Author Archives: Marianya Klis

Reflections: Fate / Destiny vs Free Will

Sometimes I come off as overly logical using reasoning and analysis in my decision making. Once in a while I listen to the little voice inside that drives my intuition and gun instinct and make my decision about things that way. However, through it all… I’ve always believed that if things are meant to be then there will be a path set for them to happen.

I guess you can say that I believe in fate and destiny in a way. I look into tarot and astrology, store the knowledge garnered from these into that mental file cabinet and take the memories back out at leisure to analyse when something significant as come to pass. One thing I’ve always argued with myself it’s: how can you justify the notion of “free will” when you’re saying that everyone has a purpose, a fate, a destiny set before them.

The truth is, I can’t. It’s the same thing as faith, I can’t justify it, I can’t reason it, it just is. If someone is meant to be a part of your life, it would naturally happen, on its own time, when it is ready… try to push the situation and you are likely to force it away from you to the point of no return.

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Review: U.S. Tour of In the Heights – Chicago

In mid January, I took my Mexican friend to see In the Heights when they stopped in Chicago for obvious reasons, as in, with so much Spanish included in the book I wanted to bring someone that would understand and appreciate the Spanish… turns out I was right.

This production sparkled, there was chemistry in places that I didn’t believe there would be at first glance, the singing was spot on and emotional. The comedic moments shone through and the dancing was more than just amazing, the choreography was absolutely perfect, if not exceeded the first U.S. Tour when it went through Chicago a few years ago. The central character: Usnavi seemed a bit breath-y in a few of his bits… not the same silky smooth rhythm of Lin-Manuel Miranda, but he did a respectable job overall.

Nina was a bit younger looking than I expected her to be in comparison to the other “young” characters in the cast. Although this was at first was a distraction, eventually her singing won out as well as her chemistry with her romantic opposite.

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Reflection: Since my original top ten “bucket list” is done… Now what?

This has been bothering me for a few years, a few as in the past three or four years… why? Well, let me explain:

While I was in college, I created a “Top Ten” bucket list that I felt was semi-realistic and would be something that would keep me busy for decades to come… right… “decades”. More like “decade”… as in one, as in less than a decade. Granted anyone that knows me well, know what I really want out of life… but in the meantime a bucket of things to do in the meantime would always help… right? Right… little did I know.

I have always believed in the willingness of trying anything at least once, possibly twice just to make sure the first wasn’t a fluke. Then, if it turns out to be something I truly enjoy, then I’ll pursue the activity further in the future, possibly bring more people into coming with me. If in the end it just wasn’t my cup of tea, then at least I could say that I gave it a shot. I mean think about it… If everyone did as much as they could just once in their lives they would find hundreds, if not thousands of things they could be interested in and pursue… Instead of just staying in a small little circle.

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Elements of Song: Original Notes/General Summary

As promised, in regards to my fanfiction: Elements of Song, I am posting some (if not all) of my original notes that deals with the world I created. Please, enjoy.

Some of the notes below I wrote years ago when I needed an idea that would provide a very realistic crossover story between the popular boy bands of the time and Sailor Moon. The below is what I came up with.

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There was a prophecy, on the planet of Euphonia, that predicted the awakening of the heart of the planet that would mark the beginning of all things good and grandiose of the world. At the same time however the awakening of the final element of song: heart, marked the beginning of the end of Euphonia.

During the final battle everyone else was killed except for Bazyli, Arion and Greta. Bazyli and Arion did not know that Greta was captured by the attacker until they finally reached him/her. It was then when the attacked reveals his ace. This revelation only moved the two to fight even harder forcing the villain to realize that she/he would need to do something and quick, and as thus casted a spell that placed Greta into a frozen prison pushing Arion to the breaking point and Bazyli to fight even harder.

In the end Bazyli is mortally wounded which awakens Arion from his mourning and Arion fights the evil to the bitter end, killing her the moment she wounds him. His last few moments of life he talks to Bazyli and forgives him for his love of Greta and reaching Greta he dies by the crystal.

Little does he know, his enemy though now dead managed to find the foresight to seal a major portion of their being into Greta, and as thus the evil that everyone is fighting is really Greta when this evil takes control of her. Greta (the part that Arion and Bazyli both loved) still exists and was in full control when she meets JC and Brian, however, when she’s alone or asleep it is that evil side that awakens and takes hold to do the evil deeds necessary to destroy music once and for all.

The final battle would again include JC and Brian, but this time Sailor Moon would be the one that would be able to seal the demon away and leave behind the girl that brought so much life and inspiration to a little known thing called music. Except, in the end she wouldn’t remember a thing, the demon that brought her to this point taking much of those memories away, she’d never remember the love she ever had with the past nor the present… much to the disheartenment of all parties involved.

However, as Mamoru later points out, it is for the best for her to try to live her life as best as she can, and as thus ends up living with the Sailor Senshi in Japan. So when NSync or BSB goes to Japan for a tour, there they will find her happier and more in tune with herself and that will be when the love reawakens.

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– take the elements of music and intertwine them with each of the members of the court. Without one court member/spot filled all other elements would coalesce over time. Thus when the traitors are revealed there is an immediate need to find those that would take the places of the traitors of the court.

– the power of the prince also depends on the integrity of the court. Once one or more members of the court falter the prince also falters. If everyone of the court is gone the prince will die

– however there is one element that could save the prince should all of the court turn against him or no longer exist, heart. As long as ‘heart’ exists the prince is more likely to survive longer than when he has nothing. However once the prince finds ‘heart’, no matter what happens with the court (should they all be whole) once ‘heart’ is taken away the prince will only be living on borrowed time.

REVIEW: Theatre-on-the-Hill’s God of Carnage

As posted in the TribLocal, the following is my review of Theatre-on-the-Hill‘s production of God of Carnage written by Yasmina Reza.

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This past weekend, Bolingbrook’s Theatre-on-the-Hill introduced another amazing comedy to the suburbs, and didn’t disappoint. God of Carnage is an ambitious, hilarious and very difficult story about two affluent couples who come together because their sons got into a fight in school that resulted in one of the boys getting two teeth knocked out. What starts out as a very civil and reasonably open minded meeting unravels into an in-depth look at the human psyche and how these people are nowhere near as civil as they appear to be, finally asking the question: “What do we know, really?”

So what do we know, really? Well, the small and stellar cast is comprised of Theatre-on-the-Hill alums Bill Smith and Erika Enigk Grotto, who play the elitist Raleighs, as well as newcomers Leann Hoffrogge and Zachary Johnson-Dunlop as the more working class Novaks. Each performer brought to life a vibrancy to characters that are not only relatable as individuals, but as the show progresses, create the realization among audience members that a situation like this could very well happen (or already had) in their own lives.

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Review: Spotlight Theater’s Jake’s Women

So last month (January) I went to New Lenox, IL to see a friend of mine in Jake’s Women by Neil Simon as produced by Spotlight Theater. Now this was directed by first time director: Nicole Fleming. Now if you remember, a few months prior I saw Spotlight Theater’s production of The Deadly Game which I really enjoyed… this show, however, brought out a very different perspective.

Essentially Jake’s Women revolves around Jake, a writer, who is at a crossroads in his life, his second marriage is failing, he’s slowly losing his sanity, and he’s trying to hold on to the only piece of light to get through the darkness. However, the women that he talks to aren’t in his reality, they are versions of the women in his reality that have a permanent residence in his head.

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Review: Shaking Spears (a conglomerate of Shakespeare’s tragedies set to the music of Britney Spears)

Yes you read that right… one of my theater acquaintances wrote a stage play taking four works of Shakespeare’s tragedies
– Macbeth
– Romeo & Juliet
– Hamlet
– Julius Ceasar
taking various aspects, storyline lines, and characters and created a singular storyline. Not only that, she had various characters (including two of the male leads) sing Britney Spears songs…

Now upon first glance this shouldn’t have worked, Shakespeare and Britney Spears? I could hear Shakespeare rolling in his grave. However, the truth of the matter is that somehow, someway it did and I will be the one that would grudgingly admit that I was wrong in my original take of this particular ditty (and I really don’t like having to eat my words).

Let me explain:

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Blogging: DWTS Season 14 – Pre-Cast Announcement

Tomorrow’s the cast announcement for Dancing with the Stars Season 14 and I’m excited. Why? Because I get to bring my writing background and combine it with my love of ballroom dancing and crunch numbers up the wazoo… I swear I should have been a statistician or actuary at this point, but I digress.

In previous seasons of Dancing with the Stars at the PureDWTS.com weblog I would post my pre-season predictions of who the numbers say would be eliminated in what order. For more information go to my post DWTS Season 11’s Who has the Edge?: Part 1 and Part 2. If you’re curious here were my pre-season elimination predictions for Season 12 and Season 13.

Now if you’re wondering how did I get myself into this… let me tell you.

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Comparison: TOTH’s Den of Thieves (three weekends later)

So by the time of this writing I have seen seven (and a half) out of eight showings of Bolingbrook’s Theatre-on-the-Hill‘s production of Den of Thieves. One would think that after the first one or two shows, or even three in this case I would be sick of seeing this show already. The truth of the matter is, I’m not.

For someone with a little bit of theatre background, I can honestly say that seeing shows multiple times does not bore me as one would probably expect. More often than not it is a combination of a good script, with fantastic direction, and amazing actors that would typically drive the average theatre goer into seeing a production multiple times.

In the case of Den of Thieves, not only were there three versions of the show to watch but live theatre brings to the table an element of unpredictability that you can’t find anywhere else.

Where else would you find Hugh Jackman blowing up at an audience member for a cell phone going off in the middle of A Steady Rain? Where else could you find mishaps go wrong and watch an actor really show off their acting chops AND improv skills at a drop of a pin?

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Comparison: TOTH’s Den of Thieves (Boochie and Little Tuna)

One of the reasons that I enjoy watching productions at Theatre-on-the-Hill is the cast, more specifically when shows are double cast for whatever reason.

In the case of TOTH’s production of Den of Thieves, two of the roles are split between two actors. The role of the exotic dancer/stripper Boochie is split between newcomer Seneca Lee Evensen and musical theatre veteran Jacqueline Schultz. On the male front the role of Lou “The Little Tuna” Pescatore is split between stage veteran Joseph Mennella and the latest protege, Cameron Nowicki.

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Euphonia: Beyond Celtic Thunder

Anyone that knows me well enough knows that my tastes in music is fairly eclectic. I mean in my CD collection alone there is a bit of rap, a bit of rhythm and blues, country, pop, rock, classical, etc etc etc. I was never one to conform into any one arena, it’s just not me.

So it should come as no surprise that I would have some celtic music in my collection… especially a quintet of Irish men whom called themselves Celtic Thunder. They were brought together upon the successful heels of Celtic Woman and include two very special gems the really cute Damian McGinty and the soulful tenor Paul Byrom.

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Video: Allison Holker & Derek Hough on DWTS Season 13

I am not worthy! I am not going to even comment on the following routine because it is just THAT good. This routine was performed on Dancing with the Stars Season 13, Tuesday 1st of November and it rocked. Primarily an Argentine Tango, there were moments of contemporary, hip hop and flamenco thrown in there for good measure.

Coupled with fantastic music (in this case it is Gypsy by Black Violin)… argh, I can’t comment. Just watch!

Review: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (at NYMF)

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is a musical only festival that appears on the New York theatre scene that takes in some of the strongest full productions of up and coming musicals from across the country and gives them the chance to show off their stuff in the heart of New York City.

Such known alumni include:

Every year presents a new crop of productions trying to find their footing and every year there has been standouts. This past year is no exception.

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Review: New Millennium Theatre’s Scott Janus Monster Hunter

Here is a comedic monster show that will do nothing but entertain you to the point that you would keep talking until you reach home.

This original show completed it’s run at Theater Wit the Saturday before Halloween, it is a story set in a small town where a young comic geek is trying to prove that his neighbor is a vampire. When everyone believes him to be mad, he calls Scott Janus (whose ad was found in a comic book) for help in killing off the vampire.

When the vampire realizes that Scott Janus is in town, he calls in reinforcements to aid in terminating the thorn in their perpetual sides. A high stakes chase in trying to save the town ensues with an ending that this theatre goes definitely didn’t see coming.

Although there are aspects of the show that was just plain predictable, there were aspects of the show that was just laugh out loud roaring fun and games… especially when they start poking fun at one particular sparkling vampire “in training”.

This was another production that the beau took me to, and quite honestly it was well worth it. Non stop laughs, and for any geek out there, the nuances just keep coming. If anything, it is shows like this one that gives hope that creativity is still out there, you just need to know where to look.

Review: At the Movies w/ Carlo Chapelle and Kevin Pollack

Being the “music guru” at blogs like PureDWTS or PureAmericasGotTalent, I have become rather immune to new arrangements and renditions of tried and true music, particularly of the movie / showtunes kind. So when my beau brought me to watch his friend in this cabaret show, I was reserved at best and skeptical at worst. What I wasn’t prepared for was the realization that the artist still exists, you just needed to know where to look.

At the Movies is a cabaret show that is comprised of known (and not so known) songs from the stage and screen and breathes new life into them. Presented in the revamped theatre of Stage 773, the show presents two differing vocal styles and melts them together in such a way that balances more than contrasts.

Don’t ask me what shined about this show, it just did. There were a few arrangements of known songs in this show that I would never have thought in a million years would work. Case in point, the song Old Devil Moon from the musical Finian’s Rainbow, mesh that with let’s say the Mission Impossible theme song. Impossible? (no pun intended) That’s what I originally thought too, but I’m eating my words.

I could go on about the arrangements all night, but in all honesty, the music and arrangements is only half the battle. Kevin’s voice delivers the music with such love and conviction that once you get sucked in there is no going back. Such a deep voice, and one that kept me engaged for most of the night (always a good sign). Let’s just say that if my beau were to ask me to go and see another show with his friend in it, I will jump on the opportunity, because to me he is well worth the price of admission.