'Op zoek naar Maria' & Random Acts of Theatre

about the photo (you'll need an interpreter)

This random act of theatre at the Antwerp Central Rail Station in Belgium is simply AMAZING!!..... ASTONISHING, astounding, surprising, stunning, staggering, shocking, startling, stupefying, breathtaking; awesome, awe-inspiring, sensational, remarkable, spectacular, stupendous, phenomenal, extraordinary, incredible, unbelievable; informal mind-blowing, jaw-dropping; and...... just plain TOO. COOL. FOR. SCHOOL.



Antwerpenpen-Centraal (Antwerp Central) is the name of the main railway station in the Belgian city of Antwerp. The station is now widely regarded as the finest example of railway architecture in Belgium.

Op zoek narr Maria (Looking for Maria) is a talent competition program that aired in Belgium on Vtm. It premiered on March 25, 2009. The premise of the series was to find a musical theatre performer to play the role of Maria von Trapp in the 2009 Albert Verlinde and Roel Vente revival of The Sound of Music at the Efteling Theatre.

MORE about this video from The Inspiration Room

VTM, a television station in Belgium, recently used a flash mob dance stunt to announce their newest reality television program “Op zoek naar Maria”. The promotion, similar to T-Mobile’s ad set in Liverpool St Station In London, is promoting the program’s search for an an actress to play the leading role in the The Sound of Music.

On Monday morning, March 23, commuters were introduced to the recording of Julie Andrews singing the song, “Do Re Mi”, as recorded for the 1965 musical, Sound of Music. 200 dancers strategically placed in the crowd began to dance as a remix of the track came through the speakers.

Here's the video and story about the T-Mobile ad campaign that came out in the UK back in January:

T-Mobile in the UK has launched an advertising campaign with the aid of a flash mob dancing in London’s Liverpool Street Station. At 11.00 am, on Thursday 15th January, 350 dancers surprised commuters passing through the railway station. The three minutes of synchronized dancing was captured on ten hidden television cameras, edited and premiered during an entire ad break in Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 4, at 9 pm on Friday 16th January. Lysa Hardy, head of brand and communications at T-Mobile, said:

“‘Dance’ brings to life the fact that there are often unexpected, wonderful, exciting things that happen that you want to be able to share with your friends and family."



Ahhhh......random acts of theatre -- nothing like it!

NRBQ - New Rhythm & Blues Quartet (c .1970's) is our FEATURED BAND of the week, along with Joey Spampinato our FEATURED ARTIST of the week.

Here's a sampling of some of the music your parents were fortunate enough to grow up with, and here's a great review of the 'Q' from a fellow music blogger:

Now if you're a regular reader of this blog, you'll recall that it was roughly 12 months ago that I waxed poetic over the visceral power of NRBQ's music. For me, the 'Q' (as they are affectionately referred to) have always been the great equalizer; their joyous sound and off-the-hook stage shows contained just the right amount of irreverence and master musicianship to effectively put the world on hold for a few hours at a time, allowing me to recall a time when life didn't feel so damn complex and messy. Since the band has now regrettably called it quits after a long 37 year run, I must rely solely on their recorded output as my legal drug of choice for suppressing nervous tension in a scenario that might go something like:

"Dr. Howard! Dr. Fine! I'm a mess! Can you give me some sort of prescription for this holiday malaise?"

"Well, Miles, are you getting any exercise? Why don't we try that in combination with a Vitamin B12 shot and some NRBQ? Let's start out with 'Tiddlywinks.' I'll give you a script for it that you can fill at the record shop. And do call me if your symptoms worsen, but the 'Q' should do the trick. Now roll up your sleeve."

Here's....Terry, Al, Joey, and Tommy



NRBQ have amassed a fanatical cult following over more than two decades of recording and touring with their incredibly versatile eclecticism; their music might veer from country to rockabilly to pop to bar-band R&B to blues to free jazz, all in the same album. The group's wacky, sometimes corny sense of humor and in-concert unpredictability (the band sometimes vows to play whatever song audience members request) have endeared them to fans.



What shows they put on!
Here's Carlene Carter talking to NRBQ -- they performed Johnny Cash's "Get Rhythm" on Nashville Now, June '93.




Joey Spampinato is one of the founding members of NRBQ, and one of the most in demand session bassists.
Check him out (at 3:00) on stage with Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Etta James, Eric Clapton..... and more.





(The videos are from the Documentary Hail Hail Rock and Roll -- Chuck Berry's 60th Birthday Bash in 1987)

Here's what the preschoolers are dancing to today.... and soon they will be coming to a classroom near you!! I bet the teachers can't wait.....

All Fools' Day

The Who - WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN - Special Edition Recut

"You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time."

~ Abraham Lincoln.