Well, I'm back from New York, and all I can say is "Wow!!". Grease was great! -- And, I guess the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Central Park are ok too.Despite popular rumors to the contrary, Lucy *can* really hula hoop! In fact, during the hula hoop number, she did so well, by the look on her face, it seemed she surprised even herself! She kept it up pretty steady, and by the end of the bit, mouthed "Oh my gawd!" and giggled.
She was in great voice, didn't seem too nervous - except maybe during her "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" solo - and pretty much towered over everyone on the stage except Danny Zuko and the string bean of a guy who plays Eugene (who I went to high school with - gasp!).
I sat in the 4th row back from the stage at the Sept. 25, 1997 performance. I wish I could have afforded to see her more nights, but NYC is expensive! I stayed with my sister during my stay in NY, and amazingly enough, her apartment was (is) two blocks away from the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. So....not only did I hang out outside the stage door after the performance I attended and snapped some photos (and had Lucy autograph my Playbill), I was able to convince my sister to accompany me back the next night to get another autograph and take more pictures!
Lucy was so very gracious to all her fans, taking the time to sign lots of autographs, and spending a little time with each one of the kids who were smashed up against the hot pink barriers reaching playbills out to her. I must say also, that the fans that were around me were some of the most polite I have encountered. There was no pushing, shoving or other nonsense when Lucy appeared, and also none while she was signing autographs. Color me not surprised!
The pictures that I took outside the stage door are posted below, along with one of the billboard in Times Square, and the poster from Schubert Alley.
