#E Ticket to Broadway

[comradesummers]

dead outlaw kicks so much ass. i loved it! i do think maybe happy ending is probably technically better, and i'll be happy for it when it wins the tony for best musical (which it's definitely going to), but a funny weird meditation on death, fame, and exploitation set to country rock is just more my vibe than wall-e but with human looking robots set to 1950s style crooning. and i'm definitely biased just because i've never particularly liked sinatra and his brand of white guy crooner jazz, but while i think mhe is fantastic, i find its score kind of boring and unmemorable, which is kind of an issue for me given that it's a musical. it's still great though, don't get me wrong. like as a whole it works well with the score it has, i just wouldn't listen to those songs outside of the context of the show. whereas the moment i walked out of the theatre, i downloaded what's been released of dead outlaw's cast album, and i'm really looking forward to downloading the rest of it once it comes out

[cherrycrvsh]

Followed you then unfollowed you right away when I saw you being moots with a shifter... Ew... Or do you not know dove and that Caleb user is a shifter...

we are taking this OUTSIDE‼️‼️‼️‼️ of course i know they're both shifters. 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 i literally call shifters "shifties"😕😕😕 AND THEY'RE LIKE. VVV NICE STFU. what did they even do to yew vro. like:

𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑒𝑛 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 !? 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑢 𝑐𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 !?!?!? 𝑖 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑒 !¡ 𝑣𝑎𝑚𝑓𝑦𝑟 𝑟𝑦𝑡𝑠 !? 𝑣𝑎𝑚𝑓𝑦𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑒𝑦𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑒 !!!!! 𝑖 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎... 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑡 !! 𝑖 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑦𝑒 𝑖𝑑𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑.. 𝑖 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑖𝑒... !! 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑜𝑛, 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒.. !!!!!!!!!! 𝓲 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓭𝓲𝓮𝓭 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓭𝓸𝓷𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓪𝓯𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓭 𝓲 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓲 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔂𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓲'𝓵𝓵 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮

i used to have HOOP DREAMS until i found out there were other ways to SCORE😈😈😈😈 if you're gonna be my BITCH!!! you HAVE to be OBEDIENT ! you CANNOT be a WHORE!!!

(tw: taglish)ate... ma... I'M GETTING MARRIED!!! ANO⁉️ MAGPAPAKASAL⁉️⁉️⁉️ so he and nicole got back together 👠👠🤨🤨🤑🤑❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 eh, sana nga yung nicole nalang, ano? e KASO.. HINDI! yung BAGO!! yung PRINCESS!!!! OH MY GAAAASH!?!? 😧😧😧 YUNG NAKILALA NIYA SA BARKO!?!? E CHARARAT 'YUN E😞😞💀���� HAH‼️⁉️⁉️ sino ba yung princess na 'yan?🤨 hindi kaba nag babasa nang email and fb updates ko sayo??🤬🤬🤬 AY! wala na kasi akong time mag basa ng ganyan d2...🥲🥲 sobra kasing busy, sa mga trainings, seminars!! alam mo na‼️‼️ sino nga uli yan? 😁😁 yung nagfefeeling broadway singer na WALA namang BOSES!😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😤😤😤🫩🫩 kulang na nga sa talent... kulang pa sa PES!! at kulang sa salita🤪🤪 nung pinakilala sakim ni reb² wala halos imik, at kung makakapit sakanya akala mo linta 😑😑😑😑 yang babaeng yan, hindi kopa nakita hindi kona gusto hah😤😤 hindi kaya nakulam o nagayuma ang bunso natin...? does mama know?😶 how did she react?🍵 of course she's not happy. e kailan lang nakilala ni cj yung gurl🫩🫩 eh kelan nga ba⁉️ 4 months ago... sa cruise🙄🙄 diba? AAHHHH sí, sí. nag cruise NGA pala si reb² para makapag move on kay nic—.. 🤔 SANDALI! EDI KASALANAN MO PALA‼️‼️Ako⁉️ e idea kaya ni ate alex yon. OY BAKLAAA😠😠😠🤡🤡🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🌈🌈🌈👨‍❤️‍👨👨‍❤️‍👨👬👬 umagree ka naman Diba ⁉️ tsyaka sino ba yung bumili ng ticket 😠Ako ba????? Oh..? So it's my fault now😐😒😒😒 kung alam kolang na yung kapatid nyong yan ang PROMOTOR, i wouldn't have agreed to that stupid idea..🙄🙄 ... btw the wedding's happening in TWO weeks💩💩 two weeks? buntechi?? INSTANT MAMI😱😱😱😱 hindi 💀💀💀 oh? e bakit nagmamadali? e bakit pa daw nila patatagalan kung true love 💘😘❤️ na?🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 weh?🤡 tRuE lOvE mY ASS 💩💩💩 QUESOOO😭😭😭 QUEJOROR!!!! ka chaepan!😔😔😔 Anyway, ANO pa ang mga opinion naten kailangan umuwi para sa BIG event? HUH!? UMUWI!?!? pati AQUOH⁉️⁉️⁉️ yup.😐 hiling ni rebreb at utos ni Mama. Dapat KUMPLETO tayo. TAYONG LAHAT⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️ uuwi si teddy? Sandali3x hindi ako sigurado diyan! E check ko Muna schedule ko, busy Ako this month😭 ehh.... si bobby? ..... i'll check my sched. ... sige check korin schedule ko ah!

[missjanjie]

Curtains Up | Chapter 1

Title: Curtains Up Summary: 'All of the pieces of the puzzle were there; now they had to turn their rough draft of their concept – a popular show with an all-female cast and crew – into something fit for a Broadway stage, and they had about a month to do it.' And once the show opens? No one could predict what happens next, but everyone is along for the ride, whether they like it or not. Word Count: 2614 Relationship(s): Lydori (Lydia B. Kollins/Kori King), Jankie (Jan Sport/Jackie Cox), Rosnali (Rosé/Denali Foxx), Anarcia (Anetra/Marcia Marcia Marcia), Jewelzie (Jewels Sparkles/Suzie Toot) Jasya (Daya Betty/Jasmine Kennedie) Rating: T Chapter Summary: In fair Manhattan where we lay our scene... It's day one of rehearsals, where we meet the main players in this story, and get a peek into what the future may hold for them.

Read on AO3

“Okay, Kori,” Lydia prompted, walking backward down an empty hallway as she filmed her girlfriend, “where are we, and what are we doing?” 

Kori laughed softly, trying to split her focus between answering the question and making sure Lydia didn’t walk into anything. “We are in the studio for the first rehearsal with the full cast and crew, get into it.” She stopped in front of the door to the room they would be using and tapped on the sign. “Call time is at nine, it’s currently 8:45, so let’s see when everyone actually shows up.” She looked at the sheet and chuckled. “Of course, our stage manager, Jackie, got here five minutes ago.”

The two of them entered the room, the center empty with tables and chairs pushed off to the sides. There were sections for wardrobe and tech, but most things were in boxes, and Jackie was standing beside a stack of them, scribbling on her clipboard and muttering to herself with the occasional nod of approval. She looked up, startled when she realized the phone was pointed at her. “You’re starting that already?”

“I take my job very seriously, Jackie,” she replied. While the social media manager position wasn’t critical to the show itself, it was essential for establishing its presence in the social consciousness, which would hopefully reflect in ticket sales. Lydia wasn’t hired to work with her, but everyone had developed a fondness for the unofficial assistant manager, and the two quickly became a package deal. 

The door opened moments later, and the lead actress, Marcia, walked in with her roommate and understudy (and overall swing), Jan. “8:49,” Kori noted, writing it down so she could edit it later. 

8:51 - Rosé and Onya arrive one after another. Two minutes later, they were joined by the choreographer, Denali.

8:55 - Suzie opens the door for Anetra, carrying in her tech equipment with help from Daya.

9:00: Lana and Jewels arrive. Like Jan and Marcia, the pair shared an apartment and made the commute together.

9:02 - Symone was late for the first time, but she brought donuts, so she got a pass.

9:05 - Lexi runs in frantically, desperate to not be the last person to sign in. Being the last cast member bothers her, but she will be over it by lunch.

9:12 - Jasmine thought rehearsals started tomorrow. She is very sorry. 

Once all of the cast and crew were signed in and ready, rehearsals went underway. At this stage of development, lines had been learned, songs had been scored. All of the pieces of the puzzle were there; now they had to turn their rough draft of their concept – a popular show with an all-female cast and crew – into something fit for a Broadway stage, and they had about a month to do it.

When it came time for the first break, everyone dispersed into their groups. Denali was the first to step outside for a smoke break, with Daya following soon after, the latter in a notably worse mood. “Got a light?”

“Here,” Denali passed her lighter over, her brows then knitting together. “It’s a little early into the game to look like you’re about to punch a hole in the wall. You wanna talk about it?”

Daya shrugged as she took a hit off her joint, exhaling deeply. “Nothing out of the ordinary. Jasmine’s just getting on my last nerve. The whole ditzy blonde might be cute to some people, but it’s like she just uses it as a cop-out whenever she fucks something up. Twenty-five years old is too old to be pulling that shit if you ask me.” After her lament, she added, “This is my first role on this level; I can’t afford to have any distractions.”

“She can be a lot,” she conceded, “I don’t think she’s doing it on purpose, though, just kinda scatterbrained. Probably has ADHD or something. I get where you’re coming from, but it seems like a ‘mind over matter’ type of thing.” 

“That’s the only reason why I try not to be a bitch to her face. That and, like, team morale or whatever,” she mused with a dry laugh, taking another hit before her expression softened. “What about you, though? I can’t imagine working with your ex is all that fun.”

Denali shrugged. “I’m cool, but I guess it’s easier being the one who chose to end the relationship. Don’t get me wrong, Symone is an amazing person… It was just that our plans for the future didn’t align.” She felt an ache in her chest, a mix of guilt and sadness. “I think it’s best to just keep things as professional as possible for the time being.”

Daya leaned over the railing, staring out at the city before looking over at her. “I guess we could both stand to compartmentalize our feelings for the sake of the show.”

“Oh, so we’re using SAT words now?” She chuckled. “You’re right. At least it was a clean break. I heard Anetra’s divorce is still messy, her ex is doing everything she can to drag it out.”

“I guess crazy exes come in the lesbian variety, too.”

Denali chuckled and shook her head. “Honey, you don’t know the half of it. I’m pretty sure Symone is my only mentally stable ex.”

“That’s concerning, Denali.”

She shrugged. “It is what it is.”

—

Jackie’s eyes scanned the expanse of the studio, making small notes and observations of everyone who came into her field of vision. Then there was Jan. Her gaze always went back to Jan, with her sun-lightened hair and warm brown eyes, her inviting smile, and infectiously upbeat demeanor. Looking at her felt like staring into the sun, but she couldn’t get herself to look away – she never could; it was her kryptonite. 

“Is your lack of subtlety the reason why you chose not to pursue acting?”  

The voice coming out of seemingly nowhere caused Jackie to startle and turn around, then let out a quiet sigh of relief when she realized it was just Rosé. Her first instinct was to go on the defensive, but it was clear that it was a moot point. “As long as I keep a healthy distance, it’s fine… right?”

Rosé chuckled softly. “Honey, with all the shows I’ve been in, I’ve seen and heard worse than whatever type of way you’re feeling about her.” Given that she was the most established of the cast, the recognizable name to the more casual Broadway fans, it wasn’t hard to believe. “I mean, she’s an adult, you don’t have a creepy age gap, and you’re not using your position to exploit her.” 

Jackie quirked her brow. “Is the bar that low?” After a beat, she amended, “Never mind, we both know the answer to that.”

“For what it’s worth, this isn’t the first show I’ve done with Jan. She’s incredibly approachable, almost jarringly so. I’d say it’s worth shooting your shot. Even if she’s not into it, she’ll still be nice,” she suggested.

She hemmed and hawed for a moment, putting her feelings in as much of an analytical and pragmatic perspective as she could. “I suppose you have a point, it’s not the most precarious situation around. I’ll sleep on it.”

“It’s not even the most precarious situation in the room,” Rosé murmured under her breath as her gaze drifted over to the window where she could see Denali and Daya talking outside, then over to Symone sitting and scrolling through her phone. A knot of guilt made her stomach clench, but she did her best to swallow it.

“What do you mean?”

She waved it off, ever the actress with the ability to recover. “Don’t worry about it, it’s better to live in the present. Focus on how you’re going to make your move.”

—

Suzie looked at herself through her phone’s camera, stretching her neck out to examine it better. “What do you guys think?” She looked next to her, where Onya was putting Marcia’s hair into a French braid. “Do I need a touch-up?”

“I think you’re just rubbing it in our faces that you’re getting laid,” Marcia mumbled before assuring, “You’re fine, you’d have to get up real close to notice.”

“I promise that wasn’t my intention, but my defense, this is the only place I can talk about it.” When she received two perplexed stares in response, she elaborated, “The cast and crew here are the only people Jewels is out to, and I’m not gonna jeopardize any of her relationships because of a friends-with-benefits situation.”

“So you guys aren’t dating because of that? Isn’t most of her family still in Florida?” Onya asked. 

Suzie’s face reddened, and she bit the inside of her cheek, wanting to choose her words carefully. “There are a lot of reasons, it’s complicated, and with social media, family can keep tabs on you from anywhere unless you keep all of your shit locked down. Besides, it’s not my place to say anything. I’m just gonna be there to support her if and when she wants to come out all the way.”

Marcia nodded understandingly. “Believe me, I understand putting romantic feelings aside for pragmatic reasons.” While her crush on Anetra was an open secret among cast members, they had collectively decided to cover for her. Even though they knew the head of tech had been separated for a couple of months now, the timing simply wasn’t right. That’s what she kept repeating to herself, anyway.

Suzie hesitated to add anything to the conversation at that point. Marcia had a better reason to keep her crush a secret on paper. Not only would it be inappropriate to pursue someone going through a tumultuous divorce actively, but Marcia had been catapulted into the Broadway spotlight, and a scandal like that could stop her rise to fame in its tracks. 

But Suzie could overthink and ‘logically explain’ her way out of a paper bag, and this situation was no different. “Well, for what it’s worth, I don’t think anyone can blame you. Her service top energy matches your pillow princess one, after all.”

“Is it that obvious? Me being a pillow princess?”

“Yes,” Suzie and Onya answered in unison. 

—

 “Hey,” Symone greeted as she sat on the floor beside Anetra, who hadn’t taken her eyes off her phone since their break started. “How’s everything holding up?” While she did genuinely want to support her friend, there was a small part of her that took solace in someone having it worse than she did. As much as her breakup stung, it was still a clean break – no paperwork, no combined finances. Denali had moved all of her things out within a week. Maybe comiserating with Anetra would make her healing process easier to bear.

“‘Holding up’ is debatable at this point,” Anetra replied, her voice devoid of emotion. She sighed, allowing her unaffected expression to drop into one of exhaustion. “I swear, it’s like every time I think we’re making progress, she changes her mind or comes up with a new demand. I know it’s fucked up to say, but I almost wish she had cheated on me or something, ‘irreconciable differences’ has a whole lot of gray area since I can’t prove how unhinged she is.”

“Maybe she’ll snap eventually,” Lexi chimed in. “Crazy can only be contained for so long. That’s what my therapist said… Well, she didn’t say that, but it was implied.”

“And I’m sure she earns every dollar of your copay,” Symone replied with a laugh. “Still, she might be onto something – if your ex is as unstable as you’re saying, she’ll probably show her true colors sooner or later. She must have in front of you, at least, for you to decide to leave her, right?”

Anetra chewed on her lip for a moment. “Not no.” Her eyes darted around as she rocked back and forth on her feet. “There were signs, probably. But it did take her accusing me of cheating on her with my cousin to wake the fuck up.” She had to force the words out; the embarrassment of taking so long to figure out the obvious dragged the bitterness of anger through her throat and out of her mouth. She was smarter than this. She was better than this. How could she have been so blind? So naive? 

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Lexi told her. “Love makes you do crazy things. I almost moved to France for a girl I was dating online for two months… Bitch, I don’t even speak French. She does still send me nudes sometimes, though, and they’re muy bueno.”

“That’s Spanish,” Symone pointed out.

Lexi waved it off. “Semantics.”

—

As the cast returned to rehearsing, Kori shifted her focus to editing the day’s video. While she didn’t take herself seriously in the slightest, she did take her work seriously and needed to make sure that her content lived up to her standards. But after a few moments, she found herself staring at her screen blankly.

Lydia glanced over, sensing her girlfriend’s frustration. “What’s wrong?”

She hesitated, running her fingers through her hair, hoping that by buying herself time, she would figure it out on her own. Alas, her efforts were in vain. “Does Symone spell her name with an i or a y?”

“Y,” she answered without looking up from her phone.

“Because I need to– oh, right, thank you.” Kori pointedly did not look up from her screen, knowing she would just see Lydia laughing at her. “Save it,” she preemptively warned, a small smile tugging at her lips nonetheless. 

“Save it,” Lydia mocked, mimicking her cadence to a T, which caused both of them to laugh. “Do you have a specific content plan, or are you winging it?”

She shrugged. “Somewhere in between, I guess. I have some general ideas, but not in a ‘I’m going to film this video on this day and have it up at this time’ sort of way.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out – this is where you shine,” She cooed as she pushed herself to her feet. “I’ll be right back, gonna run to the bathroom.” With that, she pressed a kiss to her forehead and headed out of the studio.

“You guys are so cute together,” Jewels cooed as she sat beside Kori on the couch. “I’m kind of jealous,” she admitted.

Kori clicked her tongue and shook her head. “You wouldn’t need to be if you just asked Suzie out like a normal person. I don’t see what the big deal is – Miss Toot is not exactly the epitome of intimidating. I’ve met stray cats that are scarier.” 

The young actress sighed as she dramatically sprawled her arms across the couch, her head tilting to rest on the back of it. “It’s not that I’m afraid of her. I’m afraid of my family. My parents, they’ve been through enough lately. I don’t know what coming out would do to them, to our relationship. I think I’ll know when the time is right. At least, I hope so.”

“Shit, I hope so too. ‘Cause all of this,” she gestured to her, “is a lot.” In a softer, kinder tone, she added, “I’m rooting for you guys, though. I think you’ll be cute together. Not as cute as me and my future wife, of course.”

Jewels sat up enough to face Kori, smiling softly. “You see you guys getting married someday?”

“Yeah…” Her voice trailed off as she saw Lydia re-enter the room, her heart still fluttering when their eyes met, just like every time before. “Someday…”

[chaifootsteps]

To that anon who correctly pointed out that the true Root of all Evil is money

Viv could *never* think that money is evil. It buys her her front row Broadway tickets to able to literally get close to the actors so that she can predate on them and eventually lovebomb them and use them as toys for her deviantart shows.

She liked art depicting Mammon as sympathetic! Money isn't evil!! Her characters, as of late, depict rich people as "not all bad"!!

It also buys her expensive ass trips around the world, taxidermy animals, Starbucks/McDonalds/fancy ass bar and diner food, her weird hair dye, and manicured nails.

Nah Chai, w o m e n, are the root of all evil. Those bitches trying to destroy her father/daughter relationships, them dating people she's interested in, and possibly her mother being horrible as well.

Unless women have healthy fathers (Stolas/Via(which they're not healthy)) or father figures (Alastor/Charlie), are friends with powerful (Rosie/Alastor) or gay men(Cherri/Angel), or are famous celebs like Kesha or Nicki Minaj, women are just evil.

God, the main plot would be "evil woman tries to destroy healthy father/daughter relationship".

😐

It's like a Victorian ballroom. Women are allowed to be in these shows, but they have to be escorted by a man, and we're supposed to think less of them if they aren't.

[todaysdocument]

Deposition of George Rheims

“while I was swimming I looked over my shoulder and saw the "Titanic" go down.”

Record Group 21: Records of District Courts of the United StatesSeries: Admiralty Case FilesFile Unit: In the Matter of the Petition of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, Limited, for Limitation of its Liability as owner of the steamship TITANIC

Received Copy UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK I n T h e M a t t e r of The Petition of the Oceanic Steam Navi- gation Company, Limited, for Limitation of its liability as owner of the S.S. "TITANIC" Original DEPOSITION OF GEORGE RHEIMS. HUNT, HILL & BETTS Proctors for Claimants Frederick K. Seward et al, 165 BROADWAY NEW YORK CITY Direct Cross Re-Direct Re-Cross GEORGE RHEIMS, 2 17 25, 27 27. Exhibits: Page Claimant's Exhibit A, (drawing of ice berg) 9 Petitioner's " " ( diagram ) 19 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - : I n T h e M a t t e r : of : The Petition of the Oceanic Steam Navi- : gation Company, Limited, for Limitation of its liability as owner of the S.S. : "TITANIC". : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - : Deposition of GEORGE RHEIMS, taken pursuant to notice before Robinson Leach, Esq., Notary Public, at No. 165 Broadway, New York, on November 14, 1913, at two o'clock P. M. Present: Hunt, Hill & Betts by Mr. Betts and Mr. Kinnicutt, for claimants, Frederick K. Seward, et al; Mr. Houston; Mr. F. R. Smythe; Mr. F. L. Robbins; Mr. Church; Mr. Hency C. Quinby; Mr. Frederick A. Stroh, for other claimants. Mr. Burlingham and Mr. Leach for the petitioner. IT IS STIPULATED that the deposition may be taken by a -2- stenographer, signing, filing and certification waived; steno- grapher's fees taxable in lieu of notary's fees; copy to be served on the petitioner's proctors. GEORGE RHEIMS, being duly sworn, testified as follows: DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. KINNICUTT: Q Will you give your full name? A George Lucia Rheims. Q And your residence? A Paris, France. Q Were you a passenger on board the "Titanic"? A Yes. Q Where did you embark? A Cherbourg. Q Where did you buy your ticket? A At Martin's in Paris. Q Was anything said to you by the person who sold you your ticket with regard to anything on the back of the ticket? MR. BURLINGHAM: Object to. A Nothing. Q On the night of the 14th of April, 1912, where were you at about 11:40 o'clock? A I was coming out of the bath- room. Q On what part of the ship? A On the forward part of the ship. Q What deck? A Deck A. Q Did anything peculiar happen about that time? A Just the time of the accident, the shock. Q Just state what your felt? A Why I was coming out of the bathroom and I felt a slight shock, and I turned to see what had happened and in looking to the right I saw through [full document and transcription at link]

[glindaupland]

The Phantom of the Opera | Seoul, South Korea | October 8-14th, 2023 [REVIEWS]

Wow it's about time I posted these reviews that I kept lying about (this week! tomorrow! in 10 years!) Better late than never?

In this post I'll drop a few general things about the production, but the performances are analyzed in my reviews linked here. I recommend reading those all in order since I revisit points about actors I've made previously along the way to avoid repeating myself. Also leaving a disclaimer that these performances are from October so there are some changes in what the actors are doing now (with the exception of Jeon Dong-seok since he left in November) Apologies in advance for my wordiness, but this is more of a "release my feelings for my sake and if anyone else likes it that's cool too" kind of thing? Listen - I wrote a lot of notes on my performances there. So just go in knowing this is the more coherent version of my insane looking notes app!

Before I start I want to thank a few lovely friends who helped me out with this trip because it wouldn't have gone as well as it did without them!

Thank you to @lucygold95 for helping me so much with planning over the past months and for giving me the best time in Busan. Thank you @capitanogiorgio for all the shenanigans we went through and the most special time going to the 1500th and meeting Yoon Young-seok. Thank you to @fadinglandtragedy for the fun talks and the good advice before my trip! The best part of things like this is making friends of course! : )

PERFORMANCE REVIEWS:

| October 8, 2023 | October 11, 2023 | October 12, 2023 | | October 13, 2023 (M) | October 13, 2023 (E) | October 14, 2023 |

STAGE & THEATER

This was as close to the original staging as possible. So I was able to take it in one more (or I guess 6 more?) times post-Broadway closing. The Charlotte Theater is a lot smaller than the Majestic so every view was pretty solid in my opinion, even the second to last row. I took a video of my view from 4th row under the chandelier during the exit music on October 11th so you can see! The angel and chandelier are shown halfway through. I'd say 5th row was almost the cut off for the chandelier drop (that was my spot next day) Broadway seats in this area were always too expensive for me so I'm glad I was able to grab these spots for this production

There were photo zones you can take pics at which you've probably seen. One was a large rose wall, the other was the cute statue of their mascot 오유령. People also take forever lining up for the cast boards for photos and yes I was one of those people. Here's a comparison of the cast boards from the second season (pictures I found when reading old reviews on Naver) and the cast boards now (I forgot to take a photo of one on the top floor though)

I found this review where someone took more detailed clean photos than I did if you're curious about the layout and decorations!

MERCH AND GIFTS

The tickets had these designs! If you booked on Yes24, you received a special envelope and a ticket holder with the face of the Phantom performing for that show

I only didn't receive a second Ju-taek because that was booked on another site - Interpark (bottom middle ticket). I also received paper masks with printed autographs every day I went to commemorate the 200th performance of the run/100th for Seoul and the 1500th overall Korean performance. We used them for the curtain call photos on those two dates (with Jeon Dong-seok then Kim Ju-taek). There are multiple versions of the program book and at the time of writing this I have all except the Daegu one. The first Busan program book was pretty bare and only had the teaser pictures - the same was the case for my Les Mis program book in Busan. -There are different photos in each one, so to me it was worth grabbing them all. My third version signed by Kim Ju-taek is currently on display as you can see below! (The writing says "내 노래를 날게 해 주오 - Make my song take flight") Once again thank you to Lucy for this! 🥹❤️

Here's some of my POTO merch (including a spare cupsleeve from the coffee shop next door, I also had a keyring, but I forgot to show it) RIP to the second program book I sacrificed for scans I still have the pages stored/displayed though! I'm not wasteful! I'll have more to post soon after sharing these reviews

TRANSLATION

Let me emphasize this: my Korean abilities are limited, so don't look to me as the expert on this at all. But I'll still share my notes and perspective as an outsider who's studying The lyrics have changed quite a bit since 2001-2. There are still lines kept or songs that are mostly similar. MOTN had a lot of similarity to 2009-11 even with its changes, STYDI was identical to 2009-11, but Angel of Music was pretty different from even the last season, etc etc. The Phantoms all have unique lines sprinkled here and there, mainly in MOTN (this happens sometimes in Korean musicals). You get some things like random single line changes in some parts depending on the actor or different order/wording of the same lines as well. Just tiny diversions from the script. This is the case for the Christines and Raoul to a lesser extent. Additionally, actors are often permitted to do some occasional improvisation/ad libs. Some unique lines are pretty normal parts of their interpretations now, some appear depending on the feeling of the performance, some are one time only events. I'll mention some of the actor-specific ones and such in their actual reviews, but I have been trying to mark down all of the differences like these for example

Of course, some things obviously have to be adjusted to make sense because of cultural / linguistic reasons. So one example would be the "Wrote...written" line in Notes I. Firmin speaks rudely and informally, but quickly tries adding a more respectful ending particle 요 after Raoul and André give him a shocked 'what did you just say?' kind of look. So "대체 뭘 썼다고 하는 건데...요!" is pretty much like "What the hell are you saying I wrote?" André would look so embarrassed by this each time 🫣

퇴근길 / STAGE DOOR

Stage door doesn't really work the same as it does in places like New York, London, etc. Most of the time if an actor comes out it's more like a quick greeting or chat with the fans. Some actors (not in this case) might sign or take photos in designated spots, but it really depends and it's not so common. It's gotten more restricted ever since COVID as well. 퇴근길 -> "way home from work" is literally what this is called. Dong-seok did wave at us a few times happily after the 200th performance, Gun-ha briefly came out to thank fans after the 1500th while Ceci and I waited to meet Young-seok who had agreed to meet us. I did not have the time (or strength) for the Seung-woo mob, but he usually greets fans after shows.

I literally asked Yoon Young-seok directly on Instagram if Ceci and I could meet him and give him gifts because I figured it didn't hurt to try! When he agreed, my anxiety was not necessarily about meeting an actor, but more about my ability to express my thoughts in another language. But he was truly the sweetest guy and incredibly patient. I think he got that I understood everything he said, but that replying was a whole other challenge. I'm glad I was making enough sense that he was able to get my points and helped me finish sentences if I looked stressed about it 😂 I basically told him I had been planning this trip since the cast announcement because it was too perfect to miss and that I came for 6 shows. I really like to listen to his Phantom on the cast recordings and I thought he made the shows I had seen so far so much fun.

We both said where we were from (the US and France) and he was amazed. He was also shocked when I pulled out my original Korean cast recording (I still laugh thinking about the way he said "와, 세상에!" like "Wow, oh my god!" and enthusiastically took it agreeing to sign when I was mid-way asking him haha) I also thought it was funny when he asked Ceci if she saw his Phantom last season. We wish! But she mentioned she had gone to Busan a few times and he looked very touched and appreciative that we went to multiple performances 🥹 This poor man was tired he signed our things with November (11.13) though and he also spelled Ceci's name wrong first time, but it was the 1500th show though okay. And if he says it's November...who are we to question him? Ceci should also legally change names so he isn't wrong. Anyway, ramble over you can find the art we made for him in this post

OTHER

Here's just bonus fun I had that I will manage to connect to POTO despite it not being POTO because I love doing that. I mean I went because I like these musicals as well (otherwise I would've been foolish enough to go see Ben-Hur but I have, uh, standards for my plots sorry to Park Eun-tae 😭), but it's fun to point out these things. I'm happy to share my show experiences in a different post if anyone's interested in my thoughts on those

Rebecca

I went to see Rebecca, mainly focused on seeing a scheduled date for 이지혜 Lee Ji-hye (Ich) and 장은아 Jang Eun-ah (Mrs Danvers). The whole cast was fantastic. Some Korean musicals have special encore bits they do where the leads sing a part of a song from the show during bows so that was really fun. Unfortunately, we don't get to have fun at POTO like that haha

Lee Ji-hye was in Y&K Phantom as Christine in the same cast as Jeon Dong-seok (Erik), Yoon Young-seok (Gérard Carrière), and Lee Sang-jun (Cholet). Two other cast members in Rebecca were in Y&K as well - 에녹 Enoch (Maxim) who was Philippe and 신영숙 Shin Young-sook (Mrs Danvers) who was Carlotta. Sadly, they had such few shows this season due to a busy schedule, so I couldn't see them (when will trot give Enoch back to musicals). Original Korean ALW Raoul and Y&K Erik 류정한 Ryu Jeong-han was also on rotation as Maxim, but I picked another day for my show so I didn't see him either

Les Misérables

I went to opening night of Les Mis in Busan! It was the Dream Theater, same place POTO played at before. As many of you already know, Choi Jae-rim is playing Jean Valjean at the same time as the Phantom.

I could recognize him easily as the Phantom, but honestly when he appeared at the very start of Les Mis it took me a minute to process that it was him! While I did enjoy his Phantom a lot, I think I enjoyed his Valjean performance a little more. It was only opening night, so curious to see how things develop!

The actor who played Javert that night, 카이 Kai (stage name), was a former Y&K Erik for two seasons too. So many Phantoms!

Frankenstein

On the last day I got to see Dong-seok and Ji-hye once more in a concert for the musical Frankenstein which they have been in together. So have some pics I took without a mask blocking his face!

Ending Note

Thinking back to December 2022 when I said: "Maybe I'll go to Seoul and see Dong-seok once or twice and that's it, I can have my first international POTO" That was funny. That was really very very funny and silly of me to say. 9 performances and 6 of those were POTO! But I'm so grateful and I have zero regrets about it. This is one of the best experiences I've had even if it might look ridiculous to some people to do something like this...I don't care! I hope my crazy essays can help paint a good picture for you!

[fragglesesamemuppetz2]

Chuck E Cheese: The Sparks Era [CEC AU]

For context, check out my Party Time Pizza Zone [fanmade FEC] post:

In December of 1983, Sparks Robotic Entertainment, owners of Party Time Pizza Zone, would purchase Chuck E Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre and do a massive overhaul of the company.

The restaurants were redesigned, keeping the dim lighting but having a more broadway feel, as well as having neon purple and green lights. The logo would also become purple.

The cleanliness and food quality were MASSIVELY improved, and the arcade games were retrofitted so they could give out tickets, with the lowest number of tickets given being 10.

The characters would also be overhauled, being in the same retro 50/60s artstyle that Fang And The Party Time Band were in.

Chuck E Cheese: Now a mouse with rounder ears, while still keeping the grey-and-peach colors Chuck is known for, Chuck didn't change too much. He now has a purple and green derby hat, a purple and green tuxedo, black pants, and a wand. His personality is mostly unchanged from his Pizza Time Theatre era personality, but we also see more moments of his softer side.

Jasper T Jowls: Mostly unchanged from his Pizza Time Theatre counterpart.

Harmony Howlette: Similarly to Jasper, she is also mostly unchanged.

Crusty The Cat: He's still mostly the same, but his baseball jersey now says "PTT" while keeping the number 13. Foxy Colleen is now Crusty's girlfriend.

Foxy Colleen: Not changed too much, but she is now Crusty's girlfriend and much like Harmony and Sally, will give Chuck a taste of his own medicine.

Helen Henny: She still has her more-chicken like traits and black hair, but her black hair is now long, and she wears a purple folk-singer like dress, as she is now a folksinger. Helen is mellow and peaceful, but also has a big ego.

Pasqually: The jokester of the group, and always tries to lighten up the atmosphere with his jokes. Design-wise, he's still not that different from his PTT counterpart.

Madame Oink: A broadway pig who is a perfectionist, yet tends to ignore Chuck's roasts. Her outfit is mostly unchanged from her PTT counterpart.

Sally Sashay: Mostly unchanged, but now sings various 50s and 60s songs in addition to her original Disco songs.

Mr. Munch: Mostly calm and cool, with a deep love for music and a even deeper love for food, Munch is similar to how he was portrayed in the Tux and Avenger eras, with a similar design to Avenger era Munch.

Bella Bunny: Design wise, similar to her Rockstar counterpart but her outfit is red. Bella starts out timid and shy, but throughout her showtapes, becomes more confident and eventually becomes the most energetic of the group. She's also the most health-conscious, and encourages everyone to try the salads and other healthy foods.

Other characters, such as Charlie Rockit, would only be on the TV screens near the animatronics, but would still get tons of merch.

The Cabaret characters were also slightly overhauled, like The Beagles getting Sergeant Pepper's inspired outfits and their own showtapes, The King getting a Jailhouse Rock inspired outfit, but others like Dolli Dimples didn't change too much.

Sparks would expand on the world of Chuck E Cheese with in-store books, direct-to-VHS movies, comics, etc...

The chain would change names from Chuck E Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre to simply Chuck E Cheese in 1999, although some stores would still keep the mid-80s PTT signs.

While there were T.V screens next to the bots, Sparks made sure the animatronics never lost focus and would update them often, even having dance floors be right next to the animatronics. The animatronics continue to have a lot of care so that they don't fall into disrepair.

Honestly, if Sparks, Party Time Pizza Zone, and this AU incarnation of Chuck E Cheese were real, I would love them a lot more then current CEC and I'd even prefer them to the Avenger era [and this comes from someone who has fond memories of and still enjoys Avenger Era CEC].

@wordwizards @freddy-fazbears-wonderland @avengerchuck @sunshinecassette @rosie-love98

[musicalss]

Hey musical theater fans!

If anyone is interested, there is an online class by David Benkof (the Broadway Maven) running during this summer.

The class is open for full-time students aged 16-26. Completion of the class comes with a $500 stipend, and, if you live close to the NYC area, invitations to shows at the Hayes theater (and sometimes others!)

The class chronicles the impact of various Broadway musicals on history, about 5 musicals per class, in tandem with music theory classes.

As someone who took the course last year, I can vouch that I met some pretty cool people from having done it, and each class was packed with interesting information and discussion about various shows. And yes, the benefits are real.

Applications are free! Important dates to know for this semester are:

- May 2nd: last day to submit applications

- The classes are every Sunday in May and June from 10-11:30 am, EST. You can take the class from anywhere, you’d just have to be aware of the times in your location.

- August 3rd: final presentations to be given at 12pm, after which you’ll get your benefits.

Learn more about the class and reserve a spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/500-paid-scholarship-for-broadway-loving-students-ages-16-26-tickets-1285774569349?aff=oddtdtcreator

And please please please!! Feel free to DM and ask me anything about the class. I don’t know how many people will be accepted, but I’ll be happy to help you with your application if you choose to try it out. Thanks for reading!

[sillyname30]

Darren Criss Says MAYBE HAPPY ENDING Will Be 'A Spectacle and A Half'

Maybe Happy Ending will begin previews on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 and open on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at the Belasco Theatre.

Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Darren Criss will return to the stage alongside Helen J Shen in the Broadway premiere of the new musical Maybe Happy Ending. According to the Emmy-winning star, the "wildly original"new musical promises to be "a spectacle and a half.

Recently, Darren stopped by Z100's Morning Zoo in support of the upcoming Elsie Fest, and took a minute to discuss his latest Broadway venture.

"I think people think this is going to be a small, cute little show about robots in the future." Darren said, "This is a balls-to-the-wall spectacle in the way that in the 80s, we had Miss Saigon and The Phantom of the Opera-- these huge, theatrical spectacles that like, when you went to the theatre it was like, 'Whoa, how did they do that?'"

Host E;lvis Duran asked the star if audiences could expect anything akin to the iconic Phantom chandelier as part of the production. Darren replied, "I think there will be something like a chandelier that will be the new version of, 'Oh my God, that's the big thing to see on Broadway.'"

The show features music by Will Aronson, lyrics by Hue Park and book by both Aronson and Park. Direction is by Tony Award-winner Michael Arden. Maybe Happy Ending will also feature Dez Duron who makes his Broadway debut along with Shen.

Maybe Happy Ending will begin previews on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 and open on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at the Belasco Theatre (111 W. 44th St.). Final casting as well as ticketing and on-sale information will be announced at a later date.

Having led the visual development of the piece since 2018, Tony Award-nominee Dane Laffrey (A Christmas Carol, Once on This Island) will design the Set and Additional Video, while Costume Design is by Tony Award-winner Clint Ramos (KPOP, Eclipsed), Lighting Design is by Tony Award-nominee Ben Stanton (A Christmas Carol, Fun Home), Sound Design is by Tony Award-winner Peter Hylenski (Moulin Rouge!: The Musical, Beetlejuice),

Video Design by George Reeve (Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, UK), Deborah Abramson (The Gardens of Anuncia) is the Music Supervisor and John Yun will be the Music Director. Casting is by Telsey & Co, Craig Burns, CSA and Justin Scribner is the Production Stage Manager.

Inside a one-room apartment in the heart of Seoul, Oliver (Criss) lives a happily quiet life listening to jazz records and caring for his favorite plant. But what else is there to do when you’re a Helperbot 3, a robot that has long been retired and considered obsolete? When his fellow Helperbot neighbor Claire (Shen) asks to borrow his charger, what starts as an awkward encounter leads to a unique friendship, a surprising adventure, and maybe even...love? Winner of the Richard Rodgers Award, Maybe Happy Ending is the offbeat and captivating story of two outcasts near the end of their warranty who discover that even robots can be swept off their feet. Helmed by visionary director and Tony Award winner Michael Arden (Parade, Once on This Island), with a dazzling scenic design by Dane Laffrey (A Christmas Carol) and book, music, and lyrics by the internationally acclaimed duo Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending is a fresh, original musical about the small things that make any life worth living.

[2022-mmac]

RAFFLE – $2 Each or Six for $10

Get Tickets now, and during the Sunflower Festival, at the Gift Shop at the MMAC Center or ONLINE (below).

Need NOT be present to win!

Drawing held and WINNERS announced at 4:00pm on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

MMAC Center 101 E. Broadway Mountainair, NM 87036

Get a chance to win one of the following prizes donated by LOCAL Artists:

A. Tin / Copper WALL PANEL by local Artist, Anne Ravenstone

B. Raven / Sunflower PAINTING by local Artist LINDA CARROLL

C. Wood Framed Sunflowers by local Artist David Smythe

D. Sunflower Tote Bag by local Artist Maggie, Anderson Chavez

[blowflyfag]

WRESTLING ALL STARS: Heroes and Villains : JUNE 1996

ECW CONQUERS NEW YORK

By George Napolitano

[Sabu clobbers Cactus Jack in some EXTREME action.]

Like an off Broadway play that perfects its craft on the road before making it to the big city. ECW has been playing to full houses for nearly three years approximately every three weeks in Philadelphia, PA at the ECW Arena. Finally, after all this time “on the road,” ECW decided to try its luck in the Big Apple. And, from the response that they received in their New York debut, it’s obvious that ECW is ready to take an extreme bite out of the Big Apple!

[Sandman before he lost his Woman and his gold]

The Lost Battalion Hall in Queens, NY, was the sight of the first ECW card in the New York area. Prior To the card ECW action had been playing on MSG cable every Sunday night at 1:00 a.m. for nearly a year. ECW has its own unique brand of mayhem and violence, unlike anything that can be seen on WWF or WCW broadcasts. In NYC, it has acquired a huge late-night cult following. Although Tod Gordon and the rest of the ECW hierarchy knew that they had a following in the New York area, never in their wildest dreams did they think that their first card would produce a complete sell out with hundreds of die-hard fans turned away at the door. 

[Sabu sends Cactus through a table.]

At 7:00 p.m., with still an hour to go before the show, there were 1,242 fans inside the arena with an estimated 1,000 more on Queens Boulevard unable to get inside. TO try and pacify those who were unable to secure admission to the event, the ECW announced the date of their next card and then began to sell tickets to this one. Many fans who were unable to get into the arena for the first ECW card quickly purchased seats for the upcoming show to avoid being shut out again! And, because of this huge advance ticket sale and the response of those who were fortunate to gain admission to the first ECW card, the second ECW card in Queens is sure to be another sellout. 

[ECW crowds are the rowdiest wrestling crowds in the world.

Raven is dazed and confused after smashing a table with his head.]

I have been to numerous local events in my many years covering the wrestling scene, but not since the heydays of the eighties have I seen such a rabid group of fans in a local arena. 

Walking through the crowd, you could feel the electricity. The excitement was such that it made you feel that you were about came to ringside. After aggravating the crowd with his obnoxious behavior, Richards walked to the ringside and said, “Hey Jojo, there’s Missy Hyatt!” Richards played up to Missy, and before leaving the ringside area Missy gave him a long, deep kiss. When their lips parted, Missy told Stevie to take that to Raven.  After Richards finally returned to the dressing room, Joey Styles introduced Paul E. Dangerously. Dangerously received a long and loud ovation from the faithful and then welcomed every one in his own inimitable style. Dangerously had quite a few things to say to the people and peppered his comments with profanties directed mainly towards WCW and the WWF. In closing Dangerously said, “There’s going to be so much electricity in here that they will feel its effects all the way in Titan Towers in Stanford, Connecticut!” 

[Francine tends to an injured Pit Bull.

Paul E. Dangerously gets the Queens NY crowd worked up.

Raven is never too injured to give the Sandman a kick to the kisser!]

Finally, the time had come for the big card and in the first match Taz took on Koji Nakagawa. The “Master of the Suplex '' wasted no time in easily subduing his opponent, and when it was over, Taz, along with his manager Bill Alphonso, challenged everyone in the arena.

[Rock tables NuJack and the Gangstas are history!

Nujack pounds Rocco Rock bloody.]

Next came “The Shah” Hack Myers and his opponent was J.T. Smith Listening to the wat that the fans were cheering on the Shah, it was obvious that they had been following ECW action for a long time. After eight minutes of action, Meyers pinned Smith to win the match. 

[Francine attacks Paul E. Dangerously at ringside.

Pit Bull #1 brains Eliminator #1 with a board! The Sandman is on the receiving end of several Raven rights. There were 1,242 fans inside the arena with an estimated 1,000 more on Queens Boulevard unable to get inside.] 

This was followed by a match in which Too Cold Scorpio put both the tag team title and the TV title on the line. His opponent was Long Island native, Mikey Whipwreck. 

[Bubba Dudley doesn’t stutter when he’s kicking butt! ECW, ECW, ECW!]

This match was sensational. Scorpio and Whipwreck put on a display of wrestling prowess that has been seen in a local arena in years. The moves exhibited by both men were just incredible. Scorpio's numerous cartwheels off the top rope were simply breathtaking with each executed with precision. However , if Scorpio had merely tried to pin Whipwreck instead of continually showing off and lifting him off the mat at the count of two so that he could do yet another cartwheel, he would have easily won the match. But Scorpio’s showboating proved to be his undoing. Cactus Jack ran in and pulled Whipwreck out of the way as Scorpio was about to land on him once again. With Scorpio rolling on the mat writhing in pain from the missed cartwheel, Cactus jack placed Whipwreck on top of the Scorpio. The referee then counted and, as he pounded the canvas a third time, Mikey Whipwreck was declared the winner and new TV and Tag Team champion!

[Buh-Buh Dudley dies his dance,]

A tag team match followed, involving the Eliminators (with their manager Jason) versus the Pit Bulls (with their valet Francine). This was another fast and furious encounter. Both teams battled continually both inside and outside of the ring with even Jason and Francine getting into it numerous times. The end came when Saturn pinned Pit Bull 2 with help from his partner in crime. After scoring the pin fall, the Eliminators, along with Jason, suplexed Francine as her large, mostly male, rooting section gasped in horror!

[Taz and Bill Alphonzo: A match made in Hell!]

The fifth match was an elimination match with the winner getting the opportunity to wrestle for the ECW title against the Sandman. The participants were Raven and Tommy Dreamer. While Raven had Stevie Richards, the Blue Meanie and Beullah in his corner, Tommy Dreamer had to wage the war alone and this led to his downfall. This battle was one of the wildest matches ever waged in New York! The combatants fought all around the arena, but when it was over Raven emerged victorious. 

In the sixth match Buster Mastino easily defeated El Puertoricano despite several sensational moves by the young Puerto Richan.

[Taz and Bill Alphonzo: Can these two get any more irritating?]

The sensational Bubba Ray Dudeley was next and Buh, Buh, Buh, Bubba’s opponent was the Blue Meanie.

[Stevie Richards, Beulah McGillicuddy and The Blue Meanie seem to be having a marvelous time.]

Accompanying Bubba were the rest of the Dudley clan, while the Meanie had Stevie Richards at ringside in case he needed a helping hand. After the Meanie slapped Bubba to start the match. It went downhill for the Meanie. Bubba Ray tore the Meanie apart. Then after disposing of the Meanie, the Dudleys set their sights on Richards, and he was lucky to leave the arena alive as the Dudleys tore into him. 

[Woman gives Sandman a quaff of lager!]

The ECW title match was next with the Sandman taking on Raven. As soon as the Sandman made his way to the ring accompanied by the lovely Woman, everyone in the arena rose to their feet. After seeing the Sandman successfully defend his title on TV time after time against a variety of opponents, the sellout crowd couldn’t wait to see their hero in person and they showed him and his lady their appreciation by giving them a long and loud standing ovation. You could tell by the smiles on their faces and the cockiness in their strut that the Sandman and Woman loved the ovation. When Raven appeared in view, his reception was met with a long and loud chorus of boos. The battle between these two was intense. At times it looked like Raven would win the title, but some how, some way, the Sandman always managed to survive. At the 15-minute mark Tommy Dreamer ran to the ring and joined the battle. Dreamer was slugging Raven who got the worst of it. When Dreamer finally left the ringside area, Sandman pinned Raven to win the bout. 

[Cactus grabs a handful of Sabu’s hair. (Notice that lately Cactus has been wrestling with his teeth in.)

Too Cold Scorpio goes for an altitude record.]

This was followed by a tag team match involving Public Enemy and the Gangstas. The battle that ensued was intense. Chairs, tables, the bell and anything else they could grab was used during the match. To accurately describe the intensity exhibited by each time would be impossible as the match was brutal. In the end, Mustafa of the Gangstas pulled off the upset of the evening when he pinned Rocco Rock to win the match.

[Public Enemy says, “You should see the LOSERS!”

Cactus Jack and Mikey Whipwreck are championship tag team partners, much to Mikey’s dismay.]

The final match of the night pitted the feared Sabu against the wild and crazy Cactus Jack, and the referee for this battle was 911. Like all of the matches that preceded it, this was yet another classic. Sabu did all of his trademarked moves, while Cactus Jack was as wild as could be. Although the match ended in a double count out, no one was disappointed as both men used every move in their repertoire. 

The first NECW New York card started at 8:00 p.m. and it continued non-stop without an intermission until 11:45. In this time, everyone was treated to a night of action, excitement and mayhem unlike any they had ever seen on the local scene. With the enthusiastic response of the first ECW card in the New York area, it is only a matter of time before ECW becomes a major force on the NY scene. Although right now the ECW stars may lack the fame of the WWF or WCW, with their moves, style, and never-say-die attitude, it's only a matter of time before the ECW competitors become as well known as their counterparts. When they do, ECW will become a major force on the wrestling scene. From their humble beginnings in Philadelphia, PA, in front of a small, hardcore enthusiastic audience the ECW has grown to the point where it is now ready to compete with the big boys. From the reception in the Big Apple, it’s obvious that ECW is ready to step into the limelight. 

[Missy Hyatt and Stevie Richards hit it off at ringside. Is she using  Stevie to get to Raven?

Raven locks Sandman with the caning stick.

Tommy Dreamer is a bloody mess as he reacts to a low blow.]

[mikumutual]

my birthday is coming up next week, so i'm looking back and thinking about all the birthdays i remember having in the past

1st: i don't remember this, but there's a photo of me in a high chair at a park! i got a slice of cake, and it was the first time i'd had sugar :]

2nd: there's a picture of me at a kitchen table, where there's a happy birthday sheet cake with two candles

3rd?: one of my earliest memories, my parents had baked a cake that was still in its glass pan. i swiped a bit of icing with my finger to taste it, and my dad was like "hey!" because that was naughty

4th: swim party at home, i had a dora birthday cake! the slip n slide was so fun

5th?: a shared birthday between me and my little cousin, whose birthday is only a few days before mine. one of my gifts was a shirt which was exactly the same as the shirt i was wearing

6th: it was the last day of kindergarten, and my mom brought tubs of ice cream for all the kids in the class. then a whole bunch of us went to this really fun place with mini golf and bumper boats! i remember the rock climbing wall specifically, which i was scared of lol

7th: a birthday party at a park where there was a sheet cake with my face on it! it was around the last day of school, and the park was right next to the school, so a lot of my first grade classmates were there. piñata! there was also a last-day-of-school party at the same park the same week

8th: party at chuck e cheese with my same-age cousins and one or two of my classmates. on this day, i realized that chuck e cheese pizza tastes like cardboard

9th: i wanted to have a surprise party! my dad took me out for frozen yogurt a few days before my birthday, and when we went back home, all my extended family was there and celebrating!

10th: we moved into a new house the day i turned 10. i didn't have to help carry in any boxes at all :]

12th: had some friends over for a sleepover, tried to make a lego cake from a youtube recipe. it went so bad. the cake was just a giant pile of crumbs, and we pretended it was a battlefield, by sticking toothpicks into marshmallows and playing like they were soldiers

14th: went bowling with my cousin, MAYBE. there's pictures of this happening but i can't remember if this was for a birthday or not. but i also can't remember my 14th birthday, so maybe that was it?

15th: extended family playing board games. i did a scavenger hunt across the house that ended with me finding broadway tickets! well, not broadway, but close enough

17th: finals week, so i was away at school, but my mom ordered me a delivery of balloons and pizza :] i shared it with my friends in the lounge and we inhaled helium together lol

18th: covid was depressing, but my mom organized a drive-by birthday! family and friends were holding balloons and big signs out of their car windows as they paraded past my house. absolutely crazy. but i kept those balloons for a long time

19th: made my parents drive around town to get all the things i wanted, like a box of macarons and boba tea. then i had kfc alone in my room <3

20th: went to medieval times with my dad! i shouldve gone to the later show, but the food was fucking good

21st: family moved into a new house the month prior, so we had a combined birthday and housewarming party! swim party with a make-your-own-sandwich bar... mmmm

22nd: who knows.......... (had red lobster with my parents on june 1st)

[kevinmchalenews]

Broadway is coming to Santa Monica. Jenna Ushkowitz (“Glee”) and Merle Dandridge (“The Last of Us,” “Station 19”) are teaming up and gathering their singer friends to raise money for Harvest Home L.A., a non-profit for unhoused pregnant women.

“Jenna, Merle, and Friends: A Night of Song” will feature pop and Broadway tunes performed by Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Modern Family”), Cheyenne Jackson (“American Horror Story”), Katie Lowes (“Scandal”), Kevin McHale (“Glee”), Austin McKenzie (“Spring Awakening”), Adam Shapiro (“Never Have I Ever”), Tracie Thoms (“9-1-1”), Carly Thomas Smith (“Rent”) and Kim Dawson (“Sing Off”).

The evening takes place on April 21 at The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

“As a new mother, I felt compelled to support and serve other mothers in need within my local community,” Ushkowitz said in statement Thursday. “Some wonderful friends, who are also moms, introduced me to Harvest Home. The organization’s mission and dedicated work resonated deeply with me. And I feel privileged to contribute a small part in the work they do.”

Dandridge added, “The women at Harvest Home are a constant inspiration. The courage, the spirit, and the joy that erupts while embarking on motherhood during the toughest of circumstances…well, it puts the enormous heart-capacity and ferocious fire of being a woman on full display.”

Musical direction will be by Seth Rudetsky (Disaster! The Musical) and James Wesley (Stars in the House), with staging by Lee Martino (Les Girls). “Jenna, Merle and Friends” is being hosted in partnership with Rudetsky and Wesley’s Your Kids, Our Kids organization.

Since launching in 1985, Harvest Home has provided housing and support to more than 650 families, transforming the lives of unhoused pregnant women and their children through programs designed to empower and equip residents during the critical periods of pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum bonding.

“We are so grateful to Jenna and Merle for coming together with their friends to amplify the experience of unhoused pregnant mothers who are working to end generational homelessness for their families,” Harvest Home executive director Sarah Wilson said. “This event will not just raise awareness and funds, but honors capable and resilient women who are too often marginalized.”

Pre-sale tickets are currently available for purchase with general ticket sales starting Feb. 19. Go to www.harvesthomela.org/benefitconcert.

[gothicnyc]

Gothic Events Happening in NYC March

Inferno

Widely hailed as one of the great classics of Western literature, INFERNO details Dante's journey through the nine circles of Hell. After meeting his guide, the eminent Roman poet Virgil, in a mythical dark wood, the two begin their descent through a mysterious world of miserable souls, horrifying tortures, and unending suffering.

Until the end of April

$35-65

165 West 86th Street New York, NY 10024

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inferno-tickets-792312296407?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Trivia

Did you spend your youth pinning for vampiric affection? Then gather your Scoobies and join us for Buffy the Vampire Slayer Trivia at Home Base Bistro, our Bronze for the evening to celebrate The Chosen One

3/6/2024

Free

416 Third Avenue New York, NY 10016

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-trivia-tickets-831196419867?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

BLOOD FOR DRACULA

Immediately after completing Flesh For Frankenstein, filmmaker Paul Morrissey and star Udo Kier created Blood For Dracula, a sumptuously depraved Euroshocker that tows the line between art and bad taste. Desperate for virgin blood, Count Dracula (Kier) journeys to an Italian villa only to discover the family’s three young daughters are also coveted by the estate’s Marxist stud (Joe Dallesandro of Morrissey’s Flesh, Trash and Heat). Stefania Casini (Suspiria) and Bicycle Thieves director Vittorio De Sica co-star in one of the most unique and outrageous vampire films in history, now scanned uncut in 4K from the original negative for the first time ever.

3/8/2024

$ 15.00

136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

https://nitehawkcinema.com/williamsburg/movies/blood-for-dracula/

The Red Party

Hosted by Elder Goth & DJ Sean Templar, the red party is sure to delight. Enjoy a night of gothic music and drinks at the mercury lounge. Come watch me dance my ass off.

3/23/2024

$ 15.00

217 East Houston St, New York, NY, United States, New York

https://linktr.ee/redpartynyc?fbclid=IwAR0LwDx2k-MBUlFnIQFitfPx--Nmr7A9AJ-U8xDlibsAASMus7lgRzCG1j0

SAW The Musical The Unauthorized Parody of Saw (New York Off-Broadway)

One of the most thought-provoking horror films of all time now is…a musical. SAW The Musical hilariously captures the events of the first movie parodying the Saw that started it all following from where Lawrence Gordon and Adam Stanheight find each other for the first time in the bathroom trap. Will they follow "the rules" as they discover each other's secrets? Will they escape the game in time and saw right through? A love story with fluidity (and lots more fluids), 'SAW The Musical The Unauthorized Parody of Saw' is Little Shop of Horrors meets Avenue Q, pushing the boundary on sexuality and how to love. [Parental Advisory: Explicit Content]

3/11/2024

$41 – $123

354 West 45th Street New York, NY 10036

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saw-the-musical-the-unauthorized-parody-of-saw-new-york-off-broadway-tickets-823186150937?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Dark Delights

Step into a world of darkness and decadence as Dark Delights presents an unforgettable dining experience like no other. Join us in the grand hall, where an 8-course tasting menu awaits, presented by a staff of elegant vampires and their human servants. Event Admission Includes: 🍽️ 8-Course Tasting Menu 🍷 Unlimited Wine (Type A or B) 🥤 Soda & Water

3/19/2024

$ 107.48

1745 Express Drive North Hauppauge, NY 11788

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dark-delights-tickets-838683534027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Charming Disaster's Musical Séance

Charming Disaster’s Musical Séance is part concert, part spirit divination, part guided tour of what may lie beyond the mortal veil. The playfully macabre goth-folk duo take on phantoms, poisons, witches, monsters, mediums, and more of their favorite things in this performance of original songs and mysterious onstage rituals. Charming Disaster invites you to get haunted with them – exploring the dark side with tongue in cheek and drink in hand. Séance kit included with VIP ticket!

3/22/2024

$ 18.80

21 A Clinton Street New York, NY 10002

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/charming-disasters-musical-seance-tickets-796951913627?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

LGBTQ Secrets of the Met Museum Tour • NYC

Professor Andrew Lear, a four-time winner of the Harvard Certificate for Excellence in Teaching, will decipher the meanings of symbols, poses, and context while telling you the low-down on what's really going on. For Lear’s peerless insights on just one of the works in the Met’s unrivaled collection, visit The Gay and Lesbian Review. Famous artists and subjects appear but so do lesser-known artists and works whose homoerotic charge is often ignored.

3/23/2024

$ 60.54

1000 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10028

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-secrets-of-the-met-museum-tour-nyc-tickets-771099448207?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Remembrance, Commemoration & Myth-Making: A Critical Look at Monuments

Join the American Federation of Arts for a panel discussion inspired by the AFA's traveling exhibition Monuments and Myths: The America of Sculptors Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Daniel Chester French. This talk will highlight the perspectives of artists, curators, and scholars engaging with monuments and the ways in which they influence history, identity, and memory in contemporary contexts. The program will be followed by a light reception and exhibition catalogs will be available for purchase.

3/26/2024

Free

215 West 57th Street #Suite 1 New York, NY 10019

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/remembrance-commemoration-myth-making-a-critical-look-at-monuments-tickets-829099247167?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Be sure to keep you eyes out! More events to be posted as the weeks progress!

[claycane]

‘THE GRIFT: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump' Available, Plus Tour Dates

"THE GRIFT: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump" is available now, order here  –> Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or your local bookstore.

JAN. 30, NEW YORK CITY Strand Book Store (828 Broadway) At 7pm with Reecie Colbert - SOLD OUT JAN. 31, PHILADELPHIA Uncle Bobbie’s (5445 Germantown Ave) At 6pm, Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uncle-bobbies-x-clay-cane-book-signing-meet-greet-tickets-804319490247 FEB. 1, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY Rutgers University-Newark with Keith Boykin Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall 15 Washington St, Newark, NJ At 7pm, Must Register at go.rutgers.edu/thegrift FEB. 4, WASHINGTON, D.C. Busboys and Poets 14TH & V (2021 14th St NW) At 5pm with Reecie Colbert, Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-grift-with-clay-cane-a-busboys-and-poets-books-presentation-tickets-789856902257 FEB. 5, WASHINGTON, D.C. American University 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW SIS Abramson Founders Room At 4pm with Dr. Omekongo Dibinga Must Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-grift-wclay-cane-book-signing-discussion-wdr-omekongo-dibinga-tickets-807736219777 FEB. 10, ATLANTA Auburn Avenue Research Library (101 Auburn Ave NE) At 2pm with Reecie Colbert, Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-grift-with-clay-cane-in-conversation-with-reecie-colbert-tickets-801939832627

[fitzpirations]

haven’t really been on here in ages- had all these articles I was going to share and proper nerdy posts to make but really who has the time 😔

Also gave up all my socials for Lent and felt I’d get stuck on here if I returned. Made a year at my job @ the streaming service the other day which has been… idk how I feel about it. I still work a weirdo late shift so I may or may not be in the office now, sitting alone, getting the setting sun on my cheek. The schedule is not conducive of socializing. Have thoughts on the Tony noms,, although mostly petty ones as I have been so uninterested in just about every musical this season and only technically saw DOWAR, (off-Broadway because I feared I couldn’t recreate my magical/chaotic night @ the Atlantic) and Prayer for the French Republic V pleased for their collective noms. Re: Days of Wine and Roses-Idc that they closed. Where’s their best musical? Orchestration? Some of these nominees… I have to remind myself New York, New York was up for a TON last year. Sorry to all involved but BOY was that show,,, tragic to me. Had the bones on a surface level but refused to come together for me every step of the way. My friend won the lotto post-Tonys and we went on a lark, and our lukewarm feelings translated into the show announcing its closing that very night. My power, if you will.

volunteered @ my local theatre for a night and left wanting to cry because I’ve been getting v into ~acting craft~ recently, and all the community people are so nice but I can’t do any work on any production,, so sad but nice to be asked to stage manage a One-Act Festival,,,

I do background work on my weird Monday off from work & had two really cool experiences recently! Worked on a film with less than 30 others w/ a huge, half up-and-coming star that I’m pumped about- did they even look my way? No. But they were locked in & it was a real cool set-up. Would it have been nicer if the costume and prop and makeup people didn’t rub fake dirt over all of us extras? Yes. But I got paid the union rate and met some really cool people, including a gentleman 33 years sober who was greatly moved by Days of Wine and Roses! And you know what? He brought up the show, not me.

also did a fancy streamer show I’m quite stoked on- got placed right in the action in the scene, the lead walked right up to me as he swapped with his stand-in and said hi, which is such a minimal thing (and I don’t do it to leer @ stars or w/e) but he thought he was sitting next to me the whole scene and was being friendly. The seat next to me was unfortunately empty by design, but there were a ton of takes where the only people visible were the two actors & me. Which,, is crazy. Like they cleared the room and I was just sat there. Can’t give context, but boy was I actually acting for once. To the extent I was sure I was doing too much. But no one said anything, except the friends I made hours prior on the bus during our early call time, who were thrilled on my behalf about the great placement.

trying to join the union now which is crazy, and maybe a mistake, but the hourly pay is better than my full-time job at a v reputable media company. Know my worth or something? Even if I worked on just the occasional Monday, it’d be great money, and better gigs/placement on jobs. And who knows, maybe I’d put in for even better gigs. Right now I’m chained to the 3pm-11pm, and the dogs I walk in the morning.

saw Prayer for The French Republic with my friend a while back which we sobbed through & had a truly enriching convo on life & religion and such at dinner afterwards. I also saw Teeth at Playwrights which was a wild treat, it was still in previews, literal Michael R. Jackson was in the lobby, my mother felt bad I was going alone and INSISTED I bring her with,, imagine how I felt when my tickets were center SECOND ROW and not in the fourth row, and I was sat next to my mom watching vagina-has-teeth, the musical. She was crazed when we left. I warned her prior, but once she committed to going with me, it was pointless to remind her the concept of the show. Quite the time! It’s one thing to be close enough to occasionally make eye contact with the actors, and another to be locked in an intense gaze with Steven Pasquale as he plays a pervy gynecologist, plunging his arm into someone. Was shaking in my boots. They’re hinting on moving it somewhere which I am against! but as long as it lives off-Broadway it can still rock, I think.

anyway anyway. Trying to write more and be more around art & dig myself out of this rut I’m stuck in. This time last year I was fruitlessly waiting to hear if I got a Stage Manager fellowship with the City Center. It was a nice thought at the time! Maybe one day. The market is so weird I’d have to win the lottery and have a generous offer before I’d be comfortable actually quitting my job for something else. I’m unsure. Feels like I’m wasting away, in friendly enough company at least.

been reading War and Peace (or trying to!) which I jokingly refer to as WAP to myself. Tolstoy would get a kick out of that one, I’m sure. Enjoying Matt Koplick’s Broadway Breakdown podcast which may sound very geeky to admit but he’s very well-informed and isn’t afraid to have a real opinion on modern theatre! Maybe that sounds conservative-coded, but I mean he is never downright cruel, but willing to say some shows were bad (and why! In academic detail) and I’ve got into some great peices & performers listening to his work. I recommend. See also: BdJ on the Drama podcast recently, I am not a frequent listener by any means- the only other one I think I’ve caught was Kelli’s back last year? But what a great listen. (Seriously)

anyway anyway. I love a long-read. I think my writing is half-nonsensical here, but here we are. I enjoy the tiny little community of people I follow on here. Trying to go back to this blog’s roots- inspiration! Art! Action!