Annie Alert

Ladies and gentlemen, I made a mistake in the last post. While sitting at the kitchen table being fed Gerber sweet potatoes through a syringe, I had my parents try to guess the four "Annie" characters in musicals- and guess what? They thought of a fifth Annie! Cool, huh, that my parents are that "in tune" (HA!) with musical theatre? Cool and kind of... well, come up with your own adjective.

Anyway, there are now FIVE musicals which have a character named Annie in them. Figure it out and win a ticket to Ragtime! Complements of Chase, although he doesn't know it, so don't hold me to it.

Thoughts from a Closed Mouth

Hello everyone! It's just me, Annie. I thought I'd give a little report on how I'm doing, and also to report on some thoughts I've had as I've laid around for about a week. Finally I am back to walking around and going out in public. Yes, I scare everyone around me due to the fact that the bottom half of my face looks like a pumpkin, but I figure, hey! It's almost Halloween time, it fits, right?

Anyway. Here are some Amusing Musings that I've had while recovering. First of all, I've come to realize that Jane Lynch is one of my favorite actresses ever. She's hilarious and another person whose best friend I want to become. Speaking of... I'm still not best friends with Robyn and Angie... hmm, I need to work some more on that. Hopefully they won't be scared of my pumpkin face.

Has anyone been watching the new season of Dancing with the Stars? I'm not going to say who I want to win the whole thing- it's too early to tell- but I have to say, I am loving me some Cloris Leachman. She is just too much. If you haven't been watching the show, watch it just for Cloris Leachman.

My mom got me a 750-piece puzzle to do, and guess what it's of? TIMES SQUARE! It's so totally cool, and has pictures from tons of Broadway shows, ranging from Tommy to Steel Pier, to Millie to Joseph, as well as Contact, Seussical, Rocky Horror, and many more! How often when playing puzzles do you get to say, "Hand me The Full Monty piece!" I'm having way too much fun with this.

There's a Facebook video up of Stage One's Ragtime rehearsal that you should check out.... insert something funny here? Hopefully I'll be able to check it out, I'm sure it's going to be awesome. That music, AH. Oh, and Chase if you're reading this, can you please put up a video of the rehearsal for "Journey On"? That is my favorite song in the entire show, and my boyfriend (or was it Elyse's boyfriend?) Michael Hawke is in it- YES!

Finally, in honor of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year (which is today- Happy New Year!), here is an absolutely incredible sermon which my mom sent me that you have to read. Cheesy, I know. But seriously, it's really good and it involves A MUSICAL! WICKED! How awesome is that? I've never been to temple and heard a sermon that involves a musical. Seriously, you should read this, even if you're not Jewish. Yes, it's kind of funny picturing the Rabbi standing up on the pulpit, seriously quoting lyrics that Idina belted out, but it's still worth reading.

These musings were not so amusing, but we'll be coming back full force soon enough. And here's a little trivia question that I thought of while playing Play-Doh a few days ago: There are FOUR musicals (maybe more than that!) which have characters with the name ANNIE in them! Can you think of the four musicals? The winner gets the Times Square puzzle.... HA, yeah right, in your dreams. But seriously, see if you can figure it out.

"Bare" With Me

Hello folks! Sorry things are so slow around here ... we're down to just one person again. And that one person happens to be 2 weeks away from mid-terms. Yikes. And, naturally, Annie is out of commission for at least another week or so until she visits me here, when I'll be lucky enough to give up my bed and prepare a list of the best soup/milkshake/smoothie/blender stores Foggy Bottom has to offer!

So Daily Obsession time! Maybe we should just go ahead and change the title to "Sporadic Obsession." And raise your hand if you only know that word because of Clueless. That's what I thought. Let's not kid ourselves. Anyway, student theatre is really huge here, and one of the shows they're doing this semester is bare: a pop opera. I don't know how many of you have heard it or even heard of it, but I would highly recommend it! They have the whole show on Youtube, and the antagonist from Sabrina the Teenage Witch is in it. So...if any of you were...wonderin' what happened to her...there ya go. But even if you don't choose to watch the whole entire show on your computer instead of read your archaeology book, you can always listen to the soundtrack which is amazing. They're even doing a production in Buenos Aires! So stand back, Buenos Aires! Because you wanna know whatcha gonna get in me just a little touch of, just a little touch of, just a little touch of star qualityyyyyyy...

I'm never good at ending my posts. 

Bernie. Telsey. Wearing. Big. Glasses.

This video is wonderful for so many reasons. It literally integrates EVERYTHING we love about Broadway right now. Test yourself and see if you can find them all!! But don't circle them, kid in the waiting room of the doctor's office who thinks the Highlights magazine only belongs to him and decides to use his mother's PEN to circle the hidden pictures which then leaves the rest of us with no activity to do while we're waiting for our college immunizations. 

Dispute

Ok, we know this is completely unrelated to musical theatre but we have a dispute that needs to be cleared up. As some of you may know, Annie is getting jaw surgery Monday, and her mouth will have to be wired shut for 6 weeks. Therefore, all of her food will have to be liquidized. She was given a cookbook with a bunch of recipes. One of them is for a PB&J. Here's what it says:

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY "SANDWICH"

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1-2 tablespoons jelly

2 slices wonderbread

9 oz. glass of milk

Put in Blender and blend

And then off to the side it says in handwriting: "try without bread"

All right, so what is funnier? The fact that "sandwich" is in quotes, or the fact that in the margin it says "try without bread"?

Speak Parseltongue?

If you're above the age of 18, you can check out Harry's Potter! His Magic Wand! His Chamber of Secrets! His Sorceror's Stones! I mean, we haven't looked at the pictures, but they're here. And they look a little funny and slightly blurry. But seriously, though, we haven't looked at them...more than 12 times.

...And in the Mornin', I'm Makin' Bloggles!

Okay, that is the most pathetic title ever, but props to you if you actually know what we spoofed. This is our first official Shrek: The Musical post. Our friend sent us this link to a slideshow with some really interesting pictures of what will soon be coming to Broadway. We have some thoughts on this. First of all, Shrek (the movie) is a freaking amazing movie. It makes us laugh so hard we cry, and it makes us cry so hard we laugh...at each other crying over Dragon missing Donkey.

Our first request for the show: Please tell us the overture to the Broadway production is simply Smash Mouth's "All Star." Shrek really cannot start without this song. We wish you knew how much we actually think this. Some more requests...

Please let the Ginger Bread's voice be as amazing as the one in the movie. "Don't tell him anything!" could quite possibly be the funniest line in the movie simply because his voice is hilarious.

The pictures make this show seem really dark, don't you think? Let's brighten it up a bit. Also, what's up with Christopher Sieber's costume? Cool idea, but...it's very clear that Lord Farquaad is merely leaning back on some man in a black cloak, right? And what happens when he walks? Do his legs move, or do they just bend under and get caught in the black cloak? This is just so perplexing.

Take a look at the pictures, seriously. Make your own judgments. And please note that we are most definitely seeing this show - these are just our curiosities. Come on, one of our daily obsessions is Grease 2.

Most Hilarious TV Show

Ladies and Gentlemen, we present the funniest show on television: Hole in the Wall. We don't want to explain the premise of this game show to you. Just watch this clip from the Australian version of the show and be sure to tune in to Fox Thursdays at either 8 or 8:30 PM. We don't really know for sure. And don't feel like looking it up.

What the Freak Do We Know About Reviewing?

So, the sisters have united once again! And the blog is back in full swing! No more of Annie on her own. Pretending he's beside her. It's time to keep talkin' about things, and what better to talk about than a freak show. And no, we don't mean a day in the Steingold household. We mean Side Show, you silly readers you. Reader.

Let's get talking! This time with a "g" on the end! Sadly, Elyse didn't get to see the show, but Annie and Mother Hen did. So Elyse is going to interview Annie about the show. 

E: So, Annie, I'm so jealous you got to see the show. Overall, how was it?

A: I tell ya, Elyse, this was a Richmond theatre show I'm really sad you missed.

E: Thanks, Annie. Thanks. How were the twins?

A: Absolutely wonderful! I literally had tears in my eyes during "Who Will Love Me as I Am?" Robyn O'Neill and Angie Shipley were really great to watch, and I want to be their new best friend.

E: I'm sure they feel the same way about you.

A: Brett Ambler was adorable, as always. What a voice. And Michael Hawke really surprised me with his high belt.

E: How was his singing voice?

A: Not as high as his belt (Ha!). No, but seriously, he sounded awesome. I have a crush on him, and I'm sure you would, too. Just call me Daisy. And you'll be Violet. And get Brett.

E: Okay!

A: Back to the show. Brandon Becker did an awesome job choreographing. Can't be easy choreographing for 1.8 person. "We Share Everything" was a ton of fun to watch, and I really think he did a great job.

E: Any last words?

A: Great work, Tom Width, great work!

E: Anything else?

A: This was the least legit theatre review ever?

E: Indeed.

So, to sum it up, everyone should go see Side Show at Swift Creek Mill Playhouse. You "won't won't" to miss a moment...

It's FREAK-ing Late!

I, Annie, had the pleasure of seeing Side Show at "the Mill" this past Saturday night. Join Elyse and me (and by that I mean, come back and read our post) as we discuss this production... via instant messaging.

See you soon, and sorry we are late with this!

Daily Obsession: Capital Style

Greetings from the computer lab! My laptop hasn't returned from Pentagon City yet, and I must say it isn't great. I'm not kidding when I say it is roughly 98 degrees in here, and I'm sitting next to a 50-year old man, who apparently is enrolled here, who is trying to get into as many Women's Studies classes as possible. Creepy. Almost as creepy as the fact that I am sooo not discreetly looking at his computer screen.

In case any of you were wondering, my Murphy's Law curse has continued...yesterday I dropped my phone in the toilet. No, apparently that kind of stuff doesn't just happen in Ben-Stiller-yeah-it's-kinda-funny-but-after-a-while-it-just-gets-old-and-painful-to-watch-like-Meet-the-Parents-type movies. And my life movie doesn't have Owen Wilson in it. Bummer.

So my daily obsession is a soundtrack. I'm trying to get back at my next door neighbor for leaving his alarm clock buzzing while he was at his 8 AM class by playing my music really loudly. And flicking off his door everytime I walk by it. Both work. Anyway, I'm sure my next door neighbor would agree with me on my obsession with the I Love You, Because soundtrack. It's a new-ish, now closed, Off-Broadway show. Yeah, a lot of the songs sound the same, but it's cute and entertaining and not Spring Awakening.

Or, if you're not into that show, you could buy the I Sing! soundtrack. It's a new-ish, now closed, Off-Broadway show. Yeah, a lot of the songs sound the same, but it's cute and entertaining and not Spring Awakening.

So start collecting your Coke caps, rack up some iTunes bank, and broaden your soundtrack horizons!

Yikes. I'm almost positive I'm the less funny sister.

Broadway at West Beverly

Why hello! We told you that the Daily Obsession thing wouldn't quite pan out the way we had hoped. Right now, things are a tad crazy. First of all, only one of us is writing this right now- the less funny sister. Now, did your mind immediately snap to, "Aw man, just Annie's writing"? Because if so, you are correct, my friend. And also, how dare you call me the less funny sister!

Anyway, Elyse has moved to college and is now in D.C. Being without her is killing me softly. However, we plan on keeping the blog going- I mean come on, we've only been around for two months, you can't get rid of us that fast! Plus, it's cool because Elyse will be able to talk about shows in D.C. So yeah, we totally had plans to email back and forth, video chat on iChat, etc., and come up with more "funny" posts for the blog. However, Elyse's computer broke her second day as a college student . Her bag of Cheetos also got stuck in the vending machine her second day as a college student. So basically, her second day as a college student sucked. I think the Cheetos fiasco threw her over the edge. Anyway, until she gets her computer back from the "geniuses" at the Apple store on Thursday, there shall be no theatre musings.

However... while I'm here... did anyone watch 90210 on the CW tonight? NO no, don't click the close button on your screen! I promise I'm going somewhere with this. I have a few comments first, though. Oh, how I missed this gem. I had a huge crush on Dylan McKay- and I was like, 6 years old. Now, this show is a spin-off of Beverly Hills, 90210, but come on, it's basically the same thing. Twins move to the big city from out of town, the Peach Pit's the cool place to be, and the writing is still as good as ever. My favorite lines of the night? "You're breaking up with me?".... "I'm breaking up with us." LOVE it. Two main reasons you should watch the show. 1, Aunt Becky has a pretty big role. And 2, Shannen Doherty's BACK! YES!! And boy oh boy, is she milking this part for all it's worth. We're talkin' wayyyy over the top.

So where am I going with this, you ask? Well, in tonight's episode, we see that West Beverly High is putting on a musical. And that musical is... SPRING AWAKENING. I literally spat out my drink when they said that. Actually, I didn't spit out my drink, but I wish I had. It looks so fun when people in the movies do that- and do you notice how their drink always lands right on the nerd's face? But yeah, their musical is Spring Awakening. They literally rehearsed "Mama Who Bore Me," microphones, stomping feet and all. I mean, I knew Beverly Hills was rich, but I wondered how even THEY could afford the rights! Insert laugh here.

Okay, that's it for now. We will BOTH be back by the end of this week, I promise. And Elyse, sorry if you found this post not funny at all.