Despite its successful runs at both the David A. Straz Center in Tampa, Florida and Houstons Ally Theater, Wonderland, the musical re-telling and modernization of the famous Lewis Carroll story Alice in Wonderland is closing on May 15th at Broadways Marquis Theatre. The cast was informed of the shows fate before the evening performance on Tuesday. The musical marks yet another Broadway flop for composer Frank Wildhorn, who has the dubious distinction of never having a successful show grace the stages of the Great White Way. A national tour of Wonderland is being planned; and despite the millions of dollars lost by investors and producers on the production, Wildhorn already has another show in the pipeline. Bonnie & Clyde is expected to hit the stage by years end. I was able to see Wonderland when it premiered at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa in the end of 2009.
The show was riddled with plot holes and I was very surprised to see the two leads, Janet Dacal (Alice) and Darren Ritchie (White Knight) were selected to reprise their roles when the show transitioned to NYC. Both were weak in their performance and demonstrated a less than stellar vocal ability.Although the show underwent drastic rewrites and its score was enriched with new musical numbers, critics were not impressed. According to Playbill:
Critics did not embrace this modern riff on the fantastical world created by 19th-century British writer Lewis Carroll (Alices Adventures in Wonderland, 1865), who makes an appearance in Act Two of the show by Gregory Boyd (book and direction), Frank Wildhorn (music) and Jack Murphy (book and lyrics).”
I have to say that despite its shortcoming, I found Wonderland to be entertaining. And given the tremendous financial and artistic tasks and risks associated with mounting a Broadway production, I hate to see any musical flop. However, I must admit, I am not surprised in its early closing.
Oakley opened a new Oakley Factory Store in the middle of Times Square in New York City on April 9th, 2011. The store is one of the largest in Oakley’s history and even includes a service bar that allows customers to completely customize their pair of Oakley sunglasses. Here’s the Press Release direct from Oakley:
Close to a thousand students of the University of British Columbia Vancouver put together an AWESOME lip dub performance of Pink’s latest hit “Raise Your Glass.” This video is a MUST see and reminds me how blessed I am to be a college professor. To have the opportunity to work with enthusiastic, talented, and spirited students is an honor! Take a look at this video. You won’t be disappointed!
Florida is facing perhaps its largest budget shortfall in history; and it’s tough economic climate has constrained state dollars unlike ever before. However, although it is likely to cost the State of Florida millions of dollars and state and federal courts have already deemed it as unconstitutional, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed an executive order today mandating random and routine drug testing of state employees. With a workforce greater than 100,000 employees and a per test cost over $100, Florida taxpayers will spend millions of dollars per year to have every new hired employee screened at their time of hire and random testing for current employees will occur up to 4 times per year. Although Scott hailed the order as positive for the state, there is no documented evidence that drug-screening programs are effective at reducing substance abuse. Perhaps more importantly, there have been no factual data presented supporting that Florida’s state workers have higher rates of substance abuse that would warrant the screening. A great concern for resources, which are already stretched so thin, is the cost defending this order in court will cost Florida’s taxpayers. Courts have already ruled that mandatory drug testing for state and federal employees who do not directly impact public safety is a violation of the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution. Scott’s order equates to a very expensive, non-evidence based approach to solving a problem that is non-existent to begin with. Unfortunately, it will also be one that will drain financial resources from the state at a time when funds are at an all-time low. Scott’s order shows that poor leadership has consequences beyond politics. When unemployment is at an all-time high and the state is operating at a major budget deficit, drug testing state employees is a poor choice of resource allocation and only further cripples Florida’s already ailing financial situation.