Month: December 2016

The Lincoln Center’s Favorite Holiday Movies

We are getting into the holiday spirit here at the Lincoln Center, and we wanted to share it with you. So without further ado, here are our favorite Holiday movies!

 

A Christmas Story

Jack: A Christmas Story captures the magical memories of childhood Christmas in a way no movie ever has for me. No, I didn’t grow up in the ’40s or ’50s, but something about it just resonates. If you’ve been under some rock and haven’t seen this, do yourself a favor and watch it this year. I TRIPLE-DOG-DARE YOU!

 

The Lion in Winter

Alison: I know it’s not traditional, but there is nothing like a family backstabbing each other for the crown of England over Christmas dinner to put family holiday squabbles into perspective. Plus, it has Katharine Hepburn, Peter O’Toole, Anthony Hopkins, and Timothy Dalton. It’s hard not to love this movie.

 

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Mikala: I’m fairly certain my extended family could recreate the entire movie, completely off-book. So long as no one falls down a well, and their eyes go crossed.

Victoria: My favorite Christmas movie ever is Christmas Vacation. The first time I saw it was on VHS while I was still in high school – totally dating myself here – and it was love at first watch! (What can I say? I was, and still am, a sucker for sophomoric comedy.) Since then, this movie has been a holiday staple in my family. (Is digging stupid humor genetic?) We watch it together every year on Christmas Eve while we prep our traditional Mexican Christmas Eve meal. Later, when we start our annual penny poker game, you’re guaranteed to hear gems like “Burn some dust. Eat my rubber, ” “That there’s an RV, ” “Little full, lotta sap” “Sh*tter was full, ” “SQUIRREL!” and “Bend over and I’ll show you” as folks throw down their best hands. Ah, good times!

In parting, I implore you all to have a fun old-fashioned family Christmas and remember, “It’s Christmas and we’re all in misery.”

 

A Muppet Family Christmas

Eddie: As anyone who knows me would tell you…I’m Christmas crazy! It’s a big challenge for me to tag just one holiday movie as my favorite…there are so many good ones.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Christmas in Connecticut, The Santa Clause….it’s tough. Instinctively I would say the Rankin-Bass classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but if there is a single movie I remember most from my childhood to today, it would have to be A Muppet Family Christmas.

If you’re a Jim Henson/Muppets fan, or even if you’re not…it’s a must-watch Christmas classic. Where else can you get The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock all in one movie and with a boat-load of holiday songs?

 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Gene: How The Grinch Stole Christmas is my favorite Christmas show.  Of course, I’m talking about the cartoon that Dr. Suess worked on with Boris Karloff as the Grinch and directed by Chuck Jones.

There’s no need to talk about the Howard/ Carrey movie. Humbug to that, I say!

 

The Holiday

Rachael: In terms of modern flicks, I really like the movie The Holiday. I like that it’s more about relationships and friendships coming together, and finding common ground. When it comes to classics, however, I always enjoy It’s a Wonderful Life.

 

The Family Stone

Jill: No one else would probably vote for this one. Not my ultimate favorite, but I did like the story line and the acting!

A ‘Once’ in a Lifetime Experience

Once is no ordinary Broadway musical. The Tony Award-winning hit first started as an Irish indie film. Then the song from the movie, “Falling Slowly”, won a 2007 Academy Award for best original song along with a Grammy nomination for the soundtrack. Next, Once made waves in Broadway by using actors who could play their own instruments on stage to highlight the already incredible score. It went on to win eight Tony Awards, including best musical. Not bad for a small budget film, right?

The plot is more than just a “guy meets girl” story. It follows a struggling Dublin street musician after he meets a young woman who encourages him to pursue his musical talents, and their relationship grows in unique and touching ways.

We caught up with actor Bristol Pomeroy, who plays Da, the main character’s father, in the musical to see what we can expect from Once hitting the Lincoln Center stage.

When comparing the production to the film, Pomeroy says “some characters are taken from the film and developed more for the stage so those who have seen the movie can expect a completely new experience. Also, there is a great deal more music in the play than there was in the film. “I never get tired of the music Pomeroy says. “It’s really beautiful music.”

The musical is also different because the audience is invited to purchase drinks from a bar onstage while the actors perform Irish and Czechoslovakian folk songs. Pomeroy says the musical is “like you’re in a pub having beers, having a great time.”

Actors play their own instruments on stage.
The actors of Once play their own instruments on stage.

 

The bar is also open during intermission, truly allowing fans to immerse themselves in the world of the play.

What also makes the show unlike any other Broadway shows is that every night of the show is a little different — the cast shuffles between 25 different pre-show selections for a fresh start each evening.

“It’s been so well-received, it’s a really fun play says Pomeroy. “It’s very heart-warming and very sad at the same time.”

Once will be playing at the Lincoln Center January 12-14.

Get a taste of the fabulous music from Once on our Spotify playlist.

We’ve Got More Shows to Love in 2017!

We are excited to announce that we’ve added four new shows to our 2017 season calendar! Even better, tickets are on sale now!

 
DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation
Thur., Jan. 26 | Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre 7:30PM
All Seats $20
DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation is a culturally significant reimagining of the infamously racist 1915 silent film The Birth of a Nation. As seen through the lens of DJ Spooky’s unique art of remixing, this film now engages audiences in themes of civil rights and freedom. Mature themes.
BUY TICKETS!

 

Eric Johnson Solo – An Evening of Acoustic Guitar & Piano
Tue., Feb. 7 | 7:30PM
Package $22 | Regular $25+ | The Big Deal $15
Eric Johnson, long hailed as one of the world’s preeminent electric guitarists, celebrates his acoustic side with EJ, his 12th album. Experience this rare and long-awaited opportunity to hear Johnson in an all-acoustic setting.
BUY TICKETS!

 

Margaret Cho
Fri., Feb 24 | 7:30PM
Package $31 | Regular $35+ | The Big Deal $20
Comedian Margaret Cho’s socially aware, no-holds-barred brand of comedy has made her tours a constant sell-out. She has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and one Emmy Award. FOR MATURE AUDIENCES.
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Travis Tritt
Sun., Apr. 23 | 7:30PM
Package $58/$45/$31 | Regular $65/$50/$35+ | The Big Deal $20
For more than 25 years, Travis Tritt has been topping charts and staying true and relevant to country music fans across the globe. He has won two Grammy Awards and his long list of hits include “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde, ” “Love Of A Woman” and “T-R-O-U-B-L-E.”
BUY TICKETS!