How Badly Do You Want It?
Posted by John Livesay in blog | 0 comments
This is a question we have to ask ourselves in all areas of our life.
The new year is often a time when people want to get in better shape. All the nutritionists and trainers will ask people the same thing, “How bad do you want this improvement?”
If you want to launch or grow your own business, people typically set goals for the new year. Again, the question is “How badly do you want it?” If you give up at the first sign of struggle or rejection, you will probably not achieve your goals.
For me, seeing live theatre is food for my soul. When Broadway shows shut down during the pandemic, I missed them. When vaccines became available in Spring 2021, Broadway shows started to slowly reopen that summer, and I started to plan my trip to New York City to see shows at the end of December.
If there is one thing life constantly teaches us, it is that just because we make plans or think, “Surely by that time things will be ‘back to normal,’” that is not always the case.
With the outbreak of the Omicron variant hitting New York City especially hard, some people thought I was crazy to still go. I thought often about the question: “How badly do I want to see shows and feel alive and moved?”
Then my decision to still go was put to the test even more. Right before I was scheduled to fly non-stop from Austin to New York, flights started getting canceled because crews were sick. The night before my non-stop flight, I received the news that my flight was no longer running.
I was luckily able to rebook through St. Louis with an hour and a half layover. I thought to myself “If everything goes well, I should still get to NY in time to see my first show about the life of Tina Turner.”
While both flights were slightly delayed, I still got to NY in time, only to find out that the Tina Turner show was canceled because the cast was sick, so I decided to see if there were tickets to another show. It was two hours before the curtain, and I was able to get tickets to see Caroline or Change.
The show was emotionally moving and visually creative with the costumes.
My theatre pal Phillip Sherman had flown in from LA was there, too, and we were both up for the last-minute change. We both decided to be happy regardless of the outcome and enjoy being in New York during the holidays.
Next up was Music Man with Hugh Jackman. This is the hot ticket of the season, and I am a big fan after I saw him perform live at the Hollywood Bowl.
That night we went to see the show with Hugh Jackman who radiates charisma and charm while also dancing up a storm. It was a great show full of energy, and I was impressed by all the performers. The next morning it was announced Hugh had Covid, and the show would be dark until early January.
Music Man has had its own journey of being ready to open before the pandemic, canceling, and then now reopening. Live theatre is always about capturing a unique experience, but seeing this show after what it went through to get on Broadway gave me a whole new sense of appreciation.
Next up, we saw Patti Lupone in Company. The creator Stephen Sondheim recently passed away shortly after he attended opening night, and as a result, the show’s message of “being alive” took on new meaning. It might well be the last musical Patti Lupone does as she was “retired” before being talked into coming back to do this show.
At intermission, I talked with a mom and her 20-something daughter who flew in from Chicago. She said they, too, decided to come to New York now because their mental health was just as important as their physical health. They needed to get out of the house and felt safe enough with their vaccinations and masks. Everyone at all the shows really wanted to be there and showed their enthusiasm with intense applause.
We were then supposed to see Moulin Rouge, but that was canceled, so we decided instead to go to the Whitney Museum to see the Jasper John exhibit as another way to feed our souls. There is nothing like seeing art in person, rather than virtually. Having lunch on the penthouse floor while looking out at city views was exhilarating.
Next up, we saw To Kill A Mockingbird, starring Jeff Daniels who had only recently returned in the drama. He left the show shortly after we saw it, and it was another stellar performance by a seasoned actor.
After the matinee, we came out and found ourselves directly across the street from Sardi’s. I said, “Let’s go in and see if we can get a table.” They normally require a 3-month reservation, but it was early, and the restaurant had been closed for over 600 days. We got in! What a special treat.
We finished the visit by watching the fun Mrs. Doubtfire which had recently been closed for 10 days. It was the perfect light-hearted way to end the visit. After I got back to Austin, they announced they would be dark for 90 days.
The future is always unknown, and we are all making choices based on what we value. Seeing artists and performers at the top of their game, who give their all, inspire me to do the same. In a way, we are all artists even if we don’t act, sing, or dance. We tell our stories in the way we live our lives and support what we treasure.