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Why do some great Broadway shows fail, and mediocre ones thrive? How does the cast onstage manage to keep tabs on the audience without missing a beat or a line? Ken Bloom, author of Show and Tell: The New Book of Broadway Audiences, delves into the inner workings of the Broadway stage and the culture surrounding Broadway hips and flops.

The post Secrets and trivia from the Broadway stage appeared first on OUPblog.

Make It Pop Interview and Would You Rather

Nickelodeon’s Make it Pop is super-POPular right now. The show features three friends Sun-Hi (pop diva), Jodi (fashionista), and Corki (super-smart) who form a band in boarding school. They balance school and friendships . . . and spontaneously break out into song and dance numbers! The next episode titled “The Gift” airs Saturday, December 5th at 9:00 p.m. It is holiday season at MacKendrick Prep! When a blizzard traps everyone inside the school, Sun Hi, Jodi, and Corki learn the true meaning of the holidays. Meanwhile, the teens meet a mysterious new student.

I met the cast of Make It Pop and they are soooo sweet! Megan Lee, age 20, plays Sun Hi. Louriza Tronco, age 18, plays Jodi. Erika Tham, age 18, plays Corki. Dale Whibley, age 18, plays Caleb. Here are their answers to my questions . . .

Q: What is your favorite song that you have performed on the show?
All: “Light It Up!”

Q: Would you rather go to boarding school or be home-schooled?
All: Boarding school!
Erika: I am homeschooled and I miss the interaction with other people.

Q: Would you rather share a room with 2 friends or have your own room?
Louriza: I can’t share a room. I talk in my sleep. No one wants to hear that!
Dale: How big is this room?
Megan: I would share a room. I have 2 siblings so I’m used to it.

Q: If there were a magic spell that could make you either the smartest person in school, the most talented singer in school, or the best looking person in school, which would you choose?
All: Smartest!
Dale: Then you have the power to do anything.

Q: What book would you recommend?
Dale: The BONE series.
Louriza: Harry Potter.
Erika: The Airhead series (for ages 12 and up).
Megan: Goosebumps.

Now it’s YOUR turn to answer Ratha’s questions: Would You Rather . . .

1. Be a celebrity diva like Sun-Hi OR super-smart teen genius like Corki?
2. Go to boarding school OR home school?
3. Lose your voice OR sprain your ankle? (inspired by Episode 5 “I Can’t Hear Me!”)
4. Be in a reality show about your life (Episode 16 “The Curse of Reality”) OR be a hermit and live hidden away in the desert?
5. Be in an egg fight (Episode 17 “Eggs!”) OR a jello fight?
6. Be roommates with your 2 best friends OR meet 2 completely new friends?
7. Be able to sing like Demi Lovato OR dance like Ross Lynch?

POP your answers in the Comments below, and let us know what you think of the show!

Meet the Characters in the New Star Wars Movie!

Set 30 years after Return of the Jedi (rated PG), episode VII The Force Awakens will also feature Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia, but of course they are much older now.

Photo courtesy of LucasFilm

There are also 3 important new characters. Here is what little I know about them so far. . .

Finn is a runaway stormtrooper whose TIE Fighter crashes on Jakku, a remote desert planet in the Outer Rim Territories. He also has a lightsaber in this picture. Where did that come from? Has he been trained as a Sith or a Jedi?

Rey is a scavenger living on Jakku. She was abandoned there by her parents when she was 5 years old, so she’s, you know, pretty tough and independent. It looks like she and Finn become friends somehow.

And Kylo Ren is the dark knight who wants to continue the evil reign of terror that Darth Vader left. He looks really mean, guys, and his lightsaber is homemade. How evil do you have to be to make your own lightsaber? He doesn’t look as scary as freaky red-eyed Darth Maul, but he does look like a pretty evil villain.

Strangely, we don’t have a picture of how Luke Skywalker will look in the new movie. Why? What are they hiding from us? Did he become a hermit like Ben Kenobi? Or has he gone to the dark side?? We won’t know for sure until December 18 when the movie comes out.

Are you a Star wars fan? What do you think of the new movie posters? Let us know in the Comments!

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Photos courtesy of LucasFilm

Charlie Bown and the Peanuts Gang Would You Rather

Earlier today, the Peanuts characters answered some of my most important questions, like “Why is Lucy so mean?” Now we will hear from the real life kids who voice characters in The Peanuts Movie (rated G): Alexander Garfin, Francesca Capaldi, Marleik Mar Mar Walker, and Noah Schnapp. I asked them these would you rather questions. Their answers are pretty hilarious and a little surprising!

Would you rather . . .

Have a perfectly round head like Charlie Brown OR have red hair like the Little Red-Haired Girl?
Francesca (who plays the Little Red-Haired Girl): I already have red hair, so that’s easy! (If you haven’t seen Francesca on Dog with a Blog, you can see her gorgeous hair in this video.)
Noah (who plays Charlie Brown): I would want a round head. That would be cool!

Carry a blanket with you everywhere like Linus OR wear Charlie Brown’s zigzag shirt every day?
Marleik (who plays Franklin): Can we change the color? I want the shirt to be red!

Have Sally as a sister OR Lucy as a sister?
Marleik and Noah: Sally!
Francesca: Sally. Lucy is mean!
Alexander (who plays Linus): I would pick Lucy. Sally is annoying!

Have Snoopy as a pet OR have Linus as your best friend?
All 4 kids: Snoopy!
Me: Wow! No love for Linus?
Marleik: Linus is an old man and a baby.
Francesca: Yeah, he’s an old baby!

Harsh! Do you agree with the Peanuts cast’s answers? Leave YOUR answers in the Comments. Then watch this Kids Press Reporter’s interview with the stars and tell us if you are excited for The Peanuts Movie!

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Images courtesy of 20th Century Fox and Peanuts Worldwide LLC

 The Peanuts Movie (rated G) is coming to theaters today and we are excited because the Peanuts gang visited the STACKS to answer some of our questions. Read on to find out why Lucy is so mean, why Linus always carries his blanket, and how Charlie Brown can ever be a winner!

Q: What is it like to have a dog like Snoopy?
Charlie Brown: Well, it’s not without its challenges. He requires a lot of supervision. And costume changes. But I honestly think having a dog makes the world better. And I’ll tell you this— it’s never boring.

Q: How do you keep up hope even when everything goes wrong?
Charlie Brown: I try not to focus on all that’s going wrong but on what’s going right. And if nothing is going right, I go home and pet Snoopy.

Q: Linus, when will you stop carrying around your blanket?
Linus: I suppose when I’m a little older I’ll have to stop carrying my blanket. But then I’ll have it made into a sport coat. I think the bigger question is why don’t more people carry around blankets?

Q: Sally, what is it like being Charlie Brown’s little sister?
Sally: It’s not so bad. He’s kind of embarrassing. And sometimes I pretend we’re not related. But if he weren’t here, I would have to feed the dog! He’s actually very supportive and helpful. No matter how mean I am to him. It’s so annoying!

Q: Lucy, do you feel bad about being so mean to Charlie Brown?
Lucy: I don’t think I’m being mean. As a trained psychiatrist, part of my job is to make the patient examine himself on the inside. Sometimes that requires a lot of yelling from the outside. What you call “mean,” I call “caring with crabbiness.”

Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Q: Do you have any tips for Charlie Brown about how to be a winner?
Linus: Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, strive to be the Charlie Browniest.
Sally: Yes, don’t play sports. Play checkers. Don’t start any trouble— but don’t be afraid either. Remember what Theodore Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a beagle.”
Lucy: Yes, never fall in love with a musician and never pay more than 5 cents for advice. You have to be true to yourself. Unless of course you’re Charlie Brown. Then you have to just hope for a miracle.

Check back later today for a special Charlie Brown Would You Rather with the actual cast from The Peanuts Movie!

This Blog Post is Sponsored by Warner Bros. Entertainment.

Way back in the winter of 1820, the New England whaleship Essex was attacked by a much bigger, mammoth-sized whale. The incident would inspire American author and poet Herman Melville to write Moby-Dick, but this was a real-life disaster in which a ship with a crew sailed into the Pacific and never returned.

An exciting new film, In the Heart of the Sea (rated PG-13), is based on the Nathaniel Philbrick book, In the Heart of the Sea—The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex (for ages 12 and up).

The Pittsburgh-born author’s book is a work of nonfiction. It explores the grim path of the crew of the Essex, which headed out to sea after leaving Nantucket in the summer of 1819. The ship barely survived a bout of nasty weather not long after it set sail, enduring significant damage in the aftermath, and was sunk after the huge sperm whale attacked it during November of the following year.

Opening in theaters on December 11 and starring Chris Hemsworth, In the Heart of the Sea tells the powerful true story of the Essex and celebrates good storytelling.

Tell us in the Comments below about the last good piece of nonfiction storytelling you read, and leave your caption for this photo . . .

It’s a New Peanuts Movie, Charlie Brown!

Remember Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the Peanuts gang? If you are like me, you watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown every year at Halloween, and A Charlie Brown Christmas every year in December. Well, they are back in a brand-new movie coming to theaters on November 6, 2015!

Image courtesy 20th Century Fox

In The Peanuts Movie, Charlie Brown, the world’s most beloved underdog, embarks upon an epic and heroic quest to befriend the new girl next door, while his best pal, the lovable beagle Snoopy, takes to the skies to pursue his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron. Will they succeed, or will they go down in flames?

Also, if you are in New York City next week, you are invited to some cool events! Check it out and ask your parents if you can come celebrate with the Peanuts gang in NYC.

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

A Scary Interview!—Video by Adedayo Perkovich

Our Kid Reporter talks with author R.L. Stine and the cast of the new Goosebumps movie (rated PG).

Henry Danger Would You Rather . . . Dangerously Super!

We know you guys are “dangerously” deep into Nickelodeon’s hit show Henry Danger. It stars Jace Norman, as Henry, a 13-year-old boy who gets a part-time job as a superhero sidekick. His boss is the small town superhero named Captain Man. He pretends to work in a shop called “Junk ‘n’ Stuff” with a secret underground lair where Captain Man trains him. There, he becomes . . . Kid Danger. Only his best friend Charlotte knows his secret, while his other best friend Jasper is in the dark.

Kid Danger and Captain Man keep the city of Swellview safe and . . . swell. Campy adventures with zany villains round out the show. If you are obsessed with Henry Danger, check out our Henry Danger Would You Rather below!

Would you rather . . .

1. Be a superhero sidekick OR a villain henchman?

2. Be indestructible like Captain Man OR be able to come back to life?

3. Have a secret job in a candy factory OR a cloning lab?

4. Fly OR be invisible?

5. Have your baby brother turned into a monster (Episode 1) OR have an alien baby egg hatch in your house (Episode 7)?

6. Be captured by the mad scientist Dr. Minyak OR have to babysit “The Toddler” (dwarf baby criminal).

7. Have a crazy machine turn you into a manly beast (Episode 10) OR a living Barbie doll?

So today’s assignment, should you choose to accept, is to let us know your answers in the Comments below! And let us know what YOU think of Henry Danger!

Over and out.

-Ratha, STACKS Writer

Beetlejuice Sequel In the Works?

Made in 1988, the movie Beetlejuice (rated PG) is a Halloween classic now. It’s about a couple named Adam and Barbara Maitland who are ghosts trapped in their own house. When a new family moves in, the ghosts decide they want them out, but then they become friends with the depressed teen daughter Lydia (played by Winona Ryder). Trying to help the Maitlands, she summons Beetlejuice (played by Michael Keaton), “the afterlife’s leading bio-exorcist,” to help them. But it doesn’t take her long to regret the decision because this guy is a creepy, bug-eating ghoul and he is NUTSO!

So if you liked Beetlejuice, you’ll be excited to know that a spin-off movie is expected to begin production by the end of this year. The upcoming film will be called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, which I can only imagine which be equally as wacky and bizarre as the first movie. It is possible that Michael Keaton will again play his role as Beetlejuice, and Winona Ryder may be in the movie too.

Are you a Beetlejuice fan? What do you think about a new Beetlejuice movie? leave a Comment! And if you are looking for a Halloween movie to go see right now, the Goosebumps movie (rated PG) hits theaters today!

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

ROWAN BLANCHARD AND PARIS BERELC STAR IN THE DISNEY “Monstober” MOVIE INVISIBLE SISTER, PREMIERING FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 ON DISNEY CHANNEL!

Photo courtesy Disney Channel/Bob D’Amico

Set in New Orleans during Halloween, Invisible Sister follows Cleo (played by Rowan Blanchard), an introverted young science prodigy whose class project accidentally turns her popular older sister and the school’s star lacrosse player, Molly (played by Paris Berelc), invisible.

Cleo, who has become accustomed to living in Molly’s shadow, is forced to step outside her comfort zone and into the shoes of her older sister to take her place on the day of an important game. As the sisters try to convince their friends, teachers, and Molly’s lacrosse team that nothing is wrong, they must rely on each other like never before. In doing so, they gain a better understanding of one another and themselves.

Meanwhile, they are up against the clock to find an antidote to reverse the effects of Cleo’s experiment before Molly’s invisibility becomes permanent.

Invisible Sister also stars Karan Brar (BUNK’D, Jessie) as Cleo’s quirky best buddy and fellow science enthusiast; Rachel Crow (X Factor) as Molly’s outgoing best friend and teammate; Will Meyers (Bella and the Bulldogs) as Cleo’s crush and science scholar; and Austin Fryberger (Kirby Buckets) as Molly’s goofy but affable boyfriend.

YO-KAI WATCH WILL PREMIERE ON DISNEY XD MONDAY, OCTOBER 5.

Ever have a day where nothing goes right? Was it bad luck? Nope! That was the work of the Yo-kai, beings who cause life’s daily annoyances. With the Yo-kai Watch on his wrist, Nate, an average fifth grader, along with his Yo-kai companions Jibanyan and Whisper, can now communicate with the Yo-kai. There’s just one problem – they’re everywhere, and they love to cause mischief!

The wildly popular Japanese animated comedy series Yo-kai Watch is set to make its U.S. debut on Disney XD. Viewers will be treated to a new episode each day during the premiere week, Monday, October 5 through Friday, October 9, before it begins ongoing weekly debuts on Monday evenings at 5:00 p.m., ET/PT.

Are you an anime fan? Will you be watching? Tell us in the Comments.

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

STARS OF BUNK’D HOST DISNEY CHANNEL’S “MONSTOBER!”

The cast of BUNK’D will host “Monstober,” the month-long Halloween celebration on Disney Channel, beginning Thursday, October 1. Here are some of the events happening during Monstober!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 at 8:00 p.m. Jessie
“The Ghostess with the Mostest” – When Jessie makes the Ross kids bring Stuart along for trick-or-treating, he tells them a haunting story about Abigail, a ghost who is out to get them. One by one, the kids mysteriously disappear. Then, Jessie attends a masquerade party and falls for a mysterious boy. Guest starring Austin North and Sarah Gilman from I Didn’t Do It.
8:30 p.m. Girl Meets World
“Girl Meets World of Terror 2″ – Riley and Maya meet the ghost of the bay window, who happens to be a flapper girl from the 1920s. Guest starring Austin & Ally‘s Ross Lynch and Laura Marano.
9:00 p.m. I Didn’t Do It
“Bite Club” – When Logan and Delia go to NY for a Science Presentation as Marie Antoinette and Albert Einstein, they run into Trish and Dez and a crazy fortune teller at the city’s biggest Halloween party. Meanwhile, Betty enlists Garrett to take her nephew Kevin trick-or-treating, and the two turn the tradition into a major candy scam. Guest starring Austin & Ally‘s Raini Rodriguez and Calum Worthy.
9:25 p.m. Mickey Mouse
“Black and White” – Mickey attempts to save face in front of Minnie after he’s scared as white as a ghost.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 at 8:00 p.m. K.C. Undercover
“All Howl’s Eve” – Ernie and Judy must travel to NYC for the Central Park Spooktacular to intercept an evil wolf serum, but their mission is interrupted when they run into Emma and Zuri at the party. Meanwhile, Marisa and K.C. throw their own Halloween bash back at the house, and K.C. decides to dress up as a spy to impress the new boy in school, River. Guest starring Peyton List and Skai Jackson from Jessie and BUNK’D.
8:30 p.m. Best Friends Whenever
“Cyd and Shelby’s Haunted Escape” – Cyd and Shelby use Barry’s new invention to teleport themselves to NYC’s Central Park Spooktacular and wind up getting trapped in a haunted house with Riley and Lucas. Guest starring Rowan Blanchard and Peyton Meyer from Girl Meets World.
9:00 p.m. Austin & Ally
“Scary Spirits & Spooky Stories” – While visiting New York, the group attends the Central Park Spooktacular party, which inspires them to tell their own scary stories. Guest starring K.C. Undercover‘s Kamil McFadden and Trinitee Stokes.
9:30 p.m. Liv & Maddie
“Haunt-A-Rooney” – Maddie and Willow prepare for “Senior Scare,” a Ridgewood tradition where the high school seniors scare the middle schoolers. Meanwhile, when Joey and Liv are at the Central Park Spooktacular, Liv falls into a precarious predicament with a photographer. In an effort to fix the mishap and create a diversion, Liv enlists her fans, Cyd and Shelby, to help pull off a flash mob. Guest starring Best Friends Whenever‘s Landry Bender & Lauren Taylor.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 at 8:00 p.m. Invisible Sister
This Disney Channel Original Movie follows science prodigy Cleo, whose class experiment turns her popular sister and star athlete, Molly, invisible. With the help of Cleo’s best friend and fellow science enthusiast, George; and her crush, Carter; Molly’s boyfriend, The Coug; and her best friend and teammate, Nikki; the sisters race against the clock on Halloween to find the antidote to reverse Molly’s invisibility before it becomes permanent. Starring Rowan Blanchard (Girl Meets World), Paris Berelc (Mighty Med), Karan Brar (BUNK’D, Jessie), Rachel Crow (X Factor), Will Meyers (Bella and the Bulldogs) and Austin Fryberger (Kirby Buckets).

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 at 8:00 p.m. Monsters University

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 at 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. MAL-OWEEN marathon
Liv & Maddie episodes and encore presentations of Descendants, the Descendants: Set It Off! special and Descendants: Wicked World animated shorts.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 at 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Spooks & Chills marathon featuring encore presentations of Halloween-themed episodes.

Actor Levi Miller and Director Joe Wright Introduce the Pan Movie

Levi Miller, the actor who plays Pan and Joe Wright, the director of the new Pan movie (not yet rated) visited New York and shared a sneak peek preview with a group of lucky people, and I was one of them! The cool thing about these special movie previews is sometimes they have fun extras like ice cream sundaes and a candy bar . . . 

. . . and actual sets and props from the movie, like this tent from the jungle village.

Q: Why did you want to make a movie about Peter Pan?
Joe Wright: The character of Peter reminds me of myself and also of my son, so I made this film for my son.

Q: How did you choose Levi Miller to play Pan?
Joe Wright: We saw thousands and thousands of auditions. Suddenly Levi’s face popped up and we said, “Oh, there he is! That’s him!” When I called him to tell him he got the part, he just started screaming and I had to put the phone down because he was screaming so much.

Q: There is a lot of action in this movie.  How did you like doing the stunts and fight scenes?
Levi Miller: There were a couple of stunts I hated, like falling and being kicked. But flying was fun. At first it was difficult and the wires rubbed my arms, but when I got up in the air it was fun.
Joe Wright: Tiger Lily is the best fighter in the film. The boys are a bit rubbish compared to her! She’s quite tough.

Q: What was your favorite scene to film?
Levi Miller: All the scenes in the jungle village were my favorites.

I have to say from the preview I saw, the village scenes look the coolest to me, too, and Tiger Lily is definitely fierce! This is her actual costume that I got to see up close. Isn’t it amazing?

Are you excited about the Pan movie? Tell us in the Comments!

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Ruby Barnhill Will Be Sophie in The BFG Movie

Roald Dahl was born on September 13 (now known as Roald Dahl Day), and The BFG was actually his favorite story that he wrote. Last year, we announced that Steven Spielberg will be directing the movie version coming out in 2016. Now we can announce that Ruby Barnhill has been cast as the young girl, Sophie. 

The BFG will be 10-year-old Ruby Barnhill’s first feature film role. She has been acting for two years and lives in Cheshire, England with her parents, younger sister, and Tom the cat, and is a member of her local youth theatre.

Ruby Barnhill

“I feel incredibly lucky and I’m so happy,” she said. “Sophie gets to go on this wonderful adventure and I’m so excited that I get to play her.”

Steven Spielberg said, “After a lengthy search, I feel Roald Dahl himself would have found Ruby every bit as marvelous as we do. We have discovered a wonderful Sophie in Ruby Barnhill.”

Roald Dahl’s grandson said, “The character of Sophie is one of the most endearing young heroes in Roald Dahl’s stories. She is as brave as she is curious and has an innate sense of wonder. Many congratulations to Ruby on landing the role. We hope that making The BFG proves an utterly magical adventure for her.”

Well, how could it NOT be a magical experience? I am totally jealous of her! What do you think? Does she look like Sophie to you? Leave your thoughts in the Comments.

–Sonja, STACKS Staffer

This Blog Post is Sponsored by Sony Pictures Animation.

Are you ready to go BACK to HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA?

Or maybe you’re checking in for the first time? No matter; the good news is that Dracula’s formerly monsters-only hotel policy has finally relaxed. He’s opening his doors to human guests, and considering his grandson isn’t exactly a pureblood vampire, it’s about time!

Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation

Coming to theaters on September 25, Hotel Transylvania 2 (rated PG) has Dracula worried about his grandson Dennis’s half-human, half-vampire roots. When Drac’s old-school dad, Vlad, discovers that a change in policy allows for human guests and that his great-grandson isn’t 100% vampire, things get batty!

“There are four generations living under one roof, which obviously will be intense, no matter what the family is,” says actor Andy Samberg, who voices Johnny in the new movie. As Mavis’s human husband and father to Dennis, good ol’ Johnny isn’t only battling your standard in-law gripes.

“Johnny’s not just up against Drac, but now Vlad who is even more old-school in the tradition of being a vampire,” says Samberg. Obviously, Mavis is branching outside of that by marrying a human. So it’s complicated, but it’s also wonderful, and it’s them all getting to know each other and learning to understand each other.”

Actress and singer, Selena Gomez, is the voice of Johnny’s more-than-a-century-old wife, Mavis, in Hotel Transylvania 2. She agrees with her co-star on the fun in packing everyone into the hotel in the new film.

“Dracula brings everyone together,” says Gomez. “I think that’s sweet and endearing because he wants to include everyone.”

Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation

What can we learn from this, and from Hotel Transylvania 2, about celebrating our similarities and differences—monster or not? That lesson isn’t lost on Gomez. In fact, it’s somewhat close to home for her.

“Extended family in Hotel Transylvania 2—whether they’re Frankenstein or the Wolf gang —everybody kind of comes together under one roof,” Gomez says. “That’s a cultural thing, in my opinion, because that’s exactly how my dad’s side of the family is. It’s not a good thing [to them] when you move out of the house. It’s almost like [they] want them to stay there forever, and you just pass it along, and I think that’s Drac’s idea. His intention is really good, but that’s something everyone can relate to.”

Check out the loads of fun that all goes down under one roof in the Hotel Transylvania 2 trailer, and see the movie in theaters on September 25.  

Goosebumps Movie Comes to Theaters October 16!

I love the Goosebumps series so much because it’s just the right amount of scary and surprising! So it was a dream-come-true when I was invited to an early screening of the Goosebumps movie (rated PG).

Let me tell you, the movie does not disappoint! It is so cool to see all the monsters from R. L. Stine’s stories come together in one action-packed movie. Jack Black does a wonderful job playing R. L. Stine, and the whole cast really brings the Goosebumps series to life on the big screen! The movie features all my favorite Goosebumps monsters and shows Stine’s huge imagination and creativity to the fullest. I was hanging on the edge of my seat and wishing it would never end!

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

At one point in the movie, the R. L. Stine character says, “A good story has three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the twist!” I think that quote sums up the movie for me because it includes all of my favorite classic Goosebumps moments while also ending with a shocking twist! Sorry, no spoilers! You have to wait until October 16 when the movie comes to theaters.

photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

If you were writing your own Goosebumps story, which monsters would you include? Would you keep all the classic characters or make up your own? And what fun twist would you throw in to take readers on your exciting and spooky journey?

Let us know the details of your Goosebumps story in the Comments below, and remember not to be too graphic or scary for kids younger than you!

Megan, STACKS Intern

Bunk’d: Disney Channel’s New Jessie Spin-Off Show

Emma, Ravi, and Zuri Ross leave their extravagant New York City penthouse and head off to Camp Kikiwaka, a rustic summer camp in Maine where their parents met as teenagers. The Ross kids are complete fish out of water in their new setting and must band together for support.

Emma and Ravi step into new roles as CIT’s (Counselor in Training), learning how to be resourceful, responsible role models to their campers. Lou, the cheerful head counselor, and Xander, the camp heartthrob, step in to show them the ropes. Meanwhile, Zuri makes new friends with her fellow campers.

Photo credit Disney Channel/Greg Gayne

Together the Ross kids and their friends must navigate the hijinks and curveballs thrown by the owner of the camp, Gladys, who with the help of her sneaky niece, Hazel, is out to get them because of her decades-old rivalry with their mom. Nevertheless, along with their new friends, Emma, Ravi, and Zuri adapt to their new “home away from home” and settle into their exciting new lives at Camp Kikiwaka.

Have you seen this show yet? Are you a fan? Is it as good as Jessie? Leave a Comment and tell us what you think.

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

This Blog Post Is Sponsored by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Hey! You look like the type who might appreciate a good book, is that right? You might even like a good origin story—the story of how a hero ends up with incredible abilities!

In the new live-action film Pan (not yet rated), opening October 9, Peter (played by Levi Miller) is a mischievous 12-year-old boy with a rebellious streak, but in the bleak London orphanage where he has lived his whole life, those qualities do not exactly fly. One night, Peter is spirited off to a fantastical world of pirates, warriors, and fairies called Neverland. There he is tasked with defeating the ruthless pirate Blackbeard (played by Hugh Jackman) to save Neverland and discover his true destiny—to become the hero who will forever be known as Peter Pan.

Tell us about the most amazing book you’ve ever read in the Comments section below.

Plus, check out the Book Explorer Quiz to discover more great books! And while we’re at it, watch the movie trailer and read more about Pan in this mini movie magazine.

Meet Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, and Booboo Stewart from Descendants

Attention villains and heroes alike! The new Disney Channel movie Descendants premieres Friday, July 31, at 8 p.m.! Are you excited to see what happens after “happily-ever-after?” Well, I got the chance to sit down with Cameron, Sofia, and Booboo and discuss their roles in the movie!

Image credit: Disney Channel/Jack Rowand

It was a blast getting to know Cameron, Sofia, and Booboo. I could see the camaraderie and friendship between them as they poked fun at each other and laughed together. They all reminded me in good, not evil, ways of their characters in Descendants. It was clear how much they loved creating this movie. Watch my exclusive videos with the stars below!

They started off with some words of wisdom about lessons fans can take away from Descendants. Apparently, this movie has a lot to teach you about growing up and becoming your own person.

Things became even more interesting when I asked what they wished they had known before filming the movie. Watch their funny responses here. Seems like Cameron Boyce did not like wearing that tight leather jacket!

Want to see more videos? Descendants stars reveal their favorite villains, other villain’s kids they would like to meet, glimpses into their own childhoods, second chances, and what it means to be the fairest of them all!

I could have hung out with these awesome stars all day, and I can’t wait to see Descendants! Leave a Comment about the interview and what about Descendants you’re most excited to see!

Megan, STACKS Intern

AUGUST MATURO from Girl Meets World (Auggie)

Q: Is there an actor or an actress that you would love to guest star on Girl Meets World?
August: I would say President Obama and the First Lady to guest star because I really want to meet them.

Q: Describe Sabrina and Rowan in real life.
August: Rowan is always hugging and kissing me, and whenever I’m in the hallway she just runs and grabs me and calls me her love. And Sabrina is just like a little bird singing in the halls always.

Photo credit: DISNEY CHANNEL/Kelsey McNeal

Q: Your birthday’s in August, right?
August: Yeah. That’s not why I’m named August. My mom was reading in the magazine that she saw . . .
Mom: Mariska Hargitay was talking about her son, August, who was just born.
August: And she was going to name me Ocean. And she saw that and she said, “I’m going to name my kid August.”
Mom: My husband’s a surfer and I wanted to name him Ocean, but I just didn’t have the guts because it was so different and everyone was giving me a hard time. “You can’t name your kid Ocean.” So then I said, “Ok, I’ll name this one August,” when I saw the name. But then when I found out I was having another boy, I’m like, “I don’t care what anybody thinks. I’m naming him Ocean. I like the name.” I’ll set the trend. I don’t need to follow a trend. I let Auggie pick through the names.
August: It was Ocean or Silas, and I picked Ocean. And she didn’t care. She just named him Ocean. Don’t think what other people think of you.

Q: What is the thing that you’re most proud about doing?
August: Being a big brother to Ocean, and taking care of him, making sure that he’s always safe so he can learn more life lessons.

Q: What has made you laugh really hard?
August: Oh, every single day, every single night, any time, Ocean. He always makes me laugh – his Vines, his everything, really funny. I just have him do things and I videotape him with my iPad for the movie and we do it and it’s just . . . funny.

Q: Obviously you love acting but would you like to be anything else when you grow up?
August: Yeah. I would like to be lots of things when I grow up. Oh, top two? I’ll say . . . world traveler and . . . singer.

Q: What kind of music do you like?
August: Sabrina Carpenter’s new album. It’s called Eyes Wide Open. Her album is really good.
Mom:  It’s great. What’s your favorite song on that one?
August: “Right Now”.

Q: During the breaks on Girl Meets World, do you hang out together?
August: In my dressing room, if Ocean was there, I would play with him. If not, I would just play with my cast mates if they’re done with school and they’re not in rehearsal or filming.

Q: Have you ever been bullied?
August: Well, this boy bullied me. His mom died. He was bullying me because I had a mom and he didn’t have a mom.
Mom: We think that’s probably why he was bullying. So we explained to Auggie why maybe this boy was doing that because he was still hurting about losing his mom.

Q: If you could have only one toy, one game, one book, what would you like?
August: I would like an iPad that has lots of apps. It has all the apps in the world. I could get to it quickly. I wouldn’t have to swipe up to turn it on. Its battery would never die. It would still be at 100% and the memory would never get full.

Q: What is your favorite TV show?
August: How It’s Made – it’s on the Science Channel – because I just want to see how everything works and how it’s made. I want to be a scientist when I grow up, too.

Q: What do you do on your YouTube channel?
August: We do science videos. I have done “Rubber Egg and Chicken Bone”. It’s when you turn the egg – you don’t take the shell off, not hard boiled, just a regular egg – into rubber and a chicken bone, the leg, into rubber too. And you put them both in vinegar and the vinegar eats the calcium and it’s rubber.

We’ll do crazy science experiments, too. Ocean was saying, “Put this clay in a cup, mix it and put baking soda in it and it’s a weird experiment.”

Q: Do you have a favorite book now?
August: The Wayside School because it has lots of tales about the students and it’s really funny. It’s really funny.

Q: You actually read your scripts. When did you start doing that?
August: Yeah. I learned to read and write when I was two. I got a typewriter for Christmas and I can write notes and I’m going to write a script. I’m writing books too. I made my first book already. It’s called Uncle Cheese, and it’s about my uncle Steve. Because the three triplets that I have that are cousins can’t pronounce that so instead they call him “Uncle Cheese.”

Q: What grade are you in?
August: I’m turning eight this year. So I should be in third. But I’ve been in kindergarten for two years. I switched schools and they made me go back to kindergarten. Then I skipped second grade. When I’m going to turn eight I should’ve been in third grade, but in reality it’s fourth.
Mom: So he’ll be 16 when he graduates high school.

Q: Do you have advice for kids who might want to become an actor like you?
August: Get an agent and follow your dreams.

Interview by Marie Morreale

New Disney XD Show Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything

Popular YouTube Personality Stampy Cat Guest Stars!

The dizzying global spectator sport of professional video gaming is captured in a new show Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything starring Cameron Boyce (from Jessie and Disney’s Descendants), premiering Wednesday, July 22 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD.

Image credit Disney XD/Craig Sjodin

Cool and charismatic Conor gains notoriety as “KidFury,” a professional video game player, but he suffers a devastating thumb injury that forces him out of the glamorous pro gaming world. After years of being tutored on the international pro circuit, he begins high school for the first time and meets 3 fellow gamers, Franklin, Wendell, and Ashley. They team up to form the first ever gaming league at their school, and together they learn that building lasting friendships in the real world is more important than accumulating high scores in the digital one.

In the premiere episode, Conor desperately wants to get his pro card back, so he recruits Franklin, Wendell, and Ashley to play the game for him. However, a failed attempt to ditch school early to practice the game lands the foursome in detention with the toughest teacher in the school. The team must find a way to escape detention before the online gaming tournament begins if Conor has any hope of returning to the pro gaming circuit. Stampy Cat makes a cameo in this episode as the announcer for the pro gaming tournament.

Will you be watching this new show? And also, how dumb are they to try to sneak out of school early?? They deserve to get in big trouble for that! Tell us what you think in the Comments! And take the personality quiz to find out what kind of gamer YOU are!

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

If you like karate movies, then check out this inspiring, action-packed comedy, Underdog Kids (rated PG), coming July 7 on DVD. The film stars Adam Irigoyen (from Shake It Up! and Wizards of Waverly Place), Ryan Potter (from Big Hero 6 and Supah Ninjas), and Cade Sutton (from Kirby Buckets).

When the struggling Mid-City Community Center’s karate team loses their instructor a week before the big tournament, former MMA champ Jimmy “The Lightning Bolt” returns to his old neighborhood and reluctantly agrees to train the misfit bunch. Despite the struggles they face, the washed-up fighter and group of urban underdogs bravely take on the undefeated Beverly Hills Junior National Karate Team in the ultimate karate showdown at Nationals, and learn confidence, courage and honor along the way.

Watch this video from the Underdog Kids DVD to see the difference between the Beverly Hills team and the misfit underdogs! Can you guess which team is which?

Do you practice karate? What do you think of this new movie Underdog Kids? Leave your thoughts in the Comments!

Minion Mayhem! Minions Would You Rather . . . 

We know you guys are big fans of the Despicable Me movies, and as you might know, the unofficial prequel Minions movie is hitting theaters July 10^th! In the movie, we follow the minions in search of the perfect supervillain to work for before they met Gru. They try out Dracula, Napoleon, and the new character Scarlet Overkill.

And, this month only, if you subscribe to the STACKS Blast Newsletter you can enter for a chance to win a free Minions Prize Pack including the Minions Operation game and a Minions lunchbox! Subscribe here right now!

Now, get into the minion mindset, and let us know would you rather . . .

1. Be Stuart (one eyeball) OR Bob (small bald guy) OR Kevin (tall skinny guy)?

2. Be Dracula’s minion OR Gru’s minion?

3. Be able to understand “minion” OR speak 10 languages?

4. Be a supervillain OR superhero?

5. Battle The Incredible Hulk OR Darth Vader?

6. HAVE a sidekick OR BE a sidekick?

7. Eat bananas for a week OR watermelon for a week?

8. Have a dragon breathe fire on you OR a sumo wrestler sit on you?

Leave your answers in the Comments below, and let us know if you’re psyched for the movie!

-Ratha, Stacks Writer

Meet 3 of the new cast members from Teen Beach 2!

Teen Beach 2 is airing this Friday, people, at 8 p.m. on Disney Channel! Are you ready? The Wet Side Story gang will be traveling forward in time to Brady and Mack’s world. That means we will get to meet all their modern-day friends and schoolmates including 3 new characters: Alyssa (played by Piper Curda), Devon (played by Raymond Cham, Jr), and Spencer (played by Ross Butler).

Photo credit: Disney Channel/Bob D’Amico

Piper, Raymond, and Ross were visiting New York with the cast of Teen Beach 2, and they stopped over for a visit at Scholastic! Here is the whole cast celebrating in New York’s Central Park. Read on for more about my super-fun visit with Piper, Raymond, and Ross.

Photo credit: DISNEY CHANNEL/ Lorenzo Bevilaqua

They started off on a serious note recommending their favorite books in this video.

Then, things got very contentious when I asked them the Teen Beach 2 Would You Rather questions. Watch this video to see them argue it out!

So fun, right? It was really great to meet them, and I can’t wait to see Teen Beach 2 on Friday! Leave a Comment and tell us what you think!

Sonja, STACKS Staffer