Finding Humor in Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy is tearing its way up the East Coast, and the entire tri-state area has been practically shut down. Governor Cuomo has suspended mass transportation services, roads and bridges are closed and Fordham has cancelled classes for the next two days.  I decided to wait out the storm at home.

My family and I all noticed that the Internet is turning the storm into a pop culture sensation. This unprecedented storm has also succeeded in flooding social media. In honor of Hurricane Sandy preparing to hit land at some point today, here are some of my favorite tweets and memes.

The funniest of these spoofs is the Twitter account @AHurricaneSandy, which portrays the storm as a gangster ready to destroy the East Coast. Most of the tweets are pretty vulgar, so I’m not putting them on here. But here’s two of the best ones. The second one’s my favorite!

	HURRICANE SANDY (@AHurricaneSandy)
10/28/12 2:23 PM JUS BLEW DA ROOF OFF A OLIVE GARDEN FREE BREADSTICKS 4 EVERYONE

	HURRICANE SANDY (@AHurricaneSandy)
10/27/12 9:20 PM JUST BLEW A LAPTOP INTO THE OCEAN. NOW A DELL IS ROLLING IN DA DEEP.

The hurricane has also brought us some new Internet memes and images that refer to some famous Sandys in popular culture, starting with plays on Sandy Cheeks from Spongebob Squarepants.

Of course, Hurricane Sandy can’t be properly parodied without throwing in Sandy from Grease. Broadway World found this Facebook photo of “Hurricane Sandra Dee”:

Some other websites created a new meme combining the danger of the hurricane with Grease lyrics. Check them out at Buzzfeed! Here’s one example you’ll see there:

Although these things make Hurricane Sandy look like fun and games, this could be one of the most dangerous storms the East Coast has seen in a century. Everyone please stay safe!

Tina Fey & Amy Poehler to Host Golden Globes

Now that midterm week is finally over and I have a lot more time on my hands, I’ve been able to catch up on some of the most recent entertainment news. Perhaps the most exciting news announcement last week revealed that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler would be hosting the 70^th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 13, 2013. It’s some of the best news I’ve heard in a while, and now I really can’t wait for awards season!

The Golden Globes are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and honor the best in film and television. It’s my favorite award show of the year because everything about it is so relaxed. The ceremony is held in a hotel ballroom instead of a theater, so all the attendees get to sit at tables and enjoy dinner and plenty of champagne. And obviously there are also the great one-liners, after-parties, and all those dresses to judge!

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are going to do a phenomenal job hosting the Golden Globes! They’ve been two of the funniest ladies on television for years, both in front of and behind the camera. I’m glad to get to see them hosting an awards show that has an unscripted format, so I know that anything can happen. I’m also really curious to see how their performance compares to Seth MacFarlane’s hosting gig at next year’s Oscars, especially since the three have very different senses of humor.

Based on the antics they’ve created in the past, I’m most looking forward to whatever Fey and Poehler have up their sleeves during the ceremony. Here are a few examples of what happens when these two stir up some fun at award shows.

Poehler and her fellow nominees played with glasses at the 2009 Emmys:

Two years later, Poehler led Fey and their competitors in a beauty pageant of sorts:

And, of course, there’s Tina Fey photobombing Amy Poehler at this year’s Golden Globes:

The only downside to this announcement is that I have to wait almost three months for the Globes. Perhaps that will give the NBC censors a chance to warm up their fingers for when they have to press the mute button. I have a feeling they might need it!

Time: Friend or Foe?

This past week, time was not my friend. Interning two days a week, writing an eight-page paper, cramming for midterms, and still trying to find time to have a social life caused me to have frequent momentary panic attacks. Somewhere amidst the panic, I’ve come to realize that not only are there not enough hours in the day, but also that time is passing way too quickly.

 

Perhaps it struck me most on Sunday after I gave tours to some of the 2,400 students and their families that came to Fordham’s Senior Open House. Weren’t these kids me four years ago? Or maybe it was reviewing my transcript to see what classes I still needed to take to graduate. Then again, it could have been updating my résumé in an attempt to secure the perfect spring internship. It doesn’t really matter what the cause was; the passage of time is something that is way beyond my control.

When I first arrived at Fordham, graduation was something I looked forward to. So now, why is it both exciting and terrifying at the same time? Why are there still so many things left to do before I leave? I still haven’t ridden the ram or gone to the Botanical Gardens!

So now that time is back on my side, I think my reflections of the past week have made me come to realize that time deserves more respect. Maybe I should stop worrying about where I’ve been and where I’m going and take the time to live in the here and now. I think this quote by Michael Alphsuler sums it up best:

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” 

One of These Things Is Not Like the Other…

“One of these things just doesn’t belong. (Sing Along Time!) Can you tell which thing is not like the other by the time I finish this song?”

Ok, I’ll admit it. Growing up, I was obsessed with Sesame Street (perhaps you were, too!). In order to fuel my obsession, my parents recorded endless episodes on VCR tapes (do people still even know what these are?), which I watched over and over and over again. By the time I was three, I overcame this obsession, only to replace it with any and all things Disney.

The characters, even though now I know they aren’t real, were like members of my family. I loved them each for their idiosyncrasies, and even today, when I see them, I get that warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart (no pun intended).

So by now, you’re probably wondering what any of this has to do with the title of my blog entry. I frequently find myself in Times Square surrounded by a plethora of Disney and Sesame Street imposters. Most of them are harmless individuals just trying to make money (except for Nasty Elmo, who fortunately has been banished). My goal is not to pontificate on their “unauthorized representation” of Disney and Sesame Street, but instead to point out how their existence destroys my inner psyche. These imposters’ costumes are blatantly poor representations of the characters that I hold near and dear.

These are just so bad that I refuse to comment.

The real deal!

The two in the middle were obviously unhappy that I didn't pay to take their picture.

I try to rationalize that they provide happiness and excitement for young children who cannot differentiate between the real characters and the fake ones. Additionally, I feel that perhaps they fill a void for those who cannot afford or have no desire to visit them in Disney World or Sesame Place. But for me, it really doesn’t matter. Whatever logic I attempt to use to justify their existence just proves to be futile. Each time I come across an imposter, I feel betrayed, but for the most part, just sad.

This blog post was brought to you by the letters F, A, K & E.    

Playbill: The Ultimate Souvenir

In my last post, I shared my best find of the day at the BC/EFA Flea Market: a Funny Girl Playbill featuring a young Barbra Streisand from October 1964. Playbills are an essential part of the theater-going experience and one of my favorite parts of going to see shows. They are the ultimate souvenirs, and best of all, they’re free! I love opening a Playbill and reading about the people who make shows come to life. I keep all my Playbills to remind me of seeing the show long after my night at the theater has passed, and I cherish my ever-growing collection.



Part of my Playbill Collection. Beauty and the Beast was my first Broadway show!

Interestingly enough, I also find myself using Playbills to gauge a theatergoer’s reaction to the show he or she has just seen. When the shows end and hundreds of Playbill-carrying audience members converge upon Times Square, I love to watch their reaction to what they have just witnessed. Most often, it is the extremely animated or the most sullen that draw my attention. I immediately look at the Playbill they are carrying to determine which show caused their reaction.

Playbills have been an institution in the theater industry since the early beginnings of Broadway. They were first printed for one theater in 1884 but later were printed for every show on the Great White Way. What amazes me most about the Playbill is how little it has actually changed.

Funny Girl 1964  - Peter and the Starcatcher 2012

The most obvious difference, of course, is its outward appearance. Older Playbills are slightly larger than their modern counterparts, and they’re entirely in black and white. Modern Playbills are slightly shorter and narrower and are printed in color. Since the newer Playbills are smaller, they also have fewer pages; the older ones are over sixty pages long, including an amazing amount of advertisements!

However, the bones of the Playbill remain intact. The dining guide and Theater Quiz have been in Playbills for decades, and there are several articles about the trends and stars of Broadway at the time. Of course, every Playbill places the information about the show right in the center. These include the standard title page, cast list, a list of musical numbers, and descriptions of the scenes and songs in the show. The “Who’s Who in the Cast” is still one of the most important features in both, but the way it’s written has really changed over the past forty years or so. Modern biographies list an actor’s previous acting credits and other information in short, choppy phrases that sometimes have a splash of personality. Biographies written in the 1960s are longer and have a more formal tone.

Barbra Streisand’s biography combines a little bit of both styles. It’s long and written in complete sentences, but her tone and language is witty and playful. I think she probably had a lot of fun writing her bio, and it shows:

For theater enthusiasts like me, the Playbill is a little piece of history that reawakens so many wonderful memories. Each time I look through my collection, I recall the most special moments and incredible performances of the many shows I’ve seen. Additionally, to hold and read a Playbill from a show from long before I was born allows me to learn more about the industry I love. So the next time you see a Broadway show, don’t throw away your Playbills; you never know what kind of memories they’ll evoke!

If you want to see Playbills both old and new, check out www.playbillvault.com. It’s a great website that has information on hundreds of shows and thousands of performers including pictures, scans of Playbill images, and links to more information about these shows. 

Broadway Cares Flea Market: Great Day, Great Cause

This past Sunday, I joined thousands of other theater lovers and members of the theater community at the 26^th annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction, which is held every year by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). It was a beautiful fall day to hunt for treasures amongst the many tables that lined West 44^th Street and Times Square.

Broadway Cares is a not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization that provides essential services for people with AIDS and other illnesses across the country. Through the generous efforts of the theater industry, the twenty-six yearly flea markets have collectively raised approximately $9.9 million. It’s one of my favorite charities, and I love being able to support it by attending the flea market every year.

The treasures come from many Broadway shows (both past and present) and other theater-related organizations. Broadway and television celebrities come to sign autographs, and the day caps off with the Grand Auction, where special big-ticket items and unique experiences are sold to the highest bidder. This year’s flea market outdid all others, setting a new record by raising a phenomenal $681,892.

This was my sixth visit to the Broadway Cares Flea Market. I started going in 2007 when I first discovered Spring Awakening and the three lead actors (Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, and John Gallagher, Jr.) were signing autographs. Of course, this was long before each of them became famous outside of Broadway! I’ve been coming back ever since.

Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff, me, and John Gallagher, Jr.
Can't believe how young we all looked in 2007!

I didn’t spend a ton of money this year, but I found a bunch of really great stuff. Here’s the list:

• Rent t-shirt from the Hollywood Bowl
• Tony Awards bag
• Spelling Bee luggage tag and magnet
• Collapsible box from Broadway Cares
• Once cast recording discounted to a really great price because the case is cracked
• The 2012 Tony Awards playbill
• Signed prop bus ticket from American Idiot
• Spring Awakening light-up pen
• Set of Newsies trading cards that were one of the last sets printed

But perhaps the best find came when I discovered a Funny Girl Playbill with a very young Barbra Streisand on the cover from October 1964. Her biography is so refreshingly charming and funny, especially knowing this was written only a few short years before she became a recording icon.

I had a great time at the BC/EFA Flea Market as always, and everyone was warm and friendly. I only wish that more of the current shows came to sell some of their memorabilia. The older stuff is great to find, but younger generations of theater fans also really enjoy finding things from shows that they’re fond of. But it’s still always nice to see hundreds of Broadway lovers and performers gather to celebrate their passion for theater and donate to an amazing cause. I can’t wait until next year!

The 2012-2013 Broadway Season: My Must-See Musicals

Every year as the Broadway theater season unfolds, I make it my mission to see as many new shows as I possibly can. I like to try and see a healthy mix of musicals and plays, but there are so many this year that I have to split the list in two. First up are the musicals at the top of my must-see list.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood: A musical based on Charles Dickens’ last novel. Because Dickens died before he could write the ending, the audience chooses their own version of how the story ends (it’s the first Broadway show with multiple endings). I’m on a quest to see people who I consider living legends of Broadway before they stop performing, and Drood has one of the best – the incomparable Chita Rivera as Princess Puffer. Opens November 13^th at Studio 54; previews begin October 19^th.

Bare: A rock musical/coming of age story focusing on Catholic high school students. This technically is Off-Broadway, but I’ve been waiting for this show for years. I bought a concept album of Bare about four years ago, and the music and story are both beautiful and haunting. I also know several members of the cast, and it’ll be great to see how they bring the show to life. Additionally, Travis Wall of So You Think You Can Dance fame is the choreographer, so the dancing is going to be incredible. Opens December 9^th at New World Stages; previews begin November 19^th.

Matilda: Based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 book and the 1996 film about a young girl with extraordinary magical powers. I’ve never read the book or seen the movie, but I know the premise of the story. Last year, I worked at a Broadway production company, and I got the chance to listen to the cast recording before the show premiered in London. I would drop everything to see the opening number performed live. It’s over ten minutes long, but its harmonies, orchestrations, and clever lyrics are fantastic! I’m so curious to see how this show does. Opens April 11, 2013 at the Shubert Theater; previews begin March 4^th.

Kinky Boots: Based on a 2005 British film about a shoemaker who maintains the family business’ success by making exotic footwear. It has an all-star creative team: music by Cyndi Lauper, book by Harvey Fierstein, and director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell. Stark Sands (who I loved in American Idiot) and Billy Porter star. Opens April 4, 2013 at the Al Hirschfeld Theater; previews begin March 5^th. 

Diner: Based on Barry Levinson’s 1982 film about a group of high school friends reuniting ten years after graduation as the second member of the group prepares to get married. I watched the movie for the first time recently, and I’m excited to watch the plot come to life on stage (and see who plays the Ellen Barkin part). Sheryl Crow is making her Broadway debut as a composer, and I’m really intrigued to see how her songs fit with the story. Plus, one of the cast members is one of my top five theater performers ever, but I can’t say who yet! Opens April 10^th, 2013 at a theater to be announced.

There are a few more I’m really interested in seeing, but these are my top five. I know they’ll all bring their own magic to the Theater District, and I hope that people come out to see these shows. It may be tough to get a ticket, but there’s no better way to discover new talent and new music.