WALKS DOWN THE AISLE OF THE FOX THEATRE!

 THE GLOBAL SMASH HIT WILL RETURN

FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!

Tickets on Sale August 28

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to Atlanta in November as a special to the Broadway Across America – Atlanta 2011-12 season. Performances begin on November 2 and run through November 6 at The Fox Theatre.

Seen by over 45 million people around the world, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA!, is celebrating over 3,800 performances in its tenth smash hit year at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre and remains among Broadway’s top  selling musicals. The current North American Tour has played over 3,000 performances in over 130 cities with 125 repeat visits. The original West End production of MAMMA MIA! is now in its twelfth year and has celebrated over 4,800 performances in London and the international tour has visited more than 50 foreign cities and been seen by 3.6 million people. The blockbuster feature film adaptation of MAMMA MIA!, produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, is the most successful movie musical of all time grossing $600 million worldwide.

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya – from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.

On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” MAMMA MIA! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.

The performance schedule for MAMMA MIA! at The Fox Theatre is:

• Wednesday, November 2                   8 p.m.
• Thursday, November 3                       8 p.m.
• Friday, November 4                             8 p.m.
• Saturday, November 5                         2 p.m., 8 p.m.
• Sunday, November 6                        1 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for MAMMA MIA! go on sale August 28. Prices start at $33. Tickets can be purchased through authorized ticket sellers at The Fox Theatre Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-982-2787.  Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000.

Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, the creative team responsible for bringing MAMMA MIA! to theatrical life includes some of the most gifted and celebrated talents of musical theatre and opera. With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. MAMMA MIA! has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

The special edition cast recording of MAMMA MIA! is available on Decca Broadway.

For information about MAMMA MIA! go to www.mammamianorthamerica.com.

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA  (Producer), part of the Key Brand Entertainment family of companies which includes Broadway.com, is owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman). Broadway Across America presents first-class touring musicals and plays across 40 North American cities.  Broadway.com is the premier theater website for news, exclusive content and ticket sales.  Under the supervision of Beth Williams (COO and Head of Production), Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse theatre. Current Broadway productions include How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette, Million Dollar Quartet, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Jerusalem, Memphis, La Cage Aux Folles, the West End production of Million Dollar Quartet and the touring production of Dreamworks’ Madagascar Live!  For more information, please visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.com.

Get tangled up in the newest thrilling show to hit the ice, at Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream playing Philips Arena October 12-16, 2011.  Experience Disney’s hilarious hair-raising escapade, Tangled; as Rapunzel, her unlikely companion, Flynn, and Maximus, embark on an uproarious journey that takes adventure to new lengths!  Boogie to the beat of the bayou with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen in a magical, musical journey that all begins with a fateful kiss.  And fanciful dreams become reality as Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, with a glass slipper fit for an unforgettable fantasy come true. All your favorite princesses take to the ice in a spectacular finale at the ultimate Disney Princess event of a lifetime!  Experience the beauty, sparkle, and spirit when Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream comes to Atlanta!

 SPECIAL OPENING NIGHT TICKET OFFER

Purchase tickets to opening night, Wed. Oct. 12^th at 7:30pm for only $15*

*Valid on the regularly priced $35, $30, and $22 seats. Additional fees may apply.

Or

SAVE 20% on all other performances by entering customer code “ZXD”

*Valid on the regularly priced $35, $30, $22 and $14 seats. Additional fees may apply. Enter customer code in the advance and promotion ticket offer box on ticketmaster.com to redeem the offer.

Hurry offer ends, August 25^th.

Click here to purchase tickets (http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/114689/1599972)

Offers are not valid on Rinkside and VIP seats.  Additional service charges and handling fees may apply.

For show information, visit www.DisneyonIce.com

Being the only female in a house full of males can some times be just too much, but when it comes to movies I’m pretty lucky because I get to see a lot of fast paced, action packed releases that moms of little girls often miss out on.  For years I put off watching these types of movies – especially anything “comic book” or “cartoon” related.  I just wasn’t interested until one day when our cable went out and I had no choice but to watch the original Transformers.  I was embarrassed to say I LOVED IT! and I was forced to hear the “I told you so’s” from my brood.

We recently purchased tickets through Fandango.com to see Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon in 3D.  This was my first 3D movie in a long time because quite frankly, I thought they were a waste of money.  Have you used Fandango before?  If not check out how easy it is to purchase tickets:

Without giving away too much about the movie I wrote a little review for you.

Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon in 3D

Likes

• We totally LOVED the 3D.  It wasn’t at all cheesy like a lot of the 3D you see.  There were no snakes jumping out of the can or cheap thrills like that…  The use of 3D made the movie just that, three dimensional.  It was especially cool in the very beginning as you move through the alien’s planet.
• The story line was great.  It was a great way to tie it all together without boring you with the same ole plot.
• I just love the Autobots and their characters.
• Shia LaBeouf’s character was brilliant as in all the movies – he made the movie fun, yet adventurous.

Dislikes

• The movie was LONG!  I don’t know if it was the endless previews or the actual movie but we sat down at 8:10pm and didn’t get out of the theater until well after 11pm.
• Although the story line was great, I did miss the interaction of Shia LaBeouf and Bumble Bee…there just wasn’t enough in my opinion.  The human/Autobot story line is my favorite.
• The movie starts with just a tad too much skin for young children.

It’s official!  The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be in Atlanta at Philips Arena and I have 4 tickets for one lucky winner.  The tickets are good for Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 7:30pm.

The Funundrum is an adventure through exotic countries all over the world featuring talented and fun entertainers and performers.  This is the show 200 years in the making – one you definitely will not want to miss!  You can learn more about it in my original post Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Coming To Atlanta.

The Atlanta Tour Date Schedule:

GIVEAWAY:

The mandatory entry is to answer this question “How old were you the first time you went to the circus?” as a COMMENT on this blog.

Additional entries can be earned by (please leave comments for EACH entry):

2. Follow my blog or if you are already following – tell me who you are. (1 entry)

3. Blog about this and link back to me or email 5 friends about this giveaway copying me on the email or post this on your facebook. (5 entries)

4. Follow me on twitter @lisasamples and tweet this contest leaving me a link. (1 entry per tweet/2 tweets per day) Please leave time between tweets.

5. Subscribe to my email feed. (2 entries)

6. Connect via Facebook with my blog Life with Lisa. (2 entries)

7. Favorite me on technorati, digg, or stumble leaving link. (1 entry per fav)

8. Join The Product Review Place (if you are a member send out some invites with the “INVITE” tab.)

Disclosure: “This post is a giveaway only.  I was not given tickets, nor any type of compensation.” Giveaway open to US residents only and ends at 2/13, 7pm EST.  Winner chose using “And The Winner Is” or Random.org.

Looking for more ways to win?  My friend Yoly is giving away tickets too at Cuponeadno!

Angie was emailed and the official winner at Life with Lisa.

Last year our family had the pleasure of going to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and they are back!

Press Release:

All-new Ringling Bros.^® extravaganza coming to Philips Arena Feb. 17 – 21 and Gwinnett Arena Feb. 24 – 27 Ladies and Gentlemen…Children Of All Ages… The Greatest Show On Earth just got Greater with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® Presents Barnum’s FUNundrum!^SM!  Featuring 130 performers from six continents^, almost 100,000 pounds of performing pachyderms, cowboys, pirates, and mermaids, Barnum’s FUNundrum! is a super-sized spectacle so massive you just can’t miss it! This monumental, once in a lifetime event celebrates the 200^TH anniversary of the birth of the legendary P.T. Barnum, the Greatest Showman on Earth! and can only be experienced at The Greatest Show On Earth^®, Barnum’s living legacy! Ringmaster Jonathan Lee Iverson invites the audience to leap aboard the Ringling Bros. train and go on a family FUNtastic adventure to meet exotic characters and witness thrilling performances that attempt to answer Barnum’s FUNundrum, “What special wonders create The Greatest Show On Earth?” Barnum’ FUNundrum! provides hours of thrilling entertainment that is fun for the whole family for about the price of a movie ticket.  Ringling Bros. offers the greatest value in family entertainment making the circus Ticketmaster’s number one most purchased family event. Tickets for Barnum’s FUNundrum! go on sale November 27 and are available through www.Ringling.com, Ticketmaster, Philips Arena or the Gwinnett Arena box office. Step right up and see the Flying Caceres attempt to complete the elusive quadruple somersault on the flying trapeze; a feat that hasn’t been mastered in over three decades. Watch the Puyang troupe from China dazzle with a stunning display of dexterity as they bounce, flip, and twirl to new heights on a two-tiered trampoline. Be amazed as you witness the impossible contortions of the body benders who fit three humans in a cube the size of a milk crate. Enjoy the wondrous ability of the Mighty Meetal, the strongest man in the world, as he lifts over 1,200 pounds.  And savor the stupendous skills of the hand balancers featuring Duo Fusion, a married pair of performers with a twist; the wife does the heavy lifting. Arrive an hour before show time for the All Access Pre-show – FREE to all ticket holders, and meet performers and animals, learn circus skills and enjoy a taste of the performance before the show even starts! Performance Schedule Feb. 17 – 21, 2011 at the Philips Arena Thurs. – 7:30 p.m. Fri. –  10:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Sat. – 11 a.m., 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. Sun. – 11 a.m., 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. Mon. – 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. Feb. 24 – 27, 2011 at the Arena at Gwinnett Thurs. – 7:30 p.m. Fri. – 10:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Sat. – 11 a.m., 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. Sun. – 12 p.m. & 4 p.m. Tickets are $14, $22, $28, $35 ($35 tickets are only at Philips) and a limited number of Circus Celebrity, VIP and Front Row tickets. All seats are reserved and available at www.Ringling.com, Ticketmaster, Philips Arena or the Gwinnett Arena box office.

I WILL BE GIVING AWAY A FAMILY 4 PACK OF TICKETS SOON – STAY TUNED!

This next week I have some really exciting news to share with you, but right now I want to invite one of you to come see Due Date this coming Monday night – before any of your friends!  I am giving one lucky person 2 tickets to a private screening in Atlanta.  The movie stars Robert Downey Jr (Ethan) and Zach Galifianakis (Peter) as they go on a cross country road trip from Atlanta to LA in order to make the birth of Ethan’s daughter.  Murphy USA is sponsoring a bunch of great giveaways in conjunction with the release and you really need to check out the Fueling Fun campaign!

DO YOU WANT TO COME TO THE MOVIES?

The giveaway is now closed. The winner: Brittany Howard

GIVEAWAY

This is a two day chance to win 2 passes to the prescreen of Due Date.  If you want to enter – fill out the form below.

Disclosure: Passes are being provided to me in conjunction with the Murphy USA promotion through my association with Collective Bias.

Last night I went to Genki to spend some time with Cooking Light magazine’s Chef Allison Fishman to learn more about this cook-off.  First let me tell you she is such a sweet person and so were the reps who sponsored our meet up.  Also, the food we ate at Genki was super fabulous.  Have you ever had deep fried seaweed?  If not, you are so missing out.  If this is a glimpse into this weekend’s Taste of Atlanta – you don’t want to miss it!

Thought I would share this info from Cooking Light:

COOKING LIGHT

HOSTS COOK-OFF TO FIND THE

“HEALTHY COOK OF THE YEAR” AT TASTE OF ATLANTA

—

Four Finalists Compete in Live Cook-Off for $10,000 Prize Package

Cooking Light will host a live cook-off event at Taste of Atlanta on Saturday, October 23, 2010. Four finalists, chosen by readers and online users of Cooking Light, will compete in two rounds for the title of “Healthy Cook of the Year” and a prize package valued at $10,000. The first round of competition begins at 11:45am on the main stage of Taste of Atlanta.

In ordered to be considered for this competition, entrants submitted a three-minute prep-to-plate video of a healthy, original recipe on which they were judged.  At Taste of Atlanta, the four finalists will prepare this original recipe in round one of the cook-off. In round two, beginning at 1:15pm, the finalists will prepare their own version of lightened up macaroni and cheese. The winner will be announced at 2:15pm on the main stage.

The finalists will be judged by Cooking Light Chef Allison Fishman, Atlanta-based Chef Marvin Woods, and Good Day Atlanta co-anchor Suchita Vadlamani.

Taste of Atlanta is a two-day outdoor food festival, taking place on October 23 and 24, 2010, in Technology Square at the 5^th Street Bridge in Atlanta, GA.  For ticket information, please visit www.TasteOfAtlanta.com.