THE SOUND OF MUSIC: FAB AT 50
The hills are alive and longtime Malibu resident Julie Andrews has something to sing about. Her classic film, “The Sound of Music,” hits five decades, with no sign of stopping. When Lady Gaga sang its unforgettable theme at this year’s Academy Awards, it was a benchmark. Julie was noticeably impressed by the performance and, if there was any doubt, received a confirmation that her work had crossed over generations with “Sound of Music” fans of all ages.
Yup, the hottest ticket in town last week was not a new action film or a blood-curdling horror, but a 50-year-old flick about a singing nun turned governess who takes on a brood of Von Trapp family little ones.
Julie and co-star Christopher Plummer were reunited at the TCL Chinese Theatre to kick off the TCM Classic Film Festival.
Julie says every few years, there’s a new crop of kids being encouraged to watch the film by their parents or grandparents. It’s a keeper!
AND THE BEAT GOES ON
Malibu has lots of L.A. Philharmonic fans who were thrilled to learn that “The Dude” is sticking around for years to come. Gustavo Dudamel has renewed his contract and will be performing at Walt Disney Concert Hall through the 2021-22 season. His other venue is the famed Hollywood Bowl.
With his wild mane and energetic presence, “The Dude” has become a rock star of classical music. There were fears that L.A. might lose the gifted conductor to New York or Berlin, which are considered to have some of the top symphonies in the world. But, for now, he stays in the City of Angels to the delight of music lovers near and far.
The combination of music director Gustavo, Los Angeles Philharmonic President Deborah Borda and the Phil’s talented crew have made the organization one of the world’s best. So let the bravos begin and play on!
CURTAIN CALL
The Geffen Playhouse has another claim to fame and another West Coast premiere. The upcoming season will feature a stage musical from Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong. It’s called “These Paper Bullets” and is said to be inspired by Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.” It will be quite a draw for the new season and runs until Oct. 18. Expect audiences to be rocking in their seats!