my top flicks for 09 so far

Gran Torino - small film with incredible heart!
The Hangover - how movies should be structured
Star Trek - awesome new take on my fave scifi world
Xmen Origins Wolverine - what can't Hugh Jackman do?

Fave tap beers from my trip to US, Canada & UK June 09

1.Black Butte Porter - Deschutes Brewery - Bend Oregon USA
2.Samuel Adams Boston Lager - Boston USA
3.Grolsh Original Lager & new Grolsh Blonde - Netherlands
4.Most of Porterhouse brews - Covent Garden London (Dublin Ireland microbrewery)
5.Keelhauler - Full Sail Brewing - Hood River Oregon USA
6.Pale Ale - Steamworks - Vancouver Canada
7.Abbot Ale - Greene King - UK
8.Broadside - Adnams - UK
9.Pedigree UK
10.Red Trolley Ale - Karl Strauss - San Diego USA

Oh and I miss the growler!!!

For full coverage of all things beer - check out my blog The Beer Growler

Wishlist for Alexandra Silber to perform

1. Eliza role in "My Fair Lady" musical with my favourite Higgins Anthony Warlow of course - my favourite stage musical - wouldn't it be loverly if could do role in a new movie version too!
2. Record at least (if not peform whole role on stage) Christine's song "Wishing you were somehow here again" - Phantom of the Opera - I have yet to find anybody who can actually interpret this histrionic achilles heel!
3. Record at least (if not peform whole role on stage) songs "I Dreamed A Dream" (Fantine) & "On My Own" (Eponine) - Les Miserables
4. Eva Peron role in "Evita" - wow wouldn't that be something!
5. Lucy role in "Jekyll & Hyde" musical
6. Florence role in "Chess the Musical"
7. Betty Schaefer & Norma Desmond - "Sunset Boulevard" musical - Alexandra is capable of both!
8. Claudia role in "Nine the Musical" - sings "Unusual Way"
9. A world premiere role (even 1 written for her) would be great!
10. Anything from classical stage acting repertoire - Shakespeare, Ibsen...

live shows seen this year in 09

1.R&H classic musical "Carousel" - Savoy Theatre - London's West End (my first show) - June 09 (discovered Alexandra Silber & cried from the Carousel waltz in overture to the curtain calls!)

2.Verdi's sumptuous opera "La Traviata" - Royal Opera House - London's Covent Garden - June 09 (starring Renee Fleming - sensational!)

3.The incredible musical "Les Miserables" - Queens Theatre - London's West End - June 09 (still 2nd best stage musical after My Fair Lady - staging, theatre, male cast incredibly strong! Still wanting my favourite male performer, Anthony Warlow, to take on Jean Valjean and wouldn't Alexandra Silber make a great Fantine, Eponine or Cosette!)

4.Opera Australia's double bill - Handel's "Acis & Galatea" & Purcell's "Dido & Aeneas" - Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House (my home) - July 09 - (my first time for both these short baroque operas. Yvonne Kenny glorious in her first ever mezzo role and Taryn Fiebig showed her artistry in major roles in both operas)

5."Chicago the Musical" - Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane - April 09 (great revival - Sharon Millerchip wondrous as foxy Roxie Hart!)

jon stanley now on Twitter - follow me

I have joined the Twitter revolution since I have found my new musical and theatrical talent, Alexandra Silber, was on Twitter then after I joined up also found that Anna Paquin who I am loving as Sookie in the True Blood series is also on Twitter.