Broadway In Chicago:Shrek The Musical drives truth home with humor

Story and photos 1 & 2 by Dwight Casimere

1. DreamWorks CEO & co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg on the Green Carpet

2. All "Shreked" out!

3. Fiona (Haven Burton) and the tap dancin' rats

4. Shrek (Eric Peterson), Donkey (Alan Mingo, Jr.) and Fiona

5. Shrek

I would never have imagined DreamWorks co-founder and CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg as a first nighter, but there he was posing for the local TV cameras and photogs on the ‘Green Carpet’ on the official opening night of the First National Tour Debut of his Shrek The Musical at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. DreamWorks, along with Neal Street Productions, Ltd. and Broadway in Chicago announced the tour of the Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning musical, playing now through September 5.

Eric Petersen, who joins the tour from the Broadway production, truly WAS Shreak. Not for a moment did I gain a sense of the actor behind the green makeup. He was especially brilliant at the end of Act I with his soaring Bel Canto baritone in the song “Who I’d Be” in the Book & Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, who was nominated for two Tony Awards for his work on Shrek The Musical with composer Jeanine Tesori (Broadway’s Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center and Thoroughly Modern Millie, with lyricist Dick Scanlan).

Veteran Director Jason Moore, also from the Broadway production and whose credits include Avenue Q, Steel Magnolia and Jerry Springer: The Opera, along with Director Rob Ashford (director and choreographer of the current Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Promises, Promises), brought a highly polished production to Chicago audiences.

Choreography by Josh Prince truly sparkled, especially in Act II when the Pied Piper and his band of tap dancing rats trouped on stage to interrupt the ebullient Haven Burton (Fiona) in her vocal soliloquy, Morning Person. Alan Mingo, Jr. was disarmingly funny as the Donkey and David F.M. Vaughn stole the show with his sarcastically fey performance as Lord Farquaad. The added gymnastics of doing the entire performance while dancing on his knees made his skill as a contortionist extraordinary. His sense of timing in delivering his biting wit brought the house down more than once! The most outstanding effect was the larger-than-life dragon which was executed brilliantly by a team of black shrouded puppeteers. The vocalist who belted out her soulful lyrics was a real show-stopper.

I highly recommend Shrek The Musical. Besides being a terrifically entertaining show, it deserves audience support because there are far too few entertainments that are suitable for the entire family. I plan to see the show again on my own with my various young nieces, nephews and cousins in tow. But, c’mon guys, if you want people to come down to the Loop and spend money, you’ve got to cut the families of working people some slack at the Theatre Parking garage down the street. Thirty-one dollars is a bit steep. I think a $16-$20 parking fee is more than fair. That said, I like the overall message of Shrek. Quoting the Green Guy, “beauty isn’t always pretty.” In this world of superficial Paris Hiltons, the Kardashians and countless You Tube and Reality Show wannabe’s, that point that ‘it’s really what’s inside that counts’ really rings true.

Broadway In Chicago's August: Osage County comes home

by Dwight Casimere

I would never have imagined DreamWorks co-founder and CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg as a first nighter, but there he was posing for the local TV cameras and photogs on the ‘Green Carpet’ on the official opening night of the First National Tour Debut of his Shrek The Musical at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. DreamWorks, along with Neal Street Productions, Ltd. and Broadway in Chicago announced the tour of the Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning musical, playing now through September 5.

Eric Petersen, who joins the tour from the Broadway production, truly WAS Shreak. Not for a moment did I gain a sense of the actor behind the green makeup. He was especially brilliant at the end of Act I with his soaring Bel Canto baritone in the song “Who I’d Be” in the Book & Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, who was nominated for two Tony Awards for his work on Shrek The Musical with composer Jeanine Tesori (Broadway’s Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center and Thoroughly Modern Millie, with lyricist Dick Scanlan).

Veteran Director Jason Moore, also from the Broadway production and whose credits include Avenue Q, Steel Magnolia and Jerry Springer: The Opera, along with Director Rob Ashford (director and choreographer of the current Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Promises, Promises), brought a highly polished production to Chicago audiences.

Choreography by Josh Prince truly sparkled, especially in Act II when the Pied Piper and his band of tap dancing rats trouped on stage to interrupt the ebullient Haven Burton (Fiona) in her vocal soliloquy, Morning Person. Alan Mingo, Jr. was disarmingly funny as the Donkey and David F.M. Vaughn stole the show with his sarcastically fey performance as Lord Farquaad. The added gymnastics of doing the entire performance while dancing on his knees made his skill as a contortionist extraordinary. His sense of timing in delivering his biting wit brought the house down more than once! The most outstanding effect was the larger-than-life dragon which was executed brilliantly by a team of black shrouded puppeteers. The vocalist who belted out her soulful lyrics was a real show-stopper.

I highly recommend Shrek The Musical. Besides being a terrifically entertaining show, it deserves audience support because there are far too few entertainments that are suitable for the entire family. I plan to see the show again on my own with my various young nieces, nephews and cousins in tow. But, c’mon guys, if you want people to come down to the Loop and spend money, you’ve got to cut the families of working people some slack at the Theatre Parking garage down the street. Thirty-one dollars is a bit steep. I think a $16-$20 parking fee is more than fair. That said, I like the overall message of Shrek. Quoting the Green Guy, “beauty isn’t always pretty.” In this world of superficial Paris Hiltons, the Kardashians and countless You Tube and Reality Show wannabe’s, that point that ‘it’s really what’s inside that counts’ really rings true.

Travel-Affinia 50 New York City an outdoor oasis in summer

Story and photos by Dwight Casimere

1,2&3. dramatic views of midtown Manhattan from the terrace of Suite 2103

4. enjoying the "suite life" in a complimentary bathrobe

5. the author chillin' on the terrace

Affinia 50

155 East 50th Street | New York,NY 10022

Tel: 212.751.5710 ¦ Fax: 212.753.1468

An Executive Club Suite Hotel

New York---It was the eve of the Tony Awards on a perfect late spring evening in Manhattan. As I stood on the terrace of my upper floor suite at the Affinia 50 on East 50^th Street, I took a long, thirsty pull on a glass of Pommery Champagne as I soaked in the pre-sunset views, first gazing at the reflection of the sun on the East River, then staring south toward the canyon of buildings cascading into the Wholesale District and Chelsea. It was a quintessential Mid-Town moment that only the fortunate few are able to experience. In a crowded city where space is at a premium, only a fortunate few enjoy any semblance of outdoor space in a Manhattan apartment, particularly one as expansive as the one I was currently experiencing in my digs at the Affinia 50.

From now through September 30^th, the Affinia 50 is making my selfish pleasure available to the masses with an opportunity to experience the Affinia Alfresco Style.” Enjoy The Great Outdoors in NYC” is an opportunity for guests to enjoy the sparkling views that are only the special purvey of visitors to Manhattan from their very own private terrace or to step from their guestroom to a personal garden oasis. A rare amenity in the Big Apple, this Affinia alfresco package offers guests a chance to relax over drinks or just ponder the night’s adventures that lie ahead while reveling in the great city views and open air. A bottle of champagne, wine or a six-pack of beer is included.

Having experienced the alfresco lifestyle there firsthand, I can’t recommend it more highly. In my case, I enjoyed a refreshing bit of solitude before descending to the madness of the Red Carpet outside nearby Radio City Music Hall before the start of the Tony Awards ceremony. As I was nearly jostled into a police barricade by an overzealous TV news crew upon the late arrival of actor Will Smith, doing his best ‘Obama with Secret Service in tow’ imitation, I yearned for that glass of champagne and the pristine view from my Affinia 50 suite terrace. Visit www.affinia50.com for details.