Top Ten Tuesday: Showtime

I am a sucker for the theater. Not movie theaters, per se (although I am very much looking forward to New Moon which I'm seeing on Friday and then going with Aaron to see the The Blind Side on Saturday!)

But my true love, true passion is live shows. It can be comedy, music, theater, Broadway, or musicals. I have so much respect for the work that goes into preparing these shows, the music (or orchestra), the acting, and dancing... it draws me in!!!

On Saturday Aaron took me to see CATS, so I feel compelled to post for this weeks Top Ten Tuesday, my all-time-favorite shows!

10. George Carlin- I was lucky enough to see him twice before he passed away; both times at the Hampton Casino and Ballroom. I adore(d) him! RIP Georgie!

9. Fiddler on the Roof: My dad brought me to see this show 3 times at the Rep in Portsmouth because I loved it so much. Don't know the plot? Check it out online, it's well worth the read.

8. Bob Marley: No, not the one who shot the sherrif, but the comedien from Maine. I saw him at the Palace in Manchester. My brother introduced me to him years ago and I've been stalking him ever since! Being that I am a "Mainer" at heart, I get his humor.

7. The Nutcracker: Aaron and I went with Matt and Nelson to this show around Christmas 2007. It was at the Boston Opera House and performed by the Boston Ballet.

6. Medieval Manor: This is a theater/restaurant in Boston. I love going there, it's a bit pricey, but so worth the money. They keep the beer and wine flowing, provide a five-course-meal (all of which you have to eat with your fingers) and they roast the audience!!! Such a great experience, especially if you're in a group (and if you can refrain from drinking too much and thowing up in your expensive purse- not that it happened to me... I'm just sayin'.)

5.5 (I know, I'm cheating; it's my blog I can break the rules!) The Transiberian Orchestra. No explanation necessary.

5. Dirty Dancing: I loved, loved, loved this and I went with one of my very favorite traveling companions. If you don't remember the story (our horrific experience before the show) click here.

4. The Grinch: I always make it a point to go to a Christmas show every year. My favorite Christmas movie is The Grinch, so last year my dad bought me tickets and we went to "The Wang" to see it. (I am so very grateful that my father appreciates, encourages [and $upport$] my love of the theater.) Aaron and I went the day after the huge ice storm which caused the power outage. We weren't affected but, because of that, there was low attendance so we could pick any seat we wanted!!! Amazing. The only problem was I had contracted an eye infection a few days prior so I wasn't able to see everythign 100%. But it didn't matter. I still had a blast and The Wang Center was gorgeous!

3. Elton John: I went to Elton with my mother and Dan. I grew up listening to Elton and it was an amazing show;, it's probably one of the best memories I have with mom & Dan.

2. CATS: I was so upset when this show closed on Broadway, but when I heard it was at the beautiful and historic Palace Theater in Manchester how could I resist? When Aaron and I went to the box office to buy tickets I told him I wanted the best possible seats. He replied, "Well Sweetheart, you don't want to get too close to the stage or the cats will be crawling all over you!" I laughed, "Aaron, they aren't real cats, they are people cats!" Then I was corrected by the lady at the ticket booth who said, "No, they do come off the stage." Aaron knew because he had researched it knowing I wanted to see the show. Needless to say, I did want the cats crawling all over me. We were Row E- Center... awesome seats. The music was amazing (clearly, I love Andrew Lloyd Webber [CATS & Phantom.]) I have to admit, I totally cried when the "GlamourCat" sang Memory.

1. The Phantom of the Opera: I wanted to go to this opera, on Broadway, for as long as I can remember. I think it stemmed from middle school band; we were given a sheet of music from Phantom. For my 17th birthday my dad said he would bring me to New York City and take me to any show I wanted. When I told him I wanted to go to Phantom, he tried to talk me out of it... and into The Lion King. I was insistent. Reluctantly, he got the tickets and brought me. We both loved the play so much that not only did we buy the soundtrack at the show (which y'all know they rob you) but we also snuck into a shady back alley, at mid-night, in New York City (!) behind the Majestic Theater to get my picture with the "Phantom" and "Christine."

I was seventeen-years-old and I still remember every detail of the show.