Happy Friday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers! It has felt like this entire week was one long "Friday the 13th" - someone close to me was going through an extremely painful crisis and I was trying my best to help her. Now on the actual "Friday the 13th," it looks as if (knock on wood) that all may be resolved in a good fashion - but I am so scared that things will fall through that I don't want to exhale just yet. Still holding my breath and praying! Fingers still crossed! Very soon I will be seeing "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" on Broadway for the 2nd time and this time from the front row! Neil Patrick Harris - in his role as the testy Hedwig - took a giant gulp of water and spit it on two women who got up in the middle of the show and made half a row (including me) stand up so they could get up and go to the bathroom. It's only a 95 minute show people! Go to the bathroom before the show starts! I heard today that when Neil Patrick Harris finishes his run as Hedwig, the wonderfully witty actor Andrew Rannells will be taking over as Hedwig. Many people know Andrew Rannells when he originated a role in The Book of Mormon. I was not able to get tickets to The Book of Mormon on Broadway until I think year two of the show, so Andrew Rannells was no longer in the show by the time I saw it. I am pretty sure this is a master plan from Broadway to bankrupt me, because of course now I also want to see Andrew Rannells when he performs as Hedwig. He is very different from Neil Patrick Harris and I can't wait to see what he does! I have never seen a show on Broadway twice. I have seen some shows a 2nd time (Wicked, Les Mis) when they are in a touring company show locally but I have never seen a Broadway show twice. "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" is going to be my record for show I have seen the most times on Broadway! I may be eating ramen noodles for all meals from now until 2025, but I am going to make sure I see Hedwig with Andrew Rannells in the lead role! I hope everyone has a great weekend! I feel like Queen Social Butterfly as I will be going from party after party after party this weekend. Usually I have been the one hosting parties, so it's great to go to several events where my only duties are to eat, drink and have a great time! P.S. If you have time this weekend, go see "22 Jump Street" - I had lower hopes for this sequel but it really delivered in laughs. Mindless fun. A great distraction from a long, difficult week! Make sure you stay for the credits!
Before I launch into today's post, let me just say: Neil Patrick Harris in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway was BEYOND FANTASTIC! My heart still belongs to John Cameron Mitchell in the movie version, but Neil Patrick Harris really delivered. Go see this show NOW!
Now back to our regularly scheduled blog post ... I originally started this blog in mid-December 2010. There are millions of blogs on the internet, so I wasn't trying to conquer the world or make millions of dollars. I wanted to write about my travels and adventures … and if people read the posts, well hey even better. I didn't choose to write about just one thing - food, travel, life, philosophy … because frankly I am self-diagnosed ADHD and I bore easily. I wanted to write about whatever I wanted to write about, whenever I felt like writing. Turns out for many time periods I did not feel like writing at all! When blogging feels like work, then something is wrong in my book. I would try to get myself to write more regularly. I remember many times thinking "I'd like to take one month and have a blog post published every single day for that month." I don't even know how many times I set that goal. But I would usually chuck the goal by day 3 or 4. Well on this May 1, 2014, I am happy to announce that I finally did what I had set out to do numerous times … for the month of April, I had a post published every single day. Were they the most fascinating and interesting posts ever? YES. OK maybe not, but that wasn't my goal - ha ha! I can't believe it has taken me so long to make good on my goal. I guess it's because I never made it a priority. Regardless, it feels good to have met my goal finally. A couple years ago, my sister and I went to India. We traveled to the Red Fort at Agra on our way to the Taj Mahal. There were monkeys everywhere. When I returned, I made the header photo of this blog a picture of the monkeys at the fort. While I seem to change my avi photo on Twitter every couple of weeks, I have not felt compelled to change the header picture for LilyOnTheLam.Com. One friend snidely said I needed to get rid of "that awful monkey butt picture" on my blog. My response: "Thanks but this blog is for me. If you don't like the picture, don't look at my blog." I'm proud of my writing. It's not Shakespeare, but it's a reflection of me.
So on this May Day 2014, I celebrate reaching (and exceeding) my 30 blog posts in 30 days goal. (Actually I posted a lot more than 30 blog posts in 30 days because of a 2nd post on Easter as well as my "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" on Broadway mini-posts countdown! So actually 41 posts in 30 days- holy cow!) I also celebrate making my goals a bigger priority in my life. Last but not least, I celebrate staying true to myself regardless of people's unsolicited opinions. On this May Day, I hope you devote yourself to goals that need greater attention. Because it feels wonderful when you successfully accomplish a goal! Thanks for reading!
If you are an avid reader of LilyOnTheLam, you will know that about 9 or 10 days ago, I started counting down the days until I see my favorite movie musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" on Broadway starring Neil Patrick Harris.
Since I am incredibly lazy, I have wondered several times throughout this "journey" why I didn't start the countdown on say Day 2 1/2. But I have had fun researching clips to include on each day, so hopefully you have enjoyed it as well. And if you didn't, go turn on your TV to be entertained then. Geez!
There are so many great "tongue in cheek" lines from Hedwig. The following scene is not only one of my favorites, but one of my absolute favorite songs from the musical. I hope you enjoy!
"We're talking to Phil Collins' people ... but then again, aren't we all?"
There are TWO DAYS LEFT until I see Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway! I know this may not seem like a monumental event in your own personal life, but you are wrong. If you have not been marking the countdown in your calendar, you are probably also the type who hate kittens for being so adorable.
OK I am kidding, joking, seriously ... relax! Now get a sharpie marker and start marking that calendar! Oh, you keep your calendar on your smartphone? Oops ... well consider that sharpie marking to be graffiti art. You're the next Banksy!
Because the owl in Harry Potter was also named Hedwig, when I look for Hedwig and the Angry Inch clips to include on my Hedwig countdown I find a lot of owl stuff. I actually considered posting one here to see if anyone would notice/comment. However life is difficult enough that you don't need to see some nocturnal spooky eyed bird when you're looking for a transgendered international song stylist. Am I right or am I right?
So on this "two days left" post, I give you not an owl but a YouTube clip from the movie Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the uploader said this is his/her favorite scene from the movie - and it's one of mine too. I have quoted the "Trail of Rainbow Carnage" speech way too many times that I should be ashamed. But I am NOT! And the "Little Bishop in a Turtleneck" line makes me laugh every single time. So check it out by clicking here!
About a week ago I started my countdown until I am attending "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" on Broadway. Each day of my countdown, I include a mini post after my regularly scheduled "day" post. If you haven't read my previous Hedwig countdown posts, drop everything you are doing (unless it is open heart surgery - and if so, why are you reading a blog during it? Sheesh!) and go back and read my previous posts. I'll wait for you here while I hum Jeopardy-theme music until you return.
Hi! Welcome back! Why is there blood on your ER scrubs? Umm... OK maybe I'll just pretend I didn't see that.
I love Hedwig so very much, but when I was in Orlando at The Social for a Jay Brennan concert I found out that my love for Hedwig is only at an amateur level. I met a man who had the same tattoo as Hedwig does in the movie. Except it's on his arm, not his butt like the movie has it. I thought "Wow, that is DEDICATION!" One reason I really enjoy Hedwig is because there is a heavy undercurrent of Plato's Symposium running throughout the storyline. Yes, Plato! Not Play-dough. One of my many degrees is an English major. Another is 450 - on my toaster oven.
For "three days left" in the Hedwig, I include this fabulous YouTube makeup tutorial on how to make yourself look like Hedwig. (I love YouTube! There's a video for EVERYTHING!) So even if you cannot see Hedwig on Broadway, you can make yourself look like Hedwig!
In addition to my regular blog posts, I have been adding a 2nd "mini" post each evening (US Eastern Time) counting down the days until I see "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" on Broadway. I am very excited, but also somewhat apprehensive because I love the movie so much. I really hope the musical on stage won't be a let down. If you read that a woman threw her shoe at Neil Patrick Harris and screamed "You're no John Cameron Mitchell, Doogie!" Well let's hope I get away from the police running with only one shoe.
I kid! (I hope!) I do think they made a good casting choice, so at least I am not going in with an "Anne Rice pissy they picked Tom Cruise for Vampire Lestat" face. I also have already scanned the merchandise from the show. (Every thing is a shopping opportunity in Lily World!)
I assume each of you spends an hour or seven a night praying for the good of mankind. So after you light candles in prayers for starving people, ending wars, success for your favorite sports team; if you could light a candle for "I hope Lily enjoys Hedwig on Broadway" I would appreciate it. ;-)
For our "four days left" post, I include ... a clip of Neil Patrick Harris on David Letterman yelling at an audience member as "Hedwig." Hopefully I won't be the next audience member he has to yell at! Click here to watch!
If you are a regular reader of LilyOnTheLam.Com, you will know that I am counting down the days until I see my absolute favorite musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway starring Neil Patrick Harris. I am going to need some industrial duct tape to keep myself from singing along with EVERY SONG. My friend Ms. Ohio and I went to the Jennifer Nettles concert recently. There was a woman who sat directly behind us - a disaster in polyester - who sang most of the songs at the top of her lungs. Poor dear was tone deaf - and we were just deaf by the end of the concert. I like to sing, but I have the lyrical songstress voice of someone slowly killing a mongoose. So I keep my "concerts" to my car when I am alone. This is proper etiquette, people! We paid to see the singer on stage, not to hear a train wreck's high-pitched natural catastrophe! She was lucky I didn't stab her in the throat. (Oops did I admit that IN TEXT?) To get in the mood for Hedwig (which hopefully won't have tone deaf audience members singing every song - unless that tone deaf person is me!), I am posting "mini LilyOnTheLam" posts each day until I see the show! Today is "Five Days left." Today's countdown clip is from the movie "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." It is the song "Sugar Daddy." This song makes me want to put on a fringe skirt and play "car wash" on poor elderly folk everywhere. Watch the clip to find out why!
If you are a regular reader of LilyOnTheLam.Com, you will know that I am counting down the days until I see my absolute favorite musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway starring Neil Patrick Harris. To get in the mood, I am posting "mini LilyOnTheLam" posts each day until I see the show! Today is "Six Days left." Today's countdown clip is Amanda Palmer and Hedwig creator/movie star John Cameron Mitchell doing "Midnight Radio" from Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the "Purple Reign New Year's Eve." Click here for the clip!
If you are a regular reader of LilyOnTheLam.Com, you will know that I am counting down the days until I see my absolute favorite musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway starring Neil Patrick Harris. To get in the mood, I am posting "mini LilyOnTheLam" posts each day until I see the show! Today is "Seven Days left." Today's countdown clip is a Korean cover band doing "Tear Me Down" from Hedwig and the Angry Inch. There is a line in the movie that says "Don't you know me, Kansas City? I'm the new Berlin Wall. Try to tear me down!" When I am dealing with particularly crazy people, I hear this line in my head. Or maybe it's just my split personalities emerging through ... who knows?
I dedicate this in honor of my friend Ms. B who with a Korean friend are learning Vietnamese. Click here for the clip!
Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers: I am counting down the days until I see my absolute favorite musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway starring Neil Patrick Harris. To get in the mood, I am posting "mini LilyOnTheLam" posts each day until I see the show! Today's countdown clip is Richard Barth from the traveling production of "Les Miserables" singing the classic Hedwig and the Angry Inch song "Wig In A Box." ENJOY!
Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers: I am counting down the days until I see my favorite musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway starring Neil Patrick Harris. To get in the mood, I am posting "mini LilyOnTheLam" posts each day until I see the show! Today's countdown clip is RuPaul Drag Race Winner Jinkx Monsoon singing "The Origin of Love" from "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." ENJOY!
Dear LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers: If you are a regular reader, you will know that I have many eccentricities (a.k.a. "This biatch be cray-cray!). One of my loves (a.k.a. obsessions) is the John Cameron Mitchell movie musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." When I heard Neil Patrick Harris was going to play Hedwig on Broadway, I bought my ticket faster than you can say "Internationally Ignored Song Stylist."
I am extremely excited for this musical on Broadway, but also a bit scared since I am so RAVENOUSLY IN LOVE with the movie and John Cameron Mitchell's portrayal of Hedwig. I fear that I will be let down by the Broadway show. But I am willing to fly to New York and take that chance! (Seriously I'm nuts - I own a DVD of the movie, but also have it digitally from iTunes so that I can access the movie any time, any where. Hello INSANE!) My friend and I are also seeing the sublime Alan Cumming in a revival of Cabaret (another movie I am obsessed with) while in NYC. While I will be posting regular blog posts from now until I see "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" on Broadway, I will also be posting daily "mini LilyOnTheLam" Hedwig countdown clips until the day I see the show. Because I am that insane and that excited! Care to join my insanity? To start my "HEDWIG COUNTDOWN!" I am combining my love of Hedwig and the Angry Inch with my love of Alan Cumming by attaching this link to a YouTube video where Alan Cumming does a medley of Hedwig songs. ENJOY!
