Entertainment

Screenwriter Drew Goddard And ‘The Martian’ Wow Los Alamos At Sunday’s Hometown Opening

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Drew Goddard signs the poster for ‘The Martian’ in the lobby of the Real Deal Theater Sunday night in Los Alamos. Photo by Jim O’Donnell

By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post

Los Alamos fans packed two theaters at the Reel Deal Sunday night to see the new film, “The Martian,” and hear from its screenwriter, Los Alamos home-town boy Drew Goddard.

The movie has had the biggest opening in October yet seen for a film in the United States.

Many family members and friends were among the audience and Goddard laughed as they shouted out memories of his youth in Los Alamos and he responded

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Don’t Miss LALO’s Monster Production of ‘Young Frankenstein’

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Frederick Frankenstein (John Cullinan), standing, meets his assistant Igor (Patrick Webb) for the first time. Photo by Larry Gibbons.
 
Frau Blucher (Suzy Koehn), right, welcomes Frederick (John Cullinan) to the castle, as Inga (Joy Reynolds) and Igor (Patrick Webb) look on. Photo by Larry Gibbons.
 
Review by BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post

Los Alamos Light Opera’s “Young Frankenstein” opened Friday to gales of laughter and a standing ovation.

The 1974 classic film, directed by Mel Brooks and co-written by Brooks and Gene Wilder, who also played the title character, was Read More

Terrific Musical Direction Brings ‘Young Frankenstein’ To Life

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‘Young Frankeinstein’ Musical Director Gretchen Amstutz conducts in the pit. Photo by Larry Gibbons
 

LALO NEWS:

Musical Director Gretchen Amstutz brings magical sounds to the stage in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein this weekend at Smith Auditorium.

Amstutz has been involved with the Los Alamos Light Opera for 30 years, with her first contribution as being in the chorus in the 1986 production of “My Fair Lady”. Since that time, she has been involved in more than 25 shows in Los Alamos and across Northern New Mexico.

No musical could come to life if not for brilliant musical Read More

Annual Arts Festival Enlivens Mountain Town

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Coffee for two. The coffee pot bouquet and table set for two coffee drinkers just happened to be in the little garden in front of Artisan’s Gallery, not far from the Museum of Temporary Art in Taos. Photo by Roger Snodgrass/ladailypost.com
 

Aspens. Photo by Roger Snodgrass/ladailypost.com

 

By ROGER SNODGRASS
Los Alamos Daily Post
 
The 2015 Taos Arts Festival began Friday and runs through Oct. 4.

The whole town pitches in to create one of the most diverse, immersive and authentic art experiences in the state. The first weekend featured Taos Select and Taos Open art shows openings Read More

Screenwriter Drew Goddard Comes Home To Los Alamos For Screening Of ‘The Martian’

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Screenwriter Drew Goddard
 
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post

Growing up in Los Alamos served screenwriter Drew Goddard well in creating his script for “The Martian.”

“I was surrounded by real scientists growing up and I was impressed by their great sense of humor and positivity,” he said.

When a friend sent him Andy Weir’s 2011 novel of the same name, then only in e-book form, Goddard was immediately hooked on the way scientists were accurately portrayed.

Movie poster for ‘The Martian’. Courtesy/Reel Deal Theater

“‘The Martian’ is a movie about scientists, Read More

Experience 17 New Mexico True Adventures During Balloon Fiesta Beginning Saturday Oct. 3

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The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta begins Saturday. CourtesyNMT

STATE News:

The New Mexico Tourism Department has created a list of 17 things for visitors to do during Balloon Fiesta week, encouraging an extended stay for the hundreds of thousands of visitors that travel to see New Mexico’s sky burst with color in early October.
 
The list, titled “17 New Mexico True Adventures You Need to Experience During Balloon Fiesta,” showcases the wide variety of cultural activities and authentic experiences visitors can encounter before, during and after the Albuquerque International Read More

This Week At The Reel Deal

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By Jim O’Donnell
Reel Deal Theater

This Friday we are opening The Martian. Everest, Hotel Transylvania 2, and The Intern will hold another week.  Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials will end Thursday.

The Martian opens at the Reel Deal this Friday on Oct 2. This film is getting 90 percent  favorable reviews and took the Toronto Film Festival by storm. I think we’ll see it competing for an Oscar this season. The film is based on Andy Weir’s 2011 novel The Martian, which was adapted into a screenplay  by Drew Goddard, who grew up in Los Alamos and is the son of Colleen Mary (Hogan), Read More

Piano Competition Winners Present Free Recital At Crossroads Bible Church 3 p.m. Saturday

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Pianist Lenny Svyatsky, 10, of Los Alamos is the 2014 State of New Mexico Level 1 winner. Courtesy photo

MUSIC News:

The public is cordially invited to attend a free recital of outstanding young pianists who are the winners of the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico (PMTNM) annual District Honors Competition.

The free recital is 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Crossroads Bible Church on East Road. The day-long Piano Competition that proceeds the concert is Friday, Oct. 2 on the UNM-LA campus.

Two outstanding piano artists—Marylene Dosse of Albuquerque and Kim Bakkum of Taos—are the invited Read More

Hill Stompers At Smith’s Marketplace Sunday

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The Los Alamos Hill Stompers at the band’s 15th birthday party. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

MUSIC News:

The Los Alamos Hill Stompers will be performing on the patio at Smith’s Marketplace at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The community is invited to enjoy a sneak preview of the special show that the group will play at Honk Fest in Boston over Columbus Day weekend.

“Several members of the Seed & Feed Marching Abominable, our mother band in Atlanta, will join us in Boston,” band member Kandace Favorite said. “We have added some of their tunes to our repertoire. Read More

Director Pat MacDonald Is Creative Genius Behind ‘Young Frankenstein’

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Patrick MacDonald roller skates blindfolded in ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com.

THEATER News:

Thanks to the creative genius of Patrick MacDonald as director and choreographer, the local community will enjoy the musical comedy “Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein” over the next two weekends.

Gretchen Amstutz adds her talent and expertise as musical director.

McDonald has acted, sung, directed and choreographed in many productions since moving to Los Alamos more than 10 years ago. Many would recognize him in the myriad of roles he has portrayed,

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