Jeanine Noce, A & E Editor behrco!ls @ aol.com ‘Friends,’ ‘ER’ take home People’s Choice awards by Jeanine Noce A & E editor Kissing fans, giving autographs and taking your pants off. What do these three things have in common? These are what actors, actresses and singers are supposed to do for the fans. In fact, that’s what they did at the 28th annual “People’s Choice Awards” Sunday on CBS. Kevin James, the star of “The King of Queens" re turned as the comedic host for the awards show televised from the Pasadena Civic Au ditorium in California. The gala recognized special achievement in movies, tele vision and music, and awards were chosen by the people through a nationwide Gallup poll. The show is a platform for the winners to express their thanks and appreciation to those who love and sup port their performances when they attend concerts, buy CDs, rent or buy videos, go see a movie or watch them at home on television. Voting took place at www.cbs.com for several awards such as the favorite new tele vision dramatic series which “Alias” won. Favorite male and female mu sic performers were Garth Brooks and Faith Hill. Favorite musical group or band nominees were ’N Sync, Backstreet Boys and the Dixie Chicks. ’N Sync won. The favorite male performer in a new television series was Damon Wayans for the comedy “My Wife and Kids” which also won the award for favorite new television comedy series. Reba Mclntire won for fa vorite female performer in a new television series for “Reba.” Before ‘Phantom’ Ask the many Erie Playhouse people associated with the musical “Phantom’ - what they think of the show and the answer you will most likely get is “it is better than the other version.” “What other version?" you may well ask. “Isn’t there only one ‘Phan tom of the Opera?”’ Yes, there is on version called “Phantom of the Opera” and that is the musical written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. At the time Webber was working, composer Maury Yeston was at work on his own version titled, “Phantom.” Webber beat Yeston by finishing first and once “Phantom ol the Opera” opened in London, Yeston let his version languish, assuming no one would be interested. Several years later, a Texas theatre heard about the Yeston version asked if it could produce it. Audiences and critics alike deemed it superior to the famous Webber version. Indeed the atres all over the United States and 'Movies' ~\" Video* j Music * ! DVD* (Black Hawk ■ American Pie 2’ J -Chemical j - The Sixth Sense Down’ | -‘Glitter’ ! Brothers -‘BuffytheVam -‘Snow Dogs’ l -‘Bubble Boy’ | -Alan Jackson | pire Slayer [ - ‘The Anniversary | | Season 1 ’ I Party ’ I I -‘American Pie 2’ *Release Date: 1/18 receiving her award, Mclntire per formed a song. The favorite female television per former was Jennifer Aniston, who was not able to be at the awards show. However, she did give a re corded “thank you” for the fans from the Sundance film festival. “This is not really my area of ex pertise, but I am here to present the award for favorite male television Kevin James from “King of Queens” re turned to host the live telecast and began by walking through the audience chatting with celebrities. performer,” Ellen DeGeneres jok ingly told the audience. Kelsey Grammer and Ray Romano tied for that award. The favorite television comedy se ries was “Friends” and Matt Leßlanc spoke about how the fans were the most important people. “ER” beat out “Law & Order” and “The West Wing” for favorite dramatic series. The cast and crew accepted the award and spoke about “ER” not just • being a television series but also a person who brings so many wonder ful people together. Julia Roberts picked up the award an encore production the world started producing Yeston’s “Phantom.” The Erie Playhouse mounted “Phantom” in July of 1995 and it was extremely successful. “Phantom” will star the original 1995 leads again, with Jeff Lipiec playing the Phantom and Laurie Green re-creating Christine. Al Braun will play the Phantom’s father Gerard. Sean Baley will play Raoul, Christine’s love interest. A large cast of Playhouse singers, dancers and ac tors will complete the company. Richard Davis will direct, choreo graph and costume the characters and Joe Hassler will add scenery and lights. “Phantom” weaves the tale of a dis figured musical genius and a myste rious life below the stage of the Paris Opera. Secretive, unhappy and bitter over the turns his life has taken, the only joy he finds is in his coaching of a young soprano (Christine). His warped love for her almost destroys them both. The story of “Phantom of Friday, January 18, 2002 for favorite motion picture actress and was extremely excited and ner vous while thanking everyone. Tom Hanks was the winner for favorite motion picture actor and also re ceived the favorite motion picture star in a drama award for “Cast Away.” The favorite motion picture star in a movie was Eddie Murphy, who was on location. He had a re corded speech and thanked all of the people for their support for him throughout the years. The favorite reality based program was “Survivor: The Australian Outback” and the favorite daytime dramatic se ries was “Days of Our Lives.” Smash Mouth performed its hit song, “I’m a Believer” during the awards show. Tony Danza paid tribute to the police, firemen, paramed ics and all of the brave New York citizens. He spoke with kind words about the New York citizens and all of the helpful people in America and thanked them on behalf of everyone at the People’s Choice awards. The presenters included Carol Burnett, Ted Danson, Craig T. Nelson and Kiefer Sutherland among many others. This special presentation allowed the American people to express their feelings towards their favorite actors and singers and to hear from the win ners allowed the audience to see just how grateful the fans were for their support. Julia Roberts summed up the evening’s events. “Let’s all try to help one another and get along. God bless everyone and thank you,” said Roberts. the Opera” has captured theatergoers all over the world and every indica tion is that “Phantom” will repeat the success of all former productions. Show Dates & Times: Jan. 17-20,24-26 Thursday - 7:30 p.m., Friday & Saturday - 8 p.m., Sunday - 2 p.m. Jan. 26 - 5 p.m. Ticket Prices: Thursday & Sunday: adults $l7, seniors $l6, students $9 Friday & Saturday: adults $l9, seniors $lB, students $9 The Erie Playhouse 13 West 10th St. Erie, PA Box Office: 454-2852 ext. 41 www.erieplayhouse.org icial thanks to Media Play for provide ANTS A Don’t make trip to ‘Orange County’ As a life-long Erie resident with no west coast ties to speak of, ripping into what has become the Califor nia lifestyle isn’t something I could successfully pull off. Just watching “Clueless” or “Saved by the Bell” doesn’t give me that personal input needed to make believable criticism. Such commentary can be found in writer Michael White’s MTV-pro duced film “Orange County.” Raised in Pasadena, his insider’s perspective of the superficial and uncultured Cali fornia populace can be quite amusing. When combined with the necessary drama, however, “Orange County’s” satirical point of view makes the film feel more conflicted than the charac- ters ever do. After the death of a close friend, Shaun Brumder (Colin Hanks) goes into a meditative state. His days, no longer wasted on surfing, are spent peering into the ocean off the beaches of Orange County, Calif. One fateful day, Shaun stumbles upon a book writ ten by Stanford Professor Marcus Skinner (Kevin Kline). The book forces Shaun to question everything about his brain-dead hometown, and inspires him to become a Stanford educated writer. Everything goes perfectly until his college counselor sends the wrong transcript to Stanford. Rejected from his choice college, Shaun goes on a 300-mile road trip with his drugged out older brother Lance (Jack Black) and his girlfriend Ashley (Schuyler Fisk) in hopes of setting the record straight. Almost immediately, “Orange County” has trouble keeping its foot ing. Satire slips in and out of the heart ening story in the same fashion as product placement. It’s obviously in Two on the Aisle’ is a musical treat Take your seat at the Erie Play house for the next composer/lyri cist concert featuring the lyrics of Betty Comden and Adolph Green on Jan. 22 and 23. This dynamic duo have penned lyrics for Broad way productions such as “Peter Pan,” “On the Town,” “Bells are Ringing” and “The Will Rogers Follies.” Playhouse managing director, David Matthews acts as host and ‘Art’ It is time for the return of ‘Art,’ the Tony Award-winning comedy about art and the art of friendship. The show was a smash hit in its short run in March and April of last year. Now the three Kings of Erie comedy Jim Gandolfo, John Stockhausen and Mark Tanenbaum - return for a sec ond limited run of the play. Showcase raves, “Art and friend ship come together in ‘Art’ at.the Roadhouse Theatre. Under the direc tion of Scott McClelland, the comic by Daniel J. Stasiewski staff writer - wonderfully funny information County” which was released on January 11 there, because I was laughing. But just as the jokes don’t hinder the plot, they don’t push it much either. The pro miscuous head cheerleader, bungling faculty members, and a downright ob noxious family are all quite entertain ing. The only problem is, they don’t need to be. After all, should I really be laughing at Shaun’s alcoholic mother? Now, the ill-placed comedy is un necessary only because the film seems autobiographical at points. Jokes tend to be more of a coping mechanism than a creative outlet for real emotions. Compliments to White if this film doesn’t have any true-life roots; Shaun is certainly more personal than most central characters. If, however, this is White’s attempt at “Almost Fa mous,” it’s a considerable failure. I wouldn’t call just any asppct of “Orange County” disappointing be cause, frankly. I wasn’t expecting much. Black, however, was a disap pointment. After his sidesplitting role in “High Fidelity,” Black’s only unique character has come from “Shallow Hal.” In "Orange County,” Black resorts to the frenzied sidekick everyone knows. While he’s still funny, Black’s lack of innovation only pianist for the concert. Concert au diences have come to enjoy Matthews wit and spontaneit as he shares backstage gossip about the creators and stars of various Broad way shows. Joining Matthews are Geri Baker, June Braun, Lisa Campbell, Joe Cirino, Almitra Clerkin, Charles Corritore. Jerry Gill, Joe Hassler, Kate Neubert-Lechner, Marilyn Smith and Rich Tryzbiak singing the actors succeed in making the produc tion even funnier than the play reads.” The story turns on a disagreement between friends Serge and Mark over a large all-white painting purchased by Serge for $200,000. Marc brings their mutual friend “Ivan” into the fray and soon the arguments leap from theoretical to personal with hilarious results. Whether you missed it the first time around, want to see it again, or plan to bring your friends for a much The Behrend Beacon causes him to lose his appeal. Hank's and Fisk are competent in the lead roles. Hanks keeps the movie afloat, much as his father Tom Hanks did in his early comedic roles. Also the child of a veteran actor (Sissy Spacek), Fisk adds tremendous heart to a film that sees Black running around in his underwear most of the time. The two rising stars are the high light of this otherwise lackluster com edy. Besides the irony in MTV produc ing a film that parodies most of the network's audience, the entertainment value of “Orange County" is medio cre at best. The film could have been a nice break from recent heartless, gross-out teen movies, but “Orange County” doesn’t sustain itself long enough to matter. At least it’s a start ing point for new talent like Hanks and Fisk. Without their fresh perfor mances, “Orange County” would have been a total loss. * k out Of 4 lyrics of Comden and Green. There is no reserved seating and tickets are available at the door for $lO each. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. No advance reservations are ac cepted. ‘Two on the Aisle’ Jan. 22 & 23 - 7:30 p.m. Erie Playhouse 454-2852 ext. 41 www.erieplayhouse.org needed evening of laughs, ‘Art’ is back for a great night out at the the atre. Jan. 11 - Feb. 23 Fridays & Saturday at 8 Reservations: 456-5656 Roadhouse Theatre 145 West 11th St. - Erie PA Admission: $lO adults, $5 students with ID Page 5 O O lii
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