Lisa May's Amazing Recommendations

LEAP OF FAITH - JUMP IN WITH BOTH FEET. SERIOUSLY.

2010-10-10T14:51:00.001-07:00

I would love to write a thoughtful, creative, intelligent review of the new show at The Ahmanson at The Music Center. Of course, I'm making an assumption that some of my reviews have actually been thoughtful and creative, but you might well disagree. Either way, I'm just slapping this review together because I don't have time to do more. And yet - I can't let this show go by without comment.

Leap Of Faith stars Brooke Shields and Raul Esparza. I'd never heard of Raul Esparza, in spite of the fact that he's been nominated for four Tonys, but I promise you, I will never forget his name. He was a revelation. To steal a line from an L.A. Times review because I'm too lazy to think of one myself, " Jonas....is (sic) played by the seductive Raul Esparza, a Broadway star whose energy is as fierce as his talent." I'm not sure I used "(sic)" correctly, but you get the idea. The dude is unbelievable. I will see anything he's in. Always. Forever.

Brooke Shields isn't new to the stage. She's worked on Broadway in Cabaret, Wonderful Town and Chicago. She's not a great singer. But she does ok. And she's a good actress. And it's fun to watch Brooke Shields on stage. It worked for me.

Leap Of Faith is based on the 1992 Steve Martin movie, and if you didn't like it, don't let that scare you. I think this musical is a huge improvement over the movie. To give you a thumbnail of the plot: Jonas Nightingale is a "preacher", who, along with his choir of fabulously talented singers, goes from small midwest town to small midwest town holding revivals and basically ripping off the locals. Brooke Shields is one of the locals, and Jonas falls for her and her young son, and that changes everything.

The songs in this show are the kind you'll remember long after you leave the theater. There's one in particular - it's called Get On The Bus, and it's a showstopper. Literally. We couldn't stop clapping. Oh that all musicals were like Leap Of Faith.

For tickets, for to www.centertheatergroup.com

For discount tickets, check out www.goldstar.com.

Leap Of Faith ends Oct. 24th, 2010.

Young Frankenstein is Super Duper!

2010-08-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

If you're a fan of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, starring Gene Wilder, you probably had mixed feelings just like I did when you heard it was going to be turned into a musical. 1) What a great idea. It would make an awesome musical. And 2) Wow - this could be a huge crapfest. Luckily for all of us it is NOT a huge crapfest, but a spot-on production that hits all the right notes.

Casting is the biggest issue, of course. How do you get someone as great as Gene Wilder, who isn't Gene Wilder, who isn't trying to be Gene Wilder, but who can still capture some of what made Gene Wilder's portrayal of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein so great? Even writing that last sentence was confusing - try actually doing it! But somehow Roger Bart does. He originated the role on Broadway, and has long list of impressive theater credits, but I recognized him from his role as the creepy pharmacist on Desperate Housewives. He managed to retain much of Wilder's genius interpretation of the role, while adding his own unique spin. He was so much fun to watch!

The other key roles are very ably-filled - Joanna Glushak as Frau Blucher is hilarious, Cory English makes a perfect Igor and Anne Horak is one hot Inga. And funny, too. And how she doesn't fall out of her top will forever be a mystery to me. Shuler Hensely is a great monster and it made me sad that he only sings one song in his real voice, because he has a beautiful voice. By the way, this show features a score of all new songs written by Mel Brooks! That's just too much talent for one guy, right? One of my favorites was "He Vas My Boyfriend" and of course, the show includes Irving Berlin's "Puttin' On The Ritz".

I'm hoping that Young Frankenstein will come back to The Pantages, because this is a very short run. The final performance is August 8, 2010.

Laurence Fishburne IS Thurgood (Marshall, that is)

2010-07-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have to say, rarely does a production at The Geffen Playhouse disappoint me, and last night was no exception. I went to the opening night of Thurgood, starring Laurence Fishburne. He's done a boatload of film and TV roles, but we all still know him best as Morpheus, from the Matrix movies. Tall guy, long black coat, offers Neo a choice between the red pill and the blue pill? Yup, that's him. But this time around, he's donning the robes of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Don't know much about Thurgood Marshall? Me neither. But I know a whole lot more now. Thurgood is an hour and a half one-man show which tells the story of Marshall's path from childhood to activist lawyer - fighting against Jim Crow laws and arguing Brown v. Board of Education in the Supreme Court, the case that ended school segregation - to Supreme Court Justice. It's a fascinating journey and Fishburne does a wonderful job inhabiting a man that's extremely intelligent, passionate in his battles with injustice, but also uncertain at times, with jokes and hints about some womanizing and heavy drinking.

Fishburne really commands the room, which is what you'd expect of a Supreme Court Justice, right? He begins the show as the elderly Marshall, walking with a cane, but eventually loses it and begins moving with more energy and vitality as he starts to speak about his younger years. He is truly captivating in this role. My only criticism is that there were some transitions in the piece which felt unfocused.

By the way, Sidney Poitier was in the audience (see photo above of Poitier and Fishburne). He knows a lot about Thurgood Marshall. He actually played him in the 1991 TV film "Separate But Equal," and was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his performance. It was very cool to see Laurence Fishburne give a little salute to him at the end of the show.

"Thurgood," Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Ends Aug. 8. $65 to $85. (310) 208-5454 or www.geffenplayhouse.com Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes.

Total Chick Show At The Geffen (yay!)

2010-05-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

I had a shirt that I loved, loved, loved. It was the perfect color and looked great on me. I wore it all the time. Too much, probably. And then I got a stain on it that I couldn't get out. Color me heartbroken. If you can identify, then you'll definitely enjoy Love, Loss And What I Wore, written by Nora and Delia Ephron.

This show is kind of a light-hearted cross between Love Letters and The Vagina Monologues. It's a collection of stories that uses the memories triggered by clothing and accessories worn at various times in the lives of the characters to tell funny and sometime touching stories.

I saw the show with actresses Carol Kane, Rita Wilson, Natasha Lyonne, Caroline Aaron and Tracee Ellis Ross. They were awesome, and they'll continue with the show through June 6th. On June 8th a new cast will take over - so far they've got Lucy DeVito, Conchata Ferrell and Rhea Perlman.

Funny story about the performance I went to: the Geffen has two theaters and this show is in the smaller one - probably no more than 200 seats. It was a Sunday matinee, which is when the older people tend to go, and there were a couple of oldey-oldsters behind me who shouted, as Carol Kane was talking on stage, "Speak up! We can't hear you! Louder!" Oh my God! I've been to hundreds of shows and this was a new one for me. And poor Carol Kane (who does have a very high, kinda hard-to-hear voice) stood there for a second, looking stunned, and then kind of stuttered "okayyyy, we'll try to be louder." Embarrassing moment, yes, but what a great story!

Please Give deserves your money!

2010-05-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

Saw Please Give on a bit of a whim, which seems to be the best way to find a true gem.

I'm not very good at figuring out the meaning of things, so the interview I heard with Catherine Keener a week or so before I saw the movie turned out to be really helpful. In a nutshell, Keener said it's about middle-class guilt. Her characters' business involves buying furniture on the cheap from the families of people who've just died and then marking it up like crazy for her store in Manhattan. She and her husband and daughter have a very comfortable life and yet, right outside their front door are the poor and homeless. The guilt is killing her.

Here's the bottom line: you like crazy, rude old people? You like great actors like Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt and Amanda Peet and witty, insightful, funny writing? You like movies that feel like real life and don't wrap up everything with a nice big bow at the end? Then I think you'll like Please Give.

Cirque Is Back!

2009-10-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

A night spent at Kooza Cirque Du Soleil is a night of joy. Really. I know it's cheesy, but seriously, nothing but joy.

Here's what I said all night: whoa, wow, no way, that's insane, are you kidding me, woooo!

If you've never been to a Cirque show, I can't even begin to describe it. You just have to go and see for yourself. You'll be amazed. If you've been to a previous Cirque show, you won't be disappointed with the new show, Kooza. It's one of the best. Woooo hooo!

Kooza Cirque Du Soleil is under the Grand Chapiteau at the Santa Monica Pier until November 29th.

Hello Broadway!

2009-09-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

You know I loves me the theater, and for some reason, I don’t know why, seeing theater in New York is the best. I love our theaters in L.A., but there’s an energy in New York that feels different. I managed to fit 3 shows into our 5-day trip and just in case you’re headed to the Big Apple any time soon, here are my quick reviews:

I saw Next To Normal, A Steady Rain and Billy Elliott. Next To Normal was my favorite of the three. I don’t know why someone would think writing a musical about a woman who's mental illness is taking over her life would be a good idea, but yay for them. This show was awesome! All the performances were terrific, the songs were alternately funny and moving, and I loved the staging. I hope it comes to L.A. one of these days.

A Steady Rain was a man-fest. It was a two-man show, starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig. Just the two of them, and two chairs, on the stage. They play Chicago cops and tell the tale of their tragic summer. It’s pretty heavy stuff, but really good performances, which you might expect.

Billy Elliot was great, which shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that it's won a grip load of Tony Awards and the music is by Elton John. It's one of those shows that leaves you feeling great as you walk out of the theater.

Turns out JoBeth Williams is a damned good actor!

2009-09-08T07:13:00.000-07:00

Why do you know the name JoBeth Williams? She’s probably most famous as part of the ensemble cast in The Big Chill and for her role as the mom in Poltergeist. In recent years she’s been doing guest starring roles in TV shows like Dexter, but right now you can see her on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse.

In The Night Is A Child, Williams plays Harriet, a WASP homemaker who has flown to Brazil to take a trip she’s wanted to take for years, leaving behind two grown children in Massachusetts, who have no idea where she’s gone. She meets a free-spirited doctor on a beach in Rio de Janiero and you learn, over the course of two acts, that both women are carrying terrible secrets. I have to tell you that there’s quite a twist towards the end of the second act, and it left me teary-eyed and with goose bumps - now that’s a good play! It runs through Oct. 4th.

http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/

2009-04-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

This is why we should be glad that we live here in sunny Southern California, dealing with the stupid traffic - because stuff like this doesn't happen here:

This is a wall of sand. A sand storm is about to hit a base in Iraq. I have a friend who's there, working for the Defense Department, and he said he only had a few seconds to grab his camera and take these photos. He said once it hits, you don't want to be outside. It tastes and smells terrible and gets in your eyes and your nose and your lungs. This is how it looked less than a minute later:

Speed Review

2009-02-08T16:38:00.001-08:00

I've seen 3 shows in the last couple of weeks that I want to recommend, but like all of you, who has time for everything? Blogs, emails, phone calls, DVD's, magazines, movies, TV shows. Not to mention that stuff you absolutely have to do - laundry, house cleaning, dog walking, hair washing. Oh - and going to work. So I'm gonna make this short and sweet:

Right now at The Taper Theater at The Music Center in downtown L.A., is Pippin. I'd never seen Pippin before and it turns out it's a pretty great show. But this particular production is very, very special - because it's performed by the Deaf West Theater. Quite a few of the actors are deaf, and other actors talk and sing for them, and everyone in the cast signs while they perform. It's a fabulous thing to see, and you should do just that - go see it. It runs through March 15th.

At The Ahmanson Theater at The Music Center, Minsky's just opened. It's about a burlesque hall during the depression that's being threatened with closure for indecency. That scenario might ring a bell with KROQ fans. There are half naked women, which only adds to the fun. And it is a lot of fun! It runs through March 1.

Lastly, at the Kirk Douglas theater a guy named Danny Hock is doing an amazing one-man show. The dude can transform himself just by putting on a hat or changing his coat. He's a wanna-be rapper in a club, he's a middle eastern guy selling real estate, he's a 70-year old black woman who's watching her neighborhood get taken over by a bunch of yuppies. The guy is awesome! His show runs though February 22.

Info and tickets on all three shows at www.centertheatergroup.org

Smiling Through Tears

2009-01-30T20:56:00.000-08:00

You know those movies that make you laugh and cry at the same time? I just finished watching one of those. It's a documentary called Young@Heart, about a group of seniors in a choir in Massachusetts that sing songs by groups like Sonic Youth and Coldplay and The Rolling Stones and James Brown. Kevin of The Kevin And Bean Show recommended this to me. It's not a vampire movie or a movie about a fat guy doing funny stuff, and still he recommended it. I figured it had to pretty damned good for him to do that, and it was. This choir sings for a group of prisoners and the looks on the faces of some of the inmates are really moving. It kinda breaks your heart. But watching these people in their 70's, 80's and even 90's is completely inspiring. I hope we're all as cool as they are when we get to be their age.

My First Book Report of The New Year

2009-01-10T08:07:00.000-08:00

I just finished a book and I can't stop talking about it. No one wants to listen to me anymore, so my only outlet is this blog. Yup, you're my new victim.

The book is Outliers by Malcom Gladwell. He did a ton of press over the holidays, so you might have heard him. He wrote The Tipping Point and Blink; two books I've heard about but never read. I may give them a whirl now, though.

Outliers is about the widely accepted notion that if you live in America and you're smart and work hard, you too can be an astounding success. Basically Gladwell says that's BS. What a relief, right? He doesn't discount the benefits of working hard and being smart or talented, but his theory is that there's a whole lot more that goes into it - things that are beyond our control - like when and where we were born, our ethnic backround, the kinds of things we were exposed to at a young age, they way our parents treated us. He dissects the elements that went into Bill Gates success, and shows why he was uniquely poised to do what he did. He explains, based on when they were born, why some hockey players go on to be pros and others don't. He has theory about why certain countries have more plane crashes than others, and it's fascinating.

Gladwell doesn't write like a scholar. He writes so he can be understood, which I, for one, really appreciate. Since I read The Outliers I've found myself looking at all sorts of things differently, even the path my own life has taken. I call that some good readin'.

BACKSEATS & BATHROOM STALLS

2008-11-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

Yup. I did it again. I went to another play last night. The publicist, Patty Onogan, is a friend of mine, and she told me this show was right up the KROQ audience's ally. And she was right! This show is about 5 people who have, well, you know, sex, in backseats and bathroom stalls. A few actually make it to an apartment. I wanted to tell you that so you wouldn't think they were just a bunch of sluts. Nah. They're just very confused, horney people who are pretty good at sex and pretty bad at love and romance. This is a comedy and I have to say I laughed a lot. There were also some really sweet moments in this show, and great acting and truthful dialogue.

http://theguide.latimes.com/silver-lake-echo-park/performing-arts/backseats-bathroom-stalls-event

Thanksgiving rocks!

2008-11-30T09:44:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting for Thanksgiving for weeks and weeks and weeks. Part of the reason I wanted it to come was just to be able to sleep in for 4 days. When you get up at 4, sleeping in 'till 8 is the most delicious feeling in the world. I wake up, look at the clock, chuckle, and turn over. ZZZZZZ....... But I also love Thanksgiving because my family and another family always spend Thanksgiving and Christmas together and they're just my favorite people in the world. I don't get to see them nearly enough - we're all so busy and we live all over the place, from south Orange County to Claremont - so these holidays are extra special. And of course, the food. Oh dear Lord - the FOOD. And the wine. And the FOOD!

We had 18 people this year.

This is my Mom and my brother, Bill. Sadly, my younger, hotter sister was home sick this Thanksgiving.

Spring Awakening

2008-11-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday night I was had the pleasure of being completely spellbound at the opening of the musical Spring Awakening at The Ahmanson Theater. It's about that tricky time in life where you go from childhood to adulthood and all of the choices you're faced with and all of the confusing things happening to you and your body and your friends. It's also about the struggle between teens and the adults around them who don't really know what's happening to them, or choose to ignore it and hope, somehow, it all magically turns out for the best. In this show, it doesn't. It's racy, it's tragic, it's beautiful.

www.centertheatergroup.com
Runs through December 7th

The Pasadena Playhouse puts my doubts to rest.

2008-10-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

You might think a one-woman show about Ann Landers is a terrible idea. I certainly did. But last night I saw the show, and it was, as they say, a delight. I know how that sounds, but I can't really think of a better word, so you're stuck with it.

Mimi Kennedy, whom you might know as the Dharma's mom for Dharma And Greg stars in The Lady With All The Answers. If you've ever seen or heard Ann Landers, well, let me tell you, she has that woman down pat.

Did you know Ann Landers knew Lyndon Johnson and a Supreme Court Justice (who's name escapes me) because of her work with the Democratic party? Neither did I. Did you know she was strongly opposed to the Vietnam War and actually managed to get permission to go to the field hospitals in Vietnam during the war to visit the wounded men? Neither did I. She did a ton of stuff I never knew about - really impressive stuff - but I won't tell you anything else because I don't want to ruin the surprises.

I admit that during the first 15 minutes of the show I thought the whole topic was too slight to warrant a stage play, but I was won over pretty quickly.

Go, learn a little somethin' somethin', and have a delightful evening!

www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.

The Lady With All The Answers

October 17th - November 23, 2008

What a beautiful bathroom!

2008-10-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in a post about 6 weeks ago, The Mark Taper Theater at The Music Center in downtown L.A. has been completely redone. I raved about the new women's bathroom with 16 stalls, and I wanted to show you a photo. They actually included a bathroom photo in the press kit. They were clearly as impressed with themselves as I was. I tried to load the photo onto this blog, but I didn't know how to change the format. Now I do. And here, people, ta ta da - is the beautiful new bathroom. It brings a tear to my eye.

Phantom!

2008-10-15T07:11:00.001-07:00

The Glendale Centre Theater is "America's Family Theater" doncha know. I went there on Friday night with my parents to see Phantom! which is not my favorite musical. Not by a long shot. But my parents are not young and so I try to spend as much time with them as possible, although I admit I have my limits, which is why I turned down their invitation to Medieval Times a couple of weeks ago.

So here's the deal - none of us noticed that the show was called Phantom!, music and lyrics by Maury Leston, not Phantom Of The Opera, music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The dude's name is Maury - how good could this show be???? Well, it turned out to be pretty damned good. The original Phanton is extremely dark, but this version had quite a bit of humor. Don't get me wrong, it still ends badly, but the balance of light and dark made it much more enjoyable for me. And high five for Maury. The songs were really good. This was not a low-rent production. The cast was top notch, the costumes were terrific, and the theater's in the round, so there's really not a bad seat in the house. Shut my mouth!

www.glendalecentretheater.com

The Ex List

2008-10-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

I know it's a chick show but I don't care. It's great. The Ex List debuted on CBS at 9pm last week and I loved it. Elizbeth Reaser's the star and she's someone you'd recognize if you watch Grey's Anatomy (another chick show) or a show from a couple of years ago called Saved about a crazy-ass ambulance driver that starred Tom Everett Scott. I've always thought she was really talented and was so happy she got her own show. I love the characters on the show and the writing's really good. Give it a watch, won't you?

The 10

2008-10-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

I'm just gonna throw this out there - I watched a DVD last night that I thought was pretty damned entertaining. I'm a little wary of recommending it after reading a few comments on IMDB because apparently not everyone was as entertained as I was. But that's the risk you take with comedy, right? I hated Stuck On You and Dazed And Confused, but you probably loved it. Inexplicably.

The 10 is made up of 10 short stories, each based on one of the 10 Commandments. It stars a ton of people, including Paul Rudd, Adam Brody, Oliver Platt, Rob Corddry, Gretchen Moll, Liev Shreiber and Winona Ryder.

In the commentary, the director's mom says she liked 70% of the movie. I think that's about right. But the stuff that works, really works. Here's a quote to give you an idea of what it's about:

Duane Rosenblum: Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I were the one who were ass-raping you every night.

Dr Glenn Richie: You know, I think you're feeling the energy of our friendship and projecting it into something else that isn't there.

Duane: No Glenn, I'm not....I'm not projecting. I can't look at you without fantasizing about shoving you up against a wall in the laundry room, and punching you in the mouth...And then raping you. Without your consent, of course.

Dr. Glenn Richie: Hey, that's what makes it rape, right?

Rideshare Week Oct. 6-10!

2008-10-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

Today I write to you in my official capacity as a Traffic Reporter, which I take very seriously. No, I really do. I'm not kidding. I really do. In fact, this afternoon I went to a luncheon that the California Rideshare people throw every year for the fine traffic reporters of this city. Oh sure, it's a chance to catch up with people I haven't seen since last year (in the photo are fellow traffic reporters Sioux-z Jessup and Donna Page), eat yummy food at Maggiano's, and give out Golden Pylons, but it's also a reminder that next week is Rideshare Week.

We really do have some great reporters out there and I got to present Tommy Jaxson, the morning drive traffic reporter at KNX 1070, with his Golden Pylon. Some day, when I'm on vacation, you should tune in and give him a listen. He really does an outstanding job. I, myself, have TWO Golden Pylons. I'm not bragging or anything. I'm just sayin', in case, you know, you were wondering.

So the bottom line is - if you can, try to rideshare one day next week, or maybe jump on the Metro or the bus to get to work. Or, if all else fails, call in sick to work. That's one less car on the road, right?

p.s. I wish I had shared a ride to the luncheon. I parked in the Farmer's Market parking lot instead of The Grove parking lot, not realizing they charge you differently, and ended up paying $18 for 3 hours of parking. F-me.

9 to 5 is just good fun!

2008-09-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

As I was watching 9 to 5, the new musical at The Ahmanson Theater last night, I thought about what a treat it is to be able to sit back and see a show that grabs you and never lets you go until the last note of the last song is played. The show stars Allison Janney (West Wing) who's always wonderful (and who knew she could sing?), and two actresses from The Pantages Theater's production of Wicked: Stephanie J. Block, who played Elphaba, and Megan Hilty, who was Glenda. Those two girls can really belt it out, and I swear - if you close your eyes, there are times when Megan Hilty sounds exactly like Dolly Parton, who was in the original movie, and wrote all the songs for this show. And Charlie Pollock, who plays the crappy boss, Hart, is truly hateable. It's a little jolting in a musical to hear him call the women "bitches" and say "tits" and "shit", but that's why he's so hateable. Still, the woman in her early '70's sitting next to me was...well... less than amused.

Do yourself a favor and check out this show - the staging and sets are amazing, on top of the great performances. I promise you, you'll leave happy!

9 to 5 runs through October 19th. www.centertheatergroup.org.

I finally saw a new play!

2008-09-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday night I got to see the new show at The Mark Taper Forum at The Music Center - a revival of The House Of Blue Leaves, which was originally performed in 1971, and I'm so happy I got to see it. It was written by John Guare, who also wrote Six Degrees Of Separation. It's a comedy with a touch of farce, and some crazy-ass nuns who would practically kill to see the Pope and a dude who actually wants to kill the Pope, and another dude who has a crazy wife (actually certifiable) and a girlfriend who has big plans for them as soon as they get rid of the crazy wife. I think this gives you a pretty good idea of what you're in for.

House Of Blue Leaves stars Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm In The Middle) and John Pankow, whom you'd totally recognize if you saw him and Deidrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show) who's great as a big Hollywood director. The show runs through October 19th. www.centertheatergroup.org.

Oh, and before I forget, the Taper has just reopened after being closed for over a year for rennovations, and the ladies bathroom now has 16 stalls. Sweet!

Traitor worth my $13.50!

2008-09-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

I was really itching to see a movie over the weekend, (that happens when I go more than two weeks without going to the movies) and ended up seeing Traitor. I'm a huge Don Cheadle fan, and I knew even if the movie proved to be disappointing, Mr. Cheadle would never disappoint me. It turned out to be a really good, unpredictable thriller, and though it certainly has a political point of view, it's not at all overbearing. Big thumbs up from me. On a side note, I saw Traitor at the Sherman Oaks ArcLight, which has a DSW right next door. I ended up buying the cutest pair of shoes after I got out of the movie. Talk about a perfect day!

An actual recommendation!

2008-08-30T10:33:00.001-07:00

That's right - I saw a new show this week. It's called Beethoven, As I Knew Him and it just opened at the Geffen Theater in Westwood. It's kind of a cross between a one-man show and a concert, and I have to say, although I'm not into classical music, I found it quite mesmerizing. Hershey Felder, who's a concert pianist, playwright, actor and composer, paints a portrait of Beethoven through the eyes of his father, his best friend, his best friend's son, and of course, Beethoven himself. But mostly he plays the piano, and he is amazing. I have to say that knowing more of Beethoven's story - how his deafness affected his relationships, his difficulties with his family, how he died - helped bring his compositions to life for me. But in all honestly, the best part of the show was that it forced me to learn to scan so I could add a picture to this review. :)

The show runs through Sunday, October 5th.

www.geffenplayhouse.com

I am not a winner.

2008-08-23T21:24:00.001-07:00

Today I walked my blind dog into a pole. Crap.

Stephen King is a cool dude.

2008-08-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

Why is Stephen King cool? Because he's a zillionaire and he's written, like, 35 books, and still he took the time to write a book that he hopes will serve as a guide and helping hand to aspiring writers. I haven't finished On Writing, A Memoir Of The Craft yet, but I couldn't wait until the end to tell you about it. (I'm a slow reader.)

I've always harbored a notion that one day I would write a novel - this, in spite of the fact that I can barely muster the energy to write in my website a couple of times a week. But a girl can dream, right? So I picked up Stephen King's book on writing and even if I never do write, I know I'm better off for reading it. And if you love to read, I think you would be, too.

King really believes that if someone is a competent writer, with a lot of hard work and some guidance, they can actually become good writers. Not great - apparently great is what you get while in the womb, but good, and good is pretty good, actually. There are a lot of good writers who have books in the bookstores. In addition to being super encouraging, King is really specific about the elements of writing, which I love. He talks about dialogue and adverbs and a lot of stuff I should have learned in high school English (which he taught) but apparently didn't. By the way, if you happen to be a fan of Stephen King novels, you'll really dig learning about his writing process and what happened in his life as he was writing various novels. It's really good stuff. And when you're done, I think you'll agree with me - Stephen King is a really cool dude.

In the last few years, Stephen King has been writing columns for Entertainment Weekly. He writes about all kinds of things - music, books, sports. I feel like I've gotten to know the man behind the horror a little bit, and I like him, so I decided to read On Writing, and now I love him.

The fact that such a prolific writer would want to help other aspiring writers kind of amazes me. He genuinely wants to encourage people to write, and truly believes that "good writing consists of mastering the fundamentals (vocabulary, grammar, the elements of style) and "while it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, and while it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one, it is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a competent one." So, if you don't suck, with a lot of hard work, you can actually become good. I think that's pretty encouraging. King is very specific about all the elements that go into writing, as well as what kind of schedule works for him and what might work for you. As a bonus, it's also an autobiography, though an incomplete one, and quite interesting.

Maybe I'll never be a writer, but I do love to read, and On Writing is giving me a greater understanding and appreciation of what it takes to create a wonderful story.

The Last &*$&! 10 Pounds!

2008-08-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

Like everyone else I know, I've been trying to lose those last 10 pounds for a very long time. A person who was very critical of me would suggest I mean those last 15 pounds, and Spencer Pratt of The Hills would say those last 100 pounds. (quick side note - if you're so inclined, The Hills starts up again tonight. Not sure if I can stomach it.)

I do all the crap you're supposed to do to lose weight, including keeping a food diary, though I have to admit it's been a little sketchy lately. It's boring to write every mouthful down every day! A couple of weeks ago, though, I found a really helpful website. It's www.livestrong.com. Across the top tool bar there's something called The Daily Plate, and it's great site for keepinjg track of your calories and exercise. One of the things I've discovered since I started using it is that going out and eating two pieces of garlic bread, a salad, a piece of pizza and two glasses of wine may not be ideal for reaching those weight goals. Who knew?

Your final chance to see a great new show!

2008-08-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

Closing night for THE NEXT BIG THING, the musical about an '80's garage band that I've been involved with, is this coming Saturday. (cast photo at right) If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and go this Friday, Saturday or Sunday. I'll be in the show (in a teeny, tiny part) on Friday and Saturday nights, so if you come on one of those nights, be sure to say "hi". I've seen THE NEXT BIG THING at least 8 or 9 times now, and it's just wonderful. I promise you, you won't be disappointed. It's in Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd. For all the info and a promo code to get a discount on your tickets, go to www.thenextbigthingmusical.com. See you at the show!

A little grooming goes a long way.

2008-08-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

I have two dogs - Liza is a Maltese and Maggie is a Maltese/Poodle mix. Today they went to the groomer. I miss them when they're gone, but I have to admit it's wonderful to have 3 or 4 hours all to myself. No one is barking or peeing or pooing or looking for attention or a lap. These two dogs have helped me get through an awful lot of stuff - including a divorce. And they've seen things no one else has ever seen - like me sitting in front of the TV eating raw cookie dough. (I know what you were thinking I was going to say and shame on you!)

These are their before and after photos. Notice how Liza looks like a Hobo dog before going to the groomer. To be honest, Maggie looks cute either way. There's always one in the crowd. My point is, and this is especially for some of you guys out there - grooming DOES matter. I'm just sayin'.

Check Out The Brown Belt! (and I mean that in the cleanest way)

2008-08-03T14:16:00.001-07:00

The week from hell is finally over, and damnit - I got my Brown Belt! Saturday was every bit as bad as I imagined it would be - I left the Valley at 7am with three fellow U.S.S.D. students and we drove down to testing headquarters in El Toro. The test started at 9am and lasted 5 1/2 hours, and it was all done outside in the freakin' sun, in our heavy black uniforms. Brutal. Several people started to get sick and had to sit in the shade and cool off (so weak) and during sparring, one guy threw up. We, of course, all applauded. But no one quit, and when it was finally done, we all had our new belts, and knew we had earned them. I swear, I almost cried when I got my belt. Probably mostly with relief that if was over. Kia!

(pictured in the photo - Ally Santa Clara, me and Glenn Birk)

Here Comes The Brown Belt (and it's not what it sounds like)

2008-07-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

This is the week from hell for me. If you didn't know, I've been studying Shaolin Kempo at United Studios of Self-defense for the past 4 1/2 years and this Saturday I'm taking my test for Brown Belt. Kia! The test will be at least 6 hours so I've been working on my stamina for the last couple of months - cutting back on the crack cocaine, etc. So this week is all about practice, practice, practice. Of course, I didn't practice today because I went to lunch with 5 friends (fellow traffic/news reporters) - from left to right - Jon Bruno, Tori Signal (the blonde on top) Sioux-z Jessup, Dona Dower and me. We went to the Gordon Ramsey At The London West Hollywood. (You know - the dude from Hell's Kitchen?) The food was great but be warned - we spent $40 just on water. How is that even possible?

Still time to see an awesome show - and ridiculous '80's clothes!

2008-07-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

The Next Great Thing was sold out this past Friday (the 25th) so if you're planning on coming to the show, be sure to buy your tickets a day or two prior to the performance. By the way, if ME being in the show on Fridays isn't enough incentive for you to go, it's now an L.A. Times Critic's Choice! Go to www.thenextbigthingmusical.com for tickets and be sure to use the promo code for a discount.

Lisa performs in a new show this summer!

2008-07-08T15:38:00.000-07:00

That's right - I'm going to be in a new show called THE NEXT BIG THING starting on Friday, July 19th. My friend, Jeff Favre wrote the book for the garage rock musical, and Missy Gibson and Mike Flanagan of the Indie band Breech wrote the music and lyrics.

THE NEXT BIG THING is about a garage band in 1983 that's looking to find a sound that will take them to the next level, so the songs performed by the band are straight 80's retro pop, while the rest of the songs reflect Breech's edgy style. This definitely isn't the SOUND OF MUSIC, my friends.

In the spirit of total transparency, I have to tell you that when I say I'm "in" it, what I mean is that I'm going to perform on Friday nights only, and by "perform" I mean I'm going to say one paragraph at the very end of the show. The thing is - this is a musical. And I can't sing. The great tragedy of my life. But the show is great, and I wanted to be part of it, and so this is what I'm doing.

THE NEXT GREAT THING runs 5 weeks, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from July 19th through August 16th, with one matinee at 3pm on Sunday, July 20th. (there are also a couple of previews)

Go to www.thenextbigthingmusical.com for all the info, plus a promo code that will save you $5 off the tickets, and if you come on a Friday night, you'll see me!!!!!!