My Upcoming Trip To NYC: Dec. 25-28, 2016 — Page 3

That's a great list of shows to see - must have cost a fortune!

Kinky Boots is a good choice, I think. Saw it in London with Killian! It's a fun show.

Have a great time Roman.

Looks like we are going to the same performance of Chicago! I'll be in the front row of the front mezz. Marie's Crisis is a definite possibility as I will be in the Village after Monday night's show.

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Thanks Smidge. Maybe I'll see you at Marie's Crisis on Sunday or Monday. I hope to see some of you there. R o m a n

Ooops! Roman. Lol

"

Hope you got in okay. Will you be able to see Chris Sieber and Mel B ?

I have a little bit of time before seeing CATS at 7:30 p.m.

1. Radio City: Very enjoyable...but was very tired from lack of sleep earlier in the day and wasn't able to enjoy it as much. I left a few minutes towards the end because I didn't want to get caught in the masses of people trying to exit Radio City. I succeeded. Still a lot of people filming during the perf.

2. Chicago: There was a huge line when I got there. Good crowd. I did get a chance to chat a little bit with one of the cast members that I'm acquainted with a little. The show was very good. Dylis clearly had her own special touches here and there, which is a sign of a good Roxie. AFW was good as well. Leslie Stifleman was not the conductor today, but someone else was. All in all, I had a superb time. I had a chance to chat a bit with Mary Sunshine (Ryan Lowe) and Dylis Croman (a fellow Texan).

3. Cagney: What a show!! It has a small 6 person cast. Robert Creighton was superb as Cagney. The supporting cast worked their asses off, as each had multiple roles in the show. Before the show began, the people were specifically and clearly warned about: turning off your electronic devices...and making a point of mentioning of NOT taking pictures in front of the stage (intellectual property). Two stupid ass idiots next to me thought it didn't apply to them. One tried to take a picture of one of her friends in front of the stage. Luckily, someone with the theatre's staff stopped her. He tried humoring her, so she could get the point. Then, the person next to her had her phone on, but kept hiding it in her clutch purse. I would have said something, but I was seated right in front of the stage and would have caused a commotion. Such ignorants.

4. Next: CATS . I was afraid that Marie's was closed (for good) since there was a phone recording about their number being out of service. I'll try tonight and see if it's open. Roman

I am here at Marie's. They are singing Do Re Mi.

kind of fuzzy...with the Fosse master Dylis Croman (Roxie Hart)

lovely lady. She played the White Cat. The last person to come out of the stage door.

I was very impressed by the men's lounge at the Radio City Music Hall.

(continued). The crowd was mostly older, with a few young ones. While I was walking in the area before the show, I accidentally past by the Actor's Studio. That was a pleasant surprise!

7:30 p.m. CATS: The line was very, very long when I got there. It took forever for the doors to open. The whole set up was interesting, with lights and a junkyard ambiance. (spoiler alert...do not continue if spoilers irritate you.) I noticed the stage was very expansive and noticed a huge tiger in the middle. I would have figured they'd have all sorts of house cats instead. The show began. This was my first time seeing CATS, so I didn't know all that much about it. The singing and dancing was amazing! I had a difficult time, on occasion, of trying to figure out the story as it was unfolding. My favorite cats: White Cat (very much a ballet master), the tap dancing cat (wore a yellow bejeweled costume, Mestopheles (very colorful lighted coat), Grizbella (at the beginning, the cats treated her like dirt). I must confess I didn't like Macavity. It seemed (at least to me) that he inspired fear and admiration (perhaps feline lust?) at the same time. Very mysterious. Rum Tum Tigger was a brilliant character, but I saw him as a narcissistic cat ("enough about me, what about me?". The perfomers were brililant in their own way. My favorite dance section was the tap dancing sequence. It was very lively...almost Busby Berkleyesque (sp?). I was surprised and in awe at the very final scene where Grizbella "leaves". Now... I am about to go into a rant about that "rhymes with witch" that ruined the show for me, at least in part. There was a white haired young woman seated next to her white haired person. From my upper mezz seat, I could see that she was taking photos and video. She was working my last nerve. During intermission, I told one of the ushers...even pointing out her exact seat number. That didn't stop that sow woman. All told, noticed her using her cell phone at least six times. I did contemplate telling her off, but I figured it was the job for the ushers at the Neil Simon, not me. I did enjoy the show to a great extent, but less so because of that one person in the mezz section. The ushers were handing another fool who had his phone on at times during the show. He had an aisle seat (as I) at the last row in my section. Perhaps others can offer their experiences with the ushers at the Neil Simon. They were nice and helpful, but kind of indifferent when idiots were turning on their smart phones. If they had placed an usher close to the door at the last row of mezz, then they could have seen who was turning on their phones. Nice personnel, but mostly ineffective when it mattered the most.

Later today: Chicago at 2:30 p.m. and Kinky Boots at 7.

Updated On: 12/27/16 at 10:47 AM

Wave back.

So glad that you had a good time Roman! Please share more tomorrow.

Sounds like a wonderful trip Roman. Terrific pictures (especially with Tyler Hanes!!!)