You are here: Home / Archives for broadway

What I Learned in NYC

December 15, 2010 By 2 Comments

The last time I was in New York City, I was ten or eleven. Somewhere around there. My parents took my sister and me on an educational trip. For example, I learned that it takes about three hours to climb the Statue of Liberty (in a slow-moving line) but only a few minutes to grab the view.

This trip was no less educational, and I feel the need to share my new learning with you.

  1. The tree at Rockefeller Center is real. I honestly thought they put up an artificial one every year. I have a new standard to work toward. (If you know anything about my love of Christmas trees, you know how momentous meeting Rocky was for me.)

  2. Warhol’s Campbell Soup Cans are individual portraits. And each one is different–one for each brand Campbell had at the time. I thought it was the same soup can and all on one canvas.
  3. Jasper Johns’ American Flag is painted on top of newspaper. (I realize all of these things are general knowledge to the general public, but somehow I had missed them in my upbringing. I blame the schools.) This gave the iconic work a certain timefullness. (By the way, I heart MOMA. We also went to the Met, but the MOMA was more meaningful to me. I also got to see the real live version of a print I have in my office–Chagall’s “I and the village.” It was much bigger than I expected.)
  4. Being pregnant makes participating with the Rockettes in their annual Christmas show difficult. Big bellies get in the way of high kicks.

  5. Singing on Broadway is all it’s cracked up to be.

  6. I love Bernadette Peters. Okay, so technically, I knew this, but Friday night at “A Little Night Music” (by my favorite Broadway composer–Sondheim) reminded me of that fact.
  7. Times Square is afraid of the dark. Which must be the reason for their bright nightlight.
  8. Not all soup places yell at you. Most are kind and patient. Which was disappointing for my husband.
  9. My husband, besides being the sexiest, most incredible man in the universe, spoils me. This I also already knew, but he likes to remind me. And remind me he did this past weekend. I love this man.

Filed Under: A Little Night Music, Andy Warhol, babymoon, Bernadette Peters, broadway, Christmas, Jasper Johns, MOMA, New York City, pregnancy, Rockefeller Center, Stephen Sondheim, the Rockettes, Times Square

That Toddling Town

July 9, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Chicago, Chicago, my hometown.

Okay, so it’s not, but it should be. Next to Philly and Prague and Barcelona, my favorite city with brown papered packages tied up with string. I saw the greatest fireworks of my life off the Navy Pier that lit up the sky like high noon shootout. I ate pizza with more cheese than Monty Python. And hot dogs with a salad on top (it’s healthy, you know). I lunched in Chinatown and Greektown, where they speak Chinese and Greek respectively (and respectably). I got dizzy looking up at the Sear’s Tower. I marched (more like ran) on Michigan street with thousands of others trying to catch our train after the aforementioned fireworks. I chatted and chatted and chatted some more with my best friend. I sang Broadway tunes on the Metra for an hour and a half, half-entertaining, half-scaring the other patrons.

And speaking of Broadway…

I saw Wicked! And loved it (Jennifer, this bud’s for you…)

Musically, I have to admit it wasn’t exactly innovative or all that creative. It stuck to the standard Broadway sound as defined by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

That being said, I can’t help but lovin’ my musical. The creative part was the book, and that was ubercreative. I cried, yes, and I laughed heartily out loud. I loved the development of Elphaba’s character and the change in Glinda’s. It was very postmodern in its look at a story from a different perspective. I loved the examination of wickedness: some people are born wicked, others have wicked thrust upon them. And the digging into motivations with truth being found in unlikely places and veiled by seemingly good sources. So much to dig into, but alas, I haven’t the time. Just know that I recommend it, and that I’m going to go back and read Gregory Maguire’s other books, such as The Ugly Stepsister and Son of a Witch.

And I can’t forget the Art Institute where I got to see one of my favorite paintings, Chagall’s White Crucifixion as well as other greats. Unfortunately, the area with Rembrandt was closed. (Too bad, because my teeth could use the whitening.)

I lost the blues in Chicago. That toddling town.

Filed Under: broadway, musicals, travel

While We're on the Subject

February 19, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Last week I talked about Beethoven and his persistence, a man who wrote undeniably one of the greatest symphonies ever (his Ninth) when deaf. This past weekend, I watched (again) Funny Girl, the musical based on the Broadway star, Fanny Brice. In a time when producers chose girls based on long legs and mirror, mirror on the wall faces, Fanny Brice had a definite disadvantage. But she had talent. When they needed a chorus girl, she tried out to be a chorus girl, though she clutzed around stage tripping the other girls. She worked hard, pursued her craft, and eventually proved her talent (with which she more than made up for her, um, looks). She won over the crowd that thought they preferred just another pretty face, and instead of bowing down to the great Mr. Ziegfeld, Mr. Ziegfeld waited on her.

I’m the greatest star
I am by far but no one knows it!
That’s why I was born
I blow my horn
Till someone blows it
I’ll light up like a light
Right up like a light
I’ll flicker, then flare up, ah, ah!
All the world’s gonna stare up
Looking down you’ll never see me
Try the sky ’cause that’ll be me!
I can make them cry
I can make them sigh
Some day they’ll clamor for my drama
Have you guessed yet, who’s the best yet?
If you ain’t I’ll tell you one more time
You bet yer last dime
In all of the world so far
I am the greatest, greatest star!

Side thought that has nothing to do with Fanny: I began Ulysses last night. Got through the first two chapters. Really, this was written in 1922? Because I’ve read books from that time before and even preceding times, and I’m completely lost. I might have caught about 15% of what is going on. Anyone know any good helps?
Filed Under: broadway, creative, greatness, music