On Broadway!

I apologize now, because this is a long one!

This will probably add a lot to my geek factor, but I have always been a HUGE fan of broadway musicals.  Ever since I first heard Raoul sing "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera then saw it on stage my sophomore year of high school, then again 2 or 3 more times my junior and senior years, I was hooked.

In high school my primary musical was Phantom with a little Miss Saigon, although I didn't see that one until much later.  When I started college I was introduced to Les Miserables.  My now husband, then friend shared a love for it so we bought the CD of the 10 year anniversary concert as well as the VHS of the show (that is how old I am...sigh).  I loved it, and still do.  Our first big trip together while dating was to New York City to see Les Miserables on Broadway, where I cried a few times...when Fantine died, during "stars," end of Act 1, battle scene, and the end, just to name a few areas where I needed a kleenex.  At the end I was mouthing the words and the actor playing Jean Valjean actually looked at me and laughed because he saw me singing along!

While engaged we went to NYC with my brother and another friend and saw Miss Saigon on Broadway.  It was totally different from the other shows I have seen but I loved it all the same and still sing one of the songs when I am cuddling with my son ("I would give my life for you").

We've seen a few more shows over time here in Cincinnati, most recently seeing Mamma Mia in 2009.  Which, for the record, made the movie SOOOO much better and more entertaining.  I thought the movie was a parody until I saw the stage show!

Well, over the years I had forgotten about Les Mis.  I still sing the songs from time to time but it had been a while since I listened to it.  I don't even know where my CDs of Phantom, Miss Saigon, or Les Mis are anymore.  Recently Trevor found a new DVD celebrating the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables.  If that wasn't a big enough slap in the face as to how old I am getting, learning that Nick Jonas is playing one of the key adult roles was a huge jolt to my age denying ego.

The 25th anniversary showed just how old the cast members from the 10 year concert were getting as well which added to the reality that time has passed and not stood still like my memory of the show has over the past decade.

Over the last few days I have reverted back to my old ways of constantly listening to/singing/humming the songs, which is a totally different experience at work verses college because people look at you funny in an elevator if you hum "one day more" during the ride.

And it looks like the travelling Les Miserables show is coming to Dayton in November and Cincinnati in May!!  WOOHOO! A little more than 'one day more' which I will probably be singing until that day!