I love musicals, whether musical theater or movie muscials. One of my favorites from recent years is Hairspray. This musical, first produced on stage in 2002 and adapted as a movie in 2007, is set in Baltimore in 1962. Hairspray was inspired by the 1988 John Waters movie. The musical version went on to win eight Tony awards. It tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, who wants to dance on The Corny Collins Show (a dance and music show that resembles American Bandstand). She is rejected because she is a plus sized girl. The show tries to hold onto an old fashioned, 1950's image, and also refuses to racially integrate. The final number of the show features Tracy finally dancing on The Corny Collins Show ... and the show featuring black teens for the first time. The New York Times called this a "contagiously elating finale." It is such a fun song with great energy and wonderful dancing. I'm including a clip from So You Think You Can Dance (season 3) because I love the choreography of this number.
Here is a clip from the 2007 movie musical, which features Nikki Blonsky and John Travolta as her mother.
Have you seen Hairspray? What is your favorite song from the show? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
It's hard to find Thanksgiving songs! I thought about songs with the words "thanks" or "thank you" in the title, and songs about feeling thankful or happy. That brought me to "My Favorite Things." "My Favorite Things" is, of course, from The Sound of Music (1965). In the musical, the Von Trapp children are scared of a thunderstorm. Their governess, Maria (Julie Andrews), sings a song to them about how she always fights off fear by remembering her favorite things. Then there is a wonderful list of things that are her favorites. There are some really lovely lines in this song, like "Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings" and (my favorite!) "Silver white winters that melt into springs."
This song - and movie - are on my favorite things list. I love The Sound of Music. It is the movie I've seen most in my life, from the time I was very little, and it never fails to make me feel happy, comforted, and uplifted.
Are you a Sound of Music fan? Do you have a favorite song about being thankful, or a song for Thanksgiving? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
Sharing a fun end of summer song with you -"Summer Nights" from Grease. This movie musical came out in 1978, during my teen years, and I saw it several times the year it was released. It was a huge hit with all my teen friends. This scene is from early in the movie. Sandy (Olivia Newton John) has just started high school at a new school. She does not realize that her summer crush, Danny (John Travolta) is at the same school. They are each recounting their summer romance to their friends ... with slightly different versions. Is Grease one of your favorites? What do you think of the upcoming live tv remake? I would love to hear from you in the comments, below.
Hi all! It's been a while since I've posted Friday Faves, but I couldn't resist posting a couple today. First, there is this trailer for Into the Woods. I saw it for the first time today and have already watched a couple of times. I can't wait for this movie! It's one of my favorite musicals and my favorite Sondheim score. I love fairytale retellings. I think Rob Marshall is a perfect choice of directors, and the cast includes Meryl Streep as the Witch and Johnny Depp as the Wolf. Can't wait!
My other Friday Fave is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I've heard of this annual challenge for years, but finally decided to jump in. I'm not sure if I will complete the first draft of a novel by the end of November, but I am writing daily and really enjoying it. I was a Creative Writing major, but it's been a while since I've written fiction. I tend to be short-winded, so the word count is the most challenging aspect for me. That said, it's fun to dive in and see where the experience leads. I would love to hear from you in the comment section below. Are you planning to see Into the Woods? Are you taking the NaNoWriMo challenge? Hope you'll take a moment and say "hi."
