Tag: Boston

Shayna’s Favorites: Kristin Chenoweth and pickleball take over Boston

Chenoweth chose Boston for the world premiere of her Broadway-bound musical, ‘The Queen of Versailles’

Updated: 8:20 PM EST Dec 30, 2024

DOES IT EVER GET OLD TO SEE YOUR FACE, YOUR NAME ON THE MARQUEE? NO. I AM AN ACTRESS. YOU KNOW, MUSICAL MEGASTAR KRISTIN CHENOWETH TAKES OVER BOSTON’S EMERSON COLONIAL THEATER FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF HER BROADWAY BOUND MUSICAL, QUEEN OF VERSAILLES. INSIDE, WE SIT DOWN TO TALK ABOUT THE SHOW, AND I’M TREATED TO A PREVIEW OF THE VOICE THAT WON OVER CRITICS LONG BEFORE HER BREAKOUT ROLE AS THE ORIGINAL GLINDA IN THE MUSICAL WICKED. OKAY, SO THAT LITTLE THING THAT YOU JUST DID. I’M NOT EVEN GOING TO TRY TO PRETEND YOU’RE A TRAINED OPERA SINGER. I WENT TO OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY AND I HAD A GREAT MENTOR THERE, AND I WAS JUST GOING TO DO GOSPEL COUNTRY MUSIC THEATER, AND SHE SAID, NO, I SEE SOMETHING ELSE. I STILL TRAIN THAT WAY. THAT’S WHY I DO EIGHT SHOWS A WEEK STILL, AND I LOVE IT. I’M A CLASSICAL GIRL AT HEART, BUT I’M AN ACTRESS FIRST. SO TELL US ABOUT THE SHOW. THERE WAS A DOCUMENTARY IN 2012 CALLED THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES. IT IS BASED ON THE SIEGEL FAMILY, SPECIFICALLY JACKIE SIEGEL. SHE’S A COMPLICATED CHARACTER WHO IS BUILDING THE LARGEST PRIVATE HOME IN AMERICA. I HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY, GRATEFUL, BLESSED ALL THE THINGS IN MY CAREER. THUS FAR WITH CHARACTERS THAT I’VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT. HAVING HEARD ABOUT KRISTEN, THE ACTRESS, I DECIDED TO DIG INTO KRISTEN, THE PERSON WITH A ROUND OF RAPID FIRE OKLAHOMA COUNTRYSIDE OR NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE. YOU’RE KILLING ME. I AM ME. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I’LL PROBABLY DIE IN NEW YORK CITY HAPPILY, BUT I’M ALWAYS GOING TO WANT TO BE IN THE OKLAHOMA COUNTRYSIDE. HEELS OR FLATS? HEELS. EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. RED CARPET EVENT OR QUIET NIGHT AT HOME. QUIET NIGHT AT HOME. YOU’RE ONE OF THOSE REASON THESE THINGS. HEELS. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS THE TOUGH ONE. GO TO KARAOKE SONG. HOW DO I GET THROUGH ONE NIGHT WITHOUT YOU? I DON’T WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU. WHAT KIND OF LIFE WOULD THAT BE? OH, I LOVE YOU. I LOVE THAT SONG. OH, MY GOD, I LOVE THAT SONG. AND IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH, KRISTIN GUIDES US BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATER, WHERE FINISHING TOUCHES ARE BEING PLACED ON A SET RUMORED TO BE AS GRAND AS THIS VENUE. SO THIS IS OUR SET. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YEAH, NO, YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK AND SEE THE SHOW. SORRY. I’LL SEE YOU LATER. BYE. YOU HEARD HER. WE GOT TO SEE THE SHOW. IT’S TAKEN OVER OUR PARKS AND IS MOVING INTO OUR MALLS. THREE. SEVEN. ONE. HERE IT IS. OH, YEP. IT’S EVEN FOUND ITS WAY BEHIND BARS. PICKLEBALL, THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN THE COUNTRY. BUT RAPID EXPANSION HAS LED TO TURF WARS. THE PICKLEBALLERS SAY WHEN THEY CAME BACK ON MONDAY, THEY FOUND FOUR OF THEIR SIX NETS SLASHED. AND GROWTH DOESN’T COME WITHOUT GROWING PAINS. IF YOU’RE LIVING WITHIN 150FT OF THESE COURTS, IT MAKES YOU NUTS. STILL, CRIES OF PROTESTS ARE STRUGGLING TO BE HEARD OVER THE MOUNTING POP POP POP OF A NATION OBSESSED. THERE’S NOT ENOUGH COURTS NOW. THIS SPORT WANTS SAFELY CONFINED TO SUNNY RETIREMENT COMPOUNDS IS COMING FOR OUR YOUNG. I WAS ON A CALL WITH MY FRIEND AND HE SAID, PICKLEBALL, WHERE ARE YOU? 90 AND MORE AND MORE FAMILIES HAVE HAD TO CONFRONT A LOVED ONE. I TOLD YOU, I’M TRYING MY BEST WITH THAT DIFFICULT QUESTION. IS IT AN ADDICTION? ARE YOU AN ADDICT WHEN NO ONE’S LOOKING FOR ONE? IT’S EASY TO PICK UP AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. THE THING ABOUT PICKLEBALL IS THAT IT’S LIKE EATING A POTATO CHIP. OH, IN IN IN. WHY DON’T YOU GET OUT THERE? AND WHY DON’T YOU GET A GOOD SHOT? YOU SAY, I WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. NICE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT GIVES ME GREAT PRIDE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY MOTHER, CHARLENA SEYMOUR, PROFESSOR EMERITA OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS, FORMER UNIVERSITY PROVOST. AND THESE DAYS, TOTAL PICKLEBALL FIEND. OH, NICE ONE. THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE HOT SHOTS. MY MOM’S REGULAR PARTNERS, KATHY, BRENDA AND HELENE, HAVE BROUGHT THEIR SKILLS AND THEIR MATCHING PICKLEBALL SOCKS TO THE VILLAGE SPORTS CLUB IN PLYMOUTH. HOW CAN THAT BE A NICE POINT? THEY WON IT. YEAH, IT’S A FEISTY GROUP. DO YOU GUYS GET COMPETITIVE? YES. LISTEN, EVERYBODY IN THE GROUP LIKES TO WIN. THERE’S NO IFS, ANDS AND BUTS ABOUT IT. I SCREW UP MY COURAGE AND STEP INTO THE LION’S DEN. SOMETIMES I HAVE A HARD TIME TELLING MY FRIENDS WHO PLAY TENNIS THAT I PLAY PICKLEBALL BECAUSE THEY SAY, OH, YOU’VE GONE TO THE DARK SIDE. JUST HOW BIG A PICKLE FANATIC IS MY MOTHER? WELL, FOR HER 80TH BIRTHDAY, SHE DECIDED THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY TO CELEBRATE. OUR ENTIRE CLAN WAS TO GATHER FOR A FULL DAY OF, YOU GUESSED IT, PICKLEBALL. I SAID, WHAT CAN WE ALL DO? AND WHAT CAN I BE? THE BEST AT? WHAT CAN I BEAT? EVERYBODY AT? SO IT WAS PICKLEBALL. THAT’S FOR SURE. OH, MOMMY AND IF PICKLEBALL WILL KEEP YOU LOOKING GOOD AND IN HIGH SPIRITS AT 80, SIGN ME UP. BACK TO KRISTIN CHENOWETH, THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES. RUN WAS IN BOSTON, IS NOW OVER. IT IS EXPECTED ON BROADWAY DURING THE 2025 TO 2026 SEASON.

Shayna’s Favorites: Kristin Chenoweth and pickleball take over Boston

Chenoweth chose Boston for the world premiere of her Broadway-bound musical, ‘The Queen of Versailles’

Updated: 8:20 PM EST Dec 30, 2024

Musical superstar Kristin Chenoweth comes to Boston for the pre-Broadway World Premiere of the new musical, “The Queen of Versailles,” at the Emerson Colonial Theater. The show is based on the 1992 documentary (of the same title) about millionaire socialite Jackie Siegel’s obsession with building the largest home in America.”I view this show as a cautionary tale of what you can become and what you don’t want to become. She’s a complicated character. I have been so lucky, grateful, blessed – all the things in my career thus far with characters I’ve fallen in love with, this is no difference.” said Chenoweth in an interview with Chronicle’s Shayna Seymour. Musically bringing the story to life is longtime collaborator and “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz. Bosse Sports’ new pickleball facility in the former Neiman Marcus building at the Natick Mall is scheduled to open in October 2024. The complex will feature 21 pickleball courts, multiple restaurants helmed by noted restaurateur, Chris Coombs, a French café , and a variety of themed bars. Come for the pickle, stay for the vibe – or vice versa!The Village Sports Club is located in Plymouth’s Pinehills Village development. The outdoor pickleball courts now feature a brand new clubhouse.

BOSTON —

Musical superstar Kristin Chenoweth comes to Boston for the pre-Broadway World Premiere of the new musical, “The Queen of Versailles,” at the Emerson Colonial Theater. The show is based on the 1992 documentary (of the same title) about millionaire socialite Jackie Siegel’s obsession with building the largest home in America.

“I view this show as a cautionary tale of what you can become and what you don’t want to become. She’s a complicated character. I have been so lucky, grateful, blessed – all the things in my career thus far with characters I’ve fallen in love with, this is no difference.” said Chenoweth in an interview with Chronicle’s Shayna Seymour.

Musically bringing the story to life is longtime collaborator and “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz.

Bosse Sports’ new pickleball facility in the former Neiman Marcus building at the Natick Mall is scheduled to open in October 2024. The complex will feature 21 pickleball courts, multiple restaurants helmed by noted restaurateur, Chris Coombs, a French café , and a variety of themed bars. Come for the pickle, stay for the vibe – or vice versa!

The Village Sports Club is located in Plymouth’s Pinehills Village development. The outdoor pickleball courts now feature a brand new clubhouse.