The Harry Potter finale…FINALLY!! (updated)

I remember the time many years ago when I sat in the movie theatre and waited for the lights to dim. I was giddy for the movie to start after standing in line for nearly an hour and a half. (Not like the die hards that were there for 5+ hours) The movie was “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

I remember thinking how remarkably close to the book and my imagination that it was. Yeah, the quidditch graphics were pretty corny, but it was new ideas, so I didn’t care. I could not get my head around how well the story translated to the screen. I mean right off the page, it felt like.

Granted, Harry, Ron and some of the other kids, weren’t stellar actors in that first movie, but they seemed to get the hang of it after the second movie. Emma Watson was an exception though. She’s a very talented gal. They still took me to a land far away filled with magic and mischief and a little danger. And I loved every minute of it.

Tonight, I am going to see how it all ends. Aside from the first two or three books, I haven’t read the series, so I have no idea what to expect. Since they (the books) came out with so much time in between, I basically forgot about them. I will tell you though that I’ll be pretty disappointed if there aren’t any surprises.

So here’s to you Ms. Rowling for a fabulous ride!! Cheers!

UPDATE: “I want to see it again!!” Those were my exact words when we stepped out into the night air after the early viewing of “Deathly Hallows Part 2.” Once again the world of J.K. Rowling made me long to be a wizard. As I saw nearly everyone from the past movies, I secretly (well I guess not so much now) wished that this wasn’t the last. There were unexpected moments so I wasn’t let down. Although I did wish the final battle with Voldemort was a little more intense. If you haven’t read the last book, you are still going to enjoy the film. If you have, I think you’re gonna love it.

I still want to see it again!!

♩♩♫ What’s Love Got To Do, Got To Do With It? ♪♬♩♩

Only EVERYTHING!!!

If you aren’t doing something that you love, you need to step back and reassess some stuff. Having celebrated yet another birthday at the beginning of the month, I contemplated my reality vs. my wishes and I know that something has to give somewhere or I am going to lose my ever-loving mind.

I have since done such a thing. Hence my absence from Facebook and this site. I have to admit that at first I was scared and the mere thought of looking at my life with a magnifying glass made me sweat like I was running for my life. In some senses, I guess one could say that I was, er…am. I’ve even gone so far as to reassemble my Dayrunner and actually have appointments written in it. Not like the time I bought it and left it completely blank. I think the most exciting part of buying it was that first time I got to put everything together.

I’ve refocused my energies back into the things that I love the most. Of course, I’m sure you all know that it’s the Arts. Dance classes are going really well. The drive is kind of a pain because of the amount of gas it takes. Don’t get me wrong, I love being in the car. I think I am part dog when it comes to that respect. It’s just so fun! I still feel out of sync with some stuff because they are in the middle of learning routines. Having to jump in and learn on the fly has been challenging, but I am finding that the more that I figure out the steps and get them right the more excited I feel about trying to figure out the rest of the dance. I appreciate the positive feedback that I am getting, but part of me sometimes feels like it’s only because I am one of the few guys in the studio. I am giddy for the corrections that I know I need.

I’m trying to find the best course of action to take for a vocal coach and an acting studio to work with on a consistent basis. Here’s the problem, they are always SO expensive!! Finding a teacher that I can afford with some sort of steady training would be wonderful, but when the ends are just barely meeting, it’s kinda tough to find a way to stretch the funds. It’s gonna take some creative budgeting, and I’ve never really done well with sticking to a budget, so I smell trouble.

But because I love this stuff, I’ve decided that it must be done.

Hey all you Patriot fans…

(PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FACEBOOK FRIENDS)

Every now and then I get an email or a flyer that tries to appeal to my softer side. It says things like “theatre performers should go and see other people’s shows also” or “I saw your show, so come and see mine.” I try to get out and see as many shows as I can, but due to time and money, sometimes things don’t always work out. (Sorry Jillian, I really wanted to see your show. Srsly!) Most of the time the flyer is for a company that has a lot of support already.

Today I got a note, and I would like to try and spread the word to help out this time.

Lyric Theatre needs to sell 200 seats in the next 3 days!! If the seats aren’t sold, they stand to lose a large sum of money that could potentially affect their ability of producing a full season next year with all the bells and whistles. Their show “Oh Mr. Sousa” is a tribute to the music he penned. Nothing like supporting an American composer on the day before Independence Day!!

For full details of the show please click HERE.

I am asking that if at all possible to “Share” this post on Facebook or Twitter to help out our local arts scene. Thanks a million for your help!!

♫ I’m Jean Valjean ♪ Bub! ✷Snikt✷

Well, maybe not yet…

You know, when I watch the old MGM or Universal musicals I feel like I was totally born in the wrong era. To be a dancer in any of those massive production numbers would be my idea of a fabulous time! To dance in the same room as Gene Kelly, one of my heroes, or Danny Kaye, another wonderful performer, or Ann Miller, or Cyd Charise, or… (I could go on and on) would be bliss I tells ya!

Fast forward to the present and we see that somehow, the musical has luckily found it’s way back to Hollywood. While it hasn’t always been as amazing (Rent, Phantom of the Opera) as some of the movie musicals back in it’s heyday, the fact that musicals are becoming more accessible to the people that can’t afford to always pay $60+ to sit in the nose bleed section to “see” a show, has me jumping for joy. Movies like Hairspray, Mamma Mia, and the Oscar winning Chicago have helped to bring more musicals to the silver screen. Not only that, these metamorphoses from Broadway stage show to movie musical have featured some of the most emotionally diverse array of casting that leave you wanting more or wanting to punch the star in the throat (Yeah, I’m talking to you, Pierce Brosnan!)

Hushed whispers have been circulating here and there that the head honchos of Universal, director Tom Hooper, and the big wigs at Working Title have set their sights on Hugh Jackman for the lead in their planned production of the Broadway mega-hit Les Miserables. No negotiations have been made as of this time, so it’s still just rumors. But still, how awesome would it be to have Wolverine play a man on the run trying to redeem himself for his past and creating a new virtuous life. Wait, is that redundant?

In any case, Jackman is a talented man, so it’s certain that he’ll do a decent job singing this incredible role. But, guess who has actually read for the role of Javert and sang some of the songs from the show? Mr. Paul Bettany!! If anyone looks like a strict policeman without a heart, it’s Bettany. HOWEVER, just looking at the stature of the two men, either Jackman needs to slim down or Bettany needs to bulk up. I feel like these two character are similar, but on opposite sides of the “law.” To me, I would like to see the characters portrayed nearly identical in strength and intensity. Jackman is always gonna be a badass in my book, so it’s already a little lopsided. I’m just sayin’.

The script is already completed for Les Miserables, so the movie is gonna happen.

Another movie that’s HAPPENING is Rock Of Ages!! With Tom Cruise as the lead, I can’t wait to see if he’s gonna need a throat punch as well or if I am going to want to watch it again. I think this is an amazing snap shot. I just hope that the voice behind it matches.

It’s back on track. Congrats to the new Spider-Man team!

I’ve just spent, at the very least, the last half hour reading the updated reviews of “Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark.” I am delighted to say that it seems to me that people are beginning to change their minds about this once cursed production.

After reading a review of the show, it piqued my interest to see if other people felt the same way. The article says that thanks to the reworking of the script to give it more of a complete solid story, that made all the difference. One of the main issues was with the character of Arachne, who had such a large role through the show one would think the show was about her. The rewrites have pulled back the character so she’s more like a spirit guide for Peter Parker.

Now there’s also no Greek chorus. The Greek Chorus, while it’s been around forever, it seems to recently be making the rounds on Broadway, from Legally Blonde to Xanadu to Priscilla. Not that I minded them in the first two shows, but not so much in the latter.

It’s still up in the air how well Spider Man will do, but at least it won’t be the big disappointment that was originally forecast.

Here’s to a good multi-year run! Cheers.