I wrote about the fourth Toronto Star Theatre Series, hosted by critic Joshua Chong, which saw subcribers watch a performance of “Something Rotten” at the Stratford Festival and enjoy a stimulating conversation about the show afterwards over dinner at The Bruce Restaurant in Stratford, Ontario.
“Rambunctious and brash are not words usually associated with the Stratford Festival, the largest classical repertory theatre company in North America based in Stratford, Ont. But as guests to the Toronto Star’s Theatre Club recently discovered, those words certainly suit “Something Rotten…” Read the whole thing HERE!
For our July 4, 2020 encore presentation of “Pop Life” we welcome Harry Connick Jr., a musician who first performed in public when he was just five years old and is still making music, most recently releasing an album of interpretations of classic standards called “True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter.” Connick Jr stops by the Pop Life bar to talks about his earliest musical memories, the massive success of his When Harry Met Sally soundtrack, how he narrowed down Cole Porter’s library of hundreds of songs to the 13 that appear on the record and more!
Then, Antoni Cimolino, the Stratford Festival’s Artistic Director, Simon Rivard, RBC Resident Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and Alina Solomon the Chef/owner of the restaurant Tutti Matti, and also a wizard of classic Italian cooking, break down why the classics ae not only important but often just as timely today as when they were first created.
Here’s a sample of Connick on the show: “I remember the feeling of going into the record stores when my first couple albums came out. I would I would say, “Hey, any new any new jazz record selling?” They would say, “No, not really.” I’m like, “What about any jazz piano players?” But when When Harry Met, Sally came out, that was a complete game changer.”
Watch the whole thing HERE! (link coning soon)
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s exciting talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including rock legends Sting and Meat Loaf, musicians Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actors Danny DeVito and Jay Baruchel, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Nigella Lawson, and many more.
