Sister Act on Broadway Review

As I walked into the theater last night for Sister Act, I spotted more than a few men and women of the cloth, which immediately made me nervous. As a lapsed Catholic, I have a guilty conscience that has followed me into adulthood. Moreover, could I possibly like the same show as priests and nuns? The answer is a happy yes--though I'm just assuming by the rousing standing ovation the show got that the priests and nuns enjoyed the show, too. I think it's a safe bet.

Sister Act was turned into a musical by the original movie's star, Whoopi Goldberg, who is producing the show. She brought in veteran composer Alan Menken to write the songs. The plot is similar, Dolores, an aspiring lounge singer, has to hide out in a convent after witnessing her thug boyfriend kill someone. She quickly turns the tone deaf choir into a must-see, money-making act for the church. The results are charming, toe-tapping fun.

One thing that really struck me is that after seeing shows with a giant Manolo Blahnik, helicopters that land on stage and sinking ships, the set of Sister Act is disarmingly simple. The showiest part is a stained glass window and over-sized Madonna (the Virgin Mary, not the singer). It was refreshing that the show wowed on its plot, songs and dance numbers alone.

It has been a while since I've seen the movie—it came out in 1992, so it's safe to say it was nearly 20 years ago—but I do think a touch of the original charm was lost in the transfer to Broadway. I get that it's a challenge to develop characters in a musical, but some of the depth of the friendships was lost from the movie. In addition, Kathy Najimy stole the show in the movie as sister Mary Patrick, a character who barely makes an impression here. On the other hand, sister Mary Robert in the musical, Marla Mindelle, is adorable with a killer voice.

My tickets were courtesy of Swarovski. I started to fret in Act I that I would have nothing to write about when it comes to sparkly costumes. But rest assured, they're there--I don't want to spoil the surprise.

All in all, I give Sister Act a hearty thumbs up. We left the theater with a smile on our face, humming the final show stopping number. And really, what more do you need from a musical?

Tickets to Sister Act are available online.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert Review

Thanks to Swarovski, we had the opportunity to catch the Saturday night performance of Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Broadway. It's a fun-filled romp that follows three drag queens on a road trip across Australia. The costumes were created by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, the same folks who won the Oscar in for the costumes from the film in 1994. (Lizzy, as you may remember, wore a dress she made out of American Express gold cards.) The duo must be the shoo-in for this year's Tonys as there are countless costume changes including Divas, a Tina Turner impersonator, Madonna, and giant cupcake dresses to name a handful.

It would take too long to note all the fabulousity in this show: the giant disco ball, the techno-color Priscilla bus, the over-sized Swarovski-sequined Manolo Blahnik atop Priscilla and the out of this world costumes. But what we loved the most was all the scantily clad boys who were shaking their groove thing through the first act (you can catch a glimpse of what we're talking about about 10 seconds in on the left side of the video above). The boys are still there in Act 2, but, unfortunately, are wearing more clothes.

Most of the songs in Priscilla are familiar crowd pleasers, including with "It's Raining Men", "Material Girl", "I Say a Little Prayer," and "I Will Survive". The story is sweet as the lead Tick/Mitzi, played by the hunky Will Swenson, frets about meeting his young son for the first time and fellow drag queen Bernadette falls in love. A few of the jokes were over our straight heads, though it may have been related to the Australian accents and not our sexual orientation.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert would make a great first stop on a bachelorette party or a birthday night out in NYC. All those nearly naked boys are far hotter and more entertaining than at any strip club we've ever been to.

The only thing we missed was the Manolo necklace charm that we wrote about previously. We thought it would be on sale in the lobby, but none of the clerks knew what we were talking about. We're investigating...

Priscilla Queen of the Desert Manolo Blahnik's

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is now a Broadway musical, filled with eye-popping costumes, the best 1970s dance tunes and fabulous dance numbers to go along with them. In Australia, where it takes place and the show opened, it holds the record for the most successful musical ever.

In celebration of all that glam, Manolo Blahnik created a silver patent leather Mary Jane high-heeled shoe with a Swarovski crystal button. A giant version of the shoe makes an appearance in and on Priscilla (the van), and you can buy one in your size at the flagship store in New York.

A Manolo Blahnik-designed silver shoe charm is available at the Palace Theater, Priscilla Queen of the Desert's home.

A portion of the sale of each benefits Bette Middler's New York Restoration Project. The group is near and dear to us as it takes care of the park down the street from our home.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert opens on March 20. Buy tickets here.

Shoe photos are courtesy of TheaterMania.com

See Liz Taylor'sand Princess Grace's Jewels at the Cooper Hewitt

Each piece of Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry is so stunning and undeniably a work of art, it's only fitting that it's the focus of the Set in Style exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York. The exhibit features gorgeous pieces, including Princess Grace's diamond and pearl engagement ring (above) and this Lamartine bracelet (below), along with matching earrings, that Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor in 1971, because they matched violet eyes.

You'll also see examples of the famed Van Cleef and Arpels zipper necklaces that transform into bracelets and this Walska Brooch/pendant. Originally a "push" present, it features wings that become earrings, a  tail that's a brooch and a 95-carat yellow diamond in the bird's beak that can also be worn as a pendant.

The exhibition runs through June 5.

Dali Museum Opens in St. Petersburg, Florida

The Salvador Dali Museum opens its doors this week, just a block away from its previous home. With the largest collection of Dali outside of Spain, the museum houses more space for the growing numbers of visitors and promises to protect the priceless pieces within from a category 5 hurricane. The building itself is worth exploring with its spiraling staircase and exterior igloo-like structure.

We're curious about the Yoga + Dali classes held each Sunday starting January 23rd. Imagine a 75 minute vinyasa class with views overlooking the waterfront and Dali's art surrounding you. Classes are only $10 for members or $15 for non-members.

Learn more at TheDali.org.

Ice Skating is Having a Moment

Break out your triple axels and slachow jumps, because ice skating is back in style. Gossip Girl Leighton Meester was seen ice skating yesterday, in full Missoni, no less, at a Herbal Essences-sponsored Portraits of Hope benefit.  But Leighton isn't the only one channeling her inner Michelle Kwan. In Paris, the rink at the Pailleron turns into a disco on certain evening, according to the New York Times. And in New York, mini pop rinks are being created all over the city, including a the new W Wall Street and The Standard (shown below).

JFK Contraband

For those who have ever wondered what gets confiscated at the customs office at JFK airport, this exhibit is for you. Photographer Taryn Simon spent five days in a row (24 hours a day!) at the airport last year photographing all the items that got taken at customs or that were being mailed internationally. Among the confiscated items were jewelry, handbags, rum, the active ingredient in Botox and Heroin.

The exhibit is free at NYC's Lever House Art Collection and runs through the end of the year.

JFK Contraband

For those who have ever wondered what gets confiscated at the customs office at JFK airport, this exhibit is for you. Photographer Taryn Simon spent five days in a row (24 hours a day!) at the airport last year photographing all the items that got taken at customs or that were being mailed internationally. Among the confiscated items were jewelry, handbags, rum, the active ingredient in Botox and Heroin.

The exhibit is free at NYC's Lever House Art Collection and runs through the end of the year.

Bachelorette Party Ideas #1: Bachelorette, the Play

We're kicking of bachelorette party month with a play that's all about what not to do at your own bachelorette party. The well-reviewed Bachelorette starts off innocently enough with four friends in a luxe hotel suite chugging champagne —sound familiar? But then one friend is green with envy because her boyfriend has yet to pop the question, one friend gets trashed, the bride's dress gets towrn and the girls pick up two guys at a bar and bring them back to their hotel suite. Eddie Kaye Thomas, American Pie's MILF-lover is one of the dudes.

Better hurry if you want to catch this off-Broadway show. The run closes August 28. It's the first in a series of plays about the seven deadly sins by playwright Leslye Headland. Bachelorette represents gluttony--we can't wait for lust!