A Few of My Favorite Things: Musicals #2–Mamma Mia VIDEO

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Jacob Flores

We’re up to #2 this week on my top 5 favorite musicals. Coming in at #5 was The Producers, #4 was Avenue Q, and last week’s #3 was Grease. Today, it’s time to talk about my #2 favorite musical

So why did Mamma Mia! make the #2 slot. Well, that’s easily summed up in one word–Abba! I have always been a big Abba fan. Their pop songs are fun and once you hear them, you just can’t get them out of your head. Not that you would want to anyway.

When I saw the show on Broadway, I had to stop myself from singing along with the cast and getting up and dancing. Luckily, the show had some audience interactive parts when doing so was encouraged. Naturally, I got right on up and shook everything I had.

For anyone who’s unfamiliar with the plot, here’s a brief synopsis:

Twenty-year old Sophie is getting married, much to her very free-spirited mother Donna’s chagrin. Sophie has no clue who her father is but upon searching through her mother’s things, she finds out that she has three potential would-be fathers. Naturally, she invites all three of her mother’s former beaus to the wedding, and they all accept. When the men arrive, Donna is floored. The resulting chaos is what the show is about as well as the Abba classics that are ingeniously and flawlessly written into the plot.

Which numbers were some of my faves? Well, here they are:

Honey, Honey

This number takes place after Sophie’s best friends arrive for the wedding. She fills in her besties about her mother’s past and what she’s done.

Mamma Mia

During this scene, Donna learns that her exes are on the island and staying at her hotel. She’s angry that they are there, but she’s also intrigued. She hasn’t really gotten over any of them, but there is one among them who she’s always been madly in love with.

Dancing Queen

This is one of the hilarious numbers during the show. Donna’s best friends try to cheer Donna up after she learns that her ex-beaus are in town. They want her to realize that she is still the carefree, strong girl she once was.

So there you have it. The Abba songs are really what make this musical for me. The film version wasn’t nearly as powerful as the Broadway version. Still, it was fun to watch. This is definitely one musical I can watch over and over. And believe me, I have!

A Few of My Favorite Things: Musicals #3–Grease VIDEO

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Jacob Flores

It’s time to return to counting down my top 5 favorite musicals of all time. I’ve already shared with you why I love The Producers (#5 on my list) and Avenue Q (which came in as #4), and today, I’m going to talk about the musical that made #3 on my list:

Now those of you who know me are probably shocked as hell right now. I’m a HUGE (and that is putting it very mildly) fan of Olivia Newton-John. She was my very first diva and I was instantly taken in. I still remember watching Grease for the first time and wanting to DIE because I wanted to be Sandy that badly.

Yes, yes. It should have come as no big surprise that I was gay when I finally hand-jived out of the closet twenty years later.

So why did Grease make the #3 slot on my list?

Well, did I mention it has Olivia Newton-John in it? I did? Okay, well it also has John Travolta, who at the time, I wanted to be my boyfriend so bad. Who knew that all I needed to do was become a masseur to have him? But oh well! Que sera sera!

But beyond Olivia and John, this musical has everything! Infectious songs, an outstanding cast, and a great story about love.

Normally, I would share a synopsis of my favorite musical, but since Grease is such a classic, I doubt that it is necessary. We all know the story!

So let’s get to the numbers that still make me smile to this day.

Summer Nights

If there was ever a song that was an epitome of a musical, “Summer Nights” is definitely it. In just a few short notes, most everyone can identify the song, and why not? It’s a fun song about summer loving. Many of us have experienced that first summer love, and to relive that feeling every time we see this number, makes it very special to me.

Look At Me I’m Sandra Dee

Even though this number doesn’t have my Olivia, it is still one of my favorites. When I first saw Grease, I remember instantly hating Rizzo. I certainly could relate to Sandy being picked on. All I wanted to do was rush into the screen and tell Sandy that I’d be her BFF and then we could both slap the shit out of slutty Rizzo. But with maturity, I see that Rizzo’s attempts at making fun of Sandy were a result of her insecurities rather than anything to do with Sandy. Isn’t that the way it always seems to go?

You’re the One That I Want

This song is one of my absolute favorites from the musical. Not only does Sandy get her man but she shows him she can be a badass leather chick. I remember thinking: hey, I can do that too. And I’ve gotta admit, I pride myself on being a mixture of nice and naughty, and who do I have to thank for that? Why Olivia Newton-John of course!

So there you have it. Because of the great cast, numbers, and plot, which all still hold up to the test of time, that is why Grease is my third favorite musical of all time.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Musicals #4–Avenue Q VIDEO

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Jacob Flores

It’s time to continue the countdown of my favorite musicals. Last time, I talked about The Producers, which came in at #5. Today, we move on to the #4 spot with

Now why did Avenue Q make #4?

Well, it’s because it was an ingenious mixture of The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Melrose Place. I mean, really? Who doesn’t love puppets who sing, curse, and have sex? And there was even a character playing the role of Gary Coleman.

Yes, that Gary Coleman

Needless to say, I was rolling in the aisle for much of the show.

If you’re not familiar with the plot of Avenue Q, here’s a brief synopsis:

The puppet Princeton, who’s just graduated from college with a B.A. in English, is searching for a place to live. He starts on Avenue A but has to travel all the way to Avenue Q to find an apartment he can afford. On Avenue Q, he meets his love interest, the virginal Kate Monster, as well as a cast of characters that include both humans and puppets living in harmony. Princeton is searching for his purpose, bungles up his life along the way, but has the support of his friends to see him through to the end.

During his journey, Princeton meets two other puppets Rod, an anal-retentive and closeted homosexual, and Rod’s roommate, Nicky. Rod and Nicky are supposed to represent Burt and Ernie from Sesame Street fame, and in one of the most hilarious numbers, Nicky inquires if Rod is gay.

If You were Gay

Princeton’s girlfriend, Kate Monster, is a teacher, and she has gotten a job to teach Kindergarten. She is ecstatic about trying out new curriculum revolving around the Internet. Unfortunately, fellow apartment dweller Trekkie Monster, tells her the Internet is for porn.

The Internet is for Porn

And lastly, the cast tackles the subject of racism and politically correctness. This scene features Kate Monster, Gary Coleman, the Asian Christmas Eve and her fiance Brian.

Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist

So because of these unique numbers, hilarious lessons on life, and the wonderful mixture of puppetry and human acting, Avenue Q lands at #4 on my list of favorite musicals.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Musicals #5–The Producers VIDEO

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Jacob Flores

Today, I’ll be starting a brand new semi-regular series, where I’ll chat about some favorite things of mine like movies, music, television shows, or whatever strikes my fancy. And I’m going to be tackling my favorite things in a countdown fashion. Why? Well, who doesn’t love a countdown? I know I do! I like to see if my favorites match up with whatever countdown show I’m watching, and if they do, I cheer. If they don’t, I boo and think the people who build the countdown are idiots.

Except this time, the idiot will be me!

Wait. That’s not what I meant. What I wanted to say is that I will be in charge of the countdown because, well, this is my blog so

And today, I’m starting with musicals. Why? Well, I LOVE musicals! I don’t know if it’s the singing, the costuming, the dancing, or maybe just because I’m really gay.

Well, maybe not that gay!

Now that’s more like it!

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, musicals.

I just can’t get enough of them. And when I first got the idea for this series, I just so happened to be watching a musical. So naturally, it just made sense to start with the musicals that have made me want to move to New York City and become a Broadway star!

And #5 on my list of favorite musicals is:

Why you ask?

Well, honestly, it’s because it has some hilarious musical numbers, which I will be sharing with you below. However, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the show, here’s a brief intro:

Max Bialystock, played by Nathan Lane in the most recent version, is a Broadway producer who has a reputation for bringing flops to the stage. He is being audited by mousy accountant Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick), who unknowingly gives Max the idea to swindle his investors out of their money by knowingly setting out to produce a flop. Max and Leo become partners and decide to hire the worst playwright, actors, and directors so that their show is destined to fail. That way, they can keep the two million dollars they are planning on raising to fund the flop. Unfortunately for their scheme, their flop, Springtime for Hitler, becomes a satirical hit.

Naturally, since they are looking for the worst, this leads to those hilarious numbers I mentioned. The first of those is sung by Uma Thurman’s character, Ulla. She wants to break into the business, and this first scene is her audition for Max and Leo.

When You’ve Got it Flaunt It

Next up, Max and Leo search out the worst director in the business, Roger DeBris, who is truly over the top and played by Gary Beach. Roger doesn’t want to do the musical because a show about Hitler would be too sad. He prefers to keep his shows gay!

Keep it Gay

The last number I will share is perhaps the funniest of them all. The actor who was originally cast to play Hitler in the show breaks his leg, and the only person who knows the part is Roger, the very effeminate director. The casting switcheroo is what turns the show into a sensation. Plus, it had me laughing so hard, my stomach hurt!

Springtime for Hitler

So there you have it. These numbers are why The Producers made it to #5 on my list of favorite musicals.

Which show made #4? Stay tuned!