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Entertainment

No happy ending to Niagara University’s theater season
Review by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, April 24, 2008


(Left to right) Kit Kat Club Girl Helga (JennaBeth Stockman) poses with
the “Cabaret” Emcee (Jonathan E. Klatt) and their roommate, a Kit Kat
wannabe (Jimmy Moses). (photo by John Stuart)

Niagara University’s presentation of “Cabaret” is shocking and disturbing … and you’ll probably want to see it twice, which in itself is somewhat shocking and disturbing. But, it’s just that good.

“Cabaret,” based on the words of author Joe Masteroff and the music of Kander and Ebb, offers scantily clad characters prowling around the German Kit Kat Club portraying taboo signs of affection. All the while, underlying stories of love are juxtaposed with the rise of the Nazi party and its effects.

Our tour guide through this is a flamboyant, bisexual emcee; a stylized floating head portrayed with panache by Jonathan E. Klatt. The main characters include an American writer who may or may not be homosexual (he can’t decide) and his female roommate and potential new love, an English cabaret singer who has a history of sleeping with and quickly discarding men.

In every sense of the word, “Cabaret” is a very mature musical and a drastic departure from season finales of the recent past (including “Chicago” and “Fiddler on the Roof”). It’s a wonderfully cast production that bluntly deals with racial hatred in the form of a shiny, seedy world. In the face of prejudice, characters escape to a dreamlike place; a club where “In here, life is beautiful.”

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Top television dramas return
by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, April 17, 2008


Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz from “Bones.”
(photo ©2007 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Kwaku Alston/FOX)

“Lost” and “Bones,” two of television’s best dramas, have returned with new episodes. “Lost” co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Carlton Cuse, and “Bones” star and former Buffalo resident David Boreanaz spoke to the Sentinel about what fans can expect as each show heads into the season’s final stretch.

‘Lost’

Last season, “Lost” presented one of the most critically acclaimed season finales in television history. After two years of flashbacks, designed to give viewers a back-story on the stranded survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, “Lost” flashed forward at the end of season three, revealing two main characters had escaped their island confinement.

Now in season four, the show has continued to flash forward, revealing a total of six characters make it off the island. How they accomplish that feat (or accomplished, depending on the timeline) remains unclear, as does the fate of the remaining island dwellers.

Lindelof said his team of writers is conscious of fans’ expectations that this season’s final episode will continue to take the series down creative (and unexpected) pathways. He’s confident this year’s two-hour conclusion (Thursday, May 29, 9 to 11 p.m. on ABC/Ch. 7) will satisfy “Lost” viewers.

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Shea’s unveils 21st season lineup
Niagara Frontier Publications, April 17, 2008

Late last week, Shea’s Performing Arts Center and its Broadway partner and producer, Albert Nocciolino, announced the 2008-09 season. The M&T Bank Broadway Series features “Legally Blonde The Musical,” “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular,” “Mama Mia!,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “A Chorus Line” and “The Color Purple.” Special engagements include “Girls Night: The Musical,” “Annie” and “Rent.”

“In the ’08-’09 season, we continue to bring our audiences the hottest musicals on Broadway including their most frequently requested shows,” Shea’s President Anthony Conte said. “Our patrons have been anxiously awaiting the return of the ‘Radio City Christmas Spectacular’ and we’re very excited to bring it back.”

“Legally Blonde The Musical” kicks things off Oct. 14-19. Based on the hit film, “Legally Blonde” brings its first national tour to Buffalo. “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular” returns Nov. 13-30 for 36 performances with the world-famous Radio City Rockettes.

“Mama Mia,” which will hit theaters this summer, is the first Shea’s performance of 2009. The music of ABBA will be heard Feb. 10-15. Perhaps the most famous motion picture of all time, the Broadway version of “The Wizard of Oz” will grace the Buffalo stage March 17-22. It’s followed by “A Chorus Line” on May 5-10.

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Island native Clark’s song featured on ‘The Hills’
Niagara Frontier Publications, April 17, 2008

“Say What You Want,” a song by Grand Island High School alumna Stacy Clark, was featured recently on the MTV semi-reality series “The Hills.” The song, off of Clark’s 2007 album “Apples and Oranges,” can be heard during the final 1:15 of episode 320 (“Back to LA”). In the scene, Whitney is leaving “Team Vogue,” her internship at Teen Vogue magazine, and has an emotional embrace with series star Lauren Conrad.

To watch the episode and hear Clark’s song, visit http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1584224. The episode has already been viewed online more than 1 million times.

Songs from “Apples and Oranges,” produced by Loren Israel and Ian Kirkpatrick, have been spun on radio stations in California, and featured in clothing outlets in Europe and in select Sephora stores. Three of the 11 songs on “Apples and Oranges” feature notable guest vocalists. Plain White T’s singer Tom Higgenson joins Clark on “Recluse,” while Tim Pagnotta of Sugarcult lends his voice to “Closer” and Aaron Marsh of Copeland contributes the bridge to “Empty Bottles.”

No stranger to television, Clark’s songs “You Make It Worse” and “Unusual” were featured on MTV’s hit show “Engaged and Underage” and the CW series “Girlfriends.” Last summer, she served as a co-host on “The Big Ten,” a popular MTV video program.

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‘Prime Time’ comes to primetime
Preview by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, April 12, 2008


“Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love.” Pictured
are Pilar and Deion Sanders. (Oxygen Photo)

He is a former All-Pro NFL cornerback and Major League Baseball outfielder. She is a former model and television star. Together, Deion and Pilar Sanders are a happily married couple raising five children in a plush mansion in the quiet town of Prosper, Texas.

Never one to shy away from the camera, and eager to show the world how a positive, Christian black family lives, Deion pitched a reality series to the Oxygen Network. Convinced this program would be affirming, while offering an entertaining, behind-the-scenes look into a well known (and often misunderstood) celebrity, executives green lit the show. “Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love” premieres on Oxygen on Tuesday, April 15, at 10:30 p.m.

Earlier this week, Deion and Pilar shared their goals for the show with the Sentinel.

Joshua Maloni: Hey Prime Time and Mrs. Prime Time.

Deion Sanders: How are you doing, sir?

Pilar Sanders: Hi.

JM: How did the idea of the show come about? Was it something that they pitched to you or that you pitched to them?

Deion: No, it’s something I pitched to them. I mean, we were just sitting up at home watching – you know, we’re really reality fans and we watch a lot of television, having five kids.

Therefore, just seeing nothing of the sort and thinking back to some of the shows that we love…

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April comes in like a lion
by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, April 5, 2008


From “Battlestar Galactica”: Katee Sackhoff as Kara “Starbuck”
Thrace (Sci Fi Channel Photo: Justin Stephens)

TV lovers take note: April is showering in significant events. Though we’ve long seen this month as the waiting room to May’s season finales, this year is different thanks to these shows.

“Idol Gives Back”

“American Idol,” television’s No. 1 program for four seasons and counting, will once again use its star power to raise funds for a half-dozen charities. “Idol Gives Back,” the show’s second annual fundraiser, will be filmed Sunday and Wednesday in Hollywood.

In addition to performances by the remaining eight contestants, “Idol Gives Back” will feature appearances by Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Eli Manning, Robin Williams, Celine Dion, Billy Crystal, Kiefer Sutherland, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Snoop Dogg, Heart, Elliott Yamin, Fantasia and Amy Adams – to name a few.

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Former Lewiston restaurateur visits ‘Hell’
Niagara Frontier Publications, April 5, 2008

Filippo Inglima, former co-owner of Lewiston’s Villa Fortunata’s, got a taste of “Hell” Tuesday. His current establishment, Filippo’s Restaurant on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo, served as a screening location for the fourth season premiere of “Hell’s Kitchen.” The Italian eatery’s manager, Shayna Raichilson-Zadok, is one of two Western New York chefs competing on the FOX reality competition.

Since he first hired Raichilson-Zadok, Inglima said he’s known she is “dedicated and has skills.”

Filippo’s will once again participate in the “Taste of Buffalo” and Italian Festival. Inglima said he’s excited to also return to Lewiston as a participant in its summer festival season.

“I can’t wait to go back to see all my good friends in beautiful Lewiston,” he said.

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