The issue now vexing audiences at the La Jolla Playhouse is: How does one make a musical about a Nissan truck and an auto dealership publicity stunt in Texas (ah, that might explain it) and how it affects the ten contestants in an endurance contest who must keep at least one hand on the body of the vehicle until there is only one person left still clinging to it; who then gets to keep the vehicle?  If one buys into the premise, then one can buy the bits that follow.
The production’s unusual and unlikely premise certainly fits the profile and the mission statement of the Playhouse.  Chris Ashley, the wonderfully talented artistic director at La Jolla, has a successful track record of making winners out of unlikely subject matter (I loved his “Midsummer Night’s” sublimely creative take, as well as the inventive “Peer Gynt” production a couple of seasons back).
Well, it’s time once more to roll the dice and see if the latest offering “Hands on a Hard Body”, a rock musical written by Texas native Doug Wright; lyrics by talented Amanda Green; with music by (former lead vocalist and guitarist for the rock band Phish) Trey Anastasio  and Amanda Green at the La Jolla Playhouse’s Mandell Weiss Theatre, can win over the traditionalists in the audience.
The powerhouse creative team of Director Neil Pepe and Musical Staging Director Benjamin Millepied, along with Wright, Green, and Anastasio are all veterans and award winners of Broadway and Hollywood.  The show’s pedigree is impeccable yet… there’s something gnawing at me as far as the story goes.   It’s a little too reminiscent of the haunting 1969 Sydney Pollack movie “They Shoot Horses Don’t They?” which was set in Depression America of the 1930’s.
In “Hard Body”, the team sets the story in the present, but paints the show with comedy strokes even sinking into melodrama at times.  The rock musical story about troubled people – some might even view as non-mainstream/losers – struggling in a downer economy fails to fully engage.  It’s not easy to fall in love with a truck, smack in the middle of the stage, surrounded by people with economic problems not of their own making; all demeaning themselves in order to win a publicity-hyped competition from an auto dealership in east Texas.
It isn’t fair either to judge the talented cast, who work their tails off, because the show’s libretto fails to measure up, however, the show’s music isn’t very interesting either.  I doubt anyone will leave the theatre humming the melodies and lyrics from songs like “Hunt with the Big Dogs” or “If I Had a Truck”, or “A Little Somethin’ Somethin’”, or “Hands on a Hard Body”.
The cast of 15 actor/singers is uniformly solid, but a few performers stand out.  Hunter Foster as Benny Perkins, Jacob Ming Trent as Ronald McGowan, Keala Settle as Norma Valverde, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone as Heather Stovall, Jon Rua as Jesus Pena, and David Larsen as Chris Alvaro bring finely judged performances to the musical which features a driving rock band of six excellent musicians.
Also, the production lacks focus (well, maybe not for Texans).  It juggles ten different stories of people, all of whom, proclaim, as the characters did in ‘Chorus Line’, “I really need this job”.  Just substitute “truck” for “job”, and Voila, we have “Hard Body”.  This musical, however, is no “Chorus Line”.  As to which character hangs on through thick and thin, ultimately getting the keys? … well… you will have to come and see the show  for yourself.
“Hands on a Hard Body” performs at the La Jolla Playhouse’s Mandell Weiss Theatre, through June 17th.  For ticket information call 858-550-1010 or go online at www.lajollaplayhouse.org

You might remember a news story several months ago about a crotchety old man who defied his homeowners association and refused to take down the flagpole on his property and the large flag that flew on it. Now you can find out who, exactly, that old man was.

On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg — probably didn’t make much news back then.

Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano , Italy, Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the US Army in 1940, set out to flank German machine gun positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers. He advanced through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions and returned with 17 prisoners of war.

If that wasn’t enough for a day’s work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.

That probably didn’t make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a colonel after also serving in Korea and Vietnam , a Congressional Medal of Honor.

What did make news was a neighborhood association’s quibble with how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the rules said a flag could be flown on a house-mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Barfoot’s 21-foot flagpole were unsuitable.

He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was facing court action if he didn’t take it down. Since the story made national TV, the neighborhood association has rethought its position and agreed to indulge this old hero who dwells among them.

“In the time I have left I plan to continue to fly the American flag without interference,” Barfoot told The Associated Press. As well he should. And if any of his neighbors still takes a notion to contest him, they might want to read his Medal of Honor citation. It indicates he’s not real good at backing down.

Van T. Barfoot’s Medal of Honor citation:

This 1944 Medal of Honor citation, listed with the National Medal of Honor Society, is for Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry:

A Real Hero Has Died….

VanT. Barfoot died at the age of 92 on 2 March 2012.

The Palm Springs Police Officers Association is hosting its 2nd Annual Casino Night fundraiser on Saturday June 2, 2012 from 6pm -11 pm, held at the BMW of Palm Springs, 3737 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, Ca.

All proceed go toward the Palm Springs Police Officers Memorial Foundation to help support families of fallen officers and for college scholarships for deserving young men and women. We are a 501(c)(3) organization.

A $40.00 donation will admit one person and qualify you to win the Grand Prize. This will be a night of fun with Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, Black Jack, Roulette and Craps. We will have raffles, prizes, DJ and No-Host Bars. Some of the many prizes include vacation getaways, golf packages and Major league baseball passes.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER TICKETS ONLINE. Tickets may be picked up at Will-Call.

You may also purchase tickets in person at: Heads Up Hair Design, 460 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, Ca. Their phone is 760-325-4247 or mail your check to Palm Springs Police Officers Association (PSPOA), PO Box 1671, Palm Springs, Ca. 92263. Tickets are also available at our Palm Springs Village Fest every Thursday at our downtown booth beginning at 6 p.m., or at the front counter of the Palm Springs PD, 200 S. Civic Drive, Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Note: We ask a free-will $40 donation to attend this event. However, there is NO required fee or donation for admission. The casino event will use chips & play money to play the games and as winnings, so that you can earn prize-drawing tickets for a chance to win great prizes. Any questions,email Troy.castillo@pspoa.com

Palm Springs, CA-May 24, 2012… Keeping true to their mission, the Palm Springs Opera Guild provides Opera Outreach music programs to young people residing in the desert. This year, the Opera Outreach will once again perform and educate students from kindergarten to high school seniors attending schools and academies throughout the Coachella Valley. One of the main goals of the Palm Springs Opera Guild is to enrich the lives of students by providing them access to opera which in turn will allow them to find their own musical passion.

 The 2012 outreach would not be possible without the generous support of the Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) and the Augustine Foundation.

 This incredible series of in-school opera outreach is developed by Mr. Andrew Eisenmann, baritone/emcee/program coordinator and Vice President, Palm Springs Opera Guild.

 “The Palm Springs Opera Guild provides one of the most comprehensive cultural enrichment programs to our school district. Exposure to the art form of opera to our students at a very young age provides them with cultural literacy and enjoyment for many years to come. We are thrilled with the Guild’s continued generosity and efforts in their partnership with our district,” Louisa Castrodale, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist, PSUSD.

 “After a career of 40 years of publishing educational books and journals, I continue to believe that education is critical to solving most of society’s problems. I feel strongly that art and music should be an integral part of everyone’s curriculum. With the support for arts education diminishing in our public schools, it is paramount for organizations like the Palm Springs Opera Guild to bring opera education directly to over 12,000 school children in our Coachella Valley,” Terry Hendrix, President-Elect, Palm Springs Opera Guild.

 Press and the general public are invited to attend any performance, simply by emailing or contacting Andrew Eisenmann one day prior to the show(s) that you would like to attend. Then, check in with the school secretary on-site 20 minutes before the show begins to receive your visitor pass.

 This year’s program consists of three separate classroom levels.

 K-3 – OPERA POWER is a fun and fast paced 35-40 minute assembly geared toward our youngest audiences. Using colorful t-shirts with letters that spell ‘Opera Power’, students sing along to Bizet, learn vocabulary terms in Italian and have a great time while learning.

 4-7 – OPERASSEMBLIES! takes its’ name from the infamous school ‘Assembly Schedule’ reiterating vocabulary, voice types, languages and recitative along with audience participation! This program includes seven operatic selections and a semi-staged finale from an opera.

8-12 – High School Choral Program OPERATALK! Now in its 5^th year, this 2.5 hour program will take us to our most advanced high school singing classrooms to demonstrate singing in an operatic style, listening to each individual young voice while having our professionals break down into groups with each singing section in the choir. This program is much more intense.

 We will also discuss college and scholarships available to young singers and give pedagogy and lessons to our young singers! This program has become a favorite of our troupe and our vocal music instructors in the PSUSD.

 WEEK ONE