The ‘Coolest’ Musical in the Valley

Get Ready to ‘Take a Chance Again’ on an original musical that melts together the holiday classic tale of "Frosty the Snowman" and the songs of the legendary Barry Manilow. Add the laugh-out loud and witty improvisations of the Troubadours and ‘It Could Be Magic‘.

Roars of laughter were heard at the Falcon Theater in Burbank on Friday night, as the Troubie’s debuted their original rendition of “Frosty the Snow Manilow”. The fresh and always innovative comedy troupe continues to put a creative twist on the timeless holiday television special by Bass & Rankin.  In typical tradition, we follow a group of quirky kids as they build a snowman after school. This isn’t just any snowman, there is something special about this pile of winter snow. Frosty becomes animated once a magical hat is place upon his head and he begins to dance around. Staying true to the program, Frosty’s first words are “Happy Birthday”. And Happy Birthday is a correct expression for this evening. This marks the 10th “birthday” of the Troubadours performing their whimsical and original renditions of beloved holiday stories.

Well, no story would be complete without the antagonist, the sneaky magician plots to get his hat back at any cost. Going off script kept the play light and fun, with jokes that poked fun at current events, such as, Tiger Woods infidelity, the White House party crashers, and even added quick jabs about the narrator’s colorful acting career. The audience was constantly engaged in the program because the one thing the Troubies do well is eliminating the fourth wall barrier. They march through the audience, grabbing purses and personal items to keep the energy alive and relish in the “shock and awes” and the moans and groans of the crowd.

The holiday musical that aptly defines the title combines classic tunes from Manilow’s catalog, including hits like, “I Write the Songs”, “Mandy”, and “Ready to Take a Chance”. The famous “Copacabana” gets a name change to “Greenhouse Cabana”, a huge and well-executed choreographed number full of high energy and thrills. Giving credit to the love-song crooner’s beginnings as a very successful jingle writer, the cast incorporated routines to the famous tunes he created for Coca Cola, McDonalds, and Band-AIDS during brief commercial breaks throughout the play.

This one-of-a-kind musical masterpiece couldn’t be pulled off with just any talent. This all-star cast is a blending of new faces and veterans to the acting world. The musical was brilliantly written by Matt Wells, who also played the conniving and murky magician. Wells is a veteran to this venue and his professional stage prescence was apparent with his ability to interact with the audience, nail every dance step, and literally pull a rabbit out of his hat. Speaking of rabbits, there would be no accuracy to the script without Hocus Pocus, the overtly sex-crazed rabbit who loves charades and humping anything that walked was played by the sensational Lorin Shapiro. Paul C. Vogt is originally clever as the lovable title character whose personality is far from chilly. His quick witted comments and banter with a young school girl named Karen, played by the talented Christine Lakin kept the audience in stitches. (If that name sounds familiar, she played Suzanne Sommers stepdaughter in the ABC comedy, “Step by Step” in the ‘90’s.) Lakin doesn’t miss a beat transitioning from bratty school girl to female lead with ease. Mixing even more originality into the storyline we meet the Winter Warlock performed by Beth Kennedy who steals the show with her unforgettable high-pitch voice and elaborate sparkly suit that covered stilts making her tower over the rest of the cast.

Rick Batalla could definitely land a gig as a Manilow impersonator in Vegas. His impeccable vocal styling sounded so much like the love-song legend that if you closed your eyes, you’d think Barry himself was belting out the tunes. Batalla went from post office worker to Jack Frost and was right on point with every note.

Casting seasoned actor, Jack McGee as the cranky, sarcastic narrator was genius. McGee is best known for his character of Chief Jerry Reilly on FX’s “Rescue Me”, aside from his lengthy imdb credits. The  play pokes fun at McGee’s acting career in a playful manner, with mentions of his appearances on everything from MacGyver to Basic Instinct. McGee does double duty in professional style, as he transforms from the ornery storyteller to hip-hop Santa.

To round out the sensational cast, the Troubadours were accompanied by their amazing band led by Eric Heinly. The band added the sound effects for every character’s thought, movement, and emotion. Costumer, Sharon McGunigle brought the cast to life with each character’s whimsical ensemble, while Sherry Santillano created the beautiful two-dimensional town to life with her creative set. The character of Karen was perfectly precise as the television show adorned from head to toe in her orange coat and fuzzy earmuffs that kept her true to the storybook tale. Nadine Ellis and Ameenah Kaplan choreographed the show and gave even the mellowest Manilow tunes a makeover that kept the steps inventive and new.

TWAS THE STYLIST NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Thanks to Michael for coming up with this cute little Christmas poem for me. It's very clever!

Twas the stylish night before Christmas, when all through this fashion house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The Wolford stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The fashionistas were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of Louboutins, Jimmy Choo, and Balenciaga danced in their heads;

And I was dressed in my cute Victoria Secret jammies, and cute Gucci cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.



Hundreds of men dressed all in black, with their cameras they flashed,

And I threw on my Marc Jacobs dress, the one with the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But lots of cameras, and more than eight paparazzi, I fear

These guys were so lively, so clever, and quick,

I thought in a moment, where's Ashton, is this a trick?

More rapid than eagles their coursers they came,

And they whistled, and shouted, and called instructions the same;



Now, here! now, over there! and look over the shoulder, you little Vixen!

On, Come here! Pretend to kiss Cupid! Oh, give us a twirl and do a split-zen!

To the top of the head! to the tip of the toe!

Now flash away! flash away! flash away all!


Baffled and Confused, I didn't know if I should be flattered or cry,

But before I could blink, I realized they weren't after me, they were after the big guy!

So up to the house-top the paparazzi they flew,

To capture photos of the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.



And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I glanced at my Cartier watch on my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.



He was dressed all in faux fur, and Prada from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were clean, he avoided the ashes and soot;

A bundle of fashion finds he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a fashion maven just opening his Louis Vuitton pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled like Clooney.

His dimples like Mario Lopez., how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The beautiful red rose that he held tight in his teeth,

And the Tiffany ornaments; he began to decorate the wreath;

He had a GQ face and a dark tan, that was fake

His cute lil body shook, like Kelis's "Milkshake".



He was handsome and dapper, a right jolly old man,

And I laughed when I saw him, he was such a ham;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;



He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings with stylish goodies; then turned with an erk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,

'Have a Stylish Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!'

WHY MEN CHEAT ON HOT WOMEN?

When we found out that Tiger Woods has had affairs, it was hard not to wonder if he'd lost his mind. What reason could there be for him to risk losing his wife, the smoking-hot former model Elin Nordegren? Although we don't know the behind-the-scenes details of their marriage, infidelity experts say it's not surprising that guys like Tiger indulge in sideline action. As it turns out, the reasons guys are unfaithful are rarely about the sex itself, but because cheating fuels a deep psychological need. "Several factors make some men more likely to stray, even if they are dating or married to a beautiful woman," says Don-David Lusterman, PhD, author of Infidelity: A Survival Guide.

The first factor at work is the man's level of success. Guys in high-profile, powerful positions — such as celebrities, athletes, business executives, and politicians — often have a sense of superiority and entitlement. "These guys have achieved a certain status, and bedding several attractive women further reinforces it in their mind," says Lusterman. Moreover, these men are constantly on the road, away from their girlfriends and wives. At the same time, their prominence attracts a slew of hot chicks who offer no-strings-attached sex. "They may have a wonderful partner waiting at home, but the situation they're in, coupled with their role of pursuer, makes it that much easier to cheat," adds Lusterman.
But celebs aren't the only snakes. Plenty of regular guys are unfaithful too, especially when their backgrounds condone it. Many two-timers come from chauvinistic cultures or families where their fathers cheated. “There are internal blueprints (created by watching our parents) that make cheating more of an option for some guys,” according to Dr. Debbie Magids, author of All the Good Ones Aren’t Taken. Also, men who were ignored as children often develop deep trust issues, which can make long-term relationships really difficult. “Chronic cheating is rooted in an emotional emptiness that can give people the need to feel constantly desired,” she says.
Then there are guys whose bad behavior is actually a mental disorder. Sex addicts, for example, are so enslaved to the rush of sexual activity that they have affairs, visit prostitutes, and consume porn. "Ironically, many of them have happy relationships and feel guilty for cheating, but they can't stop," says Lusterman. Someone with narcissistic personality disorder, on the other hand, can't resist the temptation because he is obsessed with being adored.
Guys who have such extreme compulsions need psychiatric help. But just because a guy fits some of the other categories doesn't mean he'll automatically cheat. "It's important to pay attention to the warning signs, but whether a man will stray or not boils down to his level of honesty within the relationship and his loyalty to you," says Lusterman.

Q&A about FASHION STYLING

I was recently approached by high school student, Elizabeth Perez about participating in a small interview for a project she was working on. She was asked by her HS instructor to select a person in a field that she is interested. She selected me, which I am very flattered to have been chosen.

Here are the questions, . . .

1. Have you always had the passion for this type of career? I have loved fashion since I was a child. I use to make Barbie’s clothes and I use to sit by the tv and watch the award show red carpet and sketch dresses. So I’d say, yes, the fashion bug bit me as a young child.
2. Why did you pursue this career? I pursued this career by going to college and obtaining a Fashion Design degree and also by working retail A LOT! I wanted to make sure I knew about clothes, how they fit people, and how they made people feel.
3. Why is this career interesting to you? Being a fashion stylist is interesting to me because there is never a dull moment and the client you are dressing changes from day to day. I enjoy spontaneity and thinking on my feet. Creativity is the spice of life!
4. What do you like the most about your job? I love the clothes, . . .you really wouldn’t get into this career if you didn’t. I love couture, ready-to-wear, basics, lingerie-- you name it! I am virtually obsessed.
5. Do you think that your career life style is what you thought it would of been? Yes, and no. At first, I think the biggest misconception with my career lifestyle is that you instantly become wealthy. Styling is a skilled trade where you have to apprentice or intern, so prepare to eat a lot of PB & J and Ramen noodles. But just like everything that is worth it in life, if you can stick it out, you will definitely reap the benefits of having a solid paycheck and waking up every morning excited! There is no money in the world that can buy that happiness!
6. What are some of the specific things you need to know to go into this career? Specific skills that you need to know before pursuing a career in fashion styling is the body, how clothing drapes on it, what fits works on which body type, what colors accentuate certain skin and hair colors, how to NETWORK (this one would be the one I would say is most important, to be successful, you have to be able to be creative, business-minded, and a people person.
7. How many hours a week/weekends too do you work? Too many, ha. Just kidding, I love my career and wouldn’t trade it for the world. But you do work weekdays and weekends, there is always an event to go to in Hollywood, NY, Vegas, etc. Jokingly, I get referred to as the Fashion Doctor because I am on-call 24-7.
8. Do you have enough time for you and your family or is this a 24/7 job? This is very close to a 24/7 job, but the beauty of being freelance is that you make your own schedule, so if you are great at time management you can juggle family and friends and work!
9. How do you deal with stress, if any. 
Every job has their stressful peaks, award season is a stressful time of year for all stylists. For me, in the morning before my conference calls to NY or client appointments, I make sure I make time to workout. Keeping a healthy balance of work and you is crucial to maintaining a level of happiness.
10. If you could give me career advice that you thought could really help me, what would it be?
Work! Get a job working retail at a major department store. Work as a retail associate and learn about customers. Build relationships with people by creating confidence in clothing. Know fabrics, fits, and silhouettes of bodies. Read. Pick up fashion magazines and read. Know your designers. Learn why a Marc Jacobs dress could never be mistaken for a Versace or a DVF (Diane Von Furstenberg). Then apprentice/intern with a known fashion stylist to see if you can really handle the long hours and the long days on shoots.

NICOLE RITCHIE KNOWS HER ABC

Mike Guastella/Getty Images
It's not an easy thing to transition from reality TV to scripted fare (just ask everyone who ever had higher ambitions than starring on The Hills), but Nicole Richie is ready to make the leap.
The popular tabloid personality, famous for being famous as well as for her five seasons on The Simple Life with then-best friend Paris Hilton, has signed a deal with ABC to star in a half-hour comedy.
According to Variety, the pilot for the as-yet-untitled show is based on Richie's original idea and will be written by 30 Rock scribe Daisy Gardner and executive produced by Warren Bell and Jamie Tarses. (Bell is a nice fella best known for surviving seven seasons as the show runner of the much-maligned Jim Belushi comedy According to Jim; Tarses ran ABC for three years in the 1990s.)
But enough business chit-chat! What does Richie herself have to say about all this?
Richie posted about the new project on her blog, stating, "I am so excited to announce that I am officially working on a television project! I am creating a half hour scripted comedy ABC in which I will be starring in, as well as producing.
"The story revolves around a young, modern and professional woman who must balance her business and family relationships. She must deal with, and navigate the many ideas of what a woman's role is: modern vs. traditional.
"Lately, I have been surrounded by many different women of all ages and walks of life. It amazes me to watch and observe how many different ideas there are about what a woman's role should be in this era. I've taken these fascinating ideas, and compiled them into something that I think will be very special (and funny!). We're still in the very early stages and I can't wait to share more with you soon!"
If all goes according to the typical TV schedule, Richie's show will shoot a pilot this spring, and if ABC likes what it sees in that sample episode, the series would presumably be picked up to premiere as part of the Alphabet's fall 2010 lineup.
Richie was pretty cute in that Chuck episode she did last year, but do you think she can shoulder her own show? And how would you expand the general theme of "contemporary womanhood" into a practicable idea for a continuing TV series? Tell us in the comments!