A Great Day in Hollywood

 With Daniel Yelsky during the press junket of A Little Help.  The movie opens July 22.  Go support this film, my incredible host reel editor, Joe Gressis, produced and edited the film. 

I feel like I am having one of those weeks in Hollywood that reminds you why you moved to LA in the first place.  Outside of the perennial sunshine, it's about the work.  The passion that drives you, the jumping out of bed in the morning because you know your job brings you happiness, and most importantly, it's so much fun that you forget it is actually work.  I've had one of those weeks.  My job this week "requires" me to watch 4 films, interview 5 actors, 2 writer/directors, and attend one callback.  It's exactly the week I dreamed of when I moved to LA back in 2000.  Life is pretty good.

 On the Disney lot after a press screening of Winnie the Pooh.  I'm a complete Disney dork, so any opportunity to be photographed with Walt and Mickey is okay by me.

 It's hard to see in this photo, but Walt is holding hands with Minnie.  I decided Minnie wanted to hold hands with me too.  

Holding up the place with the Seven Dwarfs.  If you are wondering whether to catch Winnie the Pooh this weekend, I'd say it's a good alternative if you are not a Harry Potter fan. Who doesn't love Pooh?  There are also incredible original songs by Bobby Lopez and his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez.  That couple's talent is limitless.  If you are trying to remember who Bobby is, think back to my Tonys red carpet interviews. Yep, that's him.

Conan O'Brien and Some News!

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to catch Conan O'Brien's new documentary, Can't Stop.  In 2010, I was riveted to The Tonight Show drama started by NBC by originally pushing Jay out, putting Conan in, only to turn around and push Conan out to put Jay in.  Did you follow all of that?  If you missed one of the greatest nighttime soap operas of our time, be sure to catch up with an excerpt from Bill Carter's book, The War for Late Night.  After Conan was publicly kicked in the teeth, he went out on tour.  The documentary became a cathartic, sad, angry, and funny journey for the comedian on how to rebound when life sends you down a path you never intended to take.  How do you pick yourself up?  Well, Can't Stop will show you how.  It's in very limited release throughout the US. In fact, it's playing in one theatre in LA only one time per day:  9:20 PM.  I guess they figure his fans are a late night type of crowd.  Don't miss it and add this documentary to your 2012 Academy Awards nomination watch list.

So, Conan's documentary was a great reminder to persevere even when the deck is stacked against you.  A few months ago, I entered a search for new faces for iVillage's iVoices.  It was a great opportunity video blog or vlog on a terrific site owned by NBC/Universal.  After doing my initial essay, I was asked to submit a video about myself, my interests, and what was happening in my life.  I worked really hard on my submission even though it was a tad long. (Oops!).  I wasn't selected and I was kind of bummed about it.  Fast forward to yesterday:  I received an email from Kelly Wallace, the chief correspondent over at iVillage, asking me to cover one of their press junkets for the upcoming Ryan Reynolds/Jason Bateman film, The Change-Up. Would I like to do it?  Would I?  OF COURSE!  (I snuck my host reel in with my personal video submission.  I was a little worried about doing that, but it was a risk that paid off.)

I am thrilled to be joining the iVillage team as one of their on-air correspondents.  This will be a trial run for me, but I am going to work so hard on this piece because I really want to be here.  I've been a fan of the site for a long time and I am overjoyed at the opportunity.  I will keep you posted on my upcoming coverage.  I couldn't have done it without all of you watching, reading, commenting, and visiting here at Red Carpet Closet all of these months.  Thank you for all of your support!

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Godspell: Production Updates

As I've mentioned in this space before, I invested in the upcoming Broadway revival of Godspell.  This is the first time audiences will see a full scale production of Godspell since it made its debut on Broadway in 1976. (For my musical theatre historians, it debuted off-Broadway in 1971.)  It's time for a new generation of theatregoers to enjoy Stephen Schwartz's first blockbuster show.  If you are headed to New York in the fall, be sure to check out the production directed by my Stagedoor pal, Daniel Goldstein, and produced by NYU pal, Ken Davenport.  Tickets go on sale today with previews beginning October 13th and opening is scheduled for November 7th. (I will be there!)  The production will be at the Circle in the Square Theatre cleverly positioned right next to Schwartz's other behemoth production, Wicked which plays at the Gershwin.  The cast has yet to be announced, but a huge open call happened last week with over 1,000 hopefuls attending the casting call.

If you are interested in finding out more about the production, follow Ken's blog:  DAY BY DAY:  The Producer's Perspective.  Ken is documenting the daily activities of mounting the revival from 100 days until the first performance.

To purchase tickets, click here.

"Prepare Ye".

Shake It UP!

Yesterday, I headed out to the Americana to cover the Disney Channel's "Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off-'Shake It UP!' edition.  Now, if you are under the age of 12, you know exactly what Shake It UP! is all about.  It's the hottest new series on the Disney Channel that follows the comedic adventures of CeCe and Rocky who are trying to make their mark in the dance world.  This summer, Disney is hitting 6 cities to find their next dance star from across the US.  The national winner will get to meet the cast and guest star on the hit show.

 I had explicit instructions from my 11-year-old niece to get a shout out for her and her BFF. (Which makes it her 3rd Shake It UP! shout out now. I'm trying to be the cool aunt.)  I made sure the shout out happened and I ran home to share my videos and photos with her.  Now, I get to share them with you. Enjoy my afternoon with the Shake It UP! stars and don't forget to check out the short video at the bottom of this post.  You might catch a dance move or two at the beginning and I totally bust at move at the very end.

Hanging with Zendaya and Bella Thorne.

Showing their moves!

Getting the scoop on Season 2 of Shake It UP!

Interviewing show choreographer, Rosero McCoy. That's quite a chapeau!

Radio Disney DJ, Ernie D.

Showing my moves....maybe I will be on next season?

Got SWAGG?

I am always a big fan of new apps that are designed to make my life more simple and I think I have found the exact one to manage all my gift and rewards cards in one place.  It's called SWAGG.   SWAGG will "track all of your balances and organize your cards with ease".  I cannot tell you how many times I have added Sharpie marker numbers to my plastic gift cards so I know what my remaining balance is.  With SWAGG, all of my Sharpie pen marks are ancient history.  

An added bonus to this app is that SWAGG offers you access to over 3,500 merchants.  If you don't like that gift certificate you received for the holidays, why not swap it for a gift card to a store you frequent?  Or if you need a last minute birthday gift, you can immediately send a gift certificate.  You can choose the store for the birthday girl or even let them choose all from your Smart Phone.  It's that simple!

The app is free in the iPhone app store or in the Droid Market, but there's even more.  This summer, SWAGG is teaming up with American Eagle to give about $100,000 in gift cards to more than 2,500 winners.  You could win a gift card valued at $25-$1000, but you have to enter to win.   

Here's how to enter:

1.  Download the SWAGG app from the App Store or Android Market for FREE.  Enter the promo code on the "Enter Promotional Card" tab: AEOSS.  

2.  If you don't have a Smart Phone or mobile access you can create a free account at SWAGG and enter the following link:  http://www.swagg.com/aeopromo.php

3.  Don't DELAY!  The sweepstakes began June 23rd and it ends in 3 short days.  Get your entry in by July 10th, 2011. 

To learn more about SWAGG, check out this short YouTube video on how it all works:

Disclosure:  SWAGG kindly offered an American Eagle gift certificate in exchange for this post.  You will see my new American Eagle purchase on the red carpet soon.  Stay tuned.

Happy 4th of July!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July!  I spent my evening at one of my favorite summer activities in LA at the Hollywood Bowl.   Hall & Oates were the headliners for the holiday concert and I was more than thrilled to hear one of my favorite songs, "You Make My Dreams Come True" played live. Here are a few photos of my weekend.  Be sure to let me know what you did this weekend too!

First up, two photos of fireworks from Saturday at the Toyota Speedway of Irwindale.

And then off to the Hollywood Bowl on Monday night for a little Hall & Oates with my pal, Phillyjo.  Super grainy on my iPhone 4!

We are in the bleacher seats, about 493583449459458 rows away from the stage.

If you squint, you can see Daryl Hall on the video screen.

Take two! Peace out!

Look at all of the lights shimmering in the audience.  It's all of the Smart Phones recording the fireworks.  18,000 Smart Phones.  It's good to be Steve Jobs.

Sometimes it looks like the Hollywood Bowl is on fire versus a night of fireworks. 

"You Make My Dreams Come True" Lyrics:

"What I want, you've got
And it might be hard to handle
But like the flame that burns the candle
The candle feeds the flame
What I've got's full stock of thoughts 
and dreams that scatter
You pull them all together
And how, I can't explain
But You make my dreams come true
On a night when bad dreams become a screamer
When they're messin' with the dreamer
I can laugh it in the face
Twist and shout my way out
And wrape yourself around me
'Cause I ain't the way that you found me
I'll never be the same
'Cause You make my dreams come true
I'm down on the daydream
That sleepwalk should be over by now
I know that You make my dreams come true"

The Deets on the Dress

I've received so many kind emails, comments, and questions about the dress I wore to the 2nd Annual Thirst Project Gala.  Thank you!  This look was originally assembled for another event last fall, but I never got a chance to wear it.  The outfit finally made its debut on Tuesday. So, here is everything you need to know:

Stylist:  Roni B.
Makeup:  Carolina Groppa
Dress:  Daisy, $72
Shoes:  Stuart Weitzman (Winter 2007 Collection)
Jewelry:  Roni B and Target

I wanted to give you a close up of the detailing on the Stuart Weitzman shoes.  Roni and I went through every gold shoe in my closet because Purple and Gold has a tendency to make me look like a Lakers Girl.  It had to be just the right shade of gold to enhance the eggplant-colored dress.

One other wonderful detail added by Roni was the brooch in the middle of the vertical bow.  It made a very simple dress look elegant and sophisticated.  A perfect compliment to the rest of the look.

Take a look at a few other outfits Roni has pulled together for me here, here, and here.

Top photo courtesy of Leilani Gushiken.