The Sound of Music is alive once more

By | |
Comments Off on The Sound of Music is alive once more

July 15, 2023 by Ife Oshun

Desi Oakley (Maria Rainer) and the cast of “The Sound of Music” at North Shore Music Theatre thru July 23. Photo © Paul Lyden
Desi Oakley (Maria Rainer) and the cast of “The Sound of Music” at North Shore Music Theatre.

With the North Shore Music Theatre production of the classic Sound of Music, the poignancy and power of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s sonic legacy is alive once more. Under the musical direction of Milton Granger, Desi Oakley brings massive energy to the role of Maria, the guitar-toting governess who defies her recent-widower employer’s anti-music edict, and brings song-filled joy into the lives of his seven children.

Inspired by the true story of Maria Von Trapp, main character, Maria, a doe-eyed Nonnberg Abbey postulate, can’t seem to align her free-spirited  ideals with her aspiration for a life as an obedient nun. Wise Mother Abbess (Janinah Burnett) sends Maria to live in the world for a few months as a prerequisite to committing to life at the abbey. Maria’s assignment: serve as governess in the home of Naval Captain Georg von Trapp (Joseph Spieldenner) who is desperately in need of yet another childcare replacement. It is then, against the backdrop of a 1938 Nazi-occupied Austria on the verge of World War II, Maria’s inner song ignites hearts and opens minds, particularly apparent in a touching rendition of “Do-Re-Mi” with the cast of adorable kids.

And while the music and vocals are heartwarming, the cold stage direction makes one wonder whether the job was farmed out to AI. Kevin Hill’s decision to make almost each cast member (over 35 adults and kids) hop onto at least one of a number of short statuary prop columns on the perimeter of the circular stage felt forced and devoid of character inner motivation. Spieldenner’s brilliant performance of “Edelweiss” barely survived further questionable direction which forced the actor, guitar in hand, to spin in a hapless circle while simultaneously singing and playing (and probably fighting vertigo). Wooden staging choices paired with lackluster twirling from Briana Fallon (making her choreography debut, clearly) cemented the sub-theme of disconnected, human movement juxtaposed with the overflowing emotion from book, lyrics and music. 

Fortunately, Hill downplays the Nazi menace and creates space for soaring hope. Burnett’s ovation-worthy “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” along with other classics such as “My Favorite Things” and “So Long, Farewell,” deftly moves the crowd, while the children’s stirring chemistry with Oakley even elicits tears. The near sold-out production is a testament that this classic story remains relevant in its depiction of the power of music and love in the face of hatred and adversity.

More theater reviews

Fat Ham cooks up sizzling madness

By | |
Comments Off on Fat Ham cooks up sizzling madness

October 2, 2023 by Ife Oshun

A scene from Fat Ham At The Huntington In Association With Alliance Theatre And Front Porch Arts Collective
Fat Ham At The Huntington In Association With Alliance Theatre And Front Porch Arts Collective

I sauntered into Huntington Theater’s opening night of James Ijames’ Fat Ham, thinking that the 2022 Pulitzer Prize and five-time Tony nominee would constitute yet another rendition of ye ole Hamlet. Hours later, jaded-ness exorcised by comic genius and belief in fresh Shakespeare takes renewed, I cried happy tears inspired by Black, queer joy. 

This electrifying romp sees its lead (the brilliant Marshall W. Mabry) deliver hilarious Gen Z insights and drop the Bard’s “what a piece of work is man” monologue with such technical aplomb I felt like I’d never truly heard it. “Man delights not me: no, nor woman neither” indeed! Alas, I missed a bit of the 90-minute, no intermission comedy-drama, due to damn near running to the unisex bathroom and back, and decided in the crowded post-performance lobby, clinging to my beautifully-designed program, that I simply must return for a second go round.

Oh, such wicked good madness.

Days later, I revisited the Calderwood Pavilion accompanied by my 19-year old son, aye, the one who’d devoured Hamlet multiple times before 4th grade. ”Ma,” he sighed, “you’re always dragging me to these boring things.” Was he right? Had my thirst-trapped search for abiding contemporary Shakespeare caused me to, like Hamlet, lose my Gen X mind?

By the time we were in our seats, I’d already spent a half hour in an unrequested soliloquy about how the Alliance Theatre and Front Porch Arts Collective production brilliantly turns the long-acknowledged misogyny of the original on its head. Along with the queer-liciousness sprinkled all over the Ham, all characters identifying as female have a voice and distinct personalities. And despite the new found identity these oft-underserved roles suffer, Ham’s mom–also battling toxic masculinity in her own search for life’s meaning–admits that now that she finally has everyone’s attention she doesn’t know what to say. This tragic twist resonated so deeply in my fellow Black woman brain, I had to catch my breath. I forgot about the details–Stevie Walker-Webb’s tight, effective direction, PJ Johnnie, Jr.’s invigorating choreography, Luciana Stecconi’s realistic set design, the troupe’s stellar performances, the ROTFLOL humor and Xiangfu Xiao’s lighting–and got lost in Ham’s mad, lofty musings piercing the fourth wall, while Ijames’ glorious exploration of family dysfunction unfolded within a search for identity, acceptance and truth transcending time and space. 

At evening’s end, my son, sensitive soul that he is, admitted I wasn’t mad after all. The karaoke and disco were the cherry on top. Really, go see this play now. You might see me on my third visit singing Radiohead’s “Creep” in the front row.

More theater reviews

50 years later, Company belts existential angst like none other

By | | ,
Comments Off on 50 years later, Company belts existential angst like none other

April 10, 2024 by Ife Oshun

Britney Coleman as Bobbie (center) and the North American Tour of COMPANY. Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.jpg
Company at the Citizens Opera House

Company hinges on the idea that, for a single person, hitting the age of 35 is a legitimate trigger for existential angst-filled fever dreams and musings on marriage. 

Wait, freaking out about turning 35. Is that still a thing?

Well, it was a thing in the 70s when this Stephen Sondheim musical premiered. The concept musical’s bed-hopping playboy, Bobby, has just turned said age and, as a result, nosedives into a rabbit hole of self doubt and self reflection. The eternal bachelor is then surrounded by his best friends, all married couples and his three girlfriends. A flurry of disconnected, slightly absurdist vignettes then ensues as his social circle present various, sometimes existential, aspects of the institution of marriage and question why Bobby isn’t married yet. The dated theme got a facelift in 2021 with a gender swap and now, in the Citizen’s Opera House production featuring Marianne Elliott’s red hot direction, the main character, Bobbie (portrayed by the luminous Britney Coleman), is a single cis woman. 

The challenge is not just the lack of a conventional storyline, but also the apocalyptic view of turning 35. As if the world has ended and now, before death, one must face the final frontier–marriage. It’s an archaic notion which doesn’t quite fly, and may not resonate with audience members who are unfamiliar with the history of the play. The other challenge is the gender-swapped character’s believability. How does a person who identifies as female singing lyrics that were originally written for a cis male character connect with a modern audience that is used to hearing female voices and perspectives free of the male gaze? Like, wouldn’t a single, successful, 35 year-old woman focus less on being married and, perhaps, more on the real elephant in the room–the ticking biological clock? After all, according to some recent statistics, more than 50% of American first marriages end in divorce while more women (married or not) are starting families later. 21st century gaps like these may have been the reason why the entire row I sat in emptied out as people left before intermission.

But despite the misses, there’s still plenty to enjoy. Technically perfect singing emits from the energetic, funny ensemble who manage to make the lyrically dense, incredibly hard-to-sing songs sound as smooth as honey. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the tongue twisting song “Getting Married Today” brilliantly delivered by a hyper-nervous Jamie (another gender-swapped character played by out actor Matt Rodin) as he considers his upcoming nuptials and marrying the man he loves. Tight, fresh acting peppered by Liam Steel’s scintillating choreography fills the gorgeous, yet spare boxes that comprise the set. So forget about context and linear plots. Seriously. Just sit back and lose yourself in classic tunes like “Being Alive,” “Company” and “The Ladies Who Lunch” and accept the fact that even Sondheim’s not-so-best is still pretty damn amazing.

More theater reviews

Voice overs and writing (Hello World 2024)

By | |
Comments Off on Voice overs and writing (Hello World 2024)

First post since pandemic and, yeah, I’m doing voice overs and stuff

Ok, before I dive into voice overs, let me just say, it’s super hard to believe my last post was in 2019. Well, no it’s not hard to believe. After all, that was the last “normal” year before the end of Life As We Knew It.

Funny thing, though. They say we’re post-pandemic, but it doesn’t feel like it. There’s a lot of dis-ease still happening around the world, deep collective mental health issues and societal psychopathy and sometimes I wonder if the human race will make it. This time around. 

I certainly hope so. 🙏🏾

But in the meantime, I’ve decided to do some more acting. Voice over acting, to be exact. It’s been a while since I did that, too. 

I’m first and always a writer, but I enjoyed acting for commercials, stage, TV and film and voice over work is something I truly enjoy doing. So, right now I’m building up my voice over portfolio, and marveling how the industry has changed. Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork have really leveled the playing field and empowered more people to take advantage of all the opportunities out there. 

But don’t worry; I’m still writing. In fact, I have a sizzling manuscript in hand. And as soon as I team up with the right people (as in the right agency) you’ll be hearing more about it. I promise. ❤️ In the meantime, check out a couple of demos or check out some more here:

https://youtu.be/eEHhXKbuV0ghttps://ifeoshun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Voice-Over-ExplainerVideoDemo.mp3

If you’re a business looking to order voice over services, visit any of the following links to place an order and get information on rates. You can also place custom orders for voice overs, too.

Order voice overs

https://www.fiverr.com/s/aLegKp (Rush delivery)
https://www.fiverr.com/s/NjeLqZ (Standard delivery)
https://www.fiverr.com/s/RpVaXx (IVR, phone tree, voicemail)
https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~014d43f7f1c87b92ea?viewMode=1&s=1017484851352698939

New Project: Hosting the ODDDIO Podcast

By | | , , ,
Comments Off on New Project: Hosting the ODDDIO Podcast
Odddio Podcast BannerI’m excited to announce that I’m now hosting the new Odddio podcast. It feels good to again embrace the roots of my professional writing career–music artist interviews. Wooohooo!!!

🎵 But this time, we not only spotlight the music, we also chat about weird, strange, and unusual topics–you name it–aliens, the paranormal, crop circles, mythic beings, all the fun stuff I love to explore.

Music + weird stuff. Sound familiar?

It’s the story of my life!

Some of the most amazing, and imaginative, conversations I’ve ever had are with music artists about topics that are nowhere near the beaten path. I’m grateful for this opportunity to chat with talented people in an environment that’s free of judgement.

The first episode sees me chatting with rock band Somerset about their debut album, and Area 51 whistle blower Bob Lazar. It was so much fun!

The full audio Odddio (get it, huh, get it?) podcast can be found on the Odddio website as well as a number of subscription platforms such as Google podcasts, and more. You can also check out video segments on the Odddio YouTube channel. Here’s a sample:

Please like and subscribe to the #Odddio channel on YouTube to see video segments, follow me on #Instagram or visit the ODDDIO website to download the full audio podcast, transcripts, and more.

I’m also grateful to connect with fantastic local artists for this show. There’s a lot of great talent out there. I hope you enjoy!

👍🏾😀🙏🏾🎶💖 Don’t forget to share!👍🏾😀🙏🏾🎶💖 This new podcast needs your support!

See you in the land of Odddio!!

Odddio Theme Song Credit: “Trans My Gray Shun” – T.Blackett, I. Oshun (TBlack Productions, Papa Grace)

Black Panther Score

By | | ,
Comments Off on Black Panther Score
The Black Panther Score

The last film score I bought and listened to obsessively was from the global blockbuster movie Black Panther.

The composer, Ludwig Göransson, recently won a (well-deserved) Grammy for it, as well as a song of the year Grammy for his work on Childish Gambino’s “This Is America.”

In fact, according to Variety, the Swedish-born producer “became the first artist to win song of the year and best score soundtrack for projects in entirely different music genres.”

It’s no surprise–the Black Panther score is absolutely epic. It hasn’t left my rotation since it dropped.

Here’s a video which explores the producer’s process in making the score. ❤

Why I Never Make New Year’s Resolutions, Except for 2019

By | |
Comments Off on Why I Never Make New Year’s Resolutions, Except for 2019

Why I Never Make New Year’s Resolutions, Except for 2019

2019

First, let me start off by wishing you the absolute best, and juiciest, for 2019. May you uncover the best of who you are every year, every day, and every second. Now… about New Year’s resolutions…

Maybe you, like many fellow humans, like to start off the new year with a resolution. Self-improvement initiatives–such as weight loss or drinking more water–figure high on the lists of many.

But, I admit, I am so not into resolutions. I feel like this: If there’s something I need to do (exercise more, be a better human being, breathe deeply more often, etc), it shouldn’t wait until the first day of the next year. I just woman-up and do it right away.

So, why New Year’s resolutions in 2019?

The things that I’ve been wanting to do more of are still on my radar (where they’ve been for the past 6 months), and it just happens to be the new year. So for the first time in forever, I find myself with two resolutions on New Year’s day. They are — ahem, drumroll, please…

  1. New Years Resolution #1 – Salsa dance at least once a month. I shock myself when I think about the fact that it’s been two friggin years since I salsa danced. Like, seriously. Whhhaaaaat??? Dancing in general is something I need to do, and for years salsa has been (or at least was) the way to get my dance fix on. There will be no excuses. I must get my salsa on starting this month, or I will IMPLODE.
  2. New Years Resolution #2 – Take a yoga class once a week. At one point in my life (before marriage and pregnancy), I took a power yoga class at least 3 times a week. Now, I’m lucky if I follow a 30-minute yoga video once a month. But I really want to–would love to–experience the delicious immersion of a good, sweaty yoga class. Again, there will be no more excuses. I WILL make the time.

And there it is. Making the time. That’s really what my resolution is.

This year, I am going to expand on what I started in 2018 — making time to pursue the passions that I used to take for granted, the passions that power my internal engine, and bring energy and joy into my daily life.

In 2018, I started painting again after having not picked up a paint brush in over a decade. It felt awesome to explore color and texture in oil, one of my favorite things to do. But it was also something I’d stopped making time for. Here’s a picture of me, in November 2018, painting in the studio:

Ife Oshun painting in studio

I made a resolution to take a day out of my week every day for 8 weeks to focus on painting. At times it was super difficult because there was a lot going on with work and responsibilities, and there were a couple of times when I relented and let the responsibilities (aka making money) encroach on the allotted painting time.

But, I kept reminding myself that painting was a responsibility, too. Taking time to do something I love, regardless of whether it generated income or not, is a responsibility I have to myself. It was part of my resolution to make time to do things I enjoy — more often.

Along with painting, there were some other things I started doing in 2018:

  • 30+ pushups a day
  • Isolation and toning exercises twice a day (first thing in the morning and last thing before zonking out).
  • 20 minutes of cardio at least 3 times a week

Yep, you guessed it: My focus has expanded to include making time to get back to my ideal level of physical fitness. I’m proud of sticking to that commitment to myself–especially when I don’t feel like it (which is often).

So salsa and yoga class, like painting, will be things I purposely make time for. I’ve been putting it out into the Universe for months now, and it’s going down in January.

At the end of the day (and whether the day is in 2019, 2018, or whenever) making time for my joy is crucial to the most important resolution of all — staying in a state of bliss. Feeling good is the goal, taking time for myself without guilt, breathing deeply along the way, smiling on the inside as well as the outside, and loving life with all the eagerness I can muster is the M.O. So let it be, and so it is!

Live your dreams, and make time for your passions! 

Teen X: Teen Summit 2018

By | | , , , ,
Comments Off on Teen X: Teen Summit 2018
Hosted by the Massachusetts Library System, the Teen Summit draws teen and young adult librarians from all over the state. To celebrate the Summit’s tenth anniversary, the wonderful folks who organize this lively lit fest dubbed the event Teen X, and invited me to be one of the key note speakers.

It was an honor to talk to, and meet, so many fantastic librarians. I had a great time sharing my thoughts regarding libraries; the power they have, and their role in shaping young minds.

Teen X

Photo Credit: Mirasol Murray

Here are a few pics:

Teen X

Photo Credit: Mirasol Murray

Teen X

Photo Credit: Mirasol Murray

Teen X

Photo Credit: Mirasol Murray

Teen X

Photo Credit: Mirasol Murray

Royal Family Portrait With Ancestor (aka Diana Aglow)

By | | , , ,
Comments Off on Royal Family Portrait With Ancestor (aka Diana Aglow)

Royal Family Portrait With Ancestor (aka Diana Aglow)

Royal Family Portrait With Ancestor (aka Diana Aglow) Ife Oshun's artistic interpretation of official royal wedding photo

Credit: Alexi Lubomirski (with added imagery)

Like an estimated 29 million people, I, too, was mesmerized by the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. I rejoiced in their delicious love story, arose at 5 A.M. EST to view the broadcast live, and devoured, along with tea and cinnamon babka, every second of the event. When they released the official royal photographs, I again fell in love, this time with the joy that rippled over the faces of the family members.

But then my eye was drawn to the portrait’s right side. Next to William there was, at least in my mind, a gap.

An official royal wedding photo with empty space highlighted

Credit: Alexi Lubomirski

The space above the five children on the right struck my painter’s eye as asymmetrical. As soon as my mind made that realization, a memory intruded into my heart with a gentle rush…

Many years ago, a few days after my mother made her transition (kicked the bucket in other words), she visited me. I’d fallen asleep wondering when she would come. My mom was a medium, and I grew up with the knowledge that the so-called spirit world is just another aspect of an existence we take for granted. I knew it was just a matter of time before she would come a’calling.

And come a’calling she did.

Mom was aglow–blinding/vibrant/electric–alive in a way I could barely process. Unrecognizable, yet familiar to the core. She’d come to soothe me–to let me know she was okay, and that I, despite my grief, was okay, too.

But she knows me well.

Of the two of us, I have always been the more practical. So, in order to address the cynic in me, she left me a sign in “real” life. A testament, so to speak… The next morning, I stepped out onto my patio, and saw it. It was so strange, it felt right.

A single, yellow flower had sprouted out of one of the many plant pots. Although it was in full bloom, it hadn’t been there the day before–in fact there had been zero trace of anything about to emerge from below the surface of the soil. The time of year defied flowers shooting up from the dirt; we were in Los Angeles, the season wasn’t right.

I nor my roommate had even planted it.

But there it was–a buttercup. And I knew immediately–felt it in every atom, every cell–that the flower was my mom’s way of saying “See? I’m still very much a part of your “real” life.”

When she walked this earth she used to call me Buttercup.

So, when I saw the gap in the royal family portrait, I immediately recalled my mom’s visit and her lesson: that our ancestors are with us every step of the way. They rejoice when we rejoice, and support us in every stage of life. That’s why, when the big things happen–births, deaths, marriages–we keenly feel their presence. It’s as if the event’s emotional intensity peels away resistance, and we finally allow ourselves to feel our ancestors standing next to, with us, and for us–lovingly, patiently, and unconditionally.

I will never forget that lesson.

And that’s why, after I observed the gap, and felt that rush, I added what seemed to be missing–Diana aglow, reminding us that she was there, a mother standing with her family, sharing in their joy, rejoicing in their love. She reminds us that the real life business of taking a wedding picture could easily be a reflection on the reality of the eternal nature of Love. That those who have come before, those who are here, and those who have yet to come are all one along this brilliant continuum called Love.

Perhaps Alexi Lubomirski, as he composed this portrait, instinctively heeded the invitation to make space, to allow a visual void to just be.

Either way, I love that gap, and would love to turn Royal Family Portrait With Ancestor (aka Diana Aglow) into a painting. Perhaps, someday, I will…

And, perhaps, if one looks closer at the gap just in front of the Queen’s feet, one might see Harry and Meghan’s first child, aglow as well, beaming happily at the camera.

 

Meditation Gaga: My Head Is Empty, and I Feel Awesome

By | | , ,
Comments Off on Meditation Gaga: My Head Is Empty, and I Feel Awesome
Silhouette of a person meditating outside

Credit: Prasanth Inturi

Meditation Gaga

Unless you live under a cyber rock, you’ve probably heard about meditation. With all the cool apps out here, you probably do it, too. But just in case you don’t know what it is, here’s a brief definition:

It’s when you empty your mind. No thoughts. Nada.

And for a more, ahem, formal definition of meditate, here’s Webster:

“to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness”

I personally have practiced meditation for a long time, probably (I’m quite proud to say) longer than some of you have been alive. But that doesn’t mean that I’ve done it every day. There have been gaps in the practice, some stretch out for days, some have lasted for over a year.

At first, I was ashamed of the fact that I didn’t meditate every day. I approached it as a job — show up, do the time, repeat the next day. Usually, while meditating, my mind would wander, and I would swiftly kick myself in the mental pants, chide myself (yeah there was a lot going on in my brain), and get back on the right path immediately or else.

I was reluctant to call what I was doing meditation, much less a practice, because these lapses made me feel embarrassed. I was under the belief that meditation was successful only when one teleported to a chosen destination or levitated off of one’s mat. Since neither of those were happening, I deemed myself a meditation imposter– someone who claimed to meditate, but in reality was just struggling to stay awake with my eyes closed, or keep my mind from racing to a million (usually morose) thoughts within the space of a few minutes.

But now I don’t care. Something about my journey over the past year has made me stop mentally bashing myself. I just enjoy meditation for meditation’s sake, and the feeling of no thought.

So, yeah, I’ve emptied my mind of thoughts that don’t serve me, and I’ve empowered myself to just be. And it feels awesome.