How Do You Measure A Year In The Life?

A Year In Review:Well, it is time to say goodbye to 2009 and hello to 2010. This year has brought me so much closer to the theatre community in so many ways. To start with I started the blog, which has taken over my life, just ask my boyfriend. I live for the theatre and this blog has been a great way to stay in touch with the theatre community and highlight the things I love about it. I hope I have been able to not only share opportunities to see theatre on a discount, but I hope I have been able to share how much the theatre community is a part of pop culture (such as GLEE on TV and being a hit, and more stars doing Broadway). Through having a blog I have meet so many wonderful supporters of what I am trying to do. Thank you to all who have helped make this blog. The blog has also allowed me to see show many shows this year. In 2009 I saw just over 25 musicals/plays/performances, and four Broadway legends perform on stage (Patti, Mandy, Liza, Ebersole) in the Southern California Area.

My top 10 highlights from 2009: (click to read the blog entry that goes along with the highlight)

1) March: Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp in RENT at the Pantages Theatre. There was such excitement in the room and when Adam sang One Song Glory I just wanted to cry my eyes out.

2) September: Meeting John Gallagher Jr. in Berekey before seeing the Amazing cast of American Idiot perform. Then meeting Michael Mayer and not being able to talk.

3) May: GLEE Screening at Santa Monica HS before it debut to Fox. I knew it was gonna be a hit even before I saw the show at the screening but was even more sure once I saw it. Also got to ask Lea Michelle a question in Q & A.

4) October: Parade opening night. It was a star studded night with Michael Sheen next to me and the production was sooooooo moving that I went back to see it again.

5)February: Minsky's at the CTG. Though I did not like the show, it was the place where the blog came to be. Read first entry for full story.

6) August: Liza Minneli at the Hollywood Bowl. She rocks the house even at her age.

7) September: August Ostage County at CTG amazing night from start to finish (Great talk with CTG rep. and the seeing the show).

8) June: Patti and Mandy at CTG. I am a huge fan of the two of them and I was so excited to see them perform live. They are so good at their craft that I would watch them in whatever show they are in.

9) January: Taking Over at CTG because it was the 1st one man show that blew my mind about what I though theatre was, is, could be etc.

10) November: Mary Poppins at CTG because form start to finish the show was full of the Disney magic I grew u with. Also meeting Ashley Brown at stage door was great.

Broadway:This year has been a wonderful year full of great performances, the theatre community has been reborn in pop culture, and has seen many shows come and go due to economic times. My favorite musical of the year was NEXT TO NORMAL. I can listen to that soundtrack over and over and be moved and take something away with me. I hope they extend their run which is set to send in February of 2010 or at least go on tour. Very sad to see Bye Bye Birdie, Finian's Rainbow, and Ragtime go come early 2010. All three were shows I really wanted to see but never will. But with the Spring I look forward to seeing what new shows open before Tony Award time.

As far as Southern California Productions goes I can not wait for the following shows to open in 2010:

At the Center Theatre Group's theatres:Dream Girls, 39 Steps, The Glass Menagerie, Randy Newman's Harps and Angels and South Pacific.

At the OCPAC and Pantages theatres: In the Height's and Young Frankenstein

At Reprise Theatre Company: Carousel, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Form, and How To Success In Business Without Really Trying.

And much more!

So thank you for reading and all the support over this year. Look out for exciting news coming about blog's one year anniversary in February!

"How Do You Meaure A Year In The Life?"-lyrics from Season's of Love from RENT (It all started with a quote from RENT)

Three-Five-Zero-Zero

The Broadway cast of HAIR will perform on NBC's Countdown with Carson Daly in Time Square. Other musical guests include Green Day and Rhianna.

Check local listing for broadcast times. For more information about the webcast, visit www.TimesSquareNYC.org or www.livestream.com/2010.

"Three-Five-Zero-Zero"-song from Hair

Surface

PASSING STRANGE TO AIR ON PBS GREAT PERFORMANCES!

I have been dying to see this production! The film was Spike Lee-directed and featurs the award-winning Broadway rock musical of the same title, will air in primetime on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 9 p.m. EST check local listings (They have not listed West Coast Times yet).

According to PBS "Passing Strange is the semi-autobiographical story of a young black man who leaves behind his middle-class, church-ruled upbringing in mid-1970s Los Angeles to travel to Europe in search of his artistic and personal identity, or what he calls “the real.” There he finds he can exploit a “South Central” persona, playing the cool, black expatriate-musician who speaks for his people. Picaresque misadventures with sex, drugs, politics and art find him in a far-out Amsterdam and a hyper-militant Berlin. But in the end, he discovers that cultural complexity—and hypocrisy—are not limited to middle-class African American life, and that while to him art may be more real than life, only love is truly more than real. Co-starring with Stew as ‘Narrator’ is an extraordinarily talented ensemble cast, featuring DeAdre Aziza, Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo, Chad Goodridge, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Daniel Breaker as the story’s central character, ‘Youth.’The Broadway show won a 2008 Tony Award for “Best Book of a Musical,” and in total, it received seven Tony nominations, including “Best Musical.” The show also won a Drama Desk Award, a New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and two Obie Awards. The highly-acclaimed score does not stand apart from the action as in some rock musicals, but advances the narrative through a sophisticated libretto. "

"Surface"-song from Passing Strange

Pretty Music

Emchaviel Productions presents: The Last 5 Years

(A one-night-only event benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS)

Starring Michael K. Lee Jennifer Paz

And

Jason Robert Brown at the piano

Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera

Saturday, January 9 at 8pm
East West Players @ David Henry Hwang Theater
120 Judge John Aiso Street Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tickets $45, $55, $65
For information and tickets call 818-358-2730 or click here.

"Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (Parade, 13, Songs for a New World) joins 2009 Ovation nominees Michael K. Lee and Jennifer Paz in this one-night-only performance of his critically acclaimed, Off-Broadway gem The Last 5 Years. This poignant and profound musical follows Jamie and Cathy through the last five years of their relationship, from beginning to end, and from end to beginning. 2009 Ovation nominee Jon Lawrence Rivera returns to direct this unconventional telling of boy meets girl.

Proceeds will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised over $175 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States. BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actor's Fund - including The AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, The Dancer's Resource and three supportive housing residences. BC/EFA also awards annual grants to over 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide."

"Pretty Music"song from Parade

I Want to Be A Producer

SET YOUR TIVO:
The 32nd Annual Kennedy Centers Honors will air tonight on CBS-TV Dec. 29. They will be celebrating writer-director-songwriter Mel Brooks and many more!

"I want to be a Producer"-song from The Producers

Kings of New York

NEWSIES!!!

Just in: Wayman Wong of the NY Daily News just reported that a stage version of the 1992 Disney musical Newsies based on the true story of the 1899 newsboy strike, is in the works.The men behind the film, composer Alan Menken and lyricist Jack Feldman are working on bringing Newsies to the Broadway stage with a new book being worked on by Harvey Fierstein. They have a reading scheduled for the Spring of 2010, no word on when a full staged production will be done. The film stared Christian Bale, David Moscow, and Bill Pullman is one of my FAVORITES! Though the movie is considered an initial failure at the box office it has gained a cult following over the years. I think it will do well on stage and look forward to hear more about the project!
"Kings of the New York"-song from Newsies

Got no feel, I got no rhythm

GLEE Road to Sectionals comes out THIS Tuesday on DVD!
I CAN NOT WAIT
Here is a video for you to get your GLEE FIX to last you until then.

Below are promo video's from Italy:

"Got no feel, I got no rhythm"-lyrics from Somebody to Love featured on GLEE

Wonderful Day

"Wonderful Day"-Chipmunks TV show/ Movie

12 Days of Christmas

"12 Days of Christmas"-christmas song

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
So I have been so busy lately that I have not been able to update but give me a day and lots of updates will be added!

Back to Before

Ragetime on The View: I really want to see this show on Broadway!

"Back to Before"-song from Ragetime

Thank Goodness

Kristin promoting her new gig:

"Thank Goodness"-Wicked

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

MUSIC MONDAY!!!!!
MY TOP TEN FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONGS OF ALL TIME!

1) White Christmas: My Favorite rendition is Judy Garland from Meet Me In St. Louis.
2)Wonderful Day: By the Chipmunks
3) Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow: My favorite rendition is Michael Buble's Live recording
4) Christmastime is Here: By Vince Guaraldi Trio made famous by the "A Charlie Brown Christams"
5) Baby Its Cold Outside: My favoirte rendition is from the ELF soundtrack with Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel.
6) The Christmas Waltz: The Harry Connick Jr rendition
7) Last Christmas: The GLEE cast recording
8)Rockin Around The Christmas Tree: By Brenda Lee
9) Mele Kalikimaka: The Bett Midler rendition.
10)Believe: By Josh Groban from the Polar Express Soundtrack.

"Rockin Around the Christmas Tree"- tons of stuff/ christmas movies

I don't know your life B*tch!

FULL REPORT of XANADU!So last week I went to see XANADU at the OCPAC, and it was amazing! The show is just plan fun. I had never seen the orginal movie it was based on but I knew the stories that surounded the musical that killed the musical career of Oliva Newton John.

Xanadu was the surpirise hit on Broadway a couple of years back and was a font runner to win the Tony. The musical is about nine muses (of Greek mythology) who find themselves in Los Angeles in the 80's. Elizabeth Stanley (was in the revival of Company) plays Kira/Clio, the muse of art who desices to help an artist named Sonny, played by Max von Essen. To stay intune with the times Clio disguises herself with skatesand leg warmers and of course an Australian accent. The show is funny, charming, it makes fun of itself and THERE ARE ROLLER SKATES!!!The only thing that was missing was Cheyenne Jackson!!!

SO GO SEE XANADU BEFORE IT CLOSES ON DECEMBER 27th!

OCPAC is offering a speical ticket prices to see XANADU on Christmas Eve, December 24 at 2 p.m., and on Christmas Day, December 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, $20 and $30. Use the promo code MERRY. OCPAC also ask that all patrons to bring non-perishable food items to each perforance where Second Harvest Food Bank will be accepting donations.

"I don't know your life B*tch!"-line from XANADU

Don't Rain On My Parade

GLEE GOT Nominated for 4 BIG Golden Globe nominations!
Best Actor in a comedy: Matthew Morrison
Best Actress in a comedy: Lea Michelle
Best supporting Actress in a comedy: Jane Lynch
Best TV series comedy

"Don't Rain on My Parade"-song performed on GLEE

Young Girl

GLEE UPDATE!!!OK anyone missing GLEE Yet? Mark Salling recently posted a video to his show’s cast and crew and it is the sweetest thing EVER.

Secondly big congradulations to GLEE's writters Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy for being nomanted for outstanding achievement in television/comdey and for new series by the Writers Guild of America.

Here is promo just released for GLEE the road to Sectional on DVD:

DID YOU HEAR WHO MIGHT BE JOINING THE CAST? Accoring to the Hollywood Reporter Idina Menzel of Rent and Wicked fame is in offical talks to join the cast! She will play the coach of the rival GLEE club Vocal Adrenaline and appear. PLEASE LET THIS BE TRUE!!!

That's all for now more to come!!!

"Young Girl"-song performed on GLEE

Now / Later / Soon

CONGRATULATIONS to the cast and crew of the 1st Revival of A Little Night Music, which just opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
The musical stars Academy Award-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones, five-time Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury and Olivier Award-nominee Alexander Hanson. Here are some photos of the Production thanks to Broadwayworld.com and some video from the production.

"Now / Later / Soon"-song from A Little Night Music

No -Music Monday this week come back next week for a extra BIG Music Monday!

Hundreds of Stories

MORE BIG NEWS FOR IN THE HEIGHT FANS!

According to Variety, Universal Pictures will bring the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "In the Heights" to the bigscreen! Kenny Ortega is set to direct the film adaptation, known recently for the "This Is It" movie of the rehearsals for Michael Jackson’s final concert.

It is expected that Lin-Manuel Miranda will reprise his starring role as Usnavi (Miranda also wrote the lyrics and music to the play). In The Heights' book writer, Quiara Alegria Hudes, is set to write the script. Meryl Poster will produce. along side the stage musicals producers Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman Willis.Ortega told Variety that he has "seen the show six times on Broadway since it opened, several times when Lin played the lead role. He blew me away with his presence and charisma." TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE.
"Hundreds of Stories"-song from In The Heights

A Way Back To Then

THE [Title of Show] show Christmas Show! Starring Hunter, Susan, Heidi and Jeff. Amazing thanks to Allyson for sending it to me.

"A Way Back to Then"-song from Title of Show

Well -- this is quite an operation

I attended Friday night performance of Musicals Theatre West production of RENT at the Carpenter Performing Arts center in Long Beach. The show was good. I was very surprised at how close they got to the real thing. The set was good, they did all the songs, and they even had Jai Rodriguez who started as Angel on Broadway.

The main two things I would have changed was 1st the costumes and 2nd the guy who played Roger. The costumes tried to match the original production but I felt that if they could not get costumes spot on then they should have changed them all. The characters of RENT are very connected to their costumed and are iconic. Mark needs his sweater, scarf and camera. Mimi needs here blue pants, Cheetah jacket, and glitter. Angel needs her wigs, Santa jacket, and flower dress. Secondly P.J. Griffith who played ROGER SUCKED! Roger is my favorite character in the show and maybe I am too much attached to Adam Pascal who originated the role Off-Broadway, starred on Broadway, starred in the movie, and is currently rapping up the tour. This guy tried to make Roger an emo asshole. Sorry if that is harsh but this guy could not sit still, he looked like he had to go to the restroom during most songs. AND his pants were way too tight.

On the plus side the rest of the cast was great! BEAU HIRSHFIELD played Mark Cohen and brought new dept to the character and added a lot to him. SABRINA SLOAN played Mimi Marquez who was so good. She has an amazing voice and needs to get herself on Broadway ASAP. The best couple/pair was NICOLE TILLMAN as Joanne Jefferson and CALLIE CARSON as Maureen Johnson. They just worked together and were better then the two actress on the Broadway Tour right now.

So get out to see this show they only got onew week left. Click Here for more INFO.

"Well -- this is quite an operation"-lyrics from Life Support from RENT

There's a Fine, Fine Line

This past week I was lucky to get a private tour of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts with my work.
The CCPA host performances in music, dance and theater and unique facilities for special events. It has hosted performances by Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Clint Black, The Chieftains, Kathleen Battle, Dance Theater of Harlem, Royal Shakespeare Company, and many others.The really cool thing about the CCPA is that it is a flexible theater capable of six different seating and stage configurations, ranging from a 1,800-seat arena theater to a 900-seat recital hall setting.

Below is a video that talks about this amazing center:


Here are the Broadway shows headed to the center this winter:

Avenue Q January 29 - January 31

The Drowsy Chaperone March 05 - March 07

"There's a Fine, Fine Line"-song from Avenue Q

RENT

MUSICAL THEATRE WEST PRODUCTION OF RENT AT CARPENTER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN LONG BEACH NOW PLAYING!!!
If you missed the RENT tour no worries another production just opened in the Los Angeles Area and TICKETS START AT JUST $10! RENT is a must see for any theatre lover!!!

Here is the Performance Dates/Times:

Saturday, December 12 - 2:00 PM

Saturday, December 12- 8:00 PM

Sunday, December 13- 2:00 PM

Sunday, December 13- 7:00 PM

Thursday, December 17- 8:00 PM

Friday, December 18- 8:00 PM

Saturday, December 19- 2:00 PM

Saturday, December 19- 8:00 PM

Sunday, December 20- 2:00 PM

Featuring Emmy Award Winner

JAI RODRIGUEZ as Angel

("Queer Eye for the Straight Guy")

I have seen Jai perform before and he is sooo good!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

"RENT"-from show by same title

Guido's Song

Here is the new trailer for NINE opening December 18th. Also here are some newly released photos from the film! I can not wait!!!!

"Guido's Song"-song from NINE

Breaking Free

HAVE YOU HEARD YET???
Corbin Bleu of High School Musical fame will will be the first star of the franchise to hit Broadway as Usnavi in IN THE HEIGHTS. Bleu's run will be from January 25 - April 25, 2010. Many fans hit the facebook, forums and blogs to give their opion of the casting news. In response Lin-Manuel Miranda who orginated the role, was a Tony award winner of the show wrote this note to fans via Broadway World.com:

Miranda writes: "First of all, thank you for taking the time
to write a message in full sentences, much less make it rhyme.
You'd be amazed at all the horrid punctuation I see
e.g. "I-L-Y, ROTFL, OK G2G."
Now as for Corbin Bleu, chalk it up to ambition.
The dude came in and straight SMASHED his audition.
But can he "hold the flow?" Well, I know the part, I did it.
We'd NEVER cast someone unless they proved that they could spit it.
When he came in the room, I ain't think that he would get it.
He won us over, pa. You can tell the haters I said it. Now THIS is sensitive, and I'm hesitant to begin again
But I'm a Puerto Rican-Mexican; I PLAYED Dominican.
And everyone's from everywhere, we are reppin' so many things
Andrea's Venezuelan and Jewish, Karen's like twenty things
So yes, I see your point, but ethnicity's just a factor They've gotta play the part: in the end, dude is an ACTOR. Javi is amazing. Jon Rua is too.
Michael Balderrama makes the drama ring true.
They're big footsteps; I wrote a really big shoe.
This one is Lin-approved: Mr. Corbin Bleu. "

I personally think Corbin will make a great Usnavi. I actually met Corbin about a year ago at a work function and he was sooo nice, very grounded, and very close to his father. He can sing and has a great following which will do great for ticket sales. I support the casting!

"Breaking Free"-song from High School Musical

Have You Never Been Mellow?

CONTEST FROM OCPAC!!!Rules and what you need to do:

"The Orange County Performing Arts Center is looking for our own gods and goddesses of music and dance. Sing or dance -- just cover your favorite Xanadu song on YouTube and post up your entries on the OCPAC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ocpac) for a chance to win a walk-on role on the December 23rd performance of Xanadu the Broadway musical.
Fans will pick the top five entries to be submitted to the cast of Xanadu to select the grand prize winner. The top five entries will get a pair of tickets to the December 23rd performance of Xanadu, so get your friends to become our fans on Facebook and vote for your video. Entries must be submitted by 3pm December 18, 2009. Voting period for top five entries will end 11:59pm Dec. 20, 2009. One grand prize winner will be selected and notified shortly thereafter. Grand prize winner must be able to rehearse with the cast on Dec. 23, 2009. "Click Here to go to the site!

"Have You Never Been Mellow?"-song from Xanadu

To be or Not to BE

TIME Magazine released their List of the Top Ten Plays/ Musicals of the Year:

1. Ruined
2. A Steady Rain
3. The Norman Conquests
4. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
5. Ragtime
6. Mary Stuart
7. Finian's Rainbow
8. Hamlet
9. Fela!
10. After Miss Julie

Do you Agree with TIME? What do you think? I will post my top five list next week and let me just say It is much different!

"To Be or Not to BE"-line from Hamlet

And I'm Telling You

GLEE WEEKLY UPDATE!!!
Wow what a GREAT fall finale!
Episode: 13 Sectionals

1st of all I just have to say I am so happy that there is a TV show out there that gives me everything I've waiting for as far as a storyline goes but yet still leaves me sooo excited for it to return. The writers of GLEE do such a great job of giving the fans the story they want to happen (Will and Emma romance, Finn finding out who is the father) but yet twist the story to keep you wanting more (Sue getting fired, not really winning Sectionals but being the least annoying).

Lets recap: Mercedes killed it with her rendition of And I am Telling You from Dreamgirls. Finn knows he is not the father of Quinn's baby. Quinn knows she messed up and is dealing with it. Rachel told Finn that he was not the father in hopes that he would run to her (didn't work YET...). Puck and Quinn are over because Quinn wants nothing to do with him right now. Emma pushed back her wedding in order to become faculty advisor for GLEE after Will have to leave the team last week. Emma's decision ends her relationship with Ken because he could not take that she chose Will over him. Finn decides he can not go to Sectionals because he can not stop crying when he sees Quinn and wanting to Puck in the face every time he saw him. Meanwhile Sue leaked the Set list to the other teams and they do all the teams numbers. Will tells Finn that the team needs him and he goes to save the day. Finn and Rachel come up a plan for new numbers and the team kills it! The judges pick the team as winners because they were the least annoying team. Will leaves Teri finally because he does not feel the same way towards her anymore. He runs to Emma's wedding which is not taking place because Ken called it off. Emma tells Will that even though he left Teri she can not be near him because she will get hurt. Sue gets fired from the school for leaking the set list and she declares WAR against Will. Will is invited back to the GLEE club and everyone celebrates. During the team singing My Life Would Suck With Out You Will realizes he loves Emma no matter what crazyness is going on and goes to find her. The show ends with Will and Emma sharing their 1st KISS!
AMAZING!

So I have deiced to not do weekly updates on Wednesdays/ Thursdays anymore but rather do them once a week, whenever I have the most stuff to post. So check back often!!
I will fill you in with all the rumors and sneak peaks into the rest of the season!
"And I'm Telling You"-song from DreamGirls

Two Nobody's In New York

BOOK YOUR SPOT ON THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE: becuase Broadway's Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen, of [title of show], are creating a new musical stage show called Villains Tonight for the Cruise Line!The show will premiere on the March 27, 2010, voyage of the Disney Magic. The show will tap into the world of the Disney villains with a comic spin. This show will be the 1st musical production dedicated to the Disney villains and will be a family-friendly for all ages. Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen are the writers, the director is Allison Narver, choreographer Karma Camp and musical director Ben Cohn.
"Two Nobody's In New York"-song from Title of Show

With A Little Help From My Friends

Music Monday: Songs that pick me up on a bad day!On sad gloomy days like today these are a few songs I can depend on to make me feel better.

1) Side by Side/ What Would We Do Without You?: Company (2006) featuring Raul Esparaza and company. This song's meaning is better sweet because it is the song where Robert realizes that he is alone but on the plus side its so upbeat that it softens the blow of being alone.

2) With A Little Help From My Friends: from the film the Universe featuring Jim Sturgess and Joe Anderson and company. This song just makes you want to be drunk singing with close friends.

3) And Then There Were None (live at the apple store recording) from Spring Awakening Live featuring John Gallagher Jr. This is a great let out your anger song. You can sing it at the top of your lungs and release all that negative energy.

4) Skid Row: Little Shop of Horrors: Original cast recording featuring Ellen Greene and Lee Wikof. This song makes you see that even though life sucks you can sing a fun song about it.

5)La Vie Boheme: Rent (movie cast): featuring Anthony Rapp and company. There is no better song that one could sing to tell the world that yes I am different but I love it!

"With A Little Help From My Friends"-Song from Across the Universe.

Oh Somebody, ooh (Somebody)

Here are some video's to get you ready for GLEE on Wednesday!!!




"Oh Somebody, ooh (Somebody)"-lyrics from Somebody to Love a song performed on GLEE

I'm dreaming of a white christmas, with every christmas card I write

Since it is the season for giving here are some ideas for you if you are buying for a Broadway Lover: (key $-25 and under, $$-25-50, $$$ 50-100)

1) PlayBills $-$$: Find out what that person's favorite show is and get them the playbill for it. Or get them a Playbill binder for them to keep them safe. Where to buy? Playbill.com

2) Tickets to a Show $$-$$$: There are lots of great show in town right now. I would suggest for LA crowds to get tickets to Mary Poppins at the Ahmanson Theatre (now to Feb 2010), Dream Girls at the Ahmanson Theatre (Feb 2010- April 2010), Kelli O'Hara at the OCPAC (Jan 2010) or Paulo Szot OCPAC (April 2010).

3) The Broadway Cares Collection - 2009 Christmas Ornament: $ features the logos of more than 20 Broadway shows, including 9 to 5, Avenue Q, Billy Elliot, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Finian's Rainbow, Guys and Dolls, Hair, In the Heights, Jersey Boys, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Memphis, next to normal, The Phantom of the Opera, Rock of Ages, Shrek the Musical, South Pacific, Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark, West Side Story, White Christmas and Wicked.

4) PLAYBILL BROADWAY YEARBOOK 2008 - 2009 Season: 5th Annual Edition: $This book is a must for any Broadway fanatic. It features a chapter for each of the shows that ran on Broadway between June 2008 - May 2009.

5) The Broadway Cares Collection - 2009 Throw Blanket : $$$ Features show logos from: 9 to 5, Avenue Q, Billy Elliot, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Finian's Rainbow, Guys and Dolls, Hair, In the Heights, Jersey Boys, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Memphis, next to normal, The Phantom of the Opera, Rock of Ages, Shrek the Musical, South Pacific, Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark, West Side Story, White Christmas and Wicked.A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this item go to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

6) Broadway Musicals Show by Show: Sixth Edition (Paperback) $: the volume includes basic facts about more than 300 important shows, a brief synopsis of each, credits, and gossipy facts. This book looks great I have stopped to check it out at the book store and I was great a must buy.

7) Get them show Mechanise:$-$$ A T-shirt, hat, key chain from their favorite show. Where to buy? go to that productions website, most of them have their own on-line store, amazon, and playbill.com also have great deals. Here are few popular shows:

http://www.avenueqgoods.com/

http://westsidestorygoods.com/

http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/shop/

http://www.intheheightsthemusical.com/merchandise.html
http://www.spamalotshop.com/

http://go-disneyshopping.com/DOBBTQ

http://www.playbillstore.com/netonobrmuso.html

8) GLEE: Disc One and Disc Two now in stores. I have both and they are SOOO GOOD.

DVD comes out on the 19th of Dec.

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, with every Christmas card I write "-lyrics from White Christmas from Meet Me In St. Louis and White Christmas the musical

Someone to watch over me

The Power of Two: Michael Fienstein and Cheyenne Jackson: So I do not have this CD just yet but I am hoping to get it once the holidays are over and I have some extra cash... but I am in love with it. Michael Feinstein is a 5 time Grammy Award nominee and platinum selling singer, and pianist. Cheyenne Jackson is known as a hit Broadway star of Xanadu, All Shook Up, the revival of Finian's Rainbow, and from 30 Rock on NBC. This is the two's 1st CD together and it is based on their sold out show at Feinstein's New York club at the Loews Regency. The song features a mix between Broadyway classics, American standards and pop songs. My favorite song on the album is Someone To Watch Over Me.

"Someone To Watch Over Me" song from Oh, Kay!

Do you know what's worth fighting for? When it's not worth dying for?

Green Day let their curious fans get a small a glance into show their 1st attempt at a Broadway show this week. They released a new version of '21 Guns' performed by the 'American Idiot' cast alongside Green Day themsleves. Click Below to here to the whole song:

Green Day With the 'American Idiot' Cast, '21 Guns' -- Song Premiere - Spinner

I personally love the song and I can not wait for the show to open in NYC soon. I am guessing that the show find a home by late spring ealry fall 2010. When it does open I will make sure I get to see it on the Broadway stage where it belongs!

"Do you know what's worth fighting for? When it's not worth dying for?"-lyrics from 21 Guns from American Idiot

Maybe / Next to Normal

Could the Next to Normal cast and crew memebers be any cutier?
I want to see this show soooo bad!Watch below:

"Maybe / Next to Normal"-song from Next to Normal