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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us January 13, 2005 Dots hits high note with traveling songfest Richard Moeschl Arts & Entertainment Editor What better way to spend an evening when the snow is at your door than sitting by the fireplace inside the Restaurant Verdant at Lithia Springs Resort, 2165 W. Jackson Road, Ashland, while eight talented people sing and dance the night away and attentive waiters keep returning with yet another of the five courses prepared in the kitchen of Executive Chef Dennis Hanson? The event, "Songs for a New Season," is a joint venture between Lithia Springs Resort and Connect the Dots Theatre Company The resort intends to host more theater productions at the restaurant and on the grounds. Connect the Dots Theatre Company is based in Grants Pass but sees the scope of community theater as being without walls. In that spirit, last year Connect the Dots took its production of "Les Miserables" to California, Roseburg and Medford and its production of "The Laramie Project" and "Little Shop of Horrors" to Medford. Ashland is the third and final stop for "Songs for a New Season." The previous two shows were at Grants Pass High School Performing Arts Center and at Summer Jo's in Medford. The evening was a combination revue and preview directed by Shane Skinner, choreographed by Tony James, with musical direction and accompaniment by Meagan Iverson. The first half of the show featured 12 songs from a variety of musicals. There were solos, company songs, duets, trios, men only, women only. And there were love songs, silly comical songs and dramatically poignant songs. The total effect was to experience the rich diversity of vocal styles and ranges in the cast and their repertoire. Where else could you hear two guys trying to cheer up a friend � as only guys can � by trying to figure out how to clobber him with a "Big Ass Rock," sung with convincing male bravado by the trio of Barry Russell, Skinner and James? On the other side of the sexual spectrum we heard from Heather Lane who, handkerchief in hand to tend to her sneezes, plaintively sang of "Adelaide's Lament." It seems an unmarried girl worried about ending up an old maid may notice the onset of certain maladies: "a poiy-son - can develop a cold." The second half of the program consisted of 11 selections from the six Broadway musicals being considered for Connect the Dots� 2005 fall musical. Audiences and theatergoers can cast their votes for their choice at www.toconnectthedots.org on the Web or call in their vote at 541-472-8868. That's how "Les Miserables" came to be chosen for last year's show. It's going to be a tough choice given the candidates: "Evita," "Ragtime," "Chicago," "Cinderella," "Sunset Boulevard" and "Wizard of Oz." When Marian Horton stepped forward carrying a bundle in her arms, placed it gently on the floor and sang "Daddy's Son," your vote went to "Ragtime." Just hearing Sonia Leamons and Kelley Chaffee belting out "All that Jazz" like their own horn section in a jazz combo made you want to vote for "Chicago." Your vote switched to "Sunset Boulevard" when Julia Strickland sang a tender "As if We Never Said Good-Bye." But then you heard Chaffee sing a stirring "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" and your vote changed to "Evita." A few suggestions, bearing in mind this is a new venture for all concerned. In such an elegant setting and at $50 a ticket, I would take the whole thing up a notch or two. The maitre d' and the wait staff couldn't have been more gracious, but I would have dressed them up a bit. White shirts, black slacks. Maybe even ties. The same with the performers. They were wonderful. Maybe gowns or dresses for the ladies and some dressier outfits for the men to add to the elegance. I'd push the "wall-less" theatrical envelope even further and thereby closer to Broadway. The food was good but with a little more attention, it could have been great. The show continues at 5:30 p.m. Sundays, through Jan. 30. Call 488-1062. Aviator 6 Golden Globe Nominations A biographical chronicle charting the early years (1920's - 1940's) of tycoon Howard Hughes, the eccentric billionaire industrialist and Hollywood mogul famous for romancing some of the world's most beautiful women. Directed by Martin Scorsese ("Goodfellas," "Raging Bull," "Gangs of New York") Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda, John C. Reilly, Kate Beckinsale, Jude Law, Gwen Stefani PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, nudity, language and a crash sequence, 170 min. Coach Carter Based on a true story, a controversial high school basketball coach received both high praise and harsh criticism for benching his entire undefeated team for poor academic performance in 1999. Samuel L. Jackson, Robert RiChard, Rob Brown, Debbi Morgan, Ashanti. PG-13 for violence, language, sexual content, teen partying, and some drug material,137 min. Elektra Ordered to assassinate a man, a deadly female ninja defies her orders and defends both the man and his daughter from others. Jennifer Garner, Terrence Stamp, Kirsten Prout. PG-13 for action violence, 97 min. Finding Neverland Five Golden Globe nominations for a tale of fantasy inspired by the life of Jame Barrie, the author of "Peter Pan." Set in London in 1904, the film following Barrie's creative journey to bring the character of Peter Pan to life, from his first inspiration for the story up until the play's premiere. Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie. PG for mild thematic elements and brief language. 101 min. House of Flying Daggers In Mandarin with English subtitles. Golden Globe Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. In ninth-century China, two dashing military agents hope to capture the new leader of a resistance group by pursuing the previous leader's blind daughter. Beautiful cinematography and inspired choreography. Directed by Zhang Yimou ("Hero"). Takeshi Kaneshiro, Any Lau, Zhang Ziyi, Song Dandan PG-13 for sequences of stylized martial arts violence and some sexuality, 119 min. In Good Company Comedy about the relationship between a 50-year-old businessman and his new 26-year-old boss. Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johannsen PG-13 for some sexual content, 110m Kinsey 3 Golden Globe Nominations The life story of Alfred Kinsey, a man driven to uncover the most private secrets of the nation, and a journey into the mystery of human behavior. In 1948, Kinsey irrevocably changed American culture and created a media sensation with his book, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, followed shortly thereafter by one on the human female. Written and Directed by Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters") Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Chris O'Donnell, Peter Sarsgaard, Timothy Hutton, John Lithgow, Tim Curry, Oliver Platt R for pervasive sexual content, including some graphic images and descriptions, 118 min. Meet the Fockers In "Meet the Parents," Greg Focker came to know his soon to be in-laws. Now it's his parents turn. But the hyper-relaxed Fockers and the tightly wound Byrneses are woefully mismatched.Ben Stiller, Robert DeNiro, Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and a brief drug reference, 115 min. Phantom of the Opera 3 Golden Globe Nominations A disfigured musical genius haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris, falling in love with a singer, the lovely Christine. As the Phantom devotes himself to her career, he exerts a strange control over her. Based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical; written for the screen and directed by Joel Schumacher. Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Minnie Driver. PG-13 for brief violent images, 141 min. Racing Stripes An abandoned baby zebra grows up on a Kentucky farm dreaming of becoming a racehorse. Live action and computer animation. Voice talents of Frankie Muniz, Dustin Hoffman, Mandy Moore, David Spade, Steve Harvery, Joe Pantoliano. PG for mild crude humor and some language, 102 min. Sideways A struggling, 40ish novelist is frustrated over his stalled career and the fact that his struggling actor buddy is about to get married. With their emotional baggage in tow, the two set off for a week of debauchery in the Napa Valley wine country before the wedding. Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh R for language, some strong sexual content and nudity, 125 min. White Noise A successful architect's peaceful existence is shattered by the disappearance and death of his wife. He is later contacted by a man claiming to be receiving messages from the wife through EVP - electronic voice phenomenon. Michael Keaton, Deborah Kara Unger, Chandra West, Ian McNeice PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and language, 98 min. Very Long Engagement In French with English subtitles. Golden Globe Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Set in France near the end of WWI in the deadly trenches of Somme, a young woman relentlessly searches for her fiancee believed to have been court-martialed and left to an almost-certain death in no-man's land. What follows is an investigation into the arbitrary nature of secrecy, the absurdity of war, and the enduring passion, intuition and tenacity of the human heart. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet ("Amelie"). Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Jerome Kircher. R for violence, sexuality,134 min. 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