Umm...well, since Dreamgirls is spozed to be the hit of the holiday season. . .

[kevinbgoode]

Ya know I'd just have to throw a little clip of the original Dreamgirls. . .and if this look doesn't scream lady drag, nothin' does. . .:-):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0HE7TC8y5g&mode=related&search=

The Supremes rocked! ! !

[bliss_eternal]

1. I just watched Dreamgirls on youtube...!

...about a week ago. I was going through clips from the Tony's.

I'm...um...disappointed that they are re-making it as a movie--with Beyonce. :(...and Eddie Murphy. :puke:

The Supremes DID ROCK!

:)

[Catherine Vincent]

2. I heard the original broadway play of Dreamgirls with Jennifer Holiday

and the original cast was the best. I hope the movie with Beyonce does great. In fact, the situation with the original Supremes in how Diana was spotlighted all the time is what happened with Destiny's Child with two of their originals quit. They saw it happening with Beyonce. History repeats itself.

[bliss_eternal]

3. I saw Jennifer Holliday in Dreamgirls when I was a kid...

...when the production came to town. She was amazing!

[DURHAM D]

5. Catgirl - if you have not watched the 1982 Tony Award

performance of Jennifer Holiday lately give yourself a treat on youtube.

[Catherine Vincent]

8. Didn't realize it was on Youtube. Thanks. Just watched it.

I bought the cd single a while back because I always loved that song by JH. I really hate the fact I didn't see the play because a friend of mine had tickets to see it when it premiered in NY (she attended the same church as JH) and she came back and couldn't stop talking about that damn play!

Back to the clip, I had never seen her sing it and now I see what everyone was raving about. She sang that song so good it hurt just watching her. :)

[DURHAM D]

4. Are you talking about the one and only Miss Jennifer Holiday -

Tonys 1982?

[bliss_eternal]

6. ..but of course.

;) I've watched the Tony's every year, (with very few exceptions) since I was a little one. I was thrilled to see the lady, the legend Miss Holiday live and in person--as I was mesmerized by her performance on the Tony's that year.

A relative had theater tickets she couldn't use and offered them to us. I was a kid, but told my mother we HAD to see this, that she WOULD NOT be disappointed. She wasn't, nor was I. :loveya: One of my favorite childhood memories. That and seeing Stephanie Mills in The Wiz when it came here.

:hi: Always happy to talk with a theater fan.

[DURHAM D]

7. I am definitely a musical theater fan.

Some of the highlights/enduring memories of my life include theater -

(1)First musical I saw on Broadway was Purlie - 1970. Traveled all the way from Kansas by myself.

(2)Saw the original cast in A Chorus Line - My good friend Ron was a dresser so we partied with the cast after the show.

(3)Went to see Evita in the West End right after it opened. I had just arrived in London that day and friends had tickets but didn't tell me anything about the play. We arrived late so I did not have a chance to read the playbill. After about ten minutes I leaned over to my friend and said "Why does this remind me of Jesus Christ Superstar?" Think it was 1978. From that day 'til this whenever I (or anyone) asks a dumb question the response is "Why does this remind me of Jesus Christ Superstar?"

(4)Hated Cats. I was in NY several times and couldn't get tickets. Finally scored some tickets about three years after it had opened.
It is the only broadway show I have ever walked out on. Told my partner that God was trying to give me a message when I had a hard time getting tickets - I should have listened.

I can't sing a note but every Saturday is show tunes day at my house.

[bliss_eternal]

9. Is the West End wonderful?

I've always wanted to see a Broadway show in London. :loveya: Was Grand Dame Patti Lupone in the Evita production you saw? I'm going to be sooo jealous if you say yes.

I'm completely green that you saw A Chorus Line with the original cast. (bliss pouting :()

I lived briefly in Chicago and missed Chita Rivera in Kiss of the Spider Woman--they came to town for less than a week. :cry:

I cracked up when I read that you hated Cats! :spray: You walked on it?! OMG! :rofl::rofl:
I loved when Mario Cantone said in his show, "...wasn't that a piece of shit?!" I wholeheartedly agree. I just don't get it. Why was that such a big deal? I'm always afraid to admit it to people--there's some rabid CATS fans out there. :scared: I loved that Cantone was so open about hating it.

[DURHAM D]

10. No it was not Patti - some British chick.

Can't remember her name.

Chorus Line was a very emotional experience. I had not been gay very long (late bloomer) and to be in that theater and watch/listen to the cast members playing and dancing their very own stories - some of them "coming out" every night was just overwhelming. As I type I remember that not so long ago things were very different - and not in a good way.

Saw Kiss in Atlanta at the Roxy. Can't remember much about it because I went with a married couple and at the theater the wife became extremely flirtatious. She is beautiful and 20 years younger than I. Later the three of us went to Backstreet. The husband went home about 2:00 am and I ended up with the wife for two and a half years. She was the love of my life but as you might imagine it ended pretty much the way it started. Oh well - fun times.

About Cats - I am convinced that the only people who really liked Cats are people who really like cats (and perhaps don't know good theater from bad).

[bliss_eternal]

11. What did you think of the movie of Chorus Line...?

I can see how seeing the theater show would be 'emotional'...given what was going on with you at the time. :hug:
It's such a great show! Loved that it gave gay men in theater a voice.

On edit--I think you're right about Cats. :hide:

[DURHAM D]

13. The movie ACL - strange.

When the director married the 25th anniversary of the musical to the movie at the end I actually groaned out loud.

[IntravenousDemilo]

16. I love cats, but I hate Cats.

In the ongoing debate over who's better, Lloyd Webber or Sondheim, I come down firmly on the side of my American mentor.

[bliss_eternal]

21. Is there any debate...?

How can anyone NOT love Sondheim? :crazy: Nothing against Lloyd Webber of course. :)

(sigh) When I think of what Johnathan Larsen may have become, had he lived to see the success of Rent...:cry:

[DURHAM D]

12. Forgot to comment on the West End.

Yes it is wonderful. The Brits are very apologetic (or maybe just overly polite) about the quality of their productions but they have no reason to be. Perhaps before Andrew Lloyd Webber put them on the musical map and everything arrived there from the states the quality was lower but it is no longer the case.

A small tidbit - I don't know how old you are or if you remember Honor Blackman who played Pussy Galore in Goldfinger but I saw her in the West End in 42nd Street. Until that night I didn't know she could sing - I just thought she looked good in leather.

[bliss_eternal]

14. LMAO!

Quote:
I just thought she looked good in leather.:rofl::spray::rofl:

Pussy Galore was a bit before my time, but being a movie buff, I do know of her. I didn't know she could sing either. I'm guessing she would have to dance, too for 42nd Street. Wow!

Speaking of Andrew Lloyd Webber--I know some say his productions are overwrought, but I can't hear the music from Miss Saigon without crying. :loveya: I love that show, but I swear you can't see it without an entire Kleenex box with you.

[IntravenousDemilo]

17. Except, Lloyd Webber didn't write Miss Saigon. You might want to check your Playbill.

'Twas Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil.

[bliss_eternal]

20. Silly me...

:blush: Thank you for the correction. :hi:

[Ayesha]

18. That's cause

Miss Saigon is by the Boubil/Schonberg team, not ALW. Hey, some of us lesbians know our musical theatre too! ;) I'm a huge fan of Phantom of the Opera, but only a medium fan of Lloyd Webber's music in general, and can't stand him as a person. I don't mind CATS but there are many, many shows I prefer.

I think/hope Dreamgirls the film will be great. Musicals on film have been a mixed bag lately (I loved Chicago and Rent, but Phantom was a sacrilege), so hopefully they'll do a good job with this one..

[bliss_eternal]

19. Hi Ayesha...!

:hi: They did a great job with Chicago, didn't they?:bounce: LOVED it!

I really hate to admit this, but I was a bit disappointed by Rent. :hide: I loved that so much of the original stage cast returned to take it to the screen! I don't know if I missed "mimi" or what... :shrug: I still watch it whenever it's on (and I have the time)...lol. So I guess I wasn't that disappointed. I just can't resist the songs. Though I turn just before :cry: because that part gets me everytime. :cry:

I didn't see Phantom. Sounds... :scared: Hearing your review, I'm surprised it was nominated for a Golden Globe that year (I think).

Thanks for the correction on Miss Saigon. :blush: bad bliss...:spank: How could I make such a mistake being a theater fan? Shame on me. lol.

[terrya]

24. This thread begs a question...why isn't there a DU Theater group?

:shrug:

[bliss_eternal]

25. Good question, terrya...

I'm not at all sure why no one has ever proposed one. :( What are your thoughts on this? Should we propose one, or continue to bring such discussions here? ...or to the Entertainment area? :shrug:

Personally, I don't see much theater talk in Entertainment, and there seem to be some that may "bash" such discussions there. Could be a wrong read on my part, just the sense I get from reading some threads there. :( Doesn't seem to be a theater friendly group.

[terrya]

26. I think we should propose a DU Theater group, bliss_eternal.

We could actually bring it up in the Lounge, Entertainment, or here...although I wouldn't want to give off the impression that straight people don't "get theater". In other words, I wouldn't necessarily want to "stereotype" it by solely mentioning it in GLBT (sorry if I'm getting sort of pissy about this, but recent events...)

Anyway....I do think a DU Theater group would be appreciated. I live in Chicago, which is a great theater city. I'd like to be a part of a group that talks about what's going on on Broadway, regional theater...and theater in general.

Let's talk about it for the time being. But I think it's a tremendous idea. I know there's an interest in it...I know for a fact that my partner would enjoy a DU Theater group. :-)

:hi:

[bliss_eternal]

27. Great idea...!

I'll post a thread in entertainment. :) Would you like to create a thread in the lounge? I don't post in the lounge anymore, so you may get a better response there than I would.

Oh wait--maybe we should just post in General discussion? Since it's a new group proposal, the mods may tolerate such a thread there... thoughts? :hi:

I really miss Chicago theater. :( While there I saw the Joffrey twice in a week, a traveling production of Grease, Hair, Forever Tango (so hot), dance productions galore. It was heaven! :P

I lived there for a year and a half--that's probably what I miss the most...well, and getting off work at 10:00 p.m. and having stuff still open to do...:bounce: and the great transportation, restaurants, culture....ok, I guess I miss it ALL! LOL! Except the weather that was a rough adjustment. Though with global warming, I'm finding conditions here are becoming the same everywhere. All we're lacking here are subzero temps and snow.

[IntravenousDemilo]

15. But it might be for one night only, one night only! n/m

[bliss_eternal]

22. Ah memories...

I used to wear that song out, on my mother's album (yes I grew up with albums)ssshhhhh. ;)

[applegrove]

23. I can't wait to see that movie.

[ronnykmarshall]

28. Ooooooooooo a man after my own heart.

The Supremes ruled!