Robin Hood Returns

Finally got a chance to see the trailer for the new Robin Hood movie starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett with Ridley Scott directing. My only concerning is that it's going to be Gladiator in the forest.

Still, nothing will beat the wonderfulness of Disney's Robin Hood for me:

Up In The Air

Just like everyone I've talked to and every critic I've read, Up In The Air is definitely one of the best movies of the year. During our current economic climate, the film uniquely captures the quest for happiness and the American Dream. However, it smartly juxtaposes this theme with how hard it can be to find a balance between the sometimes unrealistic American Dream and making powerful, meaning relationships in your life that complete you more than the material things you pursue. I already cannot wait to see this film again and percolate all it has to offer the just like I want to do with other works that deal with similar themes (Death of a Salesman, The Great Gatsby, and Mad Men). If you see one movie for the remainder of the year -- make it this one.

Aria at City Center Opens

(Aria at City Center. Go to www.citycenter.com for more views)

Just want to give a shout out to my father today. Last night was the opening of the Aria casino/hotel that is part of the larger City Center complex. My father has been working on the Aria part since February. I'm so proud of the work he has accomplished with the project. Most published reports have the budget for this project at around$8.5 BILLION (although I think the final is going to be well over that). Either way, this is the largest, non-governmental project in the world. For that, I think we should all tip our hat to Hobro3 and this crowing achievement of his career. :)

(Hobro3 celebrating his 60th in LV this past August)

Tony Braithwaite in "Flats and Heels"

Don't worry...it's just a reading at Philadelphia Theatre Company. Tony is not looking to drastically change his life style by any means. Tony joins Amanda Schoonover, Veanne Cox, and Lisa Birnbaum in a staged reading of "Flats and Heels" by Diana Fithian tonight at 7pm at the Suzanne Roberts Theater on Broad Street. This is a free event open to the public -- it's doesn't get much better than that. Hope to see you there.

Details about the play from PTC's website:

“Flats and Heels”
by Diana Fithian
directed by Rebecca Taichman
featuring Tony Braithwaite, Amanda Schoonover, Veanne Cox, Lisa Birnbaum

A hip new office comedy set in the absurd world of reality television. Two best friends battle for a promotion and cross the line from healthy competition to malicious antics. A razor sharp comedy from an exciting new voice in American theatre!

There will be a short talk back with Ms. Fithian after the reading.

Diana Fithian recently received an MFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University. Her full-length play “Girls on the Clock” received a workshop production in the summer of 2008 as part of the Brown Trinity Playwright’s Rep; previously her one-act “Take Care of Yourself” was produced by manhattantheatresource. She is currently under commission by Roundabout Theatre Company.

All STAGES readings are held in the Suzanne Roberts Theater and are free and open to the public (no tickets or reservations required)."

West Wing Kind of Mood...

Someone sent me one of these clips and I just thought I'd share 2 great scenes, from 2 phenomenal episodes, of 1 of the best shows in TV history.

1) "Noel" -- a great story for anyone who knows someone who needs a helping hand.

2) "Two Cathedrals" -- captures the way any Catholic has felt at least once in their life.

Happy Birthday Frank

If he were still alive, Frank Sinatra would be 94 years old today. I'm convinced he would still have a Camel hanging out of his mouth, a glass of Jack with four ice cubes in his hand, and be the biggest bad ass in whatever room he chose to walk into. With the Beatles and Elvis, Frank is the type of icon that will be imitated until the end of time and never equaled. I regret not liking him when I was really young because then I would have MAYBE had a chance to see him perform live when I was five or something. The closest I'll ever get is seeing Tony Bennett in 2002 in AC and hearing his tell stories about knowing Frank. Here are some of my favorite Frank songs and items:

1) "Fly Me to the Moon" -- I think his best song.

2) "You Make Me Feel So Young" -- Great song, not the cest version but I always love the last 20 seconds or so of this song.

3) Phil Hartman as Frank with one of the best lines ever: "You don't scare me, I got chunks of guys like you in my STOOL!"

Words of Wisdom from the Smartest Man I Know

A defining moment in my education life was my Junior year at The Prep. For AP English that year, I was lucky enough to have Fr. Joe Michini SJ for one semester followed by Fr. Ryan Maher SJ. For those who know these 2 men -- or have had any type of Jesuit education for that matter -- can appreciate how wonderful it is when you are taught to be a "contemplative in action." These two men challenged me in so many ways, and it was the first time ever that I was motivated to read literature without just getting what I needed in order to get a good grade. Fr. Maher -- now a dean at his alma mater Georgetown -- recently shared the following Jesuit traditions with his class this semester. Whether you are Catholic or not, I think we can all learn something from his wise words.

(Thanks courteous Maher!)

Ten things the Jesuit tradition wants you to have heard before you graduate from a Jesuit college. (There are more, but these ten will do for starters…)

Don’t settle for being less than fully alive. Evil’s main strategy is to get us to compromise away, bit by bit, what it means to be human, usually by keeping us from even thinking of God and the reason we exist at all. Or by getting us to measure our selves and our lives by standards that aren’t worthy of us.

Be bilingual: speak poetry and prose. Learn to love metaphor and the worlds of insight it opens for us. Recall that there is a reason Jesus preached so often in parables. At the same time, learn to communicate intelligently, rationally and effectively what it is you believe and why you believe it. Make room for beauty in your life: art, music, theater, poetry, literature, architecture, sculpture, dance, etc. Beauty feeds your soul and can help attune you to the “frequency” of Grace.

The culture of the “Academy” and professional schools (and most jobs) serve up thin gruel for the human soul. Take from them what helps. Reject the rest. Keep learning for the rest of your life. Seek intelligent sources of support (books, people, courses) for your faith. Intellect and faith can support and correct one another, but it takes work, the hard work of paying consistent attention to both.

Regular, substantive, meaningful conversation is the key to healthy/vibrant learning, life and faith. Be sure your life includes conversation partners and topics worthy of you. This can take some work, but it repays the effort many times over.

Know that you have a committee in your head, always read to sit in judgment of your choices and define/measure your success. Shape this committee, as much as you can, carefully. Pay it the attention it deserves, no more, no less. The committee can help you or tyrannize you, depending on your approach to it.

If you marry, marry carefully. When the time comes, ask advice of people who love you enough to tell you the truth about the person you are thinking of marrying. Consider what they say. Ask God for advice. Pay attention.

Remember, should you become a parent, you will NEVER do ANYTHING more important than raising your children. Keep in mind that children are human beings entrusted to you by none other than God. There is no higher calling on the planet than parenthood.

Love your country enough to struggle to make her better. Vote, and know why you're voting the way you do. Be sure your reasons fit into the Big Picture informed by your faith.

For those of you who are Catholic or might one day be Catholic: Love the Church enough to struggle to make Her better. We seem to be in/entering a time marked by a mindset on the part of many who exercise power in the Church characterized by a cramped understanding of “orthodoxy,” the stifling of conversation, and the confusion of conformity/uniformity with unity/community. None of these things has ever marked a healthy era in the life of the Church. The Church needs people who love Her enough to speak up...and stay.

Be open to God. For some, this will mean looking for the action of Grace and listening for the subtle voice of God in whom they firmly believe. For others, it will mean trying to be willing to entertain the possibility that God might exist. And everything in between. Openness is what matters because it gives Grace a fighting chance.

Tony Braithwaite in "This Is The Week That Is: The New Administration"

1812 Productions' "This Is The Week That Is: The New Administration" is back for it's 4th installment. Being a political junkie, this has been one of my favorite things in the Philly theatre community to look forward to -- but you don't have to be a C-SPAN groupie to love the show.

The show opens tonight and runs until Jan. 3rd. It's Written & Performed by

Don Montrey, Jennifer Childs, Steven Wright, Dave Jadico, Alex Bechtel, Brian Anthony Wilson Thomas E. Shotkin, & one of my dearest friends in the world, Tony Braithwaite.

(NB: I will be appearing with Tony in "First Impressions" this January at Act 2 Playhouse and Alex Bechtel will be our pianist.)

Some shots of Tony in TITWTI:

(Tony Braithwaite as Sen. Al Franken and Steve Wright as Bill Cosby)

(L to R: Tony Braithwaite, Brian Anthony Wilson, Jennifer Childs, Dave Jadico, and Steve Wright [kneeling])

(Tony as Castro with Steve as Obama)

Mike Rady (and others) Are Ready for a Treaty to Reduce Global Warming Emissions

The United Nations Climate Change Conference is being held in Copenhagen this upcoming week (Dec. 7-18th). President Obama is going to the conference to support the case for an international treaty to reduce global warming emissions. My good friend, and Melrose Place star, Mike Rady (SJP '99) joined several other celebrities in this PSA from Environment America encouraging people to support this initiative. "We're ready" for this global treaty and we only need to look at what some states like California and New Jersey are already doing to be a catalyst for something on a larger scale.

Others in the video: Cedric the Entertainer, Simon Baker, Alanis Morrisette, Chevy Chase, Amy Smart, Jason Mraz, Jake Mclaughlin, Frances Fisher, Ollivia Wilde, Kevin McHale, Emily Van Camp, Dana Delany, Ed Begley Jr. and Diana Agron

Happy Birthday Jigga!

In honor of the media mogul Jay-Z's 40th birthday, here's 2 of my favorite videos. I hope to accomplish 1/10 of this modern day Sinatra by the time I'm 40. For whatever reason I can't embed them, so click and enjoy:

I Just Wanna Love U (Give It To Me)

Excuse Me Miss

Netflix this RIGHT NOW!

"The Lives of Others." -- might be the best movie of the decade. What an amazing film.