In the Heights

 Happy and hopeful, In the Heights is a journey of joy. The lives of the community in Washington Heights in New York City is presented with song and dance. The colors are vibrant. I explored the neighborhood, and the film depicts it well. This is a wonderful film that holds up to multiple views. It was my first visit to the theater since lockdown and I'm pleased with my choice. Well worth seeing.

Ratatouille the Musical

 My first virtual performance experience was so fun! Ratatouille the Musical was creative, energetic, funny and heartfelt with wonderful performances. Post-show meet up on FaceTime after with my family was icing on the cake. Bravo!!

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

In Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey there is lots of creativity, lots of joy, lots of music, lots of dance. There's a lot in this movie, but it all comes down to a lot of heart. Fun Christmas watch.

Christmas on the Square

 Christmas on the Square is such a cheesy movie, but I enjoyed it for the cast. 

The Prom

 I love musical theater, but The Prom did not do it for me. Most of the performances were good, the story was OK, but many times it just seemed silly. I did like the music. Maybe I expected too much.

It's Always Fair Weather

 Great music, dance numbers and charm makes It's Always Fair Weather worth a look. I've never seen anyone tap dance in roller skates or trashcan lids. The editing is creative and makes this fun to watch. Great DVD rental. Watch the extras.

Alice At the Palace

Alice at the Palace is a delightful adaptation of Alice in Wonderland from the New York Shakespeare Theater circa 1982. It is dynamic and creative with wonderful songs.There are also familiar faces that made this fun to watch.

Falsettos

Oh the talent in the 2016 revival of Falsettos. Thanks to a subscription to Broadway HD that I was gifted, I was able to enjoy this gem at home. The unique staging, the wonderful music, a heartfelt story of love and life and performances that knock it out of the park made this a true joy. What a musical!

All That Jazz

Every once in a while you need a little Fosse. All That Jazz delivers in the story of his life through the character Joe Gideon. Based on Bob Fosse's life and persona, we follow his struggles and his triumphs. In his personal and professional endeavors there is plenty of drama, humor and dance. Awesome performances make this classic easy to enjoy.

Mame

The musical version of Mame showcases Lucile Ball's gorgeous physicality. The way she walks, the way she dances, the way she gestures, all look dynamic and effortless. She is as much fun to watch as she is to listen to. The life of the outspoken Mame is portrayed with heart and humor in this film. Mame's declaration of , "open a new window every day" is a declaration of optimism and hope that we all can use.

Hamilton

 In 2016 I fell in love with the cast recording of the Broadway musical Hamilton. The compelling story of Alexander Hamilton and the birth of a nation is full of drama, battles, love and scandal. These elements make for perfect theater. The team that put the musical together filmed one of the last performances of the original cast. In 2019 I was treated to a performance of Hamilton on Broadway in NYC, and later that year, saw a road production with the Angelica Company. Such a delight. The film was sold to Disney and the original plan for releasing the film was a theatrical release in the fall of 2020.  When Broadway shut down in March of 2020 and we were trapped in lock-down by a pandemic, they decided to release the film to Disney + on July 3rd. That morning I woke at 6am and watched the film. What a pleasure to watch the original cast work inside a piece they had been performing for over a year. I'm glad that I saw this in the theater, because the sets and movement around the set is hard to capture in a film. They concentrated on the story and the performances. It is such a joy to be able to watch this whenever I want. Thanks to the creators and Disney +.

Funny Girl

When you sing like an angel, but can't dance a lick, it helps to be a Funny Girl as Fanny Brice learns. This charming woman rises to stardom and falls in love. There are bumps in the road, but she handles them with humor and love. I really liked these performances. I really liked this movie.

Gypsy (1962)

My new love for Rosalind Russell had me renting the 1962 version of Gypsy.I have seen this story in several community theater versions and the 1993 version played over and over in our house back in the day. This version has the pizazz of old vaudeville, along with performances that flesh out the characters well. Russell plays the brash, lovable personality of Rose with a flair, while Natalie Wood's subtle vulnerability as Louise is masterful. I liked this version a lot.

Damn Yankees

I have always been aware of the title Damn Yankees, but had no idea of it's meaning. This movie is a supernatural take on baseball, dreams, home and celebrity.  The performances are great and so is the music. Gwen Verdon is a national treasure. I'm glad that I finally saw this film.

My Fair Lady

I've always had trouble getting through the movie version of My Fair Lady even though I know the story and the music well. The misogyny was always too much. I saw the latest Broadway version and learned that they had changed a few small things to make the plot more palatable. I enjoyed the live version I saw, so I decided to give the movie another try. Audrey Hepburn is the biggest reason to see this film. Her performance is outstanding, even though the singing is dubbed (Thank you Marne Nixon). I'm still disgusted by the character of Henry Higgins, but there is a charm to most of the others that won me over. The costumes are amazing as well and I had the pleasure of seeing them live in the Warner Brother's Museum back in October. I'm glad that the Broadway version brought me back to the film. Well done.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

I liked the movie  Mamma Mia! fine, but I didn't like it enough to have a desire for a sequel. I waited to see Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again until it came out in DVD based on that feeling. I was treated to an origin story that I really enjoyed. The lead performance of Lily James as young Donna is mostly to blame for that. Great voice, great screen presence, she carries this movie. I was also surprised by how much I liked the music. Some of the supporting cast was weaker than I expected, but the spirit was there and the ending was rather sweet. Glad I saw it.

Pippin

Listening to someone talk about seeing all of Bob Fosse's work I decided to rent Pippin. The disc was a documentary of the actual Broadway show from 1981. Fosse's choreography is distinct and sexy. The production is vibrant and sincere. The 80's vibe is strong. I loved this rental.

High Society

Continuing my viewing of the great classic films High Society found its way in to my DVD player. Another fabulous performance from Grace Kelly as a socialite on the eve of her second wedding. There are complications, there is drama, there is humor. A great classic remake that I enjoyed.

La La Land

In the style of a modern musical, La La Land brings dance, music, dreams, work, love and life to the screen. I like a mature love story with realistic consequences, and if you throw in a song, that's even better. The story holds up, the choreography is great and the numbers were meant to be filmed. The music is infectious, so we've got a winner here.

Fun Home

Last year at the Tony Awards I became aware of the musical Fun Home. A stirring performance of the song Ring of Keys enchanted and delighted me. I learned that the musical was derived from a graphic novel by Alison Bechdel. Over the next few weeks I heard a lot of interviews with the author and writer of the musical. Over the summer my Father had a health issue that had me in doctor's waiting rooms where Fun Home kept me company. I loved the book I loved the story. Poignant and brave. Around the holidays my daughter asked what shows I was interested in seeing on Broadway. Fun Home was at the top of my list. Under the Christmas tree this year was a ticket for me along with the announcement that both of my daughters would join me. We made reservations for dinner and made an evening of it.

The show? We made our way into the Circle on the Square and took our seats. The show is staged in the round and we were seated next to the orchestra. An intimate theater. The actors were amazing, the set was an engineering marvel and by the end they had captured my heart. With no intermission, the climax of the play was powerful and the tears flowed freely during the last song. I left the theater with a huge smile on my face and a song and story in my heart forever. What a wonderful show, what a wonderful story. Thanks to Ms. Bechdel for sharing her life and her family with mine. What an experience.