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| #52 Attend a Broadway Show |
For a professional wrestling enthusiast like myself (which is still an understatement), the art of entertainment and performing on the big stage is a form that I greatly appreciate and understand. While I do understand that pro wrestling is indeed scripted (yet, not fake), I am still told this message by every individual who becomes aware that I am a fan, as if it were some sort of secret wrestling fans have been closed out on for years. Nonetheless, part of my love for wrestling is the theatrical part. I simply love the way it tells a story in the ring, as well as out of the ring.
Due to this affection of storytelling, I've managed to enjoy various plays and theatrical performances throughout my life. I understand that it isn't something most guys enjoy, but oddly enough, maybe because of the similarities to pro wrestling, it is an art that I enjoy. The theater is an atmosphere where viewers can have a live experience that removes them from reality, entertains, and in some fashion, expands the imagination.
I've attended my share of theater performances, mostly school plays and various off-Broadway shows. However, somehow, growing up and living in New York City, attending an actual major theater production on Broadway has alluded me. As part of the upcoming Dome Pondering 2011 Year in Review (which you should check out soon, as it will be awesome!), attending a Broadway show was slated to be on the 2012 Bucket list. Fortunately, in a year where personal production has been at optimum performance, I was able to attend not just one, but two before the new year.
With that said, we'll just add to this year's bucket list. Here is a bit about my experience.
The first show was Billy Elliott. The musical about a boy with a special ballet talent in a small labor strife town, has received numerous Tony Awards as one of the best shows of all-time. Upon my expecations of "musical" were random outbreaks of music and dance, happy-go-lucky plot twists, and an overall show that would leave me self-conscious about my manhood while in my seat.
I was terribly mistaken.
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| All of those numbers do not lie |
Billy Elliott is an amazing show, quite honestly, one of the best events I've aver attended. It was entertaining, very interesting, comical, and the musical part was downright riveting. Yes, I said riveting. It just sounds like the theater adjective for awesome. Yet, what kept me thoroughly engaged, besides of course the awesome British accents, was the amazing ability by the eleven year old lead actor. The footwork, motor skills, and coordination pattern capability of this young child was downright unbelievable. Without giving away too much, the kid was able to tap dance and display various forms of dance through out the show. For a first show, Billy Elliott set the bar pretty high for future Broadway shows.
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| Another must-see |
One week later the tag team partner and I attend Chinglish, a comedy about a man from Cleveland looking to expand his business in China, and the various comedy and miscommunication that comes from translation. Chinglish is downright funny, and the production of the set and how it changes and transitions in between scenes is one of the coolest things you may ever see.
As the year closes, and it seems I've already tackled a 2012 task early, I can't help but think that I've seen more Broadway shows in the past four years, than I have at a movie theater. My last movie in a theater - Pursuit of Happiness.
Yeah, I know...
...but there is just something about that live, theatrical, bright light performance that captures me.