I love musicals. There is something about spontaneously bursting into song that has always appealed to me. And the musical Wicked has always seemed like one that I would love. Back around June my sister, Lexie, and I decided that we wanted to go see this play about the friendship between the witches of Oz. And since there was no way we could talk TJ into going with us, we decided that we would make it a girls night out and invite some friends along. Wicked is currently on tour and the closest to us that it was playing was in Nashville, Tennessee. That's about a four hour drive, but who doesn't love a road trip?I had never been to Nashville, so it was fun just seeing a new city. We stayed in a hotel downtown, just around the corner from the theater. We arrived in Nashville with plenty of time to explore downtown before the show. We saw all the honky tonks and boot stores lined up along Broadway, and all the various "famous" spots that are so often shown on TV.
The play started at 6:30 and we made it through the rain into the theater with a few minutes to spare. The play was wonderful. The actors were outstanding, the sets were magical, the story was touching, and the music was inspiring. For me, the play was really the highlight of the trip. The next morning we took a bus tour of Nashville which took us by music row, the Nashville Parthenon (who knew Nashville had a Parthenon?), the Ryman Auditorium, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Me, Lexie, Dianne, and Leigh Anne waiting for the play to start
At the Parthenon
At the Ryman, all we need is Minnie Pearl!
There were a few history buffs in our group, so we made a small detour on the way back to Alabama to see some of the civil war battlefields. We stopped at the Carter House which was ground central for the Battle of Franklin. While the museum was a tab bit creepy, with the cast iron casket and photos of disfigured civil war soldiers and all, the rest of the tour was very interesting. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and showed us 1830's era house, complete with bullet holes still in it's side.
Bullet holes were still visible on the side of the house!
We also made a brief stop by the Carton Plantation, which we did not have time to tour. We will have to put that on our list to stop by the next time we are in Nashville!
The route home carried us through Birmingham conveniently in time for supper. We stopped by Chipotle to enjoy the last meal of our trip. It was a great ending to a great trip! I loved the city, loved the play, loved the site-seeing, and especially loved the company!
Sounds like you had a great time!! I would have love to have seen the civil war battlefields. I think that would be really interesting! As for a play, I've never seen one but I wouldn't mind seeing one one day. Although it will have to be with you cause Adam won't come with me!! LOL
ReplyDeleteThe Nashville Trip was great. I would be guilty of being one of those "few history buffs in our group". And yes, the civil war museum was a tad bit creepy and disgusting, (Although, right up Leigh Anne's ally) but it was still an interesting stop. Too bad Franklin is a small, yet, confusing town and we didn't get a chance to see the Carter House. That looked like a classic Antebellum House with the ghosts and all. It even had its own nice little confederate cemetery with two little ladies, who may have very well been alive to see the battle go down with their very own eyes.
ReplyDeleteWicked was, well, as cliched as it sounds, wickedly awesome. I'm not sure if it was a great choice for our very first Broadway musical or maybe the wrong one, since now we must surely be spoiled and have high expectations for plays after such a grand performance. However, I know that plays, musicals especially, are to be cherished for the experience more than anything else. And what an experience it was, I mean, it had flying monkeys and everything!
And Chipotle was a great way to end things. I'm glad you finally got to enjoy all that is the fine Mexican dinner experience. Or, at least, as fine as a McDonald's owned fast-food chain restaurant is going to get. Now you know Leigh Anne and Dianne's secret weakness.
Even though I'm sure it will be hard to live up to our Nashville trip, we must plan another one sometime soon. Good food, Good Entertainment, and, most importantly, Good Company is just too good to pass up!
As many of Musicals lovers I LOVE the Wicked! It is my favourite ever... Last year I’ve been in NY & I tried to get my ticket …guess what everything was sold out that show how great the show is. Anyhow I end up getting it from a site through Horizontickets.com. Next week I’m going to visit my sister and I just got some pretty good tix from the same place
ReplyDeletehttp://www.horizontickets.com/theater/tickets-wicked/
So I'll be analyzing as well as enjoying the show.