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REVIEW: ‘MacHomer’ rewards ‘Simpsons’ fans with hyperactive humor

November 6th, 2009, 4:16 pm by twallinger

Rick Miller IS MacHomer (and, oh, 50 others)

“MACHOMER”

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 8

Where: Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theatre, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway

Tickets: $12.50-$35, 255-3232.

Grade: B+

And some people think Robin Williams needs medication…

Rick Miller brings “MacHomer”–his wildly acclaimed, one-man mashup of Shakespeare and the Simpsons–to the Bon Vivant this weekend. And before I get any further, I have to admit that I haven’t seen an episode of “The Simpsons” in my life (yeah, I know, I’ve missed one of the great sitcoms in TV history but, in my defense, I don’t watch much of the tube at all).

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Posted in: Dance • Music • Opera • Theater • Macbeth • Rick Miller • The Simpsons • TheatreWorks | Post a Comment »

Denver launches Arts Week today

November 6th, 2009, 9:21 am by wepstein

This arts bonanza actually can’t be contained in a week. It’s nine days long. Expect plenty of opera, art, concerts, plays … You can read The Denver Post’s overview here.

Posted in: Comedy • Dance • Film • Literature • Music • Opera • Theater • Uncategorized • Denver Arts Week | Post a Comment »

REVIEW: “Wicked” a top-notch spectacle with a not-so wicked second act

October 21st, 2009, 2:57 pm by tmobleymartinez

CHANDRA LEE SCHWARTZ and DONNA VIVINO in "Wicked" / Photo by Joan Marcus

DENVER • Before buying a ticket to “Wicked,” you may want to ask yourself one question: Do I love, like or barely remember “The Wizard of Oz?”

Yes, the performances in “Wicked” are all top-notch and the production explodes on the Buell Theatre stage like a witchy Macy’s parade. But what drives this Tony-nominated über-hit, which plays through Nov. 15, is deep affection for the “Oz” canon.

In fact, if you’re a big enough fan to own a pair of ruby slippers — as at least one member of the packed house did on opening night — more the better.

But even then, this pat distillation of Gregory Maguire’s best-selling book rises only to the level of “Well, I’m glad I finally saw it.” That’s thanks, in large part, to a second act that has some clever moments but flounders to tie up loose ends.

Yes, I was surprised, too.

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Posted in: Dance • Film • Music • Theater • Denver Center for the Performing Arts • The Wizard of Oz • Wicked | 2 Comments »

REVIEW: Buell’s ‘Wicked’ not just for tweens

October 14th, 2009, 2:41 pm by twallinger

Chandra Lee Schwartz and Donna Vivino in the First National Tour of "Wicked"

BY TODD WALLINGER
“Wicked” is such a phenomenally successful show (it’s still the #1 show on Broadway six years after it opened) that it has not one, but two tours currently crisscrossing the country.

The First National Tour is what blew into Denver’s Buell Theatre for a six-week stay last Wednesday. It features Donna Vivino as Elphaba (AKA The Wicked Witch of the West) and Chandra Lee Schwartz as Glinda.

Schwartz took over from her predecessor just a few weeks ago, and although she doesn’t have the expressive, powerful vocals of the original Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth, she’s been given some room to play with the character and has made this “good” witch even more humorously ditzy and shallow than the already-legendary Kristin did (think Elle Woods with a wand).

But it’s Vivino’s show from start to finish. Not only can she belt out the big numbers, like “Defying Gravity”, She can also do justice to the softer, more tender emotions in ballads like “I’m Not That Girl”.

On top of that, she lends her character a sympathetic complexity that makes her more than the cartoon that–let’s admit it–Glinda can often be.

I loved seeing how the events of the classic 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” were reinterpreted from Elphaba’s point of view to make her the good guy. I also enjoyed the winking references to some of the film’s most famous lines, such as when Elphaba–who’s on the run from from the authorities–takes refuge in her sister’s bedroom.

“What are you doing here?” the sister asks.

Elphaba’s answer is exquisitely deadpan. “Well, there’s no place like home.”

And then there’s Stephen Schwartz’s clever, tuneful score (speaking of which, why isn’t this composer of “Godspell”, “Pippin” and the animated film “Prince of Egypt” as famous as that Lloyd Webber guy?). The melodies never go where you expect them to and the lyrics are packed with puns, internal rhymes, complicated rhymes (I’m sure he’s the only person in musical theatre history to rhyme “absurd degree” and “verdigris”) and plays on the various meanings of “good”.

No, you don’t have to be a tween to enjoy this smart, fun-loving show. But you do need a heart and a brain.

Posted in: Dance • Theater • Buell Theatre • Chandra Lee Schwartz • Donna Vivino • Stephen Schwartz • Wicked | Post a Comment »

The MAT Keeps It Fresh

September 4th, 2009, 2:21 pm by twallinger

The Manitou Art Theatre has just announced their schedule for the 2009-2010 season and they’re working hard to keep it fresh, cutting back on the number of encore presentations so they can add a whole host of new shows. They’re also emphasizing music more in a new series called Mainstage Extras (included below) and beefing up their class offerings for both kids and adults.

Steve Barta Trio
October 9-October 11

Pianist Steve Barta, who once toured with Herbie Mann and now makes his home in Colorado Springs, blends his lively jazz compositions with an interactive conversation about music and creativity.

Ten Minutes MAX
October 15-October 25

Always fun, this popular show brings back those long lost days of vaudeville with its fast-paced array of monologues, skits, magic and musical acts performed by some of our area’s best talent.

Don’t Shoot Me! I’m Just the Piano Player
November 13-November 14

Australian pianist David Scheel provides his own unique twist on a Borge-inspired blend of classical music and comedy. This ever-changing show might include anything from a tune played in the style of various composers to a concerto based on the 20 worst songs ever written.

The Accident
November 19-November 22

Australian Jonno Katz presents this one-man show about two very different brothers, melding theatre, stand-up comedy, mime and dance in one high-octane blend.

Me, My Stuff and I
January 14-January 17

Barry Smith, who three years ago performed his humorous, if challenging “Jesus in Montana” at the MAT, returns this year in another autobigraphical comedy, this time documenting his lifelong effort to never throw anything away.

Art Dog
February 11-February 21

The world premiere of what promises to be a hilarious farce about a small-town arts council and its quest to find the “proper” piece of public art.

Best of the Fest
March 11-March 14

The MAT folks will be hitting the road to seek out the best stuff from fringe festivals across the US, UK and Canada. Stay tuned to find out what they bring back.

It’s Cody Rivers’ New Show
March 27-March 28

Those Madcap Desconstructionists return in another idiosyncratic blend of song, dance, puppetry and absurdist sketches. I can’t do better than New York Theatre Wire’s description of their comedy: “[t]he closest experience to it would be seeing ‘Waiting for Godot’ performed by Chinese acrobats.”

Six Women Playwrighting Festival
April 8-April 18

The MAT’s 4th annual offering of the winners — all world premieres — from its nationwide playwrighting contest. With the theme of “Mixed Emotions”, this year’s festival promises to offer plenty of both laugh-out-loud comedy and thought-provoking drama.

As always, the MAT is also putting on a wide variety of shows for the young and young at heart.

And, of course, they’re still letting those nutsos from RiP invade their stage the first Saturday of every month.

Posted in: Dance • Music • Theater • Manitou Art Theatre | 1 Comment »

Great art this weekend

September 3rd, 2009, 9:51 am by tmobleymartinez

Get off the couch and into some walking shoes tomorrow night for the First Friday Art Walk.

Not every Art Walk seems worth making the journey, but this one has it all going on. Shows include those at Modbo, Rubbish, the Bridge Gallery, Watch This Space, Smokebrush Gallery, FAC Modern, Copper, Pikes Peak Community College’s Downtown Studio Gallery and even more in Old Colorado City.

If you had to choose on spot, though, I’d hit the railroad-side complex that houses the Bridge Gallery, Smokebrush Gallery and Watch This Space. Besides being only a couple of steps from one to the next, they consistently offer challenging work that you may not like but will definitely make you think.

Posted in: Dance • Music • Bridge Gallery • First Friday Art Walk • Modbo • Smokebrush • Watch This Space | Post a Comment »

Want to find out about a city that respects the arts?

June 2nd, 2009, 5:08 pm by wepstein

COPPeR director Bettina Swigger went on a journey to Austin, Texas, with a bunch of local movers and shakers to find out how the heck the city ignited such a cultural explosion.

See what she found out on her blog.

Posted in: Dance • Film • Literature • Music • Opera • Theater • Visual Arts • Austin • Bettina Swigger • COPPeR | 1 Comment »

Where’s the mayor’s vision about the arts?

June 2nd, 2009, 1:04 pm by wepstein

I just came from the mayor’s annual State of the City luncheon at the Antlers Hilton. (Rubber chicken was great, by the way. Go to our Dining blog to learn more about it.)

Mayor Rivera talked a lot about green industries and athletics, but I didn’t hear one word about arts and culture.

A recent study by the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR) estimated that the nonprofit arts industry and its audience have a $94.7 million economic impact in the greater Colorado Springs area each year and generate 2,639 jobs.

The local athletics presence pales in comparison. Think about it. When a corporation decides to locate offices or headquarters, the quality of the cultural landscape is almost up there with a trained workforce.

In the Dream City: Vision 2020 results I’ve seen so far, a vibrant cultural scene figures in so many of the discussions. I was thrilled to hear the mayor quote from a Mike Moran’s Dream City column about his ideas of a vibrant sports scene here in the year 2020. But I’m surprised I didn’t hear at least a nod to all that’s going on and needs to go on to build an exciting center for the arts.

Posted in: Dance • Film • Literature • Music • Opera • Theater • Visual Arts • Antlers Hilton • COPPeR • Dream City • Mayor Lionel Rivera • Mike Moran • State of the City | Post a Comment »

Pikes Peak Center Goes Full Frontal

May 15th, 2009, 10:26 am by twallinger

I’m not kidding. Next year, in what’s got to be a first, the House That Bee Built is featuring a show with full frontal nudity.

All right, the show is Avenue Q and the naked characters are puppets, but still, you’ve got to give them props for doing something so deliciously un-PC.

Other than that, the Pikes Peak Center’s new season includes the standard mix of crowd-pleasing, if unexciting, musicals and concerts.

The Wedding Singer
November 3-November 4
Music by Matthew Sklar, Lyrics by Chad Beguelin, Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy

Sure, Broadway is taking more and more of its inspiration from the silver screen, but still, this is a bizarre work to be inspired by. One of the big draws of the 1998 movie was the retro 1980’s soundtrack and I’m not sure what’s gained by replacing those wonderful, timeless songs (yes, I’m an old fart) with a bunch of forgettable show tunes. The good news? This time we won’t be subjected to Adam Sandler.

Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance
November 19

It’s got his name but not him–at least not dancing (he’s still listed as producer and director). The rest of the show, however, is largely the same as when it first took the world by storm 13 years ago. After all, what would traditional Celtic dancing be without a few explosions?

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Show
November 22

I’ve always preferred the more personal, neo-Renaissance sound of their Fresh Aire albums (yes, albums–I told you I was old), but of course it’s their synthesizer-driven versions of beloved Christmas classics that have gained them millions of fans (including the rest of my family). They definitely know how to put on a good show.

Avenue Q
Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Book by Jeff Whitty
March 16-March 17

You’ve got to love a show that features barely disguised grown-up versions of Sesame Street puppets singing songs like “If You Were Gay” and “The Internet is for Porn”. I am so there.

The Wizard of Oz
Music by Harold Arlen, Lyrics by E. Y. Harburg, Adapted by John Kane
May 19-May 20

Another stage adaptation of a classic film that begs the question, “Why?”. The answer is that this 1987 Royal Shakespeare Company version, while hewing close to the film in story and dialogue, restores the songs that ended up on the cutting room floor, including the rarely heard “The Jitterburg” and reprises of “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead” and “Over the Rainbow”. All right, maybe that’s not a good enough reason. How about this? Kids are going to love it.

For more information, go to:

http://www.newspaceentertainment.com/coloradosprings/.

Posted in: Dance • Music • Theater • Adam Sandler • Avenue Q • Chad Beguelin • E. Y. Harburg • Fresh Aire • Harold Arlen • Jeff Marx • Jeff Whitty • John Kane • Mannheim Steamroller • Matthew Sklar • Michael Flatley • Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance • Pikes Peak Center • Robert Lopez • Royal Shakespeare Company • The Wedding Singer • The Wizard of Oz • Tim Herlihy | 3 Comments »

A major loss to the local arts community: Springs Magazine shuts down

March 31st, 2009, 3:47 pm by wepstein

Here’s a note from them:

Springs Magazine ceases publication after 27 years of serving arts community.

COLORADO SPRINGS—Sunrise Publishing, Inc., publishers of the Springs Magazine and Bon Vivant announced today that both magazines ceased publication effective March 31, 2009.

According to publisher Michael Gardner, “It was a wrenching decision. In our 27 years of publication we’ve been through a number of lo cal and national downturns but this most recent recession has been different in many ways. As much as associate publisher Sharon Friedman and I wanted to continue serving the region’s arts community the economics of doing so just weren’t there.”

“I know there are other venues for our advertising customers but I still feel bad about not being there for them,” said Friedman, who is also Director of Advertising. “I’ve worked with many of our clients so long that they are like family and I’m going to miss them terribly. I feel so grateful and honored to have been able to have served them for so long.”

Springs Magazine was the region’s oldest and largest monthly magazine devoted to championing the arts. It would have been 28 years old this May. Bon Vivant, its sister publication, was a high-end four-color slick stock direct mailed publication also focused on local art and artists.

“I know everyone is saying print journalism is an artifact of another century, that the Internet is the future. We considered transitioning to an online platform, like many papers are doing, but frankly there are still too few successful models. The Internet may be publishing’s future but it’s not here yet,” said Gardner.

“It’s been an incredible ride,” said Gardner. “I’m very proud of the stories we’ve done along the way, the message we’ve helped to deliver, that the arts are a vital foundation for a successful community.”

“It’s hard to imagine doing anything else,” said Friedman, a sentiment echoed by Gardner. “I believe we still have ink running in our veins. Even though we won’t be publishing news about the arts we still plan to actively support those who are making it,” said Gardner.

Posted in: Dance • Film • Literature • Music • Theater • Visual Arts • Bon Vivant Magazine • Springs Magazine | 2 Comments »