Back In The Backyard Dancing

It is a sad day for a theatre geek to find out that a show that spoke to you personally is closing. The producers of [Title of Show] have just announced that the show will soon close on Oct. 12. A few days before, Xanadu, another show that I thoroughly enjoyed also announced it's closing on the same day. What can you say about the state of theatre when two inventive shows that have critical acclaim and have a following among those who love the theatre are closing while mediocre shows (Grease!) are still running?

I first heard about the show when it was Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre and bought the CD when it came out. I've followed their online episodes on youtube - THE [Title of Show] SHOW - but didn't get to see it until this past Sunday (9/14). As I said earlier in this post, the theatre gods blessed me that day.

As Lani posted in her earlier [review of show], it is an irreverent inside look into the making of a musical. It's clever and funny and self-referential but amidst all of these, the show is about having a dream and making it come true. Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, as they say in their own words......two nobodies in NY.......started writing the show 4 years ago and who knew it would someday be on Broadway. Their story unfolds right before your eyes culminating to their opening night on Broadway. The song above, A Way Back To Then sung by Heidi Blickenstaff (what a voice!) has always been my favorite and has always spoken to me personally. It talks about finding what's important and reconnecting to what you love and finding yourself. What an inspiring piece of writing! So make sure you catch it before it closes. Maybe it will inspire you......however big or small it may be..........to be creative.....go climb a mountain.....run a 5k..... pursue singing or what not........I know for me, it's about taking up dance again. And since then I've found the 5 year old girl that was somehow lost before.

So here are some photos I took of the theatre and at the stagedoor........

the marquee:

the poster outside the theatre:

Hunter Bell (book writer and lead actor):

here he is again:

Larry!!!! The music director:

Heidi Blickenstaff coming out of the stagedoor:

Susan Blackwell signing autographs:

Susan Blackwell:


Heidi Blickenstaff and Jeff Bowen:

Jeff Bowen (Composer and Lyricist and Lead Actor):

Heidi Blickenstaff taking to TOSSERS (fans of Title of Show):

Heidi Blickenstaff:

and last but not the least my signed playbill: