\n\u201c9 TO 5, THE MUSICAL\u201d OPENING<\/strong>
\n
![\"9-5big\"](\"http:\/\/www.itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/9-5big-300x240.jpg\" "\\"9-5big\\"")
<\/p>\nI can\u2019t tell you what a magical night this was! I\u2019m so grateful to have been included. I\u2019ve read some overly dramatic stories of the evening (for example–\u201cDolly Parton saves the World Premiere of ‘9 to 5’ Musical as ‘Technical Difficulties’ almost stop the production cold\u201d) and I\u2019m here to tell you what REALLY happened, word for word.<\/p>\n
I sat just four rows directly behind Dolly and her movie co-stars, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, which was exciting enough. Seriously, I hardly ever care about famous folk, (unless it\u2019s Nick Lachey or Tom Welling), but this trio is royalty. Jane was already seated, but Dolly, then Lily, made late entrances to raucous applause, which is a rarity for this venue.<\/p>\n
About twenty minutes into the show, after a musical number, the curtains closed and the announcer asked us to stay in our seats during the delay. After about a minute in the dark, Dolly called out from her seat, \u201cDon\u2019t make me have to sing!\u201d<\/p>\n
As the audience went wild, they brought up the house lights and by some magic, someone swiftly put a mike in Dolly\u2019s long-nailed hands. She proceeded to do what some after-party guests called a country version of MY show (talking on and on by herself is what they meant) and was absolutely adorable and charming. I can see why she\u2019s so loved. She explained about the previews, \u201cWe did have this problem before, but if I have to sing, this time I\u2019m making Lily and Jane join me!\u201d<\/p>\n
She chatted a little more, then announced, \u201cI don\u2019t know what we\u2019re supposed to do but sing \u20189 To 5\u2019!,\u201d and led off an audience sing-along. At the end, she said, \u201cGood thing I\u2019m such a show-off!\u201d Good thing for US!<\/p>\n
She then told us the history of this production, introducing all the important players in the audience, and offered to take questions, saying, \u201cI\u2019ll tell y\u2019all whatever you want to know, and if I don\u2019t know the answer, I\u2019ll make something up.\u201d<\/p>\n
She was about to sing \u201cAnd I Will Always Love You,\u201d Clarence\u2019s favorite to song to sing on our show, \u201cKaren\u2019s Restaurant Revue,\u201d so I was particularly wanting to hear it, when, to the entire audiences\u2019 disappointment, someone told her the show was ready to resume. When we let out a collective negative sigh, she said,\u201d Let\u2019s save it in case we break down agin!\u201d<\/p>\n
As fun as the actual show was, I\u2019ve been obsessing over missing hearing Dolly Parton sing that song for days now. So, remember y\u2019all, you can\u2019t ever tell me something that you\u2019re going to do and then not do it.<\/p>\n
Okay, back to the show. I really enjoyed it all, except for one thing, that I feel bad to mention, but I think it\u2019s pretty important. How do you cast a musical with a lead who can neither sing nor dance? It\u2019s just nutty. While Allison Janney, in the Lily Tomlin role, is a good actress, I just cringed every time she tried to sing. The other two were so phenomenal that her lack of musical ability was even more egregious. Are there no good actresses who can also sing??? I\u2019m sure there are, so how do you explain this casting? Many of us in the audience just didn\u2019t get it at all. And I\u2019m sure there\u2019s no re-casting before Broadway. Shame.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Megan Hilty, in Dolly\u2019s role, was just brilliant! I was looking down for a second when she made her entrance, and when I heard her talk, I thought that Dolly was really surprising us by being in it! And her singing was amazing. (And I rarely use that word.)<\/p>\n
Stephanie J. Block did herself proud, as well, in Jane Fonda\u2019s part. She sounds like a non-New York-y Barbra Streisand. I felt like I had heard her sing before and sure enough, she had played Liza in the miraculous \u201cBoy From Oz\u201d on Broadway. What a talented cast.<\/p>\n
I liked the show itself, also, which is strange because I hated the film. I saw nothing wrong with the production, except that Janney\u2019s love interest looks like he should play her son, which makes you not know if that\u2019s part of the storyline or just bad casting. (Okay–so they need to find a younger female who can act, sing, and dance.)<\/p>\n
Many people at the generous after-party were whispering that the show really needs work before Broadway, but I seriously didn\u2019t notice. I\u2019m always so easily bored and I truly did enjoy \u201c9 To 5.\u201d I think Dolly wrote varied and perfect songs, the very many sets were perfect, the costumes colorful and the cast talented–what\u2019s not to like? I think audiences will go nuts just the way it is now. As well they should. I can envision this being a hit on Broadway for a long, long time.<\/p>\n
\u201c9 To 5, The Musical\u201d running through October 19, 2008
\nAhmanson Theatre 135 N. Grand Ave. 213-972-4400 www.CenterTheatreGroup.org<\/p>\n
MCDONALDS\u2019S FAMILY TRIBUTE ON ICE<\/strong><\/p>\n But that just changed. They\u2019re usually taped in other states, but recently, the first one in the series came to the downtown Los Angeles area. The McDonald\u2019s Family Tribute On Ice was different from the usuals in that it featured all amateurs, with Sasha Cohen being the only pro. (I had been wondering why we hadn\u2019t bumped into each other at any Emmy gifting suites this go-round. Turns out she was training while I was getting gifted!)<\/p>\n The skaters were all wonderful, especially first-time US Champ, Mirai Nagasu, current World Champion, Jeffrey Buttle, and adorable young American, Ryan Bradley. But for me, the highlight of this presentation was the music.<\/p>\n Kristi Yamaguchi hosted, which, in this case, means that she just welcomed us–watch for her Family and Friends special, which she\u2019s much more a part of. But the beauty of her being involved in this one is that she got to feature people she met through \u201cDancing With The Stars,\u201d of which she\u2019s the current champion.<\/p>\n Mario, the adorable R and B singer who should have come in second last year, but still wound-up fifth, did two numbers, as well. I know the teen-age girl skaters were swooning over him.<\/p>\n I reserved my swooning for my biggest crush, outside of Mr. X, Nick Lachey. His little bro, Drew, is the season two champ of \u201cDWTS,\u201d so I\u2019m sure that Nick and Kristi have also crossed paths. Which he and I did a couple of years back, but that\u2019s another story for another time. Unfortunately, this night, he left before I made it down to the after-party. Maybe he heard that I would be there, stalking him.<\/p>\n But I got hugged by Derek, Mark, and Ryan, and chatted with the most aware skater I\u2019ve ever met, Ben Agosto, so I temporarily forgot my missing-Nick disappointment. By the way, I sat with Ben\u2019s parents at the 2002 Nationals at the Staples Center, and I can see where he gets his loveliness from.<\/p>\n I\u2019m happy to tell you that I\u2019m giving you plenty of notice for viewing this entertaining show on TV. See below and enjoy!<\/p>\n McDonald\u2019s Family Tribute On Ice airs on NBC on November 16, 2008 at 11AM PST. www.dissonskating.com<\/p>\n “BACK SEATS AND BATHROOM STALLS” <\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve rarely had a better little theatre experience than the one I had at the newly renovated Lyric Hyperion Theatre in Silver Lake. The evening started off brilliantly with snacks at the attached Lyric Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n I highly recommend getting to the theatre early for just that purpose. My friend and I had come from an hors d\u2019oeurvre party, so we were thrilled to see desserts. We tried 5(!), with various beverages, and they were all excellent. I\u2019ll definitely be going back soon to do a full review of their fun menu and to visit the amiable Jose Solomon, who operates it.<\/p>\n The whole caf\u00e9 situation put us in a great mood, so it worked out perfectly to see the light, clever, (and only 80 minute!) relationship comedy \u201cBackseats and Bathroom Stalls.\u201d There were 6 actors and not a weak one in the bunch, which is such a rarity, I can\u2019t express it enough. It\u2019s impossible to even single anyone out.<\/p>\n I had the pleasure of meeting them all at the fun after-party , and they were nice, too. I had to check to make sure I was still in LA!<\/p>\n And we attended the 10:30PM show, which made everything that much hipper. It\u2019s the perfect time for the clubbies and scenesters, who can\u2019t be seen out before 10PM.<\/p>\n Great snacks, funny play, and nice people, too. What a good use of a Saturday night!<\/p>\n \u201cBackseats and Bathroom Stalls\u201d running through Nov. 23 CURE IN THE CANYONS<\/strong><\/p>\n For the second year in a row, I attended a fabulous all-day beauty-fest to benefit Breast Cancer Research. It\u2019s called Cure In The Canyons, and this year it was held at the Four Season Hotel Westlake Village, which was much easier to get to than last year\u2019s venue way up in the mountains, gorgeous as it was.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s event was perfect and again featured beauty treatments and products, great barbeque lunch, mini yoga classes, and deluxe goodie bags! What could be better?<\/p>\n The fact that they offered yoga, massages, and facials meant that you didn\u2019t have to dress-up, which made the event that much more appealing. (Except for that someone last year said to me on the phone after, \u201cOh, you\u2019re the girl who was in pajamas!\u201d I was actually wearing Joe Boxer pants, but I bet I was the most comfortable guest!)<\/p>\n The venue itself, on the manicured grounds of the gorgeous hotel, was perfect, as was the weather. We felt like we were out of town for the week-end! It was very peaceful. And the attendees were all well-behaved–no pushing or shoving or cutting into lines as seems to be the norm nowadays. It was just a very laid-back vibe.<\/p>\n My friend, Lucia, another girly girl like me, loved everything I did. We couldn\u2019t get enough of the delicious pizza that was catered by John J. Bard of Simply Good Food, along with their entire sumptuous barbeque menu. They really had every dish you could want in a meal like that and then some. The pizza was extra welcome because it was so unexpected.<\/p>\n Our two favorite beauty services were getting our brows shaped by Megan of Billion Dollar Brows, which is headquartered in Beverly Hills, and manicures by OPI, using they\u2019re new French line. (Last year it was Russian. Can\u2019t wait for next year\u2019s line–Maltese, perhaps?) I usually do my own manicures, and they\u2019re good enough, but these OPI techs always do the longest-lasting, and best ones, ever. I\u2019m thrilled with my Bastille My Heart.<\/p>\n CITC had so much to do that even though Lucia and I were there for the entire five hours, we never got around to hair and make-up. Just as well because I was too tired to go out that night anyway. I was just as happy to stay in and go through my sumptuous goodie bags! What a haul, let me tell you! Lucia and I have been comparing notes on all the fun products since then.<\/p>\n There was a bonus gift for carpoolers, too, in addition to the happiness that should come from knowing that we\u2019re helping to save the planet. (Which I may not be doing anymore, by the way–during the illiterate recent Video Music Awards, I told Mr. X that the show was making me want to stop my excessive re-cycling cause I have no desire to save the planet for those idiots!)<\/p>\n We had all this fun and fabulosity (I just coined a word!) for a mere tax-deductible contribution of $55! What a deal! Relaxation, beauty, pink champagne and chocolates, wonderful food, and helping such a worthy cause. What could be better? Hope to see you all there next year. I\u2019m going to start resting up for it now.<\/p>\n Cure In The Canyons Oct. 4, 2009 www.cureinthecanyons.com<\/p>\n SYLVIE\u2019S SKIN SPA ANNIVERSARY PARTY<\/strong><\/p>\n Though I don\u2019t live that far from the valley, I had not heard of Sylvie\u2019s Skin spa before. But through a friend, I got invited to their 25th Anniversary party. Wow, that\u2019s a long time to be in business! Very commendable.<\/p>\n The party was so well done that I must tell you about it. When we walked in the door, we were given a goodie bag immediately! What a welcome change than the rest of the events that don\u2019t give them out until the end when guests are either too drunk or tired to care, or schnorrers grab several. Then there are those of us who are distracted by hoping they don\u2019t run-out before we leave, which happens quite often. At Sylvie\u2019s we were free to relax and eat!<\/p>\n We did just that on the fabulous food catered by the near-by Coral Tree Caf\u00e9. I had never been a fan of their food till this party, when I couldn\u2019t get enough of it! The pastas and salads were absolutely delicious! The choices complemented each other so well. I actually tried to hide in a corner by myself because I didn\u2019t want to chat instead of concentrating on the flavors.<\/p>\n Even better than the food, though, was the chair massage by Jeremiah Madero, the strongest guy I\u2019ve met in a while. When he felt my tight-as-a- neck and shoulders, he incredulously asked when my last massage was. I didn\u2019t have the heart to tell him that I had had two earlier that day, at different gifting suites. He got right to the heart of the matter and is the only one who actually helped me. SOMALY MAM FOUNDATION DINNER The highlight to me was meeting the adorable Robbie Jones, who just finished his run on \u201cOne Tree Hill,\u201d which is one of my favorite shows. He played the late teen basketballer, Quentin Fields, and I cried my guts out during his character\u2019s funeral.<\/p>\n I had co-starred with another actor from that show, Antwon Tanner, in the most recent film I did (don\u2019t ask!), so I was brave enough to talk to Robbie at the party and tell what a fan of his I had become. Man, is he adorable! What a lovely, charming, enthusiastic young guy he is! How great for our business. (BTW–\u201dOTH\u201d has a knack for casting actors with few, or no, previous credits, and they all work out. Maybe I should send the casting department my limited resume for consideration! I already know everything about the show!)<\/p>\n Somaly Mam Foundation www.somaly.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MANY EVENTS There are so many events to write about this week that I had to put them all in one column.\u00a0\u00a0And they’re all fabulous. THE NEW MARK TAPER FORUM I was there for the first opening night of this incarnation (which they\u2019re calling “Mark Taper Forum–Act II\u201c), and was thrilled that I could<\/p>\n![\"thumb3\"](\"http:\/\/www.itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/thumb3.jpg\" "\\"thumb3\\"")
\nThis is the season when NBC starts airing the wonderful Disson Skating shows. Though I\u2019ve seen just about all of them over the years, I had never had the good fortune of watching one being taped. (I\u2019m still sick that I was invited to the taping of the Christmas show last year, with Clay Aiken as the musical guest, and I couldn\u2019t go due to my busy life of being a bon vivette! But one of us has got to do it!)<\/p>\n![\"thumb4\"](\"http:\/\/www.itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/thumb4.jpg\" "\\"thumb4\\"")
Her darling partner from that show, Mark Ballas, and his best friend and fellow dancer, the amazing Derek Hough, performed with their rock band, Almost Amy. With that voice, dancing talent, and face, if that latter boy doesn\u2019t get a starring role on Broadway soon, I\u2019ll be shocked. He should star in Elton John\u2019s upcoming \u201cBilly Elliott,\u201d if you ask me! (Remember–you read it here first!)<\/p>\n![\"backseats\"](\"http:\/\/www.itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/backseats-300x261.jpg\" "\\"backseats\\"")
<\/p>\n
\nLyric Hyperion Theatre 2106 Hyperion Ave. Silver Lake 323-960-7829<\/p>\n
\nSylvie\u2019s Skin Care 17071 Ventura Blvd. Encino 818-905-8815
\nwww.sylviesskinandbodycare.com<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>![\"9-52\"](\"http:\/\/www.itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/9-52-300x225.jpg\" "\\"9-52\\"")
\nI put in just a brief appearance here because I had to tape my show the next day, and had a lot of work to do. But it was for a great cause (check out the charity\u2019s site below), the food was catered by master Thai chef, Tommy Tang, with water provided by VaVa Water, and Three Boy Productions goodie bags, so it had no downsides (except for being held outdoors in frizzy weather. But it was so dark that we couldn\u2019t see each other anyhow, so what the heck.)<\/p>\n