It’s been reported here as well as through other countless media sources that Facebook is THE place to comment upon anything and everything that takes more than 140 characters to “speak” about! Call it the “water cooler of the ‘net”, where people (real or imaged) can rant and rave over whatever the user feels should be ranted and raved over! Be it a person, place, or thing; folks will do what they have to do in order for their friends (real or imagined) have to say about it all, in spite of the fact that many of those friends (or in some cases, people they “like”) have the desire to care about such raves.
The comment users tend to write about take a very large range toward its subject matter. Any authors that have Facebook accounts tend to rave about their latest book title, presenting play-by-play descriptions from the moment they begin to write their latest work, when its manuscript is complete, when the book will be released, and if they are out on such kind of press junket, they will state where they will do book singings, and even present web links on how one can purchase their own copy! (Many of “Tiffi”’s friends are small time authors, and it appears that they use their presence known in order to sell books!)
When it comes to larger scale media, people will tend to note about the kinds of movies they have seen and the types of TV shows they watch. Television appears to hold a bigger presence since there are more programs available to choose from, as well as the fact that they are more accessible. Recently, the show biz publication Variety noted that among the new programs that made its way in the new TV season, the ABC series Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD received some 1.13 million ‘interactions’ within two days of when the first episode aired. (An “interaction” is a comment, a post, and/or a ‘like” created by a person about the said program.) Fox’s Sleepy Hollow came in at second place with 932,000 interactions.
Apparently the networks and production companies do take heed to what people are raving about, since 99% of these interactions appear to be unsolicited; That is, nobody is paying anyone to “like” something or to sport out positive notations about a product or service. Even though Sleepy Hollow trailed behind Agents of SHIELD, and ranked ahead of The Crazy Ones (CBS) and The Blacklist (NBC) in interaction posts, the Fox network already gave the go-ahead to extend “Sleepy” for another season of episodes.
Not only television programming is present, so are the for noted household goods and services. Many brands have posts where people can “like” them. Of course, once a product and/or service has the user’s blessings, they can be bombarded with their ads toting their products. However, unlike ads that tend to be over aggressive, many of these ads offer coupons or premiums that may be beneficial to the “liker”. And some of these ads are created to be cute and charming, although one’s definition of “cute” can be another person’s version of “annoying”.
But leave it to any popular form of media where just about anyone and everyone tends to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to toting themselves for the good. Even this news service has its mark on this ever loving’ water cooler of the ‘net where we inform our “friends” just when our latest issue is available. We know of a good thing when it exists, so why not take advantage?
Cyber footprints as they are, getting the word out matters. Then again, many of those we tend to track sport out other news as well. To read more on the latest, see what Tiffi’s friends have to say this week! You’ll find that bit of details on the last page of this here edition! Enjoy!!
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NEWS AND REVIEWS
WHEN YOU WISH: THE STORY OF WALT DISNEY, a musical stage play about the beforehand life and times of the world’s greatest figure in animation, makes its world premier presentation at the Freud Playhouse on the UCLA campus.
The saga begins with Roy Disney (Andy Umberger) looking upon his brother Walt’s biggest creation; an Amusement park built on what was once acres of orange groves in Orange county, California. From there, the tale flashbacks to years before in the small Missouri town where he and his sibling Walter Elias grew up. Walt loved to draw, dreaming of a promising future. As the two got older growing into adulthood, he and Walt (Tim Martin Gleason) opened their animation studio called “Laugh-O-Gram Studios” in Kansas City. Due to Roy’s health conditions, he relocated to Los Angeles, California. Walt stayed behind, but struggled in his business. While working at his fledging company, he meets an ink and paint girl Lillian (Brandi Burkhardt). They become a romantic couple, wed, and meets up with Roy in California to form a new animation studio. After getting their first creation Oswald the Lucky Rabbit taken away from them by a rival studio, Walt decides to create another character to make up for the loss; a rodent named Mortimer. Lillian didn’t like the name, so the mouse received a new moniker, later becomes the first animated star to appear in “talkies”, and the world of cartoons would never be the same again!
This musical, with melody, lyrics, and book by Dean McClure, holds a music score that is lively, upbeat, and possesses a selection of catchy melodies. Much of the story told within this production is rather condensed. (The timeline ends at 1955-the moment when what was once called ‘Walt’s Folly’-Disneyland, became a huge hit!) Tim Martin Gleason as the named character keeps his talents high up as a performer and singer, and he vocalizes each of his numbers in a robust and somewhat light comical fashion. Andy Umberger as Roy isn’t that lively and it shows. He was mostly the brains of the studio, running the firm day in and out while Walt was on the creative side of things. Besides the vocals that brings this story to life, there is extensive dancing numbers added within presenting the scenic and stage atmosphere. Choreographer Lee Martino adds a display of modern dance throughout the presentation as well. Tom Buderwitz’s scenic design is simple yet effective; only a few selected pieces of furnishings that are slided out from the wings and back in again This component suggests the places each act is set. Adding to the stage sensories (and perhaps the best part of this musical) is Ariel Goldberg’s animation that resemble limited and rank visuals, along with Adam Flemming’s projecting design. These two elements bring forth the sense of reality and whimsey to the fantasy that Walk would create over the many years that followed and to come.
As for the music itself, David Siebels conducts the orchestra that gives this stage presentation its noted score. It’s not overdone, but adds a pleasant taking to its theme.
In addition to the above noted cast members, this show also features leads Melissa Fahn, Norman Large, Louis Pardo, and ensemble performers Jennifer Brasuell, Jake Davidson, Katy Harvey, Aurore Joly, Lorenzo King, David Michael Laffey, Morgan Marcell, Garrett Mashall, Kade Pait, Thomas Adoue Polk, Kirklyn Robinson, Nick Tubbs, Salvatore Vassallo, and Louis A. Williams.
Directed by Larry Rubin, WHEN YOU WISH is the first stage story of a man whose name is considered a leading brand of family friendly entertainment, along with characters loved by millions around the globe. In spite of this musical being about a Disney, the company and the estate gave the show its initial blessings, but didn’t become involved in its creation and production at all. In fact, not one Disney character is even depicted! However, just about everyone knows about Mickey, never asking the question “Mickey Who?”. Not bad for a man that made a mouse into a molehill–and then some!
WHEN YOU WISH, THE STORY OF WALT DISNEY, performs at the Freud Playhouse on the campus of UCLA-405 Hilgard Avenue (off Sunset Blvd.) Los Angeles, until November 3rd. Showtimes are Wednesday through Saturday nights at 8:00 PM, and matinees Saturday and Sundays at 2:00 PM. For tickets, contact the UCLA Central Ticket Office at (310) 825-2101, or through http://www.Ticketmaster.com.
Visit the official web sit at http://www.WhenYouWishMusical.com
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SUNNY AFTERNOON, Christian Levatino’s play of an investigation between a police captain and the suspect charge in what was long called the crime of the 20th century, makes its world premier at Theatre Asylum in Hollywood.
The setting is Dallas, Texas. The time is the third weekend of November, 1963. The location is the Dallas police station, where a young man named Lee Harvey Oswald (Andy Hirsch) has been charge with a hideous crime of shooting the sitting President of the USA. Police Captain William Fritz (Darrett Sanders) begins his investigation behind this crime. Lee, a man who once lived in the Soviet Union, has been known to have “Red” ties. It’s been hours since the event, so Fritz talks to the young man over bottles of Coca Cola (Lee’s favorite beverage) on football, “B” movies, his Italian made rifle he kept in the garage of where he boards a room, and just what occurred in Dealy Plaza. Although Lee claims his innocence, a parade of others wishing to talk to him from Secret Service agents, FBI “G-Men”, and fellow Dallas PD detectives, speak about many of the same subjects. Lee requests to have an attorney represent him, a New York lawyer named Howard Hunt (Mark St. Amant). Howard is the only one that speaks to his client alone outside of the group of those looking for a confession or a smidgen of guilt. The only question remains: Did Lee perform this task on his own, or are there others working behind the scenes, including this rather mysterious attorney?
This one act play takes upon an actual episode what what occurred when, and adds a heaping dose of conflict, pathos, and a conspiracy notion that, fifty years long after the fact, still lingers to this very day! Andy Hirsch as Lee plays his role as a meek and humble man, ready to defend himself in spite of what is known by the others. Darrett Sanders as Captain Fritz is a good ol’ boy Texan that is to the point through he still sports a down home personna, even donning a white Stetson. And the others in the cast featuring LQ Victor as Detective Elmer Boyd, Dustin Sisney as Detective Dick Simms, Patrick Flanagan as FBI Agent James Hosty, Jim Boslsen as FBI Agent James Bookout, Donnie Smith as Secret Service Agent Forrest Sorrels, Gil Glosgow as Police Chief Jesse Curry, Justin Welborn as Assistant DA Bill Alexander, Michael Franco as DA Henry Wade, with Marvin Gay as custodian Clarence Shoemake, and Janellen Steininger as postal inspector H. D. Holmes, make up those that were either witnesses or near witnesses to what occurred during the first three of the four days in November. Playwright Christian Levatino (who also directs) creates a piece that mixes an even blend of fact and fiction, or fact vs. fiction! It’s been acknowledged on what occurred, but the notions behind it all has been discussed, proven, misproven, and overall mentioned upon on and off for the last half century.
A special mention goes to David Maurer’s set design of the investigation room where the entire play takes place, complete with a file cabinet, a Steelcase desk, dial telephones, and bottles of Coke. (Although the preferred drink in the “Big D” was–and still is–Dr. Pepper!)
SUNNY AFTERNOON doesn’t necessarily reveal any “new” facts of who did what way back when, but shows a slice of history where time didn’t necessarily heal any and all wounds. To paraphrase a line connected to the beloved subject, “Ask not….”
SUNNY AFTERNOON, presented by The Gangbusters Theatre Company, performs at Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd. (at Lillian, one block west of Vine Street), Hollywood, until December 1st. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM, and Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM. For ticket reservations, call (800) 838-3006, or vin online at http://www.GangbustersTheatre.com
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The Glendale Centre Theatre presents Marcia Kash & Douglas E. Hughes’ A PARTY TO MURDER, a chilling tale of six selected players in a murder mystery game where the game itself becomes a reality-including the murder part.
Set within a cabin located on an isolated island within a small lake, six people coming from rather privileged backgrounds gather to play a game involving a murder. The one that solves this crime is awarded a rather elaborate prize. This game, played annually on Halloween night, consist of these half dozen players; Valerie Addison (Libby West), and her younger sister Henri (Tosca Minotto), both hires to an electrical utility; McKenzie Arnold (Kristine Blackport) a super model; Willy Yaskovitch (Jim Van Over) a former pro football player confined to a wheelchair from a recent auto accident, and Elwood O’Callaghn (Tom Allen), a business mogul. They are there under the guise of murder mystery writer Charles Prince (Nicholas Thurkettle), who has been throwing parties such as this one for a while. During their stay at this lonely cabin during a dark and stormy night, one of the players is found with an hatchet affixed at the chest! Not only the question of “whodunnit” remains, but what is the motive to the murder? Is this linked to a mysterious disappearance of five other well-to-do people who vanished without a trace in the same area a quarter century before? And what about a secret society gathering that once met within the same location? Why did the killing take place? And who’s next? Before the night is over, someone will either be found dead, or they will live to tell this chilling tale of mystery, intrigue, and of course, a hideous death!
This play takes homage to Agatha Christie, the number one creator of yarns involving death, murder, and the art of bumping somebody off! In this play written by playwrights Marcia Kash & Douglas E. Hughes, it has all of the classic twists and turns, including the notion of secret passageways, burning evidence in fireplaces, and the for noted dark stormy nights–the only kind of evenings where a good kill is ideal! The cast of six performers are pleasant to witness, as each one shows as a player that is just as serious in their character as they would be as droll comedy relief. Zoe Bright directs this play that is just as much fun. There will be a few surprises involved, so expect to be thrilled off one’s seat. And since the time is drawing near to All Hallow’s Eve, this kind of stage performance is the treat with the tricks!
As to the technical side of things, Nathan J. Milisavljevich and Jim Van Over’s set design shows a cozy looking living room/den area, complete with over sized chairs and a fireplace. Kim Overton’s costuming has every character done down pat to what they are, and what they might become. (Dead perhaps?)
Leave it to this theater to present its time tested roster of family friendly plays and musicals to once again hit their mark in shows as performed within a theater-in-the round stage, where there is never a “bad” seat in the house! Not being “bad” is actually “good”, and that notion is favorable indeed!
A PARTY TO MURDER, presented by and performs at The Glendale Centre Theatre, 324 North Orange Street, Glendale, until November 23rd Showtimes are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM, Saturday matinees at 3:00 PM, with added Sunday afternoon performance on October 27th at 3:00 PM.
For reservations or information, call (818) 244-8481, or visit the web site at http://www.GlendaleCentreTheatre.com
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TIFFI’S FRIENDS SAY…
(As posted on her Facebook “wall”)
Still struggling with sadness. I have been home all day, and the house is so quiet. No Beagle noises, no toenails clicking across the floor, no one to slurp up the things that have fallen on the floor. I miss Buzzy so much. I really didn’t expect to feel quite like this. My heart hurts. Thanks to all of you for your words of sympathy. Keep praying for Jeff and I as our hearts are still broken.
-Becki
Boy, I’m sick and tired of this cough. New meds, hope they help! Had our earthquake drill at school. Went well! Glad it was before this deluge!!
-Janyce
I should have never came to Kentucky in the first place. Why i do the things i do is beyond me
-Taylor
Sick last night and stayed home today. Great rest!
-Virelle
Well I’m officially an employee at Sears
-Erin
As of October 21st, Tiffi has 1,853 Facebook “friends” and counting!
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