Tag Archives: theater

Hints of More Disney on Broadway

Music makes Disney great. Who could imagine wishing for a star, longing for a prince to come, or wanting to be a part of a new world without the uplifting swell of the famous scores accompanying those stories? As I’ve implied before, part of Disney’s magic comes from its music, and when that music isn’t strong the movie’s better off not trying to be a musical. It’s no surprise that, given the high quality of most of Disney’s musical movies, many of them have migrated to Broadway. While “The Lion King” continues its reign as Disney’s most popular musical theater … Continue reading →

Washington State Landmark Reopens

My friends from high school moved from Hawaii to Spokane, Washington nine years ago and have never once regretted their decision to do so. Sadly, I’ve only been out to visit once since they’ve moved and had their first child. It’s unfortunate not only because I miss seeing them, but also because Spokane is a beautiful area and I have yet to explore all that it has to offer. One attraction that I am looking forward to visiting the next time I get out there is the legendary Fox Theater. The structure was scheduled to be torn down and replaced … Continue reading →

“Little House on the Prairie–The Musical”

I don’t know if a more dedicated “Little House on the Prairie” fan exists… If my friend Kristine’s husband had consented, my pal would have changed her name to Laura Ingalls Wilder long ago. This is a woman who would rearrange her daily schedule (mind you she has two kids) to watch “Little House” reruns when they aired on local TV up until about a year ago. She has all the books, the books on tape, walls lined with videos she recorded when the show used to air on TBS… no doubt about it; Kristine is a die-hard “Little House” … Continue reading →

Pop Culture Updates: Broadway Strike and Macy’s Parade

It’s official… Broadway stagehands are on strike. I blogged about their actions yesterday; however, at the time I used a mock scenario as an example of how the strike was affecting theatergoers. Then, last night on the news I saw video of the picket lines that went up at theaters around the Times Square area and heard the real-life heartbreaking tales of ticket holders who had traveled thousands of miles and spent hundreds of dollars for shows that went dark yesterday. One story that struck me was about a couple from Washington State who traveled to New York just to … Continue reading →

Broadway Going Dark?

How this for a travel nightmare: You spend hours trying to secure tickets for your family of six to see “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” on Broadway. You fly from Ohio to New York with your spouse and four children; spend thousands of dollars on airfare, hotel, and meals only to find out that a work stoppage by Broadway stagehands means you will not be getting into today’s show. Can you imagine? I made up the aforementioned scenario, but I have no doubt that right now there are hundreds of disappointed children walking around the Big … Continue reading →

Free Summer Movies

Want to take your family to the movies but are put off by the cost? Here are some ways to get to go to the movies for free. The other day, my son was itching to go see a certain movie that features a big green ogre. How could he not? The guy was plastered everywhere, from fast food to toilet paper. I kid you not on that last one. I saw it while visiting a department store last week. Even if I approved of the movie, there was no way I was prepared to spend $50 plus for my … Continue reading →

“Super” Celebrity Broadway and Movie News

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. Hold on. (Cue the screeching tires.) Wrong superhero. Movie fans know by now that “Spider-Man 3” opens in just a few short weeks. The film reunites actors Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson and is expected to be one the summer’s hottest releases. If you’ve seen the trailer for the movie (I just saw it for the first time last night during “Dancing with the Stars”), then you know that the sequel features a black clad Spidey. A bit of irony, I thought, after hearing Spider-Man the musical … Continue reading →

Take Your Kids to the Theater

For most theater companies, the New Year represents the middle of the theatrical season. Many of the smaller, local companies will regularly offer shows specifically tailored for, and geared towards, young children. The productions available in your town may vary in scope from a classic like Beauty and The Beast or Peter Pan to a wildly original and new tale or a revived, slightly less well-known oldie like Frog and Toad. Ticket prices for these kid’s shows are often very affordable and the running times short enough for even those with tiny attention spans. The experience of live theater is … Continue reading →