New York City - Center of the Universe

So, I went to New York last week. Apparently, I wasn't very good about telling people I was doing this, because every other person I've said something to about the trip since I've returned has said "You went to New York?"

Oh, well. It's not like I've blogged about it a lot or anything (some of the people supposedly read my blog, ahem). In any event, I had fun, and it was a welcome vacation.

Here's a rundown of the trip:

Tuesday, July 8:
Got up bright and early and went to the airport, where we spent approximately an eternity sitting around. God bless the fact that we have to always be extra early to make sure we can clear security. Oh, well. I got to spend time at the airport with my BFF (Forever), Sara. Then I got to sit by Laura on the plane.

We flew to Houston, where our connecting flight was delayed an hour. Joy.

We landed late in NY, where we met our bus driver who took us to our hotel. We passed Central Park and John Lennon's apartment. That was cool.

After checking in, we met with the part-owner of our tour agency, Ed. He reminded me of an older, slightly less flamboyant Jim Brickman. Points to you if you even know who Jim Brickman is.

Then, I went to bed.

Wednesday, July 9:
Went to Rockefeller Center for the Top of the Rock tour. It wasn't all that spectacular.

Then a small group of us went to the Stardust Diner, which is where Jonathan Larson worked while he was writing Rent. It was really fun. I dig kitzsch. It was a little over-priced (I paid over $20 for a club sandwich, a non-refillable cup of Pepsi, and some fries), but the atmosphere was cool.

After lunch, Laura and I walked up Broadway because we had tickets to the matinee of South Pacific at Lincoln Center. I remembered that the LDS Church was across the street from Lincoln Center, and I had heard that the temple was now in the same building (it was just a church when I was there 9 years ago). We were curious, and we had some extra time, so we went there. When we were almost there, Laura stopped and asked some guy if he knew were the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was. He said "You mean the Momo temple? It's right across the street!" I chortled, and he said "I was just tryin' to say it the way they do."

We went in the front door, and apparently the temple was to the left, and the church was to the right. A HUGE security guard with tattoos all over his arms told us that we couldn't go into the church because it was under construction. He recommended that we peeked into the temple, though, just to see the stained glass. He was very firm, though, and told us we were not allowed to go past the desk. I said "I've got a recommend. I can go past the desk if I want!" (He was kind of short with us, and he deserved that.)

We peeked in the door, and met some nice temple workers. A woman told us that the temple was designed so that you couldn't hear a single thing outside in the city while you're inside. If we had been dressed better, we probably would have gone in to do some initiatories or something. Oh, well. Next trip...

After our temple stop, we went to Lincoln Center and relaxed until the show started. It was SO dang hot, and the humidity was unbearable. It was nice to just sit on the steps in the theatre and cooldown.

The show was INCREDIBLE. I was almost in tears. I probably would have been if it hadn't been for the stupid old people sitting behind me who talked and sang along through the whole second act. Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot were brilliant as Nellie and Emil. It was nice to see the show cast accurately, and to have it focus on the story.

After South Pacific, we walked back to the hotel, relaxed a bit, and then went to The Lion King. I didn't much care for it. It was all about spectacle, and there was no heart. And most of the new songs that were added for the stage were downright AWFUL. However, after the show, we got a backstage tour from one of the stage managers. Totally made it worth the show. Seeing the puppets and costumes up close was great. We also had free reign to take whatever pictures we wanted.

Thursday, July 10:
Started the day with a musical theatre workshop. Ed was the music director, and I didn't like him as an MD at all. Maybe I'm spoiled because the only MD I ever work with anymore is myself, but he was really harsh, and he taught the song by rote. Rote is okay - WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH CHILDREN WHO CAN'T READ, and it would have been tolerable - IF HE COULD SING LOUDER THAN THE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT HE WAS PLAYING. The director/choreographer who worked with us was cool, though. I really liked the way she worked with everyone's abilities. She gave me some ideas for my own musical theatre classes.

After two hours of musical theatre, someone had the brilliant idea to plan a walking tour all over the city. BLAH. I was sick that morning, btw, and shouldn't have done the workshop. I had a nasty cold, and it peaked while I was trying to dance. (Yes, I danced. A little. Laugh it up.)

We took a bus to 5th Avenue, and then were given 45 minutes to eat. Some of us went to the cafeteria in Trump Tower. I had a seafood wrap that was really good. Seriously. Even though it gave me seafood burps the rest of the day.

After we ate, we went exploring in Tiffany's, where I found out A) they don't serve breakfast, and B) you're not allowed to take pictures. At least I got one shot of the inside and a shot of myself outside looking in the window, a la Holly Golightly. I couldn't find a danish, so I settled for mint mojito gum.

Next, our walking tour officially commenced. We heading down 5th, and went into St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was interesting, but I was tuned out as soon as I realized that all of their depictions of Christ look like zombies, especially the mosaic, which I dubbed Zombie Jesus (and was told I was sacreligious for doing so). I have a testimony of the resurrection, but I do NOT think Christ came back looking like He stepped out of Night of the Living Dead.

After 5th Avenue, we headed to Greenwich Village (which had absolutely NOTHING of note) and SoHo. We were given 90 minutes to kill in SoHo, which sucked. There's nothing there but clothes shopping, pretty much. Some of us just chilled at a cafe eating watermelon (which was warm).

As the hellish day came to a close, we were magically taken away from it by In the Heights. I've never actually cried in a show. I've teared up many times (ie, South Pacific) but never actually cried. In the Heights was so amazing that I connected more than I ever have in a show. During a major plot point in the second act, I lost it. I had tears streaming down my face. When it was over, I felt cheated. I wanted it to go on forever. After the show, I was a fanboy, and a bunch of us went to the stagedoor to meet the cast.

Friday, July 11:
Slept in. No stupid tours for me today.

A group of us went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was really cool. Best part: superhero costume exhibit. I saw movie costumes from Spider-Man, Iron Man, Batman Returns, etc. My favorite, which I actually broke the rules and snuck a picture of, was a batsuit from The Dark Knight. Couldn't help it. It was like a treat from God for being a good boy lately. (did I mention that I didn't go to ANY naughty shows?)

After the Met, we went to Chinatown, which bored me, and then Little Italy for a dinner. Garlic bread made with olive oil instead of butter = happy Jeremy.

After that, Laura and I went to Mary Poppins. Laura hated it, I liked it. A whole lot. Especially because I've been in love with the voice of Ashley Brown for three years, and I got to see her perform the title role. THEN! After the show, I was even more fanboy at the stage door. In the picture Laura took of me waiting for an autograph, I look like a little boy on Christmas morning. Then, I met Ashley, and Laura told her I was in love with her and wanted to marry her. She looked at me like I was a rapist, but she was still nice enough to take a picture with me (she even put her arm around me!!!) At first, Laura messed up the picture, and started to put the camera down while the flash was still going off, but I grabbed Ashley tighter so Laura could get another picture.

Saturday, July 12:
Improv workshop. Nothing earth-shattering. Almost everything we did, we've done in Chris Clark's class.

THEN!
I died and went to heaven.
Heaven = The Drama Bookstore
I bought 37 scripts. They make me happy.

After that, Laura and I went to Wicked, which I have described as the Die Hard of musical theatre. Not a whole lot of substance, just shoot 'em up action. Spectacle, spectacle, spectacle. The singing was great, the music itself was great, the rest....eh.

Then, we got real NYC pizza. It was amazing. Pizza is one of my favorite things in the world, and eating it after watching real, genuine Italians making it was sacred.

That night, we went to The 39 Steps, which was brilliant. They took the old Hitchcock movie, and without really changing the dialogue, they turned it into a farce. It reminded me of what I did with The Monkey's Paw for my directing class, only obviously much better. There were only 4 actors: the lead, the female who played 3 roles, and two guys that played about 15 roles a piece. INCREDIBLE.

After the show, some of us went on a quest to find ice cream. You'd think it would be easy to find in Manhattan, but you'd be wrong. We finally settled for frozen yogurt in a deli. Then I went back and packed.

Sunday, July 13:
Seminar with Andrea Burns. She played Daniela in In the Heights, and more importantly for me, she was in the original cast of Songs for a New World. She was really cool, and she answered every question we had for her.

Then we had a little time to kill, so some of us went and got Sunday dinner at the pizza place. I HAD to have it one more time.

Our flight to Houston sat on the runway for at least an hour, and yet we made it to Houston on time. However, the flight from Houston to Salt Lake was delayed by 45 minutes or so. I'm officially anti-Continental Airlines.


So, that was my fun trip.


Things that I got to do in NY for the first time:
Ride the subway
Eat real NYC pizza
Eat real Italian food
Buy a Batman belt buckle in Chinatown
See two shows in one day - twice!!
Sing "Santa Fe" from Rent on the subway
Sing "Moon River" in front of Tiffany's
Laugh so hard I couldn't breathe because Jacob got picked up on by middle-aged businessmen

Things that I still need to do in NY:
Session in the Manhattan temple
See a taping of SNL
Take the NBC Studio Tour
Join in an impromptu sing along with a street performer
Go to Zabar's!!!
Go to the Seinfeld diner