Okay, first with the Whedony goodness - the official trailer for Joss’ new web series Doctor Horrible’s Sing Along Blog is out. No taste yet of the singing, but it’s still looking pretty awesome so far:

While you’re at it, become Doctor Horrible’s Facebook fiend, why dont’cah?

(Yes, I meant to type “fiend”).

In other, rather important news, if you’ve been thinking about coming to our Xanadu Sing Along in July, then you should know that the date moved a week later (I updated the original post). That’s actually good news for us, since we have a bit more time to work on promoting this amazingly fun event - which now will include a chance to win tickets to Xanadu on Broadway - and more fun stuff that we won’t tell you about until you come to the show!

THE XANADU SING ALONG!
The original 1980 film back on the big screen
With Audience Participation and more!
New date! Friday & Saturday, July 18 & 19 @ midnight
at the IFC Center, 323 Sixth Avenue, New York City
Advance tickets available soon! (link posted as soon as available)

While the Buffy Sing Along remains on hiatus (our latest stumbling block to getting back in theatres is the SAG negotiations), we’ve decided to stop waiting for our slayer to return from the dead (again), and start working with another mystical, super-powered icon: A MUSE! And so, we’re created a new sing along production for the NYC area…

THE XANADU SING ALONG!
The original 1980 film back on the big screen
With Audience Participation and more!
Friday & Saturday, July 18 & 19 @ midnight
at the IFC Center, 323 Sixth Avenue, New York City
Advance tickets available soon! (link posted as soon as available)

Before it became a Tony-award nominated Broadway smash, XANADU was one of the most notorious bombs in Hollywood history. But what a glorious failure! Featuring a slew of classic tunes from Olivia Newton John and The Electric Light Orchestra, there isn’t a moment of this campy cinematic mess that isn’t a toe-tapping delight. So, for this special big screen presentation of the “classic” 1980 film, we’re inviting the audience to do more than just watch their jaws hit the floor (typical reaction: “Um, did the main characters really just turn into fish?”) — we are encouraging all the Xana-fans sing and dance along with their favorite songs!!!

At the XANADU SING ALONG we’re not only screening the movie, but providing the lyrics to sing along, as well as a grab bag of props and list of audience interactive moments to coincide with what’s happening on the screen. And yes, we will all get on the stage and dance. Before the film we’ll also be presenting some extra special Xanadu trivia, Olivia Newton John video clips, and other Xana-fun.

Filled with hilarious moments (often unintentional) pouring off the screen, there is nothing about XANADU that is not resplendently insane! 80s icon Olivia Newton John plays Kira, a muse of the Greek god Zeus disguised in leg warmers and roller skates. She is summoned to Earth to inspire lonely album cover artist Sonny Malone (The Warriors star Michael Beck) and retired big-band musician Danny McGuire (Gene Kelley!) to team up and build a giant roller disco named Xanadu. No, really. The film is directed with neon music-video panache by Robert Greenwald, the same guy who now makes incendiary political documentaries about Fox News and Wal-Mart.

Produced by the creators of last year’s smash interactive cinema hit, The Buffy The Vampire Slayer Sing Along, this interactive big-screen sing along XANADU screening is a cinematic celebration that is not to be missed!

ONCE MORE WITH FEELING screens before
PaleyFest BUFFY REUNION PANEL
This Friday, Apr 25
It all starts @ 6:00pm
At the Paley Center for Media, New York City
Tickets $10.00 - Buy tickets now, seating limited

Didn’t get a chance to make it to Los Angeles to see the Buffy event of the freaking century - The PaleyFest Buffy Cast Reunion? Well, neither did we, dangit. Luckily, the fine folks at the New York City Paley Center were sorry to miss it as well, so they are screening the whole panel in its entirety for this one special occasion. Not only that, they are also pulling out the finest episode of the series (in our humble opinion) as a warm up: Once More with Feeling!

Try as we might, we couldn’t make this into a full-on Sing Along version, because the situation with Fox is still a bit dicey (ie, the Buffy Sing Along and Fox haven’t made an official agreement yet. Our lawyer is working on it, we swear!). However, most of us from the New York Buffy cast will be there, and we will indeed be sitting in our seats and singing like crazy - and maybe sneaking in a few surprises. I hope all of our NYC fans will find this a great opportunity to gather again as well. Heck, haven’t you been jonesing to see this on the big screen again and let out a little of your pent up vocal talents? Join us!

And hey, bonus, you do finally get to see all your favorite Buffy cast members (the real ones!) rubbing elbows again. Man, I wish we’d been able to catch that panel in L.A. in person…still green with envy.

CLICK CRITICS: THE POWER OF FAN WEBSITES
Mon, May 19 @ 6:00
At the Paley Center for Media, New York City
Tickets $10.00 - Buy yours today

Also of interest to Buffy fans at the Paley is this upcoming panel about fan sites and their impact of today’s television programs. You know what show started all this internet fan power, right? Hear insights on these passionate, informed, unfiltered audience responses with this panel featuring creators and contributors from Whedonesque and Television Without Pity, as well as non-Whedon fans like Lostpedia, Ugly Is In, Galactica Sitrep, and OfficeTally.

C’mon, you know you’ve been wanting one, and Buffy Sing Along Home Kits are still available! It’s a great way to get your kumbaya-yas out with a group of friends in the privacy of your own home - or, with springtime looming, in the privacy of your own backyard fiesta! What an awesome idea, but for Spike’s sake, better make it a nighttime gathering.

Here’s what one satisfied buyer had to say about her recent Buffy Sing Along home kit when it arrived:

“I received my kits in the mail today, and opened them while giggling like Xander talking to a pretty girl. I love my kits, and the bonus gift was great as well. Actually, it felt like more than just one bonus gift, as there are just so many great things in there! Now it’s time to schedule my sing-along night. My only regret is that I never saw the real thing to base mine on…Ahhh, someday!”

Thank you, Lori from Arcadia, California for the nice words. Hopefully we’ll be back on the road soon and near Arcadia. Wait, were is that, anyway? I need to brush up on my West Coast geography. Let’s see…I’ll pull out this map and start with someplace I know… Hmm, Sunnydale is supposed to be not far from Santa Barbara, near several acres of woods, close to the Pacific Ocean (or on it…where are those docks?), has an old rock quarry and a hydroelectric dam and a state college, and is within a day’s drive from the desert.

Dammit! This map is no good!

Ooooh, how I dreamed of being at the Paley Center Buffy reunion yesterday, but with it being all the way on the other side of the country (and sold out in about 20 seconds), I guess it wasn’t in the cards. Still, reviews of the Q&A with almost all the Buffy core cast (Willow, Giles, and Angel were the only ones MIA) have been pouring in.

The whole evening began with a screening of Once More With Feeling, though not in sing along format. Being a Paley Center gala, that isn’t a snub, as this was definitely a more formal evening. That said, we still got a little shout out via an introduction by Marti Noxon:

“Joss and I had a really amazing and remarkable experience recently which was that we snuck into the back of a Buffy Sing Along. Never in my dreams as a writer did I think I would see people throw their underwear at me on a screen. That happened among other crazy and wonderful things!”

Thanks for remembering the show, Marti. Needless to say it was an especially awesome evening for us as well.

So far, the most complete recap is from The Futon Critic, which will have to do until the Paley Center puts some video up on their website (which they usually do a few weeks after an event). You can also listen to an audience recording at Strangely Literal (and thanks for noting the difference in watching the musical without the audience participation). Links to many more Paley Fest reviews via Whedonesque, as well as their own recaps.

While the Buffy Sing Along is still waiting for the powers that be to let us back in the theatres, the internet will soon be offering the next best (or maybe even better best) thing.

In other words, big news today from Joss Whedon himself as posted on Whedonesque:

During the strike I started writing a musical intended as a limited internet series, 3 episodes of approximately 10 minutes each. Writing with me was my brother Jed, his fiancee Maurissa, and my other brother Zack. To my shock and surprise, we finished it. To my greater shock and surprise, we managed (with the help of many people I’ll be praising at length soon) to drag it into preproduction (yes, just as DOLLHOUSE was given a start date two months away and all my comics were due.) And today, after a grueling week of writing everything ever while trying to be a producer, I got to start shooting. A musical.

This much I will say: It’s the story of a low-rent super-villain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he’s too shy to talk to. And I’m having the time of my life.

“DOCTOR HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG”

Neil Patrick Harris…..as Dr. Horrible
Nathan Fillion……….as Captain Hammer
Felicia Day………….as Penny
And a cast of Dozens!

So, not only do we get more musical action, but we also get Nathan Fillion letting go with his singing voice, my favorite potential back in action, and, holy crap, Neil Patrick Harris!

And wait a minute….THIS is a sing along blog! Could I…could I possibly be turning into NPH? Oh, to dream a little dream.

PS - I am also quite excited about the new Harold and Kumar film. I just can’t help it. The red line trailer is beyond funny and wrong.

Look, all I’m saying is that this is normal teen stuff. You join chat rooms, you write poetry, you post Doogie Howser fan-fic. It’s all normal, right? - Willow (from “Help”)

It was a little over a year ago that the Buffy Sing Along started making waves thanks to this piece from MTV News…which they now allow embedding for (almost). And so, here it is…

Speaking of embedding, how about the latest issue of the comic, hmmm? I love that Buffy’s sex drive is now being played with a bit more comedy! I am actually working on a little piece about all the Whedon comics - and how they have managed to suck me back into the comic book store - for this very spot sometime next week. So stay tuned.

And as for the return of our Buffy Musical shows…nothing I can say yet. But now that the strike is over, we’re starting to open the door. So stay tuned for that as well.

A super cute little Sarah Michelle Gellar temps Santa with Little Debbies.

THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE SHOULD BE PAID!

As the Writer’s Strike continues, so does our hiatus, though hopefully we can get the show started again once things are resolved and we can talk a bit with Fox. If that ever happens. Judging by Joss’ most recent Wedonesque post, the negotiating table is being shat upon by the studios. If you can get a nice guy like Joss Whedon that pissed off - you are certainly doing something wrong. So, we will sit on the sidelines and support the strikers on this end. While we New Yorkers can’t hit the L.A. Mutant Enemy Day (dammit!), our crew will still do the strikers right on this side of the continent.

A Boston area Joss strike-appearance is planned next weekend, which is indeed on the East Coast (though I actually have to work that day and can’t go. Argh!). No word yet if Joss or any other Mutant Enemy folks plans to come to picket in NYC, where there are some big deal NewsCorp offices, by the way. If they do plan a trip to Gotham, I will be providing some truly delicious homemade wheat-free pumpkin cookies on the picket line. How’s that for enticement?

While I’ve already been shouting support as I swing by Rockefeller Center (Paul Shaffer was seriously the bomb!) or the HBO offices (where I just happened to be passing, and was momentarily thought to be Oliver Platt, but, sadly, am not), you can help the strike right from in front of your computer screen. By buying pencils. Really!

And speaking of Buffy and New York… Just follow the link, it’s funny.

So with all this action, no Sing Along shows for the near future, but if there is anything we Whedon fans know from, it is patience and tenacity. Thankfully I have the Buffy Season 8 comics to tide me over (whew, man, was Brian K. Vaughn’s Faith arc ever great!). Oh, and there’s Angel: After the Fall as well, though I have to agree with this review - it doesn’t quite have the quality and power of the Buffy comics.

Joss picketing image via this guy, and many more picket action shots at the Fans4Writers Flickr page (they will have exclusive Mutant Enemy Day shots as well).

BUFFY HOLIDAY WISHES!

Time once again to whip out Amends and warm your heart with Angel’s dirty deeds. And with that in mind here’s a special holiday gift for you… While in San Diego we met some Buffy uber-fans, many of whom were mentioned in this article, and they have been playing an uber-fun Fantasy Buffy Game. The creator, Julia, gave me permission to share the joyfully inebriated love, so download the pdf file here, then invite the friends over, whip out your Buffy DVDs, and play along. It’s like your own “home game”.

Speaking of which, here’s just one last friendly reminder that Sing Along Home Kits are still available (reposted the order info below) - but if you want them for a holiday gift, best ORDER TODAY, or else the U.S.P.S. may not get it there in time. Oh, and spread the word about the kits, if you can. I only have them here on this site, so only the real sing along fans have a shot at these little gems.

NOW AVAILABLE:
THE BUFFY SING ALONG
D.I.Y. HOME KIT

Just because we’re on, let’s call it hiatus, doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the Buffy Musical on your own with our Do-It-Yourself Buffy Sing Along Kit!

All you need to provide is your own DVD of Once More With Feeling, a group of friends, and a whole bunch of Buffy enthusiasm. We have two versions to choose from:
Buffy Sing Along Home Kit

• 12 Party Poppers
• 12 Grrr Argh Finger Monsters
• 12 Kazoos
• 12 Vampire Teeth
• 12 Bottles of Bubbles
• A Candy Surprise
• Instructions for how to hold your own Sing Along
• A challenging collection of Buffy Trivia
• FREE Buffy Musical promotional poster and selection of Buffy Musical promotional pins (while supplies last)

Only $20 (plus $8.95 shipping, sent USPS flat rate)

Buffy Sing Along Deluxe Kit

• 25 of everything mentioned above
• The official CD Soundtrack for “Once More With Feeling” from Rounder Records
• FREE Once More With Feeling or Buffy Season 8 promo poster (while supplies last)

Only $50 (plus $8.95 shipping, sent USPS flat rate)

Note: The above offer is good for U.S. shipping and sales only. If you are interested in foreign orders, please contact us directly at buffysingalong@gmail.com.

THE REJECTION SHOW
Weds, Nov 14 @ 8:00
At the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, New York City
Tickets $5.00 - Reserve in advance

The New York cast of the Buffy Musical have been invited to participate in this month’s installment of one of the best shows at the UCB Theatre, and tomorrow night we are going to be on stage one more time to tell the story of our dramatic rise to fame and return to obscurity (for now). We’ll also be passing out goodie bags to everyone in the audience!

The Rejection Show is a comedic based event that embraces the rejected and “turned down” material of professional and amateur writers, comedians, cartoonists, artists, and human beings whom display their creative “failures” live on stage. Hosted by Jon Friedman.

IN OTHER NEWS

Sorry for the lack of updates (other than the news about our Home Kits - still on sale!), but with the Writers Strike in full motion there isn’t much to report on our end. Joss has some good words about the strike (in this YouTube interview as well), and until the bigwigs get their heads out of their butts and properly pay all the people who create great television and film we’re all going to be a little entertainment starved. Bring your local WGA picketers some cookies, or find out more that you can do at Fans4Writers.com

NOW AVAILABLE:
THE BUFFY SING ALONG
D.I.Y. HOME KIT

Just because we’re on, let’s call it hiatus, doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the Buffy Musical on your own with our Do-It-Yourself Buffy Sing Along Kit!

All you need to provide is your own DVD of Once More With Feeling, a group of friends, and a whole bunch of Buffy enthusiasm. We have two versions to choose from:
Buffy Sing Along Home Kit

• 12 Party Poppers
• 12 Grrr Argh Finger Monsters
• 12 Kazoos
• 12 Vampire Teeth
• 12 Bottles of Bubbles
• A Candy Surprise
• Instructions for how to hold your own Sing Along
• A challenging collection of Buffy Trivia
• FREE Buffy Musical promotional poster and selection of Buffy Musical promotional pins (while supplies last)

Only $20 (plus $8.95 shipping, sent USPS flat rate)

Buffy Sing Along Deluxe Kit

• 25 of everything mentioned above
• The official CD Soundtrack for “Once More With Feeling” from Rounder Records
• FREE Once More With Feeling or Buffy Season 8 promo poster (while supplies last)

Only $50 (plus $8.95 shipping, sent USPS flat rate)

Note: The above offer is good for U.S. shipping and sales only. If you are interested in foreign orders, please contact us directly at buffysingalong@gmail.com.

Just wanted to mention that we’re selling these goodie bags not only because we have a lot of extra goodie bag stuff around (sudden cancellation will do that to you), but also to help raise some money to help defray the costs around the cancellation. So, thank you to everyone for your support during this difficult time. As soon as we can get back on the road and bring the Buffy love to you in person - we’ll be right there again, singing and dancing in the theatres together. Stay tuned and we’ll let you know as soon as we know what will happen next.

Grr Argh portrait via Flickr user Alykat (from the DC show).