Late Nite Catechism 2 at The Grove

At the urging of my wife, I agreed to go to a play at The Grove, in Upland, CA. I was not disappointed. It was enjoyable, and I especially had a great time watching my wife laugh over and over at the things Sister spoke of in the play. It brought back memories to Bonnie, growing up in a Catholic family, in Ohio in the 1950's!

The play was interactive. Sister had a list of the names of the audience, and referred to it repeatedly during the performance, calling on many to answer questions, remove gum from their mouths, cover up exposed parts of the body, etc.

For those of you that are interested in attending this "live" event, or any other at the Grove, I've given you the link:

http://www.grovetheatre.com/

Below is one of the many reviews of the play. We had one member who was called on repeatedly, Ray, the husband of Barbara, one of my wife's fellow teachers. Ray got several "rewards" from Sister for giving the right answers. Another member of the audience took the Ten Commandments paper, folded it and turned it into a paper airplane, sending it flying onstage!

Late Nite Catechism 2 is another “Catechism Class” with Sister focusing this time on Penance and the Ten Commandments. Sister spends most of the first act focusing on Heaven, Hell, Purgatory and Limbo... using her fantastic improvisation and audience interaction skills to “guilt” the audience, reminding us that we are “selfish, weak, and lazy” for failing to follow the proper path set forth by the Catholic Church. However, lest you think you are in for hours of lecturing and painful reminders, Sister peppers each comment and thought with humor and love and the audience reacts back in turn. Act Two focuses mostly on the Ten Commandments and questions from the audience regarding them. Sister handles these questions with tact, beauty, and total control even when audience members try to “upstage” Sister.

From a non-Catholic standpoint, Late Night Catechism 2 is actually instructional in addition to being humorous. Sister is constantly affirming other faiths and makes sure that the audience knows that “we’re trying to include the Jewish people” and people of other faiths. Though presented humorously, the information actually instructs and guides, and we leave the show not only laughing at ourselves and others, but a little bit wiser in regards to the Catholic Faith.

It’s not just stand-up comedy. It’s not just instruction. It’s not just a play. It’s Sister infusing the audience with her beautiful presence, knowledge, and soul. Sister doesn’t even stop when the “performance” is over. She stands in the lobby, thanking each guest, and collecting money for the real Sisters who are retiring and need monetary assistance.

You Got To See "Wicked"!

Wicked is Broadway's smash-hit musical that tells the untold story of the legendary Witches from L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Yesterday afternoon, we hit the freeways and travelled north to Hollywood, CA, to see the play. What a treat!

Prior to the show, we dined at the Restaurant, "Hollywood and Vine". My wife, Bonnie and I, usually go to Las Vegas, where we are comped for both the room, meals, and most of the shows that they have appearing at the times we are there. I have no real concept of the prices you have to pay, so I may be off base when I state the cost for value of the meal or the show, but will give it a try.

We went with a group of about 12 people Bonnie works with. Most are middle school teachers. We met at the restaurant around 4:00PM, had a cocktail, and sat down to dinner. Most of the main entree menu items were priced in the $20 to $30 range. A salad (split), 2 entrees, 2 glasses of wine, a desert (split), and 2 coffees cost about $110, including tax and an added 18% gratuity. Bonnie had the seared Ahi Tuna, and I had the Argentine Braised Short Ribs as our entrees. The restaurant was nice, clean, and the staff was efficient and friendly. We couldn't have asked for a more convenient location relative to the show. I'm providing a link for you, if you care to try the food and are in the area. It's well worth the trip!

http://www.hollywoodandvine.us/

About the musical....Wicked is a triumph for which Schwartz won two Grammy awards, a Drama Desk award (lyrics), and received his 6th Tony nomination.

As the publicity for the show states: Winner of 15 major awards, this "spectacular spectacle" [New York Post] transports audiences to a fantasy land of wizardry and witchcraft with Grammy Award-winning music, Tony Award-winning sets and costumes, and stunning special effects.

The Washington Post calls Wicked "a breathtaking success story of a magnitude the theatre has not witnessed since the peak years of The Phantom of the Opera". Now you can experience this magical new musical adventure in London and discover that you've not been told the whole story about the Land of Oz...

It opened on Broadway on October 30th, 2003. The cast recording received the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2005 and was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 30, 2006. Wicked earned back its entire initial investment by December 21, 2004. The Broadway company of Wicked celebrated its 1000th performance on March 23, 2006. The show began its first US national tour in early 2005.

We saw the musical in Los Angeles, California at the Pantages Theatre. Performances began on February 10, 2007, with an official opening on February 21. On the week ending on March 4, the show grossed a massive $1,786,110 and became the highest grossing attraction in Los Angeles theatre history. The previous record holder was The Producers, June 2003 at the Pantages. Elphaba is played by Eden Espinosa and Glinda is played by Megan Hilty. Each has previously played her role on Broadway.

One of Bonnie's fellow teacher's booked a block of tickets about 4 months ago, before the show took off. We paid just over $70 a ticket, and sat about midway on the 1st floor, right center orchestra section....nice seats! I understand the tickets at the show were selling for over $200 apiece. The show was in two acts, starting at 6:30PM, with a 15 min. intermission between acts, it ran until 9:30PM. Parking was an extra $15, and was within about a half block of the restaurant and theater. For anyone interested, I've provided a link for theater tickets.

www.pantages-theater.com

We all had a fun time, and we both enjoyed the show. I finally got to see how the tin man, the cowardily lion, and the straw man came to be....why I even found out why the "Wicked Witch" is green!!!