Posted: 6/13/08 at 7:36pm
Hello all. I just arrived earlier today from my trip to the Big Apple. Although I loved seeing the shows and meeting several stars, I'm sooooo glad to be home here in Austin. Well, where shall I begin. Note: I don't have a clue on how to post multiple pictures in one post, so I'll be doing one pic at a time. Also, these are just my thoughts and recollections. Please bear with me.
Gypsy: Wed. June 10th: I absolutely LOVED the show and the cast. It was a pretty good crowd. Early on, the mysterious announcer said that Miss Patti's foot was hurt, so she would be wearing Isotoner's. You couldn't tell how she was injured. Miss Patti LuPone was AMazing. As "Mama Rose", she was sad, happy, ingratiating, infuriating and FErocious. Her energy level was INcredible!! Loved Laura Benanti AND Tony Yazbek.
Speaking of Tony Y., I FInally managed to meet him at the stage door... got him to sign the long Chorus Line Poster (his was the only one I didn't have). I told him about having seeing him in SF but didn't want to bother him, as he was with his parents. He was just sooo nice and sweet Yes, Miss Patti did go outside to sign autographs. Before she came out, someone from the theatre told the waiting crowd that Miss LuPone would only sign autographs, but no posing for pics with her. Oh well... she signed an 8 X 10 picture I had taken with her in Dallas in Jan. 2008.
Xanadu: Wed. June 11th: I had a rather strange encounter with a die hard FAnadu. She's short, blonde and about 25 or so. I forgot her username, but she did mentioned that she hardly posts on BWW. This person admitted to having seen "Xanadu" some 31 times. HOWever, this person was extremely intense and vociferously voiced her likes and dislikes (especially about people who stage door and wait for autographs). I disagreed with her on several things and stood my ground. But I could tell that this person was way too intense for my comfort. But... on with the show. This nice lady accompanied us to the stage seating and gave us the "what to do's and what not to do's". I got seat 004..towards the middle section. The show starts with Cheyenne Jackson onstage, scribbling with what appeared to be colored chalk. I think that something was amiss because he did that for a good time. Then he began. Everyone was amazing: Kerry Butler, Cheyenne and the two sister Muses played by Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa. I actually became a "victim" of Calliope. I was actually wearing a name badge with my BWW username. At one point, she goes up close to me... and says something to the effect.." What's that written there... oh, I don't have time to read all of that..." The crowd laughed when she said that and I turned three shades of red. Patti Murin, who plays Euterpe, also took a quick look at my name badge and smiled at me. It was kind of funny that the show kept putting down the year 1980... also the same year I graduated from high school. I had SUCH a wonderful time seeing "Xanadu". Hopefully, it will tour in my area. I took pics with Kerry and Cheyenne. Apparently, Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman vanished into thin air, because we never saw them at the stage door.
Finally.... Thursday, June 13th: "A Chorus Line"
Initially, I had wanted to see ACL soley because of Mario Lopez. But then I became aware of Nick Adams. I did send Nick a birthday e-card on June 10th of a Dancing Disco Baby. He has emailed back to me a couple of times. Any... way, I loved the show. Everyone was fantastic. I was especially amazed by the sheer laser like precision of Nick Adams' dancing. I had seats that were about four rows from the front stage, so I was at a good vantage point. Charlotte was on as Cassie on Thursday nite. She was spectacular as usual. I'll leave others to describe Mario Lopez' talent onstage... but he seemed to give it his all. I didn't like the part when Nick Adams has to wear that shirt/hood that covers him up. Loved Deidre and her sassy self. Also loved the Tits and Ass girl, Jessica Lee Goldyn. I was struck by the guy who was wearing the blue striped shirt. His blonde good looks remined me of one of the Beach Boys from the 1960's. When he came out to the stage door, I looked him up and it was Jason Patrick Sands. Be still my heart. They were all soo nice to the fans at the stage door.
I do have ONE major peeve with the security at the Schoenfeld Theatre... You have those two metal barriers set up. People were supposed to have stayed behind them. But, a bunch of people were at the tail end, the section where the cast members should have had a clearance to go on their merry way. There was NO ONE doing any sort of security at the stage door. I truly felt sorry and concerned for the cast members who had to dodge a small mob at the end of the metal barriers. Even Mario Lopez had to delicately handle his way out of that predicament. Someone at the Schoenfeld really dropped the ball that nite.
One last thing... I was supposed to have met Wanna Be A Foster after the Wednesday Xanadu show. He either didn't see me and I didn't know what he looked like. Oh well. from RC in Austin, Texas
Updated On: 6/14/08 at 07:36 PM
