Saturday, June 25, 2016

Sara Pennypacker "Pax" Interview

Local author Sara Pennypacker recently published Pax, a novel following the stories of a fox, forcibly abandoned by his boy’s grandfather, and the boy, Peter, who runs away from home to find his fox. The film rights have been bought by Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, who plan to make a movie in the coming years.

THIS POST CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS FOR PAX.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Chatham Kids Magazine Issue #9 Table of Contents Revealed

The table of contents page for the first issue of Chatham Kids Magazine's 2016 run has been revealed. From this page, we can learn the following facts about the contents of the magazine and more:
  • The Cape Cod Chronicle is still sponsoring this year.
  • chathamkidsmagazine.com is still up and running.
  • The Fourth of July Parade 2016 will be previewed.
  • There will still be weekly contests run through the mags.
  • Another story is being done on the Chatham Shark Center.
  • The Sharks in the Park's move to the Eldredge Library will be covered.
  • A story about the Orpheum Theater's morning movies will be written.
  • The Monomoy Theatre's first 2016 play The Drowsy Chaperone will be reviewed. In fact, it already has. Click here for our review of the play.
  • News, Quickie Bits and Next Issue are still included as regular features.
Issue #9 will be released June 30.

The Monomoy Theater's "The Drowsy Chaperone" Review

The Drowsy Chaperone is truly a great play. The musical opened June 21 at the Monomoy Theatre in downtown Chatham, and has satisfied crowds in its first week and a half of shows. The play, directed by Mary O’Brady and choreographed by Kyle Brand, runs until July 2.

The story centers around a lonely man (Bill Kux), who is a diehard fan of a Broadway musical titled The Drowsy Chaperone. He loves it so much that time to time, he puts on a record of the show just so he can enjoy it again. The play (with narration by the man) follows a variety of characters, including Robert (Kyle Rudolph) and Janet (Karis Gallant), who are due to be married, Mr. Feldzieg (Alan Rust), who is trying to find a new leading lady for his show, and Kitty (Caroline Jackson), a performer who is dying to be in Feldzieg’s show.

And don’t forget the Drowsy Chaperone! Colleen Welsh, who graduated from the Hartt School last year, guests as Janet’s lazy (but comedic) chaperone whose life (and love) advice just can’t get its way into Janet’s head.

Kyle Brand, who choreographed and directed last year’s opening musical, Damn Yankees, plays the
role of George, Robert’s flustered Best Man who has, to say the least, cold feets. Also guesting is Kyle Rudolph as George and Alan Rust (Monomoy’s artistic director) as Mr. Feldzieg.

The play is also filled with meaningful and silly songs, including the Chaperone’s As We Stumble Along, and the Act I finale Toledo Surprise. Fans of musicals will love the integration of the songs, as well as the clever lyrics.

Final Verdict: A fun play, mostly a comedy, with a heartfelt ending and fantastic acting.
Definitely one of Monomoy’s best yet!
Rating: 10/10
Age Recommendation: 13+ (adult situations and references)

Friday, June 10, 2016

Chatham Kids Magazine Issue #9 Preview Cover Revealed

A preliminary cover for the first issue of Chatham Kids Magazine's 2016 run has been revealed. This cover is not necessarily the final version, but nevertheless what the final version will resemble.

According to the cover, the mag (released on June 30) will preview the 2016 4th of July Parade and maybe delve into the recent Back to the Future event at the Chatham Orpheum Theater and review Pixar's latest film Finding Dory.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

'Back to the Future' Event at the Chatham Orpheum Theater: Videos and More

Last night, at the Chatham Orpheum Theater, guests were treated with a special showing of the 1985 classic Back to the Future, with ticket costs benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, and a live Q&A session with writer/producer Bob Gale and Doc Brown himself, Christopher Lloyd. Their arrival was accompanied by a replica of the DeLorean car used as a time machine in the film, which people could sit in for a donation of $20 to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

While Lea Thompson [who played Lorraine McFly in the BTTF trilogy] was unable to make it, having signed on for another film, we were entertained by Lloyd and Gale, who shared behind-the-scenes secrets and anecdotes alike.

Highlights of the Q&A included:
  • Bob Gale once again confirmed that he and Robert Zemeckis [director of BTTF] were developing a theatrical musical based on the film.
  • Christopher Lloyd outlined the influences on the character of Doc Brown, including Albert Einstein.
  • Gale explained the original casting ideas for Doc Brown, which included Jeff Goldblum and John Lithgow.
  • Lloyd talked about his cameo as Doc Brown in Seth MacFarlane's A Million Ways to Die in the West and about his new film, Going in Style (in select theaters this July).
  • Gale and Lloyd spoke extensively about Eric Stoltz, the original actor playing Marty McFly, and why they replaced him with Michael J. Fox.
  • Gale confirmed (to no surprise) that there would never be a Back to the Future IV or a remake of Back to the Future.
  • Gale revealed that the 1985 original was meant to be a standalone film and that the 2015 future shown in Back to the Future Part II was not the future that Gale had envisioned, but rather a exaggeration.
You can see excerpts of the Q&A below:

Monday, June 6, 2016

Chatham Kids Magazine is Looking for Ads!

Chatham Kids Magazine is currently on the lookout for businesses to place ads for our 2016 issues.

For the whole summer, the price to place a quarter-page ad is $20, half-page $30, and full page $40.

If you would like to place an ad, business or otherwise, please contact us at chathamkidsmagazine@gmail.com or marphclon@gmail.com.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

June 2016 in Movies

Summer Movie Season is, no doubt, the best time for movies to be released. There are many reasons for this, but it would take a whole extra post to list all the reasons why. In this post, we will give you an exclusive preview of the best kid-friendly films released in June.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
This sequel to the 2014 live-action/animation reboot features the Turtles going up against Shredder (Brian Tee) and mad scientist Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry), who has mutated Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (Stephen Farrelly), while also fighting the notorious Krang (Brad Garrett).
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
Release date: June 3
Age recommendation: 12+

Warcraft
Based on the popular video game, Warcraft features the orc shaman Gul'dan looking to escape from his dying world. He utilizes dark magic to open a portal to the human realm of Azeroth. Supported by the fierce fighter Blackhand, Gul'dan organizes the orc clans into a conquering army called the Horde. Uniting to protect Azeroth from these hulking invaders are King Llane, the mighty warrior Anduin Lothar (Travis Fimmel) and the powerful wizard Medivh. As the two races collide, leaders from each side start to question if war is the only answer.
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
Release date: June 10
Age recommendation: 13+

Finding Dory
This long-awaited sequel to the 2003 animated hit feature Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), the forgetful fish, embarking on a quest to reunite with her mother (Diane Keaton) and father (Eugene Levy).
Rating: PG for thematic elements
Release date: June 17
Age recommendation: 8+
NOTE: This film will be playing at the Chatham Orpheum Theater, and there will most likely be a preview showing on Thursday, June 16.

So, there you have it. While June may not have a lot of movies, there is still enough to keep your kids entertained.