La Cage aux Folles @ Phoenix Theatre

On Saturday afternoon was part two of my Ollie at ASU Phoenix Theatre Series Course where we had another insightful talk with Pasha Yamotahari the Phoenix Theatre's Director of Production, and then we saw the full theatrical production of La Cage aux Folles.   I loved getting a "behind the scenes" course on this production...it made it even more impressive when you know all what goes into getting an elaborate musical like this on stage. 

This was the third time I have seen the musical La Cage.  I saw it for the first time in New York in June of 1985 at the Palace Theatre with the original Albin played by George Hearn, and Van Johnson playing Georges.  This was my first time visiting New York, and I went with three girlfriends for my bachelorette weekend...I was getting married later in the summer.  Since there was no internet back then, it took a little more time planning and researching a vacation, so we divided up the responsibilities. One friend was in charge of booking us the best airfare and hotel to stay.  Another friend researched restaurants and the best clubs for us to visit.  Another friend was in charge of researching sightseeing activities, museums and shopping.  Since it was my bachelorette weekend I picked to research and book what was the most important to me...Broadway shows.  We only had time to see two shows but I knew the one show we were definitely going to see was La Cage aux Folles which recently won the Tony Award for Best Musical.  And back in 1985 La Cage did not disappoint...it was like nothing I had ever seen before...it was big, flashy, very funny, but most of all it was extremely moving and inspiring with its message of LOVE.

Twenty-eight years later seeing it again, La Cage is just as touching to me, and once again brought me to tears with this beautiful love story, and also with the love of family.  The Phoenix Theatre production was absolutely outstanding.  The entire cast really shined thanks to their enormous talent.  Plus, the fabulous costumes, set design and lighting made this production extraordinary.

Check out the lighting, costumes and sets  HERE...there're all fabulous! 

Also, check out those high kicks from those men? women?...see the show for yourself and find out.

 

Disney The Little Mermaid @ Desert Stages Theatre

 

On Saturday afternoon I attended the 1:00 pm show of Desert Stages Production of The Little Mermaid.  Since I don't have children, I have never seen the Disney movie.  Well, I have seen bits and pieces of it numerous times while baby sitting my good friends daughter who is now 26 years old, but never saw the movie all the way through.  So as usual I got the DVD from the library and watched it before seeing the musical. 

 

I brought my very good friend from Chicago with me, who now lives here in Arizona.  She also does not have any kids, but like me...is a BIG kid herself.  This was her first time to Desert Stages Theatre.  When the two kids from the cast came out before the show and sang Happy Birthday to a member of the audience she was already impressed with their zest.  I knew she would be floored by what was to come.  Needless to say she was overwhelmed with all the performances and so was I. 

 

I did not realize it until I came home and read my program, but the actor who played Scuttle, Zachary Denious was the kid who played Oliver in their 2011 production of Oliver!.  I didn't even recognize him...kids grow up so fast.

 

I told my girlfriend to definitely save her program because she will be glad one day when she can prove that she saw the famous actor/actress when they were young and doing a community theatre play.

Fountain Hills Theater ~ The Full Monty ~ Second Viewing

From Left to Right:
Alex Gonzalez, Chad Campbell, William H. Broyles IV,
Andrew Lipman, and Jared Gregg
Not Pictured unfortunately is Jesse Berger as Jerry

ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!
PLEASE!

 

I saw The Full Monty two weeks ago with hubby at the Fountain Hills Theater, and while walking out of the theater I was already thinking of who I could invite with me for a second viewing. This production of this musical was just too good to not see again.  I stated in my last post that there are not enough superlatives to describe this fabulous and talented cast.  This musical is not just fun and entertaining, but the characters will tug at your heart strings, and you become so emotionally invested in them.

 

So for my second viewing this afternoon I invited my friend and neighbor to go along with me.  As we were walking out of the theater she turned around to me and said, "DAMN!  I wish this wasn't their last show.  I know of so many people who would love to see this. "  My sentiments exactly.  So I can only wish and hope that like their hit show The Producers, the Fountain Hills Theater will have  an encore performances of this show over the summer with all the same cast. Come on...do it again... PLEASE.



 

Silhoutte @ The el Pedregal ~ Carefree Sundays

This past week we heard the news that TV star Valerie Harper has a rare type of brain cancer and will live only about three more months.  If I heard this week that I only have three more months to live...what would I be doing with the time I have left?  Exactly what I did today...spending a glorious afternoon listening to one of my favorite bands...Silhouette. If the end is near...what a way to end...on a sweet note.

The Full Monty @ Fountain Hills Theater

On Sunday afternoon I went to see The Full Monty at the Fountain Hills Theater, and I brought hubby with me.  I first saw the film back in 1997 after it was nominated for Best Picture.  It was up against the film Titanic so it did not have a chance in hell to win.  I remember the gist of the film but like always got the DVD from the library to watch it again before seeing the musical version on stage.  I'm glad I saw the film again, because I had forgotten a lot of little key parts. I really enjoyed the movie much more now than I did when I first saw it in 1997, probably because I watched it with the subtitles on, so I could truly follow everything they were saying...their British accents were pretty heavy. The musical version is set in Buffalo New York, so no thick accents.  :-)

Anyway, the Fountain Hills production of The Full Monty in one word....FUN!  I can sincerely say this was the most fun I have had in a live theatre production.  The show was 3 hours long, but it did not feel that long at all because it was so damn fun and entertaining.  Plus, I felt way more emotionally invested in the characters in this production than I did just watching the movie all thanks to one hell of GREAT cast. There are not enough superlatives to describe this cast...every single person in the cast was fantastic.  This is one production I would go see again during its run...it's that good.  So next time I think I will leave hubby home and ask some girlfriends to join me.