Audience quotes from MARY POPPINS

If I could, I would try to explain exactly how much people we're blown out of the water by MARY POPPINS... then I though, "why not simply let the people themselves tell everyone?"

"Mary Poppins was a great experience. The set and special effects were unbelievable. The cast was outstanding. It was an unforgettable experience."

"This being my first time to see the stage musical, I was unsure what to expect. The story was unique! The sets were amazing! The acting, dancing, and singing were phenomenal! I truly felt transported to another world!"

"Mary Poppins was an unforgettable experience. The performance was well polished, enchanting, and deserving of a standing ovation! I enjoyed every moment!"

"Took my daughter for a birthday gift. It was amazing, wonderful and magical all wrapped up in one. Ashley Brown was beyond good as Mary Poppins. My daughter and I haven't stopped singing the songs since we stood up to go home!!"

"Quite possibly the best musical I have seen in my life, and I have seen quite a few! The costumes, sets and special effects drew me right in, and the voices were consistently beautiful, even the children's voices. Altogether a wonderful evening's entertainment."

"This was a truly magical production! We've seen many great musicals over the years -- this was one of our absolute favorites. If you have children (or even if you don't), do not miss this show. Absolutely magical."

"The whole production of Mary Poppins was outstanding. My husband and I had seats way over on the right side of the theater but could still enjoy everything.All the preformers had wonderful voices, and the children were excepttional. I would love to see it again. It was fun, fun , fun"

"I heard Mary Poppins was coming to DSM and it's my mother's favorite movie! I bought the tickets and surprised her with the show. The story line was a bit different from the movie but moved along well. All the important songs were there and sung beautifully! Great, gorgeous cast! "

"Amazing sets and dancing!"

"We were blown away by the quality and creativity in every area--singing, acting, choreography, lighting, stage and props, costumes, backdrops, special effects.....each area was a delight in its own. After many, many musicals, this was simple the best."

"WOW! Great show with outstanding sets and acting! The singing was beautiful!"

"This was a wonderfully orchestrated event with talent that surpasses most that I have seen in the past. Mary Poppins has an amazing resemblance to Julie Andrews vocally. This is a wonderful event for children and adults alike."

"Slightly different than the movie - and in a very good way. The house opens up like a doll-house - awesome. The choreography for Supercalif.... and Step in Time was delightful. Mary Poppins and Bert are amazing performers and so well supported by the rest of the cast. And, i think i was present with the most participatory Dallas audience ever. They clapped along, sang, sighed, and it was all wonderful."

"Wonderful musical. Took 5 yr old grandson, maybe a little too young, but by the time it was over, he was captivated and loved it. Casting is perfect, those kids amazing. Such a fun, and uplifting story about the importance of family."

"It was Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The special effects were stunning."

"Must see! Wonderful acting and singing! Amazing sets, costumes and lighting. Funny! And some great special tricks! Seen it twice, would go again if I could!"

"Took the whole family and everyone loved it. They did a great job of doing all the favorite songs from the movie, and they also added new elements that made it exciting and fresh."

"Absolutely amazing! We thoroughly enjoyed every single minute!"

"I picked this play due to the fact that my wife loves Disney cartoons. I also did like Mary Poppins growing up as a kid. It was a great play from start to finish. I am still trying to figure out how they got all those items in her bag."

"The singing and dancing was great. There were two favorite moments, the items that she pulled out of her bag and the end where she went up through the crowd and up through the whole in the ceiling. GREAT EXIT!!!!!."

"The tickets were purchased for daughter, granddaughters and great granddaughter and was a hit. The ages ranged from 4year old to 50 years old and a wonderful time was had by all. "

"I took my husband, my son (6months old), my two daughters 3 1/2 yrs., and 2 yrs. old, and it was an absolute THRILL for all of us!!! We are all fans of the movie, but were excited to see them in person. What a wonderful job. The entire experience was great, the ushers were wonderful, the vendors, everyone! Thank you for a wonderful experience. WE will be back next year for sure!!!"

"Mary Poppins was the most fun I have had in a long time. What a fun event to go see with family and friends of all ages. I am ready to go see it again!"

"The whole cast and crew did an amazing job of bringing one of my favorite musicals to the stage. As a former actor and techie, I was left questioning myself how some of the technical tricks were done. Regardless, this show--even on stage is full of mystery and magic. GREAT JOB TO EVERYONE."

"Don't miss this fabulous musical. It was wonderful. Can't wait for Little House on the Prairie with Melissa Gilbert playing Ma coming next May."

"We've seen several shows this season at the DSM, but this by far was the best! It was truly magical!"

"Starting with very comfortable seats to outstanding sound and fantastic performances by each of the cast member this show is certainly a can't miss!"

"The show was amazing, I loved all the music and new spin on the movie scenes. Mary Poppins is a must see for anyone who loves musicals."

"I wasn't sure what to expect when I booked our tickets. Knew the Disney Movie and all the songs - and went for an evening of entertainment. What we got was so much more! Songs. Dancing. Glorious voices. Sets that knocked my socks off and dazzled me with every set change and special effects. The entire evening was magic! Disney is the master of production."

"This was one of the best performances I've ever been too. The talent of the performers and special effects were top notch. It's a great family event that deserves to be seen by the masses. I would recomend it to anyone and everyone. If you've seen Disney's Mary Poppins, you must see this musical. It will take you more in depth into the world of Mary Poppins. It is a must see!"

"This was a great show. I had read so much about Mary flying over the audience, but nothing was said about the tap dance around the room by the Sweep. That was absolutely amazing. How did you do it. I am so grateful for the 4 for $99 special which enabled me to purchase tickets. My granddaughter, daughter-in-law, and myself really enjoyed it. Thank you!"

"Battle of the Broadway Musicals '09" Contest Winners Announced!

by Steven Hall
Webmaster, DSM

WE HAVE CONTEST WINNERS! For 15 days, we pitted one Broadway musical against another Broadway musical and let our 3400+ Facebook fans vote the daily winner until, after 4 rounds of historic musical battles, we crowned WICKED 2009's “Best Musical of All Time”! 16 Broadway musicals were chosed to battle each other. Each was chosen for a combination of the number of awards won, combined with the longest runs on "The Great White Way" -- BROADWAY.

WICKED became the best of all time ... Now one lucky contest has won the GRAND PRIZE for correctly predicting ALL the battle winners:

Congratulations to our:

Grand Prize Winner Chris Hill (34 /34 pts)

2nd place Becky Niederstadt (26 /34 pts)

3rd place Shelly Vatteroni (25 /34 pts)

Out of 100s of contestants, Chris was the ONLY perfect bracket! As the Grand Prize Winner Chris won:

-4 tickets to attend MARY POPPINS
-Dinner for 4 at “M, Dining at the Music Hall”
-A WICKED poster signed by the cast

-A CD from one of this season's shows
-Backstage tour for MARY POPPINS

-and more!

We hope we'll see even more of you all for future contests at DSM & Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/dallassummermusicals

http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/

DSM presents "Battle of the Broadway Musicals '09"

by Steven Hall
Webmaster, DSM

UPDATE:

CLICK HERE FOR THE WINNERS CIRCLE

NOW - SEPTEMBER 4 Voting 10 A.M. - 10 P.M. Daily

Currently on Battle 11 of 15 (Round 2)
LES MISERABLES vs. THE LION KING

For 15 days, we are pitting one Broadway musical against another Broadway musical, 1 battle per day, and letting our Facebook fans vote the daily winner until, after 4 rounds of historic musical battles, we will crown the 2009 “Best All-Time Musical”!

We've chosen 16 Broadway musicals to battle each other.Each was chosen for a combination of the number of awards won, combined with the longest runs on "The Great White Way" -- BROADWAY.

1 Broadway musical will be voted the best of all time ... and one lucky contestant will win*:
>4 tickets to attend MARY POPPINS
>Dinner for 4 at “Dining at the Music Hall”
>A show poster from this season, signed by the show's cast
>A CD from one of this season's shows
>Backstage tour for MARY POPPINS

While it's too late to turn in a contest bracket -- it's NOT too late to join the 100's of fans voting their choice of winner, each weekday en route to crowning the 2009 Champion! To vote go to www.facebook.com/dallassummermusicals

Read all of the details about the contest and daily battles here!

* After The Championship has concluded September 4th, the person whose bracket has scored the most points will win the MARY POPPINS package!* The winner* will be announced on Facebook once office personnel have had a chance to tally all of the points on each bracket form and determine a winner! In the event multiple people have the same identical high-score, the contest winner will be determined by choosing, from that group of same-score brackets, the individual who correctly predicted the most battles. In the event a tie still exists at that point, a winner will be selected, from those remaining in the tie, by our company President. Brackets not filled out completely will not be considered.

Broadway Leading Lady Rachel York to Star as Cruella De Vil in “The 101 Dalmatians Musical”

Jo Ann Holt, Publicist
joannholt[at]gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

York Signs on as the Villainous Lead in First National Stage Production Of One of the Most Popular Stories of All Time; National Tour Starts Oct. 13 Special engagement for Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park December 2-20, 2009

Dallas, TX…August 25, 2009 – Drama Desk Award® Winner Rachel York has joined the cast of the highly anticipated national stage production of The 101 Dalmatians Musical, based on the 1956 classic story written by Dodie Smith. Announced today by Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions, Troika General Management and international producer Luis Alvarez, York joins an impressive creative team in the starring role as the sinister Cruella de Vil, notorious for kidnapping Dalmatian puppies for their distinctive spots, in a one-of-a-kind musical adventure for the entire family about what it means to be a family, canine and courageous. York makes her debut in The 101 Dalmatians Musical when the North American tour kicks off at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on October 13, 2009.

Best known for her critically acclaimed Broadway performances in City of Angels, Les Misérables, Victor/Victoria (Drama Desk Award®) with Dame Julie Andrews, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sly Fox, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Rachel York also turned heads with her portrayal of Lucille Ball in the CBS movie, Lucy. Recently, York co-starred opposite Jeff Daniels in the world premiere of the new Broadway bound musical Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.

York’s addition further builds upon the extraordinary creative team behind The 101 Dalmatians Musical including four-time Tony Award winning director Jerry Zaks (A Bronx Tale, Smokey Joe’s Café, Guys and Dolls), acclaimed bookwriter and co-lyricist BT McNicholl (Billy Elliot, Spamalot, The IT Girl), and composer and co-lyricist Dennis DeYoung, best known as the founding member of the legendary rock band STYX.

“Rachel’s high energy performances have really made her in our minds one of Broadway’s true standout leading actresses. Her versatility in both dramatic and comedic settings, as well as her powerful scene-stealing voice really offer us a Cruella that we believe will help make The 101 Dalmatians Musical a truly special theatrical event,” said Lee D. Marshall, Co-Founder of Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions.

York added, “Growing up, 101 Dalmatians was one of my favorite children's stories and Cruella De Vil, one of my all time favorite characters. Ironic I should say, because I am a huge animal lover. It will be so much fun to bring such a fabulously dynamic villain to life. Cruella is unlimited in her treachery, and yet, you can't help but love her. The opportunity to collaborate with the enormous talents of Jerry Zaks, Warren Carlyle, Dennis DeYoung and BT McNicholl, well, that’s just icing on the cake.”

The production follows Dalmatians spouses Pongo and Missis Pongo who are living the good life in London with their “pets” Charles and Catherine Dearly. When their 10 puppies are suddenly “dognapped” by the villainous Cruella de Vil, they summon the help of a vast network of dogs and set off to rescue their pups.
There’s a happy ending for all with laughter, mayhem and music along the way. The 101 Dalmatians Musical also stars fifteen real Dalmatians, many of which were rescued from animal shelters across the country, in a surprise grand finale that will leave audiences cheering.

Dallas Summer Musicals will present The 101 Dalmatians Musical at the Music Hall at Fair Park December 2-20, 2009. For more information about this special performance, please visit http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/. For more information about the national tour, please visit: http://www.the101dalmatiansmusical.com/.

About Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions
Magic Arts & Entertainment has been bringing hundreds of thousands of people to their feet each year throughout their 25 years in the entertainment industry. Led by business partners Lee D. Marshall and Joe Marsh, the duo began by producing David Copperfield’s first-ever tour in 1983. The partnership then grew to produce, manage, book and promote a versatile roster of live entertainment events that expanded to include such high-grossing concerts such as the North American tours for Janet Jackson, Cher, N Sync, Britney Spears, Barry Manilow, The Backstreet Boys and many others. Current tours include The Magic of David Copperfield, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, Mannheim Steamroller, and Jesus Christ Superstar staring Ted Neeley.

In 2008, Magic Arts & Entertainment was acquired by the Tix Corporation (Nasdaq: TIXC), with Marshall and Marsh assuming the roles of Co-CEO of Tix Productions, a newly-formed subsidiary of Tix Corporation.

About Troika General Management
Troika General Management has over two decades experience producing shows of all types and sizes throughout North America and the world. International venues include Russia, Brazil, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Korea and Japan. Troika was most recently involved in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China with productions of The Sound of Music, 42nd Street and Chicago. Current and upcoming productions in North America include Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol, The 101 Dalmatians Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, starring Ted Neeley and Cats, running “now and forever.”

About Luis Alvarez
Luis Alvarez, the youngest theatrical producer and director in Madrid, is responsible for one of the most successful shows in Spain. 101 Dalmatians: The Musical premiered at the Wonderland Theatre in 2001. In 2002, Mr. Alvarez received an award for Best Theatrical Producer in Spain. Mr. Alvarez and 101 Dalmatians: The Musical broke all records for sponsorship deals in Spain. Kellogg’s, Kodak, Iberia, Haagen Dazs and many other well known companies sponsored the World Premier of 101 Dalmatians: The Musical.

# # #

We are very excited about this news! She will be the best Cruella ever!
thanks,
Jo Ann

MARY POPPINS OFFICAL PRESS RELEASE

Jo Ann Holt, Publicist
joannholt[at]gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 24, 2009
CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present

MARY POPPINS
FEATURING ORIGINAL BROADWAY STARS
ASHLEY BROWN & GAVIN LEE

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS’ LIMITED PREMIERE ENGAGEMENT BEGINS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

Dallas, TX…Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher are pleased to announce full casting for the Dallas Summer Musicals engagement of MARY POPPINS. Dallas’ most eagerly anticipated stage production will begin performances at the Music Hall at Fair Park on Thursday, September 24, 2009 for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, October 18. The official opening night is Friday, September 25, 2009 at 8 p.m.

The entire creative team has reunited to bring this magical story of the word’s most famous nanny to audiences across North America. Original Broadway stars, Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, will reprise their roles as “Mary Poppins” and “Bert” respectively.

For her portrayal of “Mary Poppins,” Ashley Brown received Drama League®, Drama Desk® and Outer Critic Circle® nominations for Best Actress. Upon graduating from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Ms. Brown landed a leading role in the touring production of Disney’s On the Record. Soon after she was offered the chance to star in Beauty and the Beast and made her Broadway debut as “Belle” in September 2005. Upcoming projects include concerts with Marvin Hamlisch, the New York Philharmonic and a debut album of American Songbook standards.

Gavin Lee made his Broadway debut with MARY POPPINS after originating the role of “Bert” in the world premiere production in London’s West End. Lee received critical acclaim for his portrayal of “Bert,” both in NY and London, and was the recipient of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor. Lee also received Tonyâ, Outer Critic Circle® and Olivier Award® nominations for Best Actor. His London theatre credits include Peggy Sue Got Married, Contact, Oklahoma!, Sondheim’s Saturday Night, Crazy For You, and Me and My Girl. In addition, he has appeared in the recent film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera and Beyond the Sea.

Joining Brown and Lee will be Karl Kenzler as “George Banks.” Mr. Kenzler’s Broadway credits include Twelve Angry Men, The Caretaker, Dinner At Eight and The Heiress. “Winifred Banks” will be played by Megan Osterhaus, who comes straight from the Broadway company of Mary Poppins. Her other stage credits include Mamma Mia, Martin Guerre, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Children Of Eden, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Gypsy.

Valerie Boyle will portray “Mrs. Brill.” Ms. Boyle has been seen in a wide variety of leading roles in Canada and Europe including Sophie Tucker, Shirley Valentine and Nunsense. Andrew Keenan-Bolger, who will play “Robertson Ay”, has previously appeared on Broadway in Seussical, Beauty and the Beast and A Christmas Carol and in the National Tours of Spelling Bee, The Grinch and Ragtime.

Ellen Harvey will play “Miss Andrew.” Ms. Harvey’s Broadway credits include The Music Man and Thou Shalt Not and she has appeared in the National Tours of Disney’s High School Musical, Mamma Mia, Doctor Dolittle, and Sunset Boulevard. “The Bird Woman” will be played by Mary VanArsdel, who has appeared in productions of Cole Porter's Paris, Mass, Camelot (with Jeremy Irons), 110 In the Shade, and Gypsy. “Admiral Boom” will be portrayed by Mike O’Carroll, a stage veteran whose past credits include White Christmas, Fiddler on the Roof, Showboat, Will Rogers Follies, Henry IV, Inherit the Wind, and Ragtime.

Performances in the role of “Jane Banks” will be alternated between Kelsey Fowler and Aida Neitenbach. Performances in the role of “Michael Banks” will be alternated between Bryce Baldwin and Zach Rand.

Rounding out the cast are Tia Altinay, Carol Angeli, Gail Bennett, Kiara Bennett, Brandon Bieber, Troy Edward Bowles, Elizabeth Broadhurst, Michael Gerhart, Geoffrey Goldberg, Emily Harvey, Tiffany Howard, Kelly Jacobs, Wendy James, Justin Keyes, Sam Kiernan, Brian Letendre, Laird Mackintosh, Vanessa McMahan, Koh Mochizuki, Shua Potter, Dominic Roberts, Nick Sanchez, Q. Smith, Jesse Swimm and Tom Souhrada.

MARY POPPINS, a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, opened on Broadway on November 16, 2006. Based on P.L. Travers' cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS features the Academy Award®-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics.

Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre leads the award-winning creative team, with co-direction and choreography by Tony® and Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne. MARY POPPINS features set and costume design by TonyÒ Award winner Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and music supervision by David Caddick. The tour’s creative team includes Director Anthony Lyn, Associate Choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Music Director James Dodgson.
Consistently among the top-grossing shows on Broadway, MARY POPPINS continues in its 3rd smash year at the New Amsterdam Theatre and recently celebrated its 1000th performance – a milestone reached by only a rare few number of shows in Broadway history. The Broadway production has grossed over $­132 million to date, and has been seen by over 1.6M theatergoers. Simultaneously, the show’s popularity grows around the globe. Following a successful three year run (December 2004 - January 2008) at the Prince Edward Theatre on London's West End, a U.K. tour of MARY POPPINS commenced in summer 2008 and concluded its acclaimed run in Cardiff in April 2009. The Australian debut of MARY POPPINS is planned for next year. An open-ended run of MARY POPPINS will take residence at the Circus Theatre in Scheveningen, Holland, outside of Amsterdam. The show will open in April 2010 at the Circus Theatre following TARZAN’S record setting run there. MARY POPPINS will be produced in Holland by Stage Entertainment in association with Disney and Cameron Mackintosh.

In Dallas, MARY POPPINS will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Saturday and selected Thursday matinees at 2 p.m. Sunday performances will be at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $25 to $85. Special VIP Producers Circle Ticket Packages are available for $135 at select performances, and include premium seating and a complimentary souvenir program. Tickets are available at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center in Dallas, all Ticketmaster outlets, and online at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge tickets, call 214-631-ARTS (2787). For groups of 15 or more, call 214-426-GROUP.

The Dallas engagement of MARY POPPINS is presented by arrangement with Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, and is a subscription offering of their 2009 season

# # # #

National Press Representative: Local Press Representative:
Scott A. Hemerling, Jo Ann Holt
New Amsterdam Theatre Music Hall at Fair Park
214 West 42nd Street 909 First Avenue
New York, New York 10036 Dallas, TX 75210
Telephone: 212.703.1080 469-363-7271
Facsimile: 954.212.2483 email joannholt@gmail.com

DSM Temporarily Operating The Majestic Theatre At No Cost To City

Michael Jenkins
Email Inquiries

On June 30th the long time lease between the City of Dallas and DSM Management Group expired. The Dallas Summer Musicals (a not for profit) has subsidized the Majestic of over one million dollars in the last ten years and temporarily is operating the building at no cost to the City until the City implements the new RFP.

###

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS PARTNERS WITH THE FAIRMONT DALLAS TO CREATE DSM BROADWAY SUITE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jo Ann Holt

469-363-7371

joannholt@gmail.com

DALLAS, TX…Dallas Summer Musicals has entered into a partnership with The Fairmont Dallas to create an exciting new DSM Broadway Suite.

Lavishly decorated with scenery, set pieces, photos, memorabilia and posters from Dallas Summer Musicals productions, the Broadway suite is available for booking by the public. Currently the Broadway Suite is celebrating the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, Flower Drum Song. Book your stay and be surrounded in the delight and wonder of San Francisco’s Chinatown, without ever leaving Dallas. The show theme will change seasonally as new shows open. Overnights in the Broadway Suite include two tickets to the current Dallas Summer Musicals production and a CD of the original cast recording. Guests may customize their package to include a pre-theatre supper in the elegant Pyramid Restaurant, transportation to and from the performance and a backstage tour of Fair Park Music Hall. A portion of all proceeds from the Broadway Suite will be donated to the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts.

“Our mission,” says DSM President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins, “is recognizing the positive influence of the arts on the human experience. The DSM Academy of Performing Arts strives not only to increase appreciation of the performing arts, but to teach those arts professionally.”

The Academy, founded in 1999, helps to prepare the amateur and professional for involvement in the performing arts. It is comprised of 75% teens and 25% adults ranging in age from 7 to senior citizen and prides itself on a diverse, ethnic student population. The DSM Academy has granted over 250 need-based scholarships.

Evidence has shown that arts education has a powerful effect on student achievement and that students who participate in arts programs along with the core subjects of math, science, language, and social studies are three times more likely to be elected to class office; four times more likely to participate in math and science; three times more likely to win an award for school attendance; four times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem and four more times likely to be recognized for academic achievement.

“As part of our ongoing support of the arts,” said the hotel’s Director of Sales & Marketing Shannah Milstead, “The Fairmont Dallas is extremely pleased to announce that we will donate a portion of the proceeds from each reservation in the Broadway Suite to the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts.”

To learn more about The Fairmont Dallas and the DSM Broadway Suite, visit www.fairmont.com/dallas. To enjoy both the wonders of this unique accommodation as well as a DSM production, call the Reservations Department at (214)720-5290.

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theater entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214-421-5678 or visit http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/.

# # #

For media information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please contact Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com.

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. • Music Hall at Fair Park • P.O. Box 710336 • Dallas, Texas 75371-0336
(214) 421-5678 • FAX (214) 426-2994
The Box Office • 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center • Dallas, Texas 75230 • (214) 691-7200 •
FAX (214) 691-8755 • www.dallassummermusicals.org

BLONDE Cast's Video Blog - DALLAS!!

The LEGALLY BLONDE cast weighs in on their North Texas run in
a recent YouTube release of their ongoing video blog series. Check it out and find out what Warner really things about Elle chasing him down at Harvard!!

The entire video series following this talented cast across the country, can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/legallyblondeontour

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!!

Three DSM shows were invited to send performers to sing the National Anthem at a Texas Rangers home game this summer. When WIZARD OF OZ's Dorothy (Cassie Okenka) wasn’t able to arrive in time for the June 8th game, her understudy Lauryn Ciardullo donned the Dorothy wig, red shoes and pinafore costume and charmed the audience with her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

For CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, the four child performers (Aly Brier, Camille Mancuso, Jeremy Lipton and Zachary Carter Sayle) sang the National Anthem at the Monday night game June 30. Here is a video of their Texas Ranger performance:





For LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL, sports fan Becky Gulsvig (Elle Woods) was thrilled to sing the National Anthem as the Rangers trounced the Tigers at the ballpark Monday, July 27th and received a great response from fans. Quite a few people dropped by the suite to congratulate the star on her performance, with several saying it was “one of the top 10 anthem performances of all time.” They also thanked Becky (who’s originally from Minnesota) for bringing the unusually cool weather.

Thanks to DSM marketing director Paulette Hopkins and Texas Rangers VP of marketing Andy Silverman, a number of company members were able to watch the game and Becky’s performance from one of the two suites made available for their use. A Fox Sports TV News reporter interviewed Becky Gulsvig in the Mickey Mantle suite at the top of the fourth inning, and Becky and other female cast members did an impromptu version of “Bend and Snap” for the sports network’s audiences. Becky's husband Tyler, who could be found selling Legally Blonde merchandise in the lobby for each performance, also enjoyed the game. Tyler, Becky and their Golden Retriever bring their own van on the national tour, driving from city to city so they can really enjoy the scenery.
Delorie and past DSM Chairman O. Paul Corley, Jr. (resplendent in pink from head to toe) with Guild President Michelle Lemay-Patten at the Legally Blonde party at Thompson-Knight’s offices.

'Legally Blonde' shimmys to the stage at Fair Park Music Hall

12:06 AM CDT on Wednesday, July 22, 2009
By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning Newsltaitte@dallasnews.com

You may not come out of Legally Blonde humming the tunes, but this show will leave you as pumped as a two-hour cardiac workout.

The stage adaptation of the popular movie, a modest hit on Broadway, arrived at the Dallas Summer Musicals on Tuesday. It keeps up a breathless pace as heroine Elle Woods, the seemingly shallow blond bombshell who follows an ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School, discovers a whole new perspective on life.

Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, who rewrote their Sarah, Plain and Tall for the Dallas Theater Center this spring, tell the story mostly in song. Their lyrics, as cute and clever as Elle herself, are worthy successors to those of their great Broadway predecessors. They give us good tunes, too, but the incessant melodic patterns seldom relax and luxuriate. They just keep percolating like a triple shot of espresso.

The real mover of this theatrical whirlwind, though, is director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell. Over the last decade, he has established himself as one of the American theater's great storytellers through movement. Like the score, the dancing seldom settles into a stand-alone number, at least before intermission. Throughout the musical someone onstage is stepping, shimmying or gyrating in ways that move the plot along. The second act finally gives us some release with production numbers based on exercise videos, sexy poses and, of all things, Irish step dancing.

As Elle, Becky Gulsvig looks a lot like the film's Reese Witherspoon. She sounds even more like Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth. (Those with strong negative reactions to squeaks and other high pitches may find themselves at risk.) Gregg Barnes' costumes expand the boundaries of pink, mauve, hot pink and not-quite-crimson. Gulsvig wears them smashingly.

For those who crave a bit of old-fashioned fun from their musical comedies, preferably with a smidgeon of uplift and optimism, with a bevy of shapely young bodies to boot, Legally Blonde is guilty as charged.

PLAN YOUR LIFE Through Aug. 2 at Fair Park Music Hall. Runs 160 mins. $15 to $85. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Trackback to original review post on dallasnews.com

Theater review: 'A Chorus Line' reclaims its energy at Fair Park Music Hall

11:55 PM CDT on Tuesday, July 7, 2009
By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning Newsltaitte@dallasnews.com

A Chorus Line is a unique musical, a perfect musical. I'm not sure, in retrospect, it's one of the great musicals.
The tour based on the recent New York revival arrived at Fair Park Music Hall on Tuesday. It has restored the show's vivid energy and sharp characterizations, and it makes nearly as good a case for the piece as possible. To paraphrase one of Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban's songs, it scores dance 10, acting 10, singing maybe a six.

At one point the longest running show in Broadway history, A Chorus Line grew out of workshop-style discussions organized by director-choreographer Michael Bennett. He asked professional dancers, gypsies from Broadway chorus lines, to talk about their lives. Then he, with librettists James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, made a show out of their stories.

The musical, without an intermission, is built around a day of auditions. It also takes its shape from the process of putting together a big production number, from the first rudimentary steps to the high-strutting, show-stopping climax.

The personalities of the individual characters are indelible, but over the years productions have tended to blur or exaggerate them. Bob Avian and Baayork Lee, both part of the original process in 1974 and '75, have whipped things back into shape beautifully.

Emily Fletcher, for instance, nails Sheila's aggressive sensuality without making her too hard, and Bryan Knowlton, as Paul in the first week of the current run, keeps his dignity while making his sometimes shocking self-revelations.

I've never seen a completely satisfactory Cassie. Robyn Hurder at least dances the role better than most. Part of the problem is inherent: The starring role in this musical is that of a woman who keeps insisting she doesn't have star power or star pretensions.

Hamlisch's tunes retain their hummability, albeit in very '70s fashion. Kleban's lyrics tell the dancers' stories with considerable wit. Most of all, Bennett knew how to build a dance number.

Still, a nagging little voice keeps telling me that a really great musical should have characters who interact with each other and should be about something other than getting a job, even if the people do their jobs for love.

PLAN YOUR LIFE Through July 19 at Fair Park Music Hall. 130 mins. $15 to $85. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Theater review: 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' is a fun ride for the family at Fair Park Music Hall

12:36 AM CDT on Wednesday, June 24, 2009
By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News
mailto:Newsltaitte@dallasnews.com

Cute kids. A quartet of hilarious villains. A whole pack of trained dogs. A production number with a samba that sizzles. What more could a family musical possibly need?

How about a magical car that floats, flies and makes people ask it nicely if they want a ride?

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang chugged, sailed and soared into Fair Park Music Hall for the Dallas Summer Musicals on Tuesday. This road version more than lives up to the standard the Broadway version set in 2005. Largely overlooked in a bumper year for musicals, it struck me as the best Broadway family show since The Lion King. This tour, adapted and directed by Ray Roderick, sacrifices a bit of grandeur but gains in comic spontaneity.
Ian Fleming, an unlikely children's writer, shows his hand as the original storyteller in various ways: There are spies, though they're played for laughs. And recall that James Bond's cars always had tricks up their sleeves, just like the title vehicle here.

Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman's songs are almost as infectious as the ones they created for Mary Poppins. And, frankly, the plot in this show is more appealing. The father, hapless inventor Caractacus Potts (Steve Wilson), has boundless affection for his children (Jeremy Lipton and Camille Mancuso at Tuesday's performance). They all look after the grandfather (Dick Decareau), and the kids know before the dad does that there's chemistry brewing with a motorcycle-driving heiress (Kelly McCormick).

None of the performers are household names, but they're all solid pros and often more aptly cast than their Broadway counterparts. Dirk Lumbard is delightfully oily as the taller of the bumbling spies, and Scott Cote is his even dumber sidekick. As the evil baron and baroness, George Dvorsky and Elizabeth Ward Land are silly and sinister at the same time. Oliver Wadsworth may be entirely too sinister for younger children as the hideously creepy Childcatcher, although the happy ending defuses most of the terror.

You don't have to be a kid to have a truly scrumptious time at Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But feel free to bring a couple of tykes along if you think you'll feel conspicuous without them.

PLAN YOUR LIFE Through July 5 at Fair Park Music Hall. Runs 150 mins. $12 to $71. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Original Dallas Morning News Post

5th Anniversary STAGE RIGHT Press Conference

Dallas TX
11:15am Breaking News
Steven Hall, Webmaster, DSM

We just completed the press conference for the 5th Anniversary of our "Stage Right" youth outreach program. Mayor Leppert and Chief of Police Kunkle spoke along with co-founders of the program DSM President Michael Jenkins & Dallas Police Detective "Monty" Moncibais. Details on the "Stage Right" below. Also in attendance were many more VIPs such as City Manager Mary Suhm, Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Elba Garcia, KLUV's Jody Dean and CBS's Ginger Allen. Very cool that in their busy schedules everyone could come together for this outreach initiative!

ABOUT STAGE RIGHT
Stage Right Raises the Curtain for Education and Spotlights Appreciation of the Arts through Experience and Positive Quality Lifestyles.

Dallas Police Department Assistant Chief Ron Waldrop and Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM), held a press conference on June 4, 2008 in the lobby of the Music Hall at Fair Park to discuss the objectives and success of the Stage Right program that introduces at-risk youth ages 12-15 to arts and culture events as well as introducing them to “Positive Action” self improvement and self esteeming building summer curriculum.

Both Mr. Jenkins, the grass-roots visionary who helped create the Stage Right initiative to reach out to at-risk students and DPD Narcotics Detective Monty Moncibais, who heads up the program for DPD, will speak. Stage Right Steering Committee members also attended included Chris Hawkins, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Victor Burke President, North Texas Crime Commission; Gail Gray, Phoenix House; Lori Sirmen, Dallas Summer Musicals; Carolyn Jordan, Boys and Girls Club; Herbert Moncibais, Hispanic Business Alliance; Gloria Moncibais, Hispanic Business Alliance; and Susan Moncibais, community activist.

Also present at the conference were Gary Hodges, DISD, Assistant Chief; Mike Hathcoat, Director, the Phoenix House; Anita N. Martinez, Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico Company; Charles English, Dallas Boys & Girls Club; Reginald Hurd, Dallas Parks and Recreation; Paul Monroe, the Dallas Mavericks; Steve Colmus, KIPP Truth Academy; Billy Walker, Coca Cola Bottling of North Texas; and Eddie Campbell and Ed Campbell, Campbell Concessions.

Stage Right’s mission statement is “Raising the curtain for education and spotlighting the appreciation of the arts through experience and positive quality lifestyles.”

The students are recommended by DISD teachers and counselors and other youth programs including Boys & Girls Clubs, Girls Inc., and Dallas Recreation Centers as part of their ongoing efforts to keep students from joining gangs or engaging in other activities that prevent their enjoying success in school. Stage Right seeks to raise awareness of the arts, increase appreciation for different lifestyles and also increase self esteem.
This year, over 800 students are participating in the program!

For more information about Stage Right, please contact DPD Detective Moncibais at 214-537-8954.

Theater review: Topol stays in character for Dallas Summer Musicals' 'Fiddler on the Roof'

10:15 AM CDT on Thursday, May 21, 2009
By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning Newsltaitte@dallasnews.com

Nobody finds it odd when a violinist or pianist is still playing a favorite concerto at the end of a 40-year career. So why be surprised that Topol is still playing Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof?

The Israeli actor had racked up a number of stage performances even before he made the 1971 movie. Now the total is around 2,500. In what is billed as his final tour, he arrived in Dallas for a one-week run at the Dallas Summer Musicals on Monday.

The performer still has what the role requires. That sonorous bass-baritone peals magnificently through the low notes. The stately, if world-weary, bearing and the soulful countenance, blazing eyes clearly visible in the back rows of the huge theater, give Topol, 73, a patriarchal aura. He could as easily be playing Moses or Rasputin – if it weren't for all the droll bits of low humor he tosses off so nonchalantly.

It must be said that spontaneity is not a factor here. Every mournful growl at a bit of bad news, every joyful roll of the eyes, appears calculated and polished to the nth degree. Naturalism also goes out the window in favor of this delicately calculated theatrical flair.

Many old-fashioned masters of comic shtick destroy their material by sending it up. Not Topol. No shred of cynicism or self-indulgence gets in the way of Fiddler's emotional journey. Before empty-nest syndrome had a name, this great musical explored the agonies of letting go – and the star plays them for all they are worth.

The current tour has selling points beyond its leading man. Susan Cella as Golde and Mary Stout as Yente are also masters of the broad comic style. Among the lovely daughters, Jamie Davis' Hodel stands out for her soaring voice. Steve Gilliam's storybook set invests the village of Anatevka with a quaint charm.

Best of all, director-choreographer Sammy Dallas Bayes has reproduced Jerome Robbins' exuberant first-act dances with fiery precision. An important secret of Fiddler's success is the sheer animal energy that drives these sequences. They keep this tale of loss and aging young and vital.

As young and vital as its septuagenarian star.

Theater review: RENT brings New York polish to Music Hall stage

By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News
ltaitte@dallasnews.com
12:00 AM CDT on Wednesday, May 6, 2009



A little distance brings things into focus: Rent is incomparably the greatest Broadway musical in, say, the last 30 years, and the farewell tour that the Dallas Summer Musicals brought to Fair Park Music Hall on Tuesday is probably your last chance to see it in pristine shape, as good as when in opened in New York 13 years ago.

The back story, of course, is so sad and perfect it seems made up. The young genius who wrote Rent, Jonathan Larson, died of an aneurysm right before the triumphant first performance. His transposition of the story of La Boheme to downtown Manhattan won every prize going, and this tangled skein of sex and romance (straight, gay and bi) in which half the characters are trying to live with AIDS won a whole new generation of fans to the theater.

From the screeches that greeted the first two actors onstage Tuesday, you'd think all those fans were in attendance to greet the show's original stars. Anthony Rapp, as detached filmmaker Mark, looks just like he did in 1996; if anything, his timing and diction are sharper and his performance more engaged. Adam Pascal, playing alienated songwriter Roger, looks leaner and meaner, neither inappropriate to the character; his singing voice has taken on a rasping rocker's edge that works well, too.

Original director Michael Greif has knit the rest of the cast into a tight ensemble. Amazingly, you can hear almost every word in this often intractable space. Former American Idol contestant Lexi Lawson eases her way uncomfortably through Mimi's precarious dance on the fire escape, but her voice and her onstage presence are both gorgeous. Nicolette Hart makes a hilarious Maureen, and Michael McElroy brings his sonorous voice and vast stage experience to Tom Collins. Unfortunately, Justin Johnston doesn't have that seraphic aura you ideally want in the role of Angel, but he dies magnificently.

Ultimately, it's Larson's tingling melodies and handcrafted lyrics (and his skill at building large forms out of both) that make Rent so special. Its frankness about sex and drugs means it's not for everyone. Still, if you are curious or perhaps already know the score, but have never seen the show (or have only seen the dispiriting 2005 screen version), you owe yourself a trip to the Music Hall.



PLAN YOUR LIFE Through Sunday at Fair Park Music Hall. Runs 165 mins. $15 to $85.

Buy tickets here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/vf0c6y?camefrom=DSM_WEB_RENT_BLOG

Theater review: Stacy Keach is a marvel in 'Frost/Nixon' at the Majestic

11:20 AM CDT on Thursday, April 30, 2009

By Lawson Taitte / The Dallas Morning News
ltaitte@dallasnews.com

President Richard M. Nixon may never have achieved the rehabilitation in public esteem he so craved in his lifetime. He's got it now, though, at least as Stacy Keach plays him in Frost/Nixon.

Peter Morgan's play about the TV interviews Nixon gave to talk-show host David Frost had its origin in that most fecund of London theatrical enterprises, the Donmar Warehouse. The show then traveled to Broadway and went on to become a major film, winning Tony Awards and Oscar nominations both for the vehicle and the star who played the president, Frank Langella.

If there's any actor on the American stage with more stature, more sheer talent, than Langella, it's Stacy Keach. He headlines the touring version that the Dallas Summer Musicals brought to the Majestic Theatre on Wednesday.

The marvelous Langella brought depth and tragic dignity to the role of the disgraced President three years after his unparalleled resignation from office. But he also brought a certain smarminess to the role and a whiff of parody in the ways he adapted some of Nixon's well-known mannerisms and vocal patterns.

Smarmy is not a word you'd ever use to describe Keach's Nixon. Tortured, self-regarding, yes, perhaps even venal. But this figure projects a fallen grandeur and canny, self-possessed intellect that command respect – and maybe even affection.

The touring version (directed, like the original, by Michael Grandage) does have its own quota of smarminess. Alan Cox's Frost oozes slime right up to the final moments when he at last gets Nixon to confess wrongdoing on camera (something that never actually happened in real life, by the way). Even that formidable journalist Jim Reston in this young incarnation (as played by Brian Sgambati) is lightweight and petty in comparison with the wounded-bear Keach as Nixon.

It's too bad that Keach probably won't be touring his version of King Lear (to be seen in Washington, D.C., this summer) and that he hasn't been seen more frequently in great plays in New York and around the country. He commands the stage as only a couple of American actors of his generation do. Whatever your politics, don't miss the chance to see him do his stuff in Frost/Nixon.

Entertainment Bailout Special Discount on THE PAJAMA GAME

Hello to all the DSM fans!

As I mentioned yesterday, I was blown away by THE PAJAMA GAME on Tuesday night. #1 -- I couldn't believe they fit a set that elaborate on to that stage, because the Majestic stage is considerably smaller and intimate than the Music Hall stage. #2 The choreography, singing and acting were superb -- parts of act 2 are very reminiscent of CHICAGO!

At ANY rate -- with the economy being a bit *oy*, DSM is offering a 50% discount for THE PAJAMA GAME. Times are tough, but we also know that's when our patrons may need their spirits lifted, so we want to help!Here's the details:

-visit this link:http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/h3b715?camefrom=DALLASSUMMER_PAJAMA_ONLINE_FB2

-Use password SAVE (case sensitive)

-Enjoy the show at half price!


the normal legal stuff:
Tickets are subject to availability. Service charges and handling fees will apply. Facility fees may apply. Performance prices, dates, and times subject to change without notification. This offer is available through ticketmaster.com, Charge-by-Phone 214.631.ARTS. Offer expires on 3/15/09 at 8pm. No refunds or exchanges. This offer is not valid on previously purchased tickets or in combination with any other offers.

Theater Review: 'The Rat Pack - Live at the Sands' is almost as good as being there

12:05 AM CST on Wednesday, March 4, 2009
By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News ltaitte@dallasnews.com Original post

An airline ticket can get you to Las Vegas quite reasonably these days. A time machine that'll get you there a half-century ago is another matter.

That's the goal of The Rat Pack – Live at the Sands, the London hit that Dallas Summer Musicals brought to the Majestic Theatre on Tuesday.
You can guess the format from the title: Singers portraying Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. cover the stars' greatest hits. A 16-piece band (something of a luxury in the theater these days) plays onstage, and three curvaceous backup singers add a considerable amount of what in those days was called sex appeal.
This may sound like a dubious proposition, but people apparently are still eager to hear numbers out of the great American songbook (alongside tunes of lesser pedigree) sung by voices of substance and backed by choirs of actual saxes, trumpets and trombones.
Of the three leading performers, only Stephen Triffitt's Sinatra provokes the occasional internal double take, providing reassurance that this is only a latter-day impersonator rather than the real thing. At first, he's almost too successful in duplicating Sinatra's every rhythmic and phonetic inflection. Eventually, he makes us forget the mechanics and just listen to the music – especially the torch song "Angel Eyes." He's also got the physical manner, at once regal and offhand, down pat.
His pretend buddies both boast fine voices, but the illusion is weaker. Davis sometimes trod perilously close to self-parody, which makes things doubly hard for David Hayes. He's lively and he can hoof it, but he lacks the grit under the original star's larger-than-life exterior. Mark Adams projects Martin's macho appeal, and the voice evokes the star without imitating him slavishly. But Adams works too hard at ingratiating himself with the audience, whereas you could always see a dead chill of indifference in Martin's eyes.
The Rat Pack brims with the buddies' horseplay (complete with sexist, racist and boozy jokes authentic to the period). What it leaves you with, however, are meditations on Frank Sinatra's unique career. Not only does Triffitt bring him to life, he sings the questionable later material, especially "My Way," with genuine feeling that we didn't always get from the man himself.
PLAN YOUR LIFE
Through Sunday at the Majestic Theatre. Runs 140 mins. $12 to $71. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, www.ticketmaster.com.

DSM and Social Networking

Are you curious about this increasingly ever-present catch phrase called "Social Networking"?

...About Facebook, Twitter, Myspace & Yelp, to name a few of the more than 1000+ and growing networks online?

Think of all the ways you network in real life--jobs, friends, family, etc... Social networking sites are simply a way to contact and connect people more quickly online; like a giant interactive phone book! Here is a quick 1:48 long video entitled "Social Networking in Plain English" that may also help to illustrate this type of networking.

How does DSM use Social Networking?

Like most any technology and marketing, there are nearly unlimited ways to use Social Networking.

DSM uses it to carry on conversations with our patrons: Advance special announcments, alerts, customer care questions, and also simply for performing arts enthusiasts to have another way to interact with one another.

We primarily use Facebook, Twitter, Yelp & Myspace as a way to bring information to where people are. We know life is very busy and you may not always have an opporunity to get to our website. And we also know that millions of people are daily checking their "social sites" daily like email. As a convenience we have established a presence on the sites listed above, not to replace our site by any means, but to enhance the ease of our value patrons being able to quickly gain the information they are looking for.

Below, you'll find basic primers about the Social Networking sites we use:

FACEBOOK
From Wiki: Facebook is a popular, free-access social networking website that is operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people. People can also add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profile to notify friends about themselves. The website's name refers to the paper facebooks depicting members of a campus community that some US colleges and preparatory schools give to incoming students, faculty, and staff as a way to get to know other people on campus.

Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while he was a student at Harvard University. Website membership was initially limited to Harvard students, but was expanded to other colleges in the Ivy League. It later expanded further to include any university student, then high school students, and, finally, to anyone aged 13 and over. The website currently has more than 140 million active users worldwide.

Facebook on Reuters Download 7 things to know about Facebook 7 more thing to know!

TWITTER
From Wiki: Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.

Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends (delivery to everyone being the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, SMS, RSS, or email, or through applications such as Tweetie, Twinkle, TwitterFox, Twitterrific, Feedalizr, and Facebook. Four gateway numbers are currently available for SMS: short codes for the United States, Canada, and India, and a United Kingdom-based number for international use. Several third parties offer posting and receiving updates via email. Twitter had by one measure over 3 million accounts and, by another, well over 5 million visitors in September 2008, a fivefold increase in a month.

Twitter on Time.com Download 7 things to know about Twitter

YELP
From Yelp.com: Yelp is...

...the ultimate city guide that taps into the community's voice and reveals honest and current insights on local businesses and services on everything from martinis to mechanics.

...just real people, writing real reviews, and that's the real deal.

...a fun and engaging place for passionate and opinionated influencers to share the experiences they've had with local businesses and services.

...the definitive local guide in the Dallas, San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle... But really, we're everywhere in the U.S. and now Canada & the U.K.! From Austin to Edmonton and everywhere in between, reviews are coming in from all over!

...word of mouth marketing - amplified. Savvy local marketers now have a great channel to effectively target local consumers.

MYSPACE
Myspace is kind of grand-daddy of modern social networking sites.
From Wiki: MySpace is a free social networking website with an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos for teenagers and adults internationally. Its headquarters are in Beverly Hills, California, USA, where it shares an office building with its immediate owner, Fox Interactive Media; which is owned by News Corporation, which has its headquarters in New York City. In June 2006, MySpace was the most popular social networking site in the United States. According to comScore, MySpace was overtaken internationally by main competitor Facebook in April 2008, based on monthly unique visitors. The company employs 300 staff and does not disclose revenues or profits separately from News Corporation. The 100 millionth account was created on August 6, 2006 in the Netherlands and the site counted approximately 106 million accounts on September 8, 2006. MySpace.com attracts 230,000 new users per day.

Shortly after MySpace was sold to Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox news and 20th Century Fox, in 2005 they launched their own record label, MySpace Records, in an effort to discover unknown talent currently on MySpace Music. Regardless of the artist already being famous or still looking for a break into the industry, aspiring artists can upload their songs onto MySpace and have access to millions of people on a daily basis. Some well known singers such as Lilly Allen and Sean Kingston gained fame through MySpace.
The availability of music on this website continues to develop, largely driven by young talent. Over eight million artists have been discovered by MySpace and many more continue to be discovered daily.

FROST / NIXON: Movie vs. Stage Production

Happy New Year all,

Here is a re-post from the Minneapolis Post regarding the hit show that is coming to The Majestic Theatre. (Tickets are not yet on sale--stay tuned for the on sale date!)

Minneapolis Post
Review: ‘Frost/Nixon’ (the play) packs a lot of punchBy
Ed Huyck Published Wed, Jan 7 2009

You can take in the film version of "Frost/Nixon" at a lower price than the touring production inhabiting the State Theatre in Minneapolis, so why choose the play? I could go on about the connection between the performer and the audience, maybe even toss out fancy words like "gestalt,” but the answer is pretty simple: Stacy Keach (as Richard Nixon) and Alan Cox (as David Frost) fully inhabit their roles to the point that the verbal battles between the two at the show’s climax feel as intense as the real thing.

The film explores the aftermath of Nixon’s presidency via the famed TV interviews conducted by Frost in 1977. As one of the characters notes, the two spar like fighters. Playwright Peter Morgan has a knack for exploring the human toll of politics (past work includes "The Queen,” about Tony Blair, Queen Elizabeth II and the death of Princess Diana) and that’s in full effect here.

While it gets off to a slow start, "Frost/Nixon" finds its pace and drive once the two characters begin their on- and off-screen battles. Keach certainly gets the meatier role here, and takes full advantage of it, making his complex character come to life. Cox has a tougher role, as Frost buries his doubts beneath his playboy image. This comes into sharp focus in the play’s final quarter as the men share a late-night phone conversation. Frost asks Nixon the questions that everyone wants answered, and the disgraced former president obliges.

In the end, this smart and well-paced production scores with the intensity and immediacy of the two main performers -- and that’s something you can never get on the movie screen.

There have been a number of presentations that have graced both stage & screen--what is your preferred medium?