The Final Blog

My blog style
1. I have a respectful mind. I listen to other people's opinions and viewpoints. I try to understand where they are coming from. Then, I use my own thoughts and opinions and then I evaluate the situation. Then, I work with others in order to become one cohesive group. I do this all of the time, in all of my classes and my entire life as well. I do not like to go against the grain. I try to appease others and listen to them. When we have class discussions, I always listen to others and I hear their opinion. Even if it differs from my opinion, I listen to the thoughts of others.

2. I
~Exhibit Curiosity. I am always curious of why the world is the way it is. I want to learn all about certain subjects in order to grasp my own understanding of the world. When I don't know something or don't understand something, I look it up. I do not like to be or seem unintelligent so I make sure that I am informed.
~ See other points of view. I always try to see other points of view because I know that I am just a small spec in the macrocosm of the world. The entire universe does not revolve around me so I must understand other people and their feelings as well. I do this during class when we are completing scantron questions. I must understand when I am wrong and I must comprehend other people's viewpoint of the particular question. When I can understand the writer's point of view, then I can get the question correct.
~Engage in intellectual discussions. I have done this by commenting on other people's blogs. We have also done this during class, during class discussions. I love to listen to people who are highly intellectual. Then I can form my own opinion, and then I can be a part of the discussions.

3. What I learned by doing a blog...
~I learned that I love to be thorough in my writing. I also love to be critical of things that I enjoy. It was so easy for me to blog because this topic really interested me. I never complained that I had to blog, and it did not take me long to complete my blogs. I also learned that I love to be cogonizant of other people's beliefs. I loved following other people's blogs because then I could check up on their writing. Everyone is really talented, and I loved reading other people's opinions. As a whole, I loved the blogging experience.

Bailey Hanks- Oh My God You Guys

Legally Blonde

So today, I saw Legally Blonde! It was a great show about a blonde soriety girl who goes to Harvard Law School to retrieve her man. Her boyfriend dumped her because she was not smart enough, and she wanted to prove him wrong. At the beginning, Elle struggled to keep up with all of the brains of Harvard Law School. She was determined to be the top of her class, so she worked extremely hard. By her determination, she landed the coveted job of being an intern at her professor's firm. When her professor hits on her, she decides to go back to California where she belongs. All of her new friends at Harvard persuade her to stay, and she becomes the top lawyer at her school and she wins the case. Her professor gets fired, and Elle becomes Valevictorian of her class. She also gets the hunky lawyer as a boyfriend at the end.

My Thoughts:

This show was funny, witty, and light-hearted. I loved how all of the songs were cleverly written in a way to convey to the audience the feelings of a "dumb blonde". While some of the material was a little risque, most of the musical was acceptable for most audiences, excluding children. My favorite song was definately "Omigod You Guys", which was the opening song. This song introduced Elle and her soriety girls, and showed how fun this show would be. I loved this show because of all of the strong voices that the musical showcased. I would give it 3 and a half stars!

The Lion King on Broadway - They Live in You (Jason Raize)

Hairspray - Welcome to the 60s (High Quality)

Hairspray

Hairspray is a FANTASTIC musical which showcases an array of talent. The show is about a girl who grew up in the sixties and she wants to be a part of an afternoon broadcast show. In the show, people dance and sing, and they are all looked highly upon by the members of their high school. Tracy is a free spirit, and she does not let anything hold her down. Even though Tracy is overweight, she thinks that she can be the star of the show. This highly upsets Amber, the popular blonde girl, who is currently the star. When Tracy makes the show, the whole city of Baltimore rejoices, except for Amber and her mother. Tracy makes friends with the African American members of the show, and she tries to get them incorporated into the show every day instead of just once a month. This causes an uproar. Tracy stands up for her beliefs and then the police are after her because of a strange order of events. In the end, Tracy gets her way, and "Negro Day" is every day. Amber and her mother get fired, and Tracy ends up with the boy of her dreams.

My Thoughts:
I love the music in this show!!!!! I like how the music is written in the sixties style. It makes the musical more realistic. I also love how the musical brings to light the issues of the sixties. In today's time period, some people cannot imagine that these racial issues ever existed. Even though some of the racial comments in the show are really strong, I believe that the writers of the musical were brilliant. I felt like I was in the sixties, experiencing life in a whole new way. As a whole, the musical was fun and upbeat, and I would definately see this show again!

A Chorus Line - One ( Finale)

Chorus Line

So last weekend I saw this musical at Butler's Performance Hall. This play was about a group of performers, mostly dancers, who were auditioning for a place in the chorus of a musical. The entire musical showed how strenuous and difficult the life of a dancer really is. During the play, each person would talk to the director about his or her life. Each person had a different background, and it was quite interesting listening to the people's stories.

My Thoughts:
Overall, the play was pretty good. The musical was just not my type of musical because there really wasn't that much singing. The play was mostly dialogue, dancing, and there was monologues galore. The play was very long, and there wasn't even an intermission! I had to keep shifting in my seat because my legs kept falling asleep. It also didn't help that the man in front of me had a ginormous head. It was quite ANNOYING! I also didn't like how there was inappropriate references that were incorporated in the plot. It made me feel quite uncomfortable because I my dad and my aunt sat right behind me. I thought that the song that discussed women's body parts was completely out of line. I was appalled, and I could not imagine what my grandmother would have said. The best part of the show was the finale where the chorus comes out in gold sparkly outfits and actually SINGS! I loved the end, but the middle was a little bit raunchy. I probably would not see this musical again.

beauty and the beast broadway musical (part one)

Beauty and the Beast

Yes, I know. I have decided to blog on another Disney made musical. I'm sorry. I'm obsessed!!!! Disney just has a way to entertain an audience that is unlike any other musical corporation. I just love Disney!

Beauty and the Beast is my absolute favorite Disney musical story of all time! I just love how the story is classic and timeless. For those who do not know, the story is about a girl named Belle who is retained in a castle by a horrid beast. The castle is not just an ordinary castle; it's enchanted. There are talking clocks, candlesticks, wardrobes, feather dusters, and other inanimate objects. Belle has to learn to love the beast in order for all of the objects to become human again.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely love the music in this musical! It is the classic Disney princess movie and musical as well. I love the song "Belle" which takes place at the beginning of the story which showcases all of the ensemble and main characters as well. The story takes place in France and the lyrics of the song have the french flair. My favorite part of the song is when Belle runs out into an open field and sings "There must be more than this provincial life". She spins around and dreams about what her life could be like. The orchestra goes crazy with difficult arrangements which beautifully give the backdrop to Belle's pure-sounding, soprano voice. I also love that this musical has comic relief with Lumiere and Cogsworth. I especially love the character of the wardrobe because she is an opera singer. (I am entraced with opera singers because of the incredible control and power they have over their voices.) Overall, I love this musical because of the Disney magic and because of the goregous arrangement of the musical scores.

The Lion King

The Lion King is one of the most well-known Broadway shows. The original movie was the backboard for this amazing musical. The story is about a young lion who cannot wait to become king of the pride. Unfortunately, his uncle, Scar, decides to set Simba up for killing his own father. Simba runs away because of the fear of what he has done. He stays away from the pride for years. He befriends hog and a meerkat, and he is happy in the jungle for years. Then, Simba finds out that his uncle has taken over his pride. Simba goes back and defends what is rightfully his. Then there is rejoicing in the kingdom.

My thoughts:
I absolutely love this musical. The songs are all very cultural, and one fills immersed in the African culture when they listen to all of the songs. Additionally, the costuming is AMAZING! All of the actors are animals. The costumers dress the ensemble in a variety of different creatures that would prance about the grasslands of Africa. My favorite part of the musical though is the song "Shadowland" which is sung by Nala, Simba's love. Her voice range is incredible, and every time I hear the song I get chills. The musical as a whole is funny and lively, and I love the cultural influence.

The Little Mermaid On Broadway - Part Of Your World

The Little Mermaid

This delightful musical retells the beloved story of princess Ariel, the little mermaid. This musical stays true to the Disney version of the story.

My thoughts:
I actually saw this musical in New York City! It was amazing! I was a little skeptical because I thought I already knew the story, and I had seen "The Little Mermaid" a thousand times before on VHS. Somehow, the Broadway version sparkled. Every single person's voice was beautifully trained. I was especially impressed by the character "Flounder". Flounder was a seven year old boy with the most spectacular voice. He sang the song "She's in Love", and he blew the audience away. I bought the soundtrack just so that I could capture his voice. I also loved all of the new songs added to the musical that were new to the beloved story. The songs were all fun and catchy, and I would most definitely see the musical again.

Defying Gravity Tony Awards

Wicked

Wicked the musical has taken the musical facet by storm. Everyone has been lured into the musical craze by this delightful tale of Elphaba, the future wicked witch of the west. The entire musical is based on the story of Elphaba before Dorothy comes to Oz. The entire story is quite clever weaving information from the beloved story the "Wizard of Oz" with new background info that the audience has never heard of before.

My Thoughts:

Music: The music in "Wicked" is absolutely FANTASTIC!!!! I love almost every single song. This particular musical is upbeat, and the music is supplementary to the witty lines in the actual script of "Wicked". The songs are all fun to listen to, and the songs differ from song to song which makes the entire musical fun to listen to. The two leads, Galinda and Elphaba both have different types of voices. Galinda's voice is more operatic while Elphaba's voice is strong and pop-ish. Somehow the two voices blend beautifully together which makes for a fantastic show.

(I decided to include a youtube video of a performance of "Defying Gravity" during the Tony Awards. This song, in my opinion, is the best part of the musical. While this performance is not her strongest, Elphaba still shows her off her incredible voice to the mass viewers. Enjoy!!)

Music of the Night

Angel of Music

Phantom of the Opera

Why hello avid musical fans!!! I am so excited to be critiquing my favorite musical, Phantom of the Opera.
Christine Daae is the main character in the musical and she has been taught to sing by a disfigured man. She believes that he is the angel of music that her father promised to bring to her when he died. The phantom, the disfigured man, falls in love with Christine but she falls in love with her childhood sweetheart, Raoul. The phantom, in a fit of rage, kidnaps Christine in attempt to force her to marry him. In the end, the phantom lets her go with Raoul, and the phantom disappears.

• My Thoughts:
  Music: The music in this musical is absolutely breath-taking. Each piece was written by the master of music himself, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Every single song is sweet and flowing. Christine's role calls for the soprano to have a high range of singing abilities. Her voice is quiet and soft with little to no vibrato. It is similar to an what an angel would be expected to sing, hence the well- known song "Angel of Music". Her voice is pristine and beautiful, and the classic style of singing brings chills to audiences of all ages. The phantom's role calls for an actor to take on the role of a deranged man singing. His voice inflections and personality must be psychopathic. His voice must also be pristine because he teaches Christine how to sing with elegance and grace. The phantom's deep voice is most beautifully displayed when he sings "Music of the Night". What is most impressive is the phantom's control of his own voice. In the song, he holds out the word "night" for several measures, and he finally fades out with the orchestra playing sweetly in the background. The entire musical score as a whole is written so beautifully and eloquently.