On an unseasonably hot day recently, the sidewalk outside the Orpheum Theatre is filled with an unusual sight for this stretch of unreclaimed downtown – several scores of young dancers clad in tights, sweats, tutus and belly dancing outfits sprawl across the shaded ground under the marquee. But being dancers, they don’t sprawl quietly; instead the mass of them constantly undulates and seethes like some many-tentacled sea creature.
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When David Cook was announced as the winner of “American Idol” on Wednesday night at the Nokia Theatre, the most dramatic upset in the show’s history was just another twist in a season that has tested the still-vibrant franchise. The 25-year-old became the first performer in the rock music mold to win, amassing 56% of 97.5 million votes, to 44% for 17-year-old prodigy David Archuleta, who sings in the pop balladeer style that had previously dominated “Idol.”
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God of theater though he may be, a day of rehearsing with the six remaining contestants on “American Idol” left Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber ready for a break. “We have a rather weary composer here,” he said by telephone moments after finishing up with the Idols.
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Science fiction writer William Gibson once said, “The future is here. It’s just not evenly distributed.”
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A poignant moment occurred Wednesday night in the Idoldome during the ritual execution of much-enjoyed-but-it-was-probably-his-time contestant Chikezie. On elimination nights, the show pre-tapes one segment, filming about half an hour before the full episode shoots live.
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A hall of mirrors. The battle of all against all.
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In its time, the now-disbanded
U.S. Comedy Arts Festival held
every March in Aspen, Colo., earned a reputation as the launching pad
for offbeat comedians. Each year, the lanes of the mountaintop sky
village hummed with Hollywood agents, network executives and
producers buzzing up the latest discoveries from the festival’s
tented stages.
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“We all have our demons. We all have our shadows.
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ON a warm recent Saturday afternoon, a cold, dark soundstage was
being prepared for a taping. Some 40 young dancers scampered
nervously around, touching up their makeup, chatting quietly, stretching.
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IT was the friendliest of fights for these gladiators of song, all
the way to the finish. After a season-long climb out of obscurity, 17-year-old Jordin
Sparks was crowned Season 6 champion of “American Idol” on Wednesday
night in front of a raucous crowd of 4,000 at the Kodak Theatre in
Hollywood and tens of millions viewing on television.
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