I’m a big fan of Terry Teachout’s blog, ArtsJournal: About Last Night, and his entry on the occasion of the new NY production of The Fantasticks is a particularly good one. I like the part about the experience of “making music,” and the nostalgic perfume that pervades the whole piece. Check it out, and you may wind up bookmarking his site like I did.
Archive for August, 2006
Terry Teachout Gets It Right
Thursday, August 24th, 2006The arts are essential to multidisciplinary research and teaching
Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006Interesting piece published on the web by Stanford University, outlining the president’s initiative for a richer arts component in their educational mix:
Arts essential to multidisciplinary research, teaching
On that page, there’s a link to a video clip in which the president of Stanford and several faculty members speak.
Tesori on Mother Courage
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006Here is a multimedia feature in the current New York Times in which Jeanine Tesori talks about creating the music for the Public Theater’s production of “Mother Courage.” And this is a link to Ben Brantley’s review.
A day at the beach
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006
Char and D’Ar at the beach
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.
We just spent the past week with D’Arcy’s sister and brother-in-law, and a more pleasant week would be hard to imagine. Their being here was an incentive for us to sample many of the entertaining and delightful things our city has to offer. We started out last Saturday with a stroll down Doo Wop Avenue looking at classic cars on Passyunk Ave. in our neighborhood. Sunday we took in the final performance of Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam, which was awe-inspiring. Other activities during the week included a trip to the beach at Strathmere for a cloudy stroll by the shore and a pile of Uncle Bill’s Pancakes; a visit to the Barnes Foundation; a trip to the Independence Seaport Museum and a tour of the Olympia (historic steel ocean liner built in 1898) and the Becuna (WW II submarine in pristine condition); street theater at Betsy Ross’s House and a discussion of American values in the Arch Street Friends Meeting House; and everywhere, food, food, food! We finished up the visit in fine style yesterday: coffee and Metropolitan Bakery pastries on the banks of the Schyulkill while watching the scullers to start; then a trip to the Ritz at the Bourse to take in the new film The Illusionist (excellent); and then lunch in Old City at Cuba Libre, where the menu included rum drinks and exotic Havana delicacies. Other people come to Philly to visit, but we get to live here – how cool is that?
The Seatbelts on YouTube
Monday, August 21st, 2006Switching blog hosts
Monday, August 21st, 2006No more blogger – I’ve switched my hosting over to 1&1, where I’ve been hosting my site for several years. There’s a link on the left if you want to investigate their very reasonably priced plans.
Barrymore Nominees announced
Thursday, August 17th, 2006Here’s a link to the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia site, where the 2006 Barrymore nominees are listed. I was tapped again this year for Outstanding Music Direction. Lots of nods for Forum (including Tony, Jeff and Richie Ruiz as well as Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical). As always, a healthy showing by UArts types, including Ben Dibble, Erin Weaver and Mandy Schoonover, and UArts faculty member Lee Ann Etzold is up for the Haas Award. Should be a fun evening in October!
The World According to Greg Palast
Monday, August 14th, 2006If you haven’t read him yet (or lately), check out the website of investigative journalist Greg Palast, whose most recent column asks the musical question: “…if [airport] security�s no joking matter, why does this guy dressed in a high-school marching band outfit tell me to dump my Frappuccino and take off my shoes?” Palast’s articles on the Mexican election, the politics of petroleum, and the scary freaks currently governing our country are funny, provocative and completely disquieting.
Doo-Wop Avenue Today!
Sunday, August 13th, 2006I’m busting out the camera and heading over to the
Doo-Wop Avenue Claasic Car Show and Street Party, taking place around the corner from our house. Look for pix here.
Mileva Trio
Saturday, August 12th, 2006That was so easy (see post below) that I’m posting a second video from “Einstein’s Dreams,” this one a trio of short original songs I wrote for the character of Mileva Maric, Einstein’s wife at the time Lightman’s novel takes place (Einstein’s “annus mirabilis,” 1905). The singers are Abby Grenda, Carleigh Smith and Danielle Westhead; all of them learned these songs overnight and performed them with skill and sang-froid. Thanks, ladies!