I wanted to see a show today. I was dying to see another Broadway show today. At least for me, they are always tempting me and calling my name. Broadway is exciting and for two and half hours you can be entranced with singing, dancing, laughter, and sometimes tears. It's always an experience, and you know, I'm all about some experiences. Yesterday was such a long day for me, making my eyes heavy and unable to wake up at 7:15a.m. to be at a theater to buy cheap tickets to see a show that would rock my 
Saturday night. Therefore, I slept in and hoped that at some point in the day I would run into someone screaming, "HELP ME! HELP ME! I have these $25.00 tickets to Avenue Q and they don't have my name on them--they have yours!"I have always had an active imagination....
Well, my roommate and I had been wanting to go to the International Center of Photography, so we went there around noon and bought student tickets to see these beautiful black and white pictures. I swear, in my other life I was a photographer and I always pretend I am one with my little, sassy pink Sony camera. One day I will save up and buy myself a camera with a really great lense that can take professional shots. One day I will take a photography class where I will learn how to capture emotions, make new things look old, and even create an atmosphere that may not exist. Until then, my little pink camera will have to do.
The main exhibits in the museum change every few months, but we were in for a treat because the main exhibit was Elliot Erwitt. He has made some of the most memorable photographs of the twentieth century, including portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Jacqueline Kennedy and Che Guevara. His pictures are filled with emotion and humor. He photographed Jacqueline Kennedy at her husband's funeral, her eyes welled up with tears. He was also the recipient of the 2011 ICP Infinity Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. Although I could not afford to buy a coffee-table book of all his beautiful photographs, I did buy some postcards in which I will frame for my new room!
After leaving the museum we grabbed a bite to eat and went looking around. I was still itching to see a show. Passing by a man who was selling Avenue Q tickets, I knew I wanted to see one...tonight. So I remembered The Book of Mormon did a lottery at 5:30p.m. and that they also had standing room. I headed over to 49th and Broadway to check out the lines over there. Shambry (my roommate) had plans for the night and she decided to head home. The Book of Mormon won nine Tony Awards, including best musical, and although I didn't know much about the play, I thought the idea of the show sounded funny and decided to wait in line. I got there at 2:45p.m. and I was 6th in line. Tickets for this show are sold out until April 2012 and some of the cheapest tickets are $450.00. I am not making this stuff up, people.
But no worries, 4 hours of waiting in line and you're golden for seeing the show at $27.00...as long as you stand at the back of the orchestra. Over the four hours I waited in line, my hype for this show grew and grew. THIS must be the most amazing show on the planet. The cast was coming out from the 2p.m. showing and they were signing autographs and I even saw the main girl from Sister Act, and you KNOW how much I loved her and that show. I have met so many different people in this city and waiting in line with someone for over 4 hours and then standing with them at the show pretty much makes you BFFs. I met a nice family from Clinton, NY in for the weekend and I stood behind a guy from NJ who worked at Kraft Foods and was about my parents' age. The lottery took place at 5:30 for tickets to sit for 32.00 but over 600 people entered (I later asked) and only about 10 people won seats. I was stuck in the standing-room-only line. An hour after the lottery I got my tickets, ate a quick piece of pizza, got M&Ms at M&M World and badda bing badda boom, I was in there like swimwear. My feet were already tired from waiting in line and I may have worn the wrong shoes, but I made it through the show!!
You know, I haven't decided whether or not I liked the show. It was no doubt the most controversial Broadway show I have ever seen. Do I think you should pay $450.00 to see the show? No. Do I think you should pay what I did to see it? Yes. I was entertained, there is no doubt. Would I have wanted to see this with my parents? Probably not...that would have been awkward. It was hysterical if you don't mind a lot of bad language and awkward topics. And never take anyone under the age of 18 to see this show. I might have been too young to see this show.
The point of the musical is that Elder Price gets paired up with a , lunatic (Elder Cunningham) to go on their mission. After being denied where he wants to really do his mission (in Orlando where Sea World and Disney are), he gets sent to Uganda, where their religion is not accepted until Elder Cunningham decides to make the Book of Mormon a little, let's say, interesting. Along this storyline is "historical" elements of Mormonism and how the religion came to be...well, how the religion came to be to South Park creators...
The same people who wrote South Park and Avenue Q wrote this storyline and I must say, I was somewhat overwhelmed by some of things they were saying and doing. By far the BEST character was Elder Cunningham (played by Josh Gad) who I swear was the closest the Chris Farley that you can get. He was the MOST hilarious part of the play and any scene involving him was one to see. The music wasn't very memorable and the best scene was most definitely the opening scene.
So would I recommend you to see this show? Well, if you are strong in your beliefs, maybe not so much. The play pokes fun of all religions and at times, I found myself insulted a bit. If you are going for a show that presents a morale, maybe this one is not your cup of tea. A lady in the metro afterwards asked how the show was, seeing the playbill in my hand. I had to tell her to wait until the hype goes down and it will go down.
HOWEVER, with that being said, I think it is really great that this show is able to present its very, very strong views and not be criticized. That shows a growth in our society and I can definitely appreciate the talent of the performers and the work that has gone into producing this show. Although this show started this April and is sold out until next April, I do not believe that show will be the next Wicked or Rent or Lion King nor do I think it will last long. But I am glad I can say I saw it and with the original cast!!
My feet are tired and so are my eyes, so I am off to sleep. Definitely more adventures tomorrow!! More pictures below!!
Amen NYC,
Carrie
P.S. Check out this website to learn more about the pop-up Sing for Hope Pianos (pictured below).
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| Bryant Park |
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| Can you spot the celebrities? And the protest? |
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| Beautiful Organization: Sing for Hope |
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