Toxic Audio's last performance--and guess who was there--LIZA MINELLI!!

So, very reluctantly, I went to Toxic Audio's wonderful last performance. They were flawless as usual, and there were two understudies for Shalisa and Jeremy. There was one slip up during "The Rose" where the two understudies stopped singing and sarted laughing, although nobody seemed to notice except me, and they quickly caught up. Then after the show, they made a special thanks to everyone who made their show possible, and called certain people on stage. Then in the lobby they had a toast to the cast and it was all sweet and special and lovely. I'm so upset to see such ridiculously amazingly talented performers leave. Truly one of the best things in NYC.

Now, before the show started, I went outside because the lobby was hot. So I'm standing there and I look next to me and who is there but LIZA FREAKING MINELLI!! Once my friends came I finally got the courage to go over to her and ask her my burning question as to whether she had seen the Boy From Oz or not. She said no and seemed slightly perturbed that I asked her in the first place. Oh well, at least my thoughts have been answered. They also made references to her in the show when they would improv, and Paul started singing "New York New York" during his beat boxing solo at the end. Good stuff.

Wow! That's awesome!

I'm really sad to see this show close. I only had the chance to see it once, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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You will still be able to see and hear these talented people as they will be on tour. For more info visit their site at www.toxicaudio.com. Congratulations to Rene and the entire cast for making truly wonderful sounds in NYC for the last 6 months. Come back soon!

Ebonic-

I found out later on that a LOT of people noticed the giggling during "The Rose." Apparently there was an inside, planted joke involved (wink).

Good to meet you, by the way. Again, I'm sorry that my thoughts of demographics for you were as way off-base as they could come! (wink).

Anyway, I did make it up for the final show (24 hours, 19 minutes in NY....a new record for brevity) and, as expected, was not at all disappointed. I was very happy to see that Michelle and John made it back from their gig in Mexico with a whopping 4 hours to spare (wink). Because it was my understanding that the Mexico shows were running through Oct. 31st, I wasn't expecting to see them there, so it was a very nice surprise. It was the first time I had the opportunity to see Garth and Emily as subs and yep, they definitely more than pass muster! As individuals, they each brought something different into the show, giving it a nice change of pace, but they were also more than able to assimilate themselves into the core of what Toxic Audio is. They're certainly going to go far in their respective careers!

René introducing so many of the "behind the scenes" people was very classy...we finally got to put faces with the people who did all the things to make the show as entertaining and productive as it was. And I know one particular Floridian in the audience who was very pleased (and VERY embarrassed) with a brief mention (grin).

Liza Minnelli's escort for the evening was Jim Caruso, by the way. I was standing about 5 feet away from the Toxins when she was talking to them and you could tell that she had really enjoyed the show.

Although it's sad that they won't be playing in NY on a consistent basis anymore, I really think it's a good thing for the "whole." Without the 8-shows-a-week schedule, they'll have more opportunity to travel, which gives more people, not just those in NY, an opportunity to see them. I felt the exact same way when they left Orlando...I selfishly wanted them to stay here so I could see them nearly as much as I wanted. Sure, I understood that for careers to grow, you can't stay stagnant...not that it made me feel any better when they left last March (wink). I still sorely miss those "Freaky Sets" at Pleasure Island's Jazz Company, but it gets easier with time (and it's a REALLY good excuse for cross-country travel [wink]).

-Sharon-
Orlando FL

Updated On: 11/1/04 at 03:38 PM

Yeah it was nice to see you Sharon! And it's okay, I know they'll be back.

Of course (grin). What a silly question (wink).

I also get to go to one of their corporate gigs a day or two before, because I work for the "right" place (grin).

It woulda been REALLY cool to 'surprise" them in Japan, but they're going in the fall and we're going in April.

-Sharon-
Orlando FL