Cooper

Shows to look for this Spring:
 
MUSICALS
 
Escape to Margaritaville Marquis Theatre. Previews start February 16th
 
Frozen St. James Theatre. Previews start February 22nd
 
Carousel Imperial Theatre. Previews start February 28th
 
Mean Girls August Wilson Theatre. Previews start March 12th
 
My Fair Lady Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Previews start March 15th
 
Rocktopia Broadway Theatre. Previews start March 20th
 
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Previews start March 28th
 
PLAYS
 
John Lithgow: Stories of the Heart American Airlines Theatre. Already open, closes March 4th
 
Angels in America Neil Simon Theatre. Previews February 23rd
 
Three Tall Women John Golden Theatre. Previews February 27th
 
Lobby Hero Helen Hayes Theatre. Previews March 1st
 
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Lyric Theatre. Previews March 16th. Two Parts
 
Children of a Lesser God Studio 54. Previews March 22nd
 
The Iceman Cometh Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Previews March 22nd
 
Travesties American Airlines Theatre. Previews March 29th
 
Saint Joan Samuel J. Theatre. Previews April 3rd
 
The Boys in the Band Booth Theatre. Previews April 30th

That is one amazing list of upcoming shows.

Glenda Jackson is one of the stars of Albee's
Three Tall Women. She has seldom appeared on Broadway, not since 1988.

Shows to look for this Spring:
 
MUSICALS
 
Escape to Margaritaville Marquis Theatre. Previews start February 16th
 
Frozen St. James Theatre. Previews start February 22nd
 
Carousel Imperial Theatre. Previews start February 28th
 
Mean Girls August Wilson Theatre. Previews start March 12th
 
My Fair Lady Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Previews start March 15th
 
Rocktopia Broadway Theatre. Previews start March 20th
 
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Previews start March 28th
 
PLAYS
 
John Lithgow: Stories of the Heart American Airlines Theatre. Already open, closes March 4th
 
Angels in America Neil Simon Theatre. Previews February 23rd
 
Three Tall Women John Golden Theatre. Previews February 27th
 
Lobby Hero Helen Hayes Theatre. Previews March 1st
 
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Lyric Theatre. Previews March 16th. Two Parts
 
Children of a Lesser God Studio 54. Previews March 22nd
 
The Iceman Cometh Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Previews March 22nd
 
Travesties American Airlines Theatre. Previews March 29th
 
Saint Joan Samuel J. Theatre. Previews April 3rd
 
The Boys in the Band Booth Theatre. Previews April 30th

I'm not in to Broadway shows, but I would like to see Escape to Margaritaville.

And really, no matter what any of us may think about any given show, THAT is what theatre is all about.

According to USA Today, Alexa losing her voice was the winning commercial:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6-8DQALGt4

Odell Beckham Jr. & Eli Manning. Doing some Dirty Dancing!
 

What was NOT a favorite was the Ram pickup truck commercial with the voiceover from a Martin Luther King sermon delivered at Ebenezer Church.
 
The King Family Estate has had a history of crass commercialization of Dr King’s writings and recorded speeches, with lots of dramatic public intra-bickering over profit rights to his estate.
 
I don’t think that commercial did much to burnish Ram’s image, whatever it is they may be trying to achieve.

Wrong venue for Justin Timberlake. He is much better in person in smaller settings.

My concept of a super-bowl:
http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/572216e491058427008bf7e4/kfc-is-testing-edible-bowls-made-of-tortilla.jpg

Australia Tourism Commercial. Danny McBride & Chris Hemsworth.
 

Odell Beckham Jr. & Eli Manning. Doing some Dirty Dancing!
 

What with Carl's psycho girl friend, Debbie amputating her own toes, and the ridiculous gay Jesus story line, for me the series has become unwatchable. I doubt I'll return next year.

Agreed that it's a funny couple of hours. The cast is superb.
 
It was very much a Noises Off ... on steroids.

wow, am I the first to see this?.....is it still January 29 down under and west of the date line!?.....
 

I was reluctant in seeing Anastasia as the reviews were not good, fortunately, I'm not a critic and loved it. This musical ain't just for kids!
 
Most of us already know the story of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and the assassination of the royal family. So, was it possible one child, Anastasia, survived?
 
This production is very lively with a wonderful and talented cast of characters. Excellent musical numbers that left me humming some song, not sure its name but it was catchy. Most impressive was the scenery. You go on an amazing train ride from St. Petersburg to Paris. The depiction of the landmarks along the way was incredible. The dancing was very entertaining, from formal ballroom, to night club, to ballet. And, the costumes were done to perfection.
 
There were 2 young, well behaved, children sitting in front of me. They were mesmerized by this show and were laughing, along with me, at some of the very funny acts.
 
The leads who played Anya, Dmitry, Gleb, Vlad, Countess Lily, and Dowager Empress were excellent! Dimitry, played by Derek Klena, is a hunk.
 
Regardless of what the critics had to say, I'm glad I saw it.
 
Coop

I was reluctant in seeing Anastasia as the reviews were not good, fortunately, I'm not a critic and loved it. This musical ain't just for kids!
 
Most of us already know the story of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and the assassination of the royal family. So, was it possible one child, Anastasia, survived?
 
This production is very lively with a wonderful and talented cast of characters. Excellent musical numbers that left me humming some song, not sure its name but it was catchy. Most impressive was the scenery. You go on an amazing train ride from St. Petersburg to Paris. The depiction of the landmarks along the way was incredible. The dancing was very entertaining, from formal ballroom, to night club, to ballet. And, the costumes were done to perfection.
 
There were 2 young, well behaved, children sitting in front of me. They were mesmerized by this show and were laughing, along with me, at some of the very funny acts.
 
The leads who played Anya, Dmitry, Gleb, Vlad, Countess Lily, and Dowager Empress were excellent! Dimitry, played by Derek Klena, is a hunk.
 
Regardless of what the critics had to say, I'm glad I saw it.
 
Coop

I for one found that to be offensive. You have been warned.

http://images.clipartpanda.com/strike-clipart-440628-royalty-free-rf-clip-art-illustration-of-a-cartoon-baseball-batter-striking-out1.jpg

Just wanted to drop a line and say that the New Years Eve party at Stock Bar was a great time. The place was decked out. Serving staff in tux shirts and bow ties. Handsome, handsome men dancing all night. A balloon drop at midnight, a shower show, champagne toast, and bountiful buffet after midnight. A group of us attended and all had a wonderful time. Kudos to the management and staff at the club for making this a great destination place to go and to end as well as bring in a new year. Thank you.

The complements of the season, if you are celebrating your family or your faith at Christmas, or both, Happy Christmas. If you are marking any other event in this season of holidays, may those celebrations be joyous and happy. If you are facing travel to loved ones or merely the vicissitudes of the weather, stay safe.
 
(Stay safe in that too!)

I have two suggestions.

Post your travel dates and ask if there's a Montreal-savvy person who will be there when you are and who is willing to accompany you to the clubs. Apart from the tutoring aspect, it's always more fun if you have a companion.
The strip club forum has many, many posts about Montreal strip clubs. It's worth taking the time to read through them. Even though details (layout, prices, ....) may have changed, you will get a good feel for what it's like. Don't neglect the older posts -- I recall some by YFSC that were invaluable to me when I first started frequenting Montreal.

Have fun and report back!

I had the great pleasure in seeing Farinelli and The King today. It’s playing at the beautiful Belasco Theater which blends perfectly with the gorgeous set onstage. The play is lit by candles from 6 chandeliers and sconces scattered around the stage. There’s audience seating on the stage on two levels in boxes. I was fortunate to get a front row orchestra seat in the center on a padded bench. So I was about 8 feet from the edge of the stage and quite close to the actors who often descended steps and addressed the audience. Normally such closeness might seem uncomfortable but not so in today’s production. As you enter the theater musicians in period costume are playing period instruments. There’s also an orchestra in a gallery above the stage. Actors move about the audience chatting you up and it makes for an intimate and cozy mood. By the time Mark Rylance makes his appearance you are ready for a good time. The play is actually quite funny and Rylance as King Philippe V of Spain gives his usual brilliant performance. He’s one of those actors that truly makes you feel he loves performing. It’s more like he’s performing with you and not at you. He makes you feel engaged in the best way. I was especially taken with Sam Crane who portrays Farinelli. However when it comes time for the actual singing one of two countertenors steps in. Iestyn Davis or James Hill. While happily neither man is an actual castrato their singing does give you some idea of what the singing was like. Once you relax into a man singing in a high voice you can begin to understand the beauty. It’s a wonderful theatrical experience which I’d recommend highly if you can get a ticket. I think they may be hard to come by. It runs until March 25.

There's a wonderful new exhibit at the Met of the paintings of well regarded British painter David Hockney which I'd highly recommend. Some of his work was inspired by gay subjects which were very controversial at the time. His swimming pool series that he did while in LA are really beautiful along with the large double portraits he did of some famous friends.
 
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2017/david-hockney

Visitors often assume that New York is a dangerous place. Ive only felt genuinely scared three times in perhaps 15 visits. One time involved tickets.
 
Once, (1984?)standing in the TKTS line, a guy came along encouraging those in line to buy tickets to The Rink with Stockard Channing. While I'm no Broadway aficionado, I happened to have read about the show closing a few weeks earlier. When I announced that loudly, and repeatedly cautioned nearby strangers in line and passers-by not to buy the worthless tix - I thought the scalper was going to do me physical harm.
 
In 1991, visiting NYC, there was a guy standing out front of the Broadway Theatre "scalping" orchestra tickets to Miss Saigon. He told a frustrated tale of a group purchase, and then many of the group unable to attend. I was very suspicious, but I persuaded the guy to walk over to the box office with me, where he presented our potential purchases to the agent,who declared the tix legit. So we scored 6th row Orchestra seats to the recently opened hit, 30 minutes before curtain, at face-value. In hindsight, I was surprised the box office employe didnt refuse or admonish us that scalping was prohibited.
 
In contemporary times, my StubHub experience is only as an NFL ticket reseller. They require no proof of ticket authenticity. But sellers are required to provide a credit card.... and if the ticket is bad/refused/duplicate or undelivered, the seller not only loses the sale proceeds, s/he's charged for equivalent or best available replacement tix as well.
 
Recently aired by one of the local network news' consumer shows: guy bought 6 seats to Hamilton. Tickets to be mailed by Orpheum Theatre (SF). Paid by credit card $3000. Then, couldnt go. Sold tix on StubHub, $3000. Tix never arrive by mail. Orpheum won't replace, eventually offers will-call on night of performance , but that's too late to satisfy StubHub obligation. (And buyer cant go to theatre, yet re-buyer is anonymous to orig. buyer). StubHub not only retrieves $3000, but charges orig-buyer credit card $2400 to replace re-buyer's tix with best available. Eventually, all worked out with help of news program, but original buyer was facing $5400 in costs before settled. And StubHub bore the cost of the replacement tix.