Blamin' it all on the nights on Broadway

Blamin it all on the nights on broadway
Singin them sweet sounds
To that crazy, crazy town.

Anyone who has been reading this blog over the past two years or so knows that I never met a Broadway musical that I didn't like. From Oliver as performed on the stage of Fuquay Varina Senior High to the touring company of Wicked at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale to Chicago, performed on the sparse, black stage at the tiny, intimate Ambassador Theater in New York City. Heck, my daughter and I even loved the touring company of the stage production of High School Musical in Raleigh!

And as for that "crazy, crazy town," it was Rocky Mount which locals remember most for its highly contentious vote on whether or not to remain a "dry" county. The venue was The Dunn Center at North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Haley and I, along with Haley's friend Courtney, were invited by the Smiths, whose cousin Carter Calvert is one of the stars. And what a star she is. She previously played Grizabella in the national touring company of Cats. When she took the stage to sing "Memory" she led into the song by thanking her loved ones who were at the show and telling about her grandmother who couldn't be there, but is now 100 years old. In Carter's early years in New York, struggling to make it on Broadway, her grandmother had a way of sending a check for $50 or $100 just when Carter needed it. When she got the role of Grizabella, she called her grandmother and said, "Nanny, you don't need to send any more checks!" Then she launched into a truly moving performance of the semi-cliche and seemingly ubiquitous song from Cats. There was nothing cliche about Carter's performance. You felt like its words were oozing out of her heart and into her lungs and eventually into the microphone. I was crying. I have a feeling I wasn't alone.

Here is Carter chatting with a long-time friend from Fuquay-Varina as her Uncle Mickey stands in the background.

Carter's Fuquay entourage...she claimed she was now so famous that she had a posse! With Marcy taking the picture, it's me, Mark (Carter's cousin), Carter, twins Madison and Morgan with Nora in the middle (Nora would be Carter's second cousin, I think).

I think I'll do a separate blog about Neil Berg, the composer and lyricist, and in this show passionately exuberant pianist, who I think does an incredible job putting this show together and being the driving force behind its five amazing performers.

What was most special about the evening was that it brought me and Haley together sharing one of the things that we both love and love together...Broadway. Sometimes when your daughter is 15 and you are ancient, it seems that there is nothing you can agree upon, but this night was a delightful exception.

Special thanks to Stacy for introducing me to Hale Bob which prompted me to find this dress. Overwhelming appreciation to Mark and Marcy for including us in the evening and introducing us to their cousin. And a final thanks to Tony who, when I was at his house after the show, spontaneously said, "You look beautiful." It definitely made my night and goes into contention for making my whole year!

Di

Comments

[Chris]

I must agree with your friend, Tony. You look absolutely fabulous and that dress is to 'Di' for ;-)

[Shirley]

I really enjoyed reading this post. Our family enjoys musicals too, even Michael. You and Haley look soooo glam in that last photo. Love both your outfits.