Sunday, January 31, 2016

ALLEGIANCE on Broadway

It has been quite some time since I've written a post just to share my love of a show, but ALLEGIANCE compelled me to do so. I make it my goal each season to see all of the musicals I suspect will receive the big TONY nominations, but when ALLEGIANCE announced a February 14th closing date, I crossed it off of my list. It was only after a dear friend told me that everyone he knew who saw the show wept, that I reluctantly bought a ticket on TDF...and I'm so thankful I did.

The piece penned by Lorenzo Thione, Marc Acito, and Jay Kuo opens in 2001 with Sam Kimura (George Takei) in his military uniform on Pearl Harbor Day. He is visited by a woman who announces that his sister Kei (Lea Salonga) has passed away. He hasn't seen her in over fifty years, but he is immediately visited by her spirit, reminding him that their family has unfinished business. We are then transported back to 1941 when a young Sam (Telly Leung) returns home from college to the family artichoke farm in Salinas, CA. The family's future is wrapped up in Sam, but then Pearl Harbor happens and everything changes. The events that ensue recount one of the darkest parts of America's history. Over 120,000 Japanese Americans were transported to labor camps, not unlike what was happening in Nazi Germany simultaneously. Japanese Americans, including the Kimura family, struggle with their own allegiances. Sam wants to prove just how American he is and eventually joins the Army, while their father refuses to pledge allegiance to a country that essentially disowns his family and finds himself in prison. After the war, Sam returns to a hero's welcome, but finds his dear Hannah (Katie Rose Clarke) gone and the entire Kimura family changed forever.

What struck me so much about this piece was not the music, normally my favorite entry point into the musical, but the storytelling. I certainly learned about Japanese American internment in school, but I never realized how eerily similar it was to Nazi Germany. As Americans, we were horrified to learn what was happening in Europe, yet we had no clue what was happening in our own backyard.

Even more than a history lesson, this piece is one about family and the bonds that unite us across generations or cultures. ALLEGIANCE is not dissimilar to hit shows like Fun Home, Fiddler on the Roof, The Color Purple, Les Miserables, or even The Lion King in its exploration of family. When you see how close this family once was and how America's horrific treatment of them tears them apart, it's nearly impossible not to tear up a little bit.

Adding to the emotion of the piece is actor George Take's real life experience. It was his own childhood, largely spent in internment camps, that inspired the show. Seeing his ability to live his character nightly without any resentment toward his past is the ultimate example of forgiveness. Telly Leung carries this show on his back with drive and conviction, showing us that he is one of Broadway's brightest young stars. This brings us to Lea Salonga, a revelation whose Broadway return is akin to Judy Kuhn's Broadway return in Fun Home. Salonga expertly holds the audience in the palm of her hand as she carries the vocal heft of the show. Every word and every note out of her mouth are so laden with emotion than you shouldn't be surprised if you find yourself sobbing through the piece. But, I'll let you decide for yourself because you must see this remarkable show. It is only here for two weeks and it will be one of those shows that if you miss it, you will regret it.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

2016 US Figure Skating Championships: Mens Recap



I was less excited about the Senior men than any other event in this competition. Did you feel me? However, after so many relatively clean shorts, I was actually looking forward to this free! Though the judging left us asking questions, the competitors were at their best! 
  1. Without Jason Brown or even Joshua Farris in the competition, any win almost seems…..less than. Nevertheless:
    1. Boy was I wrong! Adam won this event, but he had heavy competition, from his training mate Nathan Chen in particular.
  2. Can Max Aaron, the clear favorite, land his jumps and win outright?
    1. He landed the jumps and had some semblance of performance quality, but with so much two-foot skating his program didn't hold a candle to Adam. Adam leads in artistry and Chen leads in athleticism, which leaves Max Aaron just hanging out in the middle. 
  3. Will Nathan Chen, the once novice and junior phenom, improve upon last year’s 8th place finish in his Senior debut and threaten for the podium?
    1. Did he ever! In my opinion, he should have won. I am a dance teacher and theatre nerd, so I of all people appreciate performance quality, but this is in fact a sport and athleticism should prevail.
  4. Can dark horse candidate and twitter-verse favorite Grant Hochstein make a statement after his impressive 4th place finishes at Cup of China and NHK Trophy?
    1. Johnny and Tara would not agree, but Grant pulled at the heart strings in his free and earned the fabulous pewter. With Chen's health uncertain, he has a strong shot at the world team.
  5. If Hochstein skates cleanly, will he have a moment with his Les Miz free skate and bring the crowd to its feet?
    1. He did indeed! Dell Pelligrini also had a moment when he skated over to her after the skate. Again, Johnny and Tara threw shade, but the real skating fans know better and appreciate a true "Nationals moment" when we see one.
  6. Is Ross Miner still relevant?
    1. He was indeed relevant in the short program, but without the quad or the unmatched artistry of Rippon, he will have difficulty making a world team. 
  7. Will Adam Rippon’s jumps fail him yet again, but wow us with his artistry?
    1. Yes and yes!
  8. Who will be the surprise member of the final group in the free?
    1. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Tim Dolensky! I hated how Tara called him a "practice skater" just because he doesn't train at a big fancy rink. This kid has talent and I don't think this showing was a fluke. 
  9. Who will make the biggest jump from the short to the free?
    1. He only jumped from 7th to 6th, but Alexander Johnson gave the free performance of the event for me after forgettable short. He is a true artist. His edge work is stellar and he makes this incredibly difficult sport look effortless.
  10. And finally, the question is not if, but who, will the selection committee screw out of an International assignment?
    1. The answer as of now is "nobody".  However, if Chen cannot attend Worlds, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if USFS reconsiders Brown's petition over 1st alternate Hochstein. 

Saturday, January 23, 2016

2016 US Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Recap



Ashley vs. Gracie: Part 4
  1. Does anyone else matter to the skating faithful?
    1. I feel that as a skating community, we have taken to Hannah Miller at this competition. Bradie Tennell is another one to watch. 
  2. Does Ashley come from behind in the short to win in the free as has become commonplace?
    1. Well, she was behind and she did so well until that pop, but it wasn't a true Ashley Wagner comeback, clearly, as she took third.
  3. Does my girl Ashley, an old broad by skating standards, have any gas left in the tank to take another US title and have a prayer of a World medal?
    1. I hate to say it because I love her, but I don't think she has a shot at a world medal unless others falter. She had her shot several times when she couldn't nail a short program. 
  4. Does Gracie live up to her word of “no more doubles”?
    1. After popping in the short, Gracie just threw it down in the free. She certainly lived up to her promise. 
  5. Does Gracie, clearly the more talented of the two, get out of her head and put up the points we know she can?
    1. Finally, yes, Gracie got out of her own head and threw down a fantastic performance. That was a "Nationals" performance and she clearly owned that free!
  6. More importantly, which of these two will give us the best Side Eye?
    1. Oddly enough, Polina was giving us some great face when she realized that Gracie had beaten her.
  7. Can Polina finally perform like a mature young woman?
    1. I'm just going to say it, because the free skate hair didn't help. It was more Pollyanna than Polina. She had the jumps, but she needs to learn how to perform and needs to be packaged differently.
  8. Does Karen Chen make the Gracie vs. Ashley debate moot by wiping the floor with all of them?
    1. She did not wipe the floor with them, but her free skate did make an impression aside from the fall. She has the potential to be great, but let's not crown her yet. 
  9. Can Courtney Hicks’ jump propel her back into the conversation?
    1. Unfortunately for Courtney, her jumps are what failed her. In my opinion, she needs to back off the speed and master her jumps again before she can put together a full program again. 
  10. Where does Carly Gold factor in, and more importantly, how does her presence affect Gracie?
    1. If she didn't have a famous sister, we wouldn't be talking about her and NBC certainly wouldn't be showing her short before the pairs free.
  11. What chance does Mirai Nagasu have after all these years, particularly where International assignments are concerned?
    1. She still has the skills, clearly, after nailing 2 clean programs, but that does not guarantee the "committee's" faith in her. She finished behind Ashley Wagner who popped a jump, so that doesn't demonstrate how much faith the international committee has in her. 
  12. Will any one performance make me cry or stand up and cheer?
    1. I certainly didn't cry, but I did cheer for Gracie because she had a true "Nationals moment".
  13. Can anyone from last year’s top ten trio of Bell, Pierce, or Miller surprise us and make the podium?
    1. Miller gave us a true performance. Pierce had that phenomenal short, but she really needed to go clean if she wanted to make to get to the program. She did show some fire at the end of the free so I'm very excited about her going forward! Bell showed us that she has the potential but she needs some smoothing out and just more experience. Unfortunately, not counting her combinations killed her. Fortunately, Kori Ade is her coach and in my opinion, she is the best in the business. 
  14. How will last year’s Junior winner by a mile, Bradie Tennell, handle the pressure of the Senior event?
    1. Bradie Tennell put on a show! She proved that her junior win was not a fluke and that she could handle the pressure. She held onto first until Wagner skated.
  15. Finally, will the dreaded “committee” have to step in when it comes to International assignments or will they let the competition play out?
    1. This should be pretty straightforward--Gracie, Polina, and Ashley will go to Worlds.

2016 US Figure Skating Championships: Dance Recap


This Senior Dance event had me on the edge of my seat for months following the Grand Prix Final. All I can say is that the judges finally got it right...

  1. First and foremost, who will have the most garish costumes and music?
    1. The team that did "Kung Fu Piano" has the most over the top costuming.
  2. Will the judging be fair?
    1. In my opinion, they finally got it right.
  3. Will any of the placements have fans in an uproar?
    1. For once, no! Many people would argue that Hubbell/Donohue should've finished 2nd but I don't love their free nearly as much as their short.
  4. Which free skate will make cry? (eh hem, Shibutanis)
    1. Yes, I sobbed while they skated to "Fix You" and I sobbed again when they realized they won!
  5. Will there be any significant movements from the Short to the Free?
    1. I wouldn't call it significant in terms of jumping several places, but moving from 2nd to 1st is significant in Ice Dance,
  6. Will Chock & Bates be given an unfair bump by the judges because they are International favorites?
    1. I would argue they got a bump in the short, but luckily, the free was scored properly. However, many would argue they got an unfair bump in the free.
  7. Which coach will wear the biggest scarf?
    1. My eyes may have deceived me, but I didn't notice any overwhelmingly large scarves! 
  8. Will Marina combust if her Shibutanis lose, yet again, to former students Chock & Bates?
    1. She did not have to combust because she won, but she did look genuinely surprised and thrilled!
  9. Will Hubbell and Donohue even be in the gold medal conversation or will there be, as in the past, a clear drop off between 2nd and 3rd?
    1. They were close in the short, not close enough in my opinion, but the distance between 2nd and 3rd was significant.
  10. Can Hawayek & Baker step up and challenge for 3rd or will they just fall by the wayside as yet another great junior team?
    1. This was a rough season for them with injury and illness. Next year is crucial for them and they will need special special programs in order to stay in the conversation and not go the way of Aldridge & Eaton as former junior champs who couldn't make an impact as senior competitors. 
  11. Does Alexandra Aldridge re-enter the conversation with her new pair-turned-dance partner Matthew Blackmer?
    1. They had a respectable debut and have potential, but you know she isn't happy to have placed below her former partner Daniel Eaton. 
  12. Will anyone else impress us?
    1. I was impressed by Cannuscio & McManus. If you had asked me two days ago, I would say that 5th was the bet they could've finished and jumping over Hawayek & Baker was crucial for them. In the past I've found their free dances over the top and maybe even tacky, but this free was elegant, sophisticated, and most importantly to me, extremely well acted.
  13. What will be trending among skating tweeters after this event? (you know we won’t all be happy)
    1. After taking the temperature of the twitter fans, we are unabashedly thrilled for the Shibutanis and a little bit sad for Hubbell & Donohue.
  14. And most importantly, will Ann Jensen and I get our artistry and unicorns?
    1. Ann and I did get our artistry and unicorns in the form of Maia & Alex Shibutani!

2016 US Figure Skating Championships: Pairs Recap


The Senior Pairs event was supposed to be a slam dunk for Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim, based on their International season, but when has a US Pairs event even been that simple? They made mistakes in both programs which opened the door for Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea, who were not only clean, but gave transcendent performances that could make a splash at Worlds if performed in that manner. 

Let's revisit the questions I posed before the event and recap how these things shook down.
  1. Will Scimeca & Knierim allow their Skate America and NHK medals and GPF qualification to propel them to a 2nd consecutive US Title?
    1. Not so much...I think they were way too confident coming in and they did not perform up to the best of their abilities. They will get a chance to redeem themselves at Worlds.
  2. Looking forward, can Delilah Sappenfield coach a World Medalist?
    1. This is to be determined, but in my opinion, the best pairs coaches are in Florida.
  3. Will Kayne & O’Shea or Aaron & Settlage, or Castelli & Tran perform in a way that establishes a clear 2nd place US Team?
    1. Kayne & O'Shea and Scimeca & Knierim are clearly the top 2 in the US, but 4 Continents and Worlds should give us a clearer picture of who is the 1 and who is the 2. 
  4. Will Calalang & Sidhu be able to factor in? 
    1. They led until the top group took the ice and that's about it, though they did top Aaron & Settlage in the free skate.
  5. Can Mervin Tran ever achieve the success he once had with Narumi Takahashi again, and with Marissa Castelli? Will they stay together long enough for any of this to matter?
    1. She looks so much happier skating with him than Simon and they seem to be a good match. If they spend another year together and they could make some noise. 
  6. Which junior medalists from last year will sneak onto the podium? 
    1. Fields & Utah Stevens unfortunately did not even come close. They finished 11th overall after an extremely messy free.
  7. Who will give us that classic great half of a free skate and then crumble in the second?
    1. Unfortunately this was Castelli and Tran. They started so strong and then we had Mervin's fall, the fall on the throw, and the loss of synchronization on the spins.
  8. And last but not least, how many of these teams will still be together next season?
    1. To be determined....

Friday, January 22, 2016

Barbie's Friday Thoughts



Dance:

  1. We should have Charlie & Tanith together doing commentary
  2. Daniel Eaton has beautiful posture
  3. Aldridge and Blackmer have potential once he masters the techniques...they clearly love skating together
  4. I am thoroughly impressed by Hawayek & Baker; they truly look like seniors this year and their program was beautifully composed
  5. The Shibutanis were 100% precise which I would say is a hallmark of Zoueva's teams, not one limb, one finger, one hair out of place
  6. I'm living for all of this ballet today! Happy birthday Balanchine! 
  7. Madison Chock is a star as long as you don't look at her feet 
  8. The top 2 teams should be reversed and everybody else on twitter agrees...Chock/Bates are more dramatic but the Shibutanis are more precise
  9. I completely agree with Charlie White...Hubbell & Donohue's short has the feeling of a free dance with the emotional storytelling
  10. One team actually DANCED today and that was Hubbell & Donohue....you don't see the elements, just the movement


Men:

  1. Nathan Chen knows how to compete-he did not skate perfectly, but he did not fall apart either
  2. Jimmy Ma can rock a sheer top
  3. Few skaters are more lyrical than Grant Hochstein-it's a shame that he couldn't go clean
  4. Vincent Zhou has some guts-at least with the jumps-the spins and footwork will come and he will compete with Chen before too long
  5. Ross Miner made me weep...his program was just so easy to watch and for the first time tonight I didn't feel anxious
  6. Sean Rabbit's Samson & Delilah was artistic, energetic, and so fast! 
  7. Tim Dolensky has an artist's soul and he showed that tonight
  8. Max Aaron make jumping look so easy when he's on with those springy knees and he's developing some performance skills
  9. Adam's footwork was the one element that stood out above everything else for me tonight
  10. This event was infinitely better than the ladies short...these guys showed up to COMPETE

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Barbie's Thursday Thoughts

Pairs

  1. A new program can transform your season-"Take Me To Church" clearly elevated Kayne & O'Shea's level of skating
  2. An emotional song will pull in the crowd over a rock song any day of the week
  3. You can never rely on US Pairs to perform the way you expect
  4. Too much confidence is always a cause for concern (I learned this from Ann Jensen)
  5. Castelli & Tran have a future if they can.....eh hem.....stay together!
  6. Never underestimate the power of real ballet training-Aaron & Settlage show us that in their posture and extension through each limb
  7. If Denney and Frazier had not been injured, this would have truly been a 4-way race and the most competitive US Pairs event in years
  8. A purple unitard is something we all think about wearing but most of us leave it in the back of the closet with the gold lame hot pants
  9. Todd Sand still looks as fabulous as ever......like a real life Ken doll
  10. I love Jimmy Morgan for his skating, but also because I met him in real life and he tweets with me
Ladies
  1. I want Kori Ade to be my coach when I go back in time and become an elite figure skater; the respect between pedagogue and pupil is palpable 
  2. Heidi Munger's costume was far and away my favorite
  3. Mirai Nagasu has done some living and that showed in her performance in a great way; her struggles have taught her to skate like a woman
  4. Karen Chen has "it" but "it" just wasn't her night, don't freak out people, she will come along
  5. Tyler Pierce blew me away with how effortless her program looked
  6. Ashley Cain should stop fighting the urge to skate to Frozen, she clearly already has the dress
  7. Abbott & Rippon are a breath of fresh air as choreographers
  8. Polina may not wow me as a performer, but she knows how to COMPETE at Nationals
  9. Ashley Wagner...well that broad sure knows how to put on a show
  10. Gracie Gold, you had one job and you singled a lutz?
  11. We had our moments, but I just wanted some clean skating; too much to ask?

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

2016 US Championships: Pairs Preview

The Senior Pairs event seems like it should be a slam dunk for Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierem, based on their International season, but when has a US Pairs event even been that simple? Here are a few questions that have me excited for this event:
  1. Will Scimeca & Knierem allow their Skate America and NHK medals and GPF qualification to propel them to a 2nd consecutive US Title?
  2. Looking forward, can Delilah Sappenfield coach a World Medalist?
  3. Will Kayne & O’Shea or Aaron & Settlage, or Castelli & Tran perform in a way that establishes a clear 2nd place US Team?
  4. Will Calalang & Sidhu be able to factor in? 
  5. Can Mervin Tran ever achieve the success he once had with Narumi Takahashi again, and with Marissa Castelli? Will they stay together long enough for any of this to matter?
  6. Which junior medalists from last year will sneak onto the podium? Fields & Utah Stevens, Liu & Johnson, or both? 
  7. Who will give us that classic great half of a free skate and then crumble in the second?
  8. And last but not least, how many of these teams will still be together next season?

2016 US Championships: Dance Preview

This Senior Dance event has had me on the edge of my seat for months following the Grand Prix Final. That being said, I have so many question:

  1. First and foremost, who will have the most garish costumes and music?
  2. Will the judging be fair?
  3. Will any of the placements have fans in an uproar?
  4. Which free skate will make cry? (eh hem, Shibutanis)
  5. Will there be any significant movements from the Short to the Free?
  6. Will Chock & Bates be given an unfair bump by the judges because they are International favorites?
  7. Which coach will wear the biggest scarf?
  8. Will Marina combust if her Shibutanis lose, yet again, to former students Chock & Bates?
  9. Will Hubbell and Donohue even be in the gold medal conversation or will there be, as in the past, a clear drop off between 2nd and 3rd?
  10. Can Hawayek & Baker step up and challenge for 3rd or will they just fall by the wayside as yet another great junior team?
  11. Does Alexandra Aldridge re-enter the conversation with her new pair-turned-dance partner Matthew Blackmer?
  12. Will anyone else impress us?
  13. What will be trending among skating tweeters after this event? (you know we won’t all be happy)
  14. And most importantly, will Ann Jensen and I get our artistry and unicorns?

2016 US Nationals: Mens Preview


I’m less excited about the Senior men than anybody else in this competition. Do you feel me?
  1. Without Jason Brown or even Joshua Farris in the competition, any win almost seems…..less than. Nevertheless:
  2. Can Max Aaron, the clear favorite, land his jumps and win outright?
  3. Will Nathan Chen, the once novice and junior phenom, improve upon last year’s 8th place finish in his Senior debut and threaten for the podium?
  4. Can dark horse candidate and twitter-verse favorite Grant Hochstein make a statement after his impressive 4th place finishes at Cup of China and NHK Trophy?
  5. If Hochstein skates cleanly, will he have a moment with his Les Miz free skate and bring the crowd to its feet?
  6. Is Ross Miner still relevant?
  7. Will Adam Rippon’s jumps fail him yet again, but wow us with his artistry?
  8. Who will be the surprise member of the final group in the free?
  9. Who will make the biggest jump from the short to the free?
  10. And finally, the question is not if, but who, will the selection committee screw out of an International assignment?

2016 US Nationals: Ladies Preview


Ashley vs. Gracie: Part 4
  1. Does anyone else matter to the skating faithful?
  2. Does Ashley come from behind in the short to win in the free as has become commonplace?
  3. Does my girl Ashley, an old broad by skating standards, have any gas left in the tank to take another US title and have a prayer of a World medal?
  4. Does Gracie live up to her word of “no more doubles”?
  5. Does Gracie, clearly the more talented of the two, get out of her head and put up the points we know she can?
  6. More importantly, which of these two will give us the best Side Eye?
  7. Can Polina finally perform like a mature young woman?
  8. Does Karen Chen make the Gracie vs. Ashley debate moot by wiping the floor with all of them?
  9. Can Courtney Hicks’ jump propel her back into the conversation?
  10. Where does Carly Gold factor in, and more importantly, how does her presence affect Gracie?
  11. What chance does Mirai Nagasu have after all these years, particularly where International assignments are concerned?
  12. Will any one performance make me cry or stand up and cheer?
  13. Can anyone from last year’s top ten trio of Bell, Price, or Miller surprise us and make the podium?
  14. How will last year’s Junior winner by a mile, Bradie Tennell, handle the pressure of the Senior event?
  15. Finally, will the dreaded “committee” have to step in when it comes to International assignments or will they let the competition play out?