Ocassional Thoughts of an Independent Progressive Atheistic Humanist
Findlay High School alum Gavin Creel was nominated for a Tony Award as Featured Actor in a musical. He plays Claude in the revival of the musical “Hair”. Creel didn’t win the award on Sunday but the show won Best Revival and he and the cast performed the song “Hair” during the broadcast on CBS. Here is a clip I made of the performance.
*Note – Creel is the guy in the white shirt and red head band who starts the song*
More info:
I love musicals. As a kid in school I participated in them when I could. I couldn’t sing or dance but to be around them during productions was fun. The only professional musical I’ve seen in person was “Phantom of the Opera” in Toronto 10 years ago. My favorites are “Guys and Dolls” and “Chicago”.
I liked “Chicago” because of the 1920’s vibe and and the music was great.
For this weekend’s ear candy selection I picked the song “Cell Block Tango” from the movie version. It blew me away when I saw it on the big screen.
There was an AP story on the Internets Saturday that floored me.
NEW YORK – Brandon Purves is the kind of guy producers of “Xanadu” only dreamed about. He liked the Broadway musical so much the first time that he saw it again. And again. And again — for a mind-boggling 86 times and counting.
“It’s nice to have an hour and a half to just laugh and not worry about everything else that’s going on,” says Purves, who works in fundraising for the Roundabout Theatre Company.
Purves, 28, is one of a legion of die-hard “Xanadu” fans who have fueled both excitement and ticket sales for a musical few thought would be a hit.
Swept away by the show’s upbeat spirit, devotees will line up at the box office to get tickets for another viewing only moments after the curtain has come down. They’ll wait to chat with the performers, organize group evenings and swap photos and stories in a burgeoning online community.
Such a reaction wasn’t always expected when the show debuted this summer. Many feared it would be mocked like the film on which it was based — the 1980 roller-disco flick with Olivia Newton-John as an ancient Greek muse who lands in modern-day California and grooves to Electric Light Orchestra songs like “Magic” and “I’m Alive.”
But critics embraced the satirical script and stars Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson, Tony Roberts, Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman. Even after roller-skating injuries took out key performers, the show kept packing ’em in.
Xanadu is one of my favorite movies from the 80’s. How can you not love Olivia Newton-John, music by ELO, and roller disco.
Newton-John played a muse named Kira who inspires an album cover artist named Sonny Malone, played by Michael Beck, when he falls in love with her. She encourages him to build a roller disco club. Along the way they meet up with a previous “client” of Kira’s – Danny McGuire, played by Gene Kelly – and there is a 40’s vs 80’s subplot.
One of the musical numbers featuring the subplot has a big band challenging a rock band. The rock band was played by The Tubes.
The reason I loved the movie was for the music. Most other people felt the same way. The movie flopped but the soundtrack was very successful. The song “Magic” went hit number 1 on the U.S. music chart.
When I read that it was a “satirical” adaptation I was a bit worried. I actually saw it in the theater in 1980 and didn’t think it was a bad movie. I have it on VHS and I’ve watched it more than a few dozen times.
Check out the cast of the show singing one of the songs on a talk show back in September:
More info:
Finally some local news:
Coach Hite resigns
The big news is that FHS Head Football coach Cliff Hite stepped down as coach on 12/1/2005. He became the winningest coach in school history, chalking up a 68-40 record in 10 seasons. Since 1998 his teams have six out seven league titles and appeared in the state playoffs in 1999, 2002, and this season.
His scheme was a version of the run and gun spread offense that allowed quarterbacks to put up some impressive yardage and touchdown stats. His most famous student is current Pittsburgh Steelers starting QB Ben Roethlisberger.
A replacement probably won’t be named until the spring when coaching changes are usually decided, but the local paper, The Courier, speculated that current offensive coordinator Mark Ritzler might be in line for the job.
Being a classmate of Ritz back in 1980’s at FHS, I hope he gets the job if he wants it.
Hite steps down as Trojans coach
David Cryer to play Broadway
Actor David Cryer, Findlay High ’54, who has been with the touring company of the musical “Phantom of the Opera” for the past 13 years, will be playing “Monsieur Firmin” in the Broadway production starting in January.
The touring company is performing in Cincinnati through January 1st.
Cryer is the father of actor Jon Cryer who stars on the show “Two and Half Men” on CBS.
Phantom’s foe: 10 questions with actor David Cryer
Originally posted on the blog “Hancock County Politics Unfiltered”