Wicked

I've always been a fan of musicals. The first songs I ever remember singing were from the Phantom of the Opera cassette tape my dad played continuously in his car. My sister and I would sing our lungs out (she always made me be the boy though - maybe that's why my voice is so severely alto now) while my dad drove us to school, ballet practice, and piano lessons. So I guess it was no surprise that when we went to New York in elementary school, Phantom of the Opera was the first show I saw (followed by Cats the next night... which was equally spectacular). As much as I loved singing to that cassette, seeing the show was so much better (even though I knew the whole story by heart by this point).

Since then, I've seen plenty of stage performances and even became involved in the theatre department of my high school. I love everything about musicals. The singing, dancing, story line. I love the fact that it's all happening right in front of my face. I love that so many little things have to go right or the entire production is doomed. I love that it takes so many tens of people to create a show for my viewing pleasure. While I appreciate all of these things in every show, Wicked blew me out of the water the first time I saw it.

It was my senior year in high school during my winter break, and even though I was about 15 minutes late (damn DC traffic), at that December matinee in the Kennedy Center in our nation's capital, I was blown away. I was awed by the costumes and scenery, blown away by the singing and acting, and choked up at the end of the first act (ok I actually bawled my eyes out).

Since then, I've been waiting for the traveling show to bless Virginia (or really anywhere vaguely nearby) with its presence. Unfortunately, with my strict class schedule and the fact that Wicked's shows generally sell out within hours, this has been a difficult task. However, on May 16 in Norfolk, I will be seeing this show again with my roommate and friend Megan. I absolutely can't wait.

It will be fun to see it while knowing the ending, story, and music even better than before. Also, it's always interesting to see a different cast. The last time I went, I was with my mom, sister, and 2 friends. So this time, it will be nice to not have the stress of traveling with so many people. What a great event to look forward to.