A Look At Cirque du Soleil’s OVO-Now Playing In Santa Monica

Cirque du Soleil’s OVO is playing through March 25th at the Santa Monica Pier.  I got a chance to check out the show the night before it opened-and I think it might just be my favorite Cirque show yet!

(Click on the video below for a sneak peek-and to find out what Adam Shankman and Neil Patrick Harris love most about Cirque!)

Cirque du Soleil describes OVO, which means “egg” in Portuguese, as a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It is love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.

The cast of OVO is comprised of 55 performing artists from 14 countries specializing in many acrobatic acts. One highlight of OVO is the stunning flying trapeze act, in which six flyers soar 40 feet in the air, making this the biggest act of its kind to ever be presented under a big top by Cirque du Soleil. It combines many circus disciplines, including banquine, Russian swing and swinging chair. The finale features 20 artists running, jumping and leaping up a 24-foot vertical wall.

For show times and ticket information for OVO, visit http://cirquedusoleil.com/ovo 

View The Full List Of Nominees For The 84th Academy Awards!

Nominations were announced this morning for the 84th Academy Awards.  The Oscars will be handed out Sunday, February 26, 2012 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, and will be televised LIVE on the ABC Television Network, beginning at 4p.m. PT/7p.m. ET.

Here’s who will be vying for the golden statues:

Performance by an actor in a leading role

• Demián Bichir in “A Better Life” (Summit Entertainment)
• George Clooney in “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight)
• Jean Dujardin in “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company)
• Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Focus Features)
• Brad Pitt in “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

• Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn” (The Weinstein Company)
• Jonah Hill in “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
• Nick Nolte in “Warrior” (Lionsgate)
• Christopher Plummer in “Beginners” (Focus Features)
• Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role

• Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs” (Roadside Attractions)
• Viola Davis in “The Help” (Touchstone)
• Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
• Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady” (The Weinstein Company)
• Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

• Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company)
• Jessica Chastain in “The Help” (Touchstone)
• Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids” (Universal)
• Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs” (Roadside Attractions)
• Octavia Spencer in “The Help” (Touchstone)

Best animated feature film of the year

• “A Cat in Paris” (GKIDS) Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
• “Chico & Rita” (GKIDS) Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
• “Kung Fu Panda 2” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) Jennifer Yuh Nelson
• “Puss in Boots” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) Chris Miller
• “Rango” (Paramount) Gore Verbinski

Achievement in art direction

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Production Design: Laurence Bennett, Set Decoration: Robert Gould
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (Warner Bros.) Production Design: Stuart Craig, Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Production Design: Dante Ferretti, Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
• “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) Production Design: Anne Seibel, Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) Production Design: Rick Carter, Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Achievement in cinematography

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Guillaume Schiffman
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Jeff Cronenweth
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Robert Richardson
• “The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight) Emmanuel Lubezki
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) Janusz Kaminski

Achievement in costume design

• “Anonymous” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Lisy Christl
• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Mark Bridges
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Sandy Powell
• “Jane Eyre” (Focus Features) Michael O’Connor
• “W.E.” (The Weinstein Company) Arianne Phillips

Achievement in directing

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Michel Hazanavicius
• “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) Alexander Payne
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Martin Scorsese
• “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) Woody Allen
• “The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight) Terrence Malick

Best documentary feature

• “Hell and Back Again” (Docurama Films) A Roast Beef Limited Production, Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
• “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” (Oscilloscope Laboratories) A Marshall Curry Production, Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
• “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory” An @radical.media Production, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
• “Pina” (Sundance Selects) A Neue Road Movies Production, Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
• “Undefeated” (The Weinstein Company) A Spitfire Pictures Production, TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

Best documentary short subject

• “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement” A Purposeful Production, Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
• “God Is the Bigger Elvis” A Documentress Films Production, Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
• “Incident in New Baghdad” A Morninglight Films Production, James Spione
• “Saving Face” A Milkhaus/Jungefilm Production, Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
• “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” A Supply & Demand Integrated Production, Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Achievement in film editing

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
• “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) Kevin Tent
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Thelma Schoonmaker
• “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Christopher Tellefsen

Best foreign language film of the year

• “Bullhead” A Savage Film Production, Belgium
• “Footnote” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Footnote Limited Partnership Production, Israel
• “In Darkness” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Studio Filmowe Zebra Production, Poland
• “Monsieur Lazhar” (Music Box Films) A micro_scope Production, Canada
• “A Separation” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Dreamlab Films Production, Iran

Achievement in makeup

• “Albert Nobbs” (Roadside Attractions) Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (Warner Bros.) Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
• “The Iron Lady” (The Weinstein Company) Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

• “The Adventures of Tintin” (Paramount) John Williams
• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Ludovic Bource
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Howard Shore
• “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Focus Features) Alberto Iglesias
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) John Williams

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

• “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” (Walt Disney) Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
• “Real in Rio” from “Rio” (20th Century Fox) Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown, Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Best motion picture of the year

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) A La Petite Reine/Studio 37/La Classe Américaine/JD Prod/France3 Cinéma/Jouror Productions/uFilm Production, Thomas Langmann, Producer
• “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) An Ad Hominem Enterprises Production, Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
• “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” (Warner Bros.) A Warner Bros. Pictures Production, Scott Rudin, Producer
• “The Help” (Touchstone) A DreamWorks Pictures Production, Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and    Michael Barnathan, Producers
• “Hugo” (Paramount) A Paramount Pictures and GK Films Production, Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
• “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) A Pontchartrain Production, Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
• “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) A Columbia Pictures Production, Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
• “The Tree of Life” (Fox Searchlight) A River Road Entertainment Production, Nominees to be determined
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) A DreamWorks Pictures Production, Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Best animated short film

• “Dimanche/Sunday” (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production, Patrick Doyon
• “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” A Moonbot Studios LA Production, William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
• “La Luna” (Walt Disney) A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Enrico Casarosa
• “A Morning Stroll” (Studio AKA) A Studio AKA Production, Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
• “Wild Life” (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production, Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Best live action short film

• “Pentecost” (Network Ireland Television) An EMU Production, Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
• “Raju” A Hamburg Media School/Filmwerkstatt Production, Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
• “The Shore” An All Ashore Production, Terry George and Oorlagh George
• “Time Freak” A Team Toad Production, Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
• “Tuba Atlantic” (Norsk Filminstitutt) A Norwegian Film School/Den Norske Filmskolen Production, Hallvar Witzø

Achievement in sound editing

• “Drive” (FilmDistrict) Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Ren Klyce
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (Paramount) Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

Achievement in sound mixing

• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sony Pictures Releasing) David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
• “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (Paramount) Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
• “War Horse” (Touchstone) Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson

Achievement in visual effects

• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (Warner Bros.) Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and  Alex Henning
• “Real Steel” (Touchstone) Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
• “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (20th Century Fox) Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (Paramount) Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier

Adapted screenplay

• “The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight) Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
• “Hugo” (Paramount) Screenplay by John Logan
• “The Ides of March” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
• “Moneyball” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
• “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (Focus Features) Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

Original screenplay

• “The Artist” (The Weinstein Company) Written by Michel Hazanavicius
• “Bridesmaids” (Universal) Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
• “Margin Call” (Roadside Attractions) Written by J.C. Chandor
• “Midnight in Paris” (Sony Pictures Classics) Written by Woody Allen
• “A Separation” (Sony Pictures Classics) Written by Asghar Farhadi

Watch The 2012 Oscar Nominations Here LIVE!

Nominations for the 2012 Academy Awards will be announced at 5:30 AM Pacific Time TODAY, January 24, 2012.

You can watch the nominations LIVE right here, On The Entertainment Beat!  Stay Tuned!

Cirque du Soleil’s OVO Pitches Tent in Santa Monica!

Photo: Ed Krieger

Cirque du Soleil’s OVO opens Friday, January 20th at the Santa Monica Pier, and the massive Grand Chapiteau (the trademark yellow and blue “big top” tent) is already in place!

This week, a team of 60-plus men and women hoisted more than 100 steel poles from the ground up!

A few fun facts about The Grand Chapiteau– it stands 66 feet high and is 167 feet in diameter.  And it can accommodate more than 2,500 people!

Photo: OSA Images, Costumes: Liz Vandal

Cirque du Soleil describes OVO, which means “egg” in Portuguese, as a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement.

Photo: OSA Images, Costumes: Liz Vandal

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It is love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.

The cast of OVO is comprised of 55 performing artists from 14 countries specializing in many acrobatic acts. One highlight of OVO is the stunning flying trapeze act, in which six flyers soar 40 feet in the air, making this the biggest act of its kind to ever be presented under a big top by Cirque du Soleil. It combines many circus disciplines, including banquine, Russian swing and swinging chair. The finale features 20 artists running, jumping and leaping up a 24-foot vertical wall.

For show times and ticket information for OVO, visit http://cirquedusoleil.com/ovo 

Stay In Style At The W Los Angeles!

Whether you choose to vacation–or staycation–during the holidays, the W Los Angeles has something for you!

I recently got a chance to check out the hotel and all it has to offer. And now I can’t wait to go back!

The W is located in Westwood, just steps away from Westwood Village, the Hammer Museum and the Geffen Playhouse, and the W has a complimentary Acura car service (which means if you want to go exploring, you don’t have to deal with parking- or driving- a big plus in LA!)

There’s also plenty to do at the hotel itself! The W is home to the BLISS spa, which offers dozens of treatments for men and women. I indulged in the spa’s signature Triple Oxygen Facial, which includes a targeted peel, energizing enzyme pack and three forms of skin-brightening oxygen. As the brochure says, it really is “like a breath of fresh air for your face!”

The W Los Angeles also has an amazing restaurant- NINETHIRTY. Executive Chef Dakota Weiss (who is a contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef Texas) has whipped up an incredible menu. I tried the steak frites (yummy!) and our group shared the charred broccoli, sweet potato fries and “french onion” mac n’ cheese (also yummy)! The desserts were also delicious!

Luckily the W has a fitness center (SWEAT) to work off all that food! The hotel also partners with FITiST to offer fitness classes with celebrity trainers (like Kit Rich, who energized me even though I thought I was going to pass out!)

The W Los Angeles is also one of the few places in Southern California where you can ice skate outside in 70-degree weather! Each holiday season, the W LA’s WET pool deck is transformed into CHILL, a winter wonder lounge complete with an eco-friendly hybrid rink, ice bar and stylish cabanas designed by Z Gallerie.

Is it any wonder I want to go back???

To see more of what the W Los Angeles has to offer, be sure to watch my story airing statewide this week on California Life with Heather Dawson, and online at www.californialifehd.com!

Ride Along With Me On “it’s a small world… holiday”

I don’t know about you, but “it’s a small world” is one of my favorite rides at Disneyland.  And during the holidays, I enjoy it even more.

During a recent press trip to Disneyland, I got a chance to ride it with a fantastic Disneyland Spokesperson who shared all kinds of interesting facts I never knew!

Click on the video below to ride along with me!

Burt Bacharach & Steven Sater Talk About New Musical “Some Lovers”

The World Premiere of Some Lovers is currently in previews at The Old Globe in San Diego.  

Some Lovers is a new musical with book and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award winner

Steven Sater and music by Academy and Grammy Award-winning legend Burt Bacharach.

The production will celebrate its official opening night on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m. and will run through Dec. 31 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

I recently sat down with the show’s famed creators to talk about all things ‘Lovers’ for BroadwayWorld. Click on the video below to hear from Bacharach and Sater!

Tickets to Some Lovers can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

 

 

Big New Releases In Theaters Thanksgiving Weekend

Happy Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving weekend (and the week before) are big at the box office!

Here’s a look at my piece for California Life on the new releases in theaters and on DVD!

San Diego Native Soars In “Come Fly Away”

COME FLY AWAY, conceived, choreographed, and directed by Tony Award-winner Twyla Tharp and by special arrangement with the Frank Sinatra Family and Frank Sinatra Enterprises, is playing through November 13th at the San Diego Civic Theatre.  

COME FLY AWAY follows four couples as they fall in and out of love during one song and dance filled evening at a crowded nightclub. Blending the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra with a live on-stage big band and 14 of the world’s  finest dancers, COME FLY AWAY weaves an unparalleled hit parade of classics, including “Fly Me To The Moon,” “My Way,” and “That’s Life,” into a soaring musical fantasy of romance and seduction.

The cast features several members of the original Broadway production, as well as San Diego native Marceea Moreno.  Moreno trained at the Academy of Performing Arts San Diego and spent six years at California Ballet School. A graduate of Rancho Bernardo High School, she was featured in music videos for Mandy Moore, O Town and LFD, was Miss Dance World in 2000, and has starred in the Las Vegas shows Fashionistas, Le Reve, and Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity.

I got a chance to speak with Moreno about her role as a swing in COME FLY AWAY.  Click on the video below to see my interview!

See “The Nightmare Before Christmas” In 4-D!

Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” has returned to its favorite haunt – Hollywood’s legendary El Capitan Theatre –for a special engagement in spine-tingling 4-D through October 31.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” screens daily at the El Capitan Theatre at 10:00 am, 12:15 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:45 pm, 7:00 pm, and 9:15 pm. Special late night Halloween weekend shows will be given at 11:15 pm Fridays and Saturdays only.

Tickets can be purchased at the El Capitan box office (6838 Hollywood Blvd.), online at www.elcapitantickets.com, or by calling 1-800-DISNEY6.  Special group rate tickets for parties of 20 or more are available by calling 1-818-845-3110.

At every showing, guests will have a chance to win a pair of VIP tickets to the Tim Burton exhibition at LACMA. These VIP guest passes provide front-of-the-line access to the exhibition as well as access to any and all other exhibitions at LACMA. The Tim Burton exhibition is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Friday, and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, October 30th, the Tim Burton exhibition will be open all night and on closing day, October 31st, the exhibition will be open until midnight.