May 15, 2016: Broadway Memories and Barcelona plans!

Elisa's Daily Scoop

A Wicked Day & Musical Memories

Hey guys! Sunday here!

So excited because me and my girls are going to see the Broadway show, Wicked today.

I bought these tickets months ago to celebrate Gianna's 12th birthday. The girls have been asking me to see this show for about two years now and I thought this would be a great time to go. 

Today also includes lunch before the show, at   Azalea Ristorante.

Me and the girls, along with my nephew, Nolan, ate at Azalea for the first time last Spring when we went to see Gigi on Broadway. We enjoyed it so much, that we decided to go back today.

Additionally, I've sent a number of people to this lovely New York City restaurant and received rave reviews about their dining experiences.

Azalea Ristorante, NYC - (c)travelincousins.com

Open and welcoming - Azalea Ristorante, NYC (c)travelincousins.com

Pre-theatre Lunch at Azalea - last Spring 2015 (c)travelincousins.com

hYesterday was really a delightful day the weather couldn't have been better it near 70°.  Sitting outside the barn, I caught some rays for about thirty minutes, before heading inside the arena to film the girls' riding. Boy, did that feel warm and comforting.

Both Gianna and Kelsey did amazing!  

Getting ready for a day of riding yesterday!

Back to the day at hand and a closer look at the musical Broadway show Wicked, the “true” history of the witches of Oz.

  16 Wicked Facts      
    About Wicked 

1. Stephen Schwartz, the writer of Wicked, who also wrote the musicals Pippin and Godspell, conceived the story in 1996, after reading Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

​2. Wicked premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in October 2003.

3. In the original Oz books by L. Frank Baum, The Wicked Witch didn't have a name. Writer, Gregory Maguire wrote Wicked, and he gave the witch her name using Baum's initials, L.F.B. = El-pha-ba.

4. Wicked was an instant hit and recovered its original production investment of $14 million in only 14 months. Most successful productions take up to 24 to 36 two months to recover the original investment.

5. The original cast included Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda and Joel Grey as the Wizard.

Original Cast members of Wicked, Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda (credit: broadway.com)

6. The original show contained a song that introduced the character of Fiyero called "Which Way's the Party," but, it was later taken out and replaced with "Dancing Though Life."

7. Winnie Holzman, the writer who wrote the musical’s book, also created one of the most beloved TV shows of our era: My So-Called Life. She also wrote for thirtysomething and Once and Again.

8. Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth were both nominated for Best Actress Tony Awards in 2004.  

9. Elphaba’s green skin tone is achieved with MAC makeup.   

10. On April 8, 2010, “Defying Gravity” was played to wake up Mission Specialist Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger as part of one of NASA's wake-up calls. 

11. Stephanie Block read the part of Elphaba while the show was being developed, but was eventually replaced by Menzel, however she did originated the role in the first national tour in 2005.

12. Wicked initially received mixed reviews from the critics including Ben Brantley of the New York Times, who called it a “sermon” with a “generic” score.

13. Today, Wicked has become one of Broadway’s most popular shows and has grossed more than $3.1 billion worldwide.

​14. The show has been performed in more than 100 cities in 13 countries around the world and has, to date, been translated into five languages: Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish and Korean.

​15. Wicked currently has eight productions around the world besides Broadway: London, Tokyo, Auckland, Seoul and Mexico City, plus a U.K. Tour and two concurrent North American National Tours.

16. On February 14, 2016, Wicked performed its 5124th performance with a 2PM matinee, making Wicked the 10th longest-running Broadway show, passing Rent.


What's amazing to me is that as "Miss Broadway," I still have not seen this show. Pretty crazy, but there is always a first for everything!  Cannot wait!
​

During the past two years, I have seen MANY Broadway shows. But, I'd like to take a walk down memory lane to re-visit 3 of my favorites!!

​An American in Paris, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder.
​

An American in Paris on the New York City Stage

Celebrating Kelsey's 9th Birthday (October, 2015) (c)travelincousins.com

A Beautiful Day with Mom
​In fact, I loved this show so much and played the soundtrack so often that my girls could not wait to see it and I saw it a second time in Boston at the Boston Opera House in November, 2015. (Click here for full story)

Beautiful on Broadway with my mom (June, 2014) (c)travelincousins.com

Beautiful at the Boston Opera House (November, 2015) (c)travelincousins.com

Three Ladies and A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

(c)travelincousins.com

With Pamela Bob, cast member of A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder (July, 2014) (c)travelincousins.com

Aladdin on Broadway
It was a fun-filled night with the entire cousins clan!!!

Aladdin on Broadway (July, 2014) (c)travelincousins.com

Aladdin on Broadway (July, 2014) (c)travelincousins.com

Well, my dear peeps, I'm off for a day of eating and musical entertainment with my two little darlings!!!

Have a blessed Sunday!!

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 4 DAYS

Reminiscing about old memories and making new ones

Good Day Friends.
Happy Sunday to you!

While my day isn't going to be nearly as exciting as Elisa's and the girls. Going to see a Broadway show is always a highlight. And although I don't live in NYC, I try to catch a show whenever we are there, as well as catch the shows that make it out to Los Angeles.

Having the entertainment background that I do, I've been involved in performances in one way or another for ions, and yet there are still times when watching a LIVE performance can give me goosebumps!

On that note and being that Elisa and the girls are heading to go see Wicked, it brought back memories of when Dave and I took the kiddos to go see Wicked back in 2006.
They were wee little kiddos back then...ahhh the memories!
But I've been known to start them young - in fact we went to go see The Lion King when Cosette was barely 2 months old - and she was nothing but a little angel all wrapped in my arms.

As far as Wicked - I suggested the show more for Dave and Cosette - both fans of Wizard of Oz.
While neither Dominic nor I really care for anything Oz, maybe with the exception of the song Follow the Yellow Brink Road!

So off we went to the historic Pantages theater, and I have to admit that although we all came out of the performance absolutely in love with it - I do think that I was particularly enthralled!!

Pantages Theater - Credit: wiki

Circa 2006 (c)travelincousins.com

For months on end I just couldn't stop raving about it and suggesting it to other theatre buffs. 

Needless to say that I'm super excited for Elisa and the girls who will hopefully get as amazing performances as we did - and most likely walk out of the theatre with at least a CD in hand!

While we are on the topic of Broadway memories, I have to admit that one of my very favorites was going to see Mary Poppins on Broadway with my little whippersnappers! 
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
I loved everything about it!

Circa 2009 (c)travelincousins.com

(c)travelincousins.com

And now my little whippersnappers are big whippersnappers and they continue to fill my heart with song as they share their voice with the International Peace Choir.
Touching the lives of everyone who stops to listen!

(c)travelincousins.com

(c)travelincousins.com

Dancing HORA (c)travelincousins.com

Dancing Tarantella (c)travelincousins.com

Always so proud of their talents and compassion.

As I mentioned yesterday the kids had their second performance of the week, and their last performance before our trip.

After the event, we had all worked up quite a good appetite and still wanted to try that new place which we attempted to go a few weeks ago - however schedules still not matching up, as the new restaurant closes between 2:30p and 5:30p - and it seems that both of our attempts were during those late lunch hours. 
Instead, going back to the Vietnamese restaurant that we had visited for Easter.

Lunchtime (c)travelincousins.com

TIme to EAT (c)travelincousins.com

After lunch, our little gang had several little shopping stops to make - my favorite being Ulta...where I added some super fun new colors to my make-up palate! 

Another stop was to pick up a pair of shoes to almost complete the new USA costume for Cosette, who willing be taking over the role starting the end of June.
Dominic will be resuming his role as the Ambassador of Italy.
​As only the most senior Ambassador is eligible to represent the USA and only for a maximum of 2 years. Cosette who started with the choir on her 5th birthday is next in line!

Cosette's new costume coming together! (c)travelincousins.com

And now to fill you in on what to expect on Days 9 & 10 of our upcoming trip to Europe:

Day 10: Barcelona, Spain
Activities: 
La Sagrada Família
Casa Batlló
​Gràcia ​
Parc Güell
Mirador de Colón​
​Waterfront
Meals - Knella, Vegetart Deli, Arc Iris, Teresa Carles​

I just can't wait to finally go see the unfinished works of Gaudi and tour the spires of La Sagrada Família, then head on over to the absolutely colorful Parc Güell, as well as a stroll through the popular and vibrant neighborhood of Gràcia, and knowing me there will be so so much more...

With this being the city with the most vegan foodie highlights on this entire trip - so you can imagine (or can you) all the goodies that we with be chowing down on while we have the opportunity! 

La Sagrada Família

Credit: eyeonspain.com

Oh what a day this is planned out to be! 

Parc Güell

Credit: lonelyplanet.com

And on Day 10, we will be participating in a couple of my favorite activities!!!

​​Day 10: Barcelona & Valencia, Spain
Activities - Activ Natura, Horseback Riding
Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe
L'Oceanogràfic​
Meals - The Vurger Food Truck ​​

Treetop Park in Zermatt, CH (c)travelincousins.com

Ever since my first treetop park, I was HOOKED!
I love these places and the kids and I have so much fun monkeying around on all of the elements.
Dave on the other hand - I give him props for getting out there with us, but he is quite terrified of this type of stuff.

After the treetop park, we will be heading to Valencia and going horseback riding on the BEACH - this I'm anticipating to be nothing less than an amazing experience! 

L'Oceanogràfic​

Credit: thousandwonders.net

Following our ride, we will stop and see some of the sights in Valencia.

Luckily the sun doesn't set until after 9pm...
it's always nice to have daylight for as long as possible, as I have been know to use up all of the hours in a day.

Well my dearie dears, it's time for me to go.
I've got an appointment for my vacation nails mani/pedi. I'll show you later :)

Meet me back here tomorrow for what to expect on days 11, 12, & 13 of our trip to Europe!

Ciao 4 Now,
​-T