I'm back from NY! (review and pics)

[Popular]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 10:40pm

Hi Guys-

I have limited access to internet here but I will definitely update about my trip once I get back home.

All in all I'm having a great time here... saw The Color Purple today ... AMAZING!!!

I wish I had time to answer all the threads already started about Stephanie's concerts. In short, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!
Updated On: 7/5/06 at 10:40 PM

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 10:41pm

Glad your having a grand time! Can't wait to hear all about it when you return home.

[SeptemberKel]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 11:24pm

Have a great time! Can't wait to hear all about it.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/28/06 at 11:26pm

I'd love to see a Color Purple review when you get the time.. Hope you have fun!

[Popular]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 4:26am

I'm back home :)

NY was great, I hardly know where to begin summing it all up. I didn't do many touristy things... just hung out with friends and saw some shows which was the goal.

The first night I went to see the tribute for Jim Caruso at the Metropolitan Room. On the way there I was "hollered at" by four (slighlty shady) guys and a lady offering me a psychic reading. Who says NYers aren't friendly!?! The tribute itself was great! I must say I was completely overwhelmed and happy to just be in NY at this point. Jim summed it up at the end by saying, "Don't I know ANY sopranos?" It was just belter after glorious belter telling stories and singing him songs. Liza didn't end up making it as scheduled. That was the second time I've unsuccessfully tried to see her but if the opportunity presents itself, perhaps the third time will be the charm. Stephanie sang "If I Only Had A Brain" and "Hard-Hearted Hannah". It was so great to see her again after a whole year. I knew she'd know who I was from our emails but I was truly impressed that she recognized me before I even introduced myself. Here is a picture from that night.



Birdland was just as amazing if not more. Scott Alan and Sebastian Arcelus were there both nights as were both of her lovely parents. I probably overlooked some other people of note, but the place was PACKED!!! She said that she prefers to call her act an "evening" rather than a one woman show because the thought of her being just HER up on stage is a little scary, but let me tell you, she has NOTHING to be scared of. Steph as STEPH is just as fierce, funny, endearing, vulnerable, and entertaining as the greatest made-up characters are. It's hard not to go on and on but she sings with such a purpose and truly feels every word of every lyric she sings. Beautiful voice is a given, but what an amazing storyteller as well! The mother and daughter sitting behind me decided to come on the last minute and the mother wasn't even going to try if it had rained that night. By the end of the show I turned around and said, "you'll come in the rain next time, right?" and of course she answered "DEFINITELY!!!" I think EVERYONE in that room felt that way.

This is the last thing I'll say about Steph at Birdland and then I swear I'm done gushing. The second night they had to kick us all out to set up for another show and she spent close to 90 minutes outside on the street chatting, taking pictures, signing autographs, talking on the phone to fans that couldn't make the trip to see her... she is just an angel and I'm forever being impressed by how kind, gracious, and just REAL she is off stage. I will post a songlist of what she sang if anyone is interested.

So besides Steph's concerts, I also saw The Color Purple (rush tickets), Spelling Bee (lottery win!), and Bridge & Tunnel (TKTS booth).

Color purple was my favorite by far. I had seen some of the songs performed on Oprah and the Tonys but they really aren't done justice out of context. It is such a beautiful story. We had a full cast in except for Shug Avery which was played by Anika Ellis... I believe it was her first time on and she was lovely. My friend and I bumped into the u/s for Celie and Nettie the next day and we chatted for about 20 minutes. She is only 24 and in her b'way debut, and such a doll! I know it will be disappointing for people to miss out on seeing LaChanze but if you see Kenita Miller please show her some love. The highlights for me were LaChanze and the relationship between Sophia and Harpo, they are GREAT togther!




Spelling Bee was just OK for me but I really think it may have been better if my (lottery) seat wasn't so close to the stage. Kate was on for Olive and Lisa was on for Ms. Peretti. Anyway, I love the concept of the show and I have enjoyed listening to the songs for a while now so it was cool to see how it played out on stage even though my friend and I WERE trying to avoid being spat on the whole time. Highlights for me were Olive, Marcy, and the 11 year old girl who surprised everyone by spelling a word she was obviously meant to be sent back to her seat on.

Bridge and Tunnel... first off I must say it's extended until August so GO SEE IT!!! Saw it already? GO SEE IT AGAIN!!! Sarah Jones is brilliant and I love that she is able to teach us about ourselves through her characters. That is what every great play should do and she does so flawlessly with humor and without being preachy. Her characters are true and honest to the people she is representing and she doesn't ever allow them to become parodies of themselves which I think is such a fine line to have mastered.

We were also hoping to see Audra's free concert in the park but it was rained out. I feel really blessed to have been able to take this trip and also to have met some lovely BWW people for the first time as well!

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 7:40am

Actually, in Spelling Bee, they always have that big word which in reality is non-existant and no matter how the contestant spells it, they always get it right. Glad to see you had a great time in the city though. They are great reviews!

[Popular]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 12:30pm

And to think that I once was so blissfully naive to their scheming ways. Oh well, it was a nice belief while it lasted... that little girl was such a star afterwards, it was great!

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 4:01pm

Yeah I was totally convinced the first time. I mean, when they call the person back up right away they do a great job at seeming so suprised. I would have never guessed that was part of the show...

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 4:11pm

Glad you enjoyed your trip here.

I saw Kenita as Celie directly after the opening, when LaChanze was still ill, and she was great. I wasn't upset that I missed LaChanze, Kenita was impressive.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 4:13pm

Well I have to say that the cast does a great job of keeping that a secret! I met two of the cast members at Seth's Chatterbox last year and mentioned how amazing it was that the little boy was spelling these words correctly. They were like "We were panicking. We didn't know how to get him off the stage"!

[Popular]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 4:28pm

WickedGeek - glad you enjoyed Kenita! My friend in the picture is going to audition for the show so we talked for quite a while with her and I know my friend will try and go back hoping to catch her performance one day.

Uncageg - it definitely came across as real! By the way, the same friend I just mentioned and I were in the Performing Arts library looking for some new audition songs for her and I fell in love with "I've Got Love" from Purlie. Not sure if it's right for her or not but I was hooked. Your signature just reminded me of that.

[Adjie]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 8:01pm

Hey Popular!!
It was sooo GREAT to see you in NYC! Wasn't Steph just FABULOUS!!
What a doll!

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 9:26pm

Oh my goodness! I met the famous Popular! (My mom and I were the ones talking to you guys on Monday.) I'm glad that the rest of your trip went well.

[Popular]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 1:14am

Likewise, Adjie!!!

Oh and oh my goodness, I had no idea I was meeting the famous elphabarose! You and your mom are great :)

[ashley0139]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 12:39pm

Thanks for the reviews. The really funny thing is- when I saw the picture, I automatically assumed the person on the left was you (even though I know what Stephanie looks like) and couldn't figure out who the person on the right was. Your avatar has always been Stephanie and it just confused me.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 12:49pm

"I got Love" rocks!!!

[Popular]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 5:33pm

Ashley - too funny!

Uncageg - it does! I can't get it out of my head... it just makes me joyful.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 5:37am

Great pics! It is so cool you got to see The Color Purple from the front row for only $ 25!!! I love "Our Prayer" from the OBC.