If you don't care about Broadway, maybe don't bother reading this
I know I never update this, but honestly, this post is as much for myself as anyone, so that I can convince myself yesterday wasn't a dream.
Yesterday was my 24th birthday, which I really didn't care about. The only notable thing was that I was going to quit smoking, which I totally wasn't looking forward to doing (which, by the way, I have followed through with, and am now on the patch - wish me luck).
More importantly, yesterday was the Tony Awards. Even more importantly, it featured a reunion of the original Broadway cast of Rent, all of whom I have been in love with for about a decade. I grew up with their voices, have seen the show more times than I can remember, and have had many a NSFW fantasy involving Taye Diggs. Some of which may have included his wife. I digress.
As luck would have it, I managed to be a part of this. Since not all of the original cast were in the movie, this was the first time in a long, long time they all performed together. And since Rent is closing on Broadway in September, this was probably the last time they ever would perform together (the only exception to this was Jesse L. Martin, who was, sadly, not present - but I have no right to complain).
I escorted Aiko Nakasone (who, if memory serves, was Alexi Darling) and she was absolutely the sweetest person in the world. I spent all day yesterday with her, Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Daphne Rubin Vega and the rest of the ensemble (fun fact: the tall bald guy from the show? Sarah Jessica Parker's brother, Toby). I got to watch their reunion, their closed rehearsals (we all had to stay in the hallway until they were done rehearsing, but I stood in the open doorway and watched all of it instead...oop!) and when they all decided to sing "Seasons of Love" completely out of tune. I also managed to get half the cast lost on Friday when I accidentally led them up to the roof instead of the 9th floor. Heh.
Anyway, for the show, they all talked about Rent, and how Jonathan Larson died before the show even opened. And how, as terrible as it was, they knew that by going on to perform the show, his legacy would live on. This was about the time I teared up. Every single time they rehearsed. So by the time they started singing "Seasons of Love", I was absolutely holding my breath and biting the inside of my cheek to keep from being a sobbing mess. I managed to keep it together until the full dress rehearsal (which was before a full house of people), and seeing all of these people reacting to their presence? I was a sobbing mess.
The actual show was wonderful - I had shivers the entire time, and it was the most surreal experience of my life. After the show, up in their dressing room, a crew member mistook me for a member of the cast, which was probably my favorite thing ever. When I left them at the end of the night, Aiko got upset and was like, "You're not coming with us!?" and gave me a really long hug and said, "I hope that I see you again sometime!" She was so, so sweet. She kept holding my hand and dragging me into their dressing room so I could help her with her earrings or what not - fabulous.
Aaand, this is getting really long, especially considering I write in this thing roughly once a year. So - quick summary - I spent the entirety of my birthday with people I've idolized for a decade. This'll sound awful, but I felt like a kid in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, you know? Like, describe your perfect day? If I had to describe my perfect day, it would have been yesterday.
Other fun Tony-incidents:
- Liza Minelli saying, "HEY KIDS, HOW YOU DOIN'?" to me and my friend, Ashley, and then later, while signing posters, saying "Everyone's looking at my butt, aren't they?"
- Lily Tomlin walking past me, smiling, saying "Just passing through!" and rubbing my arm. To which I gaped stupidly and Ashley said, "Ohmygod did Lily Tomlin just rub your arm!?"
- Seeing Laura Linney have to practically get down on her knees to carry on a conversation with Kristin Chenoweth
- Separate, but still fun, was the Japanese tourist in Rockefeller Plaza clearly thinking I'm someone I'm not and taking a picture of me.
- Patti LaPone freaking out in the middle of her performance in dress rehearsals, screaming, "STOP! STOP! I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING! STOP!"
Well. Thanks. Bye until 2009.
Yesterday was my 24th birthday, which I really didn't care about. The only notable thing was that I was going to quit smoking, which I totally wasn't looking forward to doing (which, by the way, I have followed through with, and am now on the patch - wish me luck).
More importantly, yesterday was the Tony Awards. Even more importantly, it featured a reunion of the original Broadway cast of Rent, all of whom I have been in love with for about a decade. I grew up with their voices, have seen the show more times than I can remember, and have had many a NSFW fantasy involving Taye Diggs. Some of which may have included his wife. I digress.
As luck would have it, I managed to be a part of this. Since not all of the original cast were in the movie, this was the first time in a long, long time they all performed together. And since Rent is closing on Broadway in September, this was probably the last time they ever would perform together (the only exception to this was Jesse L. Martin, who was, sadly, not present - but I have no right to complain).
I escorted Aiko Nakasone (who, if memory serves, was Alexi Darling) and she was absolutely the sweetest person in the world. I spent all day yesterday with her, Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Daphne Rubin Vega and the rest of the ensemble (fun fact: the tall bald guy from the show? Sarah Jessica Parker's brother, Toby). I got to watch their reunion, their closed rehearsals (we all had to stay in the hallway until they were done rehearsing, but I stood in the open doorway and watched all of it instead...oop!) and when they all decided to sing "Seasons of Love" completely out of tune. I also managed to get half the cast lost on Friday when I accidentally led them up to the roof instead of the 9th floor. Heh.
Anyway, for the show, they all talked about Rent, and how Jonathan Larson died before the show even opened. And how, as terrible as it was, they knew that by going on to perform the show, his legacy would live on. This was about the time I teared up. Every single time they rehearsed. So by the time they started singing "Seasons of Love", I was absolutely holding my breath and biting the inside of my cheek to keep from being a sobbing mess. I managed to keep it together until the full dress rehearsal (which was before a full house of people), and seeing all of these people reacting to their presence? I was a sobbing mess.
The actual show was wonderful - I had shivers the entire time, and it was the most surreal experience of my life. After the show, up in their dressing room, a crew member mistook me for a member of the cast, which was probably my favorite thing ever. When I left them at the end of the night, Aiko got upset and was like, "You're not coming with us!?" and gave me a really long hug and said, "I hope that I see you again sometime!" She was so, so sweet. She kept holding my hand and dragging me into their dressing room so I could help her with her earrings or what not - fabulous.
Aaand, this is getting really long, especially considering I write in this thing roughly once a year. So - quick summary - I spent the entirety of my birthday with people I've idolized for a decade. This'll sound awful, but I felt like a kid in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, you know? Like, describe your perfect day? If I had to describe my perfect day, it would have been yesterday.
Other fun Tony-incidents:
- Liza Minelli saying, "HEY KIDS, HOW YOU DOIN'?" to me and my friend, Ashley, and then later, while signing posters, saying "Everyone's looking at my butt, aren't they?"
- Lily Tomlin walking past me, smiling, saying "Just passing through!" and rubbing my arm. To which I gaped stupidly and Ashley said, "Ohmygod did Lily Tomlin just rub your arm!?"
- Seeing Laura Linney have to practically get down on her knees to carry on a conversation with Kristin Chenoweth
- Separate, but still fun, was the Japanese tourist in Rockefeller Plaza clearly thinking I'm someone I'm not and taking a picture of me.
- Patti LaPone freaking out in the middle of her performance in dress rehearsals, screaming, "STOP! STOP! I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING! STOP!"
Well. Thanks. Bye until 2009.