My original plan for my blog post tonight was to catch up on all the super fun things I’ve been doing (read: all the Broadway shows I’ve been seeing) over the past week here in New York. But after I saw Peter and the Starcatcher, I was too in awe to talk about anything else.
Peter and the Starcatcher was the only show I can think of that was on my “absolutely must see, no matter what happens” list for this trip to NYC. People had raved about it when it was at the New York Theatre Workshop. I felt as though I was all I heard about for a while.
Not to mention, the incredible Celia Keenan-Bolger was in it. Excuse me while I let my inner musical theater geek come out. (I know a few of you might be thinking, “Your inner musical theater geek hasn’t come out yet? Who have I been listening too every time you talk about musicals?) I have a sort of base musical theater geek that just is who I am. Then, I have the level of geekdom and joy I hit while talking about Jason Michael Snow, or mainly when talking about the original cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
(Don’t worry. This tangent is going to lead us right back around to Peter and the Starcatcher.) Seeing the original cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is hands down the absolute most magical experience I’ve had in a Broadway show. Ever. I saw Spelling Bee 21 times.
From then on, every time I heard that Jesse Tyler Ferguson or Celia Keenan-Bolger was going to be in something, I did my very best to go see it. I went and saw Les Mis a few years ago purely because Celia was in it. (She was adorable, as always.)
(My geekiest Celia related confession: I totally sometimes put on the Spelling Bee soundtrack, and do my very best “Celia eyes” and “Celia hands” impressions. She is so expressive and so lovely.) I’ve only met her a few times. I’m pretty positive she doesn’t know who I am, but every time I have met her, she has been so sweet.
So here’s this Broadway show that was an incredibly hot ticket and the talk of the town at the NYTW. And it stars one of my favorite (I think probably my very favorite, actually) Broadway actresses. I must go see this show. Tonight was the first night of previews and I figured I might as well go at my very first opportunity to go.
I ended up sitting right next to Christian Hoff – original cast member of Jersey Boys. Crazy, right? He was very nice. We had a lovely conversation before the show and at intermission.
One of my actor friends (Stanley) from my high school was also there. We ran into each other at the stage door, which was really fun. I hadn’t seen him in a little while, so it was especially nice to see him tonight. As usual, he was quite sweet and lovely.
(Side note: I actually met my own Peter at the stage door (his name was Peter, but probably not Pan). He was so fun and nice (and took that picture of me with Celia).)
Phil, another friend of mine from high school (who I’ve happily been seeing a lot in the last week or so) was also there.
Basically, what I’m saying is all the cool kids were there. Where were you?
It’s so hard to pick a favorite show from what I’ve seen all week, but I think of the 10 things I’ve seen so far since I got here last Monday, this was my favorite.
Peter and the Starcatcher was hilarious. It was imaginative. The cast was wonderful and had this fabulous energy about them. I love it. I really loved it. I’m ready to go again!
I know this blog post has mainly focused on Celia, but golly, everyone was so incredible. There was not one weak link in the cast. It was the kind of show that when curtain call starts, you automatically leap out of your seat. Your body physically cannot sit for one more second with all your excitement and joy, and gratitude toward the actors.
I could not clap loudly enough for these talented people. Love, love, love this show. It’s a total must see. That means you really must. see. it. What are you waiting for? Go get to the theater!