by Jeanni Ritchie
I find two t-shirts that were perfect for me today: A Little Bit Dramatic and Who Needs Therapy When There Are Musicals?!
They both describe me to a tee. Pun intended, of course.
Here are 10 new shows in January to mark on your calendar. Some require travel; others can be enjoyed from the comfort of your living room. All look like fun!
Jan. 10: Better Man (theaters) tells the real life story of pop singer Robbie Williams, but with Williams portrayed as a CGI-animated chimpanzee because, as he puts it, he always felt “less evolved than other people.”
Jan. 11-12: Shen Yun (Raising Canes River Center, Baton Rouge) Traditional Chinese dance, traditional ethnic and folk dances, as well as story dances.
Jan. 13: Sing Sing (theaters) is based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at the maximum security prison, centering on a group of incarcerated men involved in the creation of theatrical stage shows.
Jan. 14-19: & Juliet (Saenger Theatre, New Orleans) Answers the question: what if Juliet hadn’t offed herself? With anthems from artists like Clarkson, Perry, and Spears.
Jan. 17: Back in Action (Netflix) The long-awaited flick that saw Cameron Diaz come out of retirement before being delayed with Jamie Foxx’s medical scare finally arrives this month. Former CIA spies Emily and Matt are pulled back into espionage after their secret identities are exposed.
Jan. 18: Yacht Rock Gold Experience (Mari Showroom, Paragon Casino, Marksville) Big hits from the late ’70s through early ’80s.
Jan. 25: Lance Burton Master Magician (Mari Showroom, Paragon Casino, Marksville) Family-friendly show, mix of illusions, sleight of hand, audience participation, and amazing guest stars.
Jan. 26: Finding Nemo (Lagniappe Theatre, Alexandria) Presented by OLPS students.
Jan. 30: You’re Cordially Invited (Amazon Prime) I’m baffled by the pairing of Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell but I’m always willing to give anything by the modern America’s Sweetheart a try. A woman planning her sister’s ideal wedding and the father of a bride-to-be discover their destination weddings at a remote resort are double-booked. Worst case scenario I will rewatch The Fall Guy on Prime (coming Jan. 2) instead. Now when can expect a Witherspoon/Gosling rom-com?!
Jan. 31: Dog Man (theaters) is DreamWorks animated superhero comedy film based on Dav Pilkey’s popular children’s graphic novel series.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist and pop culture enthusiast from Central Louisiana.
