Just when I thought it couldn't get any better...

The album I played over and over

...the new season for Broadway Across America began in September. The season began with Mary Poppins and I was very impressed with the talent involved in that production. I kept picturing Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. I listened to my album of Mary Poppins so much when I was a little girl. I think I wore that album out. Chim Chim Cheree‎ was done amazingly well and the dancers were incredible. I also loved it when they sang Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! The audience was thrilled with it and many children were in the audience. They were singing along and mesmerized by some of the effects used in the show. It was cute to see the kids enjoying the songs and being riveted to the action on the stage. They were fun to watch. I only went to one of the shows for Mary Poppins but I wished I had gone to more.

After Mary Poppins came a really great show; Stomp  and it was very impressive.  There was so much talent in that show. And it was non-stop action from beginning to end. They have to be in GREAT shape in order to be able to do this. They are moving everywhere making music with things like trash cans, banana peels, boxes of matches and kitchen sinks. I loved the sinks. They put some water in it and they made different sounds. They also climbed walls and hung from them as they performed too.

The beginning of December brought Fiddler on the Roof  and another group of great performers. I always loved this show too from my younger days and loved the music. The story is a great one and I enjoyed seeing it again.  It did not disappoint. I enjoyed watching it. I got tickets for my mother and father-in-law to see and they loved it too. It was another sold out show and I heard many people talking about how much they loved the production. I didn't pay really close attention to the whole thing because it was very busy and I was helping the patrons. But, what I did see was great.

 

After a wild and crazy month of December at my home (my daughter got married, our exchange student from Russia who was with us in 1999, came to visit with her husband and cute little son, and  my husband had surgery),   Les Miserables came to the Majestic at the beginning of January. I was never privileged to see this show before so I was going in as a new observer. Well, let me tell you this,  I fell in love! I fell in love hard! I mean that in every way! I was lucky to see it 4 times while it was here and wished I could have seen it a hundred more times. The actor who played Jean Valjean was AMAZING!! His name is J. Mark McVey  and his version of Bring Him Home gave me goosebumps. His daughter played young Cosette in some of the performances and that was fun to see. Jeremy Hays played Enjolras and he had the audience on the edge of their seats.  But, most of all, I was blown away by one actor named Max Quinlan. He played Marius and his voice was so pure and so fresh. I can't explain it here, but seeing him on the stage kept me captivated and unable to look away even for a second. His portrayal of  Marius was spot on and I loved the way he was so tender with Cosette and Eponine and brash and gritty at the Barricade and with  Enjolras and the other students. I loved it when he sang Empty Chairs at Empty Tables. You could hear the anguish in his voice. He is someone who has a long great career ahead of him. I will keep looking for him in other shows in the future.
The storyline was great by itself but the more I saw it the more I wanted to see. I wanted to see it over and over again. I wanted to get lost in the talents of all the great performers and the great story unfolding on the stage. It was beyond anything I had ever seen. I am now going through my obsession phase with this show. I am listening to the music over and over again. It compelled me to research the history of France. Then I was anxious to find out more about the characters so I decided to read the book by Victor Hugo (it has 1432 pages and I am on page 641). It has only made me appreciate the Les Miserables stage production and feel more compassion for the characters.

That is something else I have realized from seeing the shows at the Majestic. It gives me the desire to learn more about these shows and research them. I have done that with quite a few of the shows I have seen over the past couple of years. I have read more books and take an interest in the history associated with the shows. It truly has become my form of entertainment and I love being there. I can't wait for each show to come. This week, Cats comes and I can't wait for that one either. I saw that many times in the past when living in Philadelphia so it will be fun to see it again. After Cats will be a couple more shows before the end of the Broadway Across America for the season. It does seem to go by very fast, but I enjoy every minute of it.

Rock of Ages, Celtic Woman, Oak Ridge Boys

As the summer sizzles in San Antonio, Texas, so does the Majestic Theatre.The last of the Broadway Across America shows came through in May. It was Rock of Ages and it was an interesting show to say the least. It was close to sold out and had an interesting mix of audience members. The lead in the show was a former American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis. He was very good in his role and sang like he owned the music. Very entertaining. I didn't like the storyline too much in Rock of Ages, but enjoyed the music. It's interesting to note that because of some strong language and suggestive topics, patrons were shocked and surprised. Some left, especially those who had younger children with them. It definitely was not appropriate for younger audiences.

Since Rock of Ages  left, some fabulous shows have been coming to the Majestic such as Lyle Lovett, Jerry Seinfeld, Celtic Woman, and the Oak Ridge Boys. There are many still to come such as Steve Martin, George Lopez, Julio Iglesias and Merle Haggard.

I worked Celtic Woman and loved, loved, loved it! Such talent; such great voices. I was very impressed. There was amazing talent and the songs were captivating. The girl who played the violin was running all over the stage as she played and didn't miss

a note. They had a bagpipe player that was unbelievable. He walked down the center aisle playing "Amazing Grace" as the girls were onstage preparing to sing it. It gave me goose bumps. It reminded me of my dad and made me think of his funeral when a bagpiper played it at the cemetery. I could have stayed all night and listened to them perform. The audience was mezmerized as well.

The last show I worked recently was the Oak Ridge Boys concert. Wow, talk about going back in time. I felt like I stepped back to the 1980's again. I was a fan of theirs before Elvira ever became popular and rode the roller coaster of their 80's fame even seeing them in concert a few times. So, it was nice to come and revisit some "old friends." I have a picture somewhere of me posing with the Oak Ridge Boys many years ago, but I thought it would give my age away if I shared it. I have to say that the music was as good as I remember it and their voices were just as strong. I wish my best friend Tamme lived here in Texas and could have gone to see it with me. We saw all of the concerts together back in the 80's and had a blast. Loved seeing them again.

Now, I am looking forward to seeing George Lopez, Chicago and the 1964 Tribute Band. Soon we will be knee deep in the new Broadway Across America season and all the other shows coming up. I love being able to help out at these shows and meet so many new people too. It is a great experience.

More great shows...more great memories...

As I figured, I was very sad to see Wicked leave the Majestic. It was so entertaining and so riveting, I was sad to see it go. I only got back one more time to see it before it left so I saw it a total of 6 times. Not too bad. Each time, I noticed different things that I had missed and each time, I was faced with a unique and diverse audience to help seat. I was able to work in the orchestra for all 6 shows so I didn't miss any of the performance. The audiences kept us on on our toes, and we had to stand for the entire show since they were all sold out, but it was well worth it. I had thought about buying tickets for at least one performance, but decided I was too cheap to do that.
After Wicked left, Lynyrd Skynyrd came. I went with Dawna and we were excited for this different experience. Wow, talk about a DIFFERENT experience! It was a CRAZY audience! The crowd ranged from "older" rocker type people to businessmen trying to reclaim some of their youth. There we younger people there too. And I would have to say that a lot of the people were "feeling no pain" as they watched the concert. I was in the orchestra section again and this was quite interesting. Seating people was a real challenge since many thought that they could sit wherever they wanted to sit since it was a concert. There were a few people that I had to send back up to the balcony or mezzanine. One couple thought they could stand in the front row and pretend they had those seats until I asked to see their tickets. They never showed them to me. They just picked up their stuff and returned to their balcony seats.
The show was interesting and LOUD! But  then again, what do you expect from Lynyrd Skynyrd? They were OK, but could tell they had aged and struggled with some of the songs. We actually got to sit near the back after we were done to enjoy the music. Watching the audience was just as entertaining to me. We also could smell something"funny" there but could never locate the person or persons using the "funny stuff." Almost got a contact "buzz" from it!!
A week after Lynyrd Skynyrd came to the Majestic, Jon Anderson, the lead singer of Yes came and performed with the San Antonio Youth Orchestra. I was thrilled to be able to attend that show as Jon Anderson's voice has always intrigued me. I went alone to that show, and was excited to hear him sing some of the songs of Yes as well as his solo songs. Each one showcased the talents of the Youth Orchestra as well as Jon Anderson's amazing talent.
Later, it was West Side Story that came to the Majestic and wowed audiences. Again, this show was completely sold-out and entertained all who came to enjoy it. West Side Story has long been one of my all-time favorite movies and I had never seen it performed on stage. The actors and dancers were spectacular and they kept the audience (and me) riveted from beginning to end. Sadly, the ending was the same although I have always secretly wished that Tony would have lived and that he and Maria would have walked off to a better life away from the city and life of gangs. I thought of how long ago that play was written (concept by Jerome Robbins and written by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim) and how things have not changed much over the years. Cities and towns still have problems with gangs and they still fight over territory. Innocent people are still being killed and young lives are destroyed for such insignificant things. It's sad; just like West Side Story's ending. Many who live like this will see a tragic end to many lives and may find out too late what a waste it was to be involved.
Recently, I have begun to really take it all in and think about what I had done at the Majestic for the past year and a half. I also thought about all the concerts I have been to over the years and why I am so interested in attending them. I pondered (and this is where it gets deep, so you better put on your wading boots, HA, HA) what music means to me and how much of a role it has played in my life over the years. Every memory, every aspect, every experience in my life has been marked by songs, performers and music. These songs conjure up fond memories for me and how my life has evolved over the years. In my youth and teen years, it was all about the Osmonds (no surprise to all of you people who have known me for so long). I lived for their music and how the lyrics spoke to me. I also enjoyed many other performers (surprise for those of you who have know me for so long. You thought I only listened to the Osmonds). I loved the music of Elton John, Genesis, The Who, Yes, Queen, Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Chicago, Kansas, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and The Bee Gees to name a few.
Each of these bands had lyrics that expressed how I was feeling and what I wanted to say. I was afraid to speak my mind too much but the songs helped me to understand my feelings and relate to the rest of the world. Suddenly my life was not about living on Bonsall Avenue in Aldan Pennsylvania. I saw a bigger picture. I saw others who felt like me, who thought like me and who wanted to be heard like me. They had the talent to share it with many and to help us all see that we really are the same no matter where we come from, what we do or how much money we make. I began to look beyond the four walls of my home and look outward more beyond Bonsall Avenue, Aldan and Pennsylvania. The music spoke to me and made me want to make a difference in the world.
I continue to look for music today that will do that for me. Today, my preferences seem to be more in the country genre but, I still find solice and peace as I listen to music by people like Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley or Garth Brooks. I still go back to "my music roots" and pull from all the songs that shaped me and continue to influence me in my life. I think of a quote at the end of Jersey Boys that says, "...when everything dropped away and all there was was the music." That is what music means to me. Everything else can drop away for me and I can still have my music to make me have good feelings and memories.
I will continue to enjoy my music, my plays and my entertainment that makes me a better person because someone somewhere took the time to create and use their talents to inspire others. I will go back to the Majestic time and time again and enjoy and get lost in all of the music and entertainment they have to offer me and its thousands and thousands of patrons who enter their doors year after year.

Wow...time flies...

I know I said I would update with details about Bryan Adams and Beauty and the Beast, but so many other things have happened in between so I want to tell you everything. After my euphoric feeling from Jersey Boys, I thought nothing could compare to it, but I was wrong. Wicked is every bit as good as Jersey Boys for its own reasons. But, I digress. I will tell you about Bryan Adams, Beauty and the Beast and other shows I have seen in the past few months.

Bryan Adams
He came to the Empire which is a sister theater to the Majestic and more intimate. He was alone with a piano player and his guitar. It was an amazing show and an amazing experience. It felt like we were sitting in his living room listening to him play acoustic versions of his hits. He played such songs as "Everything I Do," "Heaven," and "Summer of '69" in ways I never heard before. I had never seen him in concert before, but I know that he was great here doing this acoustic show. He was making a DVD of the show too and had camera people all over the place. We had to make sure people didn't stand in front of the cameras or run in the aisles while he sang. Dawna cracked me up as she kept people from going down the aisles. She looked like a security guard and crossed her arms in front of her. I wouldn't want to be the one to try to get past her...HA. That was fun. The entire show kept everyone entertained from beginning to end and it would be great to see him again.
9 to 5
I loved this movie when it came out. I couldn't help but see Dolly Parton in the role as Doralee. But, the actress who played her at the Majestic did a great job too. The music was really well-written and did include the original song 9 to 5 written by Dolly Parton. In fact, the entire score was written by her. The audience really got into this one and I loved watching them laugh.
Beauty and the Beast

Another Broadway play tour show that did not disappoint me was Beauty and the Beast. I loved all the music from it when it was released as a Disney movie in 1991 (I was pregnant with Deborah when I saw it in the movie theater). Songs like "Be Our Guest," "Belle," and "Gaston" were amazing live. And the actors did not disappoint. They did a great job in their roles. I especially enjoyed the actor that played Gaston. He did a great job. The little boy who played Chip was excellent too. I worked opening night for this show and it was great. There is something about an opening night of any show that has a certain electricity around it. Even though this Broadway touring  group had been to other cities, it seems to me that they have a certain "new" feeling as they open in a new city. It was evident on opening night at the Majestic. I worked in the orchestra level and enjoyed helping people to their seats.  Lots of little girls came to this show dressed in their Belle gowns and "high heels." It was so cute to see them and it made me think of Deborah's little girl days when she loved to watch many Disney movies.

Legally Blonde
What can I say about Legally Blonde? It was a funny show with a great cast. I wasn't sure how this movie could translate to a musical but they did a good job. Deborah surprised her best friend by buying her tickets to see the show. So, Deborah worked it one night and got to see it another night. I worked in the orchestra level again for this so I got a good view of the show the two times I went to see it.
WICKED

Now, onto the other BIG Show!! Wicked is an amazing, wonderful, stupendous, entertaining and mesmerizing show. I can't say anything bad about it. The music, the costumes, the actors, the sets, the orchestra, the EVERYTHING!!!! I have seen it 5 times now and plan to see it 2 more times before it leaves the end of this week. Having heard a lot about it over the years, I was expecting to be disappointed because I thought the hype was too much. Well, the hype was NOT too much. It is everything everyone said it would be.  Again, I worked opening night and again I could feel that electricity. The actors were amazing and the audience was entertained from start to finish. I worked in the orchestra area for all the shows (it's my favorite place to work) and all the shows have been sold out. There are seating holds at the beginning of the show and right after intermission so it's been a challenge to get everyone seated in time. Most make it, but I few have to wait. Some are great about it, but a few complain. Because the show has been sold out, it's important for us to make sure everyone is in the right seats. And everyone is so excited to see the show, they can't wait to get to their seats. I love being down in the front and seeing the orchestra in the pit warming up. They are great musicians who seem to really enjoy playing the score for Wicked. I know I will be sad to see this one leave at the end of the week. It has been a good run.

Coming up are some other fun shows that I look forward to seeing too. I will keep you up-to-date with all the latest as I get around to it (and you know I am not that great at it sometimes, HA). West Side Story, Rock of Ages and Lynyrd Skynyrd are coming up in March, April and May. The new season will bring Mary Poppins, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Miserables and Billy Elliot. Can't wait for all of them.

You know, doing these shows as a volunteer are so much fun and a great way for me to be entertained. It's nice to be with my friend Dawna and also Deborah. She enjoys doing it with me now and we have some funny experiences together. I'm so glad for these experiences.

BEST SHOW EVER!!!!

When I arrived at the Majestic on the second night of Jersey Boys, I was running late. It was wild and crazy, but I made it and was put outside to make sure the lines to enter the theater moved quickly.  I was also shouting to people to make sure they had their tickets ready and that no photography would be permitted in the theater.  One of patrons approached me and told me I sounded like I was part of the Jersey Boys' cast "pretending" to be from the east.  I told him I was from the east and he laughed. He said something like, "No, really. Do they pay you to sound like that?" I had to laugh at that one. Pay me...I just get paid by seeing the show. I don't think I convinced him that I was really from the east, but at least he got a kick out of it. 
The audience entered and seemed jubilant as they prepared for an evening of entertainment.  When showtime came, I was moved to the inside to help seat the last minute arrivals.  As the lights dimmed and the show began, I wasn't sure what to expect. But, as the actors came on stage one by one, I knew the audience was in for a rare treat.  Joseph Leo Bwarie who plays Frankie Valli blew me away as he sang his first song. He has an amazing voice and tons of acting talent.  All of the actors seemed to work well together and had the audience mesmerized from start to finish.  There are some great scenes that make you cry and cry and cry (at least me, heck, I cry at Hallmark commercials on TV).
This show did have a lot of cursing in it which may have bothered some, but the performance was phenomenal and the history was epic.  There were some younger audience members, but I think it would have been better to leave the young ones at home and enjoy and evening of adult entertainment.
One night, Deborah worked with me at Jersey Boys.  Deborah cracks me up the way she is there.  We worked in the orchestra area in different rows, but sat together when we were dismissed.  When we were doing the preparation for the show (which includes counting out playbills and stuffing them with various leaflets about upcoming shows), Deborah decided she had a more efficient way of doing it.  She tried to convince the other ushers who have been doing it the same way for twenty years, but very few listened to an 18 year old girl. Bless her for trying. She has her mother's genes and always wants to help people out.  She hasn't yet learned that sometimes people don't want your help.   I know she loved the show too. She told me she cried during the emotional scenes too (again, the mother's genes).
Another night Dawna worked with me. We worked in the bar area that night which meant we helped with the lines for the ladies' room during intermission too. What joy it is to tell the ladies they have to wait in this gigantic line and be back in their seats in time for the second act.  Most understand (the line moves fast, but looks very daunting). I love to see people attempt to cut in line and convince others that they deserve to go first. One lady told us she deserved to because she had an aging mother waiting for her at the seats and she needed to get back to her. But, as usual, Dawna always handles the patrons very kindly and is so patient with them.  I love the way she talks to them softly even if they are being nasty.  But, it is worth it because she got to see Jersey Boys and loved it as much as me.
I am convinced that Jersey Boys  is the best Broadway show I have ever seen.  If you ever have a chance, go see it! 
Next time...Bryan Adams and Beauty and the Beast.

New Experiences

It has been awhile and I want to share a lot with people and introduce them to my blog. I love being able to write and share my experiences at the Majestic Theatre.  I feel bad that I have not taken the time to keep up with my blog but I am going to turn over a new leaf.  There have been so many shows I have seen and many exciting experiences. I can't catch up but I will review some highlights.

One show that was absolutely amazing was The Lion King.  That show came through during the Christmas season last year and was well attended.  The Lion King was like no other show I had seen in my life. The actors were amazing. I was especially impressed with the boy who played Young Simba. Dawna liked the actor who played Scar (I suppose she has a little rebellion in her, HA).  But, the entire production was amazing and there were many specific instructions for us ushers to follow.  One important part of the show was at the very beginning when characters came right down the aisles. These characters are not just people in costumes...they are productions in and of themselves.  We had to make sure that the patrons didn't stand up or walk in the aisles when the costumed performers came down their aisles. I worried every night if one of the actors would fall. I decided that The Lion King was my favorite show ever. The theatrics were amazing and kept you riveted to the stage from beginning to end.

Another show we enjoyed doing was one called 1964 - The Tribute.  It was another tribute Beatles Band and they were amazing too.  We had an all around good time. Entertained the entire evening. The actors/singers had a meet and greet at the end. Dawna and I stayed to help with the line of people waiting for the meet and greet and afterwards took some pics with them.  It was just a fun time for us. I love the Beatles so seeing this was enjoyable to hear their music from the early days of the band.  Here is a picture we took with them.

 "Weird Al"  came and he was truly entertaining.  His show was one of the best shows I have ever seen. I was so. impressed with the man's talents and the ability that he had to put on a phenomenal show. Everyone went away from the show entertained.  I loved his "White and Nerdy" song when he had came out on stage driving a segway. They played a video in the background of Donny Osmond being all nerdy and I cracked up. 

The audience was a mix of young and old; male and female. He appeals to many. My husband Ken took our son Ian to see it and they had a great time too. Ian got a T-shirt and thought it was cool to be sitting just 10 rows back. 

I do love the volunteers at the Majestic and all the years of dedication many have put into it.  Some have been there for more than 20 years and others just a few years. But, we all work together with some of the greatest staff members in any business.  The house managers are a blast to work with and they are enthusiastic about the shows and great with the patrons.

It took me forever to finalize this post one put it up, but I will add more later.  I hope to keep up with this more regularly now too.

P.S. Since I took so long to publish this, I have decided there is a new favorite show. Stay tuned for updates soon on what my favorite show is now.

Observations

OK, so I graduated from college in May 2009; a dream come true. It was 30 years in the making for me (yes, I'm old). So, it was off to find the dream job. Hard to find jobs during economic hard times. I have a part-time position and I like it a lot. I work at a local community college as a writing tutor. It's nice and the students are good people.

But, what to do with my free time? I love Broadway shows and concerts but since I'm only working part-time, I can't afford to go to them. Then I heard about the Majestic Theatre http://majesticempire.com/ here in San Antonio, Texas. You can sign up to be a volunteer usher. So I did. I decided it might be an interesting endeavor for me. I invited my good friend Dawna to volunteer with me. We quickly discovered it was a very interesting place to volunteer. The shows are great,and the experience is so rewarding on many levels. This blog is about the performances and about the patrons who attend these shows.
The first show I worked was a Broadway Across America series show; Mama Mia. http://www.mamma-mia.com/ I was working at the doors to the house and the patrons had to wait until the stage was ready to go to their seats. People crowded the doors, trying to peek through the small windows to catch a glimpse of the stage or the actors. They started to ask me all kinds of questions about the show, about the actors, about the stage and about the songs. I didn't have a clue. I had never seen the show, wouldn't know the actors if I tripped over them, couldn't see the stage myself and only knew the songs of Abba from my youth. The crowd was an interesting mix. Since it was a matinee, parents, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas brought younger children with them (not that the show was particularly appropriate for young children). Also in attendance were single men and women who seemed to be Broadway play aficionados. They knew everything there was to know about every play especially Mamma Mia. They couldn't wait to share that knowledge with me. One guy kept asking me if I could get him backstage to meet the actors (Heck, I can't even get backstage. I don't even know where the backstage door is). When the doors finally opened, the flood of people going in all directions was an interesting sight. All the ushers worked together to make the patrons comfortable and help them all find their seats. It was as if all the ushers were part of a well oiled machine, yet, many of us were there for the first time.
During the show, we sat in the back section and watched. During intermission, we returned to our posts and directed people to the bathroom or bar. One man came up to me with his wife and told me he was very appreciative of the work I was doing. He reached over and before I knew it, he was hugging me! I didn't even know this man. When the show was over and the people began to trickle out, many who had been talking to me before the show, found me again to comment on the performance. Comments ranged from "amazing" to "great show" or "not appropriate for children" (DUH).

The next show I did was a San Antonio Symphony. http://www.sasymphony.org/ The crowds were small and varied. The people were very nice and cordial. One man made it a point to talk to me when he walked into the theater. He shared with me some of past Symphony performances he attended and told me how great it was to have season tickets.

A couple of weeks later, I worked for Rain. http://raintribute.com/ Here were grown men and women (hippies in their heyday, I suppose) with children and grandchildren in attendance. They were screaming and singing as if it was the real Beatles up there. I must say, I was memorized by the talents of Rain. I almost thought it was the real Beatles up there a few times. Amazing. The clothing worn by the patrons varied from old tie-dyed shirts and Birkenstocks to elegant strappy dresses and high-heels. Everyone stood and danced to songs like "Back in the USSR" or "Get Back" and swayed to ballads like "Yesterday" or "Hey, Jude." I swore I even saw one lady wiping away tears from her cheeks as the band played on.

Well, there are many more tales to share and experiences too. Check back often for updates on new and past show experiences. I hope you will enjoy following this as much as I will enjoy writing it.