Jeeeesh....I need another "me" to handle all the internet crap these days. When I realized that I hadn't written anything for the blog, it blew my mind how much time had passed.
I'm hoping to make things better, but to be honest, all my updates have been on facebook and I also get to 'chat' with friends back and forth so immediately. I think in a few weeks this blog may disappear and wind up on the NEW "chipper" website....Along with a 'feed' to my facebook so we're all on the same page.....Including myself! Whew!
2010 has been VERY fun and VERY crazy. whirlwind tours of Australia and Tasmania with great friends and awesome crowds. Our full stage show, "BLiNK!" got to tour Oregon and northern California to packed audiences and rave reviews. On the homefront, our son is doing awesome in 3rd grade, and we've been busy with lots of new projects that will slowly reveal themselves in the coming months.
When every day ends by wishing you had 'just a few more hours', I'm guessing that's a good indication that things are rolling along nicely. As the song says, "Who could ask for anything more?"
Stay happy and healthy!
Chipper : )
Monday, April 26, 2010
Saturday, July 25, 2009
What's that smell???.....It's coming from the ECONOMY!!! : )
The title above was actually taken from a line in the movie "My Favorite Year" with Peter O'Toole. There's a character much like Sid Caesar who is looking at the newest script for his weekly comedy television show. He suddenly looks around at his writers and says, "Hey, what's that smell?"...He sniffs the air and gets really close to the papers in his hand. "It's the SCRIPT!! It STINKS!" and he throws it down on the table and walks away.
Funny line, as is the whole movie. If you haven't checked it out, you should. Peter O'Toole as the aging film star who is frozen with fear when he finds out the tv show he's agreed to appear on is only performed LIVE, and in front of a studio audience. When someone tries to calm his down by telling him it's only acting he replies, "I'm not an actor!...I'm a movie star!!"
But I digress...
While business has been actually very good for entertainment and our shows which are booked all over the U.S. and beyond, I'm noticing the slight dip in ticket sales when it comes to theme parks, stage shows and even movies. People are saving their money and staying home more and more. This economy isn't providing much of a backbone when it comes to trust that things will get better and people are either losing hours at work or their jobs completely.
With everything though, things come in cycles and in a few months or a year or two, things will once again be nice and rosy. But it's the hard times and the transitions that some people are just not very good at. Putting money away for a rainy day (or year!) is sometimes not the thing at the front of a person's mind. Greed in the markets and real estate have pushed many into borrowing heavily, thinking a quick 'flip' or a certain stock will get them back on their feet.
One of the houses in our neighborhood was recently found vacant. We had known the family living there for the past 2-3 years and they seemed quite nice and pleasant, but kept to themselves. It was only a few weeks ago that we were told that they had simply packed up and skipped out on their house and all responsibility that came with it. Don't know if it was a sub-prime loan, or wildly erratic variable rates. Or a combination of everything. But it struck close to home to us. Here was a good neighbor living just a few doors down and the news on the television which can sometimes feel so remote was happening to him directly.
Our own credit rating is quite good - solid, to use a word. But even with our stellar background, credit card fees and rates have spiked dramatically for us. We argue on the phone with the banks, but they can only give the 'corporate speak' which is nothing but double-talk. Our Equity in the house dropped by a huge amount like everyone else. Now, thankfully we bought at a time when the market was growing so even with the drop we're still ahead of the game, but I wonder just how many people out there who actually PLAYED BY THE RULES are suffering now even though they pay their mortgages and credit cards off each and every month.
Sad times. Please do a favor to yourself and others around you and try to help out as much as possible. Believe it or not, we're all in this together. If someone has to work extra hours, take some time to watch their kids or make them dinner. It's the little things that pull us all though. Get back to real neighbors in real neighborhoods. Know the parents of the kids your kid plays with. "BE" a part of the life around you. It will make things better, provide a little hope to those who could use some, and of course make the world a better place than when you first found it. : )
Until next time! All the best!!!
Official CHIPPER website: www.chipper.tv
TOURING SHOW: BLiNK! - An Incredible Evening of Award-Winning Magic!
EMAIL CHIPPER: chipper@chipper.tv
Funny line, as is the whole movie. If you haven't checked it out, you should. Peter O'Toole as the aging film star who is frozen with fear when he finds out the tv show he's agreed to appear on is only performed LIVE, and in front of a studio audience. When someone tries to calm his down by telling him it's only acting he replies, "I'm not an actor!...I'm a movie star!!"
But I digress...
While business has been actually very good for entertainment and our shows which are booked all over the U.S. and beyond, I'm noticing the slight dip in ticket sales when it comes to theme parks, stage shows and even movies. People are saving their money and staying home more and more. This economy isn't providing much of a backbone when it comes to trust that things will get better and people are either losing hours at work or their jobs completely.
With everything though, things come in cycles and in a few months or a year or two, things will once again be nice and rosy. But it's the hard times and the transitions that some people are just not very good at. Putting money away for a rainy day (or year!) is sometimes not the thing at the front of a person's mind. Greed in the markets and real estate have pushed many into borrowing heavily, thinking a quick 'flip' or a certain stock will get them back on their feet.
One of the houses in our neighborhood was recently found vacant. We had known the family living there for the past 2-3 years and they seemed quite nice and pleasant, but kept to themselves. It was only a few weeks ago that we were told that they had simply packed up and skipped out on their house and all responsibility that came with it. Don't know if it was a sub-prime loan, or wildly erratic variable rates. Or a combination of everything. But it struck close to home to us. Here was a good neighbor living just a few doors down and the news on the television which can sometimes feel so remote was happening to him directly.
Our own credit rating is quite good - solid, to use a word. But even with our stellar background, credit card fees and rates have spiked dramatically for us. We argue on the phone with the banks, but they can only give the 'corporate speak' which is nothing but double-talk. Our Equity in the house dropped by a huge amount like everyone else. Now, thankfully we bought at a time when the market was growing so even with the drop we're still ahead of the game, but I wonder just how many people out there who actually PLAYED BY THE RULES are suffering now even though they pay their mortgages and credit cards off each and every month.
Sad times. Please do a favor to yourself and others around you and try to help out as much as possible. Believe it or not, we're all in this together. If someone has to work extra hours, take some time to watch their kids or make them dinner. It's the little things that pull us all though. Get back to real neighbors in real neighborhoods. Know the parents of the kids your kid plays with. "BE" a part of the life around you. It will make things better, provide a little hope to those who could use some, and of course make the world a better place than when you first found it. : )
Until next time! All the best!!!
Official CHIPPER website: www.chipper.tv
TOURING SHOW: BLiNK! - An Incredible Evening of Award-Winning Magic!
EMAIL CHIPPER: chipper@chipper.tv
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thank you fans for coming out to catch the show!!!
Well, we're now into our 45th show here at Great America. The early summer crowds have been great and each day the numbers continue to grow as more families are able to tear themselves away from work, school, etc., and go on vacation.
For those not in the know, I'm doing a special engagement of "The Chipper Lowell Experience!" at the Showtime Theater at the park, thru Sept. 7th. This is a 'Solo' show, backed up by a great stage crew and awesome light and sound techs, etc. I use these shows to test my original material, re-work some of my classic comedy bits, and polish and structure new, complete routines which I've been developing. With multiple shows per day, it's easy to 'zone in' and quickly decide what works and what doesn't.
And proud to say the new bits and routines are working nicely. Audiences have been really appreciative throughout, even today when the air-conditioning broke down on the 2nd day of a minor 'heatwave'. People were busy fanning themselves even before the show started, but everyone stayed INDOORS anyway, and had a great time. Thank you guys!!
It's also been great to meet some long-time fans and even new fans who not came to catch this show, but had also seen me in our larger stage production: BLiNK! - An Incredible Evening of Award-Winning Magic!... Which plays casino showrooms and performing arts centers each year. True supporters, and we appreciate each and every one of them!
One of the nicest compliments we received this week came from a couple who asked the ushers if our show was "free" or an "added ticket cost". When the usher told them it was free, they exclaimed, "Wow! This is better than Vegas! This guy plays there all the time and we get to see him for free! Now that's a deal!" Very nice comments! (Of course in truth, you still have to pay to enter the theme park and my show is only a 30 minute stint, so it's nothing like what you get to see in a full-evening, 2-hour performance. Still, all is included in the park's ticket price, and you get to ride some VERY cool coasters! Not to mention there are other great shows at the park this year, including an ICE SHOW, and a great X-Treme sports show out in the arena. Check them out!)
The NON-air conditioning (which is being repaired as I write this) caused some funny problems for me during the shows today. I could not stop sweating no matter how much I tried NOT to move and jump around the stage like I usually do. I tend to be VERY physical when performing, but this time around I was a walking, wet, sludge-ball. I even carried a small hand towel around the stage for most of my show, feeling like the singer, Meatloaf, who always carried a hankerchief because he would sweat so much. Towels were placed all over the stage, draped over various props, rolling platforms, tables, and even a few at the soundbooth for when I run around, up and down the aisles during one segment. Pick them up, dry my face off. Pick them again, dry my hands off. Pick them up again, and dry my arms off....And seconds later, I start all over again with my face. Hot, Hot, Hot!!!
For those who would like to keep in touch with me, please drop me a line at FACEBOOK...
I'm now officially listed under CHIPPERLOWELL.... We'd love to hear from you!
Until next time! All the best to you all!! And have a really FANTASTIC SUMMER!!! Spend it with loved ones! You'll never regret it!
www.chipper.tv
www.BlinkShow.com
email: chipper@chipper.tv
www.facebook.com/chipperlowell
For those not in the know, I'm doing a special engagement of "The Chipper Lowell Experience!" at the Showtime Theater at the park, thru Sept. 7th. This is a 'Solo' show, backed up by a great stage crew and awesome light and sound techs, etc. I use these shows to test my original material, re-work some of my classic comedy bits, and polish and structure new, complete routines which I've been developing. With multiple shows per day, it's easy to 'zone in' and quickly decide what works and what doesn't.
And proud to say the new bits and routines are working nicely. Audiences have been really appreciative throughout, even today when the air-conditioning broke down on the 2nd day of a minor 'heatwave'. People were busy fanning themselves even before the show started, but everyone stayed INDOORS anyway, and had a great time. Thank you guys!!
It's also been great to meet some long-time fans and even new fans who not came to catch this show, but had also seen me in our larger stage production: BLiNK! - An Incredible Evening of Award-Winning Magic!... Which plays casino showrooms and performing arts centers each year. True supporters, and we appreciate each and every one of them!
One of the nicest compliments we received this week came from a couple who asked the ushers if our show was "free" or an "added ticket cost". When the usher told them it was free, they exclaimed, "Wow! This is better than Vegas! This guy plays there all the time and we get to see him for free! Now that's a deal!" Very nice comments! (Of course in truth, you still have to pay to enter the theme park and my show is only a 30 minute stint, so it's nothing like what you get to see in a full-evening, 2-hour performance. Still, all is included in the park's ticket price, and you get to ride some VERY cool coasters! Not to mention there are other great shows at the park this year, including an ICE SHOW, and a great X-Treme sports show out in the arena. Check them out!)
The NON-air conditioning (which is being repaired as I write this) caused some funny problems for me during the shows today. I could not stop sweating no matter how much I tried NOT to move and jump around the stage like I usually do. I tend to be VERY physical when performing, but this time around I was a walking, wet, sludge-ball. I even carried a small hand towel around the stage for most of my show, feeling like the singer, Meatloaf, who always carried a hankerchief because he would sweat so much. Towels were placed all over the stage, draped over various props, rolling platforms, tables, and even a few at the soundbooth for when I run around, up and down the aisles during one segment. Pick them up, dry my face off. Pick them again, dry my hands off. Pick them up again, and dry my arms off....And seconds later, I start all over again with my face. Hot, Hot, Hot!!!
For those who would like to keep in touch with me, please drop me a line at FACEBOOK...
I'm now officially listed under CHIPPERLOWELL.... We'd love to hear from you!
Until next time! All the best to you all!! And have a really FANTASTIC SUMMER!!! Spend it with loved ones! You'll never regret it!
www.chipper.tv
www.BlinkShow.com
email: chipper@chipper.tv
www.facebook.com/chipperlowell
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Bursting at the Seams! In a good way! : )
Hello friends!
Well, I'm on the road again -- hopped another 400+ miles and we're now teching at the new theater in northern California. Crew is fantastic and the 'look' of the show is coming together. Hours were spent today prepping the stupid amount of props used in the show while the crew diligently hung 'legs', hung lights, gobos, video projectors and more. Whew!
The show has once again GROWN, and we're needing yet another, even larger trailer for everything...Which we'll probably wind up purchasing in about a month or two. Can't wait! (This particular trek was a 'slow & steady' one, as I felt like the trailer tires were cursing at me the entire drive due to the weight. All I could do was apologize continuously out loud, and gently pat the dashboard in a futile effort to spur the car on to the final destination. Trust me, I looked like an idiot. And what exactly would I say to the mechanic who comes to fix the broken axle in the dead of night as I sit stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere?
So, new trailer it is!
We're currently producing two shows right now: my 'solo' show - "The Chipper Lowell Experience!" and our larger stage production - "BLiNK! - An Incredible Evening of Award-Winning Magic!" which also features some of the TOP STARS of magic working today. Both have received some really nice reviews and we couldn't be happier. Especially in this wicked economy. Both shows tour the United States at different times, and the change is a nice one as it affords me the opportunity to change and create new comedy and magic routines all the time.
Also in the 'NEWS' is a possible new TV special which I'll be a guest star on, doing 'my thing' and providing laughs from 'left of center'. Scheduled to tape before a live audience in October - Promise to keep you all posted as the date approaches.
That's it for now - must get sleep, as the gym comes early and I want to make sure my alarm doesn't wake me up in time for it. : )
Take care!
Chipper : )
website: WWW.CHIPPER.TV
Well, I'm on the road again -- hopped another 400+ miles and we're now teching at the new theater in northern California. Crew is fantastic and the 'look' of the show is coming together. Hours were spent today prepping the stupid amount of props used in the show while the crew diligently hung 'legs', hung lights, gobos, video projectors and more. Whew!
The show has once again GROWN, and we're needing yet another, even larger trailer for everything...Which we'll probably wind up purchasing in about a month or two. Can't wait! (This particular trek was a 'slow & steady' one, as I felt like the trailer tires were cursing at me the entire drive due to the weight. All I could do was apologize continuously out loud, and gently pat the dashboard in a futile effort to spur the car on to the final destination. Trust me, I looked like an idiot. And what exactly would I say to the mechanic who comes to fix the broken axle in the dead of night as I sit stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere?
So, new trailer it is!
We're currently producing two shows right now: my 'solo' show - "The Chipper Lowell Experience!" and our larger stage production - "BLiNK! - An Incredible Evening of Award-Winning Magic!" which also features some of the TOP STARS of magic working today. Both have received some really nice reviews and we couldn't be happier. Especially in this wicked economy. Both shows tour the United States at different times, and the change is a nice one as it affords me the opportunity to change and create new comedy and magic routines all the time.
Also in the 'NEWS' is a possible new TV special which I'll be a guest star on, doing 'my thing' and providing laughs from 'left of center'. Scheduled to tape before a live audience in October - Promise to keep you all posted as the date approaches.
That's it for now - must get sleep, as the gym comes early and I want to make sure my alarm doesn't wake me up in time for it. : )
Take care!
Chipper : )
website: WWW.CHIPPER.TV
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wired and their "poetic license"...
I recently posted a paragraph on my website - www.chipper.tv, and several friends & associates also suggested I post one here as well regarding the recent 'blurb' in Wired magazine.
I consider myself a little savvy when it comes to working with or dealing with the press. You have to constantly be on guard somewhat whenever you agree to an interview regarding yourself or an upcoming performance. The road is a two-way street, as the newspaper or magazine gets a fun article/interview out of it with a cool picture or two that is unique enough to pull attention, while the performer gets some publicity out there and brings awareness to his next series of shows or tour dates.
While I'm sure there were probably no real "bad guys" in this case, Wired was the one who approached me and not the other way around. They were wishing to present a small "How To" section in their magazine and wanted to involve me as the "expert" who was teaching their readers some fun and easy magic tricks. This "How To" section was a monthly column and this particular issue was going to be all about "Magic". (As it went to press, the editors changed it into the "Mystery" issue.)
We get a few calls each month from publications wanting to do a story on me or my shows, especially if I'm touring in their neck of the woods. This seemed like another innocent request and I agreed. But by the time the actual piece was run, they had omitted any and all information about me, my entertainment background or details about where I would be performing, etc... They even nicked the phrase "Comedy magician" and went for straight "Magician" when labeling me in the piece. Then the words that pretty much made me cringe: "Spills the secrets!..."
What the H-E-double-toothpicks????
I'm assuming that by the time it got to an editor and out of my hands, they decided on their own to change up the tricks being presented and SLANT the piece to give it a little more flavor...."Teaching" was gone and "Spills the secrets" was suddenly IN, to help add injury to insult.
I was pretty upset and immediately wrote to the magazine's writers and staff who I had corresponded with. Again, I don't think this final slant of the column or changes in it was intentional on their part, as they don't make a living as a comedy magician so I'm sure it was pretty unimportant to them. But once in print, it's....well, in print. And for a "Mystery" themed issue, you could at least hope for some disappearing ink on some of those pages.
The Guest editor was J.J. Abbrams who was the creator of the hit series "Lost", and there's also a piece about Teller (of Penn & Teller) using stage tricks to help present the "Neuro-Science Of Magic". The article comes complete with step by step details of how Teller manipulates a cigarette for appearances and vanishes, etc..., along with diagrams of each "move" to follow along.
I enjoyed the magazine itself and even Teller's piece. But sort of found it strange that the words "exposed" or "reveals" or "spills the secrets" were never used. I'm guessing as long as it's considered "science" of some kind, it gets a pass. And let me state I'm not blaming Teller at all. Rather I'm blaming those writers and editors who literally 'throw' together a magazine to get it out the door without really understanding the topics they're supposedly covering. Newspapers get it wrong all the time, but for a magazine that has months to get it right as they travel along their pipeline to final product -- well, that's kind of sad.
In the end, the magazine people and I had a nice chat and as a first step, they quickly removed a tagged link found on the online version of their magazine that had my name and a direct connection to my website. I'm not a publicity hound, and I appreciated the initial gesture from them.
We'll see how the rest of this all turns out. But I will admit that my guard is way UP nowadays and I'll certainly make future writers and editors jump thru a few hoops before I agree to sign on to anything where my name is mentioned.
Lastly, a GIANT thank you to those who wrote to me and added their support and kind words on the topic. I've been entertaining for 20+ years and this particular 'bump' on the road has NEVER come up. I'll probably laugh at it in a few weeks, but for right now....well, there's a bit of cartoon steam coming out of my ears.
Thanks!
Chipper : )
Check out Chipper on FACEBOOK and "add a friend"!
email: chipper@chipper.tv
I consider myself a little savvy when it comes to working with or dealing with the press. You have to constantly be on guard somewhat whenever you agree to an interview regarding yourself or an upcoming performance. The road is a two-way street, as the newspaper or magazine gets a fun article/interview out of it with a cool picture or two that is unique enough to pull attention, while the performer gets some publicity out there and brings awareness to his next series of shows or tour dates.
While I'm sure there were probably no real "bad guys" in this case, Wired was the one who approached me and not the other way around. They were wishing to present a small "How To" section in their magazine and wanted to involve me as the "expert" who was teaching their readers some fun and easy magic tricks. This "How To" section was a monthly column and this particular issue was going to be all about "Magic". (As it went to press, the editors changed it into the "Mystery" issue.)
We get a few calls each month from publications wanting to do a story on me or my shows, especially if I'm touring in their neck of the woods. This seemed like another innocent request and I agreed. But by the time the actual piece was run, they had omitted any and all information about me, my entertainment background or details about where I would be performing, etc... They even nicked the phrase "Comedy magician" and went for straight "Magician" when labeling me in the piece. Then the words that pretty much made me cringe: "Spills the secrets!..."
What the H-E-double-toothpicks????
I'm assuming that by the time it got to an editor and out of my hands, they decided on their own to change up the tricks being presented and SLANT the piece to give it a little more flavor...."Teaching" was gone and "Spills the secrets" was suddenly IN, to help add injury to insult.
I was pretty upset and immediately wrote to the magazine's writers and staff who I had corresponded with. Again, I don't think this final slant of the column or changes in it was intentional on their part, as they don't make a living as a comedy magician so I'm sure it was pretty unimportant to them. But once in print, it's....well, in print. And for a "Mystery" themed issue, you could at least hope for some disappearing ink on some of those pages.
The Guest editor was J.J. Abbrams who was the creator of the hit series "Lost", and there's also a piece about Teller (of Penn & Teller) using stage tricks to help present the "Neuro-Science Of Magic". The article comes complete with step by step details of how Teller manipulates a cigarette for appearances and vanishes, etc..., along with diagrams of each "move" to follow along.
I enjoyed the magazine itself and even Teller's piece. But sort of found it strange that the words "exposed" or "reveals" or "spills the secrets" were never used. I'm guessing as long as it's considered "science" of some kind, it gets a pass. And let me state I'm not blaming Teller at all. Rather I'm blaming those writers and editors who literally 'throw' together a magazine to get it out the door without really understanding the topics they're supposedly covering. Newspapers get it wrong all the time, but for a magazine that has months to get it right as they travel along their pipeline to final product -- well, that's kind of sad.
In the end, the magazine people and I had a nice chat and as a first step, they quickly removed a tagged link found on the online version of their magazine that had my name and a direct connection to my website. I'm not a publicity hound, and I appreciated the initial gesture from them.
We'll see how the rest of this all turns out. But I will admit that my guard is way UP nowadays and I'll certainly make future writers and editors jump thru a few hoops before I agree to sign on to anything where my name is mentioned.
Lastly, a GIANT thank you to those who wrote to me and added their support and kind words on the topic. I've been entertaining for 20+ years and this particular 'bump' on the road has NEVER come up. I'll probably laugh at it in a few weeks, but for right now....well, there's a bit of cartoon steam coming out of my ears.
Thanks!
Chipper : )
Check out Chipper on FACEBOOK and "add a friend"!
email: chipper@chipper.tv
Okay, this post is REALLY about the interview in MAGIC MAGAZINE...
There was so much rambling in the last post that AFTER I published it, I realized nothing written pertained to the MAGIC magazine piece. Oops! : )
Anyway, yes fans, it's true.... I'm currently appearing in the May issue of MAGIC Magazine, with a full, 7-page article/interview done on Chipper. (Yes, I'm speaking in 3rd person just like some ego-drivin, mega-stars do. See how ridiculous it sounds??? So stop it!)
The piece was done by a wonderful writer, Mark Nelson, and edited by Alan Howard, who did a fantastic job of whittling down my "blah, blah, blah" into a cohesive piece that actually flowed. Bravo to the two of you!
For those interested in some of my thinking when it comes to performance, writing and creating material, working casinos, handling people from the audience, etc., give it a read. There's a lot of important things in there that I wished someone had told me when I first started out. Hope you enjoy it, and please drop me a line and let me know what you thought about it. Or, if you have ANY questions, please feel free to email me and I'd be more than happy to help you when it comes to comedy writing, routining, etc...
Also a big thanks to the owner and editor of MAGIC, Stan Allen. His magazine has really elevated the art of magic and he produced issue after issue of quality. Truly, I don't know how he does it each and every month.
Radio and Television interviews were done today and we had a blast. Also on the bill is Don McMillan who's a great guy and skews his comedy from his earlier career as an engineer. Very funny stuff! We snapped a few photos which I'll post up here or on facebook in a few days.
Meanwhile, please check out the facebook page and join or "add a friend" if you'd like. Simply look for Chipper Lowell (again with that 3rd person crap!) and you should see my FACEBOOK PAGE.
All the best!
email: chipper@chipper.tv
Anyway, yes fans, it's true.... I'm currently appearing in the May issue of MAGIC Magazine, with a full, 7-page article/interview done on Chipper. (Yes, I'm speaking in 3rd person just like some ego-drivin, mega-stars do. See how ridiculous it sounds??? So stop it!)
The piece was done by a wonderful writer, Mark Nelson, and edited by Alan Howard, who did a fantastic job of whittling down my "blah, blah, blah" into a cohesive piece that actually flowed. Bravo to the two of you!
For those interested in some of my thinking when it comes to performance, writing and creating material, working casinos, handling people from the audience, etc., give it a read. There's a lot of important things in there that I wished someone had told me when I first started out. Hope you enjoy it, and please drop me a line and let me know what you thought about it. Or, if you have ANY questions, please feel free to email me and I'd be more than happy to help you when it comes to comedy writing, routining, etc...
Also a big thanks to the owner and editor of MAGIC, Stan Allen. His magazine has really elevated the art of magic and he produced issue after issue of quality. Truly, I don't know how he does it each and every month.
Radio and Television interviews were done today and we had a blast. Also on the bill is Don McMillan who's a great guy and skews his comedy from his earlier career as an engineer. Very funny stuff! We snapped a few photos which I'll post up here or on facebook in a few days.
Meanwhile, please check out the facebook page and join or "add a friend" if you'd like. Simply look for Chipper Lowell (again with that 3rd person crap!) and you should see my FACEBOOK PAGE.
All the best!
email: chipper@chipper.tv
INTERVIEW in MAGIC MAGAZINE! - MAY ISSUE, 2009
Hey Peoples!
You know, I keep trying to be diligent with the postings on this blog, but as always, time escapes me faster than a Del Taco emission and here I am once again trying to catch up.
Sorry. : )
Anyhoooo..... I'm currently on the road once again - touring the western states with perfomances in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, San Jose and finally home again. This time around has been a great opportunity to see old friends and hang, chat, grab lunch, you name it.
The day after I ended my week at the IMPROV at Harrah's Casino in Vegas, my friend Chris and I headed over to see Carrot Top's show at the Luxor. (His real name is Scott, but like my nickname you get stuck with what people call you.) last time I saw him live was a good 13+ years ago and he rocked the house much in the same manner he did way back then. The show was roughly an hour and Forty-Five minutes!!! Multi-media and rapid-fire jokes, one-liners and of course about 10 trunks full of props and gags, clothing and other bits of business. And the audience ate it up. Bravo Scotty! Great job!
Tried to find a way to see Criss Angel's new show as well, but all deals were off. The reviews to be honest haven't been the best, but I was curious to see the production side of the show especially with what Cirque brought to the table. (Having grown up on circuses as a kid, I have a special fondness for the Cirque shows when it comes to their unique visual imagery and lighting and music. Sometimes they hit the mark square on and create something that borders on spontaneous genius, and then other times....Well, they wind up looking like a bad parody of themselves. With each new show they continue to push the theatrical envelope and unfortunately wind up so far away from any kind of reality to base their flights of fancy on that most audiences just shrug their shoulders and shake their heads.
Ah, but I digress...
I do believe I will make plans to jaunt to Vegas once again with my wife in a few weeks and catch Criss Angel's show, and also a new show that has been getting great word-of-mouth called "Peepshow". Will let you know what I think of them both. : )
The shows at Harrah's went fantastic. Great crowds and I was encouraged that we had larger audiences than expected, what with the economy hitting the skids. But Vegas surprisingly still had a heartbeat and the shows, restaurants and rows of slot machines and card tables were packed. Sold quite a few "Chipper Lowell Experience!" T-shirts after each performance and loved the generosity of those contributing to a charity we've worked with throughout the years: Autism Speaks. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Drove to Reno and then finally landed in Tahoe today where we had a show this evening with more to come thru Sunday. I was told 2 hours before showtime that we needed to change venues due to the 'regular' theater getting flooded by....get this.....the SWIMMING POOL located DIRECTLY ABOVE IT!!!
Carpeting, chairs, walls and the stage were all water-damaged. Which isn't really a surprise to me....because over 18 years ago I performed on that very stage in a show called "Risque Business" and the VERY SAME THING HAPPENED back then! It got so bad with the leaky pool and pipes above the theater that I can still remember the dancers in the show trying to perform while running around plastic buckets and trays placed strategically here and there to pick up the water drops!
Our company manager finally closed the show down until the hotel agreed to fix it all. I'm guessing the old band-aid from 13 years ago must have finally worn away and we're all back to square one. : )
The lake is still as beautiful as always and armed with a new high resolution still camera, I plan to take some cool photos which I'll display here or on the facebook page. Stay tuned.
You know, I keep trying to be diligent with the postings on this blog, but as always, time escapes me faster than a Del Taco emission and here I am once again trying to catch up.
Sorry. : )
Anyhoooo..... I'm currently on the road once again - touring the western states with perfomances in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, San Jose and finally home again. This time around has been a great opportunity to see old friends and hang, chat, grab lunch, you name it.
The day after I ended my week at the IMPROV at Harrah's Casino in Vegas, my friend Chris and I headed over to see Carrot Top's show at the Luxor. (His real name is Scott, but like my nickname you get stuck with what people call you.) last time I saw him live was a good 13+ years ago and he rocked the house much in the same manner he did way back then. The show was roughly an hour and Forty-Five minutes!!! Multi-media and rapid-fire jokes, one-liners and of course about 10 trunks full of props and gags, clothing and other bits of business. And the audience ate it up. Bravo Scotty! Great job!
Tried to find a way to see Criss Angel's new show as well, but all deals were off. The reviews to be honest haven't been the best, but I was curious to see the production side of the show especially with what Cirque brought to the table. (Having grown up on circuses as a kid, I have a special fondness for the Cirque shows when it comes to their unique visual imagery and lighting and music. Sometimes they hit the mark square on and create something that borders on spontaneous genius, and then other times....Well, they wind up looking like a bad parody of themselves. With each new show they continue to push the theatrical envelope and unfortunately wind up so far away from any kind of reality to base their flights of fancy on that most audiences just shrug their shoulders and shake their heads.
Ah, but I digress...
I do believe I will make plans to jaunt to Vegas once again with my wife in a few weeks and catch Criss Angel's show, and also a new show that has been getting great word-of-mouth called "Peepshow". Will let you know what I think of them both. : )
The shows at Harrah's went fantastic. Great crowds and I was encouraged that we had larger audiences than expected, what with the economy hitting the skids. But Vegas surprisingly still had a heartbeat and the shows, restaurants and rows of slot machines and card tables were packed. Sold quite a few "Chipper Lowell Experience!" T-shirts after each performance and loved the generosity of those contributing to a charity we've worked with throughout the years: Autism Speaks. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Drove to Reno and then finally landed in Tahoe today where we had a show this evening with more to come thru Sunday. I was told 2 hours before showtime that we needed to change venues due to the 'regular' theater getting flooded by....get this.....the SWIMMING POOL located DIRECTLY ABOVE IT!!!
Carpeting, chairs, walls and the stage were all water-damaged. Which isn't really a surprise to me....because over 18 years ago I performed on that very stage in a show called "Risque Business" and the VERY SAME THING HAPPENED back then! It got so bad with the leaky pool and pipes above the theater that I can still remember the dancers in the show trying to perform while running around plastic buckets and trays placed strategically here and there to pick up the water drops!
Our company manager finally closed the show down until the hotel agreed to fix it all. I'm guessing the old band-aid from 13 years ago must have finally worn away and we're all back to square one. : )
The lake is still as beautiful as always and armed with a new high resolution still camera, I plan to take some cool photos which I'll display here or on the facebook page. Stay tuned.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
CHIPPER at KNOTT'S BERRY FARM'S "HALLOWEEN HAUNT"!!!
FADE IN:
The oldest, biggest Halloween event probably in all of the U.S.! Among the creepy fog, mazes, ghouls, ghosts and monsters, is a little show we like to call "The Chipper Lowell Experience!"
Yep, once again I'm performing at the Boardwalk Ballroom Theater in the heart of Knott's Berry Farm. The shows are very, very well, and we've got several fans catching more than one show in a single night. Thankfully my voice is holding up and I'm having a blast.
The voice thing is always a pain, as the nights are getting colder while they keep the temperature of the theater around the same level as most meat lockers. (Somehow they've tied the lighting system IN with the AC, so if you want lights, you also get a maximum wind-chill factor as a dessert topping!) Last year, near the end of the 29 day run, I would have been completely without my voice because I get rather passionate about performing and "giving my all" when I'm running around on the stage and through the audience.
But thankfully my dear friend, Adam Wylie, who is a really great actor and singer (Picket Fences, Wicked, and many many more shows...) had several juicy morsels of information on how to keep my voice in top notch shape.
1.) Water. Lots of it. Just keep drinking like you're the W.C. Fields of H2O, and when you're done, ask for another.
2.) Lozenges. Keep moving them around your mouth between shows, and if you're really talented, whittle it down like a bar of soap in the shower, and just before you go onstage you can secretly stick it in the back of your jawline so it continues to help you while you're doing your comedy sets. The fine Art of Lozenge Lodging.
3.) Did I mention water yet?
4.) NO Caffiene. Period. It will strip your throat and you'll keep needing more diet Coke to 'coat' your throat as it continues to feel more dry. Bad cycle to get into.
5.) Lots of liquids....like, uh....water.
6.) NO chocolate. Bad.
7.) NO Juices. Orange juice may get you going in the morning, but the natural acids will wreak havoc. Instead, throw the oranges into a bag and sell them at the nearest intersection and use the pocket money to buy....
8.)....water.
9.) I also have a little portable steamer which allows me to keep my nose and throat as moist as possible just before going onstage. Back in the dressingroom, hunched over the counter while taking slow, deep breaths, I look like a freak, and even a little like Dennis Hopper sniffing the gas in "Blue Velvet". But it definitely works!
10.)...Well, I'm sure you know what I'm going to say here, so, well, there you are.
We've had some really fun moments during the show this year, as with every year. One that comes to mind was the girl who was so incredibly tired that she fell into a deep slumber just before the show started. Too bad a camera wasn't on, because she became the show and when she finally woke up right near the end of my set, she got a HUGE round of applause, and she was totally shocked and confused. You could tell by her face that she was wondering exactly WHAT took place while she was sleeping. Perfect!
And not that anything "bad" happened. Just a lot of fun with the situation AS I performed my routines. Okay, there was the moment where I started balancing various objects on her head and back, playing the ULTIMATE GAME OF JENGA. (This, by the way, was something I used to do to my younger brother whenever he fell asleep on the couch and the parents were away. At one point I managed to stack 15 videotapes AND a small metal wastebucket all along his shoulder and arms. And then he flipped over, and CRASH!! Loved it!)
The crew I have this year is top-notch, as are the ushers. We also have been gathering other employees who just 'happen' to be near the theater whenever a show is starting. Great people, and we really have a blast between shows.
There are still Three weeks left to go, and if you've never been...GO! My shows are there on selected nights, so if you really want to catch one of my shows, please refer to my touring calendar in the NEWS section of my website:
CHIPPER LOWELL WEBSITE
I'm also on YOUTUBE -- Just type in my name and several videos should pop up. Please LEAVE a COMMENT if you have time. Would love to hear from you! Here's a quick link as well:
CHIPPER ON YOUTUBE
Lastly, FACEBOOK - Wanna be my friend? Again, type in my name into FACEBOOK and Voila! (And if you can't type my name into FACEBOOK, then I really don't want to be your friend anyway! : )
All the best!
Chipper : )
The oldest, biggest Halloween event probably in all of the U.S.! Among the creepy fog, mazes, ghouls, ghosts and monsters, is a little show we like to call "The Chipper Lowell Experience!"
Yep, once again I'm performing at the Boardwalk Ballroom Theater in the heart of Knott's Berry Farm. The shows are very, very well, and we've got several fans catching more than one show in a single night. Thankfully my voice is holding up and I'm having a blast.
The voice thing is always a pain, as the nights are getting colder while they keep the temperature of the theater around the same level as most meat lockers. (Somehow they've tied the lighting system IN with the AC, so if you want lights, you also get a maximum wind-chill factor as a dessert topping!) Last year, near the end of the 29 day run, I would have been completely without my voice because I get rather passionate about performing and "giving my all" when I'm running around on the stage and through the audience.
But thankfully my dear friend, Adam Wylie, who is a really great actor and singer (Picket Fences, Wicked, and many many more shows...) had several juicy morsels of information on how to keep my voice in top notch shape.
1.) Water. Lots of it. Just keep drinking like you're the W.C. Fields of H2O, and when you're done, ask for another.
2.) Lozenges. Keep moving them around your mouth between shows, and if you're really talented, whittle it down like a bar of soap in the shower, and just before you go onstage you can secretly stick it in the back of your jawline so it continues to help you while you're doing your comedy sets. The fine Art of Lozenge Lodging.
3.) Did I mention water yet?
4.) NO Caffiene. Period. It will strip your throat and you'll keep needing more diet Coke to 'coat' your throat as it continues to feel more dry. Bad cycle to get into.
5.) Lots of liquids....like, uh....water.
6.) NO chocolate. Bad.
7.) NO Juices. Orange juice may get you going in the morning, but the natural acids will wreak havoc. Instead, throw the oranges into a bag and sell them at the nearest intersection and use the pocket money to buy....
8.)....water.
9.) I also have a little portable steamer which allows me to keep my nose and throat as moist as possible just before going onstage. Back in the dressingroom, hunched over the counter while taking slow, deep breaths, I look like a freak, and even a little like Dennis Hopper sniffing the gas in "Blue Velvet". But it definitely works!
10.)...Well, I'm sure you know what I'm going to say here, so, well, there you are.
We've had some really fun moments during the show this year, as with every year. One that comes to mind was the girl who was so incredibly tired that she fell into a deep slumber just before the show started. Too bad a camera wasn't on, because she became the show and when she finally woke up right near the end of my set, she got a HUGE round of applause, and she was totally shocked and confused. You could tell by her face that she was wondering exactly WHAT took place while she was sleeping. Perfect!
And not that anything "bad" happened. Just a lot of fun with the situation AS I performed my routines. Okay, there was the moment where I started balancing various objects on her head and back, playing the ULTIMATE GAME OF JENGA. (This, by the way, was something I used to do to my younger brother whenever he fell asleep on the couch and the parents were away. At one point I managed to stack 15 videotapes AND a small metal wastebucket all along his shoulder and arms. And then he flipped over, and CRASH!! Loved it!)
The crew I have this year is top-notch, as are the ushers. We also have been gathering other employees who just 'happen' to be near the theater whenever a show is starting. Great people, and we really have a blast between shows.
There are still Three weeks left to go, and if you've never been...GO! My shows are there on selected nights, so if you really want to catch one of my shows, please refer to my touring calendar in the NEWS section of my website:
CHIPPER LOWELL WEBSITE
I'm also on YOUTUBE -- Just type in my name and several videos should pop up. Please LEAVE a COMMENT if you have time. Would love to hear from you! Here's a quick link as well:
CHIPPER ON YOUTUBE
Lastly, FACEBOOK - Wanna be my friend? Again, type in my name into FACEBOOK and Voila! (And if you can't type my name into FACEBOOK, then I really don't want to be your friend anyway! : )
All the best!
Chipper : )
Sunday, October 12, 2008
CITY OF EMBER - A REVIEW
CITY OF EMBER - A REVIEW
Just got back from a day at the movies with my son. Caught the newest 'family flick' -- which nowadays isn't as often as I wish. They're just not churning them out as much, not to mention that most of them totally miss the mark and wind up a convoluted mess.
City of Ember is one of those 'somewhere in the middle' kind of flims. The sets and production value are top-notch, but the story tends to sag here and there as it goes along. As with most mysteries or puzzles, you shouldn't find yourself ahead of the plot, but with this one you often do.
The basic storyline is that the world had decided to build an underground city called EMBER which would keep mankind alive for 200 years and then allow them to repopulate the Earth once the "disaster" is over with and everything is once again "safe". They never tell you what has actually happened to the planet, be it war, a bomb, whatever, and actually it doesn't really matter because the main thrust of this story is the attempt by two teenagers to solve the riddle of how to actually escape the city and find a way back to topsoil.
Granted, it's based on a young adult novel, but the writers shouldn't have played dumb and instead should have raised the material to match the visual imagery the movie displays. Because of interesting design of the underground city itself, and the cool look of the cavernous environment, I really WANTED to enjoy this flick, but wound up wondering every five minutes why the main characters were choosing to do one thing when most people would choose the other direction or choice to move the story along.
At one point there is a door they're trying to open which is secretly located within the bowels of all the city's pipelines and tunnels, but our heroes efforts are thwarted by the appearance of a gigantic and very hungry and angry mole (which looks great!). Once they've finally outsmarted the oversized rodent, they NEVER return to the locked door again until another 30 minutes into the movie. Huh? Logic like that will quickly turn off most viewers and this movie little by little does just exactly that.
And it is a shame, because they have a fine supporting cast including Tim Robbins, Martin Landau and Bill Murray, among several other great character actors. And given what they have to chew on scriptwise, they make do. But there is a real sense of humanity missing from the citizens of Ember and we never truly get a good idea of exactly HOW the city runs and maintains itself throughout hundreds of years. Everyone looks like extras dressed up in awkward combinations of costumes to signify they've lived under the ground for decades....except they still look like extras. We never see the details of who they are, what they do, how they survive, what their economy is like, etc.
It did make me want to read the book, though. Again, just to learn more details which weren't fleshed out in the film.
The effects in the movie are solid and beautifully created, and again the production value as a whole is splendid, but it's too much to ask of the visuals to hold up a plot that is riddled with holes of common sense.
6 out of 10.
Just got back from a day at the movies with my son. Caught the newest 'family flick' -- which nowadays isn't as often as I wish. They're just not churning them out as much, not to mention that most of them totally miss the mark and wind up a convoluted mess.
City of Ember is one of those 'somewhere in the middle' kind of flims. The sets and production value are top-notch, but the story tends to sag here and there as it goes along. As with most mysteries or puzzles, you shouldn't find yourself ahead of the plot, but with this one you often do.
The basic storyline is that the world had decided to build an underground city called EMBER which would keep mankind alive for 200 years and then allow them to repopulate the Earth once the "disaster" is over with and everything is once again "safe". They never tell you what has actually happened to the planet, be it war, a bomb, whatever, and actually it doesn't really matter because the main thrust of this story is the attempt by two teenagers to solve the riddle of how to actually escape the city and find a way back to topsoil.
Granted, it's based on a young adult novel, but the writers shouldn't have played dumb and instead should have raised the material to match the visual imagery the movie displays. Because of interesting design of the underground city itself, and the cool look of the cavernous environment, I really WANTED to enjoy this flick, but wound up wondering every five minutes why the main characters were choosing to do one thing when most people would choose the other direction or choice to move the story along.
At one point there is a door they're trying to open which is secretly located within the bowels of all the city's pipelines and tunnels, but our heroes efforts are thwarted by the appearance of a gigantic and very hungry and angry mole (which looks great!). Once they've finally outsmarted the oversized rodent, they NEVER return to the locked door again until another 30 minutes into the movie. Huh? Logic like that will quickly turn off most viewers and this movie little by little does just exactly that.
And it is a shame, because they have a fine supporting cast including Tim Robbins, Martin Landau and Bill Murray, among several other great character actors. And given what they have to chew on scriptwise, they make do. But there is a real sense of humanity missing from the citizens of Ember and we never truly get a good idea of exactly HOW the city runs and maintains itself throughout hundreds of years. Everyone looks like extras dressed up in awkward combinations of costumes to signify they've lived under the ground for decades....except they still look like extras. We never see the details of who they are, what they do, how they survive, what their economy is like, etc.
It did make me want to read the book, though. Again, just to learn more details which weren't fleshed out in the film.
The effects in the movie are solid and beautifully created, and again the production value as a whole is splendid, but it's too much to ask of the visuals to hold up a plot that is riddled with holes of common sense.
6 out of 10.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Shrek The Musical - A Review and Comments...
SHREK THE MUSICAL - A REVIEW and COMMENTS
Hello Friends!
Well, just returned from Seattle, Washington and I must say I simply LOVE that city. There's a good feeling you get just walking around that town and the weather last week was perfect. I've been here many times to perform for corporate events ovver the last 15 years, and I always try to add a few extra days to my itinerary to see the sites and catch a few stage shows.
While attending a conference this last week, an associate of mine had a ticket to see SHREK THE MUSICAL which is in previews in Seattle until it heads to New York in a few weeks or so. Unfortunately she was sick as a dog and didn't want to waste the ticket and I happily bought it from her to go that very night.
Two hours later, at the 5th Street Theater, which is an incredibly beautiful venue, I was sitting in the 11th row with friends and found myself actually eager with anticipation to watch this brand new puppy of a musical unfold.
Now granted, the FIRST thing that comes to mind when you hear that they've turned yet another movie into a stage musical is that corporate greed is running amok again. And since Disney's phenomenal hit "Lion King", everybody and their brother (this time, Dreamworks) is hoping to turn anything they can into a live stage version which would hopefully turn into a cash cow.
Disney has been doing a pretty good job....and then there was the "Little Mermaid" which was horrible. Uncreative staging, bad costuming and lackluster effects. But the most important thing they missed is the actual physical translation of an underwater cartoon into a living, breathing entity.
"How can we show them 'swimming'?", and then someone comes up with the brilliant idea of using the wheeled shoes. "How to they float around the ocean with a mermaid tail?", and someone offers a costume that sticks the "fins" out of the back like a rigid dog's tail. It's these things that are gigantic obstacles that really should have told the producers to simply leave the animated movie alone and NOT turn it into something it could never truly be.
No one seems to realize that the Lion King would NOT have worked at all if the actors simply wandered around the stage with huge cartoon costumes like a bad theme park show. The genius was not necessarily in the making of the puppets used (as they could have been designed several different ways and styles). No, the genius was in having a 'tribe' of people "tell the story" and THEN use puppets to help them tell the story. With that overall concept in place, anything could be accepted by the audience.
When Disney decided to LITERALLY translate "Mermaid", they missed the boat. No one was smart enough to actually transcend the original material and turn it into its own stand-alone creation.
Mel Brooks did a great job with "The Producers", because it was ABOUT THEATER. Duh! How perfect and fitting for a show dealing with producing a musical!?!! Perfect. Then he missed entirely by LITERALLY translating his "Young Frankenstein" to the stage and stretching each classic joke into a 3-5 minute song or dance number. THUD!
Now, granted, both "Frankenstein" and "Mermaid" are still doing brisk business, and that is mostly out of their popularity of being classics, and not the tepid to terrible reviews each has received.
And so, standing on my soapbox of how to fix a musical, I think "SHREK" will wind up with the same success story. No matter what I write here, it will still do a great amount of business and could be even considered a "sure thing" due to the millions of people, young and old, who have seen at least one of the three Shrek movies. For myself, I am probably going to have to see it a 2nd time because I'm sure my 7 year old son would get a kick out of it.
Okay, and now for the review! (Aren't you glad you waited?)
On a scale of 1 to 10.....
STAGE PRODUCTION VALUE - 9 - Some really clever set designs, set changes, movement, and at least 7-8 layers of scrims and backdrops to create the forest, woods, swamp and castle. The money used was definitely put up on the stage. This includes hydraulic elevators, turntables and conveyor belts. Cliffs rising out of the ground, a full castle turret which turns 360 degrees, and much more. Great!
COSTUMING - 8 - While most of it worked well, I did feel there wasn't much acknowledgment of an overall design in concept. At times it felt like someone raided a high-end costume shop. I'm sure that a lot of this has to do with the fact that you're dealing with a very wide variety of characters culled from storybooks and fairytales, where the needs are unique to each costume. But there should have been some kind of general tie-in with color choices and quality of fabrics. What stands out as being most out of place is the dragon. While the eyes did move, the dragon looked like a complicated box kite that was hollow and dead.
The lady who was playing the dragon (Kecia Lewis-Evans) would stand in FRONT of the actual dragon and sing, and while the tail was made up of 8 dancers dressed as dragon spikes and serving as backup singers to the dragon lady (which at times was a clever idea), you couldn't help but look up at the giant dragon face hanging there and pulling full focus from the rest of the stage. You kinda felt there must have been a Chinese parade nearby and everyone operating the dragon simply made a wrong turn into the SHREK theater.
Lord Farquaad (Christopher Sieber) is just as short as he is in the films, and the man playing him performed the entire show on his knees with fake legs and shoes jutting out. The costume, though a very old comedic idea, worked very well and he garnered many sincere laughs with his comedic poses and movements.
Honorable mention to Pinocchio (played by John Tartaglia, who was also in Avenue Q) who nose is designed to actually grow by several inches for laughs.
Costumes for the leads: Shrek, Donkey and Fiona really looked great, and I was surprised by how much I actually accepted their characters. Much in part to the actors, but the costumes were spot on.
CHARACTERS: 8 - I wondered how certain characters would translate to the stage and while the Dragon was the worst casualty, the producers were smart enough to avoid other mistakes. Puss In Boots is simply shown as a throw-away bit during a "puppet parade" that Shrek and Donkey walk past on their way to the Castle. There is also a quick send-up of "Lion King" as a 'handmade' giraffe puppet comes whizzing by. Very funny.
We are first introduced to Donkey (Chester Gregory) in a cool but subtle manner. He literally FALLS from the sky and lands in the orchestra pit. This is an EXACT duplicate of the Donkey from the movies, and then when Donkey climbs out of the orchestra pit, it's the actor wearing donkey ears and black hoofs, fur chaps and believe it or not, the whole outfit works. Thanks to the little 'nod' of using the original Donkey, audience immediately accepted him. Nice.
Princess Fiona is perfection. (The wonderful Sutton Foster) Of course this one is hard to screw up since she's the most 'normal' of everyone. A princess. A human princess. GIANT KUDOS though goes to the actress. She nailed it. And although I wouldn't recommend Shrek for any Oscars, I sincerely hope a nod goes to her. Really, really good.
Also, special mention of Chester Gregory who has an outstanding voice and is really likable personality. He was accepted 100% as Donkey by the entire audience.
MUSIC: 2 -- This is where the musical simply falls apart. The songs, while written in earnest, barely work as songs. Nothing is memorable and not one little itty-bitty jingle of a songlet is remembered or hummed as you leave the theater. And that's a shame. Everything sounds like you're about to hear a cool melody only to suddenly expire in the 8th measure into a puddle of slush. The only time the music rises to an acceptable level is when they're trying to parody a certain vaudeville or variety style, like with Lord Farquaaad who is giving the audience a full-fledged song and dance revue.
DANCE - 5 - Mostly pedestrian in nature. Lots of movement and arms up here and there, but nothing remarkable. Anything unique was left to the production staff. Here's an example: Fiona twirls around and sings, but the gimmick of the nearby bird exploding takes center stage for the laugh. Fiona and Bagged Piper play and sing along with a Rockettes-style line-up of RATS, thanks to a slightly lifted curtain showing the dancers' legs wearing tap shoes made to look like giant rats. (kinda like those animal slippers sold at novelty stores) The effect is funny and cool, but by the end of the dance number you quickly realize there was nothing innovative about the choreography itself.
SHREK - 8 - While he can't turn his head due to the giant layers of prosthetics which make him look pretty darn close to the film version of the character, Shrek in person is pretty darn believable and we quickly accept him as the ogre he was always meant to be. Played by Brian D'Arcy James, I have heard that makeup for his role usually takes about an hour and a half to two hours before each performance. Brian is perfect in the role and very believable. At times I felt like he was simply ringmaster to everything else happening around him, requiring him to do little but stand there and watch the proceedings with the rest of the audience. But despite the sometimes poor direction and staging, Brian rose above it all. Top notch!
SET DESIGN AND PROPS - 9 - This is a heavily set and prop driven show. And for most of it, they score a bullseye. Again, the only thing they could have done a better job with is the dragon. But if you're loading up at least 5 semi's to tour this visual juggernaut, I can't imagine where you'd stuff a giant dragon.
STORY - 6 - The problem is we all know the story, so every twist and turn is 'old hat'. Instead of tightening it up, though, it wanders a bit and the 2nd half is much longer than it needs to be. Coming in at 2 hours and 45 minutes, you hope they're smart enough to cut at least 30 minutes out of it, somewhere, anywhere.
HUMOR - 9 - Most, if not all, of the humor is low-brow but that is what Shrek has always been and it works. I laughed out loud at several points especially during visual gags, which there were plenty. Also the actors truly do SELL IT, which is nice.
At the end of the show, there was a standing ovation. People will dismiss the lackluster score and applaud the actors, costumes and production value. And while critics will undoubtedly tear it apart and scream that shows like this are the downfall of American Theater, audiences will turn out in mass and have a good time.
But be warned, once you leave the theater, all 'music' in this 'musical' is quickly forgotten.
Now, as for this review -- This was written off-the-cuff, and I'm sure I've forgotten things here and there and it could use a good once-over, I really just wanted to get all my thoughts down as quickly as possible before forgetting them. So please excuse the cluttered prose thrown into this heap of a review. Sorry and thanks.
All the best!
Chipper : )
http://www.chipper.tv
http://www.BlinkShow.com
Hello Friends!
Well, just returned from Seattle, Washington and I must say I simply LOVE that city. There's a good feeling you get just walking around that town and the weather last week was perfect. I've been here many times to perform for corporate events ovver the last 15 years, and I always try to add a few extra days to my itinerary to see the sites and catch a few stage shows.
While attending a conference this last week, an associate of mine had a ticket to see SHREK THE MUSICAL which is in previews in Seattle until it heads to New York in a few weeks or so. Unfortunately she was sick as a dog and didn't want to waste the ticket and I happily bought it from her to go that very night.
Two hours later, at the 5th Street Theater, which is an incredibly beautiful venue, I was sitting in the 11th row with friends and found myself actually eager with anticipation to watch this brand new puppy of a musical unfold.
Now granted, the FIRST thing that comes to mind when you hear that they've turned yet another movie into a stage musical is that corporate greed is running amok again. And since Disney's phenomenal hit "Lion King", everybody and their brother (this time, Dreamworks) is hoping to turn anything they can into a live stage version which would hopefully turn into a cash cow.
Disney has been doing a pretty good job....and then there was the "Little Mermaid" which was horrible. Uncreative staging, bad costuming and lackluster effects. But the most important thing they missed is the actual physical translation of an underwater cartoon into a living, breathing entity.
"How can we show them 'swimming'?", and then someone comes up with the brilliant idea of using the wheeled shoes. "How to they float around the ocean with a mermaid tail?", and someone offers a costume that sticks the "fins" out of the back like a rigid dog's tail. It's these things that are gigantic obstacles that really should have told the producers to simply leave the animated movie alone and NOT turn it into something it could never truly be.
No one seems to realize that the Lion King would NOT have worked at all if the actors simply wandered around the stage with huge cartoon costumes like a bad theme park show. The genius was not necessarily in the making of the puppets used (as they could have been designed several different ways and styles). No, the genius was in having a 'tribe' of people "tell the story" and THEN use puppets to help them tell the story. With that overall concept in place, anything could be accepted by the audience.
When Disney decided to LITERALLY translate "Mermaid", they missed the boat. No one was smart enough to actually transcend the original material and turn it into its own stand-alone creation.
Mel Brooks did a great job with "The Producers", because it was ABOUT THEATER. Duh! How perfect and fitting for a show dealing with producing a musical!?!! Perfect. Then he missed entirely by LITERALLY translating his "Young Frankenstein" to the stage and stretching each classic joke into a 3-5 minute song or dance number. THUD!
Now, granted, both "Frankenstein" and "Mermaid" are still doing brisk business, and that is mostly out of their popularity of being classics, and not the tepid to terrible reviews each has received.
And so, standing on my soapbox of how to fix a musical, I think "SHREK" will wind up with the same success story. No matter what I write here, it will still do a great amount of business and could be even considered a "sure thing" due to the millions of people, young and old, who have seen at least one of the three Shrek movies. For myself, I am probably going to have to see it a 2nd time because I'm sure my 7 year old son would get a kick out of it.
Okay, and now for the review! (Aren't you glad you waited?)
On a scale of 1 to 10.....
STAGE PRODUCTION VALUE - 9 - Some really clever set designs, set changes, movement, and at least 7-8 layers of scrims and backdrops to create the forest, woods, swamp and castle. The money used was definitely put up on the stage. This includes hydraulic elevators, turntables and conveyor belts. Cliffs rising out of the ground, a full castle turret which turns 360 degrees, and much more. Great!
COSTUMING - 8 - While most of it worked well, I did feel there wasn't much acknowledgment of an overall design in concept. At times it felt like someone raided a high-end costume shop. I'm sure that a lot of this has to do with the fact that you're dealing with a very wide variety of characters culled from storybooks and fairytales, where the needs are unique to each costume. But there should have been some kind of general tie-in with color choices and quality of fabrics. What stands out as being most out of place is the dragon. While the eyes did move, the dragon looked like a complicated box kite that was hollow and dead.
The lady who was playing the dragon (Kecia Lewis-Evans) would stand in FRONT of the actual dragon and sing, and while the tail was made up of 8 dancers dressed as dragon spikes and serving as backup singers to the dragon lady (which at times was a clever idea), you couldn't help but look up at the giant dragon face hanging there and pulling full focus from the rest of the stage. You kinda felt there must have been a Chinese parade nearby and everyone operating the dragon simply made a wrong turn into the SHREK theater.
Lord Farquaad (Christopher Sieber) is just as short as he is in the films, and the man playing him performed the entire show on his knees with fake legs and shoes jutting out. The costume, though a very old comedic idea, worked very well and he garnered many sincere laughs with his comedic poses and movements.
Honorable mention to Pinocchio (played by John Tartaglia, who was also in Avenue Q) who nose is designed to actually grow by several inches for laughs.
Costumes for the leads: Shrek, Donkey and Fiona really looked great, and I was surprised by how much I actually accepted their characters. Much in part to the actors, but the costumes were spot on.
CHARACTERS: 8 - I wondered how certain characters would translate to the stage and while the Dragon was the worst casualty, the producers were smart enough to avoid other mistakes. Puss In Boots is simply shown as a throw-away bit during a "puppet parade" that Shrek and Donkey walk past on their way to the Castle. There is also a quick send-up of "Lion King" as a 'handmade' giraffe puppet comes whizzing by. Very funny.
We are first introduced to Donkey (Chester Gregory) in a cool but subtle manner. He literally FALLS from the sky and lands in the orchestra pit. This is an EXACT duplicate of the Donkey from the movies, and then when Donkey climbs out of the orchestra pit, it's the actor wearing donkey ears and black hoofs, fur chaps and believe it or not, the whole outfit works. Thanks to the little 'nod' of using the original Donkey, audience immediately accepted him. Nice.
Princess Fiona is perfection. (The wonderful Sutton Foster) Of course this one is hard to screw up since she's the most 'normal' of everyone. A princess. A human princess. GIANT KUDOS though goes to the actress. She nailed it. And although I wouldn't recommend Shrek for any Oscars, I sincerely hope a nod goes to her. Really, really good.
Also, special mention of Chester Gregory who has an outstanding voice and is really likable personality. He was accepted 100% as Donkey by the entire audience.
MUSIC: 2 -- This is where the musical simply falls apart. The songs, while written in earnest, barely work as songs. Nothing is memorable and not one little itty-bitty jingle of a songlet is remembered or hummed as you leave the theater. And that's a shame. Everything sounds like you're about to hear a cool melody only to suddenly expire in the 8th measure into a puddle of slush. The only time the music rises to an acceptable level is when they're trying to parody a certain vaudeville or variety style, like with Lord Farquaaad who is giving the audience a full-fledged song and dance revue.
DANCE - 5 - Mostly pedestrian in nature. Lots of movement and arms up here and there, but nothing remarkable. Anything unique was left to the production staff. Here's an example: Fiona twirls around and sings, but the gimmick of the nearby bird exploding takes center stage for the laugh. Fiona and Bagged Piper play and sing along with a Rockettes-style line-up of RATS, thanks to a slightly lifted curtain showing the dancers' legs wearing tap shoes made to look like giant rats. (kinda like those animal slippers sold at novelty stores) The effect is funny and cool, but by the end of the dance number you quickly realize there was nothing innovative about the choreography itself.
SHREK - 8 - While he can't turn his head due to the giant layers of prosthetics which make him look pretty darn close to the film version of the character, Shrek in person is pretty darn believable and we quickly accept him as the ogre he was always meant to be. Played by Brian D'Arcy James, I have heard that makeup for his role usually takes about an hour and a half to two hours before each performance. Brian is perfect in the role and very believable. At times I felt like he was simply ringmaster to everything else happening around him, requiring him to do little but stand there and watch the proceedings with the rest of the audience. But despite the sometimes poor direction and staging, Brian rose above it all. Top notch!
SET DESIGN AND PROPS - 9 - This is a heavily set and prop driven show. And for most of it, they score a bullseye. Again, the only thing they could have done a better job with is the dragon. But if you're loading up at least 5 semi's to tour this visual juggernaut, I can't imagine where you'd stuff a giant dragon.
STORY - 6 - The problem is we all know the story, so every twist and turn is 'old hat'. Instead of tightening it up, though, it wanders a bit and the 2nd half is much longer than it needs to be. Coming in at 2 hours and 45 minutes, you hope they're smart enough to cut at least 30 minutes out of it, somewhere, anywhere.
HUMOR - 9 - Most, if not all, of the humor is low-brow but that is what Shrek has always been and it works. I laughed out loud at several points especially during visual gags, which there were plenty. Also the actors truly do SELL IT, which is nice.
At the end of the show, there was a standing ovation. People will dismiss the lackluster score and applaud the actors, costumes and production value. And while critics will undoubtedly tear it apart and scream that shows like this are the downfall of American Theater, audiences will turn out in mass and have a good time.
But be warned, once you leave the theater, all 'music' in this 'musical' is quickly forgotten.
Now, as for this review -- This was written off-the-cuff, and I'm sure I've forgotten things here and there and it could use a good once-over, I really just wanted to get all my thoughts down as quickly as possible before forgetting them. So please excuse the cluttered prose thrown into this heap of a review. Sorry and thanks.
All the best!
Chipper : )
http://www.chipper.tv
http://www.BlinkShow.com
Thursday, July 10, 2008
My UPS fiasco...A sad tale of the postal blues...
SO.....over the years we've had a GREAT relationship with our local UPS man. Almost like one of the family, and just like when the Wells Fargo wagon pulls up the street in the MUSIC MAN, I'm all excited to see what surprises he has in store for me as well!
Ah friends, but there is also a darker side to this gray logo'd brand.
I'm currently in the middle of an 11-week run of my one-man show here in Minnesota, and I happened to have a corporate date smack dab in the center of my tour, needing me to fly back for a day and half to California to perform, and then turn right around and fly back to Minnesota to continue my run.
Being pro-active, I thought I'd send some additional comedy and magic routines by mail to ol' Kaleeeforneea (As said by our Governor and movie star: Arnold Schwarzenegger .) So I drove over to a local "UPS STORE" and shipped two boxes of props which were to arrive on the west coast by "next Thursday". Only problem was that they DIDN'T arrive at all.
When contacting UPS by phone and emails, I was told that one would be delivered the following Monday or Tuesday and that the OTHER package couldn't be found. That's right, "Could not be found!" Arrrghhh!!! They had NO KNOWLEDGE of the tracking number I was given on my sales receipt and I was stuck. Possibly losing a few Thousand Dollars worth of props and sound equipment.
When I complained to them, the representative simply stated that they are not connected with the UPS STORES!!! What the ???? I sarcastically told them that they better check these stores out because they happen to be using their UPS logos on the windows, doors, counters and walls. The lady did not get the joke and then started to explain to me that they have "licensed" the use of the UPS logo... I quickly told her I was being sarcastic, and that it seemed strange for someone to "sell" their brand but then not 'back it up' or be responsible when a package got lost.
I then asked if they couldn't work backwards in finding the lost package by checking to see if any other packages were going to the same address, but with a different tracking number. They explained they couldn't do that. She then mis-pronounced my name, and when I tried to correct her and explain it wasn't good manners to get the customer's name wrong, especially when they had also lost their package, she replied I was being rude and then HUNG UP ON ME!
Unbelievable!
I had to madly dash around town to make other arrangements for props and sound equipment for that particular corporate show, being the true professional that I am. Duplicates were gathered and/or bought, and I changed up the routines to make sure everything was covered. Knowing I was going to be short on time due to the lost items, I even brought in a friend of mine who sometimes opens for me on my stage tours to do some additional time. In the end, the client was overjoyed and wound up getting a bigger show and everyone was happy.
Except for me, having lost quite a few dollars in the process.
Adding insult to injury, my packages (BOTH OF THEM!) arrived THAT NIGHT of the gig! Too late for me to go pick them up, as I was performing onstage at the time, so it was more of a cosmic joke that they had arrived at all. Past the 11th hour and NOT "just in time". A partial happy ending because at least I got all my stuff back, but still.
Why am I writing this particular post? Because there is a growing trend for larger companies to FRANCHISE their names to others and then sit back and claim no responsibility should anything bad happen. I recall a similar experience with Lowe's Hardware store. We asked them to come by and give a quote on updating our heating and air conditioning at the home, but instead we got a third-party company who lied to us about various things (incorrectly assuming we knew nothing about furnaces, or the ducts in our house - but we did! Ha!) and then trying to hard-sell us into making a decision to buy their installation right then and there, berating us when we asked for a day or two to think it over. When I called Lowe's to complain, they said the very same thing that UPS said: "They're not really part of Lowe's, so we're not responsible for what they do and say." -- And yet they're connected ENOUGH for Lowe's to advertise them as if they are part of their company!
I plan to email the board of directors at UPS and ask for an explanation. Hopefully they understand how this REALLY makes their business look incredibly dysfunctional, and I'll definitely think twice before using UPS again. And that goes for EVERY SINGLE PERSON I mentioned the story to. Maybe they actually WANT the bad word-of-mouth, which as we all know, spreads like wild fire. It's my sincere hope they're smarter than that.
On the positive side: I once had a horrible experience with AT&T, having been with them for about 10 years. I was ready to quit using them, when I emailed the CEO directly and within 24 HOURS received a phone call from a lady who takes care of things when people actually email the CEO. And she was WONDERFUL. Understood completely how they had messed up, was sincerely sorry and sent a new phone to me the NEXT day, along with an additional $775.00 dollars credit on my phone bill. If that wasn't enough, I received two follow-up calls within the next few weeks just to make sure I was really okay with everything. Well, they won me back. It was good business, and since then I guess I've given them an additional $5,000+ dollars of business and more every month.
UPS, you ready to take the hint?
For all of you out there, I hope you don't have the same experience as I did with UPS, but if you do, I hope they treat you the right way, right from the very first phone call.
Take care!
Chipper : )
email: chipper@chipper.tv
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
America's Got Talent - But will it be used for Good or Evil? : )
America’s Got Talent...BUT will it be used for good or evil? : )
During my current show run here in Minnesota, I'm finding I actually have Tuesdays OFF and so like millions of Americans I plop myself down on the couch and channel surf to find some kind of televised eye-candy that I call swallow down like a nice, cold beer.
America's Got Talent is back for another season, and it is definitely a train-wreck of a show. There's a pile of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly all looking like they just got side-swiped by a Hollywood tour bus. It's definitely the shallow end of the talent pool. Not that some of the contestants aren't talented, but more because the show's producers have reduced talent to a single layer of pure schmaltz. Week after week, we wade through a string of really bad acts that for some unknown reason are NOT buzzed away in the first 5 seconds, but are instead encouraged to be bad for their full, alloted time. What the Hell?
Well, it's ratings folks, and the producers have ONLY designed this show to be tomorrow's water cooler talk. "Hey, did you see the woman with the gigantic boobs last night on AGT??? And what about that actual, living & breathing Giant exploding his stomach with firecrackers? Or the sword-swallower who plunged at least 8 or 9 jumbo steak-knives down his throat - ALL AT THE SAME TIME?!!!"
Then there's the (INSERT BLUE COLLAR WORKER HERE) who sings (INSERT FAMOUS OPERA PIECE HERE) while still remaining truly (INSERT "HUMBLE" OR SIMILAR PHRASE HERE). Nice try, AGT, but you did the EXACT SAME TRICK in Britain's version of the show LAST YEAR!!! (I figure they reckon that most of the dumbed-down population of the U.S. who watch the show won't have the time or money to fly over to merry ol' England to realize the show is simply ripping off their own formula of success again and again.
For those who haven't seen it. A lonely, large man sadly walks to center-stage and then STUNS the judges and crowd by singing a classic operatic ditty at full-throttle. He brings the house down, and as the judges tell him, "YOU are what THIS show is ALL ABOUT!", tears roll down his cheeks, and we're all happy that yet another unknown talent got his fair shake at the bass ring.
While I watched it, I was actually shocked and amazed that they would have the gall to pull the exact same scenario once again on American television that they did in Britain. Sure, different guy, but the concept was duplicated exactly, including the very same song. (Thankfully several talk shows & radio shows also noticed and snipped about it.)
Oh well, sometimes even I have to admit I enjoy watching train-wrecks.
Manipulation 101 once again tonight, as they brought on a cute 9 year old who was diagnosed Autistic. He was ADORABLE as he sang Michael Jackson's "Ben". I couldn't help but be touched, both as a viewer and as a father of an autistic son myself. The little boy was considered "high-functioning" just like my own child. And it really was a heart-warming moment.
Of course at some point down the road, they'll vote him off the show, because seriously, who would fly to Vegas to see a Nine-year old sing old Jackson hits for an hour. But for now, just for tonight, it was great.
So, the show is not without it's flaws, and I couldn't disagree more with the way they treat most performers - giving them ONLY a 90 second spot to "strut their stuff" and hope they don't get "X'd" by the judges before their time is up. I've also heard that the contract they lay out for the contestants is nothing short of a deal with the Devil, claiming full control over a person's act and their future earnings since the show feels they were the ones who made them a star.
Also, I'm told the million dollars a person wins is NOT actually a full million dollars....It's doled out over a life-time and very heavily taxed, so by the time the winner actually sees any money, he's got just enough left for a few nice dinners per month into his 80's -- Should he live so long.
Last but not least, the show tramples over true variety stars who have been "in the business" for decades, but then get tossed onto the coals because the judges don't (or sometimes won't) "get it". They're insulted right and left, and in seconds their solid careers are magically reduced back to amateur status. Oops! (One reason why I will NEVER go on the show. After performing for 20+ years, why in the world would I want to be judged by those three?!!?!?!! Only if someone hits me in the side of the head with a heavy rock would I ever consider it. Heheee!)
But then again, we should all lighten up. It's not a serious show, although they pretend to be. Come on! After all, Springer is HOSTING IT! Hasslehoff is a JUDGE!!! Need I go on? Unusual isn't it that not ONE true producer or agent is actually a judge on the show?
So, take it for what it's worth. An hour or two of pure couch-potato happiness. Yippie! Pass the french-fries and the jelly donuts! Yahoo!!
www.chipper.tv
During my current show run here in Minnesota, I'm finding I actually have Tuesdays OFF and so like millions of Americans I plop myself down on the couch and channel surf to find some kind of televised eye-candy that I call swallow down like a nice, cold beer.
America's Got Talent is back for another season, and it is definitely a train-wreck of a show. There's a pile of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly all looking like they just got side-swiped by a Hollywood tour bus. It's definitely the shallow end of the talent pool. Not that some of the contestants aren't talented, but more because the show's producers have reduced talent to a single layer of pure schmaltz. Week after week, we wade through a string of really bad acts that for some unknown reason are NOT buzzed away in the first 5 seconds, but are instead encouraged to be bad for their full, alloted time. What the Hell?
Well, it's ratings folks, and the producers have ONLY designed this show to be tomorrow's water cooler talk. "Hey, did you see the woman with the gigantic boobs last night on AGT??? And what about that actual, living & breathing Giant exploding his stomach with firecrackers? Or the sword-swallower who plunged at least 8 or 9 jumbo steak-knives down his throat - ALL AT THE SAME TIME?!!!"
Then there's the (INSERT BLUE COLLAR WORKER HERE) who sings (INSERT FAMOUS OPERA PIECE HERE) while still remaining truly (INSERT "HUMBLE" OR SIMILAR PHRASE HERE). Nice try, AGT, but you did the EXACT SAME TRICK in Britain's version of the show LAST YEAR!!! (I figure they reckon that most of the dumbed-down population of the U.S. who watch the show won't have the time or money to fly over to merry ol' England to realize the show is simply ripping off their own formula of success again and again.
For those who haven't seen it. A lonely, large man sadly walks to center-stage and then STUNS the judges and crowd by singing a classic operatic ditty at full-throttle. He brings the house down, and as the judges tell him, "YOU are what THIS show is ALL ABOUT!", tears roll down his cheeks, and we're all happy that yet another unknown talent got his fair shake at the bass ring.
While I watched it, I was actually shocked and amazed that they would have the gall to pull the exact same scenario once again on American television that they did in Britain. Sure, different guy, but the concept was duplicated exactly, including the very same song. (Thankfully several talk shows & radio shows also noticed and snipped about it.)
Oh well, sometimes even I have to admit I enjoy watching train-wrecks.
Manipulation 101 once again tonight, as they brought on a cute 9 year old who was diagnosed Autistic. He was ADORABLE as he sang Michael Jackson's "Ben". I couldn't help but be touched, both as a viewer and as a father of an autistic son myself. The little boy was considered "high-functioning" just like my own child. And it really was a heart-warming moment.
Of course at some point down the road, they'll vote him off the show, because seriously, who would fly to Vegas to see a Nine-year old sing old Jackson hits for an hour. But for now, just for tonight, it was great.
So, the show is not without it's flaws, and I couldn't disagree more with the way they treat most performers - giving them ONLY a 90 second spot to "strut their stuff" and hope they don't get "X'd" by the judges before their time is up. I've also heard that the contract they lay out for the contestants is nothing short of a deal with the Devil, claiming full control over a person's act and their future earnings since the show feels they were the ones who made them a star.
Also, I'm told the million dollars a person wins is NOT actually a full million dollars....It's doled out over a life-time and very heavily taxed, so by the time the winner actually sees any money, he's got just enough left for a few nice dinners per month into his 80's -- Should he live so long.
Last but not least, the show tramples over true variety stars who have been "in the business" for decades, but then get tossed onto the coals because the judges don't (or sometimes won't) "get it". They're insulted right and left, and in seconds their solid careers are magically reduced back to amateur status. Oops! (One reason why I will NEVER go on the show. After performing for 20+ years, why in the world would I want to be judged by those three?!!?!?!! Only if someone hits me in the side of the head with a heavy rock would I ever consider it. Heheee!)
But then again, we should all lighten up. It's not a serious show, although they pretend to be. Come on! After all, Springer is HOSTING IT! Hasslehoff is a JUDGE!!! Need I go on? Unusual isn't it that not ONE true producer or agent is actually a judge on the show?
So, take it for what it's worth. An hour or two of pure couch-potato happiness. Yippie! Pass the french-fries and the jelly donuts! Yahoo!!
www.chipper.tv
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Crowd reactions...
Well, the new show finally opened and audiences are digging the new routines. I'm actually surprised at some of the reactions and have been blown away by some of the responses. For instance, at one of my performances we had 'signers' on stage to help narrate my show for several hundred deaf audience members, and during one particular routine, I heard an audible GASP come from a lady off to the side. It was only until after the show that she ran up to me and asked if I had heard her. I mentioned I thought I had heard something, and she then confessed that she had gotten so wrapped up in the show that when one of the effects blew her away, she yelled "Holy shit!" and then caught herself. Hehee! Now THAT is EXACTLY the response I think all of us onstage are looking for!
Then two days later a woman in the front row refused to leave after the show was done. She HAD to talk with someone, and when Russ, a crewmember, strolled out to pick up props onstage, she quickly cornered him and exclaimed "How the HELL did he to that?" And then went on to explain her theories: "I think it was all subliminal! Yeah, that's it! Subliminal!"
Now, again, this is great to hear...Especially since I'm mostly a comedian at heart. But I do invest time and energy to make sure the magic side of things is at a pretty high level. Love to make them laugh, but also add icing to cake when I throw them a loop with the magic angle.
Getting to Minnesota for this 3-month summer run was a bit of a journey all on it's own. Halfway through Utah in the dead of night and about 30 miles away from any town, or even a freekin' lightbulb....my trailer blew a tire. I wasn't frustrated though for some weird reason, and instead enjoyed looking at the literally THOUSANDS of stars above me. Simply breathtaking.
AAA explained that the trailer was NOT part of my membership, so no help there, although they did contact a repair shop about 35 miles away. Over the phone I quickly ordere not one but TWO tires, because I certainly didn't want to get caught again like five minutes later as the OTHER tire finally gave out. They were worn to the nubs to be honest and I hadn't noticed, nor had time to notice during the last two months of shows, rehearsals, prop-building and more that all had to be done before I headed east.
The guy who showed up was incredibly nice, although a little perturbed that I had interrupted his lounging at home. But he quickly replaced the tires and after I threw a few hundred dollars onto my credit card, he was off and so was I.
But then my trailer lights weren't working properly, so until morning broke I had to drive with my blinkers on...The 'tick, tick, tick' really got to me and I turned up the radio, only finding either semi-religious stations or full-blown, fire & brimstone radio stations. AM radio of course! Yay!
The next two days were a whirlwind of sunny and stormy, windy and rainy, and any other opposite you could throw in there. One town had ZERO of their gas pumps working because lightening had taken out all the digital readouts and LCD displays on the pumps. Wow!
Oh yeah, also forgot to mention that I wound up with food poisoning....Lovely. So about every 50-70 miles or so, I'd have to pull over and "gack" into trashcans, porto-potties, gas station restrooms, and once even my empty 7-11, 32-ouncer plastic cup. Not proud, but at least I survived to tell the tales.
Almost to my destination, but then I was in the middle of flood-zones! I turned off a road to get to a hotel one night only to find a barricade up across the street. My headlamps carried over the blockade to the rest of the road beyond....which disappeared into a LAKE! An actual LAKE! I quickly realized that the flooding was major, and when I finally arrived in Minnesota and watched the daily news channels I finally got to see just how bad it had been. Incredible what Mother Nature can throw at you! And, at a moment's notice!
Anyway, hope all of you are safe and sound, and should you wish to email me, please feel free to do so! Would love to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Chipper : )
George Carlin, we'll miss you...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
We’ll miss you, George Carlin...
For me, personally, George Carlin was a God. A performance hero who seemed to only grow sharper with age, laser-focusing on social issues in hilarious form while still getting a point across. That's a juggling act few can ever master successfully.
Sure, others have tried. Whoopi would rant on and on during the old Comic Relief events, and yet never quite click that happy medium of being both opinionated AND funny. But George did both in spades.
He made me and I'm sure hundreds of other comedians out there want to do better. To push the envelope. To write better. To have a better understanding of one's point of view. To re-think their material and wonder deep inside if Carlin would go further with it. He gave us permission to explore new areas as we mined our lives and experiences for bits. And he was one of the few that gave stand-up comedy a true purpose. It was high and low brow humor all mixed together and for him that was perfectly fine....As long as it was honest.
His sense of honesty & sincerity is what struck me as a teenager. Here was a guy who was truly speaking his mind. And much like Lenny Bruce, Carlin was calling on everyone to notice the elephant in the room. Not just one elephant, but ALL the elephants.
In an indirect way, he inspired me to stay "in the moment" and be honest with what I presented onstage. And even though my style is more variety in nature, there is ALWAYS a struggle to be real and raw on stage, instead of the usually removed sense of performance that many entertainers rely on. Carlin was truly a mentor - a father-figure when it came to the way I approached my own brand of stand-up. I'm sure for many others out there, he also became this comedy Obi-Wan.
My first meeting with Carlin was very casual. Years ago my girlfriend and I were attending a performance of "The Crucible" in downtown Los Angeles. The theater was a beautifully restored bank building that had been transformed into 3 little theaters. We had just sat down in our seats when George and his wife suddenly appeared there in the aisle next to us, trying to figure out where their seats were.
My girlfriend stood up and took it upon herself to look at his tickets and then she pointed to the seats next to us. George thanked us and they took their seats. The very first impression of him was nothing but kindness. And completely ordinary in the most extraordinary way -- if that makes any sense. In short, he was a 'regular guy' and our small talk before the show started was a nice bonus and a joy. (My girlfriend later leaned over to me and said since she had pointed George to his seats she could now put on her resume that she had "directed George Carlin". Heehee!)
A few years later I met him again during a Comic Relief event (over the years I had produced several of the Comic Relief recordings for CD) and again he was mild-mannered, gracious, and sincere. I was grateful that the image of him had been more than correct instead of the opposite which is sometimes true with some stars you hoist up onto a pedestal.
Cut to the beginning of this year. I'm now married, and we have a 7 year old son, and I get a call from Richard at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach asking if I would like to open for George Carlin in two months. I probably said YES even before he finished his sentence, I'm sure. To me this was like the best Christmas gift ever, and I was very excited to finally work with him.
It wasn't until I arrived at the club that night that I realized something was wrong. George was sick. He had cancelled his engagement at the club due to a flu-bug that he just couldn't shake.
The weekend before he had been performing in Las Vegas, going over and polishing a whole new hour of material for an upcoming, live HBO taping which was to occur in about a week. But ten minutes into his Vegas set, he suddenly excused himself and apologized to the audience. He left the stage and the show was done. He must have been sicker than he thought and even though you try to go out onstage and simply push through it, this time around even George had to take a break from the "show must go on" rule of thumb.
Back at the club.
My heart sank when I learned that George wasn't going to be there that night. But it wasn't because of the missed opportunity of working with him. I was truly concerned about him and hoped he would get better quickly. I was also worried that he wouldn't be well enough by the end of the week for his HBO taping. Word came that George had decided to completely rest the entire week to regain his strength and and hopefully, fully, kick the flu.
There was a bit of chaos in the offices at the club, as people were now canceling right and left when they heard George wouldn't be there. Some were even suggesting that it was the club's fault! What the hell?!!?! (On a side note, it is amazing to me that there are people out there who can't understand we're live performers and not robots, and that even well known celebrity comics like Carlin can and will get sick from time to time. Ironically these are the very people that George would make fun of, I'm sure.)
Ever the professional, Richard (manager at the club) quickly lined up a stellar cast of comics who dropped by the club with very short notice, and the show went on without a glitch. It was really a great night and the audience, who stayed even though they knew that George wouldn't be there, had a fantastic time.
Cut to the next weekend and I'm performing in northern California. In my hotel room after my shows, I get to watch George's HBO show and as usual he's right on target with his material. And the crowd is loving it. Funny and original while still cutting to the chase as he rants about everything under the sun.
He looked a little older, possibly a little worn from his flu-bug the week before, but there he was...In his element and working that standing-room only theater like the true comic veteran we all came to know and loved.
I smiled at the tv, and knew that in a few more months I would probably again get the opportunity to open for him at the club. But of course that was not meant to be.
Yesterday, the news came from several friends' emails that he had passed away. I was struck dumb. How could that happen?
Without really thinking I wound up watching clip after clip of George's routines on the internet. And again, there was a brand new wave of understanding just how amazing his brain had been all these years. Each and every HBO special was filled with "classic" routines and signature bits. It was hard at times to really find any "filler" material that most comics would throw in there just to pad out their shows. He was a genius.
As the day went on, and between my own shows here in Minnesota, I found myself growing even sadder and then suddenly realized what it was that was bothering me. That voice. His voice. George Carlin's gave a voice to what we were all thinking, but in an incredible "makes you think" sort of way. Sure there are top-notch and hysterical comics out there, but where is the NEXT voice of reason? True reason?
The self-anointed king of common-sense. The only comic I knew of that could successfully bridge that gap between what we're all thinking and we all SHOULD be thinking, while still maintaining the 'funny'. Damn.
I'm sure in time someone will pick up the mantle. But for now, for me, there is a huge void out there left by the absence of George Carlin. George, I will miss you greatly and I'll continue to run material past you in my head. Just like the ol' "what would Jesus do?" wrist bands, I've got an invisible one asking what George might do whenever I'm writing new material. Corny I know, but it's never, ever failed me.
Thank you, George. Thank you so much for inspiring a young, naive kid who just wanted to be funny a good 30+ years ago. You were and still are the best.
Chipper
www.chipper.tv
We’ll miss you, George Carlin...
For me, personally, George Carlin was a God. A performance hero who seemed to only grow sharper with age, laser-focusing on social issues in hilarious form while still getting a point across. That's a juggling act few can ever master successfully.
Sure, others have tried. Whoopi would rant on and on during the old Comic Relief events, and yet never quite click that happy medium of being both opinionated AND funny. But George did both in spades.
He made me and I'm sure hundreds of other comedians out there want to do better. To push the envelope. To write better. To have a better understanding of one's point of view. To re-think their material and wonder deep inside if Carlin would go further with it. He gave us permission to explore new areas as we mined our lives and experiences for bits. And he was one of the few that gave stand-up comedy a true purpose. It was high and low brow humor all mixed together and for him that was perfectly fine....As long as it was honest.
His sense of honesty & sincerity is what struck me as a teenager. Here was a guy who was truly speaking his mind. And much like Lenny Bruce, Carlin was calling on everyone to notice the elephant in the room. Not just one elephant, but ALL the elephants.
In an indirect way, he inspired me to stay "in the moment" and be honest with what I presented onstage. And even though my style is more variety in nature, there is ALWAYS a struggle to be real and raw on stage, instead of the usually removed sense of performance that many entertainers rely on. Carlin was truly a mentor - a father-figure when it came to the way I approached my own brand of stand-up. I'm sure for many others out there, he also became this comedy Obi-Wan.
My first meeting with Carlin was very casual. Years ago my girlfriend and I were attending a performance of "The Crucible" in downtown Los Angeles. The theater was a beautifully restored bank building that had been transformed into 3 little theaters. We had just sat down in our seats when George and his wife suddenly appeared there in the aisle next to us, trying to figure out where their seats were.
My girlfriend stood up and took it upon herself to look at his tickets and then she pointed to the seats next to us. George thanked us and they took their seats. The very first impression of him was nothing but kindness. And completely ordinary in the most extraordinary way -- if that makes any sense. In short, he was a 'regular guy' and our small talk before the show started was a nice bonus and a joy. (My girlfriend later leaned over to me and said since she had pointed George to his seats she could now put on her resume that she had "directed George Carlin". Heehee!)
A few years later I met him again during a Comic Relief event (over the years I had produced several of the Comic Relief recordings for CD) and again he was mild-mannered, gracious, and sincere. I was grateful that the image of him had been more than correct instead of the opposite which is sometimes true with some stars you hoist up onto a pedestal.
Cut to the beginning of this year. I'm now married, and we have a 7 year old son, and I get a call from Richard at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach asking if I would like to open for George Carlin in two months. I probably said YES even before he finished his sentence, I'm sure. To me this was like the best Christmas gift ever, and I was very excited to finally work with him.
It wasn't until I arrived at the club that night that I realized something was wrong. George was sick. He had cancelled his engagement at the club due to a flu-bug that he just couldn't shake.
The weekend before he had been performing in Las Vegas, going over and polishing a whole new hour of material for an upcoming, live HBO taping which was to occur in about a week. But ten minutes into his Vegas set, he suddenly excused himself and apologized to the audience. He left the stage and the show was done. He must have been sicker than he thought and even though you try to go out onstage and simply push through it, this time around even George had to take a break from the "show must go on" rule of thumb.
Back at the club.
My heart sank when I learned that George wasn't going to be there that night. But it wasn't because of the missed opportunity of working with him. I was truly concerned about him and hoped he would get better quickly. I was also worried that he wouldn't be well enough by the end of the week for his HBO taping. Word came that George had decided to completely rest the entire week to regain his strength and and hopefully, fully, kick the flu.
There was a bit of chaos in the offices at the club, as people were now canceling right and left when they heard George wouldn't be there. Some were even suggesting that it was the club's fault! What the hell?!!?! (On a side note, it is amazing to me that there are people out there who can't understand we're live performers and not robots, and that even well known celebrity comics like Carlin can and will get sick from time to time. Ironically these are the very people that George would make fun of, I'm sure.)
Ever the professional, Richard (manager at the club) quickly lined up a stellar cast of comics who dropped by the club with very short notice, and the show went on without a glitch. It was really a great night and the audience, who stayed even though they knew that George wouldn't be there, had a fantastic time.
Cut to the next weekend and I'm performing in northern California. In my hotel room after my shows, I get to watch George's HBO show and as usual he's right on target with his material. And the crowd is loving it. Funny and original while still cutting to the chase as he rants about everything under the sun.
He looked a little older, possibly a little worn from his flu-bug the week before, but there he was...In his element and working that standing-room only theater like the true comic veteran we all came to know and loved.
I smiled at the tv, and knew that in a few more months I would probably again get the opportunity to open for him at the club. But of course that was not meant to be.
Yesterday, the news came from several friends' emails that he had passed away. I was struck dumb. How could that happen?
Without really thinking I wound up watching clip after clip of George's routines on the internet. And again, there was a brand new wave of understanding just how amazing his brain had been all these years. Each and every HBO special was filled with "classic" routines and signature bits. It was hard at times to really find any "filler" material that most comics would throw in there just to pad out their shows. He was a genius.
As the day went on, and between my own shows here in Minnesota, I found myself growing even sadder and then suddenly realized what it was that was bothering me. That voice. His voice. George Carlin's gave a voice to what we were all thinking, but in an incredible "makes you think" sort of way. Sure there are top-notch and hysterical comics out there, but where is the NEXT voice of reason? True reason?
The self-anointed king of common-sense. The only comic I knew of that could successfully bridge that gap between what we're all thinking and we all SHOULD be thinking, while still maintaining the 'funny'. Damn.
I'm sure in time someone will pick up the mantle. But for now, for me, there is a huge void out there left by the absence of George Carlin. George, I will miss you greatly and I'll continue to run material past you in my head. Just like the ol' "what would Jesus do?" wrist bands, I've got an invisible one asking what George might do whenever I'm writing new material. Corny I know, but it's never, ever failed me.
Thank you, George. Thank you so much for inspiring a young, naive kid who just wanted to be funny a good 30+ years ago. You were and still are the best.
Chipper
www.chipper.tv
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
And 2008 BEGINS!!!!......
Well, we're now into February and the last month and a half flew by faster than Lindsay Lohan racing to yet another nite-spot here in Hollywood. I'm guessing THAT's the KEY to stardom these days - Learn to drive badly, drink more than your body weight, and occassionally forget your panties, AND BAM! You're a bonofide STARLET! (Come to think of it, that describes quite a few of my old girlfriends from way back when....Hmmmmm, Lindsay does look familiar.)
New Year's EVE was a BLAST as I flew to Reno, Nevada to perform as a special guest in the show "REAL MAGIC" at the incredible Magic Underground Theater. This world-class venue is owned and operated by Mark & Jinger Kalin - outstanding illusionists and close friends of mine to boot. The "New Year's Eve" special event was completely SOLD-OUT, and was a blast to work. The audiences couldn't have been nicer and I really had a fantastic time. If you ever find youself in or around Northern Nevada, be sure to check it out! - www.magicunderground.com or www.bestmagicshow.com
Ran straight into several weeks of IMPROV comedy club bookings throughout California and Nevada. Performed with Jeremy Hotz, who's certifiable and thankfully just as hysterical onstage. It was a nice pairing and audiences ate it up. Thanks to ALL who bought "CHIPPER" T-shirts! Much appreciated!
This was followed by a week in Lake Tahoe at the IMPROV at Harrah's/Harvey's casino, during the town's Gay & Lesbian Ski Week festival. I'm not gay, but that didn't stop the fans and crowds from coming to the show. GREAT audiences! Also hosted a special event at the local ski resort, providing commentary during a costumed ski "parade" down the slopes to bleachers of attendees. The costumes were awesome with some being down-right bawdy and 'wink-wink' naughty in the Benny Hill vein. (Imagine large, fake body parts that don't normally see the light of day and you have a general idea. Let me put it this way -- I felt rather....small. 'nuf said.)
From there I barely made it through the snow and off the mountain and then drove the 9+ hours to Las Vegas where I performed at Harrah's IMPROV along with Rocky LaPorte. Although we've crossed paths several times over the years, this was the first chance we had to work together and the shows were smooth as silk....If silk was a piece of cloth that was considered funny. (Must work on my prose.)
Rocky is a great guy and now a good friend. Nice to work with fellow comics and performers who have a great heart and are simply 'good peoples'.
Kudos to Carl at the IMPROV who's been running the Vegas venue for 90 years or so. (So I'm bad at math.) It's always great to hang with him and the gang there at Harrah's. My friend Mac King continued to perform in the main showroom there. And once again, a plug. For a GREAT one-man show of comedy magic, be sure to check him out!
A much needed vacation finally arrived, and I rounded up the family for a snow trip to Big Bear in California. Hadn't planned on skiing, and truth be told I hadn't ski'd for YEARS, usually due to my constant performing schedule and NOT wanting a broken leg to deal with during my shows. But I figured I had a week after skiing to fully "recuperate" should I find myself in traction or have a pine tree accidentally implanted into my face.
So we decided to ski, and it was fanstastic! Seems we never really forgot how to ski as it all came back rather naturally. Only one 'fall', and that was because I was speeding. (ala Lohan) But the snow cushioned my body as I flipped head over heels like Rocky and Bullwinkle, hoping to create a giant cartoon snowball which never actually transpired.
Our son, Ethan, tried out his skiis - learning to "snow-plow" and walk sideways like a crab so he could walk up the hill. He now realizes this "skiing thing" may take a bit of practice, but he's hooked as badly as his parents are. Really hoping to get up to the snow at least 2-3 more times before this season ends. And not die. Simple plan. : )
I'm currently performing at the legendary Magic Castle, along with a good friend, Aaron Fisher, and a great "silent" act from Japan, Kenji. Strong show and I really enjoy working their Palace of Mystery theater. Strong reactions, repeat customers and even some partial standing ovations, which I must say made me feel very welcome. The Castle holds a special place for a lot of us who dabble in magic or the variety arts, and it's allowed us a place to try new routines, work with fellow magicians and workshop new jokes, lines, bits of business, etc... I've worked there on and off, whenever the busy calendar permits, over the past 17 years. Hard to believe it's been so long, and yet the Castle still stands. Hope it lasts forever, or at least just short of that. : )
Don't forget that come this April, we've got our show: BLiNK! - An Incredible Evening of Award-Winning Magic! This wonderful stage production features 4 of the best magical artists from around the world, and this year's line-up is no exception. The Magic of Jade, Christopher Hart, Murray Hatfield & Teresa, and yours truly serving up the comedy magic along with acting as the show's official host and emcee. For more information, please visit:
http://www.blinkshow.com
Saturday, April 12th - 8pm - Lancaster Performing Arts Center, Lancaster, CA
Sunday, April 13th - 2pm - California Centert for the Arts, Escondido, CA
As always, should you have ANY questions, answers, comments, smirks, winces, etc....please feel free to email me anytime:
chipper@chipper.tv
Website: http://www.chipper.tv
TAKE CARE!
Chipper : )
New Year's EVE was a BLAST as I flew to Reno, Nevada to perform as a special guest in the show "REAL MAGIC" at the incredible Magic Underground Theater. This world-class venue is owned and operated by Mark & Jinger Kalin - outstanding illusionists and close friends of mine to boot. The "New Year's Eve" special event was completely SOLD-OUT, and was a blast to work. The audiences couldn't have been nicer and I really had a fantastic time. If you ever find youself in or around Northern Nevada, be sure to check it out! - www.magicunderground.com or www.bestmagicshow.com
Ran straight into several weeks of IMPROV comedy club bookings throughout California and Nevada. Performed with Jeremy Hotz, who's certifiable and thankfully just as hysterical onstage. It was a nice pairing and audiences ate it up. Thanks to ALL who bought "CHIPPER" T-shirts! Much appreciated!
This was followed by a week in Lake Tahoe at the IMPROV at Harrah's/Harvey's casino, during the town's Gay & Lesbian Ski Week festival. I'm not gay, but that didn't stop the fans and crowds from coming to the show. GREAT audiences! Also hosted a special event at the local ski resort, providing commentary during a costumed ski "parade" down the slopes to bleachers of attendees. The costumes were awesome with some being down-right bawdy and 'wink-wink' naughty in the Benny Hill vein. (Imagine large, fake body parts that don't normally see the light of day and you have a general idea. Let me put it this way -- I felt rather....small. 'nuf said.)
From there I barely made it through the snow and off the mountain and then drove the 9+ hours to Las Vegas where I performed at Harrah's IMPROV along with Rocky LaPorte. Although we've crossed paths several times over the years, this was the first chance we had to work together and the shows were smooth as silk....If silk was a piece of cloth that was considered funny. (Must work on my prose.)
Rocky is a great guy and now a good friend. Nice to work with fellow comics and performers who have a great heart and are simply 'good peoples'.
Kudos to Carl at the IMPROV who's been running the Vegas venue for 90 years or so. (So I'm bad at math.) It's always great to hang with him and the gang there at Harrah's. My friend Mac King continued to perform in the main showroom there. And once again, a plug. For a GREAT one-man show of comedy magic, be sure to check him out!
A much needed vacation finally arrived, and I rounded up the family for a snow trip to Big Bear in California. Hadn't planned on skiing, and truth be told I hadn't ski'd for YEARS, usually due to my constant performing schedule and NOT wanting a broken leg to deal with during my shows. But I figured I had a week after skiing to fully "recuperate" should I find myself in traction or have a pine tree accidentally implanted into my face.
So we decided to ski, and it was fanstastic! Seems we never really forgot how to ski as it all came back rather naturally. Only one 'fall', and that was because I was speeding. (ala Lohan) But the snow cushioned my body as I flipped head over heels like Rocky and Bullwinkle, hoping to create a giant cartoon snowball which never actually transpired.
Our son, Ethan, tried out his skiis - learning to "snow-plow" and walk sideways like a crab so he could walk up the hill. He now realizes this "skiing thing" may take a bit of practice, but he's hooked as badly as his parents are. Really hoping to get up to the snow at least 2-3 more times before this season ends. And not die. Simple plan. : )
I'm currently performing at the legendary Magic Castle, along with a good friend, Aaron Fisher, and a great "silent" act from Japan, Kenji. Strong show and I really enjoy working their Palace of Mystery theater. Strong reactions, repeat customers and even some partial standing ovations, which I must say made me feel very welcome. The Castle holds a special place for a lot of us who dabble in magic or the variety arts, and it's allowed us a place to try new routines, work with fellow magicians and workshop new jokes, lines, bits of business, etc... I've worked there on and off, whenever the busy calendar permits, over the past 17 years. Hard to believe it's been so long, and yet the Castle still stands. Hope it lasts forever, or at least just short of that. : )
Don't forget that come this April, we've got our show: BLiNK! - An Incredible Evening of Award-Winning Magic! This wonderful stage production features 4 of the best magical artists from around the world, and this year's line-up is no exception. The Magic of Jade, Christopher Hart, Murray Hatfield & Teresa, and yours truly serving up the comedy magic along with acting as the show's official host and emcee. For more information, please visit:
http://www.blinkshow.com
Saturday, April 12th - 8pm - Lancaster Performing Arts Center, Lancaster, CA
Sunday, April 13th - 2pm - California Centert for the Arts, Escondido, CA
As always, should you have ANY questions, answers, comments, smirks, winces, etc....please feel free to email me anytime:
chipper@chipper.tv
Website: http://www.chipper.tv
TAKE CARE!
Chipper : )
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Who's New Zealand is it anyway?!!! COLIN MOCHRIE & CHIPPER MEET!
G'Day Mate!
I just returned from Jolly Old......New Zealand. Not quite England, and barely a relation to Australia, and certainly nowhere NEAR the United States. Trust me.
It's been a wonderful 5-week performance tour, in some of the finest theaters and renovated opera houses throughout both islands of New Zealand. The show, "World Festival of Magic" is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, and this show was simply a GREAT edition of the long-running production.
Most of the cast were Aussies, and they were a nice bunch to hang and work with. The "kiwi" crowds were fantastic and very often we were performing for sold-out audiences. Even with some arena shows in Wellington, we were just packing them in!
(PHOTO #1) - Chris Price, myself, and Todd Charles - Hanging at the restaurant, HAZEL, in Wellington, just around the corner from Peter Jackson's theater. Excellent food! (As were many of the 5-STAR dining establishmets we visited. Chris is the best host to tour the restaurants and also great to consult with when it comes to New Zealands wines. I don't really drink, but I must say for a "non-drinker", I was really enjoying the beverages placed before me. Also knowing I didn't have to drive was an added plus!
(PHOTO #2) - Onstage in front of another PACKED house! A beautifully renovated opera house which just gave your chills to perform in. Thank you New Zealand for a great time in front of thousands!
While taking a day off after some shows in Taupo, my buddies and I were walking around the shopping area looking for some lunch when we stumbled into Colin Mochrie in a small bakery. Colin was very nice, and was in town because he was performing in New Zealand as well during the same time and our shows crossed paths in several cities. We grabbed some photos and wished him well with his tour. Must say I really admire his "improv" brain. I basically grew up with the Groundling Theater in Los Angeles, and know just how hard true improvising can be to constantly pull it off show after show, and Colin is a sterling example of a very well trained improviser. The BEST!
There's more to come. Promise. Here's the deal -- I've been using the blog on MySpace, but there are times I really wish I could simply do my own away from that vortex of dysfunctional internet friendships. I swear it's as bad a cult as the Red Hat Society for older women. (Okay, not as bad....I don't have to wear a red hat.)
So, while I'm back to Blogger, you might still want to check out my rants and raves, pix, etc...over at MySpace. Here's the link:
http://www.myspace.com/chipperlowell
All the best! Drop me a line every so often and let me know how YOU'RE DOING!
Thanks!
Chipper : )
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Summer rocked!
Well, no blogs during the summer -- as we were SLAMMED! had a great time with great crowds each night. Plus we started selling souviner T-Shirts which sold like hotcakes (I guess hotcakes were once a big seller?!?) Thanks to all the fans who:
A.) Came to see the show not just THREE times, but also FOUR & FIVE times! Bringing even more friends and families and business associates with them each and every time. Yay, YOU!
B.) Buying our cool souviner T-Shirts! (Check them out at the show's official website: http://www.chipperlowellexperience.com ) They also gave extra money to the cause. Cause? Did I mention the cause? A whopping 50% percent of the proceeds from T-Shirt sales goes DIRECTLY to two great charities: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation & Autism Speaks. So far we've raised several thousands of dollars for these awesome organizations. Every little bit helps! : )
Our show has been extended for a third time -- winding up on January 6th, 2007 -- And then we begin touring various versions of the show all over the U.S., for theaters and corporate events. What fun!
I've thanked them before, but here goes again....Very BIG thank you to our wonderful co-producers, Reder & Clark, who gave us this opportunity to set the show up in a permanent place for an entire year and supported us with a great marketing campaign as well. They know their stuff, with quite a few other shows under their belt in Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Vegas and Los Angeles. THANK YOU BOTH! : )
Also our fantastic cast. Our dancers have been simply amazing, talented and a joy to work with! Can't say enough about them and it's so much fun backstage and that carries out into the shows onstage and I think the audience can tell we're having a great time.
And the crew -- Like family I tell ya! They really do an outstanding job and actually love coming to work. They really keep an eye on the show and know instantly if I'm heading in a different direction due to my adlibbing and improvising during the performance. With no two shows exactly alike, they're sort of my "Radar" (the guy from MASH), knowing where I might be going with something and quickly helping to coordinate everything I'll need backstage BEFORE I even ask. Amazing. Thank you all!
Last of all - Lake Tahoe. The HUGE amount of people we've met who gave us amazing support and new friendships. Lasting friends and you can't beat that! The best is that they're real and not the least jaded. Add that to such an awe-inspiring environment with mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, etc...Really is Heaven up here!
Okay, enough. gotta get sleep as tomorrow's another day of two shows, plus everything else that goes into performing 12 shows each and every week. Time to snooze!
Chipper : )
http:/www.chipperlowellexperience.com http://www.chipper.tv
EMAIL CHIPPER: chipper@chipper.tv
See ya!
A.) Came to see the show not just THREE times, but also FOUR & FIVE times! Bringing even more friends and families and business associates with them each and every time. Yay, YOU!
B.) Buying our cool souviner T-Shirts! (Check them out at the show's official website: http://www.chipperlowellexperience.com ) They also gave extra money to the cause. Cause? Did I mention the cause? A whopping 50% percent of the proceeds from T-Shirt sales goes DIRECTLY to two great charities: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation & Autism Speaks. So far we've raised several thousands of dollars for these awesome organizations. Every little bit helps! : )
Our show has been extended for a third time -- winding up on January 6th, 2007 -- And then we begin touring various versions of the show all over the U.S., for theaters and corporate events. What fun!
I've thanked them before, but here goes again....Very BIG thank you to our wonderful co-producers, Reder & Clark, who gave us this opportunity to set the show up in a permanent place for an entire year and supported us with a great marketing campaign as well. They know their stuff, with quite a few other shows under their belt in Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Vegas and Los Angeles. THANK YOU BOTH! : )
Also our fantastic cast. Our dancers have been simply amazing, talented and a joy to work with! Can't say enough about them and it's so much fun backstage and that carries out into the shows onstage and I think the audience can tell we're having a great time.
And the crew -- Like family I tell ya! They really do an outstanding job and actually love coming to work. They really keep an eye on the show and know instantly if I'm heading in a different direction due to my adlibbing and improvising during the performance. With no two shows exactly alike, they're sort of my "Radar" (the guy from MASH), knowing where I might be going with something and quickly helping to coordinate everything I'll need backstage BEFORE I even ask. Amazing. Thank you all!
Last of all - Lake Tahoe. The HUGE amount of people we've met who gave us amazing support and new friendships. Lasting friends and you can't beat that! The best is that they're real and not the least jaded. Add that to such an awe-inspiring environment with mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, etc...Really is Heaven up here!
Okay, enough. gotta get sleep as tomorrow's another day of two shows, plus everything else that goes into performing 12 shows each and every week. Time to snooze!
Chipper : )
http:/www.chipperlowellexperience.com http://www.chipper.tv
EMAIL CHIPPER: chipper@chipper.tv
See ya!
blogger sucks wind...
So, after writin a good page and a half - I get a message saying that I 'possibly may not be connected to Blogger anymore. What the hell? Sure enough, I lose the ENTIRE blog I had just written. Arrrgh!
Oh well -- better than my computer bursting into flames. See? There's always an UPside to things. : )
Chipper
Oh well -- better than my computer bursting into flames. See? There's always an UPside to things. : )
Chipper
Saturday, May 13, 2006
The Month of May, or May not be?
Lake Tahoe in May.
This is the 'slow' season up here in beautiful Lake Tahoe. And much to talk about as several things are happening. Our show is still drawing them in, and word-of-mouth continues to grow along with the great reviews from the papers and magazines covering entertainment and casino showrooms.
Across the street from us, our 'sister' casino, Mont Bleu is readying their opening. And the new 'look' is simply amazing. Word has it they've spent around $40 million to 'spruce things up', and it definitely shows. The new casino will cater to a hipper, younger crowd of 20-45 year olds and contain a world class spa, casino, several new restaurants, clubs, etc... It's pretty exciting.
I'm telling you, this is the TIME to come up here as the Lake isn't crowded and the weather is perfect. I know gas prices will play a lot into how busy the summer season will be, but the truth is you get more for your mileage up here. Unlike Vegas or even Reno, you get the best of several worlds in Lake Tahoe - casinos, top-notch restaurants, dance clubs, pubs, shows, rivers, lakes, mountains, hiking trails, boating, skiing, etc... So instead of traveling to a host of destinations, one can simply experience several choice activities in one amazing location.
Okay, enough of the sales pitch.
Even with it being May, our crowds have been growing very nicely, and we constantly are getting 'return' patrons who are bringing their friends, families, kids, etc...to catch the show. What a great compliment and the entire cast and crew and myself are so appreciative.
The new website, currently being updated, will contain several fun items including show 'teaser' videos, pix with stars and celebrities who have stopped by, bio's, reviews, public raves on the show, etc... Also, some "website exclusive" video footage will be on hand with 'behind-the-scenes' footage and unique opportunities to meet the people who created the choreography, sets, costumes, etc...All very talented people who we owe a debt of gratitude for making the show pretty hot.
Must admit, I'm writing this at Four in the morning, and I must sleep...Today was jampacked with hosting an hour tv show in the morning, then gearing up for two shows tonight. And the weekend is just starting!...Oh damn!
Cheers!
Chipper : )
Chipper Lowell currently stars in "The Chipper Lowell Experience!" at the Horizon Casino Resort in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The show runs indefinitely. For more information, check out www.chipper.tv or www.chipperlowellexperience.com
This is the 'slow' season up here in beautiful Lake Tahoe. And much to talk about as several things are happening. Our show is still drawing them in, and word-of-mouth continues to grow along with the great reviews from the papers and magazines covering entertainment and casino showrooms.
Across the street from us, our 'sister' casino, Mont Bleu is readying their opening. And the new 'look' is simply amazing. Word has it they've spent around $40 million to 'spruce things up', and it definitely shows. The new casino will cater to a hipper, younger crowd of 20-45 year olds and contain a world class spa, casino, several new restaurants, clubs, etc... It's pretty exciting.
I'm telling you, this is the TIME to come up here as the Lake isn't crowded and the weather is perfect. I know gas prices will play a lot into how busy the summer season will be, but the truth is you get more for your mileage up here. Unlike Vegas or even Reno, you get the best of several worlds in Lake Tahoe - casinos, top-notch restaurants, dance clubs, pubs, shows, rivers, lakes, mountains, hiking trails, boating, skiing, etc... So instead of traveling to a host of destinations, one can simply experience several choice activities in one amazing location.
Okay, enough of the sales pitch.
Even with it being May, our crowds have been growing very nicely, and we constantly are getting 'return' patrons who are bringing their friends, families, kids, etc...to catch the show. What a great compliment and the entire cast and crew and myself are so appreciative.
The new website, currently being updated, will contain several fun items including show 'teaser' videos, pix with stars and celebrities who have stopped by, bio's, reviews, public raves on the show, etc... Also, some "website exclusive" video footage will be on hand with 'behind-the-scenes' footage and unique opportunities to meet the people who created the choreography, sets, costumes, etc...All very talented people who we owe a debt of gratitude for making the show pretty hot.
Must admit, I'm writing this at Four in the morning, and I must sleep...Today was jampacked with hosting an hour tv show in the morning, then gearing up for two shows tonight. And the weekend is just starting!...Oh damn!
Cheers!
Chipper : )
Chipper Lowell currently stars in "The Chipper Lowell Experience!" at the Horizon Casino Resort in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The show runs indefinitely. For more information, check out www.chipper.tv or www.chipperlowellexperience.com
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Billy McComb, thank you...
My friend Tony was the one who relayed the message that Billy McComb had passed away. I didn't expect it to hit me as hard as it did, but there I was, realizing I was tearing up, and devastated at the news.
Billy McComb was one of the last true vaudevillians - a comedy magician, inventor and habitual storyteller. His life was one incredible anecdote after another, covering pretty much the entire globe. Billy would spin tall tales of his exploits, adventures and gigs throughout his entire life, except that the tales, though amazing, were never 'tall'. All true, all first-hand.
Billy became a fixture at Hollywood's Magic Castle. The unofficial mascot of the private club where generations of fellow magicians came and went. You could find him offering advice and stories to almost everyone who listened. Those who regarded him as just an old man were unfortunate to never have him on their side. At first it was his stories, but over the years I closely listened to his advice and it was priceless. He had a great knack for tweaking a joke, bending a line, pulling and squeezing the most laughter out of a perfected delivery. I admired him greatly.
He lived so long that you kind of fool yourself into thinking that he would always be around. The shock of hearing that he had passed on made you realize how mortal he was and how lucky you were to have known him, befriend him and call him a close friend.
Billy made it a point to always catch me when I performed at the Castle, and I felt it a privilige to know he was in the audience. He studied and eyeballed my performances and after the show would have some great suggestions for me. I valued all of them. I hope that wherever he happens to be strolling nowadays that he has a stage to perform on and students to mentor. Because of him the magic community is richer, stronger and more creative in its inspiration for new routines.
I have a recent picture of Billy and I hanging at the bar at the Magic Castle. It's up in my office and every time I look at it I chuckle a bit. Billy always made me smile.
Billy, I wish you well. Thank you for noticing a young upstart like me, and thinking that I might have some potential. You definitely made an impression on at least one performer, if not thousands over the last 60+ years. Take a bow, and a rest, Billy. Thanks for letting me know you.
- Chipper currently performs in his own stage show aptly titled, "The CHIPPER LOWELL EXPERIENCE!" at the Horizon Casino Resort in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. For more information, check out: http://www.chipperlowellexperience.com
Billy McComb was one of the last true vaudevillians - a comedy magician, inventor and habitual storyteller. His life was one incredible anecdote after another, covering pretty much the entire globe. Billy would spin tall tales of his exploits, adventures and gigs throughout his entire life, except that the tales, though amazing, were never 'tall'. All true, all first-hand.
Billy became a fixture at Hollywood's Magic Castle. The unofficial mascot of the private club where generations of fellow magicians came and went. You could find him offering advice and stories to almost everyone who listened. Those who regarded him as just an old man were unfortunate to never have him on their side. At first it was his stories, but over the years I closely listened to his advice and it was priceless. He had a great knack for tweaking a joke, bending a line, pulling and squeezing the most laughter out of a perfected delivery. I admired him greatly.
He lived so long that you kind of fool yourself into thinking that he would always be around. The shock of hearing that he had passed on made you realize how mortal he was and how lucky you were to have known him, befriend him and call him a close friend.
Billy made it a point to always catch me when I performed at the Castle, and I felt it a privilige to know he was in the audience. He studied and eyeballed my performances and after the show would have some great suggestions for me. I valued all of them. I hope that wherever he happens to be strolling nowadays that he has a stage to perform on and students to mentor. Because of him the magic community is richer, stronger and more creative in its inspiration for new routines.
I have a recent picture of Billy and I hanging at the bar at the Magic Castle. It's up in my office and every time I look at it I chuckle a bit. Billy always made me smile.
Billy, I wish you well. Thank you for noticing a young upstart like me, and thinking that I might have some potential. You definitely made an impression on at least one performer, if not thousands over the last 60+ years. Take a bow, and a rest, Billy. Thanks for letting me know you.
- Chipper currently performs in his own stage show aptly titled, "The CHIPPER LOWELL EXPERIENCE!" at the Horizon Casino Resort in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. For more information, check out: http://www.chipperlowellexperience.com
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
working in a winterwonderland....
Our show, "The CHIPPER LOWELL EXPERIENCE!", opened in mid February and things are going very smoothly. Even with the amazing amount of snowstorms up here in beautiful Lake Tahoe, we're still getting good crowds and the numbers are steadily growing as the word gets out.
The show is located at the Horizon Casino Resort, in their Golden Cabaret Showroom. A nice intimate theater that really works well for comedy and connecting with the audiences. I must say that the Horizon has rolled out the red carpet and been absolutely fabulous, as has our other executive producers. Could not have asked for a better team behind the scenes.
This last week celebrates our 100th show! And we've had several people who have come back two to three times - true fans! Our contract has been extended indefinitely and the word of mouth has been fantastic. Also in the show is Robert Whirlwind, with a hoop act like you've never seen, and three talented dancers who perform the dance routines and help out during various comedic segments during the show. The structure, although carefully planned, has the look of being 'in-the-moment' where anything can happen. My own moments in the show cater to who I'm chatting with from the audience and makes each show fun and different for myself and the audiience. Might be a huge factor in why people come back to catch the show a second time knowing that no two shows will ever be alike.
There are several routines waiting in the wings which we will be rotating through the show every couple of months, and choreographer Lisa Casullo will also be changing up the dance numbers here and there. For more information, our new website strictly geared for the show is.....
http://www.chipperlowellexperience.com
Otherwise, my old 'official' site for news, pix, bio's, etc... is....
http://www.chipper.tv
We've had several friends and celebrities stop by to catch the show - those pix should be posted in the next two weeks. People include Garry Shandling, Dana Carvey, Kathy Griffin, along with magic noteables such as Mark Kornhauser, Kalin & Jinger, Franz Harary, Christopher Hart, etc...
While this particular blog is more of a 'what's-going-on' message, I promise to return with stories from the theater and our live performances. Also a BIG THANKS to Mel Shields who wrote a great article on the show in the Sacramento Bee, Ross Orlando who gave us a cover story for the Lake Tahoe Entertainer magazine and Zoe Rose from Reno Gazette Journal who will soon be publishing the latest news piece and review of the show on April 27th for the RGJ's BEST BETS entertainment weekly. We've also got nice coverage from KMTN television and KRLT 93.9 radio both in appearances and in keeping the buzz going on this show. It takes MANY people supporting a show to make it work, and we humbly THANK everyone out there who has helped us directly and indirectly.
More to come! Until then, should you find yourself up in Northern Nevada, stop on by! The lake and mountains is breathtaking and the casinos, restaurants, shops are simply the best! This really is a great place and for us it was easy to make the decision to open the show up here and raise our boy in such an amazing piece of the country. No smog, no traffic (at least not 'freeway' traffic!) and really great people up here who know each other and most importantly, CARE about each other.
Okay, gotta go - it's our day off! Next blog with certainly contain something funny. And if not, well.....then you don't have a sense of humor and you need to deal with that. I gotta go take a pee now - See? I'm human!
Cheers!
Chipper : )
www.chipper.tv
www.chipperlowellexperience.com
email: lowellprod@hotmail.com
The show is located at the Horizon Casino Resort, in their Golden Cabaret Showroom. A nice intimate theater that really works well for comedy and connecting with the audiences. I must say that the Horizon has rolled out the red carpet and been absolutely fabulous, as has our other executive producers. Could not have asked for a better team behind the scenes.
This last week celebrates our 100th show! And we've had several people who have come back two to three times - true fans! Our contract has been extended indefinitely and the word of mouth has been fantastic. Also in the show is Robert Whirlwind, with a hoop act like you've never seen, and three talented dancers who perform the dance routines and help out during various comedic segments during the show. The structure, although carefully planned, has the look of being 'in-the-moment' where anything can happen. My own moments in the show cater to who I'm chatting with from the audience and makes each show fun and different for myself and the audiience. Might be a huge factor in why people come back to catch the show a second time knowing that no two shows will ever be alike.
There are several routines waiting in the wings which we will be rotating through the show every couple of months, and choreographer Lisa Casullo will also be changing up the dance numbers here and there. For more information, our new website strictly geared for the show is.....
http://www.chipperlowellexperience.com
Otherwise, my old 'official' site for news, pix, bio's, etc... is....
http://www.chipper.tv
We've had several friends and celebrities stop by to catch the show - those pix should be posted in the next two weeks. People include Garry Shandling, Dana Carvey, Kathy Griffin, along with magic noteables such as Mark Kornhauser, Kalin & Jinger, Franz Harary, Christopher Hart, etc...
While this particular blog is more of a 'what's-going-on' message, I promise to return with stories from the theater and our live performances. Also a BIG THANKS to Mel Shields who wrote a great article on the show in the Sacramento Bee, Ross Orlando who gave us a cover story for the Lake Tahoe Entertainer magazine and Zoe Rose from Reno Gazette Journal who will soon be publishing the latest news piece and review of the show on April 27th for the RGJ's BEST BETS entertainment weekly. We've also got nice coverage from KMTN television and KRLT 93.9 radio both in appearances and in keeping the buzz going on this show. It takes MANY people supporting a show to make it work, and we humbly THANK everyone out there who has helped us directly and indirectly.
More to come! Until then, should you find yourself up in Northern Nevada, stop on by! The lake and mountains is breathtaking and the casinos, restaurants, shops are simply the best! This really is a great place and for us it was easy to make the decision to open the show up here and raise our boy in such an amazing piece of the country. No smog, no traffic (at least not 'freeway' traffic!) and really great people up here who know each other and most importantly, CARE about each other.
Okay, gotta go - it's our day off! Next blog with certainly contain something funny. And if not, well.....then you don't have a sense of humor and you need to deal with that. I gotta go take a pee now - See? I'm human!
Cheers!
Chipper : )
www.chipper.tv
www.chipperlowellexperience.com
email: lowellprod@hotmail.com
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
The Wit & Wisdom of a Five Year Old...
My son thinks he's a comedy genius. And for his age, he's probably right.
I reckon once a kid reaches the ripe ol' age of Five, he truly discovers just how funny bodily functions are. Now granted, a fart noise will make them giggle even at Two, but to begin to 'talk dirty' through the misappropriated use of 'naughty words' is the brain child of a child of Five. Or you could call them "Cinco De Enfant" (broken Spanish?).
First off, we should promptly exclude all girls from this theory. Why? Because even at age Five, potty humor is beneath them and they're already planning their wedding days and/or figuring out what qualities their hubby should have (potty humor not being one of them.)
Back to my son. Christmas time brings an onslaught of Holiday songs 24/7 at home, on the car radio, in shopping malls, you name it. And my son LOVES Christmas songs. He's got them memorized and he gleefully sings along with them at the top of his lungs. Right now I'll admit it's cute. But ask me again next year.
Anyway.....My son cracked himself up a few days before Christmas Day by plugging the word "Poo Poo" into "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".....Huh? Here...Sing along to his newest version of a holiday classic:
Rudolph The Red Nose Poo-Poo!
by Ethan Lowell
Rudolph the red nosed poo-poo
Had a very shiny poo-poo
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it's poo-poo
All of the other poo-poo's
Used to laugh and call him poo-poo
They never let poor poo-poo
Play in any poo-poo games
Then one foggy Christmas poo-poo
Santa came to say
Poo-poo, with your nose so poo-poo
Won't you ride my poo-poo tonight
Then how the poo-poo's loved him
and they shouted out, "Poo-Poo!"
Poo-Poo the red nosed Poo-Poo
You'll go down in Poo-Poo, too!
...And that's about it. This, according to my son, is the FUNNIEST SONG in the HISTORY of FUNNY SONGS and POO-POO related topics.
I'm just waiting for the day when he's introduced to George Carlin's "The Seven Words You Can't Say On Television." Until then, I'll enjoy another chorus of "Rudolph The Red Nosed Poo-Poo."
Take care,
Chipper
http://www.chipper.tv
Chipper's new full evening show opens in Lake Tahoe on February 24th, 2006. Called "The CHIPPER LOWELL EXPERIENCE!", the live stage show will be presented twice nightly at the Golden Cabaret Theater inside the Horizon Casino Resorts. For more information, please visit the website:
http://www.chipperlowellexperience.com
I reckon once a kid reaches the ripe ol' age of Five, he truly discovers just how funny bodily functions are. Now granted, a fart noise will make them giggle even at Two, but to begin to 'talk dirty' through the misappropriated use of 'naughty words' is the brain child of a child of Five. Or you could call them "Cinco De Enfant" (broken Spanish?).
First off, we should promptly exclude all girls from this theory. Why? Because even at age Five, potty humor is beneath them and they're already planning their wedding days and/or figuring out what qualities their hubby should have (potty humor not being one of them.)
Back to my son. Christmas time brings an onslaught of Holiday songs 24/7 at home, on the car radio, in shopping malls, you name it. And my son LOVES Christmas songs. He's got them memorized and he gleefully sings along with them at the top of his lungs. Right now I'll admit it's cute. But ask me again next year.
Anyway.....My son cracked himself up a few days before Christmas Day by plugging the word "Poo Poo" into "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".....Huh? Here...Sing along to his newest version of a holiday classic:
Rudolph The Red Nose Poo-Poo!
by Ethan Lowell
Rudolph the red nosed poo-poo
Had a very shiny poo-poo
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it's poo-poo
All of the other poo-poo's
Used to laugh and call him poo-poo
They never let poor poo-poo
Play in any poo-poo games
Then one foggy Christmas poo-poo
Santa came to say
Poo-poo, with your nose so poo-poo
Won't you ride my poo-poo tonight
Then how the poo-poo's loved him
and they shouted out, "Poo-Poo!"
Poo-Poo the red nosed Poo-Poo
You'll go down in Poo-Poo, too!
...And that's about it. This, according to my son, is the FUNNIEST SONG in the HISTORY of FUNNY SONGS and POO-POO related topics.
I'm just waiting for the day when he's introduced to George Carlin's "The Seven Words You Can't Say On Television." Until then, I'll enjoy another chorus of "Rudolph The Red Nosed Poo-Poo."
Take care,
Chipper
http://www.chipper.tv
Chipper's new full evening show opens in Lake Tahoe on February 24th, 2006. Called "The CHIPPER LOWELL EXPERIENCE!", the live stage show will be presented twice nightly at the Golden Cabaret Theater inside the Horizon Casino Resorts. For more information, please visit the website:
http://www.chipperlowellexperience.com
Monday, December 05, 2005
Oh Canada! The WINTER Tour! (shiver, shiver)
It's only fitting that Canada is as cold as "H-E-Double Hockeysticks", since that particular sport is their national past-time. Did I say past-time? I mean RELIGION. Let me put it this way - If Jesus had by accident, kicked a hockey puck into a fishing net, every one of the Canadian provinces would be made up of 100% Bible-Thumpers.
Have I mentioned they LOVE their hockey?
I'm currently on tour in a friend of mine's full evening stage show, "Magic & Miracles", and quite honestly having a blast. The venues range in size from 700 to 3,500 hundred people, and we're performing up to three shows a night to accommodate the crowds.
Livin' large on a giant tour bus, while the truck carrying props, illusions, lighting and sound, etc...runs on ahead of us to the next theater. And, DAMN, what a great cast & crew! All top notch, and no divas! Other acts on the bill include Danny Cole - a fantastic magician with some really creative, cutting edge ideas...and Jeff Mcleod, a very, very funny guy both on stage and off with his magic skills. Extra added bonus is his incredible 'close-up' magic which he got several chances to show off during late-night parties and 'official' receptions.
The show's producers and stars are Murray Hatfield & Teresa - two excellent illusionists who are among the top magicians performing in Canada today. And did I mention they're nice people? So friggin' nice to work with well grounded people!!!
The mood on this year's tour has been nothing but fun. Quite possibly one of the BEST tours I've ever worked. (This coming from a guy who's travelled on many a tour across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Austrailia, New Zealand and other hole-in-the-wall places around the globe.)
Now granted, a tour is a tour is a tour...meaning, if you haven't done one, then you might be surprised at having to deal with new situations for each theater...Some have tons of backstage area for setting up, while others have a BRICK WALL two feet from the edge of the curtain! (what?!?!?) Some stages sport an orchestra pit that pushes the audience away from you a good 15 feet, while others have the audience pretty much looking up your pant leg. Sometimes you get your own dressing room, and other times....well, you're better off dressing on the tour bus and THEN walking into the theater.
But despite the different circumstances surrounding each stage/venue/dressingroom/bathrooms/etc..... The audiences have been great and very appreciative. This tour draws 'fans' who have seen every annual production of this show for the past TWENTY YEARS! Teenagers who caught the show years ago, are now young, married parents with children of their own, making a trip to the show a holiday tradition. At times it feels this production has the same status as watching "Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer" or "A Christmas Story" every December.
We sign autographs after each show, and that can sometimes take up to 45 minutes to an hour, but it's always great to see the kids' smiles and the parents thankful for a great time that can be enjoyed by the entire family. (Sounds soft and fluffy, I know, but when you have kids of your own, you'll understand where I'm coming from.)
I'll have to include some pix next time around as some areas we're passing through are BEAUTIFUL, and I apologize for not being as funny in the blogarola as usual. But it's now 3:24 in the morning and I'm exhausted. Tomorrow is another travel day, with two shows that night. The road part of this tour can be a grind, and it easily reminds me of when I was growing up traveling around with my parents on various circuses and arena shows. The 'jumps' as we called them, were a pain, but the next morning we had the privilege to experience an entire new town to explore at random.
More to come!.....And hey, if you're hibernating up in Canada's snowy land of wonderment, well then scurry on down to the theater closest to you and catch this year's "Magic N Miracles" show. It's been getting great reviews and you won't be disappointed! Many are calling this year's production one of the best! (That's saying something with over 20 plus years of show!)
A complete tour schedule for the show can be found at: www.magicnmiracles.com
I'm outta here!
Chipper
www.chipper.tv
www.chipperlowellexperience.com
email: lowellprod@adelphia.net
Have I mentioned they LOVE their hockey?
I'm currently on tour in a friend of mine's full evening stage show, "Magic & Miracles", and quite honestly having a blast. The venues range in size from 700 to 3,500 hundred people, and we're performing up to three shows a night to accommodate the crowds.
Livin' large on a giant tour bus, while the truck carrying props, illusions, lighting and sound, etc...runs on ahead of us to the next theater. And, DAMN, what a great cast & crew! All top notch, and no divas! Other acts on the bill include Danny Cole - a fantastic magician with some really creative, cutting edge ideas...and Jeff Mcleod, a very, very funny guy both on stage and off with his magic skills. Extra added bonus is his incredible 'close-up' magic which he got several chances to show off during late-night parties and 'official' receptions.
The show's producers and stars are Murray Hatfield & Teresa - two excellent illusionists who are among the top magicians performing in Canada today. And did I mention they're nice people? So friggin' nice to work with well grounded people!!!
The mood on this year's tour has been nothing but fun. Quite possibly one of the BEST tours I've ever worked. (This coming from a guy who's travelled on many a tour across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Austrailia, New Zealand and other hole-in-the-wall places around the globe.)
Now granted, a tour is a tour is a tour...meaning, if you haven't done one, then you might be surprised at having to deal with new situations for each theater...Some have tons of backstage area for setting up, while others have a BRICK WALL two feet from the edge of the curtain! (what?!?!?) Some stages sport an orchestra pit that pushes the audience away from you a good 15 feet, while others have the audience pretty much looking up your pant leg. Sometimes you get your own dressing room, and other times....well, you're better off dressing on the tour bus and THEN walking into the theater.
But despite the different circumstances surrounding each stage/venue/dressingroom/bathrooms/etc..... The audiences have been great and very appreciative. This tour draws 'fans' who have seen every annual production of this show for the past TWENTY YEARS! Teenagers who caught the show years ago, are now young, married parents with children of their own, making a trip to the show a holiday tradition. At times it feels this production has the same status as watching "Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer" or "A Christmas Story" every December.
We sign autographs after each show, and that can sometimes take up to 45 minutes to an hour, but it's always great to see the kids' smiles and the parents thankful for a great time that can be enjoyed by the entire family. (Sounds soft and fluffy, I know, but when you have kids of your own, you'll understand where I'm coming from.)
I'll have to include some pix next time around as some areas we're passing through are BEAUTIFUL, and I apologize for not being as funny in the blogarola as usual. But it's now 3:24 in the morning and I'm exhausted. Tomorrow is another travel day, with two shows that night. The road part of this tour can be a grind, and it easily reminds me of when I was growing up traveling around with my parents on various circuses and arena shows. The 'jumps' as we called them, were a pain, but the next morning we had the privilege to experience an entire new town to explore at random.
More to come!.....And hey, if you're hibernating up in Canada's snowy land of wonderment, well then scurry on down to the theater closest to you and catch this year's "Magic N Miracles" show. It's been getting great reviews and you won't be disappointed! Many are calling this year's production one of the best! (That's saying something with over 20 plus years of show!)
A complete tour schedule for the show can be found at: www.magicnmiracles.com
I'm outta here!
Chipper
www.chipper.tv
www.chipperlowellexperience.com
email: lowellprod@adelphia.net
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Halloweenies & Hauntings...
Knott's Halloween Haunt is probably the oldest, biggest, best Halloween event in the country.
And this year once again I'm proud to be a part of it.
Currently people can catch my show at the Boardwalk Ballroom Theater which should only seat 375 people, but with the growing crowds, we've been seating 400-475 per show. Once the chairs are filled, people sit in the aisles and on small steps circling the house area. And the crowds have been great!
During one of the Haunt's Preview Nights, I had a chance to run around and catch the rest of the park's cool shows, mazes and attractions. At least two of the mazes are done in "3-D", and with the cool glasses (at an extra $1.00 a pop) they're a hoot to walk though. You swear the walls are coming at you, let alone the monsters, gouls, etc.... the best 3D maze is a fairytale theme....But fairytales that have gone horribly wrong. A must see!
My experience with the Haunt has spanned over the last twenty years....Starting with a blind date way back when which went horribly wrong - just like the fairytale maze. The girl was quieter than Teller of Penn & Teller, and we pretty much stared at each other's feet while standing for hours in line for this ride and that ride. (NOTE: A themepark is the WORST place for a bind date. May my misfortune help future daters.) Finally at 11pm, we escaped the acres of fake fog and I quickly drove her back to her home....except that REAL fog had set in and the freeways were crawling at around 5 miles per hour. Yippie!
Anyway, that was a loooong time ago, and presently I'm not married to her.....I think. Not sure, as it was dark that night and I don't remember her face really. Could me my wife.
Two years later, I worked the Haunt as an assistant in a magic illusion show. Hardly saw much of the park, as we were doing four shows a day and I was exhausted. Mostly from lack of sleep. But it was still fun and exciting.
Years later I worked the Haunt as a makeup artist. I wound up working several seasons in a row, making up hundreds of Knott's employees each night of the Haunt. Abel Zeballos was in charge of the makeup artists and he was simply the best and the nicest guy to work for. In under a minute we could apply rashes, gouges, scars, tears, wrinkles, teeth, black eyes, etc... to each face put in front of us. We learned on our feet and really could only rest after the last employee had finally waddled through the line and onto their respective ride operator position somewhere in the park.
After a year or two absence, I was back at the park for yet another Haunt. This time around as a street performer. NOT a monster, like many who take pride in scaring people year after year. No, we were real performers, entertaining the long lines of people waiting hours on end to ride a three minute Log Ride or Mine Train Ride. Very fun and strange. My adlib skills greatly honed, as I forced myself to banter endlessly with people one after another. Every night I tried to come up with a new character, but my favorite was a guy who simply woke up and didn't realize his razer was still stuck in his face from shaving that morning. He drank his coffee, asked people where his wife was and if they'd seen his dog. And then in a fit of rage, he'd yell at the the strangers in line and demand that they "get off" his front lawn.
Cut to years later, and I periodically wind up performing at Knott's - sometimes at the Boardwalk Ballroom, sometimes at the Birdcage Theater. It's always kinda cool, and the audiences are like a pitbull - They're waiting to pounce if they sense fear from the performers at the park, but once they know you're there to throw them a curveball of your own, they're quite the happy campers.
Halloween was and is a wonderful time for experimenting with theater and performing. We all allow it to be a little more 'naughty' and wierd, and it's all okay...After all, it's Halloween!
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Knott's Halloween Haunt in Buena Park, CA is the largest Halloween themed event anywhere. Open most of October, it will attract hundreds of thousands of people during that time. For more info on Chipper's appearance there, go to: www.chipper.tv
And this year once again I'm proud to be a part of it.
Currently people can catch my show at the Boardwalk Ballroom Theater which should only seat 375 people, but with the growing crowds, we've been seating 400-475 per show. Once the chairs are filled, people sit in the aisles and on small steps circling the house area. And the crowds have been great!
During one of the Haunt's Preview Nights, I had a chance to run around and catch the rest of the park's cool shows, mazes and attractions. At least two of the mazes are done in "3-D", and with the cool glasses (at an extra $1.00 a pop) they're a hoot to walk though. You swear the walls are coming at you, let alone the monsters, gouls, etc.... the best 3D maze is a fairytale theme....But fairytales that have gone horribly wrong. A must see!
My experience with the Haunt has spanned over the last twenty years....Starting with a blind date way back when which went horribly wrong - just like the fairytale maze. The girl was quieter than Teller of Penn & Teller, and we pretty much stared at each other's feet while standing for hours in line for this ride and that ride. (NOTE: A themepark is the WORST place for a bind date. May my misfortune help future daters.) Finally at 11pm, we escaped the acres of fake fog and I quickly drove her back to her home....except that REAL fog had set in and the freeways were crawling at around 5 miles per hour. Yippie!
Anyway, that was a loooong time ago, and presently I'm not married to her.....I think. Not sure, as it was dark that night and I don't remember her face really. Could me my wife.
Two years later, I worked the Haunt as an assistant in a magic illusion show. Hardly saw much of the park, as we were doing four shows a day and I was exhausted. Mostly from lack of sleep. But it was still fun and exciting.
Years later I worked the Haunt as a makeup artist. I wound up working several seasons in a row, making up hundreds of Knott's employees each night of the Haunt. Abel Zeballos was in charge of the makeup artists and he was simply the best and the nicest guy to work for. In under a minute we could apply rashes, gouges, scars, tears, wrinkles, teeth, black eyes, etc... to each face put in front of us. We learned on our feet and really could only rest after the last employee had finally waddled through the line and onto their respective ride operator position somewhere in the park.
After a year or two absence, I was back at the park for yet another Haunt. This time around as a street performer. NOT a monster, like many who take pride in scaring people year after year. No, we were real performers, entertaining the long lines of people waiting hours on end to ride a three minute Log Ride or Mine Train Ride. Very fun and strange. My adlib skills greatly honed, as I forced myself to banter endlessly with people one after another. Every night I tried to come up with a new character, but my favorite was a guy who simply woke up and didn't realize his razer was still stuck in his face from shaving that morning. He drank his coffee, asked people where his wife was and if they'd seen his dog. And then in a fit of rage, he'd yell at the the strangers in line and demand that they "get off" his front lawn.
Cut to years later, and I periodically wind up performing at Knott's - sometimes at the Boardwalk Ballroom, sometimes at the Birdcage Theater. It's always kinda cool, and the audiences are like a pitbull - They're waiting to pounce if they sense fear from the performers at the park, but once they know you're there to throw them a curveball of your own, they're quite the happy campers.
Halloween was and is a wonderful time for experimenting with theater and performing. We all allow it to be a little more 'naughty' and wierd, and it's all okay...After all, it's Halloween!
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Knott's Halloween Haunt in Buena Park, CA is the largest Halloween themed event anywhere. Open most of October, it will attract hundreds of thousands of people during that time. For more info on Chipper's appearance there, go to: www.chipper.tv
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