Clumsy's Birthday Trip: Legally Blonde and Xanadu: 8-18-07. NOW with PIXS!

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 1:42am

Okay, so my birthday is tomorrow, well today. [8-19]

So, My aunt and I were suppose to go up for four days from the 15 to today. But due to some family issues, the trip got trimmed to two days.

In those two days, I had a blast.

Our bus arrived in the city, late, very late Friday. So, I was unable to see a show on Friday night. I strolled the streets, walked by Hairspray and saw the mass chaos of fans as Lance Bass signed and signed till his boyband hand off. Then strolled by XANADU and talked to Cheyenne for a bit, then met up with a BWWer by accident really, I honestly can't recall her username on here right now, but we talked and chatted for a bit.

I then went to bed set for an early rise to tackle the dreaded LEGALLY BLONDE student rush. I awoke late, well later. I got up and out by 6:15 and arrived to find like five people infront of me: One quiet girl in pink, and four crazed people who kept screaming and being completely crazy the whole time. Luckilly, three kids showed and a great girl showed up behind me: we chatted and watched Sweet Home Alabama on the girl's laptop. It was really nice: Also a gentlemen held my spot as I had to rush to the bathroom bad. Finally the hours slowly ticked by, and the people in the front of the line got crazier, as I got more drowsy. Finally 10 am roll around, and got second row: Seats 101 and 103 for the matinee. With glee, I skipped over to XANADU to find without glee, no onstage seats were available till August 25th. I sadly went back to the hotel to get clean for the show.

After lunch, walked over to the Palace theater. I hadn't been in the front of the Palace since my last trip to All Shook Up some almost two years ago. I looked up at where I sat way in the front of the balcony during previews.

Two U/S were on:

Lindsay Nicole Chambers as Courtney, Mom and Whitney [she looked like Kathy Griffin in the red Whitney wig.]

and Rod Harrelson was on as Lowell and Carlos [very hilarious as Carlos]

Overall the show is still the show I loved during previews. However, I miss Dequina Moore as Pilar, Asmeret Gherbremichael seemed to lack the sass and attitude that Dequina possessed in the role. I think that Tracy Jai Edwards is doing a fine job as Serena, I do miss Kitzer, but she is adorable. And Annaleigh Ashford is still a complete delight. [Annaleigh according to the people in the rush line, will be on as Elle today: 8-19]

Laura Bell Bundy sang her butt off during this show, she was fantastic. Her perfomance has grown and I feel she's become more comfortable in the role. Orfeh still is amazing and has one of the biggest voices I've ever heard [and one HOT husband]. Christian Borle is such a complete nerd, and I just love him as Emmett. Richard H. Blake is your go to guy for the jerky boyfriend in a movie turned musical, he still does his job. Kate Shindle still sings with an effortlessness to it, it's almost too good to be true, but it's true. Micheal Rupert actually made me like "Blood in The Water", which I originally didn't, he was very snark and smarmy and yet charming. I love Noah Weisberg and Natalie Joy, they are two wonderful performers [I'd love to see Noah as Emmett]. I didn't really notice it before, but almost every ensemble member has more than one track, which just shows how much they work and can change characters easily, a fantastic ensemble. Andy Karl is "HOT, HOT, HOT" and talented.

I really enjoy Legally Blonde, it's a really cute, amusingly funny show with some catchy songs and a lesson to be learned: it's nothing deep or way too complex to understand, but it's generally a great show and has the great message of: "being true to yourself never goes out of style".

I stage doored took pictures with Orfeh and Andy, Annaleigh, Tracy Jai, Christian, Micheal and many others. Again Laura Bell didn't come out, this time Noah, Kate and Natalie didn't either.

However, I took it all in stride. So, after Legally Blonde, I jetted over to TKTS [the first time I've ever really needed TKTS in my whole life.] I needed my XANADU fix, I didn't care how much, I wanted it. It's like crack, they should advertise that along with the show. So, I bought a front mezz seat from TKTS for 59.25, which wasn't so bad. I strolled about, witnessed the craziness of the HAIRSPRAY and WICKED lottos [HAIRSPRAY wasn't too bad, but WICKED is still completely insane]

So, After a quick dinner, headed over to the Helen Hayes and got in a rather long line to get in. I took my seat in the front mezz [near the door where Tony Roberts comes out for a moment]. The show is so fantastic, so hilarious. It just get's better and better.

Kerry is hysterical, she keeps getting more and more into the role and continues to bring the strength of comedy and her voice to it with ease.

Cheyenne. What can I say, the man is a powerhouse. He gave me a gift tonight: His rendetion of "Don't Walk Away" just simply beautiful. I'd literally go see him sing the phone book.

Tony is a cute old man, he continues to be charming and bring something to a very one note role. Curtis still tap dances like an angel and is hysterical.

Mary and Jackie keep on chewing the scenery and making the audience roar everytime. They continue to bring big laughs and some crazy humor to their roles. I love when Mary makes the joke about Les Mis, I just laugh so much.

Andre is still hysterical with his: "Bitch, I don't know your life." and Anika is cute and charming and the new girl: Shannon Antalan is a wonderful addition to the cast.

Cheyenne is STILL not in the playbill, he was an insert again. So, I don't know whoever said they were putting him in had their information wrong.

Stage doored, someone asked Cheyenne about the CD, his reponse was "I don't know.". He and I chatted and he took a picture with me and told me I picked a good night to come. Apparently, this was the first sold-out Saturday since he joined the show.

I love XANADU. I may end up like Testing one day, switching off with my signifcant other. :)

Overall, a great trip. :)

Pictures are to come soon. :)

Updated On: 8/19/07 at 01:42 AM

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 1:48am

Glad you had a good time. Totally 100 percent agree with you about Xanadu. Such a good theatre experience.

[tazber]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 1:50am

happy birthday!

[lois128]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 1:55am

well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! i'm going to xanadu for my birthday too :)

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 2:04am

I just myspaced you. I saw you from the stage tonight before the show! I was like, "why do I know that face"? Cute shirt, btw. Great show tonight, first time I saw the new faces in for Kenita and Marty, they were very good. Tonight was the first time I noticed that Mary and Jackie do backup for All Over The World, I alway thought it was just Annie and whomever is with her onstage that night. Mary gave me popcorn tonight and shared a long stare, it was intense!

In all a great show, as per usual. Suprised Cheyenne said it was their first sold out Saturday night, I'm usually seeing a lot of Sold Outs during the week.

Anyway, Happy Birthday!

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 2:06am

are you sure annaleigh is elle today?

[BroadwayRandy0711]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 3:33am

Happy Birthday Clumsy. I feel the same way about Xanadu, it's like an addiction that is totally hard to break. And who wants too, the show is unbelievable. I miss, Kenita, but Shannon, like you said is a very nice addition. I do hope that they have an OBCR of this show, it irritates me how long it is taking. I mean Grease is already recording.
When I was in NYC, Andy Karl went on in place of Micheal Rupert and really did a great job. I really liked his rendition of "Blood in the Water."
I am glad that you had a great trip.

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 8:32am

Happy Birthday Clumsy

Posted: 8/19/07 at 8:55am

I almost went for Xanadu last night, but wound up at Drowsy instead, and now I'm rather regretting it. :)

Sidenote: the two ladies in front of me at TKTS were looking at the offerings, one saw Xanadu, and explained it to her friend as such:
Lady 1: "It's the show with that lady from Grease on rollerskates!"
Lady 2: "Oh, so the one who didn't win the T.V. show, then?"

p.s. Happy Birthday!

[Testing1232]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 9:54am

<< Cheyenne is STILL not in the playbill, he was an insert again. So, I don't know whoever said they were putting him in had their information wrong.

Stage doored, someone asked Cheyenne about the CD, his reponse was "I don't know.". He and I chatted and he took a picture with me and told me I picked a good night to come. Apparently, this was the first sold-out Saturday since he joined the show.

I love XANADU. I may end up like Testing one day, switching off with my signifcant other. :)

Overall, a great trip. :)

Pictures are to come soon. :) >>

Happy Bday, Clumsy !!! Yeah, most of the weekday shows have been seeling out... since there are (2) shows on Sat, I think the matinee crowd is taking some of the Sat nite crowd away, thats why they havent been selling out on Saturdays.

Glad to see it was sold out.

Personally, I would love to see them do away with the Weds and Saturday mats, and go to a double-night show on either Friday or Sat (ala "Hedwig")

Can you imagine the audience you would get for this show on a late Friday or Saturday !!? It could be like "Rocky Horror" !!

Going back Thurs-- wife going back Saturday... would love you and your other to follow same !! (although, we dont have much of a choice with the little one at home-- would love to be able to go together) We do have a weds matinee planned together for "Mermaid" in January..

Anyway... regarding Chey and the Playbill. I was the one that said it, after speaking with Chey himself at the stagedoor- He thought he would be in it last week. I am guessing by Tues, he is no longer just an "insert" :))

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 10:24am

first off, Happy Birthday! haha, i saw you at XANADU when I went in July...cool stuff

anyways, so does Laura Bell not come out after matinees or something? I might be going this Saturday matinee, and I have some stuff to give her, so... you know, if she doesn't come out after matinees, I'll just stage door at night and not bother seeing the show in the afternoon.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 10:28am

It was me you talked to, silly :-P

Glad LB worked out, and Xanadu eventually.

I better rack up another Xanadu stage seat soon.

BTW Testing, i didn't know it at the time, but I sat on the stage with you my first time.

[bwaydoc]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 10:35am

Glad you had a good time, Clumsy. I believe I was a couple people behind you in the LB rush line, I told my friend I thought you looked familiar and I was almost positive you were on BWW - guess I was right!

Happy Birthday!

[broadwaybaby77]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 11:26am

Clumsy,

I saw the same LB matinee, and I was actually a little put off by Laura Bell Bundy. I agree that she's getting used to the role and getting more comfortable with it, but (forgive me if she's sick and I don't know about this) her vocals have been suffering. This was the third time I've seen the show, and I didn't really notice anything until "So Much Better" when she sang the last "before" and it was incredibly flat...so much so that it was off-pitch and then she took a huge, gasping breath in the middle of it. She was also a bit off during "Legally Blonde", but that didn't bother me as much.

Oddly enough, it was the best I'd seen everyone else. I miss Dequina Moore. Can we please bring her back? Please?

[Cutielyricist]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 12:07pm

I was at Xanadu last night too..first time..and LOVED IT!!!

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 12:20pm

Glad to hear you had a great time. Thanks for sharing and Happy Birthday!

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 1:02pm

Thanks for the birthday wishes all

everythingtaboo- I totally saw you and you were starring at me and I'm thinking "Either he's checking me out or he's a BWWer." I love when Mary and Jackie offered you the popcorn, it was hysterical. The girl on the side near the entrance to the stage, was having a blast, whoever she was. Oh, thanks. I love that shirt! :)

broadwaybaby77- You know, in retrospect now, yes, she was a tad flat, and I think maybe I just pushed out of my mind due to the fact, I just love her. But, yes, I do agree: She was a tad flat.

EDIT: Legally Blonde brings out some annoying people. This girl and her friends in the front row were talking NON-STOP through out the show. I kicked the ones chair to stop her from talking, to no avail. I just tuned them out, till intermission when I got up and got a program to keep from being a annoyed by them for fifteen minutes.

Sorry, wickedrentq. I completely blanked when I was writing all that last night. :)

Updated On: 8/19/07 at 01:02 PM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 2:09pm

<< BTW Testing, i didn't know it at the time, but I sat on the stage with you my first time. >>

Really??! Cool ! Yeah, the stage seat-ers are creating quite a fraternity. I have met some of the nicest people !!!

Some of them actually remember my name when they see me again.
(I cant remember anyone's name !)

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 2:20pm

Sitting on stage with Testing is like an induction ritual.

:)

[Testing1232]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 3:15pm

<< Sitting on stage with Testing is like an induction ritual.
>>

LOL !!!

Was on stage with "Wheels" the other night--- Think we have seen the show 70+ times between us.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 3:32pm

I want to sit onstage again so bad.
There were spots last night.
I was so tempted to march down there and go:
"Listen, it's my birthday, I want onstage!"

:)

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 4:00pm

"you know, if she doesn't come out after matinees, I'll just stage door at night and not bother seeing the show in the afternoon"

She must not.
Because the stage door guy [still the same from All Shook Up only very strict] told us they would all come out after the evening show at 10:30.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 7:01pm

PICTURE TIME:

Legally Blonde:


[Andy Karl and I.]



[Annaleigh and I]


[Orfeh and I]



[Amber and I]


[Tracy Jai and I]


[Christian and I]


[Micheal and I]


[outside LEGALLY BLONDE]
---------------------------------------------------------------

Xanadu:


[Curtis & I]


[Andre & I]


[Kerry & I]

and:


[Me and my birthday present! ]

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 8:17pm

BUMP for pictures! :)

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 8/19/07 at 9:18pm

I have pretty much those exact XanadU pistures, except where you are, I am.