Lottery Winners! The Lion King on Broadway

I had the most “New York” experience yesterday. I had plans to go to the gym after work and have dinner with a friend. Then in the morning, my friend texted me to say she won lottery tickets to see The Lion King on Broadway. For $30! Easy decision. I texted my friend from the gym and told her I had to cancel because… duh. I apologized profusely and told her I’d probably be pissed if I were her but… COME ON! No choice here.

A little background: My friend enters the lottery for shows all the time. I’m talking, multiple times per week. And she has won a few times, too! However, she usually wins on Mondays and Thursdays, which is when I teach Spin classes and I can’t get a sub at the last minute. Also, she has never won for The Lion King (supposedly it’s a tough one to win) and I have been wanting to see it for DECADES. Literally it’s been on Broadway for more than 20 years. I quickly replied “YES!!” to her text and Venmo-ed her $30.

I knew that security would probably check our bags, so I left my gym bag at work and just brought my wallet, keys, phone and book for the subway. It took me 27 minutes door to door from my office. So New York! I also stopped at McDonalds on the way because the show started at 7 and I knew I’d be starving by the end. I got 2 chicken selects for $2 and ate them while I waited in the box office line. Very classy with my McDonalds on the Broadway line. Luckily, I was not alone. The people behind me were also lottery winners and they were scarfing down a street meat hot dog and slice of pizza. I also smuggled pretzels and tootsie rolls in my coat pocket in a non-noisy Ziploc bag.

My friend was running late and I was worried they wouldn’t let me pick up the tickets because they were very explicit in the email confirmation about needing photo ID. My friend who has done this a lot told me to try because sometimes they don’t care. They didn’t care! I just showed them the email on my phone and they handed over the tickets.

We got to our seats 1 minute before the show started, and unfortunately the tickets were for the VERY last row. Literally no one was behind us. My experienced friend said that every other lottery she’d won were Orchestra seats, not Mezzanine and she apologized. However, the seats were smack-dab in the middle. Also, it became apparent we actually were lucky to be up above. First of all, The Lion King has two pits of drums in the upper levels, within the front pillars on either side of the stage. It was very cool to be able to see straight into the pits, and watch them do the percussion, which has been described as “the heartbeat of the show.” Also, there were a lot of musical numbers with choreography and formations that were awesome to see from above, sort of like how the Rockettes are better to watch from the sky (Thanks Macy’s Parade for teaching me this). Also, at the beginning of both acts, there were birds and actors that came out from all of the doors, even in the mezzanine!

The show was amazing, everything I expected and more. I loved how the actors were one with their costumes. Like how the zebras not only made the zebra props move like animals, but they also moved their own legs like zebras. Or what I expect zebras would move like. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one IRL. And those giraffes… on two sets of stilts?? Color me impressed. Young Simba didn’t have the best voice in the world, but he is probably 10 years old, so that in and of itself is impressive. And Rafiki? WOAH. I went to look her up after the show because I was curious about the accuracy of the language in the show, and sure enough, it’s very accurate. Tshidi Manye, who has been playing Rafiki for more than 20 YEARS is from South Africa and is featured on the original movie soundtrack. Also, throughout the show, she speaks five of the 11 official language of South Africa (English, Zulu, Sotho and Xhosa). Wtf. That is awesome.

It was such a fun experience, even from the back row. Sometimes I complain about the hot subways, or terrible service on the subways, or hot weather, or bed bugs, or sirens, but sometimes, New York is AMAZING. Who else except New Yorkers gets to decide that instead of Spin class, they are going to attend The Lion King on Broadway for $30? No one. It was a good New York day.

Continue Reading

Waitress the Musical

Last night I had the opportunity of a lifetime, Not only did I see two of my all-time favorite performers in a musical on Broadway, I also had a personal backstage tour of the theater and sets, and a private Q&A with the an exec. for the Nederlander Organization, which owns 9 of the most iconic venues in New York City, including the Gershwin, currently playing Wicked, AND the Richard Rodgers Theatre, currently playing Hamilton.

Hamilton, Shmamilton, though, amirite?? JK, I know I’m not right. But I was most excited last night to go to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre to see WAITRESS, currently starring Jason Mraz and SARA BAREILLES. I don’t know how many of you have been sleeping on these amazing voices, but I will tell you, go listen to them NOW. I linked up there to their Spotify pages.

I’ve been a huge fan for AGES. When I was 20 years old, my oldest friend took me to Jason Mraz’s concert. I remember it like yesterday, when Jason Mraz had played an absolutely incredible show, but he hadn’t played one of his largest hits at the time, The Remedy. Then, as an encore, he came on and played an incredibly unique, extended acoustic version. It was mind-boggling. And Sara Bareilles… where do I begin with my love for her!? She began her musical career in a capella, and I have followed her career for years. Her voice is unreal. Also, I was addicted to The Singoff when she was a celebrity judge. Then my best friend from high school surprised me with tickets to Sara’s show at the Theater at MSG a few years ago, and I became an even bigger fan, if that’s possible. She has the clearest, most amazing voice, and it’s even better live than recorded.

Just over 8 months ago, for my sister’s and my birthdays, my mom promised to take us to a Broadway show of our choice. But when my mom had hip replacement surgery, our plans were temporarily delayed. Then 2 months ago, my friend (the one who took me to see Sara Bareilles), alerted me that Sara Bareilles herself was coming back to star in Waitress, a musical she wrote the music to. AND the tickets were going on Amex Presale THAT DAY. I knew in my bones that this HAD TO BE THE SHOW.

I quickly started a group chat with my mom and sister, and we somehow miraculously decided on a date. None of us got much work done that morning. Unfortunately, there were only two weeks when Jason and Sara (yes, we are on a first-name-basis) were going to perform together. And we couldn’t find a date in that window. But then, miracle of miracles, Jason Mraz decided to extend his run an extra two weeks and we got to see them both!

The Backstage Tour

I have a very close family friend aka family aka my sister’s godmother who lives in New York. When she heard we were going to see Waitress, she asked to come along and happened to mention having a Broadway connection. She asked if we would be interested in a backstage tour before the show. WHAT?!! DUH.

We arrived at the theater two hours before show time and met our new best friend, let’s call him Mike. He showed us inside and explained the most pressing question I had read about all over the internet: How do they get a “freshly-baked-pie” smell piped into the corridor when you enter the theater? ANSWER: THEY BAKE A PIE. EVERY NIGHT. Also, obviously we asked about who eats it (the staff) and where they keep them (in a freezer next to the jerry-rigged convection oven/cabinet).  Mike then took us into the theater and onto the stage. He explained how Waitress was a very prop-heavy show, and sure enough we saw hundreds of props and innumerable pies, which we later saw and recognized in the show!

Mike explained how each individual show brings everything with them, from lighting, to rigs, and even the FLOOR! Each show’s floor and tracking is made specific to the dimensions of a theater, and needs to be completely replaced if they change theaters, which also explains why theater changes are so rare. He explained how Hamilton has basically taken the Richard Rodgers Theater off the market for years, which is good for profits, but gives them one less venue to offer other shows. Then, he walked us underneath the stage, which is the only way to get from stage right to stage left and vice versa. He showed us the wardrobe, seamstress, and washing machines, which had a flood recently, leaving Sara Bareilles with a sopping wet dress for the performance. After the tour, Mike brought us into the auditorium and answered our questions for almost an hour. I learned how all ushers are in a union, and how to become one (be in a family of ushers, work well with people). I also learned horror stories and trends of specific shows’ demographics (A Night in Paris tends to have a problem with incontinence, and Sponge Bob is filled with millennials, and the theater always smells like weed by the end). He also answered questions about how they kick shows out of theaters if they aren’t doing well, and what happens to actors when a bigger name decides to stay on longer, like in our case with Jason Mraz (the other guy still gets paid, they have great unions).

I am now an expert in all things Broadway. Ok, maybe not an expert but I know a lot more than I knew two days ago!

Pre-Show

Our new BFF, Mike, introduced us to Chris, the house manager, during our tour. He told us to “see Chris” before proceeding to our mezzanine seats “in case Chris found some other seats available.” Well guess what? HE FOUND THEM. We got AMAZING SEATS. ROW SEVEN. We were forever indebted. Chris came to check on us and we thanked him a million times. He told us we were “where we deserved to be.” Oh Chris, you’re too sweet. But wait, speaking of sweet, he brought us mini pies of each flavor offered! FO FREE!! And they were AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS. Highly recommend the salted caramel and Oreo flavors.

The Show

OMG. I don’t even know where to start. I laughed. I cried. I smiled the entire time. Even through tears.

Sara, she takes my breath away. She is just amazing. I could sit for hours and watch her in basically anything. She could sing Mary Had a Little Lamb and I’d still be there for it.

And Jason Mraz. UGH. So good. The rest of the cast was amazing as well, and the show was so fun! The music was FAB, as I knew it would be. Sara was nominated for a Grammy AND a Tony for it, which is well deserved. It’s so catchy I’m listening to it right now! The original soundtrack is good, but OBVI I prefer the Sara version.

I don’t know what else to say besides that my hands hurt from the amount of clapping I did in my standing ovation I gave Sara. GO SEE THIS. You will not regret it. Try and go in the next two weeks to see Sara and Jason in action together! Dynamic duo.

What. A. Night.

Photo ON THE STAGE. Incredible.

Continue Reading