Orange and Blue

This article analyzes the colors in movie posters and discovered that orange and blue are used a ton. The article mentions that this trend is seen a lot since "orange/blue just so happens to be the most common set of complementary colors because blue is 'cool' and orange is 'enthusiastic' and 'energetic.'" Being a Cuse fan, I love this. It's right up there with ole Blue eyes saying "orange is the happiest color."

Now, if only the football team could get it's act together like their hoops counterpart.....

Runyan 4 Congress

Former Eagle and current Charger Jon Runyan announced that he will run for Congress in NJ's 3rd District as a Republican after the end of this season. Too bad I don't live in the 3rd District or Jon Runyan might have been the 2nd GOPer I ever voted for (For the record, I voted for Sam Hart to Wash. Twp's Town Council the first time I was able to vote cause he was such a nice guy any time my soccer team was honored by the township growing up).

What I'm really looking forward to is all the cheesy campaign slogans Runyan's campaign and the media can create based on his candidacy. Being the king of cheese, here's my guess at some potential slogans and media headlines:

1. Runyan Tackles the Tough Issues.
2. Jon Puts the "Run" into Runyan.
3. Jon Runnin' for Office.

What are some others.....

Dexter Auction

I am a huge fan of Dexter -- actually I'm more of a fan of Michael C. Hall but the show is close to wonderful. The last line of last night's episode was an AMAZING twist. Anywho, Showtime is having a Dexter auction where part of the proceeds go to the Harlem Children's Zone. First of all, send ALL of the proceeds to them, Showtime. Second, can you get some better things to bid on please? Talk about boring. The list of things can be found here. Why not have one of Dexter's blood slide keepsakes from his murders, one of his green shirts, or one of Batista's hats. You know -- something fans might actually like and that could potentially pull in a ton for a good cause.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt on SNL

I can't remember the last time I tuned in live for SNL. Probably back in the day when Al Gore was the host and felt the need to get busy with his wife on national TV. Anywho, saw this wonderful clip of Joseph Gordon-Levitt from this weekend's episode paying homage to "Singin' in the Rain." Although he doesn't sound like the best singer in the world, he clearly has a blast performing and owns the number -- I can totally relate to that on all levels. Enjoy!

"The :nv:s:ble Play" Opens Tonight!

After a wonderful preview performance last night, "The :nv:s:ble Play" opens tonight at the Walnut Street Theatre @ 8pm to a sold out crowd. Get you tickets here ASAP -- other shows have already sold out. You don't want to miss my involvement in the surprise ending ;) ;)

Sweeney Todd Trailer

For those who missed this wonderful production here's some small snipets. Like what you see? Stayed tuned for SJP's spring production of "The Drowsy Chaperone." The Prep will be one of first high schools in the nation to produce Drowsy (a high school in Texas will beat us by a month, but we'll be a close 2nd!)

So This Must Be What It Feels Like....

To be George Clooney's friend. At least, that's what I thought when I saw this just now. Make sure you watch "Melrose's Place" every Tuesday at 9pm on the CW. Support Mike Rady!

A Conversation with Sweeney Todd's Brendan Lash (SJP '10)

SJP's production of "Sweeney Todd" continues this week. I had a chance to sit down and chat with SJP senior Brendan Lash about his experience with this show, thoughts about the spring musical, and being at a Jesuit school. Get your tickets for "Sweeney Todd" here.

(Brendan as "Anthony" with Anne Wechsler MMA '10 as "Joanna")

HB: What was the process like for this show compared to other Prep shows?

BL: "Of course like every show I’ve been a part of, the process was incredible. But there were a few variables that made this show unique. With 29 people in the cast, Sweeney Todd has one of the largest casts the Cape and Sword Drama Society has seen in the past 15 years. Not only that, but 19 of those 29 were new to Cape and Sword. Aside from the cast, the set and props were other crucial parts of the show. A giant, movable cube containing 3 doors and a slide for the chair to dump the bodies, razors which spew blood and meat pies made this a technically heavy show. Although I didn’t have much to do with the props and set, these new aspects were daunting, but they allowed for the show to be “one of the greats.” The only other big difference in the show was specific to me and my other upperclassmen. The other Cape and Sword veterans and I had a new position in Cape and Sword. With the class of ’09 gone, we were the leaders of Cape and Sword. All of this combined made for really unique show and a very special 2 month rehearsal process."

HB: What's your favorite "Anthony" moment?

BL: "I think an audience member might think my favorite “Anthony” moment would be “Johanna,” but for me there's another moment I enjoy more. “Kiss Me” is my favorite moment in the show. The reason I like that scene so much is because of the fun Anne Wechsler and I get to have. The scene is like a dance because we choreographed all of our movements. We have so much fun during the scene we get to find new things every night. Anne is also so easy to work off of because of the fantastic energy she brings to the scene. That's probably the scene I look forward to each night."

HB: If you could play any other part in the show, what would it be and why?

BL: "If I could play another part in the show I would definitely love to play Toby. He’s such an interesting character and is so important to the plot. I think he's the character that surprises the audience the most. Granted, the part would be a big challenge, but I would love to see what I could bring to it."

HB: How does being a member of Cape and Sword teach you about Jesuit ideals?

BL: "Being at a Jesuit high school I am surrounded by Jesuit ideals, but my first experience with the true Jesuit charism was in Cape and Sword. After every show closes, we set aside a day to strike the set and reflect. I remember during my second show, the spring of my freshman year, I began to understand the real feeling of the Jesuit motto, the “magis,” a Latin word whose literal translation is "the more." It means not just doing your best, but being your best. Our director, Antony Braithwaite, often says that if you treat teenagers like adults, they will rise to the occasion. Everyone does. The tangible energy this philosophy emits, the magis, is overwhelming. Now I strive to “magisize,” to be my best, and it is what I have come to expect from myself. Cape and Sword really infuses each of its members with this mindset."

HB: What are you looking forward to the most with Drowsy Chaperone (SJP's spring show)?

BL: "After doing such a dark musical like Sweeney Todd, I think I really look forward to doing a lighter and more comedic show. The one thing I did miss in Sweeney Todd was dancing. One of my favorite parts of a musical is the choreography and I will be very excited to get back into that in the spring."

Sweeney Todd @ St. Joe's Prep

Last night was Opening Night of Sweeney Todd at my beloved alma mater St. Joe's Prep. Quick SJP joke I heard this week and loved:

Q: "How many Prep Guys does it take to screw in a lighbulb?"

A #1: "FIVE -- 1 to screw it in and 4 to scream 'Yeah Prep!'"

A#2: "FIVE -- 1 to screw it in and 4 to talk about how awesome it was for the next 30 years."

Funny cause it's true :)

Anywho -- Sweeney Todd is another stunning success on the Prep stage. Technically, this is the most intense show the Prep has taken on since my days as a student. Set changes complete with a spinning parlor/house/barbershop, 2 movable staircases, and a shaving chair with a slide to help Sweeney's dirty work are all highlights (The first time the chair was used last night got applause mid-song!). I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with the stage crew during the rehearsal pricess this time around and I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys. The set looks amazing -- as always -- and in true Prep form the set changes are executed like several characters in the show -- very professionally. (Rimshot!)

As for actors -- I don't know where to begin for fear of leaving someone out, but some amazing moments from last night:

• Every single thing Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton '11 (Sweeney) and Gianna Yanelli (Lovett) MMA '10 did. The quintessential production of Sweeney with Angela Landsbury was an inspiration for SJP's version. There are moments that these 2 highschool actors capture as well as 2 Broadway legends.

(Gianna Yanelli MMA '10 and Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton '11)

• Joe Binck '11 (Tobias) singing "Nothing's Gonna Harm You" in Act 2. Solid performance all around by Binck, he nailed this number and it's amazing to see how far his as come as an actor, person, and singer.
• The chemistry between Brendan Lash '10 (Anthony) and Anne Wechsler MMA '10 (Johanna). Both take complicated -- and at times boring songs -- and make clear and engaging choices.

(Brendan Lash '10 as Anthony and Anne Wechsler MMA '10 as Johanna)

• Freddy Ventura '11 (Judge Turpin) has the creepiness of Alan Rickman in Die Hard (mostly because he looks like him) and serves as such a worthy adversary to KTN's menacing Sweeney. Freddy off the stage is one of the most polite and humble people I've ever met -- it makes this performance even more impressive.
• Hasani Allen '12 (Beadle Bamford) -- as a Mad Hatter look-alike -- is strong as the Judge's #2. Great work with the accent if I do say so myself :)
• Kelly Leonard MSJA '11 (Beggar Woman) was SO impressive. She completely disappeared on stage and really knocked my socks off.
• Pat Dooley '10 showed why he is one of the funniest actors in SJP history as Adolfo Pirelli.
• Everyone else -- before I get carpal tunnel -- was wonderful. I thought the ensemble was particularly good in "God That's Good!" at the beginning of Act 2.

(Joe Binck '11 as Tobias)

I can't wait to see all of these performances grow over the run of the show. I encourage anyone in the Philly area to come see this production. I guarantee -- for only $10 -- you will see a Broadway caliber show. Honestly, if you come see the show and are not satisfied, I will will personally give you your money back. I'm that sure that I won't have to spend a dime. And don't just take my word -- Tom Byrn a local actor who was in Spinning Into Butter with me in April and will be appearing in On Golden Pond at Act 2 Playhouse in Ambler this month took me up on an invitation to see SJP's Urinetown and was throughly impressed. I saw him after a show 2 weeks ago and he brought up Urinteown and how great it was.

Get ticket for Sweeney Todd here.

Nick Fondulis on 30 Rock

Nick Fondulis was one of my fraternity brothers in Syracuse -- um, yeah, I was in a frat -- what are gonna do about? So what if I wasn't a huge meathead -- but I digress.

Nick, like me, is an actor. Unlike me he is actually making some big steps in his career and on his way to being "The-Next-Mike-Rady" in my life. Nick's been popping up all over TV the past year, in particular on NBC. He had a stint on the short-lived "Kings," was on the opening episode of "Mercy," and most recently played the role of Jayden Michael Tyler on last night's "30 Rock" (one of my favorite shows on the boob tube). After what I thought has been just an "OK" start for the 3-time emmy winning show last night's episode, "Audition Day," was the best episode this season. Nick was extremely solid. Keep an eye out for this guy -- and if you look closely, you'll probably see me hanging on his coats tails too. :)

Last night's episode can be seen on Hulu.com by clicking here.

And here's some photos courtesy of Nick's Facebook page. He's the headshot in each. His character was a new actor the show was thinking about hiring.

Trick-or-Treating with Angelina

On election day, I saw this photo of Angelina Jolie that filled me with memories of my DC days.

If you look close at one of Angelina's 7,000 children -- who I guess is dressed as a greasy mechanic for Halloween -- you'll notice a unique hat. It says "Council on Foreign Relations." CFR -- as it's commonly known -- was my former stomping grounds when I was personal assistant for Gene Sperling, who is now a top advisor to Treasury Sec. Geithner. CFR was our home base for the 7 or more jobs Gene had at the time. Although Gene is known for his economic work, he did a ton with education issues in developing country, specifically with woman. During my year with him, Angelina Jolie met with him countless times to go over talking points, etc. for her outreach work and she served as honorary chairperson for an event we ran that year for the Global Campaign for Education (GCE). Unfortunately, Angelina was in Namibia having her baby with Brad Pitt at the time. She no doubt got the hat the following year when she actually visited CFR. Still, kinda neat to be connected to this picture in a 6 degrees type way.

Cool side note -- after my year with Gene, I went back to teaching for 2 more years at at DC Prep, a charter school in northeast DC. Gene heard that I was doing in-class connections about the GCE with my students and invited me and some select students to meet Shakira - that year's honorary chair of the event! Here's some pics from the day:

(Ja'Nay McCray, my ex-girlfriend, Erika Murray, Dijion Howard, and me)

(Ja'Nay and Erika demonstrating how great they are!)

(Ja'Nay and Erika console Shakira after I told her we had to see other people)