Wicked...hot musical packs house @ Orpheum Theatre! San Francisco...

When I was strolling along Market Street the other night, I suddenly stumbled upon a posse of theatre-goers buzzing around the lobby of the OrpheumTheatre.

There was definitely a lot of electricity in the air!

The buzz of conversation rose to a loud roar when the excited ticket-holders were allowed to flow through the open doors and into their plush seats to catch a performance of WICKED.

The entertaining musical has won 26 major awards to date (including a Grammy and three Tony Awards).

WICKED is the untold story of the witches of Oz.

Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz.

One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood.

The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular.

WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Wicked is based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman.

The production is directed by Joe Mantello with musical staging by Wayne Cilento.

Marc Platt of Universal Pictures produced.

Catch it if you can!

Showtimes

Tuesday - Saturday (8 pm)

Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday (2 pm)

Info: ticketmaster.com

Orpheum Theatre
1192 Market Street
(at 8th Street)
San Francisco
Phone: 415.512.7770

http://www.julianayrs.com

Wizard of Oz...screenings tonight around country! Judy Garland classic enchanced...

During the depression, the "Wizard of Oz" was the "great escape" for theatre-goers in search of a magic place to hide "away above the chimney tops"  where troubles were inclined to melt "like lemon drops".

In the Warner Brothers fantasy feature - "Wizard of Oz" - they found that refuge.

In fact,  ticket-holders were totally captivated by the pretty young songbird - Judy Garland - and her spell-binding portrayal of a Kansas farm girl who gets swept up in a wild tornado - and ultimately - makes an awkward crash-landing  into a never-never-land poulated by talking scarecrows, wicked witches, and elusive wizards with ominous powers.

Now, seventy years later, the "Wizard of Oz" returns to theatres!

Tonight (September 23) Warner Brothers unveils an updated (and itechnologically-mproved) print to heralld the upcoming Blu-ray Hi-Def version due out in the near future.

According to insiders, the new "OZ" has been digitally sharpened and brightened - so much so, in fact - that  textures and details invisible in past prints scream out in all their former glory.

Tickets and details:  http://www.fathomevents.com/

For many, the much-anticipated screenings, will afford film buffs their first whirl at screening the celebrated classic since its first National release (1955).

Ray Bolger and Judy Garland star!

Click 3 times!

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Judy Garland...fans invite me to website dedicated to the loving memory of the legendary star!

A few weeks ago, I posted a ragged old video of Judy Garland's appearance on the popular game show - "What's my Line?" - which I wrestled up from the elusive near-forgotten musty confines of old showbiz archives.



Post: 12/04/2008



http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/12/judy-garlandwhat-my-line.html



'Ya know, every time I screen the spontaneous on-camera guest spot, a smile breaks across my face.



Ah, Judy Judy Judy!

A priceless gem who still shines brightly in our hearts and memories!



I was pleasantly surprised when an unexpected invite arrived out-of-the-blue this afternoon to join - thejudygarlandexperience - the "world’s most exciting Judy Garland group" (Yahoo!).

Apparently, the best way to discover and share information and advice with others on the legendary Wizard of Oz star, is to mix and mingle at the dedication site - where privileged members wax nostalgic about the multi-talented mega-star - with fans, friends, family members, and a precious few blessed with the opportunity to toil alongside her at the studios in the Golden hey-day of Hollywood.



All for free.



The Judy Garland Experience not only features ongoing real-time discussions about the contract-player, but also has the web's most extensive library of rare Garland photo’s - many of which - have never been eyed before.



The entertaining site also features an ever-changing plethora of rare and unreleased recordings by Judy and other artist’s.

This week, fans are being treated to two separate broadcasts of Ms. Garland appearing on the once-popular "Chesterfield Show", a recording of Judy bravely telling off HUAC, a 1954 radio salute, a 1957 appearance at L.A. Greek Theater, and much more! to titter about.







Next week Judy’s complete 1967 Christmas concert form Madison Square Garden will be posted (as well as some other rare unreleased gems from Judy) along with Ethel Merman’s entire closing night performance in Gypsy.



There's no business, like show business, after all.



Stop by the site - affectionately known as "Judyville" - and check out the exciting offerings.



Her dedicated fans tease: you may never want to leave!



Or, to quote Judy from one of her last great sell-out performances that night at Carnegie Hall:



"I know, we'll sing 'em all, and we'll stay all night."



You betcha, Judy!



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thejudygarlandexperience

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