If you love tap dancing, you don't want to miss Maurice Hines in "Tappin' Thru Life" at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills May 9-24.
The talented, award-winning singer, dancer, choreographer has been performing for more than 40 years, working with brother Gregory and show business legends ranging from Nat King Cole and Judy Garland to Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne.
If you love tap dancing, you don't want to miss Maurice Hines in "Tappin' Thru Life" at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills May 9-24.
The talented, award-winning singer, dancer, choreographer has been performing for more than 40 years, working with brother Gregory and show business legends ranging from Nat King Cole and Judy Garland to Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne.
He has also mentored young talent like the Manzari brothers, 21 and 18 years of age, who worked with Hines in a recent production of "Sophisticated Ladies." The young dancers will also be appearing with Hines in "Tappin' Thru Life." Music will be provided by the all woman Diva Jazz Orchestra. Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun ("Grey's Garden" and “Newsies") will direct.
"Tappin' Thru Life," a labor of love for Hines, is dedicated not only to the memory of his late, great brother, Gregory Hines but to their mother Alma as well who told her boys, "Whatever you do on stage or in life, always do it with class."
"Tappin' Thru Life," at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 North Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills 90210 for 19 performances only from May 9-24. For tickets call 310-746-4000, on line "http://thewallis.org/"TheWallis.orgor in person at the theatre box office.
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Writer/director Spike Jonze’s “Her,“ set in the not too distant future, is a very unusual love story. In fact the concept for this film was so unique it earned Jonze an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay which was quite an honor since “Her” was in competition with “American Hustle” (Warren Singer and David O. Russell), “Blue Jasmine” (Woody Allen), “Dallas Buyers Club” (Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack) and “Nebraska” (Bob Nelson).
“Her” was also nominated for Best Picture, Music (Original Score and Original Song) and Production Design.
Set in Los Angeles, the film has a sleek, colorful, modern look created by fusing modern Los Angeles architecture and landscapes with buildings and skylines from Shanghai. Stylish malls, open work spaces with shiny wooden floors and colorful wall panels and apartments with panoramic views of Los Angeles as seen from balconies or large glass windows that surround each unit, create a feeling of serene space as well as a sense of personal loneliness and isolation.
Joaquin Phoenix (“The Master,“ “Walk the Line” and “Gladiator”) plays Theodore, a sensitive, soulful man who writes personal, heartfelt letters for others. He is outstanding at what he does for a living, but his personal relationship with his wife (Rooney Mara, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” ) has come to an end .
He knows it’s over but he isn’t ready to sign their divorce papers just yet. It is too painful for him to say good-bye. However, when Theodore becomes intrigued by an advanced operating system that promises to be an intuitive and unique entity in its owners life, things change.
Once he initiates the system he is delighted to meet “Samantha” (Scarlet Johansson), a bright female voice that is sensitive, insightful and funny. She is a voice without a body, but soon their evolving friendship develops into a deep love for one another. At this point I began to feel a little creeped out since I have a love-hate affair with my personal computer.
While this love relationship seems more sci-fi than sensual, this unusual device opens up our minds as we, and Theodore, start to think deeply about what makes any relationship work–or not. Eventually all relationships change, evolve or dissolve. Even true love ends when a beloved partner dies.
Amy Adams, who seems to be everywhere (“Best Actress nominee in “American Hustle”), is also an important part of this futuristic tale about love and loss.
The Blu-ray Combo Pack contains the following special features: “The Untitled Rick Howard Project,” “How Do You Share Your Life with Somebody” and “Her: Love in the Modern Age.” The latter featurette is also on the DVD.
“Her” arrived on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD May 13 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainments and is rated R for language, sexual content and brief graphic nudity.
