10 Arts & Life Editor Joe Wolfe Arts & Life Broadway lights shine in Electric City WRITTEN BY season that it dreamed of. The entire experience of a JOE WOLFE Added to these criteria is the night on Broadway in the Big Arts & Life Editor question of whether or not a spe- Apple is encompassed in Scran- cific show can fit on the Scranton ton. Within the Scranton Cultural With the end of summer near- stage. For example, the sets for Center is a newly-opened restau- ing, a new season approaches performances such as “Wicked” rant that features specials for Fri- for Scranton residents that isn’t and “Phantom of the Opera” are day and Saturday evening per- the frigid winter that seems to too massive for the Scranton Cul- formances. Guests can not only linger from October to April. tural Center, where all the plays view the show, but also enjoy a The Broadway Theatre League are performed. It is not until three-course meal for $25 a per- of Northeastern Pennsylvania these performances are down- son. Cocktails are also available (NEPA) opens its curtains in Oc- sized and a new set is adopted pre- and post-show via a cash tober for its seven-month sea- that they can be scheduled to bar. The Cultural Center is like a son with a line-up that is sure to perform in Scranton. Recently, mini New York City with every- please every type of Broadway “Beauty and the Beast” had its thing the city has to offer in one aficionado. original set downsized, allowing place. Playgoers can take part in Riding off of last year’s suc- the Cultural Center to accommo- the whole Broadway experience: cessful performances, such as date the act. a pre-show dinner, a wait in line “Beauty and the Beast,” Scran- Now, some people may ask for the theater’s doors to open, ton Broadway, headed by Tony how Scranton Broadway com- and a post-show drink or two. Nicosia, aims to achieve much PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS pares to the Broadways of New So, for students looking for a acclaim with the line-up it has in- THE BLUE Man Group (above), set to hit Scranton Broadway Feb. 2011, York or Philadelphia. When ticket nice Friday or Saturday evening stalled for the 2010-2011 season. is just one of the many performances that are sure to please everyone. prices of New York are compared out, Scranton Broadway proves a Beginning in October with “A Scranton Broadway hires the way was lucky enough to have to ticket prices in Scranton, ac- reliable choice. In one night, stu- Chorus Line,” Scranton Broad- same companies that perform on such a deep line-up of shows cording to Nicosia, the price of dents can experience the big city way will host performances of the Broadways in New York and traveling just at the right time. two tickets to a Broadway show feel with dinner downtown, a “Legally Blonde” Nov. 19-21, “Blue Philadelphia. These performanc- Nicosia notes that, when decid- in New York is the price of tickets Broadway-caliber play and post- Man Group” Feb. 11-13, “The Color es tour in the same fashion that ing what shows make up the to an entire season of Broadway show festivities. With a line-up Purple” March 4-6 and “Spamalot” musicians tour, with stops across season’s schedule, the primary shows in Scranton. When travel like the one Scranton Broadway April 8-10 this season. the country. This assures playgo- criteria are seeing which shows expenses are taken into consid- has scheduled this year, they For those of you who are not ers that the quality of the shows are currently touring and, if they eration, Scranton Broadway’s ap- might as well rename Washing- familiar with Scranton Broad- they will see are the same quality are touring, whether or not they peal becomes even greater as its ton Avenue 52nd Street. way, the first thing you must they would see if they traveled to will be around Scranton during stage is just a few blocks away For more information, visit know is that these performanc- New York or Philadelphia. the dates they are needed. If the from campus on Washington Av- their website at www.scranton- es are not amateur acts; rather, This year, Scranton Broad- stars align, the League has the enue. broadway.com. Goo Goo Dolls’ big return Download of The Week COMMENTARY BY of the times that we’re living in, Eve concert, Rzeznik told listen- DAVE GIGLIO but on an emotional level. These ers that “As I Am” is a song “about “Ready To STaRT” Staff Writer are really hard, trying times. And someone who worked hard all his the way that affects people and life and lost his job and how the BY After finally achieving main- their families, people losing their love of his family got him through stream success with the release of jobs and everything’s so insecure, when it seemed his world was THE ARCADE FIRE “A Boy Named Good” in 1995, The I just wanted to say something crashing down.” The summer gave us many great previously had artistic ambitions but Goo Goo Dolls began to evolve about that,” Rzeznik said. The album’s title track, “Some- albums, but none were as impressive succumbed to the pleasures that big their sound from that of 80s punk In particular, Rzeznik cites a song thing for the Rest of Us” is also as The Arcade’s Fire third full-length, businesses have to offer. and early-90s grunge to a more called “Notbroken,” which has be- worthy of mention, not just from polished and refined sound that come the number-one selling Goo a purely musical standpoint but “The Suburbs.” With two highly suc- This theme continues as Butler would eventually define its career. Goo Dolls track on iTunes. also on a more personal level for cessful albums already under their belt, sings of someone knocking at his door, With the recent release of its ninth “I got a letter from a woman the band. Bassist Robby Takac, in “Funeral” and “Neon Bible,” The Arcade trying to persuade him to “come out studio album, “Something for the whose husband was in Iraq. He an interview with googoodolls- Fire looked to build their resume even against the night.” Butler sings that Rest of Us,” this evolution seems was injured – paralyzed – and he fans.com, talked about the track’s more with “The Suburbs.” What result- he’d rather be alone in his house with complete, which is by no means a doesn’t want to come home. He role in trying together the whole ed from the nearly 3 year lay off was his perfect job than to revolt against bad thing. wants to stay in the hospital. He’s album. an album that not only surpassed their the “American dream” and follow his For front-man Johnny Rzeznik, ashamed of himself. He feels like “There’s a song on the album sophomore effort, but also, an album true ambitions. The song ends with “Something for the Rest of Us” is he’s less. And she just wants to let called ‘Something for the Rest that re-established The Arcade Fire as Butler realizing that his dreams are much more than another Goo Goo him know that he’s still everything of Us’ and it was the very first one of the prominent bands in the In- something that are worth the ef- Dolls album. In an interview with that she ever wanted. I don’t know, song that we worked on when die scene. fort. He sings “Now I’m ready to start Star News Online, Rzeznik talked it just kind of came out. It’s kind of we were at the studio in Buffalo. One of the top tracks on the album / I would rather be wrong than live in about just how much he wanted like I was writing a love letter to I don’t think it’s a single, maybe it is “Ready To Start.” The track encom- the shadows in your song/ My mind is this album to redefine the band. him on her behalf,” Rzeznik said. is, stranger things have happened, passes the best aspects of The Arcade open wide/ And now I’m ready to start/ “I wanted to really dig deep and “Notbroken,” is not the only but when I listen to that song it re- Fire with its upbeat tempo and catchy Your mind surely opened the door to there are a million songs I threw track on the album that focuses ally makes the entire thing come pop-hooks. Win Butler’s vocals lends step out into the dark.” away, like, ‘Nah, it’s not good on the perils of war. The final track full circle,” Takac said. the song its haunting qualities that For “The Suburbs” as a whole, “Ready enough. I wanna do something on the record, titled “Soldier,” is a “Something For The Rest Of Us” are only intensified with the lyrics he To Start” is just one of the first of an different. I wanna do something beautifully written ballad, whose is an album that reaches far more sings. album full of tracks that are sure to better, go deeper,’” Rzeznik said. main character, upon returning than Goo Goo Doll fans alone; it The song focuses on the “American please listeners. The recurring theme of Specifically, Rzeznik notes that, from war, has lost faith in what is an album that can be enjoyed unlike previous Goo Goo Dolls al- is good with the world.