When Carole King Met Supergirl

Tea For Two
l-r
Carole King & Melissa Benoist

Having appeared in the video for crooner Mike Clifford's current single, a terrific cover of Will You Love Me Tomorrow by Carole King. One needs no more explanation as to why this image from the WWW caught my eye. 

Or should I extrapolate? I shall because had this photo been merely of Ms. King I would not have really gone to the bother of posting it. It's also because it is of herself and Supergirl aka Melissa Benoist. Who portrays King on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

While I find Ms. Benoist a quite engaging and talented young actress, I had no inkling she was this talented when Carole surprised her with this onstage duet. 

Get it Melissa, you go!

Melissa on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/melissabenoist/?hl=en 

Let's Get Acoustic, David Cook

Praise Keith!
David Cook
Photo:
Bobby Quillard

Singer-songwriter and American Idol Winner David Cook has announced he will kick-off  an acoustic tour this fall in St. Louis, MO on October 25.  Tickets go on-sale Thursday, July 12. (visit davidcookofficial.com/events for tickets and info).

The tour will weave throughout the southeast and hit other major markets like Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York City. It’ll be a chance for fans to experience an up-close, intimate evening with David, as he performs songs from his brand-new EP, CHROMANCE, as well as other hits from his catalog.   The EP, which was released earlier this year, features all new material that was written over the past year and includes an ethereal mid-tempo spin on the Phil Collins classic, Another Day in Paradise.

If launching a tour and putting out a brand new EP wasn’t enough to keep Cook busy; this past April, he made his Broadway debut as Charlie Price in Kinky Boots and had the time of his life (no pun intended).  David is now set to reprise his performance in the starring role from July 17 through September 9 (tickets available at kinkybootsthemusical.com).

“I am so honored and excited to get to come back to the factory!  Kinky Boots is such a great show, made all the better by having an incredible cast, crew, and staff, and I can’t wait to help tell the story again!”

CHROMANCE  is available now through all digital retailers, including iTunes, Amazon and Google Play (view the official lyric video for David’s latest single: Gimme Heartbreak).

2018 Tour Dates

9/27&28 –Orlando, FL at Walt Disney World/Epcot Center – “Eat To The Beat” with full band

Acoustic Tour:

10/25 - St Louis, MO at Old Rock House
10/26 - Kansas City, MO at Madrid Theatre
10/30 - Milwaukee, WI at The Back Room at Colectivo
10/31 - Chicago, IL at City Winery
11/02 - Kent, OH at Kent Stage
11/03 - Ann Arbor, MI at The Ark
11/05 - Boston, MA at City Winery
11/07 - Ridgefield, CT at Ridgefield Playhouse
11/08 - Philadelphia, PA at World Café Live
11/09 - Rockport, MA at Shalin Liu Performance Center
11/11 - Norfolk, CT at Infinity Hall
11/12 - New York, NY at Sony Hall
11/14 - Washington, DC at City Winery
11/16 - Charlotte, NC at McGlohon Theatre
11/17 - Blue Ridge, GA at Firefly Music Series
11/19 - Atlanta, GA at City Winery
11/20 - Nashville, TN at City Winery 

www.davidcookofficial.com

www.twitter.com/thedavidcook

www.facebook.com/davidcook

www.instagram.com/davidcookofficial

David Cook - Two Times The Kink

Smell What David Cooking!
David Cook
Photo:
Bobby Quillard

David Cook Set To Return To Broadway As Charlie Price in “Kinky Boots” Beginning July 17, 2018

Singer-songwriter and American Idol Winner David Cook’s has confirmed his return to the Broadway stage where he is set to reprise the lead role in Kinky Boots as Charlie Price. “I am so honored and excited to get to come back to the factory!  Kinky Boots is such a great show, made all the better by having an incredible cast, crew, and staff, and I can’t wait to help tell the story again!”

David’s run in Kinky Boots will begin July 17 and run through September 9.

David performing "Soul Of A Man" from Kinky Boots: https://youtu.be/pny0qZnzQW0

Today Show Kinky Boots performance: https://www.davidcookofficial.com/watch-david-cook-with-the-cast-of-kinky-boots-on-broadway-megyn-kelly-today/

Earlier this year, David release his brand new EP, Chromance.   The EP features all new material that was written over the past year and also includes an ethereal mid-tempo spin on the Phil Collins classic "Another Day in Paradise" -  

https://soundcloud.com/ingroovesmarketing/04-david-cook-another-day-in-paradise/s-2Bu2o?in=ingroovesmarketing/sets/david-cook-chromance/s-YC25e

Lyric video for his current single "Gimme Heartbreak" here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koKubQMiQe4

SoundCloud link to David’s brand new  Chromance EP –

https://soundcloud.com/ingroovesmarketing/sets/david-cook-chromance/s-YC25e

Chromance is available through all digital retailers.

EP links:

iTunes: http://flyt.it/Chromance

Amazon: http://flyt.it/ChromanceAmazon

Google Play: http://flyt.it/ChromanceGooglePlay

www.davidcookofficial.com

www.twitter.com/thedavidcook

www.facebook.com/davidcook

www.instagram.com/davidcookofficial

David Cook Gets "Kinky"

Steppin' Out
David Cook

C'mon Kinky Boots, start walkin'...!!! 

Singer-songwriter and American Idol Winner David Cook’s brand-new EP, Chromance was released today.   The EP features all new material that was written over the past year and also includes an ethereal mid-tempo spin on the Phil Collins classic "Another Day in Paradise" - https://soundcloud.com/ingroovesmarketing/04-david-cook-another-day-in-paradise/s-2Bu2o?in=ingroovesmarketing/sets/david-cook-chromance/s-YC25e  

If putting out a brand new EP wasn’t enough to keep Cook busy, in April he’s heading to the Great White Way for his Broadway debut in Kinky Boots as Charlie Price. “I’ve had conversations about finding creative outlets outside of being a musician, but the timing was never right.” While Cook is excited for his first starring role, he’s also aware how timely and relevant the message behind Kinky Boots is right now. “I am honored I am going to be part of this show and get to work with so many amazing people. I love the collaborative aspect of theatre too, the idea of being part of a creative team and working it out in front of an audience each night.”

Chromance is available through the PledgeMusic campaign: www.pledgemusic.com/davidcook, as well as all other digital retailers.

EP links:

iTunes: http://flyt.it/Chromance

Amazon: http://flyt.it/ChromanceAmazon

Google Play: http://flyt.it/ChromanceGooglePlay

View the lyric video for "Gimme Heartbreak" here:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koKubQMiQe4

David is currently out on the road in support of Chromance for a short trek of dates before his run in “Kinky Boots” begins on April 3.

​ 

2018 Tour Dates

   

2/15 -   Nashville, TN - The Basement East  

2/16 -   St Louis, MO - Del mar Hall

2/19 -   Annapolis, MD - Rams Head On Stage **Full Band Acoustic show

2/21-    New Hope, PA - New Hope Winery **Full Band Acoustic show

2/22 -   New York, NY - (Le) Poisson Rouge

2/23 -   Washington DC - Pearl Street Warehouse

2/24 -   Leesburg, VA - Tally Ho Theatre 

www.davidcookofficial.com

www.instagram.com/davidcookofficial

www.twitter.com/thedavidcook

www.facebook.com/davidcook

Michael's Musings

Is The Sky Falling Yet???
Michael Shinafelt

"The sun'll come out, Tomorrow, Bet your bottom dollar, That tomorrow
There'll be sun!" - Annie

Remember that catchy/obnoxious/over optimistic tune from the Broadway Musical Annie? Of course you fucking do, who could ever forget it?! It really is genius whether you like it or not for that reason alone.

Well Annie, it's a Hard Knock Life and I'm not so sure about what tomorrow will bring, but the reign has come girl!

It's time for me to get in formation and sound off!

Lindsay Lohan converts to Islam. The only person that cares about this "news" is Lindsay herself since people are now gossiping about her again. 

Did any of you spread your legs for the first drop out punk that came along? Inquiring minds want to know.

You never know when someone is going to lick a cat, the threat is real.

Nihilist Thought Of The Day: Always remember you are somebody's reason to smile, because you are a joke

American Horror Story: Inauguration begins tomorrow! It's said to be the scariest season yet!

Can't wait for Lady Gaga to perform at the Superbowl half time show

Betsy DeVos=WTF?! They are now synonymous (given what I have witnessed I'm sure I am speaking over her head with that word)

Did you hear? It's all the rage to emote in public

I'm not a Socialist, but I believe Health Care is a right, not a privilege

Someday's you want to rock it like a heathen, that day is now!

Tomorrow is Black Friday, until next time!

You can find me on Social Media at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt     

Mannequin Madness!

Taylor Swift, Todrick Hall & Friends

How was everyone's Black Friday? If you descended into madness and went shopping I hope you got what you wanted and your body parts are still intact. If you are not insane, like me, you stayed home and ate some more, woot!

Something that has been a thing of late is the Mannequin Challenge. I have seen so many videos posted on Facebook & Instagram of friends & family taking it over the Thanksgiving Holiday, good times!

Well you just know Taylor Swift along with her friends and family would not be left out, and of course try to one up everyone else by striking a pose on the beach in the chill of fall. It was all captured for her Instagram page, naturally.

She along with Todrick Hall who is starring in Kinky Boots on Broadway took on Turkey Day and the cold to pose like a mannequin below. Hey standing still on a cold deserted beach sounds like a saner idea than going to an overcrowded mall with shoppers clawing for bargains...

Check it out after the jump!

Taylor on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/taylorswift/?hl=en

Grease Live!

l-r Julianne Hough, Aaron Tveit & Vanessa Hudgens
Good Luck Guys!

There's a drought in Hollywood, of original ideas. I bet you thought I was going to mention the water supply, didn't you? 

Well luckily when it comes to great Hollywood musicals getting the old re-do treatment the concept is original, they are doing them live! The giant ratings for The Sound of Music Live solidified there would be more live TV musicals to come.

Up this January Grease gets a whirl on the live wire. The movie is considered a classic and starred John Travolta as Danny and Olivia Newton-John as Sandy. Their chemistry was electrifying! 

To me the challenge of this undertaking, other than performing it live, is not trying to replicate the original, nobody could. Rather the challenge is trying to create something new that resonates with the audiences on some different level. Most of that will fall on how much chemistry Julianne Hough and Aaron Tveit - the new Sandy and Danny's shoulders. While they could never copy Travolta and Newton-John's sizzle, they need to have their own spark to really make this production Greased Lightning!

I am looking forward to seeing High School Musical alumni Vanessa Hudgens essay the role of Rizzo made famous by Stockard Channing. Having won rave reviews on Broadway for the title role of Gigi for sure she will make Rizzo her own.

Tell me more, tell me more...

Grease Live! at: 

https://twitter.com/GreaseLive

www.fox.com/grease-live

Matt Zarley Is A "hopefulRomantic"

Broadway veteran, Billboard dance sensation and People Magazine’s first-ever gay “Hottest Bachelor” Matt Zarley has received critical acclaim as an LGBT artist for over a decade since his debut on the music scene.  As one of the first openly gay male artists in music, a lot has changed in the world for the LGBT community. In his latest endeavor, hopefulROMANTIC, Zarley has created an original musical film about one man's emotional journey through love, heartbreak, and healing. It's a universal story about loving, letting go, and holding onto faith that there's somebody for everybody.  In addition, the film also features film and TV icon, Star Trek star and LGBT activist, George Takei. 

The project consists of not only the film but, the original soundtrack and pop album titled “hopefulROMANTIC – The Deluxe Edition,” featuring new, acoustic renditions of songs featured in the film, as well as a bonus video duet with Jeb Havens – all available now!!!

Say Hello, Matt.

Matt Zarley

MS: I was just watching the trailer for "hopefulRomantic" for the third time when you called, it's gained a lot of fans.

MZ:  Yeah, well, thank you. It's really cool.

MS: So, what was the inspiration for the project?

MZ: Originally I was writing a little CD of love songs. Very fond and very sweet, I was in love at the time, in a relationship, very happy. I wrote a song called "Somebody For Everybody" it's very up and fun, and I wanted to stay on that path. A couple of weeks before the writing process for the EP my relationship ended. I was sideswiped, I didn't see it coming, it ended very abruptly. It really broke my heart. Well, than when that happened I wanted the EP to be really different and I wrote the song called "Constantly" which is featured in the film. It's about when you break-up with somebody and you run into each other in the future, you don't want them to see you dying. Your heart is broke and you don't want then to see you like that. All of it is completely opposite of what I meant the EP to be. This message was what was relate able to me at the time and everybody, universal. So I started finishing the songs with that idea in mind. In that process I re-connected with Ben Pollack who directed my "Trust Me" music video. He called me and said: "What's going on?" I sent him the demo for "Constantly" and he said I'll direct this music video for free. So I told him I had an idea for three music videos for a project with one narrative. That's how it started. As I was finishing the song, as every writer I started to fall in love with my stuff. I started to think it would be great if this chorus would transition into this next song, so before I knew it all the songs were connected and it became an actual short film. 

MS: Very cool.

Oh My!
Matt Zarley & George Takei

MZ:  I wanted to have a figure in the film that represented a sort of mentor figure. The thought was to get George Takei, that would be a home run, that would be it! 

MS: Yeah, I was going to ask you about that, I thought, look! It's George!

MZ: Stafford Arima, who is the director of George's show on Broadway right now "Allegiance" is a really dear friend of mine. I was I New York, he was in New York and we were going to shoot a song and I asked him: "would you feel comfortable doing an E-Mail to George? I would love him to be involved in this project if he is interested."

MS: That's great!

MZ: Honestly, I didn't know if he was going to have the time. He was enjoying a revival in his career and all these incredible things are happening. Not to mention he has taken over social media.

MS: Yeah, he really has taken over social media. (both laugh)

MZ: The stars were aligned I guess. It just worked out. The whole shoot was an incredible experience. It's a very personal project, but I also learned in the creative process how much I am not married to my own stuff, which is very important for me to learn about myself. It also made me aware of a lot of skills I didn't realize I had. It's been a wonderful two years for me, it has opened my eyes a lot to where I want to go with my career.     

                                                       "hopefulRomantic" Trailer

MS: How do you think social media affects romantic relationships?

MZ: I think it depends on how much you buy into it and put yourself out there. My last relationship was a little more out there than I have ever been before. I keep a pretty private life I think, for the most part. But people knew who he was. We were just a little more visible I guess. I would not do that again. Because if it doesn't work out, you have to explain yourself and everyone gets in your business. You have all these snarky comments why people thought it ended. It's like: "None of you know." I'm not the type of person to air my laundry for everyone to know. It's not my scene, I don't need to do that for my own game.

MS: You're preaching to the choir on that one.

MZ: I can't stand people who post on Facebook, their single, their in a relationship, it's constant status changing. When they break-up with someone and air their whole fight on social media. It's just so tired. I don't get it and it leaves a really bad taste in my mouth.

MS: Mine too!

MZ: I don't even voice my critical opinion on pop culture. I never really voice my critical opinion on anything. Not only because you don't know who is going to read it and how it could back and bite you in the ass number one. But who cares what I think?! (both laugh)

MS: Ditto. 

MZ: When you're in love it's fine to share it. It's when you break up and shit comes down, and you get to the minute updates on stuff. That's when I'm like, ugh!

MS: I agree. Is it safe to assume Matt, that you are still a "hopefulRomantic?" 

MZ: Yes, I am. This project really helped heal me in a very personal way.  

hopefulROMANTIC (the short film and recording) is available on iTunes and other digital outlets. For more information visit MattZarley.com or hopefulROMANTICmovie.com.  

Follow Matt on Social Media at:
https://instagram.com/mattzarley/
https://twitter.com/mattzarley
https://www.facebook.com/mattzarley/

Revival! Ali MacGraw & Ryan O'Neal

From "Love Story" to "Love Letters"
Ali MacGraw & Ryan O'Neal

Jerk it! Jerk it good! That's correct the King & Queen of jerking are back in Los Angeles to make you shed, more tears perhaps? No more tears? Or just plain bawling because nostalgia makes you happy!

Here is the 411 in the BH of LA:

Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal starred opposite each other in Love Story, a blockbuster tearjerker that earned them both Academy Award nominations back in the '70s. Now the pair reunites for the Broadway revival of A.R. Gurney's 1990 Pulitzer Prize finalist: Love Letters. This affecting two-character play tells the tale of Andrew and Melissa, childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards. Becoming romantically involved as teenagers, they continue to exchange letters through boarding school and beyond. Their funny, emotionally resonant dialogue spans nearly 50 years, as the two friends go their separate ways yet continue to share their dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats. Don't miss this must-see theatrical event, directed by the award-winning Gregory Mosher, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. 

Get your tickets here!
http://thewallis.org/showinfo.php?id=79