BROADWAY

For those of you who don't know, I'm a bit (more than a bit) obsessed with theater. No, I do not like actually being on stage, due to my condition of stage fright and attention fright in general. I love watching theater. Which, actually makes perfect since seeing as I love stories, and story-telling, which is basically what theater is. (Sorry for any major theater geeks screaming at me somewhere.) Basically, I get really obsessed and attached to shows, mostly musicals. (Ask my dad, he has to listen to them ALL THE TIME.) 
I've always liked theater, but the big obsession started two years ago when I began my career as a Cappies Critic. (Cappies is a high school group that goes around and reviews other high schools' plays. It's actually king do a big thing, with a giant "Tony" awards at the end of the season). Les Mis was the first theater production that I absolutely fell in love with, blasting the music at all times of the day. Then came Rent. Hamilton. Spring Awakening. Something Rotten. Wicked. Kinky Boots... etc. Basically I'm very, very obsessed. 
And when I get obsessed with things, it's not a low-key obsession, it's a grand obsession. Meaning I know basically every detail about the show, story-wise, actor-wise, etc. I know a lot of random facts about my favorite musicals. Like Lin Manuel Miranda wrote the song "Dear Theodosia" on the day he adopted his dog, not when his first child was born. Or that the melody for "Burn" is playing in the background of "Take a Break" to possibly signify an emotional affair? Or that Jonathan Groff and Lea Michelle became best friends after originating Melchior and Wendla in Spring Awakening. OR... You know what? I'll shut up now. I research and study these shows for FUN when I get obsessed. Yeah, that's how weird me and my obsessions are.  (Side note: I also know every word to every song to most of the musicals listed above. Want to badly rap along to Hamilton with me? Give me a call, haha) 
Anyway, back on topic. I love theater. Last year was the 25th Anniversary of Rent, so there was a touring cast going around. I really, really wanted to go, but my dad was busy on all the nearby dates... So I was left to be disappointed having never seen the show. Why am I telling this story? Because my dad knew how much I wanted to see Rent and therefore promised to take me to Broadway this summer. 
This would be my first Broadway show, hopefully the first of many. So when the time came, I chose Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 to be my first. Why? Because 1. Okieriete Onaodowan (Hercules Mulligan from Hamilton's Original Cast) and Ingrid Michelson were in it, 2. the plot sounded interesting 3. I'd heard good reviews and finally 4. Philippa Soo (Original Eliza in Hamilton) originated the role of Natasha (Yeah, that's how much of a nerd I am.). 
It was a great show that was extremely unique. It interacted with the audience, performing with audience members actually seated on the stage and actually interacting with random audience members as part of the show as well. It was fantastic, and I'm so bitter that it left Broadway so soon. Well, that day trip to Broadway was probably one of the best days of the summer, and I still think of it fondly. (Shoutout to my father for putting up with my theater obsession and taking a day off to actually take me to Broadway. Love you father!) We left early, and got to New York in time to wander around and see the Broadway area, even visiting the Richard Rodger's Theater AKA HAMILTON. Not that I actually saw that show, but even being at the theater was awesome . (Yeah, I'm a nerd. Sorry) The actual theater for The Great Comet was pretty amazing as well. It was built just for the show (as are all Broadway Theaters) and was extremely unique. (See picture below). Before going to the Comet, though, we stopped in a little Italian Restaurant on Times Square and had the best Italian food I'd ever had. Basically what I'm trying to say, and what I've already said is that was a great day. 

The next professional theater show I saw wasn't actually on Broadway. I went to go see the touring cast of Wicked when the came to the Academy of Music this summer with my father and Zia. It was a good show, I was already familiar with Wicked, so I just wanted to actually go see it live. It wasn't the best show for several reasons that had nothing to do with the story. The show itself is great, just circumstance wasn't. First off, I left my glasses at home, which is totally my issue. Then secondly both Glinda and Elphaba were the standbys. Glinda was good, but Elphaba? Her acting was really choppy, like she was just saying the lines, but don't get me wrong, her singing sent shivers down my spine, especially during the iconic song "Defying Gravity." And then there was also a guy listening to the show on headphones like right next to me, and I could hear the electronic-ized voices for the entire time. Still, it was a very good show and I did actually enjoy my time. (sorry! My inner critic is showing.) 
Then the next show came as a bit of a surprise. One of my best friends, Rachael, got two free tickets to Kinky Boots at the Academy of Music. Knowing my love of theater, she invited me along. Of course I accepted, despite the fact the show was on a school night and I also had a field hockey game that day. Basically how that worked was I came home right after the game was over (had to miss watching the JV), and throw on a dress over my sweaty body (sorry, too many details?) before jumping into Rachael's car and racing off to the train station. Then we got to Philly and may or may not have gotten a little lost trying to find the Academy of Music due to malfunctioning GPSes on our phones... Yeah I'll just say this circles and RUNNING DOWN TO TRY AND GET THERE IN TIME. We ended up getting there at about 7:26 when the show started at 7:30. So yay! we made it in time, even if we were sweating and panting in our seats for a bit into the show. 
Kinky Boots was a great show, show's humor is spot on and it's music is so catchy. I added basically the entire album to my ever so long and ever going Musical Favorites playlist. 
That night getting back is actually a bit of an interesting story, too. Being the adept duo that we are, Rachael and I couldn't figure out a way to get back into the train station. See, we got out from the Comcast Building, but it was 11 at night, so that was closed. And then the main entrance to the station was closed due to construction. Basically we were a little worried about being stranded in Philly on a school night, but then we saw a security officer, and asked for a way to get into the station... He proceeded to point about twenty five feet away from us where there was an underground entryway. Whoops. I did say Rachael and I are a very adept pair, didn't I? We got back late, and I was EXTREMELY tired the next day, but for the show it was all worth it. Also just want to say I love Rachael so much, and not just because she took me to a show (but that's a bonus, haha). Rach, if you're reading this, you're the best. 

Alright, because I wanted to go back to Broadway so bad, I talked to my friend who is actually very good on stage, Rayna, about if she'd want to go to New York sometime to see a show. Luckily enough for me, she was very enthusiastic about the idea and soon enough we had a plan to go to not one, but two shows in the oncoming months. The first show we went to see was Cats. I really wanted to see this show because literally it seems like ​everyone talks about it, and seeing as it's leaving Broadway in December, I figured now would be the time to take action. Rayna wanted to see it because she heard it had amazing choreography (which it did!!) Basically, it worked out. 
So a couple weeks ago, Rayna, my dad and I all got up early on a Sunday Morning (November 12, to be exact) to head to New York City for a matinee performance of Cats. It was a fun time, walking through the city, stopping to get lunch and then going to see the show. Cats is an amazing show. Sure, I'll admit I had no idea what the plot was, but the singing, dancing, and set? All of it was so impressive. I wish everyone could go see that show because it'll leave you stunned. 
That Sunday had to be one of the better days of the year, and the most exciting part? WE have another one planned this December. What show are we seeing? Well, I fell so much in love with Kinky Boots that I looked it up and found out that the two original leads are back for a short time. OF COURSE I had to see that, so Rayna and I are going back to New York to see that soon next month. I'm so excited, too, because it's such a fun trip. Hanging out with Rayna is great (Love you, Rayna!), New York is great and going to Broadway is great. All the combined makes the best day ever, so as you might imagine, I'm getting pretty excited for the best day ever part II. 
Anyway, thanks for reading! If you ever need any theater recommendations, I'm your girl. :) 
-Anj