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Video: STUFF’s Players Party

Stuff Boston — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:58:00 GMT

Center Stage: Our picks for spring's must-see performances

Stuff Boston — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:50:00 GMT

Contrary to what the Aqua song led us to believe, life in plastic isn't always so fantastic -- a fact Lotte Jones, the central character of Trojan Barbie (pictured above), knows all too well. A doll-repair expert who is in serious need of a vacation, she embarks on a Turkish getaway, only to end up traveling much further than she intended ... all the way back to the time of the Trojan War. Stuck in a detention camp with a cast of characters that includes Clytemnestra, Cassandra, and Helen of Troy, Lotte learns firsthand how war devastates human lives, no matter what millennium you happen to find yourself in. With humor and historical drama, contemporary commentary and clever allusions to Euripides' Trojan Women, this play -- which is getting its world premiere from the folks at the American Repertory Theatre - has definitely got something for everyone. (Ken doll not included.) | Zero Arrow Theatre, 2 Arrow Street, Cambridge, 617.547.8300 | March 28 through April 22 | Tickets: $39-$52, available at www.amrep.org

Batman, the Incredible Hulk, Superman, Wolverine, Iron Man ... why is it that the superdudes always get top billing? We think it's high time that the spandex-clad ladies fight back, so we were happy to hear that they'll be taking over the stage in The Superheroine Monologues: A Parody of Super Porportions. Company One and Phoenix Theatre Artists are teaming up for this campy romp, which starts in the 1940s and follows Wonder Woman, Storm, Batgirl, Dark Phoenix, Supergirl, Catwoman, and Lois Lane through the decades. We bet it'll be super. | Boston Playwright's Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, 617.353.5443 | April 10 through April 26 | Tickets: $20-$25, available at www.bu.edu/bpt

If a show as stripped down as a one-man play is going to succeed, it has to have a amazing story at its heart. And the story that propels I Am My Own Wife is not only amazing, but true. The Boston Center for American Performance stages this Pulitzer winner, which is based on the life of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, born Lothar Berfelde, an East German transvestite who survived (and perhaps even abetted) first the Nazi and then the Communist regimes. With David Gram starring as Charlotte and 40 other roles, this promises to be a tour de force that is not to be missed. | TheatreLab@855, 855 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, 617.933.8600 | April 22 through May 10 | Tickets: $10-$20, available at www.bostontheatrescene.com

Lots of little girls (and even some grown-up ones we know) dream of one day getting swept off their feet by prince charming, whether it be after biting a poisonous apple or losing a glass slipper. For those of us who dig the whole waking-from-a-100-year-coma bit, the Boston Ballet's Sleeping Beauty is the show to catch this spring. Thanks to Tchaikovsky's brilliant score, Marius Petipa's stellar choreography, and swoon-worthy performances from some of the area's top local dance talents, this will most definitely be a step up from Disney's take on the fairy tale. Classic. | Wang Theater, 270 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.482.9393 | April 23 through May 3 | Tickets: $25-$115, available at 866.348.9738 or www.citicenter.org

Take note boys: there's nothing like hitting those low notes for bedding a TON of lovely ladies. How many to be exact? 2,065. Yowzah! Lust is in the air this spring as the Boston Lyric Opera takes on Don Giovanni (i.e., Don Juan, Italian style -- you know it's going to be hot). If you're new to classical opera, we can't think of a better introduction: with masqued intrigues, unrepentant libertines, serial seductions, cold-blooded murder, and a climax featuring the fires of hell, Don Giovanni has it all - not to mention one of Mozart's most astonishing scores. | Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.292.5183 | April 24 through May 5 | Tickets: $33-$194, available at www.citicenter.org

Before Gossip Girl and Twilight hit the masses, sex-crazed teens hit the Broadway stage. One of the standouts of spring's theater line-up is, appropriately enough, Spring Awakening, the controversial coming-of-age musical and eight-time Tony winner that's generated a huge fan base since its 2006 premiere. The mega-hit, set in late 19th-century Germany, tells the story of repressed but hormonal teens who discover sex - and the angst that can accompany it -- all while accompanied by a rock score composed by Duncan Sheik. (Remember "Barely Breathing"? It's so nice to see a '90s one-hit wonder garner attention for something besides turning up on a trashy reality TV show.) Any show that contains content that "may not be suitable for those under age 15" is a good bet in our book for great entertainment. | Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.426.9366 | April 28 through May 24 | Tickets: $22.50-$89.50, available at www.ticketmaster.com

Finally, SpeakEasy Stage Company has given us the chance to watch Springer at a time that doesn't require calling in sick to work. The winner of the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Musical (really, we swear), Jerry Springer: The Opera captures the essence of the quality programming of the original show, along with plenty of twists and turns -- including Mr. Springer's trip to hell after he's accidentally shot by a guest on the show. Try to hold off from chanting "Jerry! Jerry!" until the curtain call. | Nancy and Edward Roberts Studio Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.426.5000 | May 1 through May 30 | Tickets: $46-$55, available at 617.933.8600 or bostontheatrescene.com

Musicals based on movies seem to be a dime a dozen these days, and many would make serious theater buffs want to stage their own exits during intermission (seriously people: Shrek didn't merit two sequels, let alone a theatrical interpretation). But Grey Gardens is one musical with big-screen beginnings that has managed to earn several Tonys, despite its tabloid-worthy subject matter -- the story follows Jackie O's eccentric aunt and cousin, Big Edie and Little Edie, as they slide from Hamptons high society into squalor and seclusion. Though the documentary that inspired it was made over 30 years ago, the story remains a hot topic, with a star-studded HBO movie adaptation premiering this month. But we bet the Lyric Stage Company's cast for this New England premiere will give Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange a run for their money. | Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston, 617.585.5678 | May 8 through June 6 | Tickets: $25-$54, available at www.lyricstage.com

Ahoy me matey. If ye don't have the booty to get to the Caribbean on yer own, maybe you should consider letting a musical take you there. Complete with piratical humor, swordfights, and sex, the Huntington Theatre Company's Pirates! (Or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd) gives The Pirates of Penzance an update for the new millennium - this is definitely not the musical your grandmother remembers. Plus, peg legs and eye patches are hot. Arrrg. | BU Theater, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617.266.0800 | May 15 through June 14 | Tickets: $25-$50, available at www.huntingtontheatre.org

Forget the Jets and the Sharks. If you want to see a real onstage brawl, don't miss the conclusion of the second annual Speaker Series: The Minds That Move the World, which will bring James Carville (of CNN's Crossfire fame) and Karl Rove (of, well, evil GOP mastermind fame) to Boston for a political rumble of the ages. PBS's Charlie Rose will referee and attempt to keep the bloodshed to a minimum as the two talk "strategies, alliances, and policy." Did we mention that at the series opener, a fistfight broke out among audience members? We're sure there'll be a big finish here, too - after all, when pundits and politicos are freed from that seven-second delay, anything can happen. Consider it a must-see cross between a poli sci class and a WWE smackdown. | Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.482.9393 | May 27 | Tickets: $38-$178, available at www.citicenter.org

Compiled by Julia Gall and Alexandria Lima

BLOG: Esquire’s Best New Restaurants Party at Scampo

Erica Corsano — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:32:00 GMT

35 MORE PHOTOS: Esquire's Best New Restaurants Party at Scampo

Some lessons in life take a bit longer to learn than others. Always brush and floss before bedtime. Check. Handwritten thank-you cards are a must. Check. Always eat dinner (or a handful of something edible) before heading out on the town. This should soooo be a check, but sadly, it isn't -- or should I say wasn't.

Before I get to an explanation, let me set the scene for you. Wednesday night, Esquire hosted a little soiree at Scampo to celebrate naming it one of the best new restaurants in the United States. The celebration drew a pretty fabulous crowd of media and industry insiders and their very attractive friends and colleagues.

Notable attendees included Barbara Lynch; Patrick and Kristina Lyons; Lindsay and Dawn Curtis; Michael and Christine DiCarlo; longtime Esquire contributing editor John Mariani; and Boldfacers.com’s Lisa Pierpont, who wore a stunning Sam Mendoza one-shoulder dress.

Some event highlights:

Tony Nunziante from Mayor Menino’s office telling me that I’m “one happening chick,” and questioning why he even bothers attending events like this, asking, “Where are the people my age?” “You mean 45?” I responded. “Oh, I am so putting you on my Christmas list,” he replied.
Lydia Shire’s fire-engine-red clogs and matching red-crystal earrings.
A newly single Jasper White schmoozing it up with hot, young event tail.
WHDH TV’s Frances Rivera in a signature Missoni get-up asking me, “Why haven’t we met before? You are adorable!” (Thanks, Frances; you're adorable too, and just for the record, we’ve met several times. But I won’t hold it against you – being a serious-news-anchor-meets-social-butterfly-meets-spectacular-fashionista is no easy task.)
Falling in love with my latest couple crush, Hal and Jodi Hess. They’re an adorable Southern pair: well-dressed, very attractive, and SO MUCH FUN. I look forward to being part of a dynamic duo like that some day. Until then, can I move in with you guys.
Last but not least, the greatest spectacle of the evening was created by yours truly. If the occurrence appeared in a gossip column, it would probably reada little something like this:

Which local writer and fashion stylist was observed causing a scene in an empty, post-party Scampo because the coat check lost her jacket? The tipsy fashion gal insisted that her newly purchased trench was somewhere in the building and demanded that the tired and overwhelmed staff allow her to tour – three times – the coat-check area and kitchen in search of her lost coat. A calm and very patient friend and photographer helped the drunken diva through the ordeal, and the on-site manager assured her that they would reimburse her for the lost coat.

BLOG: The Little Black Dress Party at Estate

Erica Corsano — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:39:00 GMT

Hello, my name is Erica and I hate Boston nightlife.

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m all about positive energy and spreading the gushy love, but I just can’t seem to get over the fact that we live is such a fantastic city, yet our nightlife is so bland. Yes, the 2 a.m. thing sort of kills it around these parts, but there has to be some sort of concerted effort to duplicate the fabulousness that exists in really chic, interesting clubs, lounges, and bars around the world.

I always say that Boston has the makings of a truly cool city but can’t quite figure out the cool part. Maybe it’s an energy thing, maybe it’s our conservative puritan roots holding us back, but seriously, can someone open something fabulous soon — pretty please?

Given all that, you can only imagine my lack of enthusiasm at the thought of covering the Little Black Dress event at Estate. Don’t get me wrong: if anyone has tapped into the nightlife scene in Boston and given us some pretty fun places to party, it’s the Kane brothers (or is it the brothers Kane?). Even so, before heading out, I prepared myself for the worst. I expected scantily-clad hoochie mamas in cheap tube dresses shaking their asses for free drinks; sweaty meatheads in cheesy Ed Hardy shirts spouting really crappy pick up lines, desperate for a piece of ass; and boys that are adorable but so young that the thought of hooking up with them makes me feel like Hester Fester the Child Molester. The list goes on.

Here’s the thing, though: yes, all of these elements were present and accounted for, but I was also pleasantly surprised to find pockets of interesting, well-dressed people in their 30s. I’m not really sure if they were there because the concept of partying in a little black dress is a revolutionary one, or because they were all dying to get a glimpse of host and C-list model/actress April Scott — who, by the way, was the sweetest, chillest, most down-to-earth humble gal ever. Regardless, it certainly seemed like everyone was there to get a mid-week break from the madness and have a little fun dancing the night away. So we don’t have a Pacha, a Les Caves du Roy, a Bungalow 8, or a Soho House — no one seems to want to put a lot of money into mind-blowing, incredible interior design in nightclubs, and we don’t attract A-listers all that often — but we certainly make the most of what we have. Bravo, Boston — I’m not so bitter after all.

Upstairs, Shag owner and DJ Sandy Poirier was spinning and smiling. (He did both marvelously.) I’m no DJ or expert, but my untrained ears thought the music was incredible and it totally got my ass shaking, broken ankle and all. Thanks, smiley Sandy.

And so until we rid ourselves of the ridiculous 2 a.m. closing time and spice up our nightlife scene a bit, I — along with some pretty fabulous companions — will be on the hunt for more nights like this one, where the energy is high, the drinks are flowing, and everyone is having a damn good time. Feel free to let me know about your favorites.

— Erica Corsano

BLOG: The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style Book Launch Party at the Achilles Project

Erica Corsano — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:41:00 GMT

23 MORE PHOTOS: LUCKY GUIDE BOOK LAUNCH AT ACHILLES

Lucky magazine celebrated The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style at a book-launch party last night at the Achilles Project. Clearly, the girly shopping mag attracted a herd of trendy, aspiring fashionistas, but interestingly enough, the event also attracted a scene-and-be-seen pre-Madonna social crowd as well. Red Sox owner John Henry and his beautiful gal pal Linda Pizzutti made an appearance before heading off to see Madge, as did local designer Jess Meyer. Shag’s Sandy Poirier and his staffer and Stuff@night cover girl Dayna Gamba strolled in (though they’re hardly the Lucky-reading types), and while we are on the subject of Sandy, I have a question: clearly you’re a cool dude with creds that include a super-successful salon, a kick-ass staff, and TV appearances. So why the grim face when out and about? Is it cool to look miz at social events? Turn that frown upside down, Sandy — it can’t be that bad for a bad-ass like you.

Other notables and guests (who I’m pretty sure don’t read Lucky) included nightlife czars Ed Kane and Eric Aulenback (and the latter’s Alibi staff) and Red Sox owner Tom Werner.

Actual Lucky readers and fashion gals about town included Martha Hilfinger and Jane Schlueter, owners of Dress; Rebecca Penner and Laura Macris, owners of Crush; personal shopper and freelance writer Alyssa Neely (who has killer style and, clearly, a fabulous budget to work with), and the absolutely lovely and always charming Chanel store director, Mary Nobile-King (yes, I have a girl crush on her, and yes, we really are taking over Marilyn Riseman’s closet together!). As always, Carina Battipaglia of Intermix looked cute as can be and perfectly put together. Lucky staffers from NYC flew in for the occasion, including fashion editor Noria Morales (originally from Hull), who looked incredible in a leopard-print dress; editor-in-chief Kim France; creative director Andrea Linnett; and editor-at-large Elise Loehnen. Lucky’s Boston editor, Alyssa Giacobbe, was also there. Additional fashion peeps in attendance include Audra Bodenstab from Looc, designers Megan and Moria Flynn, Bobby Garnett of Bobby from Boston, designer Sam Mendoza, Hudson’s Jill Goldberg, and designer Daniela Corte.

I have to give a shout-out to brave FB editor Alex Hall: going from blonde to brunette is a bold move and she totally rocked it. Now, can I get a drum roll please? The award for best dressed goes to Tracy Doyon, manager of Intermix. Her vintage Missoni skirt paired with modern accessories, including killer Stella McCartney leather wedge boots, was definitely the most stunning, innovative, and creative look of the eve. Honorable mention goes to Achilles Project women’s buyer Adrienne Comoletti, whose vintage Christian Lacroix earrings were to die for. Both women paired modern pieces with vintage flair. Mixing it up is so much more interesting than buying right off the rack; well done, ladies.

— Erica Corsano