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Hollywood vs. The Stage

        In recent months going to the theatre has become a way to see a celebrity transition from the big screen and the television screen to the hallowed stages of Broadway and off Broadway theatres. Directors and producers and even Playwrights are jumping on the bandwagon of having a big name reel in the ticket sales for their shows. After seeing three shows in the past four months that have upheld this new standard of entertainment, it got me thinking, is this better or worse for the likes of theatre in general?

           Sure, it is opening a new door for the not-so-regular theatregoer. Luring them in with a big name hoping they’ll come for the celebrity and stay for the theatre, but I can’t imagine that it is helping the actors who would have had the chance to audition for the parts that were gracefully handed over to celebrities on a silver platter. Not to mention the three celebrities I have seen have been sub-par at best and easily could have been done better with an actor trained for the stage.

           A few months ago I saw Cabaret with Emma Stone. I’ll admit, I fell into the trap of going to a show that I wouldn’t have had further interest in had it not been for Stone taking the part of Sally Bowles. When the show started, I was infatuated with the idea of being in the same room as someone I have adored in countless movies until her performance was lacking in experience and theatrical knowledge. However the box office expressed different reviews. In an article posted on Variety.com, ticket sales and show attendance spiked as high as the “tourist-fueled weeks of summer” bringing the show to some of it’s best numbers yet (Gordon Cox, Variety.com).

           In February I saw The Heidi Chronicles and didn’t know until he showed up on stage that Jason Biggs from the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black was playing Scoop Rosenbaum. His performance was uncomfortable on a stage at best and it was clear this was his first time at the theatre rodeo. However, the two girls sitting in the row behind me made it very clear through their conversation that they hadn’t come for the play, but for Biggs.

           Anne Hathaway has been the most impressive staged celebrity I’ve seen thus far in the one-woman show, Grounded. She had the best grasp on theatre of all of them, but I still walked away from that show telling myself that Hathaway was good, but some other actress professionally trained for the stage could have done it better than her. This show had a talk back at the end in which the director, Julie Taymor, stated that she was anxious with it being her first time working with an actress that didn’t audition for her.

           Is it worth the box-office success to have a performance that is just ok? Does it have to be such a drastic trade off? Is it too much to ask for breathtaking acting and substantial ticket sales? Is this what theatre is becoming?

#hollywood #theatre #broadway

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Create a Healthier Life Style

How to Eat Healthier in Five Easy Steps

           Holistic Nutrition Consultant, Ann Treacy has introduced a foolproof way to eat healthier and be healthier without the unnecessary dietary supplements that many think will help with weight loss. Believe it or not, all it takes is eating the right foods and preparing meals in a healthier fashion.

           “First things first, eating more vegetables is an easy way to add more vitamins, minerals, and natural fibers to one’s diet. An important second thing would be cleaning out your pantry. Rid your life of anything with high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, artificial flavors, hydrogenated oils and chemical preservatives” says Mrs. Treacy when brainstorming some of the first steps to take on the road to a healthier diet.

           Bill Treacy, husband of Ann, has been strictly instituting this dietary lifestyle regimen for a few months now and states “I have lost weight, have more focus and energy throughout the day, and find myself craving sweets and junk food less and less.”

           Number three on the list is all about balancing your body through hydration. “It is important to maintain the proper water intake to avoid the perils of dehydration such as losing energy and improper elimination of metabolic waste. I often suggest to my clients to drink a glass of water when hunger strikes because more often than not, dehydration can cause one to feel hungry, when really all that is needed is a tall glass of water.” says Ann.  

When asked if cooking at home makes the ‘how to’ list, Ann replied “absolutely! Cooking meals at home enables one to have more control of what goes on the dinner plate. Using ingredients that are whole food based, from nature, and not from processed and packaged foods.”

Bill, who travels a lot for work, has trouble sometimes cooking at home when on the road. He states, “Ann suggests when traveling to look at a menu before making the decision to eat at a particular restaurant to ensure that I am not tempted to pick something less healthy. I always try to order vegetables as opposed to fries. Something as little as getting a less fatty salad dressing is an easy switch that makes a big difference.”

The fifth and final step to take to eating healthier is one the more difficult actions because it is found in so many forms. “Sugar is root of many diseases” says Ann, “I suggest finding healthier alternatives to satisfy a sweet tooth. This includes replacing ice cream with low fat yogurt and berries, or dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Even choosing to eat fruit instead of cake or cookies would satisfy a sugar craving in addition to providing vitamins, minerals, and fibers that will aid in digestion. Fruit is natures candy!” These five easy steps to eating healthier provide numerous benefits to the mind, body, and spirit.

#health #createhealth #howto

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House of Cards (Season Three)

Review: A Triumph or Tragedy?

           On Friday, February 27th Netflix released the third season of their original series, House of Cards starring Kevin Spacey. After watching an episode a night since it’s debut, I have finally finished the newest season. It was everything a House of Cards fan needed.

           This season gave off a different mood than the previous two. Frank Underwood, the character played by Kevin Spacey, has now taken the role of the sitting President of the United States after a long and twisted road to get there, as seen in the first two seasons. This season brought the perfect amount of realism to a previously unrealistic tyranny of events pursued by Frank and his wife Claire Underwood, played by Robin Wright. Lovable all the same, it was a nice change to see Frank’s character as the underdog in the situations he faces as President.

I believe this set the stage for another gripping season to be put into the works. The series could only have gone so far had they kept raising the stakes to the point where the writers would be trying too hard to keep the show interesting and afloat. This season serves almost as foreplay to the one that will follow.

           The audience sees more of Frank Underwood’s flaws than ever before as he struggles to hold the power he and Claire have worked so hard to achieve. Season three hones in on the difficulty of keeping Underwood well liked amongst the United States citizens, maintaining relationships with the members of congress and with other countries, particularly Russia, and sustaining the chillingly unprincipled nature of Claire and Frank’s marriage.

The writers did a good job of showing that there was nowhere else to go but down for the Underwood family. Claire and Frank are at the top of politics already as The President and First Lady. The same struggle, drive, tyranny, and political effort are being exuded but in this season all of those efforts are focused on keeping the throne, not obtaining it. With that different goal on the Underwood’s minds, the stakes were exactly where they needed to be to keep it interesting but not too fast paced. It showed more of a glance into political realism rather than the merciless fight to win political power.

The different angle for season three seemed very intentional. However, this season as a whole kept up on the consistency of gripping performances and acting, ingenious writing, directing tactics, and the filming style that House of Cards fans adore, all of which the audience experienced in seasons one and two. These are the attributes to the show that kept me watching season three. It was the slower paced, rational cliffhangers that have gotten me excited for what they will give the audience when season four emerges. I give the third season of House of Cards, including Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, the writing team, and the directorial staff of the show two thumbs up.

#HouseOfCards #SeasonThree

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Hilibrand Autism Symposium

         Earlier today, Tuesday April 28th, UJA-Federation of New York held the eighth annual Hilibrand Foundation’s Autism Symposium. From 3:00pm- 4:15pm, during this all day event, a special guest panel of four adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Paul Morris, Danielle Lazzara, Amy Gravino, and Emanuel Frowner, spoke about their experiences with finding employment and growing up with ASD.

           Dr. Laura Grofer Klinger, executive director of the University of North Carolina’s TEACCH Autism Program and clinical child psychologist for Autism Spectrum Disorder, was the moderator of the question and answer segment with the guest panel. “All four of out panelists live independently and all of our panelists have jobs”, Klinger said as she introduced the smiling members of the panel. Frowner, who grew up in the Bronx and was homeschooled by his father from 6th grade until receiving his GED in 2000, said, “In 2006, I was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. I currently have two jobs, one as a research assistant at Mt. Sinai’s Seaver Center and one as a special project assistant at the New York Center for Autism Charter School.”

           When asked about her employment, Amy Gravino, who has her masters degree from Cadwell University, livened up as she said “I am the President of A.S.C.O.T., the director of Public and Community Relations for GRASP, and a long time self-advocate.” Amy is also the author of the forthcoming book The Naughty Autie, which is a memoir of her experiences with dating, sexuality and relationships, as a female on the autism spectrum.

           The other two panel members shared experiences about their childhoods with autism, and where they are now. Morris, who is 27, was born a quadruplet and discussed not being speech capable until the age of 5. His long term goal is to give speeches at colleges to help people to better understand austism and living with ASD. Lazzara, 32, discussed how far she has come in the ASD community since being diagnosed at a young age with Asperger’s Syndrome. She has worked for the OPWDD Americorps program where she presented at conferences on her life with a disability.  

The event program titled “Autism Grown Up: Building the Future Together”, featured a long day of many other events starting at 8:30am and going until 4:30pm, all for the support of helping adults on the Autism spectrum achieve proper healthcare utilization and employment. Many other guest speakers including Pulitzer Prize winning American journalist and best selling author, Ron Suskind, were featured over the course of events such as understanding the needs of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, enabling employment for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism in adults: health status, healthcare utilization, healthcare provider knowledge, and ending with the discussion of self-avocation, the triumphs and challenges of living with Autism.

#HillibrandFoundation #ASD