Category — Blurbs

The Modern Museum of Art is one of the few museums open on Mondays. After realizing that I thought most people don’t go to museums on Monday therefore MOMA probably wouldn’t be crowded. I was completely wrong. When I arrived to the white glassy modern building the entire lobby was crowded with visitors. Waiting on line was really big hassle because the staff kept directing me back and forth from information desk to ticket line. The museum had a beautiful garden with abstract sculptures and a large fountain. Each floor was separated according to the categories. My favorite was the contemporary gallery, architecture and design, and drawings. MOMA had a large variety of artworks that were funky and modern. The furniture and architectural plans were very futuristic. Most of the painting and drawings were feasible to understand because it was related to the current events. My favorite works were Double Self Portrait, Veryround Chair, and Cloud 9. 

The musical Avenue Q is absolutely amazing. Directed Jason Moore, the musical is unique because they use puppets. Once the musical starts, the people and the puppets come together so well that you actually think it is the puppets who are acting. The humans make perfect movements and expressions for the puppets that make us think they are alive. The songs and jokes keep the audience laughing all throughout the show as the main character tries to find his purpose in life. Although each person acts out two to three different puppets, they are able to stress each puppet’s different qualities. The set and props of the show are very detailed and they help to allow the audience to actually be on Avenue Q throughout the show. The two television screens on each side of the stage show small cartoons relating to the musical, which help animate the whole experience even more. Although everything about the show is flawless, many of the scenes and language used are Rated R and parents should be warned before taking their children. But, Avenue Q is an outstanding puppet show for adults! 

On September 23, 2008, five dance groups performed at NY City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival. The Beijing Dance Company opened the show with a strange yet thought-provoking performance. The dancers wore either a black or white skirt. Their performance symbolically conveyed an underlying conflict between the two sides. The Houston Ballet kept the audience awake as the two dancers gracefully twirled on and off the stage. Richard Siegal’s dancers kept the audience laughing with their humorous dance moves. The Fang Yi- Sheu performer gracefully danced across a black table and created an illusion of floating in mid-air. The Gentlemen of Halau Na Kamalei were definitely the highlight of the evening as they made music with their voices and danced to the rhythm of their clapping hands and stomping feet.

With a new cast of bright, young actors, Spring Awakening continues to wow audiences with its provocative and exhilarating storyline and tunes. Even though this is my second time watching it, it still holds the same excitement and interest it did for me when I first watched it back in January. Based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial 19-century play, one which was banned for about 70 years, Spring Awakening is a story of 19th century German youths undergoing their own sexual awakening and quest for “carnal knowledge”. Just this past summer, Hunter Parrish recently replaced Jonathan Groff as the male lead, Melchior, and Alexandra Socha replaced Lea Michele as the female lead, Wendla rounding out the new “class” of Spring Awakening while bringing just a tinge of freshness to the musical. With a rock-concert like soundtrack, fitting stage atmosphere and amazing actors, Spring Awakening keeps you on the edge of your seat and excited forwhats more to come.

The Cosmic Collisions exhibit at the Museum of Natural History is a bit steep in price, but the cost is worth the experience. Surrounded by flaming comets, exploding stars, and emerging galaxies it is easy to forget that you are sitting in little more than a 3 dimensional movie theater with suspiciously comfortable chairs. Observe the truth in what feels like a science fiction screening by journeying through the history of the known Universe. Explore this unique look into the proposed beginning of planets and stars via a circular room with a mesmerizing display projected across the entire dome ceiling. Strap in. As soon as the lights turn off and the ceiling turns on you are no longer a New Yorker navigating your way through the nearest subway: you become an astronaut navigating your way through both space and time.