THE CHRONICLE ENTERTAINMENT RUNDOWN
TV Show: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series breathes new life into the original High School Musical movies. The show is not a remake of the movies, but pays tribute to them in many ways. The drama unfolds when a group of East High students audition for their school’s High School Musical play. Its mockumentary style lets the audience know the internal thoughts of each character. The series does cater to the new generation of Disney viewers, but it can be enjoyed by many of the young adults who grew up watching the High School Musical movies as well.
Movie: Lady and the Tramp
Disney’s new live-action Lady and the Tramp, starring Justin Theroux as the Tramp and Tessa Thompson as Lady, holds true to the story that we know and love. In place of its original all-white and male-dominant original casting, the live-action version’s casting is more diverse in terms of gender and race. Acclaimed voices in animation co-starring in the film include Janelle Monáe, Sam Elliott, Benedict Wong and Ashley Jensen. If you like dogs, comedy and romance, this new and improved Lady and the Tramp does not disappoint. The film is now available on Disney+ which has a subscription rate of $6.99 a month.
Online Series: “Special Books for Special Kids”
“Special Books for Special Kids” (SBSK) is an online video series in which the host, Chris Ulmer, visits and interviews people of all ages with various disabilities both mental and physical. SBSK’s goal is to “normalize the diversity of the human condition,” and Ulmer fulfills that goal through his dedication to respecting and really listening to each of his interviewees. Viewers leave each informative and entertaining video with a greater understanding of the humanity in all people, no matter their differences. SBSK releases 2-4 new episodes each week. You can watch the full videos on YouTube and abbreviated versions on Facebook.
Music: “Everyday Life”
On Nov. 3, British band Coldplay released “Everyday Life,” a single from their upcoming album of the same name which is set to be released on Nov. 22. The single is a meditative exploration of human nature and the point of daily living in the midst of doubt, heartbreak and strife. Lead singer Chris Martin sings with powerful emotion, while the understated instrumentation contributes to a mood of uncertainty. Coldplay has not released a studio album since 2015, but if the superb title track is any indication of the album’s quality, it will definitely be worth the wait.