Universal Studios Hollywood shifts into high gear for the June 25 opening of “Fast & Furious—Supercharged” with the launch of “Road to Fast,” a dynamic campaign featuring a series of original images and an engrossing behind-the-scenes video, including interviews with the cast of its new thrill ride: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Luke Evans.
A collection of six images, each featuring the stars of the ride depicted in a variety of action sequences, will be unveiled sequentially beginning today with a group shot of the characters racing alongside a Studio Tour tram. A lengthier, more complex look at the making-of this revolutionary new attraction, featuring insightful perspective and commentary from the cast and producers can be seen here:
“Fast & Furious—Supercharged” is a technologically advanced, epic ride that reunites stars from the Fast & Furious series in a groundbreaking mega-attraction designed to catapult guests into the high-stakes underground world of street racing at perceived speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour. This high-octane ride is conceived as a new installment to the Fast & Furious franchise and will debut as the grand finale to Universal Studios Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes Studio Tour that can only be experienced at The Entertainment Capital of L.A.
Sharing their enthusiasm for the ride, the cast of “Fast & Furious—Supercharged” had this to say:
“This is new territory for us…to create something as immortal and immersive as this…that all the fans of our franchise can actually live through and be a part of,” said Vin Diesel. “It’s a testament to that loyal and dedicated fan community that has always been our #1 champion.”
“Once you go on the ride, it’s an opportunity to physically feel some of the adrenaline that we feel everyday while we’re filming,” continued Vin Diesel, adding, “Yeah, I’m excited to ride it!”
“When you have something as unique and special as the Fast & Furious franchise, you want to create an experience for the fans that they can only feel and experience at Universal Parks,” said Dwayne Johnson, continuing, “To be immortalized in a ride, is a very cooI thing. I get a chance to become Luke Hobbs and kick ass…all in 3D.”
“You’re in Hollywood already…you’re able to get on the tram and experience your favorite movie and TV show sets; that’s a big deal. Everything about Universal Studios puts you in the driver’s seat to really experience Hollywood,” said Tyrese Gibson, adding, “Fast & Furious has the best fans in the world!”
“It’s really a sensory driven experience, and I can’t wait to see what happens,” said Michelle Rodriguez, adding, “It’s so cool — the Studio Tour!”
“You’re completely immersed in the experience…you’re on a high-speed chase…it’s an amazing experience, and the guys that build these are true magicians,” said Luke Evans.
This dynamic hydraulic motion-based thrill ride will tell an original Fast & Furious story, fusing sophisticated hyper-realistic special effects with a state-of-the-art 3D audio system and 3D-HD imagery projected onto the world’s longest and most expansive 360-degree screen. Spanning nearly 400 feet in length to encircle Studio Tour guests within a newly constructed 65,000-square-foot structure on the legendary backlot, the sprawling custom-built screen will employ 34, 4K projectors and a sophisticated projection configuration system to envelop guests in unprecedented realism.
Coupled with an intense blend of visceral effects, “Fast & Furious—Supercharged” will take guests on a wild ride that begins the moment they board the Studio Tour. Exclusive interstitial content—that was filmed with the cast members—will be featured on the tram monitors, highlighting interactions as they engage guests en route to the ride’s climatic scenes. Along the tram route sightings of numerous prop cars from the Fast & Furious series, including Dom’s Dodge Charger, will enhance the story.
Join the conversation online using #FastFuriousRide, and for all the latest news, “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @UniStudios.
Marvel Studios presents “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the epic follow-up to the biggest Super Hero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.
Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Hulk and Chris Evans as Captain America. Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Don Cheadle as James Rhodes/War Machine, Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision.
Written and directed by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige, p.g.a., Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963. Get set for an action-packed thrill ride when The Avengers return in Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015.
The Avengers are back and this time in an epic, bigger than life action adventure to protect the world from the greatest threat anyone has ever seen in Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”
When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the
mysterious Ultron emerges, the team must reassemble in order to stop the terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff, as well as an old friend in a new form, named The Vision.
In a recent press conference, we had the chance to catch up with the Cast for a Q&A that was full of laughter and got a deeper look into the film.
The cast included: Robert Downey Jr. (“Iron Man”), Chris Evans (“Captain America”), Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”), Scarlett Johansson (“Black Widow”), Mark Ruffalo (“The Hulk”), Jeremy Renner (“Hawkeye”), Cobie Smulders (“Maria Hill”), Elizabeth Olsen (“Scarlett Witch”), Aaron Taylor Johnson (“Quicksilver”), James Spader (“Ultron”), Paul Bettany (“Vision”), along with Joss Whedon (Director) and Kevin Feige (Producer) who all kept the mood light as we learned more about the making of this new adventure.
Q: So what does it feel like now to be more than just a voice? This questions was asked to Paul Bettany who plays Vision.
A: Well, the main difference is I have to show up. You know, the great thing is being able to work with all these incredibly creative and talented people.
With all the original Avengers returning plus the additions of Vision, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, director/writer Joss Whedon says, “The whole cast is a powerhouse. It’s strength to strength and that’s exciting. It means that I can write things that are taken a little further and not worry about whether the actor can pull it off or not. They’re all very, very human in the Marvel comics and that’s what was so important to me as a kid and so important to pop culture in general.”
“Vision is a key Avenger in the comic books and is a very unique character,” says Kevin Feige. “He’s an artificial life form, but he’s as pure and innocent as any of the characters. He has such a different look and Paul Bettany, who has played Jarvis for so many years, gets to step out from behind the sound booth and put on an outfit and become a true Avenger in the guise of Vision. His look is spectacular and his powers are spectacular and he really represented a new power base for the team.”
Q: Maria Hill is a favorite characters in the MCU because she’s one of these threads that ties everything together, both in the Avengers, the other MCU films, the television series, brings it all together. Now, Maria went through a lot of a change in Captain America: Winter Soldier. Talk a little bit about where we find Maria now and the kind of Maria Hill you wanted the audiences to see in Age of Ultron.
A: Maria’s now under the employment of Tony Stark and you know, she’s now working with him to privatize security. And yeah, it’s very fun being a thread to be able to tie the TV show and the movies together. That’s been a lot of fun. But she’s got a bigger job now working with Tony, and she doesn’t have S.H.I.E.L.D., at her disposal anymore, so it’s a much more difficult job.
Q: This next question is for Kevin Feige, you started with this grand plan almost a decade ago, so what’s it meant to you to see it all coming to fruition, working with filmmakers like Joss and the rest of the cast you’ve had through all your movies? What’s that experience been like for you, and to see the world connect with the MCU in such a powerful way?
A: Well, it’s been great, of course. I mean, it started with the notion of making these movies ourselves, and becoming Marvel Studios, and then it continued with Robert in Iron Man one, with the notion of having Sam Jackson come in at the end and say: you’re part of a bigger universe, you just don’t know it yet, thinking that most people wouldn’t know what that meant, but occasionally somebody would go: what did that mean? I’d go: it means maybe that we’ll introduce all the different characters and put ‘em together. It’s the greatest ensemble ever assembled in cinematic history, and it is amazing to be a part of it.
“One of the reasons we loved the idea of dismantling S.H.I.E.L.D. was that The Avengers didn’t have a giant government organization to support them anymore, so they’re really on their own,” informs executive producer Jeremy Latcham. “Tony Stark, as you might guess, is financing them, but at one point he even says, ‘Captain America’s the leader.’ And while they’re not together all the time, they do get together and now have an official headquarters as Tony has transformed Stark Tower from the first film into the new Avengers Tower.”
Q: This next question is to James Spader. We really enjoyed your performance in the film and was wondering if you could talk about, as an actor, doing the motion capture, and how you were really able to bring life to this killer robot Ultron.
A: I really don’t have any idea what was happening at all – happened very quickly. I really was just trying to hold on and then stay on the train that was moving very, very quickly. But I will say this, that I arrived in London, and within the first half hour put on a suit, they put on all this gear, and I’d gone through a range of motion, and then within 15 minutes, I was watching me walk around a big room, moving and doing this and that and everything else, and watching Ultron, or at least a formative stage of Ultron, on a monitor in front of me. And it just – it started right there. And the next day, I was on the set shooting a scene with Scarlett. And so really that pace was what it was, through the entire project.
“James Spader is an incredible actor and when ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ was coming around and Joss began to put together the character, he said to us, ‘It has to be James Spader,’” says Kevin Feige. “It was another casting moment where we went ‘yes!’ There was nobody else on the list. He’s so unique and has such an amazing voice that is full of humor, darkness and emotion.
For Spader, the complexity of the character was something he enjoyed exploring. “Ultron is able to access anything technological and anything that is available on the Internet,” informs the actor. “It becomes part of his stimulation and information and is embedded in his psyche. He has ungoverned access that is constantly streaming into his processing chip. So it’s overwhelming and almost impossible to harness the powers and knowledge. He’s a little too strong for his own good.”
Q: We’ve seen Black Widow not only evolve depth-wise but we see her role getting larger and larger as the cinematic universe progresses to the point that we see her play such a significant role in Age of Ultron. Talk a little bit about where you see Black Widow even going from here, once we get to the end of this film.
A: I think that she, you know, in the beginning of Avengers 2, you know, this kind of – there’s some sense finally of there being a kind of normal, in a way. I mean, it’s a well-oiled machine where, you know, tag teaming each other, it’s finally, like, the introductions are over and we’re at work, like we’re digging our heels in, and at the end of Avengers 2, I think Widow lets her guard down, she was hopeful for something. I think she had this moment of false hope where she kind of felt like, you know, she kind of put in the work and, you know, there should be some kind of personal payoff and she was ready to accept it, and you know, she realizes that, you know, her calling is a greater one and that’s not necessarily something that she’s thrilled about, but like, you know, that’s kind of what is most heroic about her is that she’s, you know, accepting the call of duty, even at her, you know, own personal loss. And I think it’s an interesting place to kind of leave her there, because you know, there’s many different directions to go. I mean, is she going to be able to withstand this huge weight that’s bearing down on her or is she going to crack under it, and sort of crumble, you know, not being able to take this huge hit, this huge personal hit that she does. But I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
For the talented actress, the exciting part about bringing The Avengers to audiences this time around is that there are opportunities to delve deeper into the back story of each one of the characters. “Every one of The Avengers has come to the table with a lot of baggage. None of us really chose this job; the job chose us, and that reluctance to wear the Super Hero hat makes for very interesting back stories.
One team member that Natasha becomes closer with in the film is Bruce Banner when she finds common ground between them. Producer Kevin Feige explains, “There is a very sweet heart in this movie that involves a relationship between Bruce Banner and Natasha that I think is very unexpected, heartwarming and somewhat tragic. Those two characters do not have the most stable backgrounds, but Joss was able to create a dynamic between them that really has wonderful structuring and is one of the backbones of the film.”
Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” reunites the world’s favorite Super Hero characters as they return to the big screen for the first time since the catastrophic events of the Battle of New York in Marvel’s “The Avengers.” The film continues the lineage of epic big-screen adventures chronicled in Marvel’s “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” continues to expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe and ups the ante for the global Super Hero team-up of all time.
The race is on as Universal Studios Hollywood casts a wide net in search of Studio Tour guides as the theme park prepares to introduce “Fast & Furious—Supercharged,” the new grand finale to the world-famous Studio Tour and the all-new “Nighttime Studio Tour” this summer in celebration of the theme park’s 50th anniversary.
Open call auditions will take place at Universal Studios Hollywood on May 4 from 2-4pm.
As one of the most progressive and exciting theme park experiences anywhere, Universal’s Studio Tour invites guests to enjoy a front row seat with behind-the-scenes access to one of the world’s largest movie and television production studios, led by expert Studio Tour guides, knowledgeable on the inner-workings of Hollywood.
As the destination readies for a blockbuster summer with the introduction of the “Fast & Furious—Supercharged” thrill ride and the “Nighttime Studio Tour,” more than 40 English, bilingual Spanish and Mandarin-speaking Studio Tour Guides will be hired to join an existing roster of nearly 100 guides.
Candidates interested in auditioning must possess the following attributes for consideration: friendly, engaging and enthusiastic; have a performance and/or public speaking background; are knowledgeable of film and television; have a charismatic live television camera presence; and must be at least 18 years of age.
They will need to come prepared with a resume and headshot and be available for a series of follow-up auditions on May 6 and final interviews the week of May 11. Full-time employment will begin on May 26, beginning with three weeks of fun, intensive training. For more information, please visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/auditions.
The perks associated with the role of Studio Tour guide are also priceless. Aspiring actors and those seeking to work within the entertainment industry will have daily access to an authentic studio lot, and the filming locations of thousands of movie and television shows. In addition to enjoying a flexible work schedule, Studio Tour Guides will benefit from a variety of opportunities, including intimate symposiums with prestigious industry professionals, free professional acting classes, auditions for top industry casting directors and free private screenings of Universal Pictures films.
“Fast & Furious—Supercharged” is a technologically advanced, epic ride that reunites stars from the Fast & Furious series in a groundbreaking mega-attraction designed to catapult guests into the high-stakes underground world of street racing at perceived speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour. Featuring Vin Diesel (Dominic “Dom” Toretto), Dwayne Johnson (Luke Hobbs), Michelle Rodriguez (Letty Ortiz), Tyrese Gibson (Roman Pearce) and Luke Evans (Owen Shaw), “Fast & Furious—Supercharged” will debut on June 25 as the grand finale to Universal Studios Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes Studio Tour and can only be experienced at The Entertainment Capital of L.A.
For the first time ever, Universal Studios Hollywood’s all-new “Nighttime Studio Tour” will bring over 20 locations along the famed Studio Tour backlot to life with movie set lighting and special effects used in nighttime productions. Theatrical lighting will cast a glow on iconic backlot sets as Studio Tour guides shed light on Hollywood secrets and tricks of the world’s most glamorous trade, including how filmmakers create the effect of daylight amid the black of night. Celebrated stars who found fame on Universal’s backlot will also make cameo appearances on the “Nighttime Studio Tour,” including Marilyn Monroe, Norman Bates and Frankenstein. The “Nighttime Studio Tour” will run every weekend throughout the summer from July 4 through Labor Day.
A brand new trailer from Disney’s Tomorrowland starring George Clooney has been released:
Additionally, a special presentation of the film, featuring more than six minutes of footage to be introduced by director Brad Bird, will screen exclusively in IMAX® theatres domestically and in select international markets beginning May 1. The extended first look of Tomorrowland will screen directly prior to Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron and will play for the duration of that film’s run in IMAX.
“Tomorrowland” is produced by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird and Jeffrey Chernov and directed by Brad Bird, with John Walker, Bernard Bellew, Jeff Jensen and Brigham Taylor serving as executive producers. “Tomorrowland” opens in U.S. theaters on May 22, 2015.
Four brand new character posters from TOMORROWLAND featuring George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Raffey Cassidy and Thomas Robinson are now available. Check them out!
In Disney’s riveting mystery adventure “Tomorrowland,” a jaded scientist and an optimistic teen embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space.
“Tomorrowland” is produced by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird and Jeffrey Chernov and directed by Brad Bird, with John Walker, Bernard Bellew, Jeff Jensen and Brigham Taylor serving as executive producers. “Tomorrowland” opens in U.S. theaters on May 22, 2015.
Steven Spielberg returns to executive produce the long-awaited next installment of his groundbreaking Jurassic Park series, Jurassic World. Colin Trevorrow directs the epic action-adventure based on characters created by Michael Crichton.
The screenplay is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Trevorrow & Derek Connolly, and the story is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley join the team as producers.
Check-out the New Posters:
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”1″ gal_title=”Jurassic World”]
Genre: Epic Action-Adventure
Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, BD Wong and Irrfan Khan
Director: Colin Trevorrow
Screenplay by: Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow
Story by: Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver
Based on Characters Created by: Michael Crichton
Produced by: Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley
Executive Producers: Steven Spielberg, Thomas Tull
DICE™, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio, and Lucasfilm announced that Star Wars™ Battlefront™ will be released beginning November 17, 2015 in North America (November 19 in Europe) as the first full-length trailer for this highly anticipated title premiered to thousands of fans at Star Wars™ Celebration. Combining an unprecedented collaboration with Lucasfilm and the award-winning Frostbite™ game engine, Star Wars Battlefront will deliver an incredibly authentic and immersive interactive entertainment experience featuring photorealistic visuals and epic action in iconic Star Wars™ locations. See how this comes to life in-engine by experiencing the newest trailer for Star Wars Battlefront.
Star Wars Battlefront will allow fans to live out a wide range of heroic moments and intense battle fantasies of their own – firing blasters, riding speeder bikes and snow speeders, commanding AT-ATs and piloting TIE fighters and the Millennium Falcon. These battles will take place on some of the most iconic planets in the Star Wars universe, including Endor, Hoth, Tatooine and the previously unexplored planet, Sullust. Gamers will be able to play as some of the most memorable characters in the original trilogy such as Darth Vader and Boba Fett. Star Wars Battlefront will feature a wide range of modes tailored for different types of battles, from larger 40-person competitive multiplayer to crafted missions that are played solo, with a friend via split-screen offline or co-operatively online.
“Like so many others around the world, everyone at DICE is a tremendous fan of the Star Wars universe,” said Sigurlina Ingvarsdottir, Senior Producer of Star Wars Battlefront. “To be working on a Star Wars project and knowing we are helping to represent the universe we love to our generation and a legion of new Star Wars fans is truly an honor. Thanks to the access and knowledge shared with us by Lucasfilm, and the passion and talent of our team, we plan to deliver an amazing game that puts you right in the middle of the Star Wars battles you always imagined playing.”
Fans who pre-order Star Wars Battlefront will be among the first players to experience the Battle of Jakku*, the pivotal moment when the New Republic confronted key Imperial holdouts on a remote desert planet on the Outer Rim. Taking place in the aftermath of the Rebel victory in the Battle of Endor, players will experience the events that created the massive, battle-scarred landscape of Jakku shown in Star Wars™: The Force Awakens™. Players who pre-order Star Wars Battlefront can fight the battle one-week early starting on December 1, 2015. All other players will get access to this free† content on December 8, 2015.
Star Wars Battlefront will be available in North America on November 17 and starting November 19 in Europe for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One™, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and on Origin™ for PC.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the highly-anticipated action adventure starring Henry Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, and Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane returning from Man of Steel, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, and Holly Hunter in a role newly created for the film. Jason Momoa will also be making an appearance as Aquaman.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is written by Chris Terrio, from a screenplay by David S. Goyer. Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Wesley Coller, David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.
Set to open worldwide on March 25, 2016, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Batman characters created by Bob Kane, and Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston, appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment.
J.J. Abrams (writer/director/producer) and Kathleen Kennedy (producer) kicked off Star Wars Celebration with an exclusive new look at STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS.
They welcomed surprise special guests from the film: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaacs as well as veterans of the original saga Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, and Peter Mayhew.
The talented team of filmmakers and actors shared a behind the scenes look at the upcoming film and, to the surprise of fans around the world, debuted a brand new teaser trailer.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS will be in theaters December 18, 2015!
Also, Twitter users will have even more ways to express their excitement and celebrate
their favorite pop-culture phenomenon with exclusive new Twitter #StarWarsEmojis. Twitter users who post hashtags representing key words associated with specific Star Wars character and legacy themes will see a small emoji-like icon embedded in their tweets. Tweet the following character hashtags to unlock the first three #StarWarsEmojis : #C3PO #Stormtrooper #BB8
The classic Broadway comedy GUYS AND DOLLS has made its way to Costa Mesa! It’s a short run only playing until Sunday the 19th, so you better find your way there quick to enjoy it’s smile-inducing fun! This popular musical has been lighting up stages for nearly 65 years, and for good reason.
GUYS AND DOLLS originated on Broadway in 1950 based on short stories written about gangsters and gamblers in the 20s and 30s and highlights the underground craps rings throughout Runyonland, “New York City”, of the 1940s in a comic-book fashion.
Since its debut there have been many revivals through the decades, some not-so-great, and some highly rewarded like the run from the early 90s starring Nathan Lane. There is of course also the 1955 film of the same name starring FRANK SINATRA, MARLO BRANDO, and JEAN SIMMONS. This Big League Productions fortunately remains true to the original music and telling of the story that has delighted audiences for so many years past.
Make no mistake, GUYS AND DOLLS is a fun high-energy classic-styled musical that leaves no room for anything out of the ordinary. I mean this with no sense of negativity as this is a musical style that many first fell in love with as a child. Here we are treated to an exciting night at theatre with upbeat music, lively dancers and great comedy. This won’t be one of those shows that it is too eccentric or odd, just good ole entertainment.
(Guys and Dolls – Luck Be A Lady)
Written by DAMON RUNYON and music from FRANK LOESSER (How to Success in Business Without Really Trying), GUYS AND DOLLS is the telling of two romances of two of unlikeliest of couples that through many obstacles find their love for one another. Okay, that might be the normal synopsis of this musical, but really, that’s the nitty-gritty.
Nathan Detroit, a man afraid of commitment and the organizer of “The Oldest Establishment”, bets a fellow well-known gambler Sky Masterson into what he is sure is guaranteed win in order to get enough money to continue his floating crap game unbeknownst to his fiance of 14-years, Adelaide.
Sorry for the lengthy sentence, but I love that I am able to actually describe this show so easily. This is of no fault to the show, just refreshing to see an easy to follow show for this simpleton, me.
I was concerned at the beginning that the musical would remain stale as recent revivals have been named, fortunately this production continues to be exciting and capturing till the end. That isn’t to say that the beginning didn’t feel a little rocky, but as soon Sky and missionary Sarah’s song “I’ll Know” began, I was enthralled.
Some of these characters are so colorful and a bit over-the-top that it was hard for me to enjoy them at the beginning, but they began to fit the show and felt like they belonged quickly. We are first introduced to gambler and Nathan’s right-hand man Nicely-Nicely Johnson, played well by TODD BERKICH, except at first I was worried all the gambling “New-Yorkers” would be played this way. Those familiar with the musical probably wont find this to be so, however I figured I should pre-warn the others. Case and point: they are not.
There are few characters that I felt similar to toward the beginning, but these cartoonish like characterizations are quickly forgotten as the setting of the musical continues. Sky Masterson stole the show for me with his cool-guy Italian immigrant vibe. MATTHEW J. TAYLOR plays the character well and believable. Good to see as if anyone misses their mark, it could really disrupt the storytelling in GUYS AND DOLLS. His lust for the “Bible-thumping” missionary Sarah Brown plays off well later and helps for his character transformation. Sarah is played by KAYLEEN SEIDL, an absolute delight that wins the vocal talent award for the night. Their chemistry plays true and was the highlight of the show for me.
GUYS AND DOLLS though is truly and ensemble cast show with many grimy gamblers, that can dance the night away, and female dancers from Adelaide’s nightclub The Hot Box. Both of these groups have fantastic high octane dance numbers. Without these numerous Dick Tracey like characterizations, the show would only be shell of itself.
Something to enjoy from this production that we don’t see much in new musicals is the large amount of dialogue. However, there are several instances where it felt the show was slowing and needed a pick me up, but sure enough, it would come. This is a longer show that took us nearly 3 hours until we were out of the theatre, but that’s just a heads up. This production flows well and builds with energy up until the final curtain call.
It’s timeless entertainment at its best, but think twice before bringing the youngins. There are still several sexy numbers and maybe some disconnect for them, but really nothing that shouts “nonfamily-friendly”, except for maybe some awkward moments with your young teenage son sitting by your side staring at the beautiful bosoms on stage.
With lively dancing, a variety of music including the fan favorite “Luck Be A Lady”, some laughter, and all the ingredients that make a musical great, this production is a special night at the theatre. For those that have never seen GUYS AND DOLLS, I feel like it’s a right of passage for all musical lovers. I am more than pleased that I finally got to see such a well-received classic.
GUYS AND DOLLS is now playing through April 19th at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
The trailer for “Avatar: Fire and Ash” from Oscar®-winning filmmaker James Cameron is here! The third film in the phenomenally successful “Avatar” franchise opens exclusively...
