Willy Gets the Wilis

In Act II of the ballet Giselle, Wilis, or young maidens that have died before their wedding day appear in a graveyard as spirits to lure men to dance until they die. Some believe this must be where the phrase "get the willies" comes from (actual origins unknown-- more on this topic in another blog). For Willy Shives this feeling is cyclical.

Nine years ago, while performing the role of Albrecht as a guest artist with the Milwaukee Ballet, Shives was asked to join the Joffrey Ballet by its co-founder and Director Emeritus, Gerald Arpino. Now, he is reprising the lead male role as the Joffrey performs Giselle for the first time. [For ticket information, see below.]

The Joffrey is marketing Giselle as “ballet’s most famous ghost story” which is apropos for late October/Halloween and the eerie mood that the Wilis set in Act II. Shives, whose career took off when he became a soloist in 1993 with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, is excited to be performing this particular ballet as part of his final season with the Joffrey.

Maia Wilkins will be dancing the title role of Giselle with Shives as her love, Albrecht. Their partnership began as soon as he joined the Joffrey and has dazzled audiences for years. (Rumor has it that they will be dancing the final performance of Giselle at the October 28th matinee.) Willy says the partnership has been "the best", aside (of course) from his on-and-off stage partnership with his wife.

In Act II, Albrecht is ordered by the Queen of the Wilis to dance until he dies. This famous scene allows Shives to showcase some of his virtuoso talents. When asked about his death sentence, Shives said it would be “best way to go”. But don't put him in his ballet grave just yet. After his official retirement at the end of this season, he is "moving fully into the Ballet Master world". Affectionately called “grandpa” by some of the members of the company, Shives wants to “give back to these young dancers”. I, for one, can't wait to see what impact his knowledge and experience will have on the company.

As a fan of Shives and Giselle, I am glad the Joffrey decided to add it to their repertory now. As one of the "white ballets" (as well as one of the most famous and most performed ballets), it is the perfect opportunity for Chicago audiences to see their company perform a classic and to see how wonderful Shives is in it.

Ticket information:
Joffrey Ballet - Giselle, Oct 17 – 28
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
www.ticketmaster.com or call 312.902.1500

Is it just me, or...

...does the Bush/Cheney dynamic summon images of the late 90's Emmy-winning cartoon "Pinky and the Brain"? Two genetically enhanced lab mice: one insane with a thick accent, and one a bald evil genius. Narf!
Pinky: Gee Brain, what do you want to do tonight?
Brain: The same thing we do every night, Pinky -- try to take over the world.

...does the current Blackwater scandal seem eerily like something "Treadstone" from Robert Ludlum's Bourne series would do (but not get caught)?

...do you find it interesting that Theodore Sorensen, former Senior Advisor to JFK, is now travelling with Barack Obama on the campaign trail?

...do they always print pictures of Nancy Pelosi that make her look psychotic and deranged? Poor thing. People already think she's nuts.

...is Cheney really Beelzebub?

...does the fact that DraftGore.com says that is has 136,000 signatures on its petition to have Al run for Pres make you all tingly inside? (Sorry Barack. I love you, but you may get kicked to the curb if the Big Man runs. Call me fickle!)

...are the Dems really just a bunch of liberal sissies? I mean really -- grow some balls, get our troops home and impeach the assholes already!!

...is Bush's new appointee for Family Planning the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard? Susan Orr, whose rationale for discouraging birth control funding is that "fertility is not a disease", comes from the conservative Family Research Council and teaches at Pat Robertson's Regent University.

...does Ann Coulter need to go away?

..is the main stream media choosing our candidates for us? The political "reporting" of late is nothing more than the creation of a he said/she said, mudslinging horserace to get ratings. Pathetic. (And I'm especially disenchanted by the farce of a debate that CNN hosted last week. Wolf, you are an idiot!)

...does Hillary take a poll to see what she eats for breakfast? (Note to our former First Lady: That does NOT count as experience in the White House and you may want to contact a new make up artist because you look like you've been consulting with Mary Matalin or a bad drag queen lately.)

It's NOT Easy Being Green

Congratulations Greenie! It's official -- Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize!

...and the (right wing) fossil fuel machine was already at work, not an hour later, on CNN trying to diminish the honor by saying that he is spouting fiction. Sigh. Can't we just let him enjoy his award for a minute? I know it is imperative that Big Oil do damage control to save their billions in profits by diminishing the threat, but they're even going as far (as on Fox News) saying that now the Nobel Prize is just a joke!! Is it not the most prestigious award that we humans (or is it only humanitarians) have? And don't you think that - just maybe -- the people on the Nobel Committee are a wee bit smarter than we are?

In an article on GOPUSA.com (yes, I am a masochist), Doug Patton writes that the Nobel Committee has "awarded its 'Peace Prize' (yes, he did use quotes) to the person or group that best furthers the goals of the left". Uh, duh, because the right is all about profiteering, NOT peace!! If there were any natural resources in Darfur, we would be there in a heartbeat.

Patton goes on to say that he wishes Gore would run for President, because he thinks the Republicans would be able to beat him easier than Hillary. He further states that Gore's environmental plans have been estimated at $553 trillion over the next century which would destroy our economy and essentially render him un-electable. Once again -- it's all about money with these guys. Ok, let's put this into perspective. It is an extreme amount of money, but for the greater of the planet AND spread out over 100 years. Under the current administration, our national debt has increased $1.44 billion PER DAY since 09/09/2006 [www.brillig.com/debt_clock] and our price of addiction to foreign oil is over $3 trillion [www.zfacts.com], yet they got elected, well...sort of.

Both sides are debating the question: "Will he run?" In a NY Times article, James Carville (noted Democratic campaign strategist) is quoted as saying that he thinks there is a "25% chance the Gore gets in (the primary race). I don't think it's too late." As much as I would love it (it has been said that my politcal wet dream is a Gore/Obama ticket), I don't think it will happen. Sadly, if Gore had taken office when he rightly (ha, punny) should have, he wouldn't have had the time to dedicate to global warming research and activism.

Gore has repeatedly stated that he has "no intention" of entering the race, which some politicos say leaves a linguistic loophole. Remember Obama consistently said he had "no intention at this time" of running, but things change. Come on Al, think about it (we know you are).

Tick tock, sweetie.

Arrgghhh!

There should be more Pirates.

Aside from Captain Morgan (my personal favorite), I know pirates get a bad rep with all their raping and pilaging and such. However, scientific evidence suggests that "global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking number of Pirates since the 1800s", says Bobby Henderson, Founder of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

It's true. There's even a chart to prove it -- and I'm pretty sure Al Gore carries an eye patch in his briefcase. The theory that saving energy, buying carbon offsets and going "green" is great, but what we really need is a worldwide campaign to recruit more Pirates!

Join our legion of rogues and help save our planet. Put on your eye patch, raise a bottle of rum and visit: www.iwant2baPirate.argh

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"Make Noodles -- Not war"

torture

President Bush was quoted today as saying: "This government does not torture people."

Well "Bushie", you are (unfortunately) a part of "this" government and you are killin' me!

By definition [dictionary.com], torture is:
1. the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty.
2. a method of inflicting such pain.
3. Often, tortures. the pain or suffering caused or undergone.
4. extreme anguish of body or mind; agony.
5. a cause of severe pain or anguish.

With your lack of compassion, lack of understanding, lack of brain power, lack of judgement and lack of vocabulary, you are torturing millions of thoughtful, peace-minded, intelligent people here in your own land.

SUCK IT W!

Happy Book Banning Week!

Sept. 30 through Oct. 6. is Book Banning Week!

The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom hosts events throughout the week to celebrate our freedom to read whatever we want - especially banned books.

The most challenged book of 2006 is "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson. This children's book (which has won numerous national awards) is based on the true story of Roy and Silo, two male penguins from NYC's Central Park Zoo that made headlines when they tried to hatch a rock that looked like an egg. The zookeepers gave them an egg from a hetrosexual penguin family that was having trouble hatching two eggs at once, and they are now the proud parents of a female penguin named Tango. The book's message is that it's ok to have an alternative (ie. non-taditional) family.

Richardson is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia and Cornell Univeristies and is considered an authority on kids and sex. Who better to write this book? I'm sure many people would rather ignore the fact that there are same sex parent families thriving in our country, however, this is a gentle way to bring the subject "out" for discussion. We're talking about penguins here.

Some former banned books include The Adventuresof Huckleberry Finn, The Catcher in the Rye and Of Mice and Men. Offenses include sexual content, anti-family statements, homosexuality, unsuitable for the age group and political or religious views. Other notable authors on the "Do not read because they tell the thruth to kids and give them ideas that will send them to hell" are: Maya Angelou, Judy Blume, Maurice Sendak and, of course, J.K. Rowling.

Now, anyone who knows me knows I love the Harry Potter series and have huge problems with anyone saying (with a straight face) that they're promoting witchcraft. Aside from telling the classic story of good versus evil in a new and fantastic way (while drawing kids away from video games and the internet with a renewed interest in reading), Rowling also, with poetic license, touches on world history in the Hitler-esque leanings of Lord Voldemort and his Klu Klux Klan, hood-wearing Death Eater followers. (Ok, I'll admit this one is a stretch, but having the world turn dark, cold, gray and taken over by plague, disease and evil really doesn't sound that far off from today's world with famine, poverty, AIDS, terrorism and global warming, does it?)

And, come on -- Judy Blume? That woman taught me about how cruel children can be and classroom dynamics (Blubber), the female adolescence issues of being a "late bloomer" (Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret), and first time love with sex (Forever). I'm still a bit naive when it comes to the love/sex thing, but I would've been completely clueless if I hadn't read her books.

So, go out and get your favorite banned book to read.

http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/challengedbanned/challengedbanned.htm


"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person
were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in
silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be
justified in silencing mankind. Were an opinion a personal possession
of no value except to the owner; if to be obstructed in the enjoyment
of it were simply a private injury, it would make some difference
whether the injury was inflicted only on a few persons or on many. But
the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that
it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing
generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those
who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the
opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what
is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier
impression of truth, produced by its collision with error." — On
Liberty, John Stuart Mill

Celebrate the Freedom to Read!