Broadway Weekend!

For Christmas I gave Mandy some tickets to a couple Broadway shows and plans for a Girls Weekend in the Big Apple. We went and had a total blast. Could not have been better. Great weather (ok, a bit cold, but clear blue skies!), hotel right in the middle of the theatre district (NYC small and noisy, but that is the charm of it!), amazing food, shopping and three spectacular shows. A weekend we will not soon forget. Enjoy the photos!

We decided to skip the traffic and took the train in - good choice:


First show was RENT - amazing and glad we caught it because they just announced they are closing the show after all of these years. Left is Declan Bennett who played a brilliant Roger (and Mandy fell in love with - even told him in person), Right is Harley Jay who was an incredibly nice guy who chatted with us after the show - played Mark, and Tamyra Gray was an outstanding Mimi (Might remember her from American Idol?):

Mandy even added her thoughts to the wall outside the theatre . . . vandal that she is.

Then we had dinner at a fantastic restaurant - the China Grill (even had chocolate sushi!):

That night we saw a fun Off-Broadway show called "Jump!" which was a lot of martial arts, acrobatics and silliness. Second row seats put us right in the action hoping those swords weren't that sharp . . . Some photos after the show with cast members:

Then off to our little bit of country charm in Manhattan (not kidding, little):


The next morning we got up, did some shopping and found a really fun 50's style diner called the Stardust. The waitstaff took turns singing and entertaining the crowd. The food was even pretty good! They were all hoping for their big break on Broadway and I saw Mandy's wheels turning . . . If she does go to school in NY, I'm thinking we might see her waiting/singing here, LOL:


Ok, you have to be a "Project Runway" fan like we are to appreciate this one. Mandy and I walked through the Fashion District as they were preparing for NYC Fashion Week and found the fabric store they shop at - had to stop and look. (We even went into a dress shop and she tried on this amazing formal gown). Here's Mood:


Then we went and saw Legally Blonde, the Musical - yes, based on the movie. It was SO GOOD. We have been singing the songs ever since! Here is Mandy with Becky Gulsvig who played Elle Woods:

It was an awesome weekend . . . we were exhausted when we got home late Sunday night!

So now that we are back to reality, Amanda is rehearsing for the Lead Role in her high school play, "Witness for the Prosecution" by Agatha Christie. She has to learn a German accent as well as a Cockney accent. Very exciting to see her in another lead role that does not rely on her singing voice - she actually has to act.

Then they are both excited to go to DisneyWorld and perform in April with the Marching Band and the choirs. My friend Paul and I will be going too but we will be staying at the nice WD resort with a day at the WD Golf Course while they 'slum it' at the Raddison and work. Ha!

I'm also getting ready for my first overseas training event - going to London the end of March to train a group. Can NOT wait. Have always dreamed of going to the UK and it looks like it might actually happen. I'll keep you all posted!