Ranting Details

My Rough Attempt at a "Best Of…" List.

(Ooooo Kirstin Dunst, you made my year with your stunning portrayal of Paris Hilton.)


Since everywhere I turn this week there seems to be the inevitable "Best Of 2006" lists by every critic I thought I would chime my little voice in as well. I am a complete pop culture junkie (esp. movies, music and theater) but this year I have been slacking far more than usual. I don't know if it was all of my time working as at the strip club or what, but needless to say my list isn't being compiled by someone that has seen it all. With that in mind, here were my favorite things in a variety of categories for 2006....

Movies:
1. Shortbus-Brilliant film by John Cameron Mitchell. Incredible incorporation of REAL sex on screen to explain self liberation.
2. Volver- Who knew Penelope Cruz had anything to offer but incredible cleavage?! Beautiful movie by Almodovar.
3. Little Children- My goddess Kate Winslet yet again comes through with an amazing performance.
4. Half Nelson- Disturbing account of a grade school teachers addiction to crack and his relationship with a student. If only all kids could have a teacher that dedicated.
5. Little Miss Sunshine- Can anyone watch this and not feel simply great about life? In addition, they use Sufjan Stevens music. What's not to love?

Least Favorite: Marie Antoinette- EWWWWWWWWWWW. Someone must be punished for this.

TV:
1. The Office
2. The Comeback
3. 24
4. Project Runway-GUILTY PLEASURE!!!!

Least Favorite: Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. EWWWWW. Someone must be punished for this....Aaron Sorkin.

Music:
1. Sufjan Stevens-The Avalanche
2. Regina Spektor-Begin to Hope
3. Nellie McKay-Pretty Little Head
4. Lily Allen- Alright, Still
5. Justin Timberlake- Future Sex/Love Sounds
Runner Up: Decemberists-The Crane Wife

Worst: Fergie-The Dutchess. Winner of the worst because it just gets in your brain but it is TERRIBLE.

Theater: Have REALLY been slacking in this department and plan on seeing a huge amount in the next two weeks. For some reason everything that I saw seems entirely forgettable at the moment.
1. Rufus Wainwright at Carnegie Hall- This could go under music but I feel like it was a true theatrical event. Having the chance to see one of my favorite singers do a legendary rendition of Judy Garland's entire 1961 concert was a once in a lifetime experience.
2. Faith Healer
3. Spring Awakening- As many reservations as I have about this show, I LOVE the music and can't stop thinking about it.
4. [title of show]
5. Lincoln Center Broadcast of "Light In The Piazza"

Least Favorite: "The Threepenny Opera," "The Times They Are A Changin"

Dance:
1. Ohad Naharin's "Telophaza"-Batsheva at Lincoln Center in what was to me a life changing performance. Tied for first is the performance I saw of Naharin's piece by Hubbard Street in April.
2. Larry Keigwin at Dance New Amsterdam. This was a huge surprise for me and I loved every minute of it.
3. San Francisco Ballet performing "Artifact Suite" at Lincoln Center made me jealous and crave such a corps heavy piece.
4. AsZure Dance Company at Fall For Dance. Purely enjoyable dance that made me want to see more. Mission accomplished.
5. ABT doing "In The Upper Room," "The Green Table," and "Glow-Stop" at City Center. Hey, I had to include them at some point didn't I?

Least Favorite: Sylvie Guillem "Push," Stephen Petronio at the Joyce, "Sankai Juku"

Art:
1. Modern Art Auction at Christies: An incredible display of work by Rothko, Warhol and other masters of the 20th century but most spectacularly, De Kooning.
2. Barnaby Furnas- Parting of the Red Seas in Chelsea
3. Vik Muniz' Mythological Garbage creations in Chelsea
4. Edvard Munch at MoMA
5. Bill Viola at MoMA
6. Francis Picabia's work displayed in the Dada Exhibit at MoMA


Books:
1. De Kooning-Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan
2. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close-Johnathan Safran Foer
3. How To Be Alone-Johnathan Franzen (not from this year but just read it)

What about everyone else? Anything really stand out this year? I must be missing a few good additions.

Quote of the Day.

Lacking any better title for the post, I guarantee there WILL NOT be a quote every day from now on. With that being said, I wanted to share a great quote that I found of Ohad Naharin's. I saw two of his works this year and they were two of the best performances that I have ever witnessed. After taking his master class I wished I could have recorded everything he said. This is just a glimmer of that.

"Abolish mirrors; break your mirrors in all studios. They spoil the soul and prevent you from getting in touch with the elements and multidimensional movements and abstract thinking, and knowning where you are at all times without looking at yourself. Dance is about sensations, not about an image of yourself. Also I would like to tell dancers not to be too ambitious and to connect their dance to their joy, and connect their passion to their effort."

Dreary-ish Dreams. (Alliteration Again?! No more!)

Hype is a terrible, terrible demon. Of course it’s a bit of a double-edged sword because in order to get people in a theater, hype has to be created. In Hollywood that usually means months and months of endless promotion; TV appearances, posters, tie in products and so on, crammed in our faces. “Dreamgirls,” the latest in a line of mediocre movie musicals, falls victim to that vicious machine known as hype.

All I have been reading for weeks is that this movie is the arrival of a great movie musical, which unlike “Chicago,” has songs sung character to character. Unfortunately, it lacks a sense of direction that takes it out of any mode other than that of a music video. For the first twenty minutes of the movie, this works wonderfully because it is set at a Detroit singing competition and the editing adds to the excitement of the performances. However by having so much of the first half hour be music performances, the moment you are taken into the “musical” part of the movie, things seem awkward. Suddenly characters are singing to each other and getting special mood lighting to go with it. In that way, “Dreamgirls,” isn’t much different from “Chicago,” except the device of having the musical numbers take place in someone’s head was much more clever.

Perhaps the issues I have are with the show itself and not as much with the movie. Were critics originally taken by Michael Bennett’s staging enough that they could deal with a lack of emotional impact? When Effie sings “And I Am Telling You” in the movie you are so overwhelmed by Jennifer Hudson’s overdone hand gestures and gimmicky lighting effects that the song looses the maximum impact. Fortunately it is a GREAT song and still gets the audience going by sheer vocal prowess and emotion that is inherent with the material.

Everything just seemed a bit overdone to me throughout the film. Beyonce has too many costumes but rocks when it comes to being a pop diva even while her acting comes across as a bit amateur. The costumes as a whole were a little over the top, choreography was good at moments but a bit extravagant and out of its time period, and the editing was even more overwhelming than Beyonce’s hair. Of course the clipping of the film mirrors the fact that the majority of the two hours seem like one never ending montage. What could be an emotionally gripping story about fame, race and the price of getting to the top ends up as a cheesy “Behind the Music”-esque roller coaster.

Oddly enough the people that make the biggest impact are the ones with the least amount of screen time, Anika Noni Rose (Lorell) and Eddie Murphy (James Thunder Early.) These two prove that with capable acting abilities, the most miniscule moments can be made to carry weight. While Jennifer Hudson hits all the marks and the sass, she never resonates as someone you really care for. Had they added another half hour of script to the movie the final events would surely be more emotional.

Over the next few months we are likely to see “Dreamgirls,” walk away with buckets full of awards most of which will be handed out due to the blinding light that hype creates. Then again, who am I? Just another blogger…. ranting.

Missing Montana (and its souvenirs.)

I've crossed the country and this time my luggage followed me! It's a happy day arriving back in New York, crossing the bridge into the city looking at the lights welcoming me back. Sometimes I am amazed at how much I can be homesick for two places at once, loving Montana (with my incredible family and friends) with all of my heart and feeling the same way about New York. Who am I cheating on?! It feels a little odd arriving back in the city right now and jumping back into work, as I am not used to ever working between Christmas and New Years, but I have faith I'll survive.

What is hardest for me to adjust to is the fact that I don't have any choreographic plans at the moment, yet the ideas are brewing. I have spent the last half of the year working towards the Nutcracker in Montana and there is an odd creative void that isn't filled now that it's over. I'm listening to Vivaldi and Philip Glass (ugh...overused but great) at the moment with a few ideas going but no goal has been set. The soonest I could possibly get something out there would be May at Dance Off! again but I just need to get back into the studio and play around soon. After being around the ABT Montana crew so much, I have the idea of a quartet going in my head but no lightening bolts yet.

I'd love to tell you that I had some deep revelations on the plane yesterday, but inbetween talking to the woman next to me I just slept. How is that for an exciting blog? The most I have to give you are just a few gems that my parents and I located in the Montana Airport Gift Shop. Perhaps some of my favorite merchandise ever, just don't get too sad that you missed out on giving these as Christmas Presents.....there's always next year. If only I had gotten a picture of the person next to me at security trying to get a giant lighter shaped as a rifle through. Again, there's always next year.

(Awww....isn't that cute. Is this in reference to the unabomber?)

(Just in case you like to be reminded of animals killing animals as you cook dead animals. The circle of life.)

(Awww....isn't that cute. A play on words because ASS is in BASS and it's on yours if you wear these. Clevvvvvver.)

(A display case of oversized liquid containers. Damn those terrorists for making it impossible for me to carry my huckleberry syrup through security!)

(My personal favorite and a book I wish I had owned as a child. Poop identification lessons can never start too young.)

Tradition (or the breaking of habits.)

Tradition is a word closely associated with this time of year. Everyone has their own holiday patterns and often those very traditions we hold dear seem absurd to anyone but your own family. For instance, my family does an annual “Christmas Eve Satanic Fire Pit Dance Off,” every year in our back yard. It’s a blast and we really work our demons out. It’s not only aerobic, it’s satanic! Just kidding!

But seriously, each family has their own routines that they get into. We find them comforting and they act as a reminder that as much as the world changes and we grow from year to year, some things stay the same. We like to be in control of something during the tumultuous holiday season, so what better way than tradition.

(One of my traditions: Posing for a picture with Tobin, Libby and my sister at the annual Bugbee Holiday Party. Slightly more appropriate than our Murphy Satanic Dance.)

My family, since I can remember, has been going over to our friends the Bugbee’s house for a festive Christmas Eve meal. Arriving at the gorgeous apartment last night, I was unsure of how social I was feeling. That quickly changed as I was swept into the crowd and began working my way around the room. It was a true example of how quickly your mindset can change; sometimes the Christmas spirit surges through you when least expected. Most of the people I at least had a vague familiarity with, but it was those who I thought I knew that surprised me the most.

On the phone earlier I was attempting to describe to a friend how much fun I had with this woman Meeghan last night. I’ve known her since I was eight and thought we probably didn’t have too much to talk about. As soon as I began my conversation with her last night I realized how much I was missing over the past years. What began as a brief discussion about artistic judgment and subjectivity (one of my favorite topics) quickly turned into an hour-long all-encompassing artistic and political exploration. She, as a painter, wanted to know about dancing and vice versa. One of my favorite things is attempting to explain to a non-dancer what my views of the dance world are. Working with a hungry, but blank, slate when it comes to the topic is a true challenge that always proves to be fun. Not only do I have to explain types of movements but the questions that come out of non-dancers are often more stimulating. Even my traditionally familiar party proved to still hold some surprises last night.

(My new favorite person, Meeghan with my sister and I.)

Feeling invigorated after the party, while the rest of my family felt tired, I decided to break my typical holiday movie tradition as well. Christmas Eve is usually spent watching “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” a movie I never tire of. My staying power is vastly superior to that of my family though, so I was left on my own last night to watch what I desired. Scanning the DVD’s I spotted a movie from another part of my holiday tradition (borrowing piles of my dad’s movies at Christmas and never watching them) called “Grey Gardens.”

(Little Edie of Grey Gardens=Hotness. Truly though, she has got some "interesting" fashion sense.)

For those of you who don’t know of this movie, it is a bizarre documentary about Jackie O’s crazy cousins (Little Edie and her mother Big Edie Beale) who live in a run down mansion in East Hampton. Eccentricity does not even come close to describing these two women and the majority of the movie is spent with one singing in a voice similar to a dog being strangled while the other (her daughter) rants about her philosophies on life. Sounds like a feel good holiday flick right?! If you were really going to stretch the logic, you could say that it shows you to be thankful for a few things:
1) Not living in a house with raccoons and cats (or do you?)
2) Not having arms that sag so much they look like wings
3) Generally, just not being CRAZY.
Those are just a few lessons the Beale ladies can teach you. I really do look forward to seeing the musical based on this movie though, because I cannot imagine what it must be like. Brings up interesting ideas about adaptations though, seeing it seems like such a strange source for musical theater. Makes me want to find something random to prompt choreography.

(My mom trying on someones coat at the party. Was this a Little Edie premonition? I guess "Grey Gardens" was in the cards. Luckily my mom doesn't feed racoons with loaves of bread in the attic. Or maybe she does....secret hobby?)

A Few favorite Quotes:
“I’m mad about animals. But raccoons and cats become a little bit boring. I mean for too long a time.”-Little Edie on the subject of marriage

“I better check on mother and the cats. She’s a lot of fun, I hope she doesn’t die.”-That’s Little Edie as well.

On a final holiday note, as I was sitting in a coffee shop with Michael yesterday we were distracted by the holiday music blasting overhead. I’ve never been huge on Christmas music but their selection was hilarious. Through the jarring renditions of classics by Christina Aguilera, Macy Gray and other bombastic pop whores, I mean divas, came the voice of Whitney Houston. She began to wish us “Merry Christmas” repeatedly, growing louder with each refrain. Suddenly she began to crescendo, shouting “Merry Christmas, Meeerrrry ChristmAAAASSSSS, HAPPY KWAAAAAAAANNNNNNZZZZZAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! To you.” Huh? Random Whitney. I think I preferred Justin Timberlake’s Kwanza shout out in “Dick in A Box” (see below.)

Happy Holidays to all!

(Our Mini-Christmas tree being framed by the art that I am going to try to pack in my suitcase to haul it back to New York. Think it will fit?/Will my parents notice?)

Feeling Festive.

For some reason I have been drawn to the alliteration for my titles recently, I wonder what that is all about? Moving on...

Being home for the holidays means that my nights have a tendency to turn into ferocious board game competitions and last night was no exception. It's odd because I think that sometimes the best (AND WORST) come out in people once you set up the board game. As much as I would like to place myself in the "best" category, I think my friends would disagree and say that i turn into some raging competitive lunatic once we say "go!" I am still mourning the fact that I lost in our battle last night of this new game called "Pop 5," by the creators of "Cranium."

Since my knowledge of pop culture is as massive as I will be after holiday meals (P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C) I awoke this morning with the decision that I was going to actually get something accomplished today. #1 Blog a bit, because it has been a while. #2 Actually read "Othello" because work starts in a week and I would like to have a majority of it done. But before any of that started I read this interesting article about Barack Obama in The NY Times this morning. READ IT HERE.
As much as it acknowledges both sides of the situation, I can't help but get my hopes up that this man will decide to run. It is interesting hearing them talk about the "celebrity" side of his success and what that has done for his career. Having only heard him speak a few times, I think I am in the majority that agree it is just a rush to hear someone articulate speak about our country for once. How sad is it that articulate speaking is almost seen as a bonus and not a requirement? While I understand their point that perhaps he isn't ready (yet) to run in 2008, I think I am just starving for a Democratic leader. While the state of our world should have me more interested in politics than ever, I can barely stand to look at the people running the country right now, which makes my interest almost non-existent. New Years Resolution perhaps? Enough politics for the day, just check the article out if you get a chance.

Another thing I would probably guess I am not alone in is the utterly absurd ability I have to waste time while I am on vacation. Days are eaten up by vegetative naps, movies, internet, and nights out with friends....which is to say, a whole lot of nothing (which sometimes has the wonderful ability to feel like everything.) So in my last few days off before the whirlwind winter starts, I am taking a vow to do absolutely nothing and treat it like the most important thing I've ever done. Gotta cherish the last few moments with family and friends. Happy Holidays Everyone!

(Putting this up because I love the picture. Michael and Leah, during one of our nights out, exemplify what I love about being home: time with my closest friends to just BE together. Leah also demonstrates the ability to turn her head "Exorcist" style. Brava!)

RANDOM FIND of the Day. 12/20/06.

Of the many things that became apparent during the past week of performances, Jackie and I really agreed on one: we love Justin Timberlake.  His album is perfect to warm up to and watching him host Saturday Night Live after 4 shows down, with 2 to go, was the perfect mid-run stress reliever.  Here is a hilarious clip  from his stint as host called "A Special Christmas Box," proceed with caution. 

BLOG SUPERSTAR TAKES THE WORLD!!!! (Okay, just Montana.)

As many of you know, Adrienne Schulte is a bonafied Blog Superstar (she practically has a certificate proclaiming it) so when I recruited people to join my ABT Montana branch for Nutcracker, she was first on my list. What could be more fun than taking my muse on the road?

Now the Nutcracker can always be exhausting but 6 shows in 3 days is enough to make anyone insane and tired. Since there was so much happening this weekend I thought I would try to string it together into one of my stupid stories. As foolish as the following tale is, it could have been true we were all that delirious by the end. There was so much to see and do here in Montana that I can barely fit the best pictures in, but I'll do my best. Welcome to the behind the scenes blog story "Adrienne Gets Hungry When She Travels." Enjoy the show.

(Traveling to Montana can really take it out of you, but Adrienne knew just how to replenish herself: A Trip to the Local Middle School to eat some children. How very "Sweeney Todd" of her.)

(Just then when she was walking into the school she found all the sustenance she needed. There in the window was the most beautiful Sugarplum Headpiece she had ever seen!)

("You call that a headpiece?" Jackie sneered, "It's practically the size of my tutu." And as a defiant gesture she cocked her head to the sky.)

(Gillian, the maid, tried to settle it and reminded Adrienne of her calling. "My dear, you are just a bit crazy, but dancing six shows of the Nutcracker in three days will surely set your head straight again!")

(The two Ladies of the Tutu stood aghast. Wasn't it the maids job to FEED them, not scold them? Adrienne was still hungry.)

(Why look Adrienne, Jackie found some children. She must be working with Marian the Witch Doctor from City Center!)

(Claiming fatigue was the reason when shown the picture later, Adrienne munches on some bird poo after the 4th performance.)

(As a unit we grew so fatigued between shows, we could hardly speak. Would no one feed us?!)

(Right as Blaine passed out beneath the tutu sky....)

(Angelic Andy came along to inform us of our good fortune....)

(Ben had been sacrificed by the ballet gods for lunch....)

(And Adrienne would grow strong like bull.)
THE END

Dance Off: Andrew vs. Matt

Middle school dances always scared me. So the other night when I walked into the cast party for Nutcracker, I was immediately hit with flashbacks of my awkward middle school years. Lights set up on stands around the room shone rainbow flashes onto the crowd of young girls separating themselves into cliques. Party dresses were out, cheesy pop hits were playing and pizza sat on a table surrounded by the hungry dancers. It was middle school all over again. Except this time I didn’t have to awkwardly ask girls to dance and rock back and forth like a see-saw (and practically that far away from each other.)

Blaine, Jackie, Adrienne and I scurried into the party thinking that it would be an odd obligation where maybe we would dance for a few minutes before running out to grab an after show drink. Little did we know that a budding superstar was in our presence. I believe it was Adrienne that noticed Andrew first, jamming out by himself in the corner to a small crowd of admirers, and it wasn’t long before the party began.

(Adrienne wants to know if you would like to smell her blog superstar armpit. Smells like celebrity.)

Some would think that being a blog superstar might have gone to Adrienne’s head by now, but I assure you that’s not the case. The minute she spotted Andrew dancing in the corner she sauntered over to him to scope out his moves thinking perhaps that we could recruit him to join our “ABT Regional Troupe” (That is what the paper here thought we were) but no amount of persuasion could get this guy to leave his solo career behind.

(Blaine and Jackie attempt to steal the attention away from Andrew.)

You see, at three years old, Andrew already has legions of loyal followers and after this cast party I am completely converted. I would KILL to have a video from the night because I have never seen anyone dance like this, let alone a three year old. One moment he would be in a full lunge with arms extended out only to surprise us the next moment by being in a parallel passé hopping around on one leg. Along with working his tie into his dance, there was some frightening gyration and mild humping of the floor, which his father claims to have no clue of its origin. Wherever he saw, it was clear that this kid is a superstar. It was only moments after we spotted him that the entire party had formed a circle and he was right in the center doing his thing. We did a momentary duet but it was clear that his talents far outweigh mine when it comes to social dancing.

(Adrienne dances with Andrew for a minute before.....)

(The crowd mulitplies. Had someone not walked into the circle and stopped him I think he might still be there dancing as I type this.)

It’s funny being at an age now when you can step back from your formative years and just laugh, and the whole cast party night was really just a reminder of what I was like as a kid. Middle school is awkward for everyone and being backstage with the girls in the cast was a fun reminder of the drama that infests all of us at that age. Andrew was making me have lucid flashbacks to times where I would have danced with no inhibitions just like him. All he knows is to imitate but that’s how we all start I guess. The four of us were worried about keeping it PG with the dance moves in front of some of the kids but Andrew doesn’t even know what he’s doing. Or does he? After the show the other day when his parents asked if I could pose for a picture with him I knelt down and had a little conversation:

“I saw you in the show today,” Andrew said to me with a glimmer in his eye.
“Well I saw you dancing the other night and I am pretty sure you out danced me,” I replied.
Without a moment of hesitation he turned to me with a smile and said, “I know.” Then we posed for our picture and that was that.

(Our dance off really began on stage after the last show. BRING IT!)

Who knows?! Maybe I’ll be reading his blog twenty years from now.

(Not one to be overshadowed, the productions Fritz (Ben), was sure to leave an impression on me as well.)

(The ABT Montana Troupe leaves the cast party with 4 more shows to go.....and lots more to blog about. More Nutz coming soon!)

I PROMISE….

If there is anyone out there that is reading or cares at all, I promise there will be new posts up on Monday. Doing six shows in three days makes blogging a bit difficult but you will love what's coming up. Have some GREAT pictures from the past week with Blaine, Adrienne (BLOG SUPERSTAR TAKES MONTANA!!!!!!) and Jackie. Until then, watch the Snow videos :-) Or check out....
THE SUPERFICIAL: A Hilarious Celebrity Blog
TITLE OF SHOW: A Blog Of Some Broadway Performers
FOUR FOUR: Another Hilarious Pop Culture Blog (See A Trend Here?
Until blogging continues.....