It's about Milli Vanilli, and it's about time. WOW, a work-in-progress closing out its brief run this weekend at BRIC House, recasts the Milli Vanilli story as an experimental opera, using spontaneous composition and live-feed video to explore the notorious CD skipping incident of 1989. (To recap, a faulty backing track at a concert compelled the band's creator to admit that Rob and Fab didn't sing their own songs, live or in the studio.) While we certainly don't revel in Milli Vanilli's downfall, we did start thinking about other pop stars whose struggles with authenticity would make for really smashing operas.
La(na) TraviataTaking a cue from WOW, which "challenges the endless repetition of the CD-skip moment," this immersive theatrical experience frames the space with two giant screens -- one showing old footage of Del Rey's short-lived singer-songwriter phase, when she was known as Lizzy Grant, and the other looping the listless pirouettes of her notorious Saturday Night Live performance. Critical hatchet jobs, blog rants and Brian Williams' face flash across these images. The audience is encouraged to get up and explore, perusing the dusty acoustic guitar, the boxes of Lana Del Ray [sic] a.k.a. Lizzy Grant CDs, the checkered vans and Ben Sherman polo shirts from the ska phase she almost certainly had -- while the lead contralto sits on the floor, phone in hand, singing real-time hate-tweets to the tune of "Once Upon a Dream."
Born With TheseInnocence clashes with puritanical fervor in a heartbreaking piece based on the travails of the goth-glam metal band Black Veil Brides. Last year, a photograph surfaced of the band playing in front of a tower of fake speaker cabinets. Singer Andy Biersack tweeted this in response: "We use staging in our stage show. Also these are tattoos, I wasn't born with the batman logo on my arm." The title song sees Biersack stark naked in a shrinking pool of light. As the music fades, he touches his Batman tattoo and says, "Actually, that one's henna."
La Sinfonia AgrodolceIn which a young ensemble on its way to superstardom is waylaid by a ribald band of pirates who uproariously demand full credit for a song they didn't write. Viewers will notice a resemblance to the "Bittersweet Symphony" case, in which the Rolling Stones and their army of lawyers managed to transform the Verve's hit song (which contained a sample of a rearranged Stones song) into a Jagger-Richards composition. Hence the scene in which the young bandleader, now penniless, delivers his plaintive aria, "You Guys Are Fucking Dicks."
Patty No-TakesIn a time of confusion and corpulence (the middle-Clinton years), Hole drummer Patty Schemel is exiled from the studio during the making of Celebrity Skin, her parts steamrolled by an uncredited studio drummer whom Schemel bitterly refers to as "Johnny One-Take" in the documentary Hit So Hard. But unlike the documentary, the opera comes to an anguished climax with "Take 1,000": while the villainous producer demands take after take (think "Night Train" from Einstein on the Beach, or "39 Lashes" from Jesus Christ Superstar), Schemel rises miserably from her drums and is carried offtage by a chorus of men in wrestling shoes and fingerless leather gloves.
Boney in the USSR
Inspired by the groundbreaking Nixon in China, this Iron Curtain-ruffling spectacular follows megaplatinum dance act Boney M on its 1978 tour of the Soviet Union. Bandleader Bobby Farrell gives a tour de force performance when Boney M performs in Red Square, lifting the spirits of almost 3,000 Russians with songs like "Baby Do You Wanna Bump." The band's mysterious creator, Frank Farian, watches from the wings, at one point stepping downstage to sing the ominous "Needs Stretch Pants." As we learn in a chilling coda, Farian goes on to create Milli Vanilli.
Don't forget to make your reservations for Valentine's Day at White Castle, folks. (Chicago is almost full.) [via 
There's a petition with the U.S. government to deport Justin Bieber back to Canada and it already has 100,000 signatures, which means the government has to officially respond. [via 
Boom. [via 
Barney's spring campaign features 17 transgender models, all photographed by Bruce Weber. The models' personal stories will also run alongside the images on 
Local dance-pop outfit LEGS play Rockwood Stage 2 tonight. This 
Whether you're psyched that the Super Bowl is heading to New Jersey this year or you think its presence in the New York metro area sounds more horrifying than the bastard child of New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day, we've got ten fun NYC spots to catch the game for fans of all stripes.
Last week Ovation debuted its new season of its formerly online-only series 
Facing the committee
Misha Nonoo's presentation
Juan Carlos Obando gets a model ready for the committee
Haha, your mom owns this restaurant. [
Don't be late! [
Friday inspiration. [
10. Victor Cruz, Wide Receiver for the New York Giants
9. Jay Cutler, Quarterback for the Chicago Bears
8. Troy Polamalu, Strong Safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers
7. Tramaine Brock, Cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers
6. Mark Sanchez, Quarterback for the New York Jets
5. Arian Foster, Running Back for the Houston Texans
4. Eric Decker, Wide Receiver for the Denver Broncos
(Photo via ESPN)
2. Tom Brady, Quarterback for the New England Patriots
(Photo via ESPN)
Honorable Mention: Tim Tebow
Like we've always said, why throw shade when your candle can do it for you?
Ladies, tell em'.
Inspired by Wes Anderson's troubled heroines, these journals are perfect for the bookish 
A zine "inspired by Lindsay Lohan and her struggles with the law." #neverforget
Hannah Horvath v. A Model. Who wore it best??? 
"Girls don't like boys / girls like balloons and money" is how that Good Charlotte song goes, right? 
Now we can FINALLY reenact The Shining every night before we go to sleep.
In the name of Cher Horowitz we're bringing back "Talk to the hand" and "As if!"
As they say, besties that Etsy together, stay together.
Oh god, what have I gotten myself into?
With instructor Emily at my favorite '80s SoulCycle class.
Prabal Gurung released his first-ever print campaign today starring a gorgeous Liya Kebede appearing in diptychs next to a flaming rose. [via 
Finger on the Pulse is hosting a "A Midwinter's Disco Slumber Party" tonight at Playland Motel on the Rockaways. There'll be a party bus schlepping kids from the East Village and Brooklyn and guests have the option of buying an all-in package that includes rooms at the motel for the night or a 
Fiercest Instagram Photo of the Week: 
Best Kanye Photo We Saw All Week: This photo 
Basically this is the face Peyton Manning made the entire night. Sad times. [
His bro Eli was just as sad. Your "Fuck this" reaction shot for 2014, right here folks. [@
Paul McCartney eating pizza during the game, giving no shizzes. #TeamZa. [
Oh, also this. Bruno Mars is quickly nearing National Treasure status. [
BOOM. [
OMG, Joe Namath's TRADITIONAL FUR COAT. He looked like a Long Island nana embalmed in self-tanner and hairspray. Get it, gurl! [
Also, this. [
This week, Hannah meets a new publisher and Marnie goes to Ray for some straight-talk express.
I wouldn't exactly say I'm a sports fan but when my friend, Jackass
genius, Johnny Knoxville asked me if I wanted to go to the Super Bowl,
how could I say "no"? I met him at his hotel and quickly realized that
my delusions of being famous are just that -- total delusions.
Everywhere we went that day, hysterical fans yelled Johnny's name and
asked for photos and basically made a big stink over him. It's fun
seeing full-grown straight men get hysterical over the star of Bad Grandpa. 
Even if you don't know anything about football, there was an excitement
about being there and seeing 82,000 fans freak out. Right as the game
was starting, I noticed that they flashed Johnny and his wife, Naomi,
and I on the Jumbotron. Luckily I had taken off my coat and was wearing
my L'Wren Scott sparkle cardigan. Let me tell ya, sequins look great on
the Jumbotron.
I was expecting nachos, mozzarella sticks and all
kinds of other rotten, Super Bowl tailgate food. Unfortunately the
Coaches Club was a bit more sophisticated with tacos by Jean-Georges and
sushi by some fancy chef. That said, I had an order of french fries and
two big Mrs. Field's cookies.
Former 
There was a moment of excitement when my new boyfriend, Eric Decker, caught a pass. I was so proud we included him in our 
Since
things looked hopeless for the Broncos, we left at the beginning of the
fourth quarter and, thank god, there was no traffic yet. The New
Jersey police had the craziest uniforms though -- they looked like they
were Bulgarian border guards or something.
A naked Miley Cyrus with bleached eyebrows and bobbed hair 
Serge Becker's outpost of London's super chic, 
Do they make this in bedroom art form? [via 
Who wore the apathy better? [via 
BOBBY ROZAY. [via 
Busted. [via 
Thank you for the lovely sentiment. [via