Today one of my favorite books of all time was published. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo has touched me and many others with the tragic, yet uplifting story. So, that is why today I chose a photo from Paris, France to post. Les Miserables does take place in this city, at parts, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the release of this great book other than a photo of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Even though it wasn’t built then.
Little Shop of Horrors is one of those shows where you can’t help but laugh. Following a young mans chance encounter with getting a strange plant he ends up on a wild goose chase to feed him. After successfully making the dingy flower shop he works in to a hot spot he finds himself digging deeper into murder to feed the talking plant. Dark comedy, mishaps, and adventure abounds when the plant starts to consume more victims with a wild plan of world domination.
J.K. Rowling’s magical world of Harry Potter continues on with mystery. In the second book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, we follow Harry as he returns to school. However, he was warned not to return to Hogwarts. Soon after he learns that there is a beast that has been released from the Chamber of Secrets. Many people fear that Harry is behind attacking staff and students at Hogwarts. Yet, Harry finds himself learning more Lord Voldemort, stuck with a starstruck teacher, and facing off giant spiders. Adventure, wonder, and danger all await Harry Potter and his friends.
Denial
On Sunday June 4, the smell of buttery popcorn filled the air at the Garde Arts Center in New London, Connecticut. With the hit movie Denial playing at 3:00pm there was much planning to be done. Before the show started the sponsors of the show set up trays for a social afterwards containing crackers, cheese and grapes. The film was being sponsored by the members of the 23rd Annual International Film Fest of Eastern Connecticut, which is through the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut.
While the sponsors, who are part of the 23rd Annual International Film Fest of Eastern Connecticut were setting these up, a table for the Solomon Schecter Academy, a Jewish Day school associated with Temple Beth El. With photos showcasing student activities from gardening to basketball, some parents were checking out the school for their own children to possibly attend by walking away with information about the schools mission and information regarding registration.
Other than the patrons admiring the Solomon Schecter Academy, some were asking about future events like Damien Escobar, Michale McDonald, and Garrison Keillor. Several patrons who were parents were looking at the advertisements for Summer on Stage where performances of Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and Beauty Lou and the Country Beast are going to be performed. Through the Missoula Children’ Theater, Summer on Stage at the Garde has become a tradition for many families, with patrons of the Garde looking to make it a tradition for their own.
After patrons finished buying their tickets, the lights dimmed leading many patrons to enter the theater. Once the lights came on the stage a member of the festival came on stage to thank Steve and Jeanne Sigel, volunteers, staff, and board members for sponsoring the festival. Going into further detail announcing how they pick their movies by viewing several of them he started to talk about the movie. By explaining the true story behind the movie Denial about Deborah Lipstadt being sued for libel by Holocaust Denial David Irving and how it affects them all. Showing the movie is a truly brutal reminder of Holocaust denial being a real thing, yet he spoke about a recent trip he made to Germany. He was able to make the connection by showing that Germans have confronted the terrible crime of the Third Reich and the importance of keeping the history of the Holocaust in schools for the very reason of the Shoah never happening again. When he stepped off the stage there was applause with the movie starting to play.
Once the triumphant film was over patrons headed into the lobby to enjoy the reception and discuss the movie they had seen. While enjoying refreshments several patrons remarked on how well the movie was done. Touching on the real life event of an educated woman willing to take on a man trying to distort history seemed to resonate well with the audience. In the end, the Garde Arts made it a memorable event for many citizens of New London County with the grim reminder of the horror of the Holocaust.
Robert Cray Band
Up until Friday May 26, 2017, I had never heard of the Robert Cray Band. How
ever, when I arrived at the Garde Arts Center in New London, Connecticut for the show I found out who he was. With many anxious patrons waiting in the box office lobby to enter inside to pick up their T-shirts and CD’s; while The Wolf 102.3, a local radio station, set up a game for patrons to play as they entered.
Once the doors opened many patrons flooded inside the theater waiting for the show to start. However, many patrons were interested in upcoming shows at the Garde like Garrison Keiler and Michael McDonald. There were some parents there who were interested in the Summer Theater Program where shows like Beauty Lou and the Country Beast, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Cinderella are going to be performed.
With many anxious patrons it was no shock when the lights dimmed for the opening act. After Steve Sigel gave a warm welcome to the audience, the opening act came on. John Fries came to the stage where he entertained many members with his music. After he finished, intermission came with many people taking photos with him in the lobby. During intermission, the was much buzz in the lobby. With the upstairs bar opened, patrons playing the game set up by The Wolf 102.3, which is a wheel that points to a prize, and several patrons purchasing souvenirs nothing was short of stopping the night from happening.
When the lights, finally, flickered to announce The Robert Cray Band was going to come on stage everyone hurried right back into the theater. When the lights dimmed there was applause to the band, who have visited the Garde at least three times before. The moment Robert Cray stepped onstage with his band the audience could not stop having a good time. There were many patrons who were dancing in the aisles while others moved back and forth in their seat. Robert Cray interacted with the audience thanking them for coming out and introducing the members of his band while making many guitar changes.
With all the excitement from the audience, time flew by with the show ending to a standing ovation. Followed by a fantastic encore it seemed as though no one wanted to leave the Garde. When The Robert Cray Band took their final bow many patrons started to head out of the theater, but not without talking about how wonderful the show was. Known for his classic blues music intertwined with a bit of rock and country, I now know who The Robert Cray Band is and I sure won’t forget the name .
Possibly one of the most like time period shows is Downton Abbey. Following a fictional aristocratic family in the United Kingdom, we follow the Crawleys and their servants. Starting off at the beginning of World War I and ending in the Roaring Twenties the Crawleys face times of change.
Disney is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Alan Menken. The well known composer has created several soundtracks for movies like Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Aladdin. On top of some of the most beloved Disney movies he has gone on to compose music for Little Shop of Horrors and Sister Act, both stage musicals. There doesn’t seem to be anything that is stopping Alan Menken from slowing down. His name has a habit of popping up in more movies, musicals, and soundtracks even today.
Photo from pinterest.com
While working at Mohegan Sun this current week a giant car show has come into town. Yes, Barrett Jackson has once returned with their classic car show and auction. The world renowned Barrett Jackson got me thinking about cars and forms of transportation. Well, that is why I chose this photo of two wagons. Once upon a time, there were no cars instead horse and buggy, so to say. Instead, people needed to use a horse instead of a steering wheel. Carriages or wagons, whichever you want to call them, make me think of all the fun and fantastic cars that are at Mohegan Sun this weekend.
There are not too many musicals about a serial killer. In Stephen Sondheims Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street there is tale of a killer with revenge intertwined. Originally known as Benjamin Barker, Sweeney Todd returns to London after being set up on a trumped up charge by the perverted and corrupt Judge Turpin. Turpin in the years since he has been in Australia serving time has raped his wife, who has committed suicide, and now has custody of his daughter, whom he is determined to marry. Sweeney Todd uses his talents while helping out young sailor Anthony, who is in love with his daughter, bringing justice to his family, and finally avenging everything that was taken from him.
One of my favorite all time book series is Harry Potter. Written by J.K. Rowling we are introduced to a magical world like no other. Starting off in the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, we enter Hogwarts.
Harry Potter has lived a miserable life with his aunt, uncle, and cousin. The Dursleys are the only family who he has left and he has spent ten miserable years with them. Well, all of that changes on his eleventh birthday when he finds out he is a wizard. From there he is whisked away to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Finally, he is able to have friends, participate in a sport, and get treated with respect that he has never had. However, as the school year goes on he starts to suspect something sinister is going on. After learning his parents were murdered by the most evil wizard of all time Lord Voldemort, he suspects one of the teachers, Snape, is trying to resurrect him. With the help of his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger he goes to work on stopping this from happening.
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