Next Fall

Once again, An Other Theater Company of Provo, Utah has delivered a powerhouse production. "Next Fall" by Geoffrey Nauffts is a beautiful, touching and heartbreaking piece of theatre and I am so glad I got to see it before it closed. I was so afraid I was going to miss it!

I was so deeply moved by the incredible performances in this piece. The entire ensemble were top notch. Bret Merrit (Adam), Abrah Yarbro (Luke), Alexis Boxx (Holly), Brian Kocherans (Brandon), Heather Oberlander (Arlene) and Joel Applegate (Butch). I adore each and everyone of these artists and it was so incredible to see them all together.

I am so sorry for all those out there that missed this opportunity. I will continue to be an ardent supporter of An Other Theater Company. Please come and support them. Click on the logo to be taken to their website!

Thank you again to Kacey Spadafora (Director) and Taylor Jack Nelson (Producer) for bringing new an innovative works to Utah County.

Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown

I've been relaxing all week getting things prepared to move into a new place, start a new job on Monday, and yesterday after getting things cleaned and ready for move out, I sat down and started watching some old films I found on Amazon Prime that I hadn't seen in a long time. This one is one of my all-time favorite Peanuts cartoons that came out in movie theater's when I was around 10. I loved this film and re-living it again was so much fun!

I am a huge fan of the Peanuts gang and when this film came out in 1977 on the big screen I fondly remember my parents taking me to the movie theater to see this film. Watching it again 40 years later it brought back so many happy memories! This is classic Peanuts. So much fun! If you haven't seen it watch it, you won't regret it! All the gang is here, going to summer camp! The original hand-drawn animation, great script, and just plain fun for kids and grown-ups alike!

I'm going to, after I get settled in my new place am going to take some time during my weekends to watch some old films I haven't seen in a long time and never reviewed on this blog before! Stay tuned!

The Greatest Showman

I am a huge fan of La La Land and when I heard the team from that film had been working on another musical for the big screen about P.T. Barnum I was so excited. When I saw the video on YouTube of the final pitch to the producers at the studio with Keala Settle singing "This is Me," the Oscar nominated song from the film I was brought to tears and was so moved and couldn't wait for this film to come out.

Director, Michael Gracey brought to the screen an epic but still very intimate tale of love, loss, and redemption. A film that blew me away from beginning to end! Yes, this is historical fiction, it is not historically accurate in any way, but who cares! The creators of this film brought to the screen, using the story of P.T. Barnum as a backdrop, a story about loving regardless of appearance, ethnicity, social standing, gender, etc. A story of sticking of to your dreams, pursuing them, working hard towards them, and finding one self before you can truly love someone else. The entire ensemble headed by the wonderful, Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum along side the beautiful Michelle Williams as his wife Charity Barnum, did just that.

Please see this film! Your life will be changed forever! There is so much hope and life affirmation in this film, which is sorely needed in these hard times! Kudos the entire creative and performance teams for bringing to the screen an homage to the great movie musicals of the past while bringing that genre to the 21st century and making it relevant to our times and to our struggles and dreams. Absolutely beautiful film!

The Shape of Water

I have always been a huge fan of Guillermo del Toro ever since I saw "Pan's Labyrinth." I was intrigued by the trailers for this film as well as when it was nominated for Best Picture. I finally sat down and watched it on iTunes and purchased it. WOW! I really feel that this by far is del Toro's best film. He has combined romance, fantasy, horror, sci-fi all in one package to great success and created a magical piece of film making. It is his homage to the classic monster films including "Creature from the Black Lagoon."

Actress, Sally Hawkins who plays the leading lady in the story, Elisa Esposito was outstanding in her performance and well deserved the Oscar nomination she received for her work on this film. del Toro well set up her character from the very beginning as this shy, mute, vulnerable woman who is lonely, longs for love and romance, and finds solace in her cats and her best friend and neighbor, Giles, played beautifully by actor, Richard Jenkins. Jenkins and Hawkins have great chemistry together and play a form of father/brother - sister/daughter type relationship together and they lean on one another. Society's outcasts that nobody wants to acknowledge. Giles has his solace in his art and Elisa has her solace with their friendship, her work and her other friendship with her good friend and co-worker, Zelda Fuller, played by the wonderful, Octavia Spencer, who also well deserved her Oscar nomination for this role. Octavia gives a bravo performance in this film and she plays a wonderfully charismatic, strong-willed and brave character whom I fell in love with from the start, alongside Elisa and Giles. I truly felt for all three of these characters.

Then into this merry band enters the mystical, incredible, and dynamic half-man/half-amphibian creature that Elisa discovers when called upon to clean up a secret lab at the federal facility she works at alongside Zelda. All of a sudden Elisa's life is changed forever and that is the crux and meat of the entire story.

I highly recommend this film to everyone! You will be touched, inspired as well as have an occasional laugh or two. It is rated "R" and does contain language, some graphic violence and sexual material so it isn't for the little ones, but it is a wonderful fantasy for adults! I am so glad I watched this film! My life was truly changed because of it!

You Can't Take It With You

This is one of my all-time favorite classic American comedies. I have had the honor of being in two different productions of this show, one at SCERA (Paul) and at Utah Valley University (Martin Vanderhof "Grandpa") and saw the Broadway revival back in the late 80's with Jason Robards playing Grandpa. This Pulitzer-prize winning masterpiece by Kaufman and Hart has stood the test of time and is still relevant today!

Congratulations to directors, Howard & Kathryn Little and the wonderful ensemble for an incredible afternoon of theater. This is truly an ensemble piece and to do it in two hours is incredible. I have had the honor of sharing this stage with many of the ensemble members in the past and it was fun just to sit back as an audience member and see the magic unfold on that very little and intimate stage that is the Keith Christeson Theater at the Pleasant Grove Public Library. I love this theater company and I highly recommend coming to see a show in the near future. You won't regret it.

Avengers: Infinity War (Part One)

I am a huge Marvel fan and I, like everyone else was highly anticipating finally seeing this mammoth comic book story come to life, full knowing the ending. *Spoilers ahead*

This is now on my top 10 list of favorite Marvel films, second right after Doctor Strange. I got to see this epic film in IMAX 3D which added so much to the enjoyment of this film.

Directors, Anthony & Joe Russo did and excellent job in taking the helm of this massive undertaking in film making. This is no easy task, just watch DC films of late (Wonder Woman and the Dark Knight films being the exception) and realize that Marvel has it together and shows no sign of letting up or failing. Disney has really put their trust in a great producing and production team with their Marvel Division and giving them the freedom to do their best and not interfering like a lot of studios do and end up ruining so many potentially great films.

There was not a weak link in the ensemble of this piece. All, well most, of your favorite superheroes are here and they all blend well together. The final battle scenes were incredible to behold and simply breathtaking. And Josh Brolin did such an incredible job of turning Thanos into a real flesh and blood character, not a cardboard villain.

By the end of this film, I walked out like I was hit by a Mac Truck. It felt just like I did when I was 12, walking out of Empire Strikes Back and crying all the way home. But fortunately, we don't have to wait 3 years for Part Two.

Don't miss this film! This is absolutely a great example in great film making! This is what motion pictures are all about.

2018 Daytime Emmy Awards (Winners-My Picks)

ACTUAL WINNER: EMBOLDENED
MY PICK: ITALICIZED

Outstanding Drama Series

Days of our Lives
General Hospital
The Bold & the Beautiful
The Young & the Restless

Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series

Eastsiders
Ladies of the Lake
Tainted Dreams
The Bay
Venice
Zac & Mia

Outstanding Preschool Children's Series

Dino Dana
Julie's Greenroom
Sesame Street
Sprout House

Outstanding Children's of Family Viewing Series

Annedroids
Free Rein
National Geographic Kids Block
Odd Squad
Top Chef Junior

Outstanding Education or Information Series

Giver
Mind Field
Sea Rescue
The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation
Xploration DIY Sci
Xploration Outer Space

Outstanding Preschool Children's Animated Series

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Nature Cat
Peg+Cat
The Stinky & Dirty Show
Tumble Leaf

Outstanding Children's Animated Series

Lost in Oz
Spongebob Squarepants
The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show
Trollhunters
Wild Kratts

Outstanding Special Class Animated Program

A Storybots Christmas
All Hail King Julien: Exiled
DuckTales: Woo-oo!
Octonauts: Operation Deep Freeze
Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale

Outstanding Culinary Program

A Chef's Life
Giada Entertains
Lidia's Kitchen
Mind of a Chef
Valerie's Home Cooking

Outstanding Game Show

Family Feud
Jeopardy!
Let's Make a Deal
The Price is Right
Who Wants to be Millionaire

Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program

Couples Court with the Cutlers
Divorce Court
Judge Judy
Judge Mathis
Justice with Judge Mablean
The People's Court

Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program

1st Look
Destination Craft with Jim West
Jack Hanna's Into the Wild
The Voyager with Josh Garcia
Xploration Awesome Planet

Outstanding Morning Program

CBS Sunday Morning
CBS This Morning
Good Morning America
Today Show

Outstanding Talk Show Informative

Larry King Now
Megyn Kelly Today
Steve Harvey
The Chew
The Dr. Oz Show

Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment

Live with Kelly and Ryan
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Real
The Talk
The View

Outstanding Entertainment News Program

Access Hollywood
DailyMailTV
E News
Entertainment Tonight
Extra

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Eileen Davidson as Ashley Abbott (The Young and the Restless)
Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Davis (General Hospital)
Marci Miller as Abigail Deveraux (Days of our Lives)
Maura West as Ava Jerome (General Hospital)
Laura Wright as Carly Corinthos (General Hospital)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Peter Bergman as Jack Abbott (The Young and the Restless)
Michael Easton as Hamilton Finn (General Hospital)
John McCook as Eric Forreseter (The Bold and the Beautiful)
Billy Miller as Jason Morgan/Drew (General Hospital)
James Reynolds as Abe Carver (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Marla Adams as Dina Mergeron (The Young and the Restless)
Camryn Grimes as Mariah Copeland (The Young and the Restless)
Elizabeth Henrickson as Chloe Mitchell (The Young and the Restless)
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood as Steffy Forrester Spencer (The Bold and the Beautiful)
Mishael Morgan as Hilary Curtis (The Young and the Restless)
Susan Seaforth Hayes as Julie Williams (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Wally Kurth as Ned Quatermaine (General Hospital)
Chandler Massey as Will Horton (Days of our Lives)
Anthony Montgomery as Dr. Andre Maddox (General Hospital)
Greg Rikaart as Kevin Fisher (The Young and the Restless)
Greg Vaughn as Eric Brady (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series

Reign Edwards as Nichole Avant Forrester (The Bold and the Beautiful)
Hayley Erin as Kiki Jerome (General Hospital)
Cait Fairbanks as Tessa Porter (The Young and the Restless)
Olivia Rose Keegan as Claire Brady (Days of our Lives)
Chloe Lanier as Nellie Benson (General Hospital)

Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series

Lucas Adams as Tripp Dalton (Days of our Lives)
Rome Flynn as Zende Forrester (The Bold and the Beautiful)
Tristan Lake Leabu as Reed Hellstrom (The Young and the Restless)
Casey Moss as J.J. Deveraux (Days of our Lives)
Hudson West as Jake Webber (General Hospital)

Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series

Ryan Ahston, The Young and the Restless
Robb Derringer, Days of our Lives
John Enos, Days of our Lives
Morgan Fairchild, Days of our Lives
Vernee Watson, General Hospital

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Digital Drama Series

Vanessa Baden Kelley, Giants
Mary Beth Evans, The Bay
Lilly Melgar, The Bay
Alicia Minshew, Tainted Dreams
Anne Winters, Zac & Mia

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Drama Series

Kristos Andrews, The Bay
James Bland, Giants
Richard Brooks, The Rich and the Ruthless
Van Hansis, Eastsiders
Kian Lawley, Zac & Mia

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Digital Drama Series

Molly Burnett, Relationship Status
Jade Hawlow, The Bay
Terri Ivens, The Bay
Kira Reed Lorsch, The Bay
Alexis G. Zall, Zac & Mia

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Drama Series

Brandon Beemer, The Bay
Stephen Guarino, Eastsiders
John Hallbach, Eastsiders
Eric Nelsen, The Bay
Derrell Whitt, The Bay

Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Drama Series

Jennifer Bassey, Anacostia
Thomas Calabro, The Bay
Patricka Darbo, The Bay
Chad Duell, The Bay
Mike E. Winfield, Conversations in L.A.

Outstanding Culinary Host

Lidia Bastianiach, Lidia's Kitchen
Danny Bowen, Mind of Chef
Giada de Laurentiis, Giada Entertains
Guy Fieri, Guy's Ranch Kitchen
Vivian Howard, A Chef's Life

Outstanding Game Show Host

Wayne Brady, Let's Make a Deal
Chris Harrison, Who Wants to be a Millionaire
Steve Harvey, Family Feud
Pat Sajak, Wheel of Fortune
Alex Trebek, Jeopardy!

Outstanding Host in a Lifestyle/Travel/Children's or Educational and Informational Program

Roman Atwood, Roman Atwood's Daydreams
Jack Hanna, Jack Hanna's Into the Wild
Brandon McMillan, Lucky Dog with Brandon McMillan
David Osmond, Wonderama
Steve Spangler, Xploration DIY Sci.

Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host

Kit Hoover, Natalie Morales, Scott Evans: Access Hollywood Live
Larry King: Larry King Now
Dr.. Mehmet Oz: The Dr. Oz Show
Kellie Pickler, Ben Aaron: Pickler and Ben
Steve Harvey: Steve

Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host

Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Aisha Taylor: The Talk
Harry Connick, Jr.: Harry
Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, Meghan McCain, Paul Faris, Jedidiah Bila: The View

Adrianne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai, Tamera Mowry-Housley: The Real
Kelly Ripa, Ryan Seacrest: Live with Kelly and Ryan

Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team

Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Bold & The Beautiful
The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team

Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Bold & the Beautiful
The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Writing in a Digital Drama Series

Conversations in L.A.
Eastsiders
Relationship Status
The Bay
Zac and Mia

Outstanding Directing in a Digital Drama Series

Eastsiders
Relationship Status
The Bay
Venice
Zac and Mia

2018 Tony Awards (Winners/My Picks)

MY PICKS: ITALICIZED
ACTUAL WINNERS: EMBOLDENED

Best Play
The Children
Farinelli and The King
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Junk
Latin History for Morons

Best Musical
The Band's Visit
Frozen
Mean Girls
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical

Best Revival Of A Play
Angels in America
Edward Albee's Three Tall Women
Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh
Lobby Hero
Travesties

Best Revival Of A Musical
My Fair Lady
Once On This Island
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel

Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Play
Andrew Garfield, Angels in America
Tom Hollander, Travesties
Jamie Parker, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Mark Rylance, Farinelli and The King
Denzel Washington, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh

Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role In A Play
Glenda Jackson, Edward Albee's Three Tall Women
Condola Rashad, Saint Joan
Lauren Ridloff, Children of a Lesser God
Amy Schumer, Meteor Shower

Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Musical
Harry Hadden-Paton, My Fair Lady
Joshua Henry, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel
Tony Shalhoub, The Band's Visit
Ethan Slater, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical

Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role In A Musical
Lauren Ambrose, My Fair Lady
Hailey Kilgore, Once On This Island
LaChanze, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Katrina Lenk, The Band's Visit
Taylor Louderman, Mean Girls
Jessie Mueller, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel

Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Play
Anthony Boyle, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Michael Cera, Lobby Hero
Brian Tyree Henry, Lobby Hero
Nathan Lane, Angels in America
David Morse, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh

Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Play
Susan Brown, Angels in America
Noma Dumezweni, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Deborah Findlay, The Children
Denise Gough, Angels in America
Laurie Metcalf, Edward Albee's Three Tall Women

Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Musical
Norbert Leo Butz, My Fair Lady
Alexander Gemignani, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel
Grey Henson, Mean Girls
Gavin Lee, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Ari'el Stachel, The Band's Visit

Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Musical
Ariana DeBose, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Renée Fleming, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel
Lindsay Mendez, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel
Ashley Park, Mean Girls
Diana Rigg, My Fair Lady

Best Book Of A Musical
The Band's Visit (Itamar Moses)
Frozen (Jennifer Lee)
Mean Girls (Tina Fey)
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical (Kyle Jarrow)

Best Original Score (Music And/Or Lyrics) Written For The Theatre
Angels in America (Music: Adrian Sutton) 
The Band's Visit (Music and Lyrics: David Yazbek)
Frozen (Music and Lyrics: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez)
Mean Girls (Music: Jeff Richmond, Lyrics: Nell Benjamin) 
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical (Music and Lyrics: Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman, John Legend, Panic! At The Disco, Plain White T's, They Might Be Giants, T.I., Domani and Lil'C)

Best Scenic Design Of A Play
Miriam Buether, Edward Albee's Three Tall Women
Jonathan Fensom, Farinelli and The King
Christine Jones, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Santo Loquasto, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh
Ian MacNeil and Edward Pierce, Angels in America

Best Scenic Design Of A Musical
Dane Laffrey, Once On This Island
Scott Pask, The Band's Visit
Scott Pask, Finn Ross and Adam Young, Mean Girls
Michael Yeargan, My Fair Lady
David Zinn, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical

Best Costume Design Of A Play
Jonathan Fensom, Farinelli and The King
Nicky Gillibrand, Angels in America
Katrina Lindsay, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Ann Roth, Edward Albee's Three Tall Women
Ann Roth, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh

Best Costume Design Of A Musical
Gregg Barnes, Mean Girls
Clint Ramos, Once On This Island
Ann Roth, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel
David Zinn, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Catherine Zuber, My Fair Lady

Best Lighting Design Of A Play
Neil Austin, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Paule Constable, Angels in America
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh
Paul Russell, Farinelli and The King
Ben Stanton, Junk

Best Lighting Design Of A Musical
Kevin Adams, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, Once On This Island
Donald Holder, My Fair Lady
Brian MacDevitt, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel
Tyler Micoleau, The Band's Visit

Best Sound Design Of A Play
Adam Cork, Travesties
Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Angels in America
Gareth Fry, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Tom Gibbons, 1984
Dan Moses Schreier, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh

Best Sound Design Of A Musical
Kai Harada, The Band's Visit
Peter Hylenski, Once On This Island
Scott Lehrer, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel
Brian Ronan, Mean Girls
Walter Trarbach and Mike Dobson, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical

Best Direction Of A Play
Marianne Elliott, Angels in America
Joe Mantello, Edward Albee's Three Tall Women
Patrick Marber, Travesties
John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
George C. Wolfe, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh

Best Direction Of A Musical
Michael Arden, Once On This Island
David Cromer, The Band's Visit
Tina Landau, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Casey Nicholaw, Mean Girls
Bartlett Sher, My Fair Lady

Best Choreography
Christopher Gattelli, My Fair Lady
Christopher Gattelli, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Steven Hoggett, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Casey Nicholaw, Mean Girls
Justin Peck, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel

Best Orchestrations
John Clancy, Mean Girls
Tom Kitt, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Annmarie Milazzo and Michael Starobin, Once On This Island
Jamshied Sharifi, The Band's Visit
Jonathan Tunick, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel

Special Tony Awards For Lifetime Achievement In The Theatre
Chita Rivera
Andrew Lloyd Webber

Special Tony Awards
John Leguizamo
Bruce Springsteen

Regional Theatre Tony Award
La MaMa E.T.C., New York City

Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award
Nick Scandalios

Tony Honors For Excellence In The Theatre
Sara Krulwich
Bessie Nelson
Ernest Winzer Cleaners