| TheTube Phineas and Ferb frolic in summer sun on Disney
Summer vacation is roughly 120 days away. But once it arrives, it will bring 104 glorious days before school starts again. At least, that's the magic number for stepbrothers Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher, the young heroes of a new animated comedy on Disney Channel. Phineas and Ferb tells the valiant story of how they conquer boredom and look for adventure, one summer day at a time. Meanwhile, Candace, their big sister, dedicates herself to undermining their pleasure (and tattling on them to Mom and Dad). And Perry the Platypus (fedora-wearing family pet) sets off on his own bold missions, battling evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz. Yes, it's nutty, with a highly whimsical, 1950s-retro visual style. It's filled with music and, during the first season, will feature guest voices that include Barry Bostwick, Allison Janney, Sandra Oh, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tim Curry, Evander Holyfield and Geraldo Rivera.
Tradition underpins 'best' school
The school's score of 1090.5 meant they typically scored one and a half grades better than had been expected from their previous test results, compared with other pupils nationally. Head teacher Tony Leach said it had all been down to hard work by pupils and staff. He said Moreton was known locally as "the zoo on the hill" and was under threat of closure by Ofsted when he arrived seven years ago. As part of the transformation he got pupils themselves to choose a motto and crest. They adopted a highly traditional grammar school style, complete with a Latin motto: labor omnia vincit - hard work conquers all. This is likely to be music to the ears of the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who started something of a trend for recalling old school mottos after he took office citing his own, "I will try my utmost".
There will be blood: Festival slasher stage show takes on messy new ...
Last April, Rob Matsushita and Morey Burnard drew two phrases out of a hat for Mercury Players Theatre 's 24-hour play festival, where Madison-area playwrights write a show based on those brief snippets. Matsushita and Burnard randomly picked "Thug Passion #2 " and "Discordia 's Sunshine Death, " both names of mixed drinks. That short stage play, written in 12 hours, became a 45-minute feature film with 11 original songs. The result, "Massacre (The Musical)," will make its premiere tonight at the High Noon Saloon. The Madison film also has been submitted to the Wisconsin Film Festival in hopes of a spring screening. "Massacre " tells the story of Discordia Doren (Kelly Kiopes), a good Catholic schoolgirl driven to dispatch her less-than-moral friends in gruesome ways during a getaway trip to a friend 's cabin.
Billy Joel headlines a night of music, money
Lots of listeners no doubt attend the Academy of Music's anniversary concerts because they love the old hall and because they love the Philadelphia Orchestra in it. In recent years, though, the gala concert has become less old-society-centric and more of an event whose tickets go in blocks to corporations sponsoring the event. Audiences may marvel at the Academy's elegance, as last night's white-tie and gowned crowd no doubt did at the 51st iteration of the event. But orchestral music? For many younger attendees, it's like crashing a party and finding everyone else is speaking a different language. So last night Billy Joel was brought in to translate. Even if the pop-music figure reached his musical apex in the 1970s, this crowd seemed happy to relive its high school and college soundtrack.
'High School Musical 2' Delivers Fresh Fun
The makers of High School Musical 2 wanted to avoid repeating themselves. They have succeeded. They have delivered a sequel that is both zanier and more dramatic than the original.
The DVD will be one of the most popular gifts this Christmas, although the movie celebrates summer. Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) lures Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) to work at her parents' country club. He inadvertently angers her by bringing along girlfriend Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) and their East High friends.
The wackiness comes mainly from Tisdale, whose broad performance would fit on The Carol Burnett Show.
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Theater Events for the period Nov. 1-10
Disney's High School Musical A basketball star and a beautiful but shy brainiac discover they share an interest in singing, and turn their school upside-down. Kalamazoo Civic Youth Theatre at the Civic Auditorium, Kalamazoo. Thu.-Sun., through Nov. 4. 269-343-1313. www.kazoocivic.com The Full Monty Unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo decide to raise money by staging a "girls' night out." Players Guild of Dearborn, Dearborn. Fri.-Sun., Nov. 9-Dec. 2. $18. 313-561-TKTS. www.playersguildofdearborn.org The Home Team Family, football and gender roles come clashing in the Gurley home on the day of the UM/MSU game. Whole Art Theatre at the Epic Theatre, Kalamazoo. Fri.-Sat., through Nov. 3. $20. 269-345-7529. www.wholeart.org One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next A charming convict fakes insanity to avoid a harsh prison sentence.
High School Musical on London stage
The Disney big hit High School Musical is being turned into a London stage show, it has been announced. The musical will be the latest new outing for the record-breaking global phenomenon, which first appeared as a children's TV film two years ago. The production will differ from the 31-date UK tour, which has its official opening on Monday night in Bromley, Kent, and is expected to be seen by 600,000 people. The London production will open with a 10-week season at the Hammersmith Apollo in June, with actors yet to be cast. It will be the latest Disney show in London following Mary Poppins, and The Lion King. The announcement comes as the box office opens for the High School Musical UK tour, following £9 million worth of advance sales.
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