MYGREYGARDENS

THE CARPENTERS. YESTERDAY ONCE MORE. カーペンターズイエスタディ・ワンスモア

2011-03-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

Timcat Production's Lee Arboreen has just posted his latest Youtube video, Yesterday Once More, by the Carpenters. Although the video had been in the works for some time, he has dedicated this video to the mutual love between the Carpenters, and their Japanese fans. The video contains several short videos from the Carpenter's live performance at The Budokon in 1974. The Japanese still love the Carpenters. Our thoughts and prayers go out the Japanese people during this very difficult time. The video is also dedicated to the special times Lee's partner, Robb Brawn spent with both Karen and Richard over the years. Great picture of Karen & Robb at the end of the video. Click YESTERDAY ONCE MORE to view video.

OPRAH SHOW "INSPIRED" TRIBUTE TO DIANA ROSS & HER FAMILY

2011-02-25T15:06:00.000-08:00

Diana Ross and all 5 of her children appeared on Oprah, today 2/25/11. Timcat production's Lee Arboreen has created a Youtube tribute to Diana and her family. The video can be viewed at ROSS FAMILY TRIBUTE

if link is not live copy and paste http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv2r6u1D1wY . The backing track is a 1993 release entitled "Your Love". Vocally, this is Diana Ross at her best !

WE ARE FAMILY. A SHOUT VIDEO OUT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA AND OUR FIRST FAMILY BY LEE ARBOREEN

2011-02-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

In honor of Black History Month, TimCat Production's Lee Arboreen has created a video tribute to our 44th FIrst Family, "A Video Shout Out To President Barack Obama and Our First Family" The Youtube video features a remake of the Sister Sledge classic "We Are Family", featuring Queen Latifah, Patti Labelle, Diana Ross, Roberta Flack, Dionne Warwick, Eartha Kitt, and host of others. The video can be viewed at: WE ARE FAMILY If link not active, copy and paste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn4BKjaIxHQ

A VIDEO TRIBUTE TO THE LATE, GREAT, HAMMOND ORGANIST, ETHEL SMITH BY LEE ARBOREEN

2011-01-24T17:39:00.000-08:00

Timcat Production's Lee Arboreen has just created a piece of nostalgia, with his video tribute to the late, great, Hammond organist, Ethel Smith. The video can be viewed on Youtube at ETHEL SMITH

NEW YOUTUBE RIHANNA VIDEO FOR ONLY GIRL IN THE WORLD

2010-12-01T07:43:00.000-08:00

Check out Lee Arboreen's new Youtube video for Rihanna's hit Only Girl In The World @ ONLY GIRL IN THE WORLD

DIANA ROSS MORE TODAY THAN YESTERDAY

2010-10-29T06:37:00.000-07:00

Legendary Diva Diana Ross kicks off yet another leg of her More Today Than Yesterday tour on November 12th at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for two nights and then off for another four dates in Florida. This highly successful tour played to sold out crowds this spring at venues such as Radio City Music Hall and The Nokia in Los Angeles. For those not lucky enough to attend the shows, check out Lee Arboreen's new Youtube video aptly titled More Today Than Yesterday A visual tribute to the Diana Ross tour. Check it out on Youtube at MORE TODAY THAN YESTERDAY

LEE ARBOREEN'S NEW DIANA ROSS VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

2010-10-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

Timcat Production's Lee Arboreen has just created an awesome new Youtube video, "The Boss", by Diana Ross. A creative and refreshing visual to accompany Miss Ross's 1979 smash hit. Check it out at THE BOSS.

GREY GARDENS MEMORIES BY ROBB BRAWN

2010-07-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

I just got finished listening to about an hour audio tape recorded at Grey Gardens, over 30 years ago when I was visiting Edie. We had just come back from lunch in East Hampton, and were getting ready to do some singing. As was most often the case, we blabbed more than we sang, and I am so thankful all these years later that it was all captured on tape. I love the fact that the tape recorder picked up the sounds of Edie walking in and out of the kitchen getting drinks. There was a unique sound to walking on that old wood floor, and you can hear it several times in the documentary. There is also the sound of the slamming of the front screen door. Our topics were as always, cats, music, and politics. Singing wise, this was one of my favorite sessions, as Edie was singing in French. We took pictures on the front lawn that day as well as the 2nd floor deck, which I think has since been removed. Lots more about those days at http://www.mygreygardens.com

ROBB BRAWN & LEE ARBOREEN REVIEW "HOT IN CLEVELAND"

2010-06-15T06:09:00.000-07:00

HOT IN CLEVELAND
SNEAK PEAK REVIEW BY ROBB BRAWN AND LEE ARBOREEN

We just finished an advanced screening of Hot In Cleveland, courtesy of TV LAND ! This is one you will not want to miss. The premier episode, to air Wednesday, June 16th on TV Land at 10: p.m, it hot right out of the box. The stellar cast of Betty White, Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malkick, and Jane Leeves, starts delivering from the very first scene.

The three, (minus Betty) are flying off to Paris, when an emergency landing(very funny scene) , sets them down in Cleveland. They quickly realize that although they may be slightly over the hill in L.A, they are definitely Hot In Cleveland !

Valerie's character meets a handsome, but married plumber, played by The Dukes of Hazzard's John Schneider (looking quite good we might add !). She decides to lease a house and try a new start in Cleveland. She is in the midst of a divorce, and right now this seems like a good option. The house, however comes with one hitch. If you lease the house, you have to take the caretaker, played by none other than Betty White. She wastes no time with her one line jabs and humor delivered in much the same style as her recent Saturday Night Live appearance.

Wendie plays a slightly aging, former soap star with a huge ego, who is offered the role of Megan Fox's grandmother, and is less than thrilled.

Jane's part is a bit more undefined. She spots a picture of Oprah in amagazine, and notices her eyebrows were not done by her, so we guess we are to assume that she is a beautician to the stars.

The show is produced by Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner. Suzanne Martin serves as executive producer, show runner, and writer.

What makes the show even more special, is that it is TV Land's first original sitcom. TV Land who is best known for bringing us the best programing from the past, just might be bringing us some of the best programing of the present.

If the pilot episode is any indication of what we're in for, we're in for one hell of a ride. There are 10 episodes already in the can. Don't miss it !! Visit TVLAND.COM for up to the minute news, tons of interesting facts, bios, trivia, and photos. You can also view full length episodes of tons of great shows.

Follow us on Twitter at MYGREYGARDENS and check out our brand new Yahoo fan site for Hot In cleveland at
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/hotincleveland

DIANA ROSS A CONCERT REVIEW BY LEE ARBOREEN & ROBB BRAWN

2010-06-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

DIANA ROSS
A CONCERT REVIEW BY LEE ARBOREEN & ROBB BRAWN

We're going off topic from Grey Gardens for once, and will actually be adding a new section to the WWW.MYGREYGARDENS web site shortly.

Last Friday night, May 21st, we saw the one and only Diana Ross in concert at Caesars in Atlantic City. She is now more than half way through her "More Today Than Yesterday" tour. The remainder of her tour dates can be found at WWW.DIANAROSS.COM, which is actually her Facebook page.

The reviews so far, including those of her sold performance at Radio City Music Hall on May 19th, have been glowing, but one really has to experience this show first hand !. She was UNREAL !! What we had not seen in any reviews were any real comments on the dramatic opening of the show. A huge video screen was placed high above the 18 piece band. The show starts off with REALLY loud pre recorded music, which the band gradually blends into. Lights are flashing, and there is a rapid fire video slide show of pictures of Diana throughout the years as well as album covers. Then, one by one, three words appear... ARE... YOU.... READY !... A radiant Diana emerges from beneath the floor, dressed in a form fitting black and silver Mackey original, covered by an electric lime green boa, something only Diana Ross could pull off without looking like she'd just stepped out of Sesame Street ! She opened the show with the her 1979 hit, "The Boss", which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #19 and landed the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart. The tune was long absent from her show until recent years. She followed with More Today Than Yesterday, originally recored by Spiral Staircase in 1969, and the only upbeat tune on Diana's most recent album "I Love You".

She started her trip down memory lane with Reflections. The vieeo screen above flashed picture after picture as well as clips of the Supremes.

During the first few bars of You Can't Hurry Love, a group of late arrivers attempting to seat themselves in one of the front rows, remained standing right in the middle of the row, blocking everyone's view behind them. This was so disruptive that Miss Ross herself became distracted enough by this rather inconsiderate behavior that she put her hands up and started in .... "hey... hey...hey".. then turned to the band "stop.. stop.... stop ... stop ! " Stop the music ! ". The band went silent and as for the rest of the venue... you could hear a pin drop...Miss Ross preceded to repremand the group " C'mon.. look... You shouldn't do this ! Even in theaters in New York you just don't walk down and stand up in front of everybody ! ".... Oh my God ... Imagine being scolded by Diana Ross !.. Ouch !! The audience however appeared to agree with her, giving her a round of thunderous applause. She turned to the band and said "ok.... let's go"..

What made this show so super hot was the addition of live horns and strings. In recent years Miss Ross has traveled with an extremely small band with very few live instruments. The musicians in this show weren't down in a pit, or placed at a distance far behind Miss Ross. Many times, the horn section and she were side by side. The musicians played an integral part in the excitement level of the show. The band, in her own words was "hot!". Arrangements of all the songs were totally souped up.. Diana consistently interacted with the band. She seemed to have genuine affection and appreciation for her band, but moreover, a deep affection for her fans.

Her vocals were clear and strong. We'd have to give her an 8 out of 10 on her vocals. Granted, she had 3 super backup singers but pitch and strength were spot on almost all of the time, and we've heard her in concert when her voice just wasn't cooperating with her. Perhaps the smoothest and most beautiful vocal performance was on "Missing You"... Close to perfect.

Song wise, in addition to the usual Supreme standards, full versions, not a medley, there were her disco era hits , Upside Down, Mirror Mirror, I'm Coming Out, and Love Hangover, and the ballads, Endless Love and Touch Me in The Morning. She threw in VERY short versions of Take Me Higher and Ease On Down The Road the latter being from her film The Wiz. A tour first, was the performance of the song, "It's Hard For Me To Say", from her 1987 Album "Red Hot Rhythm And Blues". The tune was produced by Luther Vandross. During the song, the huge screen flashed pictures of her former Motown family including Marvin Gaye, Tammy Terrill, The Four Tops, The Temptations, and Stevie Wonder, just to name a few. She did a few songs from her film "Lady SIngs The Blues", including "Don't Explain, which she ALWAYS nails. The only other full song she did from the I Love You Album, was a cover of the Burt Bacharach hit, The Look Of Love. The song opened with a single sax player, positioned high atop the stage with images of neon signs behind him displaying the words "cool", and "jazz". The sax did a very cool solo, and Diana came out singing on the main level of the stage. She and the sax player joined up center stage to work off of each other completing an extremely cool version of this tune.

Her closing number was Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive. Not that Miss Ross doesn't make it exciting, but she's been closing her shows with this song for quite some time now and we would much rather have seen her finish with the number she did at a huge concert last fall in Amsterdam, Brand New Day, again from the Wiz.

Her "encore", if you can call it that, as it was obviously well planned out, was a tribute to Michael Jackson. She dedicated the song and the tour to him. She also mentioned that we had just also recently lost Lena Horne. It was a beautifully moving tribute with pictures of her and Michael on the screen above. She sang her hit, Missing You (originally dedicated to Marvin Gaye), followed by Michael's hit, You Are Not Alone. She walked back up a set of stairs to her original entry spot above the band, sang a few lines of the title track "I Love you", and the stage lights dimmed to dark.

Love her to death, and we really do, but it is doubtful that Lady Gaga will be able to sell out a venue such as Radio City Music Hall in the year 2055, which would be the same time frame between The Supreme's first hit Where Did Our Love Go in 1964 and now...who knows.. we hope she will.

We'd like to wish Miss Ross continued success with her tour and thank her for the many hours of music and memories she's given us over the years, and thankfully is still giving us today...

GREY GARDENS THE MUSICAL... A LIFE LONG AFTER BROADWAY

2009-06-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

A review of The Philadelphia Theatre Company's production by Robb Brawn & Lee Arboreen.

It has already been almost 2 years since Grey Gardens closed at the Walter Kerr Theater on broadway (July 29th 2007), after 33 previews and only 307 performances. Thankfully, however, the brilliant musical adaptation of the 1975 Maysles documentary, lives on, and continues to provide a truly wonderful theatre experience in local productions from LA to Philadelphia.

Being very familiar with the broadway musical as well as the original Playwrights Horizon's production, the absence of the two major sets, which were the facade of the exterior of the house, and the living room/music room(complete with portrait of Phelan Beale) inside Grey Gardens was at first very bothersome. Our dissapointment with the set (or lack there of) quickly melted away, as the spectacular cast demonstrated their outstanding vocal abilities. Each cast member better than the next in delivering a crystal clear delivery of the tunes. Hollis Resnik, who plays Big Edith in act one and Little Edie in act two delivered a wonderful performance, demonstrating not only the many voices of the character, but the performer as well. Kim Carson, who plays little Edie in act one is a beautiful young woman with a voice to match, and off stage, is just a really sweet person. Joy Frantz, who plays Big Edith in act 2 delivered a wonderful performance. The girls who played Lee Bouvier and Jacqueline Bouvier, played by Anastasia Korbal and Greta Bradbury, both had quite a set of lungs and matching pipes, and are delightful young ladies off stage.

All the other actors, Todd Almond (George Gould Strong), Jame Ijames( Brooks Sr & Jr), Cole Burden ( Joseph Patrick Kennedy)/Jerry), and John Jellison ( "Major" Bouvier/Norman Vincent Peale), were also superb, adding their individual talents to the tightly knit ensemble.

We don't think any other actress will ever capture the essence of Edie Beale like Christine Ebersole, who played her both on broadway and at Playwrights. Christine told us that she actually feels she is "chaneling" both Edies. Hollis Resnik, however gives her quite a run for her money vocally, and opinion only here, surpasses Christine's rendition of the haunting closing ballad "Another Winter In A Summer Town". Hollis has an extremely pleasing, full bodied timbre to her voice. This is an extremely demanding role vocally, as the lead is on stage most of the time in both acts. The only musical we are aware of with similar demands is Gypsy. We'd like to send out Congratulations to Hollis on being the recipient of the Sarah Siddons Society's Chicago's Leading Lady Award 2008-2009 for her role in Grey Gardens at the Northlight Theatre in Skokie Il. For more about that production and Hollis, click below

NORTHLIGHT

Despite missing the 2 main sets, the production value was still of high quality. A multi leveled set used in act 2 was carefully built to accommodate several of the musical numbers and was quite effective.

We attended a very special performance of the show on Sunday, May 31st. After the show, all 3 creators, Doug Wright (book), Scott Frankel (Music), and Michael Korie (Lyrics) did a Q & A with the audience. It was a unique opportunity to ask anything they wanted regarding the creation of the the show. Thankfully for everyone involved, Robb had already conducted an extensive interview with lyricist Michael Korie, and had picked his brain on almost any question anyone could come up with !

As I've told Scott & Michael, having had a very special friendship with little Edie, very much based on our mutual love for music (and cats), I know she would have been so pleased with this musical. On the other hand, I think both Edies would NOT have been very happy with the recent HBO production, although both actresses (Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lang) both nailed the actual characters.

We continue to be in awe of the the talents of the three gentleman who made it possible for us all to enjoy this wonderful story put to music. We hope the musical lives on for long time ! Hopefully the next incarnation will not be Grey Gardens on Ice, as Scott Frankel quipped about after the show.

Tickets are still available for the Philadelphia performance, so if you're you're anywhere near us, the show runs until June 28th, Click below for ticket information.

GREY GARDENS PHILLY

For more on everything Grey Gardens, please visit our web site at MyGreyGardens.com

HBO FILM REVIEW BY ROBB BRAWN & LEE ARBOREEN

2009-04-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

I was told right after filming of the HBO film wrapped up in the fall of 2007, that I would be blown away at the last scene, where Edie sings Tea For Two at Reno Sweeny, and I was ! I had supplied the film company with the only recording in existence of Edie singing the tune, only this wasn't from her actual performance at the club, but rather her singing it just for me at one of my many visits to Grey Gardens. Drew sang it exactly, phrase for phrase as I have it on tape. Edie and I actually met that night at Reno Sweeny, and my relationship with Grey Gardens has now spanned over 3 decades. You can check out lots of storied about Edie at our main site MyGreyGardens.com

My partner and I were fortunate to have seen an advanced screening of the HBO film. It is very difficult from our perspective to say how the viewer who knows little about the whole story would react to the film, as the overwhelming merit of the film is the portrayal of both big and little Edie by Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lang. For those of us who know the documentary well, I am quite sure we can speak for most of the fans that both actresses performances were spot on ! Incredible ! Inspired ! From someone who knew little Edie personally, I can say that it was like seeing her come to life again.

The film which jumped back and forth between the mid 70's, and the 30's and 40's, filled in a good deal of the missing information most fans have wondered about for years. Knowing the basic facts of the social status the Beales held in the 30's and actually seeing their lifestyle lived out on the screen, makes the deterioration of their finances and parallel deterioration of the condition of the once beautiful house that much more meaningful. Both the interior and exterior sets were unbelievable. The likenesses exact. Much attention was paid to detail, which resulted in an uncanny depiction of the mansion at various phases of it's condition, from the grandiose to squaller.

Drew, who has long been a rather obsessed fan, REALLY wanted this part. She was dedicated to get it perfect, and she did. She also felt she owned it to Edie to get it right. She studied with a voice coach for over a year to get Edie's accent down perfectly. There are hints of Drew that peek out once in a great while, but for the most part, you totally forget who the actress is who is playing Edie, and that's a good thing !

Jessica's portrayal of big Edie is no less inspired. Both actresses had a good deal of leeway with their depiction of the characters, when playing the younger versions of the Edies, as there are only stills to compare with. The real challenge came when they had to play the Edies at the age they were during the filming of the documentary in 1975. We're sure that fans like us, who have probably seen the documentary a hundred times, dissected every last line, every look, and every subtlety of their movement, making sure it was without flaw, like the Maysles film. Obviously, the actresses, make up artists, costume and set designers, and everyone else involved with the production were well aware that they would be put under a microscope by fans as well as reviewers, looking to find fault somewhere. Well 99% of the time, we think everybody really pulled it off, and we can't imagine any credible negative critique. We say "credible", as we have already read one off the wall review that called Drew's Edie voice "A bad Katherine Hephern imitation " Obviously someone with a total lack of aural perceptiveness.

We think Michael Sucsy and his teem met the many challenges in producing this film. If we had one criticism, it would be that the film was too short. Maybe even another 10 minutes to fill in some time periods left out. As much as we would have liked to have seen some footage after the Reno Sweeny scene, it would certainly have been anticlimactic after that sequence. Of course if we had our way, it would have been a 6 hour mini series ! Check back soon, as we will touch on more topics regarding the HBO film. Be sure to check out our new Youtube video ! Coming 4/18/09

MY INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL KORIE

2009-02-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

As a musician, and someone who knows Grey Gardens The Musical rather obsessively, my interview with the musical's Tony nominated lyricist, Michael Korie was one I really looked forward to. I literally spend hours reviewing my "copies" of both the off broadway production and the broadway production, familiarizing myself with the music, lyrics, and dialog, so I could create a line of questioning that was from a different angle than other interviews I had read. I wanted to focus on just how this show came together and more importantly how it evolved from it's earliest days at the Theatre division of the Sundance Institute to the off broadway production at Playwrights Horizons to the broadway previews, and finally the broadway production. There were some major changes along that journey, and I found them fascinating. I think Michael knew I had done my homework, as we had several lengthy and very interesting conversations. I'm not all that sure that the casual audience would find all this information that interesting, BUT for those who are really into this show, really into anything Grey Gardens, I think this is a very special interview. SO, for all you true fans click below for my full interview.

AN IN DEPTH INTERVIEW WITH TONY NOMINATED WRITER, MICHAEL KORIE, BY ROBB BRAWN

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG

2009-02-15T19:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to MyGreyGardens at blogger.com, a sister site to MyGreyGardens. Created by Robb Brawn and Lee Arboreen, MyGreyGardens is the one stop fan site for Edie Beale and everything Grey Gardens ! Check out our main site, and visit this blog often for up to date Grey Gardens info, and behind the scene stories of the creation of our site.