We are thrilled when a local boy makes good. Sonny Leo, son of Wilmington's legendary dance teacher Anna Marie -- and triple threat performer in his own right -- is starring in The Walnut Street Theatre's "Forbidden Broadway's Greatest Hits."
Sonny and his colleagues were well chosen for this irreverently funny show. It is well worth the drive.
About Forbidden: more than three decades ago, a clever New York wordsmith named Gerald Alessandrini had a novel idea -- to create a show parodying Broadway's memorable tunes and personalities. It became an overnight sensation with both insiders and aficionados.
Broadway greats like Rodgers & Hammerstein, Porter and Sondheim wrote shows with particular vocal skill sets in mind, so Forbidden -- which slices and dices the likes of “Spamalot,” “Chicago,” “Rent” and “Mamma Mia” -- includes many genres and its actors must be ambidextrous in their vocal and acting styles. Thus, each are handed prospects for a tour de force performance.
A taste: “On My Phone” is a takeoff of "Le Mis'" song “On My Own,” telling the sad tale of a bored cast member stranded on the battlements for a half hour and sneaks a call to a friend on her cell phone while playing dead. Thus, Les Mis producer, Cameron Macintosh, was lampooned as the ultimate huckster for marketing every conceivable commercial item from the show (Aisle Say wagers he made more money on the forlorn little waif t-shirt than ticket sales).
Another taste, featuring our own Sonny: in the '60s and '70s two Hispanic singer dancers, Chita Rivera and Rita Moreno were Broadway stars. Rivera played Anita in the stage “West Side Story” and Rita did the role in the movie, and people constantly confused one with the other. The song “Chita and Rita” sprang from this, and Sonny turned a compelling Chita in drag...or was he Rita?
Sonny also delivered brilliantly at Tevye in “Ambition,” a “Tradition” takeoff and as a cute white pussy in “I Enjoy Being a Cat,” a dual parody of both “Cats” and the song from R& H's “Flower Drum Song,” “I Enjoy Being A Girl” -- the anthem that makes feminists shoot smoke from their ears.
Each of the actors had their moments. The versatile Marcus Stevens was haunting as the Phantom. Ellie Mooney's as La Barbra had both voice and distinctive mannerisms down.
Jennie Eisenhower was drop dead hysterical in her overly red-lipsticked, saucer-eyed, cavernous-mouthed representation of Carol Channing -- the "Hello Dolly" performer turned talk show junkie (if one celebrity qualifies as being a caricature of herself, it must be Channing). My fave, though, was Eisenhower's spot on cocaine-induced “Johnny One Note” re-creation of Liza Minnelli. Throughout the tune, she stopped singing to remind the audience that her mother was Judy Garland and had been Dorothy in “Wizard of Oz,” “Did you know that?”
Walnut Street Theatre is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes, played The Walnut. As a certified Broadway junkie, Aisle Say must comment on the cover page of the program by Al Hirschfeld, the NY Times caricaturist whose eight decade career immortalized him on the Great White Way. The shows and performers burlesqued in this current rendition are pictured. Hirschfeld's art style is unique, and he is considered to be one of the most important figures in contemporary caricature.
The show runs through June 28. For more tickets and times, visit WalnutStreetTheatre.org or call (215) 574-3550.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Commercial Greening of the World
The twisted troglogdyte rant that global warming is a ruse has about as much credibility as Bristol Palin's call for abstinence when the 19-year-old unwed mother said, “abstinence is the only 100 percent way to prevent pregnancy.”
The diminishing cabal who rails against global warming, like Noah Robinson, an Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine professor who preaches 100 percent abstinence from climate change initiatives, assert that research does not show human use of hydrocarbons is harmful. To the contrary, they claim, increased atmospheric carbon dioxide is helpful (Yeah, great fun for marathon runners at the Beijing Olympics).
Last week, I reported on the state of Wilmington conference. While Aisle Say hopes Wilmington may be deemed “World Class,” that approbation is still down the yellow brick road.
One panel member, Scott Johnson of the development and real estate company McConnell Johnson, is a visionary for the greening of the world. With this company's innovations, we may arrive at the Emerald City before submersion of our coasts by melting ice packs.
Like any owner, they sought to cut energy costs. This financial interest, allied with their own passion, led to SolarDock.com, a subsidiary company that installs a patented solar electric roof racking system.
Ironically, they were the landlord for Astro Power, one of the first U.S. solar companies that went under, and Johnson realized Astro Power's mission and made it his own.
Saab Sports Car Service in Wilmington installed the system last year. Half the cost was covered by state grants. The feds kicked in as well. Today, the SolarDock is generating 80 percent of the company's electricity. Bottom line, Saab will have its investment returned in five years, will bid sayonara to electric bills and, in fact, will be selling electric back to Delmarva. The pollution reduction will be the equivalent of 3 million vehicle miles.
The company is expanding exponentially globally, growing 350 percent this year alone from last.
Astra Zeneca on Concord Pike has a modular installation. SolarDock's biggest is in Madrid at the headquarters of Otis Elevator.
Flat roofs are necessary, so SolarDock deals in commercial only.
The company has resolved many of the issues that were problematic with solar installations, including creating a modular system such that a commercial owner can add photo voltaic cells as the need arises, engineering a mounting system that does not penetrate a roof and violate its warranty and angling the modes so that ice and snow do not stick and reduce electrical production.
All this makes for a low maintenance, high return product that protects our environment.
American innovation has continually led the world. One reads of a daunting issue and considers that someone or some company will come up with a resolution. It appears SolarDock is just one of these valuable – and world class – American success stories.
The diminishing cabal who rails against global warming, like Noah Robinson, an Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine professor who preaches 100 percent abstinence from climate change initiatives, assert that research does not show human use of hydrocarbons is harmful. To the contrary, they claim, increased atmospheric carbon dioxide is helpful (Yeah, great fun for marathon runners at the Beijing Olympics).
Last week, I reported on the state of Wilmington conference. While Aisle Say hopes Wilmington may be deemed “World Class,” that approbation is still down the yellow brick road.
One panel member, Scott Johnson of the development and real estate company McConnell Johnson, is a visionary for the greening of the world. With this company's innovations, we may arrive at the Emerald City before submersion of our coasts by melting ice packs.
Like any owner, they sought to cut energy costs. This financial interest, allied with their own passion, led to SolarDock.com, a subsidiary company that installs a patented solar electric roof racking system.
Ironically, they were the landlord for Astro Power, one of the first U.S. solar companies that went under, and Johnson realized Astro Power's mission and made it his own.
Saab Sports Car Service in Wilmington installed the system last year. Half the cost was covered by state grants. The feds kicked in as well. Today, the SolarDock is generating 80 percent of the company's electricity. Bottom line, Saab will have its investment returned in five years, will bid sayonara to electric bills and, in fact, will be selling electric back to Delmarva. The pollution reduction will be the equivalent of 3 million vehicle miles.
The company is expanding exponentially globally, growing 350 percent this year alone from last.
Astra Zeneca on Concord Pike has a modular installation. SolarDock's biggest is in Madrid at the headquarters of Otis Elevator.
Flat roofs are necessary, so SolarDock deals in commercial only.
The company has resolved many of the issues that were problematic with solar installations, including creating a modular system such that a commercial owner can add photo voltaic cells as the need arises, engineering a mounting system that does not penetrate a roof and violate its warranty and angling the modes so that ice and snow do not stick and reduce electrical production.
All this makes for a low maintenance, high return product that protects our environment.
American innovation has continually led the world. One reads of a daunting issue and considers that someone or some company will come up with a resolution. It appears SolarDock is just one of these valuable – and world class – American success stories.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The State of Wilmington Delaware May 09
Last week's State of Wilmington 2009 seemed more like a motivational seminar to convince ourselves that we are a World Class city than a budget address.
The event opened with a video retrospective of the last 15 years, then Mayor James Baker and Gov. Jack Markell addressed the 200 mostly business and arts people in attendance.
“States must balance our budgets. We can't print money like Washington,” said Markell. In the midst of the state's economic crisis, he asked for all to work together. And, he had some interesting stats regarding the arts:
* Each $1 state donation to the arts creates $7 in economic activity
* The arts bring $142 million annually to our economy, creating $10 million revenue to the state
Hal Real, founder and president of Philly's World Cafe Live also spoke enthusiastically about Wilmington's Queen Theatre renovation as a World Cafe satellite.
As a native Wilmingtonian, Aisle Say remembers the popcorn machines and the creaky floors of the Dry Goods, motion pictures at The Queen and The Warner, crullers at Federal Bakery and the A & P Market where my mother shopped. My father took me to the ribbon cutting of I-95 and I saw JFK two weeks before the assassination.
Yet for decades, downtown after 5 p.m. has been the urban equivalent of Antarctica.
I asked myself where will the people come from to frequent the revitalized Queen? Real may have suggested the beginning of an answer when he quoted these figures to buttress his case for choosing Wilmington:
* Wilmington is within a 90-minute radius of the nation's greatest population concentration
* World Cafe's radio station, XPN, is the nation's most popular syndicated pop-rock-contemporary show. One would imagine the station will be touting Wilmington heavily.
* World Cafe Live lives off emerging acts -- read: “cheap to book.”
The Philly venue is incredibly profitable and has many community outreach services. Work on the Wilmington extension will begin in 90 days and is estimated to take 20 months to complete.
Other economic tidbits
Christiana Care Vice President of Communications Michelle Schiavone presented an impressive video on the $205 million dollar expansion of Wilmington Hospital. Upon completion, it will be three times the space of the existing hospital, add a new nine-story tower, 13 operating rooms and add 600 new jobs. Completion date is 2012.
Still no concrete word on a hotel to accommodate Chase Center conferees.
A representative from the Riverfront Development Corporation responded to an inquiry regarding an exit from I-95 northbound. It's not going to happen. More likely is an eventual bridge over the Christina River connecting to I-495.
The event opened with a video retrospective of the last 15 years, then Mayor James Baker and Gov. Jack Markell addressed the 200 mostly business and arts people in attendance.
“States must balance our budgets. We can't print money like Washington,” said Markell. In the midst of the state's economic crisis, he asked for all to work together. And, he had some interesting stats regarding the arts:
* Each $1 state donation to the arts creates $7 in economic activity
* The arts bring $142 million annually to our economy, creating $10 million revenue to the state
Hal Real, founder and president of Philly's World Cafe Live also spoke enthusiastically about Wilmington's Queen Theatre renovation as a World Cafe satellite.
As a native Wilmingtonian, Aisle Say remembers the popcorn machines and the creaky floors of the Dry Goods, motion pictures at The Queen and The Warner, crullers at Federal Bakery and the A & P Market where my mother shopped. My father took me to the ribbon cutting of I-95 and I saw JFK two weeks before the assassination.
Yet for decades, downtown after 5 p.m. has been the urban equivalent of Antarctica.
I asked myself where will the people come from to frequent the revitalized Queen? Real may have suggested the beginning of an answer when he quoted these figures to buttress his case for choosing Wilmington:
* Wilmington is within a 90-minute radius of the nation's greatest population concentration
* World Cafe's radio station, XPN, is the nation's most popular syndicated pop-rock-contemporary show. One would imagine the station will be touting Wilmington heavily.
* World Cafe Live lives off emerging acts -- read: “cheap to book.”
The Philly venue is incredibly profitable and has many community outreach services. Work on the Wilmington extension will begin in 90 days and is estimated to take 20 months to complete.
Other economic tidbits
Christiana Care Vice President of Communications Michelle Schiavone presented an impressive video on the $205 million dollar expansion of Wilmington Hospital. Upon completion, it will be three times the space of the existing hospital, add a new nine-story tower, 13 operating rooms and add 600 new jobs. Completion date is 2012.
Still no concrete word on a hotel to accommodate Chase Center conferees.
A representative from the Riverfront Development Corporation responded to an inquiry regarding an exit from I-95 northbound. It's not going to happen. More likely is an eventual bridge over the Christina River connecting to I-495.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
State of the city of Wilmington
Last week's State of Wilmington 2009 seemed more like a motivational seminar to convince ourselves that we are a World Class city than a budget address.
The event opened with a video retrospective of the last 15 years, then Mayor James Baker and Gov. Jack Markell addressed the 200 mostly business and arts people in attendance.
“States must balance our budgets. We can't print money like Washington,” said Markell. In the midst of the state's economic crisis, he asked for all to work together. And, he had some interesting stats regarding the arts:
* Each $1 state donation to the arts creates $7 in economic activity
* The arts bring $142 million annually to our economy, creating $10 million revenue to the state
Hal Real, founder and president of Philly's World Cafe Live also spoke enthusiastically about Wilmington's Queen Theatre renovation as a World Cafe satellite.
As a native Wilmingtonian, Aisle Say remembers the popcorn machines and the creaky floors of the Dry Goods, motion pictures at The Queen and The Warner, crullers at Federal Bakery and the A & P Market where my mother shopped. My father took me to the ribbon cutting of I-95 and I saw JFK two weeks before the assassination.
Yet for decades, downtown after 5 p.m. has been the urban equivalent of Antarctica.
I asked myself where will the people come from to frequent the revitalized Queen? Real may have suggested the beginning of an answer when he quoted these figures to buttress his case for choosing Wilmington:
* Wilmington is within a 90-minute radius of the nation's greatest population concentration
* World Cafe's radio station, XPN, is the nation's most popular syndicated pop-rock-contemporary show. One would imagine the station will be touting Wilmington heavily.
* World Cafe Live lives off emerging acts -- read: “cheap to book.”
The Philly venue is incredibly profitable and has many community outreach services. Work on the Wilmington extension will begin in 90 days and is estimated to take 20 months to complete.
Other economic tidbits
Christiana Care Vice President of Communications Michelle Schiavone presented an impressive video on the $205 million dollar expansion of Wilmington Hospital. Upon completion, it will be three times the space of the existing hospital, add a new nine-story tower, 13 operating rooms and add 600 new jobs. Completion date is 2012.
Still no concrete word on a hotel to accommodate Chase Center conferees.
A representative from the Riverfront Development Corporation responded to an inquiry regarding an exit from I-95 northbound. It's not going to happen. More likely is an eventual bridge over the Christina River connecting to I-495.
The event opened with a video retrospective of the last 15 years, then Mayor James Baker and Gov. Jack Markell addressed the 200 mostly business and arts people in attendance.
“States must balance our budgets. We can't print money like Washington,” said Markell. In the midst of the state's economic crisis, he asked for all to work together. And, he had some interesting stats regarding the arts:
* Each $1 state donation to the arts creates $7 in economic activity
* The arts bring $142 million annually to our economy, creating $10 million revenue to the state
Hal Real, founder and president of Philly's World Cafe Live also spoke enthusiastically about Wilmington's Queen Theatre renovation as a World Cafe satellite.
As a native Wilmingtonian, Aisle Say remembers the popcorn machines and the creaky floors of the Dry Goods, motion pictures at The Queen and The Warner, crullers at Federal Bakery and the A & P Market where my mother shopped. My father took me to the ribbon cutting of I-95 and I saw JFK two weeks before the assassination.
Yet for decades, downtown after 5 p.m. has been the urban equivalent of Antarctica.
I asked myself where will the people come from to frequent the revitalized Queen? Real may have suggested the beginning of an answer when he quoted these figures to buttress his case for choosing Wilmington:
* Wilmington is within a 90-minute radius of the nation's greatest population concentration
* World Cafe's radio station, XPN, is the nation's most popular syndicated pop-rock-contemporary show. One would imagine the station will be touting Wilmington heavily.
* World Cafe Live lives off emerging acts -- read: “cheap to book.”
The Philly venue is incredibly profitable and has many community outreach services. Work on the Wilmington extension will begin in 90 days and is estimated to take 20 months to complete.
Other economic tidbits
Christiana Care Vice President of Communications Michelle Schiavone presented an impressive video on the $205 million dollar expansion of Wilmington Hospital. Upon completion, it will be three times the space of the existing hospital, add a new nine-story tower, 13 operating rooms and add 600 new jobs. Completion date is 2012.
Still no concrete word on a hotel to accommodate Chase Center conferees.
A representative from the Riverfront Development Corporation responded to an inquiry regarding an exit from I-95 northbound. It's not going to happen. More likely is an eventual bridge over the Christina River connecting to I-495.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Opera Delaware's "The Marriage of Figaro"
My body shuddered uncontrollably. My entire being was wracked with a pain felt only by Prometheus on the rock. I glanced at this famous quote. Was it true? Could this be so? Was Aisle Say channeling with the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
“The Marriage of Figaro” the opera by Mozart, was commissioned by his benefactor Emperor Joseph II of Austria. On opening night in Vienna on May 1, 1786, after the Emperor congratulated the composer, he added this caveat: "You must admit, however, my dear Mozart, that there are a great many notes in your score."
"Not one too many, Sire," was Mozart’s reply.
Every week Aisle Say hears the same dispiriting diatribe from my otherwise enchantingly effervescent editor at The Community News.
I hear you, Amadeus, my bro.
But I digress. Joseph II had the last word: upon reflection, he considered the piece inflammatory and banned it in Austria. (It was a tumultuous time in Europe -- only 10 years before the French Revolution, and the title character, a servant, dares to make a fool of a royal.)
Yet, after Mozart's death, "The Marriage of Figaro" became his most popular comic opera, so although Joseph II may have had the last word, Mozart had the last laugh.
OperaDelaware Summer Youth Program
July 13 - Aug. 7
Mon. - Fri, 9 a.m - 4 p.m.
Each week-long session includes rehearsals, workshops and lessons in voice, costumes, movement, and painting. At the culmination of each session, students perform musical or opera scenes.
One-time-only offerings like prop building, dance, stage management, yoga and stage combat may be part of workshops.
No performance experience is necessary.
OperaDE.org
302-658-8063
With good reason. The synopsis reads like a Marx Brothers movie.
The Count’s valet, Figaro, is about to marry the Countess’ maid, Susanna. However, the Count himself has designs on the young girl and wants to exert his ancient “feudal rights” and sleep with her on her wedding night. With the aid of Susanna and the Countess, Figaro hatches a plan to catch the Count and foil his intentions.
Two-and-one-half centuries later, with all its mistaken identities, hiding behind arrases, cross dressing and gorgeous music, "Figaro" -- OperaDelaware's season finale -- promises to be as fresh and fun as ever.
The show runs May 3 at 2 p.m. and May 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. at the Grand Opera House, at 818 N. Market St. in Wilmington. Tickets start at $25. For more information, call 800-37-GRAND or visit TicketsAtTheGrand.org.
“The Marriage of Figaro” the opera by Mozart, was commissioned by his benefactor Emperor Joseph II of Austria. On opening night in Vienna on May 1, 1786, after the Emperor congratulated the composer, he added this caveat: "You must admit, however, my dear Mozart, that there are a great many notes in your score."
"Not one too many, Sire," was Mozart’s reply.
Every week Aisle Say hears the same dispiriting diatribe from my otherwise enchantingly effervescent editor at The Community News.
I hear you, Amadeus, my bro.
But I digress. Joseph II had the last word: upon reflection, he considered the piece inflammatory and banned it in Austria. (It was a tumultuous time in Europe -- only 10 years before the French Revolution, and the title character, a servant, dares to make a fool of a royal.)
Yet, after Mozart's death, "The Marriage of Figaro" became his most popular comic opera, so although Joseph II may have had the last word, Mozart had the last laugh.
OperaDelaware Summer Youth Program
July 13 - Aug. 7
Mon. - Fri, 9 a.m - 4 p.m.
Each week-long session includes rehearsals, workshops and lessons in voice, costumes, movement, and painting. At the culmination of each session, students perform musical or opera scenes.
One-time-only offerings like prop building, dance, stage management, yoga and stage combat may be part of workshops.
No performance experience is necessary.
OperaDE.org
302-658-8063
With good reason. The synopsis reads like a Marx Brothers movie.
The Count’s valet, Figaro, is about to marry the Countess’ maid, Susanna. However, the Count himself has designs on the young girl and wants to exert his ancient “feudal rights” and sleep with her on her wedding night. With the aid of Susanna and the Countess, Figaro hatches a plan to catch the Count and foil his intentions.
Two-and-one-half centuries later, with all its mistaken identities, hiding behind arrases, cross dressing and gorgeous music, "Figaro" -- OperaDelaware's season finale -- promises to be as fresh and fun as ever.
The show runs May 3 at 2 p.m. and May 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. at the Grand Opera House, at 818 N. Market St. in Wilmington. Tickets start at $25. For more information, call 800-37-GRAND or visit TicketsAtTheGrand.org.
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