Author: Randy Slovacek

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Love the Huffington Post review of EVITA with Ricky Martin

According to my very smart theater friends in NYC, this review from the Huffinton Post is apparently dead-on:

Ricky Martin is easily the best thing about this revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s bio of Eva Peron, which opened Thursday at the Marquis Theatre. He sings beautifully, dances gracefully, athletically climbs ladders, plays his role with a knowing sneer and elicits drools in his suspenders and tight white shirt. He even makes a mustache work.

In fact, maybe it’s time for Broadway to have a new rule: Put Ricky Martin in everything. He would fit in happily at “Newsies.” He would definitely enliven “Death of a Salesman.” Heck, put him in “Mary Poppins” and watch the roof really lift off.

The review goes on to praise Rob Ashford’s fantastic choreography and the sets and lighting (“Christopher Oram’s balconies, palace facade and a piazza – all warmly lit by Neil Austin – are stunningly lifelike and rich”).

Can’t wait to see this.

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Bonnie Raitt “Right Down The Line”

The lead music video from Bonnie Raitt’s extraordinary new album “Slipstream,” shown here in the director & artist’s cut.

Steve Lippman (aka FLIP) directed Bonnie Raitt’s new video “Right Down the Line” on location at the abandoned New Mission Theater in San Francisco and shot portraits of gay and straight couples in San Francisco’s Noe Valley neighborhood for this beautiful track about love, commitment, and equality. It was shot on Super 8mm and 16 mm film.

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Olivia Newton-John: LivWise Cookbook

Featured this week on The Advocate’s ‘Hot Sheet’ of things not to be missed:

Livwise: Easy Recipes for a Healthy, Happy Life
Ever wonder why Olivia Newton-John, at 62, still looks so fit, healthy, and luminous? Nutrition is at least partly responsible. The iconic superstar and self-proclaimed breast cancer “thriver” has compiled recipes and mouthwatering photos of some of her favorite dishes from Gaia, her Australian heath retreat for her first cookbook (Lyons Press, $27.50). Royalties from the book will benefit the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia.

All proceeds go to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Australia

Order it here.

Look for Olivia on these TV shows:

April 26 – Good Morning America
April 26 – CNN Showbiz Tonight
April 27 – The Chew
April 27 – Fox Business News
April 27 – Fox & Friends
April 27 – Good Day New York
April 27 – New York Live 

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Friday pop tune: “Sunshine” – Anne Cochran

From the fabulous Anne Cochran, “Sunshine” from her CD Cover Girl, a collection of 60s songs done Anne’s way.

Anne is a longtime collaborator and “partner in crime” with romantic piano man Jim Brickman. I think she’s great, and she’s a huge presence at Jim Brickman concerts. Her humor, wit and warmth make her real treat both in concert and her recordings.

Happy Friday folks!

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Zach Wahls takes his message of marriage equality national

Zach Wahls, whose impassioned pro-gay marriage speech to Iowa legislators became the most-watched political clip of 2011 on YouTube after going viral twice last year, will soon take his message to the national level.

An entire generation of children raised by LGBT parents is starting to speak up and tell the truth about their families.

Zach Wahls will serve as co-chair for “The Outspoken Generation,” the Family Equality Council’s national youth advocacy initiative involving the young adult children of LGBT parents. Joining him will be Ella Robinson, the daughter of Bishop Gene Robinson who is the first openly gay person to be ordained a bishop in a major Christian denomination.

“A family is a group of people who love each other,” Wahls — whose new book, “My Two Moms,” will be released later this month — says in a video clip about the project. “If you’re willing to put in the blood, sweat, toil and tears…if you’re willing to make the commitment and demonstrate the love that it takes to successfully raise a young, healthy, well-rounded adult… who you are is so much less important than what you do.”

“We are now seeing the first generation of children, who were lovingly raised by LGBT parents, coming into young adulthood,” Family Equality Council Executive Director Jennifer Chrisler said in an email statement. “We know, from our conversations with these young people and from our experience with them, that they are terrific kids who are thriving and succeeding in life by any measure you choose to use. Many of them are now telling us that they are eager to tell the truth about their families. Who better to refute the myths and lies of hate groups like [National Organization for Marriage] than our grown up children?”

Zach is as impressive as you get. If this is the future of America, we’re in great hands.

(source)

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Video preview: EVITA on Broadway with Ricky Martin

I’ll be seeing this April 26th – can’t wait. Rob Ashford’s choreography looks great in the video.

Love the score, love the idea of a fresh version of the show, and who doesn’t want to meet Ricky Martin backstage?

A few reviews:

Elysa Gardner, USA Today: Though Rogers’ voice isn’t strong, her singing has a raw ache and folky authenticity. She also moves like a gazelle, reinforcing Eva’s beguiling sensuality and adding further sparkle to Ashford’s earthy, vibrant dance numbers. The narrator, Che, isn’t presented as the flamboyant revolutionary (based on Che Guevera) he became under Harold Prince’s original direction. A charming Ricky Martin plays the character more as an amused, sometimes sympathetic spectator; though critical of Eva, as Rice’s lyrics demand, he also conveys a certain tenderness.

Mark Kennedy, Associated Press: Much of the buzz coming from the new revival “Evita” has been about the spitfire Argentine playing the title role. But all of the heat actually comes from the guy shaking his bon-bon. Ricky Martin is easily the best thing about this revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s bio of Eva Peron, which opened Thursday at the Marquis Theatre. He sings beautifully, dances gracefully, athletically climbs ladders, plays his role with a knowing sneer and elicits drools in his suspenders and tight white shirt. He even makes a mustache work. In fact, maybe it’s time for Broadway to have a new rule: Put Ricky Martin in everything. He would fit in happily at “Newsies.” He would definitely enliven “Death of a Salesman.” Heck, put him in “Mary Poppins” and watch the roof really lift off.

Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal: Never having seen Harold Prince’s much-admired original production of “Evita,” I’m not in a position to compare it to this one, and in a way I’m glad. Despite the inadequacies of its nominal star, Mr. Grandage’s “Evita” is an impressive achievement that should be judged on its own merits, which are legion. Even if you don’t like Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music, it will hold your eye from curtain to curtain.