If You Haven't Listened to Hamilton Yet You're Living Under a Stupid Rock

Okay you guys, I don't really know what to tell you if you haven't discovered Hamilton yet. I'm going to do you a solid and provide you all of the links you need to become as obsessed with it as I am.

BASIC RUNDOWN

• Musical about the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton. I know, it sounds so weird but just OPEN YOUR MINDS. I've learned so much about American History just from listening to this soundtrack I'm not even kidding you
• Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also wrote In The Heights and is a genius if you ask me
• The entire thing is rapped completely through. It's like Les Miserables, only RAP
• All of the characters are played by people of various races. 
• They do a ticket lottery every day and every once in a while the stars of the show as well as other Broadway stars come to the stage door and give little performances for the crowd while they wait for the lottery. These are called #Ham4Ham
• It's becoming a cultural phenomenon and is probably going to win every single Tony Award for which it receives a nomination. 
• A zillion famous people have been to see it including Beyonce I don't know what else you want from me. 
• Tickets are nearly impossible to come by for less than $200, and it's basically sold out from now until July.

FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN IT:

(One of the cast members takes a selfie of herself with celebrities in the background whenever they come to the show. #StruxSelfie)

• Barack and Michelle Obama (twice) 
• Beyonce
• Bernadette Peters
• Jon Hamm
• Jimmy Fallon
• Diane Keaton
• Emma Watson
• Usher
• Oprah
• Nick Cannon
• Gabrielle Union
• Selena Gomez
• Steve Martin
• Jon Krasinski and Emily Blunt

LISTEN TO THE ALBLUM

WATCH THE 60 MINUTES SPECIAL (which drew the largest 60 Minutes audience all year)

WATCH #HAM4HAM VIDEOS

Also enjoy this pic of the Schuyler Sisters who are basically the 1770s version of Destiny's Child

Girl Power. America. Broadway Musicals.

Gimme A Doggie Bag, I'm Takin' it Home!

Sunday was probably my second favorite day of our trip (because Thursday already took the cake as one of the greatest days of my life).

We woke up at our own leisure and just spent the morning killing time until it was time to meet Kerry, Kyle, Shannon, Kyle and Annie at 5 Napkin Burger for lunch. We had pizza and smoothies for breakfast because we make the rules, and we ate on the stoop of a cute apartment. We were all about feeling like we lived there lol. We tried to use the CitiBikes but we kind of failed miserably.

We also got to go to Schmackary's. It's a cookie place that literally shared a building with the restaurant where we were supposed to have lunch. It is adorable, and the cookies are DELICIOUS. I had a smores cookie. I was the happiest camper because you know how much I love cookies. Also fun fact about Schmackary's: you can go on their website and send cookies to broadway shows. They have a lot of ties with the Broadway community and all of the actors have "favorite cookies." They also team up with Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS to raise money and the stars of various shows will come in and work in the shop to raise money. It was cool to see a place that I hear so many people talk about! Also I love cookies so....

We had Lunch at 5 Napkin Burger in Hell's Kitchen. I thought it was absolutely delicious. We met Kyle, Kerry, Shannon and Annie too. It was awesome to be able to spend the day with them. We finished up with lunch and headed over to the New Amsterdam Theater to see the matinee of Aladdin on Broadway. 

You guys, IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I can't say enough good things about this show. I always love to see musicals that are based on movies I love. It's cool seeing characters come to life and feel like you're transported into the movie, but this was unlike anything I've ever seen. Especially since I grew up watching movies like The Little Mermaid and Aladdin with Kerry and Ky, and I got to sit and watch the musical with them. It was a little bit different than the movie, but in the best way. We were all in AWE the entire time. The actors were so insanely talented and the production value was AMAZING. Have I said the word amazing too many times yet? 

There were more than 300 costumes in the production. The number "Prince Ali" ALONE had 80 different costumes. Different groups of people just KEPT ON MARCHING out onto the stage, and after like three or four groups I realized it was the same 15 people changing their costumes! Each costume was made with beautiful rich fabrics and TONS of sparkles. During "A Whole New World" the entire stage is covered with sparkling stars. The entire thing was a visual TREAT. 

The cave of wonders literally rose out of the sand. The carpet flies freely across the stage. I have no idea how they did it, but it was magical. I had goosebumps practically the entire time, and tears in my eyes more than once. 

We got to see James Monroe Iglehart as the Genie, a role he recently won a TONY award for. MAN OH MAN DID HE DESERVE IT. He was INCREDIBLE. He stole the show for sure. "Friend Like Me" is like 10 minutes long and he DOESN'T. STOP. MOVING. for the entire number. I watched the entire thing with tears in my eyes because it was so filled with joy. I never wanted it to stop. How lucky he must feel to be able to bring that much happiness to people every single day. I heard my aunt audibly gasp when tap dancers came out, and there was a 5 minute long standing ovation at the end of the number. I have never heard an audience cheer that loud in a Broadway show. It was delightful.  

I never wanted it to end. RUN don't walk to see this show. 

After the show was over we stuck around and met some of the actors outside the stage door. That. Was. Awesome. Courtney Reed (Jasmine) told me she liked my phone case. Lauren got a selfie with James Monroe Iglehart (Genie). The entire thing was just so cool. 

After Aladdin we had tickets to see Assssscat3000, but we skipped it. I was kind of bummed, but we still hadn't seen Central Park. I decided it was more important for Jesse and Lauren to see Central Park, and they agreed. We walked down 5th avenue on a high from that amazing production and watched the sunset in Central Park. It was like a dream. Also I felt very Mindy as we were walking through Central Park, because that place is like land of the romantic comedy. 

We finished off our evening at the Library Bar in the NoMad hotel. It was a bar that Jimmy Fallon once spoke of on his show, so naturally we wanted to try it. It had sort of a speakeasy vibe and had really cool gourmet drinks. It was the perfect end to a perfect trip. 

I'm so lucky I was able to take this trip, and I will remember it for the rest of my life. So much amazing culture and food and people. My heart is full.

Carly Rae Jepsen is Cinderella and I have a lot of feelings about it.

You guys, today's the day.

Carly Rae Jepsen is starting as Cinderella on Broadway.

At first I was so mad about it. I am obsessed with Laura Osnes, and was so sad to hear she was leaving. She's literally perfect as Cinderella, and while I know nobody stays in a role forever, it was just a heartbreaking reality to have to embrace. She did do a Princess Diary about her last performance as Cinderella though and it was the perfect way for her to say goodbye. I loved every second. Thanks for being a phenomenal Cinderella Laura, you were inspiring AF when I saw you, and I think you're a badass. Love ya, Mean it.

Sarah Hyland was on my side too. Im TELLING YOU PEOPLE. We would be friends.

I didn't want Carly Rae to do it mostly because I didn't want to see Laura leave. But I also got all worked up because CINDERELLA IS MY THING TO BE CRAZY OBSESSED ABOUT AND NOW I HAVE TO SHARE IT WITH A BUNCH OF TEENY BOPPER IDIOTS WHO ONLY ARE INTERESTED IN IT BECAUSE OF CARLY RAE. Like, I don't want to see Cinderella on the pages of freakin tiger beat magazine. It's my thing. Leave me alone.

Also like Rodgers & Hammerstein's story is NOT the Disney story that everyone knows. When people got on social media and were like "WHY IS SHE CINDERELLA SHES NOT BLONDE" I got so mad because 1. wigs and 2. SHE DOESNT HAVE TO BE BLONDE. The R&H version is so much more about Cinderella herself and how to be kind to people and follow your dreams. I didn't want Carly Rae to come in all "disney" and ruin the amazing image Laura and the Original Broadway Cast have given us. 

BUTTTT I do really enjoy Carly Rae. I'm that girl who still loves when Call Me Maybe comes on, and I love that she's been posting a ton of stuff on her instagram about behind the scenes at Cinderella. The news of her being the new lead has brought Cinderella up in a lot of different places so it's making it a lot easier for me to be obsessed with it :) hehe I have to dig less. Also she's not going all Disney on us. She's doing a good job at keeping up what's already there (from what I can tell on social media anyways)

Exhibit A: She was in the New York Times

There are so many people that are like OMG SHES GOING TO BE AWFUL AT IT SHES GOING TO SUCK SHES NOT BROADWAY MATERIAL. Those people need to chill out. Obviously they wouldn't have cast her if she couldn't physically do the job. I also think she's got a good head on her shoulders and has a squeaky clean image and seems really nice.

So I guess I'm okay with Carly Rae being Cinderella. I'm excited to hear the songs as she sings them, and if you really think about it, it's probably a dream come true for her. So ya while I'm bummed that Laura Osnes isn't Cinderella anymore, if any star had to step into these glass slippers, I'm glad its her. Good Luck today Carly Rae, hope you crush it. Go make a ton of girls feel as inspired as Laura Osnes made me feel.

(but I still like to whine about how much I miss Laura with Katie Martin and passively agressively comment on all of the Instagrams when I'm upset)

I love Cinderella you guys. Like an unhealthy amount.

"Bizarre & Improbable & Pretty As a Page from a Fairytale Book....."

Fair warning, this post is so nerdy.

In case I haven't mentioned it about 500 times already, I'm unemployed. Yeah, I'm "actively looking for a job" blah blah blah, but unemployment leads to quite a bit of boredom. One of my favorite things to do in the midst of all this boredom is to learn as much as I can about various Broadway productions. I just think it is all SO INTERESTING, and there is so much you can learn and so many different types of things you can enjoy. I have a bunch of favorites (hey, maybe that can be an upcoming list), but there is one that tops all the rest...

Cinderella.

You guys, I'm obsessed. I just love watching the clips of it and looking at pictures of it, and listening to its music. Cinderella has just been so near and dear to my heart for my entire life. I grew up watching all different versions of it and singing the songs and being in awe at her, and for the longest time I've always said "God I wish they would make a Broadway production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein version of the story." It had always blown my mind that they hadn't. Well in December of 2012 Katie Wells stumbled across the news that it was a real thing. I remember legitimately falling out of my chair I was so excited. I started relentlessly begging my mom to take me to New York to see it.

Then came the Tony Awards.

I recorded them because I wasn't going to be home to watch it live, and I knew Cinderella was going to be one of the performances. It was a medley of a bunch of the songs including the one where the Fairy Godmother turns her into a princess and the one where she dances with the prince. She transformed ON STAGE RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES from her rag dress to a gown.

You guys, I watched the entire thing with my mouth hanging open in awe and tears in my eyes. It was the most magical, beautiful, wonderful thing I had ever seen and it made my heart so happy. I then rewound it and watched probably 900 more times. Coincidentally for me, this was right around the time of my college graduation, for which I would be given a gift from my parents....you guessed it....they bought me a trip to New York and tickets to see Cinderella on Broadway.

It was fantastic. I will love it forever and ever and ever. It will always be one of my favorite stories ever, and this version is a little bit different than the one everyone knows. They have updated it a little bit and made it for a modern audience. The songs are all the same, and there are a few new ones. The costume changes are phenomenal and oh my lanta, I just loved the entire thing. The fact that it's about being nice to people no matter what and that you can make things happen for yourself and just ah. I could talk forever. 

I especially love Laura Osnes, who plays the title role. I had no idea who she was until I saw her in June as Cinderella, and she is PERFECT at it. She has the most beautiful voice and she is just PERFECT at it. So naturally, when I got home and in all of my extra time I have had on my hands, I have thoroughly stalked her on the internet. Like I could probably make a creepy fan page about it because I'm so fascinated with her.  She is INCREDIBLY talented and she's just so pretty and oh my lanta. I just love her. Katie Martin and I are both obsessed with her and we just share videos of her back and forth on Facebook. Go look her up if you have a chance. She'll make you wish you could sing. She was in a production of Bonnie & Clyde and she sings this song and OMG she's just incredible.

 Laura has a video blog that she did that's on Youtube called "The Princess Diary" and it goes behind the scenes of the show and you can see all the fun things they do with Cinderella. It is so interesting and actually pretty funny. Probably go watch it. So ya. I'm weirdly obsessed with the Broadway Production of Cinderella. I would see it a million more times if I could, and I can't get enough of Laura Osnes or the music or the videos or anything.

And now I've provided you with enough information to go stalk her yourself and try and become half as obsessed with her/it as we are. Ah. I could go for days. I just love it so much. 

"In the arms of my love, I'm flying. over mountain and meadow and glen. and I like it so well that for all I can tell I may never come down to earth again."

Told you that was going to be so nerdy, but I don't even care. Everybody has that one weird thing they're obsessed with. This is mine.