also Alan Menken and Harvey Fierstein casually strolled past us in a parking lot
The excellent worthadime and I undertook an epic and bizarre journey on Sunday (much more epic for her Chicagoian self than for me) to Millburn, New Jersey, to see the long-rumored but finally real Paper Mill Playhouse production of Newsies. It was a pretty great time even with our getting incredibly lost and confused in the Port Authority, trip all the way to the Bronx only to find out the botanical garden was closed, our hotel room in scenic West Orange across the street from a giant nature preserve/zoo/ice rink/outdoor sports course and next to a middle school, and indeterminable time on buses. All of this to see a 2011 musical based on a 1992 Disney film that is not, objectively, all that quality despite its place in my heart.
Totally worth it because Newsies: the musical made me ridiculously happy. Guys, it's...really quality (validated, I guess, since it's coming to Broadway?! And what seemed like the entire town of Millburn coming out for it which was super charming)? I would recommend it to friends and family? The sets were awesome, the new songs were awesome, they took many of the parts that weren't and used adaptational magic to make them that way? Andi and I kept looking at each other with elated confusion on our faces, HOW IS THIS A REAL THING THAT'S HAPPENING AND WE'RE WATCHING, NOTHING HURTS. And even though it got picked up it will not include Jeremy Jordan and man I am SUPER GLAD we got to see him because he was amazing. I...love Jack Kelly. I LOVE HIM. That's not a thing I ever thought I would say.
AND KATHERINE PLUMBER: INTREPID LADY REPORTER, INSECURE BUT DAUNTLESS, WEARER OF BRIGHTLY COLORED FROCKS, RIGHTER OF WRONGS, KING OF NEW YORK AND ALSO OF MY HEART.
And since it was closing night, extra feelings on EVERYONE'S faces!
So yeah, definitely a bright spot and a thing I am very glad I was able to do.
Totally worth it because Newsies: the musical made me ridiculously happy. Guys, it's...really quality (validated, I guess, since it's coming to Broadway?! And what seemed like the entire town of Millburn coming out for it which was super charming)? I would recommend it to friends and family? The sets were awesome, the new songs were awesome, they took many of the parts that weren't and used adaptational magic to make them that way? Andi and I kept looking at each other with elated confusion on our faces, HOW IS THIS A REAL THING THAT'S HAPPENING AND WE'RE WATCHING, NOTHING HURTS. And even though it got picked up it will not include Jeremy Jordan and man I am SUPER GLAD we got to see him because he was amazing. I...love Jack Kelly. I LOVE HIM. That's not a thing I ever thought I would say.
AND KATHERINE PLUMBER: INTREPID LADY REPORTER, INSECURE BUT DAUNTLESS, WEARER OF BRIGHTLY COLORED FROCKS, RIGHTER OF WRONGS, KING OF NEW YORK AND ALSO OF MY HEART.
And since it was closing night, extra feelings on EVERYONE'S faces!
So yeah, definitely a bright spot and a thing I am very glad I was able to do.