Oh, friends. Let me tell you about my Tuesday night just over the river in Cincinnati. 

I was invited by Broadway in Cincinnati to opening night of The Band's Visit. This is a play I was not familiar with but when I saw photos and read a little synopsis, I thought I should invite my oldest son to come as my guest and enjoy a night at the theater with him. I'm SO glad I did.

My oldest boy is in Marching Band, is very interested in music and loves being exposed to different styles. This was an incredible opportunity for him to enjoy that and be wrapped up in a charming story at the same time.

So, a brief synopsis of this story is that this story is about a Police Band that ends up in Israel instead of Egypt. They encounter locals who open their homes to the band and in doing so, they share their stories with their visitors and the audience. 

I was spellbound at the overture and was completely enchanted by each turn of the page in this play's storytelling.  

A favorite story for me was from the scene in the photograph above. Avrum, the man standing at the table, is telling his story of finding love and does so with a song. His song and expression made my face light up and put happy tears in my eyes. I found myself remembering my own version of what he was sharing and wished I could get up on stage and dance around with him. 

Yes, each story will move you in a different way and you will be completely charmed off your seat as you're wrapped up in stories, and interlude, and foreign yet familiar prose.

I felt like I was fast friends with each character and I was rooting for all of them in unique ways. Isn't that the effect of beautiful storytelling? 

And when the curtain call comes, don't rush out the door! Stay and have a seat and listen to the amazing talent of the band as they perform a piece together for the audience. At one point, I leaned over to my son and said "This is insane! They're amazing!!". And my son smiled big and said "Yah. They are. Those people who left early are missing the best part."

And since we can all agree that teenagers are usually good for telling it like it they see it, (like it or not) you should probably just take his word for it and enjoy the "best part" of the play. ;) 

In all seriousness, I want to encourage you to go see this play while it's in town. On their Instagram feed, ( @broadwaycincy ) you will find information for rush tickets should you qualify for a discount.  It is worth your time. I already want to see it again. 

*As always, thanks to Broadway in Cincinnati for the complimentary tickets in exchange for a review and social media sharing*

~Amy

The Band's Visit In Cincinnati June 19 - 24 (Review)

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Tuesday night I was in Cincinnati at the Aronoff Center for opening night of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird. Oh, and how I enjoyed the beauty and pain of the story told.

I remember this story from my youth. My class read the book together and then after our book study, we watched the movie. I remember being in agony and crying at the hatred some of the characters spewed throughout the story. I was curious how that memory would hold up to this encounter with a stage performance. 

I'm happy to tell you that the adaptation for stage allows for a little more levity than I remember feeling years ago with the book study. Now, this is not a levity that takes away from the story at all. I think it's there to keep the audience with the cast as they move through the heavy and hard truths of racism. 

There were times I sat a bit squeamish in my seat. I wanted to stand up and yell at the awful words I heard.  I wanted to defend Tom Robinson and comfort Calpurnia and quite honestly, I wanted to have a parental pow-wow with Atticus. 

All of that is to say that this story is still so relevant today. And while we have made strides as a nation over the years, hate still brews in the heart of man and people still need defending. I would encourage everyone I know (and their older kiddos) to go see this play and use it as a springboard for a conversation. 

Ok. Now that I've shared my heart with you. Let me share 2 fun little bits of info with you. 

1. I grew up in the 80's and we watched a couple television shows together as a family. One of those shows was The Waltons. Look very closely at Atticus in the photo above. Do you recognize him? (Hint: "Goodnight John-boy"). Yep! Richard Thomas! He's amazing on stage. You will really enjoy his take on Atticus Finch. 

2. I mentioned earlier that we watched the movie of To Kill A Mockingbird as a class after we read the book. That movie was made in the 70's and had a girl named Mary Badham in the role of young Scout. In this play, you'll see her in the role of Mrs. Henry Dubose.  I wonder how much fun she has yelling at Scout after having filmed in that role as a girl. What a neat, full-circle moment. 

Click on any of the stock images to be taken to Broadway in Cincinnati's page where you can buy tickets. The play is running through June 12, 2022. And if you head to my Facebook page, you'll see an image posted there where you can learn how to get discounted tickets. 

Perhaps, one day, I'll see you at the theater. :)

Amy

Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird Takes The Stage In Cincinnati (Review)

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 **I was given complimentary tickets in exchange for my honest review and social media shares. Thanks, Broadway in Cincinnati!**

    

    FROZEN. As in...the play based on that one movie that was played on repeat in my house as my 2 little girls acted out every scene. The soundtrack that probably was played to death in my van's CD player because I haven't seen it in a long time and have no living idea where it went. The characters, the costumes, the one-liner's, the laughter, and the memories all live in that one title; FROZEN. 

    Those memories are years ago. That's probably true for many of you, too. Us mamas had to learn to "Let it go" and bring in all the dolls and costumes and plush Olafs and Svens. It makes me laugh with the best memories of some of the most joyous times. 

    Last night those memories warmed my heart again as my now 12 year old daughter and I headed into Cincinnati to see the story as told on the stage. This was her first experience seeing a Broadway play and it was the best introduction for her and I to share together. (And yes, she's hooked and wants to see more plays now.)

Disney does not disappoint. That probably doesn't need to be said but I need you to know how much I appreciated this production's every detail. 

Lights, sounds, vibrant hues, snow, ice out of thin air, summer, dancing, a little bit of you, hygge (it's a thing)  and...Samantha?

    Anyway, it's all there. FROZEN is a feast for your eyes and a callback to all the things you remember and love about Disney. My daughter was spotting hidden Mickeys and saying all the "Mom! Did you see...?" things. 

    We laughed hard and at one point or another I was digging through my handbag to find the Kleenex. We boo'd loudly at Hans (maybe more than once) and so badly wanted to hug Olaf.

    What's best of all is while visiting old memories, we were making new ones. That, all by itself, is the true "Magic of Disney".

    Oh, and of course, Elsa is a true queen and her costume change will absolutely slay you. (Actually, the entire "Let it go" performance and effects will make you nearly "burst from the inside out".) Every song, every dance sequence, every costume and set change...it's all perfect and amazing and so worth seeing in person. 

    Please, oh please, tell me you're going to grab tickets and see this while it's in town. Take your kiddos. (There were so many tiny Elsa's at the show last night.) Or take your best buddy. This musical is for all ages and will bring you to your feet with cheers. You can click on any of the FROZEN images in this post to be taken to the website where you can learn more and get your tickets. 

    GO!

    ~Amy

A Night With Disney's FROZEN in Cincinnati (Review)

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Last night was an extremely fun night for me. I was invited to attend the opening night of "Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations" at the Aronoff Center. 

When I tell you all this production is GOOD, I mean "I wish I had tickets to go see the play again tonight." In short, I had a blast and it's a night I wouldn't mind reliving. 

I grew up just north of Detroit and Motown music is a very big deal. I was so, so proud to hear the story of the Temptations and learn about what Detroit meant to them. Seeing the words "Fox Theater" made me smile the biggest smile. 

When I sat down to watch this play, I honestly didn't know what to expect. I didn't do any research to learn about the broadway production. I didn't even look up the soundtrack (which isn't the norm for me but I had been busy this past week). Y'all. This play...

I was dancing in my seat, trying not to sing along too loudly. I was cheering and fan-girling. I was grinning ear to ear as I watched The Temptations come to be. 

There were parts of the play when I clutched my chest and cried and times when I celebrated and laughed. This journey is well worth the taking!

The cast perfectly showcases the pure talent, dedication and captivating qualities of The Temptations. They ARE the group and they're artistry will absolutely blow you away.

Now, I'm going to need them to host a dance camp and teach me some of those moves. ;) LOL

~Amy
 

Review: Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations in Cincinnati

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**I received complimentary tickets from Broadway in Cincinnati in exchange for my honest review. 

I was a guest last night at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati, OH to see opening night of the Broadway revival, My Fair Lady. 

This touring production is currently in Cincinnati until February 20th and it is a "DO NOT MISS" if you're a broadway fan. 

This particular storyline is one I watched and learned as a little girl. I so badly wanted to be Eliza Doolittle, and so, my little bedroom became my stage. I would sing "I could have danced all night" over and over again. Last night, I had the pleasure of listening to that song and other beloved tunes sung by the most talented bunch of actors. Quite honestly, I was checking my playbill to see if Shereen Ahmed (Eliza) had also played Christine in Phantom of the Opera before. She has not but I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen some day. Her voice is so pure and dynamic.

There are so many laugh-out-loud moments in this play and others that are heartwarming. Still, the underlying theme of individual, human value cannot be missed. Eliza's story offers a bit of a "chin up" encouragement to those who feel overlooked and undervalued. We are more than our appearance. We are more than our career. Eliza shows us how important it is that we see others as people with feelings first. 

One of my favorite laughs of the play is ACT I, Scene 6: "Outside a club tent, Ascot". Over and over again, I was giggling and laughing out loud. The stoic faces of those attending the race mixed with Eliza's "small talk" and cheering for Dover was perfection. I loved every second of this scene. 

Really, I could go on and on but I'm going to have to leave the rest to you. 

Get your tickets and fill the seats of the Aronoff for this beautiful production. You'll be glad you did. You may even leave thinking you could have "danced all night", too. 

~Amy

My Fair Lady Revival - Simply Loverly {Review}

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I didn't know how much I missed seeing plays until last night.

And if I can be totally honest with you, (we're still on "keep it real" terms, right?) I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this musical. 

Yes, I've long been a fan of the movie Pretty Woman. Julia Roberts & Richard Gere... I mean, what's not to love about that pair? But it does leave some pretty big shoes to fill, right? (If you're Vivian, that would be a size 9.)

Walking into the theatre, I was saying "They better not miss some of the big one-liners of the movie. Like when Kit is cheering Vivian on saying 'Work it. Own it.' If that's missing, I'm just going to be disappointed."

Before the play began, we were greeted by Elizabeth from Broadway Across America. She talked about how long the theater sat empty while they waited to be allowed to open it back up. She excitedly welcomed us back and thanked the subscribers and sponsors for all their support. People cheered in response. Some even stood. If you love the theater like I do, you understand how exciting it is to actually get to sit in that velvet chair again.

On with the play review. I mean, that's what you really want to hear, isn't it? 

If you love the movie Pretty Woman, you're really going to enjoy the musical. Really and truly. They handle the retelling of the story so well. The music and costumes fit the late 80's vibe perfectly. They invite you into that 1989 Lotus and drive you right back in time to where it all began.

Olivia Valli (Vivian) and Adam Pascal (Edward) have amazing chemistry (as they should) and I believe that you will find yourself falling in love with their love story all over again. Adam and Olivia both had moments on stage that were just like watching Julia and Richard in the film. While they make the characters their own, they nod to their origins. Beautifully, beautifully done!

YES! The one-liners are there and executed so perfectly. Each one made me smile so big when I heard it. Come back and tell me how many you counted when you see it and which is your favorite.

Again, I have to talk about the music. I.LOVED.IT. It was the perfect compliment to the storyline and the vocal talent of the entire cast was top notch. It has a familiar feel (for us "oldies" lol) and honestly made me wish I had bought some black over the knee boots to wear to the play. I wanted to be part of what I was watching and hearing. 

Special Callouts:

Y'all, keep your eyes on Kyle Taylor Parker (Happy Man) during the play. Actually, scratch that. You won't be able to miss him. He's a man of many hats, or dance shoes? And he is hysterical. He honestly had me laughing out loud a few different times. He moves the story along while he's best friends with the audience. I loved watching him.

Matthew Vincent Taylor plays Giulio and was another favorite of mine to watch. He puts so much energy into his role and had me looking forward to when I would get to see him again in another scene. He's just delightful. 

Amma Osei is Violetta. She was the star of the opera scene. Y'all, she had me absolutely covered in goosebumps when she sang. I won't soon forget her voice or how she absolutely stole the show. 

OK. That's enough from me. What you need to be doing is heading over to the Broadway in Cincinnati website and grabbing your tickets. DO NOT MISS this play while it's in town. Grab your bestie and get there. You won't regret it. 

**I was gifted tickets to the show in exchange for my review.

Broadway in Cincinnati is BACK with Pretty Woman (review)

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**Thanks to the PR firm who provided complimentary tickets to view the show in exchange for my review following the show. I received no other compensation. The thoughts and opinions shared are mine and mine alone. Others may disagree.**

Ladies and Gentlemen, as my new friend Yente would say, "I have such news for you!"
You're all invited to a wedding! Yes, there will be a wedding all wrapped up in a very sweet time of deep tradition and family values.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has arrived in Cincinnati's Aronoff Center for shows from January 15-27 (2019).

I had the pleasure of attending opening night of this production last night and had such a great time. The cast brought to life everything we know and love of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. The music, the dancing, the lighthearted moments, and family values came through in rich tones that kept me sitting comfortably as their story was unfolding. The characters quickly felt like family friends and I found myself admiring the similarities and differences between us.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is a celebration of traditions and the way things used to be for a specific group of people. The story is captivating and vulnerable as viewers are invited to see life through a different lens in a different time and place. I left appreciating some of my own values in a new way, inspired to grow individually, and laughing (still) at some of the scenes that had the whole audience in stitches.

photo credit: Broadway in Cincinnati

I have to call out Tevye, played by Yehezkel Lazarov, as the extra twinkle in the spotlight last night. Lazarov had an uncanny similarity to Chaim Topol, who played Tevye in the movie production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. He was larger than life, with a bit of clever wit and endearment tucked beneath the brim of his cap. Lazarov was made for the role he played and deserved the standing ovation he received at the curtain call.

photo credit: Broadway in Cincinnati

Head to Broadway In Cincinnati for more information and tickets. This is one you don't want to miss! 

Broadway in Cincinnati Welcomes Fiddler On the Roof (review)

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