"Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself"
                                                                                  -Charlie Chaplin

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

ZODIAC

My friend AJ hooked up me and some friends with tickets/passes to this new show ZODIAC. Sponsored by Interscope Records and performing at Avalon in Hollywood, this eclectic show spanned the genres of rock, opera, hip hop, modern dance, jazz, acrobatics and all with energy! I didn't know what to expect, but as I stood for 45 minutes waiting for the crowd to settle and the show to start, I began to get idea of the evening I was in for. All walks of life were present for the performance MC'ed by a tall, black (and hilarious) drag queen. Here's some shots:

This lovely lady belted some siren song for us as two modern dance performers told a story about their relationship woes.















I know it's hard to make out, but this is a shot of a cube suspended in the air above the theater. Two woman proceeded to hold on as it was lifted, swinging, bending and contorting together. It was incredible and made me fear for their lives the entire time.















Here, Carmit (former Pussycat Doll circa "Buttons") lays down a hip hop track with some help from back up dancers and performers. After showing us her vocal chops, she ripped off her skirt and joined the dancers.















This guy's name is Adam ... and his voice is unreal. His ability to touch the stratosphere with his vocal chords is unbelievable. Also in this set were a number of belly dancers wielding torches. They, in turn, lit Adam's spear on fire as the choreography ensued. Incredible vocals, dancing, costumes and appeal. Amazing.

Finally, here's a (very blurry) shot of the finale. This number electrified the audience. It seems that everyone (at least on the floor) was there simply to cheer on the cast. The gallery was a little different - love 'em or leave 'em faces dotting the seats. By the end, however, everyone was on their feet, dancing and clapping along as the cast paraded on an off the stage.















Overall, this night was filled with unique and energetic performances. I'm glad I got to see it for free before it moves on and blows up! I feel bad that I didn't get a picture of one of my favorite performances - the soulful, African-American singer a la Lenny Kravitz. His simple, but evocative performance was spot on. I must have freaked him out backstage, congratulating him so quickly.

That being said, I want to say congratulations to the entire cast and crew. From the inspired costumes to the soulful musicians (Violin to rock guitar - all dancing when not playing) to the lighting and overall tone - this was a night I would happily had paid for. I wish you all success in the future!

0 Thoughts: