JERSEY BOYS

I saw Jersey Boys last night at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. I saw a most amazing performance with a touring company where two lead performances were done by understudies.
There aren't enough accolades to toss out to this cast. I'm going to have to name the performers and the parts they played, because even though I never saw the New York production, it is really difficult for me to imagine that it was better than the production I saw last night.

The audience gave a five minute standing ovation, and it would have gone on much longer, except one of the cast members insisted we all sit down and stop applauding. That was because they were promoting a Broadway Cares drive for donations to be collected as we left the theater. Even after that announcement, the audience stood up and started clapping again. The energy level was electric.

Here is the list of main performers:

Frankie Valli played by Christopher Kale Jones
Bob Gaudio played by Andrew Rannells
Tommy DeVito played by Matt Bailey (understudy)
Nick Massi played by Nathan Scherich (understudy)

I point out the understudies, because when I saw there were going to be replacements in the cast the night I saw the show, I was afraid it would possibly not be as good as the performers chosen for those roles. Hard to say, as the performances I saw were outstanding. If the original performers were better, it's almost hard to believe. Whatever! I had all I could do to keep from jumping out of my seat and screaming like a teen aged groupie.

The story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons has many dramatic elements.
It's not just the story of a singing group, it's the story of four boys from New Jersey, two of whom were either criminals or borderline criminals, except for Bob Gaudio, who was the composer of their songs, (he was the creative genius behind the group, and he was a fairly innocent guy compared to the others), and Frankie Valli who was 16 when Tommy first took him into the group. Their rise to fame transcended all the squabbling and fighting among the group. And the death of Frankie's 22 year old daughter in his later years was heartbreaking. Marshall Brickman, who wrote the book along with Rick Elice, has a resume` that would raise your eyebrows with his long lists of credits, among them being head writer on both The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and The Dick Cavett Show. He also wrote the scripts for many Woody Allen films, author or co-author (Sleeper, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Manhattan Murder Mystery).

I've seen a lot of Broadway shows and touring company shows. I used to see shows at The Shubert Theater in Chicago, when I lived there. I saw South Pacific with Janet Blair in the Mary Martin role. She was wonderful, but no Mary Martin. It was a great show, mainly because of the book and the songs. Aside from South Pacific, I'd have to say that my favorite shows as of today are Crazy For You, A Chrous Line, and now this Jersey Boys production. Dynamite productions and dynamite casts.

Here's a clip from the London Cast courtesy of YouTube:



Can't wait for The Tony Awards in June! See you there!

Jiva

IS THE AWARD SEASON OVER??

NOT BY A LONG SHOT! We still have the TONY AWARDS! That's Broadway, baby. I don't know which I love better, Broadway or Hollywood. We do have to wait a bit though, because the Tony Awards won't be on until June 15. The 62nd annual Tony Awards will be broadcast on CBS, live from Radio City Music Hall.

Top Girls is playing in London, and in New York, we have A Catered Affair, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Boeing Boeing, The Country Girl, Cry Baby, Gypsy, In the Heights, Avenue Q, Chicago, Curtains, Passing Strange, South Pacific, Sunday in the Park with George, Come Back Little Sheba, Mama Mia!, Jersey Boys, Top Girls, Thurgood, Xanadu, and more!


I will be seeing Jersey Boys next month right here in Florida. I can't wait! If I could transport myself molecularly, I'd be going to New York every weekend. To me, there is nothing like LIVE theater. I think that's why so many people love to watch The Oscars, not only because of all the stars, but because it's LIVE. And the Tony's are LIVE. It's so exciting, you never know what will happen from one minute to the next.

OK, I saw it! I saw Jersey Boys in Tampa on March 12 at 7:30 PM. Absolutely knocked my socks off!
Here's a clip for all you JB lovers, it's a ten star show... I think the touring company is BRILLIANT !
http://youtube.com/watch?v=P1bI-P-93Is
That's from the Tony Awards... and I'm telling you, this show I saw last night was better. The energy level was 120% non stop. Dynamite show, received a five minute standing ovation. And two of the main parts were played by understudies! I can't say enough about this performance, it was truly truly amazing.


Here is a clip from my absolutely favorite Broadway Show, CRAZY FOR YOU, where we see wonderful Harry Groener dancing so beautifully. Musicals are energizing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO3QGo5om6w

And then, Broadway wouldn't be Broadway without the fabulous A CHORUS LINE, and here is a clip from the 1976 Tony Awards with the ORIGINAL Chorus Line!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk5yIiG3ip4

All courtesy of YouTube

THE OSCARS !

I love the Academy Awards, I think I've been watching them ever since they first came on television! I was watching them when no one was watching them. I'd shut off the phone, fix some snacks and a drink, and settle down for a wonderful evening of red carpet arrivals, and all those excited winners and deflated losers. I loved trying to guess who would win, I'd root for my favorites and cheer them on, and become extremely agitated if they won, yelling YES YES! and even more so if they lost, as I'd be shouting at the screen, asking the academy how they could have voted for someone else. It was my favorite TV viewing night of the year.

And now it appears that the rest of the world has caught up with me, as now it is viewed by billions of people the world over, thanks to satellites and the prosperity of so many families that have TV's in their homes. Yes, the world is catching up to the United States in prosperity, thanks mostly to our exporting of democracy and captialism to other countries, they are enjoying the same benefits we enjoy.

The Oscars represent everything that is part of that great American Dream. It represents the best work of people who dream dreams, people who want to demonstrate what's possible. It's the people who create reality by creating fantasy, because not far behind these films comes the creation of similar ideas in life. Film is a medium so profound, it takes the old saying about a picture being worth a thousand words, and translates into a film being worth a million words. Films can wake us up out of our complacent stupors. Films inspire, motivate, and create nostalgic looks back in time. Film is the art of the Twentieth Century, and hopefully, it will continue for another hundred fabulous years. The billions of people who watch The Oscars, they are dreamers too.



Jiva

WHAT HAPPENED ! ???

Wow, my last post was before Thanksgiving, and now it's the middle of February! I guess the holidays overwhelmed me! I had a wonderful Christmas in Maine, beautiful white snow, gently falling flakes every day, a winter wonderland as they say, especially for someone living in Florida. The secret as always is warm clothes!

Nothing much has changed, I'm still trying to decide whether it's a good idea to move up north, especially after finding people holding me up because they were so terrified I might slip and fall on the icy streets and roads because I'm not used to it, and my boots didn't have those nice "grippers" on them. I don't want to go through the rest of my life with people "going to get the car while I wait," worrying that my every step is fraught with danger, or that I might freeze trying to walk to the car. ha ha. Puleeeze!

I also took a short trip to Chicago, where the temperature was below zero with a nice icy wind every day. It's my home town, and I love Chicago, but who wants to live for months in that kind of weather? Ever since summer ended here in Florida, for the most part, we've had 75 to 80 degree days with sunshine. You have to admit, that sounds pretty good to you northerners. Yes, I do miss my lover who lives up north, but still, it's a difficult choice. I bought five lottery tickets hoping I'd win (does anyone buy them thinking they might not win)? but as usual, I won nothing. The hope being that I could have two places to live, one here in Florida, right where I am now, and one near my lover, who lives in a moderate climate, but nice and close to New York City, which is a place dear to my heart because I do love Broadway and all that culture.

I'm writing a column, and it's very successful, I'm hoping to have some syndication as soon as I get up to number twenty. Possibly west coast syndication, as it's a fairly "out there" type of column, meaning it's filled with references to "creating your own reality" and stuff like that.

Here's a wonderful video I found, all about how the kids discover a drawer in their parent's bedroom, and the contents lead them to believe that maybe mommy is really Santa !

See you next time.

Jiva

Mid November and It's Finally Cold! (well, cold for Florida anyway)

TODAY IS FRIDAY, and it finally turned cold here in Central Florida, after a long hot summer of almost unbearable heat!

Now I can have a taste of what it will be like if I move back north. Cold and wind and snow. I am very undecided about what to do, because I miss the cultural diversity of the northern cities, so much to see and do, but I also love the tropical wetness and humidity of the water world that Florida offers. My main reason for wanting to move was a heart throb that kept my interest for such a long time, but now it appears that the other party in this matter has a wandering heart, a roving eye, and many interests outside of me, and my entire reason for wanting to move seems to be disappearing. So what to do. Only time shall tell, as they say, only hearts that are true will survive.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I have much to be thankful for: a long life, a fascinating list of careers, a lust for adventure and excitement that never leaves me. I am particularly grateful for The Internet, a magical world of information and connection to people and ideas that my own father would have found to be truly beyond the discoveries of his day. --- His wonder at crystal set radios, 16mm cameras, television, and his favorite wonder, the tallest buildings in the world. Whenever there was a new building constructed, he would mail a picture of it to me, with the words, "Isn't this amazing?" He so loved his life, and people, and fun. I guess I take after him, and as I should, because I always adored him. In his entire life, I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. He would always say, "That's his way, this is my way." End of story. His other profound words of wisdom to me were, "Does it make you happy? If it doesn't make you happy, don't do it." My parents lived through an entire century, he three years before it, and she one year after it. To them, the Twentieth Century was their world.

And now here I am in the 21st Century, wondering what it holds for me.

Enjoy the video, it is adorable and timely!

October in Florida is STILL hot!

I keep waiting for the weather to cool off, and about the only place that is cooler right now is the swimming pool, because the owner of our little piece of Paradise here, doesn't intend to heat it. So I spend more time in the hot tub than I do swimming in the pool, which isn't that great for my aerobics training. Now I've taken up rowing. We have a gym and there was a rowing machine sitting there unused. It took me a while to learn how to work it so that I'd have the most resistance, and now I'm up to a big fifteen minutes of rowing. Last time I rowed, the screen said I was 13 boats behind! Have to start somewhere! ha ha. I have a friend who rows for an hour. He has legs of steel. I'm only hoping this rowing will take some weight off. I could easily be about 60 pounds lighter and not notice the difference except in how I'd look!

So how is YOUR October going? Getting ready for Halloween? I sold my pumpkin vest on eBay. Someone else will be wearing it this Halloween. I am more interested in seeing what other people are wearing than in wearing something cute myself.

We have a contest here with a big cash prize for the most interesting and entertaining costume. Two years ago, four people entered the contest with this idea: They had a gurney with a patient sitting on it. A lady in a patient's gown, her legs spread with her knees bent.

Along side her, walking with the gurney, were a doctor and a nurse. As the gurney arrived at the judge's stand, a big head popped up between the lady's legs, it was a guy wearing a baby bonnet, with a rattle in his hand and he was yowling just like a baby cries. Naturally, the crowd went crazy with laughter and glee. The judges couldn't resist, and they won the first prize, which I believe at that time was $500.

Last year it was a thousand dollars. Can't remember who won, because I don't think there will ever be a "costume" to match the newborn baby joke. You have fun now! Promise? See you in November. I've been really busy!!

Take care.

Jiva

FALL IS A ROMANTIC TIME...

October is a delightful month, leaves falling from the trees, cooler breezes making the days perfect for long walks and meandering conversations. We made it through September without any storms, much less any hurricanes! So that's lovely for our insurance rates.


I have been very busy trying to pack boxes, throw out unworn and unused belongings, attending to charity bags for Goodwill, all in the hopes that someone will buy my little one bedroom condo here in Paradise, so I can move up north and be with my love. Property is not moving well right now. Greenspan told everyone that he thinks prices will drop lower, so you'd have to be a moron to buy then, wouldn't you? Of course the exception is our gem of a place where I live. Unique, one of a kind, fabulous tropical retreat. We'll see.

Meanwhile I've been writing columns and articles and creating my very own web site. The time goes by quickly. I am so looking forward to being in the cold, in the snow, having a large dog to drag me around, going to New York, seeing Broadway shows. Exciting.


I hope you all have a wonderful fall, and a happy time in your lives. Being happy is a state of mind, that's for sure. Wake up happy and stay happy. Sometimes it takes a little work, not to mention the occasional Martini! ha ha...

OK, that's all for now, because I have so much to do!

But I'll be back!

Love ya, Jiva

It's raining here. We are in our rainy season. But personally, I don't think we'll be seeing many hurricanes this September. Just a gut instinct. You can prove me wrong if you want to! Just write a comment if I'm wrong.

Anyway, it's drizzling outside, doesn't mean I can't go in the hot tub, because the hot tub has a roof. But right now, I'd rather stay in here and talk to you! We had our Board of Directors meeting this morning. They are really amazing people. They cover every little nook and cranny of the place, they dot all their i's and cross all their t's and I'm really proud of them. I just wish they wouldn't charge so much for maintenance fees, assessments, and now mandatory membership in our resort club! Yeeoow.

I think I'll have to move! I can't afford this!

And, they put me on the committee for a Condo Assn Manager search, otherwise known as a CAM search. Well, we had to let our current guy go, he was on probation, and he kept talking to the women as if it were 1950. I mean not exactly up to date on "women are equal?" you know?

It's Saturday and I'm feeling really perky! Wish I had a date. He would NOT be sorry! ha ha

I hope you have a nice weekend. I'll be in here cleaning. But don't forget about me, and send me a comment if you're in the mood.

I love to connect with people.

Love ya, Jiva

Humanity

The world population is growing every day. Even though we try to kill each other off in wars, we keep multiplying. As of July, 2007, the count was 6.7 billion humans on planet earth. That's a lot!

If you ever drove across Kansas, which is about 500 miles wide, you'd think there was plenty of room for everyone. It's just miles and miles and miles of nothing... fields. All those people above could go to Kansas, but they probably don't want to go. They have their lives, and their families, and it's all familiar. People enjoy great comfort in the familiar.

I love New York. It's crowded, but I love the theaters, the museums, the library. I love beaches also. Blue skies, blue water, sunny people, expanses of sand as far as you can see. Lovely.

So many choices in this world. So many places to see, so many cultures, variety of experiences. It's a gift. Some people actually stay in the same place all their lives! Isn't that amazing?

My father came over on the boat from Italy with his pregnant mother, his father, and six siblings. Took the boat a month to get here. After settling in Chicago, we could never get him to go anywhere. He wouldn't leave the city. He'd say, "I took a trip once; that was enough of a trip for me."

See you next time, as they say on PBS.

Jiva

GOODBYE SUMMER, HELLO FALL...

I was really upset about those Americans with Palestinian backgrounds being held in Israel and not allowed to go to the U.S. because of some new law the Israelies passed. They gave these kids the option to go to Palestine, but not America.

After all the billions of dollars we've given to Israel since 1948 (and that's something I will NEVER understand), here we are in 2007 with the country of Israel thumbing its nose at us and saying, too bad, we don't care, we're not doing YOU any favors!

Without American taxpayer's money, Israel wouldn't exist. As that guy on ABC's Prime Time always says,

"GIVE ME A BREAK!"

See you when I'm in a better mood.

Jiva

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

I'm watching this show called "Mad Men" that I"ve never seen before. It looks like it takes place in the 1960's as they keep talking about Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. Boy the characters in this show really are wacky. The lead character is one of the guys from Desperate Housewives. He's a pretty good actor. I think it's a show that bears watching, it should become popular. Really some outrageous stuff, and written by one of the writers of "The Sopranos."

Weather is finally cooling off a bit. Looks like it will be a big weekend.
Lots of people ready to party.

I'm trying to find a nice place to rent in south West Chester for a couple of months. Housesitting would be better, but that's not happening at this time of year.

Have a great weekend. I have a cousin who is 95 this weekend, and he still drives, still picks people up at the airport, still has a "toddy" before he goes out to dinner, and still acts like he's 35, and gets away with it too! Great guy.

I think we're all going to live to a ripe old age, well most of us anyway, especially the ones who don't smoke!

Life is good, enjoy.
Jiva

HERE COMES SATURDAY...

Saturday is an interesting day, as it has so many associatons. During WWII there was a song called "Saturday Night is the Lonliest Night of the Week." I don't know if it was because the soldiers and sailors were lonely, or if the girls were without guys and lonely, or if it is just that if you're alone on a Saturday night, and you think everyone else is with someone, it can make you feel extra lonely.

Then there are all the people who like to work on Saturdays and Saturday nights, because they get extra pay for working on the weekends.

I did that for a long time myself. I started working nights when I was sixteen, dancing in a chorus for years, making really good money too. Then later, I worked in a hospital for about ten years on the night shift, and I do seem to be at my peak around three in the morning!

I live at a resort, and on Saturdays, all the people who don't live here come to visit and it gets really crowded with some familiar faces, and a lot of strange ones also. So it's a nice way to meet people, although I've about had it with tatooed guys with piercings, and women with gigantic breasts (you know, the store bought kind).

I'm reading a book called "The Lovely Bones," about a fourteen year old girl who is raped and murdered, and then she tells the story from her perch in heaven. She claims she has a duplex with another girl who is also dead. She tells about what happened to her, and then she watches everyone and what they are doing, her mom and dad, her sister and brother, the murderer, her teachers, etc. It's pretty interesting. Kind of fits in with the headlines of today's world, all these young people being murdered. Except in this book, the author actually was raped in real life when she was a freshman in college up at Syracuse University.

So she wrote a first biographical book about how the police kept telling her she was "lucky" because the girl before her had been raped, murdered and dismembered. So she called the book "Lucky." Then she followed that up with this novel, about the girl who is fourteen. That takes place in Pennsylvania. Interesting location in Southeast Chester County, an area with which I am quite familiar.

Well, hope you all have a lovely weekend. See you soon.

Jiva

I love that joke. I'm allergic to cats and I LOVE dogs, but I still think that joke is hilarious.

It's pouring rain here, thundering and lightning. Maybe now it will cool off!

I have nothing really intelligent to say except that I can't stand Bush, I wish we'd get out of Iraq, I think Cheney is a snake, I think his ex company Halliburton and their subsidiary Kellog Root and Brown have made billions off this stupid war, and I wish to heck we'd get a government that knew what they were doing! Good luck with that.

You all have a nice day, wherever you are, and remember, no matter where you go, there you are!

Jiva

Another busy Monday. Look at me! Hard at work.

It's mid 90's outside, so might as well stay in here.

Sold a really cool leather vest with fringe on eBay from the 1960's. Some lucky person won it for only ten bucks! Nobody else bid on it. Oh well, that's life on eBay.

I've got to sell my condo 'cause they keep raising the maintenance fees. What a bummer. I hate moving! But, it's got to be done. Heading up to Pennsylvania maybe. I love it up there, rolling hills and lots of green. Nice countryside.

You all have a good day, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Jiva

Believe it or not, Summer is drawing to a close !

Here it is Thursday already, and obviously, I'm not going to be writing every day!! I had intended to write every day, but that's just not happening. :)

It's starting to cool off here in Florida, probably means that it's becoming colder up north. I'm busy trying to figure out my finances. I'd like to write a column in a national newspaper and have it syndicated. I already have a column in a local esoteric paper that comes out once a month! Not much exposure there.

I'd like to spend a couple months up in Chester County this fall. Need a nice housesitting job maybe taking care of a couple of dogs, that would be good.

I have no car, so must have access to food! :)

Help me out if you know of anything. Hugs and kisses to you all. I'm heading out into the hinterlands. I'm changing my settings so that people can comment. Always nice to hear from you!!

Jiva