The C-BAPP (Take II)

In which we shall see: More of the same. Only with roller skates!

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Friday morning we attended a fascinating acting workshop (did you know that if two people concentrate and focus hard enough, they can actually share thoughts? True story!) and then headed out for some MAJOR shopping time...


(On the left we overload an elevator, and on the right we march on Little Italy via Canal street)

We couldn't take any pictures of the back rooms or underground black markets we visited, but whew, were they ever shopped!

That night we headed to our seats right down front for The Lion King. It was one heck of a spectacle! The show was the movie, of course, but the costumes and design were incredible.


(Jungle boys Steve and Mike on the PROWL.)

We also toured the Lincoln Center, and I thought it was great, but people were getting pretty tired of walking so it didn't make a huge impression. The tour did, however, (and I honestly never thought I'd say this) make me want to see the revival of South Pacific. It looks marvelous!

Our last day of shows was packed -

- we started with the "Wicked Backstage" Tour, which made most of us really want to see Wicked (this is a dress of Glinda's), and then we scampered over to the half-price ticket booth to get tickets for a matinee show. (Seriously. Scampered.)

Atty and I and a small group got tickets for the one we'd been waiting for - Xanadu! (Yes! Based on the movie! With Olivia Newton John! And roller skates!) It was silly, and terrible, and so awesome! I can't wait for some theatre here in Utah to put it up. I totally bought the book! (And a keychain.)

As we were leaving the matinee it started to rain, and we got a little wet.

We finally dried off and got spiffied up for our last show - Legally Blonde: the Musical. Again, I wasn't expecting much - and I fell completely in love.

I really, really liked the show, too.

Atty, her husband (not pictured), her sister, and her neice and I all went to Carnegie Deli on our last night for faaaaabulous cheesecake, and for some reason the waiter started us off with pickles. Um, OK.

Sunday we got up and packed, then left for one more day of sightseeing - we walked through Central Park, and then made our way back to the hotel through a series of street fairs. New York rocks.

We eventually got all the luggage loaded on the bus,

headed to the airport, and waited on the tarmac for three hours before we took off.

And in closing:

Additional pictures (MORE?!?) can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=40157&l=c2f56&id=733162314

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=40236&l=04dc1&id=733162314

When in New York, watch out for falling all-kinds-of-stuff!

Cyd

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!