2018 BWW Thankfulness Thread

A few moments I'm thankful for in the theater this year:

Having the chance to see Billie Piper's astonishing performance in Yerma. She left it all on that stage. It was brutal; it was shocking; it was beautiful.

Mare Winningham starting to sing "Like a Rolling Stone" facing upstage in Girl from North Country before turning to stare us down for the remaining verses--a beautiful performance and an actor and director willfully not giving you the moment you expected...to great effect.

The opportunity to sit front row at Carmen Jones at CSC and take in those glorious voices singing that stunning score just inches away from me.

Being made a child again by the magic of the Harry Potter production. And infectious delight.

Seeing Heidi Schreck blend the personal and the political with so much passion and genuine hope in What the Constitution Means to Me.

The extraordinary intimacy, deep humanity, and sense of community at Rattlestick's Lewiston/Clarkston double bill.

And a series of superb revivals from the traditional (The Waverly Gallery) to the broadly experimental (Oklahoma!) and everything in between (Angels in America, At Home at the Zoo).



It's been a lovely year of great theater, and I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to see so much talent.

I'm grateful for a number of things:

1) For Feinstein's at the Nikko bringing some really awesome acts to the Bay Area. Seeing Andy Karl and Orfeh perform was a real highlight in a crappy month, and I also had a blast at the Broadway Princess Party.

2) Angels in America at Berkeley Rep. It was my first exposure to the work, and wow there's a reason why this show is so well known.

3) For being able to get to New York twice this year, and likely a third time in December.

4) For Head Over Heels, and the fact that it's stayed open this long. I get that financially it doesn't make sense and that a lot of people don't like it, but for me it's sparkly, radically accepting ridiculousness that has won my heart.

5) For Andy Karl (who is currently my favorite performer) being back on Broadway, something I thought may not happen again for years.

6) That I got to see a number of out of town tryouts, including Jagged Little Pill, Head Over Heels, and Soft Power.

7) For getting to see Ghost Quartet and Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future, two really amazing and unique off-Broadway experiences.

For having a partner who also enjoys musical theater, and who will let me drag him to most things.

9) For all the performers who were kind enough to stop and chat/take pictures at the stage doors. (And for those that didn't, that they gave their audiences wonderful performances, which is always enough).

10) For this board, and being able to talk with people who "get" my nerdiness around theater.

Updated On: 11/21/18 at 01:47 PM

I'm thankful for the RUBEN & CLAY’S FIRST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL FAMILY FUN PAGEANT SPECTACULAR REUNION SHOW thread.

1.) I’m very grateful for my husband of over 26 years. Good times and bum times, we’ve seen them all and, my dear, we’re still here. The last few months have been especially challenging for me, and he’s been there supporting me all along they way.

2.) I’m grateful to my good friends from Chicago who have remained in touch since our relocation to the Palm Springs area. Despite the distance, their love stretches over the miles.

3.) I’m grateful to still have my father, who just turned 90 this year!

4.) I’m grateful to the Palm Springs performing arts community, which welcomed me with open arms. Since arriving here, I’ve performed in 6 productions....As well as directing a very well-received production of WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? No easy task, considering the length of the script...and the fact that the audiences in the area prefer lighter fare.

5.) I’m grateful to the opportunities ahead of me this season.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Captain Von Trapp

HAIRSPRAY, Edna Turnblad (Check my avatar for a pre-production photo!)

GRAND HOTEL, Hermann Preysing

PAGEANT, Frankie Cavalier

Wishing Everyone at Broadwayworld a Joyous Holiday Season.

I am thankful that 2 of my 3 children share my love of theater. Seeing their faces last Christmas morning when I surprised them with Hamilton tickets is not something I will soon forget.

I'm thankful for being able to see 2 amazing performers - Bernadette Peters and Bette Midler - in Hello Dolly. That show has stayed with me longer than I expected it would.

Although I know there have been a couple of threads lately that have not been in favor of the stage door experience, I'm thankful to the actors who take the time to talk to my kids and encourage their continued interest in performing.

I'm thankful to TDF as my membership allows me to take the 2 1/2 hour trip into NYC and go to so many shows with my kids. Without the chance to purchase those tickets we wouldn't be able to do this.

And I'm extremely thankful for shows that offer standing room only tickets. We were able to see Come from Away and Dear Evan Hansen at amazing prices this year just by waiting in line for a few short hours.

I don't post much here but thank you all for sharing so much great information about upcoming shows, tips about waiting in lines, and all kinds of things that have been so helpful over the last couple of years.

Dollypop said: "First and foremost, I 'm grateful for three of the most wonderful grandchildren I could have ever imagined. There's nothing like watching their faces when their at a play or musical.

I'm grateful to Jerry Herman for giving me the greatest gift I could have ever been given. Actually, It's "the gift that keeps on giving" for me.

Most importantly, I'm grateful to the doctors and staff at the Stony Brook Medical Center who are giving me outstanding care as I battle cancer. With their help, plenty of prayer and massive doses of HELLO, DOLLY! (could you name a better source of positive energy?) I'm gonna beat this rap."

Wow. My prayers are with you.

Well back to thankfulness:

1) I'm thankful I saw Glenda Jackson, Laurie Metcalf and Alison Pill in Three Tall Women. It was an amazing theatrical experience.

2) I'm thankful I got to see Angels in America, although I had issues with some of the casting.

3) I'm thankful for Boys in the Band. An important seminal play that held up surprisingly well.

4) I'm thankful for the three fabulous ladies who played Hello Dolly! Bette Midler, Donna Murphy, Bernadette Peters ... it doesn't get much more fabulous than that.

5) I;m thankful I got to see Sara Bareilles and Jason Mraz in Waitress.

6) I'm thankful that after three years I finally got to see Hamilton this June and with Michael Luwoye as Hamilton. He was incredible.