After sitting almost twelve hours in a car, I finally stepped out into the lovely Las Vegas heat. I'll admit, that it wasn't as "spectacular" as people had made it sound, or maybe I was just used to New York City, but by nightfall, it was awesome to look at.
When I'd packed up for vacation, my dress was supposed to be hung on the side of the car. Like that was going to happen. Five people in van for two weeks? Let's just say that every single available spot in that car was already filled with something else. I was almost sitting on my suitcase. So thus, I had to completely disassemble my "hooped" petticoat, somehow manage to stick it somewhere where it wouldn't get crushed, and my poor dress had to all be folded carefully and put into a singular backpack. Boy do I regret having to do that.
During trip, I sewed on all of the braided trim which, thankfully, the dye hadn't rubbed off when my brother spilled soda on my sewing box. The appliques were eventually put on with fabric glue. (Which, I learned, you aren't aloud to buy unless your eighteen in Oklahoma!!) Then, after it was finished, back into the bag it would have to go. I even had some spare time to try to make a little pouch, which didn't turn out so good, but it held all of my stuff.
Back to what I'm supposed to be talking about. I cringed when I had to put the dress on. I had somehow manage to make enough space so my dress could lay ontop of the luggage in the trunk, but even that wouldn't save it from the monstrosity it had become while rotting away in the heat in that bag. To make things worse, the hotel we stayed at had didn't have an iron, and all I had was a blow dryer, and a little water. I wonder if the hotel management is still wondering why there's a slight blue tinge to their pillow cases - :).
To make things even better, the glue I had used to keep the netting in place which gave the "bustle" look had melted. Yes, melted, and done whatever damage to the petticoat. Also, the ruffled petticoat for the hoop was no where to be found, so I guess I hadn't packed it. I didn't have a full length mirror to be able to look at the dress in its entirely, and I think I'm glad, otherwise I wouldn't have wanted to walk outside, lol. No one in my family seems to understand the concept of "can you make sure the back is straight" so they weren't much help either. Even better news, my draperies had shrunk (yes shrunk!) when I had redyed the dress, so everything was small, and the seams puckered, and it was just plain unattractive, but at least the dress was still intact!
Taken before the performance, outside of the theater, before my dress started falling apart!
To make things even worse, the netting in the back of my dress had completely undone itself. I tried to push it back up (awkward!) but i ended up ripping it out, and having to stuff it into the little pouch I had made.
"Oh no, I think my netting is gone"
Didn't get there early enough to be able to explore and try to find a stage door (which I still believe is in the golden hall ot the right of the theater). So nothing happened on the way in.
The show was AMAZING!! Something about Christine and the Phantom's voices didn't seem right, or maybe it was an off night. I was sitting front row, all the way on the left aisle seat, and Tim Martin Gleason, whom I had met in NYC was literally standing right in front of me! I could've sworn he gave me a funny look! Okay, so maybe I was swooning at the fact that he was so close, but still - :). Madame Giry ran right by me too. Too tempting to stick my foot out.
I waited around the front door after the show to see if any of the actors would come out. Unfortunately, I got kicked out in front becuase there was another show coming in. To my surprise, Brianne Kelly Morgan (The fabulous Meg!!!) walked right up to me and said, "This is the most gorgeous Wishing Gown I've ever seen!" The embarassment begins, I started crying, because I have a terrible habbit of doing that, and we had a really nice conversation about the show.
Brianne is a super nice person, and she's an awesome dancer, by the way. She said that they could see me in my dress during curtain calls, and that people were talking about it backstage. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
She even introdued me to Larry Wayne Morbitt (The same Piangi I had seen in NYC). I was smart, and actually brought a silver sharpie with me.
I waited around some more afterwards, and didn't meet anyone else. No Christine, no Phantom. They'd probably already had walked past me, looking normal, because Brent and Sierra (whom I wanted to see!) were doing the next show.
Although, I was waiting there, and one Lady and her daughter came up to me and asked if I was in the show. The look on my face was - 0_0. I said no (unfortunately) and that I was waiting to see if I could get some autographs from the other actors. We started talking and she asked me to take a picture with her daughter. My fifteen minutes of fame...
We kept talking, she was a big Phantom and Miss Saigon fan like me. Eventually, she said, "hold on, let me see if I can get you some autographs," and went to talk to one of the ushers. The manager came up to me and said that the actors were all out on break. So, she took my address, and promised that she would bring the playbill backstage and send it too me with the cast's autograph on it. Sadly, it's been more than a month, and I've heard nothing. I doubt that they were being honest.
She eventually went in for the next show and said to me, "Tell your dad, it's not work if you're doing what you love. I want to see you as Christine on Broadway!" I, unfortunately, never got her name, but I want to thank her. Not only for actually going to talk to the ushers to try to get me back stage, but for her inspirational words as well. If I ever get to my goal, I will always have deep gratitude towards you.
Nothing else happened afterwards, took more pictures, but it was an awesome experience! Sitting in the front row was amazing. The costumes, the sound! I can't explain that feeling, that awesome rush of adrenaline to have the orchestra blow your ears out with the Overture. The sights were spectacular, and I'll never forget it, that's for sure. I even started crying somewhere in the middle just thinking, "This is what I know I want to do with my life, this is what I want to be." Enough with the over emotional part, lol. I think you've heard enough.
Taken outside after the show:
Taken in the golden hall to the right of the theater. I cannot believe I didn't walk down there to try to find a stagedoor!:
Taken outside, by the entrance. I really really could pass for Christine:
Outside, front of the Venetian Hotel:
