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Tom Jones, Renowned Creator Of ‘The Fantasticks’ Musical And Theater Legend, Passes Away At 95

Tom Jones

(CTN NEWS) – Tom Jones, the creative force behind the timeless musical “The Fantasticks,” known for his contributions as a lyricist, director, and writer, has passed away at the age of 95.

Dan Shaheen, a co-producer of the iconic musical, shared the sad news of Tom Jones’ demise. The renowned artist breathed his last at his residence in Sharon, Connecticut, on Friday. His battle with cancer led to his passing.

Tom Jones’ remarkable talents earned him a place of honor in the American Theatre Hall of Fame, a recognition bestowed upon him in 1998.

His artistic partnership with composer Harvey Schmidt bore fruits in not only “The Fantasticks” but also other notable Broadway productions like “110 in the Shade” and “I Do! I Do!”

“The Fantasticks,” adapted from a lesser-known work by Edmond Rostand, is envisioned as a film, although its prospects remain uncertain. The stage itself is elegantly minimal, consisting of a platform, poles, a curtain, and a simple wooden box.

Set against the backdrop of a comical twist on the “Romeo and Juliet” theme, the narrative follows the clandestine connection between a young boy and girl, facilitated by their fathers and an eccentric ensemble of characters.

Throughout its illustrious run, “The Fantasticks” has showcased a plethora of talented actors.

From its inaugural cast in 1960, which featured luminaries like Jerry Orbach and Rita Gardner, to acclaimed personalities such as Ricardo Montalban, Kristin Chenoweth, and the notable “Frozen” star Santino Fontana, the musical has seen an array of accomplished performers grace its stage.

The year 1991 witnessed the production receiving a prestigious Tony Honours for Excellence in Theatre.

Tom Jones’ legacy endures through the enduring charm of “The Fantasticks” and his indelible contributions to the world of theater.

A Legacy in Stages: ‘The Fantasticks’ Journey Through Time and Theater

“In 2013,” Tom Jones reflected The Associated Press, “we’ve seen countless faces come and go, yet the essence remains unaltered — the platform, the rustic box, that cardboard moon. We materialize, offer our brief enchantment, and then fade away.”

For more than four decades, the intimate Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village was the faithful host, cradling the production within its 153 seats.

However, in 2002, after an impressive run of 17,162 performances, the curtains closed. The aftermath of the devastating 9/11 events and the subsequent tension that enveloped downtown Manhattan prompted this conclusion.

The stage found a new abode at the Snapple Theatre Centre, later renamed The Theatre Centre, nestled within the bustling heart of Times Square.

By 2006, “The Fantasticks” had found its new dwelling, and it continued to flourish. A milestone was reached in 2013, as the show proudly celebrated its 20,000th performance.

The ultimate culmination arrived in 2017, a testament to resilience and artistry, as the performance count soared to an unprecedented 21,552, etching its name as the longest-running spectacle in the annals of American theater.

In a manner, Tom Jones’ perspective offers a puzzle to decipher. Much like the tapestry of life itself, the extraordinary can sometimes evade recognition when it becomes commonplace.

Its sheer wonder tends to blend into the background. Personally, I stand in awe of this achievement, a testament to its enduring magic and significance.

Musical Gems and Enduring Influence: The Legacy of ‘The Fantasticks’ and Tom Jones

The timeless melody of its most renowned tune, “Try To Remember,” has been embraced by countless voices, including the likes of Ed Ames, Harry Belafonte, Barbra Streisand, and Placido Domingo.

Within the show’s treasury of melodies, “They Were You” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain” shine as well-established gems.

“Recall the days of September, bathed in a tranquil glow of leisure,” beckons the lyrical verse of “Try to Remember.” An ode to a season when emerald grass brushed against golden grain.

Enduring beyond its initial lukewarm reception, the show has weathered the test of time.

The second act, a sanctuary for praise from The New York Herald Tribune critic, stood apart, while The New York Times critic ventured that the production possessed a kind of enchantment that waned with prolonged existence.

The collaborative genius of Jones and Schmidt yielded the 1963 Broadway creation, “110 in the Shade,” which earned them a prestigious nomination for the Tony Awards’ outstanding composer and lyricist category.

Their artistic partnership bloomed further in 1967 with the two-character Broadway marvel “I Do! I Do!” Once more, their talents garnered a Tony nomination for outstanding composer and lyricist.

Two living legacies, Michael and Sam Jones, stand as a testament to Tom Jones’ enduring influence and character. A heartening sentiment was shared by Broadway veteran Danny Burstein on Facebook, encapsulating the sentiment of many: “I cherished him dearly.”

Indeed, a life marked by decency and grace.

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Reports of a Split Contract Point to Taylor Swift and Her Fiancé Travis Kelce’s Matching.

Taylor Swift

(VOR News) – One of the ways that Taylor Swift showed her support for her boyfriend was by going to a football game that Travis Kelce was playing in while wearing a magnificent plaid suit that matched the outfit that he was wearing.

When this was done, it was done with the aim of making it happen, despite the fact that there were rumors going around about a split contract between the two of them.

The guy, who was 34 years old at the time, made a stunning entrance at Arrowhead Stadium while wearing a magnificent gray and black Taylor Swift checkered suit that was designed by Vivienne Westwood, who was also the designer of the costume.

She donned Taylor Swift clothing to show her support for Travis and the Chiefs.

Furthermore, they had arrived at the stadium earlier that day wearing Taylor Swift’s plaid shirt and jeans that were extremely similar to Kelce’s, which served as the basis for their synchronized costumes. This foundation was the foundation for their coordinated costumes. When Kelce arrived at the stadium, he was still wearing the same shirt and jeans that he had worn earlier.

Furthermore, Taylor greeted the occasion with a good attitude by matching her dress with a magnificent purse in the shape of a heart that she held on her wrist. This was yet another way that she showed her appreciation for the event. This item was a component of her ensemble.

It was stated by the Daily Mail that she made her return with this appearance, despite the fact that she had been absent from the two Chiefs games that came before it owing to her obligations to the Eras Tour. The fact that she had not been present for either of those games did not prevent her from accomplishing this.

“Now you all can shut the heck up about that bulls**t ‘breakup contract,'” a fan wrote on X in connection to this matter to express their opinion on the matter. “Now you can stop talking about anything.” “Now y’all can stop the hell up about that…”

It was a different fan who was the one who broke the news at this time period.

The statement reads, “BREAKING: Travis Kelce has reached a long-term extension with Taylor Swift.”

Following an extensive amount of deliberation and debate, the two parties have reached consensus on a deal that will be in place for the subsequent three years.

Providing that Travis continues to be advantageous for Taylor Swift’s company, the rules of the agreement indicate that Taylor Swift has the authority to renew the deal in the event that Travis continues to be useful. In the event that Travis is the one who is accountable for doing the dishes, there is a possibility that he may be awarded a bonus of some kind.

Swift and Kelce’s followers were able to let out a sigh of relief when it was discovered that a “contract” that had been reported to have been leaked and disclosed the exact date of Swift and Kelce’s separation was found to be nothing more than a fabrication.

This information was obtained from the source. It had been anticipated that the “contract” would have been made available.

In addition, it is worth noting that when the publication that stated that the couple had made the decision to end their relationship a month ago began to circulate on the internet, representatives for Travis were obligated to reject the charges.

SOURCE: GN

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‘Joker 2’ Tops the International Box Office with $81.1 Million.

Joker

(VOR News) – It is projected that “Joker: Folie à Deux” made its debut this weekend with an estimated total of $81.1 million.

This would make it the most successful film at the box office around the world and the most profitable film overall from a financial standpoint. The picture, which is a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster smash “Joker,” only made $40 million in the United States of America, which is a pitiful amount of money.

The film is a sequel to the 2019 mega hit. In the year 2019, the trailer for the movie was made available. The cinematic adaptation of the peculiar comic book has generated an astonishing sum of $121.1 million in revenue all over the world. This is a result of the film’s success.

Considering that the production of “Joker: Folie à Deux” took place at an incredible cost of two hundred million dollars, Warner Bros., the corporation that provided the finance for the picture, is currently confronted with a dilemma as a result of this fact.

The second “Joker” cost $65 million, compared to $75 million for the original.

This is a substantial difference in terms of the budget. The movie has been given a terrible “D” CinemaScore since the majority of the reviews that have been published about the film have been unfavorable, and audiences appear to agree with the reviewers. As a result of this, the movie has been given a terrible “D” CinemaScore.

Lady Gaga, who is responsible for putting her own distinctive twist on Harley Quinn, a favorite character from the comics, is responsible for a significant portion of the additional expense.

Phillips, Joaquin Phoenix, who reprises his role as the unstable comedian Arthur Fleck, and Lady Gaga are all responsible for a significant portion of the increased budget. There is a large portion of the additional costs that are linked with the production of the picture that may be attributed to these payments.

There were a total of 25,788 theaters and 76 markets outside of the United States that showed the movie. In order to act as screening locations, these locations were selected.

The fact that “Joker: Folie à Deux” made $8 million in the United Kingdom, $6.9 million in Germany, $5.6 million in Italy, $5.5 million in Mexico, and $5 million in France is a fascinating piece of information to take into consideration. Furthermore, the film made $5 million in France.

Only a few examples of what has been accomplished are presented here, but they are representative of the many different results that have been obtained. One week after the film will be released in Japan on the same day, it will make its debut in China on October 16th. This will be one week after the film is released in Japan.

Japan will also release the Joker movie to the public on that same day.

After grossing $335 million in the United States, the first “Joker” film grossed $743 million in other nations across the world. This is despite the fact that the film was only released in the United States.

In addition to generating a large amount of revenue, the movie was a smash hit that was incredibly well received by audiences. The film “Deadpool & Wolverine” broke the record for the highest-grossing R-rated film when it grossed $1.32 billion worldwide.

This achievement was accomplished by the film. The film was successful in accomplishing this specific goal. During a particular period of time, the film was the one that achieved the distinction of being the highest-grossing R-rated film movie.

Before “Joker 2” caused a breach between audiences and critics, Phillips announced that he had ended his career as a director of films based on comic books. At the end of the day, “Joker 2” was not successful. By the time this took place, the film had not yet been responsible for causing the rift.

“It was fun to play in this sort of sandbox for two movies, but I think we’ve said what we wanted to say in this world,” he said in an interview with Variety in the month of August. “It was a lot of fun.” “It was a lot of fun.” “It was a lot of fun.”

SOURCE: VN

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Reviews of Silent Hill 2 Provide a Higher-Than-Expected Metacritical Score.

Silent Hill 2

(VOR News) – The Bloober Team and Konami-produced remake of the horror game Silent Hill 2 is scheduled to launch the following week, but reviews have already started to surface, giving players a sneak peek at the updated version of the game before it is made available to the public.

It would be an understatement to say that Bloober Team was under a great deal of pressure to get the game right, especially considering that the survival-horror genre’s enthusiasts regard Silent Hill almost as highly as Resident Evil.

Considering the Metacritic score that the game has received thus far, Silent Hill 2 players shouldn’t have any worries when the game launches on November 8

. This is due to the score, which shows that the game has only ever earned favorable reviews up to this point. Fans of the Bloober Team and Silent Hill will be happy to hear this news.

Silent Hill 2 currently has an 87 Metacritic rating.

In 50 reviews, the PlayStation 5 version received a score of 87, meaning that it also received an 87 on that platform. This is based on the fact that the score was given to the PlayStation 5 version. The Silent Hill 2 personal computer version received an overall rating of 88 out of 5, placing it somewhat higher than the PlayStation 5 version.

There isn’t an Xbox version of Silent Hill 2 that can be regarded as existing because it wasn’t part of the Xbox Series X|S. There isn’t any information available at this time on whether or not it will ever be made accessible on that specific platform.

A considerable portion of Silent Hill fans had not in the slightest expected that Silent Hill 2 would achieve five flawless scores of one hundred before these reviews were published. It is extremely unlikely that they expected anything at all. Actually, the great majority of reviews are favorable.

They also call it a welcome return to form for the Silent Hill brand, complimenting the Bloober Team for their appreciation for the first Silent Hill 2. Furthermore, they believe it to be the ideal starting point for beginners who have never really experienced Silent Hill before.

Due of this, Silent Hill 2 has few Metacritic reviews, both positive and negative.

No bad reviews have been posted. Some people think that the remake may have retained some of the most annoying and constrictive elements of the original Silent Hill 2 by staying too close to the original. These individuals believe that there might have been some issues brought on by the remake.

Thankfully for those of us who are now playing Silent Hill 2, those reviews are the exception rather than the rule, with the vast majority of positive reviews making up the small amount of negative reviews.

It is true that some people became skeptical about the remake because the Bloober Team was in charge of it. Furthermore, in the perspective of both its own series and the genre at large, Silent Hill 2 has been held in the highest regard ever since it was first made accessible to the general public.

Games like Layers of Fear, The Medium, and the Blair Witch game were all made by the Bloober Team; nevertheless, no matter which game was reviewed, none of these titles received particularly high review scores. With the release of Silent Hill 2, it’s possible that the public’s perception of the Bloober Team may undergo a significant shift.

Additionally, we are now writing our own review of Silent Hill 2.

Although it has taken longer than expected because we acquired our review copy after the game was already in progress.

However, even though more reviews are being received, it is highly doubtful that these would significantly lower Silent Hill 2’s Metacritic score. despite the fact that more reviews are coming in. Players of Silent Hill 2 should have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming week as a result of this.

SOURCE: CB

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