Legally Blonde at the Empress

Yesterday I went to a matinee performance of Legally Blonde at the Empress Theatre and it was a really fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon.  Elle Woods (Andey Samhain), a fashion merchandising student at UCLA, is sure that her boyfriend Werner Huntington III (KC Cook) is about to propose but he breaks up with her instead.  He is going to Harvard Law School and needs a more serious girl for the future he imagines.  She decides to prove him wrong and succeeds in getting into to Harvard Law School but no one there takes her seriously, especially the notoriously difficult Professor Callahan (Matthew Black) and Werner's new girlfriend Vivienne Kensington (Mackenzie Haslam).  A teaching assistant named Emmett Forrest (Jake Oaklyn) and a beautician named Paulette Bonafonte (Mya Sanchez) show her that she has what it takes to be a lawyer and she eventually gets an acquittal for her client, fitness guru Brooke Wyndham (Charity Jones).  The story is pretty faithful to the 2001 movie of the same name (except for a silly subplot involving Paulette's dream of meeting a handsome Irishman).  I am usually not a fan of turning a popular movie into a musical because I think they are very contrived but, despite the fact that the action gets bogged down a bit in the second act, I actually liked a lot of the songs.  My favorites were "What You Want," "Positive," "Blood in the Water," "Chip On My Shoulder," and "Whipped Into Shape."  I really liked the use of Elle's sorority sisters, Serena (Alayna Bria), Margot (Bridges Eatchel), and Pilar (Kimberly Webb-Zimmerman), as a Greek Chorus whenever she needs inspiration.  The choreography by Ashley Lynn Loewer is a lot of fun and the cast is very enthusiastic in executing it.  The stage has been transformed by Candice Jorgensen into a Harvard University courtyard with brick walls, the law school insignia, and photos of notable women in the legal profession (my favorite was Ruth Bader Ginsburg).  Pink metallic door curtains are located in the balcony where the Greek Chorus appears and set pieces for the classroom, court room, and beauty parlor are brought on and off stage as needed.  The preppy costumes worn by the law school students are a great contrast with the vibrant pink of Elle's wardrobe.  The best part of this show, in my opinion, is Samhain's performance because she is absolutely perfect as the irrepressible Elle.  I also want to give a shout-out to Chip who plays Bruiser because he is adorable (and so well-behaved!).  I had a great time watching this show and I recommend it to fans of the movie (go here for tickets).

Note:  I've noticed that the Empress often casts their shows without regard to race, gender, or body type.  I find it very refreshing!

Jurassic World in Concert

Watching a movie on the big screen while a symphony orchestra plays the score live is so much fun because it is such an immersive experience.  It is one of my favorite activities because it combines my love of film and my love of symphonic music!  Last night I was so happy to be back at Abravanel Hall for Jurassic World while the Utah Symphony played the score by Michael Giacchino (who is becoming one of my favorite movie composers).  This is my favorite movie in the Jurassic World trilogy and my second favorite in the franchise (after Jurassic Park) so I really enjoyed seeing it again.  Twenty years after the incident on Isla Nublar, the new and improved Jurassic World theme park is a success but profits are slowing down because the public is no longer awe-struck by the dinosaurs.  The owner of the park (Irrfan Khan) wants a dinosaur that is bigger, faster, and scarier to impress the public so Dr. Wu (BD Wong) genetically engineers the Indominus Rex.  Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), the director of operations at the park, invites her nephews Zach (Nick Robinson) and Gray (Ty Simkins) for a weekend at the park but doesn't have time for them and they eventually take off on their own.  The owner of the park is concerned about the safety of the Indominus Rex enclosure and asks Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), a Velociraptor expert, to inspect it.  Grady is horrified because the genetically modified dinosaur is an unknown factor and its behavior cannot be predicted.  Eventually, the Indominus Rex escapes from its enclosure and threatens Zach and Gray.  The head of security (Vincent D'Onofrio), who wants to weaponize the Velociraptors, releases them into the park to attack the Indominus Rex and an epic battle ensues.  The themes played by the percussion (I loved the timpani and the gong) and the horns are ominous and menacing during the many chase scenes and there is a particularly affecting theme played by the piano and strings when Claire and Grady watch one of the dinosaurs die.  I also really enjoyed the callbacks to the original score by John Williams when Zach and Gray discover the abandoned remains of the visitor's center from the old Jurassic Park.  The entire score is incredibly thrilling and, as if often the case, I found myself watching the orchestra rather than the screen (especially all of the percussion).  I loved it!  This concert is being performed again tonight (go here for tickets) and I recommend it for the whole family (it is a great way to introduce kids to the symphony).

Note:  The Films in Concert for the 2022-2023 season are The Goonies, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, The Nightmare Before Christmas, An American in Paris, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (squeal).  They all sound like so much fun (go here for tickets).

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real at Sandy Amphitheater

I was first introduced to Promise of the Real when they backed Neil Young several years ago.  I really love their rock-country sound so I try to see them whenever they make a stop in SLC.  Last night they were at Sandy Amphitheater and it was a fantastic concert (I've been looking forward to it all summer).  I love Lukas Nelson's voice (he sounds a lot like his dad Willie Nelson but a bit sultrier) and I think he is a great frontman because he is so energetic.  He wasn't as talkative as he usually is but I was sitting really close to the stage on the second row so it was really exciting to watch him play the guitar.  They played "Sticks and Stones," "Four Letter Word," "Every Time He Drinks He Thinks of Her" (a Willie Nelson song), "Fool Me Once," "Just Outside of Austin," "Leave 'em Behind," "(Forget About) Georgia," "Simple Life," "Carolina," "Die Alone," "Find Yourself" (which included some audience participation), "Turn Off the News (Build a Garden)," "More Than We Can Handle," and "I'm Giving You Away."  Then the band left the stage and Nelson performed an acoustic version of "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" which, as he told the crowd, is his favorite song by his dad.  Then he moved to the piano for a very heart-felt version of "Smile."  The band returned for "Start to Go" and then ended their set, just like they did last year at Red Butte Garden, with a rousing rendition of "Something Real."  One of my very favorite songs from Promise of the Real is "Set Me Down on a Cloud."  I really love it and listen to it all the time but I had never heard it performed live (I was quite disappointed not to hear it the first time I saw the band).  I was absolutely thrilled when I heard the opening notes during the encore (I may or may not have screamed during the guitar solo).  I love outdoor concerts and, even though it was so hot, I really enjoyed myself!

Note:  The Sandy Amphitheater is a great venue for concerts and there are still quite a few more on the schedule this summer (I have tickets to two more).  Go here for more information and tickets.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at CPT

I have seen Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat more times than I can count (it is very popular in Utah) so I have become a bit disenchanted with it and it takes a really great production for me to enjoy it (go here for my favorite production in recent years). I had the chance to see CPT's version last night with both of my sisters and I am happy to report that it is, indeed, great and that I thoroughly enjoyed myself!  The set resembles an interactive museum with three large display cases containing exhibits from history which change for each of the big song and dance numbers (I loved the dinosaur skeleton and the planets hanging from the ceiling at the beginning of the show).  The exhibits feature a Western tableau for "One More Angel in Heaven," a factory for "Potiphar," a 1950s diner complete with a jukebox for "Song of the King," a Parisian cafe with the Eiffel Tower in the background for "Those Canaan Days," and a Caribbean scene complete with steel drums for "Benjamin's Calypso." The Narrator (McKenna Kay Jensen) acts as a docent (she even has a name tag) telling the Biblical story of Joseph (Matt Taylor) to a group of children (Soren Ray, Ross Clemens, Corbin Aaron, Eden Liljenquist, Olivia Larsen, Savannah Caldwell, and Ella Jensen). Joseph appears in a glass case and comes to life when one of the children hands him his coat of many colors. The story continues to unfold as the children interact with the characters and bring them to life. The children even tell their parents what they have learned from their visit during "Joseph Megamix" which is really clever! This concept provides cohesion to the story and I really enjoyed the bigger role performed by the children's choir (they are adorable). I also really enjoyed the costumes because they are fairly simple with just the addition of accessories for the various numbers (my favorite accessory was a pair of blue suede shoes for the Pharoah). I like productions that don't get too kitschy with the sets and costumes! Jensen has a beautiful voice as the Narrator and almost blows the roof off of the theatre several times and Taylor does a great job as Joseph, especially with "Any Dream Will Do" and "Close Every Door." The brothers (Doug Caldwell, Thad Weiland, Jeremy Botelho, Greg Larson, Taylor Smith, Paul Dixon, John Richards, Jacob Plaizier, Chris Kennedy, Landon LeBaron, and Tyler West) and wives (Angela LeBaron, Kirsi Jarvis, Mary Ann West, Amanda Derrick, Christine Smith, Natalie Clemens, and Allison Randall) have a lot of fun with the choreography in "Joseph's Coat," "One More Angel in Heaven," and "Go, Go, Go Joseph" and, of course, Jordon LeBaron steals the show as the Pharoah in "Song of the King." I had a smile on my face the whole time and this is a production that I can wholeheartedly recommend!  It runs on the Barlow Stage through Sept. 3 (go here for tickets).

Note:  This show was my 50th theatre production this year!

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella at Sundance

One of my favorite summer traditions is to see a production, in conjunction with the UVU Theatre Department, at the Sundance Mountain Resort.  I love being up in the mountains, where it is so much cooler than in the valley, watching a performance under the stars!  This year the show is Cinderella and I was able to see it last night.  Even though I don't especially love the Rodgers & Hammerstein version, this production is absolutely magical!  In this more contemporary version of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella (Lizzy Jensen) becomes a social reformer who rescues Prince Topher (Dallin Suman) from the evil Lord Protector Sebastian (Bradley Moss) who is deceiving him about the conditions in his kingdom.  Her stepmother (Amanda Crabb) and stepsister Charlotte (Erica Schoebinger) treat her badly but her other stepsister Gabrielle (Emma Wadsworth) becomes a sympathetic co-conspirator in pursuit of her own romance with a revolutionary named Jean-Michel (Brendan Hanks).  An old beggar woman named Marie (Nikole York) becomes her Fairy Godmother after Cinderella shows her some kindness and, while she does help her get to the ball, she tells her that she has the power to make her own dreams come true.  Everyone lives happily ever after in a constitutional monarchy!  This is one of the strongest casts that I have seen in a production at Sundance!  I was especially impressed with Jensen as Cinderella and York as the Fairy Godmother because they have beautiful voices and show impressive range in the songs "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible," "Glass Slipper/ It's Possible," and "There Is Music In You."  Suman is incredibly charismatic (and is very easy on the eyes) as Prince Topher and also has a lovely voice.  He has great chemistry with Jensen and their rendition of "Ten Minutes Ago" is so romantic!  Crabb steals every scene she is in and the audience roared with laughter in response to all of her antics!  The same could be said of Schoebinger, especially in "Stepsister's Lament."  The ensemble is also quite impressive and they execute the dynamic choreography very well in "The Prince Is Giving A Ball/ Now Is The Time" and "Ten Minutes Ago."  I also really enjoyed how Topher's pursuit of Cinderella is staged because they run through moving arches of tree branches (the real pine trees surrounding the stage make this scene even more enchanting).  The costumes are also some of the best I've seen at Sundance, particularly the uniforms worn by Prince Topher and his footmen (I loved all of the gold frogging) and the beautiful ball gowns worn by Cinderella (the transformation scenes are a lot of fun).  The set consists of moving pieces that look like marble and are configured to become Cinderella's house, a large staircase in the palace, and the town square during various scenes.  Cinderella's gold coach, with horses made out of puppets, is quite spectacular!  I had the best time watching this delightful show and highly recommend getting a ticket to one of the four remaining performances (go here).