You have seen the movie about a thousand times, but have you checked out @PrettyWoman The Musical yet? #PrettyWomanTheMusical

This post is made possible by support from Pretty Woman: The Musical. All opinions are my own

Looking for a creative gift idea for Mother's Day?

How about a night on Broadway?

If your mom (or any special lady in your life that you are gifting for Mother's Day) loves the theater like mine does or loves the movie Pretty Woman, she will definitely love Pretty Woman: The Musical playing at Nederlander Theater, 208 West 41st Street in New York City!

ABOUT:

Pretty Woman: The Musical combines the beloved romance movie you already know and love with an original score with music and lyrics by Grammy Award Winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.

How did it come together?

Check out this neat video:

Based on the Julia Roberts-Richard Gere movie about a star crossed meeting between a sex worker (Vivian) and a disillusioned businessman (Edward), this contemporary stage adaptation of the popular romantic comedy stars Samantha Barks as Vivian, and Andy Karl as Edward.

Above: Left to Right, Samantha Barks and Julia Roberts (this was for the Gary Marshall Tribute Performance,  the producers announced that a seat in the back row of the theater will include a plaque in his honor)

Did you know originally (for the movie version) Vivian was slated to die of a drug overdose? I had no idea, but I am glad that was changed!

Both the movie and broadway production are based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, and in the iconic Opera Scene - both the play and the movie - the couple watch the Opera 'La Traviata' by Verdi, which tells the story of a Parisian Courtesan who falls in love with an older, wealthy man.

True to the movie is the signature red dress, and presentation of a 'borrowed' Diamond Necklace complete with Edward snapping the box playfully and Vivian's Booming laugh! I give Samantha so much credit for making the role her own without it being an exact copy of the original.

The shopping scene is still there, and watching those snooty, bougie, department store assistants get theirs just never gets old.

The entire cast definitely deliver a high energy performance, but I will admit Orfeh who portrays Vivian's friend Kit (played by Laura San Giacomo in the movie) and Eric Anderson as concierge Mr. Thompson (played by Hector Elizondo in the film) are truly standouts! Eric plays multiple roles in the production and literally gives you *EVERYTHING* in each scene where he appears. Another scene stealer is Tommy Braco as the bellhop "Giulio" who brings a great deal of comic relief.

There are some changes, Vivian does not sing along to Prince's "Kiss" in the bath tub scene, Edward does not have a mane of sexy gray hair, and another more major change, 'Stuckey' is the one that gets slapped first! You guys have no idea how much I hated Jason Alexander after seeing the film, in the musical, Stuckey is portrayed by Jason Daniely. Edward and Stuckey are both noticeably younger in this stage version, but Stuckey is still as greedy and slimy as ever.

Above: This amazing blogger night on Broadway included a talk back and Q&A with the cast.

Center: Check out Orfeh's super cute furbaby curled up on her lap!

DISCOUNT: 

Want to save up to $40 on your tickets? of course you do! Use Code: MOM1

You can nab your discount tickets, easy as '1,2,3'

1. Online at TicketMaster.com using code MOM1
2. By phone at: 877.250.2929 and mention code: MOM1
3. In Person at the Box Office, Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st Street and reference code: MOM1

Note: This code is valid through 09/01/19 - TicketMaster includes an additional $2 Facility Fee per ticket. The Discount Code is NOT applicable to Facility Fee or TicketMaster Service Fees. Offer is not valid on tickets that have already been purchased, new tickets only. Blackout Dates May Apply. Limit of 8 tickets per order.

Above: The empowering posters in the lobby were a hit for post play photos - you know for the gram! Red Coat is from Wallis Fashion US, top is by Calvin Klein, Jeans: Silver Jeans, Handbag from DSW and the Boots: Earth Shoes Raleigh - these 100% waterproof tall boots with lacing details up the back (allowing you to widen them or tighten them so you have a custom fit calf) a full length side zipper, are sadly now out of stock! (I have them in the Bridle Brown which I love - I wish I had nabbed them in black as well)

My Take:

Age 13 and up is recommended for Pretty Woman: The Musical and with good reason, world's oldest profession, dead prostitute scene, and a sexy scene with Vivian and Edward, I would go a bit more conservative and restrict this to older teens and leave the younger teens and defintely the littles with a sitter!

I would have liked Edward to have the silver fox hair like Richard Gere and definitely for them to have left Prince's 'Kiss' as the song in the bubble bath scene, but understandably with Bryan Adams doing the original score for the production, the music is a bit different from the movie.

And while I love the creativity and how many stage productions are going more high tech to tell their stories, I appreciated that this production was not relying solely on tech to immerse you into the story. I found it pretty upbeat considering the subject matter, it pays homage to the film without being too much of a copycat of it, and the actors bring so much energy to their performances, you definitely want to be sure to catch this one before it leaves in 2020!

Online/Get Social:

Web site: https://prettywomanthemusical.com

Hashtag: #PrettyWomanThe Musical

Social media profiles:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrettyWoman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrettyWoman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettywoman/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/PrettyWomanTheMusical

READERS: Have you seen Pretty Woman - The Movie or The Musical? What did you think of it?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post, Show Tickets were Provided by Pivoting Media for Editorial Consideration, and all opinions are 100% my own!  The love however is genuine, Broadway Shows are among my favorite things to do in New York City! I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

{#TheatreThursday} Check out this @SoRmusical interactive 360° #Video for School of Rock - The Musical! #Broadway #ad

This post is sponsored by The 7th Chamber

Alex Brightman and the cast of School of Rock - Photo Credit: Timmy Blupe

School of Rock - The Musical will begin preview performances at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre in New York City on Monday, November 9, 2015 - with an opening set slated for Sunday, December 6, 2015

And guess what? You're In The Band! Based on the 2003 film of the same title, School of Rock, the Broadway Musical will feature music from the movie in addition to an original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater.

The film was hailed by The New York Times as an 'irresistible comic postscript to the rock revolution." and went on to gross more than $130 million WORLDWIDE. Those are some impressive numbers!

ABOUT:

School of Rock - The Musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. Completely disinterested in academic work, Dewey decides to create his own curriculum, turning his class into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band.

FIRST OF IT'S KIND 360° MUSIC VIDEO OF "YOU'RE IN THE BAND" FROM "SCHOOL OF ROCK - THE MUSICAL"

This video was shot in an actual New York City classroom and was designed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and School of Rock book writer Julian Fellowes utilizing 360° technology that lets you navigate all angles of the classroom - so you can bring a bit of Broadway directly to you in an immersive, engaging and interactive way!

Other Ways to Watch:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - On Your Mobile or Tablet (YouTube): goo.gl/vr/sor360

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Watch on Facebook via Mobile or Tablet:  fb.me/sor360

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Watch on YouTube via your Desktop - the video embedded in this post or you can go directly to YouTube here: goo.gl/vr/sor360

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - To watch via Facebook on your Desktop: fb.me/sor360

Alex Brightman and the cast of School of Rock - Photo Credit: Timmy Blupe

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Instagram your Experience and connect with the show on Instagram HERE
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tag @SoRmusical and use the hashtag #YoureintheBand
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Say hi on Facebook

MY TAKE:

I was super surprised when I first heard this was in development, for some reason I just couldn't imagine it adapted for Broadway so I am looking forward to seeing this show and seeing how they adapted the movie for the Broadway Stage! The 360° video is certainly a unique way to promote it and I am glad I got the chance to see it and share it with you today!

Readers Sound Off: Did you see School of Rock - the movie? Will you see the Broadway Version? What do YOU think of the interactive 360° technology that was used to create this video?

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FTC Disclosure: All opinions are 100% MY OWN. this is a Sponsored/Compensated Post. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Hey YOU!, Yeah YOU, Shut Up Sit Down & Eat! The Only Cure for @ItalianInsanity #Theatre #Comedy

For my New York City Based Butterflies (or those who plan to visit here for the holidays this year), who want to inject some laughter and levity into your Sunday and start off your week right, check out 'SHUT UP SIT DOWN & EAT'!

Four of New York City's most sought-after stand-up comedians bring the hit comedy Off-Broadway after their sold-out performances at The Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and are now at The Anne L. Bernstein Theater at The Snapple Theatre Center in Manhattan, and after seeing it for myself I can certainly see why this 'PLOMEDY' was nominated by the Off-Broadway Alliance for "Best Unique Theatrical Experience of 2014"!

And because I know you are thinking it, as defined in 'The Urban Dictionary', a 'PLOMEDY' is a new theatrical event that blends the wit of stand-up comedy and the intensity of a one-man (or one woman) show presented in an innovative play format by professional comedians.

The Plomedy, SHUT UP SIT DOWN & EAT is written by and stars, Tina Giorgi, Joe Moffa, Chris Monty and Eric Tartaglione and was co-written by Tom Ingegno and Directed by Eve Brandstein. A comical take on emotional dysfunction when four Italian Americans show up for a group therapy session where the therapist never shows and they grow impatient and take their issues into their own hands delving into their true feelings about work, love, relationships and their Italian Families.

Preview/Peek:

My Take:

I truly enjoyed Shut Up Sit Down & Eat! The stories shared are easy for anyone to relate to, some moments are nostalgic and others are simply laugh out loud funny, and you walk out feeling like you spent time with good friends, it just doesn't get better than that. Personally I think this one should be right on Broadway, it is well written, well cast and the performances are delivered to perfection, I can easily think of some snoozers that could be replaced by this show!

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like the show on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow them on Twitter too

Discount:

Nab $35 Tickets using code LAUGHED through December 28, 2014 at Ticketmaster!

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened at one of your family dinners butterfly?

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FTC Disclosure: Perfomance Tickets were provided to Ascending Butterfly for Editorial Consideration, this did NOT influence my opinion, and all opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

#CasaValentina @TheTonyAwards Nominated Best Play at @MTC_NYC - run extended until June 29th - GO SEE IT!

Butterflies you definitely need to run not walk to Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J Friedman Theatre (they are a not-for-profit theatre) to catch Casa Valentina a World premiere play by Harvey Fierstein and Directed by Joe Mantello. It is a Tony Award Nominated Best Play and I got to find out for myself just why!

The play's run got extended until June 29th, and I urge you not to miss it. It received Outer Critic's Circle and Drama League Award Nominations.

Left to Right: (Seated) Patrick Page as Valentina, (Standing) Reed Birney as Charlotte, Nick Westrate as Gloria, John Cullum as Terry, and Larry Pine as Amy. Casa Valentina (Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy)

About/Synopsis:

Casa Valentina, (inspired by true events), is set in 1962 at a Catskill Mountains resort where heterosexual family men could spend weekends living their lives as women. This is Harvey Fierstein's first non-musical in a quarter century.

The bungalow colony at Chevalier d'Eon is run by George/aka 'Valentina' and his wife Rita (played brilliantly by Mare Winningham), the day guests first arrive for the season, which is where the play opens, George has just returned from a meeting with the Postal Inspector regarding homosexual pornographic images meant for a yet un-named guest. In an era where homosexuality was still illegal they are grappling with the prospect of losing their business, and the arrival of a leader of a social sorority for transvetites that has been recognized as a non-profit organization. The leader of the sorority, Charlotte Price, wants to recruit guests to join the board and become the first East Coast Chapter. Guests who visit regularly because they can enjoy the safety of anonymity at this resort are not pleased with the idea of providing their legal name and addresses and signing an affadavit that pledges they are in fact NOT homosexual. The 'self made women' now have to confront whether or not public recognition will help them gain a place in open society or would it in fact spell personal disaster?

MY TAKE:

Harvey Fierstein was actually sitting just across from me and seeing the performance with him being there, made it a bit more magical for me! After a bit of geeking out and a big mental Squee!!! - I summoned up the courage to ask him to sign my Playbill, which he graciously did, and he received a standing ovation when folks recognized him during intermission (I recognized him way sooner but kept it to myself! Which was super hard to do).

This is an incredible ensemble cast and each actor truly embodied their character perfectly. Mare Winningham is a perfect Rita (holding her marriage and her world together as best as she knows how), Patrick Page who portrays her husband George as well as Valentina, gives just as to much the role when he isn't saying a word as his expressions many times says it all. He embodied Valentina beautifully, and his struggles as George and with his own sexuality was amazing to watch!

Reed Birney is a most believable Charlotte. When she tells the 'girls' "I've gone to jail so that you don't have to. I've bared my soul on the battlement, dodged arrows of judgement to shield you." - you understand that she truly believes her way is the right way - for her it's that black and white but sadly those 'shades of grey' catch up with us all! Tom McGowan is a loveable 'Bessie'- while she isn't the oldest in the group she is like the Mother Hen in her own way. John Cullum bring us 'Terry' who I have to say has some of the best lines including:

"Boys, in my day, spent their first years in dresses and gradually worked their way up to knickers and eventually long pants. But a common punishment was to demote a mischievous child back into petticoats. They thought the embarrassment would shame the child into obedience. Oh, the terrible things I'd do to get punished and wear my precious gowns."

Larry Pine plays The Judge/Amy and it is The Judge that has the most to lose should his secret ever come to light. Lisa Emory portrays Eleanor, The Judge's daughter, (Eleanor of course wants nothing to do with her dad's 'other life')

Gabriel Ebert delivers a perfect Jonathan/Miranda a naive newcomer to the resort. And it is when the girls rally to give Jonathan a proper makeover and transition to a more polished Miranda that the sisterhood truly come together.

Last but certainly not least, Nick Westrate brings us Gloria - "the pretty girl, but irrestitible boy" - sharp, savvy, sassy and un-apologetic, he lit up the stage!

You grow to care for them all. The hallmark of both great writing and great acting! Finding a place in this world where you can truly be yourself is hard enough, but when being yourself goes against the 'norm', when do you stand up and stand out?

There may never be a 'right time' or a 'right place' but their search for acceptance and happiness in their personal 'Garden of Eden' gets threatened, not so much by the sorority leader but by a changing society. I didn't think of the sorority leader so much as a snake in their Garden but as a mirror. She forced everyone to look right at themselves and forced them to decide. A secret Shangri-La or a life lived out loud? And sometimes that's NOT as easy a choice as it may seem.

Harvey wrote two of my favorite Broadway Shows, La Cage Aux Folles and most recently Kinky Boots, and he just has a knack for human stories, this one does it without music, it is raw and powerful, and often times the actors say as much without words as they did with them.

Don't miss this play!

Where do you feel most yourself, Butterfly? Have you ever not felt accepted?

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FTC Disclosure: Ascending Butterfly was provided with Casa Valentina Press Tickets for Editorial Consideration, all opinions are 100% my own!  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

We all have our If/Then Stories. What's yours? #IfThenStories - My thoughts on @IfThenMusical

One of the biggest perks of being a local 'New Yorker' is having access to Broadway and being able to enjoy the Theatre as often as possible. I don't take it for granted. Don't get me wrong I enjoy a blockbuster movie, but nothing brings words to life in the same way the stage does.

I got to check out If/Then the Musical. A Musical that addresses where 'choice and chance' collide. They are running a Social Media Campaign in conjunction with the show called If/Then Stories where they ask people to share their own If/Then Story - A pivotal moment in your life guided by a seemingly insignificant decision or random act of fate that changes you.

I have to admit I'm a bit obsessed with the site and the stories, and following it's hashtag, #IfThenStories. The Musical and the campaign dovetail perfectly, let's face it we all have moments where one simple decision changed EVERYTHING.

The lead character in the Musical, Elizabeth, is portrayed by Idina Menzel (of Wicked Fame) is a woman who is rebuilding her life in New York City (she had moved from NYC to Phoenix when she married, it opens with her returning to NYC after a divorce), and in one moment she will lead parallel lives, this musical is the story of both.

Butterflies there was so much pushing and shoving in that lobby I thought they were giving something away. Remember theater goers your ticket has a seat number, shoving won't get you a better seat! ah, but I digress, back to the performance:

Idina gives a strong performance, but I found Elizabeth was written in a way that the character just overthinks everything. There is a difference between wondering 'what if' at times and second guessing almost every decision you make. I think that was the part I couldn't relate to. But then again I'm a particularly decisive person and I rarely look back on my decisions good or bad. But you know it was well acted because sometimes I found myself holding back from yelling something at Elizabeth!

I was happy to see LaChanze who portrays Kate as I LOVED her in The Color Purple! Kate was the friend and voice of reason, the daring one that urged her friend Elizabeth to put herself out there. (So obviously I found her much more relatable! LOL)

This is NOT Frozen Folks, please don't bring your children, in one of the paths Elizabeth walks she has a fling with her married boss (played by Jerry Dixon) and her nominally bi-sexual pal (played by Anthony Rapp). I saw some folks with younger teens and many looked downright confused!

MY IF/THEN MOMENT:

Instead of a normal 'My Take' where I share my thoughts, I thought in the spirit of If/Then I'd share my If/Then moments, which actually all roll into each other.

For personal reasons, in College I was forced to switch majors. I was a on a Pre-Med track and ended up switching gears to Mass Media Communications. A shy, science loving book nerd, I immediately felt like a fish out of water. Required courses included a class in Television Production where were forced to get in front of the video cameras and not just behind it. While it wasn't a random or impulsive decision by any means, changing majors changed my path in so many ways. I landed a internship at a well known Newspaper while still in school, went on to Television News-writing and freelancing for several Magazines.

Years later I left the recruiting industry and went into the '.com industry' where I fell in love with the internet and learned the industry from the inside out. Eventually I gave up full time gigs all together to consult, write and start a Lifestyle Blog and Empowerment Community. Had I remained a recruiter, I may have never found my way to Life Coaching or to blogging.

Had I not switched majors in college, my goal was originally Medicine I would have been a Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon right now as that was my original goal. While I have no doubt I would have been a great surgeon, I wouldn't give up writing for a single second. One decision changed my path and changed my entire life in the process!

What is YOUR IF/THEN Moment Butterfly?

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FTC Disclosure: Ascending Butterfly was provided with If/Then Tickets for Editorial Consideration, all opinions are 100% my own!  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

{#Broadway Alert} Go see #MothersAndSons! @MothersSonsBway #Theatre

One of the best parts of being a born and raised New York City Girl is the Theatre. My mom loves Broadway and it's one of the first things she introduced me to. It's been a lifelong love ever since. While I have mixed feelings about Musicals (always have) - don't get me wrong I love Music and I love theatre, but have always had mixed feelings about folks breaking into song every few minutes. Thankfully over the years many have blown me away, but for me drama, (the non singing every two seconds kind), is very much what the theater is about for me.




I recently had the opportunity to enjoy Mothers and Sons while it was still in preview.

ABOUT:

The play centers on Katharine Gerard (portrayed by Tyne Daly), who pays an unexpected visit to the New York apartment of her late son's partner, who is now married to another man and has a young son. Katharine finds herself challenged to face how society has changed while generations collide as she revisits the past and begins to fully see the life her son led in spite of her disapproval.

CAST:

Katharine Gerard - Portrayed by Tyne Daly - She created this role in the world premiere of Mothers and Sons at Bucks County Playhouse and in 2011 was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Her TV credits include Six nominations and FOUR Emmy Awards for Cagney & Lacey.

Cal Porter - Portrayed by Frederick Weller  - His Broadway credits include Glengarry Glen Ross, Take Me Out, Seascape, The Rehearsal, The Little Foxes and Six Degrees of Separation.

Will Ogden - Portrayed by Bobby Steggert - Like Tyne, he originated this role at Bucks County Playhouse, his Broadway credits also include: Big Fish, Ragtime, and 110 in the Shade.

Bud Ogden-Porter -  Portrayed by Grayson Taylor - is making his Broadway Debut in Mothers and Sons after originating the role of Bud at Bucks County Playhouse.

My Take:

The Golden Theater was actually just the perfect size, it lent enough intimacy to truly focus the audience right in on all the action. Katharine certainly shakes things up when she arrives suddenly at the home of her son's former partner, but in the process the layers slowly peel away leaving her exposed, revealing her vulnerability and at the core of it all is a Mother. A Mother who has lost her son. (it is revealed she has also lost her husband and is truly alone.) A Mother who lost the larger part of her son's adulthood because she couldn't accept his choices. It is a powerful story, one that to some degree is that much more powerful because the storyteller lived it. To help paint a clearer picture on the backstory, please read A Playwright's Status Report - McNally's 'Mothers and Sons' Gauges a Changed America By Patrick Healy of the New York Times.

The complex relationship between Mothers and Sons, what comprises a 'modern family', and the difficulties same-sex couples experience in society all make for a well written emotional rollercoaster where one moment the audience is laughing and then crying the next. It is moving and compelling and I urge you to see it!

Charitable Auction:

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids is currently taking bids for a chance to have drinks with Tyne Daly, Terrence McNally, Bobby Steggert and Frederick Weller after a performance of Mothers and Sons on Broadway via CharityBuzz.com.

For all my Butterflies out there who are Mothers how do you deal with decisions your adult children make that you do not agree with? Have you personally dealt with a parent who refused to accept your life choices? If so, how did you handle it?

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FTC Disclosure: Ascending Butterfly was provided Press Tickets to Mothers and Sons for editorial consideration. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. All opinions are 100% my own! No monetary compensation has been exchanged!

{#Theatre Review} Have you made your appointment for the @SoulDoctor yet? If not, you definitely should! #Broadway

Soul Doctor Playbill signed by Eric Anderson who portrays Shlomo Carlebach (signature on bottom right) and Amber Iman who plays Nina Simone (signature on top left)


So after spending a year and a half in the hospital I wasn't totally convinced I wanted to watch anything that had 'Doctor' in the title, but some of my most magical memories have come from nights on Broadway with family and friends. It's the one thing that most lifelong New Yorkers can agree is one the best perks of living in this insane city. The city that never sleeps is always 'Go, Go, Go!' but when you go to the Theatre, the City slows down and when the lights go down you just somehow surrender and allow yourself to be transported.

While I am not Jewish, a little known Ascending Butterfly fact is that I worked for a Jewish Theological Seminary here in New York City for a Rabbi who taught me so much about the Jewish Faith, that when I learned that this was in fact based on the true story of the life and the music of Shlomo Carlebach I was very much intrigued.

About Soul Doctor:

Soul Doctor tells the fascinating story of the father of popular Jewish Music, Shlomo Carlebach, and his unlikely friendship with Nina Simone. A modern-day troubadour, Shlomo ignited the spirit of millions around the world with his soul-stirring melodies, transformative storytelling and boundless love.

After his escape from Nazi Germany, the young Rabbi befriended the legendary jazz singer Nina Simone who introduced him to soul and gospel music. With the "High Priestess of Soul" as his inspiration, Shlomo created a joyous new sound with melodies that fused his roots with American Popular Music. His meteoric rise as a "Rock Star Rabbi" as he struggled to harmonize his traditional beliefs with the "free love" generation of the 1960's features his timeless hits in a rocking score woven together by the orchestrator of The Who's Tommy and Elton John's Aida.

Soul Doctor Cast in Alphabetical Order Theatre Signage for our early August Performance at Circle in the Square Theatre

Cast:

Visit Soul Doctor's website for the Full Cast and Crew list HERE.

Eric Anderson stars as Shlomo, he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his portrayal of Shlomo in the NYTW production of Soul Doctor. His Broadway credits include: Kinky Boots (which you guys know is my personal pick of my favorite Broadway Show for 2013), and South Pacific.

Amber Iman plays Nina Simone in  her SPECTACULAR Broadway Debut! (she was fantastic) Off Broadway, she has appeared in Rent, and A Civil War.

I was lucky enough to get both Eric Anderson and Amber Iman (pictured above) to sign my playbill after the performance, and she posed for a picture too and was genuine, warm and open to all the fans who approached her! Team Butterfly was being silly and goofing around saying 'Just one more baby it's the flash, yeah, it's the flash', and our cheesy Eddie Murphy impression made her crack up! I will never forget this shot, so her autograph of my playbill will make that moment and that show so much more meaningful for me!

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - "Like" Soul Doctor on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @SoulDoctor on Twitter

My Take:

I enjoyed Soul Doctor, it was well-cast, and while the subject matter isn't always light-hearted, you are drawn into the performance and the journey as the character's develop. Eric delivers a strong performance as Schlomo Carlebach, and Amber Iman also delivers a strong and dynamic debut performance in her role as Nina Simone. They both had big shoes to fill that's for sure, and they both delivered, they had an ease and comfort with each other and there was so much electricity in their scenes together as well.

As a fab frugalista in a super expensive city, I'm the first to tell you that Broadway is NOT cheap, so the biggest compliment that I can give a show is that if I weren't press, would I have paid to see it and still been happy? YES. I would definitely have left just as happy if I had paid full price. I found myself truly swept up in the emotions and roller coaster ride of Shlomo's story. Good entertainment has a tendency to play on universal themes to be relevant to everyone, Shlomo's struggle to not only find his inner voice, but to buck everything he knew, as well as his parents wishes of what they felt was best for him, to find his inner voice and share that with the world is in essence every man and woman's story!

When a show can make you laugh and cry it has defintely transported you, and Soul Doctor is one appointment you WON'T want to put off!

Team Butterfly, Left: Mama Butterfly and Right: ME! Ascending Butterfly holding up my signed playbill outside Circle in the Square Theatre! Sign reads: Destined to Become a hit on Broadway for Years to Come! May it be so!

Yes Indeed Lovelies, The Doctor is IN!

Will you be going to see Soul Doctor Butterflies? If so, don't forget to come back and sound off here about it! We would love to know what you think! What is your favorite Broadway Show this year Butterflies?

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post! No monetary compensation has been received to post pictures or our review of Soul Doctor. Ascending Butterfly editors received complimentary tickets to a performance of Soul Doctor to facilitate our Theatre Review. As life long New Yorkers, our editorial team greatly enjoy Broadway Theatre and enjoy sharing our experiences with our readers. Special Thanks to Culture Mom Media LLC.

Weekly Moment of Gratitude + New York City + Tony Awards, cc @ConeyIslandFun, @WonderWheelPark, @TheWCS, @LunaParkConeyIs

What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Time Spent Re-Exploring my City! - I'm super grateful to the Alliance for Coney Island and the Wildlife Conservation Society for inviting us over to Brooklyn to visit the New York Aquarium, Coney Island's Luna Park, and Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. I will post a full recap of my wonderful experience with pictures very soon! Thankfully post Hurricane Sandy, Coney Island is back and stronger than ever!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tonys! - This has been an amazing year at the theatre, and I am super excited for tonight's Tony Awards! I am Team Kinky Boots and I hope they come out on top tonight!

I have been keeping my own daily list of things I am grateful for and taking time to acknowledge my blessings daily. A bit of concentrated focus on what you do have, instead of on what you lack or need, can make a huge shift in your life!

What are YOU most grateful for today Butterfly?

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What are you grateful for today? I'd love for you to write in and share what you are grateful for this week. The more you say it, the more you speak it, and the more you live in gratitude, the more you will find reasons to be grateful for, and the more reasons that the universe will send you to be grateful for. So join me on this journey of gratitude and inspiration. And you can post here daily (even though my list will be posted weekly).

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me on Twitter here (@Tracy_Iglesias) Twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field at Twitter:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and Active Giveaways!  - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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Winner Announcements Upcoming!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - As I have had back to back conferences, meetings and events both evenings and weekends for the past two months, I have not had a chance to process the entries for our Got Milk? Giveaway Basket, entries are currently being processed and I hope to announce the two winners very soon and have a fun new giveaway posted this week! Thanks so much for your patience butterflies!

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Gratitude Journal Reco:

For those of you who are interested in keeping a gratitude journal this year, here is my recommendation and where to purchase it (I love that it gives you writing prompts for when you feel stuck on what to say!):

Make this Your Best Day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Motivation Monday: Find out why I'm urging you to get BLUE! @bluemangroup is headed YOUR way! #BlueManGroup #theatre #review

Yes, I know it sounds super odd that I'm urging you to get Blue on Motivation Monday! You ask, 'but butterfly isn't today the day you share some fun graphic or motivational quote to put some pep in our step for the new week?'.

Have no fear butterflies, I'm still going to put the fun in your Monday! Last week I had the chance to check out Blue Man Group's show in New York City. And at first when I got the invitation I thought, I remember them! I applied for a job as their Social Media Manager many moons ago, and never heard back, so NO WAY! But thankfully my love of the theatre out-weighed my sour grapes for never hearing back from them...

But I digress...don't I always? I'd like to think that's why you all love me so, but it's probably more for my amazing ability to empower everyone I meet in some way! :-)

OK, truth be told another reason I never immediatlely jumped on the bandwagon to see the show is because they don't talk. I'd seen television 'talk show' interviews where they didn't talk, which kinda weirded me out! And while that works so well for one half of Penn and Teller, I wasn't sure sitting around watching people that don't talk at all would be any fun.

And because I'm a big girl, I will be the first to admit I was so wrong in that pre-conceived notion! Not only was there NOT a dull moment, I left the show smiling and feeling super up-lifted. It was exactly what I needed at the right time. Lately I hadn't been feeling like my normally happy self and couldn't put my finger exactly on why. The show helped me realize I needed a little more time living, some time away from electronic devices/work and just a moment to cut loose and immerse myself in fun and absolute frivolity!

The show is active, inter-active and in all ways AMAZE-BALLS (and you know I try not to use that word often!). I didn't think another show this year could come close to being as uplifting as Kinky Boots (if you missed my coverage of it, you can check it out HERE).

Blue Man Group Playbill + Ticket for Astor Theatre Performance in New York City!

You can catch Blue Man Group in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, and you can catch their upcoming US Tour Dates Below:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Houston, TX - June 4-9

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Honolulu, HI - June 18 - July 23

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Atlantic City, NJ - August 22-30 (You all know Atlantic City is MY Happy Place, I may just have to catch the show again this summer!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Durham, NC - September 6-8

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tulsa, OK - September 10 - 15

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Lawrence, KS - September 16-17

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Bloomington, IN - September 21 - 22

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Lincoln, NE - September 27 - 29

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Clinton Township, MI - October 15 - 16

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Hershey, PA - November 22 - 24

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Baltimore, MD - January 10 - 12, 2014 (all the above dates are 2013 by the way)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Corpus Christi, TX - February 15 -16, 2014

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Des Moines, IA - February 18 - 23, 2014

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sacramento, CA - March 11 -16, 2014

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Charlotte, NC - April 15 - 20, 2014

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Miami, FL - May 13 - 18, 2014

Blue Men Photo by Darbe Rotach

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 'Like' Blue Man Group on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow on Twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Get Tumblr with it

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Become Pinterest besties with Blue Man Group

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - You can also check out their latest updates on instagram

Paint Drumming Photo by Ken Howard

My Take:

I loved the show! I do have some warnings to the wise though, it's a messy show, so all those in the lower level will find a plastic bag on your seats, please put them on! Don't say I didn't warn you! I was upstairs in the Mezzanine, and don't think that being up there will save you, while you won't need the plastic bags up there, the show will definitely still be very interactive from up there, no spoilers, just a friendly warning to the wise! The seats are a bit narrow/small in the Astor Theatre in New York City so be prepared to not only get really close to your neighbor, but if someone with super long legs is behind you will feel them if they are squirmy and move around a lot. I can tell you the show is fun and since it's part of every show, if you are bringing your children be prepared for the 'Shake Your Euphimism' portion of the show where every word/words for the 'behind' is literally put on display!

This show is a definite don't miss, and a total 'TICKET' in my rating system. (I tell it like it is, it's either ticket or skip it with me.).

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post. Press/Media Access to the show was granted to us for Editorial Consideration, this did not influence our review and all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.