Music | The Hanslick Girls

December 18, 2017

Join The Canon: Mariah Carey’s “Merry Christmas”

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of friends who are always out experiencing the best of entertainment. Be it plays, films, concerts, exhibits, or games, they’ve learned that the arts are best when experienced together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. This week, the Girls discuss a classic Christmas chart-topper from 1994…and the rest of the CD it came with. Let’s hear what they had to say…

Gwen was about to give herself the week off. She had been hitting the ground running for the coming year – sending out résumés, booking interviews, trying to nail down the chaotic schedule of a working theatre artist in Chicago. But that break didn’t start until the 20th of December – before then, she was still working hard, writing out cover letters as Christmas music played softly from her speakers.

The relative calm was suddenly broken by a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Dania emerged, wearing a thick winter sweater.

December 11, 2017

Cracking A Tradition: Mark Morris Dance Group’s “The Hard Nut”

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of friends who are always out experiencing the best of entertainment. Be it plays, films, concerts, exhibits, or games, they’ve learned that the arts are best when experienced together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. Recently, the Girls discussed a vibrant and off-the-wall re-imagining of a classic piece of holiday entertainment. Let’s listen in on the conversation…

“Well, it’s certainly not The Nutcracker.”

Dania figured this was still fine to say within 100 yards of the theater. Rather than a subjective opinion, it seemed like a provable fact.

Eleanor pushed her program into her bag. “I mean, it’s pretty close.”

“How is this close to The Nutcracker?”

November 20, 2017

Leaving The Unknown: Patrick McHale’s “Over The Garden Wall”

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of friends who are always out experiencing the best of entertainment. Be it plays, films, concerts, exhibits, or games, they’ve learned that the arts are best when experienced together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. Today, the Girls discuss Cartoon Network’s harvest-season miniseries of ghosts, curses, and thieving horses. Let’s listen in on their conversation…

Dania whistled softly as they walked down the street under the moonlight. A lilting melody, just enough to echo off the sides of the buildings as they walked, rising above the crisp crackle of yellowed leaves. Dania aimed her boot towards the largest patches, hoping for the satisfying snap of twigs – as did Gwen, though she’d never mention it.

“What’s that melody?” Gwen asked, after a gap in the leaves let her listen to the song.

“The frog song from Over The Garden Wall,” Dania replied. “I think it’s actually called ‘Over The Garden Wall,’ but you know, the one the frog sings.”

October 30, 2017

Bite Size Treats: Andrew Gold’s “Halloween Howls”

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of friends who are always out experiencing the best of entertainment. Be it plays, films, concerts, exhibits, or games, they’ve learned that the arts are best when experienced together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. Just before Spook-tober ends, the Girls investigate the origin of the Internet’s favorite Halloween anthem. Let’s listen in on their conversation…

“Spooky, scary, skeletons / speak with such a shriek…”

Eleanor hummed as she adjusted the edges of her dress. They had to hang just so, off the shoulder but not too far down the arm. They should float, was the thought. She glanced over herself again in the mirror, adjusted the thin hairband, and grabbed the worn book sitting on her desk.

In the center of the apartment, the scent of pumpkin floated through the air, and she could hear Gwen rummaging in the kitchen. Bats hung from the walls, mini pumpkins crowded the coffee table, and an orange die-cut tabby cat stared down from above the front door.

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