amelialourdes | Evita count? Four. (Reply)

I saw the touring production of Evita four times. The first time was in October the day before it opened in LA and the entire cast was there. The second time was LA closing night and the two leads had understudies. I was trying to catch Josh Young so I bought tickets to see it last weekend. Understudies again. I told that story. So, here's the conclusion of my Evita adventure.

I worked yesterday and the earliest I could get out was 3:22. On the dot. I still had to get cash and then figure out where the freeway was. There was no freeway entrance near my work for the direction I wanted to go to... is what I discovered. I asked my phone where it was and it guided me to the correct freeway. I decided to take the 405 because it LOOKED like it was free and clear. I checked sigalert before I left and it was green after a part of the freeway but I was wrong. I was so, so wrong. It took me a little over two hours to get there. I was panicked I'd be "late" for the rush but turns out there was no one there or lingering and I guess that's just not something people do down there?

I was early at the box office. I ended up talking to the girl I talked to last week who said, "You look so different when you're not crying!" Yes, I would like to think so. It turns out they put me on some rush exception list. But I was curious about Orchestra seating. I wanted to be as close as possible. I had second row seats last week so I wanted to replicate my experience especially since the person I wanted to see was there.

But I was waiting for them to update the board to see if there'd be any understudies. I wasn't going to spend $129 only to find out that Josh wasn't in it again. I saw them change the board and there were no major cast changes. Still, I don't really believe it until that person steps out on the stage and I see him or her with my own two eyes. Due to some NECESSARY encouragement (THANKS, bigboobedcanuck) I went to the box office and told them to take me off the rush list because I was willing to buy the $129 ticket in the second row.

After waiting for a few minutes, the man at the box office turned to me and said, "That'll be $20." Now I felt like crying for an entirely different reason. I said, "What?" And he said, "Don't question it. Just give me $20." And then told me that they appreciated how far I came to see it again and that I put a lot of effort into it and they appreciated it and hoped I'd enjoy the show. I was on cloud nine.

I know it was an exception and they absolutely did not have to do that and I couldn't be more grateful that they did.

Afterward, I got something to eat nearby and went back to the theater. At 7:35, I could finally relax. Josh Young was singing to me from the stage and I couldn't have been more thrilled. It was just as perfect as I imagined it would be. He just has such a strong, dynamic voice. It's the reason I started following him in the first place when I saw him in Jesus Christ Superstar. I'm always drawn to those Broadway belters and he belts with the best of them.

After the show was over, since I was there, I decided to head to the stage door. I usually never stage door but when it's someone I really, really like, I've finally managed to gather some balls and just do it even if I am alone. I ran into Krystina Alabado from the first national Spring Awakening tour that I saw multiple times in California. We reminisced about Spring Awakening in the same venue and she was delightful. I talked to a couple of cast members as they were leaving and then Josh came out.

I was there with a teenager and her father. We were the only two waiting at the door... for Josh. She was a theater geek like me so we bonded. She talked to him first and then it was my turn. I don't know why but I did tell him I've been trying to catch him... and this was my third time. He apologized! Sweet boy. He doesn't have to... I mean, it was nice to hear but I understand that that's why understudies are there. I really do get that. But he was really nice about it. We talked about Stratford a little and he "aww'ed" over the whole Jesus Christ Superstar playbill from La Jolla. Basically, I made him sign all the things...

Evita program.

Stratford program.

Jesus Christ Superstar program.

He even apologized again as he was walking away! So sweet. You're forgiven, Joshua. You're forgiven. So, third time really was the charm and it was a fantastic night of theater.