American Idiot + Stark Sands <3
So last week my bff Katy and I took a trip over to New York City. We did lots of fun stuff (Chinatown, the Ballet, Metropolitan Museum of Art, etc), ate lots of amazing food (dumplings, Shake Shack, the Breslin, Grand Sichuan, etc), saw a few celebrities (James Franco, Anna Wintour, Sarah Jessica Parker) but definitely the highlight of our week was American Idiot on Broadway! Singing, Dancing, Stark Sands! Look at his little face grinning at me from my icon, more on that later...
THE LOTTERY
Katy actually won tickets for the Wednesday night taping of the Jimmy Fallon Show, but it turned out we had to pick up the tickets by 3:15 instead of 4:15 like we thought. Our flight got in at 2, so it was pretty much impossible. We decided to try for tickets from the American Idiot lottery instead! I'd forced Katy to watch the first three eps of Generation Kill with me before we left to help convince her that I needed to see Stark Sands in person. It didn't really take too much convincing, Katy is a long time Green Day fan and her husband looks vaguely like Stark. So, it was basically a win/win. We figured if we didn't win tickets Wednesday, we could try again on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, or just buy regular tickets.
After a quick meal at Shake Shack (delish!) we headed towards Times Square. We scoped out the St. James to make sure we knew where we were going then wandered around Times Square until around 5:30. It was pretty cold out so we decided to just wait around the theater until 6 when they started taking names for the lottery. Also, hoping to get a little pre-show glimpse of Stark...
Around 5:45 people started trickling in to wait for the lottery. There were only around 20 people when the girl running the lottery showed up, I think her name was Amanda. She was super nice and was also hoping that not many more people would show up. We made a deal with another guy in line that if both Katy and I won tickets, or both he and his friend won, we'd give our extra set to each other. So that was nice. And then more people started coming. AND MORE PEOPLE.
So we were getting a little discouraged by the time six o' clock came around. There were a bunch of people in line, way more than the 25 tickets that they were going to give out. Plus we learned they just start taking names at 6, then keep taking them until 6:30 when they actually draw the winners. So more people came and signed up, then finally, it was 6:30 and time to pick names!
Katy's name got called fourth! And I may have screamed a little bit. It was awesome. Tickets were $27, cash only. Our were AA 107 and AA 108, aka front row.
THE SHOW
To be quite honest for about 90% of the show my eyes were on Stark, even when he wasn't the focus of the scene. So, you know, I was a little distracted. We were in the front row, just left of the middle. Being so close to the stage meant we couldn't really see about a foot above the floor, but I don't think we really missed much sightwise. Though I may have missed some stuff plot-wise while I was staring at Starkface.
Overall I thought the show was tons of fun! The costumes were really fantastic, especially impressive with the quick changes. For an awesome recap you should go check out Mika's post, which gives all the good details and basically sums up my opinion on everything. John Gallagher and Michael Esper were both amazing as Johnny and Will. And of course, my love, Starks Sands was amazing as Tunny.
Some of my fave Tunny bits were:
After "Time of your life" the cast members give out their guitar picks to the audience. Michael Esper gave his to me, he was all smiley and sweaty and SO ADORABLE.
THE SIGNING
So we waited after the show to meet Stark and get some autographs. Luckily the St. James was prepared with Sharpies everywhere to keep us occupied while we waited. The first cast member came out around 15 minutes after the show ended. I got bunches of autographs while we waited for Stark.
Stark was almost the last cast member to come out. He signed a few autographs at the front of the line, then stopped and was all "I'll be right back!" and went back through the stage doors. Katy and I were like :0 But he did come back, like five minutes later, with Michael Esper in tow. He had his little orange back pack on and striped scarf, I forgot to check for the calculator watch though.
Finally Stark got to us and I really have no idea what I said to him. I was pretty much rendered mute by his pretty pretty eyes. I asked him to sign my playbill first then was all "oh can you sign this too" and pulled out the guide from my GenKill DVDs. He looked down then straight back up and grinned so huge. And then I melted. I think he asked where to sign and I said anywhere. IDEK. He also signed Katy's "Love Happened Here" flyer thing that the cast throws out at the audience during one of the songs. Sigh. And then I took his picture, and he smiled.
Michael Esper evaded us initially by heading into the bar while Stark was with us, but we followed him in and waited while he got a drink. He was SO nice. In these pics he looks kinda cool and aloof but really he was super friendly. He signed my playbill and then I asked him to sign my guitar pic too. And he was all "definitely" and I could tell he remembered giving it to me and was actually excited to sign it! And he let me take his picture, and was nice when I took forever to focus my camera.
After getting Michael Esper's autograph we wandered back out to the lobby and watched Stark sign stuff for a few more fans. And then watched him leave. We went the other direction because we didn't want act like giant creepers. But I did see him stop to talk to Michael Esper who was standing in a little alcove next to the entrance smoking. I got the feeling Stark and Michael were pretty good friends, they were all cute and chatty (see also, this pic, look at Michael Esper all wrapped around Stark <3)
OMG SO LONG. And now I need to catch up on my LJ and upload the rest of my NYC pictures!
THE END.
THE LOTTERY
Katy actually won tickets for the Wednesday night taping of the Jimmy Fallon Show, but it turned out we had to pick up the tickets by 3:15 instead of 4:15 like we thought. Our flight got in at 2, so it was pretty much impossible. We decided to try for tickets from the American Idiot lottery instead! I'd forced Katy to watch the first three eps of Generation Kill with me before we left to help convince her that I needed to see Stark Sands in person. It didn't really take too much convincing, Katy is a long time Green Day fan and her husband looks vaguely like Stark. So, it was basically a win/win. We figured if we didn't win tickets Wednesday, we could try again on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, or just buy regular tickets.
After a quick meal at Shake Shack (delish!) we headed towards Times Square. We scoped out the St. James to make sure we knew where we were going then wandered around Times Square until around 5:30. It was pretty cold out so we decided to just wait around the theater until 6 when they started taking names for the lottery. Also, hoping to get a little pre-show glimpse of Stark...
Around 5:45 people started trickling in to wait for the lottery. There were only around 20 people when the girl running the lottery showed up, I think her name was Amanda. She was super nice and was also hoping that not many more people would show up. We made a deal with another guy in line that if both Katy and I won tickets, or both he and his friend won, we'd give our extra set to each other. So that was nice. And then more people started coming. AND MORE PEOPLE.
So we were getting a little discouraged by the time six o' clock came around. There were a bunch of people in line, way more than the 25 tickets that they were going to give out. Plus we learned they just start taking names at 6, then keep taking them until 6:30 when they actually draw the winners. So more people came and signed up, then finally, it was 6:30 and time to pick names!
Katy's name got called fourth! And I may have screamed a little bit. It was awesome. Tickets were $27, cash only. Our were AA 107 and AA 108, aka front row.
THE SHOW
To be quite honest for about 90% of the show my eyes were on Stark, even when he wasn't the focus of the scene. So, you know, I was a little distracted. We were in the front row, just left of the middle. Being so close to the stage meant we couldn't really see about a foot above the floor, but I don't think we really missed much sightwise. Though I may have missed some stuff plot-wise while I was staring at Starkface.
Overall I thought the show was tons of fun! The costumes were really fantastic, especially impressive with the quick changes. For an awesome recap you should go check out Mika's post, which gives all the good details and basically sums up my opinion on everything. John Gallagher and Michael Esper were both amazing as Johnny and Will. And of course, my love, Starks Sands was amazing as Tunny.
Some of my fave Tunny bits were:
- Tunny's "your mom" joke right at the beginning of the show :D
- Stark's voice. So clear and pretty (I need to dl those covers he did on myspace!)
- Stark stripping down to his boxer briefs and undershirt onstage
- Tunny sleeping restlessly. Katy maybe spotted Stark adjusting his junk while waiting for the "Favorite Son" parts...
- "Are we the waiting" was so lovely, and Stark's voice was awesome. And he was right in front of me looking like this. When I looked up his crotch was right in front of my face, I did not mind.
- The flying "Extraordinary Girl" scene. Okay, it was a little cheesy. But Stark was so graceful up in the air! He does this little twirly thing back down to the stage, *sighs* And I could see right up his hospital gown. From what I could tell he was wearing some sort nude shorts underneath boxer briefs. FYI.
- I loved loved LOVED the acoustic "Time of Your Life" at the end of the show. It was the perfect ending and just so lovely. Everyone seemed so excited and happy and it was nice to see a few of the ensemble cast get a little moment to shine.
After "Time of your life" the cast members give out their guitar picks to the audience. Michael Esper gave his to me, he was all smiley and sweaty and SO ADORABLE.
THE SIGNING
So we waited after the show to meet Stark and get some autographs. Luckily the St. James was prepared with Sharpies everywhere to keep us occupied while we waited. The first cast member came out around 15 minutes after the show ended. I got bunches of autographs while we waited for Stark.
Stark was almost the last cast member to come out. He signed a few autographs at the front of the line, then stopped and was all "I'll be right back!" and went back through the stage doors. Katy and I were like :0 But he did come back, like five minutes later, with Michael Esper in tow. He had his little orange back pack on and striped scarf, I forgot to check for the calculator watch though.
Finally Stark got to us and I really have no idea what I said to him. I was pretty much rendered mute by his pretty pretty eyes. I asked him to sign my playbill first then was all "oh can you sign this too" and pulled out the guide from my GenKill DVDs. He looked down then straight back up and grinned so huge. And then I melted. I think he asked where to sign and I said anywhere. IDEK. He also signed Katy's "Love Happened Here" flyer thing that the cast throws out at the audience during one of the songs. Sigh. And then I took his picture, and he smiled.
Michael Esper evaded us initially by heading into the bar while Stark was with us, but we followed him in and waited while he got a drink. He was SO nice. In these pics he looks kinda cool and aloof but really he was super friendly. He signed my playbill and then I asked him to sign my guitar pic too. And he was all "definitely" and I could tell he remembered giving it to me and was actually excited to sign it! And he let me take his picture, and was nice when I took forever to focus my camera.
After getting Michael Esper's autograph we wandered back out to the lobby and watched Stark sign stuff for a few more fans. And then watched him leave. We went the other direction because we didn't want act like giant creepers. But I did see him stop to talk to Michael Esper who was standing in a little alcove next to the entrance smoking. I got the feeling Stark and Michael were pretty good friends, they were all cute and chatty (see also, this pic, look at Michael Esper all wrapped around Stark <3)
OMG SO LONG. And now I need to catch up on my LJ and upload the rest of my NYC pictures!
THE END.