Taking a Bite out of the Big Apple

It's the destination...

People say that travel is not all about the destination, it's about the journey. I disagree. Having just returned from the Big Apple, I've got some stories for you.

First off, the journey is not fun. It is not fun at all, especially when your plane is delayed two hours for weather and then, once seated in your seat, you are delayed two hours more because one of the flight attendants did not show up for work. But let's "Keep it Positive!" as Broadway princess Laura Bell Bundy would put it, who, though our delays kept us from seeing the show, we got to meet at the Palace stage door!

On to Monday. When I first learned of this New York trip I was a tad bit upset. You see, the only night we could've realistically seen a show was Monday. For all those people who do not yet see the disappointment, and if you do not, sorry to inform you, but you are not a true b'way fan, let me tell you that most Broadway shows do not perform on Mondays. Most. Three do. They are RENT, Phantom of the Opera, and Spring Awakening. When I found out Spring Awakening had Monday shows I jumped at the chance and managed to score a stage seat. That's right non-b'way folks, you can sit, literally, on the stage for SA. And let me tell you, that was an amazing experience! I went by myself for my family didn't want to see the show, but they were nice enough to walk me to the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. I'm now sitting on stage and realize that some of the seats do not have numbers on them like mine. I do not have to wait long for the whole cast comes out and all take their seats. Yes, the actors not performing do not get to relax back stage, they sit and lounge all around you and, for those who know, Phoebe Strole sat right in front of me, Brian Charles sat behind me, and Eryn Murman sat next to me. Eryn was the funniest for her seat had a number, she came up to the usher, gave him a ticket, he led her to her seat explaining the rules of on-stage sitting like he had just done to myself, then, during "Touch Me", she pulled a microphone out of her pocket, jumped on her chair, and started belting with everyone else (who knew she was in the show?). After the show I went to Lindy's and got a cheesecake. One guess which kind. Brownie cheesecake, as we all should know, is and was delicious. Oh, and that day was spent dancing on giant pianos in FAO Schwartz and at Central Park zoo.

Tuesday. Start walking to the subway and Sixth Avenue in blocked off completely. A parade is going on. More specifically, the All-Star Baseball Hall of Fame-ers parade is going on. My father is excited. He explains who everyone is going by and takes pictures for they are all the greats from his childhood. After a bit, we realize we need to get on the subway for we have tickets to take Codi to Liberty and Ellis Island. That evening we shop in China Town and dine in Little Italy. By the time we get back to the hotel, Codi is ready to call it a night (and who does so in NYC at 9 o'clock?). I flip through brochures and and come up with an insanely impossible idea. I want to meet Kerry Ellis. I wanted to see her, but the box-office man at the Gershwin pretty much laughed when we asked if they had any tickets earlier that day (sold out for whole summer). My book says Wicked is 2h45m. If we can time this right, we could make the stage door and meet the cast.

On we go, racing down the street. We get to the Gershwin as people are pouring out the doors. We decide to do the opposite and push our way in. I race up one flight of stairs and then another, looking for a playbill that I hope someone has foolishly left behind. There on a counter are two. I snatch them. My father appears at my side and says, "Well, you are here, want to see it?" We run up another flight of stairs and, slowly and carefully open a door. We are in. I see the stage and look around the theatre taking it in, while also thinking up quickly lies I could tell as to why we are in a deserted theatre with no ticket. It's time to locate the stage door, which I found earlier on our day visit. We run back down three flights, out the doors, and find the line of people. Now its a repeat of the scene earlier today, but in reverse. All the stars are appearing and its now my turn to jump up and down, take pictures, and tell my dad stories of the stars. I get my playbill signed by the Wizard (Lenny Wolpe), Madame Morrible (Jayne Houdyshell), and Fiyero (Aaron Tveit). Then Kerry comes out. She is so sweet and signs playbills, chats with us, and even lets you take individual pictures (body guards at Legally Blonde wouldn't let you). So, of course, Kerri got her picture taken with Kerry!

If that were not enough, on Wednesday's run out to lunch Frankenstein runs past me down the street. Yes. You read that correctly, Young Frankensiten is currently playing at the Hilton Theatre on Broadway. A second later Igor runs after him, stops, turns, and comes over to chat to me, trying to get me to switch brains with him. Frankenstein charges back up the street towards us and, grunting, lets us take a picture.

Time to journey back now. This time our plane arrive at the airport a lovely 10 minutes early. But, in no way, does the journey compare to the destination and the memories we formed there.

All for a Sandwich

Photos from my trip to the city of brotherly love... Enjoy!

Class of 2008