quotient."

American Idol meets Broadway
Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty

The show attracts Oscar, Emmy and, of course, Tony winners.  Faces the nation knows (Angelica Huston,  Katharine McPhee, Debra Messing) easily mix with the top in Broadway talent (Christian Borle, Megan Hilty).  And the guest stars are a heady mix, too - Uma Thurman, Nick Jonas and Bernadette Peters!!??  And the supporting cast was a who's who for us (we?) theatre fans - Will Chase, Brian d'Arcy James, Ann Harada, Savanah Wise, Wesley Taylor and all the best gypsies - Curtis Holbrook, et al.  Broadway actors are finding juicy TV work and can still do a Broadway show since the show films in New York City.

Season 2 starts February 5

This coming season looks, casting wise, to be more of the same - Bernadette is back! - and the cast has added Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and Emmy winner/Tony nominee Sean Hayes, and Broadway darling Jeremy Jordan.  And theatre fans will love seeing Krysta Rodriguez and Andy Mientus in plum roles, too.

Thanks to talent shows like American Idiot and The Voice and scripted shows like Glee and "musical episodes" being done on every network, the country is finally ready to embrace its inner theatre geek.. People can burst into song and dance and no one bats an eye, be it a cover of  "Rumour has It," or a new show tune, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's "Let Me Be Your Star" to begin with.

OK, so the drama moves too fast for a the creation of a real Broadway show, things are too convenient, and the subplots sometimes drag down the rest of the show.  I'm sure we'd all love more backstage drama and production numbers.  BUT, and it is a big one, Broadway is now mainstream much like it used to be in the days of Ed Sullivan and West Side Story.  And it is mainstream in so many other ways - it is all over social media, the soundtrack (not cast recording!) is a HUGE seller, and cast changes make headlines.  The country, it seems, is ready, willing and able to enjoy the drama of creating a show from scratch and all the human drama that goes with it.  Those of us who follow theatre like sports fans follow their stats recognize it isn't realistic.  But it sure is fun seeing the theatre district as a character, enjoying the "in" jokes about Michael Reidel, and strutting our knowledge in front of previously uninterested friends.

Reasons to love Smash: backstage drama...

...big production numbers...

... bigger production numbers...

... and Oscar winners and Times Square are characters!

Anything that puts live theatre in the forefront of the nation's collective consciousness - even people who don't watch it know what Smash is about - is good for the art form we love.  And that's why Smash is the top theatre story of 2012.

New episodes begin on February 5 on NBC.


RELATED ARTICLES:

• Mr and Ms Broadway 2012 HERE
• 20 Unforgettable Performers in 2012 HERE
• The Best and Worst of 2012: Performance Categories HERE
• The Joys and Disappointments of 2012 HERE
• The Best and Worst of 2012: Non-performance Categories HERE
• 2012 in Review: Top Broadway News Story #2: Les Miserables (The Movie) HERE
• 2012 in Review: Top Broadway News Story #3: Rebecca HERE

Jeff4.123

I'm Not Really A Waitress

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I treated myself to a pedicure today, and went with one of my all-time favorite shades: I'm Not Really A Waitress by OPI.  It's the company's biggest selling polish, and for good reason: it's the perfect shade of red with a nice shimmer to it.  Even my husband noticed. Not too shabby!

It's back to school tomorrow for my high schooler and middle schooler, after a long Christmas break. They're less than thrilled, as you might imagine, but I'm looking forward to getting back into our usual routine.

Newsweek's Downward Spiral Continues

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There was a time when I used to enjoy reading Newsweek.  Then came the rise of 24-hour news channels and internet news sites, all providing stunning visuals and breaking news in real time. Weekly news magazines like Newsweek quickly became outdated dinosaurs   The only way for Newsweek to compete and try to stay relevant was to offer in-depth, thoughtful analysis. But, with the rise of political blogs, they lost even more ground.

Now, the folks at Newsweek are just plain desperate.

Their latest cover poses the question: "Why Are Obama's Critics So Dumb?"  Since when did elitist name-calling become a substitute for well-researched journalism? The editors at Newsweek are not even trying to pretend that they're a legitimate source of news anymore. I can't decide if it's more sad than pathetic.

This cover story is just the latest in a long line of questionable choices made by the Newsweek editorial board.  They've taken heat in the past year for their gleefully unflattering covers of Tea Party favorites Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin, but those weren't the worst of it.
For me, the most egregious "jump the shark" moment for Newsweek came when they photoshopped a 14-years-dead-and-gone Princess Diana, digitally aged to appear 50 years old and walking alongside her son's soon-to-be wife, Kate Middleton. A new low that even the sleaziest tabloids have not attempted. Disgusting.

It was a blatant ploy to exploit the late Princess Diana's enduring popularity as a taken-too-soon icon. Almost a decade and a half after her death, Newsweek still couldn't resist going to the well one more time, disregarding the unseemly fact that it was the media's unhealthy obsession with capturing Diana's image that led to her tragic death.

Spotting a Fake PayPal Email -- Don't be fooled!

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I received an email today that was structured to look as though it came from PayPal.

Here's a screen shot (click on the photo to see it larger):


Fortunately, I've heard enough warnings about "phishing" emails to be on the lookout for messages like this one,  that try to trick recipients into clicking on bogus links that will harm your computer and/or attempt to trick you into giving a 3rd party website your PayPal password and account info.

A few tip offs that this one was a fake:

-- It wasn't sent just to me, but to "undisclosed recipients"

-- They did not address me by my first and last name anywhere in the email

-- The return address appears to be from "Service@PayPal.com", but if you click "Show More" for the Sender, the full email address is revealed as noreply@netlogmail.com

-- If you hover over the links embedded in the email, you'll see that they won't take you to a secure page on the PayPal website. Instead, they direct you to another website entirely--one that will likely harm your computer the minute you click the link.

What really annoys me about this email is that they have the nerve to include "helpful" information on how to avoid fraud--and the link they provide to show you their Security Tips takes you right to the same bogus website as all of the other links.

If you receive an email like this, and you aren't sure whether or not it is from the real PayPal site, follow these simple steps:

1.  DO NOT CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS IN THE EMAIL

2.  Forward the email to spoof@paypal.com   Don't send the email as an attachment, and don't change the Subject line....just forward it to PayPal and they will contact you as to whether or not the email is legit or a spoof/scam.

3. Delete the email

You can read more about how to avoid Phishing scams at the real PayPal site HERE

Spotting a Fake PayPal Email -- Don't be fooled!

To contact us Click HERE

I received an email today that was structured to look as though it came from PayPal.

Here's a screen shot (click on the photo to see it larger):


Fortunately, I've heard enough warnings about "phishing" emails to be on the lookout for messages like this one,  that try to trick recipients into clicking on bogus links that will harm your computer and/or attempt to trick you into giving a 3rd party website your PayPal password and account info.

A few tip offs that this one was a fake:

-- It wasn't sent just to me, but to "undisclosed recipients"

-- They did not address me by my first and last name anywhere in the email

-- The return address appears to be from "Service@PayPal.com", but if you click "Show More" for the Sender, the full email address is revealed as noreply@netlogmail.com

-- If you hover over the links embedded in the email, you'll see that they won't take you to a secure page on the PayPal website. Instead, they direct you to another website entirely--one that will likely harm your computer the minute you click the link.

What really annoys me about this email is that they have the nerve to include "helpful" information on how to avoid fraud--and the link they provide to show you their Security Tips takes you right to the same bogus website as all of the other links.

If you receive an email like this, and you aren't sure whether or not it is from the real PayPal site, follow these simple steps:

1.  DO NOT CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS IN THE EMAIL

2.  Forward the email to spoof@paypal.com   Don't send the email as an attachment, and don't change the Subject line....just forward it to PayPal and they will contact you as to whether or not the email is legit or a spoof/scam.

3. Delete the email

You can read more about how to avoid Phishing scams at the real PayPal site HERE

Review: Yonanas Healthy Dessert Maker

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My favorite Christmas gift this year: a Yonanas Healthy Dessert Maker. I'd seen it for sale at Bed, Bath & Beyond, but figured it was just another gimmicky, "As Seen On TV" gadget.  Nevertheless, my curiosity got the best of me, so I put it on my "wish list" for Christmas. Sure enough, Santa was kind enough to bring me one. The machine itself is pretty unimpressive right out of the box, made of black and silver plastic, and decidedly "no frills".  It doesn't even come with a bowl to catch the dessert in.  The recipe book that's included has some basic recipes, some that use bananas and some that don't. Alas, the recipe book I put on my wish list was on back order, so I had to search the internet to find additional variations. 
The concept is pretty simple: take those overripe bananas, peel them and pop them in the freezer, and within 24 hours you can enjoy a frozen dessert that is similar to soft serve ice cream without all of the fat and calories. Considering the fact that I am always looking for ways to eat healthier, and I usually end up turning overripe bananas into decadent banana bread, this seemed like a good alternative.
I've only used it a couple of times, but so far, so good!
The basic recipe uses two frozen bananas, but you can also mix in other types of fruit.  For my first try, I used bananas with a few frozen strawberries and raspberries mixed in. It's important that the fruit be frozen solid, but also that you wait just a few minutes after taking it out of the freezer, so that it's not rock hard when you put it in the machine--otherwise, it takes forever for it to come out. I was a little impatient for the first batch, and some of the fruit came out a little icy, but it was still delicious.
For the second go-round, I followed a recipe I found on the Yonanas website for Berry Chocolate Zin.  It's a combo of frozen bananas, dark chocolate, mixed berries, and frozen cubes of red wine. (Note: My refrigerator/freezer has a built-in ice maker, so I didn't have any ice cube trays in the house. Instead, I improvised and used an empty plastic egg carton container to freeze some leftover wine.  Worked like a charm!).  The bananas weren't quite as frozen as the ones I used in batch #1, so the consistency of this recipe was a lot softer, but still delicious.  
According to the Yonanas website, you can skip the bananas entirely and just use frozen fruit to make sorbet.  I'll give that a try tomorrow and see how it turns out. 
The basic machine costs about $50, although there are "deluxe" versions that come with some accessories.  The machine is very easy-to-clean (the chute disassembles and is dishwasher-safe, but honestly--it only takes a couple of seconds to rinse everything off) and so far, I haven't found anything about it that I don't like.   

UPDATE: I've used this machine a few more times, and still love it. You can make sorbet by using fruit without bananas, but adding the bananas give you that creamy texture that mimics ice cream and makes the dessert more satisfying. I've also tried adding a little Truvia sweetener at the end, and it makes the dessert even better. 
Here are some photos from tonight's dessert, made with Bananas, Blueberries & Strawberries. The first photo shows the fruit just before I put it in the machine. It's important to be a little patient and wait until the fruit is just starting to thaw--if you put it in the machine while it's still frozen solid, the dessert won't turn out as well, and will have chunks of frozen, icy fruit in it.  
The second photo is what it looks like right out of the machine.  You need to stir it all up to blend the flavors, which is the result you see in the last photo.  Delicious!  

Wise Words from Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.ralph waldo emerson

Review: Microwave Chip Maker from Pampered Chef

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My sister-in-law had a Pampered Chef event awhile back, so I decided to buy their Microwave Chip Maker.  The claim: you can make delicious, crispy potato chips at home in just 2 minutes without ANY fat or oil.  Sounds too good to be true, but the results were surprisingly good!

I've said this before when I review something here on the blog, but it bears repeating: I do not get any sort of compensation of ANY kind from the manufacturers of the products I review. I've been contacted in the past after posting a positive review, with offers of coupons and such, and I never take them up on it. I don't include links or ads or any of that, because I want whoever is reading these reviews to know that I don't have any reason to be anything other than brutally honest when it comes to whether or not this stuff is worth spending your hard-earned money on.

In the case of the Microwave Chip Maker, I have to say--it was a good purchase. I also bought the Simple Slicer, because I don't have a mandolin slicer, and that made a big difference, too. There's no way I would have been able to get such nice, evenly thin slices using my usual old metal grater. I suppose I could have used my food processor with the slicer attachment, but that's a huge pain in the neck to haul out every time you want a quick snack. It's essential that the potatoes be sliced really thin (1mm--setting number 1 on the Pampered Chef Slicer), and that you lay them out on paper towels so that you can blot away the excess moisture.  I salted the slices, waited a few minutes, then dabbed at them with another paper towel to get the rest of the moisture that came through.   They only took about 2 minutes in the microwave, and were every bit as crispy as the ones you buy at the store.

I didn't blot the first batch as well as I did subsequent batches, and two minutes wasn't quite long enough in terms of cooking time.  I also noticed that some batches cooked darker than others, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on the chips and check them as they're cooking.

The instructions say that you can also make sweet potato chips or apple chips, which is something I'll try next time.

A Year in Photos: 365project.org

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I'm not big on making resolutions, but this is something I've been wanting to try: the 365 Project is a free website where you can upload one photo a day for an entire year, journaling your life through photographs.  I've seen friends do something like this on Facebook or Instagram, and this  year, I'm giving it a go.

I'm not going with any particular theme for this project--just planning to snap one photo a day from now till New Year's Eve 2013. I won't be posting them all here, but every once in a while, if you see a photo crop up randomly, you'll know it was from my 365project album.


This was today's photo.  I was trying to take photos of some of the larger fish in my fish tank, but then the little neon tetras at the bottom caught my eye.  There's a large castle in the center of the tank, and then a much smaller one off to the side.  If you saw the entire tank, you'd know that this is the smaller castle, but it's still quite palatial in tiny neon tetra terms.  I like to think that, as far as the neon tetras are concerned, this is not the poor man's castle--it's just the right size for them.  It's all about keeping things in perspective. 

It's Official - BTMRR Closes For Refurbishement Jan. 7

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The rumor has been out there since last summer but Disney finally officially announced the closing of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad January 7 for an extended refurbishment. The iconic ride is not scheduled to reopen until next fall with the reported re-opening being around October 30. What does a 10 month closure of the gigantic ride get you? Officially from Disney (according to Disney Parks Blog) you get a new track (though the ride itself doesn't change). You get new ride vehicles (though it will still be a railroad train - let's hope the same people who designed and built the new Matterhorn vehicles stay as far away as possible). And you get a new paint job on the mountain (though after all these years, I still thought it looked pretty good).
Not quite official, we hear that the passenger loading platform will be rebuilt, the so-called NextGen queue elements will be added for some measure of entertainment for those waiting in line. And most controversial of all is the possibility of the removal of the town of Rainbow Ridge which overlooks the ride and is a remnant of the former mine train attraction that occupied the area decades back.
I don't think I've been on Thunder Mountain Railroad in 3 or 4 years. I tried a couple of times but it seems like every time I was by there and tried, the ride had somehow broken down and not taking on riders. So another 10 months isn't going to kill me. Look forward to the new and (hopefully) improved Thunder Mountain Railroad sometime late next year though....

Future of Disneyland's ToonTown - Disney Dose

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The Disneyland Traveler (that's me) has been asked to contribute some writing to the Disneyland side of  The Disney Dose fan sight. Sure. Happy to do it. Read my first contribution at the link below (well, actually it was my third piece of writing but the other two had some software comparability issues and will be posted in a few days). Hope you enjoy it and all the Disney information the Disney Dose has to offer.
Disney Dose - Future of Disneyland's ToonTown

Disneyland's Christmas Candy Cane Tradition

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Candy Cane Making at Disneyland
A Disney Photo

The making of hand made candy canes at Disneyland's Main St. candy store is a time honored tradition at Christmas time. It is only done on select days and people stand in long lines to get one. They are also probably the most expensive candy canes you will ever buy. The candy canes generally sell out on the days that they are made. The crafting of hand made candy canes is so popular that DCA is making candy canes over in their new Buena Vista St. candy store. Christmas traditions at Disneyland are wonderful.
Here's my deal. I don't like candy canes  :-(

New Years Resolutions - Disney Style

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Ah yes, the annual tradition of making New Years resolutions. Here would be my Disney resolutions in 2013 (and as I sit here right now, really plan to keep, unlike most of my non-Disney resolutions).

• Two trips to Disneyland in 2013. Mrs. DisneylandTraveler blurts it out to me at least 5 times a week "I want to go to Disneyland" - I guess that means we are going. My guess is one trip between late spring and early fall and the second trip coming during next year's holiday season. See you there.

• While I'm at Disneyland in 2013, I hope to cross at least 3 things off My Disney Bucket List (hint: those having to do with food are most likely to be crossed off).

• Start a new Disneyland collectible collection. I don't know what, but I'm going to start collecting something (hint: it won't by pins or vinylmation).

• See the Disney / Pixar / Marvel theatrical releases of The Lone Ranger, Monsters University, Iron Man 3, Saving Mr. Banks, and hopefully a new Muppets movie.

• Avoid seeing Oz: The Great and Powerful (simply because it looks creepy and I'm probably the only person alive who doesn't like The Wizard of Oz).

It's a simple list - perfectly do-able (providing the required funding is available). We shall see, we shall see...

Happy New Year from The Disneyland Traveler.

Walt Disney and A New Years Sentimental Journey

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Walt Disney - Grand Marshall of the 1966 Rose Parade with Mickey
A Disney Photo

You get a lot of fluff with the various Disney Twitter feeds - mostly self-serving promotional material. Once in awhile you get a gem, like today, when the @Disneyland feed tweeted out this photo of Walt Disney and Mickey serving as Grand Marshals of the 1966 New Year's Day Rose Parade in Pasadena. Walt would not live to see another New Years Day passing away in December of 1966. Kind of sad. Kind of thankful for all that he left behind and continues to delight and entertain millions of people. What a legacy.