'Les Miserables' 25th Anniversary Concert on Blu-Ray (Import)

For those who cannot wait for a U.S. domestic DVD/Blu-ray release of the 'Les Miserables' 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 arena in London, the European Blu-ray release of the performance is not region coded.  This means the disc will play on American Blu-ray disc players. However being an import, the stock is limited and it carries a hefty price when purchased on amazon.com (US$51.49).  Purchase it on amazon.co.uk for less than half the for £12.99 (US$20) not including shipping to the states.  note: prices subject to change; quoted as of 12/2010.

Jan 5, 2011 Update:  U.S. / American / NTSC Video Release of Les Miserables in Concert Available.

Links to related 'Les Miserables' posts

Reviews of the three versions of 'Les Miserables' in peformance in London:

'Les Miserables' at the Barbican Theatre (25th Anniversary TOURING cast)

'Les Miserables' at the Queen's Theatre (West End cast)

'Les Miserables' at the O2 Arena (25th Anniversary Concert)

Other Links:

CD Release of "Bring Him Home" by The Valjean Quartet from The O2 Concert

More from the O2 Concert

25th Anniversary Concert To Be Broadcast in USA Theaters

25th Anniversary Concert Trailer

25th Anniversary Touring (UK) Production Trailer

Dress Circle Shop event featuring the Cast of the 25th Anniversary Touring Production

The Queen's Theatre Venue

The Barbican Theatre Venue

Stage Door Meeting with Alfie Boe

'Bring Him Home' by The Valjean Quartet

Just as suggested in a review posted on this site last month, "Bring Him Home" from 'Les Miserables' at The O2 by The Valjean Quartet (Colm Wilkinson, John Owen-Jones, Simon Bowman & Alfie Boe) is being released as a retail single. Alas the single is only available in the UK and in the UK's iTunes store as well.

But American fans can purchase the single as an import on amazon.comto be released on December 28, 2010. Eager American buyers can purchase the single from the amazon.co.uk site when it is released there on December 13, 2010.  This single CD release will have to suffice until a Region 1/NTSC DVD or Blu-ray version is released in the United States. Unconfirmed rumor persists that a US release of the DVD is slated for a date in the first half of 2011.

Jan 2011 Update: U.S. / American / NTSC Release of Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert Available!

Four Valjeans promoting the single for charity.

The CD single release is in support for the Tickets for Troops program. This charity is dedicated to offering free tickets for big events to UK soldiers, sailors and airmen.

If you prefer Alfie Boe's solo version of 'Bring Him Home', then his latest CD includes the tune as the title track (to released in the UK on December 27, 2010) and will be available as an import in the US.

Note to American buyers of import singles: The price to purchase UK imports of CDs domestically is often higher than the direct exchange rate. If you prefer to purchase CDs from amazon's UK website some savings can be had even with shipping to the US than from purchasing the CD from amazon's US website. 

Closing!!! 'Flashdance The Musical' in London

The marquee at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

With musical producers continuing to sift through movie archives for the next theater hit, let's say goodbye to the latest one that made it to Broadway or the West End in London but failed to attract audiences. The casualty is 'Flashdance the Musical' based on the 1983 Paramount film starring Jennifer Beals. The production features songs from the movie soundtrack augmented by new numbers.

Two days before its first preview performance on September 25th, my taxi ride took me past the Shaftesbury Theatre where workers were finishing the marquee.

The show officially opened on October 14, 2010 and will close on January 15, 2011. The question is would I have seen this show if it was playing during my recent London visit. I probably would place it on my list but it would not be a priority.

This 'Closing!!!' post could be a regular feature if forthcoming shows fail. Set to open this season are musical versions of the films "Ghost" and "Love Story" in London and "Catch Me If You Can" on Broadway. Presently playing in New York is the musical adaptation of "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown".  Let's see how these productions fare.

In the meantime here's the trailer for 'Flashdance the Musical'. Click on 'read more' below for production photos.

Fascinating Transit Lounge in The Terminal

Anytime I see the interior of this terminal I am still fascinated. The unusual thing is it was only built as a movie set. No detail was spared and it appears to be part of a fully working airport. I've asked people who have seen "The Terminal" (directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones) and so far all thought the set to be an actual transit lounge in a real terminal in New York.

I previously wrote about the film and it came to mind again today after watching it once more on video. Production Designer Alex McDowell should have but did not receive an Academy Award nomination for the film (or for his wondrous designs for "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory").

Below are more pics of this piece of unreal estate. The Terminal is available on DVD. The collectors edition is no longer available.

Related link: The Terminal Playground: A Transit Lounge to Nowhere for my previous post with more info about the film and additional production photos.

Real escalators lead up to airport gates to nowhere.

A fake Starbucks.

A faux entrance to a United Airlines first class lounge.

Unreal Verizon and Duty Free Shops.

A make-believe transit lounge.

A reproduction of a flight board with fake flights.

A reproduction of a terminal in the winter.

Real granite was used for the flooring.

Can you name all the food shops featured in the film?

The film is directed from various angles to constantly show a different view of the movie set.

Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones play flight attendant and traveler.

Unusual was the balcony in the lounge overlooking the runway.

The food court was lined with replicas of airport eateries.

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite

The publicity may have subsided but fears still exist about bed bugs when traveling. With the news reports from the problem in New York City, there is a rise of products to fight these nasty pests. Here are some I found online for traveling. I'll likely pick up one for my next visit to NYC to test it out. But strange thing about such products: You don't know if it works by what doesn't happen. If you see bed bugs and then none, it works. But if there were no bed bugs to begin with, does it still work?

Sold at magellans.com the Avenger Natural Bed Bug Killer and Luggage Spray combo pack costs $19.85 for the 3 oz bottles.

Amazon.com sells a variety of products for the traveler including JT Eaton Bedbug Spray For Luggage & Mattresses (8 oz, $9.75), Green Rest Easy Bed Bug Travel Spray Twin Pack (2 oz each bottle, $12.74) and BugZip Garment Bag Size Bed-Bug Resistant Suitcase and Clothing Encasement ($17.99)

'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark' 60 Minutes Video

Tonight 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' begins its first preview performance. News reports indicate that the $50 million budget has now ballooned to $65 million still making it the most expensive production in Broadway history. This combined with an opening delayed by nine-months, money woes, change in actors and even a change of the theater name (from Hilton to Foxwoods) has made this one of the most intriguing stories about a Broadway show before its opening night.

Here is a clip of the 60 Minutes report about the beleaguered musical.