I’ve been to New York City multiple times. I’ve been with family and two friends, at separate times. I’ve been lucky enough to see the 9/11 memorial, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Malachy (the Acttors’ Church)), the Hungarian Pastry Shop, St. John the Divine, the Cloisters, the Met, Juniors, a boat trip around Manhattan, two bus trips including a Christmas one to Brooklyn and Manhattan, the New York Public Library, the Morgan Library, Bryant Park at Christmas and this past weekend; a walking tour of Broadway related sites, I’ve stayed at three different hotels, so I’ve had different views of Manhattan. I’ve been there in every season, and for ten days during the Christmas season. Now, I go for Broadway, and try to stay at a hotel within walking distance of the theaters. I have family members who say I know New York well enough to give tours. No, I don’t. I know the theater district well. That’s my love.

My sister, Linda, and I made a weekend trip this time, which we’ve done before. We cram in three or four shows before heading home. We flew in on Friday, checked into the Luma Hotel Times Square, and had dinner there at the hotel at AperiBar, a Charlie Palmer restaurant, where we had the prix fix theater menu (so we could get out in time for our show that night.) Thank heavens we left early enough for the 7 PM show. There was a Fury Fighting (mixed-martial arts) fight going on in Times Square. What a mess! The police had barriers herding crowds. Some people wanted to go to the fight. Others like us were trying to go away from the fights towards the theater district. People were shoving and trying to move, which proved impossible at times. Linda said she could now see how people get trampled in crowds. We got to the Majestic Theatre in time to get seated, but never read the program until that night at the hotel. No time, thanks to the crowds in Times Square.

We went to the Majestic to see “Gypsy” with Audra McDonald and Danny Burstein. Although he’s always good, Audra McDonald was fantastic as Rose. I can’t wait to hear Jeff’s reaction. He’s seen multiple versions of the production featuring a number of actresses, and he’s going this weekend. I want to know what he thinks.

I know Audra McDonald has six Tony Awards already, and may be skipped for that reason, but she’s fantastic in this show. She had all of us hating her by the end of Act I, and there was a standing ovation for her before the end of the show. She was just magnificent.

Saturday morning, we picked up tickets we had reserved at the box office for “Pirates”, and then walked to Bryant Park, which was only half a block from our hotel. There was a local craft show that weekend in the park. Too many jewelry booths for us, which we didn’t care about. We had an early lunch there, but should have learned our lesson, and split the sandwich. We ordered sandwiches at an Italian booth, and they were the size of a full-size paper plate. I had the tomato, mozzarella, and basil sandwich, and only ate half. We agreed we should have split one.

From there, we walked to our afternoon matinee, “Good Night and Good Luck” with George Clooney. Yes, the show and Clooney have been nominated for Tonys. And, we were lucky to see Clooney live on stage. But, I’d seen the movie when it first came out twenty years ago. To be honest, there was much more tension with the movie. The play was okay, and Clooney’s opening and closing speeches as Edward R. Murrow were moving, but I’d skip this one, and pick something else.

Since Saturday night’s musical wasn’t until 8 PM, we had plenty of time between shows. We went back to the hotel, crashed for a little bit, and then walked to Juniors for a light dinner. Although Juniors is famous for their cheesecake, Linda likes their matzo ball soup. And, I just had fries and a cocktail after that enormous sandwich at lunch.

This is the older, Times Square Juniors. I’ve been to the newer one, but this one was closest to our hotel.

Saturday night’s show was a romp, just fun, “Pirates: A Penzance Musical” starring Ramin Karimloo, David Hyde Pierce and Jinkx Monsoon. Now, for my Ramin Karimloo digression.

I saw Ramin Karimloo in “Les Miserables” on Broadway in 2014 for the first time, and then I saw him three or four more times in it before it closed. The final time, Linda went with me, and we stage doored afterwards. I’ve been an enormous fan since.

I’ve seen him on Broadway – twice in “Anastasia”, twice in “Funny Girl”. We went to D.C. to see him in “Chess”. I’ve flown to Fort Lauderdale to see him in concert with Sierra Boggess, who was Christine to his Phantom. Linda and I went to Toronto last year to see him with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. We also saw him with his Broadgrass Band in Columbus, Indiana.

So, yes, I’m a fan. Not a fanatic, though. I once sat beside a young man from South Korea who had flown to NY to see him there, and he had done that before. Someday, I might go to the West End to see him perform, but that’s probably as far as I’d go.

He played the Pirate King in “Pirates”. And, he was hilarious, performing with a glint in his eye. It’s a very athletic role, if you’ve seen Kevin Kline in “Pirates of Penzance”, you know what I mean. But, Ramin is doing that dancing and athletic feats eight times a week on Broadway.

David Hyde Pierce was wonderful as the Major-General. I don’t know how he could keep going with his song. Unbelievable.

Here’s the most recent video, posted by Roundabout Theatre Company.

As I said, this one is a fun romp.

Afterwards, we went outside to stage door. We knew it was supposed to rain Saturday, but we were lucky. We had fifteen minutes of a downpour while we waited, but we were under cover. David Hyde Pierce came out first.

Then, we waited. So, in the meantime, before the stage door photo, here are pictures from the curtain call at “Pirates”. Linda made sure she told people I would never take pictures during a show. These were from the curtain call.

After the rain, Ramin came out to sign autographs and pose for photos. He was as kind as he always is. I told him he looked like he was having fun, and he said it’s a fun show. Linda told him the singing voice wasn’t a surprise, but his excellent dancing was. He’s athletic, and just looked like he was enjoying the whole show. I appreciated his kindness to his fans.

Here’s me with the Pirate King, Ramin Karimloo.

Great Broadway trip! We flew home Sunday morning, and I even had time for a nap to recuperate before dinner at Linda’s. Thank you to Linda for her kindness. We travel well together, and it was another fun Broadway weekend.