Crazytown

THE KOREANS ARE INVADING!!!

We’ve all been so worried that North Korea would launch an attack against the U.S., that no one seems to notice that we’ve already been invaded… by South Korea.

By David Davila (playwright/songwriter)

 

This week I was almost trampled to death by a bunch of obsessed teenagers who were trying to get a peek at their favorite boy band. No, it wasn’t One Direction. No, it wasn’t The Wanted, or Justin Bieber, or any other rag-tag group of little white twinks. It was someone I had never heard of, and I’ve never felt so old… but I’m getting ahead of myself. This phenomenon starts with Psy.

You all heard the song, you saw the viral video, you did the silly little dance at that Pub the other night. Don’t try to tell me you didn’t, there was proof on Instagram! We all got caught up in Gangnam style. It’s a catchy song with a crazy little video to match. Psy seemed to pop out of nowhere with his unique image, and enthusiasm for sexy Korean women and wild dance moves. It’s infectious, and the infection has spread across the world as Psy’s video for his first U.S. single (18^th K-Pop single), became the most watched video on YouTube, toppling Justin Bieber’s “Baby” in a matter of weeks. It has 1.5 BILLION views! That’s a sixth of the entire world population!

Psy not only sold millions of albums in the U.S., he also did something much more important. He created a viral portal that has been connecting teenagers around the world to Korean pop music, also known as K-Pop, one YouTube click at a time. Now the portal is wide open and Billboard has even started counting down the top K-Pop songs of each week, which brings me back to the mob of screaming teens.

B.A.P. is not like any other boy band you’ve encountered in your life. Well, okay they’re a lot like every other boy band from what I can tell. They’re a group of six hot young twinkish boys who sing really well, and dance even better, but they have a distinct brand that will help them gain more male fans than your standard Backstreet Boys milieu. B.A.P. are all Korean gangsters!

 
(When you watch this video you'll understand why the teens were freaking out. It's pretty effing bad ass!!!! DAMMNNNNN!!!!! B.A.P. - One Shot)

WHY I LOVE VINE

How creative can you be in 6 seconds?
By Kimberly Lew (Playwright/Blogger)

Though I am a firm believer in the digital revolution and our need to adapt to these changing times, I will admit that sometimes it seems like social media is out of control. There are new platforms popping up everyday-- and the truth of the matter is, even as someone who loves the idea of marketing and being a part of a social (albeit digital) community, I'm a strong believer that not everyone needs to be on every big social media platform.

 

Maybe this is why I was so resistant to Vine, the video-driven social media platform that allows people to post 6-second videos to a personal feed (and Facebook and Twitter). Basically, it's a video version of Twitter.

Okay, but wait! Hold your Liz Lemon eyeroll for just one moment. Because while I once shared in your skepticism, I now have to admit that I am a true believer. I am a Vine convert.

Why do I love Vine? Let me count the ways:

THE GAYS HAVE GONE VIRAL: Part 2

It's been many months since I last reported on all the fantastical web series about gay life gracing the interweb, and I've had a blast watching them all.... here are my new faves.

by David Davila (playwright/songwriter)

Last year I complained about the lack of a television show like Queer As Folk filled with tons of hot gay love scenes and melodrama. This year I feel about the same. SMASH, HAPPY ENDINGS, and THE NEW NORMAL were all canceled and we're left back where we started thirteen years ago before QAF graced our televisions with beautiful bums. Luckily there are a ton of great new shows popping up every day on the internet to keep us satisfied.

If you're as upset as me about the cancelation of SMASH, then look no further than Wesley Taylor's new web series, IT COULD BE WORSE, featuring the entire cast of SMASH (give or take a Jennifer Hudson). This show about the misadventures of a hot young gay (Taylor) who has the worst/most-awesome life ever, is pretty addictive. I watched most of it in one sitting... but now I have to wait for the final few episodes to air to get my "happy ending...?"

  

My absolute favorite new webseries is THE OUTS. You've probably already heard about it, because it's amazingly wonderful and should be picked up by network TV. It's such a delight and every cast member is a natural star. This show is legit, and I obsessively watched every episode last night when I should have been editing this article.

 

FABULOUS HIGH is a new web series created by Derek Villanueva (LONG HORNS) about the life of high school kids and teachers... It's your regular 90210 stuff... but with all the gay stuff you wished would happen when Dylan and Brandon were fighting over Kelly. In my version Dylan and Brandon blew off Kelly and made out instead.

 

VIDEO HOS

By Sam Perwin

As an actor, you know you're on a roll when you have your next job booked before your current one ends. This is the case for a few of my more fortunate castmates, but alas, as Gershwin wrote, not for me. It was a long, hard, busy audition season in NYC, and while I came out with some callbacks and this gig, as of right now, I don't have a summer-stock job. This means, especially now that the show is open, I plan to spend my downtime trolling the Equity Website for audition postings and making a lot of audition videos to see what's still available for the summer.

 
Hey, it worked for the Biebs....

While not too much has changed about the audition process since the dawn of theatre (when I walk in the room, there's a table of men, always men, usually gay...), the ubiquity of smartphones and digital cameras has made submitting an audition video easy and extremely common. When I submitted my headshot and resume for this gig at the Meadow Brook, I was asked to send a video. Once, I ran into a friend at a bar who was working for a casting director. She realized I'd be perfect for one of their projects, called her boss in the bar and told her to check out my website. She watched the videos I had there, and I was told to come in at 10am tomorrow (obviously I went home and went to bed). This week, I got a phone call asking me to come in for a callback from an audition a few weeks ago, and since I'm out of town, I offered to send a video. They said that'd be great, e-mailed me sides, and asked me for a pop song. I downloaded a karaoke track, and asked one of my cast mates to read the sides with me. Boom, I had an audition. 

MORE TONY TALK

The Tony nominations are anounced tomorrow... here's a few more words from some crazy Broadway Queens...

by David Davila (playwright / songwriter)

Last week I shared some really terrible videos I made with two friends at 4am. Here are a few more. 

We were VERY messy... and it should be noted that the Tony committee has met since we filmed these and it has been ruled that the four Matildas are NOT eligible for Tony awards.

 

BEST MUSICAL

TONY TALK

Three drunk gay guys try to predict the Tony nominations... It's just like THE VIEW, but a lot more messy!

by David Davila (playwright / songwriter)

[Barbara Walters voice] I had an idea for a show... a bunch of gay guys sit around and talk about the Tony Awards. I call it TONY TALK.

Seriously though, I've been wanting to do a dumb talk show about the Tony Awards for several years now. Finally two friends and I were drunk enough, after a long night of celebrating a successful fundraising event, to pull out the webcam at four in the morning and start talking. There was a lot of vodka and pizza involved in this shoot. It was grueling.

What you are about to see are the drunken ramblings of a few queens who saw EVERYTHING on Broadway this season! ENJOY!

 

SEASON REVIEW: Drag Queens & Children

  

 BEST MIXING, BOOK, & ORCHESTRATIONS

THE FIRST LATINO PRESIDENT?

After Julian Castro spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2012, twitter and facebook exploded with enthusiasm for the inspirational Latino politician who believes in Education and opportunity.

by David Davila (Latino playwright / songwriter)

If you haven't heard of Julian Castro, and his twin brother Joaquin, then you might have been living under a rock last election season when Julian Castro became Obama's liason to the Latinos in the USA. Julian spoke at the Democratic Convention and stole the spotlight from Obama long enough for people to begin whispering about future Presidential runs for the young Mayor of San Antonio. Most Texans seem to think he could be the next Governor and there are plenty of pundits who think it would be a wise move for Hillary to choose him as a running mate in 2016 (if she were to run - who are we kidding of course she is going to run).

It would be a wise for Democrats to choose a Latino from Texas to help turn the state blue in the next election and ensure a win for Hillary.

All of that aside, Julian himself is a huge inspiration to me. When he tells the story of his family, coming from nothing and making a name for themselves I sob uncontrollably. My mother picked cotton as a child yet still managed to make it through college and become an elementary school teacher. I am so proud of her, and the journey that our family has gone through in Texas.

Julian's speech strikes a chord with most people because he believes that everyone deserves the opportunity, and hearing a politician speak those words brings tears to my eyes. Even though America was founded on that principle it seems that more and more we accept that it is not a reality.

Julian Castro does not accept that fact, and that is an inspiration! I can only hope that this is just the beginning for this leader who believes in EVERY AMERICAN!

 

THE BEST OF THE WORST PART 2

They're better/worse than ever before... bad TV ads. Brace yourselves.
By Ali Gordon 

They're baaaaaaack... terrible TV ads delivered right to you via CRAZYTOWN! After posting the previous installment of "The Best of the Worst", people contacted me to share some of their favorite local TV ads and "WTF"-inspiring national commercials. So here she is boys, here she is world, heeeeeere's more!

This ad was delivered to me by three separate friends, all natives or school-attendees of Cleveland, which only goes to show that it has pizazz and undeniable mass appeal. It features animals (sort of), a very distinctive speaking voice (kind of), a shocking reveal (okay, this point is actually true... it is shocking), and is the only ad I know that simultaneously advertises furniture, someone's web show, and  could essentially be an ad for D.A.R.E in that no one will be messing with meth after seeing this bad-trip-disaster.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAVID DAVILA'S 52 SONGS: MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Had another concert at The Triad Theatre featuring Broadway's hottest and buzziest talent. Here are some of the highlights!!!

by David Davila (playwright / songwriter)

 (David Davila and Jose Sepulveda)

When you want something in life, you have to put it out there in the universe. You have to speak it. I'm a playwright, songwriter, performer, producer, and I want to share my stories with the world. When it comes to my songs and plays, and their future in this industry I won't take no for an answer. Instead, I'll build my own doors to open, and create my own opportunities.

You should too. There are no excuses. You've got to just MAKE IT HAPPEN!

 

Jose Sepulveda sings "LOVE THEME FOR ADAN Y JULIO"

 

Margot B sings "MAGIC TIME MACHINE" from CORNER GIRL: THE MUSICAL

 

Brian Charles Rooney sings "WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE ME" from CORNER GIRL: THE MUSICAL

 

Brandon Ellis sings "PARKING" from CORNER GIRL: THE MUSICAL

 

Desi Oakley sings "WHAT I DO FOR MONEY" from FUCKING BEAUTIFUL: THE MUSICAL by Havrilla & Davila

CLIPS AND SALSA

Here are a few sketches, clips and otherwise NYC comedy related videos on the internet that if you have not seen already this is your opportunity.
- By Leah Bonnema  (Stand Up Comic)

Laughter is necessary. I hope the below clips bring you smiles a plenty.

One of my favorite stand up comics, Selena Coppock, has a book coming out, The New Rules for Blondes. Pre-order it here, come to the book release party at Littlefield on Tuesday April 23rd and check out this awesome trailer!