On Saturday morning McPreemie and I went down to Southern California to see Wicked at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. This trip has been planned for months and months; I was so excited to go that I woke up at 4:30 on Saturday morning, jumped out of bed and into the shower… only to realize that I still had several hours until my flight left. Sigh. Back to bed I went and had a bizarre dream about flying monkeys and the yellow-brick road.
Several hours later we arrived in Burbank and met up with McPreemie’s family, including my favorite Mini McPreemie. We grabbed some lunch and headed over to the theater. We were still pretty early, and I spent a solid half-hour gawking at the inside of the Pantages. It’s all art-deco and 1930′s glamour. Granted, half of it is hidden by lime-green laced posters for Wicked, but I gawked anyway. I can’t help it, I’m a total sucker for fantastic architecture!
Me and the boys in the lobby.
We had amazing seats (hello Row J, Dead Center) and I absolutely loved being so close to the action. When people spit while they sang or talked, we could see it. When they raised their eybrows, we could see it. When anything happened, we were right there. It was all so exciting! I love the music of Wicked, and while I’m not the type of person who will sing along to the songs outloud -in the theater, in my apartment, in my car, in the shower- it was such a fantastic expeience to be so close to such amazing talent! Wow, they are fantastic! (If you don’t know the story of Wicked; first, get out from under your rock and then get thee hence to the bookstore and purchase the book, or at least go to my beloved Wikipedia and read up on the story)
I saw Wicked in Chicago about a year-and-a-half ago… and I think I actually liked it better the second time around. The story wasn’t new, but the performances were incredible and the effects were stunning. There were a few bits that I personally would have tweaked a little, but overall I was absolutely floored with the entire show. Happy Birthday Momma McPreemie! Thank you for letting us all share in your celebration! xox
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I saw Wicked on Broadway with my parents a couple years ago, knowing nothing about it, and then as soon as I saw it I went out and bought the book. Both the book and the musical are completely amazing in totally different ways.
Comment by Jess 2007 October 16 @ 12:39 pmI’m so jealous! I got to see Wicked 4 years ago in previews in NYC, and I loved it. (And Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, both of whom I have huge girl-crushes on.) Sounds like an awesome Mama McPreemie bday to me.
Comment by L Sass 2007 October 16 @ 2:44 pmI need to see Wicked…someday.
Comment by Britt 2007 October 16 @ 5:04 pmOne of my friends in college had a “Wicked” t-shirt on and my first impression was that she was being a bit rebellious. I asked about it and she told me Wicked was her favorite musical, not an attempt to support unrighteousness.
About two years later, Janssen and I got to see it in Chicago, like you. I couldn’t believe how much I loved it! Such great lyrics, music, and performance! And completely new to me!
Now we’ve over-listened to the soundtrack, but I still love it.
Comment by Bart Bradshaw 2007 October 16 @ 7:47 pmoh i LOVE wicked. i just saw it this past summer. it was such a great time!
Comment by Michelle 2007 October 18 @ 7:58 amI really want to see that! Really really really. Like one wants something warm and chocolatey after a meal.
Comment by Andrea Jolene 2007 October 19 @ 3:15 pmI saw Wicked here too and I loved it! I am currently reading the book and am an avid listener of the soundtrack, haha
Comment by Katelin 2007 November 15 @ 3:22 pm