Monday, January 21, 2013

Defying Gravity

It's no secret that I love the theater.  I love everything about a good musical.  The songs, the set, the cast.  It's all perfect in my eyes.  The Hubs will indulge this side of me every so often (aka our big trip to NYC just to see RENT off Broadway).  He had planned to get tickets to Wicked for our anniversary until I realized the price tag that comes along with it.  The frugal side of me came out and I told him not to worry about it this year. He then offered up a trip to NYC to see it on Broadway next year (hopefully).  Um hello....who wouldn't agree to that?!?!?  So I said ok and put Wicked out of my mind.

Then on Christmas Eve, my BIL mentioned that he bought tix for his wife (SIL) but now he has to travel for work for 2 weeks and Wicked fell into those 2 weeks so I might have to keep SIL company at the show.  I was starting to get excited again.  Then, on our anniversary, BIL texted the Hubs and said that SIL and our nephew were flying up to see him so they needed someone to take their Wicked tix.  It was our anniversary present. Insert really excited Jess face!!!!

Needless to say, January 20th has been circled in my planner since that day and the countdown began.  I think I get a little annoying by the time the actual day arrives because all I can think about is going. I'm sure the Hubs wanted to kill me.  I was like a kid on Christmas.  I didn't sleep too well Saturday night and woke up Sunday so excited!!!  All I could talk about was the show.  So I think he was happy when we got there and I couldn't talk anymore.

We got to the theater around 1215 and headed in.  We stopped and looked at all the Wicked items and the Hubs indulged me and got the coffee mug for me.  Then we headed to the Orchestra 11 doorway to wait for the doors to open.  When they did, we entered and I was awestruck.  We were in the 10th row!  My BIL/SIL have totally spoiled me now because I think I need to sit close every time!!!  The set design was amazing, what little I could see at that moment.
Yep. That's the stage so close to my seat.  So excited!!!!!
Now I've read the book before.  It tells the back story of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West...aka the green one) and Glinda the Good Witch.  It was very hard to get through but I did it.  I even started "Son of Witch" because I was hooked.  But that got about 2 chapters in before I realized I was confused.  So I put it on the back burner for years. Now, after seeing the show, I've already started rereading Wicked and I'm remembering how hard it was to read.  But I'm convinced that it will be easier this time around.

Back to the show.....

The Hubs didn't realize that it was a musical.  I'm not really sure how this happened because I made a point to find the Gershwin Theatre in NYC so I could say I was at the theater Wicked calls home.
Our trip to NYC in 2011.  I will see this show in this theater before I die.  Get on it Hubs!!!!
But he says he enjoyed it.  I was on the edge of my seat the entire show.  It was funnier than I expected and referenced The Wizard of Oz a ton!  The cast was amazing and the set design was superb. I feel like I'm gushing about it like I'm in love but I can't say enough about it.  It was truly amazing.  "Defying Gravity" is one of my favorite songs anyways and this rendition was nothing short of amazing. I may have spent the past 20 minutes showing the kiddos YouTube videos of Wicked.  Hey, I'm trying to instill a love of the performing arts in them young!  I'm definitely riding the high that follows a great show that theater lovers understand.

If you haven't had the opportunity to see Wicked, you have to!  It's an amazing show!  And if you need someone to go with you, I'm always up for the challenge!!!

I'm spending the rest of my day off with songs of Wicked in my head and enjoying my coffee a little more than usual today
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11 comments:

  1. Wicked is my all-time favorite musical. (Rent is a close second.) The set, the music, the one-liners make it a musical set above all the others. Whenever I'm down, I play Defying Gravity. Elphaba is my hero.

    Welcome to the "popular" club now. *toss toss* ;-)

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  2. I love Wicked! My favorite two songs are Popular and Defying Gravity! I saw it in Chicago, and I really wanted to see it here. We just didn't get around to buying tickets. I'm so glad you loved it so much, and I'd definitely enjoy my coffee more too in that mug. How fun!

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  3. Wicked is SUCH a favorite!! "Don't be offended by my frank analysis, just think of it as personality dialysis..." ;-)

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  4. Ugh I want to see that sooo bad!! It came to Nashville last year & I totally wanted to go, but being a broke nursing student it didn't happen. :( One day when I'm a real grown up nurse maybe I can afford to go then!!! :D

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  5. How awesome! I love love love Defying Gravity (of course, I hear the Rachel from Glee version)! So glad you were able to go :)

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  6. Ahh! That's awesome! I loved Wicked! I was definitely crying at the end!

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  7. So glad you loved it, it's one of my favourite musicals. When I was a first year at university me and my car-pool buddy played it on the way to and from class every day! When I saw it live I was bawling my eyes out during 'Defying Gravity' such a good song!

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  8. How awesome, glad you got to see it & loved it!!!

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  9. I am SO SO SO jealous of you right now! I actually saw Wicked a few years back when I lived in London. As a part of one of my classes there, we had to attend Broadway shows (oh, darn, right? Ha!) We saw about 6 of them but this was one was BY FAR MY FAVORITE! We had 4th row seats and I was in awe the whole time. I immediately went back to my flat and bought the whole broadway CD off of iTunes and listened to it ON REPEAT for about 4 months while I was still there. Even now, I beg hubs to take me to see it (he's never been to a broadway before or a musical) but I know that when I see it again, it will never compare to my first time!!!!

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  10. Wicked is one of my top 3 favorite shows of all! I'm so glad you got to see it and that you enjoyed it. :)

    The book is waaaaaaaay different from the show, as I'm sure you've realized. You're right that it's tough to read, and it's so dark and political. Not nearly as fun and upbeat! I prefer the show! :)

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