MOVIE REVIEW: JUDY

Now, get ready for something different for GlickArts. A movie review.

Located at your local multi-plex is a film that has received a lot of buzz, “Judy”.  Staring Renee Zellweger, “Judy” shines a spotlight on the last difficult months of the life of singer Judy Garland.

Many people regard Garland as one of the greatest entertainers of the 20^th century. The world first noticed her as a wide-eyed teenager singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in the 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz”.

Kevin Noe's Finale at MSU

In September 2011, conductor designate of the Michigan State University, Kevin Noe, raised some eyebrows by programming Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” for his first concert with the orchestra.  The Stravinsky is known for its difficulty and for possibly being the greatest classical orchestral work of the 20^th century.

Recently it was announced that Noe will be leaving MSU and is taking a visiting professor role at the University of Missouri Kansas City.  Friday (October 25) will be his final concert with the MSU orchestra and he is programming – wait for it – “The Rite of Spring”. The perfect set of bookends. (Wharton Center, 8PM, www.music.msu.edu)

A Family's Difficult Decision

Kristine Thatcher is an icon in the Lansing theater community.  We’ve watched her grow from a local ingénue, to a mature actress and theater professional.

So, it is fitting that the Michigan premier of her autobiographical play, “The Safe House” should take place at the newly refurbished Williamston Theatre.

It’s a play that touches the hearts of many people because of the sincere, honest and straightforward way it tackles the difficult issues of families dealing with grandparents with diminishing functions.

Muffitt's Classics

Composer-In-Residence Patrick Harlin

LSO Music Director Timothy Muffitt again showed off his great programming prowess last Friday night. 

He began with an overture and symphony by the classic classicist, Mozart.  Then he built a variation on that classical theme:  The maestro chose music by 20^th century Russian composer Prokofiev who wrote a classical symphony for his final assignment in college.

Then he inserted a new work by the LSO’s new composer-in-residence, Patrick Harlin and ended the evening with a suite by 20^th century icon Stravinsky, that was inspired by 18^th century composer, Pergolesi. 

It was a brilliant and inspired program, and the Stravinsky performance was the whipped cream on this sundae of a concert.

Smooth Feinstein Meets Brassy Rocker

We all remember Michael Feinstein.  He’s the tuxedo-clad charming cabaret guy whose stock and trade is the Great American Songbook. 

He sings the songs in a sweet whisper and tells us everything there is to know about Berlin, Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and all the other great song writers of he 30s and 40s.

But can you make a career of that limited menu over a span of 30+years? Feinstein can. He is constantly evolving from his beginnings, and as an example he is coming to Wharton Center on Saturday for the fourth time with a new Vegas style show with edgy rock singer, Storm Large (yes, it’s her real name – almost). The show is called “Shaken and Stirred”.