Art Prize is one of my favorite annual events that takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For 19 days each fall, Art Prize draws artists from around the world, working in any type of medium, to compete in an independently organized international art competition. When you visit Art Prize, you are faced with lots of incredible art to view in every direction. I’m sharing tips to help you get the most out of your first Art Prize experience.
Middletown, Ohio may not be on your radar of places to visit, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover several gems to add to your list there.
THE ILLUSIONISTS – LIVE FROM BROADWAY™ provides non stop entertainment and continual moments of “how did they do that?!!!” Seriously, you are watching it live, get up close camera angles, and still can’t comprehend how they do it. [Read more…]
If you are looking for a lighthearted play with familiar characters with a twist, Cinderella:After Ever After is for you! [Read more…]
The Sound of Music is one of my all time favorite musicals. I’ve watched the movie version countless times over the years. I know the words to all of the songs and it’s also a musical that my mom and I enjoyed watching together. It’s one of those musicals that never gets old to me.
So how did the Broadway musical compare to my childhood memories of the movie version?
If the movie version of the musical is your point of reference, you will still recognize almost all of the songs and the overall plot of the play. Some of the songs are in a different order in the Broadway musical version but I honestly didn’t care because I enjoyed it so much. My kids would have found the stage version similar to The Sound of Music Live that successfully aired on NBC in 2013.
The Sound of Music is one of those musicals that is beloved by multiple generations. I would highly recommend this play for audiences young or old. This Broadway musical is the perfect opportunity to reminisce and relive your childhood or create a new memory with the next generation with someone you love.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC will play the Reminisce Center September 27 – October 9, 2016
The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with such songs as “My FavoriteThings,” “Do-Re Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and the title song.
Tickets for THE SOUND OF MUSIC start at $30.
For more information, please visit www.BroadwayInCincinnati.com.
Photo credit for all images: Matthew Murphy
You can find out more about the Sound of Music on Tour from their website.
Disclosure: I attended media night. All opinions are my own.
I’ve been invited to watch a few concerts at Horseshoe Casino and I think that it’s a great outdoor venue to see a show. Why? I’m glad that you asked…
Is watching White Christmas part of your holiday tradition each year?
IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS on Broadway is a great way to kick off the holiday season whether it’s your favorite holiday movie or your first time discovering the story.
The classic holiday movie White Christmas comes to the stage at last! This brand new musical shines with classic Berlin hits like “Blue Skies,” “How Deep is the Ocean?” and, of course, the unforgettable title song. Irving Berlin’s White Christmas tells the story of two buddies putting on a show in a magical Vermont inn and finding their perfect mates in the process. Full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas promises a merry and bright theatrical experience for the whole family!
I was vaguely familiar with the plot my husband had never seen the movie before but we both loved the Broadway play! The music reminded us of our grandparents and the dance numbers were AMAZING! I seriously want to take up tap dancing after observing those incredible tap skills.
The New York Times exclaims “this cozy trip down memory lane should be put on your wish list.” And, the New York Daily News hailed IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS as “a holiday card come to life.”
I have to agree with the New York Times. This play brings back Christmas nostalgia from years past and puts a smile to your face.
IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS will play the Aronoff Center from
November 24 – December 6, 2015
Thanksgiving Week 11/24 – 29 Schedule
Tuesday 7:30PM
Wednesday 7:30PM
Thursday Thanksgiving Day, no performance
Friday 1:00PM and 8:00PM
Week of 11/30 – 12/6
Tuesday 7:30PM
Wednesday 7:30PM
Thursday 7:30PM
Friday 8:00PM
Saturday 2:00PM and 8:00PM Saturday 2:00PM and 8:00PM
Sunday 1:00PM and 6:30 PM Sunday 1:00PM and 6:30PM
Tickets for IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS start at $29.
They are available at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown at 650 Walnut Street, online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS.
For groups of 10 or more, contact the group sales department at 513.369.4363. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please visit www.BroadwayInCincinnati.com.
For more information on IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS, visit www.whitechristmathemusical.com.
Do you love to watch dance?
You can see the creative skills by amazing choreographers this Sunday at the Cincinnati Aronoff. I’m excited to see all of this great talent in one performance.
BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS is pleased to announce that North America’s hottest new dance show — SHAPING SOUND — will perform one night only at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center, Sunday, November 8 at 4:00 PM.
Experience the exhilarating collaboration of North America’s newest dance visionaries as they mash-up music genres and dance styles in an explosive dance theater experience perfect for all ages.
The dance company SHAPING SOUND was established in Los Angeles in 2012 with a focus on contemporary dance and choreographic artistry. Created by the 2015 Emmy Award winner for ‘Outstanding Choreography’ ©- TRAVIS WALL, along with NICK LAZZARINI, TEDDY FORANCE and KYLE ROBINSON, the company is an evocative collaboration by diverse artists who describe themselves as ‘visual musicians,’ i.e. their dance gives shape and form to sound. The four dancers broke into public awareness in a big way with the debut of the reality television series “All The Right Moves” on the Oxygen channel. The popular series followed these lifelong friends and roommates in their quest to launch their own dance company – the company that is now the enormously successful SHAPING SOUND.
SHAPING SOUND’s movement style provides its audience access to, and a greater understanding of contemporary dance through a unique fusion of jazz, modern and hip-hop choreography. With a dynamic mix of energy, emotion and athleticism, the ensemble brings tremendous musicality of movement to each performance. Lauded by the commercial dance world and immensely popular with audiences of all ages, the company members have been showcased on all of America’s popular primetime dance, awards, entertainment and music shows including: “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Dancing With The Stars,” “Glee,” “American Idol,” “The Voice” and “The 2013 Prime Time Emmy Awards” to name a few. They have toured internationally with an impressive array of the world’s top recording artists, and with award-winning dance companies.
Respected by both critics of dance and by the entertainment industry in general, SHAPING SOUND has quickly built an important critical resume and an impressively large fan base. BroadwayWorld.com described the show as: “Electrifying and stunning … Aficionados of contemporary dance should do everything in their power to attend SHAPING SOUND.” And The Advocate said: “Once in a generation there is a group of artists who changes the trajectory of a genre.” After a Dallas-area performance, Theatre Jones stated: “The choreography creates a visual effect that is mesmerizing.”
The principal dancers are joined by Chantel Aguirre, Channing Cooke, Rory Freeman, Daniel Gaymon, Jaimie Goodwin, Kate Harpootlian, Justine Lutz, , Briana Morrison, Chelsea Thedinga, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ All-Star Kathryn McCormick, and the 2014 Winner of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Ricky Ubeda.
The combined resumes of the founding members show an impressive foray into the top echelon of the American entertainment industry:
TRAVIS WALL was the runner-up for the Fox reality show “So You Think You Can Dance” and is currently a resident choreographer and judge for this highly-rated national dance competition show. He is the 2015 Emmy-Award winner for ‘Outstanding Choreography’ and a four time Emmy© nominee, for his work on “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Stars,” along with fellow cast mates, Teddy Forance and Nick Lazzarini. He assisted with the choreography of the “The 82nd Academy Awards,” and with Drake for “The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards” and has worked with Florence and the Machine, Chelsea Handler, Eminem, and Rihanna. Travis also choreographed the contemporary numbers for the feature film, Step Up Revolution. Currently, he teaches on tour with NUVO Dance Convention.
NICK LAZZARINI is the season one winner of the Fox reality show “So You Think You Can Dance” and he has been featured in countless publications, including twice as the cover story of Dance Sprit Magazine. He recently performed on “The 2013 Emmy Awards” and has danced with music sensations such as Adele, on “Dancing With the Stars,” Kelly Clarkson at this year’s “American Music Awards” and with Florence and the Machine at “The MTV Video Music Awards”. Currently he teaches on tour for JUMP Dance Convention.
TEDDY FORANCE is a fourth generation dancer with his family’s dance studio, the Hackworth School of Performing Arts in Massachusetts. He turned professional by the age of 17 travelling throughout Greece as a dancer for the international pop star Anna Vissi. He has partnered with many esteemed choreographers including Mia Michaels – where he assisted the “Celine Dion Taking Chances” tour and performed as a lead dancer in Cirque du Soleil’s Delirium. He is well-known for his work in seasons two and three of the Fox television reality show “So You Think You Can Dance” for which he received an honorary Emmy© Award nomination. He is a featured performer on “Dancing with the Stars” and works as a choreographer for Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald. He has performed with an array of award-winning artists including Lady Gaga performing on “American Idol,” Usher at “The American Music Awards,” Florence and the Machine at “The MTV Video Music Awards” and choreographed for Kelly Clarkson on “The American Music Awards”. He recently performed on “The 2013 Emmy Awards”. Currently, he teaches internationally for JUMP Dance Convention.
KYLE ROBINSON began dancing when he was eleven years old and quickly mastered all movements and forms of the art. By the age of eighteen, he was awarded the ‘Gold Award in Modern Dance’ from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA). It was during this time that he met legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov who has served as Kyle’s mentor since. He trained at the Julliard School, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Throughout college he worked as a freelance dancer with Aszure & Artists and the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. He played ‘Diesel’ in the recent, highly reviewed first national tour of West Side Story. Kyle recently performed on “The 2013 Emmy Awards,” “X Factor” and this past season in “Glee”.
SHAPING SOUND is produced by BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS, LLC, Executive Producer Gil Stroming and Producer Nikole Vallins, and is considered one of the world’s preeminent dance entertainment companies today. In addition to touring theatrical productions, they produce dance conventions in 75 cities throughout the year which encompass dance workshops, dance competitions, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 250,000 dancers annually, BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS is largely responsible for the transformation of dance entertainment.
Shaping Sound will be at the Aronoff Center for the Arts
Sunday November 8 at 4pm
$ 73.25
$ 58.25
$ 48.25
$ 38.25
Tickets are on sale now at CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS or the Aronoff Center Ticket Office.
For more information visit www.SHAPINGSOUNDCO.COM
Disclosure: I received tickets for review and giveaway purposes. All opinions are my own.
Motown the Musical is a show that connects to you on so many levels. I’m still replaying the songs in my head the day after ….and that’s a good thing! The music features top hits from some of the most beloved Motown artists of all time that will keep a smile on your face from beginning to end.
Here is a little more about the show.
You will absolutely fall in love with actor Leon Outlaw Jr., who plays a younger version of Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. His singing and dancing will put a big smile on your face.
The sweet dance moves and the flair in the group numbers will also bring you so much joy.
The storyline of Motown the Musical really helps you appreciate the history, the adversity and dedication that Berry Gordy and the artists he helped develop, sacrificed to bring Motown to life.
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL will play the Aronoff Center from September 8 – 20
Tuesday –Thursday at 7:30PM
Friday at 8:00PM, Saturday at 2:00PM and 8:00PM
and Sunday at 1:00PM and 6:30PM.
Tickets for MOTOWN THE MUSICAL start at $29.
They are available at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown at 650 Walnut Street, online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS.
*For groups of 10 or more, contact the group sales department at 513.369.4363. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice.
**All Motown Musical images photographed by Joan Marcus, 2014
Disclosure: I received tickets for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Do you enjoy checking out creations made with LEGO bricks?
The OKILUG (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana LEGO User’s Group) is back again with their Kentucky Brick Expo.
You might remember some of their creations from the BRICKmas Expo at Newport on the Levee around the holidays.
My boys have enjoyed the Kentucky Brick Expo over the past few years.
Kids can get photo opps with helmets made from LEGO bricks, search from a list of items located in several themed scenes on display, create their own LEGO designs in the play area and can shop for items to complete their collection. Members of the OKILUG are always happy to share about their designs and the work that went into their display.
The detail on display is INCREDIBLE!!!!
Make sure that you take the time to observe all of the design details that were put in place for the enjoyment of the attendees. We typically look at the displays and then go make around again for a deeper look the 2nd time around when we arrive. 
I’ve been given Family Four Pack of tickets to giveaway to the Kentucky Brick Expo. a Rafflecopter giveaway
You can find out more information about the Kentucky Brick Expo from the OKI LUG website.
Disclosure: I was given tickets for review and giveaway purposes. All opinions are my own.