achievement

Pink is mediocre and American – why are the Brits giving her a lifetime achievement award?

In 2014, Pink fansites went wild over rumours of a new single speculated to be the first cut from the star’s seventh album. Titled U Piss Me Off, it was described as a pop-rock empowerment anthem, and there was even artwork for it. The only problem was that U Piss Me Off was in fact a hoax, one stemming from the popular pop music forum ATRL, that had unexpectedly found traction when Pink fans took it far more seriously than intended. 

But that it took quite so long for the hoax to be exposed unintentionally revealed an unflattering truth about the music veteran: that even Pink’s most hardcore fans would easily buy into the likelihood of a pop-rock empowerment single from their idol titled U Piss...

Ariana Grande celebrates historic Billboard achievement by surprising Filipino boy band

Ariana Grande stopped by The Late Late Show With James Corden to surprise Filipino boy band, TNT Boys. And while it was an epic day for boys, it was also an epic day for Grande who became the first artist since The Beatles to claim the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100.

The TNT Boys had recently performed on one of Corden's other CBS shows, The World's Best. The host liked them so much he invited them to his late night show to perform the song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."

While the boys were singing, Grande joined them onstage. Initially two of the three singers were so surprised they forgot to sing. But with some prompting from the diva herself, they managed to reel in the song and end in unison.

The performance capped off a very special day for Grande. Three songs from her Thank You, Next album sit atop the charts. marking the first time since 1964 that an artist has accomplished the feat.

Grande thought it was a joke when she first found heard about the historic achievement. So how did she celebrate? She said, "My mom and I were driving around listening to The Beatles all day and I was, like, this is crazy."

The Late Late Show with James Corden airs weeknights at 12:37 on CBS. Watch clips and full episodes of The Late Late Show  for free on Yahoo View.

BWW Review: THE SPITFIRE GRILL at Meadow Brook Theatre is an Achievement in Charming Storytelling

Up until March 10th, you have a chance to catch a supremely unique piece of theatre on at the Meadow Brook Theatre on Oakland University's campus. Playing to this intimate theatre, the former off-Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill feels right at home. Despite the fact that this show has been produced by regional theatres around the world and translated into a bunch of different languages, the show is still relatively unknown. Don't let this discourage you from seeing the show, however. It's a hidden gem that deserves recognition.

Written by James Valcq and the late Fred Alley, The Spitfire Grill is about a recent parolee named Percy who, upon release from prison, wants to move to a small town in Wisconsin named Gilead. Percy begins working at the town's only eatery to the reluctance of Hannah, the owner. While the primary plot of the show surrounds what happens when Percy gives Hannah the idea to auction off the Spitfire Grill to people all around the country, the show also delves into the friendships and relationships between these small-town characters.

Perhaps one of the best aspects of The Spitfire Grill is that, if you go in with no expectations and no former exposure to the material, you're going to ride quite the emotional rollercoaster. The act one finale, entitled "Shoot the Moon," is an exhilarating number that exudes pure joy. Then, just a few songs into act two, you get to hear a song entitled "Wild Bird," which is the exact opposite. Sung beautifully by Larissa Klinger, "Wild Bird" is a raw ballad that's definitely a tearjerker.

When I interviewed the director of the show, Travis Walter, he mentioned how The Spitfire Grill focuses on the characters and their relationships rather than on flashy dance numbers and exquisite costumes. Watching the show, I realized just how true this statement is. Throughout this musical, you see the bond between the main three female characters strengthen despite intense revelations and outside influencers. Outside of the outstanding songs, watching the three of them run the grill together was an absolute delight.

With this small cast, every single actor did a phenomenal job of bringing their characters to life right before the audience's eyes. I really loved Klinger's Shelby, who truly is the definition of an independent, strong-willed woman. Emily Hadick's portrayal of the main character, Percy, was also magnificent. Above all else, her voice is strong and is more than up to the task of tackling this demanding role. Another standout was Mary Robin Roth Green, who plays Hannah. Without spoiling too much, Green's Hannah completely transforms throughout the course of the show, turning from a grumpy stubborn woman to someone who's more than open to change. While watching the three of them onstage together was the highlight of the performance for me, it wouldn't be fair to not mention the sheer talent throughout the rest of the cast as well. Every actor understands their character and their motivations, and it shows.

Essentially, a ticket to this production is a ticket to not only witness storytelling at its finest, but to also hear great music while you do so. If you don't leave the theatre singing along to one of the songs, you weren't paying close-enough attention. With top-notch acting, songs that are both catchy and poignant, and a story that surprises at every turn, Meadow Brook Theatre's production of The Spitfire Grill is an absolute must-see.

The Spitfire Grill runs through March 10th at Meadow Brook Theatre on Oakland University's campus in Rochester Hills. For more information and tickets, visit http://www.mbtheatre.com.

Connect with Meadow Brook Theatre on Twitter at @MBTheatre, on Instagram at @meadowbrooktheatre, and on Facebook at facebook.com/meadowbrooktheatre/.

Related Articles View More Detroit Stories   Shows From This Author Stefani Chudnow.