Today is America's Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, a day where we take stock of how far we've come as a society, as well as consider what remains to be achieved.
While responding to the horrifying killings in Tucson, President Barack Obama's call for civility last week certainly seemed particularly well-timed given today's observances. Yet, since civility also naturally extends to those who look different from us, let alone think differently than we do, the President's remarks also provide a stark reminder that we have a long way to go before reaching Reverend King's dream.
Since Bono and The Edge have been in the news for their gestating work on Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark -- and since Steve On Broadway (SOB) is ostensibly about theatre -- today, I'm posting U2's seminal 1984 hit, "Pride (In The Name Of Love)."
While the tune references Dr. King's tragic 1968 assassination in Memphis, it also boldly proclaims, "Free at last, they took your life, (but) they could not take your pride."
Let's remember his enduring legacy through civility and love -- proud traits no one can take away unless you let them.
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Greetings from Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, and Happy New Year!
It’s been years since I’ve been to Philly, but this is where the Love Of My Life (LOML) and I decided to ring in the New Year. Why? Aside from being one of my longtime favorite American cities – thanks in part to its rich history, culture, charm and its friendly character – it is in part mercenary for me to benefit my LOML, who was within a stone’s throw of platinum status on our favored airline. Silly, right?
But wait! There’s more!
Not only does this mark the eighth New Year’s we’ve been infinitely blessed to share and enjoy together, but by moving our celebration to Pennsylvania, the two of us have now visited 44 out of 50 states together. Not bad for eight years. (Look out, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon and West Virginia – we have you in our sights!).
It’s the little thing, isn’t it?!
May health and happiness follow you throughout the New Year! And remember to hold those dearest to you very closely because all those little things add up to a life worth living and loving.
(P.S. I'm resolved to be back with much more discussion on theatre very soon!)
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
I want to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to every single reader who has visited Steve On Broadway (SOB) this year.
I’ve been honored to begin many online friendships during the course of the past five years, and I’ve been thrilled that so many of them have translated offline as well. What a blessing. I feel extraordinarily fortunate.
Ostensibly, I write Steve On Broadway (SOB) for my own personal enjoyment. If there’s one characteristic about myself that I hope rings genuinely authentic, it’s my love for the theatre. Perhaps it’s that passion that sways my reviews toward the favorable overall --although I prefer to think that I’m somewhat discriminating in what I pay to see in the first place.
Never do I go to see any show with malice in my heart. Since I pay for each and every ticket, I go to enjoy and be entertained or at least enlightened. Yes, there are those occasions where I find myself disappointed by a musical or play or by specific performances therein, but I also hope that ultimately, my critiques have provided anyone out there reading them with some heartfelt guidance from an honest-to-goodness theatre lover.
Please accept my best wishes for a very Merry Christmas -- and regardless of whether you celebrity this Holiday or not, here's wishing you and yours nothing but peace and love.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
It really is incredibly hard to believe it was 30 years ago today that John Lennon was murdered.
Millions of us were shocked to learn the tragic news in this highly surreal fashion. The evening of December 8, 1980, hit virtually everyone around the world so extraordinarily hard. Suddenly that evening, it didn't matter if you were a fan of The Beatles or Lennon. The idea that such a creative genius who espoused peace could be gunned down so violently broke our collective hearts.
Lennon's untimely death marked the end of an era, even as he had just attempted to begin a new one for himself.
The musical icon had just emerged from a self-imposed "exile" to help raise his young son Sean. On November 17, 1980, just three short weeks prior to his murder, he and his wife Yoko Ono released the incredibly hopeful "Double Fantasy," his first studio recording in five long years.
While the recording would quickly climb to number one on the Billboard charts and go on to earn him a posthumous Grammy for 1981 Album of the Year, for those of us who purchased the recording, we were haunted by the back cover image showing Lennon and Ono outside the Dakota Apartments, just steps from where this man of profound peace met his violent end.
Rest in peace, John Lennon. Thirty years later, we're still trying to imagine the type of world you envisioned.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
As the Celebration of Lights begins anew, I'm taking a moment to celebrate all my dear Jewish friends.
Thank you for illuminating my life with your knowledge, compassion and love. The glow of your friendship brightens my days and nights more than you may ever know.
Here's wishing you a very Happy Hanukkah!
חנוכה שמח
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that while my Jewish friends have indeed been generous in giving me material gifts in addition to their gift of friendship, I have received nothing of value directly in exchange for this post.
In years past, I've used this day to talk about the sobering statistics of this deadly disease that affects tens of millions around the world. This year, I'd like to remind you of the wonderful work that the fine people at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS provide. They're once again in the midst of one of their annual giving campaigns. If you've been to a Broadway show in recent weeks, you'll likely have heard from the stage about this great organization's continuing efforts.
Even if you're nowhere near Broadway, please consider giving to this industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization by going here to make a donation. As many of you know, I dug deep into my pocket earlier this fall, but that isn't deterring me from digging even deeper today by giving again. I hope you'll join me in giving. No gift is too large or too small.
If you're looking to receive something in return -- in addition to my sincere appreciation -- you might also consider joining me in purchasing one of BC/EFA's annual snow globes like the one designed by Broadway's very own David Gallo. For more details, please go here.
Here's to your good health and all the best for your loved ones. Thank you for your support.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission regulations (FTC) that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value in exchange for promotional consideration, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
If you're a regular reader, you might recall last year when I wrote about my (then) 98 year old Gramps. Guess who's turning 99 today?
This past weekend, much of my family gathered in northwest Arkansas to celebrate this exceptional man. We're so enormously proud to have him in our lives that I'm pleased to reprise my post from one year ago today with a few subtle changes.
Charles Loucks and 99 Reasons We Love Him
Ninety-nine years ago in tiny Tipton, Indiana, a middle-aged farmer’s wife named Mary Frances Loucks gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. She and Charles Sherman Loucks would call the infant Charles Francis Loucks. Charles Loucks became the youngest of many children this sizeable farm family would welcome into the world.
Charles, or Charley as his friends call him, would migrate to Minnesota shortly after high school. Not too long after he arrived, he would meet and then marry an Iowan named Marian Lucille Plummer. Together, they would have two children, Barbara Joyce and Donald Dean (pictured, flanking my Gramps this past Sunday), who in turn provided their parents with five grandchildren, including yours truly.
Now, as all of us – including his 14 great grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren (with another on the way!) – proudly celebrate our beloved Gramps’ 99th birthday, I’m using the occasion to pay tribute to this wonderful man by expressing 99 of the countless reasons why we love and adore him so very much. We’re so very blessed to still have this exceptional man in our lives.
So, in no particular order, I give you my 99 reasons:
1. He loves dogs and currently has an adorable Chihuahua named Lady as his very faithful companion.
2. He remains open to learning new tricks.
3. He once emulated magicians by pulling a table cloth out from under a table full of glasses without moving a one. He decided not to try and tempt fate twice.
4. Over the past ten years, he taught himself how to operate his own personal computer, which he continues to use in emailing family and friends.
5. He continues to volunteer at his local cable access television station in Bella Vista, Arkansas, and has even operated its camera from time to time over the last dozen years.
6. He has mastered his church’s sound mixing board.
7. He is a man of immense faith.
8. He still believes he can drive a car, and yes, he continues to possess a valid license.
9. But he will acquiesce when we insist on taking the wheel.
10. He’s traveled to all 50 states, and driven in 49 of them.
11. He used to enjoy getting our adrenaline pumping by driving us across Minnesota’s frozen lakes during the wintertime.
12. He continues to purchase a new automobile each year, whether he needs one or not.
13. He just renewed his passport, so he’ll be good to go for the next ten years.
14. He recently told me he’d love to go to Chile next.
15. In 2006, he ventured to China for his first time in just over 60 years.
16. Shortly after the close of World War II, he was part of a detail that swept mines from the Yangtze River in Shanghai.
17. He served his nation proudly during World War II, enlisting in the U.S. Navy even though he could have avoided service altogether since he was already aged 32, had a wife and two children, and was already serving his community as a St. Paul firefighter.
18. He would be honorably discharged after having been promoted to the rank of Carpenter - Second Class.
19. He’d serve in the waters around Europe, Africa and Asia during World War II.
20. He and his shipmates onboard the destroyer U.S.S. Baldwin proudly escorted President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Yalta. He even caught a glimpse of Winston Churchill once there.
21. He is the epitome of a true patriot and exemplifies the very best in America.
22. While the navy was on a six week hiatus in New York City during the war, he took in countless performances of the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.
23. He is an exceptional storyteller and is always pleased to regale me with highlights from his life.
24. Knowing how much I love his stories, he once sat down in front of a video camera and chronicled much of his life for posterity (and me).
25. He’s always been drama-free, which has been a good thing given the drama his descendants have indulged in.
26. When he was just 17 years old and a senior in an Indianapolis high school, he performed alongside other minors as orphans in a play headlined by Ethel Barrymore.
28. He has personally met Frank Sinatra, even though he admits that he wasn’t particularly a fan.
29. He’s also met Milton Berle, who made him laugh.
30. He once told me he wanted to meet Anne Murray (pictured left), so I arranged a backstage meeting with the Canadian singer after a concert stop in Tulsa. Gramps was stunned.
31. He can be a bit shy.
32. He was supposed to personally meet and greet President Harry S. Truman, but was so overcome when observing the president’s uncanny resemblance to his deceased father that he retrenched into a corner of the reception room.
33. He learned how to pilot a plane after World War II, but because he was $12 short of the final payment necessary to enable him to fly solo, he never received his license – and he never told my grandmother that he had even been practicing.
34. He has only ever been married to one woman, my grandmother, in a union that lasted 63 years until her death in 1995.
35. He met my grandmother on a blind date.
36. His pen “slipped” as he was signing his marriage license. Back in those days, the minimum legal age to get hitched without parental approval was 21. But he feared his parents would not approve, even though he was just shy of 21 years. When he signed the marriage license, his pen “slipped” so it appeared that he was born in 1910 rather than 1911.
37. He spent half of the money he had on his honeymoon – an exorbitant $15 on a trip to Brainerd, Minnesota. It was exactly half of all the money he had to his name.
38. He was so in love with my grandmother that he was clearly heartbroken when she died. He still tears up when he talks about her.
39. After her passing, he uprooted himself by moving to a remote part of Arkansas where he owned some land. He built a new home for himself – at age 85.
40. From 1939 through 1975, he served with distinction as a proud St. Paul firefighter.
41. Out of hundreds of applicants to become a St. Paul fireman during the Depression, he would earn the third highest scores on the civil service examination.
42. By the time he was forced to retire, due to the mandatory retirement at age 65, he had been promoted to the position of Fire Chief in St. Paul.
43. He once loaned his trumpet to his nephew George Myers, who would not only go on to become one the military’s most revered players, but he would also play taps at funerals for many dignitaries.
44. He has always been a great instructor.
45. He helped teach me how to water-ski.
46. He was patient with me even when I tried learning how to play golf.
47. He continues to actively play golf to this day.
48. He regularly shoots a golf score under his age (and typically beats his younger golfing buddies).
49. He scored his first hole-in-one back in 1935.
50. He scored his last hole-in-one as recently as 2004 – at age 92.
51. All totaled, he has scored five holes-in-one. Although he nearly scored a sixth, the ball bounced back out of the cup landing just a foot-long putt away.
52. One of his earliest memories is smoking a cigar at the age of 8 at his eldest brother’s wedding reception (his brother Noel was a World War I veteran). He ended up rolling down a hill in a tire and was briefly knocked out, coming to after the reception had ended.
53. As children, he and another brother were thrown from their family horse because they were a little overeager in trying out the spurs they received as a gift. The duo wanted to be cowboys.
54. He can be a bit of a daredevil.
55. He went parasailing in Mexico at age 79.
56. He became an expert ski jumper back in the 1930s.
57. After he went home from his first planned attempt at ski-jumping, he couldn’t help but kick himself for not trying. When he went back for a second attempt, he saw teenagers skiing off the jump with ease and thought, “If they can do it, so can I.” While his first jump proved dangerous (he landed on his head), he dusted himself off and went right back up to the top and tried again. Successfully.
58. He is a model of perseverance.
59. He succeeded in learning how to build houses when moonlighting from the Fire Department.
60. He helped my father build the very first home I ever lived in.
61. He and my grandmother purchased their first residence back in the 1930s for a whopping $2,500. (When I was just a child, I took comfort in knowing that they were just blocks up the street from us.)
62. He sold that same house during the 1970s for over $75,000.
63. He built his own lake home, which was one of our family’s favorite gathering places for special occasions, including a couple of mine.
64. He and my grandmother made every attempt to attend virtually all major milestone events in our family – everything from graduations and confirmations to performances in musicals and concerts to weddings – even after we moved to Milwaukee.
65. He is tremendously fit for his age.
66. In addition to playing golf, he stays in shape by clearing brush from the woods adjacent to his home.
67. He’s routinely mistaken for someone 20 years younger.
68. He makes more money now through his pension than he ever did via his regular paycheck – proving that living long is the best revenge.
69. When his own mother died, he received an “inheritance” totaling $15. He always jokes that the longer he lives, the less inheritance there will be for us. But we all implore him to spend it.
70. Nonetheless, he is a very frugal man.
71. Yet, he is exceedingly generous, as he proved yet again last Christmas.
72. He likes to pick up the check at restaurants.
73. He became an expert woodworker before he was a firefighter.
75. He also designed the single most beautiful inlaid wooden table I’ve ever seen.
76. He likes Peanut M & Ms.
77. He likes his ice cream, something his son and this particular grandson inherited.
78. He is still very spry.
79. He is exceedingly lucid.
80. He cries every time we say goodbye.
81. He possesses a spark in his voice whenever we talk on the phone, beginning with his boisterous, “Hello, there!”
82. He maintains a terrific sense of humor.
83. He continues to be admired by the ladies.
84. He was quite mischievous growing up.
85. He can still recall when everyone had a horse and buggy, as well as when his father bought their first car.
86. When gas prices hit $4 per gallon two years ago, he recalled how a tank of gas was costing more than his very first automobile, a used Ford Model T, which he purchased in the 1920s for a mere $40.
87. He also remembers gasoline-free Sundays, when autos were only used on Sundays in case of emergencies.
88. He remembers how awkward it was to use party-line phones with everyone knowing his family’s business. But by the same token, they knew everything about their neighbors, too.
89. He grew up without electricity, but they heated everything with coal.
90. He understands the virtues of sacrifice.
91. He recognizes just how far he’s come.
92. He’s honest.
93. He has immense integrity.
94. Although he’s consistently voted for Democrats in presidential races beginning in 1940 right through 2008, he voted Republican during his first time at the polls because his farm family was strictly Indiana GOP.
95. He loves his family unconditionally, no matter who votes Republican.
96. He’s tremendously proud of his offspring, and just as the average face of America is changing with more color, so is the burgeoning rainbow hue in his family.
97. He looks forward to turning 100 years of age.
98. He loves us.
99. He gives us countless reasons to love him right back.
Happy birthday, Gramps! With love, sincere appreciation and best wishes for your 100th year!
I first published the following post on December 13, 2010, as one of my most prominent memories of the previous decade. As today marks the ninth anniversary of the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001, let us never forget neither that dark day nor those whose lives were lost.
Not long after the attacks, Nathan Lane and a troupe of Broadway stars used the classic Kander and Ebb tune to implore the rest of a nervous nation to "Come to New York and let's go on with the show!"
No recollection of the past ten years in theatre could be complete without remembering the horrific events of 9/11.
While I’ll leave it to others to thoroughly discuss what transpired that day, I was struck by how quickly the Broadway community rallied together to truly go on with the show. In the aftermath of 9/11, I was also struck by Mayor Rudy Guliani's message to the rest of the world: “Come to New York and stay in a hotel, do some shopping and see a show.”
I made my pilgrimage to the city in early October. While there were countless reminders of 9/11 to be seen everywhere, particularly through the extensive array of ubiquitous volunteer workers, the city seemed kinder and gentler than I had ever remembered it being. I never felt more welcome as a guest as I did on that visit.
True to the mayor’s prescribed list, I checked into a midtown hotel, did the requisite shopping and made sure I bought tickets to not one, but two Broadway shows. First up was the Tony-winning revival of a quintessential New York classic 42nd Street starring Christine Ebersole.
I loved them both, but what I especially loved was the esprit de corps I felt with my fellow audience members. It was as if we really were in this together.
While our attendance was a mere pittance compared to the selfless efforts of those toiling around the clock at the southern end of Manhattan, there was a shared sense that we were at least doing something in providing a tiny economic shot in the arm to this recovering city. Never before had I felt a sense of community with my fellow theatregoers like I did while seeing those two shows.
Initially, I had no intention of going to Ground Zero on that trip, my New York City friends implored me to go. Their message was simple -- it was important for people to bear witness to what I saw. On the Sunday morning after I had enjoyed The Women, I took the subway as far as I could to Chambers Street and then walked. Nothing could have prepared me for the magnitude of the World Trade Center’s still smoldering ruins. I couldn’t help but break down and cry.
Just as I'll never forget the carnage terrorists wrought on the greatest city on the planet, I'll always remember how everyone seemed to come together for a few brief shining moments in the wake of the attacks. I'll forever cherish those days I spent in New York City to witness it first-hand.
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
While you might think it's the rare Broadway show that plays on a Monday, six current productions offer performances when the rest of the Great White Way takes a well-deserved rest.
Even on Labor Day.
So this year, as I offer my holiday greetings, I'd like to offer my own special salute to the hardworking men and women in the cast and crew of the following shows who are troupers in every way.
And to work on this Labor Day holiday? They have my respect and admiration.
Broadway shows performing on Labor Day 2010 include:
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Next week, this inspiring Iowa icon will turn 81. So my weekend in the country will also include a well-timed birthday celebration. And to bring the post full circle, that makes Duffy just a tad senior to Mr. Sondheim, doesn't it?!
Happy anniversary, Joe and Duffy (and happy birthday, too)!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Ever the trouper and 89 years young, Carol Channing not only notes America's alarming dropout rate from public high schools, be she also makes an impassioned plea for continued arts funding in public schools on television's "The View."
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
It was 234 years ago today that America's Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. The revolutionary document written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 went through many drafts and indeed, historians now say he even changed it by altering one key word from "subjects" to "citizens."
But one thing that never changed what was that document was all about: three inalienable rights.
Life.
Liberty.
The pursuit of Happiness.
Although the Declaration of Independence came several years before the U.S. Constitution and its subsequent Bill of Rights, that cherished parchment paved the way for the freedoms contained in the First Amendment that every American should hold dear, yet too often takes for granted: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom to peaceably assemble.
Thanks to those freedoms and our inalienable rights, live theatre remains a vibrant force within our culture. With the dialogue it fosters, our society is rich. Where else, but America, would our founders enshrine the notion of Life, Liberty and the pursuit ofHappiness?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Every day, we must work hard to protect our freedoms.
Thankfully, the arts serve as a strong bulwark in our line of defense in protecting our freedoms. We may not always agree with the messages art conveys, but the inherent beauty within freedom of expression is that it can and often does challenge us. I shudder to think what our nation would be like if we were all required to think the same thing or only avail ourselves of government-approved press, literature, theatre, movies and television.
The arts do more than just entertain, they propel us further as a people.
Contributions from the arts and the dialogue they inspire over what it means to be an American make me extraordinarily proud to be one. I believe that the performing arts can and will continue to inspire, but only if we continue to steadfastly ensure it is allowed to do so freely.
Happy birthday, America!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
But since three years is a lifetime in the blogosphere, and since many (or perhaps most) of you dear readers are new to Steve On Broadway (SOB), I want you to know who's behind the mask. I want to provide you, my dear readers, with full disclosure about who I am.
I am not -- nor have I ever been -- an actor, a playwright, a director, a producer, a composer, a musician, a designer, a stagehand or any of the myriad behind-the-scenes activities that come to mind with the stage. Not even an usher, coat check or any of the other functions associated with a theatre. I'm not even a teacher. Yet I greatly admire those who have chosen those vocations because they help make theatre as vital as it is.
You should know that I do not have my sights set on being anything more than what I am right now: I am purely an audience member.
Over three years ago, I made the conscious decision to accept no free tickets. To truly write from the audience perspective, I pay for every single performance I see. You may ask "Why?"
Well, it all comes down to this. I love live theatre as my favored art form. The civic-minded side of me believes in the necessity of supporting the performing arts, thus I donate to a variety of not-for-profit theatres stretching from New York City through Chicago to my home base in Minneapolis (yes! Minneapolis!), and I'm more than happy to share my candid feedback with all of them when asked.
But the reason why I love supporting the arts is what I receive in return. It's the rush of seeing writers' words come roaring to life by a breathtaking array of actors. It gives me the same kind of high that chocolate offers others. There is no other entertainment option that has the capability of sweeping me off my feet -- I have been known to leave the theatre feeling as though I was walking on air.
While I now regularly see virtually every show that opens on Broadway during any given season, I also select others that genuinely pique my interest. Whether on Broadway or Off, or very far from it, I go hoping I'll enjoy each performances or at least find something within it to admire. I never go because I want to disparage a production. After all, why would I want to spend my hard-earned dollars on drek?
Now that I'm well into my fifth year of writing Steve On Broadway, I also attend shows and share my experiences because I'm hoping that I can inspire non-theatregoers to check out this wonderfully enduring, vital art form. Thus, I write this blog as my own personal diary of what I like about theatre (and what I sometimes don't) in my own unvarnished fashion.
As alluded to in my "About Me" section, my vocation is public relations. But you should know that I handle PR in the travel business for one company with which I'm extremely proud to be associated. Only thing is, I don't find it appropriate for me to use this vehicle to promote that company (after all, this is not a travel blog). I've completely refrained from mentioning the company during my four plus years of writing Steve On Broadway and pledge to never write about it in this space.
I'm passionate about theatre. I appreciate the trust that many of you have placed in me to give it to you straight and honest.
Starting a new blog -- my very first -- is more than a little daunting. But I'm relying on old friends, and complete strangers, to keep me honest in my assessments. I'm looking for real dialogue with those of you who enjoy the entire theatrical experience as much as I do. So regardless of what you think of this site, I invite you to post your comments.
While I'm known to be a bit of an SOB (thus Steve On Broadway), this site has a few simple ground rules. First, we don't need to be vulgar to make our points. Instead, we'll engage in polite discourse on a topic -- theatre -- on which we're unmistakably passionate. We may not like a particular actor, actress, playwright, composer or director, but we'll not take the low road with our comments. Instead, we'll engage in true critical analysis that aims to be thought-provoking and stimulating.
So go ahead, post your comments and let the critical analysis begin!
I can only hope I've achieved what I set out to do. Thank you for your trust, and thank you for reading.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Today marks a major milestone for Steve On Broadway (SOB). I’m celebrating an anniversary! (Make that two, to be precise!)
Exactly 25 years ago today, I set foot for my very first time into a Great White Way house to see a Broadway show. It was Cats’ matinee performance on the afternoon of Saturday, June 8, 1985. And what a lasting “Memory” it remains.
By that time, I was still a relatively recent college graduate living in Wausau, Wisconsin, of all places, with a decent career-oriented job. I was making more money than I thought possible -- a mere $17,000 per year! -- and it seemed like I was finally earning enough to do something truly special and memorable for my beloved parents, who were living in suburban Milwaukee at the time.
As a wedding anniversary gift, I decided to do something completely different -- something extravagant -- not because they were marking a milestone of their own (it was their 28th year together), but just because I felt I finally could.
Because my mother had never previously visited New York City and my father had last visited when he was just a child, the idea of sending them there for their wedding anniversary seemed like a natural, especially with so many sightseeing and entertainment options from which to choose. So I told them to reserve the weekend of their anniversary because I was sending them packing to the Big Apple.
Not only did I have a friend who was able to get them tickets to see the “Phil Donahue Show,” but as it turned out, my mother’s best friend’s niece Anna McNeely (pictured) was in the cast of Cats. As Broadway’s original Jennyanydots, Anna was still in the production nearly three years into its Tony Award-winning Winter Garden run.
My mother got in touch with Anna, who graciously made arrangements to provide my parents with house seats for the Saturday (June 8) matinee performance. My mom was thrilled and couldn’t wait to tell me.
Within seconds, my reaction went from expressing “How cool!” to thinking, “Wait a minute! Maybe I could fly to New York and surprise my parents and see the show, too.”
So I contacted my mother’s best friend, made her my accomplice in telling her what I had in mind. In turn, she provided me with Anna’s telephone number. Then I called Anna with details of my plan and asked if she’d be able to arrange a house seat for me, too. Not only was she up to becoming my co-conspirator, but she was sure to nab a seat right next to my parents for me. And her lips remained sealed, even after making subsequent arrangements with my parents to meet up for a bite to eat after the performance.
Once in New York, my parents navigated their way through everything from 42nd Street to a hotel workers strike, although their hotel still managed to deliver the flowers I had sent to mark their anniversary as a ruse.
On that magical Saturday afternoon, I planned my entry carefully. I had flown in the night before and stayed with a friend, but I could hardly contain my excitement, not only in finally seeing a real-live Broadway show, but especially in pulling off this parental surprise.
Because I knew my mom and dad would be very punctual and arrive well before the show started, I arrived at the Winter Garden with enough time to have the initial shock of my “Broadway entrance” fade a little bit before Cats actually began.
When I arrived at the designated row, my parents were about halfway down. My mom looked up and saw me coming down toward their seats. I could see the light bulb of recognition turn on and almost immediately transform into one of complete shock. The two of them were virtually speechless, even after we hugged and kissed. The moment was truly enchanting for all three of us. And as the house lights came down for the beginning of Cats, I can still vividly recall the gentle hand of my mother's clutching mine in a wonderful mix of excitement and loving tenderness.
This being my very first Broadway show on Broadway itself, I found myself mesmerized by the stagecraft that went into everything from the set design to the costumes. I was also impressed by the individual performances, including Anna's turn in "The Old Gumbie Cat." And I was also thrilled by my recognition of Grizabella’s “Memory.” While it was no longer being performed by Betty Buckley, it was a stirring piece of theatre nevertheless.
After the performance concluded, we met Anna at the appointed stage door (another first) and walked down 7th Avenue to a little restaurant she had in mind for a nice, light dinner. En route to the restaurant, we walked right by Matthew Broderick, whom I knew from "War Games," but didn't have a clue he was appearing then on Broadway as Eugene Jerome in Biloxi Blues. I found myself starstruck, and it only added to the overall experience of feeling like we were really taking a huge healthy bite out of the Big Apple.
Once our delightful early meal was over, Anna excused herself to get back to the theatre, and I walked my parents back to their hotel and said my own goodbyes before heading back to La Guardia to fly home.
But with my first Broadway experience coupled with pulling off my special surprise for two of my favorite people on earth, I left New York feeling like the cat who ate the canary. What a “Memory.”
I don't know if I ever adequately thanked Anna McNeely for being my partner in crime 25 years ago today, but Anna, if you're reading this ... I thank you now and forever for making June 8 1985 so incredibly special, as well as for "introducing" me to Broadway!
Happy (53rd) Anniversary, Mom and Dad! I love you both.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Over the past week, I've enjoyed four milestones, not only as a theatre blogger, but also as a theatre lover.
On the first score, Saturday found me "celebrating" the fourth anniversary for Steve On Broadway (SOB). The day was spent doing one of the things I love to do most: seeing a show. In fact, I was in the audience for two markedly different Great White Way productions (Redand Come Fly Away).
My second milestone hit last Wednesday. Doing what I always do after each Rialto performance, I dutifully logged the Broadway shows I had seen that day into my ever-expanding list, only to discover that my Wednesday matinee of Million Dollar Quartet marked the 200th time I had set foot in a Broadway theatre for a show. (Since I've been known to revisit some of my favorite plays and musicals, this was not my 200th production -- it was only my 184th.) I'm not sure how that compares with your theatregoing habits, but over my span of nearly 25 years attending Main Stem performances, I think the folks at the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing would likely deem my attendance above average, and since the inception of Steve On Broadway (SOB), my near perfect attendance would be way above average. Given that I still pay for every ticket, it also means I've plunked down a tidy sum through the years. But I don't regret a single penny.
Finally, my fourth milestone is one that's served as further inspiration for writing Steve On Broadway (SOB) yet again. I was proud to be among three theatre bloggers participating in a Q&A with Alicia Silverstone, who was recently on Broadway in Time Stands Still. Having the opportunity to pose questions to this underestimated actress marked my first time formally interviewing any thespian. I'm hoping it won't be my last. (I'll write more in the days to come on our conversation with Silverstone, but in the meantime, here's another post from one of my blogger colleagues.)
So for the one or two readers who are still out there, thanks for returning to Steve On Broadway (SOB) and sharing in my four milestones with me. It's great to be back.
Playing Daily: Real Live Drama On Streets Of Maputo, Mozam-bique
As regular Steve On Broadway readers will know, I was in Africa during the last couple weeks of 2009 through the first three days of the New Year.
To say that my journey through South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Swaziland was unforgettable would be a huge understatement. In addition to many breathtaking opportunities to view animals, the aspect of my travels that I'll treasure the most was meeting wonderful and gracious people at almost every turn, with the emphasis on "almost."
You see, despite being beseiged in advance of my trip with one warning on top of another about my safety, I found that by taking sensible precautions, I ultimately had very little to really fear. In fact, the overwhelming majority of people were incredibly warm, hospitable and exceedingly gracious. I was appropriately wowed.
That is, with the exception of one fateful turn in Mozambique's capital city of Maputo on New Year's Day when I encountered a handful of corrupt “police” thugs on the city's streets as I was driving my rental car.
Two days earlier in Pretoria, Dollar Thrifty provided me with the necessary legal documents for driving from South Africa into both Mozambique and Swaziland. Driving into Swaziland later proved to be absolutely no problem, but the Mozambique border crossing, for starters, is riddled with chaos with its cloying denizens of shady characters trying to "help" you at every turn. Still, I got through it with my papers and after about an hour spent at the border as the Love Of My Life (LOML) and I waited for our visas to be processed, we made our way through the border crossing without any real incident.
I had already been made aware that dubious “police” in Mozambique tend to pull over cars with license tags from South Africa, so I was not only careful to observe all laws ranging from driving just under the speed limit to ensuring I had two hazard triangles tucked away in my trunk, but I also tried to drive as much as possible behind other vehicles. That way, by the time I passed any police roadblock, it was really too late for them to target my car. On New Year’s Eve, I made it all the way to my hotel without any issue and actually began to think all the horror stories I had read were a bit over the top.
But when I began driving in Maputo on New Year’s Day in clear daylight on my way out of town and toward Swaziland, an armed “policeman” was standing right in the middle of the street I was driving down and motioned for me to pull over. In fact, if you look at the top photo, taken moments before we were stopped, you can make out the "policeman" standing in the street. In all, there were probably about five of these uniformed "police," complete with guns. Even though I knew I didn’t do anything wrong, I complied and pulled over.
The lead “policeman” demanded to see my driver’s license. While I purposely had two wallets on me – a dummy one for thieves and my real one – I had to pull out my real wallet since it had my driver’s license in it. I also showed him my international driver’s license, which is required in Mozambique. So far, so good.
The “policeman” then demanded to see the vehicle registration, and the one I had from Dollar Thrifty was photocopied and included a letter from them stating express permission for me to drive into Mozambique.
He said I needed to show him the car’s actual certified registration, which Dollar Thrifty had only provided a copy of. I told the rogue cop that it was official. He said it was not. He then said that they would need to “park my car for two days (presumably since it was a Saturday) and then they could move forward then.”
As fear that our entire vacation would be ruined was beginning to set in, I countered that this would be impossible since we needed to be in Johannesburg 2 days hence for our flight home. Since I essentially had a gun in my face, I remained polite, yet the "policeman" and I continued arguing about the official nature of my papers until he said that I could take care of the matter then and there.
I asked how much it would cost. He said $200 US.
A bribe.
I said I didn’t have that. He asked how much I had, and I opened my real wallet and had only about $23. He said again that he needed $200. I said I didn’t have anything more than that. He then turned to my LOML and said, “How much do you have?” My LOML had about $60. The “policeman” took that money and let us go.
In retrospect, I should have demanded we resolve the matter at the police station. If he was a legit police officer, then we could have called Dollar Thrifty from there. If he wasn’t a real police officer, then I’m not sure what would have happened. So shame on me for not thinking more clearly at the moment, but again, we had guns in our faces. But more so, shame on the government of Mozambique for allowing such disgraceful thuggery to play out on its streets.
I have to say that the sobering experience left us with a very bad feeling about Mozambique, which was only exacerbated when U.S. Embassy personnel we later met at a game reserve in Swaziland told us that incidents like ours happen all the time in Mozambique and that embassy personnel routinely have to expense the money they lose each day to corrupt police misdeeds.
It’s truly a shame because our experience with the actual people in Mozambique, notwithstanding the chaotic border crossing, had been excellent. But it also points to the desperation of people in places like Mozambique, which ranks among the poorest of African countries after suffering into the mid-90s from the ravages of civil war and a communist regime. If you look at the other photos, you'll see how some of the typical buildings currently appear in the heart of this city. Despite some amazing architecture, the heart of Maputo looks like a wasteland (the section of the city where my hotel stands is in much better shape).
While we felt extremely violated by the drama that unfolded on the streets of Maputo, we realized that it was really the luck of the draw. Had we been one street over, we may never have experienced any incident. But my advice for anyone traveling by car to Mozambique is to truly be on your guard.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I obviously received nothing of value in exchange for this post. I paid a price for driving on the streets of Maputo.
From my perch in Maputo, Mozam-bique, where the sun is already coming up on 2010 in this place where the Indian Ocean meets Africa's eastern shores (yes, I'm staying at the property in the picture), I wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family and friends a very happy and healthy 2010!
Here's also hoping you enjoy more great live theatre, not only through the New Year, but also throughout the new decade.
I'll be back in the United States on Monday and will likely be seeing yet another show shortly thereafter. In the meantime, enjoy your holiday!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Even though I'm outside of the United States, in keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. I paid my own way for this trip.
Greetings from one of my five favorite cities on the planet: Cape Town. The photo is the view from my room at the stylish Westin Grand Arabella Quays. That is the imposing, yet majestic Table Mountain in the background.
While this is my second visit to this incredibly beautiful, vibrant and storied city just north of the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of the African continent, I'm relishing every moment here with the Love Of My Life. In fact, since I'm not only on vacation, but celebrating Christmas as well, I'll keep this post very brief.
If you're among my readers who also observes today's holiday, please accept my warmest personal greetings for a very Merry Christmas. And to all my dear readers, here's wishing you and yours nothing but peace and love.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Even though I'm away from the United States, in keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. I paid my own way for my trip.
I'd like to take a moment to wish all my dear Jewish friends a very Happy Hanukkah!
As you observe the celebration of lights, I once again want to thank you for so brilliantly illuminating my life with your amazing gift of love and friendship!
.חנוכה שמח
Chag Urim Sameach!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that while my Jewish friends have indeed been generous in giving me material gifts in addition to their gift of friendship, I have received nothing of value directly in exchange for this post.
Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles Limited run extended through May 31, 2011 (Show will go on hiatus starting January 15 and reopen at Brooks Atkinson Theatre on February 8)
Rock Of Ages - Open-ended run (Show will go on hiatus starting January 9 and reopen at Helen Hayes Theatre in March)
As someone who has been involved in both politics and public relations, it's no wonder I love watching theatre. Good or bad, it's the raw energy of seeing a live performance that gets my adrenaline pumping. From the moment I saw my very first Broadway show ("Annie" in London in 1979), I was hooked. Now I see as many as 70 shows each year ranging from soaring musicals to two-hander plays. And these eyes just may be in an audience near you!
