Hairspray Live! Review

Hairspray Live. Where to start? This may have been NBC’s best live show yet, but that isn’t saying very much. Taking a hint from Fox’s Grease, they transitioned this live production into a multi-set, live audience production. While I very much enjoyed this production there were some obvious setbacks.

The first thing that has to be noted is the cultural relevance. If there was ever a time that Hairspray needed to be done it was now. The positive messages about peaceful protesting in the face of hatred, bullying and racism, are exactly what we need. Art mimics life and that is exactly what happened tonight. Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of “I Know Where I’ve Been” was incredibly powerful and moving.

American Murder Song to Tour This October

Terrance Zdunich and Saar Hendelman, who most recently collaborated on Devil’s Carnival: Alleluiah! are touring again! This time, they’re taking their newest project,  American Murder Song, on the road. Zdunich and Hendelman are calling this the American Wake Tour, and tickets are available here.

The big question: what on earth is Amercian Murder Song? It’s different from Repo: The Genetic Opera and The Devil’s Carnival in that it is not a film. There seems to be an emphasis on live performance, but visuals are still in use. DG’s Debbie Farber got a glimpse of American Murder Song this May. Here are her observations:

How Do You Like THEM Apples?

A promotional image for Over The Garden Wall

If the names Anderson and Grimm ring a bell, you probably already know that their stories were cautionary tales detailing the most creative of punishments for disobedience. However, with the ever growing popularity of everything Disney, it’s hard to remember fairy tales being anything but happy. Today’s post seeks to amend this by drawing attention to three works that manage to find beauty in both light and darkness.

While the dark may not be your cup of tea, it certainly makes for some interesting twists and turns along the way.

To the Tune of Harry Potter: Top Potter Inspired Songs

Loving Harry Potter as a child and loving music used to be two separate entities in my life. As I grew older, I learned there was a whole world of Harry Potter-related music waiting to be explored. For this Harry Potter Week, I’ve decided to focus on some of my favorite Harry Potter inspired music (mostly of the parody variety).

Sugar, Butter, Flour: The Ingredients for a Great Musical

Waitress has been a collective favorite movie in my family for a while. When we heard it was coming to Broadway we knew we had to get tickets. We were lucky enough to see it while in previews and were not disappointed.

The story of Waitress can be described as simplistic but in a beautiful way. Jenna, the titular waitress, is miserable with her small-town life and abusive husband. Her journey of learning to love again and breaking free is tethered to the many outrageous and seemingly delicious pies she bakes. The storyline is consistent with the movie and the libretto’s loyalty to the original story was much appreciated. Jessie Nelson translated the story perfectly for the stage, if not better than the original.

5 Youtube Songs to Get You in the Mood for Chanukah

The shopping malls are filled with “Little Drummer Boy” and “Jingle Bells” right about now, but what do Jews listen to to get in the holiday state of mind? There aren’t a lot of Chanukah songs on the radio, but thanks to the wonders of the internet, there are some really great ones by talented singers cropping up on youtube here and there. Check out my playlist to see what I’ll be rocking out to for eight days and nights this December. 

Selena Gomez Doesn’t Let Anything Stop Her, Not Even Lupus

Most people recognize Selena Gomez from her Disney debut on Wizards of Waverly Place in 2007, or her subsequent music career. Although she rose to the spotlight during recent years, Gomez has actually been working since age seven. A decade later she became a United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) ambassador. Think about that – working from the age that most of us are learning to read fluently, and becoming a role model at seventeen, when many haven’t even graduated high school.  Suffice to say she’s never had a typical life, and that kind of fame opens you up to immense scrutiny.

Just three short days ago Selena Gomez announced in an interview with Billboard Magazine that she was diagnosed with Lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which she will have for the rest of her life. When she was diagnosed in December 2013, Gomez cancelled the later segments of her Stars Dance Tour and checked herself into a treatment center in Arizona. The Meadows center specializes in treating addiction and trauma. However, Gomez emphasized to her fans that it was her choice and that she needed time for herself.

Dalin’s Top 10 Most Anticipated Things for D23 Expo 2015

Hey, Geekettes! If you’re reading this, I am currently waiting in line, about to enter the Anaheim Convention Center, and experience the holy grail of Disney fandom: Disney’s D23 Expo. Incase you don’t know what the heck I am even talking about, D23 is the Disney equivalent to San Diego Comic-Con. From giant news worthy arena panels, to meeting your favorite Disney stars, and buying all the merchandise before your friends can, D23 is heaven for Mouseketeers all over the world. So before I go into a review of the event (which will be posted when I return, of course) here is a list of the things I am going “Zippity Doo Dah” over for this Expo.

1000th Post: What It Means To Be A Geekette

In honor of our 1000th post (HOW AMAZING IS THAT???), we wanted to bring together our writers, and talk about what being a Geekette means to each of us.

For me (Sarah), being a Geekette isn’t just about being a geek. It’s about working to bring all kinds of people together, regardless of gender, sex, orientation, race, etc., and creating a space where every one can feel like a part of the community we all love so much. Four of us came together with one goal in mind with this website: to break down the boundaries women face in the geek world. But I think that the term “Geekette” has come to mean so much more than that.  It’s about creating a community in itself, and including all people who want to be included, and repecting all people around us.

Here’s what the rest of the Geekette team thinks!

Happy Father’s Day, Geekettes!

Happy Father’s Day from the Daily Geekette staff! This year, in honor of fathers everywhere, we’d like to share with you some of our favorite celebrity father/daughter duos. These are the fathers who have raised incredibly talented, beautiful, and confident women. Musicians, actresses, ambassadors, and more: Daily Geekette predicts these women will surpass their famous fathers if they haven’t done so already.