WICKED

I'm a grandma when I get to school. There's no question about it. I love to go to the the library, I love knitting, I love having my morning cup of coffee with my low cholesterol breakfast (no egg yolks for me!), I love my workout routine before I have breakfast. In fact, I love listening to Tchaikovsky while I study, his Violin Concerto in D, in particular. Where most fellow students are out partying each weekend, I spend quality time with my closest friends. Well, every grandma needs some spice in her life and this weekend I got it.
It was a great weekend. Last semester my two closest friends here at school, Nicole and Megan- who I had a blast traveling around in Europe with last year, bought tickets to see the show "Wicked" in Pittsburgh. Though we ended up being in the last row...in the balcony, it was superb.
Pittsburgh is about a half hour drive from our school, and sadly I have not been taking advantage of it. It truly is a great city. After a delicious meal at the Cheesecake Factory (do yourself a favor and try the Apple Strudel Walnut Cheesecake!) we headed over to the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. The Stanley Theater inside the Center is absolutely stunning, the 90 crystal chandeliers majestically grace the space, which compliment the original marble floors and pillars beautifully. It was built in the late 1920's and quickly became Pittsburgh's "Palace of Amusement" for the wealthy and poor alike, especially during the Great Depression when the Theater offered shows at a discount price if you bought your ticket before noon. I found out afterward that in 1936 on St. Patrick's Day, the Theater was flooded within two feet of the balcony and several people were trapped for three days until they were rescued.
After surveying out surroundings, we took our seats and the show began almost immediately with the electrifying opening song "No One Mourns the Wicked". Within minutes I knew I was going to love the show. The costumes, colors, voices, movements- it all flowed together perfectly.



"Wicked" takes the familiar characters of the "Wizard of Oz", in particular the Witches of the East and West and portrays them in a very entertaining way, exploring their pasts and how the "Wicked Witch" aka "Elphaba", became so "wicked". The performers were magnificent, I got chills as the performer who played Elphaba powerfully grabbed the highest note in the song "Defying Gravity". It was highly comical and I recommend it for all ages- children and yes, grandmas alike. It was a wonderful break from studying- great, wholesome fun.
I think of you all often and I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful fall weather...I know I am!
More stories to come when the two Nichols sisters unite at the end of this month!

Love and prayers,Claire