Did you ever have one of those days? You know the one; the coffee spills in your lap before you get to work, the babysitter calls out sick and the cat throws up on the carpet. Are you picturing it now? I'll admit that there are some days that just can't be salvaged, but on many a day you could pop in a Broadway CD and it will take you back to that very moment you first experienced that show. The next thing you know you are belting out your most beloved show tune at the top of your lungs, dancing around the house or replaying the dialogue to your favorite love scene. Theater has a way of staying with you especially when you experience a good production. Think about the time you saw your very first show. Can you remember? Of course you can because it probably made you feel good! Envision the atmosphere as a whole; the stage, the surroundings, the costumes, the lighting, the orchestra and the story. If a production is done right you are ensconced from the moment the curtain goes up until it falls. You are literally mesmerized from the time the first note is played. Do you remember how you felt the first time you saw the chain gang in the opening scene of Les Miserable or the revolving stage used throughout the performance. Breathtaking is the only way to describe the emotions felt when Jean Val Jean sings Bring Him Home." At the very moment the chandelier comes crashing to the floor in The Phantom of the Opera the audience is drawn in. And when the Phantom sings The Music of the Night" you are convinced that there is someone other than a monster behind that mask. The drama, the feelings and the emotions stay with you forever if you let them. A production doesn't always have to be tragic to move you to tears. It can also be so outrageously funny that you find yourself laughing and crying at the same time. Take for example The Producers and Spamalot both hysterically funny shows that deliver dialogue with just the right amount of comedic timing. This can also be a bit inconvenient at times since you are laughing so hard you miss the next line, but a seasoned performer will usually wait for the laughter to subside before delivering the next line. The nice thing about live theater is the pleasant surprises. For instance, you may go to see a show that you didn't necessarily expect to be humorous, but much to your delight you find that there are many lines or a certain character devoted to comic relief. This is certainly the case with Wicked. You don't go in expecting Glinda the Good Witch to play the ditzy blonde, but some of her dialogue is quite amusing. Yes, theater can often give us many the opportunities to smile, and don't we wish we had more of those? Broadway can also be a place to reconnect with the past. There are several shows out there that a child can find extremely amusing and these are usually the shows that the adults tend to want to see again and again. Reliving your childhood in those few hours can be magical. Mary Poppins is one of those productions. Probably because we are all familiar with the books and the movie and the songs are such classics. It's such a feel good experience to see these songs and characters brought to life on the stage. Many of us hold this story close to our hearts and to watch it unfold live in front of our eyes is truly an amazing an inspirational occurrence Yes, the theater can be many things to many people, but much rides on the actor playing the role. As wonderful as the whole experience is it can only come to life by talented performers. The productions ensemble is often credited with making or breaking a show. But, when the casting is dead on so is the performance. It is so uplifting to watch these people pour their hearts and souls into a show and all for the benefit of the audience. These actors do this day in and day out and have to bring it" each and every time. Knowing that how can one not be in awe? So, the next time you are having one of those days think of that special performance; the one that no other can rival. You'll feel better even if just for a little while.
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