A "Wicked" Way to Spend a Saturday

Sheer bliss.

That pretty much sums up my day yesterday, when eight of my friends and I ventured beyond the Orange Curtain into L.A. to see Wicked, followed by dinner at the delightful Farmer's Market at Third and Fairfax.

At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, I really would not be exaggerating to say it was one of the best days of my year! Anyone who knows me knows I'm in love with musical theater - seeing a show enlivens my soul in an intangible way I just can't describe. It's my favorite, favorite thing in the world - and Wicked is my favorite play, to boot! And I have delightful friends. Really. They're wonderful. So combining so many favorites into one day, I was in a state of rapture and joy. A few in our group were first-timers, and I'm happy to report that they loved the play, too.

Plus, as a native Los Angelena, my pulse always races a little faster in my City of Angels. I looooove it!!! I've grown a little OC'ified and agree that it's dirty and crowded... but, still, it's where I was raised, where my parents were raised. It's home, and a piece of my heart will always reside up there. Being in L.A. always brings a grin to my face - especially when it involves doing something related to arts, culture and anything uniquely L.A. I love that city!

And guess whose star we passed on our way in?

The LOVE of my LIFE!!! *sigh*


Yesterday was my third time seeing Wicked at the Pantages. I've loved it both other times, but this cast was especially amazing! They added such emotional depth to everything. It was the same actor playing Fiyero as when I saw the national tour in 2005 - Derrick Williams - and I really enjoy how he plays the role. The Elphaba - who, oddly enough, is named Teal! - had an amazing voice. I would give up my first-born to sing like that! Okay, probably not... but, wow, to sing like that! I can't even imagine. If I had a voice like that, I would sing all the time, just to listen to myself. Well... more than I already do that. :)

A few in our group were first-timers, and I'm happy to report that they loved the play, too. During intermission we all needed a stretch break, so we congregated for a little photo shoot in the stair landing above the lobby.

Here are some of my favorites:

Isn't the Pantages gorgeous?! We were more than happy to lend it some of our beauty. :)

I'm trying to help Cort smile for the camera, since apparently he doesn't know how to do so on his own - he's always making a face! It reminds me of Brandon, for you La Crescentans. So annoying!I love the art-deco styling - it's like stepping into the 1920s!

So... you're not supposed to take pictures inside the theater, but I couldn't resist. Check out the amazing ceiling!

And here are a couple of shots of the stage - my flash went off for the picture below, and yes, I got busted by an usher. Whatever. It was so worth it!


After the play we shot over to the Farmer's Market, a little L.A. gem to which my stepmom introduced me a few years ago - and I've been back many a time since! I love it.

I did learn, however, that I've always been smart to park in the structure at The Grove next door - parking for the Farmer's Market is a mess! Aubrey hopped out to direct traffic so we could finally get a spot. Classic.

Here's another great Aubrey moment - a little exchange during dinner:

ME: I am so content, I could die a happy woman, here and now!
LAURA: You'd better not - how would we get home?
AUBREY: No worries, I know where her keys are.

Yup. I love my friends.

Anyways, Farmer's Market - there's just about every kind of food imagineable in the little restaurant booths. People in our group ordered Korean BBQ, Brazilian BBQ (a la Tucanos or Rodizio Grill), middle-eastern cuisine, Mexican food and good ol' Southern Cajun cooking (I highly recommend the blackened catfish - yum-o!). And, of course, we had to stop at Littlejohn's for toffee - best in the world!

Aubrey and Laura dig into their Brazilian grub - although I think Aubs really just wanted to dig into the Brazilian at the restaurant...

Dawn and Cort - see what I mean about his inability to smile for the camera? Oh well, at least Dawn looks hot. That roommate of mine sure knows how to work the camera!

I swear, food always tastes better with awesome friends!

Jason and Heather - yeeeeeah... don't mess with Heather when she's eating! ;)

The blonde brigade - Heather and Elizabeth


We noticed these wavy people on the restroom signs - did they have a little too much to drink or what?!

So, that's the dish on our delightful day. If you ever get the opportunity to see Wicked, GO! You won't regret it! (Tabitha tells me it's headed to Utah in April, FYI...)

We're Off to See the Wizard...

I'm off to Wicked tomorrow for my third go-around at the Pantages Theater with eight friends - plus dinner at the wonderful Farmer's Market afterward.

Seeing my favorite play in my favorite theater with some of my absolute favorite people in the world - does life get any better?

I'm Not a Musician - But I Play One on TV!

What happens when you mix a Bachelor, a few Heroes, a guy who's Lost, a Desperate Housewife and a plumber, plus Chuck, a doctor, and his intern in the House?


Why, you get Band from TV, which is what it sounds like: a cover band composed of TV actors who play for nonprofit causes in their spare time.

Netflix sponsored their latest show a couple of weeks ago, and when I got the invite from Netflix, there was no way I wasn't going!!! TV? Music? Classic television episodes afterward? All in the lawn of the Gene Autry National Center, a hop-skip-and-jump away from my childhood stomping grounds? What's not to love?!

My friend Laura and I made record time driving to L.A. and snagged some pretty good seats on the lawn about an hour before the show got started.


Taking to the stage that evening were Band from TV regulars James Denton (Desperate Housewives), Jesse Spencer (House), Greg Grunberg (Heroes, Alias), Bob Guiney (The Bachelor, TLC's Date My House), Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives, Lois and Clark), and accomplished musicians Chris Kelley, Barry Sarna, Jon Sarna, Chris Mostert and child-star turned bass player Brad Savage (The Apple Dumpling Gang). The usual band was joined for the evening by Hugh Laurie (House), Hayden Panettiere (Heroes), Zach Levi (Chuck), Adrian Pasdar (Heroes) and Jorge Garcia (Lost).

Here they are, pre-show - can you spot Greg Grunberg in a black tee in the middle?

Oh, and in the crowd? Hayden's boyfriend/costar, Milo Ventimiglia, snapping pictures like the best of the paparazzi. Not gonna lie - I was totally starstruck, watching him and Hayden - my favorite Heroes - as they chatted to the side of the stage. They were too cute!

I have to say, I was pretty impressed with Band from TV, too - they were actually great! Lucky for you, some fellow audience members uploaded footage to YouTube. Now you can check out the Band from TV goodness from the concert. Let's start with the official footage of the opening number:



Oh, and here's my pic from that number - yep, I ran up and was that close!

Man, they rocked! Jesse Spencer can play the fiddle like none other. His rendition of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" was spectacular - listen for yourself!




Did you see the blurry white line to the right of the big screen behind the band? They hung a little Hollywood sign that would look natural on camera as Netflix filmed. I had to laugh - the real deal is on the other side of the mountain, and anyone who knows L.A. would know you can't see it from this side of Griffith Park!

At one point, James Denton slipped out of his white oxford and busted out "Papa Loves Mama," showing off his bulging biceps in a grey tank. Yah. Hot.

Here's a "The Letter" with Bob Guiney and Zach Levi, who both have impressively great voices - and can you spot Adrian Pasdar playing bass on the left?



Wow, and can Hugh Laurie ever play piano?! Here he is on "Such a Night":



The only star who was a bit of a low note was Teri. Props to her for making the time to be part of the band - but, besides wearing a scandalously short dress... well... let me put it this way: when Bob Guiney, who did most of the emceeing, remarked "What can't that woman do?" - Laura and I, in unison, responded "Sing?" Yeah. Judge for yourself:



She wasn't too bad on fast songs like "Before He Cheats," but oh - no more ballads for Teri. Don't quit your day job, hon.

After the show, Netflix aired several classic TV episodes on a huge inflatable screen - School House Rocks election bits played between episodes of The Cosby Show, Mary Tyler Moore and a few other shows. It was such a fun night!!!

Many thanks to Laura, who came along for the fun on a perfect summer night (and provided cameras, since mine's battery was dead). Seriously, it's great happenings like that (and the weather, too) that make me so, so glad I live in SoCal!