It's Very Hard to Keep the Line...

The trailer for the HBO adaptation of Grey Gardens, starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore as Big Edie and Little Edie Beale respectively is finally out! Based on the iconic 1970's documentary of the same name, the movie will explore the backstory as well as the documentary period, of Jackie O's eccentric relatives.

I have to admit, when I head they had cast Drew Barrymore as Little Edie I was very, VERY skepticle, but this trailer is giving me a bit more hope. She seems to have the voice down at least. Jessica Lange looks so much like Big Edie it's downright creepy.

I may have to subscribe to HBO for the month of April just so that I can actually see this before it comes out on DVD.

Somethings Coming, Something Good...

This photo from the new Broadway revival of West Side Story exemplifies everything I love about music theatre. This is what makes my student loans worth it.

(photo: Joan Marcus; courtesy of NY Magazine)

By the way, have you seen this West Side Story tribute spread over at Vanity Fair?

(Photos: Mark Seliger; courtesy of Vanity Fair)

We get Jennifer Lopez as Anita, Rodrigo Santoro as Bernardo, and tons of great tongue in cheek current stars including; Robert Pattinson, Camilla Belle, Ashley Tisdale, Chris Evans, and Ben Barnes. There's a 10 photo slideshow, so definitely go check it out here.

If I only get to see one show this year, this will definitely be my pick. Incidentally, it also features Cody Green (the season 1 winner of Bravo's Step It Up and Dance), as leader of the Jets, Riff. He's the one in the Red.

(photo: Joan Marcus)

My NYC/Kansas Dichotomy

I've always had trouble explaining to people why I love living in New York so much. I miss Kansas, and love the relatively simple life I had there, but there is just something about this city that lets me know I'll never leave. At least not unless there is a major change in my life sometime soon.

I just read this poem by one of my all time favorite poets Anna Ahkmatova. To me, this says it all.



Somewhere there is a simple life and a world
Transparent, warm, joyful ...
There at evening a neighbour talks with a girl
Across the fence, and only the bees can hear
This most tender murmuring of all.

But we live ceremoniously and with difficulty
And we observe the rites of our bitter meetings,
When suddenly the reckless wind
Breaks off a sentence just begun —

But not for anything would we exchange this splendid
Granite city of fame and calamity,
The wide rivers of glistening ice,
The sunless, gloomy gardens,
And, barely audible, the muse's voice.


-Anna Ahkmatova