I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir Book Review

There are two ways to look at life. The first is a series of potholes that we stepped in and learned from. The second is to always be the optimist. My view is a combination of them both. Life is a combination of good experiences and bad experiences. What matters is how we deal with the outcomes of those events.

Harvey Fierstein‘s new autobiography/memoir, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir was published in March. Born in 1952 to a Jewish family in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bensonhurst, he knew from an early age that he was a born performer. He also knew that he was not like other boys.

His life and career is nothing short of a roller coaster. As an LGBTQ activist, Fierstein has paved the way for this generation of queer young people to be out and proud of who they are. As a writer and actor, he has become well known and respected for his body of work: Independence Day, Newsies, Mrs. Doubtfire, Hairspray, etc.

Fierstein’s story is one of acceptance, change, and dealing with both the highs and lows that come with living a colorful life on your own terms.

I loved this book. In his trademark voice, Fierstein is funny, sarcastic, open, heartbreaking, and real. This is a man who has been to Hades and back and still finds joy in the little things. He is more than an icon in this book. He is a human being who has inspired us, made us laugh, made us cry, and most of all proved that we can be ourselves and thrive.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir is available wherever books are sold.

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Newsies Review

In 1992, a little movie hit theaters. Newsies was the story of the 1899 Newsboys strike. While the movie was not quite the hit with critics, it became a cult favorite. In 2012, Newsies premiered on Broadway and became a smashing success.

Yesterday, Newsies hit the big screen for a three night only event. Leading the cast is four of the original Broadway performers Jeremy Jordan (Jack Kelly), Kara Lindsay (Katherine), Ben Fankhauser (Davey) and Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Crutchie). Backing them up are Newsies veterans, from both the Broadway production and the touring production.

As a fansie, I couldn’t be more thrilled that the show was filmed for the big screen. I have been a fan for many years. It just reminded me why I love this show. While there were minor changes to the dialogue, 98% of what was on stage is on-screen.

I absolutely recommend it.

Newsies, The Musical will be in theaters tomorrow, February 18th and Wednesday, February 22nd. Check your local listings for theaters near you.

Challenges

No one is without challenges in their life. No matter whom they are or where they come from, there is always some sort of barrier that has to be overcome.

I’ve been at my current job for just under 2 months now. To say that is has been a challenge is an understatement. I’ve fallen more times than I can count at this point. The mountain I’ve had to climb to success is not smooth. There are plenty of rocks that have rained on me. The side of the mountain is uneven and full of jagged edges.

But I’ve kept going. The only way to deal with fear is to face it head on.

Now is the time to seize the day/Stare down the odds and seize the day/Minute by minute that’s how you win it/We will find a way/But let us seize the day/Courage cannot erase our fear/Courage is when we face our fear-  Seize The Day, Newsies

I know that this job will come naturally at some point. It has slowly been getting easier.  But for the climb to get easier, I must continue to climb.

 

Carrying The Banner….One Last Time

When Newsies premiered in movie theaters on October 10th, 1992, it was savaged by the critics.  But it was beloved the fans.

Two decades later, Disney took a chance on this seemingly forgotten live action movie musical and decided to give it another go.

The result was Newsies on Broadway, which closes tonight after 2 1/2 years on the great white way.

I was fortunate enough to see the original cast perform a few months after the show opened. It was still the Newsies I knew and loved, just that much better.

2 and a half years is a good run. As sad as I am see to see it go, I know that it will come back, as all Broadway shows do eventually. And I am happy for the fansies who were unable to come to New York, but are now able to see the show on tour.

#NewsiesForever #ForeverAFansie

 

P.S. A treat for my fellow fansies, Newsies Got Swag.

And If You’re Gone Tomorrow, What Was Ours Still Will Be…

#Newsiesforever #ForeverAFansie

Stephanie-isms

Dear Newsies,

We’ve talked about this before. You have changed my life for the better. Newsies, you have given me hope in the dark times, and have carried the banner through the trials and tribulations of a few Tony Nominations, some early morning TV shows, and so much more.

Your short Papermill Playhouse production wasn’t enough for the Fansies, and the powers at be in Disney heard the cries of fans across the country begging for more. Like Joe Pulitzer, they caved, and we won! We got a measly little 12 week run on Broadway.

But that wasn’t enough. See, like Jack Kelly, you yearned for your Santa Fe…you wanted to be produced across the country and around the world. You wanted regional and high school productions, community theatre shows. But you knew that we still needed you on Broadway, and the cast wowed audiences from around the world. Suddenly…

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Still The King Of New York- My Thoughts On Newsies after 22 years

Imagine if you will, The Bell House, a non-nondescript bar in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn in the summer of 2011. It’s Friday night, the patrons are having a drink, unwinding after a long week. They are adults, mostly women in their 20’s and 30’s. They are educated, mature and grown up.

Then the movie starts. It’s Newsies, the 1992 Disney movie musical starring a very pre Batman Christian Bale as Jack Kelly. Newsies is the story of the newsboys strike in New York City in 1899. Jack Kelly is the unlikely leader of the boys who are fighting for their rights as employees.

Imagine, this group of educated and mature adults,  returning, if only for a few hours, to their childhoods, singing along to a soundtrack that has been part of their lives for nearly two decades. Premiering on April 10, 1992, Newsies was not well liked among critics at that time.   But the critics are not always right.

I’ve loved this movie for over 20 years. To be honest, it is bit flawed. While we all know that Christian Bale is an incredible actor, when it comes to the singing and dancing, Gene Kelly, he is not. But there is a heart to this movie, a genuineness. It speaks to everyone who sees themselves as the little person, who believes that change is impossible.

It is a little corny at times and a tad predictable, but it is a Disney movie.  Despite all of that, it is still Newsies and it is as good as it was back in 1992.

 

How Do I Love Newsies? Let Me Count The Ways

A week from this past sunday, I had the pleasure of seeing the stage musical of one of my all favorite childhood movies, the 1992 Disney movie Newises.

Newsies recounts the true story of the 1899 Newsboys strike against newspaper owners who raised the prices of the newspapers the Newsies had to sell to the public.

I memorized the movie soundtrack years ago. When I heard that it was being remade for the stage, I was a bit skeptical. Most recent Broadway productions where the original source material is a film have not lasted very long.

However, I witheld my skepticism because I do love Newsies. I was not able to make it to NJ for the off Broadway production, but when I heard it was coming to Broadway, it made me want to go see shows again.

Now to the reason for this post. The reason I love Newsies the Musical and everyone if they can see it, should.

1. Cute boys singing and dancing incredibly well.  

2. The story is completely relatable. If the Newsboys of the 1899 strike were around during the 99% movement back in the fall, they would have fit right in.

3. The new girl. The characters of Sarah and Denton from the movie were combined into Katherine Plumber, a Nelly Blye type character played by Kara Lindsay.  Kudos to the writing team and Ms. Lindsay for making an interesting, lively and believable romantic foil to Jack.

4. Any fan of the film can easily follow the story. Much of the dialogue and lyrics from the movie are intact.

5. I just loved it and I have not been a Broadway fan for quite a few years. And if the clip doesnt convince you, then you should just go see if for yourself.

6. On a personal note, Newsies reminds us all that we all have the power to change the world if we are only brave enough to step forward. I come from immigrants who worked in the sweatshops and factories for slave wages in the early part of the 20th century. On my mother’s side, I have great grandparents who were heavily invovled with the WTUL and the ILGWU, knowing that I am a descendant of them makes me a prouder fansie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5wvimJFi9s