May 21, 2013
Lifestyles
Photo courtesy of DSM

Best leading actor nominees performed a medley of songs.
THEATER White Rock volunteers take a bow at Curtain Call
It was glitz and glamour last Friday night when Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) celebrated its annual fundraiser, the 2013 Curtain Call. DSM’s Guild, a membership organization, was integral in making the event a success, and a number of White Rockers are active volunteer members of the group. This year’s event, “Broadway Bound,” was in tribute to Charles H. Pistor, who passed away in 2012. “Not only was Charlie my best friend, but he was an avi...
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Photos courtesy of Fidélité Films
CINEMA THERAPY 'Renoir' creates rich canvas layered with lovely colors
“Renoir” is a poetic painting using a cinema brush depicting and narrativizing both the end of the life of celebrated painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Michel Bouquet) and the nescient beginnings of the young Jean Renoir (Vincent Rottiers). Director Gilles Bourdos faithfully imagines what it was like in those early days of the 20th century (1915) in the south of France when these two giants lived together as father and son. Pierre-Auguste Renoir ...
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Photo by Mary Spencer
YAPPY TALK Finicky felines need special food, care
If there is one thing I have learned about cats over the years, I firmly believe that each one is a completely finicky creature in his or her own way. Regardless of if it’s male or female, King or Queen, Prince or Princess, a cat makes his or her own rules, and “finicky” applies to people, food and beds (no cat I’ve ever owned had only one bed!). These, along with the multitude of other choices our furry felines must make every day, endorses ...
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photos by Elena Harding
Toadies lead singer Vaden Todd Lewis plays an acoustic set.
MUSIC Toadies 'Rattle' crowd with new video
An eclectic crowd of about 150 people gathered on Sundown at Granada's rooftop deck May 7 for an intimate premiere of the Toadies’ “Rattler's Revival” music video from their new record “Play. Rock. Music.” Due to a career that has spanned more than two decades, the Toadies fan base ranges from twenty-somethings to an older crowd — pink hair to silver — eye patches and white suits. The event began at 8 p.m., the music video played at 8:45 p.m. ...
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Photos courtesy of Recorded Picture Company
CINEMA THERAPY 'Kon-Tiki' retells of harrowing journey
“Kon-Tiki” is the true story of Thor Heyerdahl and his dream to prove that Peruvians could have floated 5,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean to settle the Polynesian Islands. Pal Sverre Hagen, looking like a young Peter O’Toole in “Lawrence of Arabia,” plays Heyerdahl and gives him the feel of being iconoclastic and yet, at the same time, a holy visionary. In the film, Heyerdahl had been working in Polynesia 10 years earlier and had been res...
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Photos courtesy of DSM
Lake Highlands High School’s Patrick Mahurin was nominated for best actor in his role as Emile de Becque in “South Pacific.”
THEATER Lake Highlands thespians recognized by DSM
Tuesday night the Music Hall at Fair Park was transformed into Broadway’s Beacon Theatre, home of the Tony Awards, for the 2013 annual Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA), and it was standing room only (SRO). As nominees walked the red carpet, they were photographed and interviewed by local broadcast and print media including WFAA-TV and The Dallas Morning News, who are media partners for the program. The pa...
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Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures
CINEMA THERAPY 'Pain & Gain' lacks emotional depth
Bodybuilders have the motto, “No pain, no gain” to emphasize that if you don’t push the limit of your body, you won’t achieve a great physique. “Pain & Gain” is the true story of three body builders who decided to go for “gain” without the “pain” of college and developed business skills to achieve wealth. But, they chose to take a sinister short cut. Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) is inspired by pro-wealth guru Johnny Wu (Ken Jeong), and we root...
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THEATER Afternoon show brings 'Comfort'
One Thirty Productions, in cooperation with the Bath House Cultural Center and the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, announces the opening of Kathleen Clark’s warm comedy, “Southern Comforts.” One Thirty is the first company in the Dallas area to produce “Southern Comforts,” which enjoyed a successful run at the Alley Theatre in Houston featuring Hal Holbrook and the late Dixie Carter. Clark’s adaptation explores what can happen when ...
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Photo courtesy of petnewsandviews.com
YAPPY TALK Nutritional value essential for dog food
Ask any pet owner or veterinarian his or her recommendation for pet food, and you will get a different answer every time. Years ago, when I became the proud parent of my own first “Dallas dog,” my trusted veterinarian highly recommended any type of food made by Purina. At that time, Purina was THE expert and had been creating pet food varieties longer than any other manufacturer on the market. Today, with so many pet food chefs, connoisseurs...
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Photo courtesy of CTD
“Angels Fall” cast includes, left-to-right, standing: H. Francis Fuselier, James Crawford and Ivan Jasso. Seated, left-to-right, are: Allison Pistorius, Sue Loncar and Jake Buchanon.
THEATER ‘Angels Fall’ in drama at Contemporary Theatre
In a remote New Mexico town, circumstances bring six random strangers together at a small Catholic church. Due to an accident at a nearby nuclear plant, the highway is closed. The story takes a back seat, though, to interesting characters and their relationships in Contemporary Theatre of Dallas’ (CTD) current offering, “Angels Fall.” First onstage are the middle-aged traveler Niles Harris and his younger wife, Vita. While hoping the authorit...
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