Harry Potter Studio Tour Opens Near London

Studio tour entrance

The massive miniature model of Hogwarts Castle.
(all photos by: Frantzesco Kangaris/The Guardian; except those marked by
asterisk by thisisfakediy.co.uk))

In contrast to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios's Orlando Island of Adventure, is the studio tour that opened this week outside of London where fans can get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Leavesden Studios in England where Warner Bros filmed the seven-book series. Five years after the last book by J.K. Rowling and one year after the last movie, the magic of Harry Potter lives on.

Thank goodness for digital cameras. Fans of the books and films like myself will be snap happy trying to capture the experience in photos.

Visitors to the attraction will experience a three-hour self-guided tour of the sets, props, costumes, models and special effects exhibits from each of the eight "Harry Potter" films. The main attraction is a 50-foot-long model of Hogwarts Castle used primarily to film aerial photography seen in the movies. The castle was created by 86 artists and crew who worked on the 1:24 scale model that features 2,500 lights, hinged doors, miniature birds and live plants. Visitors will be able to view the castle in a day-to-night cycle every four minutes.

Other sets in the tour include:

• The Great Hall where the tables have been aged with axes and chains and carved with graffiti by Hogwarts pupils.
• Dumbledore's Office geatures the Sword of Gryffindor, the Sorting Hat, the Pensieve memory basin and portraits of former Hogwarts headmasters.
• The Ministry of Magic which is the largest set created for any of the "Harry Potter" movies where visitors can walk past the "Magic is Might" statue.
• Diagon Alley where visitors will find Ollivander's wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium
• Gryffindor Common Room and Boys' Dormitory features the beds of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan.
• Professor Umbridge's pink office filled with cat plates
• Hagrid's Hut and his flying motorcycle.
• Professor Snape's potions classroom.
• Hogwarts Bridge that was destroyed in the last movie.
• The Dursley's Prive Drive house which reveals Harry's cupboard under the stairs.
• The Weasley's kitchen with special effects props (self-washing frying pan, self-knitting needles, self-chopping knives).

Some of the props on display includes: the triple-decker Knight Bus; Harry's Nimbus 2000; 160 pairs of glasses and 70 wands Daniel Radcliffe used during the eight films; and creatures (Buckbeak the Hippogriff; Aragog the giant spider; Fawkes the phoenix, the giant Basilisk snake).

The studio is located 20 miles outside of London and tickets must be purchased in advance and cannot be pursed at the door. Visit wbstudiotour.co.uk for more information.

Yule Ball set
(photo credit: Warner Bros.)

*Triple-Decker Knight Bus.

The set of the Great Hall at Hogwarts.

*The entrance to the Great Hall.

The majestic Hogwarts gates.

Diagon Alley
 (photo credit: alexkorting)

*Harry's cupboard under the stairs.

*The clock tower pendulum.

*Magic Is Might statue on the Ministry of Magic set.

*Professor Umbridge's office set.

*Crystal props from the Yule Ball.

*Costumes used for the Yule Ball.

*Boys Dormitory on the Gryffindor set.

*The Great Hall

*The Gryffindor Common Room.

The set of Dumbledore's office.

Visitors ride a broomstick in front a green screen.

Masks of the house elves.

New ABBA Musical Not A Sequel to 'Mamma Mia!'

The long-awaited follow-up to the successful 'Mamma Mia!' stage musical utilizing the songs of ABBA will not be a sequel and will involve a new creative team including director Matthew Warchus. Titled "While The Music Still Goes On," producers announced that twenty-two ABBA songs will be featured and will include the group's hit songs, album cuts, B-sides and songs released as extras on compilations or special editions. The confirmed numbers include:

"I Am The City"
"Another Town, Another Train"
"Two For the Price of One"
"People Need Love"
"Angeleyes"
"Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Ain't Hard Enough)"
"Hasta Mañana"
"I've Been Waiting For You"
"Lovelight"
"Summer Night City"
"Why Did It Have To Be Me"
"Cassandra"
"Fernando"
"Dream World"
"You Owe Me One"
"Intermezzo No. 1" (titled "Intermezzo" for the musical)
"Arrival" (new lyrics)
"From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel"
"My Love, My Life"
"Move On"
"Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)"
"The Way Old Friends Do"

In contrast to 'Mamma Mia!' the book of the new musical by American playwright Perry Lawrence ("Old Schoolyard") will not be a comedy but a bittersweet romance between two people who thought that true love for each of them was long lost. They find themselves neighbors when she moves into an apartment in the same brownstone where he resides. They learn they share a common fondness for the music of a '70s group called the Hep Singers (a reference to the Hep Stars and Hootenanny Singers to which Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, respectively, belonged early in their careers) upon which they build a friendship. Of course love finds a way into their lives. They share a secret that ultimately will test their love beyond this world. The action is set to take place in New York City.

One of the supporting characters, a female neighbor of the couple, will be an immigrant from Mexico.  Four other characters will include friends and co-workers of the couple. The male lead, named Andrew, is a travel writer and the female lead, named Cassandra, a nurse.

None of the songs used for the 'Mamma Mia!' stage production and movie will be included. Producers announced they want this production utilizing some of ABBA's most profound and dramatic songs to be considered an absolute separate entity. Like 'Mamma Mia', the words to the songs will remain largely unchanged to retain the integrity of Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson's lyrics.

From the press release: "Arrival" is an instrumental number from the ABBA album of the same name. Bjorn has penned lyrics for "Arrival" specifically for this musical. Portions of "Arrival" will also be used as an overture. It should be noted that Sarah Brightman recorded a version of "Arrival" with different lyrics on her "Winter Symphony" album also penned by Bjorn and was initially planned for use in "Mamma Mia!". The creative team is proud of the new version that will be a part of "While The Music Still Goes On."

Where 'Mamma Mia!' had a female lead character, this show will be from the male lead character's perspective. Casting will be announced in the coming months. Alexander Hanson (Broadway revival "A Little Night Music" and London Revival "The Sound of Music") is rumored to be linked to the production.

Tentative plans are for an out-of-town tryout in Manchester before arriving in the West End. Producers suggested that they had hoped for a U.S. West Coast premiere before heading to Broadway and then to London. But due to the current economics of Broadway, they felt the best way to nurture the production was to start in the U.K. Visit musicstillgoeson.com for news and updates for the upcoming musical.

(Important Note: If you've read this post so far, you probably know by now all of this is wishful thinking for some April first fun. None of this information is real and none of the persons mentioned is associated with a new musical based on the songs of ABBA. However I really believe there is another musical waiting in the numerous ABBA songs that were not included in 'Mamma Mia!'. Many of their other hit songs and album cuts have the weight to be part of a dramatic story in lieu of a comedy. I've been a longtime fan of the music of ABBA that every one of their CDs is downloaded to my iPhone and iPad. This post, though all in fun, is a hint of what may be possible.)

The Ten Most Bizarre Vending Machines

Travel to enough countries and you'll learn the world of differences that makes each place unique. This goes for what can be sold and dispensed from vending machines. Smarter Travel has compiled a list of some of the craziest vending machines.

(photo credit: KrisCrockett/flickr)

Live Crabs (China)

These machines are located in subways in China and they dispense live crabs.
Click HERE to watch of video of the machine.

(photo credit: manyone/flickr)

Gold To Go (Dubai)

The machine itself doesn't only dispense gold but is coated with a layer of gold itself. The price of the gold is updated every ten minutes to keep the price current. (gold-to-go.com)

(photo credit: josfiets/flickr)

Bikes (Netherlands)

What's called the "Bikedispenser" is an actual machine that pops out a bike when you've inserted money. (bikeoff.org)

(photo credit: TheJapanChannelD.com)

Sushi (Japan)

Though one has to wonder if one can trust the quality, it's still healthier than chips and candy.

(photo credit: Daily Mail)

Dog-O-Matic (France)

No this machine does not sell dogs. It's an automatic dog washer. Open the door, insert dog and pay based on the dog's size.

Click HERE to watch the Dog-O-Matic do its thing.

(photo credit: ChicagoTribune.com)

Canna Med Box (California)

A marijuana vending machine. 'Nuff said. (cannamedbox.com)

(photo credit: theswellelife.com)

Cupcakes (Beverly Hills)

Restocked daily by Beverly Hills bakery Sprinkles, customers pop in $4 for a sweet treat 24/7.

Click HERE to view a YouTube video of the machine.

(photo credit: greggman.com)

Fingernail-Painting (Japan)

Stick your finger in and get a design painted on.

(photo credit: AutomaticApparel.com)

Automatic Apparel (Boston)

Need an entire new outfit (from shoes to underwear)? This machine can help you out. (automaticapparel.com)

(photo credit: popaitaly/flickr)

Let's Pizza (Italy)

No need for delivery. A fresh pizza is made in two-and-a-half minutes. (UK site: letspizza.co.uk)

Click HERE to watch the machine at work.

Those ProActive acne medication vending machines don't sound so weird now.
Visit smartertravel.com to view the full article.

Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, Crew Drama and Crazy Passengers at 35,000 Feet by Heather Poole

Author Heather Poole offers an insightful look at the career of a flight attendant and many any who will pick up this book will learn something new about the world of flying the friendly skies. Poole offers many amusing experiences starting from chapter one where she wonders who will be the "crazy" passenger on the flight. In her words, there is always one and the one she describes is quite a doozy.

As she describes flight attendant training, she gives up how strict rules had to be followed and how classmates would start disappearing once these rules were not observed. But it's what happens after graduation that is the most surprising: the life of a flight attendant is nowhere as glamourous as many of us would think. She describes how on many flights the food on board was only for passengers and crew would hope that there would be extra trays of food for them. She minces no words about the very low starting wages and how it was nearly impossible for them to enjoy a good meal and their free time without worrying about money.

One amusing observation she makes is about the difference between first class and business class. She mentions flight attendants like working first class because most of these passengers just sleep during the flight. She adds that business class has the most demanding passengers. This is exemplified by a story about how a flight attendant offers spoons to business class passengers which each one takes only for the same flight attendant to just collect the spoons afterwards without offering anything else or any use for the spoon.

Poole doesn't mention the airline for which she worked for during most of her career (I've come to learn it's likely American Airlines) but it's probably best she didn't so we can identity her as possibly the flight attendant we may have met once. Reading the book I'm recalling the many flight attendants who have worked the planes I've flown over the many years. I can only appreciate the smiling face they offer knowing now what kinds of things can happen behind the scenes.

The book does get bogged down in the later chapters when she talks about working with her mother who also became a flight attendant. But for the most part the book is a fun read. Pick it up and see if you don't start saying thank you more often to a flight crew.

"Cruising Attitude" by Heather Poole is available in softcover. Click the adds below to purchase a copy or Kindle version from Amazon. Click HERE to purchase eBook from iTunes.

World's Longest Flights Ranked by Hours

It's 9,500 miles between Los Angeles (left) and Singapore (right).
See below for the number of hours it takes to fly this route.
(photo credit: John Sullivan/Wikimedia Commons/and the Singapore
Toursim Board for U.S. News)

My achilles heel when I travel is it's at least 2,500 miles to the nearest continent from Honolulu, Hawaii. At its shortest the flight to the west coast of the United States is about five hours. That duration is considered a mere fraction of the time to fly some of the longest flights in the world ranked by hours. Now it would be amazing if anyone on these flights doesn't at least get up once to go to the restroom unless they're unconscious for the entire duration or seeking deep vein thrombosis as a goal.

Probably the best thing about these very long-haul flights is there's no layover and it helps to earn elite level on each airline that much easier.

The ranking is determined by U.S. News & World Report. Notice that the miles between destinations does not necessarily determine the longest flights.

16 Hours
New York to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific (8,059 miles)
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas to Brisbane, Australia on Qantas (8,584 miles)
Johannesburg, South Africa to New York on South African Airways (7,970 miles)
Newark, New Jersey to Hong Kong on United Airlines (8,065 miles)

16 Hours 15 Minutes
Atlanta, Georgia to Johannesburg, South Africa on Delta Airlines (8,433 miles)
Doha, Qatar to Houston, Texas on Qatar Airways (8,047 miles)

16 Hours 20 Minutes
Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Houston, Texas on Emirates Airlines (8,164 miles)

16 Hours 30 Minutes
Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Los Angeles, California on Emirates Airlines (8,335 miles)

17 Hours 30 Minutes
Los Angeles, California to Bangkok, Thailand on Thai Airways (8,260 miles)

18 Hours
Newark, New Jersey to Singapore on Singapore Airlines (10,371 miles)

18 Hours 30 Minutes
Los Angeles, California to Singapore on Singapore Airlines (9,500 miles)

It should be noted that Singapore Airlines operates a business-class only airplane for 100 passengers on this Los Angeles to Singapore route. The reason this flight is shorter than the Newark to Singapore flight is the route taken by the airline's jets. The Newark flight path across the North Pole subjects the aircraft to less wind resistance, allowing it travel faster than the flight from Los Angeles, which crosses the Pacific Ocean.

Click HERE to read the full article from U.S. News & World Report and learn more about these flights.

Photos Released of the New 'Phantom' UK Tour

John Owen-Jones (Phantom) and Katie Hall (Christine) in
the Phantom's lair.
(photos credit: Michael Le Poer Trench and Robin Savage)

Producer Cameraon Mackintosh has kept a tight leash on revealing any performance videos or even production photos of the new re-imaginged UK Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Finally some photos of the new production have been released. The revelation is the costumes by Maria Bjornson are not changed.  It is the new set design by Mick Potter that will likely be the subject of argument for those who have seen the original.

So far these photos reveal that there are steps (pictured above) that lead down to the Phantom's lair amid floating candles. For the "Masquerade" sequence (pictured below) the grand steps of the opera house are gone. Instead the playing space is opened up to be an ornate circular ballroom with a large oval mirror above the revelers.

Visit thephantomoftheoperatour.com for tour dates, tickets and more information. Tour dates in the UK are scheduled into 2013. It's unlikely any announcement will be made anytime soon regarding if the tour will play London or international cities.

The company during "Masquerade"

Angela M. Caesar (Carlotta) in the "Hannibal" scenes.

John Owen-Jones (Phantom) and Katie Hall (Christine)

John Owen-Jones (Phantom)

ProBax Seats Installed In August Wilson Theatre

August Wilson Theatre (photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler)

Anyone can tell you that sitting in a Broadway theatre seat for two-half hours can be literally a pain in the butt. Following the example of the Ambassador Theatre Group in London which installed ProBax seats in their West End venues, Jujamcyn Theatres installed the brand of seating technology at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City.

Design of the ProBax seats installed
in London theaters.

The August Wilson is the first theatre in North America to have the ProBax seats installed. The seating technology requires no changes to the seat frame, design or upholstery and can be upgraded by changing the base of the cushion alone. The seats are ergonomic using dual density foams that encourage anatomically correct posture and are expected to last longer than regular seating. This same technology is applied for use in movie theaters, cars and aircrafts. The ultimate goal is for the comfort of the audience.

But more amazing about the transformation is that each seat cushion and seat back at the August Wilson was changed without the loss of a single performance of the musical 'Jersey Boys' taking place between the end of a Sunday, January 8 matinee and the start of the Tuesday, January 10 evening show. The venue currently has a capacity to accommodate 1,250 theatergoers.

But will the new seats help audiences enjoy a Broadway play? Or will it prevent others from putting their feet up against the back of seat in front of them? No word yet if other New York theaters will gain the new seating. Click HERE to read The New Yorker's unique perspective on the ProBax seats.

Project Runway Meets Broadway: 'Godspell' Challenge

Although it took a while, reality competition series 'Project Runway' finally offered its first challenge linked to Broadway. The episode which aired last month on the Lifetime network featured 'Godspell' composer Stephen Schwartz explaining the challenge.

Each designer had to create a costume for a character in the musical revival of 'Godspell' who is very rich and who wants everyone to know how rich and showy she is. The look had to be something that the character may have pulled from her own closet or thrift stores and was colorful and exaggerated but looks great.

Adding to the difficulty of the challenge is the costume would be placed on the character by the other actors in the musical so it was also a separates challenge. The cost for their raw materials was limited to $200. The episode was part of the special "Project Runway All-Stars" season. The winning look was designed to be runway worthy but adapted for the actual Broadway stage production. Guest judge was two-time Tony winner ('Anything Goes' 2011 revival, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie') Sutton Foster.

Click HERE for more information and videos from the 'Godspell' challenge episode. Visit mylifetime.com for more information about the series. 'Godspell' plays the Circle Theatre In the Square Theatre in New York City. Visit godspell.com for tickets and more information.

The photos below show each look that walked the runway and the name of the designer appears below each photo. The winning design and the costume as it appears on Broadway appears at bottom.

Design by Mondo Guerra
(photos: Lifetime Entertainment Services)

Design by Austin Scarlett

Design by Michael Costello

Design by Jerell Scott

Design by Kenley Collins

Design by Mila Hermanovski

Design by Kara Janx

The winning look by Mondo Guerra and adapted look for the 'Godspell' musical.
The photos above are ranked from highest to lowest as they were featured
in the results portion of the "Project Runway All Stars" episode.
Kara Janx had the losing design and she was out of the competition.

Mondo Guerra and 'Godspell' actress Lindsay Mendez.

Sculptures as Illusions Invade Park Avenue

(photos credit: nyclovesnyc/flickr)

Between now and June 30, nine-stainless steel sculptures designed by Venezuelan artist Rafael Barrios will be displayed along New York City's Park Avenue between 51st and 67th Streets. Each sculpture weighs about a ton and appear to be huge, three-dimensional perspective illusions.

The sculptures when seen from one angle appears to be thick and solid three-dimensional pieces. While from another perspective they appear paper thin. The technique which Barrios has been perfecting since the 1970s is called "virtualism" characterized by the sculptures look of floating metal.

The presentation is part of the art program along Park Avenue that has been running since 2000. Visit fundforparkavenue.org for more information about the project.

One pedestrian took this video of one of the sculptures on Park Avenue: