We saw Wicked again on June 29, closing night. The air about the coming performance was one of immense excitement. We looked in the window while the afternoon performance was still going on - unfortunately, they still weren't selling merchandise. We waited until the show got out to say hello the actors, worried we might miss them that night. The guards outside the theatre scared us very much. There were a lot more people waiting as opposed to june 7th, and we were glad to see that Wicked's popularity had grown. What happened:
Kristin Chenoweth snuck away with her boyfriend before anyone could catch her.
Then Idina menzel came out to ear-shattering cheers; many of the cheerers were Rent fans.
Sarah: We saw the show a while ago, and we're seeing it again tonight.
Ben: Yeah, it was great.
Idina: Oh, good!
Sarah: We loved your CD.
Idina: Thanks for getting it!
Sarah: Could we get a picture with you after you finish signing programs?
Idina: Sure!
Sarah: So, you're green today. When we saw it at night, we couldn't tell.
Idina: (Laughs) Oh, yeah, I guess.
(Take picture)
Ben: We loved you in Rent!
Idina: Oh, thanks!
(Later, after Sarah had an emotional breakdown concerning the fact that she blinked)
Sarah: Sorry - Idina, could we get another picture? I blinked.
Idina: Sure.
(Take Picture)
Sarah: Are you doing the show tonight?
Idina: Of course. See ya later!
Ben: Thank you so much!
Then we had dinner, while discussing our exciting conversation with Idina Menzel, and lamenting the fact that there were so many things we had forgotten to tell her. Our list was as follows:
Names
Website
Shirts: Sarah - We're not in Kansas Anymore, and Ben - Rent.
And for Kristin Chenoweth:
Ask her opinion of Maury Yeston's Phantom, the one we are doing this summer.
Ask about her concert the next night.
We finished dinner and eagerly almost skipped back to the theatre. This time, instead of sitting in the front of the mezzanine, we sat in the center orchestra, about halfway back. Strangely enough, outside the theatre we saw the same friend whom we had seen on June 7th, waiting for tickets.
Sarah's ticket is shown above!
Before the show, the original Benny in Rent, Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel's husband, passed by us. We were sitting in the same row as Taye Diggs! AAAAAH! The director, Joe Mantello, made the same pre-show announcement we had heard before: Kristin Chenoweth had injured her neck and would be wearing a protective neck brace. This puzzled us, as a friend who had seen it a little while ago had told us that Kristin's neck was fine. We applauded loudly after hearing that she would perform. As the Overture started, we kept our eyes peeled for changes. The opening number was as catching as ever, Kristin Chenoweth was as funny and brilliant as ever, and Idina Menzel was just as...(insert good expletive adjective) as ever. Incredible, amazing, brilliant, etc....We did notice that "The Wizard and I" was much catchier and incredibly sung this time. Pretty much everything was better this time, and the show was much smoother. Among the improvements was Robert morse - we thought he was much, much better this time. As the first act ended, we hadn't noticed any changes, but "Defying Gravity" was as incredible as ever. The second act was just as amazing and enjoyable as ever. YAY! I think everyone cried during "For Good".
Here is a piece of confetti from the opening number:
After the show we stayed behind again to say hello to the actors. There were some major Rentheads right behind us and they might as well have sung their way through the whole show while they were standing there. (They almost did!) Taye Diggs came out and snuck away before anyone noticed him. So nice. Then, people started coming out. We saw Norbert Leo Butz first. He signed the program and then our Rent CD. (He was Roger once on Broadway) Then Kirk McDonald came out. We got him to sign our program and the Rent CD too. (He was Mark in a national tour) Sarah asked how one of the technical feats in the show was performed (very sneaky), and Kirk McDonald pretended as if he didn't know what she was talking about. It took Sarah and me a while to catch on. (Funny, funny). We saw Carole Shelley come out but missed her. Then Idina came out (to the sounds of ice tea being stirred....sorry, Rent stuff. Actually to the sound of the Rentheads singing "Over the Moon".). She was excited but I think a little bewildered by this. It was kind of funny. She hugged lots of people that asked for hugs and then came to sign our program. She actually remembered us from earlier in the day! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Idina Menzel REMEMBERED US!!!!!!!!!!!! OK....my rant is over. We were about to get her to sign the Rent CD, (Original Maureen, of course) but she had to sign more programs. Oh well. Later, Kristin Chenoweth came out, looking bubbly as ever, and we got her to sign our program and our Kristin Chenoweth CD. YAY!!!! Then, in a swift move we got a picture with her before she hurried off to the cast party.
By the way: Several people commented on Sarah's "We're not in Kansas Anymore" shirt and my Rent shirt.
