One Step Back, Two Steps Forward

I have a confession to make: I recently cried on the phone to my mom. I read that Next Fall is closing on July 4, and I desperately want to see it. I, however, cannot afford it, and my mom recently had to bail me out of an overdraft fee fiasco. I, acting like myself at 14, told her I couldn’t imagine living my life never seeing this play and that I desperately needed to and didn’t know how I would go on. Dramatic, yes. But hey, the whole point of this blog is that I’m addicted to all things theatrical. So play along with me here. My mom, honest and wise as she is, told me that sometimes you have to make sacrifices in order to pay the bills. My retort? “But this is my passion!” Her reply, “I’m sorry. That’s how it goes sometimes.” I was angry. She was right.
I’m still bummed about not being able to see Next Fall, but I’ll live. I have, however, been making some progress. A few days ago, I noticed that there is a new batch of tote bags for sale made from the Hair billboard. I wanted one, and got almost all the way through the purchasing process, and then I realized I really don’t need it. So I didn’t buy it! That’s right, folks! I resisted the urge to purchase limited Broadway memorabilia from the show that changed my life. I’m very proud of myself. I used that money for groceries instead. I’m very proud of myself. I also sold a bunch of books to Barnes & Noble through their textbook buyback and got like 70 bucks! That’s going right to my Broadway trip fund, and I’m prepared to part with more of my books as well. I’m going to seriously re-evaluate which of my books I need and which I can sell to get money for the trip. Hooray! New York City for Columbus Day weekend! I really hope it works out!

[title of show] Again!

               So, I may or may not have scored a comp ticket to [title of show] at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA because of a college connection.  And by that, I mean I totally scored a comp ticket to [title of show].  That really helps out with my thrifty theater goals, considering I had just dropped 70+ dollars on a front-row ticket to Sycamore Trees. 

Anyway, it rocked, of course.  I love it.  Also, I had a major life realization at this performance.  My whole life (well, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but whatevs, go with it), I’ve been underestimating old people.  As I walk to my seat of the Sunday matinee, I become increasingly worried about the number of elderly folk in attendance at this performance.  How would they handle the gay jokes?  The f-bombs?  The shirtlessness?  The girl-on-girl kissing?  I was panicked about who was going to shelter the old people from the youthful sensibility of the theater!  Silly me.  Throughout the show, they were laughing at all the right parts, and seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves.  In the show, Susan even says that the old matinee ladies have been through a lot, they can certainly handle her dropping a few f-bombs on stage.  Clearly, I haven’t been giving old people enough credit or enough cool points.  I’m now reformed.

                Seeing [title of show] a second time was way cool.  I already knew I loved it, and that it was hilarious, and I was delighted to discover that the jokes don’t lose their humor when you know they’re coming.  I feel like I could see it 80 more times and still love it just as much.  If only…

 Washington Post Review of Signature's [title of show] 

Signature's [title of show] Blog! 

A cool article about twins who are director and cast member

Sycamore Trees, or the Time I Cried All Through Act 2

                I have been such a slacker about my blog!  It’s that whole full time job, full time student, no-one-reads-the-blog-anyway mentality.  Nonetheless, I saw a great show that I need to talk about.  It’s a world premiere musical called Sycamore Trees, and I saw it at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA.  It’s Ricky Ian Gordon’s autobiographical show, starring a slew of Broadway folks, including three-time Tony Award nominee, Marc Kudisch.  At first, I was a little skeptical of such a serious musical, since it’s almost impossible to set a somber tone in a musical.  But, I think they pulled it off.  The acting was great (how could it not be, with such high-caliber actors?!), and I was so moved that I spent nearly all of the second act in tears.  When Andrew’s dad, played by Marc Kudisch said “my son is brave,” that just sent me into a whole new strata of emotion.  It was so cool to be in such a small performance space with such dynamite talent.  Oh, and the guy who played The Man/David was mega-handsome, just sayin’.

                I don’t know what’s next for this show, but I hope it is able to garner a performance venue in New York and that it achieves great success.  I think it has the potential to be great, but I think people might be skeptical at first, like I was.  Around intermission, I was wondering what the point of the show was, what I was supposed to take from it.  By the end of the show, however, I came to the realization that telling the story of your life isn’t (and probably can’t be) about one solitary message, and has to be presented and viewed holistically.  It’s about life and the appreciation of it and the people who are along for the journey.  It’s sad, it’s funny, it’s moving.  If you get a chance, you definitely should check it out!

  Washington Post Review, Including Video

The Color Purple was awesome - but please get to the theater on time!

         Last week, I saw the non-equity national tour of The Color Purple. I loved it, but I have to say it was surprisingly uplifting. I got the book at the library, and I didn’t have time to finish it before seeing the show, but based on what I read, I was expecting a major downer. I was pleasantly surprised by the way the show was able to take such heavy subject matter and create a show which left the audience with a feeling of joy and gratitude.
       Also, I thought the music was super catchy. I love the southern gospel feel of the big company numbers. Maybe it’s because I live in the south or maybe it’s because that gospel feel just seems so genuine, but I’m hooked. The Original Broadway Cast album is now on my wish list. I need that on my ipod, stat!
       Unfortunately for the actors, who did a fantastic job, the thing I remember most about the night is the ridiculous amount of people who showed up late to the show. It makes me so mad! I am always early to everything, but I make a particular effort to get to the theater early for several reasons. I don’t like to miss any of the show, and I don’t want to ruin the show for the other people. It’s not a movie, people! Get there on time! And while I’m at it, I think I also need to remind the world that it is not appropriate to talk full-volume to the person next to you during a live theater performance. I didn’t pay all this money to hear you! Phew! Rant over. Thanks for listening.

Fan Letters: Dorky or Awesome?

I have a confession to make: I mailed a fan letter to Wesley Taylor (of Rock of Ages and The Addams Family and general awesomeness) a few weeks ago. It’s strange because he is my age. The way I see it, if he and I lived in the same town, he would have been in my geometry class. How do I tell a could-have-been geometry classmate that I think he’s super awesome and kinda dreamy without coming across like a 12-year-old girl? My approach: I acknowledged that it was strange for me and let him know that I don’t know how to write a fan letter without sounding like a dork. Other than that, I was honest, wrote in my own style of writing, and handwrote the letter using my best penmanship and a purple pen. I wanted to be me, but I also wanted to stand out.

One thing I wasn’t sure about, but did anyway, was to include a self-addressed stamped envelope and asked (awkwardly) if I might have a signed Playbill or napkin or scrap of paper. I’m not really sure how it works, if you have to send the thing you want signed, but oh well. I acknowledged in the letter that I have no idea what I’m doing. My friend read the letter before I sent it, and she declared it not too dorky and not creeperish, so I hope that’s enough.

Guess what?! He wrote me back! He wrote me a super sweet note, and he got back to me very quickly. He told me that my letter was the classiest fan mail he’d gotten, assuaging my concerns that I was a total dork. I was so appreciative to receive a response, and that event really fueled my drive to make it to NYC this summer to see The Addams Family and thank him in person.

Anyone else out there written a fan letter? I’d be interested to know your experiences and whether or not you got a response. I bet it depends a lot on to whom you write. A Broadway legend may not have time to respond to all of his or her letters, but and up-and-coming star may not have as much fan mail to go through. Thoughts?

Thrifty Theater: The Follow-Through?

               Awhile ago, I set a goal to try and save money with regards to my theater addiction.

                The good news?  The tour of The Color Purple is coming to Durham, and I bought a $25 seat.  It’s in the (gasp!) balcony. This is a big step for me.

                The bad news?  I bought a last-minute $70 seat to see Wicked a second time, plus a $55 really awesome Wicked zip-up jacket.  One step forward, twelve steps back.

                Also, Wicked is in Charlotte right now, which is about 3 hours away, and I spent a good deal of time yesterday figuring out if I can go, factoring in that the only remaining seats are $95.  I know I can’t afford it, but it’s taking everything I’ve got to stop myself from buying those tickets!

                Lastly, I REALLY want to go to New York City sometime this summer to see some real Broadway.  I’m trying to save up for it, but it’s so expensive to travel there and tickets are pricey.  I’ve got enough saved up to buy 2 discounted balcony seats.  I guess if I do go, I’m going to have to go knowing that premium seats are not to be had.  I’ll survive.  I’d so much rather see a show from the back row than see no show at all.

Wicked: Take Two

                 I tried to win the Wicked lottery four times.  Now, I know other people hold the record at like half a zillion show lottery entries, but Durham is half an hour away (when there’s no traffic), and I work full time and go to school full time, so I’m pretty impressed with my efforts.  Nonetheless, I did not win.   

                At my fourth and final failed attempt, my friend and I decided to just buy seats if any were available for the matinee instead of trying the lottery again at the evening performance.  It turns out there were a few tickets left, and we got a pair of “limited view” balcony box seats for 70 bucks each.  We even had to sign a waiver saying that we understood that these seats had a limited view.  The seats were up in the balcony far stage right.  The seats themselves were just regular chairs, so we moved them around until we found the best spot.  It so happens that they were great seats and I could see more than I could when I sat in the front row because there weren’t actors blocking my view of, say, Elphaba’s birth this time.  Although I still have no idea of anything that happened upstage on stage rights.  Oh, well.

                Anyway, the show was, of course, fabulous.  When I saw it the first time, the phenomenal standby was on for Elphaba, so this time I got to see the everyday actress perform the role.  She was just as brilliant.   I enjoy seeing different actors’ portrayals of the same role, and I’m super glad that I got to see two Elphabas.

                I figured out why I can’t stand this Wizard in “Wonderful”: he was just doing all the motions and not acting any of them.  Emote, sir!

                Another revelation my friend and I had was during “As Long as You’re Mine,” in which we both commented that Elphaba and Fiyero are singing so close to each others’ faces!  It must be so strange to be belting out a song less than an inch from someone else.  And I bet they spit on each other a lot.  So they spit on each other while singing very loudly at each other, and then they make out.  So romantic.  It was funny because this had never occurred to me before, and we had a laugh about it.

                All in all, I’m glad to have seen Wicked again.  And, my friend and I went to the stage door after the show.  I realize that it was a matinee, but only three or four actors came out.  I did get the autograph of the actor who played Fiyero, so that was cool.  I guess my expectations were high because the entire cast of the Spring Awakening tour came to the stage door after a matinee on a gross, rainy day.  Oh, well.  It was cool to meet some of the Wicked cast anyway.

[title of show] Rocked My World Harder Than Monkeys Driving Speedboats

                Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness.  I saw [title of show] this past weekend at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia and it was amazing!  There are no words to describe how brilliant and hilarious the show is.  I love everything about it, and I’ve been quoting it to the friends with whom I saw the show ever since curtain call (I would just like to say that me going out of my way not to end my clause in a preposition is just for Hunter Bell).

                As a huge fan of the broadway.com web series Side by Side by Susan Blackwell, I really enjoyed the “classic Susan” moments throughout the show.  My friend and I kept saying things like “that’s so Susan!” and “Susan would totally do that!”  It’s so interesting to see a show in which the creators created characters which were themselves.  I know that was a confusing statement, but let me put it this way: when Sondheim wrote the brilliant Sweeney Todd, he was not creating a character which was Steven Sondheim.  You know what I mean?  Hunter, Jeff, Heidi, and Susan were literally putting themselves into the show.  And that’s kinda what makes it brilliant.  I, personally, think a show about me would either flop majorly or be a surprise hit – but I don’t think I would ever have the confidence to play me night after night and then believe in it so much to make it a Broadway hit.  I mean, it’s hard to say “this is really me on stage, and it’s worthy of Broadway.”  Mega kudos to the original [title of show] four for having that confidence in themselves.

                My favorite numbers in the show were “Monkeys and Playbills” and “Part of it All.”  They are amazing and hilarious and wonderful.  I think the most phenomenal thing about [title of show] is how often it is funny and poignant at the same time.  If you get the chance, go see it!  I’m definitely going to try to see it again before it closes at the Signature.

My First Time: Wicked

                I did it.  I’m no longer a Wicked virgin.  Hooray!  I’m so glad that I finally got to see the show!  So, my seat was in row A, way stage right.  Some of the views were limited, but that’s okay because the show was still fabulous.  When she sat down, the lady next to me said “did you realize you were going to be this close?”  I said “of course!” and I continue to be shocked that she didn’t realize as much.  With how fast the tickets sold for the show, I don’t understand how you could get front-row seats not on purpose.  She also mispronounced “Elphaba” before the show, so that helped shed some light on the situation.  Clearly not someone who follows musical theater or has ever seen the Tonys.  The theater is for everyone, don’t get me wrong, but her seats were slightly closer to center stage than mine, and I’m jealous.

                Okay, so my reaction: I loved it!  It was phenomenal and amazing and everything it’s ever been cracked up to be.  Afterward, I immediately texted a friend that I wanted to see it 67 more times.  The only beef I had with the show was the Wizard.  To put it as nicely as I can, he sucked.  His choreography isn’t even actual dancing, and he looked like an awkward robot attempting to mimic human behavior.  Oh my gosh, it was terrible.  Luckily, for his sake, Elphaba (who, by the way, was played by the phenomenal standby) and Glinda were so good that I didn’t have a whole lot of time during the show to focus on how awkward the Wizard was.  I mean, this is a role which was originated by Joel Grey.  The bar is set high – let’s rise to the occasion, shall we?  It’s not that he was a bad singer or even a particularly terrible actor, it was his movements during the songs.  Gah!  He was such a robot and it was so distracting!  If I’m able to win tickets through the lottery and see the show again before it leaves North Carolina, I’m hoping it’s his understudy who goes on for the Wizard.

                Other than that, I thought the cast was AMAZING.  Glinda was spot-on perfect and made me laugh out loud so many times (and I’m a loud laugher), and the standby for Elphaba rocked it from beginning to end.  She was so amazing with a voice that rivals Idina herself.  I was totally in awe the whole time.  The sets!  The costumes!  The dancing!  The singing!  Although I was confused by the number of men in skirts.  Oh, well, I guess that’s just how they roll at Shiz.

                Lastly, I would like to say that I think that this musical was a beautiful adaptation from the novel.  Like I stated previously, I was really hoping that the show kept the soul of the novel, and I really feel like it did.  Sure, a bunch of major plot points were different, but the general ambiance and feel were there, perfectly intact.  At the show, as always, I purchased a poster and a souvenir program – and inside the front cover of the program is a note written by Gregory Maguire about his feelings on the musical and how it was adapted from his amazing novel.  I really appreciated the things he said, and after the show, I must say that I agree with him wholeheartedly, and the musical is something he can be proud of as an extension of his work as an author.  And it’s something that I, as a die-hard Broadway fan, can be proud to have as a decade-long shining example of the most popular thing on the Great White Way.

Preparing for Wicked

Note: I wrote this before I saw Wicked, I was just too busy to post it.

                I have a confession to make: I’ve never seen Wicked.  I just haven’t had the chance yet.  But all that is about to change.  On April 19^th, I will be seeing the national tour of Wicked at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, NC.  My seat is in row A.  I am so excited.  Just like an actor prepares for a role, I have been preparing to see the show.  Okay, so maybe it isn’t just like an actor preparing for a role, but I have been getting ready.

                I just finished reading Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked, which (obviously) is the source material for the musical.  For some reason, I was under the impression that the book would be appropriate for younger readers as well, but that’s so not the case.  The book is intense, it’s graphic, it’s explicit at times, and it’s gritty.  I really enjoyed it.

                I’ve been told that the musical is quite different from the novel, but I’m always interested in seeing how things are adapted from their source material.  Besides, I realize that, outside of Oz, there’s not actually a way to pronounce animal and Animal differently.  I respect differences, but my hope for Wicked (and any adaptation) is that the musical has the same feel as the source material, that the essence is still there.

                I’ve listened to the Original Broadway Cast album, and of course I’ve seen Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth’s performance of “Defying Gravity” from the Tony Awards.  What I haven’t done is read a synopsis of the show.  I want some things to be a surprise.

                All in all, I’m ready.  Bring on Wicked!