During the summer when I was 17, freshly out of High School with a brand new driver’s license, I drove my aunt Janie from Ohio to New York City in a little VW bug. The adults in my life had more faith in my driving skills than I did, or maybe they were just naive. I had barely any experience driving on a highway, let alone on a freeway, and definitely NO experience driving in a crowded city. (No parent I know today would agree to that!) Somehow we made it and parked Uptown at an apartment house where we stayed with Janie’s friends. We were there to go see Broadway shows.
We rode the Subway and buses, but mostly we walked. The Theater District in those days was pretty run down and raunchy. I felt like such a hick from the sticks. My aunt was downright embarrassed that she was allowing me to see such terrible sights. She had lived in New York for a time in the 1940s and 1950s. It was the hey day of Broadway with wonderful musicals that anyone could feel comfortable seeing. Not so for us. We saw “Pippin,” and a show starring Debbie Reynolds, and a couple of others that we almost walked out of. Unfortunately, in the early 1970’s Broadway was almost dead.
We rode the Subway and buses, but mostly we walked. The Theater District in those days was pretty run down and raunchy. I felt like such a hick from the sticks. My aunt was downright embarrassed that she was allowing me to see such terrible sights. She had lived in New York for a time in the 1940s and 1950s. It was the hey day of Broadway with wonderful musicals that anyone could feel comfortable seeing. Not so for us. We saw “Pippin,” and a show starring Debbie Reynolds, and a couple of others that we almost walked out of. Unfortunately, in the early 1970’s Broadway was almost dead.
Over the years, probably due to Disney shows, “Les Miserable,” and “Phantom of the Opera,” Broadway was revitalized with many more family friendly shows. Early in its opening run, my girls and I ran up to see “Wicked” with the original cast. We lived near Baltimore at that time, so we drove up and back in one day. Here it is at least 15 years later, and I got to take my daughter and her 5 daughters to see “Wicked.” Same show, same theater, same excitement from the audience. Different cast, of course, but very good performances.
I am always so delighted at the consistency the producers strive to achieve to keep a show running for so long. And they utilize a live pit orchestra and conductor. It is so nice to feel the vibrations from the music of live musicians.
I appreciate how difficult the situation has been for the performers who couldn’t work when Broadway was shut down due to COVID. Now that shows are up and running again, I am certain they worry that they can keep audiences coming. They had just barely reduced the mask mandate in the theater when we went the other day. The next day they sent out a survey asking the patrons if they felt safe attending the show and if all of the precautions they had in place made a difference. I actually didn’t notice any precautions, or people acting worried. Then they asked if we would be returning soon to see more shows.
Well, I live in Utah. I hope I don’t have to wait another 15 years before I get to visit NYC again. But until then, I am glad that live theater in Utah is up and running and every bit as professional and amazing as what I just saw on Broadway. And we don’t have to expose ourselves to questionable fumes when waiting to get into the theaters! Yay!
I appreciate how difficult the situation has been for the performers who couldn’t work when Broadway was shut down due to COVID. Now that shows are up and running again, I am certain they worry that they can keep audiences coming. They had just barely reduced the mask mandate in the theater when we went the other day. The next day they sent out a survey asking the patrons if they felt safe attending the show and if all of the precautions they had in place made a difference. I actually didn’t notice any precautions, or people acting worried. Then they asked if we would be returning soon to see more shows.
Well, I live in Utah. I hope I don’t have to wait another 15 years before I get to visit NYC again. But until then, I am glad that live theater in Utah is up and running and every bit as professional and amazing as what I just saw on Broadway. And we don’t have to expose ourselves to questionable fumes when waiting to get into the theaters! Yay!
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