It’s rather obvious that during this hectic (and rather profitable) holiday season for this period, the aid of modern technology is making its mark when it comes to shopping for goods and the way of obtaining them.
Leave it to the prime demographic marketers call “Generation Y” a.k.a. “Millennials”, that lead this pack as to how they shop, when and where they shop, and how that feel about the shopping experience. Now that the method of grabbing the goods are currently going in full tilt, other shoppers in other demographic are looking toward this young and eager bunch to shape this method that will be passed on through time and tide.
To briefly recap on who these Millennials are, this is a group of folks born after 1980. They were the first generation that grew up on high wired technology, from internet access to smartphones, electronic pads, and other devices that run wirelessly and boast a video screen attached. They are the ones chosen by marketers to push new product in the ways that are appealing to them. Never mind the fact that this demographic may be heavy in debt (mostly through college tuition loans from financial institutions and government bodies), but with their positive attitude they bring along, they are still the “gold standard” in terms of how things are consumed.
A recent report filed by MediPost, a news service that caters to those involved in marketing, stated that those involved in providing merchandise (and this is the time where everyone involved geared up for this season since last summer) noted that the Millennials can be dubbed the “Uber-consumer”, because they will shop under their terms and nothing else more.
For instance, when it comes to buying goods, it must be presented on demand. Generally speaking, they need it now! Not next week, not next month, but NOW! (The old standby “Allow thirty days for delivery” won’t cut it anymore!) Barnes & Noble recently joined forces with Google to offer same-day delivery for books in the form of the print variety, since e-books can be obtained in a matter of minutes upon order! And thanks to such applications as ApplePay, a system developed by Apple to enable those to pay for purchases via an app installed on their iPhone device, the way to shop for goods is just as easy as tapping on the phone’s glass screen! (As of press time, this method is only available on Apple’s iOS operating system. An Android version will be available soon!) Nevertheless, this way to buy becomes a whole lot easier!
And when it comes to making purchases, Millennials will have the tenancy to place experience in a purchases item rather than having the physical goods. For instance, this demographic will place an experience of let’s say, traveling somewhere a chose rather than buying more goods in relation to the old Keeping-Up-With-The-Joneses mentality that the Baby Boomers once made famous. Although the younger demographic desires to have the latest electronic gadget available, it’s the experience that really counts.
Of course, there are other factors in this shopping spree thing. Whatever the case and whatever the cause, when it comes to fulfilling retailer’s quotas for this season, it’s all about how to buy, where to buy, and when to make those purchases.
However, for those that do enjoy the experience to deck those malls, then so be it. One can’t beat all of the pomp and circumstance that a real life shopping mall complex has to offer, from those visits with “Santa” to hearing through the PA system those classic songs for the season that’s been around for 80+ years! Those tunes were once known as “Christmas songs”, but this is the post politically correct era, so one has to go with the flow! Don’t believe us? Just ask (or text) any Millennium aged shopper!
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NEWS AND REVIEWS
Impro Theatre presents TWILIGHT ZONE UNSCRIPTED-HOLIDAY EDITION, a fully improvised presentation that takes heavy inspiration from the style and method of Rod Serling’s television series The Twilight Zone–with some holiday cheer (or fear) added, and is currently performing at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre in Pasadena.
This is how this stage show works. A team of six or so performers of an even number gender mix play out a skit that is enacted in the same characteristic that was depicted in a standard Twilight Zone installment, akin to the character development, dialogue delivery, and stage blocking that is more adapt to a TV show of the era. (Characters speaking from far distances of one another interacting not necessarily face to face moving stage left and right, etc.) Donning outfits resembling 1950’s era ware decked in color schemes of various shades of black, white and blue-grey, these characters make up a T-Zone-type episode right before the audience’s eyes, only going with their wits as well as building the story based upon a called audience suggestion. (A named location where people gather for the holiday, an occupation common in a past era, etc.) Not only will the audience discover how the story begins, develops, and eventually ends, so will the performers as not one presentation has been prepared beforehand! Sometimes the themes will change. Other times story continuity will be set, broken off, and placed back together. Maybe the plot won’t make much sense! That’s when the “unscripted” part comes into play as these troupers are thinking on their feet–if not with their feet!
The Impro Theatre ensemble consisting of a rotating cast that features (listed in alphabetical order), Karl Coleman, Lisa Fredrickson, Kelly Holden-Basher, Brian Michael Jones, Stephen Kearin, Brian Lohmann, Nick Massouh, Jo McGinley, Dan O’Connor, Edi Patterson, Paul Rogan, Floyd VanBuskirk, Ted Cannon, Mike Rock, Ryan Smith, and Alex Staggs. This troupe executes four adventures (so to speak) of the TZ that has never been performed before, and will never be performed the same way ever again! Jo McGinley & Stephen Kearin directs these presentations that will take one into another dimension–with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Much of the humor seen will be intended or maybe not intended! The audience and the cast will make that decision!
As to the behind the scenes stuff, Sandra Burns provides the set and costume design. (The outfits are those three toned vintage looking apparel pieces, while the sets consists of a few silver colored metal chairs and nothing else!) Leigh Allen designs the lighting effects (for lack of physical sets), and Alex Caan improvised the sounds, adding dramatic music score beds as the plot thickens and elaborates.
For those that caught the Impro Theatre’s recent shows as performed at The Falcon Theatre of late (see review of The Western Unscripted vol. 19, no. 36, and Twilight Zone Unscripted vol. 18-No. 36), one will experience a totally different show as previous, this time in an intimate stage space. And if one wanted to sit through a newly discovered Twilight Zone marathon, then one can do so by pulling through every performance for the entire run at four episodes per stage show. (One can do the math for the grand total!) Wherever the story will take the audience, it will always wind up in (where else?)….the Twilight Zone! (Doo-doo-doo-doo…)
TWILIGHT ZONE UNSCRIPTED HOLIDAY EDITION, presented by Impro Theatre, and performs at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre located upstairs at The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 South El Molino Avenue (at Colorado Blvd.), Pasadena, until December 21st. Showtimes are Thursday through Saturday nights at 8:00 PM, with matinees Saturdays at 4:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. No performance on Thursday, December 11th. For tickets, call (626) 356-7529, or via the Impro Theatre’s web site at http://www.ImproTheatre.com
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Performing at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre in Hollywood is John Cariani’s ALMOST, MAINE, consisting of an anthology of short plays that take place in the name community during the coldest part of the year.
Its setting is in Almost, Maine–a town that almost came to become one. It’s called such because nobody ever got around to establish this village, hence its title. Here, a group of folks dwelling within this community hold a common thread, not necessarily aware that others among themselves share this boundary. (More on that boundary in a moment!) The stories from this town that almost became one consist of a woman wishing a virtual farewell journey for her late husband by way of the northern light and the man that she encounters in his back yard, a woman meeting a past friend in a bar during her bachelorette party, two guys drinking along a frozen lake sharing their “bromance”, a man that creates a pair of journals of what can’t hurt him and what he is suppose to fear and the woman that accosts this (set among a laundry room inside a boarding house), and other mini sagas that showcase the previously noted boundary that is in actuality, the strongest of all human emotions: The emotion of love and what is brings to those that experience it or lack thereof!
This theater piece written by playwright John Cariani consists of a series of skits that recants with love, from falling into, falling out of, gaining, losing, and bringing everything back home; a home that can be physical or virtual. Although much of what these short plays depicted falls into the comical side of things, there are a bit of sentiments interpreted as sadness, loss, pain and suffering, as well as hope and confidence where every sense rises to its occasion. These short tales stand alone for themselves, meaning that the characters portrayed in each episode (many do not necessarily hold character names mentioned), do not mingle with one another beyond their skits. Outside of the love related settlements expressed, they all take place in the humble hamlet where it’s winter and everyone is dressed to the nines! (Nine degrees fahrenheit and temps upward that is!)
A robust ensemble cast play these characters from northern Maine that consist of (as listed in their order of appearance), Laura Steigers, Cameron Fife, Martin Papazian, Natalie Avital, Alex Desert, Tyne Stecklein, Misa Moosekian, Persciliana Esparolini, Devin Crittenden, Peter Breitmayer, Samantha Sloyan, Travis Myers, John Lacy, Allison Tolman, Dan Warner, Marina Benedict, Steve Fite, Nell Teare, and Lester Purry. Martin Papazian directs this show that does tug on the heartstrings of small town life, even if that small town is far from anything and everything while showing off its big heart!
A special note goes to Joseph Hodges’ production design of the backdrops consisting of a few pieces that suggest a cabin facade, a set of barren trees, and a few indoor and outdoor fixtures (rocks, benches, etc.) decked out in a white or frosted scheme displaying the coldness of winter. Brittany Davidson’s costuming has every character dressed for the season from long johns to down filled parkas; the kind of dress that is fitting for the northeastern part of the nation where the air can have a chill to it all.
There are a number of morals that seem fitting to such a work called ALMOST, MAINE. Perhaps the most obvious one is the fact that no matter how many hearts are broken, each one can be mended even if it’s too damn cold outside! This show is a charmer indeed!
ALMOST, MAINE, presented by Pumpkin Eater Productions and performs at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. (between Hudson and Wilcox), Hollywood, until December 21st. Showtimes are Thursday through Saturday nights at 8:00 PM, and Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM. For ticket reservations, call (323) 928-2330, or online at http://www.plays411.com/AlmostMaine.
More details on this performance can be found at http://www.AlmostMaineLA.com
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TIFFI’S FRIENDS SAY…
(As posted on her Facebook “wall”)
Super productive morning. Caught up on a lot of emails, worked out, got dinner in crock pot, went to the grocery store, made it out of Target alive, finished shopping for daughter’s birthday, and found Christmas shirts and Santa hats for all 5 kids for Christmas parade this weekend. BAM! What’s next?
-Liliana
I was nagging my husband to tell me what he wants for Christmas, when he reminded me I hadn’t told him what I wanted. Since it’s also my birthday, I usually have a long list. I have one chance to get presents all year, so I better ask for good ones! I want a FitBit this year. What about you?
-Shana
I hope you told your son that “there is no such thing as magical elves that clean the house through the night” that’s what I tell my 3 teenagers LOL or I start calling out “WINSTON, WINSTON” then I ask my children if one of them fired our butler/cleaner cause our house is a mess (LOL) they just look at me and I give them angry eyes (lol) they get the hint LMAO Hope you enjoyed your break away, loved meeting you xoxox
-Penny
Dear local firefighters shopping at my grocery store and standing in the produce aisle saying things like “we need four bunches of parsley” and “don’t forget garlic and tomatoes”. Yes. Just…freaking yes.
-Kimberly
Teenage angst. It’s why I color my hair.
-Liz
As of December 8th, Tiffi as 2,490 “friends” and counting
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