Dre, I'm already going to the Rent thing on the 22nd.
Ha, have been spending the last hour rereading another thread that used to be a hangout/clique one for me...my posts were still slightly longer than most but only like 5 lines, it was weird.
Okay last night...
To answer Kerrie's question, here wa sa thread on the main board saying someone had an extra wiw ticket, i sent a pm asking how much and just b/c i'm a poor student and couldn't afford full price...she said since I'm a student and she got it as a comp, she'll be nice and give it to me for free, so that's how I got it.
Drove down at like...4:40. I got 5 hours of sleep but w/ news of WIW got high on adrenaline and wasn't tired. Not so on the way down, had to put heat on high to keep me uncomfortable and blast hot 97 to keep me up but I was fine thank god. Woke up when I was outside, met Ryan and Kat at rent lotto, I won and they told me not to get it. I won out of 91 ppl and it went to waste, hrmph. Oh well, Rent appears to be my magic lotto, second time I've won there in 2 tries w/ lotsa ppl.
So then we bought our DRS tickets and I left for WIW. Right before I left I said to myself it's opening night, I should prob dress up. Put on heels and nice black pants and a shirt w/ a red sparkly flower on it, and I even felt underdressed in that. Most ppl were in gowns, than god i didn't go in jeans.
Show was supposed to start at 6:30 but didn't till 6:50. I kept trying to find famous people and saw lotsa ppl who looked famous or who i thought looked familiar but couldn't place. I was sad. Someone who prob wasn't Wayne Brady was 3 seats down from me, it could have been if he gained lotsa weight, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't, nevertheless he looked familiar.
I was excited byt he concept of the 3d virtual set but it also could have been b/c i was tired but it just made me dizzy. I realized by act 2 I was barely paying attnetion to that, just watched the stage. Though it did have a cool climactic effect.
The first act wasn't as strong as the second. I adore Webber and his score but that's it. The narrative was rushed, confusing, and not really quite grabbing my attention. I mean the actors were great, Adam had a particularly great singing voice and all the singing was strong. Finally Michael Ball came on midway through the first act. I heard I shouldn't expect to see him in a Marius-type role but this was totally different then anything I've seen him in. He was in a fatsuit, barely recognizable, playing an Italian count w/ a big accent. At first I was upset, b/c well I wanted to see Michael Ball, never saw him live, but realized what that said about his performance that he ws Michael Ball but was not being michael Ball at all. Fortunately still in his osngs particularly in the second act, certain notes you could still hear his amazing voice, particularly some operatic notes he just held and held and held and I got major eargasms. I was so happy to see him live.
Finally fully woke up near the end of the first act when Maria Friedman sang a song "All For Laura," typical Webber-pwoerful song that you couldn't help but be mesmerized by her singing. At this point, the interesting part of the story finally began to take off. Intermission came shortly, and I couldn't believe only an hour and a half had passed, it seemed a lot longer b/c like I said the first act dragged.
Went down to the orchestra to try to find the person who gave me the ticket but realized jsut knowing her row and nothing else about her(him?) I wouldn't. So I just stood and watched but yaay. First I saw someone passed me who I smiled and was liek wow Taye Di--wait no. That's not Taye and he's at the rent premiere. He's the other cute black guy, who is it? Finally realized-Tyrese! (black model?) I was happy to finally recognize someone. A minute later Eliza Dushku(Faith from Buffy, one of my fav shows ever!) walked past me, she was all done up w/ her hair in girls and gorgeous. I stared at her as she passed obviously and she smiled at me. I certainly didn't wanna bother ppl in the audience, I mean they were acquainted so I was happy to watch.
Went back upstairs pleased I could say I saw ppl, and was much more into the second act and really enjoyed that. Michael had moments of totally stealing the show, eargasms, acting, humor and a cameo w/ a white rat. The narrative was a tad less confusing and finally focused more on one plot, so it was easier to follow and more intiguing. Some great songs this act too.
Finally the show ended and everyone took a curtain call. Maria's was last, as much as we all stood and cheered Michael, EVERYONE(understandably) stood and cheered for her for quite a bit, it was wonderful, I was crying(I'm a sucker for these things after what she's been through and to come back...) Lotsa ppl just brought flowers on the stage, no speeches, oh well, though Andrew brought Maria's on. And stupid stupid me. After taking longer than I would have hoped to fiddle w/ getting my camera on, I click a great pic...w/o the flash. Had to wait for the stupid cheap disposable camera to put on the flash, and took a pic just as the curtains closed. Go me.
Went to the stage door after, met Ryan. Got autographs from most of the cast. Andrew(ulgh don't remember last name lazy) who played the Marius like role was pretty cute and very nice. Took almost an hour for Maria and Michael to come out, very cold. Oh, and I saw him in the lobby after but for the second time saw...ready Cat, Traci and Jamie...Terry O'Quinn!!(Locke on lost!!) In the lobby I was like OMG is that him, it has to be and it absolutely was. I just kinda stared and smiled at him and he gave me a very sweet smile, just like I would imagine Locke would, he seemed to have the exact mannerisms. But then he walked out of the stage door and was waiting for someone and stood right next to me for 2 minutes. Again, a smile. Stupid me couldn't say a word, I mean I wouldn't have wanted to bother him w/ an autograph or pic request but I certainly could have said you do such a great job on the show or something. Stupid me. Oh well I got 2 smiles.
Also recongized Melanie Griffith walking out the stage door. Finally Michael came out was kinda in a rush, but signed so I didn't ask for a pic, Ryan took one of him for me. He is so adorable esp. in person. I just told him what a great job he did, how I couldn't even tell it was him up there, he was just playing such a character and he was like thank you soo much and I mean obviously he's british but you can't really tell when he sings but now that I've heard him speak...he's so british. Has the best accent ever(next to Gerry's).
Finally Maria came out and I got her autograph, told her how moving it was to share her triumph tonight, and went over to DRS. Saw Laura who had a cold(poor girl) so we blew each other kisses and chatted a bit and I know I always say this but I loooove her, she is sooo sooo sweet, wasn't she Ryan? (also we agree she's gorgeous). Momentarily talked to Rak who was on again as Jolene(was her last night, I won't get to see her on Saturday, poop) but I said I'm sure she did great and I wish I could have seen her. Cast had a big rehearsal tomorrow or something(should have found out more about that) so Dennis didn't come to bowling, but talked to him a bit at the door, and I'm pretty sure he thinks Ryan's name is "Jamie."
Yeah and Norbert was out first of main cast, talked to Ryan a bit like he said. I liek the idea of "friend of show." That's really funny for me, not that i"m friends of individiuals but the show, I think that maybe describes me, b/c I know more than just the cast members, and I think it's cool to be friends w/ a thing like that.
And did I mention I stood on the corner of the barriers b/c I decided I'm special enough not ot hafta be in? Kevin wasn't there(yes!) so no problem. So I told Ryan maybe I could turn around stand "next" to John and take a pic "with" him. Well there wasn't that many ppl and he came out saw Ryan w/ the camera looked at me and said oh you want to take a picture? I was shocked I was like yes! we took one, he waved to the camera w/ his other hand(weird) and yeah. It's disposable so you know I will show it to everyone when it's developed. Sherie came out in an adorable scarf.
Oh, had a 38 in the 5th frame of my first game of bowling yesterday, beating the total first game of bowling last week(34). I was proud, got a 95, one of my highest. And after I realized I missed Joe at the door, Tom(dresser not Gavalanch remember)and I saw a sign for Harry Potter after bowling and he said oh yeah Joe ran out right away after the show to see the movie, haha. Will have to ask him about it.
Okay, twas my night. Wonderful as usual.
Tomorrow is Naked Girl, ice cream w/ Matt and DRS at night. Tuesday is Rent screening w/ cast and q&a. I love my life.
"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
) except when he says to me 3times that I can go home now! lol
