West End Geek

I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I'm a total musical nerd. Even though I can't play anything or sing worth a damn, I still absolutely love musicals, and theater of any kind.

I grew up on Brigadoon, The Sound of Music and could sing the entire Les Mis soundtrack before I was seven. My nanny introduced me to The King and I and then came The Music of The Night (Phantom). I believe the cure for a bad day is Maria and that there is no greater song than One Day More, no better love story than that of the Phantom and Christine.

The first play I ever saw was a local production of The Sound of Music. Then The Secret Garden on Broadway, and eventually, Les Mis in London. Followed by Les Mis basically anywhere I could find it. Y'all know it's my favorite.
It was fabulous! Duh. The actor who played Jean Valjean in the 25th Anniversary Concert plays him now, and he was super amazing. We had second row seats and I'm fairly certain that Enjolras winked at me.


I've loved The Phantom of The Opera for as long as I can remember, but, only got to see it in a big fancy venue recently with my sister in New York, so, I knew we had to see it in London. Naturally, it was amazing--I cried, of course--and my dad, who has never ever seen it really enjoyed it, so, that made me happy.

The lobby of Her Majesty's Theater where we saw Phantom.
The chandelier at intermission.


When planning the trip to London with my dad, I knew we had to see Les Mis and Phantom no matter what; then I realized we would be there in time for the last few days of the season at The Globe, and I booked tickets to my favorite Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing.
Y'all. The Globe. I just, no words. I am pretty sure that's what heaven is like. It was perfect and I was in my element. My dad was bored out of his mind.

The actors were spot on perfection and could not have played the roles better. Also, Jeffery from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air played Leonarto, so, there's that. Ha!


My dad thought he would be on theater overkill by that point, so, we left it at Phantom, Les Mis and Much Ado--y'all know I could have seen those over and over and been set, but, I was fine with the three.

But, my dad had a change of heart (mostly because we didn't end up going to Scotland. I don't want to talk about it), so, we added Mama Mia and The Wizard of Oz.

I was wildly excited about Mama Mia--two hours of Abba--bring it! My dad even kinda sorta got into it, but, at the end he goes "I had no idea there were so many people who loved Abba". And then I had a heart attack.
Although I actually don't like the story of The Wizard of Oz, I was excited to see it when I found out that the original Phantom, Michael Crawford was in it-- and, of course, everything is better on stage. It was actually really, really good. I wouldn't have seen it had my dad not suggested it, but, it was really fun and cute.

I'm telling you, Toto totally stole the show--too cute!

The London Paladium where we saw Oz.



After The Wizard of Oz I jetted off to the cinema to see The Phantom of The Opera 25th Anniversary Celebration. I tried to get tickets to see it at Royal Albert Hall, but, tickets sold out in days, so, I missed that bus.
It was really spectacular. I loved it. It was the first filming of Phantom and just perfect. It was really much more the play than the concert like the Les Mis celebrations were. The actors seriously became the characters and at the end they had the original cast and everyone who has played the Phantom--so, Michael Crawford, who I'd seen earlier in the day, and Colm Wilkinson, who was the original Jean Valjean. I DIE.

I know I wasn't there to see it in person, but, it was still pretty cool watching it live in London.
Me at the cinema waiting for Phantom to start. Also, the only picture of my cute outfit from that day. Sads.

I couldn't have asked for more fun, and we had fantastic seats for everything, which has spoiled me for life. I'm currently plotting a Vegas show extravaganza with my sister until I can drag her butt to London--or, ya know, anyone else who is willing to go to London and see Les Mis 500 times with me. (seriously. I need to go back to London like right now. Who's in? And I'm not joking!)
I'm going to Les Mis in DC in a few weeks and I'm super excited. Once a theater geek, always a geek!