"Menopausia: El Musical"..... The Review

This show has been around for many years and is actually being performed all over the world as we speak! I myself have heard of Menopause: The Musical from it's promotional status at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It's always made me curious and yet of course, never went to go see it because I was in town for other shows I had already planned on seeing. 

One day one of my closest friend/client came in for her weekly blowout at my L.A. salon location and had let me know about her upcoming audition for Menopause: The Musical...the first ever SPANISH version to debut!!!

I was glad to hear that not only did she audition, and after her call backs, she was offered one of the 4 leads in the musical!

Week after week I've heard about her rehearsals and the fun aspects of what is to become the show that not only makes you want to stand up and sing, yet the show that makes you laugh hysterically whether you're male or female. I finally was able to see my dear friend in the show along with her 3 co-stars and let me tell y'all, it's a MUST SEE!!! Even my friend who doesn't speak a word of SPANISH enjoyed the 90 minute musical! 

Here's what to expect:

Diana Burbano, Paloma Morales, Marabina Jaimes and Graciela Valderrama 

 each represent a different role of the female image which we have in the world:

*House Wife

*Telenovela Soap Starlet

*Professional Power Woman

*All Natural Earth Mother

With each female role having their own state of mind and tasks in the world, they each have ONE thing in common...they're ALL going through Menopause!! 

It's a NO HOLDS BARRED type of subject where ALL 4 female leads intellectually, tastefully and hysterically tackle each of their menopausal troubles while shopping at Bloomingdale's in the wonderful world of New York City. 

They sure let the audience in on what Menopause is really doing to them!

Like what you may be asking??? 

Well, everything from foul odors to heat flashes and even to self  sexual pleasures are ALL layed out on the table! What better way to talk about these and other subjects than to use some of our most iconic songs of the past and re-word them so that we can ALL understand and sing along to the new and improved famous choruses!! Songs from artists like Sonny and Cher, Tina Turner, The Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, etc. Whether you've grown up with these iconic songs or not, you'll recognize them right off the bat. 

The musical blend that this specific vocal quartet has is AMAZING and STUNNING! Not a note out of place and never a SHARP or FLAT tone whatsoever. For 90 minutes of dialogue and music, these women sure put the Popstars of today to shame.

 Professional woman Marabina Jaimes stuns as one of the most fan favorite Popstars of ALL time...who might it be?? Well, let's just say her and Angela Bassett are on the same wave length when it comes to their portrayals of this famous female singer.

There's also a great deal of interaction with the audience by the cast and a surprise Marilyn like vocal performance by the fabulous Paloma Morales where she really makes the males and females of the audience blush in amazement! Not only was her solo a great vocal performance, choreography wise she made great use of the stage! 

Choreographer Daria Lynne Melendez really shaped these gals into the spectacular performers they've become for this specific adaptation of the show.

Hair/Make-Up/Wardrobe was on key with each female lead and what a great change from beginning to end! Each look was specified and not overdone like in 

many musicals I've seen in the past.

Director Seth Greenleaf  has molded this cast to fit and represent the Hispanic Community down to a "T" and has made sure everyone can connect to the raw emotion of what it feels like to not only have this LIFE CHANGING cycle yet what it is to be around a person going through it as well. 

Laughs, great Music and a sense of Community all rolled into one! 

A great form of modern day Girl Power!

Bravo to the CAST and PRODUCTION of

Menopausia: El Musical
Showing at the 
Ricardo Montalban Theatre in 
Hollywood, Ca. for 4 weeks

Knowing Your Way Around

Countless times I've heard the common response of:

"Yeah, I know, I know"....

yet more than half the time, what's really being expressed is:

"Yeah I DON'T know!"....

Very TRUE and DIRECT unfortunately. 

As a teen I would constantly say this to Mommy Dearest and she would let me have it!

 One time her words were:

"Unless you know your way around, 

you don't know a damn thing!"

Of course back then I didn't get it, until I grew up and then ONE TWO THREE FOUR it clicked like a spark on the wall! I had to get a hold of myself and know who I was inside out to really know what to do with myself in certain situations. 

Being lost is one of the most uncertain aspects of the human mind that it's not even funny. Can't make a decision for the life of you, can't decide what to put on for the day or even what kind of music to listen to while in the car, etc. It's annoying yet undeniably misleading. 

Even at times in several instances with individuals who jump from one relationship to the next make the common mistake in NOT listening to what they need firsthand and get lost in trying to make others happy, trying to fit into a puzzle piece that quite frankly doesn't fit and making ends meet in ways that doesn't make sense to the common mind. Pretty much trying to sweep things under the rug time and time again until it builds up and then it starts to show it's dirty self in unimaginable ways. 

It's important to be ONE with ourselves for the simple fact that only WE can make our own selves happy and only WE can deliver what most people can't in the first place....the LOVE that thrives from the natural belief in FAITH. 

Stuck in a rut and don't know where or which way to turn???

 Well, this is where your FAITH comes in. Where can you get that from??? 

Easy...the same place you built yourself upon...wonder where that is???

This is why it's important to know your way around YOU. If you can believe in so much that goes on in the world, BELIEVE in YOU so you know where to turn to the next time you need clarity and above anything else, a sense of self direction and self love WITHOUT having to be narcissistic. 

HUMILITY, SELFLESSNESS and UNDERSTANDING

 is the main focus...

know, feel, and believe it all!

25 Things You Don't Know About Me

This might be a bit familiar to those of you who read US Weekly magazine. I'm an avid reader of the magazine and actually really enjoy the section where it picks a celebrity to share 25 things we don't know about them. Very fascinating what most of them like to share! 

I myself am no celebrity whatsoever, though every week my clients in both the Salon and Entertainment worlds learn something new about me and vice versa. So why not share 25 things about myself with all of you that the vast majority actually don't know..???! Right???!

Ready...here we go:

1. My name is spelled E-R-I-K...my Mom has misspelled it various times throughout the last 30 years....Erick, Eric, Ericck...pretty funny!

2. My sister Mari named me Erik when I was born, I was actually going to be named Michael.

3. I LOVE flat soda...it tastes really delicious to me, way better than bubbly soda.

4. I'm a singer/songwriter whose vocal range expanded to 4 octaves at one point (now it's 3 octaves, just need to stretch it out again).

5. I pursued my music career for 7 years and released 4 independent albums (2 solo, 2 group), had a development deal for a year on the East Coast though the indie label folded (so did my deal).

6. I tried out for American Idol Season 2 in 2002 and made it to Hollywood in the top 500.

7. Got to Audition for a local theater production of "RENT"...they liked my singing, though skeptical I could bring the character to LIFE. 

8. I've never cried while doing someone's hair in my 13 year career, thankfully!

9. I met Destiny's Child in 2005 and was speechless! Beyonce, Michelle and Kelly were amazing!

10. Had 2 bad celebrity experiences, one with Robin Thicke in 2010 and Kobe Bryant in 2005...not impressed whatsoever.

11. Every time I wake up extremely early for work (like 4 am) I feel drunk without having consumed liquor the night before. 

12. I do Hair/Make-Up because I love it, point blank!

13. I've cried while watching one of the "Rugrats" movies...Chuckie didn't have a Mommy (Oh Gosh)!

14. I'm a cookie monster...favorite being Mrs. Fields' Macadamia Nut....mmmmm!

15. I once stayed up for 48 hrs. straight and worked 16 hrs. each day (Ex-boyfriend drama)...was ready to pass out.

16. As a kid I wanted He-Man and wanted to be She-Ra (80's Cartoons).

17. Pizza is my all time favorite food ever...I can eat it for days!

18. Love Country music due to Tim McGraw, whom I've seen 6 times and want to go for a 7th time sometime soon.

19. Jermaine Jackson had a full on conversation with me 2 years ago at a beauty supply, asked for my card and I had no clue who he was until the cashier said, "Thank you Mr. Jackson"...yes I know...WOW!

20. In school I got an "A-" in Chemistry and a "C+" in Biology....go figure!

21. I've only been in "Love" once in my life (Age 15-18).

22. GOD is everything to me....and yes Gay Catholic Queen Bears do exist.

23. The most annoying thing to ever make me not like you is to NOT appreciate yourself for who you are...LOVE yourself no matter what...if not, this Queen will let you know the TRUTH.

24. Haters who hate on me show their colors very quick, my SILENCE makes them quiver and I have every nasty text ever sent to me saved in a wonderful file ready for HR to get a hold of should it ever go to that extent...go on..I DARE YOU!

25. As Selena herself said it best, "The impossible is possible"...thus far, thankfully I've achieved 85% of my dreams in 30 years, only 2 more to go...here's to the FUTURE!