"I don't want to be a laundress. I want to be famous."

HAIRSPRAY.
Officially the best musical translation to screen.
I've seen it now three times.
Friends want to go, I go.
The moment Nikki Blonsky's eyes opened during GOOD MORNING BALITMORE.
My heart sang with joy.
It's fantastic.
I even have a new respect for Zac Efron!

Amanda Bynes was hilarious as Penny.
Queen Latifah has a fantastic voice and was great.
John Travolta took his spin on Edna and I really liked it.
He didnt try to emulate others, he took it and ran with it.

But, Nikki Blonsky is seriously amazing.
I love her.
I CAN HEAR THE BELLS is seriously the best musical number ever put on screen.

Now, HARRY POTTER.
After HAIRSPRAY on Friday night, we drove by Barnes and Noble.
A mad house.
A little girl while in line to get food before HAIRSPRAY
was dressed as HARRY himself.
She was seeing the movie of the 5th book to kill time.
It was odd.
Me in my HAIRSPRAY shirt and her in her POTTER wear, it was fanlove at it's best.

I've been dragging my feet with this book.
I'm only on Chapter 12.
I don't want it to end.
I keep holding off on reading to stop the end from coming.
Unlike some, I didnt read the last page.
I won't read the last page till I get there.
I feel like I'm losing a childhood friend.
Every year or two, a new HARRY POTTER adventure would sit in my lap.
I'd read it and read it at all hours of the day and night.
Page by page feeling the magic.
And now, It's all down to one 759 page book.
And it's over. The magic. done.
8 years since I first picked up on Harry Potter.
Thanks to Rosie O' Donnell for having JK Rowling on her show.
I fell in love with Harry, Ron, Herimone, Neville, etc.
And now to see it end.
It's a sad day for me.

On a much light note.
Life is better.
Working, and anticpating a trip to NY in a few weeks.
Exiciting.
And my 19th birthday is 28 days away. [as of now, 11:13pm.]
I'll be 19 on the 19th! :)

It's an odd feeling.
Graduating, college and such.
You feel old when you see little kids.
Like all the time at Acme at look at these kids and their parents.
They don't know how good they have it.
Issues are so simple when your 5, 10 etc.
Your world is so small and the biggest issue you have is:
What toy will you play with after dinner.
But, growing up also is good.
You begin to feel wiser and more a part of a bigger world.
My dad thinks I cried at graduation because I realized, I'm no longer a kid.
Not the case, I cried because it was the end of an era and an end to seeing my friends every day.
But, that's life.
"You life, you learn.
We're right, were wrong.
We're weak, were strong."-- Aly and AJ.

------------------------------------------
Oh, oh, oh
I'm all alone
My heart has grown
But it's broken, too

This morning
Life was a Baltimore fairy tale
Now i can't make bail!

My mother's in shock
My father's in hock
I much prefer link's arms
To jailhouse cells

So link, please rescue me now
'Cause i love you
And this prison smells.
Link, hear the bells!

And get ready, Baltimore
There's a bright, brand-new
Day in store
Let me out so this dream's
Unfurled
I'll eat some breakfast,
Then change the world!
And i promise Baltimore
Once i cha-cha right out of
That door
The world's gonna wake up
And see
Link's in love with me!


---- Good Morning Balitmore [Reprise] from Hairspray

"Do what you love. Fuck everything else. "

Thank you, Dwanye from Little Miss Sunshine for those immortal words.

People.
Why are they so odd.
A girl came into Acme today acting like a complete Valley girl.
It was pretty strange.
Another woman told my manager what she wanted then he called the department needed. [right in front of her] She then later asked the question: "How will they know what I want?"
I shook my head and laughed.
Me and a fellow co-worker knew where to send them next time: on a wild goose chase.

These are the days, I love work.

Got a phone call from a friend today who I haven't spoken to since graduating.
She and I talked like no time had passed.
It's so great to know I'll have people here with me in lovely NJ
While others go here and there come fall.

People I know constantly look at me funny and think I'm strange.
Think I'm weird for loving my cast recordings and Broadway.
But, for me, I could give a flying fuck.
I'm me and I do my thing.
As the wise man from my title said: "Do what you love. Fuck everything else."

Today, I went to Best Buy and bought the Legally Blonde cast recording.
And I went into line and stood behind this women and her daughter.
The daughter bought a Hannah Montana game and Alicia Keys CD. [odd combo. I thought]
I sneezed while the woman was signing the credit pad
And the women gave me the diriest look.
Why can't we all just be civil to one another, every once awhile.
It's three word: God bless you. For christ sake.

Geeze louise.
People get worse and worse.
Kids get brattier and brattier.
I notice it as people yell at their bratty children in Acme.
The kids want, want and want.
The parents can't control them.
It's crazy.
The kids around here are terrible.
Especially Weatherby.

Oh well.
These people don't effect me.
I stay in my own musical-loving world.
And as a wiseman said: "Fuck everything else."
----------------------------------------------
When I'm lonley or feeling dejected,
I play this and it never fails.
I pretend like I'm in Ireland,
with Enya and the whales.

When my telephone gets diconnected,
or I spend ev'ry night alone,
I pretend like I'm in Ireland
where the Irish bagpies drone.


In Ireland they know how to love you,
you in the race, in the misty Irish breeze.
And if your Irish boy tires of you,
you're allowed to shoot him in the knees.


Hey! You look like that poster for Ireland,
long blonde hair and that sweet sunny face.
Oh no wait, that's the postwe for Sweden,
Oh screw it I'll never see either place.

But a girl sweet as you has a future,
you have hope as each new day dawns.
Girls like you always get to see Ireland,
give my love to the leprechauns.

---- Ireland from Legally Blonde The Musical

Round six: Amber, much to your surprise: This heavyweight champion takes the prize.

Listen, I can hear the bells.

Working at my lovely job is a paradox.
One moment, it's complete and utter boredom.
Customer, scan, bag, cash/credit/debt, have a good day/night.
Then another it's hilarious and comical:
When me and my fellow co-workers are talking and joking.
Eh, what can I say for a busy Sunday morning/afternoon?

Unfournately, I didnt get to go to Broadway Barks yesterday.
God, it sucks not living closer to New York City.
I swear, after college, I'm moving to Northern New Jersey for life.
But anyway, this picture made me wish I had gone:



All together now, AWWWW!

As much as I am allergic to pet dander, I'd love to have gone.
I would love to have seen this picture being taken.
I couldn't make that, but my other two favorite Broadway events:
the Broadway On Broadway concert and The Broadway Cares Flea Market:
are MUSTS every year!
I havent missed a Bway on Bway since like 2004
And since last year's amazing experince: Broadway Cares Flea Market is a MUST!

So yes. Broadway events do indeed ROCK.
And Broadway actors are indeed the most AMAZING people ever.


HAIRSPRAY comes in 5 days [less not counting today]
I cannot wait to Welcome the 60's in a whole new way!

"Hey mama, welcome to the 60's
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh mama, welcome to the 60's
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Go mama, go, go, go! "
---- Welcome To The 60's from Hairspray

"Ma, it's changing out there. You'll like it. People who are different, there time's coming."

I just purchased the HAIRSPRAY movie soundtrack.
And I love it.
It's fantastic.
Nikki Blonsky is such an adorable Tracy. [and what a FAB voice!]
[sign her up, Bway producers of HAIRSPRAY!]
John Travolta is great as Edna
and the rest of the cast is fantastic.

I love the new songs:

Ladies Choice: Link's new song, it's great. I've heard before, but it's pretty great.
Zac's pretty good as Link.

The New Girl In Town: Amber's song, is fantastic. I love it, it's so 60's and the beat is so great. Brittany has a nice voice. :)

The orchesrations are refreshed and fantastic.
I love it.
I cannot wait to go see the movie. :) [July 20th it comes out, everyone!]
I got a sneak peek DVD from Circuit City with it.
It's great, you see Nikki's audition and tons more.

In the meantime, life is pretty good.
The beach was fun yesterday.
Timmy, Lauren and I broke from our group.
And went on a "obessive complusive crane game" playing spree.
It was fun.
I got major sunburn, it kinda hurts, but it's tanning. :)

It was really great to hang out with them.
We had a blast.

So other than that just enjoying my day off. :)



You cant stop an avalanche
As it races down the hill
You can try to stop the seasons, girl
But ya know you never will
And you can try to stop my dancin' feet

But i just cannot stand still
'Cause the world keeps spinning
'Round and 'round
And my heart's keeping time
To the speed of sound
I was lost til i heard the drums
Then i found my way

'Cause you can't stop the beat

Ever since this old world began
A woman found out if she shook it
She could shake up a man
And so i'm gonna shake and shimmy it
The best that i can today

'Cause you cant stop
The motion of the ocean
Or the sun in the sky
You can wonder if you wanna
But i never ask why

And if you try to hold me down
I'm gonna spit in your eye and say
That you cant stop the beat!
---- You Can't Stop The Beat from Hairspray

I'm alive and the world shines for me today. Suddenly I'm here today!

XANADU is getting great reviews all over the place.
It's so great.

Just a few lines:

"With a complicitous wink at the audience that's never overplayed, the creatives and cast at every turn cheekily point up the irony of charging Rialto prices for recycled trash. The less-than-lavish physical aspects of Christopher Ashley's gleefully low-rent production further the point, saving most of the budget for the mirror balls that cascade from the flies during the show's eponymous closing number. The constraints of double casting, of a limited ensemble (the nine sister muses are downsized to seven) and craptastic effects are part of the joke rather than a shortcoming audiences are likely to mind.

Stepping in for co-star James Carpinello, who broke a foot during previews, Cheyenne Jackson played Sonny opposite Krakowski in the workshop. That adds to his ease in the role of the directionless pavement artist touched by drive, creativity and love when other-worldly Kyra steps out of his mural depicting "Ancient Greek arty chicks." His buff arms and waxed legs on display in tank top and cutoffs throughout, Jackson plays the soulful dumb hunk to endearing perfection." ---- Variety

"Yes, Xanadu is now on Broadway, at the Helen Hayes. Perhaps the least-expected and least-anticipated of all film-to-stage adaptations is delivering more good times (and lower risk of injury) than you could have found at a roller rink back in the day. Librettist Douglas Carter Beane, whose play The Little Dog Laughed was seen on Broadway last season, and director Christopher Ashley might have set out to make fun of the misbegotten 1980 Universal picture, but have instead succeeded in making 90 minutes worth of fun unequaled by most of New York's other recent musicals"--- Talkin Broadway

"Xanadu, the jaw-droppingly awful 1980 film that sank Olivia Newton-John's movie career yet couldn't kill roller disco, has been turned into a fast, funny little stage musical. Quite a transformation.

It may not start a new fad for leg warmers, headbands and the thump-thump sounds of the Electric Light Orchestra, but the 90-minute show, which opened Tuesday, July 10, at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre, cheerfully (and with camp to spare) does a bang-up job at entertainment. "--- Associate Press.

That's just a sample of the great reviews.
I couldn't be happier for Cheyenne, Kerry, and the cast!
The show is fantastic and deserves all the praise it gets! :)

So, beyond that.
Life is pretty: Eh.
Work pretty much everyday.
I miss NY, like badly.
I wish I was there right now.
Being here in crappy Jersey is icky.
It's ridiclous how much I wish I lived in NY.

Ugh.
I'm off work on Friday and Saturday.
I wish I could go to NY.
I may, if someone will go with me.

And the Summer Theater kids.
Their doing their show
While, I await the week I can go visit.
I wish I could join them
I wish alot of things, actually.

Oh well. I keep wishing on a star, and maybe my wish will come true.



YAY! Cheyenne! :)

Why do I say
Don't walk away
You'll be the way you were before
When you don't want me anymore

Don't turn around
Don't ever leave
A lonely room where empty days
Are gathering to meet me when you're gone, gone
How in the world will I go on

Don't walk away)
All you gotta do is stay
(Don't walk away)
All you gotta do is stay
(Don't walk away)

Don't walk away (don't walk away),
Don't say goodbye (don't say goodbye)
Don't turn around (don't turn around),
Don't let it die (don't let it die)
When shadows fall (when shadows fall),
When day is done (when day is done)
All through the night (all through the night),
All of my life (all of my life)
Don't walk away

Is it a dream,
When will it end
When everything we've ever known
Has ended and I'm all alone
----- Don't Walk Away from Xanadu

Find your XANADU!.

XANADU on Broadway--- SERIOUSLY

I went TWICE on 7-7-07.
I loved it that much.
Be it because of it being absloutely hilarious
Be it because my favorite actor/friend Cheyenne Jackson is in it?
Who cares, it was absloutely great, amazing, fantastic.

Review: [also includes my visit to TARZAN, and meeting of the TEAM TARZAN children]

I got to the rush before noon and was told to come back at noon. I went to lunch then ran from lunch [leaving my aunt at Junior's] and bought our tickets: Orchestra: Row O and P: Seats 104. It is a really small theater, I knew that, but damn it was REALLY small. I sat up against the box for the light and microphone tech sits. It was really cool how Cheyenne just comes on stage and begins the show in such a non-flash way. What can I say about Cheyenne, I love the man. He has an amazing voice, is a fantastic actor, and looks so god damn sexy in 80's clothes. The whole time during the show I had to contain my exicitment of seeing him in such tight clothing. Kerry Butler was hilarious as Kira/Clio. She and her "Australian accent" were great. She skated around very well and was so charming. She and Cheyenne had such great chemistry especially during "Suddenly". The fellow muses: Curtis Holbrook [damn that man can dance! "I can dance now, Ma!" [old ASU line], but damn Ma, he can dance!]. Anika Larsen [very pretty and such a fantastic accent as the Godness towards the end: "Maggie Smith!" :) ]. Andre Ward [That horse costume was HILARIOUS! I almost fell out of my chair. My sides hurt for like 10 minutes after that and "Bitch, I don't know your life". Oh, so great!]. Patti Murin was on for Kenita Miller and she was so great as well, very funny and talented. Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman were a riot, they stole every scene they were in. I loved them! Mary's voice is amazing and Jackie's comedy is just hilarious. At one point she said: "I'm I the only one who gets it" and she looked at the people and stage and went up to this old lady went "You get it, don't you sweetheart!" Tony Roberts was pretty fantastic, his voice is really good, the role is very weird, like it's not the best, but he does alot with it. And Marty Thomas as the skater was great! He looked so sexy in that skin-tight outfit. The audience ate this show up, the people knew the songs, clapped along and cheered when a song became or something from the film came up. I stage doored after and Cheyenne came out and when he saw he said "Oh my god, your here!" and hugged me. [I wanted to die with joy!]. And he and I talked for awhile and I gave him a card to wish him a Happy Birthday and Opening Night! [they fall in the same week!]. And he was so gracious. I put the picture of us with our matching Roustabout shirts and he saw it and said: "You got taller". I also met Kerry, Mary, Curtis [told him how much I missed All Shook Up, and he said he missed it too.], Tony and Jackie.

After XANADU, I went to attempt to get rush tickets for TARZAN's night performance, only to be greeted by kiddies who called themselves "TEAM TARZAN" awaiting in the line. I saw the line had several people in it and went to the box office and asked how many tickets they would give out and was told 20. I spread the word to these girls behind me who had said before they sold what they had left. Another girl went in and was told 20 is 20. I was bummed [and a BUMMER I shall be!] [sorry, XANADU couldn't resist!]. So, I stage doored and saw Jenn and spoke to her and congrulated her on getting married. Timothy Jerome came out wearing a button that said BIGG JENN FANN. And I was so happy to see it, I asked where he got and told me he made it in honor of Jenn being back for the last four shows. Everyone was gracious and signed and took pictures etc.

So, after attempting to get tickets to MARY POPPINS, LEGALLY BLONDE. I went back to XANADU and got a stage seat for the evening performance. I was so exicited to sit on stage. When I got to the theater I noticed the sign near the box office said "THIS PERFOMANCE is SOLD OUT!" [which is very good for the show!]. The show was just so much fun on stage. The usher sat next to me and we talked about the show, he told me he was there the day James got hurt, but didn't see it happen. The onstage people during this show had some much fun, especially these guys on the right. They loved every moment. It was so cool to have an actor come rushing by you. Cheyenne was literally just inches from me. I sat on the left, and most of Suddnely happened within feet of me. A couple sat infront of me and Anika, Andre and Patti hit on the guy, it was great. Mary scarred these older people during STRANGE MAGIC. Such a great day. I went to the stage door after, Cheyenne told me he loved my card and it was hanging up. I was very pleased. I am totally in love with XANADU, it's such a great show and the music is fantastic! [I want the cast recording now, featuring Cheyenne!] i forgot to mention, During the evening performance during the business meeting scene, Tony's mic went out and he kept talking Cheyenne went rolling by and off stage saying his line about a roller disco then rolled back on with a handmic and said "And this is for you" And Tony was like "You really think I need this." The audience went nuts, I laughed very hard.

[taken from BroadwayWorld, because it was a hit there!]

Pictures from XANADU:



[Me outside XANADU at the Helen Hayes Theater!]


[Cheyenne & I]


[Kerry & I]


Jackie & I



Curtis & I


Mary & I

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pictures from TARZAN stage door:


Jenn & I.


Josh & I


Chester & I