There's a Heaping Helping of Laughter at Della's Diner... Blue Plate Special

Della's Diner... Blue Plate Special, one of Atlanta's longest running musicals, is back! And the audience is loving every second of this great Atlanta classic.

Come on up to Morning Glory Mountain and spend the day at Della's Diner.  It's just a typical day in the life of Della as she breaks her three year old grandson out of reform school for killing her husband.  Then the intrigue begins as strangers and family from the past all arrive to add excitement to the day.  There's nothing like having two husbands, or an old best friend country music star just out of prison, or even a daughter who struggles between her duty to marriage and her career to bring laughter to the audience.

Written in Atlanta, this original country-western-gospel musical played for years in Atlanta during the 1980s.  Original cast member  Robert Ray directs the outstanding all volunteer cast and crew at the Southside Theatre Guild in Fairburn, Georgia.

In no time at all, the audience is engaged in toe tapping in between the eruptions of laughter.  Whether you are seasoned fan of Della or a new visitor to her diner, you'll be thrilled with this troupe's performance of this Atlanta classic soap opera. 

Performances:
Sept 30, Oct 1-2-3
Oct 7-8-9-10
Oct 14-15-16-17

Southside Theatre Guild
20 W Campbellton St
Fairburn, GA  30213

For tickets:  www.STGplays.com or call 770-969-0956

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Chang chang ah chang-itty chang shoo bop

Grease... had me a blast!

First, before I forget, here's a BIG tip if you're one of those that likes to sneak out when the play ends and the clapping starts: Don't. Do not leave. Stick around.

Hint as to why: Later today I'm heading to the store to buy Taylor Hicks' new CD.

OK, now that I have that out of the way, here's my thoughts on Grease at the fantastically Fantabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta.

It was good, you know what I mean? (are you saying, tell me more, tell me more?)

What a way to celebrate the end of our long summer nights and the beginning of school!

'Nuff, I'm going to stop trying to pull in the catchy, memorable lyrics from songs and just give you the scoop. It was fun, even before the 8 o'clock official start of the play. Another hot tip: Do not be late, be in your seats early or you'll miss some cool action.

I would recommend that you not see the movie prior to seeing the play as it's hard not to make comparisons. The play is slightly different from the movie version, although similar enough that you'll enjoy even if you're a movie-version Grease fanatic.

Also, if you're like me, you "hear" the songs as sung by John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and friends when watching the play. They're not identical and shouldn't be. Think of Travolta and Newton-John on music steroids. The Grease cast have polished, strong, voices and they shine.

This is a sanitized version of the original stage musical Grease by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. If you'd like to find out more about the history and understand why the play differs just a bit from the movie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(musical) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(film).

Taylor Hicks of American Idol fame does a superb job as "Teen Angel", the role originally played by Frankie Avalon. He won't be in every show, so if you're going because Hicks' name is included, be sure to check. I noticed that some of the people around us where there simply because Taylor Hicks had a role. It's great that his participation is introducing some to the theater. I heard a number of people say they wished he had a bigger role or had more songs in the musical. His inclusion was definitely a high point!

Grease is great. One of the many things I loved was the interaction the actors had with the audience. By the end of the show even the most staid, regardless of age, were clapping and moving with the music.

I'm always awed when I encounter great talent. Everyone in Grease deserves a standing ovation. I highly recommend the show --- tickets are still available and well worth the expense.

My laugh lines are a little deeper, the music is still running through my head and I have a new CD to purchase...
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Oh, What a Night!

I had a huge problem with Jersey Boys, The story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

Huge.

Monumental.

Rather than bore you with a long explanation I'll be brief:
It ended.
I had to leave.
The singing stopped.
The fun fizzled.

I hated to leave.

I wanted it to keep going. I wish I were in the theater watching it again right now.

I can't remember enjoying a play as much as I enjoyed Jersey Boys in years, if ever.

I found it difficult to be "proper" and sit when what I really wanted was to be in the aisle dancing. I could tell I wasn't the only one itching to stand, to dance, to sing along, to move! If just one person had been brave enough to get things moving, I know the entire theater would have been on their feet throughout the entire performance!

Sometimes it's difficult to make the leaps that some plays make jumping from one song to the next. It's as though they made up something just so they could get a song in and it just doesn't flow. Jersey Boys was seamless.

It was amazing how well the play moved and how clearly it conveyed the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons using their own music. Every little bit of the play was perfect in my estimation.

Jersey Boys, The story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons is playing at the Fabulous Fox Theatre through June 21st. If you love theater and you love music, this play is one you can't miss. Beg, cajole, borrow, give up your lunches to pay for a ticket, do whatever you have to, but make sure you see this one!

Want to learn more? http://www.jerseyboysinfo.com/ or http://www.foxtheatre.org/.
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