Spring Break In the City That Never Sleeps

   Ever since I became interested in theatre, I have always wanted to go to New York City. My parents and I were planning to go on Spring Break 2011, but a show (Sound of Music**) came up and prevented me from going. For Spring Break 2012, guess where we're going? NYC!!!!!!!! I'm SO excited and cannot wait! I'm even counting down the days (15!)

Now that the time is finally here, I am planning SO much. I am, of course, going to go see some musicals, and I'm guessing 3! Two that I most definitely want to go see is Anything Goes and How to $ucceed in Business Without Really Trying. I am still thinking of a third. I also have a friend I will see up there and maybe go see a show together!

I have always been checking the weather forecast of NYC and comparing it to where I live. It is a HUGE difference! It may be 74 where I live and 39 up there! I understand it will be cold, and that means packing sweaters and lots of clothing! This will be a challenge for me because I am staying up there for 5 nights, and only one piece of luggage. I will try to pack "light" and stay warm at the same time!

 Now I am going to list a few things I am think about doing in NYC:

- Seeing 3 Broadway shows

- Going to the Statue of Liberty

- Walk around Times Square

- Go to Central Park

- Taking a tour of the Radio City Music Hall*

- Taking a tour of Julliard

- Going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art 

- Being in the Audience on the Today Show

- Going to the Empire State Building

- Seeing Grand Central Station

- Going to Rockefeller Center (and maybe go Ice Skating there?)

I know not many people may read this blog, but if you have any suggestions or tips on ANYTHING ABOUT NYC, that would be GREATLY appreciated! I am SO excited!

* Just as a fact about my family's history. My great-aunt Barbara was a NYC Rockette and I am VERY proud of that. I believe most of my talent in theatre comes from her and that is mainly why I am touring the Radio City Music Hall. My mom still has a photo of my great-aunt when she was younger and look what she can do!!! I hope that maybe one day, when I am flexible enough, I will be able to do this!!!



                                     

** ANOTHER fact about my family's history is that my father went to NYC when he was about my age. When he went, it was the time when "The Sound of Music" just came out to the movie theatres' and his hotel he was staying at was right next to one! One night, he went ALL BY HIMSELF to see the movie and loved it. He loved it SO much, he saw it AGAIN the next night. It is his favorite movie, my mom's favorite movie, and MY favorite movie of all time. What I thought was hilarious was that he saw SOM up in NYC, and then I didn't go to NYC because I was doing SOM! 

Patti LuPone Experience

 Last Thursday, the 16th, I had the wonderful opportunity to see Patti LuPone at the Historic Polk Theatre. I decided to go see her the night before and was thrilled. Thing is, I was wondering why would she come to such a small town? Why not a place like Orlando? Or Tampa?

The Historic Polk Theatre!

The poster about Patti LuPone coming to Polk!

When my mom and I arrived, I met my friend who I sat with and she sat in the balcony. The show was about to begin, and then the pianist walks out. Finally, the music being played crescendos and Patti walks out. APPLAUSE EVERYWHERE!
 

The set for the show about to begin.

 Throughout the first act, she sings songs that I didn't really know that well. They were great, especially this song that talked about her mean Italian family, and that was HILARIOUS! Sometimes, I could not understand a word she said, but that's mainly what she does. I could tell she was hot on stage and drank from a glass of water on the piano. In between songs, she would talk, and once, she said that "we were the best audience and the best theatre" and kept thinking to myself, "She has probably said that to every theatre she's been to." Over Intermission, I talked to many friends I saw there and discussed on the whole "Why Lakeland?" topic.

Then came Act 2, or as I call it "The Broadway Act," because she sangs all of her most notable songs in this act. One of the first songs she sang was "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" from EVITA and I was a part of that production at my local community theatre this past summer. When the music started playing, I immediately knew and my friend and I freaked out in our seats. Haha! It was AMAZING and the highlight of the show. That number received roaring applause.

For the rest of the show, she tricked me THREE times into thinking the show was over. On one number, before it started, she gave a speech on how she LOVES West Side Story and wishes she was Latino to be a part of that show. Before she sang, she said something like," I would have been good enough for West Side Story, heck, I would have been good enough to play TWO ROLES in West Side Story!" She started singing "A Boy Like That" all by herself. That song is a duet number, therefore she sang BOTH parts, and was really good at it. Overall, a humorous number.

When the show ended, my friend and I ran to the Stage door to greet her, along with about 70 other people.  After 30 minutes or so, she finally came out and took autographs. We weren't allowed to take a photo with her, but could take a photo of her. I took about 20 photos and the closest one was blurry but she was like right in my face. She did sign my Playbill of the show, and it is laying on my dresser in my room right now.As my mom and I rode home, I did homework, which I was not looking forward to, AT ALL. It was overall a fantastic show and I can now say I've met and have performed on the same stage as Patti LuPone. Not a lot of people can say that. 

PATTI LUPONE!

Signing Autographs!

The closest photo I got of her, even though it is blurry.
Creeper body guard wearing red in the back.

I like this photo best!

LOOK AT THAT HUGE SCHNOZZOLA.

Visuals' on Community Theatre

This is so true.

High School

There is this performing arts High School in my area that I want to get into REALLY BADLY. I have prayed every night since March 2011 and hope I get in. At this school, they offer Dance, Film, Chorus, Jazz Band, Piano, Orchestra, Musical Theatre, Theatre, Technical Theatre, and Visual Arts. This school is limited to only passionate students and so you have to go through an audition process. You are only allowed to audition for two and so I auditioned for Musical Theatre and Art. My auditions were 1-2 weeks ago and I think they went great! If you know whether you get in or not, the staff mails you a letter to let you know. The letters come out March 1st and I am trembling all over! I will probably receive it on March 2nd and that is on a Friday (my favorite day of the week!) I know a bunch of kids that already go there and they love it! It is my goal to get into Musical Theatre (mainly), even if I will have to wake up at 5:15 am!

Hello!

The reason I am creating this blog is mainly because of my Critical Thinking Class at my school. The reason I chose a "theatrical" topic is because I love theatre and everything about it. Starting off, I'm not sure what all to put on here. I may put a few photos I adore off of Tumblr or an experience I have had at my local theatres'. Whatever it is, it will surely include theatre in some way!