Month: June 2010

Pasadena Playhouse Update

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Today, while reading the Monster Mash at the LA Times, I got the urge to look at the Pasadena Playhouse website. Imagine my surprise when I saw a note about subscriber meetings, indicating that they were going to be held:

  • Monday, June 14th 7:00 – 8:30 pm
  • Tuesday, June 15th 2:30 – 4:00 pm
  • Wednesday, June 16th 11:00 am – 12:30

I should note that (as a subscriber) they never provided me with an announcement of these meetings: there was no mail (although they knew where to mail the bankruptcy paperwork); there was no phone call (even though they have my phone number); there was no email; and there wasn’t even a posting on their blog (to which I subscribe via RSS). Thus, although I would have been interested in attending, I found out too late, only by happenchance.

Given there was an email address for the Operations person, I dropped her a note as soon as I saw the page. Interestingly enough, she had called me at work early last week to talk, but I was in a meeting. I told her to call me back the next day… but she never did. I didn’t receive a response to my email, nor a call today. I’m writing this off as yet another example of the Playhouse’s problems with the care and nurturing of subscribers.

So, as she didn’t call, here are my suggestions about what the Playhouse should have done, subscriber-wise:

  • As soon as the closing was announced, created a mailing list for subscribers (this would be free at someplace like Yahoo). In their letter, provide an address for people to confirm they are on the mailing list.
  • They should also have created a special announcement blog just for subscribers. Again, easy to do.
  • They should have kept both lists updated regularly. Transparency of information is the best approach.
  • I understand that they could not provide confirmation of the bankruptcy filing before it was made public. But they could have indicated they were contemplating filing, and if they filed, what forms people would get and how to fill them out.
  • They should have passed on good-will offers from other organizations. Those wouldn’t have cost the Playhouse anything, and would have kept subscribers happy. More importantly, it would have created positive impressions and benefitted the entire theatre community.

Simple ideas. Ideas that would not cost the Playhouse anything, but would have indicated that the subscribers were part of the family. As for us, right now, I’ll keep watching what is happening. I want them to succeed and return, but I’m hesitant about resubscribing until I see a change in attitude. What I was buying there with my subscription dollar has bought an equivalent subscription elsewhere, plus left enought to fund attending a large number of productions around the Los Angeles area.

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Van Nuys HS in the News

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Reading an article in the Daily News over lunch, my eyes caught the following: “Valley schools appear on best list: Two San Fernando Valley schools were listed among the top 150 in Newsweek’s new compilation of 1,600 top American schools. Van Nuys High School ranked 55th on the annual list, while North Hollywood came in at 149. Newsweek compiles the list based on the number of Advanced Placement classes, and on standardized test scores. At least 15 schools from Southern California were ranked among the top 200.”

This is good news for Van Nuys, for other “name” schools in LAUSD (in particular, Granada Hills Charter) didn’t make the list. You can see the full list at the Newsweek site; Van Nuys is on page 3. Alas, their profile page doesn’t give more details, except for a disbelieving comment. [Other valley schools: LACES, #64; North Hollywood, #149; Monroe, #406; Hami, #468; Pali, #600; Birmingham, #646; Cleveland, #666; Venice, #732; El Camino, #1026; Granada, #1053)

Speaking as the father of a Van Nuys student (in the PA magnet), I can state that if the child is motivated, they get their tush worked off. My daughter did 2 AP last year, and will be doing 4 (I think) next year. They are weaker in how they enforce some discipline problems, but that’s a different story.

ETA: Just got a text from my daughter: “I HAVE STRAIGHT As!! I have a 96.8% in (AP) World History, and I set the curve on the Bio final.”

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Birthday Wishes for zarchasmpgmr

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

OK, Folks, you know the drill. Allright everyone, let’s gather in front of our large, 13″, Black and White TV set, and watch as a tall, lanky man in a khaki uniform strides out, introduces himself as Sheriff John. He pulls out a beret and replaces his Sheriff’s hat, gives a saunty “hoh-hoh-hoh”, and pulls out his accordion. He then launches into “Joyeux anniversaire!”:

Joyeux Anniversaire
Joyeux Anniversaire
Joyeux Anniversaire zarchasmpgmr
Joyeux Anniversaire

He then changes the key, and sings:

Nous te souhaitons un joyeux anniversaire
nos voeux de bonheur profonds et sincères
Beaucoup d’amour et une santé de fer
Un joyeux anniversaire
Nous te souhaitons un joyeux anniversaire
Pour que t’aies tout bon pour l’année entière
la réussite et la joie que tu espères
Un joyeux anniversaire

[Did you know you can pick which song the Sheriff sings for you on your birthday? It’s easy. Just visit the 6th Annual Birthday Poll on Livejournal or the parallel note on Facebook. Note that if you want the birdie to be able to inform the Sheriff about your birthday, you need to make sure your birth month and day is in your LJ or FB profile, and it is visible to your friends. Note that the Sheriff only sings a song if I know you personally or you’re a regular commenter. So don’t lurk!]

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Struck, as if by Lightning

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

An all-day telecon (east coast time) means a late lunch break. So, bypassing the news of all the Southern California earthquakes, here’s some news about a different phenomenon: lightning:

I will leave any interpretations to you, my dear readers 🙂

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Overcoming Prejudice

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

One of my favorite Shel Silverstein cartoons is that a parent stuffing their child’s head full of hatred. I mention this because this afternoon we toddled on down to the Ahmanson Theatre to see “South Pacific”. Surprisingly, this was the first time I have seen a full production. I was stunned.

Today, we look back at Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals and think of them as old-fashioned fluff. Oklahoma. The Sound of Music. The King and I. Nothing groundbreaking in there. But then we look at other works: Carousel, which explored relationship violence, or South Pacific. which looked at racism, and we begin to get a different picture of how groundbreaking these two men were. South Pacific came out in 1949, as was their fourth musical (Oklahoma, Carousel, and State Fair preceeded it). It tackled the subject of racism and the acceptance of it—in a sensitive accepting, but still critical manner. I think the heart of this musical is not the well-known songs, but the short song “Carefully Taught”:

You’ve got to be taught / To hate and fear,
You’ve got to be taught / From year to year,
It’s got to be drummed / In your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught to be afraid / Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff’rent shade,
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late, / Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You’ve got to be carefully taught!

South Pacific is, at its heart, a morality story buried in a love story that takes place during WWII on an island in the Pacific Ocean. You can find a detailed synopsis at Wikipedia. In short, the two love stories are between Emile de Becque (a wealthy white plantation owner with two mixed race children) and Ensign Nellie Forbush (a nurse from Little Rock AR), and between Lt. Joseph Cable USMC from Philadelpha PA and Liat, a native Tongoese girl. Nellie loves Emile, but has trouble accepting him because he’s been with a island woman. Cable loves Liat, but can’t propose because she’s not white like him. Woven into all of this are the typical Navy hijinks of a group of Seebees (think McHale’s Navy), and a subplot about Cable and de Becque going to a nearby island to spy on Japanese troop movements.

The casting of this production was excellent. We had a few understudies, but didn’t even notice (and one was Nellie!). In the main love story, the leads were Rod Gilfry (Emile de Becque), a superb operatic quality singer, and Kate Fahrner (Nellie Forbush (understudy)), a strong singer and dancer with great timing who was just a joy to watch. I really cannot see how the original cast were better than these two. Our second couple were Anderson Davis (Lt. Joseph Cable USMC) and Sumie Maeda (Liat). These had smaller roles (esp. Maeda), but Davis was stunning in his singing. Other significant roles were Matthew Saldivar (Luthaer Bills) and Keala Settle (Bloody Mary). Their roles were more comic, but they captured that aspect perfectly. Rounding out the large cast were Gerry Becker (Capt. George Brackett), Genson Blimline (Stewpot), Christina Carrera (Ngana), CJ Palma (Jerome), Peter Rini (Cmdr. William Harbison), Rusty Ross (Professor), Eric L. Christian (Kenneth Johnson), Jacqueline Colmer (Dinah Murphy, Ass’t. Dance Captain), Jeremy Davis (Lt. Buzz Adams), Mike Evariste (Henry/James Hayes), Alexis G. B. Holt (Bloody Mary’s Ass’t.), Robert Hunt (Richard West), Chad Jennings (Radio Operator Bob McCaffrey), Christopher Johnstone (Thomas Hassinger), Kristie Kerwin (Ensign Sue Yaeger), Jodi Kimura (Bloody Mary’s Ass’t), Cathy Newman (Lt. Genevieve Marshall), Diane Phelan (Ensign Cora MacRae/Bloody Mary’s Ass’t.), John Pinto Jr. (Yeoman Herbert Quale), Travis Robertson (Tom O’Brien), Josh Rouah (Lt. Eustis Carmichael/ Petty Officer Hamilton Steeves), Kristen J. Smith (Ensign Connie Walewska), Matt Stokes (Seabee Johnny Noonan), Victor J. Wisehart (Morton Wise). This is the touring company—there was no Los Angeles specific casting.

Technically, the production was a delight, although we weren’t able to have the Lincoln Center orchestra trick. The sets were by Michael Yeargan, and were sumptuous: an island with a palm tree, with flys to give Emile’s mansion and the various military locations. Lighting was by Donald Holder—although there was a bit more follow-spot than I like, the rest of the lighting was spot-on perfect. I particularly liked how the background was colored during Bali Hi, and the airplane effects. Sound was by Scott Lehrer—again, an amazing job, especially during the Wash That Man number, where I had no idea how the actresses were miced. Customes were by Catherine Zuber and captured the period well. The production stage manager was Brian J. L’ecuyer, with additional stage manager duties shared by Rachel Zack and Michael Krug.

As noted above, the show featured music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hammerstein, with a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan, based on the story “Tales of the South Pacific” by James Michener. This production featured the original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett, with dance and incidental music arrangements by Trude Rittman. It was directed by Bartlett Sher. Musical staging was by Christopher Gattelli, with musical direction by Ted Sperling and musical coordination by David Lai.

“South Pacific” continues at the Ahmanson Theatre until July 17, 2010. I discussed the 2010-2011 Ahmanson Season in this post.

Upcoming Theatre and Dance. This is a busy, busy summer. Next week is the regularly scheduled June “Meeting of Minds” (Episode #10: Voltaire (Ray Abruzzo); Martin Luther (Mark Moses); Plato; Florence Nightingale [Sharon Lawrence]; with Steve Allen (Gary Cole) hosting) on June 20. June 25 brings “It’s Top Secret”, a musical that is part of the Festival of New American Musicals, at the NoHo Arts Center; the next night, June 26, brings “The Rocky Horror Show” at the Underground Theatre. As for July, the month starts with “In The Heights” at the Pantages on July 3, and the Western Corps Connection in Riverside on July 5. The next weekend (July 10 @ 8pm) is the first show of the 2010-2011 Colony season, “Grace & Glorie”. The third weekend of July brings ; “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” at REP East on July 17 and the July “Meeting of Minds on July 18. The 4th weekend brings “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” at Cabrillo Music Theatre on July 24. Plus July will possibly bring some ventures out to the Hollywood Bowl. August starts with “Young Frankenstein” at the Pantages on August 1, and (hopefully) “Rent” at the Hollywood Bowl (pending ticketing) the following weekend. August 15 brings the August “Meeting of Minds”, and August 21 “Side Man” at REP East. Looking into September, there is “Free Man of Color” at the Colony on September 4, and “Leap of Faith” at the Ahmanson Theatre (September 5-October 17, to be ticketed), plus of course, “Meeting of Minds” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” at REP East (9/17-10/16).

As always: live theatre is a gift and a unique experience, unlike a movie. It is vitally important in these times that you support your local arts institutions. If you can afford to go to the movies, you can afford to go to theatre. If you need help finding ways, just drop me a note and I’ll teach you some tricks. Lastly, I’ll note that nobody paid me anything to write this review. In fact, I receive no remuneration for any reviews I write.

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Teens and Maturity

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Recently, I’ve been caught up in the story of Abby Sunderland. For those not familiar with Abby, she’s the 16 year old teen from Thousand Oaks, who set sail in January from Marina Del Rey, CA, with a goal to circumnavigate the world non-stop. She had to pull into Cabo for repairs in February, resetting that as her start point. She had autopilot trouble in April, and pulled into Capetown SA for repairs. She’s been keeping a blog of her trip.

Yesterday, her parents lost communication with her, and two of her emergency manual beacons were set off. This prompted a lot of worries and search planes to be set out. The good news is that she’s fine, but the ship lost its mast (which is why satellite communications went down). Rescue ships are on their way; they should be there in 24 hours.

So, going to the title of this post. Look at any of the news reports on this, and you’ll find two camps of comments: Those that are supportive of Abby, and those criticizing her parents for letting her go, to the extent of wanting legislation or licenses to prevent this. To the latter group I say: “Shut up.”.

As a parent of a teen, I know how mature my child is. I’ve seen teens that are immature, and teens that are 34-year-old in teen bodies. I know that if my daughter set her mind on something like this, she would approach the problem logically and maturely. Additionally, there would be the fact that she would be safer isolated on the ocean than on the streets of our cities. In the case of Ms. Sunderland, I think she has already demonstrated her maturity by knowing when she had to give up on part of the dream to safely make repairs. She showed maturity through her activation of the beacons instead of trying to bluster through. Reading her blog you get the sense of her levelheadedness. You can see why her parents trusted in her ability to do this.

Am I saying that every teen should able to do this, or encouraged to try? No. I’m saying that we shouldn’t lump all teens together, and if a teen wants to achieve a dream, we should trust the parents to gauge their maturity.

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Things That Are Disappearing

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Today’s news chum brings news of three items that are soon-to-be gone:

  • If you’ve ever driven by the corner of Sherman Way and Tampa in Reseda, you’ve seen Lorenzen Mortuary across the street from the Jewish Home. According to the Daily News, they are going to have to relocate. The mortuary at 19300 Sherman Way was founded in 1952 by Virginia and Donald Lorenzen (who later served on the Los Angeles City Council). Virginia died in January at age 92; in early 2009, the Los Angeles County Office of the Public Guardian, serving as her trustee and conservator, received court approval to sell her real estate holdings to pay for her care and expenses. They were sold to Robert Hirsch, chairman of the board of the Jewish Home, who then donated the land. The Home plans to build Senior Housing, and so the mortuary has to move.
  • You might just have driven by that corner in a Chevy. If you didn’t, someone else did. However, if GM has its way, you won’t be able to say that: GM wants people to stop using the term “Chevy” and go back to the full name, “Chevrolet”. Some dealers even have a “Chevy Jar”, just like a curse jar. I’ve seen responses to this that say they don’t think an American car should have a French name. This is something I think GM will have trouble with—it’s like Anheiser-Busch trying to get folks not to call their swill “Bud”. (hmmm, interesting parallel there: Quality automobile are to Chevys as quality beer is to Bud). In other car news, Cadillac has redesigned their logo again.
  • And while in that car, you might have been listening to the radio. Thirty years ago, you might have been turned to KMET listening to Dr. Demento (I know I did in high school). Soon, you won’t be able to do that, at least on the radio. Dr. D is leaving the airwaves after 40 years. He’ll still be streaming a 1 hour show on the Internet. In many ways, though, the nature of novelty records has drastically changed. Nowaday, who makes audio recordings—they are all You-Tube videos.
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