Fierce Anticipation: Sept. 26-28
A blogumn by Ryan Dixon
FIERCELY ANTICIPATING
Neil Diamond in Concert
The Oughts have been very good to Neil Diamond. Like his fellow pop-culture roller-coaster rider William Shatner (both “Solitary Man” and Star Trek first appeared in 1966), for a long time it looked like the career trajectory for both men was going to be a long, dark descent from pop-culture icon into oft-mocked camp cartoon. But the dawn of our post-ironic world has bathed these entertainment titans with the light of renewed adoration and critical recognition for a host of recent projects (Diamond’s albums 12 Songs and Home Before Dark / Shatner’s Emmy-winning role on Boston Legal, his album Has Been and work as the Priceline pitchman), which have thus allowed them to reclaim the mantle of “cool” with no strings attached, except perhaps for those holding the sequins together on Diamond’s shirts.
October 1st and 2nd, Hollywood Bowl
KINDA WANNA SEE
Rock of Ages
With the firey deaths of We Will Rock You (featuring the music of Queen) and Dance of the Vampires (Michael Crawford sings Jim Steinman) it looked like all hope was lost for the emergence of a truly great musical that incorporated songs from Rock’s Bronze Age, but in the words of Yoda, “There is another.” And thus Rock of Ages (not to be confused with the mutually popular Christian and Hanukkah hymns) steps into the spotlight. After a middling 2006 run in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, sources have confirmed that the book has been substantially rewritten, which is probably a good thing because this show is now allegedly the biggest budget off-Broadway production of all time. The one thing that hasn’t changed since its previous run though is the music. And what music it is! Prepare to be washed over with a barrage of adrenaline-pumping, goosebump-inducing masterworks by REO Speedwagon, STYX, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Whitesnake, Night Ranger, Quarterflash, Poison, Asia, Damn Yankees and Europe.
Previews begin Oct. 1st, opens October 16th. New World Stages, New York City
WOULDN’T GO IF YOU PAID ME
Nights in Rodanthe
I come to praise Richard Gere, not to bury him. Give me the slimy, snarky, snazzy whirlwind of Chicago, Primal Fear and The Hoax, but is there any way we can have a moratorium on squinty-eyed, whispering sincere Gere of I’m Not There, Bee Season, Autumn in New York and First Knight, to which his performance in this newly-released Nicholas Sparks weep-a-long belongs? Gere’s continued perpetration of these menopausal maladies is doing as much damage to his otherwise sparkling career as the hit Christopher Hitchens’ estimable reputation takes every time he expresses his now almost David Icke-esque opinions regarding the origins of the Iraq War.
In Theaters Today.
Regarding Rock of Ages, I’m definitely intrigued in a “this could be the best thing EVER” or a “this is high-lariously awful” sort of way. Either way, I want to see it. Another fun tidbit about Rock of Ages – American Idol/recent Bold and the Beautiful alum and perpetual pouter Constantine Maroulis was just tapped to star. Color me IN! Though should I find myself in NY, seeing Xanadu is top priority…
In other news, I’m proud to admit my love for all things Diamond and Shatner and happy to say I have had the pleasure of seeing both perform their music live (I say perform because one can’t really use the word “sing” in regard to Shatner). I will even publicly admit to having bought Shatner’s “The Transformed Man” CD at a Star Trek convention when I was in college. I picked up the Xanadu movie soundtrack on the same day, as it turns out.
Regarding Rock of Ages, I’m definitely intrigued in a “this could be the best thing EVER” or a “this is high-lariously awful” sort of way. Either way, I want to see it. Another fun tidbit about Rock of Ages – American Idol/recent Bold and the Beautiful alum and perpetual pouter Constantine Maroulis was just tapped to star. Color me IN! Though should I find myself in NY, seeing Xanadu is top priority…
In other news, I’m proud to admit my love for all things Diamond and Shatner and happy to say I have had the pleasure of seeing both perform their music live (I say perform because one can’t really use the word “sing” in regard to Shatner). I will even publicly admit to having bought Shatner’s “The Transformed Man” CD at a Star Trek convention when I was in college. I picked up the Xanadu movie soundtrack on the same day, as it turns out.
Agreed about ROA, I’ve heard that they do a pretty good job of sewing the songs into the fabric, so it feels like a real musical.
God bless THE TRANSFORMED MAN. Every since high school it has provided me with comfort during the dark times and joy when life couldn’t be better. If I were a Pharaoh about to die in ancient Egypt, that CD would be the one item I’d want to take with me to the Fields of Yalu.
You better see XANADU asap as they just announced that it’s closing earlier than excepted and will skate off Broadway this Sunday.
Agreed about ROA, I’ve heard that they do a pretty good job of sewing the songs into the fabric, so it feels like a real musical.
God bless THE TRANSFORMED MAN. Every since high school it has provided me with comfort during the dark times and joy when life couldn’t be better. If I were a Pharaoh about to die in ancient Egypt, that CD would be the one item I’d want to take with me to the Fields of Yalu.
You better see XANADU asap as they just announced that it’s closing earlier than excepted and will skate off Broadway this Sunday.
Nooooooooooo, Xanaduuuuuu!
Sniff. Why do the good ones always die young. Ryan, if I was an about-to-die Pharoah, I would take my I-Pod. That way I could have both Diamond and Shatner.
Brilliant idea. That’s why you are the editor-in-chief of this blog, and I, a mere columnist.
Brilliant idea. That’s why you are the editor-in-chief of this blog, and I, a mere columnist.
I saw Rock of Ages when it was here in LA and it was campy, but fun. I’m glad to hear they’ve reworked the book.
As for the Neil — I’ll be there on Oct. 1st! Can. Not. Wait!
I saw Rock of Ages when it was here in LA and it was campy, but fun. I’m glad to hear they’ve reworked the book.
As for the Neil — I’ll be there on Oct. 1st! Can. Not. Wait!
I’ve been doing some research on Xanadu since I had the good fortune of being able to listen to the entire Broadway musical soundtrack as part of my in-seat entertainment selections on a Delta Airlines flight a couple weeks ago.
What I discovered is that although the Broadway show is closing, a national tour is planned. Xanadu will play at the La Jolla Playhouse in November/December (yay – driving distance!) and a six month run is planned in Chicago starting in early ’09. Fingers crossed that Xanadu will find its way to the Pantages sooner rather than later!
As for The Transformed Man, I made it a regular staple on my college radio show. I wanted to share the pure joy of that album with the world (or at least the greater Fresno college radio listening community).
I’ve been doing some research on Xanadu since I had the good fortune of being able to listen to the entire Broadway musical soundtrack as part of my in-seat entertainment selections on a Delta Airlines flight a couple weeks ago.
What I discovered is that although the Broadway show is closing, a national tour is planned. Xanadu will play at the La Jolla Playhouse in November/December (yay – driving distance!) and a six month run is planned in Chicago starting in early ’09. Fingers crossed that Xanadu will find its way to the Pantages sooner rather than later!
As for The Transformed Man, I made it a regular staple on my college radio show. I wanted to share the pure joy of that album with the world (or at least the greater Fresno college radio listening community).