NYC Day #1 - The Ham and I

Hello!!!

Let's catch up.  The flight to NYC was quick, quiet, and uneventful.  I took a LYFT from the airport to the hotel... I don't reccomend that to anyone.  I think it's cheaper to take a cap.   I got early check in a the hotel (Grand Hyatt) and took a nap.  I got up and headed out.   I walked to the Broadway and walked around and oriented myself again, it's been 9 years since my last visit.  I got some lunch at the Cranberry Deli, recommended by a local, and was good, cheap and fast.

First show of the day was "Hamilton" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.  The last time I was at the Richard Rodgers theatre was in 1999 to see "Footloose" and the outside of the theatre was green.  Lots of shows have been through those doors since then including "In The Heights" - the first musical by the creator of "Hamilton".   Upon first listning of "Hamilton", I was quite underwhelmed as it sounded way to much like "In the Heights" and I was having issues with the "old" story and the rap/hip hop music.  Modern lyrics coming out of these historic figures mouth.   Couldn't get passed that.  Until I saw it.

Everrything works.  The music, the lyrics, the staging, the costumes, everything.  That's not to say it's perfect.  Because it's not.  The music is still quite repetivtive, and I know, you can say the same for Sondheim and Lloyd Webber, but it was, and I guess it works. The lyrics are clever and sometimes brilliantly funny.  If you listen carefully, you can catch some other musical theatre references.  The costumes were a mix between period and modern that made it look like they were period.  I can understand why there is such a hype for this show as the storytelling is top notch and it's history told in a modern way and I guess people that don't normally like musical theatre music can "relate" to this style of music.

After "Hamilton" I headed over to TKTS and got a ticket for "The King and I". I went back to the hotel to drop off my "Hamillton" swag and then walked to Lincoln Center.  It tuned out to be quite a long walk.  I walked up 5th Ave, which may have been a mistake because there were a lot of people on Fifth Ave.

I made it to Lincoln Center and took my seat for "The King and I".   First of all, the show had a FULL orchestra using the original orchestrations.   No keyboards to be found - and they were amazing.  I finally got to see Kelli O'Hara in person, and she did not dissapoint.  In fact, it was a perfect production. The sets and costumes were top notch.  The cast was incredible.  I wish this current King was their oriignal king when the show opened because the chemistry between the King and Anna was perfect.

I walked home a diffeent way this time, hoping it was be quickier, but it wasn't. And so, here I am.

I must end this quickly as I have to be up at 5:00am to get to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route by 6:00am.  I'm hopong for a nap tomorrow.

Matt