Les Misérables Now Playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre
Victor Hugo’s venerable classic tale is once again re-imagined on the stage as the equally classic melodramatic musical by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg. Les Misérables is currently busy packing the auditorium at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in the Windy City.
Chicago at this time of year bears a surreal resemblance to Hugo’s 19th-century Paris–it’s the perfect setting for the turbulent story of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his quest for redemption in the midst of a civil war and a nation on the brink of revolution. The Cadillac Palace Theatre presents producer Cameron Mackintosh’s grittier, more realistic take on the material.
This 25th-anniversary production was adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, and given its three-hour running time, the production moves along nicely with its fluid re-envisioning of the original. Everything from the music to the production design to the talent on stage was on full display for a packed house Saturday night. Hugo’s great characters come to life, waxing philosophically on the morality of living under the shadow of a monarch, before unleashing the always-catchy “Master of the House”.
It is filled with emotional gravitas and there are some emotionally brutal moments throughout, and while the production manages to transcend both the original page as well as the stage, audiences have been astounded by this rendition. There are even some seasoned Les Miz fans [and critics] that have been hailing it as Les Miz: The Second Coming.
Les Misérables will be running through December 2. Tickets can be bought for all the shows at TicketSupply.com.
Steelers Fall to Ravens 13-10
This weekend saw the Pittsburgh Steelers get trampled by the Baltimore Ravens in Pittsburgh. The close yet painful loss reminds Steelers’ fans of the loss of their star quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger–who is currently out indefinitely due to shoulder and torso injuries. It was a particularly painful game for Steelers’ quarterback Byron Leftwich, the Roethlisberger sub who got pummeled and couldn’t quite get his offense down the field against a superior display of stoppage by Baltimore’s defense.
Even as the first half came to a close, the Steelers were feeling the pressure. Significant plays were going to be needed by the waning Steelers in the second half, but in the third quarter, Leftwich used up two timeouts after two plays–neither effort yielded any Steelers points–which would’ve been useful in the last five minutes when they could’ve actually used them as Baltimore ran out the clock. Leftwich later told reporters that he “just couldn’t get a rhythm”.
He ended the night with a 46% completion ratio for 201 yards, and he scored on a run. That’s okay. Everyone has an off night. But he also threw an interception and was put down by the Ravens’ defense three times. At one point, Leftwich took a huge hit from Baltimore’s James Ihedigbo, which sidelined him long enough for Pittsburgh doctors assess that he didn’t have any rib damage. Pittsburgh also lost two turnover opportunities with both times resulting in Ravens’ points.
In the end, the Steelers’ missed opportunities, the poor performance by Leftwich, the Ravens‘ overpowering defense in the second-half, and a missing Roethlisberger on the roster resulted in the Steelers chalking up yet another loss.
WWE Superstar Triple-H Talks WrestleMania 29
WrestleMania 29 is coming to the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 7, 2013, and tickets are already on sale. This is an annual event that, according to WWE superstar, Triple-H, is similar to the World Series or the Super Bowl — only better. He talked about why, and what mania-goers can expect, when he recently sat down with the New York Post to talk about the upcoming event.
When the Post asked Triple-H why people should attend the event, if they’re on the fence about buying tickets, he stated, “You don’t have to be a football fan to go to the Super Bowl, and that’s really what this is. There’s Super Bowls, there’s World Series, and there’s WrestleMania. It’s one of those events that just becomes the talk of the world.”
But Triple-H also points to the fact that while you may be able to include Super Bowls in talks about WrestleMania, wrestling does have one thing over football. That’s simply that more people seem to like it. When talking about how the Super Bowl will also be held at MetLife Stadium in 2014, Triple-H goes so far to state that it won’t be nearly as successful as the upcoming WrestleMania.
“I think [the NFL will have big shoes to fill] because we’ve outdrawn the Super Bowl for a little while now in the arenas and stadiums that we’ve followed them in for the Super Bowl. We’ve gone in after and surpassed their ticket sales,” he says.
But it’s more than ticket sales. Triple-H also talks about how WrestleMania simply has much more to offer than any Super Bowl ever could.
“WrestleMania isn’t just a one-night event, it’s a week-long event,” he says. “All of the things we do in the New York-New Jersey area. We’ll have events on both sides of the Hudson. From WrestleMania Axxess, which is our fan event that goes on all week, which is going to be revamped this year with a lot more meet-and-greet and autograph signings with our superstars, which is the biggest part of it. There’s also going to be a VIP experience that allows fans unprecedented access to backstage and the inner workings of what happens on a Monday Night Ray or Pay-Per-View event. That’s going to be a really unique experience. From that taking place at Izod Center to Hall of Fame being at Madison Square Garden, to Raw the next night being back at the Izod Center, to WrestleMania itself, there is going to be stuff that happens all week long. We come in and take over the whole area.”
And while there sure is going to be a lot going on in the New York area during the week of WrestleMania, we refuse to draw a comparison between this event and the Super Bowl. We figure that if you’re in the area, you should attend both!
Mike D’Antoni is the Lakers’ New Head Coach
After former Lakers‘ coach, Mike Brown, was fired on Friday talk immediately began surrounding who would take the position over. It came down to another former Lakers’ coach, Phil Jackson, or former Knicks coach, Mike D’Antoni. For many, Jackson was the obvious choice with multiple championships under his belt; and one who many consider the greatest coach ever in the NBA. But Mike D’Antoni brought something to the table that even Jackson couldn’t — a reputation as being the offense king. And in the end, that’s what the Lakers were looking for.
Truthfully, either coach could be considered as one of the best offensive coaches of all time. But Jackson’s Triangle strategy wasn’t as good a fit for the Lakers as D’Antino’s up-tempo system. Mitch Kupchak, Lakers’ general manager, said that while the Triangle system is effective, he thinks that it may take some of the newer players too long to adapt to it. D’Antino also had one thing that Jackson didn’t — he’s worked with Steve Nash before, in Phoenix, and the two were very successful together. Now, fans are hoping that they’ll bring some of that to the Staples Center, too.
Of course, whenever Dwight Howard’s on a team, you must consider how he’ll work with any new coach he’s asked to. D’Antoni seemed on board there too, says that he’s going to be using Howard a lot in gameplay, and that was also a huge consideration for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant on the other hand, called D’Antoni a “genius” after the hiring was made official; and looks forward to his offensive style of play.
Jay-Z and Coldplay to Collaborate Again on New Year’s Eve Show
Coldplay and Jay-Z may seem like an unlikely matchup to co-headline a show together, especially one as big as a New Year’s Eve show. But in fact it will be the second year in a row that the two have teamed up to perform a special show for the special holiday; and the rapper and Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin are very good friends who are looking forward to ringing in another year together.
The two will co-headline at the Barclays Center on, of course, December 31, 2012; and there are all kinds of reasons to be excited about it. Not only will concert goers get to hear some of the best, past and present, songs from these two great artists; but it’s also the first time Coldplay has performed in NYC in seven years. The same cannot be said for Jay-Z, but anyone who wants to get a taste of what his recently-released album, Live in Brooklyn, sounds like, this is the place to do it. That record was created at the Barclays Center over the span of eight sold-out shows.
Coldplay gave just a hint of how spectacular these two are when they team up together, stating on their website, “This will be the second time in two years that Coldplay has celebrated new year with long-term friend and collaborator Jay-Z, the band having shared the bill with him at a Las Vegas concert in 2010. More recently, Jay-Z performed onstage with Coldplay at the spectacular London 012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony.”
And anyone who had a chance to see it knows just how special it is to watch. Get your Coldplay & Jay-Z tickets today.
Broadway Classics Theatre to Debut Updated ‘Christmas Carol’
A Christmas Carol is one of the most beloved Christmas stories, and one that’s told and retold every holiday season. The Broadway Classics Theatre has put on their own version of the classic story before at the Harrisbug Mall; but this holiday season is your last chance to see them as they bring this charming and hopeful holiday story to life, in a whole new modern way.
Song and dance is what this presentation of Christmas Carol is all about, although all of the underlying storylines are all still there. Ebeneezer Scrooge is still, well, Scrooge — a hateful, greedy man who’s only goal in life is to make as much money as possible. Wanting to bring back some of Scrooge’s Christmas spirit, the three familiar ghosts visit him as he tries to sleep on Christmas Eve and show him how happy his holidays once were; and how miserable they’re about to become.
Alongside the fun (albeit dreary at times) story, the characters in this production sing and dance about stage, bringing new life to Dickens’ tale. Attend this show and you’ll hear songs such as A Christmas Carol, Such a Lot of Humbug, You Gotta Have Money, Ghosts, and You Make Me Happy Tonight.
To catch this modern twist on a classic story, the Broadway Classic’s performance is on at the Harrisburg Mall from November 28 until December 23. Show times vary, but performances are on Friday and Saturday evenings; as well as matinee showings on Sundays and Mondays.
One Direction is the Direction We’re Going!
If you are a tween, have a child who is a tween, or just happen to love a good boy band, then move over Justin Bieber–One Direction is the new craze! The band formed in 2010, getting their first break on the British X Factor TV show. They finished third on the show, but that didn’t stop them from signing with Columbia Records in the US. The band consists of five British and Irish born members, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, and Harry Styles.
“Up All Night” was the band’s first album, which released early this year to much success. Popular hits off of their first album included “What Makes You Beautiful”, “One Thing”, “Gotta Be You”. The band has already sold well over 12 million albums and singles, and they are about to sell a lot more with their newest announcement. The band is all set to release their second album, “Take Me Home” on November 12, 2012.
The first single of the new album, “Live While We’re Young” was released on September 28, 2012. It has been described as a mix of bubblegum pop and pop rock. The message is an upbeat one about living life to its fullest. The song rocketed up to number three in the Billboard Charts, and topped the charts in Ireland. It even dethroned Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend” for the Vevo record’s most views in 24 hours. The next single has been announced as “Little Things” which is scheduled for release in November. Louis Tomlinson also told eager fans that shooting for the video had already begun.
Of course, with a new album also comes a new tour! One Direction has already announced tour dates across the US for the summer months of June, July and August. Fans will want to get their tickets early, or risk not “living while they are young” and instead crying outside the gates of a sold out show. This band is hot and tickets are sure to go quick. Find out when the band will be touring your hometown and buy the best price tickets online today. Be one of the first to hear the boys of One Direction croon the newest songs of their album live and in person!
Cirque du Soleil Brings New Show to Vegas!
Cirque du Soleil is known for putting death-defying stunts and acrobatic twists and turns on some of the best music known today. But now that “Zarkana” has taken up residency in Las Vegas, you now have a chance to see all of it, and take in a good romance story all at the same time.
Music is still a huge part of the show, but it won’t be a soundtrack of The Beatles or Michael Jackson that you’re listening to. Instead, listen closely to the lyrics that magician, Zark, is crooning. This is where the story lies, as he sings about losing his magical powers, along with his lover; and the desperation that he carries with him trying to find each. Of course, that’s just part of it.
With any Cirque du Soleil show you expect to get those inspiring (and unbelievable) trapeze artists, acrobats, and contortionists, and you’ll see them all here, too. All the performers prance and dance around the stage, around a huge net of ropes that has been designed to slightly resemble a spider’s web. This structure allows for the performers to take full advantage of every corner of the stage, and gives them the props they need to perform all of those fantastic feats.
And while some theater-goers may just be hearing about “Zarkana” for the first time, it’s a show that’s been around for a while now. It debuted at Radio City Music Hall in the summer of 2011 before moving on to places like Madrid and Moscow. The show spent this past summer back at Radio City before moving to Las Vegas.
The good news for Cirque fans though is that here it will take up residency at the Aira Resort & Casino, meaning it can be seen over and over again!
Sandy Impacts Broadway, “Glengarry” Hardest Hit
When Hurricane Sandy blew through New Jersey and New York last week, one of the many ramifications she left behind was the cancellation of many Broadway shows. Most shows only suffered a few days of darkness before bringing the lights back up and stating that the show must go on. Glengarry Glen Ross though, one of this season’s most highly-anticipated shows, has pushed back its opening night by an entire month.
When Jeffrey Richards, one of the lead producers on the play, announced that Glengarry would be postponed, he stated that three rehearsals for the play had to be cancelled; and that Thanksgiving also falls in this month, and Richards didn’t want to interfere with the holiday. However, Richards has faced some serious criticism in his decision to delay the opening.
Glengarry has already run almost half of its previews, meaning that it’s been running on Broadway for several weeks now, and several critics have had the chance to see it (and write about it.) Critics, mostly other Broadway producers, claim that the cancellation is one of convenience, as it gives Glengarry more time to garner more ticket sales after receiving rave reviews.
Richards says that’s not the case and that the decision about “delaying opening night is a logistical issue more than anything else.” He also stated that the play isn’t ready to be “frozen” just yet — the time when directors determine that no more changes will be made — and that Sandy was the reason for the delay.
Glengarry Glen Ross was scheduled to officially open this weekend, on November 11. That has now been pushed back to December 8. The good news for disappointed theater-goers is that the run will also be longer due to the postponement, running until January 20, 2013.
Old Tire Swingers to Play Fox Theatre
The Old Tire Swingers are a band known for giving their all and putting their hearts and souls into it, but none are likely to compare to their upcoming show at the Fox Theatre. This Theatre is special, and not just because it puts the band directly in front of their hometown fans. It’s also a very prestigious theater to play in. And that’s something the Swingers aren’t taking lightly as they prepare for their show there this Saturday night.
“We’re just trying to make the Fox show exactly the way we want it to be,” says Nick Kennedy, guitar player and lead singer for the band. “The Fox is definitely special to us. Not everybody gets to go play the Fox. You don’t just call up the owner and say, ‘Hey, we want to play a show.’ The fact that they would even allow us to play there is big for us.”
Not everybody, indeed. The Old Tire Swingers will be only the second local band in the past several years to play the iconic theatre. Poor Man’s Poison, a band that focuses on folk and Americana music, played there this past February to a sold out crowd. There’s little doubt that the Swingers will do the same this Saturday.
If you haven’t seen or heard them yet, make sure you take this chance. The Swingers are known for bringing an old style of bluegrass music, complete with a banjo, upright bass, mandolin, and acoustic guitar. But being from a younger generation, the group puts a unique and modern twist on it, making this music that anyone can relate to.
Tickets are on sale and the show starts at 8 p.m. this Saturday at the Fox Theatre in California. For a truly fun and unforgettable music experience, get your tickets today!
