…in no particular order.
1. Paula Abdul
2. Robin Berger
3. Britney Spears
4. Fatima Robinson (choreographer of Dreamgirls)
5. Frankie Manning (old school lindy hopper from the 30’s I met when I was 16)
Paul Friswold, I salute you June 21, 2008
What a great essay/review posted on the old RFT blog (which is a really amazing news source, too – plug!) – this guy was PAYING attention! You can really tell Mr. F knows a thing or two about vinyls. Speaking of the vinyl era, word on the street is that my grandma’s coming by tonight. I’m sure she’ll really appreciate the nod to Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller in a few of the numbers.
So last night was performance number 5. I was really havin’ myself some fun. I also felt some happy vibes from the audience. I always like it when the audience is a little rowdy and occasionally yells things at semi-awkward moments. Come on guys! Have that extra pomegranate mojito at Bar Louie before you come and dare to take a chance at relevant heckling! (note: that’s just me, I have a feeling our director miiight not like it…but maybe!) I think I’m just being nostalgic – back when I was a young co-ed, heckling was definitely commonplace, espesh among the comedian friends always trying to show how comedic they are. I relish!
So yeah, I’m sortof at a loss when it comes to blogging now b/c I have nothing really to complain about (other than no free time – but I had some of that today! I always gravitate towards the porch with a cup of coffee for like 3+ hours when I have time to spare)! I guess there’s more to this than complaining.
It’s been really great seeing the reviews come out. I know I am always dying for feedback – it’s nice to have someone help you tighten up this dance move there, that harmony there, but mostly its just fun to dish out a million opinions with someone else who has them. I’m lucky because I have family in St. Louis, namely The Judester (my mom!), and she is quite the opinionated expert, and she is blunt, so there’s no fishing for the truth. The fish of truth jumps right into your boat with mom. Costumes, sets, whatever, this woman is a real people-ologist with quite a resume of theatre work from her past. (note: I really need to get her back to costume design b/c she is really good, & not just through a daughter’s rose-colored-glasses either, y’all)
So I got some good presentation feedback from The Mom, as I have for my whole life. I owe my good posture to her! …And a myriad of dance teachers, one important one being Miss Robin Berger, choreographer of High Fidelity, changer-of-lives-through-dance, and model female small-business owner…Robin has absolutely gotten adjective status in my household especially between my sister and I:
“…was it Robin-good, or just like, kinda ok?”
Both of us were lucky enough to have Robin as our coach when we were on the Kirkwoodettes, my hometown youth Pom pon squad. Yes. And, due to a dance gig that I did with/for Robin, I found my jukebox. See what I mean about changing lives through dance?! Whenever my sister and I discuss the situation for small business owners in St. Louis, who comes up? Robin! We love her, she is so awesome! She has adult dance classes (at Leaping Lizards, right by ted drewes), and excuse me while I cannot reccomend them highly enough. Especially if she includes the Famous (in my house) Robin Berger Jazz Warm Up! OMG I am so taking those classes. Robin, are you listening?
Yeah, so this post has turned into a bit of a paean - so I’m just gonna run with it.
In the spirit of saluting other local folk that I think are cool, what are you doing Monday night?
I’m going to the Comedy On Parade with Bill Chott (Mr. St. Louis Comedy – was also on The Dana Carvey show, nascent comedian primordial soup– hellow steve carell and colbert were on it, too) at the Atomic Cowboy. Saluting this whole bars-outside-the-box movement I’ve seen in town lately with bars offering more entertainment than karaoke (which is, don’t get me wrong, AMAZING…but variety is the spice of life).
I don’t mean to gush, and my favorite poet Aaron Belz will be there, too. (I love that I am his facebook friend! It’s awesomely silly to me. Aaron if you’re reading this, when are you coming to High Fidelity? Hm?)
See ya there.
*****
ahh, its time to leave and I don’t know what I’m wearing tonight. Saturday priorities!
Dancing & Drinks April 22, 2008
We’re all set with a Liz, and she’s cool and she sings the same part as me (sometimes). Alone no longer, though it wasn’t bad!
Mary, who is cool enough to blog, is a genius and read my mind with the whole suggesting drinks thing. Snaps to you, I hope people can make it out. We can throw some postcards around, etc…
Also, Leaping Lizards looks way different than when I was a kid, I was slightly shocked as I ran (late, sorry!) into dance rehearsal this past Sunday. The dance was fun to do, naturally – I forgot Robin’s whirlwind choreographing and I love it in all its whirlwindiness. I would like to run it about 10 more times, though.
Hm, I need a coffee or something. Anyway, thanks for the plug, Miss Katie – later!
Finally – I can be a backup singer April 16, 2008
Hey fellow rock/musical enthusiasts, I’m Lori, I’m in High Fidelity, I play Sarah, and I’m pretty much really excited to:
1) be in a bona fide musical after a 3+ year hiatus…dang was it really that long since college..whoa.
2) get to sing backup on like, a lot of songs. I have always wanted to be a backup singer, and I will still want to be a back up singer when this whole “show” is said and done.
3) get to have Robin as my choreographer again! OMG that woman is a genius/changed my life for the better. My sister and I (we’ve both experienced The Robin Effect) talk about her whenever we’re together.
4) there are all these new people in the show and I don’t know them! whoa.
5) My character was played by Lili Taylor in the High Fidelity movie — I really loved her character in Say Anything (John Cusack connection, anyone?) singing “Joe Lies” and “That’ll Never Be Me,” so I’m feeling in really good brown-haired company.
