Wicked

 PHENOMENAL. FANTASTICAL. WICKED.

Me in the Gershwin Theatre 

 So my wonderful friend John Adam gave precious front row seat tickets to my friend Louis and I to see Wicked in NYC because he had already seen it all for $30.

Is he crazy you may ask?
A lunatic I say!

Are you sure $30 you may ask?
Why would I lie to you you I ask!

How is this possible you may ask?
Well 2.5 hours before every Broadway show, they do what is called "rush" or "lottery." 2.5 hours before curtain you run yourself over to the box office and put your name in for a raffle.  If they call your name a half hour later. CONGRATS! You have won yourself 2 front row tickets to see that show your name was put in for $30 each! An astounding $200 value!  John's name was pulled an bam! here he is giving me a golden green ticket (haha) and I am being filmed balling my eyes out from pure happiness.

Part of the set

It was magical. I was on an emotional roller coaster all night.  Louis and I bought fancy programs and fancy slushies in Wicked cups. 

Ticket and Fancy Program Book

Elphaba (Jackie Burns) was fantastic, Glinda (Chandra Lee Schwartz) made an amazing transition from ditzy, crazy Glinda to the powerful, calm one we all know and love from The Wizard of Oz. I was in love with them all (with the exceptions of the monkeys because they scared me and Richard Blake as Fieryo because of his nasally voice—although he was beautiful). I could practically touch them (but I restrained myself!).

Watching the performance filled in a few of the gaps that I had by listening to the music constantly. I don't know if I can pick my favorite song either! I'm going to say ANYTHING sung by Elphaba and Glinda solo or as a duet ("The Wizard and I," "Popular,""Defying Gravity," "No Good Deed," "For Good").

My friend Louis and I

 Wicked has always been my favorite musical just from the love of the soundtrack and I had an amazing first time seeing it thanks to John Adams, the RIT Players and the cast and crew of Wicked!

College Bucket List

So it's been awhile. Sorry. I even promised there would be more content this time!  I guess getting back into the swing of things was a lot harder than I thought!  I feel like I always have something to get done. But no matter.

Lots of lists lately too :-)

So I'm coming up on the last part of my undergraduate college experience and I remember when I came in there were things I wanted to do, things I wanted to try (a list in my head of course).  I think I've actually completed (or will complete in the next year) most of the list. Lookin' gooddd.

1. Study Abroad
Somewhere, anywhere. Mostly, England. Definitely, England. GUESS WHAT! I'm going to England, Summer 2012. I will even get to go see other countries too!

Bader International Study Centre

2. Be in a College Play or Musical
This one was completed the first quarter being at RIT. Fall of 2009, RIT Players Presents: A Night of One Acts. I was in "Stage Directions" with my best friend Meghan (we didn't know it at the time) and Tyler Puglisese, directed by John Oliphant. And the rest my dear friends, was history.

RIT Players Logo

4. Become an Eboard Member of a Club or Organization
I have spent 2 long years as the Communications Officer and Advertising and Public Relations Manager of The RIT Players.  I'm running for President and Vice President next week! Vote for me!

5. Join a Sorority
Being at RIT, you don't get much girl time. I've always wanted to join a sorority but was too afraid (I heard horror stories).  But this quarter I am taking the plunge and joining Alpha Xi Delta.  Here goes nothing!

6. Be a Resident Advisor
It always sounds like a sweet job that came with so much responsibility and leadership experience that would benefit me in the long run.  I didn't stop until I was hired last Spring for the honors residents halls which turned into a Senior Resident Advisor position this quarter. I absolutely love the job so much, I'm thinking of a career in Student Affairs!

Gibson Staff August 2011

7. Join the Honors Program
So I was touring RIT and the Honors program was mentioned that the top 10% of the incoming class would be accepted into the Honors program.  I wasn't initially invited and of course that drove my motivation and determination to show the Honors program that I would excel in college.  By the end of my freshmen year, they offered membership as a late entry honors student.

8. Have a Double Major
I was originally going to change my major from Advertising and Public Relations to Marketing and then I thought about it and took some more communications classes (I could always make it a minor) and eventually decided that it was the right path for me. But I was so interested in so many areas and classes that are super interesting are limited. I got into honors psychology and loved almost every minute of it. After just 2 classes I signed up for a double major in Psychology.  Confusing where I want to go to grad school even more!

9. Become SG Student Government President
Yeah. This one. Never gonna happen.  I never got into Student Government any of my years here at RIT  and seeing as how the elections for next year are coming up, it's safe to say that I can keep this one in my dreams.

These are obviously been the ones at the top of my mind lately and I'm sure I've blocked out the ones I haven't come close to completing.

A Doll House

Currently, I am working on a theatre project produced by the RIT Players and the College of Liberal Arts.  I am Mrs. Linde and the Advertising and Public Relations Coordinator in the show.  My friends from the RIT Players are also in it:

Nora: Jenifer Krist
Torvald: Tom Praderio
Krogstad: Joe Plock
Dr. Rank: Peter Janak
Helene: Michelle Smith
Anne Marie: Allie Trimbolli
Delivery Boy: Joey Natalzia

Directed by: Jerry Artgetsinger

If you don't know the play, it is a three act Ibsen.  The play was extremely controversial when it was first published, as it was centered around the Women's Rights Movement of the 19th century that was happening in Sweden.

The play follows the life of Nora and Torvald Helmer over the course of a week or two.  It begins with a house typical of that time, Torvald has just gotten a promotion at the bank he currently works at and the family is moving up in socioeconomic status.  When Mrs. Linde (my character!) arrives, Nora feels the need to reveal her largest secret to Mrs. Linde, that she has borrowed money without her husband's permission (something that was illegal in this time).  The show follows Nora's struggle to keep the secret from her husband for the person she has borrowed the money from (Krogsted) threatens to revel her secret and that she has forged the signature of her father.  Nora begins a frivolous, naive woman and finds the courage to leave her traditional position in the home to discover the world and its unjustice.

If you want to have a more in depth analysis of the show, you can read more about it at SparkNotes.

Or!

You can come to the show!

Where: LBJ (building 60) Lab Theatre

February 23 at 7:30pm
February 24 at 7:30pm
February 25 at 7:30pm
February 26 at 2:00pm

For more information you can e-mail: info@players.rit.edu