Tag Archives: musical

Apr18

A Night On The Town OOTD Bloopers

Posted on April 18, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my A Night On The Town OOTD! This look was one of my favorite ones that I have put together recently and we discussed yesterday how “elegant” was the keyword that I styled around. I thought that it turned out great, but there is nothing elegant about the following pictures. The keywords were more like “wtf?” haha, let’s check it out:

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clearly not enthused with whatever Johnny was saying to me!

Posing for my grade school class picture like:

Slipping into a quick power nap before seeing Jesus Christ Superstar

This action shot was taken right before my shoe almost fell off. Foot popping can sometimes be scary!

Don’t worry everyone, I’ll be the one to say it: YIKES lol

Trying to conjure up a good picture and falling short

One of the better phone retrieval pictures!

My perfect night out is going to the theater for a show and I had been looking forward to this past Tuesday for a long while. I wasn’t going to not see Jesus Christ Superstar if it was coming to Akron (the theater was fifteen minutes away from my apartment) and I had a blast with my mother-in-law. It has been a FAT minute since Lil Red has had a good day due to personal matters and even though these pictures are hit AF, I can tell how happy I was in every single one. It was nice!

While I freaking love a good pity party and becoming one with my couch after a long day, sometimes the best cure for the blues is to just get up and go. My day on Tuesday was a tiring one and even though I was exhausted by the time I needed to prep for the show, I decided to get dolled up anyways. I had styled an OOTD for every show I have ever attended and I wasn’t about to break the streak! Once my outfit was on and pictures were taken, I had a newfound pep in my step and was bouncing off the walls in excitement until it was time to leave.

You have no idea how many times in the past almost year I have heard “take time for you” amidst a family crisis. This was one of the first “me time” things that I have done in so long and it felt awesome. What can I say, my favorite musical just brings out the best in me! A wonderful time was had by all and I am thrilled with how my outfit and pictures turned out. And, yes, even the bloopers because they are still a memento of my night on the town!

What puts you in a good mood? What do you like to do when you need some you time? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr15

Jesus Christ Superstar At EJ Thomas Hall Review

Posted on April 15, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Jesus Christ Superstar At EJ Thomas Hall Review

Hello! My hands down, all time favorite musical is easily Jesus Christ Superstar. Random, I know, but I just love it lol. Last year, I was lucky enough to see it for its 50th anniversary tour at Playhouse Square and it was amazing! So, needless to say, I had to get tickets when I learned that it was coming to EJ Thomas Hall at the University Of Akron this month. On Tuesday, Johnny’s mom and I enjoyed a wonderful night at the theater and it was an absolute blast. This is the second year in a row that I have seen the show and I can only hope for a threepeat next year! 😀

While EJ Thomas Hall is a sizeable theater, it truly has nothing on the Connor Palace at Playhouse Square. This was okay, though, because they still made it work and the set was the exact same as at Playhouse, just on a smaller scale. The main difference of the EJ Thomas Hall performance was the run time of the show. By cutting out the intermission, lengthy intros and outros, and longer choreography sequences, the show was barely over an hour and a half long. Basically, one song would end and the next one would begin immediately. Any other time, I would have been upset by this choice – without the buffer music, this production at times sounded cacophonous. However, since it was a week night and I had seen the show before, it was A-okay with me!

Prior to going to the EJ Thomas Hall performance, I had essentially made up my mind that the actors at Playhouse Square would blow this cast out of the water. And, in some instances, I was right. The chorus in this performance was not strong at all and they were very difficult to understand at times. I wasn’t particularly thrilled with Jack Hopewell’s portrayal of Jesus, either. Don’t get me wrong, he is an insanely gifted singer but I didn’t feel the power of his voice in his presence, which is such a key component for that character.

My main issue in the casting was actually not Jack Hopewell but for Pilate, who was played by Nicholas Hambruch. Surprisingly, Pilate is one of my favorite characters in the show because I love his songs and the traditional vocals that are usually used. Normally, Pilate has a medium range voice that can go into a higher register easily. Hambruch’s vocals remained guttural and growling throughout the entire performance with no range or change whatsoever. I understand what they were trying to do by making Pilate seem menacing. BUT, during the moments when he was trying to show compassion to Jesus, his vocals just came out as insincere and it didn’t match up to the lyrics he was singing.

Despite some duds in the cast, there were other members that simply blew me away. Elvie Ellis as Judas, for example, blew my mind. He was fantastic and his vocals reminded me so much of Carl Anderson’s in the 1973 movie. In fact, I thought he was better than the actor we saw at Playhouse Square. Another all star in this cast was Faith Jones who played Mary Magdalene, and was also light years better than any other portrayal of the character I have seen before. Mary Magdalene’s ballad songs are gorgeous, but can be quite boring when done wrong. I had never seen such a powerful, sure of herself portrayal and it was spectacular. Strong, crystal clear vocals and a confident presence went a long way in helping Jones steal the show.

One final cast shout out has to be given to Erich W. Schleck as King Herod, who was completely fabulous. I love the pure vaudeville vibe of Herod’s Song that the 50th anniversary tour used and Schleck tapped into this effortlessly. His lanky body high kicking across the stage was everything and it was so amazing to watch his over exaggeration without going overboard. Schleck was able to go from cutesy to sword brandishing scary at the drop of a hat and this was another show stealing performance. Quite impressive, considering that it was his only song!

Although there were some things about this viewing of Jesus Christ Superstar that I didn’t care for, I still enjoyed it so very much. The best part was being able to go with my mother in law for a night on the town. Nothing is better than an evening at the theater with amazing company! ❤

Have you been to the theater recently? What did you see? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb15

Hadestown At Playhouse Square Review

Posted on February 15, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Last year for Valentine’s Day, Johnny and I went to see Jesus Christ Superstar at Playhouse Square. It looks like a V-Day theater date is becoming our tradition because this weekend, we saw Hadestown. On Saturday night, we got dressed up in our finest to see the show at Playhouse Square’s gorgeous Connor Palace and had what was nothing short of a spiritual experience. Hadestown was, hands down, one of the best shows that I have ever seen in my life. You can peep my date night OOTD later this week but, now, let’s get to my review for this remarkable musical:

Hadestown is a somewhat modern retelling of the tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice set in 1920s New Orleans. Not familiar with Greek mythology? No worries! You do not need to have an ounce of knowledge about it as the show will tell you everything you need to know. Long story short: Hades and his wife Persephone rule the Underworld together. Persephone spends half of her year with her husband, making fall and winter on Earth. Then, she comes back up to the world of the living to gift the people with spring and summer. As the weather becomes harsher on Earth, young Orpheus is on a mission to bring the seasons back to normality with his music. He also hopes to win the love of the sad runaway, Eurydice. Out of desperation, Eurydice makes a deal with Hades and goes to live in the Underworld, leaving it up to Orpheus to bring her back to Earth… Hopefully!

Absolutely everything and anything about Hadestown was glorious and Johnny and I were in awe the entire time. The music, set, cast, musicians, sound, and lighting worked together in perfect unison to create a show that was unlike anything that I have or will ever see again. Let’s start with the set. As opposed to traveling by boat via the River Styx to get to the Underworld, getting there is only a train ride away in Hadestown. The main set is, essentially, a cafe where people pass the time waiting for spring and summer.

Take a look at the picture of the set – at the top is a balcony where Hades and Persephone can snoop on the humans. To the left of the balcony is an opening that works like a garage door as people enter and exit the Underworld. You can also see the circular center that actually revolves, which was completely mind blowing! The real piece de resistance, however, is when the base of the set came apart to reveal Orpheus’s back way to the Underworld to rescue Eurydice. It. Was. Amazing!

The music style of Hadestown included New Orleans jazz, gospel, folk, and blues, which was fabulous in itself. To make it even better, the musicians were onstage the entire time and, man, could they play. It was also such fun to watch as the characters introduced the musicians and allowed them to solo like an actual concert. The musicians were onstage during Jesus Christ Superstar too and Johnny and I are now convinced that this is the only way to watch a musical.

Every single song from Hadestown is a straight up banger and their casting was so well done. The cast is pretty small with only thirteen members (five of which are chorus), and if anyone wasn’t pulling their weight during the show, you would most definitely know. This wasn’t the case with the cast we saw of Hadestown at all, which is surprising because I can usually pinpoint at least something that I don’t like about someone lol.

My favorite songs from the show are “Wedding Song”, “Livin’ It Up On Top” “Way Down Hadestown”, “Wait For Me”, and “Our Lady of the Underground”. It’s hard to narrow it down, though, because I liked everything so much! This was, easily, one of the strongest casts that I have ever seen and every single member was phenomenal. The incomparable Nathan Lee Graham as our narrator, Hermes, was sublime. Brit West as Persephone was mesmerizing and every song she had was my favorite. Matthew Patrick Quinn as Hades was everything with his deep voice and looming presence. Chibueze Ihuoma, who played Orpheus, had the voice of a literal angel and young Hannah Whitley had the sweetest voice as Eurydice. And, of course, the Fates and the chorus can’t be ignored and enhanced every scene beautifully.

During Hadestown, I laughed – but I mainly cried lol. I am quite familiar with Greek mythology and know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice well. Having this prior knowledge made every song between Orpheus and Eurydice even sadder and more haunting and I was SOBBING during “Wait For Me”. Throughout the performance, I was mentally willing for it to end differently and I reacted to it as if I had heard the story for the first time. I think I was so engrossed in the show that it made me forget everything I knew already and that is how you know that it was incredible.

Do not walk. RUN to see Hadestown if you have the opportunity. I promise you that it will be an experience you will never, ever forget.

What is your favorite song from Hadestown? What is your favorite thing about live theater? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan25

Beetlejuice At Playhouse Square Review

Posted on January 25, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! My sister, Kristen, and I enjoyed an evening on the town this past Saturday to see Beetlejuice at Playhouse Square. As a busy mother of two, it has been so long since Kristen and I have been able to hang out alone and it was awesome to spend that quality time with her. We were both really excited to see Beetlejuice and the musical was pretty good but the sisters night out was even better. Take a look at some pics and let’s get into the review:

If you go to Beetlejuice expecting a musical directly from the plot of the beloved film, then don’t. Lol this show definitely took some liberties to the story line and turned it into something way more convoluted than it had to be. Long story short: The show opens with Lydia’s mom dying, Adam and Barbara Maitland die via electric shock, Lydia’s broken family moves into the Maitland home, and cue Beetlejuice.

As the play continues, we learn that Lydia is desperate to see her mom again and uses her new friends, the Maitlands, to “haunt” the house so she can move back into her family home. We also find out that Beetlejuice is sick of being dead and is using Lydia and the Maitlands to return to the land of the living. The plot moves forward as one character outsmarts the other until the end of the show, ending with happily ever after.

To be honest, the plot left a lot to be desired and what could have been a fairly straightforward show felt bogged down with all of the extra. It was also difficult to keep tabs on everything that was happening because the songs weren’t particularly memorable. There were some numbers like “Say My Name” and “That Beautiful Sound” that were fun enough but they were mainly poppy songs and ballads that were entertaining to watch but just didn’t stick.

Where Beetlejuice shined and kept my attention was the production value, which, as to be expected with any Playhouse Square show, was amazing. Although the lights were at times blinding, the rock n’ roll show motif of green, purple, and white lighting looked very cool. The set for the Maitland home was great and the sandworms weren’t bad, either! Dancing skeletons, horror gags, fire, and smoke throughout the show also assisted in keeping me on my toes.

In terms of acting, there were some stand out performances and others that have already been forgotten. Adam and Barbara (Will Burton, Britney Coleman), for example, didn’t get as much time on stage as I had hoped for as they are such a special part of the movie. The running joke in the musical is that they are “boring” and they seriously were lol. Their two or so songs were cute enough but that was about it.

A thorn in my side throughout the show was Delia (Kate Marilley) who sang well but was just so annoying! In the musical, she is Lydia’s life coach and is, unbeknownst to Lydia, sleeping with her dad as opposed to being her new step mom in the movie. Kate Marilley could sing really well but participated in all of the pet peeves I have for a newer musical. She was definitely the character who was there specifically to use lingo like “woke” and dab for laughs and that is something I truly can’t stand. I would have much preferred to see Delia as the snooty step mom rather than Lydia’s wannabe bestie.

Recent high school graduate, Isabella Esler, did fantastic as Lydia on her Broadway debut. She had a great voice and was able to hold her own on stage well enough. I thought she was a bit stronger when performing with others as opposed to her solo numbers. Justin Collette as Beetlejuice was certainly the glue that held the show together and his songs with Lydia were adorable. Collette was brash, crass, and hilarious as the title character. Thankfully, he was on stage almost the entire time because the scenes where he lacked were lackluster, at best.

This seems like a bad review and in some ways it is and it isn’t. I still had fun watching the show and I thought it was worth seeing. It just wasn’t what I was expecting and I think diehard fans of the movie might feel disappointed by it. Was Beetlejuice the best show I have seen at Playhouse Square? No. However, it made for a perfect sisters night out and that is what’s most important at the end of the day!

Have you seen the Beetlejuice musical? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov16

Cats At Playhouse Square (Partial) Review

Posted on November 16, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Cats At Playhouse Square (Partial) Review

Hello! Every year, my dad gifts the family with season tickets to Playhouse Square and we divide the shows up accordingly. This month, Cats was playing at the Connor Palace and I had a difficult time finding anyone to go with me due to massive lack of interest lol. Thankfully, my brother, Andrew, stepped in in the clutch as long as we left at intermission. This was fine by me because I was just happy to go period!

I wasn’t expecting to like Cats as much as I did, especially considering how much I made fun of it prior to. However, I thought it was spectacular and am going to buy nosebleed tickets so I can see it in its entirety this weekend. The songs, production, dancing, and orchestra accompanying the cast were so amazing and I have spent my time since Saturday night being disappointed at not seeing the whole thing. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

Cats begs the question of what was Andrew Lloyd Webber smoking when he made it and where can I get some lol. The whole point of the show, as I understand it, is that a group of alley cats are preparing for the Jellicle Ball. During this one special night of the year, the wise Old Deuteronomy will choose one cat to make use of one of their nine lives and come back as something different. So, the musical is basically each cat introducing themselves in a song about what makes them unique.

As I said, it was not in my plans to freaking LOVE this show but I was hooked from the jump. At the beginning of the show, the stage was completely dark. Then, small green eyes began popping up throughout the stage as the cats began to prepare for their opening number of Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats. And, can we please talk about what a bop that song is?! It is so catchy and fun and trust and believe that I have had it stuck in my head ever since.

The first few numbers of Cats were dedicated to explaining the show and then it was time for each cat to begin their introductory songs. In Act I, these songs were for the Old Gumbie Cat (Michelle E. Carter), Rum Tum Tugger (Hank Santos), Bustopher Jones (John Anker Bow) , Mungojerrie (Brian Craig Nelson) and Rumpleteazer (Taryn Smithson), and Old Deuteronomy (Cameron Schutza). Andrew was a fan of the portly Cat About Town, Bustopher Jones. We also both really enjoyed the Old Gumbie Cat, a prim and proper lady who could tap dance like nobody’s business. I love a good tap dancing number and this one was incredible. Her rhinestone tap shoes were also everything!

My personal favorite of what I saw was Rum Tum Tugger, a rock n’ roll bad boy of a cat who had an Elvis inspired number. His song has also been playing on a loop in my head and I’m looking forward to seeing it again! My favorite part of his song was when some cats brought out and assembled pieces of broken mirror and Rum Tum was dancing in front of it. Cat burglars, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, also had a great song and offered mind blowing acrobatics including tandem cartwheels. It was hard to tell where Mungojerrie ended and Rumpleteazer began lol.

Not only was the music and feline like dancing sublime but the set and lighting were also formidable displays of theater production. The alley setting was filled with tunnels and nooks that the cats could pop in and out of and it was so neat to literally blink and see a cat go from one end of the stage to the other. The lighting also helped set the mood for the special night of the Jellicle Ball with a sky of stars and a huge full moon.

As thankful as I am that I got to see half of Cats at the gorgeous Connor Palace, it just wasn’t enough! I want the whole enchilada and am keeping my fingers crossed that Johnny will accompany me in the nosebleeds this weekend. If you have the opportunity to see this show and can relate to my initial ambivalence, trust me when I say that you are going to have a blast. Cats might not be your cup of tea but it is going to be impossible to not appreciate it for what it is – a fantastic production!

Have you seen Cats before? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct20

Les Miserables At Playhouse Square (Partial) Review

Posted on October 20, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Les Miserables At Playhouse Square (Partial) Review

Hello! This past Saturday, Johnny and I went on a date night to The Haunted House Restaurant and Playhouse Square. Les Miserables was being performed at the KeyBank State Theater and Johnny and I decided to go since my parents couldn’t. Were we both chomping at the bit to see Les Mis? Not really. I love the theater more than the average bear and I have never had any desire to see it, despite its popularity. And, of course, Johnny didn’t care either way lol.

Because we were feeling wishy washy about attending in general, I told Johnny that we would make it to the intermission and leave. We were both tired after a long week and were also not trying to get stuck in traffic on the way home because the Cleveland Guardians was playing that night. Satisfied with this plan, we headed to Playhouse Square after a great meal. However, we ended up leaving after hearing “Castle On A Cloud” performed because it is my fave. Check out some pics and let’s discuss:

EUGENE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me preface our chit chat with the following: I freaking LOVE going to Playhouse Square and there is nothing better to me than a night at the theater. I have been to many a show there and have always had a blast, even with productions I wasn’t overly excited about because I can still admire the production value. For the life of me, though, I just could not get into Les Mis!

Johnny and I both had absolutely no idea of what Les Mis was about and we still don’t have the foggiest. BUT, when the show began we were both really feeling it. The beginning was set on a boat and it felt like you were rocking away on the stormy seas with the cast. Then… everyone started singing lol.

At first, I thought it was just a fluke but I couldn’t understand a word of what anyone was saying. In fact, I found myself wishing that the show had subtitles! I recalled to myself when I saw Frozen at the KeyBank State Theater in August and while I had some problems hearing/understanding the actors, it was nowhere near as bad as Les Mis. It almost made things worse that I have a bit of familiarity with the music of the show and still couldn’t understand NOTHIN.

As we sat through song after song (Because, let’s be real, the whole play is just one long song!), things were not getting any better. Yes, the set was spectacular and it always is at a Playhouse Square show but was it good enough to sit through the whole show in confusion? No, lol. Johnny and I had a loose understanding of what was going on from the phrases that we could make out but that was about it.

After close to an hour of attempting to give the show a chance to get better, we decided to call it a loss and head home – especially since we had an hour drive back. Honestly, on any other occasion, I would never consider leaving a play early. I was enjoying myself a little but Johnny most definitely wasn’t and we were exhausted – so much so that we were both yawning in our seats. The intermission was also a ways away and I was worried one of us was going to fall asleep! Sometimes, it’s best to just leave and this was one of those times.

I am a bit sad that Les Mis wasn’t this groundbreaking theatrical experience for myself and Johnny. But, we gave it a shot and no one can say that we didn’t try. Had we been able to understand even a little more of what was being sang, this post probably would have been totally different!

What are your thoughts on Les Mis? Have you ever left a movie or production early? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug25

Frozen At Playhouse Square Review

Posted on August 25, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past weekend, I went to Playhouse Square with my dad, brother, and Val Gal to see a matinee showing of Frozen at the KeyBank State Theatre. I have never seen the movie the whole way through but it’s my niece’s favorite and Playhouse Square always puts on amazing shows so I was excited! There were things about Frozen that blew me away and other parts that were… not so much.

Regardless, it was SO special to accompany Val to her first ever live theater performance, which she loved. In fact, she asked if we could go again tomorrow! She was also dressed up in her Elsa costume and it was adorable seeing all of the little Anna and Elsas walking around. 🙂 Now, let’s get to this review starting with the good:

Although a majority of the acting and singing in Frozen was great, the best thing about the show was, easily, all of the wonderful special effects. The lighting, set design, and flying pieces was true theater magic. This production used techniques that I had never seen before and, honestly, didn’t even think were possible. I had no idea how they were going to create the eternal winter landscape that Elsa created but it really did look like the entire stage was encompassed in snow and ice.

A huge credit should be given to the production team because this show would not have been nearly as good without everything that was accomplished by them. The set was so elaborate and visually beautiful and the lighting and soundscape enhanced everything tenfold. Now that I think of it, the only things that “wowed” me were all production related.

While some of the actors kind of missed the mark for me, there were a few performances that really stood out. F. Michael Haynie who played Olaf was spectacular and a formidable puppeteer too. I didn’t know how they were going to create the talking snowman and a to scale version puppet was cleverly used. It worked perfectly and Haynie played the part so well.

Evan Strand played Sven, Kristoff’s reindeer, and this was also another head scratcher for me. It’s not like they could have used a real reindeer for the show and most animal portrayals by actors can be kind of lame. However, the costume that was used for Sven was one of the best that I have ever seen and I almost thought that it was an actual reindeer at first! His physicality was spot on and I was very impressed – I think he outshined Kristoff completely.

Caroline Bowman as Elsa was pretty good, although I felt like she was a bit boring. Her time on stage was kind of lackluster and what shined during “Let It Go” wasn’t her but the incredible production behind it. Lauren Nicole Chapman as Anna also left A LOT to be desired. She was SO. Freaking. Annoying. Her voice was also very shrill. Granted, I haven’t seen bits and pieces of the movie in a while but I definitely don’t remember Anna being like that – maybe I’m wrong!

Because there aren’t too many original songs in the movie Frozen, a majority of the numbers had to be created for the stage. I liked a fair amount of them and enjoyed “Let It Go”, “In Summer”, “Fixer Upper”, and “Monster” the most. I will say that there were times when it was difficult to hear/understand the actors so that took away from some numbers that I could have potentially enjoyed.

Some of the songs really dragged the show on for longer than I thought was necessary, though. For example “Hygge” sung by Oaken and company was kind of a hot mess. I get that productions more geared towards children have to throw some things in for the adults BUT it felt inappropriate for the kids in the audience. It was, hands down, the cringiest part of the performance.

There were times when Frozen was hit or miss and that’s fine because the biggest success of the show was how much fun Val had. I am thrilled to have been able to share in my love of live theater with her and can’t wait to do something like this again!

What is your favorite musical? Have you seen any good shows lately? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar24

Pretty Woman: The Musical Review

Posted on March 24, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! This past Saturday, I enjoyed a lovely girls night out with my mom to see Pretty Woman: The Musical at Playhouse Square. Every year for Christmas, my dad purchases season tickets at Playhouse Square and we divide up the shows between the family members. Originally, my mom and dad were supposed to go to Pretty Woman but he just had surgery so the tickets were fair game.

I was shot down by both my sister and Johnny to see the show with me and my mom finally agreed to come with, which I was so happy about! I can’t say that either of us were chomping at the bit to see the musical, but we were more looking forward to spending time together and it was a perfect night:

My mom and I got all dolled up and headed to the theater in downtown Cleveland around six o’clock to make it in time for the seven thirty curtain call. After taking some pictures, using the facilities, sharing a mimosa, and finding our seats, we made it just in time. It was almost a full house at the beautiful Connor Palace but no one happened to be sitting by us, which made it even better lol.

The set of Pretty Woman was amazing and featured the famous Hollywood sign, palm trees that lit up, and gorgeous ornate designs for the hotel as well as lots of set pieces that moved effortlessly across the stage. I have never seen Pretty Woman the movie before so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into but I did know that it was about a working girl who had her big break with a rich client.

My mom and I both weren’t overly impressed by the leading lady who played Vivian and the man who played Edward. While Vivian was cute, quirky, and obviously talented she was kind of difficult to understand sometimes while singing, which took away from her big moments. The man who played Edward was fine and, of course, he could sing well but he also could have been anyone and it made for a somewhat lackluster performance.

I could have taken or left both the male and female lead and it was the supporting characters that really stole the show, in my opinion. Vivian’s best friend, Kit, was fabulous and I loved her rock n’ roll voice and she had a lot of funny lines. “The Happy Man” who played the hotel manager/narrator was also excellent and most of our favorite parts in the musical came from scenes with him in it.

The first half of the show was pretty good, despite some songs that I could have definitely done without. However, it picked up the pace a lot in the second half and we both enjoyed that much more. Both my mom and I had similar sentiments on our favorite parts and absolutely loved “On a Night Like Tonight” when the hotel manager taught Vivian how to dance. We also really liked the opening and closing numbers as well as “Never Give Up on a Dream”.

One of the biggest stand out moments was “Entr’acte/Opening Act II” when Vivian and Edward went to the opera. The woman who sang as the main performer in the opera was divine and I could seriously listen to her all day. She had the most beautiful voice and it begged the question of “how does she do that?” as soon as she began to sing. It was wonderful!

Overall, Pretty Woman: The Musical was alright. It was a great show for a girls night but my mom and I agreed that it was one we would have skipped on if we didn’t have season tickets. The best part, of course, was spending the evening with my mom and that made me love every minute of it. Make sure you keep it posted for an OOTD from my night out soon! ❤

What is your favorite musical? What is your perfect night out like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep10

Groovy Movies: Aladdin Edition

Posted on September 10, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Helloooo everyone! I can’t say that I am a HUGE Disney fan but it’s not like I don’t enjoy the movies, either. It has been an exciting time in the movie world because live action remakes of Disney classics are the new trend. Unfortunately, I wasn’t overly impressed with Beauty And The Beast or The Lion King’s remake. However, I absolutely LOVED the live action Aladdin, despite its poor reviews. So, take a look at the toe tapping trailer and let’s discuss:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this video!

Normally, a Disney film isn’t my first choice to play after a day at work but, I’m not going to lie, I was looking forward to watching Aladdin. Last Christmas, I had the absolute pleasure of being able to see the Broadway rendition of Aladdin at Playhouse Square with my family and I felt like the 2019 film was a wonderful blend of the Broadway show and the original cartoon. Spending the evening watching the movie gave me a new appreciation for the music and artistry that went into the iconic original and it was such a beautiful, modern nod to its predecessor.

The costumes, scenery, and *most* of the characters were divine but Will Smith as the genie completely made the film for me. He was utterly brilliant and I think Robin Williams would be proud of the performance that was so inspired by his own but with a fresh, new spin on it.”You Ain’t Never Had A Friend Like Me” reminded me so much of the Broadway performance that I really enjoyed and Will Smith’s fabulous flamboyance kept me in stitches the whole time.

I thought Jafar and Jasmine were also exceptionally strong characters and were cast well. But, I wasn’t too crazy about the choice for Aladdin. Had he not been acting alongside such powerful cast mates he would have totally sizzled out and he was outshined the entire movie. He was just too meek and mild and, although he was the title character, he didn’t stand out in anyway shape or form. But, because the rest of the film was so spot on, a poor casting choice for the lead was just a blip on my radar.

What I loved the most about Aladdin was the big picture that was created in every scene. The glorious palaces, the bustling market of Agrahbah, and the vast deserts all seemed so real that I felt like I was right there, too. The magnificent choices in color, costumes, and oh yeah – the fantastic musical numbers just seemed like the cherry on top of what was already splendid. Saying that Aladdin was visually stimulating is a severe understatement and the beauty of the rapidly changing scenery in “A Whole New World” moved me to tears.

If you’re a die hard Disney fan, I think you’ll love this movie. And, if you’re like me, who isn’t the most avid Disney fan – you are still going to love this movie. Aladdin was a fast moving tale of being true to yourself, unexpected girl power, and that everything is a little bit better with your friends by your side… magic powers or no! I rate this movie with a nine out of ten and I highly recommend it!

What were your thoughts on the new Aladdin? What has been your favorite Disney movie remake? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: IMDb

Jan5

Christmas Gift Night – Sister Style!

Posted on January 5, 2016 by lifewithlilred

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Hellooo everyone and happy Tuesday! This Saturday I was surprised with the literal best Christmas gift ever…Two tickets to see Elf the musical with my beloved big sister, Kristen! My sister purchased us two tickets for a night on the town to see one of our favorite movies turned into a musical at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio. Take a look at us being pretty (!!) and then let’s discuss:

Last Friday night when Kristen asked me if I had plans for the following evening, I didn’t think anything of it. But when Saturday came around the next day and she texted me with meticulous plans for when to pick her up, I started to get suspicious. When I called her to ask her where we were going for our hang out she told me it was for my Christmas gift and asked if I wanted to know what it was. The thing about me, though, is that I HATE surprises with a capital H and a capital ATE – so of course I wanted to know! That’s when she told me that she got us two tickets to see Elf the musical at 7:15 sharp this evening! I was blown away!!!

After I came out of my happiness coma we began to make plans for when I could pick her up and where we would go for dinner. We settled on our favorite…Taco Bell! Afterwards, she treated me to a full tank of gas and we went on our merry way to Playhouse Square in Cleveland. The drive was easy peasy and once we were in the downtown Cleveland area we got to enjoy seeing all of the buildings lit up beautifully for the holidays – it was awesome!

We arrived at the theater in perfect timing and Kristen managed to get amazing tickets for our date night. We were about twelve rows away from the stage and smack dab in the middle so our view was spectacular. While we waited for the show to begin, we took lots of sister pictures and I also took a picture of the stage, which is my featured image photo. I couldn’t take any pictures during the show, of course, but rest assured that it was incredible!

Elf the musical was simply fantastic. The actors were sublime, the music was catchy, the set was darling (it was storybook themed), and the choreography was superb. Kristen and I had a blast watching one of our favorite films come to life on the stage. The story from the movie was modified a little but all of the changes were clever and made perfect sense. We were in stitches the entire show and spent the whole car ride back to her apartment quoting the musical.

Before we returned to Kristen’s place, we stopped at Giant Eagle to pick up some holiday gifts for her coworkers. The Giant Eagle that I live by is open twenty four hours and I found so much joy in just roaming the aisles with her at ten o’clock at night. We found gifts that suited our needs, as well as some treats for ourselves, and then headed back to her apartment.

Once we arrived at her place we crawled into our pajamas ASAP. As soon as we were comfy we made further preparations for our sister sleepover because this was the first night that I spent the night in her new apartment. Afterwards, I drove back to my house quickly to grab my sleeping pills and morning medication. It was no biggie, though, because we live a whole three minutes away from each other!

By the time I arrived back at her place, we were both beyond ready to hit the hay. We got tucked into her super comfy queen size bed and turned on the tube to fall asleep to. It was the absolute perfect ending to a perfect sister Christmas date night.

I can’t begin to tell you how much fun I had on Saturday night with my big sister. She completely surprised me with my Christmas gift and it will be a memory that I’ll cherish for forever. Everything that we did from our dinner and the show to even just driving around to our locations was a blast and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend our Christmas Gift Night with each other. I love you, Kristen! Thank you for treating me to an amazing evening – Sister Style!

So there you have it, my Saturday Christmas Gift Night – Sister Style! Kristen and I had a glorious time wrapping up the holiday season together and starting 2016 on a wonderful note. Have any of you seen a musical lately? What is your favorite Christmas movie to watch? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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