The Fairy Princess has been disgruntled with the ‘whole thing’.
Like, the whole Orange Combover Twitler POTUS and his Deatheater cronies destroying the country in plain sight, with the rest of us left to observe in abject horror. It is a combination of absolute power and absolute disregard for anyone who is not a white heterosexual male who makes a living on Wall Street.
It is staggering.
In a nutshell, she has not been writing because of the supreme sh*t show that the United States of America has allowed itself to become.
Also, there are people to whom that category does NOT apply, and for those of us hanging on like that friggin’ cat – yes, TFP acknowledges that the above does NOT apply to everyone, although she does not NOT apologize for that generalization.
You just have to be strong enough to weather the ‘does not apply to me’ burden and carry on like you are British royalty or something.
However – there have been some GOOD things happening and TFP thought she better list them because some are SUPER cool, and she would be remiss if she did not do a little dance over their news – so onward we go. (Yes, country still a sh*t show, but like James Thunder Early says ‘”There have GOT to be some good times!“)
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of SNOW IN MIDSUMMER is coming to the end of a VERY successful run – it closes on March 25th. The reviews were stellar, The cast was, for the very FIRST time in RSC history – ALL East Asian, and they told an East Asian story.
This would NOT have been possible without the advocacy work of the British East Asian Artists, Daniel York, and Lucy Miller-Sheen. They have been ‘hammering away’ at the British Establishment for a number of years, and what this shows all of us, is that advocacy works.
Standing up for yourselves and your talent – your writers, your composers – it works. Eventually, as was sung in RAGTIME, you can ‘Make them hear you’.
This show will be making it’s U.S. Premiere at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival next season!
As we leap back across the pond, we find some more good news – for example, here on Broadway, we have the opening of AMELIE starring Philippa Soo, it has begun previews and we wish it a long and happy run. Also in the cast is Maria Christina Oliveras, who is amazing – so...toi toi toi!
GROUNDHOG DAY, which features Raymond J. Lee and Vishal Vaidya, has also begun previews. Toi, toi, toi to them, them, them as well!
Other Broadway shows that have API Cast Members include HAMILTON, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CATS, SCHOOL OF ROCK, COME FROM AWAY, IN TRANSIT, and of course, coming BACK to Broadway is MISS SAIGON.
So there are PLENTY of shows that do have API Cast members, and that is a great thing to remember as we head into this next Broadway season.
Off Broadway, there is some rather excellent news – The Classic Stage production of Stephen Sondheim’s PACIFIC OVERTURES has broken box office records for pre-sale!
Directed by John Doyle, performances are scheduled from April 6-May 27th.
This has a cast headed up by the inimitable George Takei, and features some of Sondheim’s most beautiful music – it is also worth noting for those who were quick to point out that ALLEGIANCE did not SRO- that THIS show, which features all ALL ASIAN AMERICAN CAST – is doing just fine.
Which negates to TFP, the argument that “Asians don’t sell tickets” – this crew will knock it out of the park, and that…is pretty awesome.
BD Wong and his writing partner, Drama Desk Winner, Wayne Barker, are turning the 1995 film, Mr. Holland’s Opus into a musical! Very exciting news that this TONY Winner is continuing his journey, whilst being made a Series Regular on the TV Show, GOTHAM, as an author.
Our very best wishes to both Mr. Wong and Mr. Barker as they head down to San Diego State University to work with the students in the MT program there on the workshop of this piece.
SANDRA OH IS BACK ON TELEVISION!!!!
That is a pretty great thing – she is a phenomenal actress and frankly, television has been missing her.
She will be on the third season of AMERICAN CRIME, in a multi-episode guest star arc -helmed by John Ridley.
The show began on March 12th on ABC, and reviews are great!
New on Disney Channel is the ANDI MACK show, which premieres on April 7th at 8:30pm.
The later time is because, for a ‘kids show’ this has a rather mature story line – ie, much like Jack Nicholson, the child, “Andi” finds out that “Mom” is really “Grandma”.
This alone would not be enough to get you ‘there’, except for the fact that, of course, “Bex”, her cool older sister returns home after an extended time traveling about.
The trio of Family is played by Lauren Tom, Lilan Bowden, and Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Andi.
Finally, Trans Actress, Ivory Aquino starred in the miniseries WHEN WE RISE, penned by Dustin Lance Black.
This is very exciting and huge breath of fresh air!
They totes WIN!
Good times!
THUS, ABC is WINNING!
They have consistently been the best at incorporating diversity in front and behind the camera.
They also have FRESH OFF THE BOAT and DR. KEN – TFP is very pleased with ABC, very pleased.
They keep this up and she’ll retire the blog!
Thanks, Y’all!
Just because, you know TFP cannot go one blog without trying to scold someone – she wanted to bring up the live action version of MULAN – which now, reportedly will NOT have music.
TFP has noticed that some on the internet are ‘upset’ to put it mildly.
Folks, this is ok.
You will be FINE!
Fa Mulan as a legend existed way before the animation team at Disney existed. Literally it has been around for thousands of years – she was believed to have lived during the Northern Wei dynasty which is late 386CE – 534CE.
Frankly in a live action version – it will be very hard to sing whilst battling hordes of Mongols.
Further more, no one wants to go up against the singing chops of Lea Salonga.
She is, of course, a ‘double Princess’ in the Disney canon, and let it be known – she remains the Queen.
A Princess plus a Princess equals a Queen.
So let the animated film do what it does, let the live action film do what it does.
Heavy is the head that wears that crown, so we shall see how whomsoever is cast, does in coordinating the action and the acting.
After all – with the voice, they needed two people!
That is Ming Na and Lea Salonga right there – tough combo to beat. Not to mention talking dragons that were on pedestals and a lucky bug.
TFP is in a wait and see mode with this new live action MULAN.
So there, see – TFP did a ‘feel good’ blog – we can feel good-ish about so many API’s working and being seen in America.
When MISS SAIGON closes, and goes on tour, the numbers will go back in the toilet, but there are a lot of things to be grateful for and we should all #RESIST and stay focused, but also…be aware that whatever state the Country is in, we’ll always have Broadway.
TFP out.
