One of my favorite parts of hanging out with the Munchkin on a full time basis is taking her on "excursions" that also happen to be my favorite things in life. Aquariums, theme parks, special exhibits, sports events and most of all- MUSICALS!! I love musicals. Since one of my first memories of seeing my brother as Jesus in "Godspell", I have seen dozens. Not just school musicals, but community and college, as well as off and on Broadway. The Munchkin hadn't seen any when I moved in and in three years I've taken her to Lion King and Shrek, and just this year I took her to Wicked, Addams Family and Mary Poppins.
Wicked was last January and was unbelievable. She loved when they shot confetti at the beginning and still remembers when the Professor started to "bah" instead of using a human voice, while I sand along to all the phenomenal music.
Just last week we saw Addams Family and Mary Poppins. As I sat in awe of the great Nathan Lane, Munchkin was hysterical in laughter over a curtain tail being cut lose and running across stage. While I marveled at the movement of the stairs and scenery, she still giggles thinking of Lurch singing and the Addams ancestors coming out of the mausoleum.
Mary Poppins was her favorite. Toys coming alive, a bottomless bag, and a nanny that could fly were too much for her little happiness to contain. She leaned over to me at one point and said that not only did I need a peacock umbrella, but that I should probably get one of those medicine bottles too. While Mary seemingly flew up the stairwell with grace and sass, I reminded her that I'll most likely need an airplane to fly in this lifetime.
The city is truly a stage of wonder. The Munchkin is constantly seeing talent and hard work in action on the most infamous of stages and I'm in just as much awe of the view as she is. Before the summer ends, we plan on seeing "In the Heights"- a musical about the beats and sounds of Washington Heights, where coincidentally a lot of the high school students I work with come from. With such great stories told by music and vocals alike, it's hard not to want to be on 42nd street 7 nights out of the week!!
PLAYBILLs I have collected:
Les Miserables (Ohio)
Cats (Ohio)
Civil War (Ohio)
Wicked (London/New York)
The Lord of the Rings (London)
Lion King (New York)
RENT (New York... x 3)
Spring Awakening (New York)
Next to Normal (New York)
Memphis (New York)
Shrek (New York)
The Addams Family (New York)
Mary Poppins (New York)
