GREEN DAY'S MUSICAL AMERICAN IDIOT ROCKS AT THE AHMANSON

Straight from Broadway!  Now until Sunday April 22nd!

"This BLISSFUL EXTRAVAGANZA makes you think even as it knocks you out."

- Bob Verini, Variety

"This RAMBUNCTIOUS CAST captures [Green Day’s] performance energy brilliantly."
  - Paul Hodgins, The Orange County Register

"INVIGORATING ORIGINALITY... Should thrill Green Day fans while   recruiting legions of new ones."

  - Les Spindle, Back  Stage

"Rabble-rousing pop-punk show.  ELECTRIC STAGING… The same  intensity as A FULL THROTTLE CONCERT."
  - Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times

Slinging razor guitars , thundering drums and an anti-hero named Johnny. Not the prelude of typical entries in the canon of musical   theatre. But these elements herald a groundbreaking American musical all  the same: with the burning passion of characters who yearn for something  more, songs bursting with emotion and a story that dares you to feel and  celebrate and hope.

The music of Green Day and the lyrics of lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong captured the zeitgeist of a generation with its Grammy® Award-winning  multi-platinum album. American Idiot puts those raw emotions front and center in a highly theatrical and thoroughly satisfying rock opera that burns  up the stage.

Monster hits like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, “21 Guns.,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the title track soar like they  were written for the stage under the direction of Tony Award® winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), choreography by Olivier Award winner Steven Hoggett (Black Watch) and music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt (Next to Normal).

JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME RELEASED FRIDAY MARCH 16, 2012

Jeff, Who Lives At Home is a charming, sweet and funny movie that stars Jason Segal.  Jeff lives in the basement of his Mom's house.  The (always terrific) Susan Sarandon plays his mom, Sharon.  She asks Jeff to do one simple task.  But that task leads Jeff on an odyssey which you'll enjoy being on.  So hang on!  Ed Helms (The Office, The Hangover I, II) plays his impatient brother, Pat who embarks on Jeff's journey... by chance.  Judy Greer (The Descendants) plays Pat's fed-up wife, Linda.  What she does to a Porsche will make men cringe.  But, what Pat does after is painfully hilarious and just plain painful.  Produced by Jason Reitman.  Written and directed by the Duplass Brothers. 

Go and see this movie!  I've seen it twice already.  Once at the AFI Film Festival and once a few weeks back.  I loved seeing it both times.  The second go-around helped me catch the things I missed from laughing SO hard the first viewing.  That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it...

YOU'LL BE HOOKED WHEN YOU SEE SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN: OUT TODAY

Get thee to a local movie theatre and see the charming independent film Salmon Fishing In The Yemen.  It stars Ewan McGregor as a repressed, quirky fisheries expert named Dr. Alfred Jones.  Emily Blunt plays Harriet, assistant to the Sheik (Amr Waked).  He's a fishing aficionado who's dream is to bring salmon fishing to the Yemen.  The director, Lasse Halstrom, was a great choice.  Have you seen his movies Cider House Rules, Chocolat or Casanova?  I have to say that the best lines to go Kristin Scott Thomas in an unconventional role as government official Patricia Maxwell.  She is simply divine and laugh-out-loud funny!   I loved the fact they began in London, went to Scotland, then the Yemen.  What a quick way to travel!

Based on a novel by Paul Torday, this breath of fresh air screenplay was adapted by Academy Award Winner Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionare).  He found the novel to be an unusual mix of adventure and romance centered around this unusual request.  Simon is currently working on the sequel to the hotly anticipated series The Hunger Games.  Just in time to take the baton from Harry Potter and soon, Twilight.  Don't wait to see this fish-out-of-water story!  Literally!!  That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

TRACK LISTS FOR IDINA MENZEL LIVE: BAREFOOT AT THE SYMPHONY

The track list for the DVD follows:
1. Life Of The Party
2. I’m Not That Girl
3. Love For Sale / Roxanne
4. Funny Girl / Don’t Rain On My Parade
5. Asleep On The Wind
6. No Day But Today
7. Poker Face
8. Look To The Rainbow
9. Good Morning Walker / I Feel So Smoochie
10. Where Or When
11. Heaven Help My Heart
12. For Good
13. Defying Gravity
14. The Way We Were
15. Tomorrow

The track list for the CD includes:

Life Of The Party
Love For Sale / Roxanne
Funny Girl / Don't Rain On My Parade
Asleep On The Wind
No Day But Today
Poker Face
Where Or When
Heaven Help My Heart
For Good
Defying Gravity
Tomorrow

For more information visit www.idinamenzel.com

TONY WINNER IDINA MENZEL COMES OUT WITH NEW DVD/CD TODAY

Today marks the release of Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony.  It was filmed in November 2011 in Toronto but begins airing on PBS stations around the country March 3.  The concert also features Menzel's husband, Taye Diggs, and composer/conductor Marvin Hamlisch.

Recently, Idina has been making television appearances to promote this release.  She was very funny, forthcoming and relaxed on the sets of The Ellen Degeneres Show and The Talk.  The title Live: Barefoot at the Symphony comes from an observation she made.  When Idina sang barefoot, she hit the notes and performed better.  Has she ever met Joss Stone (who always performs barefoot)?

Even though Idina Menzel has gained fame for winning the much-deserved Tony in Wicked, she is still a Long Island, NY gal at heart.  So her performances with the prestigious symphony is blended with her local roots.  One example is her version of the Lady Gaga song Poker Face.  Idina is quick to mention she sang it previously on the tv show Glee as a duet with Lea Michele.

Check out this wonderful and gorgeous performer soon!