I read that you enjoy classical music and musicals! Far out! Something all kids should be exposed to (and mine certainly have)! We love opera (Die Meistersinger, La Rondine, Die Zauberflote, Tales of Hoffman, Eugene Onegin. Love them! But we particularly are crazy about all things Sondheim. In fact, we are Sondheads! (My kids are 18 and 15.) (In England we are called Sondheimites, which, I believe is a clever jab at John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, for his malpropism delivered to Oscar Wilde - just love Gilbert and Sullivan as well!) Have you done any Sondheim? I played Squeaky in a very local production of "Assassins!" I loved it. You know they're making a film of "Sweeney Todd," with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, eh? Oh, well. Sasha Baron Cohen is playing Pirelli, and in a stroke of great casting, Alan Rickman is playing the Judge, and Timothy Spall is playing the Beadle. More movie musicals, I say! I keep telling myself, "Tim Burton pulled off Ed Wood, if he can do that he can do anything." But, this is Sweeney Todd for crying out loud! Here's a cute piece from YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWWhFmPZSrE
I hear Patti Lapone is playing Rose in Gypsy this summer. That needs to be seen to be believed! I didn't quite think Bernadette belonged in the part (she'll always be too young). But Patti could be the ultimate Rose!
What musicals/classical music do you love? What have you performed in? What role would you most like to play (you'd probably make a good Sweeney yourself! Frankly, I always saw Alan Rickman playing him, so I guess it's the second best thing to have him as the judge....)? I've been in several Savoyard groups, including the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Society where I wrote parodies with Isaac Asimov and performed with him I think my favorite Savoy opera is "Princess Ida," just to listen to, but "Patience" to perform in!
Keep Musicals Alive! Berlin! Gershwin! Porter! Rogers & Hart! Rogers & Hammerstein! Arlen! Bernstein & friends! Lerner & Lowe! The greatest, Steve! (You'll notice I haven't mentioned Andrew Lloyd Weber...sorry. It's too rock musicky. I like rock music, but it belongs either on a big arena stage or a small cafe, with characters in songs, not singing the songs! Steve knows how to write a show tune! Like no one and everyone!)
Keep that freak flag flying!
Luv,
Kelisha*
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