New York & Broadway this Summer

2008-08-12T05:44:00.000-07:00

This summer, my brother and I have gone to New York often and seen some awesome shows. Wouldn't trade the time for all the tea in China or all the false morality in the Republican Party.

1. Spring Awakening: 6? times -- twice with Jonathan Groff, at least 4 times with Kyle Riabko. Among countless cool stage doors, my favorite was getting Kyle Riabko (Melchior & Faust-Fan) to write (with irony) "Don't read Faust!" on my Playbill.
Another highlight: we saw River (Firefly/Serenity) slash female terminator (Sarah Connor Chronicles) and Beau/Bo from One Life to Live. (2 different occasions)

2. Avenue Q: with Daniel and our cousins. Hilarious. And we even got bumped up to some better seats. Really wish that "Schadenfreude" did not have the line "what a fratboy put his dick in", cause it's an excellent song to teach the word to students!

3. Passing Strange: passing frakkin awesome and exquisite art. What a beautiful musical. Among the most unique and relevant works on Broadway (and sadly gone now.) Relevant because it represents identity as something that transcends social boxes and social mores, and charges its audience with the imperative to act in life according to that realization, i.e.: Do not pidgeon-hole and prejudge.
Daniel and I were there on Saturday at 2:00, one of the last performances. Spike Lee and his team were there recording the show for posterity and, I hope, future TV showings and DVD releases.
To the right of us in the audience: Rosie Perez. Literally right behind us and two seats to the left: Felicia Rashad. Behind us a few rows: Jesus (Book of Daniel) / baddude male terminator (Sarah Connor Chronicles) and his wife (actress who did some great work on Law and Order SVU.

4. Xanadu: Never would have thought that the show would have me in stitches for 90 minutes straight!
If I were rich, I'd go to tons of performances and say, "Glowsticks for everyone!" and buy them out each time.
One frustration: Damn you, Cheyenne Jackson, for not being there! But Curtis H. performed great.
Whoopi: hilarious, and perfect counterpart to Mary Testa, nefarious hilarious muse and seeker of the Xanadu.
And wow: Kerry Butler is as talented as she is beautiful (and sweet: she signed for everyone at the stage door.)

Der Räuber

New York & Broadway this Summer