Carrying the Banner

Hi everyone, I can't believe we're nearly at the end of September already meaning that I'm about to start my 3rd and final year of my uni course...now that's majorly scary. Well anyway, enough of that, let's get going with the Musical of the Month for September. 

Now I did mention this show a bit in my vlog about Washington and New York but I wanted to do a bit more of a full review to just emphasise how amazing this show is. The show in question is said to be coming to London in Spring 2014 to either the Savoy or Piccadilly Theatre (but don't quote me on it). It, also, won the Tony for Best Choreography and Best Original Score. Finally, it is now one of my favourite shows ever and I cannot get enough of it. I am, of course, talking about Newsies, which is currently playing at the Nerderlander Theatre in New York. 

I was a bit sceptical about seeing this show as I didn't really know what it was about or too much about the music; but WOW when I came out of that theatre I had had one of the best night's I have ever had at a theatre!

The whole cast were just incredible, especially the young boy (Nicholas Lampiasi) who played Les and the guy (Corey Cott) who played Jack. I seriously don't think I've seen such a strong cast in a really long time. 

The dancing, well you could see why it won a Tony, was cool, quirky and very, very fun. There was even a tap number in King of New York, which was exactly my cup of tea. 

The set was simple yet effective as it mainly consisted of metal structures that interlinked and moved around...it was probably more exciting to witness. 

The story itself was sweet and had a brilliant message full of love, hope and joy. It was one of those stories you could watch again and again and again. 

The main reason Newsies is Musical of the Month though is because I have not taken CD out my CD Player since I got back from New York. The music is just phenomenal and I cannot get enough of it. I think the real amazing thing is that every song is amazing: you get so many shows where just one or two songs are great and you end up skipping the rest, well this isn't like that, all the songs on the album are fantastic and completely out if this world. I think my favourite of all would have to be Watch What Happens but that's mainly because it's the main female song so I can really get my teeth stuck in when singing it...truth be told they're all my favourites at different times of the day. 

Overall, Newsies is a great show and if the rumours are right I encourage everyone to go and get tickets as well as buying the CD right this moment. 

I hope you've enjoyed reading a bit about Newsies. If any of you want to ask any more questions about it my Twitter is @GreenGirlsRox but please remember if you don't follow me I won't be able to see your message which is sad. 

Love you all lots and see you soon. 

Love Kat

Xx

Bare it all at the Fun Fair

Hi everyone, I feel all behind like a dog's tail; it's already the 17th September and I have written about West End Bares. So, shall we get that sorted? 

I went down to London with my friend Ellie and after unpacking we headed for Covent Garden to do a bit of shopping, which, yes, did include the Disney Store of course. We, also, had dinner at a Bella Italia and got a tad tipsy and had great fun trying to get the waiters to bring us extra strawberries rather than straws! (You probably had to be there.)

After this we headed off back to our hotel to get ready for the party that is West End Bares. For those of you who don't know, West End Bares is a show where West End stars get together and take their clothes off to raise money for the charity MAD Trust, and this year's theme was All The Fun Of The Bare. And I tell you what, it certainly was fun!

Featuring stars such as Matt Krzan (Book of Mormon), Callum Train (Top Hat) and Jenny Victoria Wickham (Dirty Dancing) and acts such as Popping Candy, Bearded Ladies and House of Mirrors, West End Bares was certainly a night to be remembered. 

Personally, the highlight of the show for me was when Lisa Riley and Anita Dobson persuaded Robin Winsor (off Strictly Come Dancing) to strip by auctioning off his clothes...you may not see the attraction (other than the fact he's majorly hot) but when you're a huge Strictly fan like me, even being that close to him was pretty amazing!!! Plus I got a photo with him at the after party, which was pretty special. 

That's another good thing about West End Bares, if you go to the 11.59pm showing you can, also, but tickets to the after party and get to meet the stars of the show. The tickets when the after party is included are £65 which when you consider that's cheaper than your average top price West End show tickets plus the money is going to a good cause, it's definitely worth it. 

What I found incredibly special was that the entrance into the section where the show took place was done out like a circus tent and they were serving cocktails that were blue in colour and came in a zipper bag with a plastic fish in. To me it was these touches that made the night extra special. 

Overall, I had an amazing time and, as always will leave you with some pictures below. 

From Left To Right and Top to Bottom: 1. Bare it all at the Fun Fair, 2. The Carousel Horses, 3. Me with Robin Winsor, 4. The Rotation, 5. The Show, 6. Ellie and Me Getting Ready, 7. Ellie and Me with the Carousel Horses , 8. West End Bares Calendar, 9. The Robin Winsor Auction. 10. One of the Freaks, 11. It's Getting Bigger, 12. The Rotation, 13. Poppin' Candy, 14. The Freak Master.

 

I hope you enjoyed my blog about West End Bares and if you feel like supporting the MAD Trust please check out their eBay site which has some amazing things on it, as well as, checking out the West End Bares calendar. Also, I love to hear from you if you saw West End Bares or just like musical theatre in general so please either comment below or tweet me at @GreenGirlsRox (remember I can't get your tweets if you don't follow me). 

Love you all

Kat

Xx

Musical's of the Month - It's Up to You, New York, New York!

Hi everyone, I know I'm dreadfully late with August's Musical of the Month but it's because it's a little special. That's because it focuses on four musicals rather than one and is actually a vlog (well actually two vlogs, as if I'd done just one it would be mega long!). Now I've never done one before so I hope it's ok and I hope you enjoy. 

 

Part 1 - Washington D.C., Kinky Boots and Pippin

 

Part 2 - Newsies, Wicked and Ellen's Stardust Diner

 

 

Kinky Boots - The Al Hirschfeld Theatre

Cast in Order of Appearance - Main Parts Highlighted. 

Mr Price - Stephen Berger

Young Charlie - Sebastian Hedges Thomas

Young Lola - Marquise Neal

Simon Sr - Eugene Barry-Hill

Nicola - Lena Hall

Charlie Price - Stark Sands

George - Marcus Neville

Don - Daniel Stewart Sherman

Lauren - Annaleigh Ashford

Pat - Tory Ross

Harry - Andy Kelso

Lola - Billy Porter

Lola's Angels - Paul Canaan, Kevin Smith Kirkwood, Kyle Taylor Parker, Kyle Post, Charlie Sutton and Joey Taranto

Trish - Jennifer Perry

Richard Bailey - John Jeffrey Martin

Milan Stage Manager - Lucia Spina

Pippin - The Music Box

Cast in Order of Appearance - Main Parts Highlighted. 

Leading Player - Patina Miller

Fastrada - Charlotte d'Amboise

Berthe - Tovah Feldshuh

Lewis - Erik Altemus

Charles - Terrence Mann

Pippin - Matthew James Thomas

Catherine - Rachel Bay Jones

Theo - Ashton Woerz

Newsies - Nerderlander Theatre

Cast in Order of Appearance - Main Parts Highlighted. 

Jack Kelly - Corey Cott

Crutchie - Andy Richardson

Race - Ryan Breslin

Albert - Garett Hawe

Specs - John Michael Fiumara

Henry - Iain Young

Finch - JP Ferreri

Elmer - Evan Kasprzak

Romeo - Tommy Martinez

Mush - David Guzman

Katherine - Caitlyn Caughell

Darcy - Hogan Fulton

Nuns - LaVon Fisher-Wilson, Julie Foldesi and Liana Hunt

Morris Delancey - Michael Fatica

Oscar Delancey - Brendon Stimson

Wiesel - John E. Brady

Davey - Ben Fankhauser

Les - Nicholas Lampiasi

Joseph Pulitzer - John Dossett

Seitz - Mark Aldrich

Bunsen - Nick Sullivan

Hannah - Liana Hunt

Snyder - Stuart Marland

Medda Larkin - Julie Foldesi

Stage Manager - John E. Brady

Mr. Jacobs - John E. Brady

Scabs - Tommy Bracco, Jacob Guzman and Jess LeProtto

Mayor - John E. Brady

Spot Conlon - Tommy Bracco

Bill - Garett Hawe

Governor Roosevelt - Tom Alan Robbins

Wicked - Gershwin Theatre

Cast in Order of Appearance - Main Parts Highlighted. 

Glinda - Tiffany Haas

Witch's Father - Michael DeVries

Witch's Mother - Kristen Gorski-Wergeles

Midwife - Briana Yacavone

Elphaba - Lindsey Mendez

Nessarose - Catherine Charlebois

Boq - Michael Wartella

Madame Morrible - Carol Kane

Doctor Dillamond - John Schiappa

Fiyero - Derek Klena

Ozian Official - Michael DeVries

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Tom McGowan

Chistery - Christopher King

All cast lists are correct for the days I saw them on (some do include the understudies) 

The music used in the videos is:

The President's March - Victor Herbert

Step One - Kinky Boots

No Time At All - Pippin

King of New York - Newsies

What Is This Feeling - Wicked

Once again I hope you enjoyed watching my vlog's and I'd love to hear feedback from you either by commenting below or tweeting me at @GreenGirls Rox.

Love you lots

Kat

Xx