Who didn’t love to sing along to TCG tunes in the early 2000s?
It’s been almost 7 years since “The Cheetah Girls– One World” premiered on Disney Channel. Former girl group members Sabrina Bryan (Dorinda) and Kiely Williams (Aqua) are keeping the Cheetahs alive by continuing to keep in touch after all these years.
Today, Sabrina shared the message and photo below:
All rights to the image belongs to Disney/ABC.
Moriah Peters-Smallbone tweets: “#TBT to this groovy 70’s scene on set of my first feature film! Are you as excited to see it as I am?”
All rights to the image and quote belongs to Moriah Peters.
Derrick Agnoletti, Anastacia Holden, Victoria Jaiani, Rory Hohenstein and Fabrice Calmels in Nicolas Blanc’s “Evenfall”. Photo by Cheryl Mann
“Evenfall” is the star of “New Works”!
Choreographer Nicolas Blanc’s beautiful love story entitled “Evenfall” was brought to life April 22nd at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago. His piece was about a poet writing a stirring love story which takes the audience on a journey from the poet’s emotional birth of his characters to them falling in love and fighting. I looked forward to Choreographer Blanc’s ballet from the beginning of “New Works” and he did not disappoint.
He allowed the audience to feel the raw emotion the poet had as he wrestled to write his moving poem.
Fabrice Calmels & Victoria Jaiani in Niclas Blanc’s “Evenfall”. Photo by Cheryl Mann
The second piece worth mentioning was choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’ s “Liturgy”. The romantic piece had sensual elements and seemed to be influenced by Eastern religions. It was great to see the couple connect on stage and nail every intricate move, but the poses resembling Eastern gods was a little distracting. “Liturgy” was designed to let the audience interpret it anyway they wanted and the interpretation possibilities are endless after you see it.
April Daly & Dylan Gutierrez in Christopher Wheeldon’s “Liturgy”. Photo by Cheryl Mann
Choreographers Justin Peck’s “In Creases” and Val Caniparoli’s “Incantations” were filled with dynamic choreography and talented dancers, but the only thing they lacked was a central story-line. I love to follow an emotional tale through each performance, and I wish these pieces would have chosen a tale like “EvenFall” to illustrate on stage.
Justin Peck’s “In Creases”. Photo by Cheryl Mann
John Mark Giragosian in Val Caniparoli’s “Incantations”. Photo by Cheryl Mann
“New Works” was a pleasant experience with one unforgettable performance and quite a few stand out moments. It’s worth seeing a second time even if you only want to see your favorites.
“New Works” will continue to run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago,IL thru May 3rd.
*A special thanks to The Silverman Group and The Joffrey Ballet for giving BTSCelebs the opportunity to review New Works.*
Credit: Mandisa’s Official Facebook Page
Two heavenly voices you have to hear to believe.
Former American Idol contestants Mandisa and Elliott Yamin have come a long way since their AI days. Mandisa embarked on a successful music career in the CCM industry (and is now a Grammy award winner), while Billboard chart topper Elliott Yamin blew music lovers away with his hot mainstream albums released in the US and Japan
If I had the golden opportunity to sit in on any singer’s recording session….it would be these two, hands down! I have never heard singers like them who seemed to be born with the vocal ability to amaze us album after album. Their vocals are superb! I sincerely hope they consider forming a duet in the near future. The world needs voices like theirs.
Listen to their impressive tracks below:
I love these two amazing talents!
All rights to the images belongs to Mandisa and Elliott Yamin.
https://instagram.com/p/1rRoAsydrG/
Meet the Timberlakes’ baby boy!
Multi-Grammy award winner Justin Timberlake shared a sweet photo of his wife Jessica Biel and their baby son Silas today. The celebrity couple were ready to support daddy’s hometown basketball team (the Memphis Grizzlies) during their playoff game today. In the photo, they dressed their newborn baby boy Silas in a fan jersey, while mommy Jessica held him. Their support must have worked, because the Grizzlies won the game against the Trial Blazers 100 to 86.
Too sweet! I kinda miss the Justin Timberlake of “Model Behavior” (which was an amazing movie), and Jessica’s portrayal of Mary Camden on “7th Heaven”. These stars ruled the late 90s and 00s, it’s great to see they have found happiness in their growing family.
The Bears Family is busy.
The late Walter Payton’s daughter danced in a charity competition yesterday benefiting youth in Chicago, and she won! Brittney Payton shared several BTS photos following her win including one with her dance partner and the elegant trophy.
Congratulations!
Current Chicago Bears Guard Kyle Long didn’t win any awards, but my football withdrawals (and Melissa Tagg’s book about a player) encouraged me to include him in an article. Kyle finally shaved his signature beard off for the first time in years.
Check out Kyle’s new look below:
“Clean shaven for first time since high school”
Football season can’t start soon enough.
All rights to the images and quotes belong to Brittney Payton and Kyle Long.
Are you excited?
Actor James Wolk will star in the upcoming CBS summer series based on a James Patterson (and Michael Ledwidge) thriller novel titled “Zoo”. In preparation for the science fiction program’s premiere, the handsome actor is doing his own promotion via social media.
Check out one of his recent tweets below:
“Follow me on @instagram for more first look photos of @ZooCBS! http://instagram.com/jameswolk #ZOOcbs“
“Zoo” hits the small screen on June 30th.
All rights to the image and quote belong to CBS and James Wolk.
Stars Debbie Gibson and Gloria Reuben use their voices this weekend to bring happiness into the hearts of UpTV viewers. In their new movie “The Music In Me”, the ladies try to bring life back into a church that is struggling. The building has been around for 100 years, and this year marks its centennial anniversary.
Circumstances force Debbie’s character Jessica to stay in her hometown to help her local church instead of following her music career dreams. Becoming the choir director, however, indirectly gives Jessica the opportunity to debut her new song and so much more.
“The Music In Me” resembles a family friendly Hallmark flick. The story’s central focus is about making promises that you can keep. I recommend this film if you like peaceful movies with heart.
The heartwarming movie premieres this Sunday at 7PM Eastern Standard Time.
*A Special Thanks to UP tv’s PR for a screener of “The Music In Me”
Who doesn’t love miniatures?
The Lyric Opera of Chicago will feature the exquisite work of Italian visual artist and set designer Paolo Ventura this week. “Carousel” director/choreographer Rob Ashford fell in love with his work six years ago and was determined to have him design the stage for the beloved Rogers and Hammerstein’s musical.
Below is an excerpt from the official press release about “Creating Carousel”:
“’Part of it was set around a circus, a carnival. It was so moving and so beautiful and I was so captivated by it. I said, ‘If I ever do Carousel, that is the person who must design it.’ Then when Anthony [Freud, Lyric’s general director] approached me about it I said, ‘Can you get this guy?’ We made an all-out effort and we succeeded. We’re very excited to work together, to have Paolo make his theater and opera debut with Carousel in Chicago.”
Ventura accepted the invitation enthusiastically. ‘My work was already theatrical,’ noted the artist. ‘I was just making theater on my table, so to have the chance to work on a much bigger scale really excited me. I immediately built the caravan, which became the key for the entire show.’ That piece will be part of the Opera Club exhibition at Lyric.”
The very special exhibit will feature eight set-design paintings, several mid-scale scenic elements that were part of the original design presentation, a video interview with Ventura, 28 costume-design drawings from the production by Catherine Zuber and so much more. The exhibit is FREE for all of the musical’s ticket holders. It opens the same day “Carousel” does at the Lyric (April 10). It will continue through May 3.
Have fun if you decide to check it out, and tell them BTSCelebs sent you.
A Special Thanks to The Silverman Group and Lyric Opera Of Chicago for the press release.
BTSCELEBS 