I am writing this blog from aboard a charter bus, somewhere in New Jersey, on Sunday evening. This weekend, I had great fun chaperoning my 10th grader’s field trip to NYC with her drama club. My older daughter got to come, too, and we’ve had a fabulous (though exhausting) time!
Those of you who are regulars know I’m a big Broadway fan. Well, my girls are, too, so we were really excited about making this trip. The entire group had tickets to two shows–two very new, very exciting, very talked-about shows.
Our day started off yesterday trying to unload tickets for one of those shows.
The drama teacher had purchased a bulk amount of tickets, but where weren’t enough kids who signed up to attend, so she was stuck with about a dozen extras for each performance. So she and I stood on a street corner hawking our wares. Fortunately, she’s a good friend of mine from many years ago, and we had a great time prostituting ourselves…I mean, our tickets, to anyone who’d walk by.
Well, until the cop came.
I’d gone into a store, so I missed her being hauled up the street, but believe me, the kids filled me in as soon as I came back. Apparently there’s some law in NYC that you can’t scalp tickets right outside a venue, you have to be at least 1000 feet away. Who knew? Anyway, the NYPD officer kindly let her off with a warning, and we were able to get rid of all Saturday’s tickets for half the cover price each, so the drama club recovered over $500 of the money they thought they’d lose.
What did we see, you’re wondering?
First up, Saturday, was “The Pirate Queen” which is a brand new musical by the composers of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. Those are two of my all-time favorite musicals…and I actually slept in the “real” pirate queen’s (Grace O’Malley’s) castle, which is now a B&B in Ireland. So believe you me, I was prepared to ADORE this show.
I didn’t.
I hate saying that…but I just didn’t. It was okay. It might have even been good. But I was expecting so much more and I walked out of there struggling to remember a single strong number, and laughing with my 18 year old over how awful and cheesy a lot of the lyrics were. There was no brilliant “Bring Him Home” like from Les Miz or “I Swear I’d Give My Life For You” from Miss Saigon (though one song in Pirate Queen blatantly ripped off a line from that one.) The staging was great, special effects great, costumes amazing, performances top rate…I just didn’t like the music, itself.
What a disappointment.
Fortunately, Sunday went MUCH better. We went to see a new musical called “Spring Awakenings” which is taking Broadway by storm. I honestly had expected to dislike this one…or at least be uncomfortable seeing it with a bunch of teenagers. Because the show is a very dark story of a bunch of teenagers suffering with puberty-inspired insanity. There’s graphic masturbation, sex, partial nudity, suicide, sexual abuse, abortion…sounds pleasant, huh?
But oh, my God, it was amazing. Just had me bouncing in my seat, laughing, crying my face off, and leaping to my feet when it was over. Think Rent with teenagers…but much more poignant. Anyone who ever went through puberty or raised a teenager can relate to this song. And when the hero is caught red-handed and confronted by his schoolmaster about something he’d done, and he and the cast break into a huge number called “You’re F***ed”, the whole house erupted, including the elderly couple sitting right in front of me!
After the show, we were supposed to go meet up at the bus, but because the show didn’t run too long, I stuck around with my two daughters by the stage door. The rest of the group & teacher went off to shop before the deadline, but the three of us stuck it out and were greatly rewarded. We met cast member after cast member, and the huge payoff came at the very end when the two male leads (both adorably hot young guys not much older than my teenage girls) came out, autographed, chatted, and posed for pictures.
As you can imagine, my daughters are still walking on clouds. This moment was, for them, what meeting Hugh Jackman after Boy From Oz, was for me.
Here’s the proof: 
And I am the hero Mom of the year. 
So, that was my big Broadway weekend. It was loads of fun, it was exciting and exhausting. I love just talking around Manhattan, soaking in the flavor of one of my favorite cities in the world and capping it off by seeing–and meeting–the original cast of the musical I here-and-now predict will win this year’s Tony Award was absolutely the icing on the cake.
Now, I know Julie is a musical nut like me (read above for my recommendations on Pirate Queen, Jules…lol) and Janelle likes them and Carly loathes them…how about everybody else? Anybody interested in them? Anybody see any shows that truly wowed them…or didn’t?
Please tell me I’m not the only one around here who lives my life as a Broadway musical. (lol…you might remember my blog from that name from last year!)
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
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OMG I’m so glad your friend didn’t get seriously arrested! How crazy.
Well, I don’t live my life like a musical, but I do love them. I just adored “Wicked”, which I saw here in Chicago. I also did see “The Pirate Queen” and felt the exact same way you did. I think it would have been better with less music, more dialogue. I just didn’t buy into the whole musical thing with this play – it needs something more…emotional to make it memorable. It has the potential, but falls short.
“Spring Awakenings” sounds amazing. I wonder if it’ll make it’s way here….oh, and me and some friends want to go see “Jersey Boys”. I heard that’s pretty good too.
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I saw Mary Poppins in December and it was wonderful. The acting and the stage sets were incredible. I hope it gets a Tony since it was amazing. If you get to see it, you should go. On. Saturday I saw Inherit the Wind with Brian Dennhey and Christopher Plummer. We got state seats which was neat and the play was about the evolution trial. It was good, but I probably wouldn’t have gone to see it except for the actors who were in it. So I was pleasantly surprised I liked it so much.
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I’m so glad you had a good time, Les! For me, musicals just don’t do it. I HATE them. Almost as much as I hate ballet. Yes, I loathe ballet. Can’t stand it. I’ve been several times and I just can’t get into it. I, like Carly, love the movies. My daughter, however, who is only six, really likes ballet. She’s seen The Nutcracker several times and is totally in love with it. My mother-in-law took her to see CATS a few years ago and she loved that, too. She still remembers it even though she was really young. I have a feeling I might have a long stretch of musicals and ballet waiting for me in the future. Ugh.
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Yes, I’m with Kim. HATE. Like a tooth extraction. Painful to sit at any musical or show for that matter. Sigh. I feel like such a spoilsport.
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I’m so disappointed about Pirate Queen! Had such potential. I’ll probably see it anyway, though. :-) The reviews from Chicago’s debut were mixed…guess they didn’t clean it up before it hit Broadway. Shame.
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My problem is we don’t get to go to them. And I only live 3 hours away.
We were in Manhattan yesterday to see the grandbabies, maybe we passed each other!!
I may just have to see what my college and hers has to offer for packages and tickets with the drama departments and go see Spring Awakenings. It sounds wonderful. I bet hubby’s youngest son would enjoy it too. Then we could spend more time with the grandbabies. LOL any chance to play with my boys.
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Well, we hillbillies don’t get to see much in the way of musicals or ballets.:lol:
I’ve never seen a live performance, I’d have to go to Raleigh and I’ve always felt like it was somehow “less than” the real thing. I might be totally wrong about that since I’ve never been to any of them, but I’ve just never been inclinded to drive 2 hours to find out if I’m wrong or not.
Somehow though, I’ve always been fascinated with Cats and my oldest son bought that for me years ago when it came out on VHS. I watched it once, and was so intrigued with the performances, but I’m sure the essence of it couldn’t have really been captured on tape.
What an awesome experience for your girls and I’m glad that you/they had such a wonderful time!!! Glad the cop was nice and didn’t give a ticket to put a damper on the whole thing too!
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That sounds really cool. I haven never been to a Broadway play, would like to though. :)
Barb
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I’m on the pro-musical side. Big time. But mostly, I’m into Sondheim, and can listen to his musicals forever. It sounds as if you had a wonderful time. ::jealous sigh::
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LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE RITA FINALIST FRIENDS here today … Congrats Kim and Jo Leigh … and to all the other talented finalists!
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I really love to go to Broadway plays. I actually had season tickets to TPAC in nashville for several years. I 2 tickets and my brother would go with me to all the plays. I had to give them up several years ago, but I might get another set for next year. “Spring Awakenings” sounds really good. I’m going to chicago next month and hope to see “The Color Purple” while I’m there. Still kicking myself for not forking out the extra money to see “Wicked” last year. Although I hope is comes to Nashville in the next year or so.
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I’m loving seeing all the diverse opinions!
I honestly think you are either just born to love them or born to hate them. I love straight plays, too, from Shakespeare to Neil Simon…I just love seeing stories presented in a physical form.
But if you asked me to sit through an opera or a ballet, I’d probably shoot myself. So, Kim & Carly, don’t feel bad about not being into this particular art form. I’d sooner shave my head bald than watch a professional baseball game.
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Stacy! So glad I wasn’t the only one. I think the disappointment at potential-not-fulfilled was what really bugged me the most. That and the cheesy lyrics (I was just rolling my eyes because I could predict every other line, they were so simplistic.)
We saw Spelling Bee in Chicago last year–did you get a chance to catch that one? Very cute! And, of course, we saw Wicked a couple of weeks after it first opened on Broadway…divine!
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PS: Carly–I should tell you–knowing how your daughter felt about Rent, she would probably lose her mind over Spring Awakenings!
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Yolanda–we were right across the street from Mary Poppins! That is one of my favorite Disney movies and I’m sure I would love it. So many shows…so much money….sigh…
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Ev, Jodie & Barb, honestly, if you ever get the chance to see a live stage show, take it! Even if it’s a local theater group or even your local high school. There’s just something magnetic about it.
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Jo and Kim….CONGRATULATIONS on being Rita finalists! That is so incredibly cool and I’m so very happy for you both!
For our readers who aren’t familiar with it, the Rita is the “big” romance fiction contest. The peer-judged one that is given out once a year at the national RWA conference. Very very exciting stuff!
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Sounds like a FABULOUS weekend, Les! I really enjoy most of the Broadway shows (not all musicals), and Spring Awakening does sound like something I’d enjoy. I really loved RENT when we saw it on stage, but my all time favorite, hands down, is WICKED. I’m going to see it the end of April, and again in June. Love it!
Leslie — Lauren looks like a mini-me of you!
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Leslie, Your daughters are lovely!
Firstly, congrats Jo on your nom! As you know, RS is NOT my genre, but, your mini-series was great, because it had great characters & characterization. Good luck on winning!
Leslie, well, sorry, I’m only interested in GOOD theatre. I received CATS’ tickets from my boss many years ago (with the Broadway cast), hated it & walked out at intermission. What has happened to the stories as the basis of musicals? Costuming & lights just don’t hold me. In the distant past, have attended several musicals at a theatre in Thousand Oaks, CA, run by a soap (& other areas) actor (at that time, he was acting on SANTA BARBARA), Lane Davies, which were great. Lane has a great voice, is a terrific actor who has performed Shakespeare many times (I’ve seen them), directs &, at that time, ran the theatre. These musicals were MAN FROM LA MANCHA, etc., with actual plots, unlike most of the new ones–sigh (JMO)!
Patricia A.
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Leslie, I’m glad you and your daughters had a great weekend here in New York! Being a native New Yorker I’m embarassed to say I’ve only been to see 3 broadway shows, two as a child– Dream Girls and Chorus Line which I absolutly LOVED, then as an adult my husband and I went to see Jeckle & Hyde which neither of us cared for
We also went to see The Christmas Show at Radio City Music Hall, which was great!
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I love a good musical. My favorites are: WICKED, LION KING, PHANTOM, CHICAGO, MOVIN’ OUT AND MAMMA MIA! What an odd combination, I know. RENT was also really good.
I can’t wait to see the new Disney ones.
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that is great, hope to visit nyc soon:cooldance:
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Leslie, your weekend sounds fabulous!!! I love musicals and would gladly do two in a row. My all time favorite is Les Mis, which also happens to be my all time favorite book. :thumbsup2:
Bummer that the Pirate Queen didn’t measure up. That’s kind of how I felt when I saw Cats. I love all musicals and I love the soundtrack to Cats, but when I saw the actual show I was very disappointed.
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Leslie, I actually considered going to a play here, Molly Ringwald is starring in it, but I am trying to figure out how to go to Tampa. :) I got a chance at a job interview for Northwest airlines for their reservations and I did phone interview, but they want me to go there for an in person interview. I have always wanted to work for an airline.
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BadBarb: that must be SWEET CHARITY (it’s actually quite good). I told you I was a musical nut!
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I really enjoy musicals – and professional baseball games! A couple girlfriends and I regularly attend shows at the theater in Thousand Oaks, CA and it’s hit or miss there. Saw Jesus Christ Superstar two weeks ago and it was awful! Next month is The Producers, which I’ve seen before and loved. We try to make it into LA sometimes but the traffic is just killer – I do suffer through it for Dodger games though (Sorry Leslie, it’s baseball fever in my house right now with my older son counting the hours until Opening Day). Glad you and your daughters had a great time in New York!
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Thanks for all of the wonderful congrats! I’m still in shock.
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I always wanted to work for an airline, too. It seems like it would be such fun. I have two friends who were flight attendants and they loved it. An airline, or a bar. I always wanted to be a bartender ever since I saw Coyote Ugly. Not that I could ever do it, but it looks like a really good time!
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Leslie – I can’t believe you almost got arrested! As always, your tale-telling cracks me up! And BUMMER on Pirate Queen, since about 80 romance writers are going together to see it this Friday night!!!! (The PASIC conference is in NYC this week.) We’ll have to let you know if we all agree. Me? I’ve only been to one other play on Broadway (though I’ve seen the “travel” productions — they’re just not the same), so I’ll be like a kid, wide eyed and excited to be there, regardless of the music.
xoxo
Rocki
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Thanks Patricia–I agree. They are lovely, inside and out. I am SO fortunate!
Tina, I absolutely love the music from Jeckyll and Hyde so I’m sorry to hear the staged version disappointed you. I’ve never seen it on stage, only the horrid David Hasselhoff pay per view version. But I just love some of the songs!
Katie–I have seen & love all of those shows, except Movin’ Out. Never got a chance to catch that one, which is a shame since I love Billy Joel!
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You know, a couple of people have mentioned Cats. I saw it years ago and remember enjoying it even though i thought it was a little silly. I really prefer Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar of all of Webber’s work.
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Robin, my dislike of all things sports-related is very well known…lolol! But I did like writing Boys of Summer with my baseball hero! I can certainly appreciate a well-muscled man in a tight spandex uniform.
And Barb–cool news on the job! That would mean free air travel, right? WAHOO!! :thumbsup2: :thumbsup2:
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Rocki! Great to see you here! CONGRATS again on the DOUBLE Rita nomination–that is just fantastic!!!
And don’t let my less-than-enthusiastic response for Pirate Queen dampen things for you. I forgot to mention in my post that the Irish dancing was fabulous and wonderful! Wish there’d been a lot more of it!! And the fact that you have not seen these composers other work means you might appreciate this as being more original and fresh than I did!! I really hope you enjoy it.
(But if you happen to pass a couple of middle aged women escorting a bunch of drama teens and they offer you a $10 ticket to Spring Awakening…GO SEE IT!
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Les, your girls are BEAUTIFUL!!! (And you definitely deserve Hero Mom of the Year for pulling that cast coup. :-) )
I haven’t seen many musicals–Lion King, Grease, Annie. Loved Lion King and Annie, Grease was just okay. Me and a friend will occasionally take our girls to the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis. (It’s either on Beale, or a block over, can’t remember.) Anyway, the theatre is amazing. Very old and pretty. I’d love to see one on Broadway though and have vowed to catch a show the next time RWA is in NYC.
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Leslie: David Hasselhoff in JECKYLL AND HYDE? What was the casting director thinking (and what were they on?)? David Hasselhoff in anything must be painful.
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Rhonda! Another RITA Finalist, ladies!!!
Rhonda, pick a show and I’m there.
I really haven’t seen that many shows: A Chorus Line, La Cage Au Folles, some Tommy Tune musical that wasn’t very good, 42nd Street, The Nerd (non musical, but FUNNY), The Producers, Mamma Mia, Boy from Oz all on Broadway. I’ve seen Wicked, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Spamalot in touring companies…maybe a couple more that I can’t remember. But I love musical theatre and try to keep up with what’s going on in that world. BTW, I think the touring companies that I’ve seen are every bit as good as seeing in on Broadway. Most Broadway theatres are quite cramped in comparison to modern performance halls.
Of all of those, Wicked is my hands down favorite, followed by Mamma Mia in terms of feel good theatre. I’m not much for serious drama.
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First, thanks so much for the RITA congrats! It’s so fun!
Second, and I mean this, you people ALL need to go see some Sondheim. You’ll have your chance relatively soon – Tim Burton is making the movie of Sweeney Todd, staring Johnny Depp as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This is mandatory viewing, I don’t care if you hate musicals! This, in my not so humble opinion, is the best musical EVER. Followed by Sunday in the Park with George and then I can’t decide, but probably Company. Besides – Johnny Depp, people!
Not that I have any strong feelings about any of this. LOL!
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Yes, ma’am, Jo! I’ve never had any desire to see Sweeney Todd, but since you’re dangling Johnny Depp…has production resumed since JD’s daughter got sick?
My 9 year old daughter just discovered Pirates of the Carribbean. We’ve been on a Johnny kick for a few days now. Never a bad thing.
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Leslie, this topic is great, sorry my post sounded whiney, &, of course, it should have been MAN OF LA MANCHA (too early to post). However, stand by my feelings of CATS, & glad some of you agree. Real disappointing.
Robin, I’m also a great baseball & Dodgers fan (sorry, Leslie) [been one since Brooklyn days], & am hoping the Dodgers put something decent on-field this year, with some long-term Dodgers (from the minor leagues) on the team (still missing my Eric Gagne). Also, I’m not certain if the current T.O. Civic Center was the theatre Lane started, as when I saw him, it was probably about 20 years ago, but, all he produced there were great. Did see Linda Eder (see below) at T.O.C.C. a few years ago which was wonderful.
Tina, when you saw JEKYL & HYDE, did it have Linda Eder in the cast? She’s my favorite singer (though, long term, Streisand is still the one), though, she’s divorcing J&H’s composer, Frank Wildhorn (whose music I love), &, now, is also divorcing his music, so, my interest may wane. In any event if any of you like a beautiful voice & have a chance to see her in person, I highly recommend it. She’s performing with what I hear is a great duet show with Michael Feinstein. My daughter, Lisa, & I had tickets when they were in Palm Desert, but, the day we were to leave, Lisa had her first Ulcerative Colitis attack, & we never made it. Still hoping for next time.
Patricia A.
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Oh, Jo, I am SO with you. Sondheim is definintely my favorite…his lyrics are beyond compare. I would have adored seeing the Sweeney revival! (Though, after getting the cd for Christmas, I have to say I still far prefer the original…)
I am a HUGE Assassins fan, and also love Sunday in the Park w/ George and Into The Woods (saw that one on Broadway the first time around with Bernadette Peters…swoon!)
And for those who don’t feel Johnny Depp is a big enough draw…ALAN RICKMAN is playing Judge Turpin! And, as somebody who I can’t remember always says: EBWAR…Everything’s Better With Alan Rickman!!
PS: Jo, when we were in Chicago last summer, we missed “Sunday In The Park With Stephen” by one day…whimper…
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Oh Patricia–Man of La Mancha is just beautiful. We saw the revival cast with Brian Stokes Mitchell & Mazie Marin a few years ago when the RWA National conference was in NYC. Just incredible.
And Linda Eder is amazing on the Jeckyl & Hyde cd I have. It’s actually a production cd that was put together *before* the show went to Broadway and includes a LOT of songs that never made it to the stage version. I just love it, especially the songs I Need To Know, In his Eyes and (oh, naughty…) Bring on The Men!
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YAY RHONDA on finaling, too!!! I am so excited for Blaze this year, it’s about time we have some finalists after (I think) 3 years worth of shut-outs!!
And Katie–you know, David Hasselhoff *used* to be able to sing. I remember being a little kid and watching him as Snapper on Young & The Restless and thinking he was just hotness personified. But he absolutely could not carry a rock-opera musical and casting him was an insane last-ditch effort to save the show from closing. It failed.
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Leslie, sounds like you had quite an adventure! Your daughters are beautiful. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us. :)
I love musicals but mostly they are all older & mostly I saw the movies! A long time ago I was fortunate to see Camelot with Richard Burton in San Francisco & also in SF, Robert Goulet in On a Clear Day. He has an amazing voice but the female lead stole the show, she was fantastic! Don’t have any idea who it was–sorry! Broadway musicals, in my humble opinion, are great on Broadway or a traveling show–go!! :) I also saw Guys & Dolls in Michigan when I was there visiting the, at that time, in-laws. Again, this was a long time ago!!
Congratulations to all the RITA nominees–yea!
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WOW, you are so lucky to be able to see them in New York, the heart of Broadway. I’ve only seen one myself and it was here in Chicago. I went to go see Wicked, and let me tell you….OH MY GOD, was it great. Better then I had expected it to be. I had been listening to the soundtrack for about a year when I finally got to go see it with my family and it was literally amazing. I’d L.O.V.E. to see on in New York with my mom, sister, and aunt. We all went to go see wicked and loved it. I checked out the “Spring Awakening” website and I want to see it SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAD now. Looks amazing. Fun songs and I can relate to the characters. I’ve recently turned 21 and I have left the stage of puberty but it was not that long ago. I hope they come to Chicago at some point because I’d love to see it. I’m so glad you mentioned it and boy were you lucky to meet the original cast. Thanks for sharing, I now have new music to sing to lol though hardly appropriate lyrics to sing in public I’m sure I’ll be dancing and singing in my room.
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Donna, I actually saw Richard Harris in the role of King Arthur at Wolf Trap MANY years ago. He was wonderful…and very funny. It was frigidly cold that night, and he finally had had so much of it that he totally stepped out of character and addressed the audience about how fricking cold it was in Camelot. The audience roared!
I have never seen the stage version of Clear Day, but I remember loving the movie…can still hear Barbara Streisand saying, “My name is Melinda!”
And Emily, I am sure this show will go on tour at some point and if it does you really should see it. But even if you don’t, do grab the cd, you will love the music!
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Julie, I’ve heard wonderful things about Wicked–I even have the book, but haven’t had a chance to read it yet.
Thanks, Les! And you’re right–I don’t think we’ve had any Blazes final since ’04, so we’re *more* than past due.
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If anyone’s interested, there is a music video on the Spring Awakening website of one of my favorite songs: http://www.springawakening.com/spring_awakening_music_and_video.php
And Rhonda…the book is *wonderful* but please please please don’t think the musical is anything like it…it definitely is NOT. They are each really good for different reasons and in their own way, but if you love the musical and then read the book expecting it to be the same, you will be *really* upset. Just sayin’…
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Emily, you do get great theatre in Chicago…in fact, Wicked was playing last time I was there, but we couldn’t touch tickets…they were sold out. Everywhere you went were people in Wicked t-shirts…it was really cool. I love NY, but Chicago is where I leave my heart. Are the tulips in bloom yet? Or is it too early?
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Since I probably won’t be getting to NYC soon, I have be satisfied with the terrific venues in Dallas/Ft Worth. Dallas Summer Musicals has Wicked coming back in April. It sold out too fast in the Fall of 2005. My daughter is crazy in love with it. We had to download the soundtrack and her choir sang the song “Popular” and she had solo parts in it. She was in heaven. She is a musical theatre prodigy (well she wants to be anyway.) So I get to be a hero by taking her to Wicked at the end of April.
Bass Hall in Ft Worth also gets lots of the touring company shows. So, we don’t suffer too bad out here in the boonies of Texas – far from Broadway.
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Yay for your daughter, Lynn!!
My girls got into the habit of singing “Loathing” right into each other’s faces while they were washing the dishes every night after dinner.
Makes me so sad now that the oldest is away at college and I can’t hear them sing at the top of their lungs about how much they hate each other. :happy2: