The Lion King

	COSTUMES AND MASKS:  The Lion King is unique in that we see how the magic works on stage. There's no attempt to cover up the wheels and cogs that make it all happen. As an audience member at The Lion King you have an important job: With your imagination, you are invited to mix the "animal" with the human into a magical whole.
	PUPPETS: The human beings that control the puppets and wear the animal masks are fully seen. As Julie Taymor says, "When the human spirit visibly animates an object, we experience a special, almost life-giving connection. We become engaged by both the method of storytelling as well as the story itself."
	AFRICAN MASKS: In Africa, masks are functional works of art.  As in The Lion King many African masks are made to be worn over the head instead of over the face. They serve many ceremonial purposes: initiating a young man into manhood, exorcising evil spirits, capturing the invisible supernatural forces surrounding us.  The sculptor has only one opportunity to incorporate the anger, humor, and passion of a character, to tell his or her whole story."
	BUNRAKU PUPPETRY: Named for its founder, Uemura Bunrakuken, this Japanese theater form started in the 16th century. In Bunraku, master puppeteers, visible to the audience, control large puppet dolls, while a narrator tells the story.  Through movement and gestures (and, as always, the audience's imaginations), great expressiveness can be achieved.
	SHADOW PUPPETRY: In shadow puppetry, the audience only sees the shadows of the puppets, thrown onto a screen by a light or a fire. Shadow puppetry seems to be thousands of years old; many think it originated in Greece, although Chinese records show forms of shadow puppetry being performed 2000 years ago. In Indonesian shadow puppetry, called the wayang kulit, intricate flat puppets made of wood and animal hide are shown before a muslin screen.
	Perhaps the most dramatic scene in The Lion King is the wildebeest stampede in which Mufasa is killed. The effect in the theater is electric, as thousands of wildebeests seem to be rushing straight at Simba -- and at the audience. The illusion of thousands of racing animals is achieved with a canvas scroll and a series of large rollers. Wildebeests are painted on the scroll, and each roller is equipped with sculptures of the animals. On each successive roller, the wildebeest sculptures are slightly larger, until, closest to the audience, dancers rhythmically move huge wildebeest masks. This design creates a false perspective of great distance. When the scroll and rollers are moving, the audience seems to see waves of wildebeests driving forward.

The Lion King

[To better read the text, click the pcture to enlarge]

The various techniques and effects that Julie Taymor used throughout this production are absolutely stunning. They push the boundaries of your imagination in every way possible. Because I was unable to take pictures, I have captured the ones below off of the Internet and provided a brief description in an effort to provide you with a better sense of just how wonderful this production was.  

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	COSTUMES AND MASKS:  The Lion King is unique in that we see how the magic works on stage. There's no attempt to cover up the wheels and cogs that make it all happen. As an audience member at The Lion King you have an important job: With your imagination, you are invited to mix the "animal" with the human into a magical whole.
	PUPPETS: The human beings that control the puppets and wear the animal masks are fully seen. As Julie Taymor says, "When the human spirit visibly animates an object, we experience a special, almost life-giving connection. We become engaged by both the method of storytelling as well as the story itself."
	AFRICAN MASKS: In Africa, masks are functional works of art.  As in The Lion King many African masks are made to be worn over the head instead of over the face and serve a variety of ceremonial purposes. The sculptor has only one opportunity to incorporate the anger, humor, and passion of a character, to tell his or her whole story.
	BUNRAKU PUPPETRY: This Japanese theater form started in the 16th century. In Bunraku, master puppeteers, visible to the audience, control large puppet dolls, while a narrator tells the story.  Through movement and gestures (and, as always, the audience's imaginations), great expressiveness can be achieved.
	SHADOW PUPPETRY: In shadow puppetry, the audience only sees the shadows of the puppets, thrown onto a screen by a source of light. Chinese records show forms of shadow puppetry being performed 2000 years ago. In Indonesian shadow puppets, called wayang kulit, are intricate flat puppets made of wood and animal hide shown before a muslin screen.
	Perhaps the most dramatic scene in The Lion King is the wildebeest stampede in which Mufasa is killed. The effect in the theater is electric, as thousands of wildebeests seem to be rushing straight at Simba -- and at the audience. The illusion of thousands of racing animals is achieved with a canvas scroll and a series of large rollers. Wildebeests are painted on the scroll, and each roller is equipped with sculptures of the animals. On each successive roller, the wildebeest sculptures are slightly larger, until, closest to the audience, dancers rhythmically move huge wildebeest masks. This design creates a false perspective of great distance. When the scroll and rollers are moving, the audience seems to see waves of wildebeests driving forward.

New Year’s Eve - 2009

New Year’s Eve we attended a Blood, Sweat & Tears concert at the Eastside Cannery.  We had seats in the first row about 15-feet from center stage.  It was a great show. Comprised of some of the world’s greatest jazz and rock musicians and arguably one of the best horn bands in the history of popular music, they have definitely left an indelible mark on the American music scene since 1968.

Back after 43 years, they are led by the groups founding member, Steve Katz. Though none of the group’s remaining members are original, several have been with the current band for more than fifteen years and sound every bit as good as the original group.

They played almost all of their most popular hits including, “You Made Me So Very Happy”, “And When I Die”, “Spinning Wheel”, “Hi-De-Ho, That Old Sweet Roll”, “Lucretia Mac Evil”, “God Bless The Child” and many more.  Though it was a little loud for Connie’s taste, it was a wonderful way to close out another decade.

Entertainment Review – Vinnie Favorito

Another of the things we did for our anniversary was to go down to the Flamingo on the Strip to see the Vinnie Favorito Comedy Show.  He is a quick-witted comic from Boston.  From the beginning to the end, he makes swift work of the audience. Vinnie makes it known that no one is safe in his showroom. His stand-up comedy act provides pure hilarious riffs with the audience and improv that is top notch. Favorito does not have pre-planned skits or notes. Each night is a fresh performance of good adult fun and loads of laughter as he integrates his personal brand of comedy with audience actions and reactions. He was more insulting than Don Rickles and kept us laughing all night long.

Entertainment Review - "Jersey Boys"

One of the things we did for our anniversary was to go to the acclaimed stage show, Jersey Boys playing at the Palazzo on the Strip. The Jersey Boys was voted "Best Show" in Las Vegas by the staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In addition, Rick Faugno, who appears in the show as Frankie Valli, won "Best Singer” in Las Vegas for 2009. The musical phenomenon Jersey Boys is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were thirty. In this specially built theater, it was amazing how the staging, sets and scenery all worked together so smoothly. I upgraded out tickets to fourth row, center isle for a $30 tip. We knew that the show featured such hits as "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," and "Oh, What a Night" but, had no idea how many complete songs were in the show. This page out of the playbill lists all the songs.  We were just amazed at the singing.  The guy who played Frankie Vali was just “spot on”! An amazing show.

(l to r) Bob Gaudio, Frankie Valli, Nick Massi and Tommy DeVito The Original Four Seasons

National Finals Rodeo

12/03/2009 – This evening Connie and I attended the opening ceremonies of the 2009 National Finals Rodeo on two tickets that I won in the poker room at the “M” Casino.  My neighbor friend Jim Freed also had a ticket so we all went together.  We got a complementary shuttle bus at the Southpoint Casino so I wouldn’t have to deal with traffic and parking.
Heidi Newfield was playing at the Cowboy Corral inside the Cox Pavilion prior to the event. Led by Maegan Ridley, 2009 Miss Rodeo America, opening ceremonies included an “Elvis” impersonator, singing of the national anthem, and introductions to each of the riders and champions, plus lasers and fireworks.
Following the opening ceremonies, the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding competed for a share of the $5.75 million purse. First prize purses for the evening were over $17,000.
It was a good night to be a world champion during Round 1 of the 2009 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Four past or reigning world champs made their ways to the winner's circle in front of 17,091 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Alpin Hong

Tonight we attended a free one-man piano recital of Alpin Hong.  He has to be one of the most gifted pianists we have ever seen.  We both agreed that we have never heard anyone play with such passion as this young man.  He is not only a great musician he is an excellent showman as well.  He actually makes the piano sound almost liquid. The entire performance was breathtakingly exciting.

Alpin Hong is a native of Michigan and made his orchestral debut with the Kalamazoo Symphony at the age of ten. He moved to Los Angeles soon after and garnered competition victories at a young age with wins at the 1989 Stravinsky Piano Competition, the 1993 SYMF Competition and the 1994 Los Angeles Spotlight Awards Competition. He was the winner of the Concert Artists Guild Competition in 2001. His teachers include Mark Richman and Emilio del Rosario. He completed his Master’s degree as a student of Jerome Lowenthal at The Juilliard School.

Henderson Symphony Orchestra

03/29/2009 – Today we attended the first concert of the Henderson Symphony Orchestra Spring/Summer series, which featured four soloists, ages 13 to 17, on piano, oboe, and violin. They were astounding. The first was featured in Piano Concerto #3, Op. 50 in D major by Dmitri Kabalevsky. Next was Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op 22 by Henryk Wieniawski followed by Oboe Concerto in C major, K 314 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Lastly was Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64 by Felix Mendelssohn. The entire symphony finished the program with the four movements of Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Opus 95, from the New World by Antonin Dvorak. It was a beautiful afternoon of music by some really talented artists. The concert was held at the outside Pavilion, just up the street from us, and even though it was a very windy day, the temperatures were in the 80’s’

Darlene Koldenhoven

10/25/2008 - We just came back from one of the most amazing vocal performances we have ever seen. A free performance by Darlene Koldenhoven at the Events Plaza in downtown Henderson. She is a Grammy® Award winner and three-time nominee, who is probably best recognized for her performance as a vocal soloist in "Yanni - live at the Acropolis, which has been viewed worldwide by more than 1.5 billion people on PBS. She is one of the few classically trained singers with a five-octave range who vocally improvises in classical and non-classical styles, produces, composes, arranges, plays keyboards, and writes lyrics.

Her latest album, "Infinite Voice" shall be just that in the chronicles of time, be it for pure musical enjoyment, or for its meditative and restorative effects. She created and produced this album, a magnificent masterpiece of musicianship and performance, in less than a year while at the same time authoring and publishing an innovative, comprehensive music education book with 7 instructional CDs to train the mind's musical ear and teach people how to sing entitled, "Tune Your Voice."

At the core of her remarkable musical gifts is a voice for the ages. Angelically clear and expressively strong, her soul-stirring voice is a mesmerizing wonder, the touch of a celestial goddess on the souls of all who get to hear it. Her amazing versatility brings all people together from classical purists and jazz hipsters, Christians, New Agers, to rockers and video gamers. Her performance tonight left us spellbound. Click here ... to go to her official website. Listen to the video clip from the Yanni concert Click here ...

Criss Angel Believe

10/18/2008 - We went to Believe, the Chris Angel Cirque de Solei show at the Luxor. We had seen some of his TV shows and were anticipating what we know of Criss Angel, a talented illusionist. It started off with a few clownish types from Cirque de Solei doing some half entertaining slapstick designed to warm up the audience. Neither of us liked it. After a ho-hum homage to traditional illusionist fare, producing white pigeons from a hankey and that sort of thing, he then sets up a redux of the Tesla Coil stunt he did in the first season of his show - that supposedly resulted in some nerve damage he carries to this day. A badly feigned "accident" ensues, with macabre and graphic footage of him being wheeled away on a hospital gurney, burned flesh hanging off his face. "What the hell is this", I'm thinking. I wasn't alone, as the audience response to all this so far has been, well, reserved is putting it lightly. It was almost like the overture for a real stinker of a show.

We have to defend Cirque De Solei though. They are consummate artists, incredible performers and imaginative as it gets. The costumes were awesome. The choreography, world class. The music - thunderously astounding, almost too loud. But it becomes clear about a third into the show that this attempted melding of that renowned troupe and Criss Angel is anything but a match made in heaven.

This laboured, herky jerky and puzzling show dragged on for almost two hours. As much as I had been looking forward to it, I was breathlessly relieved when it was over. Even knowing these early shows are a test market for a hard opening the end of October, neither of us think the show will last without some major changes and the inclusion of much more that run of the mill magic found in any lounge act.

This show is a complete sleeper. Save your money and go see one of the six other Cirque De Solei performances around the strip. At least you know what you'll be getting.

Henderson Symphony Orchestra Concert

10/17/2008 - Tonight's free performance of the Henderson Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Taras Krysa, featured Grammy-nominated composer, Jennifer Higdon's popular and personally inspired Blue Cathedral. Both Higdon's work and Dvorak's Cello Concerto pay tribute to loved ones who have passed on. Andrew Smith, the featured guest Cellist soloist, performed Dvorak's extraordinarily well known and popular cello concerto. Andrew's performance was just amazing. His solo performance, nearly 20 minites long, was just amazing; we don't know how anyone could memorize anything that long.

Cellist Andrew Smith is an Associate Professor of music at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he performs regularly in the southwest as a member of The Cerberus Trio. He is also a founding member of The Adriatic Chamber Music Festival, a summer music program in southern Italy, where he has taught and performed since its inception in 1998. An active recitalist, as well as chamber musician, Andrew has collaborated with pianists Alfredo Oyaguez, and CarlEPonten in concerts in Spain, Italy, and Sweden, as well as in Kosovo, Serbia, and Macedonia. In February 2006, he performed the world premiere of Linda Catlin Smith's Ballad, for Cello and Piano, with pianist Eve Egoyan at the Glenn Gould Studios in Toronto. For two years he was principal cellist with the West Virginia Symphony. In the fall of 2008, he begins an appointment as Principal Cello with the Las Vegas Philharmonic. He also holds a Master's degree from The Mannes College of Music in New York, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Hartt College of Music in Hartford, CT.

UNLV Community Concert Band

10/17/2008 - This evening we attended a free concert by UNLV's Community Concert Band at the downtown Henderson Events Plaza. It was a lovely evening with a beautiful harvest moon and a temperature in the mid 70's. This was the first time we have been to one of this groups concerts and it was excellent. The band is open to any student or Las Vegas area resident who wishes to perform in a concert band. Formed in January of 1987, the band's 85-plus members range in age from high school to senior citizen. The group is aimed at anyone, with high school or college band playing experience, who wants to have fun and practice playing skills in a concert group setting. The band plays a wide variety of music and performs on and off-campus concerts each semester. The band was conducted by UNLV's Associate Director of Bands, Anthony LaBounty. However, this evening we got a special treat, as four additional conductors, some Masters students, some pursuing Doctorate Degrees, and one highly acclaimed conductor from Japan, assisted by each conducting some of their favorite composers. It was a very varied performance with a wide range of music that was finished of with a set of patriotic songs.

The Lipizzaner Stallions

We went to the South Point Casino to see the 38th Anniversary Tour of the "World Famous" Lipizzaner Stallions. A show hearkening back to time when the horse was a symbol of grace and majesty, the Lipizzaner Stallions were truly a great experience to watch. One does not need to be a horse lover to enjoy this equestrian treat and the beauty of these majestic animals. Over the years, twenty-three million people throughout North and South America, Great Britain, Europe, Australia and Hawaii have seen this internationally acclaimed spectacle.

The Lipizzan is a rare and unique breed; its history and culture is known worldwide. The Walt Disney movie The Miracle of the White Stallions, depicting General George S. Patton saving them at the end of World War II from certain extinction, created an even greater world-wide interest in the Lipizzaner breed. Had it not been for Patton, there would be no Lipizzans today.

The current tour features 12 to 14 stallions performing specially selected maneuvers in an exciting presentation. This anniversary performance included a segment called the "Airs Above the Ground." These are the spectacular leaps and maneuvers, once used by riders in saddle to protect and defend themselves on the battlefield, which are now preserved as an equestrian work of art. The conclusion of the performance is the traditional Grand Quadrille, featuring six to eight Lipizzaner Stallions with their riders performing an intricate, equine ballet, exhibiting maneuvers through the highest level of dressage. The Lipizzans prance, march and intricately weave their way across the floor to the music of the Masters in a spectacular ballet of four-footed white dancers. Watching them perform was like stepping back four hundred years and viewing one of the greatest equine ballets in history.

We were both amazed at the complexity of some of the steps and maneuvers these wonderful animals were able to perform, many of which seemed to be against what would be the natural instincts of the horse itself. We can certainly see why it takes 45 minutes of training, per day, for a minimum of 3-4 years for a stallion to become trained enough to perform. Glad we were able to catch this wonderful performance; and the good news was we had 1/2 price tickets.

City of Belfast School of Music Bands

Today we braved the 111-degree temperatures to attend an outdoor concert put on by the City of Belfast School of Music's Big Band and Youth Concert Band. On this, their first American tour, these bands were scheduled to play for only two audiences, one here in Henderson, NV, and the other at Disneyland in California. The Youth Concert Band, formed in 1965, was made up of nearly 100 musicians. The Music Big Band, a much smaller group of probably 20 members, included the best of the best from the previous group, however both were excellent.


The Concert Band played a wide variety of selections that included arrangements of Bach, Beethoven, Gershwin, Mancini, Manilow, and Lennon & McCartney, just to name a few.








The Big Band performed arrangements that included music by Collins, Ellington, Gershwin, and several others. Though both were excellent, the 111-degree temperatures took its toll on both band members and the audience.

Coalition at the Henderson Events Center

Tonight we attended a wonderful free jazz performance at the Henderson Events Center by Coalition. This group played a broad palette of musical techniques and styles yielding original jazz fusion compositions as well as several well known compositions that light up the night with great sound. Keyboardist Tony Branco has a Master's Degree in Jazz Composition from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, during which he taught courses in jazz and directed ensembles. He performs often and teaches in Las Vegas. Before forming Coalition in the 70s, Tony played with Miles Davis alum "Philly" Joe Jones in many jazz clubs on the East Coast

Beauty & The Beast

This past Thursday evening we signed up with the senior group to see the play, Beauty and the Beast at the Spring Mountain Ranch. Spring Mountain Ranch is located within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, beneath the colorful cliffs of the magnificent Wilson Range. The many springs in these mountains provided water for Paiute Indians and later brought mountain men and early settlers to the area. This 520 acre oasis was developed into a combination working ranch and luxurious retreat by a string of owners who have given the area a long and colorful history. Past owners of the ranch, among others, included German actress Vera Krupp, and millionaire Howard Hughes. Located at 3,800 feet, the ranch was at least 15 degrees cooler than the Las Vegas Valley with only an occasional warm wind gusting down from Sandstone Canyon, which made for a very comfortable evening. It was still 102 when we got back home at 11:30 pm.

A eccentric inventor lived in a city with his three daughters, of whom the youngest is named Belle (French for "Beauty"). Being a poor crazy inventor he sets out to win a prize with his latest invention. On the way to an inventors contest, he becomes lost in a forest. Seeking shelter, he enters a castle where upon the he is confronted by a hideous 'Beast', which tells him that he must stay his prisoner forever. His daughter finds out her father was last seen in the forest and sets out to find him. After finding him in the castle, she offers to take his place if the "Beast" lets her father go. Eventually, Belle becomes homesick and begs the Beast to allow her to go to see her family. Because he eventually falls for her, he allows her to leave to see her father. Upon learning that some "bad" people are going to the castle to "harm" the "Beast", she returned to help him and ends up confessing her love for him. As she gives him a kiss, she learns that long ago a fairy turned him into a hideous beast after he refused to let her in from the rain and that only by finding true love, despite his ugliness, could he break the curse. The kiss turns him into a handsome prince once again.

This was the third play we have attended at the ranch since we came to town and have found them all to be quite well done. As it is outside on the lawn, you are able to bring your own blankets, chairs, and picnic basket and turn it into a full evening. We enjoyed a dinner of wine, grapes, cheese and crackers and shrimp. As usual the production was very well done, the costumes were excellent and the stage scenery and settings very well conceived. The best part was that we didn't have to drive and the tickets were only $14 including bus fare. Such a deal.