Manhattan Sonata

Public Service Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:20:00 +0000

Go see this show. I have never given a show as high of a recommendation as I will give this one. So much so that I'm not going to talk about it. I don't care if you live in China. This show is worth the flight. It will change your life.

Mildly exciting news on the music page!

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 06:10:00 +0000

Go check it out!

KMT

Gravity

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:43:00 +0000

So today my friend Jared sent me a link to Sara Bareilles' new music video for her song "Gravity". This has always been one of my favorite songs from Sara. The vulnerability in it is captured so beautifully in the music and lyrics, using the metaphor of gravity to illustrate how she cannot escape her feelings for someone, no matter how hard she may try.

But AHHHH, the video. Now, I have no expertise in film, but something tells me that this music video is beyond compelling. At the beginning it appears as if she's standing against a painting of a city, bird's-eye-view. This makes total sense, as someone from this perspective would literally fall to earth if unaided. This already sets up the theme of what it means to be under the pull of gravity. The camera pans out and we see she's standing against a wall on a city sidewalk. She begins to walk towards the camera. The camera moves away from the wall with her, revealing more and more of her surroundings.

This is where things truly get fascinating. We see an oversized streetlight and a truck pulls up with a model of the earth on the back. Immediately we see that, though she's merely walking down the street, something surreal is going on. Her motion away from the earth on the truck works with the lyrics: she's trying to pull away from the gravity of the situation. We see little things. A man walks in front of her holding a model airplane. She walks through steam from a vent. Clouds? Perhaps. People move past her holding illuminated umbrellas. Planets? She passes a tree with an odd glow that, perhaps if you squint looks a bit like a nebula. Lights strung above the street look oddly like stars. The entire video is a constant motion away from her original source. She is moving past everything. There is a sense of contrary motion between her and everything else that permeates the video....until....

She hits the end of the bridge. The passing chaos has increased, but right as the bridge builds we see the effects of gravity hit. The motion changes as suddenly a rush of people holding lights (stars?) comes towards her. On the phrase "keeping me down" they surround her in a swirling motion and the camera pans to a different angle. She stops moving. Gravity has overcome her.

The musical and lyrical metaphors are so beautifully portrayed in the imagery of the video. The surreal world she's in, existing both as a city and a walk through space show the juxtaposition of the metaphor in the lyrics. The camera angles, the motion, everything. So, though you probably won't be nearly as obsessed as I am, watch the video and see if you can tell what I mean... You don't see mainstream music portrayed on such a deep artistic level much anymore. )If you're viewing from facebook, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBiGrHc0Xy4&fmt=18)

And Off I Go...

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:49:00 +0000

So for awhile I've been contemplating taking on a serious project. No, I'm not talking the science fair. I'm talking music. If I'm going to SERIOUSLY make a career writing musical theatre, then it's time I get out of the dreamer mentality. It's time to make this stuff a reality. Of course, I'm still in college, which is not the real world. That creates a buffer between me and the industry, making the industry feel more distant; however, that distance can be detrimental. Once I'm out of college, that's it. I'm in it all. I need to be ready. It's a terrifying and exciting thought, but I'm purposefully starting to force myself to feel like I'm already in the business.

So, it's time to stop dabbling and start doing some serious writing. It's time to start spending serious time writing and rewriting. These thoughts have been in my mind for awhile, stewing, and a couple of days ago I decided that I'm going to write a song cycle. Song cycles are great ways to focus on lyrics and music within a loose context. You can experiment with them without fear of messing up an entire production. They allow room for mistakes without having too much repercussion, unlike a full scale musical. I figure that a song cycle will be the best way for me to gain a deeper understanding about what makes good writing good.

This isn't just a whim. I've got the concept laid out (even have a title), and I really like it. It should allow for some very emotional writing. I want the people in it to be entirely real and identifiable. Tonight I laid down an outline of songs and how the general arc of the show will flow. I'm very pleased with where I'm taking it.

My hopes are that I can have the first incarnation of it finished by the first day of sophomore year. I'm hoping that next fall I can gather the people, musicians, and space necessary to put it in front of an audience. That gives me the rest of the semester and the summer. So, I've got lots of work to do.

I'm not too sure why I just posted this, as it was very non-descript. I'm not giving away any more details though, so don't ask. :) I think I just want people to know that I'm ready to embark on a more serious project, and that you can expect to start seeing some things of more substance surfacing soon.

KMT

A Different Kind of Resolution

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:41:00 +0000

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. X.x I haven't forgotten. It's just that the end of the semester was CARAZAY and break was boring. Now life it a bit more steady what with school beginning.

The end of the year though, was a mostly positive one. I turned into a hermit for the last couple weeks of the semester as I sat in the basement of Lehman Library for hours on end (we're talking 12+ per day) to study, only taking breaks for food. Not so fun. BUT, it paid off. I managed to do well on my exams and meet my goal of getting above a 3.5 for my first semester (although I'm slightly bitter about missing the dean's list by 0.03). I'm shooting for that 3.6 this semester. I'm fairly certain I can do it.

Also, I'm super excited to be taking on something that I never thought I'd have the opportunity to do this soon in the game. The Columbia Musical Theatre Society (whom I did some sound design stuff for last semester) is putting on Rogers and Hammersteins Cinderella this semester, and yours truly is going to be music directing! I'm very excited, as this means I'll be in charge of music rehearsals, pit rehearsals, and will be conducting the show. I miss conducting so much that I even bought my first baton. :) I'll let you know how this all goes as things progress.

With the new year, I initially made the resolution to take more risks, even if they're just little ones. I overthink situations way to much (this isn't exactly a secret) so I'm vowing to introduce a little bit of spontaneity to my life. This resolution holds true; however, the other night something else came to mind. I was watching Rent with my dear friend Rebekah, when, just after Seasons of Love finished playing, she said to me, "Y'know, we should all listen to that song every day. We would all be a lot happier." That gave me an idea. I sat down today and created a new playlist labeled "Songs to Listen to EVERY DAY." And I'm going to do just that. They're all songs that are uplifting reminders of how lucky we are to be on this Earth, or at the very least, songs that make me feel happy. I might not make it through the whole playlist every day, but I'm vowing to listen to at least some of it, be it actively or just while I'm working on my homework. I'm curious to see it's effect on me. I'm a generally happy person with no major complaints, but I have a feeling that this will make life even more worth it.

So, if you're interested, I encourage you to do the same thing. Don't put songs on it that talk about pain, sadness, or heartbreak (not that you shouldn't listen to those songs, just not on this playlist). Put songs that make you feel good. Songs that make you feel lucky to be alive and who you are. Songs that make you feel worth it. Even songs that just make you laugh or smile. And listen to a few of them EVERY DAY. As someone who believes very profoundly in the power of music, I'd be curious to see what effect it has on your life. For starters, here's my list (though I'm sure I'll add to it as I see fit):

"Seasons of Love" from RENT
"The Distance You Have Come" by Scott Alan
"Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield
"August's Rhapsody" from August Rush
"Keep Breathing" by Ingrid Michealson
"100 Years" by Five for Fighting
"Can't Take it In" by Imogen Heap
"Being Alive" from Company
"Say Goodbye" by Scott Alan
"That's How You Know" from Enchanted
"You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray
"Nolita Fairytale" by Vanessa Carlton
"Can't Go Back Now" by The Weepies
"Goodbye" from I Love You Because
"Brave" by Idina Menzel
"Beautiful Day" by U2
"So Much Better" from Legally Blonde
"Love Today" by Mika
"Love, Save the Empty" by Erin McCarley
"I Wanna Have Your Babies" by Natasha Bedingfield
"Steer" by Missy Higgins
"Finale B" from RENT
"Louder than Words" from Tick...Tick...Boom!
"Air" by Georgia Stitt
"Music of Heaven" by Jason Robert Brown
"Defying Gravity" from Wicked
"Happiness" from You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

The Election Results - Sad...

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:48:00 +0000

UPDATE: I thought I'd add this video to watch. If you're viewing from facebook, you'll have to click "view original post" to access the video on my blog.

Many of us here at Columbia have been closely in-tune to the battles in California over Proposition 8. For those that don't know, Propsition 8 was a ballot measure brought about as a ban on gay marriage. Most unfortunately, the ballot passed. My initial reaction was anger. Needless to say I let out a rather long string of obscenities when I saw the final results on CNN. Now brace yourselves, kids. I'm about to rant. Probably for a long time.

In an election where we took a giant step forward in civil rights, we also took a giant step back. Remember those segregated water fountains? That time when women weren't allowed to exercise the right to vote? That time when people weren't allowed to marry the person that they're meant to spend the rest of their life with? Oh wait. I forgot. I guess that time is now.

The fact of the matter is that Proposition 8 is legislated segregation. Many people are taking the position that "California spoke." That's right, it did speak. The supreme court also spoke when Plessy v. Ferguson was passed. I don't think anybody would argue that that was the right decision. Marriage within the government, in purely legal terms, is a paper allowing rights between two individuals. The denial of those rights by the government to two people is unconstitional. Proposition 8 is unconstitutional, and a blatant act of discrimination.

Of course, many like to defend their positions against gay marriage by citing their faith and the Bible. Personally, I believe that the Bible is a book that teaches love over all. Each of the 7 "clobber passages" in the Bible frequently cited against homosexuals can all be interpreted differently, with the error of human translation getting in the way. I see no sexual perversion in two men or two women who love each other in the same way that a heterosexual couple does. The love is the same, and I believe that it is just as sacred.

However, even if you do believe that homosexuality is an abomonation, regardless, then you still have no founding against gay marriage. Those beliefs are yours, or those of your religious affiliation. Separation of Church and State is a very real and foundational concept within our government. The very churches that exist within our country depend upon it for their existance; however, most of these churches would have gay marriage banned. Doing so upon foundation of religious views undermines Separation of Church and State, the very thing which allows for the the independent existence of these churches and religious instutions. I take no issue with an individual or church not recognizing a gay marriage as sacred. That is the view of the individual or church alone. They have every right to it (also protected under Separation of Church and State). However, this is no reason to ban it within the government, a SEPARATE institution.

Many people prefer to remove the argument of religion in their opposition, recognizing it as a weak one; however, the general response is that of protection, saying, "gay marriage will undermine traditional marriage." It is my personal opinion that heterosexuals do a perfectly fine job of undermining traditional marriage on their own, what with the divorce rate at roughly 50%. If something is wrong with your marriage, then it's because of problems between YOU and YOUR SPOUSE. Can people honestly blame the problems of heterosexual marriage on gay marriage? To reference a comedy routine by Wanda Sykes, "are straight couples really in marriage counseling now saying, 'we just ain't been working together since Bill and Ted hooked up'?" I mean, really, people. And if by "undermine" you mean "make less sacred," then please see the paragraph above.

Lots of people support civil unions. While I take much less of an issue with civil unions, I still find them to be offensive. Civil unions, while giving LGBT couples many of the rights of a marriage, are still segregation. I like to compare them to Jim Crow Laws. They're separate, but "equal." Those water fountains that say "white" and "colored" overtop of them look oddly similar to this. After all, both whites and blacks had access to the right to drink out of a water fountain, but they were still forced to do so under separate labels. It is the same with the terms "marriage" and "civil union." I recognize that civil unions may be the next step in the path towards equal LGBT rights, but they are merely a step, and should not be satisfying.

Lastly, I turn to gay adoption. In Arkansas, a ballot measure was passed in which all "unmarried couples" were banned from adopting children. This originated as a means of banning gay adoption, as, of course, LGBT individuals cannot marry in Arkansas. I find the banning of gay adoption to be incredibly tragic. Not only is it tragic that two men or two women cannot adopt a child together, but it is also tragic for the children. There are thousands of children out there, looking for a loving home. Because of laws like these, more and more children will be left without a home, or will be bounced around in foster care. I do not, in any way, intend to knock foster care, as it is a wonderful thing that provides homes for children. It does not, however, provide continuity. Adoption allows for these children to find a home with people who will love them, and love them as a parent loves a child. Who is to say that a homosexual couple can't raise a child with the same love and care that a heterosexual couple can? These laws banning gay adoption rip apart the potential for so many loving families.

What I truly don't understand is why people take such an issue with gay marriage. It does not affect you. Why are people so concerned with messing with the lives of people that they don't even know? Why are people so adament about taking away the rights of another individual? Just because one loves someone of the same sex does not mean that their love is not pure. It doesn't mean that they're sexually perverse. It only means that, given the current state of things, they're not going to be able to exercise their full legal rights. Sure they could marry someone of the opposite sex, but what good is that going to do for any party involved? The bottom line is that people are prejudiced. They are afraid of what they're not used to. They're afraid of differences. Our country learned a hard lesson in that area about 50 years ago. I pray that we have not forgotten.

My hope is that this new administration can turn things around. It is very obvious to me that, as an overall population, young people feel very differently about gay rights. I think in a few years, as my generation begins to take control, things will be very different. Take a look at the media. We can see so many instances where LGBT individuals are displayed in a positive light, being shown to live lives no different that that of straight individuals. I'm so happy to see shows like "Brothers and Sisters" and "Grey's Anatomy" on television. Individuals like Ellen Degeneres, T.R. Knight, and many others are changing minds. These things show a trend in our nation leaning towards equality, but unfortunately we are not there yet. Proposition 8 showed us that. My heart goes out to those in California effected by this unbearable blow. Keep your chins up though. This fight isn't over.

The Election Results - Happy!

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:18:00 +0000

Wow, it has been a long time since I've written one of these. I'm not even going to try to encapsulate everything that's happened since then, but I'll hit the big stuff. I should be reading the Symposium right now, so I'm going to have to make this fast.

First off...the election!!! I am STILL elated by the results. For one, Virginia went democratic. I don't mean to pick a scab with those of you who were McCain supporters, but I am SO PROUD of Virginia. Not because they voted in line with a party, but because they finally broke the strings of "tradition." They heard the call for change and responded.

But more than anything, I feel proud to call myself an American for the first time...in a long time. I don't want to spend this blog talking about the Bush Administration, as I've already put them behind me, but I will say that I am happy beyond belief that they're being replaced by a man as fantastic as Barack Obama. I realize that many aren't thrilled with his election (as is always the case with elections), but I feel that this election really is different than all the rest. Obama stands for change. Many argue that every new president stands for change, which I believe is true to a degree; however, the change that Obama stands for is that of a different kind. There is something about this man that rises above the political undertow (good for you if you caught that Broadway reference). He promises a government based upon honesty and conscious social responsibility. Wait a minute...honesty in politics? Social responsibility in politics? Ladies and gentlemen, THAT is change. Change we haven't seen in an incredibly long time. And I'm not just talking about the past 8 years. I'm talking decades.

I truly believe that the announcement of Barack Obama's win on the night of November 4th, 2008 marked the beginning of a new era. Many criticize Obama, saying that his campaign has focused too much on inspiration and was empty of policy. While I do believe that this was initially true (which is why I didn't vote for him in the primaries), it is certainly not anymore. Anybody who watched the debates can't say that Obama didn't talk policy, because that would be lying. You can read his 83 page blueprint outlining his proposed policies here if you need more convincing. Not that you have to love all of his policies, but please don't claim his idea of change is an empty one, because it simply isn't.

Bottom line, I feel that Obama is a good man; however, he's not only a good man within context of today. He's a good man who's not afraid to bring our country forward. He looks to the future, recognizing the problems that we're facing. He's not naive, and has made it clear that we have gigantic job ahead of us, but his character somehow has been able to relieve most of the country of its cynical attitude. Regardless of your political positions, it cannot be denied that we need that kind of change. We need an American people who believe we can build a better world, and somehow this man has been able to bring out that side of so many of us.

For instance, Columbia is widely known for being extremely cynical about...well, everything; however, something amazing happened on election night. The entire buzz and attitude on this campus shifted. I only wish that everybody could have been there to see mob of students who flooded the streets of New York upon the announcement. People were cheering, sobbing, blocking traffic, and swinging from lampposts; however, it didn't at all have the college party feel. There was a certain pervasive optimism that began that night and is still buzzing about campus. Sure, I know that Columbia is a liberal school, but from all I've heard and read in the papers, this was a scene repeated all across the country. People didn't just vote to end 8 years of questionable governing, but they voted knowing that they wanted a brand new country to live in.

So, my message to those who didn't vote for Obama. I encourage you to ride this wave with us. You don't have to necessarily support every policy, but get on board with the movement that we're undergoing. Try and leave behind your cynicisms. Be a part of the mass of people who want to live up to this nation's potential to be the socially responsible leader that the world so desparately needs us to be. Allow us to move forward into that new era where people can believe in the good of others, and share it.

I'd also like to address a topic that I generally ignore. For the first time, we're going to have a minority in the White House. People, this really is a big deal. A very big deal. Racism, sexism, homophobia, etc., will never be gone, but just take a moment to reflect on what Obama's election really means. Just over a generation ago Barack Obama would have been drinking out of a different water fountain than me. Now he's been elected president. We have come SO FAR. It's not over, and never will be over, but the fact that a black man can be elected says so much. It's taken me awhile to really comprehend what a big dealt this is.

New Post on the Music Page

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:33:00 +0000

Just to let everybody that actually reads this know, I've added a new piece to my music page.

Check it out.

KMT

Just thought I'd share this...

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:30:00 +0000

This is gonna be a good one, kids.

Oh, and notice the nice little underlying rhythmic motif underneath of the main theme towards the end. :)

[title of show]

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:32:00 +0000

A lot of people seem to think that every show I see is my favorite. A) That is not true. B) This may seem the case because favorites can change, believe it or not.

And now, I have a new favorite. An unexpected favorite. In the most meaningful theatre experience I've had to date, I had the opportunity to see [title of show] two nights ago. I probably would not have seen it if I hadn't managed to win free tickets, and I'm slightly mortified at myself for possibly missing out.

[title of show] is, in their own words, "a musical about two guys making a musical, about two guys making a musical." Just trying to wrap your head around that sentence is somewhat difficult, I know, but it proved to be one of the most brilliant scenarios for a show that I've seen. Essentially, the show is about the production process of the show that you're watching. Still confusing, I know. Everything that you see onstage are actual events. For instance, later in the show they talk about cutting a scene that you previously witnessed. Well, you know they didn't cut it, because it was still there earlier. It's very confusing, kinda like time travel is confusing, but when you actually see it staged, it turns into absolute brilliance. This premise made for some absolutely hysterical jokes.

Although, what it also made for was something incredibly touching. As the show traces itself to the moment where they land on Broadway, you get to see the entire process, and then ultimately the moment when their dream comes true. Towards the end, Hunter said something along the lines of "if you ever wanted to see someone's dream come true in real time, this is it." And that is exactly what you get to see. It's a unique opportunity in that way. Also, as somebody who wants to write for musical theatre, this show meant so much. Perhaps I'm pulling too much from it, but this show felt like it was speaking directly to me. Just look at the song "A Way Back to Then," sung so beautifully by Heidi Blickenstaff:

When she got to the lines "so I crammed my life in a U-Haul to find my part of it all," I nearly lost it. I saw myself on that stage in each cast member. They took the risks that I'm taking right now in my life, and to see that it wasn't any easier for them than it was for me gave me the assurance that I am indeed doing the right thing with my life. Not to mention, I was sitting in a room full of people, many of whom (myself included) were the college theatre dorks that she sang so lovingly about. So thank you, cast and crew of [title of show], for sharing your life with me. It left an impression that will never be forgotten.

Now, if you've made it through the sappiness to this part of my blog, I have a favor to ask. Go see this show. Sadly, it's set to close prematurely on October 12^th. The commercialization of Broadway is undoubtedly the reason for this, as it gets increasingly difficult for truly original musicals to find success; however, my instincts tell me that this show can have that amount of success, even amongst a tourist crowd. Since the closing notice was posted, there has been a massive grassroots movement to save [title of show]. It's impossible to walk around the theatre district right now without being approached by volunteers promoting the show. This is the first time where I think an intentional fan response might actually save a show from its closing date. So please, please, please, go see the show. Even if you don't live in the tri-state area, it's worth making the trip. You will not be sorry. It's not too late.

KMT

PS - I updated the music section of my blog! Go check it out!

A Conservative for Obama? – A very interesting read.

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:55:00 +0000

My dad sent me this article via email today, and I felt that I should share it with everyone. It brings up some very valid points. Do remember that it is the opinion of one person, and not necessarily mine (as I myself am a liberal). I just hope that it can prompt everybody to think, conservatives and liberals alike, about this upcoming election and how truly important it is. If you're reading this via facebook, please keep in mind that any unintelligible and uncivil comments about EITHER candidate WILL be deleted by me. I've seen this stuff get out of hand before. I encourage the debate, but please keep it civil with a clear line between fact and opinion. Enjoy.

KMT

__________________________

The original article can be viewed here.

A Conservative for Obama

My party has slipped its moorings. It's time for a true pragmatist to lead the country.

Leading Off - By Wick Allison, Editor In Chief of D Magazine

THE MORE I LISTEN TO AND READ ABOUT "the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate," the more I like him. Barack Obama strikes a chord with me like no political figure since Ronald Reagan. To explain why, I need to explain why I am a conservative and what it means to me.

In 1964, at the age of 16, I organized the Dallas County Youth for Goldwater. My senior thesis at the University of Texas was on the conservative intellectual revival in America. Twenty years later, I was invited by William F. Buckley Jr. to join the board of National Review. I later became its publisher.

Conservatism to me is less a political philosophy than a stance, a recognition of the fallibility of man and of man's institutions. Conservatives respect the past not for its antiquity but because it represents, as G.K. Chesterton said, the democracy of the dead; it gives the benefit of the doubt to customs and laws tried and tested in the crucible of time. Conservatives are skeptical of abstract theories and utopian schemes, doubtful that government is wiser than its citizens, and always ready to test any political program against actual results.

Liberalism always seemed to me to be a system of "oughts." We ought to do this or that because it's the right thing to do, regardless of whether it works or not. It is a doctrine based on intentions, not results, on feeling good rather than doing good.

But today it is so-called conservatives who are cemented to political programs when they clearly don't work. The Bush tax cuts—a solution for which there was no real problem and which he refused to end even when the nation went to war—led to huge deficit spending and a $3 trillion growth in the federal debt. Facing this, John McCain pumps his "conservative" credentials by proposing even bigger tax cuts. Meanwhile, a movement that once fought for limited government has presided over the greatest growth of government in our history. That is not conservatism; it is profligacy using conservatism as a mask.

Today it is conservatives, not liberals, who talk with alarming bellicosity about making the world "safe for democracy." It is John McCain who says America's job is to "defeat evil," a theological expansion of the nation's mission that would make George Washington cough out his wooden teeth.

This kind of conservatism, which is not conservative at all, has produced financial mismanagement, the waste of human lives, the loss of moral authority, and the wreckage of our economy that McCain now threatens to make worse.

Barack Obama is not my ideal candidate for president. (In fact, I made the maximum donation to John McCain during the primaries, when there was still hope he might come to his senses.) But I now see that Obama is almost the ideal candidate for this moment in American history. I disagree with him on many issues. But those don't matter as much as what Obama offers, which is a deeply conservative view of the world. Nobody can read Obama's books (which, it is worth noting, he wrote himself) or listen to him speak without realizing that this is a thoughtful, pragmatic, and prudent man. It gives me comfort just to think that after eight years of George W. Bush we will have a president who has actually read the Federalist Papers.

Most important, Obama will be a realist. I doubt he will taunt Russia, as McCain has, at the very moment when our national interest requires it as an ally. The crucial distinction in my mind is that, unlike John McCain, I am convinced he will not impulsively take us into another war unless American national interests are directly threatened.

"Every great cause," Eric Hoffer wrote, "begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket." As a cause, conservatism may be dead. But as a stance, as a way of making judgments in a complex and difficult world, I believe it is very much alive in the instincts and predispositions of a liberal named Barack Obama.

Write to wicka@dmagazine.com.

A Jason Robert Brown Kind of Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:30:00 +0000

For those of you who don't know who Jason Robert Brown is, let me enlighten you. JRB (I call him this because it's much faster to type) is, in my humble opinion, one of the most talented living songwriters. He's a composer of musical theatre who never ceases to create songs of absolute brilliance. He is, without a doubt, the greatest influence on my work. The best part is that he's young, so we can still count on many an amazing show coming from him.

This past weekend has been filled with JRB goodness. Allow me to elaborate.

A few days ago, I got an email stating that all 13-18 year olds were welcome to attend the dress rehearsal of his brand new musical, 13; however, you had to RSVP to the invitation, and they were only taking so many on a first-come first-served basis. I sent in my RSVP, but never received an email back. I resigned myself to not being able to see the show; however, I then received an email from a friend who had won a ticket, but thought he'd be unable to attend due to callbacks for one of Columbia's fall productions. He was offering it to me. In consolation and gratitude, I offered him my other ticket to see [title of show] at the end of the month, and graciously accepted the ticket to 13. I was going.

The next day I was bored, so I took a short trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond to purchase a floor lamp. I arrived home to find an email saying that they'd had a cancellation and that I now had a ticket. I emailed Cody to tell him that I didn't need the ticket anymore, and was surprised to get an enthusiastic reply. His callbacks had been moved to an earlier time. So there we were, two HUGE Jason Robert Brown fans, both with tickets to the first-ever public performance of his new Broadway show.

The show was the next day, so I went downtown that morning to pick up my ticket. That afternoon my floor was taking a group trip to the Museum of Modern Art, so I just decided that I'd stay downtown the whole day, rather than take an unnecessary amount of subway trips. So I got my ticket, got some lunch, and went to MoMA. At about 3:30 I got a call from Cody asking when we should go to the theatre. Neither of us had anything to do, so we thought, "what the hell? Let's just go now, sit in line (the tickets were general admission), and do some homework while we wait." Well, as any college or high school student knows, the intentions of doing homework quite often remain intentions. We sat in line and befriended some awesome theatre kids from New Jersey and waited…for FOUR HOURS. We soon began to doubt the whole waiting thing. We were practically in the front, but as 8:00 neared, sitting in a huge, loud line in which we were the oldest people there, we started to doubt if it'd be worth the wait.

WRONG. The doors opened, they checked our tickets, and we walked straight into the front row. And not just the front row. The dead CENTER of the front row. We sat front row, center to the very first performance of a Broadway production. And the show…fabulous. The cast and band was entirely made up of teenagers, all of whom possessed uncanny amounts of talent. The show, being about life as a 13 year old, could have easily been turned into a Disney Channel type of show, but this show had true heart (and even some adult humor). The music was fantastic (as JRB always is) and the story was surprisingly memorable, simple as it was. It's definitely a show to go see, and will likely be a strong candidate for the Tony this year.

So sitting front row, center to a first-ever performance is something I can cross off my bucket list.

Secondly, and a much shorter story, I got some more exciting news in the midst of all this excitement. A few nights ago I had an interview for the production team of Columbia's fall production, "Songs for a New World," incidentally by Jason Robert Brown. All I really wanted was to get involved, and being a freshman, I thought I would simply be asked to help as a stagehand; however, they've asked me to join the team as assistant sound designer and assistant art director! So it looks like the fall is off to a great start on the music/theatre front.

At any rate, this blog has gone on long enough. I'm off to run.

KMT

A Set Schedule and a Week Finished…Life is Good

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:25:00 +0000

So it's a week plus into real college life. Classes are well underway (along with the homework) and things are shaping up nicely. I finally set my schedule in stone today. I'm taking two core classes: Literature Humanities (yay!) and Frontiers of Science (boo!). Other than that, I'm taking all music classes (yay!): Music Humanities, Diatonic Harmony/Counterpoint (that's music theory to most of you), and Ear Training I. So far I think I'm really going to like this balance. Plenty of music, but not an overwhelming amount. I'm just thankful that I was able to place out of the base level music classes. I'm even more grateful to Mr. Nash for all the ear training and melodic/harmonic scale theory he shoved at us, as it's almost entirely the reason that I was able to start at a higher level.

Every single one of my professors is awesome. I could spend a good amount of time telling you about them, but I highly doubt that's necessary. Just trust me, they're phenomenal and care so much about each student. More than anything, I can already feel myself being pushed to think in ways that I've never thought before. The brilliance of this university's educational philosophy is already hard at work.

Thankfully things are settling down. The only thing I have left to do is get a job. I've joined some clubs, made lots of new friends, managed to make my dorm room less-than-clean, and locked myself out a couple of times. I feel muchly at home, and it's quite a good feeling. Not to mention, all of this is happening in my favorite place in the world. I'm a New Yorker, guys! Well…getting there. Oh, and did I mention that I've managed to secure free tickets to two (possibly three) Broadway shows? Most of my floor is headed to see Wicked on Wednesday night (with the always fabulous Kerry Ellis. You have no idea how much I've been dying to see this woman perform.). I won tickets to see [title of show] (yes, that's what it's called) on the 26^th, and just two nights ago I entered my name for free tickets to Jason Robert Brown's new show, 13. I'm somewhat certain that I'll be able to secure those. Usually I'm not very lucky, but somewhere on the way up here that changed…

I guess there's not much else to write about at this point. More than anything, life is just kinda existing, which is a good thing in my opinion. That means I'm getting used to this, and enjoying it at the same time. College and New York life is starting to feel normal.

Keep in touch!

KMT

My New York

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:29:00 +0000

Well guys, I'm here. It's finally started to sink in that this is actually happening. Granted orientation itself feels a bit like a summer camp, and not like college, but once classes starts, I'm sure that things will pan out.

My dorm room is great. After some rearranging of the furniture it actually feels plenty big. There's tons of room on the floor, which is where any of you who come to visit me will be sleeping (I get the bed, sorry). Although, I must say that having no AC isn't exactly a fun thing. I do get a good breeze out my window being on the 13th floor and all, but the past few days have been hot and humid, which is gross.

The people here are wonderful. EVERYONE is from such a totally different background. The diversity is unbelievable. I have a kid from Ireland right across the hall, a girl from South Korea right next door, a girl from Haiti down the hall, and a girl from Beijing in my orientation group. And that doesn't even begin to cover it. It's amazing to be in a place where everybody isn't a white protestant. The atmosphere of it is truly incredible, and somehow we can all sit down and watch the same television show and laugh.

And of course, there's New York. Last night I went for a walk down 5th avenue by central park, and for the first time it really felt like I LIVE here. I've wanted this for so long, and it's unbelievable that it's finally happening. I'm sitting here looking out my window, listening to the sounds of the city streets below and thinking, "this is my New York." It's not the New York that I go to visit for a weekend, or the New York that I visit by PATH train from New Jersey. This New York is finally mine to live in and be a part of. To go for a run in Riverside Park, or just head down to Rite Aid for cheap(er) groceries is satisfying enough. It validates that I'm here, and here to stay for as long as I want. I couldn't feel more at home.

Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:41:00 +0000

So to make it easier on everybody, my blog now exports itself into Facebook notes. Whenever I write here it will show up as a note. Keep in mind you can only see it if you have a Facebook. You can also subscribe to the notes via Facebook, or you can do so by clicking on "Subscribe - Blog" over on the right. If you want to keep up with the music I write though, you'll have to subscribe directly to the music portion of my blog on the music page.

Of course, I'm probably being vain in thinking that people are actually reading my blog anyways, but I would love it if you do! And comments make me smile. :)

KMT

The Olympics

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:04:00 +0000

So the opening ceremony to the 2008 Beijing Olympics just ended, and I felt the urge to blog about it (although, this one's gonna be brief. I'm tired.).

Firstly, from a purely creative and technical standpoint the ceremony was spectacular. I'd venture to say that it's the best multimedia/artistic achievement the world has yet to see. From the most heart-pounding drum roll in history to the most awe-inspiring torch lighting, the ceremony had me enthralled from beginning to end. Not to mention, no marching band has anything on those dancers. I've never seen circles that perfect...

But more than anything, the ceremony struck a chord in me, and I'm wondering if perhaps it's impact is going to be on a larger scale than expected. China made something clear in the ceremony: it's very in touch with its past, but it also looks towards an incredible bright future. That future, however, is the future of the world, and not only its own. Though they still partake in some questionable activities, China's rise doesn't appear to be centered around itself, but around becoming a world leader. They sent the clear message that they see a brighter tomorrow for the world, and that they are eager to be a part of making that happen. China may be communist, and they may live very different lifestyles, but they don't appear to be masterminding a global uprising. They live their way and we live our way, but there's no reason that we both can't work together in bringing this world forward.

....and now I'm starting to ramble, so I'm gonna head to bed.

Oh, and PS. I'm working on the music section of my blog. Hopefully before too long, you guys can check out some of the stuff that I'm working on, and that I've completed. G'night!

A Little Bit of What I Stand For...

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:34:00 +0000

I stand for the power to change
I live for the perfect day

So begins the chorus to a song by one of my favorite artists, Idina Menzel (whose concert was FANTASTIC, I must say). These lyrics come to mind after getting into one of the most fierce debates thus far in my life; although, I'm not sure you can even call it a debate.

It all happened on Facebook. An individual posted a note about Barack Obama. It was one of those false emails that have been circulating, claiming that Obama was unpatriotic because he "didn't say the pledge" or "stand for the national anthem". I was quick to post a link in reply that contained the page disproving these accusations. I preceded to ask that people check their facts before making such claims. I thought it would be over with that.

Or not.

Last night another post by the same individual arrived. It pointed out 13 different acts of terrorism, taking special care to note that they were carried out by "Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40." Furthermore, it attempted to label Obama as a "Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40." I started to get angry. This conclusion, preceeded by these cited acts of terrorism, was essentially trying to label Obama as a terrorist. However, there was so much false with what was said. Obama is, in fact, not a Muslim. His family history includes traces of Islam, but he identifies himself as a Christian. I practically detailed Obama's upbringing to show this. I concluded, however, that even if he were Muslim, it shouldn't matter. Almost all religions have a violent history, Christianity included. The assumption that those of the Islamic faith are terrorists was ludicrous.

However, it wasn't over. This morning I got on and a new note had been posted. This note wasn't very focused. It jumped around and basically bashed Obama for his background. It took true events and twisted them into false claims, saying his mother was "atheist" when she was infact a deeply spiritual person. It tried to incinuate that Obama had acquired his money for school through questionable means; however, I can personally attest to the plausibilty that his education was paid for by the instition he attended (go Columbia!). And since when is achieving the Amercian dream a bad thing? I suppose it's only bad when you don't like the person who achieves it. Once again, however, the post and following comments took swings at Obama's religion, claiming that he's Muslim.

I responded, pleading once again that people examine candidates based on policy, experience, and personal values, though I doubt my pleas will be heard.

What bothered me most though, was the blantant racism, prejudice, and religious intolerance of the people posting and commenting. Perhaps I'm naive to think that people who are different can coexist in a harmonious society, but it is what I stand for. I stand for the power to change. I live for that perfect day. I will not be a part of the problems of this world, so long as I can help it.

A Thank You to George Hopkins and the 2008 Cadets

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:04:00 +0000

Though I should easily be in bed, I've spent the last hour and a half feeding my drum corps thirst. I've been taking a look at the Cadet's show for this year, entitled "...and the Pursuit of Happiness." Once again, the Cadets are pushing the boundaries and comfort zones of Drum Corps, and once again I've been reading very negative reactions to their show. It's easy, when reading these reactions, to get caught up in the deeply entrenched tradition in the world of DCI, and start to wonder if the Cadets and their director Geroge Hopkins really know what they're doing.

The show, like last year's, makes use of heavy narration. It tells the story of Sarah Jones, a character meant to represent us all. Sarah's story is told through a pseudo NPR interview, which lasts throughout the entire show. We learn of her battle with breast cancer, her struggles with her children, and her divorce. The show is set to the music of Frank Ticheli, with his hauntingly beautiful "An American Elegy" setting the overall theme of the show.

I saw a bootlegged video of the show on youtube tonight. The narration cut out for part of the show due to some microphone troubles, but I still got the gist of it. There were times where I found myself longing for the traditional power that I feel when watching a drum corps show, and it wasn't long before I was questioning the Cadet's artistic vision. So I went to their website to investigate...I found this video.

My doubts were immediately erased. This corps is more than tradition. They represent (silly as it may seem) everthing that I stand for. They ignore the status quo. They explore. They try. They fail. But they also succeed. Is that not what art is? If we're constantly playing it safe and creating what we already know, then where are we really going? The truth is, we aren't going anywhere. We aren't progressing. This corps explores new avenues, and they aren't afraid to do so. They understand the power behind being different. They understand that by daring to be different, they will ultimately bring about progress, and keep their art ALIVE.

So go ahead. Keep your mind shut and bombard this corps with comments about how much you hate their vision. That's fine. But it's not going to faze them (or me). So long as they dare to be different, I will dare to appreciate them.

My thanks goes out to George Hopkins, the staff, and the Cadets of '08 for daring to keep their art alive. We can all take a hint from you. I know I will.

A Day in the Life at Super Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:48:00 +0000

So normally work isn't worth writing about, but I have nothing else to write about, and today was actually mildly interesting...

So finally (after TWO MONTHS), they decided to fix our AC at work. I get there this morning and there's a crane sitting in the parking lot, not yet operating, which needed to be used to get a part to the AC, which is on the roof (/run on sentence). As I'm sitting there, processing shoes, this guy walks in and tells us that we have to clear out the entire store. Apparently if they dropped what the crane was carrying, it would have torn through the roof. This ended up interesting for multiple reasons. Though they didn't drop anything, we got out of working for half an hour (and still got paid). We spent our time browsing in Goodwill. More than anything, I was excited by the fact that (for just a few minutes) there was a structure in Harrisonburg that was actually tall. Sad, I know...

But sadly, nothing dramatic happened, and work resumed as normal. This is my oh-so-interesting job, kids. Marvel in its glory.

KMT

Graduation, Senior Trip, & Summer '08

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:05:00 +0000

I'll tell you what....summer is glorious. My fellow APers can vouch. Never before has relief been sweeter. Though is was baking hot, graduation was good I suppose. I keep telling people that I graduated in my head back in January, so the official ceremony was a bit anticlimactic. It was awesome to see my family (and co-workers! Thanks guys!) again. Mostly awesome though was mine and Kendall's party afterwords. Despite my infuriated allergies, the party was great. I saw lots of friends that I hadn't in awhile and got lots of sweet gifts.

I thought it would be difficult to believe that I wouldn't be going back to high school, but it honestly has been a very easy concept to grasp. This makes me feel very good, as I'm now confident that I'm ready for college and for New York (well, as ready as an out-of-towner can be for New York). I'm actually very ready for summer to be over so that I can start my life up there in the city. It just feels so right to me at this point.

But the end of high school could only mean one thing...our senior trip! As many of you know, Kendall, Katie, Rebekah, Kelly, and I all went up to New York for 6 days/5 nights. It was, without a doubt, the best trip I've ever taken. You can't beat 6 days of pure fun in the city of your dreams with 4 of your closest friends. We saw so many shows, which was my ultimate goal. Only a couple of hours after we checked into our apartment in Hell's Kitchen we went to the box office at Spring Awakening and got Student Rush seats. Let me tell you...PHENOMENAL show. The world really needs this one. The next night we won six (yes, SIX) tickets to Rent via the lottery, and saw that second row center (first row for Kelly and Katie). I must comment on how awesome Will Chase was as Roger. The next day we saw In the Heights, which is most definitely my personal favorite now. From a critical aspect, the show is mildly flawed, but it really didn't matter. I've never seen pride and honesty on a stage like that....and Lin-Manuel Miranda? New idol. The next day I saw Sunday in the Park with George, which was also spectacular. The lighting was truly revolutionary (which was made even more awesome by the fact that I sat next to a professional lighting designer during the show!). Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell were absolutely fantastic. Better than Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters were, if I may be so bold.

We also did a thousand other things on the trip, of which there are too many to tell about here. Bottom line: it was amazing.

But that was the trip, which of course had to end. Ever since I've been sleeping late and working. Good 'ole Super Shoes. Definitely ready to not have to work there anymore...although I will miss my fantastic co-workers. I suppose that'll be my summer until the end of August when I finally move.

KMT

And so it begins....

noreply@blogger.com (Berkley Todd) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:00:00 +0000

So I've told a few people that I planned on starting a blog before I left for New York this coming fall. See...I didn't lie! I cannot wait to move on, but I will also miss everyone very dearly, so hopefully this can be a great to way to keep everyone up to date about what's going down in my life.

Keep in touch!

KMT