Bring it On: The Musical

 BY DISH CONTRIBUTOR: COURTNEY PEARCE

While walking into Bring It On: The Musical at The Hobby Center, I couldn’t help but wonder, “How would this world of cheerleading translate onto the stage, let alone into a musical?” Doubts were removed with the first song! The on-stage story was a blend of the first two movies with a little spin of its own. Music was by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also provided the lyrics with Amanda Green, blended well with the humorous script of playwright Jeff Whitty. Surprises abounded with the mix of pop and hip-hop numbers blending seamlessly with the story line.

This was a story of two rival high schools, each in it to win it, of course, at the National Cheerleading competition is the base of the typical teen angst story line that includes making friends, losing friends, and finding out what is really important in the end.

The main players of the show are up and comer, Taylor Louderman, who plays Campbell, and Adrienne Warren, who plays Danielle. These two leading ladies shake it and had the pipes to go with it! What voices! Wait until see Louderman in her leprechaun number!

The two characters who really stole the show, however, are Ryann Redmond, who plays Bridget, and Gregory Haney, who plays La Cienega. Redmond’s character is the school mascot who isn’t given a second look, but blossoms when she is moved to Jackson High. It’s there that becomes a gorgeous “sex kitten” THE prime choice! Redmond’s vocals are a highlight of the show. Haney, who is one fierce diva, delivers her witty lines and fierce dance moves to perfection and these are just a few reasons her character shines in the spotlight.

The gravity defying cheerleaders in the show were selected in collaboration with Varsity, a global leader in competitive cheerleading. The stunts right on, not too over the top, which can be the case in movies, but just enough to get the theater ohh-ing and ahh-ing over their baskets and flips. The on stage tumbling made a huge impact and, as expected, the dance choreography intermingled with the cheer routines was flawless.

Overall, Bring It On exceeded all expectations. Thinking there couldn’t be a comparison to the movie, the stage show left me smiling and laughing. It’s only here until February 5^th so I highly recommend high kicking it over to that box office fast!

InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse is Back for it's 10 Season

Forget David Letterman, at 10:30 p.m., Thursday, January 12, the 10th season of the Houston PBS nationally syndicated award-winning series, InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse, launches with an all-new lineup.  Did you  know Houston's own Ernie is NATIONWIDE?? InnerVIEWS currently airing on more than 100 PBS stations throughout the country! Emmy award-winning host Ernie Manouse continues his conversations with guests from across the pop landscape this season including actors Kate Walsh and Marsha Mason, Rocker Gene Simmons and PBS luminaries Jim Lehrer and Bill Moyers to name a few.

“It’s amazing how time flies,” said Manouse.  “It seems like just yesterday we sat down with Anne Rice, Patti LuPone and Frankie Avalon to launch our first season, and in little over a month, we will air our 150^th episode.  As with our other seasons, we continue talking to some of Houston and the nation’s most intriguing cultural icons - from arts to entertainment, from literature to politics – in a season of InnerVIEWS there is always something for everyone!”  

Other guests this season include: best-selling author Charlaine Harris (True Blood); Soap Star Kim Zimmer; and legendary photographer Greg Gorman.

InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse airs at 10:30pm every Thursday night on Houston PBS, with re-broadcasts at 2:30pm on Sundays.  For national airdates and times, check with your local PBS stations. 

For more information on InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse, visit www.houstonpbs.org.

Complete List of Season #10 Guests

1/12/12 - KISS’ Gene Simmons

1/19/12 – PBS NewsHours’ Jim Lehrer

1/26/12 – Actress Kate Walsh (Private Practice & Grey’s Anatomy)

2/2/12 - Photographer Greg Gorman

2/9/12 – Trumpeter Chris Botti (Repeat from past season)

2/16/12 –Actress Loretta Divine (Dreamgirls, What Women Want & Eli Stone)

2/23/12 - PBS’ Bill Moyers (InnerVIEWS... 150^th Episode)

3/1/12 – Activist, Actress and Film Maker Alana Stewart (Farrah’s Story)

3/22/12 - Soap Star Kim Zimmer (Guiding Light)

3/29/12 - Gospel Singer Yolanda Adams

4/5/12 – Actor/director Martin Sheen (West Wing) and Emilio Estevez (Breakfast Club, Young Guns & The Outsiders)

4/12/12 - Actress Marsha Mason (The Goodbye Girl, The Middle)

4/19/12 – Broadway composer Jerry Herman (Hello Dolly!, Mame, & La Cage aux Folles) (from past season)

4/26/12 - Publisher Larry Flynt

5/3/12 - Author Charlaine Harris (The Southern Vampire Mysteries- inspiration for HBO’s True Blood)

DISH'S 4th Anniversary Party!

AND YOU'RE invited!

Join us for a Night of FOUR Play and Sexy Mexican!!! It's DISH-Houston.com Magazine's 4th Anniversary Party!! It's already been 4 years... telling you about locally owned businesses and connecting the community!

It's all happening at  Vida Tex Mex On December 13th From 8 pm - Midnight!

This SEXY evening will include:
 
- Live Performances by Patrice Pike and Kristine Mills (Provided by Jonathan Blake Fashion)
- The latest Mercedes on display from Alex Rodriguez Mercedes
...- Drinks provided by Leprechaun Hard Cider and Pura Vida Tequila
- VIP gift bags filled with goodies like
* Gift Certificates from Bombshell Bootcamp, Dr. Fred Aguilar, local restaurants, clothing stores and so much more!!
* Miracle Skin Transformer(Full Size bottles!)
* Mercedes Benz nail polish (to match the hot cars of course!)
* The latest cds from Kristine Mills and Patrice Pike
* 3 day passes to FIT Athletic Club
More to be announced soon!

  

If you don't feel like VIP....enjoy amazing drink specials, the live music performances and up to 2 free drinks for donating items for the Star of Hope!
We're accepting canned food, warm, clean, gently used clothing items, diapers or umwrapped toys for kids.
2 items will get you 1 drink ticket! Bring up to 4 items for 2 free drinks!

Can't wait to see you there!

VIP ticket info

VIP Ticket Options

Just Me $25.00 USD Me + 1 $50.00 USD

 

Update on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 10:30AM by SisterFreese

What a wonderful celebration! A couple of hundred DISHES helped celebrate through out the evening at Vida Tex-Mex! Pura Vida Tequila and Leprechaur Hard Cider were flowing, amazing food by Vida Tex Mes and Cakeballs by Shareen! Musicians Patrice Pike and Kristine Mills played live thanks for Jonathan Blake Fashion! Alex Rodriguez Mercedes provided gorgeous cars and other fun gifts for the VIP Gift Bags! Other supporters were Dr. Fred Aguilar, Miracle Skin Care, Cordua Restaurants, Perfect Blend Consulting and so much more! ALL benefiting Star of Hope Mission!

Even Nellie Gonzalez was on hand with camer crew interviewing guests and DISH-Houston.com Publisher Lori Freese for her tv show! Watch for that on KHOU!

Seen on the Scene:

Gabriela Dror, Caroline Kenney, Jarod Klawinski, Nathan Kasselder, Paul Van Atta, Michael P Broderick, Bill Flores, Jeff and Heidi Caperton, Beth Youger and Phil Purpich, Audrey Archer, Joe Trahan, Rex Solomon, Nellie Gonzalez, Robert Briscoe and Gallery Devin Borden, GM of Alex Rodriguez Mercedes Garrick Hatfield, Texas Radio Hall of Famer Scott Arthur, Miya Shay and her Boyfriend Gene Wu, Courtney Zubowski and her boyfriend, Bellaire City Counsilman Corbett Parker, Caterina Cron and so much more! Enjoy the photos under the Party DISH! 

Dralion - The Earth and Human in Harmony

Cirque has moved into the Toyota Center this week!  It was so exciting to watch the performers practice the show after seeing the performance in it's entirity two weeks ago in Cypress. It's a treat you absolutely must give to yourself and your family! It's only here through December 4th so get your tickets TODAY!

Dralion

™ is a signature Cirque du Soleil® production that has been seen by more than seven million people worldwide since it premiered in 1999 in Montreal, Canada. This particular show fuses the 3,000 year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the multidisciplinary approach of from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. The show’s name is derived from its two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West. 

Man and Nature are one and balance is achieved. Thus embodied, each element is represented by its own evocative colour: air is blue; water is green; fire is red; earth is ochre.

 

Bearing the unmistakable signature of Cirque du Soleil, the show features 50 international acrobats, gymnasts, musicians and singers! Dralion defies the laws of nature!

One Door Closes...

The last day of November 2011 was just another day for most people. It has everyone looking forward to the Christmas countdown, the holiday parties and cold weather.

But that day meant a whole lost more to those who worked for Houston based airline Continental Airlines....which had now officially merged with United Airlines and is based in Chicago.

Former CEO of Continental Gordon Bethune wrote a beautiful note regarding the last day of November 2011 and what it meant to the airline world.

Today is the first day since 1937 that there are no Continental Airline airplanes operating anywhere in the world. Thousands of ex cons are saddened by the loss of a great brand that brought pride to so many of us. Unlike other airlines who disappeared, CO was the only one who went out "On Top". Most admired global airline, more JD Power awards than any airline ever...you name it, CO won it......every customer satisfaction award, 100 best places to work in America for six straight years. It's like a college diploma, it's our accomplishment and it's in the record books. We can all go do other things but we will always be tied by our joint accomplishment....making CO the best airline there ever was. My thanks to all of you who went the extra mile to put us on the map. No one could have done it better than you. gb

What a leader! What an inspiration and more over what a great reminder especially in this season of hustle and bustle that great customer service is always going to put your business on top.