TMoTM S04E06: Pirates!
Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty premiered on December 31, 1879, where it was well received by both audiences and critics. Yet even as far back as that opening, the show has been a harbinger of change — blurring the lines between light comic operetta and musical comedy. The recent Broadway re-imagining Pirates! The Penzance Musical pushed those boundaries even further.
In this episode of The Magic of The Musical, Host Caledonia Skytower explores this Gilbert & Sullivan classic’s remarkable history and its role in making the once vaunted exclusive realm of the “savoyard” accessible over 140 years after its premiere.
Where Have You Been? S05E08 – A Museum to Get Lost In: The Vordun
Even nine years ago when it opened, the Vordun Museum & Gallery was impressive — lots of European artworks celebrated in the style of the great museums of the world, and it even then had a touch of the innovative using some then-just-emergent media and experience tools to enhance resident’s visits. Back then it was on a sub-parcel of the Fancy Decor store region, of which Jake Vordun is also the creator.
It’s certainly grown since then. The Vordun Museum & Gallery now fills its own region. And truly, it fills it. Not only are there works by Reynolds, Rubens, Gainsborough and a host of luminaries from throughout art history, but there are galleries featuring specific exhibitions — ten in all! The passion of its creator for art, for modern museum curation, and for the experience of visiting a world class museum is clear. It begins even before you enter, with the siting of the Museum on a rise with its staircase concourse, its water features and sculptures.
The Vordun offers some unique experiences to complement the works and themes featured. The exhibit “Musica Antiqua”, for example, focuses on early music in art and instruments. Both audio and video support are provided to enhance the experience. In the gallery featuring “Allegories of Artemisia” a series of vibrantly colored rooms take the visitor on a journey through the work of Italian Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi, drawing parallels between the subjects of the artist’s work and major events in their life. “Proverbs of the Low Countries” explores Peter Bruegel the Elder’s 1559 oil “The Blue Cloak” or “Netherlandish Proverbs.” The painting features 110 proverbial phrases, some of which might be familiar to you, such as “armed to the teeth” or “belling the cat.” When you accept the museum experience, a HUD will appear on your viewer screen and allow you to navigate close-up through each of the proverbs depicted in the work.
Visiting The Vordun really feels like you are visiting one of the great houses of Western art in London, Paris, Rome, Vienna or New York.
This episode airs at 12 noon and 4pm SLT/Pacific Time on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the end of November.
Region: The Vordun Museum & Gallery – Moderate
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vordun/155/252/26
Owner: Jake Vordun
First Sundays, November 2, 2025: The Peace & Joy of Yo-Yo Ma
This programme is now available on Mixcloud to Listen Again.
Yo-Yo Ma is a French-born Chinese American cellist and songwriter. Ma is known as much more than a musical prodigy and a virtuoso. He is celebrated around the world for his ability to connect with audiences and for his collaborations with artists from other genres and cultures. Today, Caledonia celebrates his works and collaborations, inspired in part by his album “Songs of Joy & Peace.” Sunday, November 2nd, on Virtual Community Radio. Tune in at 2pm SLT/Pacific Time on https://main.vcradio.org!
At Virtual Community Radio, we believe Sunday afternoons are the perfect time to treat yourself to something special. That’s why we invite you to join us at 2pm SLT on the First (usually) Sunday afternoon of each month as we present a different musical treat: one hour of music on a theme. It could be anything from new age music, orchestral classics, soundtracks, or music celebrating a particular culture.
TMoTM S04E05: Five Lessons — Carey Wong
LISTEN AGAIN: This programme is now available to listen again on Mixcloud
Originally broadcast on October 25th, 2pm SLT/Pacific Time
This month, Caledonia continues her “Five Lessons” sub-series of The Magic of The Musical, where she interviews actors, directors, designers, dancers and others who have spent time and life in musical theatre. They share the lessons that being a part of a performing community have taught them about life, the stage, and humanity.
If you are lucky, you get to interview your heroes. In this month’s episode of The Magic of The Musical, host Caledonia Skytower (aka Judy Cullen) shares her conversation with one of her heroes as they discuss art, music, and stage design: friend and mentor Carey Wong. During a career spanning over 50 years, Carey has designed sets and costumes for more than 300 productions, including operas, plays, musicals, and ballets, plus art exhibitions and other creative spaces. Tune in for a fascinating discussion! More about Carey Wong.
Where Have You Been? S05E07: The Big Halloween Episode
It’s October, and it’s the high spookable season. We are elated and exhausted already, and there’s still a lot of month to go for Hallowe’en in Second Life.
October is a big month in Second Life. So much so that a lot of this year’s seasonal offerings opened in September. And there’s no doubt that it’s not just you, or your nearest friends who “go big” for the Season. The All Hallows Holiday has many, many avid fans and practitioners in Second Life. If you are looking for spooky haunts, sinister asylums, or ghostly forests, you shall certainly find them!
In this episode we discuss some of the locations we enjoyed most, and where to find more. We don’t just choose any cob-web strewn location — we tend to look for places that are unique, or that reflect community. And we’ve lined up all the haunted houses, creepy carnivals, butchered and bloodletting asylums, mysterious forests warning you to enter only if you dare and strongly suggesting that you turn back NOW – to please almost any resident. They run the gamut from the Second Life equivalent of a Mom & Pop roadside attraction, where residents put out their favorite holiday décor and proudly declare “BOO to You!” to more extensive and sophisticated locales.
The episode airs at 12 noon and 4pm SLT/Pacific Time on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the end of October.
Here are some of the key locations in this episode:
Critterflop Hallowpop
Region: alphatribe island – Moderate
Owner: Alpha Auer
The Bewitched Forest
Region: Hazy Cove – Moderate
Owner: Aislen Atheria and Kuva Nishi.
First Sundays: October 2025 – Ancient Journeys
This programme is now available on Mixcloud to Listen Again.
In this month’s edition of First Sundays, we’re taking a musical journey through the Ancient World — and take a trip to the Moon! Tune in at 2pm Second Life Time on Sunday, October 5th for a programme that literally covers a lot of ground, inspired by the mysterious Piri Reis map.
TMoTM S04E04: What Theater Taught Me
This show is now available to Listen Again on Mixcloud.
September 20th, 2pm SLT/Pacific Time: it’s the third Saturday in the month and time for a new edition of The Magic of The Musical with Caledonia Skytower!
“Why would you get a degree in theater?” It’s not always about dreams of bright lights and paparazzi. Theater is a collaborative art form that teaches much more than just the art of making it. Host Caledonia Skytower (Judy Cullen) shares her conversation with three of her college classmates as they reflect on their differing paths and the lessons that creating theater hath wrought, plus the musical theater songs that have had the greatest personal meaning to them.
First Sundays: September 2025 – Tarot
This programme is now available to Listen Again on Mixcloud.
In this month’s edition of First Sundays, we’re featuring an hour or so of music that evokes the esoteric atmosphere and insights of the Tarot cards, covering a wide range of genres from classical music to dance… and there’s even a piece by a member of the rock band Status Quo. Tune in at 2pm Second Life Time on Sunday, September 7th for some surprises as we delve into the mysteries of the Tarot in music.
Elrik Merlin presents.
At Virtual Community Radio, we believe Sunday afternoons are the perfect time to treat yourself to something special. That’s why we invite you to join us at 2pm SLT on the First Sunday afternoon of each month as we present a different musical treat: one hour of music on a theme. It could be anything from new age music, orchestral classics, soundtracks, or music celebrating a particular culture.Where Have You Been: S05E06 — Bryggen
In this episode, we are heading somewhere that is both old and new within a long standing destination estate on the Blake Sea in Second Life — Second Norway, and particular the region Bryggen. As with many places in the Blake Sea, there is a real world Bryggen. It is a historic harbour district in Bergen, one of North Europe’s oldest port cities on the west coast of Norway.
The Second Life Bryggen has lots of appeal for your grid-exploring pleasure. In their own words, it is “an open, layered, and autonomous city. It thrives on diversity and initiative, every role contributes to the city’s rich identity.”
Bryggen also provides Roleplay opportunities, but as an integrated element of Second Norway, it is accessible via the estate railroad, and by water, opening it up to a lot of possibilities, not just RP. Bryggen could also have opportunities for photographers and image makers. Also, it might be a destination for you sailors to swing by as you explore that part of the Blake Sea.
This episode airs on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12 noon and 4pm SLT/Pacific during September.
S05E06 – Bryggen
Region: Bryggen – Moderate
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bryggen/123/103/24
Owner: Group Owned — Second Norway
TMoTM S04E03: Five Lessons #1 — Sharry O’Hare
This programme is now available on Mixcloud.
August 16th, 2pm SLT/Pacific Time: it’s the third Saturday in the month and time for a new edition of The Magic of The Musical with Caledonia Skytower!
This month, Caledonia rolls out a new sub-series of The Magic of The Musical. In “Five Lessons” she interviews actors, directors, designers, dancers and others who have spent time and life in musical theatre. They share the lessons that being a part of a performing community have taught them about life, the stage, and humanity.
In this debut episode Cale shares a conversation with actress Sharry O’Hare, exploring the experiences of 65 years of musical theater performance. Ms. O’Hare shares some of the lessons musical theatre has taught her, with selected musical numbers to accompany them. Think treading the boards is just about finding your light and how many songs you get? Guess again.
