The C-BAPP (Not a Medical Procedure)

In which we shall see: A Crazy Big Apple Picture Post. With pictures.

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In June I unexpectedly had an opportunity to fill a last-minute opening on a New York trip that had been planned by my good friend Atty, a high-school drama teacher, for 25 of her theatre students. Come along with us!

Obviously, we're excited to go. (The fact our flight was delayed for about an hour and a half COULD NOT DAMPEN OUR ENTHUSIASM. NO, SIR.)

We arrived too late to see a show that night, so we sent the students out to forage for food and found ourselves with a "chaperones" group at the Galaxy Diner. Very tasty.

Then we scouted out Times Square. Yep, still there!

We started the next day with a tour of...


(Would YOU let this group in your Historical Monument? Wait, was that a euphemism?)

They were setting up for the Tony Awards, which was pretty exciting to see if you're one of a bunch of theatre geeks, and we got to go through some backstage and under-stage areas. They play a lot of great acts at Radio City, including...

(...sigh...)

... and then the Rockette who finished up our tour with a Q&A turned out to be a BYU grad. She did her best to give us some pointers!

That afternoon, we saw our first show - (Disney's) The Little Mermaid.


I will admit, it was better than I thought... though nowhere near as good as the show I saw with about half the group that night:

I just... YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I want to go back to New York and see this show again - RIGHT NOW.

The four leads were terrific - so so so so good in the show, and then afterwards they came out and signed autographs and took pictures with everybody. They were so friendly and personable - and they complimented the students for dressing up for the show!

(2006 "Best Featured Actor" Tony Award Winner Christian Hoff. And me. Yeah.)

("Frankie" - as in Frankie Valli - , Jesse, "Tommy", Patrick)

(Jeff, Shelley, "Bob" - who evidently injured himself slightly right at the end of the show - ow!)

Shelley and I are still gushing about the show. THE FOUR SEASONS 4EVA!

The next day, the group headed out to Ellis Island while I scouted out some potential grad schools. (COLUMBIA!!!) We met up at "Top of the Rock", an observation tour at the top of the Rockefeller Center. Not a bad view.

(Central Park, the Empire State building - and Statue of Liberty - and Cameron and Carmen in the crazy fun light-sensor room!)

Then back to the hotel to change and head out for dinner at...

... the place where the waiters and waitresses are also doing a running floor show.

The group headed to Young Frankenstein, but I ducked out and went to
Spamalot instead. FUN!

Take a breather, and come back for Part II!