Ok, so I was watching an episode of Great Cruises today. It was about an Alaskan Cruise on the Radiance of the Seas (which is the same cruise ship we are going to take to Alaska in August.)
Anyways, there was a long scene with an excursion that involved sled dogs.
Normally when dogs come on tv, Belle runns up to the screen and watches for a bit, and then loses interest, but this time, the sled dogs had her attention for the entire segment!
What was really funny was, several times, the sled dogs would run across the screen at an angle and run off a corner of the screen. Belle would go to the corner of the screen and track the dogs running of the edge of the screen with her head, as if she was trying to figure out where they were going! Her head whizzing down following the running dogs... it was so cute!
Monday, March 27, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
South Park goes in for the "kill."
This article comes from here
South Park: "The Return of Chef"
TV Review: The animated series comments on a cast members departure.
by Eric Goldman
March 23, 2006 - [SPOILER WARNING: Key episode plot points are discussed in the course of this review.]
Don't piss off Matt and Trey. The South Park season premiere this week once more proved that to be true in a big way. Though would you expect anything less? In the past couple of weeks there has been a lot of attention given to the fact that Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef on the long running series, would not be returning this season. Hayes was quoted as saying he was upset over the show insulting religion as an explanation for his departure, but as many (including South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker) were quick to point out, the show has pretty much lampooned every religion through the years in equal measure. Thus it seemed somewhat notable that the show had done their big Scientology episode "Trapped in the Closet" last fall, and that Hayes is in fact a Scientologist.
One of the great things about South Park is that because the show is so quickly and crudely produced, they can have episodes on the air that are amazingly topical, often commenting on headlines that just occurred. And you knew there was no way there were going to let something like Hayes quitting the show go by without commenting upon it. "The Return of Chef" began with a fake "Previously on South Park" segment that showed Chef deciding to leave town and join a group called The Super Adventurers Club to travel around the world, as all of the kids (Cartman included!) got emotional and wept. But in the premiere Chef returns, and everyone rejoices… until they notice something isn't quite right with him.
In an extremely funny move, Parker and Stone took previously recorded footage of Hayes from old episodes and awkwardly spliced it together to create new dialogue for Chef. Chef it seems came back to South Park with a shocking new fondness for sex with children, and one of the episode's running jokes had Chef continually begin to sing his popular "I'm Gonna Make Love to you Woman" song, except "woman" was replaced with every rude and crude thing you can think that involved children and their bodies. Suffice to say, the show isn't getting any more family friendly as time goes on.
"Trapped in the Closet" had started this whole situation by parodying Scientology, and while Parker and Stone weren't about to bring up the religion by name again, they pointedly made it pretty clear what they think of the situation with Hayes, pulling no punches. We learn that the Super Adventurers Club has in fact brainwashed Chef, changing him from the friend all the boys loved to this "weirdo" they're talking to now. Make your own conclusions as to what that is supposed to signify. One inspired in-joke had the leader of the Super Adventures Club explaining their belief that having sex with children makes them immortal, as text on screen informed the audience that, "This is what the Super Adventures Club actually believes;" a clever reference to the "Trapped in the Closet" episode using the same wording when showing Scientology beliefs. The episode then went to the South Park extreme, as Chef makes his choice to stay with the Super Adventures Club rather then return with the boys… only to be burnt alive, fall off a cliff, get impaled and then finally be torn apart by a mountain lion and a bear. And yes, it was all wonderfully, horrifically hysterical.
In the end, a funeral is held for Chef, and Kyle delivers a eulogy that probably says how Parker and Stone really feel about Hayes, in which he says he's not going to let Chef's recent weirdness ruin his memories of his friend and the good times they had. It was a truly sweet sentiment for a show that had just had Chef's face ripped off by wild animals. Then again, as the Revenge of the Sith inspired coda proved, Chef has been rebuilt by the Super Adventure Club and you never know if he might pop up again, Hayes or no Hayes. There's been some pretty strange rumblings in the past couple of days involving rumors that Hayes had a stroke and speculation on whether or not he was even the one who actually quit or if someone did it on his behalf. If more of this story comes out, I wouldn't put it past the creators of South Park to bring forth more of their brash commentary on it in future episodes.
South Park: "The Return of Chef"
TV Review: The animated series comments on a cast members departure.
by Eric Goldman
March 23, 2006 - [SPOILER WARNING: Key episode plot points are discussed in the course of this review.]
Don't piss off Matt and Trey. The South Park season premiere this week once more proved that to be true in a big way. Though would you expect anything less? In the past couple of weeks there has been a lot of attention given to the fact that Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef on the long running series, would not be returning this season. Hayes was quoted as saying he was upset over the show insulting religion as an explanation for his departure, but as many (including South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker) were quick to point out, the show has pretty much lampooned every religion through the years in equal measure. Thus it seemed somewhat notable that the show had done their big Scientology episode "Trapped in the Closet" last fall, and that Hayes is in fact a Scientologist.
One of the great things about South Park is that because the show is so quickly and crudely produced, they can have episodes on the air that are amazingly topical, often commenting on headlines that just occurred. And you knew there was no way there were going to let something like Hayes quitting the show go by without commenting upon it. "The Return of Chef" began with a fake "Previously on South Park" segment that showed Chef deciding to leave town and join a group called The Super Adventurers Club to travel around the world, as all of the kids (Cartman included!) got emotional and wept. But in the premiere Chef returns, and everyone rejoices… until they notice something isn't quite right with him.
In an extremely funny move, Parker and Stone took previously recorded footage of Hayes from old episodes and awkwardly spliced it together to create new dialogue for Chef. Chef it seems came back to South Park with a shocking new fondness for sex with children, and one of the episode's running jokes had Chef continually begin to sing his popular "I'm Gonna Make Love to you Woman" song, except "woman" was replaced with every rude and crude thing you can think that involved children and their bodies. Suffice to say, the show isn't getting any more family friendly as time goes on.
"Trapped in the Closet" had started this whole situation by parodying Scientology, and while Parker and Stone weren't about to bring up the religion by name again, they pointedly made it pretty clear what they think of the situation with Hayes, pulling no punches. We learn that the Super Adventurers Club has in fact brainwashed Chef, changing him from the friend all the boys loved to this "weirdo" they're talking to now. Make your own conclusions as to what that is supposed to signify. One inspired in-joke had the leader of the Super Adventures Club explaining their belief that having sex with children makes them immortal, as text on screen informed the audience that, "This is what the Super Adventures Club actually believes;" a clever reference to the "Trapped in the Closet" episode using the same wording when showing Scientology beliefs. The episode then went to the South Park extreme, as Chef makes his choice to stay with the Super Adventures Club rather then return with the boys… only to be burnt alive, fall off a cliff, get impaled and then finally be torn apart by a mountain lion and a bear. And yes, it was all wonderfully, horrifically hysterical.
In the end, a funeral is held for Chef, and Kyle delivers a eulogy that probably says how Parker and Stone really feel about Hayes, in which he says he's not going to let Chef's recent weirdness ruin his memories of his friend and the good times they had. It was a truly sweet sentiment for a show that had just had Chef's face ripped off by wild animals. Then again, as the Revenge of the Sith inspired coda proved, Chef has been rebuilt by the Super Adventure Club and you never know if he might pop up again, Hayes or no Hayes. There's been some pretty strange rumblings in the past couple of days involving rumors that Hayes had a stroke and speculation on whether or not he was even the one who actually quit or if someone did it on his behalf. If more of this story comes out, I wouldn't put it past the creators of South Park to bring forth more of their brash commentary on it in future episodes.
Just Like Heaven
I just finished watching Just Like Heaven. It was really good! It stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. I knew the premise and it sounded like a cute romantic comedy, but I couldn't figure out how they were going to end it. I really thought it was all around good.
Also, it had Jon Heder in it... which was funny because I saw Napolean Dynamite for the first time last night. (I wasn't crazy about it, but I also slept through a lot of it 'cause I was so tired!) But anyway, I'm watching this guy in Just Like Heaven and its like one of those things where you know you've seen them in something else and then I realized... hey that's Napolean!
Also, I got my report cards done this morning. I got 1-15 done while watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and 16-31 while watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
If each movie is 2 1/2 hours long, thats 150 minutes. Which means that each report card took aprx. 10 minutes. Yeah. Thats fun math.
Also, it had Jon Heder in it... which was funny because I saw Napolean Dynamite for the first time last night. (I wasn't crazy about it, but I also slept through a lot of it 'cause I was so tired!) But anyway, I'm watching this guy in Just Like Heaven and its like one of those things where you know you've seen them in something else and then I realized... hey that's Napolean!
Also, I got my report cards done this morning. I got 1-15 done while watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and 16-31 while watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
If each movie is 2 1/2 hours long, thats 150 minutes. Which means that each report card took aprx. 10 minutes. Yeah. Thats fun math.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
From the pen of a 5th grader
Question: Transportation by water was very important to the British Colonies. The folowing term is related to water transportation. Explain how the term is related to water transportation.
Raw Materials:
Answer: People grow raw materials and then swim to the other side to trade.
Raw Materials:
Answer: People grow raw materials and then swim to the other side to trade.
South Park
Check this out: and pay careful attention to what Matt Stone says.
Soul singer Isaac Hayes quits 'South Park'
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Soul singer Isaac Hayes said Monday he was quitting his job as the voice of the lusty character "Chef" on the satiric cable TV cartoon "South Park," citing the show's "inappropriate ridicule" of religion.
But series co-creator Matt Stone said the veteran recording artist was upset the show had recently lampooned the Church of Scientology, of which Hayes is an outspoken follower.
"In ten years and over 150 episodes of 'South Park,' Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslim, Mormons or Jews," Stone said in a statement issued by the Comedy Central network.
"He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show."
He added: "Of course we will release Isaac from his contract, and we wish him well."
In a statement explaining his departure from the show, Hayes, 63, did not mention last fall's episode poking fun at Scientology and some of its celebrity adherents, including actor Tom Cruise.
Rather, Hayes said the show's parody of religion in general was part of what he saw as a "growing insensitivity toward personal spiritual beliefs" in the media, including the recent controversy over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad.
"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs ... begins," Hayes said.
The crudely animated cartoon, heading into its 10th season next week as one of Comedy Central's biggest hits, centers on the antics of four foul-mouthed fourth graders in the town of South Park, Colorado.
Outlandish religious satire has been a mainstay of the show since its debut on the Viacom Inc.-owned network in 1997. The series grew out of two short films by Stone and collaborator Trey Parker -- "Jesus vs. Frosty" and "The Spirit of Christmas," the latter featuring a martial-arts duel between Jesus and Santa Claus over the true meaning of Christmas.
Hayes, the first black composer to win an Oscar for best song with his theme to the 1971 film "Shaft," gained renewed fame on "South Park" as the voice of Jerome "Chef" McElroy, the school cafeteria cook whom the boys often seek out for advice.
In an episode last fall, one of the gang, Stan, scores so high on a Scientology test that church followers think he is the next L. Ron Hubbard, the late science-fiction writer who founded the religion. Hayes did not take part in that episode.
In an interview with Reuters late last year, Hayes talked about a foundation he formed to bring Scientology-based study techniques to disadvantaged inner-city schools, in partnership with fellow devotee Lisa Marie Presley.
"But it's not religious," he said then, describing himself as Baptist by birth and Scientology as "an applied religious philosophy."
Comedy Central spokesman Tony Fox said producers have not decided whether Chef would be dropped from the show or continued with another actor supplying his voice.
Copyright 2006 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/13/south.park.hayes.reut/index.html
A few more good points:
Remember, Isaacs said this:
... "he fumes, "Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored. As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices."
Stone has fired back at Hayes saying, "This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology... He has no problem - and he's cashed plenty of checks - with our show making fun of Christians."
And here is the key point, which I couldn't have said better myself:
Stone adds that he and Parker "never heard a peep out of Isaac in any way until we did Scientology. He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and, to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin."
Parker has previously said the show had avoided the controversial topic of Scientology out of respect for Hayes and his religious beliefs. He explains, "Finally, we just had to tell Isaac, 'Dude, we totally love working with you, and this is nothing personal, it's just we're South Park, and, if we don't do this, we're belittling everything else we've ripped on.'"
(These quotes are cited from various articles, including the one found at http://www.azcentral.com/ent/celeb/articles/0314hayes.html
I just want to add that one of the major reasons I love South Park is that they take on everyone. Matt is right. The fact is, Chef has particiated in plenty of episodes that bash Christians (I can think of one specifically about Catholics right now). He i turning himself into a hypocrite by saying that he can't support such a thing after participating in it for many years. Matt is so right when he points out that intlolerance begins when someone is okay with bashing all religions but then claims to support religious tolerance when their own beliefs are satired.
In other words, other belief systems aren't as important, so its okay to poke fun at them.
Soul singer Isaac Hayes quits 'South Park'
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Soul singer Isaac Hayes said Monday he was quitting his job as the voice of the lusty character "Chef" on the satiric cable TV cartoon "South Park," citing the show's "inappropriate ridicule" of religion.
But series co-creator Matt Stone said the veteran recording artist was upset the show had recently lampooned the Church of Scientology, of which Hayes is an outspoken follower.
"In ten years and over 150 episodes of 'South Park,' Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslim, Mormons or Jews," Stone said in a statement issued by the Comedy Central network.
"He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show."
He added: "Of course we will release Isaac from his contract, and we wish him well."
In a statement explaining his departure from the show, Hayes, 63, did not mention last fall's episode poking fun at Scientology and some of its celebrity adherents, including actor Tom Cruise.
Rather, Hayes said the show's parody of religion in general was part of what he saw as a "growing insensitivity toward personal spiritual beliefs" in the media, including the recent controversy over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad.
"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs ... begins," Hayes said.
The crudely animated cartoon, heading into its 10th season next week as one of Comedy Central's biggest hits, centers on the antics of four foul-mouthed fourth graders in the town of South Park, Colorado.
Outlandish religious satire has been a mainstay of the show since its debut on the Viacom Inc.-owned network in 1997. The series grew out of two short films by Stone and collaborator Trey Parker -- "Jesus vs. Frosty" and "The Spirit of Christmas," the latter featuring a martial-arts duel between Jesus and Santa Claus over the true meaning of Christmas.
Hayes, the first black composer to win an Oscar for best song with his theme to the 1971 film "Shaft," gained renewed fame on "South Park" as the voice of Jerome "Chef" McElroy, the school cafeteria cook whom the boys often seek out for advice.
In an episode last fall, one of the gang, Stan, scores so high on a Scientology test that church followers think he is the next L. Ron Hubbard, the late science-fiction writer who founded the religion. Hayes did not take part in that episode.
In an interview with Reuters late last year, Hayes talked about a foundation he formed to bring Scientology-based study techniques to disadvantaged inner-city schools, in partnership with fellow devotee Lisa Marie Presley.
"But it's not religious," he said then, describing himself as Baptist by birth and Scientology as "an applied religious philosophy."
Comedy Central spokesman Tony Fox said producers have not decided whether Chef would be dropped from the show or continued with another actor supplying his voice.
Copyright 2006 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/13/south.park.hayes.reut/index.html
A few more good points:
Remember, Isaacs said this:
... "he fumes, "Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored. As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices."
Stone has fired back at Hayes saying, "This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology... He has no problem - and he's cashed plenty of checks - with our show making fun of Christians."
And here is the key point, which I couldn't have said better myself:
Stone adds that he and Parker "never heard a peep out of Isaac in any way until we did Scientology. He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and, to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin."
Parker has previously said the show had avoided the controversial topic of Scientology out of respect for Hayes and his religious beliefs. He explains, "Finally, we just had to tell Isaac, 'Dude, we totally love working with you, and this is nothing personal, it's just we're South Park, and, if we don't do this, we're belittling everything else we've ripped on.'"
(These quotes are cited from various articles, including the one found at http://www.azcentral.com/ent/celeb/articles/0314hayes.html
I just want to add that one of the major reasons I love South Park is that they take on everyone. Matt is right. The fact is, Chef has particiated in plenty of episodes that bash Christians (I can think of one specifically about Catholics right now). He i turning himself into a hypocrite by saying that he can't support such a thing after participating in it for many years. Matt is so right when he points out that intlolerance begins when someone is okay with bashing all religions but then claims to support religious tolerance when their own beliefs are satired.
In other words, other belief systems aren't as important, so its okay to poke fun at them.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Frustrated
AAAAAAAAAAAAH. I am so upset. I want to cry. I cry about the stupidest things but still grrr....
So I go to the eye doctor to get my new contacts and I find out I have an eye infection (so my eyes don't just itch from the cold I have!)
So He writes me a prescription and I go to fill it.
SO my pharmasist says that my insurance won't fill my prescription because he is an eye doctor, not an MD. All I need to do is call my general practitioner and have them call in the same prescription.
WHAT??? Well thats all well in good, except I don't have a general practitioner.
SO I run over to the 24 hour clinic and pray they can help me.
SO the doctor there looks up my prescription in his little drug reference book, and then he looks at me, and then back at the RX, and then back at the reference book, and then looks at the RX again and says...
"so you have an infection..in your...? "
"eye" i say...
"Ok and this prescrition if for...?" (as he references his book)
"The infection" I repeat "in my eye..."
"Ok and your wearing contacts now?" (book reference)
"Yes, becasue I haven't been able to go home and get my glasses yet..."
"because you have an infection?" (look at the book again, flip back and forth a few pages...)
"Yes,"
"in your..."
" in my eye..."
"Is it on the cornea?" (scanning the book...)
"Yes. Its not pink eye, its on the cornea."
"the infection?"
"Yes. The infection is on the cornea. In my eye. "
"Come back here, please"
So he looks at my eye (like the guy knows what he's looking for. I mean seriously. I am asking for a prescription for an antibiotic eye drop. I'm sure thats big on the teen drug scene these days... Can't he just copy the damn perscription?)
So he looks in my eye with his chunty MD light and I say. "It should be easy to see. My eye doctor just put in the dye..." (As in, I just left the freakin doctors office, come on!"
So he says, "You shouldn't need dye to see this infection," (Excuse me? you baggin' on my eye doctor?)
"Well," he says, "I guess I'm just going to have to take his word for it..." Grrrrrr
(Which, by the way, really pisses me off because it sort of felt insulting toowards my eye doctor..."well, i better take his word for it..." Uh YEAH, he is an EYE DOCTOR, and to be honest, a damn good doctor at that! If I could find a GP and an OBGYN that were as nice as my eye doctor I'd be in heaven... I mean, imagine, not feeling rushed at my appointments, getting my questions answered, even a moment or two of genral conversation.... and he calls me back on the phone! Personally!)
Anyway back to the know-it-all at the clinic...
SO he writes me out the RX.
... and a run back and this time, "Sorry, this time it got declined because your insurance doesn't cover this medication."
Way to freaking go.
I was so pissed off. All that damn running around! Thank the gods that my doctor gave me a sample of the stuff to start out with.
Why does this have to be so complicated? I mean seriously! Some drugs covered, some not. What is the deal? I hate going to the doctor becasue it just seems like everything is so complicated when doing so. I don't deal well with this stuff. I know its stupid but hoops and loopholes and all this stuff just stresses me out. Things should be clear. I shouldn't have to wait until I get to the pharmacy to find out if my insurace covers my medicine. I shouldn't have to even worry about that. I pay good money for my health care insurance. I should get whatever medicine my doctor thinks I need.
And if I don't stop writing about this I am going to cry, which probably isn't good because I only have this teeny tiny sample bottle of antibiotic eyedrops, and they aren't going to do any freaking good if I cry the damn things out.
So I go to the eye doctor to get my new contacts and I find out I have an eye infection (so my eyes don't just itch from the cold I have!)
So He writes me a prescription and I go to fill it.
SO my pharmasist says that my insurance won't fill my prescription because he is an eye doctor, not an MD. All I need to do is call my general practitioner and have them call in the same prescription.
WHAT??? Well thats all well in good, except I don't have a general practitioner.
SO I run over to the 24 hour clinic and pray they can help me.
SO the doctor there looks up my prescription in his little drug reference book, and then he looks at me, and then back at the RX, and then back at the reference book, and then looks at the RX again and says...
"so you have an infection..in your...? "
"eye" i say...
"Ok and this prescrition if for...?" (as he references his book)
"The infection" I repeat "in my eye..."
"Ok and your wearing contacts now?" (book reference)
"Yes, becasue I haven't been able to go home and get my glasses yet..."
"because you have an infection?" (look at the book again, flip back and forth a few pages...)
"Yes,"
"in your..."
" in my eye..."
"Is it on the cornea?" (scanning the book...)
"Yes. Its not pink eye, its on the cornea."
"the infection?"
"Yes. The infection is on the cornea. In my eye. "
"Come back here, please"
So he looks at my eye (like the guy knows what he's looking for. I mean seriously. I am asking for a prescription for an antibiotic eye drop. I'm sure thats big on the teen drug scene these days... Can't he just copy the damn perscription?)
So he looks in my eye with his chunty MD light and I say. "It should be easy to see. My eye doctor just put in the dye..." (As in, I just left the freakin doctors office, come on!"
So he says, "You shouldn't need dye to see this infection," (Excuse me? you baggin' on my eye doctor?)
"Well," he says, "I guess I'm just going to have to take his word for it..." Grrrrrr
(Which, by the way, really pisses me off because it sort of felt insulting toowards my eye doctor..."well, i better take his word for it..." Uh YEAH, he is an EYE DOCTOR, and to be honest, a damn good doctor at that! If I could find a GP and an OBGYN that were as nice as my eye doctor I'd be in heaven... I mean, imagine, not feeling rushed at my appointments, getting my questions answered, even a moment or two of genral conversation.... and he calls me back on the phone! Personally!)
Anyway back to the know-it-all at the clinic...
SO he writes me out the RX.
... and a run back and this time, "Sorry, this time it got declined because your insurance doesn't cover this medication."
Way to freaking go.
I was so pissed off. All that damn running around! Thank the gods that my doctor gave me a sample of the stuff to start out with.
Why does this have to be so complicated? I mean seriously! Some drugs covered, some not. What is the deal? I hate going to the doctor becasue it just seems like everything is so complicated when doing so. I don't deal well with this stuff. I know its stupid but hoops and loopholes and all this stuff just stresses me out. Things should be clear. I shouldn't have to wait until I get to the pharmacy to find out if my insurace covers my medicine. I shouldn't have to even worry about that. I pay good money for my health care insurance. I should get whatever medicine my doctor thinks I need.
And if I don't stop writing about this I am going to cry, which probably isn't good because I only have this teeny tiny sample bottle of antibiotic eyedrops, and they aren't going to do any freaking good if I cry the damn things out.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Do you hear the people sing?
From: Broadway World
Les Miserables to Return to Broadway for 6 Months Beginning October 21
February 16, 2006 - by BWW News Desk
To celebrate LES MISÉRABLES becoming the longest-running musical in the world in October of this year, producer Cameron Mackintosh announced today that Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical will return to Broadway for a special limited six-month engagement, beginning this coming fall at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Previews will begin Saturday, October 21, with an official opening slated for Thursday, November 9. Casting for the production will be announced in the coming months. Tickets will go on sale to the general public in June, with group sales beginning later this month.
LES MISÉRABLES is the third longest-running show in Broadway history and will, on October 9, pass the 21 year old record of Cats in London to become the longest-running musical ever on the West End or Broadway with 8,372 performances; a run nearly three years longer than Broadway’s record-holder The Phantom of the Opera, all three shows having been produced by Cameron Mackintosh. LES MISÉRABLES has been seen by over 53 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages since its first London performance in October 1985. The original Broadway production opened on March 12, 1987, at the Broadway Theatre, winning seven Tony Awards that season, including Best Musical. The show went on to play a total of 6,680 performances.
“2006 has been a very special year for me with Phantom becoming the longest running musical ever on Broadway and soon, in London, on October 9, LES MISÉRABLES becomes the longest-running musical in the world. So the opportunity to bring LES MIZ home to Broadway in the exquisite and intimate Broadhurst Theatre, next door to Phantom, to celebrate this historic achievement is irresistible. I am sure that the timeless power of the show will be an unforgettable experience both for new audiences and serial Les Miz-ers,” said Cameron Mackintosh.
Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, LES MISÉRABLES is musical by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It features music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with original French text by Alain Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. Directed by Trevor Nunn & John Caird, the musical is designed by John Napier with lighting by David Hersey, costumes by Andreane Neofitou and sound by Andrew Bruce.
LES MISÉRABLES was first presented by Cameron Mackintosh and The Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre in October, 1985. The musical transferred to the West End’s Palace Theatre later that year, where it played for 19 years. LES MISÉRABLES transferred to the Queen’s Theatre in April, 2004, where it continues today.
Les Miserables to Return to Broadway for 6 Months Beginning October 21
February 16, 2006 - by BWW News Desk
To celebrate LES MISÉRABLES becoming the longest-running musical in the world in October of this year, producer Cameron Mackintosh announced today that Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical will return to Broadway for a special limited six-month engagement, beginning this coming fall at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Previews will begin Saturday, October 21, with an official opening slated for Thursday, November 9. Casting for the production will be announced in the coming months. Tickets will go on sale to the general public in June, with group sales beginning later this month.
LES MISÉRABLES is the third longest-running show in Broadway history and will, on October 9, pass the 21 year old record of Cats in London to become the longest-running musical ever on the West End or Broadway with 8,372 performances; a run nearly three years longer than Broadway’s record-holder The Phantom of the Opera, all three shows having been produced by Cameron Mackintosh. LES MISÉRABLES has been seen by over 53 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages since its first London performance in October 1985. The original Broadway production opened on March 12, 1987, at the Broadway Theatre, winning seven Tony Awards that season, including Best Musical. The show went on to play a total of 6,680 performances.
“2006 has been a very special year for me with Phantom becoming the longest running musical ever on Broadway and soon, in London, on October 9, LES MISÉRABLES becomes the longest-running musical in the world. So the opportunity to bring LES MIZ home to Broadway in the exquisite and intimate Broadhurst Theatre, next door to Phantom, to celebrate this historic achievement is irresistible. I am sure that the timeless power of the show will be an unforgettable experience both for new audiences and serial Les Miz-ers,” said Cameron Mackintosh.
Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, LES MISÉRABLES is musical by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It features music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with original French text by Alain Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. Directed by Trevor Nunn & John Caird, the musical is designed by John Napier with lighting by David Hersey, costumes by Andreane Neofitou and sound by Andrew Bruce.
LES MISÉRABLES was first presented by Cameron Mackintosh and The Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre in October, 1985. The musical transferred to the West End’s Palace Theatre later that year, where it played for 19 years. LES MISÉRABLES transferred to the Queen’s Theatre in April, 2004, where it continues today.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
My Reality Stories
Well the season is in full swing and all my favorite shows are on!
Survivor is turning out to be a good season so far, with some characters I really like , and some that I don't. I think Cirie is turning out to be a very cool player, which I think is very good for her. I also like Dan a lot. Currently, I can't stand Shane, and for some reason, I'm not so crazy about Bruce.
The Amazing Race has some great teams this time around! Love the nerds, David and Lori, a team after my own heart. Also, love the hippies, BJ and Tyler (I hope they can stay focused!!! They were pretty excited on the first episode!) Ray and Yolanda are cool, I really admire Yolanda's attitutde while putting that bike together in San Paulo with all of those rude guys watching. She really kept her cool. I felt so bad for her! In the mother and daughter team, (Wanda and Desiree), I am struck at what a good team they make. They really seem to balance each other. and the daughter is beautiful! Lisa and joni, while, I don't like or dislike them, but gah... I could do without another set of screamers like the bowling moms. Finally, Lake and Michelle. DO they always have to put an ass hole guy and his submissive girl on each show? And his motion sick patch is annoying.
And of course there is American Idol. Getting ready for the top 12, I really like Paris, Mandisa, and Melissa, Ace, Chris, Will, and Elliot. But the show is overall quite enjoyable because there are a lot of good singers!
Thats it for my stories for now.
Survivor is turning out to be a good season so far, with some characters I really like , and some that I don't. I think Cirie is turning out to be a very cool player, which I think is very good for her. I also like Dan a lot. Currently, I can't stand Shane, and for some reason, I'm not so crazy about Bruce.
The Amazing Race has some great teams this time around! Love the nerds, David and Lori, a team after my own heart. Also, love the hippies, BJ and Tyler (I hope they can stay focused!!! They were pretty excited on the first episode!) Ray and Yolanda are cool, I really admire Yolanda's attitutde while putting that bike together in San Paulo with all of those rude guys watching. She really kept her cool. I felt so bad for her! In the mother and daughter team, (Wanda and Desiree), I am struck at what a good team they make. They really seem to balance each other. and the daughter is beautiful! Lisa and joni, while, I don't like or dislike them, but gah... I could do without another set of screamers like the bowling moms. Finally, Lake and Michelle. DO they always have to put an ass hole guy and his submissive girl on each show? And his motion sick patch is annoying.
And of course there is American Idol. Getting ready for the top 12, I really like Paris, Mandisa, and Melissa, Ace, Chris, Will, and Elliot. But the show is overall quite enjoyable because there are a lot of good singers!
Thats it for my stories for now.
CAG Conference
I went this weekend to Palm Springs for the California Association for the Gifted conference. It was very informative on many aspects. Its nice to be in a place where the general swing of things tends to go my way... towards creativity in teaching (instead of the cookie cutter robots that seems to be the current trend).
Also, I went to a highly reccomended conference on "Parenting the Gifted Child." The speaker was awesome and I walked away with so many ideas to pass along to parents of my students, as well as ideas of my own for when I have kids some day.
In addition, the confrence was very enlightening on a personal level. Some of us shared stories of when we had grown up, teachers and experiences we had, how we saw ourselves as learners and how teachers saw us as learners... it was very thought provoking.
At the end, Grant and I did the Palm Springs Ariel Tram, which was really cool. (I had never been to Palm Springs before!) We got home around 7:30 and I was falling asleep by 8:30, I was SOOOO tired! One of those weekends where you sit around alot and absorb a lot of information.
Also, I went to a highly reccomended conference on "Parenting the Gifted Child." The speaker was awesome and I walked away with so many ideas to pass along to parents of my students, as well as ideas of my own for when I have kids some day.
In addition, the confrence was very enlightening on a personal level. Some of us shared stories of when we had grown up, teachers and experiences we had, how we saw ourselves as learners and how teachers saw us as learners... it was very thought provoking.
At the end, Grant and I did the Palm Springs Ariel Tram, which was really cool. (I had never been to Palm Springs before!) We got home around 7:30 and I was falling asleep by 8:30, I was SOOOO tired! One of those weekends where you sit around alot and absorb a lot of information.