Mynee's Musings

Aida

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the last show of the season last night because it was rained out.  The weatherman was predicting rain but we hoped he was wrong because, you know, he usually is. LOL.  It was sunny when we left the house but there were clouds to the west and by the time we got to the Muny, it was mostly cloudy and pretty breezy.  

We ate dinner at the Culver Pavillion.  They had chilled berry soup, salad, assorted cheese (I love cheese), pasta salad, fruit, hummus, seafood dip, breads and muffins, grilled veggies, chicken and waffles, giant Italian meatballs and pasta and boneless ribs with pecan pie for dessert.  The food was great and we were absolutely stuffed.  We enjoyed all three meals that we ate there this year.  

After dinner, we waited for about 15 minutes for the gates to open, watching the sky the whole time.  It didn't look too bad but we were actually on the east side of the Muny so once we entered and were able to see the western sky, we knew that there was no question that it was going to rain.

About 5 minutes after the above picture was taken, it poured.  

Keep in mind, this was about 7:45 pm and it looked like it was nighttime.  At about 8:30 pm, the stagehands started squeegeeing the stage.  It was still raining so it was sort of like trying to bale water out of boat with a hole in the bottom. At 8:40 pm, we decided to head home because the weather radar showed continuing showers.  Sure enough, they cancelled the performance at about 9:00 pm.

I'm so glad The Muny posted videos of each show this year because I was able to see what we missed...

 

This was perhaps the best season ever!  I loved every show and I'm so looking forward to next year.

Fiddler on the Roof

This week's Muny production was Fiddler on the Roof which is one of my favorites.  I just love the songs, the story, the characters, everything.  Here the video clip...

 

We ate dinner at Heavy Riff Brewing.  We are definitely going to visit them more often.  They have great beers and great food.  I especially love their smoke pork chili verde over the pineapple cornbread.  I just need to remember not to order a whole bowl (only a cup) after an appetizer of the spent grain beer bread.  It was very tasty but it was seriously like a whole loaf of bread.  LOL, can you say very full?  

Next week is the last show of the season; Aida.

Mamma Mia

This week's show was Mamma Mia.  It's not one of Bill's favorites (it's too girly...hee hee hee) so I went with my sister, Lisa.  We ate dinner at Pappo's Pizzeria & Pub (former home of Six Row) before the show.  Yummy hand tossed crust with pesto, mozzarella, artichokes, kalmatas and pine nuts.  Super yummy.  Lisa enjoyed their wheat beer (of course) and I had the IPA (of course). 

I love how The Muny is posting short videos of each show online this year...

 

 

The weatherman was predicting 100 degrees with high humidity.  Well, I'm not sure what happened but it cooled off and it was a pretty evening with temps in the low 80's.  The fans that were installed a few years ago do help tremendously too.  Good thing because Lisa hates the heat.   She told me to remind her about how well the fans work if she's ever hesitant to go to future shows.  :)

No show next week, Fiddler in two weeks.

Young Frankenstein

We saw Young Frankenstein at The Muny last night.  We saw it a few years ago at the Fox and it was great but I think this production was even better.  I've mentioned before that I'm not a Mel Brooks fan and I've never seen the movie but the musical is hilarious. Take a peek:  

 

We ate dinner at the Culver Pavilion again.  This week, it was crab cakes, cajun rubbed skirt steak, portobello mushroom ravioli, salads including a yummy pea and bacon salad, sides, cheeses, breads, etc and carrot cake for dessert.  Yummy!

Next week, Mama Mia with my sister. 

The Music Man

We saw Music Man at the Muny on Friday.  I always remember that I like it but then I see it and remember that I love it, just like Sound of Music.  Hee hee hee. So many good songs; Goodnight My Someone, 76 Trombones, Pick-A-Little, Wells Fargo Wagon, Shipoopi.  Here's a clip from the show...  

 

We ate dinner at the Culver Pavillion; fried shrimp, chicken fajitas, pepper encrusted strip loin, salads, cheeses, breads,sides, cold peach soup which was actually very good and kind of tasted like melted orange sherbet, YUM, and caramel cheesecake for dessert .

Next week, Young Frankenstein.

42nd Street

TAP DANCING!!! YES!!! Oh how I love tap dancing.  Eeeeeee, did I ever tell you how much I love tap dancing?  I want to take tap lessons.  OK so, last night at the Muny, 42nd Street, tap dancing and sparkle, oh yes that's why I love it so.  I vote for it every time it's on the ballot.  Every. Single. Time.  This is the third time we've seen it.  The first was in 1996 and the last time was 2009.  Check it out...

 

We decided to eat dinner at Bottleworks.  We were going to have a picnic in the park but the weatherman was predicting rain during the afternoon so we decided we didn’t want to sit in wet grass.  LOL.  It didn’t rain but that’s OK because Bottleworks is always a good dinner choice.  

Next show in two weeks; Music Man

 

Wizard of Oz

The 98th Muny season opened this week with Wizard of Oz, one of my all-time favorites.  I'd be happy if they staged Wizard and Hello Dolly every year.  LOL.  We have our usual Friday night tickets and have the same seats we've had for about 6 or 7 years now.  Anyway, Stephen Wallem, Thor from Nurse Jackie, played the Lion.  This was his 3rd appearance at the Muny; the first was 2013 in Shrek and the second was 2014 in Seussical.  He and the rest of the cast did an awesome job.  

Here is a video clip of the show...

 

We ate dinner at Heavy Riff Brewing which is right across the highway from Forest Park. We've visited several times.  The first time, they only had their flagship brew, Velvet Underbrown, on tap and they didn't serve food.  We visited them again about a year ago and tried a few more of their brews.  This time, we had food and brews.  Bill ordered the blue cheese brisket salad and I had the smoked pork chili verde which is served over pineapple cornbread.  Oh my goodness, it was good!  I started with the red ale and Bill had the Mamas and the Papayas which is a APA with papayas.  Bill then had the Rye Lager and I had the Left Coast Envy IPA randalized which is their IPA with orange peel.  Wow, it smelled like oranges and I could definitely taste the orange.  Yum!

What a great start to the season!  Next up, 42nd Street. 

 

2016 Muny

The 2016 Muny lineup was announced a few weeks ago.  Here are the shows…

• Wizard of Oz
• 42^nd Street
• Music Man
• Young Frankenstein
• Mamma Mia
• Fiddler on the Roof
• Aida

Here are the shows I voted for (you can read the entire post here):

• Fidler on the Roof
• Jesus Christ Superstar
• Mame
• Ragtime
• Wizard of Oz
• Young Frankenstein
• 42nd Street

Wow!  4 of the shows I voted for were chosen.  Yay.  Looks like a great season!

I'm looking forward to 2016.

2015 Muny Season Recap

The Muny season ended yesterday.  As I mentioned in the Beauty and the Beast post, we decided not to attend the performance of Oklahoma on Friday.  Our nieces, Amanda and Sarah, went instead and they enjoyed it.  I had heard that this performance was different in that the long drawn-out sad scene was shortened considerably.  One of my coworkers who also doesn't really like Oklahoma went on Friday night and said that it was actually very good.  Anyway, we ate dinner at Vito's in the Valley (gotta love those Living Social deals) and then had a dessert beer at I-Tap, Lagunitas Mozango; and IPA brewed with mango.  Yummy!

So, here is the list of the 2015, most favorite to least favorite:

• Into the Woods
• Buddy Holly
• Hairspray
• Beauty & the Beast
• My Fair Lady

It's not that I don't like My Fair Lady but Bill doesn't really like it so, hee hee hee.  We were able to vote online again this year for next year's shows.  I voted for the following:

• Fidler on the Roof
• Jesus Christ Superstar
• Mame
• Ragtime
• Wizard of Oz
• Young Frankenstein
• 42nd Street

The only one I haven't seen is Ragtime.  I don't really know anything about it but am hoping that it features ragtime music.  All of the others, well, they're some of my all-time favorites.  

Here's to another great Muny season.  I'm looking forward to 2016.

Beauty and the Beast

We went to our last show of the Muny season last night; Beauty and the Beast.  It's not the last show, just our last show.  More on that later.  Anyway, we have seen Beauty and the Beast before and it's really cute.  In fact, I didn't remember how cute it really is.  I mean, it's a "kid" show but there is adult humor too.  Rob McClure played Lumiere and he also played the Baker in Into the Woods last week.  I can't even imagine how hard it is to rehearse for a show while you're appearing in another!  He also played Lord Farquaad in Shrek two seasons ago.

We ate at the Culver Pavillion again.  This week, they had crab topped tilapia, bbq baby back ribs, toasted ravioli (invented right here in St. Louis) and various sides and salads.  Oh, there was also pizza and chicken fingers for the younger crowd.

So, next week is the final week of the season, Oklahoma.  Not one of our favorites.  Yes, it's Rodgers and Hammerstein, yes it's a classic and yes, I like several of the songs such as, "Oklahoma", "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'" and "Surrey With the Fringe on Top".  I just remember that someone dies and there's a big long scene that sad.  Oh, and there are cowboys.  Ha.  Anyway, we are giving the tickets to my sister, brother-in-law, niece, niece (or any combination thereof) or whoever wants to go. :)