Day 430-Cheers to Madame Clicquot, CLO’s New Historical Musical, The Queen of the Bubbly

 

 

 Pittsburgh audiences are the first to experience this new musical about a visionary woman in the 1800s who transformed a French winery into one that to this day is at the pinnacle of the champagne industry.  Madame Clicquot is based on the true story of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot. She overcame the obstacles of the French Revolution, Napoleon’s rule, and the limitations imposed on women to become a successful entrepreneur of the bubbly.  

This world premiere, stacked with Broadway talent, uses state-of-the-art graphics and elaborate period costumes.  The score reminds me of the classic “Rodgers and Hammerstein” musical era.   Cheers to what this lady accomplished and to CLO’s new musical production.  

Refection

It's refreshing to see a musical tackling the subject of an independent businesswoman in the 19^th century.  Barbie-Nicole invented new techniques to make champagne and was the first to blend rosé champagne in 1818. 

The musical spans the periods from 1789 to 1810, utilizing realistic video backdrops. There are 14 scene changes in Act I and 10 in Act II.  I would have liked less movement, but each gave way to another historical event.  I was most impressed with the opening of Act II, Napoleon’s War, which used a spectrum of reds and oranges, flashes of light, and campfires to take us to the battlefield. It had the wow factor.

Victoria Frings (Barbie-Nicole), from the start singing, “It Could Be Mine” electrifies the show with her powerhouse vocals. She had the stamina for the score. Christian Thompson (Francois Clicquot), the husband, blended well in their duet “The Man He Chose For Me.” Nick Laughlin (Napoleon) added some comic relief. Every character in this show had a wonderfully sophisticated sound.

 Like Hamilton, this show sparks interest in history through music. It seemed top-heavy with ballads, even though each one was sung beautifully.  The Russian dancing energizes Act II.

Raise your glass to the CLO for bringing a hot-off-the-press new show to Pittsburgh.  It educates us on the history behind the queen of the bubbly with enchanting melodies.  Cheers to Madame Clicquot.

(Madame Clicquot runs through June 7, 2025, at the Byham Theater. For tickets, go to pittsburghclo.org.)

Day 429 Rise on Point, Twirl, or Jump Down the Yellow Brick Road with The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT)- The Wizard of Oz

 

The iconic 1939 Movie, The Wizard of Oz, was a staple in my son’s and my childhood. The story from the classic 1900 novel is a timeless tale that has morphed into many versions.  Pittsburgh Ballet’s premiere of  Septime Webre’s large-scale ballet takes you down the Yellow Brick Road on point, with twirls, jumps, and much more. The beauty of the dance, mixed with special effects, an extravagant set design, and even some puppets, transports you to the wonderful world of OZ.

Reflection

My son and I have a long-time relationship with The Wizard of Oz.  Mine started with singing   “Somewhere over the Rainbow” when feeling episodic childhood sadness. At age 5, my son carried the character dolls around the house, gripping Dorothy the tightest. I recently visited the National History Museum in DC to see the ruby slippers.  I was worried that the ballet interpretation would not stand up to our love for the story. However, PBT exceeded our expectations by capturing each part of this magical tale with each step in the dance.

The Ballet follows the movie closely from the tornado to the Emerald City.  Being so familiar with the narrative, you can relax and enjoy the language of the movement.  

Opening in Kansas, three male dancers are the focus on the farm until the tornado upstages it all. Items ruffled by the wind are projected across a screen backdrop, lights flash, and Dorthy flies through the air suspended on cables.  Everything abruptly blackens with a crash.  A wave of bold colors spread like falling dominoes throughout the stage as Dorothy opens a door to Oz. I wanted to stand up and applaud.

This was a more modern-looking Oz with geometric shapes and vibrant colors. The music had a jazz flair. There were dancing grasshoppers and so much action.  I found myself counting Dorthy’s consecutive spins like those in Swan Lake- “wow.”

The best part was the yellow brick road.  The bricks, or should I say dancers in yellow, lifted Dorthy with a constant ripple of smooth transfers. She was above the ground more than on it.  The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion each had a different dance style. I particularly enjoyed the isolation body movement of the Tin Man and the strong jumps and turns of the Lion.

There was a lot of flying in this show from Glenda, the Wicked Witch, and yes, even monkeys. An amazing puppet charmed as Toto the dog. The show hit every magical moment with fantastic choreography. It was a night to enjoy the journey down the yellow brick road with perfection by PBT.

 (The Wizard of Oz runs May 9 - May 18, 2025, for tickets, go to https://pbt.org )                                         

Sources

https://pbt.org

25-26 Season https://pbt.org/performances/

https://pbt.org/performances/the-wizard-of-oz-with-the-pbt-orchestra/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2zdYIF5DAY

 

 

 

 

 

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Day 428- PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh, Tap Dancing Sizzles in Some Like it Hot

 

The musical, Some Like it Hot is based on the 1959 movie voted by film critics as the best comedy of all time.  During Prohibition in Chicago, two musicians, Joe and Jerry, witness a mob hit.  They go undercover, disguised as women, and join an all-girl band to flee the pursuit of gangsters. Mix in song,  love interests, a little self-discovery, and the razzle-dazzle of tap dancing, and you've got one hot musical.   

Reflection

This show took me back to the “Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals,” where the story was light, romance was always in the air, and the melody paired with movement ruled.

The show opens in a 1934 speakeasy. The leader of the all-girl band, Sweet Sue (Tarra Conner Jones), asks, “What are You Thirsty For?”  The energy is high as girls flip backward and over their partners.  Jones commands the stage with a distinctive rasp in her voice that reminded me of the singing style of Eartha Kitt (Catwoman in 1960s TV Batman). It was a wild party.

Toes start tapping when Joe (Matt Loehr) and Jerry (Tavis Kordell) recount their friendship bond in the song, “You Can’t Have Me (If You Don’t Have Him).” Watching their skill and pizazz, I realized that the synchronised steps in this show were going to fuel much of my enjoyment. Loehr and Kordell had chemistry just like that of Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor in “Singin' in the Rain.”  Ok, enough of the old movie flashbacks. It is safe to say that this show has masterful dancing, singing, and a bunch of laughs.   

Men dressed as women and their  fast wardrobe changes to hide their identity produced a lot of humor. There is an unexpected twist when Jerry had a life-changing discovery in the second half. In the end, every "guy" gets his "girl."  

This show reaches the pinnacle of tap dancing. “Tip Tap Trouble" had the entire cast running from the gangsters in a jaw-dropping dance sequence.  The choreography fired movement in all directions through doors, with costume and scene changes.  This was worth the price of the ticket.  

Some Like it Hot takes you back to the bygone musical movie era. It sure is hot. The show, fueled by laughter and song with dancing that sizzles, will make your temperature rise. 

(Some Like it Hot runs through April 15-20,2025, in Pittsburgh. Go to Trustarts.org for tickets and more on PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh.)

Other Sources

Some Like it Hot Tour Dates 

 Eartha Kitt

trustarts.org

 

 

Day 427 -Take a Soak at Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

 

 

Just about two and a half hours from Pittsburgh you will find a small West Virginia town that was established around the flow of mineral water in 1776, Berkeley Springs. These springs were frequented by Native Americans and even George Washington. The Berkeley Springs State Park offers visitors the opportunity to take a soak at the Spa or The Old Roman Bathhouse and experience the healing and relaxing properties of this mineral rich water.  

Old Roman Bathhouse (1815)

Reflection

It's amazing to think that this natural wonder has been a spa since the colonial days. The Roman Bathhouse was built in 1815 for men only at that time.  Today these nine private rooms contain tubs with 750 gallons of water. The natural spring flows at 71 degrees but the tubs heat the water up to 101 degrees for the soaking experience.

They are clean and private and for a reasonable fee, you relax in the mineral-rich spring. (The first person is $32, and each additional person is $22 per half hour) The water is supposed to have health and healing benefits, but the relaxation factor was my goal. As the tension released from my muscles, I thought about how I was experiencing a little history not to mention, that my skin felt silky smooth afterwards.

You can also fill bottles of water directly from the spring fountain. The park offers gallon jugs for $1.00.  This is a must-do for the water tastes great and it’s a nice souvenir to take back with you.  

For the fancy pants patrons, there is a historic The Country Inn of Berkeley Springs. The Park also has a Bathhouse Spa where you can get facials, massages and/or a mineral bath and shower combination.

This place was like a diamond in the rough. I enjoyed the nostalgia of the Roman Bathhouse, and the rangers were so friendly and eager to explain the history of the springs. I could not think of a better place to take a soak or to soak in some history and nature.

(The baths and services book up, especially on the weekend, so call ahead for an appointment: 304-258-3976 for the Roman Bath or 304-258-2711 for the Bathhouse Spa services.)

 Other Sources

https://wvstateparks.com/park/berkeley-springs-state-park/

 

Day 425- Lullaby Project Celebration Concert, A Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Community Engagement Program-Mother's Songs of Love Spread Joy

 

 

The Lullaby Project is one of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Community Engagement Programs. This is the second cohort where the Trust teamed up with the Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute matching new and expecting mothers and caregivers with songwriters and musicians to create very personal Lullabies for their child. On March 1, 2025 the Trust's second cohort Lullaby  Project Celebration took place. The performances of these original songs spread joy that reminds us that no matter what our differences, the love between a family/mother and child is universal.  

Reflection

Brooke Horejsi, Chief Programming and Engagement Officer for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, put it so well, “This is a love celebration from the heart.”  The concert consists of seven participant poems that were transformed into soft, jazzy, even pop-like tunes. The musical quality was impressive but the messages of affection, hope and aspirations for these new lives showered the room with positivism.

I spoke with a family that participated last year. The mother beamed with pride when she spoke about her Lullaby, "Wonders of Oba."  “My son knows all the words, asks for his song often and we sing it nightly.” The experience  united the three familial generations represented at the table. Their song became a family mantra. 

"Wonders of Oba" is a family mantra

This project creates a gift which is like a time capsule of memories for each child.  Listening to them all, I thought about my own son. Many of the Lullabies captured things that I would say to him like:

“If ever you’re lost / Look at me, I’m like the North Star / Just lift up your eyes and you will know you’re not far from home” (Shooting Star by Diarra Clarke with Sean Baker.)

“Mama’s wish for you: That I can Give you comfort / and steer you the right way / that you’ll build strength and confidence to be a leader ev’ry day”(Mama’s Wish for you by Courtney Rhoton with Lynn Speakman.)

A memory with my own son 

This concert was filled with so many love songs that it was a party of pure joy. It showcased the way art can feed the strong bond between a mother and child which is a universal force in us all. 

(For more information on the Lullaby Project and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Community Engagement Programs go to   Lullaby Project  and Community Engagement.)

 Other Sources

https://trustarts.org/pct_home/engagement

https://trustarts.org/pct_home/engagement/lullaby-project

 

Day 424- Attack Theatre-Sessions- Combustion of Story, Song and Dance with alt-pop artist Rachel Sage and Cellist Dave Eggar

 

 

Founded in 1994, Attack Theatre is a modern dance company that fuses live music and other art forms in their performances. They are a company with a mission to “remain curious” for new ideas. That is just what they are doing with the "24-25 Season of Fire.”  In Sessions, alt-pop artist Rachael Sage, and cellist Dave Eggar combust with the dance company for an evening of storytelling, song, music and movement.

Day 423-Life of Pi, A Theatrical Experience-Finding “a Light” to Defeat Fear

 

 Life of Pi is a stage production based on Yann Martel’s best-selling novel. The book was also adapted into a movie. A 16-year old boy’s journey to survive a cargo shipwreck sharing a lifeboat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger is brought to life with the use of extraordinary puppets and special effects.   Pi, an explorer of spirituality, found his own “light” to defeat fear. He holds on for 227 days adrift in the ocean before being rescued.   

 

Day 422- CLO Who’s Holiday? It’s Grown-up Cindy Lou’s, Sharing it with You

The Grinch tried to steal the Who’s Christmas with a scowl and grimness. Remember, even after waking little Cindy Lou he shoved the tree up the chimney. All Grown up now, Cindy enjoys cocktails, a little cursing, jokes and some wacky smokes. We are her party guests as she tries her best to find a  little cheer after a difficult year.   

Day 421 MJ – The Musical like the Man brings Perfection

  

MJ is not like any other jukebox musical based on the life of a famous entertainer that I have seen. It’s not just a line up of one big Jackson number after another but weaves his music and story into an understanding of the man. It’s like a tapestry of his life and those threads that made him one of the best entertainers of all time. Jackson strives for perfection in entertainment. He might agree with me that the story, music, dancing, set, costumes and more achieved it in MJ.

Day 419- Pittsburgh Playhouse- Fall Fest- Boo’s Halloween, A Party for the Kid in Us All

 

Pittsburgh Playhouse, home of Point Park University, is a gem of entertainment for the entire family. Their programs include Community and Special Events, Conservatory Dance and variety of shows with Playhouse Presents. The Fall Fest kicked off the season with Boo’s Halloween Party, a musical mash up show written by alumnus Ahmad Simmons and Lazlo Graves. It’s a party that brings out the kid in us all.  

Day 418 Liberty Magic-A Brew of Tricks and the Treat of Seeing Magicians From all Over The World -Miguel Muñoz

 

Liberty Magic is Pittsburgh’s intimate venue dedicated solely to the sleight of hand. Now in its sixth season, it continues to bring a brew of tricks and the treat of  the world’s best magicians to the city.  Miguel Muñoz comes all the way from Madrid Spain to open this season with his new show that asks you to contemplate, “What is Magic for You?”