My love of the musical theatre started when I was a kid. I saw "My Fair Lady" on television and decided the Cockney accent was delightful. After a week or two of mispronounced vowels, my parents were SO glad when I went back to my Okie twang. When I was in elementary school, "Annie" was very popular. I memorized all the lyrics to all the songs. I got a perm. I believed the sun would come out tomorrow. "Annie" was the first live theatrical experience I attended, and I was sad when I fell asleep in the second act and didn't wake until the very end.
When I was in college, I worked for the head of the Musical Theatre department for a semester. I even wrote my Master's thesis on how pieces of literature were converted to the musical stage. Now, I'm the president of the Theatre Guild at my alma mater.
So...I **heart** the Tony Awards! Last night's show was a spectacle (despite numerous technical difficulties, which - considering the event and skill level in the room - was regrettable). I saw "Billy Elliot" when I was in London and was thrilled when the boys who rotate in the leading role won. Their dancing skills have to be phenomenal to carry the show, and their acceptance speech was precious. You could tell they were so nervous despite their professionalism and showmanship.
I was thrilled when I heard Neil Patrick Harris was hosting the show, and I hoped he'd be given the opportunity to sing. He has a great voice. (If you haven't seen Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog, you should do so immediately.) Finally, as the credits were rolling, they gave him a chance to flex his pipes on the Radio City Stage. It was a great ending to the show.
Now, I must decide which cast albums I must add to my collection ...
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