Yup, now that this thread has been opened up I can tell some of my stories. Bluemoon, I just PMed you, we must have been sitting right near each other since I was directly in front of Michael and got spit on at least 4 times, but also wasn't complaining.
I only knew that Stephen Schwartz was gonna be there so I wore a Wicked shirt which drew some attention hehe. After the panel, everyone was gracious enough to sign and talk to us. So first I talked to Stephen and Lynn because Once On This Island was the very first pit show I ever played and we discussed just the music and my favorite parts and OMG for a pit geek like me it was heaven. I also mentioned recently seeing Dessa Rose and how I thought it was great. And Lynn yelled at me for wearing a Wicked shirt, I told her I didn't know they were coming and I woulda brought my High School once on this island shirt if I did.
Stephen understandably had the most people trying to talk to him and such, but he was so great. He personalized everything to everyone and after I told him how much Defying Gravity inspires me and how I sing it when I have to do something difficult so to me he wrote: To Amanda Defy Gravity Love Stephen Schwartz ahh soo awesome. He was also asked why Wicked has become such a phenomenon particuarly among High school and college girls and he replied that he really couldn't answer since he's not a mind reader and all. So I talked to him about it and he gave me his e-mail and I'm in the process of e-mailing him a lot of responses to the question I came across, lots of from the board actually.
And then I caught up with Michael who I never really saw in anything, never saw Bare, but I knew he was loved so I told him that I knew lots of people were fans of his and after tonight I completely understand why(he was really great on the songs he sang). He was soo nice he thanked me a lot, said it meant a lot, even thanked me in his signing and we took a picture.
What a great night! It's so great to have an oppertunity to do something like this, so different than simply going to a show.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli