Crazytown

GIRL VS. BULL

Representation matters.
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

Right ahead of International Women's Day, an asset manager, State Street Global Advisors, installed a statue of a defiant girl on Wall Street, seemingly facing off with the iconic bull. The move was meant to bring attention to the lack of women leaders on the boards of top companies. The new girl serves as a beautiful statement reminding women to be courageous and for those that may have not have been saving a space for them at the table to start setting an additional place or 10.  

JOANNA SYIEK has a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com

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BWAY GETS THE LEGO TREATMENT

Brick by brick
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

If you're the kind of person who loved The Lego Movie and also memorizes show albums in less than a week, there may be an Instagram account you need to see. Broadway Bricks puts together the LEGO versions of your favorite Broadway casts with adorable aplomb and astounding attention to detail. 

For more, head to Broadway Bricks

And also, if you want more meeting of worlds, LEGO Movie 2 will be a musical. The company and Warner Brother recently announced their plans:

JOANNA SYIEK has a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com

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CRAZY EX GIRLFRIEND IS NOW BINGE-WATCHABLE

Thank goodness.
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

Did you fall head over heels for Crazy-Ex Girlfriend in its first season, complete with its particular brand of dark humor? Do you love imperfect characters but also tap breaks? Have you already kept up with Season 2 like an amazingly normal person who is able to watch TV during the actual time that it airs? If not - Netflix's got your back with the new season at the ready.

And your protest song for the week:

JOANNA SYIEK has a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com

EMAIL HER |  FACEBOOK | TWITTER | OTHER POSTS BY THIS AUTHOR

SINCE RUSSIA'S IN THE SPOTLIGHT

We can talk about its theatre scene and how companies tackle difficult political situations onstage
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

What do a bare-chested Vladimir Putin stroking the backside of an Olympic gymnast, a Botox overdose, and a partial brain transplant all have to do with each other? They were all part of a sold-out, groundbreaking political satire in Moscow. This is what happens when politics and theatre collide in Russia.

The play, titled “Berlusputin,” premiered ahead of the March 2012 polls for presidency. The show draws inspiration from the incendiary internet gossip swirling around the election and breaks almost every remaining taboo about the Russian leader’s personal life. The text is an adaption of “L’anomalo Bicefalo,” a work by an Italian playwright.

A glimpse into the show:

• This production imagines what might happen if half of former Italian prime minister and Putin buddy Silvio Berlusconi’s brain was transplanted into Putin’s head after an accident.
• The show performs in the ground-breaking Teatr.doc house, an intense black box space in the middle of Moscow renowned for its hard-hitting political plays
• The actor playing Putin wears foam muscles strapped to his chest; the actress playing opposite him devoutly dons a headscarf to portray his wife Lyudmila, who got a little too close to her spiritual advisor at a monastery.
• Putin tries a little too hard not to look his age and the resulting Botox overdose turns Putin into Dobby the house elf from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. (Putin was  reportedly offended by widespread comments on his resemblance to Dobby when the the film depiction came out back in 2003.)

The Internet rumors of Putin’s Botox use, the mucky situation with his estranged wife, and his hardcore crush on Olympic rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabayeva all were fodder for the play – much to the demise of the state, and much to the delight of almost everyone else in the country. 

JOANNA SYIEK has a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
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STRIPPING DOWN BROADWAY

Like A Window
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

Broadway can get a bad rap for being overly glitzy or crazily showy. Especially when it comes to revivals that have been trotted out time and time . Producers and creative teams often think they have to reinvent the wheel by adding layers and layers of sheen to an already stellar product.

What if the secret formula was to strip away the pretense, in order to show how perfectly written the show was from the start? Looks like Cary Joji Fukunaga [of True Detective fame] knew what was up, creating and directing this refreshing one-take glimpse into "Finishing the Hat." You nearly forget that it's Jake Gyllenhaal doing the heavy vocal lifting, because that seems somehow effortless too. Treat yourself to this midweek snack. Hope to see others follow suit and find other ways to be evocative in lieu of the traditional show trailer. 

 

JOANNA SYIEK has a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
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NEXT LEVEL DOUBLESPEAK

A world complete with "alternative facts"
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

We're only a few days in, and Randy Rainbow has proved that his video responses are only going to get better and better as this goes on. Sing along with everyone's new favorite version of facts. 

JOANNA SYIEK is currently an American in Paris with a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
EMAIL HER |  FACEBOOK | TWITTER | OTHER POSTS BY THIS AUTHOR

A NEW YEAR

A New World Order?
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

Happy 2017! It's been a nice start to the year but seeing as the world is about to end...no, I kid. I will take any opprotunity to laugh at what's happening to this country when I can because a lot of it has been terrifying as of late. So I wish you all love and strength as we enter a new chapter, and the will to find the funny. It will help, promise.

JOANNA SYIEK is currently an American in Paris with a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
EMAIL HER |  FACEBOOK | TWITTER | OTHER POSTS BY THIS AUTHOR

IN HONOR OF THE BEST XMAS MOVIE

Gonzo 's comedic timing ftw. 
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

Christmas is in the air, but since carolers are few and far between on our street, we've been bringing in our own holiday tunes. From the bro sitting down to play at the piano, to endless Spotify playlists, music always helps bring in the cheer. But the best part of this week before the big day? THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL.

It holds up, every year. And I will fight the person that tries to tell me this isn't a holiday classic. 

 

Happy holidays to you all! What movies are on your must re-watch list around this time of year?

JOANNA SYIEK is currently an American in Paris with a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
EMAIL HER |  FACEBOOK | TWITTER | OTHER POSTS BY THIS AUTHOR

SCHOOL OF LIFE

Learning can happen outside of a classroom, each and every day
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

If you're wondering how you can be a more well-rounded human being, you might be considering adding another degree to your belt. And while pursuing this path is a great way to grow, there are also additional ways to push yourself towards a place of personal development. If you're already acquainted with The School of Life, you may know that their mission is to help individuals grow their emotional intelligence, a skill we are not generally taught in the classroom, but a valuable one for handling any variety of life challenges and opportunities. 

Some thought provoking mini-lessons are available online via video, but more can be found directly on their site:

 

 

JOANNA SYIEK is currently an American in Paris with a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
EMAIL HER |  FACEBOOK | TWITTER | OTHER POSTS BY THIS AUTHOR

LET'S SING ABOUT IT

2016 is winding down...
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

We're rolling into the end of the year, and what a wild year it's been. If you're in the mood for a musical wrap up and reminder of all the fun, take a listen to these two ladies:

 

JOANNA SYIEK is currently an American in Paris with a penchant for original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
EMAIL HER |  FACEBOOK | TWITTER | OTHER POSTS BY THIS AUTHOR