14 The Rock River Times • July 2-8, 2014
Vibe Entertainment
Rockford business has hand in Martin Scorsese HBO series By Jim Hagerty
Staff Writer When customers walk into Sounds Classic, they are reminded of the old stereo “hi-fi” shops. This is because Mark Peabody has built a reputation as a major source for fully restored stereo equipment from the ’60s and ’70s. From turntables, receivers and solid-wood speakers, Peabody’s shop is a vintage audiophile’s dream. It’s also why Martin Scorsese’s production company chose Sounds Classic to supply era-correct hi-fi pieces for the director’s upcoming HBO series. Tentatively titled The History of Rock and Roll, the series was initially conceived by Mick Jagger as a feature film during the making of the band’s 2008 documentary, Shine a Light. Soon, Scorsese reworked the idea, and a series was born.
With a notable cast, including Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew “Dice” Clay, the drama is set in 1970s New York and explores the drug- and sex-fueled music business as punk and disco were sweeping the music scene, all through the eyes of record executive Richie Finestra (Cannavale), who is trying to resurrect his label and find the next new sound. Romano will play Richie’s confidant, Zak Yankovich, the tough and sharp-witted head of promotions at American Century Records, with years of experience dating back to the shady, mob-infested days of the recording industry. Juno Temple, Max Casella and Jack Quaid have also been cast. Peabody has been consulting with set production personnel for the past three weeks. During
that time, he’s been busy packaging and shipping gear to Scorsese’s people. “We delivered 31 1970s stereo and recording studio pieces for the first sets, and another 11 1950s-era stereo pieces last week,” Peabody reported. The hour-long pilot is being written by another recent Scorsese collaborator, Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos, The Wolf of Wall Street) and will be produced by George Mastras (Breaking Bad), with Scorsese in the director’s chair. Jagger will be an executive producer and provide firsthand storylines to writers. This is Sounds Classic’s sixth movie provision and second HBO project. Last year, it outfitted The Phil Spector Story, an HBO movie starring Al Pacino. The company has also provided stereo set
props for the Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Surrogates, with Bruce Willis; Hi-Fidelity, with John Cusack; and the television series Days of Our Lives. “Service and restoration of vintage and highend stereo equipment is what we do, and we’ve been doing it for more than 30 years,” Peabody said. “Nostalgia is a powerful thing and one of the reasons LP records and vintage stereo equipment have become extremely popular again. Rockford provides us with a wonderful base of operation. We can literally have anything re-manufactured here, which is key to our restoration process. Most of the stereo pieces on set are beautiful to look at, have been completely restored and sound fantastic.” Sounds Classic is a division of Video Lab, Inc. The shop is at 4444 Center Terrace, across from Colonial Village.
Summer escape: Cable networks roll out well-made shows Tube Talk By Paula Hendrickson
Contributing Writer If you’re looking for something different to watch this summer, you don’t have to look far. While broadcast networks are touting their big summer series, some cable networks are quietly rolling out well-made shows like Witches of East End, Finding Carter and The Bridge. Witches of East End is a supernatural family drama with plenty of humor. It’s centered on the Beauchamp family — mom Joanna (Julia Ormond), daughters Ingrid (Rachel Boston) and Freya (Jenna Dewan-Tatum), and Joanna’s sister Wendy (Mädchen Amick) — who all happen to be witches exiled centuries ago from Asgard, a magical realm sealed off from this world until the end of season one. Did I mention Joanna and Wendy are pretty much immortal (although as a feline shape-shift-
er, Wendy’s down to her ninth life)? Joanna’s curse is to never see her daughters live past the age 30. Hoping to break that curse, this go-round Joanna didn’t tell them they were witches. They found out anyway. She also didn’t tell them they had a brother, Frederick (Christian Cook), back in Asgard. Like it or not, they’ll meet him in season two. Ingrid and Freya weren’t the only people in the tiny town of East End to grow up unaware of their magical abilities. When the wealthy, vindictive and powerful Penelope Gardiner died in the first season finale, the powers she’d absorbed from her sons (Eric Winter and Daniel DiTomasso, respectively) were returned to them. With no knowledge of or experience with their newfound powers, the semi-estranged brothers should really amp up the action in season two. If supernatural stories aren’t your thing, maybe Finding Carter is. The new series adds to MTV’s line-up of smart, engaging, teen-focused series like Awkward. and Teen Wolf that appeal to people
outside MTV’s typical demographic. Finding Carter has an intriguing premise: What happens when a happy, well-adjusted teenager (British actress Kathryn Prescott) discovers the mom she loves and confides in kidnapped her when she was a toddler? She’s returned to a home and family she doesn’t know, and learns her biological mother (Cynthia Watros) is a cop bent on apprehending the woman who raised her. The premise seems ripe for drama and intrigue — possibly even some comedic moments as Carter adjusts to her new life and seeks out her true identity and place in the world. If you prefer darker dramas, FX’s critically acclaimed series The Bridge returns for a second season July 9. The first season revolved around a murder investigation centered on a body (actually, parts of two bodies) lying across the U.S.-Mexico border on a bridge between El Paso and Chihuahua. The Mexican cartel that served more as a B-story last year is front and center this season
as Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger) and Marco Ruiz (Demain Bichir) partner up again to solve the murder of a Mexican cartel member whose body was found on U.S. soil. While Marco’s troubled personal life played out season one, culminating in the murder of his teen-age son, this year, Sonya’s life will demand a little more attention. Even if you don’t have cable, you can view most cable shows through online streaming.
Programming notes
Season 2 of Witches of East End debuts Sunday, July 6, at 8 p.m. Central on Lifetime. The series premiere of Finding Carter airs Tuesday, July 8, at 9 p.m. Central on MTV. Season 2 of The Bridge premieres Wednesday, July 9, at 9 p.m. Central on FX. Paula Hendrickson is a regular contributor to EmmymagazineandVariety,andhasbeenpublished in numerous national publications, including American Bungalow, Television Week and TVGuide. Follow her on Twitter at P_Hendrickson and send your suggestions to tubetalking-paula@yahoo.com.
Young Frankenstein brings hilarity to life at Timber Lake Playhouse Staff Report
MOUNT CARROLL, Ill. — Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) will present the local premiere
of the new Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein beginning Thursday, July 3. From the award-winning team that brought
The Producers to international acclaim, this monster musical comedy, which runs through Sunday, July 13, is a dizzy, lavish and fast-paced re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend based on Mel Brooks’ classic comedy film masterpiece. Former TLP Artistic Director Brad Lyons returns to Mount Carroll, Ill., to direct the hilarity, starring TLP’s professional company from all over the country. The story follows bright, young Dr. Frankenstein (that’s Fronkensteen), played by TLP favorite Cody Jolly, as he attempts to complete his grandfather’s masterwork and bring a corpse to life. Together with his oddly-shaped and endearing helper Igor (that’s Eye-gor), played by Matt Webb (Patsy in last year’s Spamalot), his curvaceous lab assistant Inga (Lexie Plath), and in spite of his incredibly self-involved madcap fiancée Elizabeth (Allison Hunt), Frankenstein succeeds in creating a monster (Blake W. Price)
— but not without hilarious complications from Frau Blucher (Analisha Santini), Inspector Kemp (Grant Brown), the villagers of Transylvania Heights and, of course, Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” Enthusiasts of the film have plenty of new surprises to look forward to in the stage adaptation. And musical comedy fans will be in heaven with the new, high-energy songs and riotous dances, including “Transylvania Mania,” “He Vas My Boyfriend,” “Roll In Ze Hay,” and “Together Again — For The First Time.” The production also features some “shocking” visual effects as well as spectacularly “monstrous” choreography by Cameron Turner (Spamalot). Performances are at 7:30 p.m. (except July 4, July 6 and July 7). Wednesday and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. There is a 3 p.m. matinee Saturday, July 5. Continued on page 17