David's Anthem Journal

Don’t Miss The Fabulous Genevieve

 

 

In a city famous for one-name entertainers, such as Frank, Dean, Sammy, Elvis, Cher, and so many others, a young lady named Genevieve has been making her mark in the Las Vegas area since arriving here in 2003.

At 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 1, Genevieve and her live combo will be performing a special show in Freedom Hall. Tickets, available at the Customer Service Desk in Anthem Center, are priced at an amazingly low $12.00 for what should be an outstanding event featuring a classy song stylist.

Without missing a beat, Genevieve could easily fill the cabaret at the splendid new Smith Center, but we have the opportunity to enjoy her talent without having to leave Sun City Anthem.

 

 

Genevieve Dew, a St.Louis native, has already won a bevy of “best entertainer” and “best jazz vocalist” awards, with singing styles ranging from the R&B sounds of Aretha Franklin to the seductive music of Whitney Houston and the legendary Billie Holiday.

By the age of 16, Genevieve was performing with the St. Louis Philharmonic, where, over a four-year period and while studying classical piano, she learned to sing in seven languages. Her natural beauty also led her to gain experience as a model, with her emerging talents resulting in roles in a number of off-Broadway original shows and revivals.

Attending a performance by Genevieve is like a personal visit with some of the greatest female vocalists of this and past generations.

Editor’s Note: There is another important reason why I want to urge readers to turn out for this event. Through her music, Genevieve supports a number of charities and worthy causes, and she has always been willing to lend her talent to Sun City Anthem charitable events when called upon.

As SCA Pet Club President Shirley Cheri says, “Charities such as SPCA and other animal-related causes are especially dear to Genevieve’s heart. She is a spiritual person, and a close personal friend, who believes that when you have a gift, you must give back. We are truly honored that she will be appearing here in concert, and she deserves our support.”

Here is Genevieve in a recent video, delivering her unique, bluesy version of the iconic “New York, New York.”

 

Celebrate Mother’s Day With Danny Wright

 

If you are motivated to honor that special someone who’s the mother of your children, or just want to treat you and yours to a memorable evening of dining and music, you’ll want to consider the Danny Wright “Heart 2 Heart” performance at the Bootlegger Restaurant on May 13.

Here, with complete reservation details, is the poster for the event. As the poster says, you will enjoy a wonderful four-course dinner and Danny’s concert of Broadway and film classics, along with original compositions.

 

Dancing Under The Stars

 

 

Mark the evening of Friday, May 4 on your entertainment calendar, because that’s when the Performing Arts Club will take you back to the 1940s and 50s with “Dancing Under The Stars.”

This was the era of ballrooms and big touring orchestras, which will be recreated as the Independence Center Courtyard is turned into our own “Make Believe Ballroom.”

You are invited to listen and dance to the music of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and a world-wide broadcast from the Desert Inn’s Lady Luck Lounge featuring the Jan Garber Orchestra and Sun City Anthem’s own Marlin “Marv” Nielsen, who was a popular lounge singer in many Las Vegas venues.

Some country and western numbers will be thrown in for good measure, too.

Trip the light fantastic on a real wood dance floor, enjoy your favorite beverages from the cash bar, and be delighted by a couple of surprise guests.

As indicated in the poster below, the event runs from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. All for only $5.00 per person.

Tickets go on sale tonight (Apr 23) from 6-8 p.m. and continue as indicated in the poster.

 

 

To put you in the mood for the delightful evening to come, here is a medley by Jan Garber and his orchestra:

 

That’s Entertainment! A New Feature

 

 

Readers: I have long believed that I am not doing a good enough job of alerting you to some of the outstanding entertainment options available in Sun City Anthem and in the general area.

Ticket sales for SCA shows and related activities often accelerate after they are plugged on this blog. Many residents tell me they just didn’t know about a forthcoming great show until they saw a blog notice, and others tell me they missed great opportunities to attend shows because they were not adequately publicized.

In an effort to correct this, I am instituting a new feature called “That’s Entertainment!”

Published at irregular intervals, “That’s Entertainment!” is intended to alert you to great entertainment opportunities you might otherwise miss.

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I am pleased to kick off That’s Entertainment! with notice of a singular event.

Sun City Anthem is blessed to have two world-class professional performers among our residents in the persons of vocalist Gail Beckman and pianist Marilyn Peterson.

Both have extensive musical backgrounds and have performed professionally in many venues, often teaming up, as they are doing now, to entertain together.

As indicated in the poster below, Gail and Marilyn have put together an evening of songs from the movies, which they will be presenting at Sun City MacDonald Ranch on Friday, April 20.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see two wonderful talents on display close to home.

 

   

 

To see a YouTube video of Gail and Marilyn performing for children at a special concert several months ago, click here.

 

Shall We Dance? Don’t Miss This Show!

 

In Honor of St. Patrick’s Day

 

 

In honor of this great day, please enjoy this video of a sheepdog at work.

 

Simply Cole Porter

 

 

He was arguably the most famous and successful American composer of the 20th Century, that rare artiste who wrote the words and the music for his memorable songs.

Yes, we’re talking about Cole Porter, whose melodies and lyrics defined sophistication for millions over the decades.

And now our own Sun City Anthem Choraliers bring the music of this genius to life with “Simply Cole Porter,” to be presented in Freedom Hall Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3, at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are going fast, so get yours for only $10 at the Independence Center Box Office.  The Box Office will be open Wednesday, February 29, from 1-4 p.m., and on both show nights from 6-7 p.m.

“Simply Cole Porter” is packed with about 35 songs you are bound to remember, and undoubtedly danced and sang to. So don’t miss this wonderful show.

 

 

Film Review: “The Artist”

 

 

Heading into Sunday night’s (Feb. 26) Academy Awards event, two films, “Hugo” and “The Artist,” lead the nominees with 11 nominations for “Hugo” and 10 for “The Artist.”

Both films are still available in local theaters, and I urge you to see them. “The Artist” is at the Regal Colonnade and the Fiesta, while “Hugo,” Martin Scorsese’s first 3-D film, is at the Regal Colonnade.

On the surface, these two films could not be more different. “The Artist” is a black-and-white silent movie, while “Hugo” is a lavish cinematic experience that places 3-D at the service of the filmmaker and does not try to startle audiences with various objects hurtling out of the screen at them.

And yet, “The Artist” and “Hugo” are both homages to the history of cinema. This article, however, is about “The Artist,” the leading candidate to bring home Oscars for Best Actor, Best Film and Best Director, among others.

In a fictional framework, “The Artist” visits a real period in cinema history when silent films were giving way to “talkies.”

During this transition, the careers of many silent-film stars crumbled with the determination that their voices were not suitable for speaking roles.

Debonair Frenchman George Valentin, a Hollywood silent movies box-office idol played by the real French actor-comedian Jean Dujardin, scoffs at the idea of talkies ever taking over the business, which of course we know is a false hope.

Meanwhile, Poppy Miller, a bit player who is given a role in Valentin’s last successful silent film, rises to fame in the talkies.

Played by Argentinian-born French actress Bérénice Bejo, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress but will not win it, Poppy befriends Valentin and rescues him after his descent into total despair and near oblivion almost costs him his life.

The film concludes with an inspiring ending in a scene that clearly pays tribute to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Though “The Artist” is light and frothy, it has pleased audiences enough that spontaneous applause at its conclusion has been a frequent occurrence in theaters around the nation.

And while “The Artist” is a French film, the fact that it is silent with subtitles actually results in a movie that is quite cosmopolitan, with American actors John Goodman, James Cromwell and Penelope Ann Miller playing important roles.

Bérénice Bejo is married to the film’s Oscar-nominated director, Michel Hazanavicius.

Pet Club members, take note: The film is almost stolen away by Uggi, a Jack Russell Terrier who may be about the cutest canine to ever appear in a motion picture. Born in 2002, Uggi was about to be sent to a dog pound before being rescued by animal trainer Omar Van Muller. Uggi has appeared in several films, including “Water for Elephants,” along with television commercials, and will soon become the “spokesdog” for a Nintendo product.

In addition to all of the elements I described above, “The Artist” is served well by an excellent score composed by Ludovic Bourse, who also is a favorite Oscar candidate. Musical scores, of course, were an important accompaniment to silent movies.

Though described as a silent film, this is not completely accurate. There are moments of sound that are appropriately placed for effect. And because the story is so easy to follow due to the exaggerated facial and body expressions that were important in silent films, there are not as many subtitles as you might expect.

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer should take down well-deserved Oscars for “The Help” Sunday evening, but that won’t stop “The Artist,” the type of tribute to motion pictures that Hollywood insiders love, from grabbing more than its share of awards.

DO go see “The Artist” while you have a chance.

Here is the official trailer for “The Artist”: 

 

 

And here is the wonderful Uggi and his trainer on the Ellen Degeneres program:

 

Get On The Bus – To The Smith Center!

 

 

With the grand opening of the splendid new Smith Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Las Vegas less than three weeks away, this reporter is looking forward to attending the Smith Center media day next week in order to obtain video and interviews for sharing on our Channel 99.

Meanwhile, if you want to see any of the shows in the inaugural Broadway in Las Vegas series of musicals, but you don’t want to drive down there yourself, Activities Manager Greg Dreyer has taken care of it for you.

Months ago, Greg locked up a block of seats especially for Sun City Anthem residents, and he has put together a package that includes round-trip bus transportation to each of the four shows.

As the poster below indicates, they are all Wednesday performances for “The Color Purple,” “Mary Poppins,” “Million Dollar Quartet,” and “Memphis.”

Just $60 for each show covers your ticket and the bus, but the price is only $55 if you book not later than one week prior to the show dates.

Tickets are now on sale for all at the Anthem Center reception desk for all the shows, and you are not required to purchase seats for any shows you do not wish to see. So you can select one, two, three or, as we have done, all four.

Don’t get shut out. If we support this promotion and it succeeds, it increases the likelihood that we’ll have similar opportunities to get on the bus for Smith Center Events.

 

 

 

Coming Up: An Evening Of World-Class Comedy

 

Two of the most accomplished stand-up comics working in Las Vegas have been booked for Freedom Hall on Friday evening, January 13, and I’ve just learned that the early-bird price of $12.00 per ticket is being extended through Tuesday.

Buy your tickets at the Anthem Center Concierge Desk.

 

 

Cork Proctor is almost a household name in Las Vegas. A comedian, actor, emcee, game show host and popular celebrity roaster, he has an encyclopedic memory for names, details and places that enables him to engage audience members on current events and many other pertinent subjects.

Proctor has performed in showrooms in Las Vegas, Reno, Atlantic City and Lake Tahoe, and has opened for such stars as the Supremes, Roberta Flack and Mel Tillis. He has also appeared in guest roles on many TV shows and in movies with Clint Eastwood and Lloyd Bridges.

Hailing from South Carolina, Chris Pendleton is about as “down home” as you can get, having been labeled as a southern Roseanne with fried chicken and grits.

Pendleton’s topics cover the gamut from stories in the news to the single life, the challenges of two people in marriage, coping with weight gain, and much more. The holder of a Masters Degree in Biochemistry (go figure that one out), she has made many TV appearances and is a headliner at comedy clubs throughout the nation.

Here is a promotional video for the show: