How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Jerusalem on Broadway

I've seen two Broadway shows in a week- WOW! For a local, that's impressive, but that's what happens when people visit, and I love it.

How to Succeed...
I start with How to Succeed... because I was in this show and feel that I can really have an honest opinion and different perspective having played "Rosemary" *ahem* 4 *ahem* years ago.

I am here to testify that How to Succeed... is worth your money! Daniel Radcliffe really surprised me. I almost didn't see the show at all, but two of my friends volunteered to stand in the ticket rush line at 6:45am to get tickets, so how could I refuse?

Daniel Radcliffe really blew me away. He was in no way "Harry Potter" on stage. He had the sweetest innocence and attitude, and brought so much more to the character than I could have ever imagined even existed in the script. You really felt that he was having the time of his life on that stage, and Radcliffe never gave less than 150% of himself every second he was onstage. And I forgot how exhausting that role is! Good for him for learning all that choreography within a year, it was so tough and non-stop sometimes, I was blown away, and finally understood why people were upset that he didn't get any recognition when it came to award season (apart from various audience awards).

I also have a heart for the girl who played Rosemary, who's name is actually Rose (I know!). This was her Broadway Debut and it must feel amazing. She is truly talented and seems very sweet. She was perfect for the role, and that means something because one is always more critical when watching someone play a role one's played before.

I could go on forever but I really appreciated the fact that no one when completely overboard on their characters, they all really hit the punchlines without sounding stupid or cheesy and I think that's a mistake we all made in our production in college. Everyone was so caught up in playing "up" the part, that it wasn't funny or as funny as it could have been, and we missed SO MUCH! There were so many times tonight that I thought, "Why didn't WE think of THAT!?" Watching the "big dogs" play gave me quite the perspective on this show and made me appreciate it more.

Watch my YouTube Video of what happened at the Stage Door after the show!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPquvl4FyUY

Jerusalem
All I can say about Jerusalem is WOW. WOOOOW. Seriously. Amazing.
We rushed tickets and sat in line behind the parents and family of one of the characters who didn't want to spend $130 to see their son in a show they had already seen him do in London, I thought that was funny.

Everyone was good, I have no complaints, although I have to say to must be patient and open to learning a new language, because you will be rewarded in the second half of the second act. Not that everything else isn't important, in fact it is SO important, but it all comes together at the end, and a big "light bulb" will go on in your head. Make sense? An emotional light bulb at that!

The lead actor, Mark, was just....I have no words, and when we left, all we could think was: How in the world is this man going to turn himself around and do ANOTHER show tonight??? (We saw the matinee) I just cannot imagine how he gets himself to that place 8 shows a week. Incredible.

NEXT:
I predict I will be back with Sister Act Notes next! I already saw it and LOVED it, especially our dear friend, Fred Applegate, and Marla Mindelle, but I saw it on "family and friends night" and it was still in previews, and I know for a fact a few things changed, so I need to see it again to be fair, before I put my two cents on the table.