Frank

Every now and again, something is so weird and delightful, I feel like it was put on Earth just especially for us to know we are loved and everything's going to be ok. Even if, like the new movie, Frank, it features probably the best working actor today, Michael Fassbender, and I'm not married to him. 

Even though I'm not married to Fassy, Frank is still a sign of hope. And we can all bask in his perfection, even minus that big blush-worthy grin, and with the addition of a huge papier-mache/fiberglass head. I've never really noticed what a physical actor he is before. Or how goofy. Even in interviews. But he is. The head changes the focus. 

The head's not the only bonus though. We also get the man who could soothe the world with his reassuring gaze, Domhnall Gleeson, and the always awesome Maggie Gyllenhaal (I'm watching her in The Honourable Woman right now as well!) Even bigger bonus: movie's about a band. 

I don't want to make this all about actors, though. At the end of the day, Frank is the kind of tone piece that rarely comes around. One I look forward to always. Cult-y within an inch of its life, but its very niche-ness justifies its existence. 

I'm not normally excited about films. But this one gives me a little hope that there's still a reason to keep making them and not just switch over completely to television.

Frank, inspired by musician Chris Sievey, and directed by Lenny Abrahamson, opens in select markets Aug 16th and nationwide Aug 29th.

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Music Monday - MS MR - Secondhand Rapture

New York-based duo, MS MR have been releasing critically praised singles since about this time last year. They've drawn comparisons to Kavinsky and even Florence + The Machine and have been remixed by pretty much everyone. They've also spent much of the last year touring with Jessie Ware. 

Next week, we finally get a full album: Secondhand Rapture. But you don't even have to wait that long to stream the whole album before its May 14th drop date. Listen NOW here.

Welcome to the innner workings of my mind...

Some of my fave remixes by CHVRCHES & NICITA:

And the original:

New Project! Shaping Sound Dance Co's National Tour

My only real frame of reference about dance is Broadway centered, but I know a good many of you have been quite obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance. If you put that all together, you might enjoy the lads of Shaping Sound Dance Company. At its core, Shaping Sound is four guys comprised of So You Think winners, runners up, choreographers, improv specialists and classically trained folks. (I'll let you guess who is who.) 

Well, they're going on a multi-city National Tour and the fabulous Nikole Vallins is producing. Yours truly over here will be shooting, producing, editing a series of promo videos tracking their rehearsal process and life on the road. Fun gig, right? 

Yesterday, I was climbing to the top of book cases to get cool angles on their unbelievable routines. As someone with barely enough coordination to keep my feet moving forward without tripping every day, let's just say I was extremely jealous. 

The guys are super funny, with loads of personality (also, dimples, if you're into that kind of thing) and I think it goes without saying, TALENT. On top of all that, what a group of gents! They helped me retain a small shred of grace as I climbed and got down from my furniture perch. Chivalry is not dead, apparently. 

Here is the first video I did announcing the tour with adorable Nick Lazzarini, Travis Wall, Teddy Forance, and Kyle Robinson. 

Check out the dates for their tour here. And follow them on twitter: @shapingsoundco

Crush Week: Bearded Aussies Justin O'Shea & Tom Bull

I did it! I found some smokin' hot male people. They aren't people I actually know, but let's just run with it. Aussies don't really crank the dials for me the same way they do a lot of ladies I know, but these two are sort of special. 

I'm pretty sure Justin O'Shea (the worldwide buying director of MyTheresa.com) is gay (I try to avoid listening to his speaking voice, in order to keep that knowledge at bay), but perhaps that's part of his appeal. It's all just hypothetical. As Anne Taintor says, "She liked imaginary men best of all."  

I feel like Justin O'Shea is the grown up version of fellow Aussie, Tom Bull. And I know, Tom Bull looks already grown up (and grown up RIGHT!) but he's like fourteen years old. Oof. He does mention an ex-girlfriend though, so at he's playing for the team. 

Blonde beards. Rugged. What is my deal? 

Crush Week: I Heart CHVRCHES

CHVRCHES has pretty much everything I need in to order to commit to a band: chick singer with dude backups, some electronic goings on, list Prince & Depeche Mode as one of their primary influences, possess UK passports, and most importantly: Scottish residency. I was fortunate enough to see Glasgow natives, CHVRCHES, by accident (they had only JUST formed) while I was living in Scotland and have loved them ever since--- even though they haven't had much music for purchasing via the internet. 

I am happily awaiting their EP next month in the US. In the meantime, I've used my still-active UK itunes to download a few things. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry kind of reminds me of Hayley Williams-- in a good way. She's also a lawyer...and a journalist-- so watch the fuck out. Iain Cook & Martin Doherty, on the other hand, are sort of a Scottish indie rock mainstays-- having previously founded Aereogramme & The Unwinding Hours  and The Twilight Sad, respectively. CHVRCHES spent most of 2012 on tour with Passion Pit. Personally, I'd like to see them go out with Polica. That's a concert I'd jump to see. 

Even without Polica, I'm still planning on seeing them here in LA at the Echoplex on March 12th. See you there??

They're also the first band I've seen to have the good sense to take promo photos in front of the Scottish National Galleries neon installations by Nathan Coley. 

For more, check out here and here. And a Prince cover! 

Try the Lamb

One of my favorite popular novelists is the lovely Wally Lamb. She's Come Undone, I Know This Much is True, and The Hour I First Believed remain some of the most emotionally affecting works I've ever read. 

On top of all that, Wally Lamb has always just seemed like the nicest man ever. Kind of a cross between Tom Hanks and Toby Ziegler in a way that makes you wish he was your father in law. As it happens, he's got three sons. 

Two of those sons live in New Orleans and one, Justin Lamb,  is a spoken word or performance poet. (I can't bring myself to use the term slam poetry, as it is no longer the nineties.) He does a lot of spots for The Saints. If professional football held any power over me, I'm sure I'd find these very moving. They seem to have the gravitas and high production quality that resonates with sports fans.

My second favorite Justin Lamb moment is this little rumination on his home state of Connecticut. I don't really think of Connecticut as what you'd call 'gangsta,' but I'm glad Justin does. Or is at least willing to wink at us. Continually for three minutes. 

My FAVORITE Justin Lamb moment is his "New York."

He also says one day he'd like to be 'snack laureate.' Snack being one of my favorite words, I'd like to say to Justin, let's just get married. I know Crush Week isn't until February around here, but I just couldn't wait. 

For more Justin, check out here & here. 

Franzen's House For Sale at Transport Group

While those in NYC start bundling up for Fall and Winter, I'm still sleeping with door open and swimming in my pool. I doubt I'll miss Winter in New York, but I will miss the start of this and every theatre season. I'm impressed with Broadway's line up this season. (They snagged Paul Rudd for...anything at all... so why complain?) There's always the spot of drama with some show never making it to performances. (Rebecca. In this case due to shady, dead investors, who, it turns out never existed in the first place.)

I've also been energized, and then of course, depressed that I would miss a few great off-broadway showings. I mean, Jake Gyllenhaal's stage debut alone was enough to make me question my decision to leave. But of all my celebrity boyfriends, no one gets me more turned on (theatrically speaking) than my very own personal abusive boyfriend, Jonathan Franzen. 

This season, one of my favorite theatre groups-- Transport Group-- is presenting a theatrical adaptation of one of Franzen's essays, House For Sale. 

Adapted by Daniel Fish, a man I think might be spying on my thoughts, is the same guy who adapted the strange and trippy stage incarnation of DFW's A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again. Fish's House For Sale seems to be along the same lines, with five actors interpreting the same essay "word for word" in different ways. I think Franzy's language stands up to repetition. I suppose I'll have to get someone to give me the recap. Theresa, I nominate you.

House For Sale starts this Sunday, October 14th at the Duke.
229 West 42nd Street

You can read the full essay House For Sale here.
Image via

House For Sale from daniel fish on Vimeo.

Tale of 2 Biopics- the More Jeff Buckley, the Merrier

One day in Arizona at a forensics tournament, when I was a young lass of 15, my friend Trevor Banks decided to change my life, and made me listen to Jeff Buckley. This was way before his big resurgence in the aughts and was in fact, right after he'd died. 

It synced up, in fact, with one of my old school mentors Duncan Sheik releasing his tribute song, "A Body Goes Down" on one of the seminal albums of my life, Humming. 

From then until his entry into the more popular consciousness, Jeff Buckley was a litmus test-- how many people could tell if someone was 'with it' or not. 

We have not one but potentially two Jeff Buckley biopics to look forward to in the coming months. Well, if the second-- official-- one actually gets made. First up is the one that uses little to no Jeff Buckley music, but looks pretty good despite that fact-- and despite what is, in my opinion, a rather unfortunate title: Greetings from Tim Buckley. 

But it looks like both the films will have unfortunate titles, as the 'officially sanctioned' one, with the music, will be called Mystery White Boy... or, just Boy. If it happens at all. There's dramz over on the set of that one too, as it's been reported that the movie has been "bogarted away" from its original director. It was supposed to film this summer, but that never happened and has a new director?

Penn Badgely seems to be drawing a lot of praise for his performance in 'Greetings'. I buy it. But man, Reeve Carney looks JUST like Jeff. So I hope they can get their shit together. Because word on the street is Reeve Carney may be out of the pic. That would be a shame shame shame. As far as I'm concerned, the more JB biopics the merrier. 

Finding Neverland & Be My Boyfriend, Julian Ovenden

One of the shows I'm sad to be missing now that I'm no longer in the UK is the world premiere of Finding Neverland. I think it's super right for musical adaptation and it sounds like they've got the right team (Ashford, Korie & Frankel. Woot, woot Grey Gardens: A show I have never ever been able to shake from my thoughts.) and the right cast. (Julian Ovenden is the hottest. The. hottest. Ever.) The show is having a regional tryout at Leicester's Curve prior to a West End run beginning September 22. I'm hoping it will eventually make its way over here. 

I will say, however, this video with the faux green screen backdrops didn't do much for me. Also, I'm not loving Julian's sound on this stuff. I prefer him here. Perhaps that's just because this is one of the best songs ever written. (What's with those wonky orchestrations at the end there, though, Proms?) What do you think of this trailer? And Julian? Sigh. 

Okay, so he's married (to opera star Kate Royal) and can't be my boyfriend. Still.

A Dreamy Scrapbook

Despite one of my best friends/most astute film critics I know calling it "a coffee table book of a movie" (and though I hated to admit it, I agreed) Jane Campion's Bright Star remains one of my favorite films. When I need to calm down or just generally feel better, I put it on while I try to sleep or just watch on these frequently rainy days. I watch for the scene with the billowing curtain, for when they sweep the tattered butterflies into the dust bin, most especially for all the moments when they read Keats's poems and letters. 


I suppose that's why I made my own scrap book out of Jane Campion's scrap book. Her site is now defunct, but it seems I'm not the only one who loved it's dreamy moods. Something about the fact that the site no longer exists seems fitting, doesn't it? Makes it all the more romantic? I think Keats himself would have appreciated that kind of ephermera. The same guy whose tomb says "here lies one whose name was writ in water."


As I contemplate a lot of big decisions coming up for me on this Mother's Day in the US, I wish I had a bit more time to daydream to Bright Star. At least this work and wind in St Andrews will keep me busy and  thoughts of mothers at bay. 

That's The Story...of Jason Michael Snow

Have you met my new crush, Book of Mormon actor, Jason Michael Snow? Allow me to introduce you, if you haven't already met. When he sang Steven and Kirsten Guenther's (my girl talent crush/want to be her) awesome song, That's The Story, at our Lincoln Center concert, I knew right away that I wanted to go home and rewrite ALL my shows to include a part for him.


One of the nicest things that ever happened to me was when a VOTE! fan said that I was "possibly too adorable to exist." I would now like that pass that warm fuzzy onto Jason Michael Snow. So adorable, I'm still not sure he's real. 


Don't believe me? Check it. Also this. This was at the concert. Also this. Remember when this was one of my favorite things ever? I was here for this too. 

Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City Links

Ugh. I love being back here. I love sitting on patios and having lunch, I love day drinking, I love talking about theatre all the time.  I love walking amongst the crazies. 45th Street was a gold mine of delight this morning as we strolled the dogs with our coffee. There was the three legged chihuahua and the theatre queens proclaiming that "Um... Estelle Parsons....needs....to win a Tony," and of course the step-limp druggies. This bitch is a beautiful city. 


I'm sitting in Steven's living room right now listening to a very talented friend, the secret recipient of every Smash Recap I write, sing all the parts from Annie, the first musical I every truly loved. I used to to watch and sing it with my Grandma. It's easy to remember everything you ever liked about being yourself when you lock in on something that crucial to the original kernal of who you were going to become. 


Peep this. 
- Ugh. Student debt. Thanks, guys. 
- Yeah, why are so many Americans single?
- In cased you miss this Ashley Judd piece, it's right on point
- Awesome feature on the show I most want to see while in NYC, Peter & the Starcatchers
- The peach champagne sapphire is my new favorite thing
- As someone who writes television recaps, I enjoyed this defense of television recaps. 
- SNL & their recently hip taste in music

In case you can't think of what to get me for my birthday - The Keats Brothers

While taking a turn through a bookstore this week, I had one of those moments of panic that arises in me when I realize I have missed the publication of a book super relevant to my life. In this case, a new dual biography of John and his brother George Keats. 


If you read this, you no doubt know Keatsy as my cosmic boyfriend. And George, John's younger brother, is not the recipient of some of John's best and most famous letters, (including prime article of my life numero uno on negative capability) but a pretty amazing story of rise to power in his own right through immigration to America. 


This new bio, by Stanford scholar Denise Gigante reveals new insight into both men's lives by looking at their relationship. I think I actually drooled on the floor of Blackwell's. 


For more check out here & here. Also, you KNOW I'll be attending this. 

Timorous Beasties + Scottish National Portrait Gallery

During the eight hour stint I had on Friday in Edinburgh between when my sleeper rolled in and when Iona arrived to begin the great car packing extravaganza, I made use of the day by really getting to know the museum at the top of my old neighborhood. For most of the time I was living in Edinburgh, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery was closed for repairs/renovations. (Apparently those Victorians weren't great at building roofs that didn't leak.)

After it reopened, I somehow never made it around--- though I could tell from gift shop that I was going to have a good time. And boy did I. It's a small, comfortable museum. The kind you don't mind spending hours and hours in. I checked my backpack in a locker and partook of the cafe as well as my favorite, the gift shop. 


Because even though they have one of my favorite portraits ever at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the gift shop is really where it's at. Here's why: Timorous Beasties. My favorite cheeky design company has paired up with the portrait gallery to do some limited edition home wares featuring  the famous faces of Mary, Queen of Scots, James VI & I, Robert Burns, etc. I was in love with the pillows and china. But as per usual, they came at Timorous Beastie prices. In another tax bracket, I would have bought ALL of it. 


The other amazing thing-- which I first discovered at the Prado when we were in Madrid--- is the art on demand feature museums are implementing where you can get your favorite painting reproduced on canvas and delivered to your door. God, I love modern technology. And with a massive gallery wall to fill in my new room, I'm plotting which of my favorite portraits to recreate. Perhaps John Singer Sargent's Lady Agnew. Which would you choose?

Home Sweet Home

Being at home is the best feeling in the world. Especially after an extended period of time where I've felt in flux, in transition and a bit up in the air. But I am a gypsy no more! After some nail-bitingly close moments regarding international banking and some lessons in trusting the people around me, I got the keys to 4 Ovanna Mews. 


And guys? It's the nicest place I've ever lived. It's so lovely. It's a little gated community with a garden and bikes and it's tucked away behind these pre-war buildings. I've never lived anywhere with this much natural light. Interior photos really don't do it justice. I've never had my own floor before. My room is on the top floor (of three!) I have my own bathroom. When I get all my own stuff in here, I am going to be in such heaven, I wonder if I'm going to lose my mind from happiness. 


So that's why this blog is late. I've been nesting. And scoping out my new fave neighborhood coffee spot. (It's amazing. It's called Reilly's Rocket. More on that later.) And of course working on my big presentation for Tuesday. But I think it's starting to come together. It's all starting to come together. Hope you're all having a fabulous finish to this weekend. 

It's a Metaphor

Before I moved to New York to work in theatre, I used to give long deconstructions of this song to people who didn't much care to listen. Since then, I haven't trotted it back out much, but I maintain my ardency about its near perfection as a musical satire number. 


Because as much of a spoof as it is, as silly as it is, it never lets go of the nugget of idea at its center. A sincere heart surrounded by laughs. Which is what all the best satire has going for it. A clown heart. 


Well, and Sara Ramirez. That tone. She's another really expert interpreter of songs. I wish she'd come back to musicals. Nothing she's done on telly can compare as far I'm concerned. (Except You've Got Mail. Let's not forget that. That was a genius 1.5 minute performance. "Happy Thanksgiving Back.")


And, because it's me and I'm a nerd, when the road seems long and tedious, I still listen to this song. It reminds me to laugh and not take it too seriously. But also that creating the exact life you want for life is serious as a heart attack. There's nothing more important than that. If you can keep that in mind, you've already won.  And that's your grail. That's your grail. 

It's Not Quite the Orient Express, But I'll Take It

While the National Rail Service isn't quite the Orient Express-- or its special line, the Venice Simplon-- in my head, it's every bit as romantic. Speeding through the Scottish & English countryside from Stirling to Kings Cross reading and cuddled against the arm of a handsome man. You'll hear no complaints from this small American. I'm not a big believer in 'reality'-- or, at least, I'm a big believer in reality is what you make it. So here, thanks to the people at the beautiful This Is Glamorous blog, are some images of what I feel today, even if it's not entirely true to what I see. 

Speaking of train travel, as part of our 'get street cred for Nicholas & Alexandra' Russia trip, we talked about taking the Trans-Siberian Railroad. I'm still up for that as well. Bring on any form of travel that doesn't require a pat-down and a full body-scan is what I say! Hope you're having a dreamy Sunday, wherever you are.

Exploring Upper Street - After Noah

Over the past few days, I've been taking what is hopefully the short amount of time I'll have in London as an unemployed person to explore the specific areas where I might live. Though almost everywhere we're looking at is somewhere in Islington (or its immediate borders with Hackney-- DeBeauvoir Town, Shoreditch) Upper Street would certainly be the slightly-out-reach crown jewel. It really is that adorable. It's all West Villagey and even weirdly sort of Boston-y. Essentially, I love it. 


So there's this one place that is actually kind of doable and right in the middle of Upper Street. I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of this. But my mind kind of only sees the pros and wants to be as close in proximity to this cuteness as possible. Cute-Case-in-Point: After Noah. Part antique furniture, part novelty shop, After Noah is an amazing place to spend a windy afternoon and mentally decorate your hypothetical Upper Street flat. Shop away, people. 

Matilda Monday

You guys. We need to talk about Matilda. I mean, it's been a while since I've had that glorious feeling of going to the box office to pick up my comps to see the culmination of years of work, the best thing in the world-- a new musical. So I was riding high just to be there. And it's an understatement to say that tonally, Roald Dahl is one of my biggest inspirations-- Matilda, the story of an abused little girl with sort-of-superpowers who finds a surrogate mother, most-especially close to my heart and close to home. 

But I wasn't sold after the first act. I thought.... Billy Elliot + Spring Awakening + Annie + Oliver! In fact, I spent a majority of my dreams on Thursday night rewriting said first act. The parents are sort of a weak link and there's too much of them. (I saw the Mr. Wormwood understudy-- he was like a cross between Pete Doherty and Beetlejuice.) Miss Honey's first act song could (and she deserves) way way better. That's not to say, however, that there are moments where they get it absolutely right. The opening number is amazing and so right for right now. What it isn't, though, is as close to Roald Dahl as it could be. Bertie Carvel, however, as Miss Trunchbull is so pitch perfect, I actually squirmed with glee every moment the character was onstage. At first, in fact, I was convinced the role was being played by Summer Heights High's Chris Lilley. The Lavender and the Matilda were delightful. And there is this adorable Asian child with these prosthetic ears that just... I can't. 


After we came back from intermission, we got things started off right and the perfection simply never stopped. The show hits its stride in a way like I have almost never seen. The way it commits to its own vocabulary and insanity and Roald Dahl-ness. There are no less than four perfect numbers. Perfect in every possible way. Lyrically, musically, tonally, conceptually, dramaturgically. I actually COULD NOT contain myself in my seat. 


"When I Grow Up" on these swings...dude, the video does not do it justice. Same for "Revolting Children" and Trunchbull's big second act number "The Smell of Rebellion" set in gym class is so over-the-top-wacky that it WORKS like nothing I have ever seen. (I really want the TRUNCH hoodie she wears in the number.) Kudos, Tim Minchin. (And Dennis Kelly & Matthew Warchus & Peter Darling.) Kudos. 


So listen. I'm one jaded-ass m-fing theatre-goer. I spend a lot of time analyzing and deconstructing theatre that it's almost impossible for me to let myself go to the point where I get swept up in what the show wants me to feel. But the second act of this show Took. My. Breath away. That is rare. That is precious. That is heaven. See this show. 

Crush-Worthy Links

Happy Friday! What are you doing this weekend? I'm busy packing and painting and writing. So much to do before London and so little time! Funny how, not even that long ago, the amount of time I had to wait to move seemed interminable. Now I feel the rush to get it all done in time. I suppose it's the same old story: too much/not enough. I know I'm going to start off right in my new home city though: I have bunches of NYC friends visiting the first two weeks I'm there. Easy that transition right along. Now, we'll transition to the links. 


This week, I talked a lot about new crushes or some hotties you may not have known about. Today, I remind you of the mainstays. Enjoy.


- My #1 man in the world, Paul Rudd, attempts to talk dirty in new movie Wanderlust. 
- Speaking of which, remember that time in Miami when Jennifer Aniston hit on my boyfriend WHILE wishing me a happy birthday? Yeah, that was funny. 
- Happy V-Day from the Gos.
- The #1 sexiest man in the universe... does...anything. That's newsworthy. 
- Let's not forget Fassby though. You check out here & my review of Shame here. Also this. (McC!)
- Writers! Some of my faves respond to John Barth in Granta


And more things to give you a toothache:
-Those adorable children from PS22 singing Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know."
- If you don't know Wanderlust Europe. You really should. It will make you want to sell your life and be a vagabond.