ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

You have probably seen all your friends and even your favorite celebrities blowing up Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with this tag video. ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, affects the nerve cells of the body, shutting down control of the body. For the past few years, ALS Association has been using the ice bucket challenge to raise awareness and money for the cause, but it hadn't been so popular until this year.

The official site for ALS describes it as:
"Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons  die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed."

Woah. Even though ALS has been known since the late 1800's, it wasn't until famed baseball star Lou Gehrig retired after finding out he had ALS himself. The disease has taken many lives and so far there is no treatment that stops or slows down the process, only drugs that make living more comfortable.

If you haven't seen the ice bucket challenge yet, here's how it works. You take a giant bucket (I've also seen bowls, Gatorade tubs, and coolers), fill it with ice and then water, and turn on a video camera. In the video, you say you are raising awareness for ALS, who tagged you, if someone did, and then three people you want to tag. Then you pour the ice and water on your head. Some people have done this fully clothed, while some are brave and go down to only a bathing suit. 

Here's the catch though: if you don't do the challenge, you have to go to the ALS website and donate $100. Last year, it raised just about 1 million dollars. Today, August 16th, ALS Association announced that the donations have surpassed 10 million dollars! This money will be used to help people with ALS, and to continue in the search for a treatment.

Now, this is a theatre blog, so I've got to throw Broadway in this somehow. The Once cast on Broadwya have done the challenge, and now put the Once touring cast, the Pippin cast, and the Les Mis cast up to the test as well. I just hope none of them catch a cold!

Are you up to the challenge as well?  Let us know what you think!
Kendall

Preview for the 2014-2015 Broadway Season (Musical Edition)

There’s nothing like the anticipation of a new show coming to Broadway!! And already it looks like we’re getting some pretty great ones! In this blog I will be going through the musicals that are set to come to Broadway! Just to be clear, some of these shows do not have a set theatre and are only eyeing a 2014-2015 opening. I will make this clear in the synopsis below the shows. These are only shows who I believe will make it in time for a 2014-2015 release. Also, when I say when a show “opens”, I mean they start previews on that date.

Original Productions:

Finding Neverland

The musical that is based on the film which is based on the author of Peter Pan’s life. Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Bonnie & Clyde) plays Barrie, a struggling playwright who creates a special bond with a family when one of his plays flops. The original production opened to mixed reviews in England and since then, the entire creative team has been replaced with Diane Paulus (Pippin, 2013) directing and featuring James Graham, the author of the book and the composers Gary Barlow and Elliot Kennedy. Right now, it’s playing at American Repertory Theatre and it has just been announced that it will make the transfer in the spring. This is a show to watch for, expect great things to come to this one. If you’re interested and want to listen more, look up Jennifer Hudson singing one of the songs in last year’s Tony awards on YouTube.

The Last Ship

The story about a young man who travels and returns home to find his love engaged to another man. With music written by Sting and the book written by Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal) and John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall), this musical opened to pretty decent reviews in its Chicago tryout, which had critics praising the score and the cast, but had some faults with the plot. The show will open on Broadway September 29 at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Honeymoon in Vegas

This new musical with music written by Jason Robert Brown (Last 5 Years, Bridges of Madison County) and a book written by Andrew Bergman, who wrote the screenplay of the movie of the same, tells the story of a man named Jack who is afraid of commitment with his girlfriend, Betsy, and a man who falls in love with Betsy! This show is set to open in November at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway after a try out at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Definitely expect a Tony nom for JRB for this one.

Fun Home

Just recently announced, this musical just closed off-Broadway and I’m so excited that it’s making the transfer. The musical is based on the graphic novel of Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel which in turn is based on Alison’s relationship with her father as she comes out as a lesbian and their struggles with sexuality together. With a powerful book and lyrics by Lisa Kron and a fantastic score written by Jeanine Tesori, this musical was nominated for several awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. This show will open at the Circle in the Square Theatre on April 4, right before Tony deadlines. Sound familiar? Yeah, that’s what the Pippin revival did. Look where it got now. Smart move, Fun Home.

Not many original works have been announced. Sad. Because there’s a massive amount of revivals heading our way. Let’s take a look at some of them!

Revivals:

On the Town

The classic story that spawned the fantastic Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra movie returns to Broadway this fall in October at the Lyric Theatre. Hopefully this will prove to be a great revival and not just a rehash. Directed by John Rando.

An American in Paris

Hey look, another classic Gene Kelly movie-musical. Wonderful. Already it seems like the revival category might be overcrowded by Golden Age musicals. Although the cast has been announced and an opening set for March 2015, no theatre has been set. Directed by Christopher Wheeldon.

The King and I

Now this, I am looking forward to. Kelli O’Hara (Bridges of Madison County) and Ken Watanabe (Inception) lead this production with Tony award winning director Bartlett Sher taking the helm. Expect definite Tony noms for this one. Opens March 12 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.

On The Twentieth Century

Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked) and Peter Gallagher (Guys and Dolls) return to Broadway! Directed by Scott Ellis, the story of a Broadway producer trying to convince a former love to return to his life while on board a luxury train comes back onto the stage! Will open February 12 at the American Airlines Theatre.

Side Show

This new reimagining of one of my favorite shows is coming to Broadway! The original musical featured Alice Ripley and Norm Lewis, and while it was nominated for Tony awards, did not receive that much acclaim but this new reimagining is apparently fantastic! Featuring a reimagined new score as well, this darker take on the story will certainly be in the running for Tonys. This revival will open October 28 at the St. James theatre and is directed by Bill Condon.

Sorry for it being this late, but this took a while! Have any comments on my picks? Have any questions about any other planned shows? Comment below!

Andrew

Stage Makeup for Everyone

Wearing stage makeup is not about unattractiveness or flaws, it's about being able to be seen on stage.  Naturally, the face gets washed out by stage lights and distance from the stage to the audience, so stage makeup is helpful to looks more defined. Both men and women should use stage makeup, and even if you don't wear makeup regulary, it wouldn't hurt to stop by a drugstore, Sephora,
Ulta, or anywhere else near you that sells makeup to pick up a few nesecities.

Remember that every theater is different and requirements for makeup vary.  Some more difficult makeup such as age makeup, scars, dirt, and other techniques may be done by someone for you, or you have to do them yourself.

Moisturizing skin is vital to both healthy skin and long lasting makeup. Depending on your skin type, you can get many types of moisturizers and lotions. These should be applied before makeup and should have time to set.

A good makeup primer is helpful if you tend to have oily skin, especially under hot lights. If you tend to have drier skin, you might be able to get away with skipping this step.

Foundation should be next, and about 2 shades darker than your natural skin tone. Apply this all of the face, ears, neck, and possibly to the top of your chest. Remember to blend evenly so no lines or steaks are shown.

I recommend two different concealers. One should match your foundation color for blemishes, dark spots, or scars on your face. This can also be used to hide an visible tattoos on your body. The other concealer should be a shade or 2 lighter for under your eyes. Apply this in a V shape underneath to highlight more naturally.

Set your foundation and concealer with a powder. Match the color to your face and apply anywhere you applied makeup.

An important step that if often overlooked is eyebrows. Simply filling them in can open up the face. You can get eyebrow pencils, gels, or waxes, but the simist way is just to use an eyeshadow that matches your eyebrow color and an angled makeup brush.

Eyeshadows, unless specificied by the script, director, or anyone in charge if makeup, should be kept naturall. Whites, tans,  creams,  bieges, browns, and blacks are best. A beige or tan on the lid and then brown in the crease  is the most basic look you can create. White under the brow and in the  inner corner highlights the eye.

To contour the face, use a bronzer. This can be put around the face and under the cheeks bones to slim the face. Highlighter can be put the the center of the face, as in the forehead, nose, and chin. It can also be applied above the cheek bones. Blush should be put one the cheeks. As for colors, choose ones best for your skin tone.

Eyeliner is very important for bring out the eyes. It can be applied all along the top lash line and half way on the bottom, to keep the eyes open. The best color for women is black, and men as best suited in brown.

Mascara is basic and should match the eyeliner used. Apply simply to the top and bottom lashes.

An extra step at the end is a setting spray. This can refresh the makeup and  make it last longer.

Makeup varies from high end to drugstore to cheap cheap cheap. Quality all depends on how much you're willingly to pay. Always remember to make sure you know exactly want your director wants you to look like and if you have an problems, YouTube has a multitude of videos to learn how to create costume makeup.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Best of luck!
Kendall