Showing Wednesday is “Nine,” director Rob Marshall's musical take on the cinema classic “8 1/2,” Federico Fellini's 1961 meditation on the creative process. The film is up for four Golden Globes — including nominations for best musical, best actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), best actress (Marion Cotillard) and best supporting actress (Penélope Cruz) — and Marshall has a track record with musicals. His 2002 film “Chicago” took the best picture Oscar.
Okay, I’m a convert to Theatre Aspen. At the end of the day—at the end of the night—if it ain’t on the page it ain’t on the stage, but if it ain’t on the stage you’ve got bupkus.
Of course, Theatre Aspen has its own page to turn: Paige Price, the singer-actor-labor official-artistic director now responsible for the pages that end up under the tent on the stage on the edge of Rio Grande Park. First recruited as a performer to Theatre Aspen by former bossman David McClendon, she has not only raised expectations for a regional-caliber troupe but has begun to deliver this season with “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a raucous and occasionally raunchy musical comedy now well underway under the tent and running through August.
From: Steve Skinner
Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 11:15:42 AM
Subject: Art Opening?
My Dear Friends -
After more than 25 years of writing, recording, filming and performing original music I have come to realize that, sometimes, for me, performing live is like an art opening. The opportunities for live, local music have been squeezed into some pretty tight, uncomfortable tubes. Sometimes I miss the days when my band played three nights a week to appreciative freaks all winter long in places like The Paradise, Dean Street, The Shaft, The Jerome, The Red Onion, The Slope, Andres, The Tippler, The Warehouse and countless parties, pubs an outhouses, valley-wide.
Those places are gone. Venues have switched from live performers to DJs. It's cheaper and in many instances, it's what the people of the iPod generation want. The Belly Up doesn't support local, original music and they are almost the only real music gig in the valley ... except Steve's Guitars in Carbondale. This small listening room has been the portal for many artists over the past ten years and I have had some memorable times both onstage and in the audience at Steve's.
Through this outsourcing and downsizing, I have continued my quest to write, record and whenever possible, perform original music for people with ears, hearts and minds. For me, it is not a choice. And maybe, if I were a better pimp or in another, bigger pond, there would be more opportunity and more people would hear my music.
That's why, for me at least, performing at a place like Steve's is almost as good as it gets. People come to LISTEN. As a songwriter, there is nothing more satisfying than someone spending that few minutes to really hear what you have crafted on the audio canvas. In past performances at Steve's I have tried many interesting and unusual things ... black lights and bug outfits ... performance in the round ... having the audience onstage ... using overhead projectors and umbrellas. I recorded a live album for Matt Johnson and have broadcast shows from many artists onto KDNK.
This Friday, December 12 at 8:30 pm I return to Steve's with my band, The Natives. Since releasing my 12th album, "Restless" earlier this year I have been working with the musicians in my band to craft new music that is rhythmic, melodic, nuanced, dynamic and catchy. I feel very fortunate to write and arrange with such incredibly talented players and singers. There will be harmonies, keyboard hooks, accordions and a rhythm section that feels cinched down to the cosmic confluence.
We will be recording the show and will also hand out the latest CD to all comers. I sincerely hope you can attend this "art opening." If not you, who? If not now, when? Let's get together!
"We the willing
Led by the unknowing
Are doing the impossible
For the ungrateful
We have done so much
For so long
With so little
We are now qualified
To do anything
With nothing
In no time at all"
- Unknown
The Hudson Reed Ensemble announces its third annual free “Shakespeare In the Park” series held in the Galena Plaza Park directly behind the Pitkin County Library. Opening Wednesday, August 13, this year’s production is MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING which features a cast of fourteen and is directed by Ruth Leon a Shakesperian scholar and director from the U.K.
This wonderful comedy is the story of two very different couples that battle heroically against huge odds to find romance and happiness.
The Food & Wine Classic has begun in Aspen and this year the libations are flowing with gusto while the food has left me hungry. Last night I attended the Wines from Spain soiree held at a private home where I chatted with chef Jose Andres. He was funny and truly engaging. The main dish at the soiree was “Paella” a Spanish version of jambalaya. His crew struggled with the altitude to find a boiling point to make the Paella and it showed in the dish … that being said the chef on the grill kept the party hopping with his chorizo sausage sandwich best described as a “Braut with a tasty bite”. I can’t wait to make those at home!
I had the good fortune to go to Social, the new Aspen restaurant on East Hopkins Avenue, on opening night, but I finally had the chance to return this week with a group of four friends of ours from Michigan. At first, I was concerned we had led our visiting Spartans astray. Social, you see, is based on the Spanish Tapas concept, whereby small dishes are the norm--and these guys like to live LARGE when they're living in Aspen. One time, at Takah Sushi, our visiting host from Michigan ordered a whole fish so big I was looking for the boat. When these guys saw Social had only a couple of big dishes, they started to mumble even as our stomachs were grumbling. I should have known better....
We are proud to announce the arrival of Thicken It Studios hair extensions at Salon Aspen. On October 27th and again on November 3rd, we are going to offer these services for a one time discounted price of $200 off the normal rate. We are currently looking for clients to sign up and be the first in Aspen to showcase the newest style.
