The Lion King at the Eccles

Even though I have seen The Lion King many times (I saw it on Broadway less than a year ago), I don't think that I will ever get tired of it because it is absolutely magical!  I don't think I've ever made it through "Circle of Life" without getting a tear in my eye.  That baby elephant coming up the aisle gets me every time!  I saw the touring company production last night and it ranks right up there with productions I've seen on Broadway and in London.  I enjoyed every minute of it (tears and all).   The stage musical tells the well-known story of how a lion cub learns how to be a king and it includes many of the songs from the animated classic as well as some new ones.  I absolutely love the puppets and prosthetics used to represent the animals.  After a while you don't even see the actors manipulating the puppets.  My favorites are the giraffes and elephants.  The staging is incredible and I especially love the traditional music used as Mufasa and Simba frolic on the grasslands, when Sarabi and the lionesses hunt an antelope, and the wildebeest stampede in the gorge.  I was very impressed with the lead actors in this production and I had goosebumps when Mufasa (Gerald Ramsey) sang "They Live in You" and when Simba (Dashaun Young) sang "Endless Night."  Nia Holloway (as Nala) sang my favorite song, "Shadowland," better than I've ever heard it before.  I also really liked Rafiki (Buyi Zama) and her rendition of "He Lives in You (Reprise)."   My favorite part of seeing The Lion King, as ever, is watching the wonder on the faces of the children as they see all of the animals and this production made me feel like I did the first time I saw it.  It is just so magical!  It will run at the Eccles Theatre until April 16 (go here for tickets) and I highly recommend that you bring the children!

Note:  I think I enjoyed this production more than the one on Broadway because the sound was better.  I could actually hear Scar and the hyenas.  I did, however, miss eating cheesecake at Junior's after the show!

The Lion King at the Eccles

The first time I saw The Lion King was on a theatre trip to London with PTC.  I was so overcome by all of the animals marching down the aisles during "Circle of Life" that I actually shed a tear!  I have since seen in on Broadway and in SLC several times but I don't think I will ever get tired of it!  I had the chance to see it again last night at the Eccles and it was just as magical as the first time (I sat on the aisle and I have to admit that, once again, I had a tear in my eye when the baby elephant walked by me).  This musical tells the well-known story of how a lion cub learns how to be a king and I love everything about it!  The puppets and prosthetics used to represent the animals are absolutely amazing (my favorites are the giraffes and elephants) and after a while you don't even see the actors who are manipulating the puppets any more because they transform themselves so completely.  I also really like the use of light and shadow in many of the scenes, especially during the confrontation with Scar.  The staging is brilliant, especially when Mufasa and Simba frolic on the grasslands, when Sarabi and the lionesses hunt an antelope, when Simba is trapped during the wildebeest stampede in the gorge (it actually looks like the wildebeests are running towards the audience), when Timon falls into the river, and when Mufasa appears to Simba in the stars.  I also really like all of the choreography with the hyenas (I forgot that they come down the aisles during "Chow Down").  Many of the songs from the animated classic are included but there are also some new ones.  I love all of the traditional African music but I got goosebumps when Aaron Nelson, as Mufasa, sang "They Live in You," when Khalifa White, as Nala, sang "Shadowland" (my favorite song in the show), when Darian Sanders, as Simba, sang "Endless Night," and when Gugwana Dlamini, as Rafiki, sang "He Lives in You."  Of course, "Hakuna Matata" with Tony Freeman as Timon and John E. Brady as Pumbaa is a lot of fun and Spencer Plachy as Scar is suitably villainous in "Be Prepared."  I am so happy that I had the chance to see this wonderful show again and I highly recommend getting a ticket during the SLC run (go here for tickets).  I especially recommend it to families because the children all around me were awe-struck by all of the animals!

The Lion King on Broadway

The first time I saw the musical The Lion King, I was on a theatre trip to London so I thought it only fitting to see it again while on a theatre trip to New York!  That first time I was completely overcome by the animals marching down the aisles, especially the elephants, during the opening song "Circle of Life."  I was sitting next to an adorable little old lady who leaned into me and said, "I saw a tear in your eye!"  This time I was sitting near a group of young girls who were seeing it for the first time and and their reaction to the animals made me fall in love with this show all over again!  It is absolutely amazing how the actors transform themselves into the animals with puppets and prosthetics.  After a while you don't even see the actors any more!  The musical tells the well-known story of how the lion cub Simba learns how to be a king with music by Elton John and Tim Rice as well as traditional African music.  I had forgotten how much I loved the traditional music.  I had goosebumps when Mufasa (L. Steven Taylor) performed "They Live in You" and Nala (Chantel Riley) blew the roof off the Minskoff Theatre during "Shadowlands" (my favorite song in the show).  I really enjoyed Rafiki (played by the understudy, Thulisile Thusi) and her rendition of "He Lives in You" was another highlight.  As ever, I was so impressed with how the stampede in the gorge is staged.  It actually seems as if the antelope are running across the stage!  Of course, the scenes with Timon (Fred Berman) and Pumbaa (Ben Jeffrey) were a lot of fun, especially "Hakuna Matata."  My only complaint with this production is that I couldn't hear Scar (Gareth Saxe), Shenzi (Bonita Hamilton), Banzi (James Brown-Orleans) or Ed (Jaysin McCollum) very well so my mind wandered a bit during "Chow Down" and "Be Prepared."  Live theatre, and this show in particular, sometimes has the power to give you a child's sense of wonder for a few hours and I heard both children and adults squealing with delight during many musical numbers, especially the aforementioned animals in "Circle of Life" and the flying birds in "One By One."  I highly recommend seeing this show if you have the opportunity.  It was a lovely evening!

Note:  If you have the chance to see this show on Broadway, I highly suggest going next door to Junior's for cheesecake afterwards.  Some people in my group said that Roxy's had the best cheesecake in New York and one argued strongly in favor of the Carnegie Deli but Junior's definitely has my vote!

Mufasa: The Lion King

Yesterday I went to a matinee of Mufasa: The Lion King and, while it has flaws, I enjoyed it more than most of the critics did.  When Nala (Beyonce Knowles-Carter) is about to give birth during a storm, Simba (Donald Glover) enlists Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) to babysit their daughter Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter).  Rafiki (John Kani) steps in to tell Kiara the story of how her grandfather Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) went from an orphan to the king of the Pride Lands.  When the cub Mufasa is separated from his parents Afia (Anika Noni Rose) and Masego (Keith David) during a flood, he is saved by Taka (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) and taken in by his mother Eshe (Thandiwe Newton) and eventually by his father Obasi (Lennie James), the leader the pride.  Mufasa becomes a surrogate brother to Taka but they are both sent away by Obasi when the pride is attacked by a white lion named Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen) and his group of "Outsiders."  While on the run from Kiros, Mufasa and Taka encounter a lioness named Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), a hornbill named Zazu (Preston Nyman), and a young mandrill named Rafiki (Kagiso Ledigo) who are traveling to the mythological land of Milele and decide to join them.  Taka develops feelings for Sarabi but, when she falls in love with Mufasa, he becomes jealous and leaves marks so Kiros can follow them.  When they reach Milele, Mufasa must unite all of the animals for battle, face Kiros, and deal with Taka's betrayal.  The biggest flaws are the story, which is convoluted and uses a plot device that is very cliched, and the pacing, which becomes tedious whenever it returns to the present with Timon and Pumbaa (who are not funny).  However, I did really enjoy the relationship between Mufasa and Taka as brothers and I think Pierre and Harrison, Jr. do a great job voicing the characters.  The visuals, which showcase many diverse areas, are absolutely stunning, especially the scenes underwater, and the animals have expression and personality which is a vast improvement over the 2019 live action remake.  I really loved the original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, particularly "I Always Wanted a Brother," "We Go Together," and "Tell Me It's You," but I do think the tone of "Bye Bye" is a bit too campy for such a menacing villain.  I liked this (more than Moana 2, the other Disney cash-grab this year) enough to recommend seeing it over the holidays.

NYC!

Times Square in New York City

A few years ago I was able to take a theatre trip to London with Pioneer Theatre Company.  I saw an advertisement for the trip in a playbill and spontaneously signed up to go even though I didn't know a single person who was going and I had to take a week off from school in April.  It was the trip of a lifetime and I have always looked back on this experience with fondness because I got to see a revival of My Fair Lady with Anthony Andrews, a brilliant production of Stones in his Pockets, and an incredible performance of King Lear at the Old Vic with Timothy West (who was amazing) in the title role.  I also got to see The Lion King and Mamma Mia for the first time (I cried when the elephants walked by me in The Lion King).  I literally met my roommate for the first time at the airport but I had a blast running around London with her.

Last fall I saw a similar advertisement in a playbill, this time for a theatre trip to New York City with Hale Centre Theatre.  Once again, I didn't know a single person who was going (including my roommate) and I had to take a week off from school in May (which, in case you were wondering, is not a good time to be gone) but I spontaneously signed up and I am so glad that I did! I got to see seven musicals in five days (including Hamilton which absolutely blew my mind), I got to do some fun touristy things (like visit the Statue of Liberty and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge), and I met some of the most amazing people who love theatre as much as I do (my roommate and I talked until 2:00 in the morning every night!).  I will recap my adventures in the next few weeks but here are some details if you are thinking of visiting New York City.   Where to stay:  I loved the Belvedere Hotel in Midtown Manhattan because it was conveniently located near Broadway and Times Square.  What to do:  I had a 7-day Unlimited Ride MetroCard, which lets you ride the subway and all MTA buses, and a 7-day New York Pass, which gives you admission to most tourist attractions (and lets you jump to the head of the line at said attractions) as well as a two-day Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ride.  My tour also included four Broadway musicals but I got tickets to three more shows here and here.  Where to eat:  My favorite restaurant while I was in New York was Amarone.  I recommend the Eggplant Fritters!

Note:  Don't be afraid to do something that is outside your comfort zone.  Amazing things can happen when you say yes to opportunities that come your way.  I usually don't regret the things I do but I almost always regret the things I don't do.

The Lion King

When I saw the first trailer for the live action remake of The Lion King, I thought the images were absolutely stunning (they reminded me of the safaris I took in Africa) and I have been looking forward to seeing it all summer!  I dismissed the negative reviews as critics who are too attached to the narrative that Disney should not be remaking their animated classics to give the movie a chance and I fully expected to love it as I walked into the theater last night.  I didn't love it.  The script is very faithful to the 1994 version and includes an almost shot-for-shot recreation with photorealistic CGI.  To be sure, the images are absolutely beautiful and I really loved the opening scene when all of the animals assemble for the presentation of Simba (the baby elephants!) and when a piece of Simba's fur travels back to the Pride lands to give Rafiki proof that he is still alive.  The animals look incredibly life-like but when they talk and sing, which are human characteristics, their expressions are, well, lifeless.  The photorealistic CGI loses a lot of the emotion that the animated version, which is more anthropomorphic, has so it wasn't quite as magical as I thought it would be.  I also had problems with the pacing of this movie.  It seemed so much longer than the original and I found my mind wandering quite a bit.  It might be because everything is so similar to the original so I was anticipating everything that happened before it did.  Despite an all-star voice cast, I found the performances to be a bit bland because there is such a disconnect between the characters and the voices.  I hope that the Beyhive won't track me down and kill me but I thought that Beyonce was basically portraying herself.  I saw her every time she spoke rather than Nala.  I did, however, love her rendition of "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" with Donald Glover but it seemed more like a music video featuring documentary animal footage rather than a song sung by two lions falling in love with each other.  I also really liked her new song "Spirit."  An exception to the bland performances would be Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar because his portrayal is much more menacing than the campy villainy of Jeremy Irons and I really enjoyed his version of "Be Prepared" because there is a dangerous energy to it.  I really wanted to love it but, after so much anticipation, I was honestly a bit disappointed with this movie.  I recommend watching your VHS copy of the original, instead.

The Little Mermaid

Last night my sister Marilyn and I took our nephew Sean, our niece Tashena, and her boyfriend Tucker (they are in town for Sean's graduation) to see the new live action version of The Little Mermaid.  Marilyn and I absolutely loved it!  Everyone else?  Not so much!  A mermaid named Ariel (Halle Bailey) doesn't think that all humans are as evil as her father King Tritan (Javier Bardem) believes them to be and she is fascinated by them.  After she saves Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) during a storm which sinks his ship, Triton destroys her collection of human objects and forbids her from going to the surface again.  Ariel defies her father and accepts a deal with her aunt, a sea witch named Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), to trade her voice for a pair of legs.  She must get Eric to give her true love's kiss within three days so a crab named Sebastian (Daveed Diggs), a fish named Flounder (Jacob Tremblay), and a seabird named Scuttle (Awkwafina) attempt to help her.  Can Ariel get Eric to fall in love with her and, more importantly, can she convince Tritan that not all humans are bad?  Bailey is phenomenal in the role and her version of "Part of Your World" gave me goosebumps.  Her wide-eyed innocence is so charming and the chemistry between her and Hauer-King is palpable (especially in the star-gazing scene).  I also really enjoyed McCarthy and Diggs because their characterizations of Ursula and Sebastian are so much fun.  The new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, including "Wild Uncharted Waters" by Eric, "For the First Time" by Ariel, and "The Scuttlebutt" by Sebastian and Scuttle (this is my favorite because I loved hearing Diggs of Hamilton fame rap again) are fantastic and really add to the narrative.  I also really appreciated some subtle changes to the story such as making the sisters more diverse as representatives of the seven seas and the addition of the character of Queen Selina (Norma Dumezweni) to emphasize the humans' fear of the ocean in juxtaposition to Tritan's fear of humans (this gives Ariel and Eric a better motivation to fall in love, in my opinion, because they recognize that they are both fighting against parental control and for more understanding).  Sean, Tashena, and Tucker criticized the visual effects and they do have a point because the underwater sequences look really unnatural, especially, rather ironically, in "Under the Sea." I also found the hyper-realistic portrayal of the animals to be somewhat jarring but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting (definitely not as bad as the live-action version of The Lion King) and it didn't detract from my enjoyment.  I loved it in spite of these flaws and Marilyn and I are making plans to see it again (without the others).

The Lion in Winter at PTC

Last night I went to see The Lion in Winter, the current production at Pioneer Theater (I will review the final film in my winter break movie marathon tomorrow).  It is Christmas Eve 1183 and King Henry II of England (Esau Pritchett) has summoned his family to spend the holiday together.  This includes his sons Richard (William Connell), Geoffrey (Damian Jermaine Thompson), and John (Austin Reed Alleman) as well as his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Celeste Ciulla), who has spent the past ten years as his prisoner for staging a rebellion against him.  Since King Philip of France (Grayson DeJesus) is pressuring him to wed his sister Alais (Maryam Abdi) to the heir to the throne, Henry uses this opportunity to decide the succession.  He advocates for John simply because he knows that Eleanor wants her favorite son, Richard, to be the next king.  This pits brother against brother as they scheme, manipulate, plot, and form and break alliances.  It is so much fun to watch.  But the real fireworks come in the scenes between Pritchett and Ciulla as they spar with each other.  Their performances are melodramatic and completely over the top but this is really effective because everything they say is a calculated performance for an audience of one.  They have great chemistry together and I found them to be riveting.  The princes are the ultimate pawns in their parents' battle with each other and, while they sometimes come across as caricatures of the oldest (Richard is the leader), middle (Geoffrey is ignored), and youngest (John is petulant) children in a family, they each have their moments of vulnerability. What I liked most about this production is that, while it is set during the 12th century, it still has a contemporary vibe to it with a message that modern audiences can relate to (when Eleanor says, "It's 1183 and we're still barbarians," it got a huge response from the crowd).  This modern aesthetic is reflected in the set and the costume design.  There are the traditional Gothic arches but they have LED lights on top which change colors during scene changes to reflect the mood.  The costumes have medieval silhouettes and include chain mail and cloaks lined with fur but they feature very modern fabrics and colors (John and Geoffrey even wear athletic shoes).  I really enjoyed this play and would recommend it (go here for tickets).

Note:  The Lion in Winter is one of the very first plays I saw at the Utah Shakespeare Festival when I was in college.  I was fascinated by Eleanor of Aquitaine, as a character and a historical figure, which prompted me to research her and watch the Academy Award winning movie starring Katharine Hepburn in the role.  Good stuff!

The Eccles Theater

Over the weekend I was invited to an open house to get a sneak peek at the brand-new, state-of-the-art George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater in downtown SLC.  It is absolutely gorgeous and I can hardly wait for the Broadway at the Eccles (formerly known as Broadway in Utah) 2016-2017 season to start!

The theater is located in the heart of downtown SLC right on Main Street.  Locating the theater here has done quite a bit to revitalize Main Street and I'm looking forward to going to many of my favorite downtown restaurants before shows.

I love the reflection of the city in the glass doors and windows.

The lobby is very sleek and modern with different colored glass on every level.  My favorite is the purple on the third tier.  There is also a restaurant in the lobby called the Encore Bistro and I can vouch for the caprese sandwich with orzo salad.  Yummy!

The third tier also boasts a terrace with an amazing view of downtown SLC.  I imagine this will be a lovely place for a drink during intermission!

The Delta Performance Hall inside the theater.  The lights are absolutely dazzling, especially on the ceiling.

As part of the open house, season ticket holders were able to "meet" their seats!  I met my seat and I think we are going to get along just fine.  It is really comfortable and there is a lot of leg room!  Hooray!

The view of the stage from my seat!  The shows coming to the Eccles Theater this season are Beautiful - The Carol King Musical, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Kinky Boots, Matilda, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, and Dirty Dancing.  There are quite a few special engagements to add to a season ticket as well.  I added The Lion King, Mamma Mia, and The Book of Mormon.  If this little tour of the beautiful Eccles Theater has convinced you to get season tickets, go here for more information.  Another incentive: having season tickets for the 2016-2017 season guarantees you tickets for Hamilton which is coming to SLC for the 2017-2018 season!  I can't believe this will be my view for Hamilton!  It is a little bit better than the view I had at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (although I did see the original cast in my nosebleed seat!).

The Lion in Winter at CPT

One of the first shows I saw at the Utah Shakespeare Festival was The Lion in Winter and I loved it so much I learned everything I could about the historical figures depicted (Eleanor of Aquitaine is fascinating). I was, therefore, thrilled when I found out that it would be performed in the Leishman Performance Hall at CPT because not only do I love the play but I also love the intimate black box theatre. I saw it last night and it is a brilliant production!  It is Christmas Eve 1183 and King Henry II of England (Nathan Riddle) has summoned his family to spend the holiday together. This includes his sons Richard (Matthew Dickerson), Geoffrey (Mark Andrus), and John (Alex Beck) as well as his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Leslie Barrett), who has spent the past ten years as his prisoner for staging a rebellion against him. Since the newly crowned King Philip of France (Ryan Kinville) is pressuring him to honor his alliance by wedding his sister Alais (Isabella Giordano) to the heir to the throne, Henry uses this opportunity to decide the succession. He advocates for John simply because he knows that Eleanor wants her favorite son, Richard, to be the next king. This pits brother against brother as they scheme, manipulate, plot, and form and break alliances and it is so much fun to watch! However, the real fireworks come in the scenes between Henry and Eleanor as they spar with each other. Riddle and Barrett give amazing over the top performances because everything their characters say is a calculated performance for an audience of one! They have great chemistry together and I was riveted whenever they were on stage together! The princes are the ultimate pawns in their parents' battle and I love that the characters revert to their defined childhood roles within the family (Richard is held to a higher standard, Geoffrey is ignored, and John is babied) when they are home for Christmas, much like any other family. Even though they are almost caricatures, Dickerson, Andrus, and Beck imbue the princes with moments of vulnerability, especially in a scene when Henry discovers they have all betrayed him. The intimate black box theatre lends itself very well to this family drama and I really enjoyed sitting so close to the action because I could see every facial expression. The stage is configured as if for a Shakespeare play with an upper and lower level and minimal props. I especially liked the use of long fabric panels as tapestries for the characters to hide behind. The period costumes are absolutely gorgeous and I loved all of the embellished fabrics and textures (particularly the chain mail). Everything about this production is stellar and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here) for a performance in the Leishman Performance Hall through July 8. It is better than an episode of Succession!

Note:  Don't forget about the delightful production of 42nd Street also playing at CPT on the Barlow Main Stage through July 11.  Go here for tickets.

The Book of Mormon at the Eccles

Watching The Book of Mormon in Sal Tlay Ka Siti is so much fun because audiences here get all of the jokes!  I saw the Broadway touring production again last night at the Eccles Theatre and I don't think I stopped laughing the whole time!  After spending some time at the Missionary Training Center learning how to preach the gospel around the world ("Hello"), Elder Price (Sam McLellan) and Elder Cunningham (Diego Enrico) are called to serve in a remote village in Uganda.  Elder Price is very disappointed in the location because he had hoped to go to Orlando, the most wonderful and magical place on Earth.  He is also disappointed in his companion because Elder Cunningham has a tendency to lie to compensate for his low self-esteem.  However, he soon realizes that he will be a great missionary no matter the circumstances ("You and Me But Mostly Me").  When they meet their fellow missionaries in Africa, they get some advice about dealing with any unusual feelings they might be having ("Turn it Off") and they soon realize that Africa is nothing like The Lion King because the villagers are more concerned with poverty, famine, AIDS, and a violent warlord than with their message ("An American Prophet").  Elder Price gets discouraged and decides to go home but, when the chief's daughter Nabulungi (Keke Nesbitt) shows some interest because she wants to leave Africa and go to paradise ("Sal Tlay Ka Siti"), Elder Cunningham must teach her on his own ("Man Up").  He has never actually read The Book of Mormon because it is boring so he begins embellishing it with references to The Matrix, Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Lord of the Rings ("Making Things Up Again") and eventually baptizes Nabulungi ("Baptize Me") and then the rest of the village.  Meanwhile, Elder Price decides to return after having a dream about being in Hell with Jeffrey Dahmer, Genghis Khan, Hitler, and people who drink Starbucks coffee ("Spooky Mormon Hell Dream").  Even though they get in trouble for their false teachings, they see that they have made the lives of the villagers better so they decide to stay and even send missionaries out to teach The Book of Arnold ("Hello Reprise").  In my opinion, this is an absolutely hilarious satire that exaggerates what is already humorous about the religion but people could definitely find it offensive because it is outrageous and often very inappropriate (there is a lot of profanity).  However, my audience seemed to feel as I do because it was one of the most enthusiastic I've seen and the laughter was sometimes louder than the actors, especially during "Sal Tlay Ka Siti."  In addition to the humor, the sets and costumes are visually stunning, the musical numbers are very catchy, and the choreography is incredible, especially in "Turn it Off" (I always enjoy tap dancing) and "I Am Africa."  The performances of the three leads are fantastic but Craig Franke steals the show as Elder McKinley, a missionary trying to pretend that he is not gay.  I had a blast watching this but I suggest doing a little research before buying tickets (which may be purchased here) to make sure it is something you would enjoy.  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through January 26.

War Horse

Last week I was able to see the show War Horse at the Capitol Theatre.  It was absolutely incredible! It is based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo (I haven't read the book but I absolutely loved the movie version), a touching story about the bond between a boy and a horse set against the backdrop of World War I (a particular interest of mine).  The play is every bit as powerful as the movie but with the greater intimacy that the theatre always provides. The horses are full-sized puppets, created by the Handspring Puppet Company in South Africa, and each are controlled by three puppeteers. They reminded me of the puppets used in the musical The Lion King.  The horses have their own personalities and they snort, whinny, and flick their ears just like real horses.  They were astonishing and, after a few minutes, I actually thought they were real and I couldn't see the puppeteers any more.  I thought the staging was exceptional.  The rural village of Devon and the battlefields of the Somme are portrayed with projections on a large screen with very few props and the minimalist style is very effective.  The performances of the actors were wonderful but I sometimes had a hard time understanding the accents.  However, I felt that the horses were the real stars of the show!  I really loved the musical score;  it reminded me of the music in a movie.  The war scenes were sometimes very hard to watch and I actually cried when the horse Topshorn died (I cried again when Albert and Joey were reunited).  My only complaint was that the second act seemed to drag on a bit but it was worth it to get to the heartwarming end.  I highly recommend seeing this wonderful show if you have the opportunity.

How to Train Your Dragon

Yesterday I went to a matinee of How to Train Your Dragon and, as a fan of the animated movie, I was a bit nervous about this live action remake but I really enjoyed it.  The Vikings on the island of Berk are regularly attacked by dragons but Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Mason Thames), the son of the chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), is deemed too weak to fight them.  He is apprenticed to the blacksmith Gobber the Belch (Nick Frost), instead, but he wants his father to be proud of him so he makes a mechanical device which he uses to shoot down the rare Night Fury dragon during an attack.  When he discovers that the dragon was only wounded, he can't bring himself to kill him and sets him free.  He eventually befriends the dragon, naming him Toothless because of his retractable teeth, and makes a prosthetic for his wounded tail fin so he can fly again.  Hiccup ultimately discovers that everything the Vikings know about the dragons is wrong and that they must join together to face an even bigger threat.  The visuals are absolutely gorgeous and I especially loved the breathtaking scenes where Hiccup rides Toothless through the clouds, in between rock formations, into the ocean waves, and then to the Northern Lights with Astrid Hofferson (Nico Parker), his rival turned ally. The cast is fantastic and I love that Thames and Parker as well as the dragon-fighting recruits, including Julian Dennison as Fishlegs Ingerman, Gabriel Howell as Snotlout Jorgenson, Bronwyn James as Ruffnut Thorston, and Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut Thorston, embody the key traits of their characters, even if they don't look exactly like their animated counterparts, while adding a little spark to make them fresh.  The rendering of Toothless is extremely well done.  He is very obviously a reptile but he is still recognizable as the adorable character we know and he is able to show emotions, unlike the photorealistic versions of animals in other live action remakes (I am looking at you The Lion King).  The scene where Toothless begins to trust Hiccup is incredibly affecting and I admit that I had a few tears in my eyes when he is captured and restrained.  Finally, the score is epic (John Powell embellished the themes from his score of the original movie) and I loved all of the booming brass and percussion during the action sequences as well the strings and piano in the quieter moments.  My only complaint is that, because it is an almost shot-for-shot recreation of the original, it is not quite as compelling as it could be (since I knew everything that was going to happen my mind started to wander during the third act).  I do, however, think this is one of the best live action remakes I have seen and would definitely recommend it.

The Book of Mormon at the Eccles

I saw the Broadway touring production of the musical The Book of Mormon when it first came through Salt Lake City in 2015 and the excitement and energy in the crowd was palpable!  The audience laughed out loud, cheered, and even gave a standing ovation after the song "Sal Tlay Ka Siti" (which is in the middle of the show!).  It was one of the most memorable theatre experiences that I have ever had so, of course, I wanted to see it again during its return visit to SLC.  After a busy week back at school, seeing The Book of Mormon last night was so much fun!  After spending some time at the Missionary Training Center learning how to preach the gospel around the world ("Hello"), Elder Price (Liam Tobin) and Elder Cunningham (Jacob Ben-Shmuel) are called to serve in a remote village in Uganda.  Elder Price is very disappointed in the location because he wanted to go Orlando, the most wonderful and magical place on Earth, and in his companion because Elder Cunningham has a tendency to lie to compensate for his low self-esteem but he realizes that he will be a great missionary no matter the circumstances ("You and Me But Mostly Me").  When they meet their fellow missionaries in Africa, they get some advice about dealing with any unusual feelings they might be having ("Turn It Off").  The elders begin teaching ("An American Prophet") but the villagers are more concerned with poverty, famine, AIDs, and a violent overlord than in hearing their message.  However, Nabulungi (Alyah Chenelle Scott), the chief's daughter, is interested because she is hoping to leave Africa and go to paradise ("Sal Tlay Ka Siti").  Elder Price becomes discouraged because Uganda is nothing like The Lion King and decides to go home leaving Elder Cunningham, who has never actually read the Book of Mormon because it is so boring, to teach Nabulungi ("Man Up").  He begins embellishing the message with references to Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Lord of the Rings ("Making Things Up Again") and, after he baptizes Nabulungi ("Baptize Me"), he converts the rest of the village.  Meanwhile, Elder Cunningham decides to return after having a dream about being in Hell with Jeffrey Dahmer, Genghis Khan, Hitler, and people who drink Starbucks coffee ("Spooky Mormon Hell Dream").  They eventually get in trouble for their false teachings but they realize that they have made the lives of the villagers better and decide to stay in Africa ("Tomorrow is a Latter Day").  It is absolutely hilarious and I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes, as did everyone sitting around me.  My favorite number is "Turn It Off" because I love the choreography and Andy Huntington Jones is fabulous as Elder McKinley, a missionary trying to pretend that he is not gay!  There is quite a bit of profanity and some might be offended by the content but if you understand going in that it is a satire, this show is a lot of fun.  It runs at the Eccles Theatre until August 25 (go here for tickets).

Note:  The cast has mentioned how much fun this show is to perform in Salt Lake City.  They get reactions here that they don't get in other cities, especially during "Sal Tlay Ka Siti," and it sometimes throws them off!

The Book of Mormon

Thursday night I had the opportunity to see the musical The Book of Mormon.  I have wanted to see it for a long time and it certainly didn't disappoint.  It is the funniest show I have ever seen!  Two Mormon missionaries, Elder Price (Billy Harrigan Tighe) and Elder Cunningham (A.J. Holmes), are sent to a remote village in northern Uganda to convert the natives to the church.  However, the natives are much more concerned about famine, poverty, AIDS, and a violent overlord than in hearing their message.  The devout Elder Price is discouraged and wishes that he had been called on a mission to Orlando but Elder Cunningham, who has never read the Book Of Mormon "because it is just so boring," starts embellishing the message with references to Star Wars, Star Trek, and Lord of the Rings to make it relevant to their lives.  He begins to convert the natives after he baptizes Nabulungi (Alexandra Ncube), the chief's daughter who dreams of a better life in Salt Lake City.  The elders eventually get in trouble for their false teachings but they realize that they have made the lives of the natives better and eventually convert the overlord.  The musical numbers and choreography are absolutely incredible and I especially loved the songs "You and Me (But Mostly Me)," "Turn It Off," "Man Up," "Baptize Me," and "I Am Africa."  The crowd cheered during the song "Sal Tlay Ka Siti."  In fact, the crowd laughed and cheered throughout the entire show because many of the lines are just hilarious!  I was laughing so hard that I had tears coming out of my eyes.  The line that got the biggest laugh is when one of the villagers tells Nabulungi that Salt Lake City isn't a real place because it's just a metaphor!  There is a lot of swearing in this show and many people might be offended by the subject matter, but if you understand going in that it is a satire, you will have a really fun night out.  The Book of Mormon is sold out for its entire run at Capitol Theatre but you can line up 2 1/2 hours before the show each night to be entered into a lottery for 20 available tickets.  It's worth the effort!

Note:  I have never seen a more enthusiastic crowd for a show in SLC, Wicked and Lion King included.  The energy in the crowd was palpable and it made watching the show so much fun!

Renee Elise Goldsberry at Deer Valley

Another favorite summer tradition is to see a Utah Symphony concert at Deer Valley as part of the Deer Valley Music Festival.  I love coming to these concerts because it is so beautiful and relaxing up in the mountains and I really enjoy bringing a picnic and listening to music under the stars.  I usually try to see at least one concert every summer (this year I picked two of them) and last night's concert featured the amazing Renee Elise Goldsberry, who originated the role of Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton (Have I mentioned that I saw the original Broadway cast of Hamilton?  Oh, I have?  Several times?  Just checking.).  I have been looking forward to this concert for months because I loved her as Angelica and it was wonderful!  She began with a medley of "On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)" and "I Can See Clearly Now" which got the audience cheering!  Then she mentioned how impressed she was the the Utah Symphony could play the blues and sang very sultry versions of "People Get Ready" and "I've Got to Use My Imagination."  Next, she performed an arrangement of "We Can Work It Out" by the Beatles that I really enjoyed.  She thought it would be appropriate to sing "Up to the Mountain" in such a beautiful setting and then turned Deer Valley into an old time revival by singing "Tell the Lord I'm Coming Home Someday."  She had her backup singers (who were fabulous) join her for an a capella version of "We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest" that was incredibly powerful!  She spoke about wanting to have children for a long time and dedicated Bob Dylan's "Lord Protect My Child" to all of the children who are here and who are on their way.  She ended her first set by singing an incredibly beautiful version of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters."  After the intermission she sang "Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum" from Carmen Jones, "How Glad I Am," "Misty," and "Peter Gunn."  My favorite part of the concert came next when she sang the Broadway hits.  Her first starring role was in The Lion King and she sang the most beautiful version of "Shadowlands," which is my favorite song from the show, that I have ever heard!  In fact, it reduced me to a sobbing mess!  Of course, she sang a few songs from Hamilton, including "Satisfied" and "The Schuyler Sisters," and I noticed that just about everyone in the audience was singing along.  It was incredible!  She also starred in the musical RENT and she ended her second set with moving renditions of "Without You" and "No Day But Today."  For the encore she performed "It's Quiet Uptown" from Hamilton which I have never been able to sit through without crying and this was no exception.  Her final song was "You'll Never Walk Alone" because she wanted to go out on a happy note!  I loved every minute of this concert and I can't wait to come back to Deer Valley in two weeks to see Kristin Chenoweth!  Go here to see the rest of the lineup at the Deer Valley Music Festival.

Note:  I was also able to see Leslie Odom, Jr., who originated the role of Aaron Burr in Hamilton, with the Utah Symphony a few years ago.  I think everyone in the whole original cast should come perform a concert at Deer Valley!

Aladdin

Unlike many people, I don't really have a problem with all of Disney's live-action remakes of their animated classics.  I've enjoyed most of them, especially Cinderella and The Jungle Book, and I am really looking forward to The Lion King later this summer.  However, the 1992 version of Aladdin is one of my favorite movies so I was really nervous about what Guy Ritchie might do with it (King Arthur is a convoluted and bloated mess) and I didn't really like the casting of Will Smith as the genie.  Despite my misgivings, I decided to to see it last night and I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  In fact, I really loved it!  The story of how a street rat wins the love a princess with the help of a genie freed from a magic lamp doesn't stray too far from the 1992 version but it does give Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott) a powerful new story arc that I really appreciated.  I also really liked her new song, "Speechless."  Mena Massoud is an incredibly appealing and charismatic Aladdin and he has great chemistry with Scott.  Both of them have lovely singing voices and I especially loved their rendition of "A Whole New World."  I also, rather surprisingly, liked Smith as the genie.  He is a lot of fun and, in my opinion, he does enough to make the iconic role originated by Robin Williams his own, particularly in "Friend Like Me."  I didn't hate the CGI blue genie but I did prefer it when Smith physically portrays the character in human form while at the palace.  The genie's interactions with Aladdin when they officially meet Princess Jasmine are absolutely hilarious!  Ritchie's idiosyncratic style of directing is most evident in "One Jump Ahead" but the stylized action sequences really work here as Aladdin eludes the guards through Agrabah.  My favorite song in the 1992 version is "Prince Ali" and the big production number in this movie is quite the spectacle and did not disappoint (I even liked the elephants).  The costumes are absolutely spectacular and the production design, especially the palace, is fantastic.  Sometimes the CGI is really obvious and I didn't particularly care for how Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) is portrayed, but I found the movie as a whole to be very magical!  Ignore the critics and go see it!

Something Rotten at the Empress Theatre

I am a big fan of Something Rotten (it is full of references to William Shakespeare and musical theatre which means that it was pretty much written for me) so I was really excited to see it at the Empress Theatre last night. This now ranks as one of my favorite productions at this theater because I absolutely loved it! Nick and Nigel Bottom (Sonny Payne and Jonas Stone, respectively) are playwrights in London during the Renaissance but they are not having much success. Their patron, Lord Clapham (Stratford Healey), is withdrawing his financial support, Shylock (Raiden Yocom) is demanding the payment of a loan, Nick's wife Bea (Taylore Cahoon) is pregnant, and Nigel has fallen in love with Portia (Eliza White), the daughter of a Puritan (Taylor Brooks) who wants to shut down the theaters for debauchery, but, even worse, they are constantly overshadowed by the immensely popular William Shakespeare (Bradley Barker). They desperately need a big hit so Nick consults Nostradamus (Caden Terry) to see what will be popular in the future. Nostradamus suggests writing something with singing and dancing in my favorite number, "A Musical." Things go slightly awry when Nick asks Nostradamus to look into the future again to see what Shakespeare's most popular play will be and, instead of Hamlet, he sees omelette (so close!). Nick tries to produce Omelette: The Musical while Shakespeare tries to steal his play back. It is so much fun to try and spot all of the references to Shakespeare's plays (my favorites are Richard III in the song "Will Power" and a quote from The Merchant of Venice during the courtroom scene) and to musical theatre (my favorites are RENT and Les Miserables in "A Musical" and The Lion King in "Make an Omelette"). I laughed out loud every time I noticed something new (I was the only one laughing hysterically at a reference to Falstaff). This is one of the strongest casts I've seen at this theater with so many standout performances. I particularly loved Terry as Nostradamus because his physicality as he predicts the future is completely over the top, Barker as Shakespeare because he is such a rock star as a he struts around the stage for his adoring fans (his facial expressions killed me), and Brooks as Brother Jeremiah because his delivery of the innuendo-filled dialogue is hilarious! I also really liked Cahoon's voice and her rendition of "Right Hand Man" was a highlight for me. Another aspect of this production that is outstanding is the high-energy choreography, especially in "Welcome to the Renaissance," "A Musical" (which mimics the choreography from some well-known shows), "Bottom's Gonna Be on Top," and "Make an Omelette." I was really impressed by the dancing from the ensemble because they do an amazing job (I, of course, loved all of the tapping because it is always so fun to watch). The minimal set is very effective and the elaborate Renaissance costumes are fantastic! I cannot recommend this show enough because it is definitely a fun night out (go here for tickets). It runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through October 19.

Frozen The Musical in Denver

My friend Rachel and I decided to drive to Denver over the weekend to meet our friend Larry to see the new musical Frozen, which is having its premiere in Denver before it transfers to Broadway next spring.  I had Friday off as compensation for parent teacher conferences so we left mid-morning and got in to Denver right at rush-hour (my favorite).  We saw the matinee on Saturday afternoon, went to my very favorite place to eat in Denver in the evening, and then drove home yesterday.  It was a quick trip but it was so much fun (it was really great to meet up with Larry who is awesome) and I am so glad that we did it!

I am a big fan of the movie so I was excited to see the show and it definitely didn't disappoint!  I loved it (we all did)!  The story does not veer too far from the movie but there are a few new songs which I really loved, especially "Dangerous to Dream" and "Monster" because I think they both really help to add a deeper layer to Elsa's character.  Even though I loved the new songs, my absolute favorite moment in the show was "Let It Go" which is just spectacular.  Caissie Levy has an amazing voice and she really belted it out to the rafters of the Buell Theatre.  It gave me goosebumps!  The special effects are incredible, especially when Elsa waves her arms and ice crystals flash across the stage in perfect synchronization.  She also has a really quick costume change into a beautiful blue dress covered in sparkles (all of the costumes are wonderful, very much informed by the movie).  I also really loved the special effects after Elsa's coronation, particularly when she touches objects and they freeze.  It is mesmerizing!  As previously mentioned, Levy, as well Patti Murin who plays Anna, do a really great job with their characters and I also loved the actresses who play the young Elsa and Anna (Brooklyn Nelson and Audrey Bennett, respectively).  My other favorites were Jelani Alladin as Kristoff and Greg Hildreth as Olaf (who sounds exactly like Josh Gad).  However, I would have to say that my very favorite character in the whole show is Sven (much like in the movie), played by Andrew Pirozzi.  Sven reminded me a lot of the animals in The Lion King.  I loved everything about this show and I'm so glad that I got to be one of the first to get to see it (we are already planning to go to New York and see it on Broadway).  It was another amazing adventure (one more road trip to go this year!).

Note:  Rachel dressed up as Elsa and it was fun to watch the reactions of all the little girls around us!

Tangled

AMC Theatres are sponsoring a film festival entitled Dream Big, Princesses which include screenings of the following Disney (and Pixar) classics:  Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Tangled, The Princess and the Frog, and Brave.  (Go here for more information).  I am rather late to the party because I've been so busy and missed Beauty and the Beast and Mulan but I made sure to make time to see Tangled last night because I absolutely love it.  It is one of my very favorite Disney animated movies (along with The Lion King and Moana).  It was so much fun for me to see it again on the big screen and I think I liked it even more than I did the first time I saw it!  Tangled tells the story of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) and how she leaves her tower to discover her true identity with the help of Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi).  Both Rapunzel and Flynn are fantastic characters, Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy) is one of the best Disney villains ever, and Pascal just makes me smile!  I love all of the songs, especially "I See the Light."  It is visually stunning and I get goosebumps during the lantern scene every time.  I love practically everything about this movie and I loved having a chance to see it again on the big screen (I watch it all of the time at home because it makes me so happy but it isn't the same).  I highly recommend revisiting Tangled which will be screened at AMC Theatres until Oct. 5.

Note:  I have so many fun memories of seeing Tangled for the first time in the theater.  We were staying in St. George in the motor home over Thanksgiving break.  My sister, a family friend, and I decided to see it Thanksgiving night and the tiny theater in St. George couldn't handle the massive crowd.  It was kill or be killed to get a seat and someone spilled their drink on my sister trying to climb over us but we had so much fun!