dwayne blogged

It’s amazing! Two major movie musicals released this year end season. And they are both still playing on Broadway. And I’ve seen them both! ("The Producers" is not out in the US till Dec 16th). "The Producers" was very entertaining and had a great comedic script. It wasn’t as cheezy as some parts of "Rent" because it broke the fourth wall (meaning it did address the audience or was presentational). Rent aimed for realism and would have succeeded if acting or directorial choices were made to seamlessly merge singing and speaking worlds. Most of the cast were the original cast from the first Broadway runs and they reprised their roles like seasoned professionals. I spotted one Asian girl when they were filming "The Producers" on my street and I spotted her in the movie in the court case scene. So that’s what they were filming there! It’s always exciting to put two and two together. So anyway, let’s have more movie musicals. "Wicked" anyone?    

Lea Salonga had her debut concert at Carnegie Hall on November 7th. She announced that she was pregnant and launched into a song from the musical "Baby" with original cast member Liz Callaway joining her on stage. They also reprised their roles from Miss Saigon and sang "I Still Believe". Most of the songs she sang were song I’ve seen her perform before in her concerts in Asia.

However, she performed some new ones from "Wicked" the musical. I would give her credit for doing both "Popular" and "Defying Gravity" in the original keys!

At the end she wanted a volunteer to sing "A Whole New World" with her (she was the original voice of Princess Jasmine of Disney’s Aladdin) and I nearly fell off the fourth tier trying to get her attention.

Unfortunately, she chose another Aladdin (and he happened to be from my school!). I tried very much to be happy for him but just couldn’t! =( He even got a VIP invite to her post concert party.

I’m singing a song from Miss Saigon in class now, playing the part of Thuy.

Autumn is lovely. The leaves turn bright yellow or red and the temperature is just right. School is busier than ever but this semester I’ve somehow the energy to work extra hard and play extra hard (because now I have a better social life) despite a heavier schedule. Amazing huh? I think it’s the wonderful Disneyworld trip that I took. What is also cool is that I got my grades for the previous semester and I got straight As (some were A minuses, but still)!

So far, I’ve seen two plays with both my teachers in them and they were both brilliant. Ray Virta in "A Naked Girl on the Appian Way" (on Broadway mind you!) and Joanne Camp in "Two Lives". I have also been treating myself to better food, having found better places to eat at. A Korean place called Woorijip (my home) on 34th which I love very much now, Jack’s 99 cent store (also on 34th), a Mexican place with tacos to die for (now these are what I call tacos!) and Cafe Duke’s on 41st and 6th (see pic). Living the life I guess. =)