The Arts

Fairly regularly, I attend lectures, plays, operas, and concerts, which are listed below. Though it's a stretch to include television and movies on a page called "The Arts," they are included here as well.


Television

I have not owned a television since March of 2002. When I did own a television, my favorite shows were The Practice, and Ally McBeal when it was in its heydey. Now, when I'm at a place with a television, I love to catch Will & Grace (as soon as Karen opens her mouth, I'm on the floor rolling), and Judging Amy.


Movies

As far as movies go, I see very few mainstream movies. Movies are in a different place, click here to see those. (Warning: You will be taken outside of my homepage to a place on the Internet where I keep an online journal. At any time while in my journal, you can comment on any of the entries by clicking on the words "leave a comment" in the lower left corner of each entry. To return to my homepage, you'll have to use the "Back" button on your browser to navigate your way back here, or just type in my homepage address to start all over again.)


Lectures

Date
Speaker
Venue
Comments
02/15/00
Joan Rivers
Memorial Auditorium
First in the Unique Lives series, whose subscription base consisted of about 3000 women and 200 gay men. Joan was hysterical.
03/01/00
Lesley Stahl
Memorial Auditorium
Second in the series.
04/05/00
Gloria Steinem
Memorial Auditorium
Third in the series. I didn't think much of Gloria before I attended. I left a big fan of hers.
05/10/00
Gov. Ann Richards
Memorial Auditorium
Fourth in the series.
06/05/00
Mary Tyler Moore
Memorial Auditorium
Last in the series. I brought mom to this one, and it turned out to be quite disappointing. Mary basically "read" her lecture instead of talking from the heart.
02/26/01
Lauren Bacall
Memorial Auditorium
In the 2001 series. Lauren was so bitter. I felt sorry for her after attending this.
06/04/01
Maya Angelou
Memorial Auditorium
Superb!
04/05/02
David Sedaris
Meymandi Hall
Just hysterical.

Plays

Date
Name
Venue
Comments
05/1987
Les Miserables
The West End, London
I saw this with Donna, her parents, and my parents while on our trip to Europe.
?
Oh! Calcutta!
Broadway
The full monty before The Full Monty!
?
Cats
Broadway
I saw this before I'd ever been around cats, and didn't "get it." I loved the music though.
?
A Chorus Line
Broadway
?
Lettice & Lovage
Off-Broadway
This had Maggie Smith in it. Love her!
?
Angels in America
Broadway
I didn't get this when I saw it.
?
10 Naked Men
Off-Broadway
 
11/11/97
Triumph of Love
Broadway
Starred Betty Buckley and F. Murray Abraham.
11/12/97
Bring In 'Da Noise Bring In 'Da Funk
Broadway
 
11/19/97
Forever Tango
Off-Broadway
Hot tango dancers!
11/25/97
Ivanov
Off-Broadway
Starred Kevin Cline and Robert Foxworth.
12/02/97
The Life
Broadway
I saw this twice, once with mom.
12/06/97
Grandma Sylvia's Funeral
Off-Broadway
I saw this with mom. This was so funny, especially at the beginning when I dropped her off at the theater while I parked.
12/06/97
Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular
Rockefeller Center
Classic! I saw this with mom.
12/07/97
The Last Session
Off-Broadway
I saw this with mom.
12/08/97
Miss Saigon
Broadway
I saw this with mom.
12/10/97
The Phantom of the Opera
Broadway
I saw this with mom. We had 5th row seats.
12/27/97
Rent
Broadway
I surprised Rob on his birthday at 10AM with a 3:00 flight that day for the 8PM showing that night.
10/09/99
Naked Boys Singing
Off-Broadway
And yes, they were!
04/05/01
Bent
Artspace
A REP production. Most excellent. I cried.
10/21/01
Stomp
Memorial Auditorium
What fun!
02/19/02
The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told
Artspace
Local theater (REP) presentation.
03/05/02
Rent
BTI Center
Had to see it again.
04/20/02
The Mystery of Charles Dickens
Broadway
Nick, Michael's partner, was the Lighting Designer for this play. He invited me to a dress rehearsal, and I got to see how some of the "back stage" stuff works, which was very cool.
07/07/02
The Vagina Monologues
Meymandi Hall
I laughed and laughed and laughed.
02/20/03
Lilies
Artspace
Local theater (REP) presentation. Gregor was in it. Well done.
03/01/03
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Off-Broadway
I took mom and dad to see this one. It starred Whoopi Goldberg.
03/01/03
Man of La Mancha
Broadway
I took mom and dad to see this one, too. Ma Rainey was the matinee. This was the evening show.
03/02/03
The Lion King
Broadway
I took mom and dad to see this one, too.
10/02/03
The Mousetrap
NC State University
Gregor was in it.
03/14/04
Mamma Mia!
BTI Center
I loved these ABBA songs. I went with Judy.
Various
Various
Local Venues

I had season tickets to the UNC's Playmakers for several years.

I've seen many of Raleigh Ensemble Players plays.

My friend Gregor is an actor, and I try to see every play that he has a part in.

06/26/04
Wicked!
Broadway

Two hours before the matinee, I entered the lottery drawing for two front row tickets at $25 a piece. The show was sold out. About 250 people entered the lottery. My name was called 4th! What a fantastic, fantastic show.

06/26/04
Frozen
Broadway

Swoozie Kurtz was in this, who I love. Very, very intense. Great drama!

10/29/04
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
NC State University

This was a decent local production. Gregor was in it.

02/20/05
Miss Saigon
BTI Center

With Donna, Judy, Robert, and Richard Z. We met Joe and Richard (from Charlotte) there.

06/03/05
Appintment with Death
NC State University

I loved this play. My friend Gregor was in it.

06/19/05
Dial "M" for Murder
NC State University

I loved this play, too. My friend Gregor had a lead part in it.

10/04/05
The Producers
Broadway

My friend Steve and I laughed and laughed at this play, which neither of us had seen.

10/05/05
Lion King
Broadway

This was my second time seeing this show on Broadway, and it was as magnificent this time as it was the last. Steve saw it for the first time. We attended the matinee.

10/05/05
Wicked
Broadway

Last year, I won the lottery and saw this on the front row. This time, Steve won the lottery, and we both saw it on the front row.

10/06/05
Hairspray
Broadway

We almost "lost our card" over this one! Great show!

10/07/05
Mamma Mia!
Broadway

I'd seen this in Raleigh, but not on Broadway, so it was a first for both Steve and me. The lady in the standing room only slot behind and to the left of me thought I'd paid $81.25 to hear her sing ABBA songs.

Operas

Date
Name
Venue
Comments
06/23/00
Madama Butterfly
Memorial Auditorium
This is basically the operatic version of the play, Miss Saigon.
04/01/01
Starbird
A.J. Fletcher Auditorium
I can't remember a thing about this opera. I'm not sure I even attended it. It's on my calendar, though. :-)
05/30/01
Carmen
A.J. Fletcher Auditorium
I saw this with Mary.
02/08/02
Beatrice di Tenda
A.J. Fletcher Auditorium
I saw this with Mary.
03/22/02
H.M.S. Pinafore
Carolina Theater
This was a Gilbert and Sullivan opera, which means it was in English. :-)
01/31/03
Samson & Delilah
BTI Center
I saw this with Mary.
03/19/04
Ruddigore
Carolina Theater
Another Gilbert and Sullivan opera, and Robert's first opera.
05/21/04
Turandot
BTI Center
I saw this with Mary. We found between six and seven typos in the subtitles, and the subtitle machine went down for about seven minutes near the end of Act I.
04/01/05
The Merry Widow
BTI Center
I saw this with Mary and Robert. It was in English, and we "air checked off" items on my "mind map" as they happened.
06/10/05
Tosca
BTI Center
I saw this with Mary, Kelly, and Robert. Things went fairly smoothly at this performance. Once again, we "air checked" items on my "mind map" as they happened.

Concerts

Date
Performer(s)
Venue
Comments
07/25/98
Leann Rimes
Alltel Pavilion
She was still just a kid, and just belted out those songs. Amazing.
?
Elton John
Alltel Pavilion
We had lawn seats, and it rained like a mother during this concert.
?
Anita Baker
Alltel Pavilion
Rob and I had killer seats (the tables) for this concert.
?
Jimmy Buffet
Alltel Pavilion
Cheeseburgers in paradise!
?
James Taylor
Alltel Pavilion
I'm pretty sure I've seen James a couple of times at "the Creek."
?
Reba McIntyre
Alltel Pavilion
I just love Reba.
06/14/03
Brooks & Dunn
Alltel Pavilion
I went with the guys I dance with at Flex, and we did line dances on the lawn during the concert. A couple of girls sitting next to us joined in on the ones they knew. Fun!
05/14/04
Alan Jackson & Martina McBride
Alltel Pavilion
Alan is so great. Martina held her own as well. It took us 1.5 hours to get out of the parking lot when it was over. That sucked!
06/12/04
Tim McGraw
Alltel Pavilion
Just an absolute hunk of man.
11/04/04
Dolly Parton
Alltel Pavilion
One of the most genuine people I've ever had the honor of being in the presence of. Loved the show!
02/04/05
Josh Groban
RBC Center
This was my Christmas present from Joe. What a voice on this man, and the violin virtuoso with him was phenomenal.
04/17/05
Reba McEntire
Alltel Pavilion
Joe Nichols opened, then Brad Paisley opened, then Reba. Great show!
07/29/05
James Taylor
Alltel Pavilion
We tailgated with Mary, Charlie, Robbie, Dean, Bryan and Jen. Loved James.
11/26/05
Broadway Nights with the Three Phantoms
Blumenthol Theater, Charlotte, NC
I saw this with Joe, for free!
02/05/06
Memorial Auditorium
It was good, but overall I was disappointed.

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