#1
Posted: 1/11/07 at 12:37am
This afternoon, I had my first student rush experience. This may be a little unusual because I'm 42, but I'm also a full time student this semester, carrying 18 credits, and losing a lot of billable hours to do it; so based on that (high tuition/lost income), I printed out a copy of my registrration forms just in case, and took a shot at being laughed at and thrown out of the student line. I wasn't!
I foolishly underdressed for the weather and left upstate New York hoping that it would be warmer in the city. Naturally, it was snowing when I got there. I headed to the Richard Rogers Theatre to get on line for rush at 9:45 a.m. and was second on line. At 10:00 a.m., a very kind House Manager took pity on us and let us wait inside. He made it clear that he didn't have to do this and asked us to keep quiet so that the box office staff could work. (Moral of the story: Dress Warmly!)
Maybe it's my 'advanced years', but it seemed like a hell of a deal to me so I didn't understand why people who came later insisted on blocking the doors, conversing loudly, and ignoring his simple requests. I was just praying he wouldn't kick us back outside! As the line quickly grew, the very friendly box office salesman would inform newcomers that there were only 20 seats available for the matinee, but folks counted and recounted ticket numbers over and over, and still gave him a hard time. Maybe it's my 'years' again, but this student rush thing strikes me as being a privilege and I was amazed at how some seemed to abuse it. Others, probably afraid of being cast out into the cold again, were quiet, polite, and appreciative though. In the end, though, I showed off my shiny new student ID and got a front row orchestra seat on the aisle, I was thrilled.
This is the third time I have seen Tarzan. I paid full price the first two times, and had no regrets. I just happen to love the *experience* of this show. I can find the best in almost any show, was a theatre major, saw my first show at 8 (Richard Kiley in the revival of Man of La Mancha), and still catch a dozen Broadway shows a year in addition to directing and designing occasionally. I am what I am and I like what I like. Front row seats + getting to see the set close up + monkeys swinging over my head and flicking sweat on me = A happy me! 'nuff said.
This is NOT a shot, Life Happens, but I saw understudies for Tarzan on my first two visits, so I finally got to see Josh Strickland today and it was worth the wait! I don't where he learned to move like that (yoga/dance/24 Hour Discovery Channel feed?) and his voice was a pleasure to listen to. Jenn Gambatese was captivating as always as Jane and Merle Dandridge was in fine voice, she sounds better every time. Someone made a comment on these boards that Shuler Hensley was just buying his time until Young Frankenstein opens, but I have to disagree, his intensity was frightening which made the tenderness of Kerchik and Kala's 'Sure As Sun Turns to Moon' an amazing and tender contrast. Maybe it was the seats, but there were nuances to his and Dandridge's performances that I never noticed before. It must be, because I was finally able to catch the expressions and individual performances of the ensemble members in the often darker recesses of the stage.
Tim Jerome's Professor Porter seemed a little tired and off the beat today but Donnie Keshawarz's Clayton was villainous without falling into the trap of becoming too much of a caricature. I've now seen all three Young Tarzans and Dylan Riley Snyder's performance was every bit as buoyant as Alex's and Daniel's. He has a nice, clear voice and moves and acts well. I've worked with a lot of kids in theatre over the years, and these guys continue to dazzle me with their energy and enthusiasm. In fact, the energy of this cast seems to have grown each time I've seen the show, perhaps best evidenced by Chester Gregory II's performance as Terk, he looked like he was having a ball up there. They've really come together as an ensemble.
So to the cast of Tarzan and the Staff at the Richard Rogers Theatre, thanks for a great day! I'm going to be hurting from standing for 2 hours but I'm already wondering when I can get down for another student rush. Anyone want to join me?
I foolishly underdressed for the weather and left upstate New York hoping that it would be warmer in the city. Naturally, it was snowing when I got there. I headed to the Richard Rogers Theatre to get on line for rush at 9:45 a.m. and was second on line. At 10:00 a.m., a very kind House Manager took pity on us and let us wait inside. He made it clear that he didn't have to do this and asked us to keep quiet so that the box office staff could work. (Moral of the story: Dress Warmly!)
Maybe it's my 'advanced years', but it seemed like a hell of a deal to me so I didn't understand why people who came later insisted on blocking the doors, conversing loudly, and ignoring his simple requests. I was just praying he wouldn't kick us back outside! As the line quickly grew, the very friendly box office salesman would inform newcomers that there were only 20 seats available for the matinee, but folks counted and recounted ticket numbers over and over, and still gave him a hard time. Maybe it's my 'years' again, but this student rush thing strikes me as being a privilege and I was amazed at how some seemed to abuse it. Others, probably afraid of being cast out into the cold again, were quiet, polite, and appreciative though. In the end, though, I showed off my shiny new student ID and got a front row orchestra seat on the aisle, I was thrilled.
This is the third time I have seen Tarzan. I paid full price the first two times, and had no regrets. I just happen to love the *experience* of this show. I can find the best in almost any show, was a theatre major, saw my first show at 8 (Richard Kiley in the revival of Man of La Mancha), and still catch a dozen Broadway shows a year in addition to directing and designing occasionally. I am what I am and I like what I like. Front row seats + getting to see the set close up + monkeys swinging over my head and flicking sweat on me = A happy me! 'nuff said.
This is NOT a shot, Life Happens
Tim Jerome's Professor Porter seemed a little tired and off the beat today but Donnie Keshawarz's Clayton was villainous without falling into the trap of becoming too much of a caricature. I've now seen all three Young Tarzans and Dylan Riley Snyder's performance was every bit as buoyant as Alex's and Daniel's. He has a nice, clear voice and moves and acts well. I've worked with a lot of kids in theatre over the years, and these guys continue to dazzle me with their energy and enthusiasm. In fact, the energy of this cast seems to have grown each time I've seen the show, perhaps best evidenced by Chester Gregory II's performance as Terk, he looked like he was having a ball up there. They've really come together as an ensemble.
So to the cast of Tarzan and the Staff at the Richard Rogers Theatre, thanks for a great day! I'm going to be hurting from standing for 2 hours but I'm already wondering when I can get down for another student rush. Anyone want to join me?
