Monday, November 26, 2007

Memories of the Stage

I grew up around the theatre. Before I was born and for several years afterwards my parents worked at a summer dinner theatre. You know one of those places where you came to see a play or musical and ate dinner before or during the show. My dad was a bartender and my mom was a waitress. I remember spending many summer days out there helping stock the shelves or messing around in the kitchen. And of course sitting around the stage watching rehearsals. I saw almost every musical or play done there. I remember for one of my birthday's the cast came out with a cake singing at intermission. You would be shocked at the songs I can still sing today. Sadly, the place closed when I was about 10.

After the theatre closed my mom worked some summer theatre camps. (Both my parents were teachers so they had the summers off) We would go to plays or musicals at local schools or other production companies. The small school I attended did not have any plays or drama while I was there. Right after I graduated my mom decided to bring drama back to the school and did play productions for several years.

I love plays, musicals anything of the sort. Poor Matt has been drug to school productions and other plays. I am begging him to take me to NYC to see a Broadway show someday. When we went to Disney and other theme parks it is the shows that I love to watch, not all the rides.

So needless to say I am ecstatic to see how slowly musicals are coming back into the big screen. High School Musical, Chicago, Rent and... Hairspray. We watched Hairspray this weekend and I loved it! Okay so I admit some of the songs are definitely not singable in a public place but it was such a good movie. And John Travolta was awesome. Of course the funniest part was Sam yelling at the screen that Zac Efron was Troy NOT Tink.

Don't you wish that you could be talking to someone and just burst out in song and dance? To dance through Old Navy or Target instead of just simply pushing the car down the aisle. Maybe I'll just have to try it. Until then I will have to settle with blasting the movies and singing along with our Bose home theater.

8 comments:

Tracey said...

I'm right there with you! The best job I ever had was working at a theater box office. I still love seeing shows. If you haven't seen it, see "Wicked". One of my new favorites. And I love the movie versions too. Loved "Rent". Haven't seen "Hairspray" but want to. I just found out they are currently filming "Mamma Mia" and am ecstatic! That is my favorite show, just because it's so much fun. Can't wait to see the film version!

~michelle pendergrass said...

I saw Les Miserables in Chicago the night the Bulls won their first championship, after the exhilarating performance, we walked to Buckingham Fountain and the next thing I knew there were gazillions of people everywhere. I do love the stage.

However, I think my friend and fellow crit partner, Heather, likes it way more than me. You need to add her to your blog reading list--you will absolutely love all of her references to the stage.

Stacey said...

Oh! What great memories! I have always love the theatre too! I did every local and school production I could be involved in. I love being in it, building sets, putting together costumes - you name it, I love it!

My favorite memory is seeing Les Miserables in London on July 4. It was just amazing and I had drug my not so excited parents and sister along and much to their suprise, they adored it. Now my mom and sister go to NYC for theatre trips all the time. *evil eye* Jenn and I are planning on seeing something (probably Wicked or Hairspray or Billy Elliot) when we are in NYC this summer!

Aimee said...

I'm with you too! I just LOVE musicals! My daughter and I pretty much sing to each other all day! :) I love it! I would also love it if we could sing down the aisles of Target - but only if everyone was doing it, and not just me! :)

LiLi said...

As I am pretty sure you know... my father is a professional actor... and I too, grew up around the theatre! I just adore it! And now we are bringing our children up around the theatre as well. My dad was in the Wizard of Oz last year, at a local children's theatre and Maegan adored it SO MUCH! She was mesmerized by it. I'm SO with you on this one!!! :)

I saw Cats on Broadway in the Winter Garden Theatre when I was a junior in high school... OH MY GOD, what an awesome experience. You'll never regret having Matt take you to a show! I've seen several off Broadway productions of Broadway musicals... my fav being Les Mis! So awesome!!! Sing away my friend, I'll not make fun of you!!!

ErinFiat said...

I've always loved musicals. Growing up, we were in a few church productions...as a little girl, I dreamed of being in a musical when I grew up.

ohAmanda said...

How cool! I'm with you--I love theatre! I'd love to go to Broadway someday.

Did you see Enchanted yet? She busts out into song in "real life". HILARIOUS!

Kelly @ Love Well said...

You mean everyone doesn't sing and dance their way through Old Navy and Target?