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25 Şubat 2013 Pazartesi

Broadway's 'Mamma Mia!' tops Concert Association offerings

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Bill Cosby, Sept., 18 Chic Gamine, a vocal quartet from Montreal, Sept. 24 Calo Flamenco, Spanish dance, Oct. 1-2 Concertante, classical chamber ensemble, Oct. 9 "Mamma Mia!," Oct. 14-23 Amstel Saxophone Quartet, from Holland, Oct. 29 American Bluegrass Masters, roots music virtuosos, Nov. 6 Alpin Hong, classical pianist, Nov. 12 The Lost Fingers, acoustic gypsy jazz, Nov. 13 "Nutcracker", Tchaikovsky's holiday ballet, Nov. 26-28 Preservation Hall Jazz Band, returning to present "A Creole Christmas," Dec. 4-5 "Avenue Q," musical with wild puppetry, Jan. 21-27 Bill Charlap, jazz pianist, Jan. 29 Suzanne Vega, folk/pop songstress, Feb. 4 Solas, Irish traditional music, Feb. 18 Calder Quartet, adventurous string quartet, March 5 Chicago City Limits, improv comedy, March 11-12 Branford Marsalis and Terence Blanchard, jazz, March 12 Portland Cello Project, progressive cello band, March 19 Acoustic Africa, world music, April 1 PC Bentley, lecturer and award-winning Time photojournalist, April 27 Blue Man Group

Mar. 22--"Mamma Mia!," the hit Broadway musical based on songs by ABBA, and a return visit by veteran comedian Bill Cosby highlight the 2010-11 schedule of events to presented by the Anchorage Concert Association.

The list, released Sunday night, also features songstress Suzanne Vega, performance artists Blue Man Group, "Avenue Q," another Broadway musical featuring "Sesame Street" style puppets, comedy improv troupe Chicago City Limits and jazz men Branford Marsalis and Terence Blanchard.

Season ticket packages can be purchased at the ACA office, 430 W. Seventh Ave., Suite 200, or by calling 272-1471 during business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. They will be available for purchase online around April 5. Individual ticket sales will start in the summer.

The 2010-2011 Anchorage Concert Association season:

Bill Cosby, Sept., 18

Chic Gamine, a vocal quartet from Montreal, Sept. 24

Calo Flamenco, Spanish dance, Oct. 1-2

Concertante, classical chamber ensemble, Oct. 9

"Mamma Mia!," Oct. 14-23

Amstel Saxophone Quartet, from Holland, Oct. 29

American Bluegrass Masters, roots music virtuosos, Nov. 6

Alpin Hong, classical pianist, Nov. 12

The Lost Fingers, acoustic gypsy jazz, Nov. 13

"Nutcracker", Tchaikovsky's holiday ballet, Nov. 26-28

Preservation Hall Jazz Band, returning to present "A Creole Christmas," Dec. 4-5

"Avenue Q," musical with wild puppetry, Jan. 21-27

Bill Charlap, jazz pianist, Jan. 29

Suzanne Vega, folk/pop songstress, Feb. 4

Solas, Irish traditional music, Feb. 18

Calder Quartet, adventurous string quartet, March 5

Chicago City Limits, improv comedy, March 11-12

Branford Marsalis and Terence Blanchard, jazz, March 12

Portland Cello Project, progressive cello band, March 19

Acoustic Africa, world music, April 1

PC Bentley, lecturer and award-winning Time photojournalist, April 27

Blue Man Group, May 10-15.

Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.

Credit: Anchorage Daily News, Alaska

The Dallas Morning News Lawson Taitte column: 'Billy Elliot' to dance his way to Dallas

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Mar. 22--Young boys will be donning ballet slippers and flying through the air at the Winspear Opera House next season as Billy Elliot The Musical headlines the 2010-11 Lexus Broadway Season, announced today.

The British extravaganza about a British blue-collar kid who wants to dance cleaned up at last year's Tony Awards, winning in 10 categories. Director Stephen Daldry and writer Lee Hall adapted their film for the stage, and Elton John provided the score.

The four-show subscription series includes two other Broadway musicals new to Dallas, plus the first national tour of the Blue Man Group to play theatrical venues rather than arena, and large music facilities.

Rock of Ages, which has been running on Broadway for a year, uses songs by such 1980s groups as Journey, Styx and Twisted Sister to tell a story about a romance between a small-town girl and a big-city rocker. Young Frankenstein was Mel Brooks' 2007 follow-up to The Producers but only ran for 485 performances on the Great White Way.

For its special, nonsubscription holiday show, the Lexus series will present Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! on Dec. 7-12. This musical adaptation was a seasonal hit on Broadway in 2007 and 2008.

It's not really much of a surprise that Billy Elliot will be in the Lexus series at the Winspear rather than the rival Dallas Summer Musicals at Fair Park Music Hall, because one of the Tony-winning boys who play the title role appeared in Winspear's inaugural Broadway gala in October.

The one mystery in both the Lexus and Summer Musicals seasons is why the 2008 Tony winner for best musical, In the Heights, isn't playing either series, although both Houston and Austin will see it next month.

Plan your life: Subscriptions run from $100 to $1,000 and can be purchased at 214-880-0202 or www.attpac.org. Seats for Grinch, currently only available to subscribers, are $30 to $150.Lexus Broadway Series lineup for 2010-11

Mamma mia! Look what's coming to Anchorage stages

The 2010-2011 Anchorage Concert Association season:

Bill Cosby, Sept., 18

Chic Gamine, a vocal quartet from Montreal, Sept. 24

Calo Flamenco, Spanish dance, Oct. 1-2

Concertante, classical chamber ensemble, Oct. 9

"Mamma Mia!," Oct. 14-23

Amstel Saxophone Quartet, from Holland, Oct. 29

American Bluegrass Masters, roots music virtuosos, Nov. 6

Alpin Hong, classical pianist, Nov. 12

The Lost Fingers, acoustic gypsy jazz, Nov. 13

"Nutcracker", Tchaikovsky's holiday ballet, Nov. 26-28

Preservation Hall Jazz Band, returning to present "A Creole Christmas," Dec. 4-5

"Avenue Q," musical with wild puppetry, Jan. 21-27

Bill Charlap, jazz pianist, Jan. 29

Suzanne Vega, folk/pop songstress, Feb. 4

Solas, Irish traditional music, Feb. 18

Calder Quartet, adventurous string quartet, March 5

Chicago City Limits, improv comedy, March 11-12

Branford Marsalis and Terence Blanchard, jazz, March 12

Portland Cello Project, progressive cello band, March 19

Acoustic Africa, world music, April 1

PC Bentley, lecturer and award-winning Time photojournalist, April 27

Blue Man Group, May 10-15.

Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.

Credit: Anchorage Daily News, Alaska

Blue Man Group denies patron's story of abuse

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His voice cracking with emotion, James Srodon recounted Thursday how a camera had been shoved down his throat during a Blue Man Group performance in Chicago, injuring his esophagus and resulting in nightmares.

The Blue Man Group, famous for its actors who don't utter a word, was forced to respond to Srodon's lawsuit, saying it was all just an illusion -- a camera never even entered his throat. In a bit of sleight of hand, as the camera is held near an audience member's mouth, a jumbo video screen switches to a pre-recorded medical video, leading the audience to think it is peering down the individual's throat, the production said.

"We are disappointed that this false claim forces us to reveal the truth behind one of our most popular theatrical devices," Blue Man Productions said in its brief statement.

The producers referred to the comedic bit as the "Esophagus Video" and said it had played out in more than 50,000 performances over the last 15 years.

Srodon's lawyer, Antonio Romanucci, refused to back off the lawsuit's allegations, insisting that while the act might usually be a harmless illusion, it was a "stunt that went too far" for his client.

On Wednesday Srodon, 65, filed the suit in Cook County Circuit Court, seeking unspecified damages for battery, negligence and infliction of emotional stress.

At a news conference Thursday at his lawyer's Loop office, Srodon spoke by telephone from his Los Angeles residence and called the incident a "surprise attack."

On Oct. 8, 2006, Srodon and his 8-year-old grandson were sitting in Row D of the Briar Street Theatre on Chicago's North Side when the room suddenly went dark during the Blue Man Group performance. As two cast members stepped from the stage and entered the audience, he saw one carrying a device with a small light, Srodon said.

One cast member grabbed him from behind and pulled his head back, Srodon said. As his head snapped back, his mouth opened, and the other cast member shoved the camera down his throat, he said.

Srodon said he bit down on the cord holding the camera and slumped in his seat in a bid to escape. But his feet slipped on the floor, still wet from liquids splashed into the audience from earlier during the show. The ordeal was over in less than a minute, he said.

"I was really in a state of shock," Srodon said. "I really actually did not know what had just happened because it was so bizarre."

Srodon said his grandson was visibly shaken, so he later took him to an ice cream shop to calm the boy. There, Srodon said his throat burned as he drank a glass of water.

Srodon said the camera was filthy, covered in "food, liquid and grime," and that he later had his blood tested to ensure he hadn't contracted a disease.

After returning to Los Angeles a few days later, he started to choke and gag as he drove. Doctors determined he had suffered "a traumatic contusion" to the esophagus, his lawyer said.

"It was a very unsettling feeling," Srodon said. "I couldn't eat. I couldn't swallow anything. ... It was just awful."

Srodon's lawyer said he tried unsuccessfully to settle the dispute out of court. Srodon said he decided to file the suit to warn and protect other theatergoers.

But in its statement, Blue Man Group said it was "shocked and surprised" to learn of the lawsuit. The production said it had not yet been served with any legal papers.

Blue Man Group called the "Esophagus Video" a "hilarious and absurd illusion."

"Because the camera never enters the mouth, the execution of this illusion could not possibly put anyone at risk of injury," the statement said.

Relm worth watching: Club hoppin'

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Blue Man Group wants to teach you how to be a megastar in the 2.1 version of its current Megatour.

But the opening act, Mike Relm, is the rising star to keep an eye on.

When Mike Relm first came to Spokane in 2005, he played The B-Side.

Last year the San Francisco video turntablist came through as the opening act for Blue Man Group.

And on Sunday, Relm and the blue boys are back at the Spokane Arena.

The Blue Man Group are unmistakable, but Relm made popular the DVDJ technology where he manipulates video on the screen by scratching a record, taking the art of deejaying to a whole new level by cleverly juggling "Napoleon Dynamite" and AC/DC, or "Reservoir Dogs" and N.W.A., or "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" and Beastie Boys, or "Office Space" and Jimi Hendrix.

It's the kind of candy for the senses that leaves you anticipating where he's going to go next on two levels -- visually and aurally -- spinning within endless loops of cultural clash.

Since last year's Megastar stint with the blue men, Relm has been making penetrating strikes into the mainstream with his pointed pop-culture precision through mixing music with video.

In addition to his run with Blue Man Group, Relm played high profile gigs at Coachella, Bonnaroo, a San Francisco Giants versus Oakland A's game and the closing ceremonies at the Pan Am Games.

Relm produced remixes for Adult Swim in conjunction with the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie, scored a short film for the Disney Channel series "Too Many Robots," and created a four-song mega mix for an episode of Nickelodeon's Yo Gabba Gabba.

He's also doing some international TV acting.

When Relm came to The B-Side the cover was, like, $5.

Tickets for Blue Man Group and Mike Relm are $49, and $85, through TicketsWest, www.ticketswest.com, (509) 325-SEAT.

Club hoppin'

- Find out what sort of chaos ensues when Jamie Maker (The Makers, Burns Like Hellfire) unleashes his brand new experimental project on Saturday at Prago, 201 W. Riverside Ave. DJ Orange is also on the bill. There is a suggested donation of $3.

- Idaho all-ages keytar-rock favorite Unison returns on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to Empyrean Coffee House, 154 S. Madison St., with a slew of support for area songwriter-types and friends Austin Davis, Hillary Susz, A Cryptic, Ending and Billy Versus. Cover to be announced.

- Pour Soi is a new-ish band with veteran members, including ex-players in Six State Bender and Chinese Sky Candy. Given that history, it will be worth checking out when Pour Soi plays at The Blvd., 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. with locals Level and new headturner Oil of Angels. Cover is $5.

24 Şubat 2013 Pazar

Sarah Churman's book "Powered On" is Number One on Amazon

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How impressive. Sarah Churman's book "Powered On" has hit the number one spot on Amazon's best "mover and shaker."

Sarah and I just wanted to shoot out another e-mail saying THANK YOU to all who participated in yesterday's best seller launch on Amazon. By 8pm last night, 'Powered On' earned the best seller title! Sarah's book started out the day ranked #381,773 out of all books on Amazon. She went all the way to spot #361! She got 'best selling biography/memoir' coming in at #64 out of the top 100 best sellers, and eventually earned #1 'mover and shaker' on Amazon books. We are so excited, but more importantly, so grateful for everyone who helped make this happen. We hope everyone who ordered books will enjoy them and return to Amazon to leave a review.

If you want to order Sarah Churman's book, "Powered On", go to Amazon and get one today.

What are the reviews saying in Amazon?

Sarah Churman does an incredible job of taking us into her world of silence along with the challenges of living in a hearing world, bullying, and simple day to day activities that the hearing community takes for granted. She is transparant in sharing her feelings and her journey. It is a beautiful book not just for those effected by deafness but also those facing other serious challenges in life. Thank you Sarah for sharing such a beautiful story.

And that is just one of 29 reviews for a total 5 stars out of 5. Not bad.

Day 22 (Wed): Bird's eye view of Berlin

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We start our first full day in Berlin by catching a train to a nearby major station, Hauptbahnhof. It looks big enough that it will have nearby sights to see. These train stations are just massive. Anyone would think they're going to add another three train lines above the highest most platform. It may just be the local history kicking in but the large stations instill a feeling of grandiose power and authority.

There's not much to see either side of the station but we notice a tourist bureau. I don't want to know the tourist destinations per se; I simply want a map of the city with circles around different districts, such as museums, shopping districts, and some major tourist attractions. I like finding my own way around.

Before we go anywhere, we're both hungry and decide to sit down for some lunch by the river. The head waiter is immensely funny. We can't understand most of what he says but he has such charisma that we hardly need to. Everyone is laughing and having a great time. Cruise ship after cruise ship glides by while we eat our woodfired pizzas.

We come across an photography exhibition along Friedrichstraße. Would you believe it is a exhibition of Australia? No photos allowed. Within the same building is a car display for a very hot and sexy Bugatti, a Bentley, and a Volks Wagen. They're not three brands I would usally put together but to be fair the VW is in a different display. In fact, its display is much more interesting! It showcases renewable energy and their new electric car. I jump on a power-generating bicycle that makes a slot-car drive around a circuit. Fun! Now I'm hot and my calf muscles are tightening. Oops.

We continue around the city and take pictures of some interesting buildings. We also come across a group of dancers, possibly ballet dancers, who are practising outside the Koncert Hall. It's like coming across a practice session of Fame!

One of the most notable tourist attractions in Berlin would have to be the TV tower at Alexanderplatz, which is just around the corner from where we're staying. We find our way to the tower and line up for the quick elevator ride to the top viewing deck. There doesn't seem to be any real city centre or layout. The city is very spread out. It should be interesting tomorrow when we try to find our way around tomorrow.

The hotel is only a few blocks away so we jump in the tram. It's an unlimited ticket, right? I check out the gym and jacuzzi area to compare with the hotel in Copenhagen.

Although this one doesn't have a lap pool, it does have two jacuzzis and a sauna! It's all quite nicely decked out with fairy lights in the ceiling and mood lighting all
around. I hope to use at least one of the jacuzzis while I'm here. Mum and I both agree that this chain of apartment hotels, Adina Apartments, is excellent and we'd both recommend them.

Pics of the day