My friend Jamie has an awesome book blog. Recently, she got me the most perfectest birthday gift: Amy Sedaris’ latest how-to book, “Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People.” And, because it’s Jamie and me, we tried out some of the crafts, jumping feet first. Read about our efforts on Jamie’s blog.
My very gay weekend: ‘Valley of the Dolls’ at Music Box Theatre (with special guest Patty Duke) and Miranda Sings
Can we say gayest weekend ever? First up: a viewing of that classic 1967 film, “Valley of the Dolls,” at the Music Box Theatre. If you know anything about me, or if you want to know anything about me, I take my VOTD quite seriously. I’ve thrown VOTD viewing parties. I’ve read Jacqueline Susann’s book. [...]
Read Emma Donoghue’s ‘Room’
It’s been crazy times here at Chicago Theatre Addict the past week and a half (including the exciting news that I’m an uncle now!), but things will pick up soon — as in this week. Hopefully. This weekend I finished the most remarkable book: “Room”, by Emma Donoghue. I learned of this book through my [...]
Wedding recap, or ‘Dear Tide: Contact me for your next marketing campaign!’
My MOHly duties are over. The wedding went smashingly. Eric and Jamie planned a ceremony and reception that was perfectly them — fun, funny, creative, original, charming, classy. The only snafu was three minutes before the ceremony, Jamie dropped chocolate on her dress (!), which smeared when I picked it off (!!). However, she had [...]
The makings of a MOH
(I promise this blog will return to its regularly scheduled Chicago theatre programming in the very near future — starting off with Porchlight Music Theatre’s Into the Woods tomorrow…but today is wedding day, so bear with me.) Who knew the role of Male of Honor (MOH) would be so crafty? Lucky for all of us, [...]
Guest Review: ‘Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale’ @ The Goodman’s Owen Theatre
My dear friend (and bride-to-be!) Jamie caught this show last night, and was so blown away by it, I told her she should write a review — which she gladly did and sent to me. As I trust her opinion completely, I’m sharing it with you all. EDIT (5/6/10): I also saw the show and [...]
Male of honor update: ten things I’ve learned
Back in September, Jamie asked me to be her MOH: And I was completely touched and deeply honored. Now, seven months later, with the bridal shower only a few weeks away (yikes!) and the wedding only a little over a month away, what have I learned so far? 1) Oriental Trading Company is your friend. [...]
Love never dies
…and neither does the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. The title song from his new musical, Love Never Dies, recently received its debut performance on some awards show in the U.K. This new show is the sequel to ALW’s massive, record-shattering hit, The Phantom of the Opera. Some background: While a theatre snob, I’ve always had a soft spot [...]
The Chicago Bridal Expo! (Or, how I succeeded in not killing myself, or a VIB, today.)
“Wear your pearls, Bullen!” That’s what my darling Jamie texted me a few days ago to inform me that the Bridal Expo 2010 had a recommended dress code. While I decided to leave the pearls at home, I did wear a blazer and button-down shirt — dressing to impress, as any good MOH should. (As [...]
I’m a proud MOH!
Saturday, before catching The Marvelous Wonderettes in Skokie, Gator, Jamie, Eric (Jamie’s fancy fiancé), Mavis (Jamie’s mom) and I had a quick bite at Hop Haus just shy of Evanston. Jamie was still on a high, having picked her wedding and reception venue and setting a date (girl works fast — not even a week [...]
In tribute to the unification of awesome
This weekend two very awesome people joined forces by declaring their intentions to unite in a socially acceptable manner. This past weekend, Eric proposed to Jamie as they watched the sun rise over the Gulf of Mexico with their feet in the water. Those actorly types sure know how to properly stage a scene, don’t [...]
Patti LuPone and Debbie Reynolds
I’m capturing the weekend the only way I know how: grainy camera phone pictures and half-baked commentary. Patti and the CSO presented a very tasteful evening of Kurt Weill songs, featuring his rarely performed “Seven Deadly Sins.” Truthfully, “Sins” was a bit of a snore. Originally a ballet, it’s a terribly modern piece with two [...]
Jamie and Bob make Sondheim roll in his grave
What? Sondheim’s not dead? Sorry! Proverbial grave, then. me: btw: “Don’t you love farce” from Send in the Clowns sounds like “Don’t you love arse” Jamie: Don’t you love farts? me: My fault, I fear? Jamie: I thought that you’d smelt what I dealt.. sorry, my rear! I kill me me: Wow. Also – a [...]
Two theatre dorks in a gmail chatroom
The following is part of a series that can be followed here, here and here. A word of warning: to get the referenced jokes, it helps to know: 1) The musical The Producers. 2) The 1995 Hal Prince revival of Show Boat — specifically Kim’s Charleston, a featured number in the show featuring a Broadway chorus girl [...]
Jamie and Bob go “Blonde”
Saturday it was back to Legally Blonde. This time, for Jamie’s super-belated birthday gift. (I bought the tickets months ago, before Broadway In Chicago invited me to the press opening.) Even though we had nosebleed seats behind three girls with the BIGGEST HAIR EVER and a disappointing understudy on for one of the main roles, [...]
Welcome to [CTA]
- Hi. My name's Bob Bullen and I'm a Chicago Theatre Addict [CTA]. Learn more here. Please leave comments — I'd love to hear what you think, and promise to do my best to reply.
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