It's been a while

Wow... it's been a while since I last wrote anything here. I've been so busy with work lately that I haven't really had the chance to really do anything else.

Let's see.. I haven't been running since I have no time. I've been taking my MCSE exams so whatever free time I have have been devoted to studying. Although it has paid off so far. I scored 100% on 2 exams already. I've been reading a bit -- yeah, all chick lit -- gotta love those steamy romance novels.

What else? Hmmm.... I've been to NY this month. That was my second trip of the year. Yes, I did go watch shows again. Duh! That's one thing I would not pass up.

So far I have seen 22 out of the 27 musicals that are currently running on Broadway. It's a lot easier for me to enumerate the ones I haven't seen. I'm at the bottom of my list now. Some of the shows, I'm just not too compelled to watch. Eh, maybe if I end up going to NY and no new shows are out then I'll go watch them.

Anyways, I got to see South Pacific, Gypsy, Passing Strange, The Little Mermaid (again), In the Heights and Chicago.

South Pacific
This was the show that had me almost in a panic. I was trying to find a single ticket and I could not believe I couldn't find a single ticket online during the duration of my trip. I was soooooo ready to get a ticket from a ticket broker because I really wanted to see it. Anyways, I tried the cancellation line and was able to get front row mezzanine seats. Wooohooo! The god seats!

I loved this show. The cast was just wonderful. This is definitely a must see. I wouldn't mind watching it again. If I had to pay more than face value for this show, it would've still been worth it. Kelli O'Hara, Paulo Szolt, Matthew Morrison, Danny Burnstein were a joy to watch.

Gypsy
This was the other show that I really wanted to see during my trip. The story and the score were okay but what made this show wonderful for me was because of the cast. This was the first show I have seen that the audience gave a standing ovation before the curtain call. Patti Lupone just blew the top off the theatre with her performance of Rose's turn. It was amazing. The rest of the cast was pretty good too especially Laura Benanti. This was my 4th Sondheim musical.

The Little Mermaid
What can I say? This is my favorite Disney musical. I love the story and I also love the show. My friend, Karen and I went for standing room tickets. Not bad for $26.50. Since I have seen it up close from the 9th row (or maybe closer), I didn't mind seeing it from the back of the orchestra. I didn't mind standing the entire time too since time just flew. It was worth hearing Shere Rene Scott as Ursula and Sierra Boggess as Ariel sing.

Oh yeah, regarding the standing room tickets, you can get them when the show is sold out. Ask for the lower wall. ;)

Yup, I'll probably watch this again in the future.

Passing Strange
I wasn't too sure if I really wanted to watch this show. Anyways, for lack of other shows to watch, what the heck, I went to see it.

It was okay. I wasn't really blown away with it. It's more of a rock concert than a musical. The story is so so although it made for an enjoyable evening. The set was very simplistic. Daniel Beaker who played the lead role was pretty good.

I doubt it if I'll watch this again. It was worth watching at least once. Did I like it, well, it was okay. Did I love it? Nah... Not my type of musical

In the Heights
I still cannot understand the hype for this musical. A lot of people are saying that it's a shoo in to win the Best Musical at the Tonys this year.

I only went to see this because my friend and I won the lottery. I'll watch any musical for $26.50.

The book was so so. I really didn't see the point. My friend was saying that it's very local. There's a lot of references that I really didn't get because I didn't live in Washington Heights. The music was okay. I guess I'd call it forgettable. I cannot remember a hummable song from the show. The lead, Lin-Manuel Miranda is definitely very talented. He pretty much wrote the show.

It was worth watching it once just to see what the hype is all about. I don't think I'll be watching this again.

Chicago
Since I didn't have anymore shows to see, I had to go down to the bottom of my list. Anyways, I was able to get rush seats for Chicago and again for $26.50, I will go wand watch any musical.

I almost fell asleep during act I. It was boooooring! I almost walked out of the theatre during the intermission. I decided to be persistent and actually stay for the second act. Thank goodness I didn't. It started picking up during the second act so it wasn't a complete waste.

Will I watch it again? Absolutely not. I'd rather stick a needle in my eye! I think I'm seeing a pattern. It seem that Kander and Ebb musicals are just not my thing. I'm 0 for 2 on Kander and Ebb musicals. The last one I saw, Lovemusik, eww... I didn't like it at all.

So there ya go... my latest set of shows.

You might wonder what I haven't seen so here's my list. I refuse to pay full price for these. Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, Grease, Cry Baby, A Catered Affair. Yeah, if you want to give me tickets for these, I'll go and watch them.

During my last trip, I decided that I should try to stay away from NYC for a few months. Well, tht was true until the other day when I read that Will Chase and Eden Espinosa are going to be in the final cast of Rent. I loved Will Chase in Miss Saigon. I've seen him several times in it with Lea Salonga. Well, for Eden, I'm a huge fan! I loooooved her in Wicked and I will watch any show that she's in. I gotta find a way to get my butt back to NYC before Rent closes for good in September.

What else? Oh yeah, I decided to start watching regional productions. I went to see Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein) in Walnut Creek last weekend. I took a friend's daughter with me when I went to see it and she enjoyed it a lot. It was okay for me. The main characters were okay - good singers. The lighting felt a little off and didn't accentuate the charater that was singing that much so when there are a lot of characters on the stage, it was hard to tell who was singing. My biggest complaint is that there were too many ensemble members on stage! It felt too cluttered and too crowded. The costumes were pretty good though. Anyways, yeah, I am a theater snob......

Until next time... whenever that may be....