The Roomate @AuroraTheatre #ATTheRoomate #sponsored #review

I received tickets in exchange for my honest review.

From the promotionals:

"Fifty-something-year-old busybody Sharon is in need of a roommate to share her expenses and break
the isolation in her Iowa home. Robyn, also in her mid-fifties, is a bit more of a free spirit with a
complicated past, looking for a fresh start. As Sharon and Robyn fight to find common ground in their
new, uncommon living arrangement, they find themselves in an unlikely friendship that teaches them
lessons they never expected."

"Dark comedy" is definitely appropriate for this one.  It's almost a set up for Thelma and Louise.  Two people with widely different backgrounds end up as house mates.  The almost innocent reactions of Sharon to the previous life of Robyn make for an interesting chemistry.  Sharon carries most of the load when it comes to changes.  Robyn is the catalyst that sets the action in motion.  The influences they have on each other lay the groundwork for situations that are both humorous and, in a way, sad.

This is a well preformed one act show.  The two actors do a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life.  It's not a show to leave you feeling good at the end. It's also not one meant for kids.  It is, however, a show for an enjoyable evening.  Combining your visit to Lawrenceville with a good meal at one of it's local restaurants with the show at the Aurora makes for a great ladies' night out. 

Doll's House part 2 @AuroraTheatre @braveatlpr #ATDollsHouse

I was given tickets in exchange for my review.

From Aurora Theatre:

"Based on the characters of the Henrik Ibsen classic play, this follow-up story imagines what would happen if Nora Helmer returned home, 15 years after she slams the door on her husband and family. Audiences don’t need to be familiar with the original story to enjoy this “Part 2,” as playwright Lucas Hnath juxtaposes contemporary and classic sensibilities to create a thought-provoking and sharp- witted comedy. A co-production between Aurora Theatre and Actor’s Express, A Doll’s House, Part 2 features a quartet of Atlanta’s top-tier talent. Three-time Suzi Award winner Tess Malis Kincaid will star as Nora, Rob Cleveland as Nora’s estranged husband, Torvald, Shelli Delgado as the Helmer’s daughter, Emmy and Deadra Moore as the nanny, Anne Marie. This all-star cast is under the direction of Freddie Ashley, Actor’s Express Artistic Director and two-time Suzi Bass Award Winner for Outstanding Direction."

My daughter and I attended the show this past Friday.  One major change is that Tess Kincaid did not star in the show.  Due to illness, she was replaced by an understudy.  She had to use the script to help her with the role (somewhat distracting), though.  The set itself was simple, but fit the play very well.  The only "problem" with the set is that my daughter and I found the lighting around the stage to be somewhat distracting.  Fortunately, not enough to really bother us.

The show was a good continuation of the original story.  You find that Nora has travelled, experienced more of life, etc. She has to return home, though, to keep a scandal from happening.  There she finds that nothing has changed for Torvald.  The play consists of a series of exchanges between Nora and Anne Marie, Nora and Torvald, Nora and Emmy.  The question is can anything be resolved for Nora during her exchanges?  

All together the actors did a good job.  Their facial expressions were on target for the characters.  I will say that I liked Shelli Delgado as Emmy.  The facial expressions she had were great.   I loved some of her "come back" lines too.  Individually, though, I didn't have a favorite character or actor this time around.

The show runs until February 10th.  You can get show dates/times and pricing on the Aurora Theatre web site: Doll's House Part 2

GO VOTE! #runoffs #makeyourvoiceheard

I seem to harp on this every time elections come up.  I guess it's one of my pet peeves that I hear people complain about who ends up in office, but haven't bothered to vote.  It doesn't always go our way when we do vote, but unless you vote you won't necessarily be heard.  Polls open at 7a and close at 7p.  That's a full 12 hours to go vote.  You can find your Georgia ballot information here  You can also check your registration status..

Review of Disney's Newsies @AuroraTheatre #BravePRAtl #ATNewsies

Inspired by the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, this high-energy musical soars with rousing dance numbers and non-stop thrills. In New York City at the turn of the century, publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst look to take advantage of newsboys to increase profits. Enter charismatic Jack Kelly who unwittingly leads a ragged band of teenaged "newsies," across the city to strike for what’s right. This Tony Award-winning musical, based on the timeless Disney film, is toe-tapping fun for the entire family.

---

Running Time: Approximately 2.5 hours Dates: July 19-September 2

As soon as my daughter heard this one was coming, she let me know.  Fortunately, we were invited by the Aurora Theatre to check it out in exchange for our review.  I have to say that I was impressed by the cast.  Many are returning from the Aurora Theatre's production of  Mamma Mia! so I knew what they'd be capable of.  There were many that I hadn't seen perform before and I have to say they did awesome!  As impressive as the cast was together, I always seem to find that one person that stands out.  This time around it was Mahalia Jackson (Medda Larkin).  I loved her sass and her voice.  I just loved the way she portrayed her character.

There were quite a few younger actors that my daughter enjoyed as well - some of them being high schoolers.  The young actor playing Les was younger than that.   Her favorite scene, though, was "King of NY", mostly due to the choreography.

The cast's performance with a combination of singing and dance was well done.  The audience seemed to be highly impressed with some of the tumbling and leaps.  There were many in the audience that showed a lot of enthusiasm during portions of the performance that indicated they were being well entertained.

Overall, I'd say a performance well done.  If you're interested in attending, I'd suggest purchasing your tickets soon. Some shows are already sold out.  Ticket information is found here.

Newsies @AuroraTheatre July 19 - September 2 #ad @bravepratl

I have been offered media passes in exchange for an honest review.  

Review should be posted on July 22.

Inspired by the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, Disney’s NEWSIES is set to kick off Aurora Theatre’s 23rd season with rousing dance numbers and non-stop fun for the whole family! This high-energy musical is set to soar onto the mainstage July 19 –September 2, where audiences will follow charismatic Jack Kelly and his ragged band of teenaged “newsies” as they strike against an unfair system in New York City at the turn of the century.

Aurora Theatre’s production of NEWSIES stars Greg Kamp as Jack Kelly, Adrianna Trachell as Katherine Plumber, Stephan Jones as Joseph Pulitzer, Russell Alexander II as Crutchie, Marcello Audino as Davey and Mahalia Jackson as Medda Larkin, along with a star-studded ensemble. Audiences will recognize the same creative talents behind Aurora Theatre’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Mamma Mia! – direction by Justin Anderson, musical direction by Ann-Carol Pence and choreography by Ricardo Aponte.

Tickets can be purchased through the Aurora Theatre Box office.

Don't Forget #elections #knowyourballot #georgia #primary

Don't forget that tomorrow is the primary!  You can look up your ballot at the Georgia My Voter Page.  Research your candidates and be ready for tomorrow.

Review: Ripcord @AuroraTheatre @BravePRATL #ATRipcord #AuroraTheatre #Ad

I was given tickets to attend in exchange for my honest review

From Aurora Theatre:

There’s something humorous brewing in Lawrenceville, May 10-June 3, 2018! From Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire and under the direction of Jaclyn Hofmann, Ripcord employs a light-hearted tone to tell the story of reclusive Abby and her cheerful new roommate at a senior living facility, Marilyn. Despite Abby’s resolve to push Marilyn into relocating, her warm-hearted companion decides not only to stay, but to uproot Abby’s stronghold on the spot by the window. In an effort to settle the score, the two women engage in an innocent bet, which quickly escalates into an outrageous contest of one-upmanship.

The talented cast of this uproarious comedy stars Donna Biscoe, of Hidden Figures and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, and Jill Jane Clements, known for her roles in The Walking Dead and Free State of Jones.

My daughter and I attended the show on Saturday evening.  We both found it very funny and well done.  My daughter (as a theater student) was commenting on their sets and how well put together they were.  Of the primary characters, my favorite was Marilyn.  Determined not to get angry, she really annoys Abby just by being herself (and enjoys it in the process).  Not sure that I liked Abby, though some of her efforts towards the bet were funny.

There's more to the show, though, than just the bet.  You learn something about each characters' background and find out why they are the way they are.  It adds depth to the show and meaning to the humor.  Very well put together, interspersing the humor into the story so that the comedy feel isn't lost..

Somewhat distracting (but funny too) was that a bat was loose in the theater.  It began its flight in the second half, finishing the performance at about the same time as the show by swooping low in front of one of the actresses.  Her reaction was priceless but still fit the scene/show.  The audience found it very humorous.

Playing through June 3rd, you can find tickets on the Aurora Theatre web site.  Also, reminder that if you missed Mamma Mia at the Aurora Theatre, you can catch it at Georgia Tech's Ferst Center June 9-24th.  You can get more information on this one at the Aurora Theatre site as well.

Mamma Mia! @AuroraTheatre #hosted @bravepratl#ATMammaMia #AuroraTheatre

I was given tickets in exchange for my review.

My daughter and I were given the opportunity to see Mamma Mia! at the Aurora Theatre Sunday. It was a packed house. There was no prerecorded music, background vocals were performed by the ensemble while off stage. Most of the shows at the Aurora are sold out, however they're bringing the cast and performance back in June at the Ferst Center at Georgia Tech. They've even reserved one of the decks for parking, so that you can park free.

The show itself, though, was great. Well done performances by everyone involved. There was a glitch in the audio system that dropped the mics, but the cast continued through without pause until it was corrected. My favorite part of the show was "Does your mama know?". I have always loved the character of Tanya, and she's well done by actress Terry Henry. My daughter's favorite character is also Tanya, but she really loves the ending of the show. Regardless of our favorites, though, I was impressed by the ensemble as much as by the main characters.

The show runs until April 22nd at the Aurora Theatre and from June 9-24th at the Ferst Center. If you go to the Aurora Theatre you'll also find a "Dip Box". It will automatically donate $5 when you "dip" your credit card into it. Cute idea.

A Christmas Carol @AuroraTheatre #Gwinnett #ad #hosted

I was invited to attend an afternoon showing of the performance in exchange for my review.

"Captivating patrons young and old, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol will bring the true meaning of Christmas to Aurora Theatre, November 24-December 23! The entire family can prepare for another year of seasonal sensations with the return of this Christmas classic, now in its 11th year. Follow cold-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge (Anthony Rodriguez) as he undergoes recognition, realization and remission while journeying through the past, present and future of Christmas. Audiences will revel in the spirited truth that unfolds within this timeless tale, commonly recognized as the greatest Christmas story to date!

Featuring the work of multiple Suzi Award-winning set designers Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay and costumes by designer Alan Yeong, A Christmas Carol stars the acting of Anthony Rodriguez as the classic characters of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley and the remarkable ghosts."

Sometimes it's hard to imagine a story like this being told by a single actor.  Mr. Rodriguez returns for his 11th year to do just that.   With some audience involvement and a powerful way of telling stories, he pulls it off wonderfully.  He manages to quickly pull everyone in to a tale most of us have heard before.  He then adds his own quirky way of making sure the audience stays involved.  My daughter attended with me and was duly impressed by his work.  

We have yet to see a performance at the Aurora Theatre we haven't enjoyed.  This one lived up to our expectations easily.  For more information about the performance, you can check out the Aurora Theatre's web site.  

They also currently have Christmas trees up, created by various groups/companies in the community, around the lobby for you to drop off your unwrapped gift or packaged food.  If you can bring a donation, please do.

Some cool news we learned while there is that the Theatre will be expanding it's campus.  By summer 2020, it will take up the rest of the block it's sitting on.  The city of Lawrenceville approved construction of a new Performing Arts Center that will be a gathering place for the community. This expansion is another innovative partnership between the City of Lawrenceville, Aurora Theatre and the educational community, and will boast a 500-seat theater, classrooms and lab space for new work development  

Meadowcreek HS Theatre Guild #support #donate #seeashow

Congratulations Graduates! #family #HSgraduates #MeadowcreekHS

Particularly my son on graduating High School. Meadowcreek HS walks today. For one of my son's best friends - Shiloh walks Sunday.

Medieval Times and Spring Break @medievaltimes #gwinnett #mtatlanta

I was invited to attend in exchange for an honest review and mention.  As a special promotion for my readers, they are also offering discounted tickets: Adults $37.95, Kids & Students $29.95 with code SB17BLOG.

We always enjoy going to Medieval Times.  For once we were NOT cheering on the Red & Yellow knight.  Instead we were YELLOW.  My daughter and I loved his grins when he looked in the audience.  She actually received the first flower he tossed out, which she was absolutely thrilled with.  The meal, as usual, was awesome.  We received dragon scale (toast), dragon blood (tomato soup), baby dragon (1/2 chicken), giant french fry (1/2 baked potato), corn on the cob, and a slice of lemon pound cake.  If you're a vegetarian or have dietary concerns, just let your Serf know and you'll be taken care of.

For once, I made a video of part of the joust. 

If you're looking for something to do this spring break,  keep this in mind.  It's a great way to spend an evening together.

The Bridges of Madison County @AuroraTheatre @BravePRAtl #BridgesMusical #AuroraTheatre

I was given tickets to the show in order to provide my honest review.

Based off of the book by the same name by Robert James Waller and converted into a musical.  The story follows the meeting and brief love affair of housewife Francesca and traveling photographer Robert Kincaid.  The songs were composed by Jason Robert Brown and suit the show very well.

My daughter and I attended the show this past Friday night.  We were up front, so hearing and seeing weren't an issue.  We were duly impressed by the stage and set.  We loved the simplicity of it, and you definitely got the feel of the settings. 

I have to admit, though, that my favorite characters weren't the leads.   My favorite was Marge (played by Valerie Payton).  I just love the humor and way she was presented.  Of course, if you like Marge, you have to appreciate her husband, Charlie (played by Rob Cleveland).  My daughter appreciated the character Bud Johnson (played by Matt Lewis).  The leads were very well done as well, as were all of the other characters in the show.

The show does contain mature content, so I don't recommend it for the younger set.   If you've read the book or seen the movie that was created before this, you'll understand.  The show runs through April 16th.  You can get more information and purchase tickets from the Aurora Theatre web site.

Flowers and a frog around downtown Norcross #WW

Wandering downtown Norcross #WW

My daughter and I wandered around downtown Norcross over the weekend.  I'm not sure when this mural was painted, but we both loved it.

Boxete Delivery Korean Bistro #Review #Restarant #GoodFood #Korean

Over the weekend, my daughter and I didn't want anything we had at home for dinner.  So, she went online and found Boxete.  She then convinced her brother and I to join her.

My son ordered the B-Burger.  He said it was good.  He certainly didn't have anything left over when he was done.

My daughter ordered the beef lettuce wrap with rice roll.  Her comment about her meal was simply "yum".  It was more than enough for her (plus someone else) to eat at one sitting.  She had leftovers for lunch the next two days.

I knew going in that I would have leftovers, but I underestimated just how much would be left over.  I ordered the Boxete sampler with Boxete chicken.  The big yellow thing is the omelet.  The chicken is very good.  The omelet was a bit odd to me at first (I'm not used to sauce on my eggs), but was still very good.

My daughter and I agreed that next time we would split an entree.  My son wants to try something new next time (he played it safe with his choice this time).  There's a $15 minimum for free delivery and delivery area is limited.  We're fortunate enough that we're just inside the delivery area. 

Mystery Room Monday@MysteryRoomAtlanta #Gwinnett #family

I can't give a lot of details as what goes on in the room themselves, other than to say my daughter and I had a blast.  She and I have visited the Mystery Room at Sugarloaf Mills twice now. We started "easy" with a level one SuperHero room. Then advanced to a level two Zombie Apocolypse room. We finished the first time with 4 minutes left.  The second time we had 16 minutes left. The second time we also took one of my daughter's friends with us as well. At $20/person, we can't do it often, but it's definitely something fun to do when we have the time and money.

JapanFest 2016 Cooler Japan #taiko #matsuriza #kabuki #pokemongo

My kids and I have gone to JapanFest for the last several years.  This year was no exception, especially since I was anticipating their 30th anniversary.  I didn't take as many photos as I usually do, but I did get a few.  These were from the floral display.

I always have to see the Taiko demonstration.  This year it was enjoyed by a slo-bro as well.

There was a Kabuki theater this year for the first time too.  I loved the performance.

There's always fun to be seen and enjoyed, whether it's the food, the goodies, or the environment.

If you happened to go to JapanFest this year, they're asking for your input.  A fairly quick survey is available from here.

Downtown Norcross' Atlanta British Car Fayre

This is one I usually check out by myself.  I love looking at the cars.  I'm not a gear head, though, so don't expect conversation along those lines.  The pictures below are just some of what I saw.

Kabuki Performs at JapanFest 2016 #JapanFest #Gwinnett #family #WINTICKETS

Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post.

Atlanta – At this year’s JapanFest, Kabuki Theater will be performed. Kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese theater that is a rich blend of music, dance, spectacular staging and costuming. Kabuki theater has been a major theatrical form in Japan for almost four centuries. The critically acclaimed theater group Miyabiya will be travelling all the way from the land of the rising sun to perform "Two Lions," one of the most famous pieces in Kabuki theater.

Set on a holy mountain in China, a mythological lion-cub must endure the rigorous training of his father in order to grow into a strong and courageous lion. Does he have what it takes to become the “King of the Beasts?” With an entertaining combination of family, love, courage, and comedy , Miyabiya Theater will keep you on your toes!

As one of the most famous Kabuki pieces by Kawatake Mokuami, the last great Kabuki playwright, performers face high expectations in making their show both accurate and extravagant. Mr. Yukimasa Futamura, producer and director of “KABUKI, MIYABIYA” does just that with his performance company. Futamura is known for slipping into a 44-pound lion costume and wig to entertain audiences!

Come and see this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Become a part of Kabuki! This year’s JapanFest grants you the opportunity to be painted in real Kabuki makeup (Kudamori)!

In addition to Kabuki, come to JapanFest and experience the culture of Japan through a myriad of musical performances, martial arts demonstrations, food, fashion, anime, and more! Celebrating its 30th year, the JapanFest will be held Sep. 17 and 18, in the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth.

Tickets are $10. Children age 6 or younger free. Teachers can bring their students to JapanFest for free by applying online at www.japanfest.org. Larger organizations can save money by purchasing advanced ticket packages online.

No pets other than guide dogs are allowed inside the convention center. For more information, call 404-842-0736 or visit www.japanfest.org.

Sponsors:
Platinum-Delta, Gold-Aflcac, Coca Cola, Silver-Fisher-Broyles, Kumon North America, TV Japan/NHK Cosmomedia America Inc., WSBTV-Channel 2, Bronze-American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Power Equipment Division; LeafFilter; Miura America Company; PriceWaterhouse Coopers; Sapporo USA, Inc; Temple University, Japan Campus; TOTO USA Inc; FujiDexerials America Corporation, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Inside Gwinnett Magazine, Panasonic Automotive Systems, Yamaha Motor Corp.U.S.A, SakuraAtlanta Parent Magazine; Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC; Ernst & Young LLP; Global Atlanta; Gwinnett Daily Post; Holiday Inn Gwinnett Center; Creative Loafing; Honda Precision Parts of Georgia; KPMG; Nidec Elesys Americas Corporation; Toppan Printing; Ume-Atlanta Braves, Kuraoka Clinic, Machida Family of Duluth

Now to win a family 4 pack of tickets (to be delivered electronically via email)...

a Rafflecopter giveaway