One Day More!

It's been a while since I've written...but a LOT has been going on. The highlights are: I officially started graduate school for an MS in arts administration, and I traveled to London, New York City, and Philadelphia. The best part is that come tomorrow, I will have seen 15 shows this month. New record!

In London, I managed to see 10 shows in 8 days, including Phantom of the Opera, War Horse, Ghost, Richard III, Wicked, Billy Elliot, Wizard of Oz, and Les Miserables. A wonderful, eclectic mix of shows. It was an ideal vacation.

Phantom of the Opera surprised me. I was lucky to see it with its 25th Anniversary Cast, starring John Owen Jones as the Phantom, Katie Hall as Christine, and Killian Donnelly as Raoul. Naturally, I was pleased to see a cast full of Les Mis alums. The show is truly stunning. The lavish music, set, and costumes have delighted audiences for a quarter of a century. When the chandelier rises as the show begins, you know you're in for a treat. I'd only seen touring productions in the past, and even then, I hadn't seen the show live in about 14 years. Nonetheless, the show will always hold a special place in my heart since it was the first musical I ever saw. This production made me realize why Phantom of the Opera is still on Broadway. It continues to amaze audience members, including me, after 25 years.

Another spectacular production I saw was War Horse. I was determined to see the show again in London even though tickets seemed impossible to get. While I had an odd view from a balcony, the resulting back ache was worth it. The show is quite different from the Broadway version. Even though the main storyline remains entact, the means of getting there is a bit different. Firstly, there is only a Song Man, no Song Woman. I really missed the Song Woman. The Song Man was incredible; I'd just been accustomed to hearing a woman's voice too. Secondly, when I read the play, I noticed the use of foreign languages in the story - cheifly German and French. However, on Broadway, the whole story is presented in English. This is not the case in the West End produciton - the show incorporates French and German where it should be used. Lastly, some of the subplots of the story, especially int he second act, were very different. Either way, the main characters - Joey and Albert - still melted my heart. I think the whole audience was practically in tears by the end of the show.

I also saw a very technically stunning show while I was in London - Ghost. I don't think I've ever seen as much technology incorporated into one show. Spiderman may have come close, but I think this show had more technology displayed in it. For the must part it worked, but at times, it was a bit distracting. I especially enjoyed the way the elements of Sam as a ghost were incorporated into the musical. I also appreciated the show's music, sung beautifully by Richard Fleeshman (Sam) and Caissie Levi (Molly).

Even though I could write a novel about the fantastic shows I saw in London, I'll move on to my personal favorite: Les Miserables. The show was the first show I saw this month on September 3, and it will conclude my month tomorrow, September 30. I don't think I will ever not want to see this show. The music, story, characters, themes, etc. get me every time. This time was particularly special, largely because Alfie Boe (Jean Valjean) and Matt Lucas (Thenardier) were in the cast. Alfie Boe's voice reverberated throughout the entire theatre. I've never felt Jean Valjean's words so strongly, so powerfully. Truly inspired performance. Meanwhile, I've never appreciated Thenardier's parts as much as when Matt Lucas performed them. Typically, you don't see actors ad lib in well-renowned shows, like Les Mis, but he did and pulled it off. I also must mention Caroline Sheen (Fantine) and Liam Tamne (Enjorlas) since their performances struck me as well. Caroline Sheen is already a well-established actress, but Liam Tamne is rather new to the scene. I predict he's going to be as huge as Ramin Karimloo in the future, especially since his voice is just as magical.

Upon returning from London, I had a brief trip to New York City, where I saw Mary Poppins, Spiderman, and Rent. Even though I've seen them all before, I'd never seen Mary Poppins on Broadway. That was a standout performance since it starred the original Mary and Bert, Laura Michelle Kelly and Gavin Lee respectively. What a treat! I love to hear the voices of those on the original cast album when I can. I'm still hoping to hear the original Jean Valjean, Colm Wilkinson, sing live one day.

Tomorrow, the final day of September, I'll conclude my month at Les Miserables. Talk about ending on a high note! I've seen the tour before, but some of the cast has changed, and I am looking forward to seeing a new take on the characters. I can't quite believe that in "one more dawn, one more day, one day more" September will be over. This memorable, musical-filled month has been inspiring.

~ LBD

Musical Quote of the Moment: “Take my love, for love is everlasting" ~ Les Miserables

Aftershocks

My friend reminded me today of “Aftershocks,” a beautifully written song from Next to Normal, that seemed quite appropriate to mention after experiencing the East Coast’s worst Earthquake since the 1940’s yesterday. The earthquake quite literally left me feeling shaken. Unexpectedly, the earthquake shook up my day and stirred up emotions, and today, I realized that this is a power theatre (when done well) also has.

Well executed plays and musicals can arouse audience’s emotions, making the audience feel something, and possibly, compel the audience to act in some way or another. Recently, I have fortunately been able to attend a number of well performed shows, including War Horse, Uncle Vanya and Wicked, that fit this description.

War Horse is an incredibly inspiring and moving play that really embodies the true meaning of hope. In fact, the slogan for the movie version directed by Steven Speilberg is "Hope Survives." I love this tagline. The play also depicts themes of love, determination, and courage. I left the play feeling like I had a new understanding of what true love is and what real hope looks like. This understanding reverberated within me long after the show had ended. Even today, almost two weeks later, I am still deeply touched by the story that unfolded before my eyes when I saw War Horse. To make the show even more poignant, there is exquisitely crafted musical numbers in the play. Every time the Song Woman, Song Man, or the Chorus sang, I got chills. The lyrics blend with the dialogue so well that I could argue this is more of a musical than a play. Either way, War Horse is a heartwarming story that will remain with you after the show ends.

Meanwhile, Uncle Vanya centers on the theme of “wasted life.” This provoked me to ponder what I am doing with my life and if I am making the right choices for how I live my life. Don’t we all strive to not waste our lives, but, instead, to find some sort of purpose or meaning that guides our lives and makes our lives worthwhile and valuable? This show confirmed my feelings that I need to take chances to uncover what I’m supposed to do with my life and to do my best to make the most of the time I am given here on Earth. Time is an incredibly valuable commodity in life, and it’s important to spend it wisely. Clearly, this show's after effects are still with me as well.

Another show that has impacted my life is Wicked. Based on the sold out shows and popularity of the phrase "defy gravity," I don't think I am alone. The show inspires me to follow my heart, reach for my dreams, and do my best to positively impact humanity. Those are excellant aftershocks to spread all over world. Apparently, enjoyable aftershocks equate to exceptional ticket sales.

Like earthquakes, theatre can cause aftershocks even if the main event has already finished. Many shows have influenced my life and made me who I am today. I am thankful for those experiences as their aftershocks have not only affected my past but will continue to shape my future.

~ LBD

Musical Quote of the Moment: “The memories will wane, the aftershocks remain...They moved me from your memory, I'm still there in your soul. Your life goes back to normal now, or so they all believe. Your heart is in your chest again, not hanging from your sleeve...The memories are gone. The aftershocks live on." ~ Next to Normal