Wicked Returning to DPAC
Waters’ The Wall Coming to RBC Center
Remember the days when it seemed Pink Floyd was playing The Triangle about every 8 months? Yes, that was David Gilmour’s band, but still, it was surprising to see that the 1994 Division Bell Tour would be of the genuine Pink Floyd music for many, many years.
All of that changes on Monday, July 9, when Roger Waters’ tour of comes to the RBC Center. Waters can’t sing, and never really could, but reviews of this tour point toward it being nothing but impressive. Tickets go on sale on Monday, November 14.
In related news, did you catch Pink Floyd Week on Jimmy Fallon? More specifically, did you see The Shins’ “Breathe”? Wow!
Link (Video):
Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria Coming to RBC Center
Cirque du Soleil will be bringing its Alegria for eight performances at the RBC Center from July 6 thru July 10. Cirque Club members can take advantage of the presale running now. will go on sale February 28.
IMAX Closing For Upgrades
The in downtown Raleigh (the real IMAX) will close for about a month on Monday in order for it to undergo a huge upgrade. The screen, seats, carpeting, and sound system are being upgraded. The big upgrade, however, is a new projection system that will be especially better for 3D presentations. It will be one of the world’s first such IMAX upgrades.
The remaining schedule this weekend includes Tron 3D showings today and tomorrow at Noon, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, and 10:00.
“A Christmas Carol” Keeps Delivering
Filling a legend’s shoes is never easy, especially when it is done on short notice. That’s why this year’s production of “A Christmas Carol” is such a phenomenal story.
With just a month before the the company’s 36th production was to hit the stage, Theatre In The Park director and show star Ira Davd Wood, III (IDW3) received a bombshell; he had to have bypass surgery and would not be able to perform the role of Scrooge this season. Wood turned to his son, Ira David Wood, IV (IDW4), to play the part. He also turned to his daughter, , to co-direct the production. The result? A fantastic evening of entertainment as it always has been.
IDW3’s Theatre In The Park is one of the most stable local theater houses in the country, and the longevity and camaraderie of the board and the Christmas Carol cast is a testament Wood’s creativity, leadership, and reliability. The news from early November would have been devastating news to many theaters. However this cast and supporters has done what it takes to snap in a new star of the show this season.
Scrooge, as Raleigh residents know him, is the creation of IDW3. True to the story, Scrooge is materialistic and greedy and finds the value of relationships through his encounters with ghosts during a long-night’s sleep. However this Scrooge is hilarious, turning current events, local celebrities, and stuffy characters into jokes that have the house rolling. If you haven’t seen this production before it is a must-see that no national comedians have come close to touching. If you have seen the production, this year’s version is a fascinating experience.
Stepping into a legend’s role has to be difficult, even more so when you are that legend’s son. With only one month of rehearsal, IDW4 smartly played it safe, putting only a few of his own touches on the role. While he doesn’t quite sell the role’s humor or heavy drama scenes as well as his veteran father, he is more agile, has a stronger voice, and seems a little more in touch with popular culture. IDW4 did an admirable job in making Scrooge come to life in a way Raleigh residents expect.
The company is extremely similar to last year’s, including the fantastic David Henderson (Jacob Marley), David Moore (Bob Cratchit), Mike Raab (Ghost of Christmas Future), John Shearer (Ghost of Christmas Present), and more. Most scenes are identical to last season’s production, however the Ghost of Christmas Future scene has been reworked with a Tim Burton feel and sets up a great TSA joke. One wonders if the goth interests of Evan had an impact here.
There were some other great new jokes, including IDW4’s references to his father and his relative youth. The best new joke, though, was delivered by a fever-laden David Henderson, and it regards a second opinion on buying an iPhone (spoilers withheld).
Some that I didn’t remember from the past were also good, such as Grace Goetz (Ghost of Christmas Past) whose enunciation was superb. I also enjoyed “Wilma” (?Blaire Callaghan?, the wife of nephew Fred) who has a voice I could listen to for a full-length production.
There were a couple of weaknesses, as to be expected. We had a difficult time in the first act understanding some of Scrooge’s jokes. It was difficult to discern whether it was due to acoustics at our side seats, the general acoustics in the room, or problems with diction from the stage. Worse, however, was the Marlettes, a Rockettes styled dance troop whose tap routine was an utter mess. Their performance was the first time I’ve ever seen a tap routine that was not met with obligatory applause from the crowd.
The entire production is outstanding, though. The 3-hour journey has much visual variety, excellent musical range, and good pacing. While the Raleigh version has a big emphasis on humor, it admirably delivers the heavy message Dickens intended. As Scrooge realizes the value of his relationships, there is part of every viewer that will kind of miss the old, hilarious Scrooge. However the entire company’s stirring rendition of “The First Noel” is a tear jerker to many, and leaves the crowd appreciating the delivery of a full production that works on many levels to many people.
A Christmas Carol runs through December 15 at Raleigh’s Memorial Auditorium. .
Shen Yun Coming to Memorial Auditorium
On January 22, 2011, New York-based will come to Raleigh’s Memorial Auditorium. There will be two shows: and . The group has received critical acclaim around the world, performing in over 80 cities worldwide.
Shen Yun Performing Arts presents classical in colorful and exhilarating shows. An art form several millennia old, Chinese dance is refreshingly dynamic and expressive. Ancient legends and heroic figures come to life through its leaps, spins, and delicate gestures, accompany with live orchestra
2:00pm:
7:30pm:
SPARKcon Begins Today
This fifth annual SPARKcon event begins tomorrow and ends Sunday. SPARKcon the Triangle’s showcase of creativity, talent, and ideas. This year the event showcases events in (a whopping) 16 main categories, including:
The festival has an and has excellent event summary pages that are connected to Google Calendar events. However neither of these quite fit my needs, so I created a master event list for the entire weekend. I’ve found it’s easier to just subscribe to the master event list and run off of it and a companion map of the area included than to hassle with the walled gardens of an app.
You can follow all 150+ events by subscribing to . (Those subscribed to the gogoraleigh Hopscotch calendar are automatically subscribed – just check your calendar for all of the events.) See an event you like? Add it to your own calendar. Unsure about an event? Open up the calendar’s event, and see its link to SPARKcon’s event page, see a map to the venue, or see the overall SPARKcon map (which I highly recommend keeping in your mobile device’s photo gallery. You can even enable an alert for each act if you want.
While people flock to the event and enjoy many of the offerings, the Friday night fashion show is the big event of the weekend. The hour-long show begins at 8pm and features fashion from local designers. Be sure to check out the impressive and always-fresh offerings by at the show!
While SPARKcon has a very good website, to me it is easier to just follow the links to the elements pertinent to mobile devices:
- (gogoraleigh)
- SPARKcon Area map
- s
- (not for mobile)
| Google Calendar | XML | ICAL | |
| SPARKcon Calendar |
Let’s go Do It!!
NCT’s “Annie” Featured on TODAY Show
NBC’s TODAY Show did an entertaining feature with , the replacement for original star of “Annie” on Broadway. Thirty years later, McArdle returns to “Annie” as mean Miss Hannigan in the production. “Annie” is at Memorial Auditorium thru Sunday.
Visit msnbc.com for , , and
Death and the Maiden Begins Wednesday
, a chilling moral thriller by Chilean writer Ariel Dorfman, begins on Wednesday and runs for a week-and-a-half. The story follows Paulina, a woman who was once a political activist against the fascist party. She is convinced a guest in her home is the man who once tortured her for the government. Directed by Hot Summer Nights’ Associate Artistic Director/Co-Producer, Adam Twiss, Death and the Maiden is one show that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
General Admission
- Adult $22.00
- Student (ID required) $18.00
- Senior (65+) $18.00
- Military (ID required) $18.00
Slew of Tickets Goes on Sale in Next Two Days
Ticketmaster’s weekly heads up for new ticket sales is far more interesting than normal today. Here is the rundown:
On Sale Friday
- (DPAC, 8/30)
- (The Walt, 8/14)
- (DPAC, 8/18)
- (RBC, 6/11)
On Sale Saturday
- (Walnut Creek, 10/16)
- (Memorial, 6/21)
- (Walnut Creek, 8/11)
Burning Coal Returns With “Oakwood: Generations”
Burning Coal will return this May to Oakwood Cemetery for the next in their cycle of original historical plays. This year’s new script, Oakwood: Generations by Ian Finley will share stories of parents and children through Raleigh’s history, including outspoken columnist Nell Battle Lewis, gregarious politico Thaddeus Eure, and legendary jurist Samuel Fox Mordecai. Enjoy poignant and humorous stories about what it means to be a family.
The performances will take place at Oakwood Cemetery (701 Oakwood Ave., Raleigh) on May 14th & 15th at 6:30pm and May 16th at 2:00pm. Tickets for the event are $20 or $10 for students and may be obtained by calling 919.834.4001 or visiting the Burning Coal website.
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