Anything Goes: Joel Grey’s Next Project
Joel Grey fans will be delighted to see the Academy Award winning star once again gracing Broadway stages in the newest production of “Anything Goes“. This musical revival is also starring the talented Stephanie J. Block, Robert Petkoff, Julie Halston, and Erin Mackey. If that isn’t enough to get your attention, then know this classic musical has music and lyrics by Cole Porter. This is one show worth seeing this year, even if it is a long time favorite or you are seeing it for the very first time
The story sets out innocently enough on an ocean liner ship that is leaving New York and heading to London. Aboard the S.S. America, we soon meet a cast of zany characters including a nightclub singer, a wealthy Lord, a lovesick stowaway, a public enemy and a bevy of sailors who love to tap dance. The heart of the story, like any good story worth telling, is about love. There are plenty of gags and jokes to keep you in stitches, as well as some of the best tunes in a musical today. This is classical musical theater at its best.
You may well know some of this show’s best hits already including “I Get a Kick Out of You”, “It’s De-Lovely”, “You’re the Top”, and of course the famous tune “Anything Goes”. If you’ve never seen the show, but the songs sound familiar it could be because they have been referenced in some major movies. Barbara Streisand herself sings “You’re The Top” in the film What’s Up, Doc? The younger audience today may well know the title song, as it was performed on the popular show Glee.
The show can currently be seen at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York, New York. If you live in the area or are planning a visit, be sure to get your tickets early. For the rest of the US, there is good news! A U.S. tour is scheduled to start in October 2012. This means cities all across the United States will get to enjoy this top tapping musical, right in their hometown! Be sure to keep a lookout as ticket dates and cities have yet to be announced.
Come out and see Joel Grey and the fabulous cast of “Anything Goes”, where anything really does go!
Make Plans to See the Honda Civic Tour: Linkin Park & Mutemath
What can be better than pimping your ride? How about pimping your ride and attending a rock concert at the same time? That’s what they call entertainment! Not only is Honda rocking the entertainment world, but it’s taken up the crusade for ecological sensitivity, energy conservation and sustainable practices. And why not? A Honda will get you 39 miles to a gallon in gas on the open road, and 28 miles per gallon in the city. With today’s gas prices, that’s a very appealing figure. Don’t tell anyone, but the Honda Civic has a hybrid that gets 44 miles to the gallon on the open road or anywhere else you’d want to go. That should definitely make you want to take a tour.
Linkin Park is burning it up, but not in gasoline. The Alternative metal band has become one of the hottest items of the turn of the century with music that combines hip-hop, modern rock and atmospheric electronics. Progressive is the word, and they are progressing into the rap-rock beat made popular by groups like Korn and Limp Bizkit.
Linkin Park titled their debut, “Hybrid Theory”. Wouldn’t you know it? Throwing a few hybrids around makes plenty of sense when you’re teaming up with Honda. Just in case Linkin Park isn’t rocking your socks off, Incubus is adding to the sound waves with their hard rock statements. Co-headlining their tour performance, they will be releasing a new album, “Living Things”, co-produced by legendary producer Rick Rubin, on June 26th.
If you don’t believe Honda can make a sweet ride, you haven’t checked out the sexy little 2012 Honda CR-V. That’s a va-voom that will excite any motoring pulse. While Honda decided to opt toward the conservative side with the new 2012 Civic, and lean away from the sporty look, its interior is built for pure comfort. Located on the Civic’s instrument panel i-MID integrates Bluetooth, fuel economy data and trip information. If you select navigation, which is available on the EX for about $22,000, i-MID will also give navigation instructions.
The Honda Civic remains at the top of the list as one of the most fuel efficient, economical vehicles you can buy, and the Honda Tours knows how to throw a mean concert!
Tiger Woods Wins Memorial and Looks Towards the U.S. Open
“Greatness” is all about perspective when it comes to Tiger Woods and there’s no doubt that after establishing himself as the best golfer in the world, he’s definitely held to different standards. But he looks like he’s starting to get some of that true Tiger greatness back, and starting to match his records of years past; first by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March and this past Sunday, winning the Memorial Tournament.
Some of the old Tiger, indeed. At the last four holes Tiger pulled off some pretty fancy footwork to make a birdie on three of the holes and chipping one in perfectly on the 16th hole — a move that tied him for the lead. Sure his opponents Spencer Levin, Rickie Fowler, and Rory Sabbatini all had their own problems to contend with, problems that definitely helped Tiger in his win. But there’s also no denying that red shirt and all, Tiger was just starting to get back what once made him the best.
But truthfully, he still hasn’t won a major. And until he does, the headlines will always be asking if he’s back, rather than stating it as a fact. It won’t be long until Tiger has the chance to prove himself on the major grounds once again. The 2012 U.S. Open is set to begin on June 14, and while his two tournament wins of the year are definitely going to give him back some of his confidence, it’s only a couple of weeks until we find out if that’s enough.
“Death of a Salesman” is a Huge Success on Broadway!
The Broadway production of Death of a Salesman sounded like a lot of ho-hum to many when it was first announced that it was coming to the Great White Way. It’s a play that’s been done a million times by millions of different people and frankly, there are only so many ways to tell the story. Add to that the fact that it’s not a musical — the bread and butter of Broadway — and people start to get nervous. But the cast led by Philip Seymour Hoffman, and the impeccable direction of Mike Nichols has turned this same-old play into the hottest ticket on Broadway.
With four Tony nominations, a cast that includes not only Hoffman but Linda Edmond, John Glover, and Andrew Garfield (to name just a few,) no one needed to be told that this was one brilliant production. But the Broadway League just confirmed it with the announcement that the play grossed just over $1 million in earnings last week. That’s a record for the Barrymore Theatre where the play is showing — and that’s while running only seven plays a week instead of the typical eight that shows usually see.
The theatre does charge appropriately for what audiences get in return — the average for one of last week’s ticket was $140.68 — something that has allowed investors in the show to already start to see a return on their $3.1 million investment. But the figures certainly back up the brilliance of the show, and those who have seen the show will tell you that every second is worth every penny.
Rock the Bells Festival Goes Retro!
“Rock the Bells” is about to hit a city near you and this year the festival goes retro, bringing you some of the biggest old-school names in hip hop. With a full lineup of global and local artists, this year the Festival’s got something for everyone so grab your Lugz and get ready to break out into some vintage hip hop moves!
The biggest mainstream acts on the Rock the Bells Festival Tour include Nas, Ice Cube, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Naughty by Nature, Salt-N-Pepa, and Redman to name just a few. Fresher acts will also be along for the ride and this year, there are many that are returning from last summer. Acts such as Tyga, Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, and Yelawolf are coming back to the Festival for the second year in a row.
The event was once an annual event held in Southern California but has now become a touring act visiting a few different cities throughout the United States. This year the Festival lands in San Bernardino, California for the weekend of August 18 — 19; is in Mountain View, California for the weekend of August 25 — 26; and moves on to Holmdel, New Jersey for the weekend of September 1 — 2. It’s important for festival-goers to take note that not all the same acts appear on each of the weekends. Full details with all acts at their respective venues, can be found on the Rock The Bells tickets page on the TicketSupply.com website.
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw “Biggest Country Music Concert of the Year”
Everyone knew that when Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, two of the biggest names in country music, teamed up for the first time in over a decade to go on tour, it was going to be something explosive — and ticket sales show it.
The tour, named “Brothers of the Sun,” has already sold more tickets than any other country music tour this year. And in fact, the day they went on sale in December 275,000 tickets were sold on that day alone. Because the tickets have already been available for several months, and because the two are such a highly-anticipated act, fans who want to see them when they stop in their hometown need to act fast. These hot tickets certainly won’t be around for very long and many shows have already sold out.
The tour begins on June 6 in Tampa, Florida at the Raymond James Stadium and from there the duo will stop in over twenty different American cities throughout the summer. The tour will wrap on August 25 in Foxboro, Massachusetts at the Gillette Stadium.
Both artists are known for the thrilling country show they put on with the Oregon Live website saying that seeing Kenny Chesney live is an “escape with a guy who really knows how to show you a good time,” while the Huffington Post site said about Tim McGraw he “has the audience in the palm of his hand.”
Come Enjoy Yummy Variety at the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival
Whether you consider yourself a foodie in love with the culinary scene, or just happen to enjoy a fine meal now and then you may be excited to hear about the Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival. The event is being held July 26th through the 29th, so you still have time to make plans and buy tickets. Over the four days of the festival, you will get to delight your senses with all of the food offerings as well as meet chefs, winemakers, TV personalities and more.
This event is held at the top casinos in the area, Caesars, Harrah’s Resort, and Showboat & Bally’s. Events include a poolside launch party to let everyone get a “taste” of the events to come; a mystery wine tasting that may even leave the experts guessing; a Blues, Brews, and BBQ event, which will of course have hand crafted beer, as well as finger licking barbecue, and live blues music. The Grand Market and Italian Village will be showcasing demonstrations with more delicacies then you’ll ever be able to try. If you are a cookbook collector, don’t miss out buying a brand new book and having it signed by famous chef. In all, there will be over 30 different events to enjoy.
Some of the big names at the events over the four-day festival include Andrew Zimmern, the creator and host of Bizarre Foods America, Nadia G the host of Bitchin Kitchen, and Buddy Valastro the “CakeBoss”. Also, look for Tyler Florence, Robert Irvine, Anne Burrell, Michael Green, Rocky Fino, and other big names in culinary talent. Fans are a buzz as it was just recently announced that butter loving southern queen Paula Deen herself will be joining the other stars at this year’s festival.
If there weren’t already enough reasons to get your taste buds to this festival, how about throwing in some kind acts as well? The festival has collaborated with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey to help spread the word.
The event almost always sells out early, so be sure to book your tickets in advance if you are making plans to attend. Come have some wonderful food and good times at the Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival.
After Selling Out, Fresh Beat Band Adds more Dates!
Ask any parent to belt out a tune called Here We Go, Just Like a Rockstar, or Bananas, and chances are good that they’ll at least start whistling one of the tunes made so popular by the band for pre-schoolers, The Fresh Beat Band. This group is dedicated to getting kids up singing and dancing, and using music in every aspect of their lives. And now, they could be coming to a town near you for the second leg of their tour.
Performing for over 200,000 fans thus far and already being named one of the most successful musical tours of the year, the first leg of the tour sold out incredibly quickly. And not ever wanting to disappoint their biggest, little fans, the band has added more dates. The second leg will begin in Paso Robles, California on July 22, 2012 and will travel throughout 50 different cities including Atlanta, Toledo, New York, Canton, Richmond, and more to put on a total of 70 different performances. Tickets are already on sale and to see if the band is going to be in a town near you, you can find full date and venue listings on the Fresh Beat Band tickets page on TicketSupply.com.
Along the way of the tour all four band members will be present including Kiki, played by Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer; Shout, played by Thomas Hobson; Marina, played by Tara Perry; and Twist, played by Jon Beavers. During the shows the band will perform the biggest hits from all three of the television show’s seasons.
MMVA Nominees Announced
Perhaps because of its street-party venue, or its casual no-host format, the Much Music Video Awards are an awards show that’s highly anticipated every single year. The ceremony showcases the best in music videos that year, and is a chance for fans to watch impromptu, on-the-street interviews with their favorite stars. Fans also vote on many of the categories, making it even more exciting for those watching — and those waiting to hear their name called. Below is a list of the 11 categories included in the MMVAs this year, and the nominees within them.
Video of the Year
- Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe; Down with Webster, She’s Dope; Drake, Headlines
Post-Production of the Year
- Down with Webster, Big Wheels; Marianas Trench, Fallout; Shaun Boothe, Let Me Go
Cinematography of the Year
- City and Colour, Fragile Bird; Hedley F.P. Reign, Invincible; Kreesha Turner, Rock Paper Scissors
Director of the Year
- Aleesia F. Big Sean, Kiss It Bye Bye; Danny Fernadnes F. Josh Ramsay & Belly, Hit Me Up; Down with Webster, Royalty
Pop Video of the Year
- Anjulie, Brand New Chick; Carley Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe; Hedley F.P. Reign, Invincible
MuchLoud Rock Video of the Year
- Arkells, Michigan Left; ****ed Up, Queen of Hearts; Sam Roberts Band, I Feel You
MuchVibe Hip Hop Video of the Year
- A-Game, Cool Boyz; Classified F. Kayo & Jim Cuddy, The Hangover; Drake F. Lil Wayne & Tyga, The Motto
MuchFact Indie Video of the Year
- Arcade Fire, Sprawl II; City and Colour, Fragile Bird; Danny Fernadnes F. Josh Ramsay & Belly, Hit Me Up
International Video of the Year — Artist
- Beyonce, Run the World (Girls); Chris Brown F. Justin Bieber, Next 2 You; David Guetta F. Nicki Minaj, Turn Me On; Kelly Clarkson, Stronger; Lady Gaga, Marry the Night; Nicki Minaj, Starships
International Video of the Year — Group
- Bad Meets Evil F. Bruno Mars, Lighters; Cobra Starship F. Sabi, You Make Me Feel; Coldplay, Paradise; LMFAO, Sexy and I Know It; Maroon 5 F. Christina Aguilera, Moves Like Jagger; One Direction, One Thing
International Video of the Year by a Canadian
- Avril Lavigne, Smile; Drake F. Rihanna, Take Care; Justin Bieber, Boyfriend
Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony that will be held on Sunday, June 17 at 9PM outside of the MuchMusic Headquarters.
Rebecca The Musical: Hitchcock’s Great Contribution to Theater
Rebecca is a story that is timeless and haunting. It was first dreamt up and offered as a novel by Daphne du Maurier in 1938. While many have read the novel, most will be more familiar with the 1940 Academy Award winning movie version directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. Those in love with the gothic tale will be thrilled to hear about yet another way to enjoy this classic with “Rebecca: The Musical” coming to a Broadway stage soon.
The first musical version of this play was done in Germany, with German lyrics by Michael Kunze and music by Sylvester Levay. A U.S. version is now in the works, breathing life once again into the roles of Maxim DeWinter, his charming new wife, and housekeeper Mrs. Danvers. This English version of the musical has a book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton, with Kunze also helping with the English lyrics. The best news is that you don’t have to wait long, the Broadway version of this musical is scheduled for this fall!
Previews for this new play start on October 30th 2012, a fitting time for a ghostly revue. The opening is scheduled for November 18th at the Broadhurst Theatre. This opening date has some nervous as the two main lead roles are still sitting uncast. It was to originally to star Tam Mutu and Sierra Boggess, but due to financial issues the play was pushed back and the stars found leading parts in other musicals. Who will play the millionaire and his wife? There is plenty of speculation but no solid announcements to date. So far the other roles already cast include Karen Mason, James Barbour and Howard McGillin. Songs in this musical version of the play will include “Last Night I Dreamt of Manderley”, “Rebecca” and “I’m Mrs. De Winter” among many others.
Will the ghost of Rebecca haunt the stage, and will the madness of obsession show its face in this musical version of the novel? The only way to find out is to book your Rebecca musical tickets and see for yourself! Who knew the entertainment industry would drag Hitchcock out of his slumber and onto the stage?
