Under The Sea... Of Opinions

A few days ago, the cast of 'The Little Mermaid' live was announced.
I'm not talking a televised live performance of the show. There wouldn't be much point in that seeing as there will be a live-action version of the 1989 Disney classic coming out within the next few years.
No. This version compiles classics from the movie such as the iconic 'Part of Your World' and Broadway additions like 'Her Voice' which Prince Eric sings, despite his lack of singing in the movie.
Brilliant performers are coming together to bring life to these iconic characters while the movie plays behind them. It will be performed at the Hollywood Bowl and a 71-piece orchestra will accompany the all-star cast on Friday 3rd June and Saturday 4th June this year.

As you can see, the cast is pretty impressive. Sara Bareilles as Ariel ('Love Song', 'Brave', every single song on every one of her albums that makes you laugh/cry/happy/relate... Sorry. I'm a big fan), Darren Criss as Prince Eric ('Glee', Broadway, 'Teenage Dream', 'Not Alone', Starkid, Blaine Anderson, Klaine... Okay. Also a huge Darren Criss fan because he's bloody brilliant), Rebel Wilson as Ursula (Love her from the 'Pitch Perfect' movies, 'Bridesmaids' and 'Struck By Lightning' - a brilliant movie written by Darren Criss' on-screen husband on 'Glee' Chris Colfer which mixes dark comedy and life lessons) and several other incredible performers who I, regrettably, know less or nothing about.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow and I'm beyond heartbroken that, yet again, the fact I was born and raised in a regular sized city in small Scotland is keeping me from the things I love (American actors, actresses, TV shows like 'Ellen' and Jimmy Fallon's show to name a few).

I'm very excited. I'm excited whenever Darren does a new show but this one holds a soft spot for him as he's been performing covers of 'Part of Your World' for years, both in his shows onstage and his unforgettable YouTube video. 

Just a note - I'm linking both his and Sara's covers of the song in their characters' names above as well as a video of John Stamos in 'Glee' just because his entire character arc on 'Glee' was fantastic.

Unfortunately, I went on Facebook and saw a Buzzfeed article about the cast being great and Darren Criss being a good choice for Prince Eric and the comments underneath irritated me. 

Which is why I'm writing right now. 

The comments were either about Sara being too old to play Ariel or Darren Criss not being everyone's ideal perceived Prince Eric. 

My main issues with these arguments against two of my favourite artists are as stated below: 

1. It's not a Broadway show or a movie so Sara's age isn't a factor. She's singing Ariel's songs and giving a performance but she's not going to play her in the movie - it's just a live performance - so stop getting your knickers in a twist as my gran would say
2. Darren is an incredible performer. He looks enough like Prince Eric that it's confusing as to why this is even an issue. Add some mousse to his hair, style him right and you have Prince Eric. Also, why are you focusing on their looks alone? Rebel Wilson isn't a giant sea witch. John Stamos isn't a French Lobster.
   If you're going to get silly with one actor, don't forget that the others aren't living up to your high Disney expectations either.

You see what I'm saying?
I got so frustrated that I didn't even comment. Darren and Sara will prove themselves through their talent alone and I have no doubts about them getting positive reviews after the shows. 

Why do they have to be carbon copies of the movie characters anyway? It's insane!
They got here with their talent alone and that's a brilliant achievement! 

And I just read that they had to add a second show to match popular demand for tickets.

If that doesn't get you on board, I don't understand you. 

Be happy, stop picking at people and celebrate the music!

People are always so quick to jump to negatives. 

Let them prove themselves! Give them a chance before you slate them for not being the exact physical match for the Disney characters. 

I can't wait to see how this turns out and I hope to God someone records it or puts it on YouTube because they are going to blow every single critic out of the water. 

That's all! Rant over!

God bless and Goodnight! 

Jessica

xoxo

Gotta Get Back To Hogwarts

Seriously need to stop quoting songs... I'll try and come up with an original title for my next post.

Anyway, the song I've taken my title from is from one of the best musicals ever created: 'A Very Potter Musical'. The song, 'Get Back To Hogwarts', is also brought back for the two sequels 'A Very Potter Sequel' and 'A Very Potter Senior Year'. On Friday (Also known by Klaine fans as Klaine's Two Year Anniversary), Team Starkid (The incredible, talented, inspiration group of people behind the parody musicals as well as others they have created such as 'Starship', 'Me and My Dick' and the infamous 'Space Tour. Not to mention the amazing 'Little White Lie') released the final instalment of their Harry Potter musicals onto YouTube.
I first found out about Team Starkid and 'AVPM' and 'AVPS' in 2010 (about a year after it came out), I think, when my friend Laura showed me a bit of 'AVPM' on her laptop. She was so excited about it and could sing all of the songs. At first, I didn't really get it but Laura insisted I went home and watched the rest of the musical. I did that and fell in love with everyone involved after that. It took me a little while until I watched the second musical though.

When I saw Darren Criss on Glee Season 2, episode 6 'Never Been Kissed', I didn't recognise him. I did, however, fall in love with Klaine (Kurt had been my favourite character up until then. As well as Rachel and Finn). Then I fell in love with Darren. His charisma, his charm and his overall everything (Putting into words how incredible (even that isn't a good enough word for him. Perfect might be closer but that's not quite good enough either). I'm also in love with Chris [Colfer] which is why I have read both his books (He's an incredible writer, it's unbelievable how talented he is. I'm so proud of everything he has accomplished so far and I can't wait to see him (and Darren) progress in the future. I know they'll both achieve so many things. I'm sure most of the Glee cast will) and watched his independent movie which he wrote himself. Didn't like seeing him die so much though. I actually cried... Anyway, this is about Darren and the rest of Team Starkid not my pathetic infatuation with the Glee actors and actresses... Yeah, so, I Googled Darren (Because I'm a creep and wanted to see more of his work) and found out he was in (and wrote some of the songs for) both of those musicals ('AVPM' and 'AVPS'). I then watched them both (The second one was my favourite) and fell even more in love with, not only Darren, but the entire cast. As the years went on (I say that like it was decades ago or something when it was really only the end of the last decade and this decade. What the frick am I going on about right now?), I watched 'Little White Lie', learnt the lyrics to all of the songs on Darren's EP 'Human' and learnt most of the lyrics to most of the songs in the musicals.

I was so excited when I heard that Team Starkid were going to release the last Potter musical they would ever do but I was also heartbroken. I don't want it to end! They filmed it at the same time that the horrible Glee episode known as 'The Break Up' was shot which meant that Darren had to fly out for it (Thankfully, Glee peeps let him). I'm still not over Klaine's breakup and I doubt I ever will be. It sucks. And all because they weren't the best at communicating their feelings to each other! And some other little problems but I'm not thinking straight right now because it sucks that they broke up! NO!
Right... Back to 'AVPSY' before I have a mental breakdown (21, Eternity, Soulmates etcetera. Just remember this!!!). I watched a bit of it on Saturday morning (I stayed up for it because Darren was Tweeting and I got excited), a bit more on Sunday and the whole of the second Act today. Act 2, Scene 6 made me cry. Darren at the end! His eyes were filled with tears which broke me. It must have been so hard for him. He went to college with these people, they're his friends and he is one of the co-founders of Starkid Productions. I'm not entirely sure if this is true but I think this might have been his last show with Starkid. At least for the foreseeable future. He just doesn't have time right now what with Glee and 'Imogene'/'Girl Most Likely' to promote. Plus, as he gets more and more established as an actor and gets more famous and more roles, he will have even less time. Not to mention if he brings out another album (God, I hope he brings out another album!). It must have been very emotional for him to be in that role again for the last time with all of his friends from college. I felt like his 'Totally Awesome' at the end before he walked off with Ron (I think that's what happened but my eyes were brimming with tears so I could be wrong about that) was a 'Goodbye' of sorts. Damn it Darren! Why do you have to keep breaking my heart?!

The point is that it was incredible, mind-blowing, sad (In the bittersweetest of ways and unforgettable. Team Starkid are sure to have brilliant careers and I can't wait to watch them do it (Sounding a bit like a creep but oh well. I'm proud of them!). Lauren Lopez (Draco Malfoy in the Potter Parodies) has already brought out an awesome Recipe Book and has even been in Chris Colfer's film 'Struck By Lightning' (Although, in my opinion, she should have been given a bigger role. She. Is. Flawless! And so talented). Joey Richter (who lives with Darren in LA and plays Ron Weasley) has been on Disney Channel's 'Jessie' (I think that's what it's called) and was even an 'Adam's Apple' (Not a bit fan of Adam to be honest. I don't mind him being friends with Kurt but I ship Klaine. Why can't Blaine fly to New York and tell Adam to 'Stay away from his future husband' like Finn did with Brody? (OMG! Awesome moment! Go Finn!)) on Glee! I know the others have had some awesome accomplishments but Joey and Lauren are two of my favourites (along with Darren, Joe Moses (One-man Showses), Brian Holden and the Lang's of course. Also love Meredith, Dylan Saunders, Joe Walker and Brian Rosenthal) so I thought I'd mention them.
Going to miss Darren working with Team Starkid as he is truly home when he is with them but I wish them all the luck in the world for their future. If you haven't watched the musicals then I really urge you to. Even if you hate musicals! Watch it and I dare you not to be impressed. I guess, now that I've seen them all, I'll go back to the start. Where it all began.

I don't wanna see you go, but it's not forever, not forever! Even it was, you now that I would never let it get me down. You're the part of me that makes me better, wherever I go! So I will try not to cry-- but no one needs to say goodbye...
Back to witches and wizards and magical beasts, to goblins and ghosts and to magical feasts, it's all that I love and it's all that I need at Hogwarts, Hogwarts! Back to spells and enchantments, potions and friends, to Gryffindors! Hufflepuffs! Ravenclaws! Slytherins! Back to the place where our story begins at Hogwarts, Hogwarts! "Man, I'm glad we went back!"

P.S. I stole all of the pictures! Consider me a big old photo-thief :P

Dancing With Myself

So, ever since I got my acceptance letter, I've kinda been panicking. It's really expensive and, if I somehow manage to do it, I'll have to do it on my own (Like, find out about financing etcetera on my own and take out a loan or whatever). It's been worrying me since Thursday 7th (Letter day). On one hand, this is my dream (well, not exactly but it will help towards my dream) and I don't want to end up as one of those people who regrets doing everything possible to achieve their dreams. On the other hand, it's going to be really difficult. I don't even know if I can get the money together by Sunday (17th). I'm, pretty much, the most panicked I've ever been in my entire life. Why didn't I think about all of this before I auditioned? Oh yeah, because I'm an idiot! No, truthfully, I never actually thought I'd get in in the first place. I didn't think I was good enough (still don't) and I'm genuinely confused as to how it happened. Anyway, that's what I need to figure out this week. I also need to keep this from my family. My gran doesn't really care, my aunt is just focussing on all of the negatives and my mum is trying but she doesn't need to worry about this. I am perfectly capable of handling it on my own. Like I've done with most things.
As for the title, it refers to a song that was covered on Glee where Artie had a dream sequence type thing and got up and did this crazy dance thing in a shopping centre (mall). I've been trying to lift up my spirits by dancing around my house in my pyjamas. (What am I talking about? I do that when I'm not sad!). I've been singing and dancing around my bedroom and the kitchen (Kinda difficult to really dance in the shower what with it being so slippery but I do try. I also dance a little in the hall and living room when people are out but my dancing's mostly refrained to the kitchen (when I'm making food) and my bedroom) a bit more than often though (that's probably not true).
I'm hoping the next few days go a bit better but, whatever happens, one thing's for sure; AVPSY is coming out on YouTube on Klaine's 2-year Anniversary! Their Klainiversary, if you will (I'm so embarrassed of myself right now but I'm also really excited so I don't care that much)! I can't wait! I'm sure it'll be incredible (Because Starkid are incredible. In fact, there aren't any words awesome enough to describe them. The point is that it will be perfection). I have a feeling that it's going to be quite bittersweet though. On one hand, I'm really excited to see it because I've been looking forward to seeing this since I found out they were doing it while Darren was filming 'The Break Up' episode back in July. On the other hand though (Yes, it's the second time I've done this in this little blog thing but I don't care), it's the last Harry Potter themed musical that Starkid are going to do and it's going to be really sad when it ends. I don't want it to end! There's also the thought about what Darren was filming on Glee at this time. That's not too happy. Oh well...