Meet me at Broadway

So, I've decided that my first post back after a hiatus in the month of May will be about one of my greatest loves... musicals. The Tony Awards are coming up this week. Here are my predictions for the categories that I care about. They are probably fairly biased because I've only seen two of the musicals (Next to Normal and Hair) from this season but here it goes anyway.

Best Play
God of Carnage: A Comedy that everyone is raving about it. John saw it and said that the audience couldn't stop laughing at everything that was spoken. Not to mention the phenomenal cast.

Best Musical
Next to Normal: While Billy Elliot will probably take this one, I'm predicting Next to Normal as the one to win. I've been waiting for a musical like this to come along and it was really a wonderful performance. The story is moving and the music is really stellar and modern which makes me think that it has a really good chance.

Best Book of a Musical
[Title of Show]: I have not read any of these books but [Title of Show] is an original story about the making of a musical. It seems like the front runner in this category.

Best Original Score Written for the Theatre
Next to Normal: This is a really tough category. People are in love with Elton John and Billy Elliot which has a great chance to win. However, Dolly Parton is always a big favorite and I think that they'd like to see her win a Tony. I'm going with Next to Normal because of the really modern pop-rock score and the fact that there are nearly 40 original songs on the album. There's not a lot of filler dialogue in Next to Normal; it's really the music that carries the show and its emotional effect.

Best Revival of a Play
Joe Turner's Come and Gone: Honestly, I'm not sure but Barack went to see this one so I'm banking on that. Critics also seem to be loving Mary Stuart so it's also got a great shot.

Best Revival of a Musical
Hair: Hands down, this has got to be the winner. Guys and Dolls had terrible reviews and people have not been overly excited about West Side Story or Pal Joey. Hair is brilliant and the most fun musical that I've ever seen. The show is really a trip into the seventies and a full experience rather than a passive viewing event.

Best Special Theatrical Event
You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush: Everyone loves Will Farrel and hates G.W. This seems like a shoe-in

Best Actor in a Play
Raul Esparza: This is a really tight category. Esparza is predicted to win his category every year but has yet to take home a Tony. If he gets it this year it will be an amazing achievement with all of the talent in this category.

Best Actress in a Play
Marcia Gay Harden: I'm in love with her and I heard she was wonderful in this play.

Best Actor in a Musical
Gavin Creel: I'm really torn by this category. I think both J. Robert Spencer and Gavin Creel deserve it as they were incredible in their respective parts. I'm going with Gavin Creel because I thought his part was a bit more memorable (although Spencer's was extremely touching) and since it's still so early in his career it would be a great time for him to win it. I also loved him in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which he did not win the Tony and we should make up for it now.

Best Actress in a Musical
Alice Ripley: She deserves this so much for her performance in Next to Normal. I love Sutton Foster and Josefina Scaglione seems to be a new favorite but it would be a crime not to give the award to Alice Ripley. Her performance held the show together and it was extremely touching.

Featured Actress in a Musical
Angela Lansbury: Theatre Legend.

Featured Actor in a Musical
Will Swenson: The only musical that I've seen and he was good. Lots of personality and the audience cracked up at his wisecracks and nudity.

Featured Actress in a Musical
Jennifer Damiano: This is probably a stretch but I loved her in Next to Normal. Her voice is incredible and I really identified with the character. "Superboy and the Invisible Girl" is one of the best tracks on the CD.

Best Scenic Design for a Musical
Guys and Dolls: I think that the set was about all this play had going for it. Sorry Lauren Graham.

Best Costume Design for a Play
Mary Stuart: Period costumes are always a good bet.

Best Costume Design for a Musical
Shrek: Brian D'Arcy James looks like an ogre. I think the fairytale will take this one. Although I'm pulling for Hair.

Best Lighting Design for a Play
Equus: Dramatic play equals dramatic lighting. And this is one of the only categories in which this play is nominated.

Best Lighting Design for a Musical
Hair: There were projections everywhere. I loved it.

Best Direction of a Play
God of Carnage: Phenomenal play with a stellar cast that knows how to take directions

Best Direction of a Musical
Billy Elliot: Huge cast with lots of kids participating. And everyone loves it; it's gotta win something.

Best Choreography
Billy Elliot: A musical about dancing.

Best Orchestrations
Next to Normal: Honestly, I don't really know what this means but I'll give it to N2N.

Janine Antoni, Lick and Lather

This is an incredibly subversive work. Janine Antoni challenges patriarchal systems with this work Lick and Lather. She creates busts of herself out of soap and chocolate then displays the bust in various states of disintegration after she licks the chocolate and bathes herself with the soap. An interesting twist on an old favorite...

I wonder...

How do you know when it's time to give up?

Day of Reckoning

So, today is going to be the test of my skill. 15 page paper in one day. Let's hope that all goes according to plan. I am slightly concerned but I've got a few tricks to take up length...

Again...

Still procrastinating with lots to do. Feeling really good about my Felix Gonzalez-Torres paper and really not good about my Anjolie Ela Menon paper. It's tough to find sources on Indian Artists... But, here's something nice to inspire me...

Survey

1. What color is your toothbrush? white and purple; electric

2. Name one person who made you smile today? Allison Gallaspy

3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Sleeping

4, What were you doing 45 minutes ago? Laundry

5. What is your favorite candy bar? Reese's peanut butter cups

6. Have you ever been to a strip club? No, I don't think that I would enjoy it.

7. What is the last thing you said aloud? See you later.

8. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate

9. What was the last thing you had to drink? Milk

10. Do you like your wallet? Sure.

11. What was the last thing you ate? Reese's puffs cereal

12. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Yes, gray jeans from the Gap.

13. The last sporting event you watched? Syracuse basketball on TV, the night of 6 overtimes.

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? Regular

15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to? John

16. Ever go camping? Sort of. There was a cabin involved.

17. Do you take vitamins daily? No

18. Do you go to church every Sunday? No

19. Do you have a tan? No

20. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza? I am torn. I really like pizza right now but usually I would prefer Chinese

21. Do you drink your soda with a straw? In a restaurant.

22. What did your last text message say? Congrats! I'm so excited for you!

23. What are you doing tomorrow? Hopefully work. I have a lot to do. And grocery shopping since I haven't been since Easter.

25. Look to your left, what do you see? My table, covered with my junk.

26. What color is your watch? Brown band, with a blue face.

27. What do you think of when you hear Australia? Lizzy Neville

28. What is your birthstone? Amethyst

29. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? Drive thru if I had a car. I don't eat fast food here cause it's too inconvenient.

30. What is your favorite number? 19: Jonas's number in The Giver.

31. Who's the last person you talked to on the phone? John

32. Any plans today? Work and Dead Like Me.

33. How many states have you lived in? Three: LA, MS, and NY.

34. Biggest annoyance right now? Deadlines.

35. Last song listened to? Currently: "Forever my Friend" by Ray Lamontagne

36. Can you say the alphabet backwards? Maybe, but not quickly.

37. Do you have a maid service clean your house? Have you seen my house?

38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Ballet flats.

39. Are you jealous of anyone? Sure.

40. Is anyone jealous of you? I wouldn't rule it out but I can't imagine why.

41. Do you love anyone? Absolutely

42. Do any of your friends have children? Yes and it still freaks me out.

43. What do you usually do during the day? Whatever I have to.

44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now? I dislike people

45. Do you use the word 'hello' daily? Not really

46. What color is your car? No car (sad face).

47. Do you like cats? I'm allergic.

48. Are you thinking about someone right now? Always.

49. Have you ever been to Six Flags? Of course, and I'm terrified of rides.

50. How did you get your worst scar? My cousin slammed my finger in the door.

Marcel Duchamp, The Air of Paris

I saw an exhibit at the Centre Pompidou when I was in Europe that centered around this piece. I had never heard of it before but I thought it had a beautiful simplicity. It was a gift that Duchamp gave to one of his friends. A pharmaceutical bottle that he emptied out and filled instead with the air of Paris. I really love his readymades and this one somehow feels like the most poetic.