90 MILLAS

Thursday, May 1st, I had the pleasure of walking the red carpet at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival (runs April 23-May4).

Dennis and I saw "90 Miles the Documentary" ("90 Millas El Documental"). It was a look at Gloria Estefan as she recorded her latest album, 90 Millas, an amazing tribute to the history of Latin (primarily Cuban) music.

The documentary featured the amazing talents of Latin musicians like Carlos Santana, Lopez Cachao, Chocolate Armenteros, Artura Sandoval, as well as Johnny Pacheco, Jose Feliciano, La India and Gloria Estefan, who all participated in a "talk-back" after the film. Like Emilio Estefan stated, "This is a once in a lifetime experience", and he couldn't have been more right. I mean how often do you sit before that many masters of music...ALL a huge part in the creation of 'Latin music', and have them discuss history and answer questions.

Pretty incredible and inspiring...

The only way you can truly understand how awesome the sound on the album is ....is to BUY it!!

~J

CRY-BABY

Hey all!!

I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings on Cry-Baby, the new John Waters musical. Thanks to my awesome friend Evan, I was able to see it this past Wednesday as an early birthday present. We were somewhat skeptical going in to see it... the reviews have been not-so-good. We also had no comparison to make from the movie...I am a little ashamed, being a fellow Baltimorian. However, I will say I've probably see almost every other John Waters film. I also think his material is very "cult-esque"...you either like it you don't.

Well...we LOVED it. I probably laughed the entire time. The material was great. The acting was superb. I would single out names, but there are too many to mention! Plot wise, it was very similar to Hairspray, but that didn't ruin it for me.

Its basically a quirky spin on the '50s (Grease). Set in Baltimore in 1954 at the birth of rock & roll, Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker is a juvenile delinquent with a permanent tear slithering down his cheek, a reminder of his state-executed parents. In the depths of his despair appears goody-goody girl Allison, who has a sexual crush on "Cry-Baby". But Allison's boyfriend, Baldwin, the leader of the squares, is dead set against "Cry-Baby" and the rest of the juvenile delinquents and leads a revolt against them. At the end of the riot, the juvenile delinquents are blamed for the chaos, and "Cry-Baby" finds himself dispatched to reform school..

...You'll just have to see the show to find out how it all comes together. I forgot to mention the amazing Choreography by Rob Ashford. At one point in the show when "Cry-Baby" is in jail...all the jail mates break out into a tap dance with license plates attached to their shoes. It was pretty incredible.

Overall, I'd say its definitely worth getting to. I have a feeling it won't last long only because it may not cater to a huge audience...but don't let that stop you. It's innovative and unlike any show I've seen. If anything, go for a good laugh! Or, if you're a little skeptical to pay the big bucks up front, rent the movie and see if its up your alley...

Bravo.

J