By Kelly-Anne Joseph
On Thursday morning, August 4, we went to Bryant Park where we enjoyed performances from Broadway musicals, a first for many of us. We enjoyed performances from the cast of Holiday Inn, Beautiful, An American In Paris, Avenue Q, and a pre-show with iLuminate; you might have seen them on the 2011 America’s Got Talent show. Broadway in Bryant Park was presented by 106.7 LiteFM and highlights the most popular shows on Broadway. It was there we ran into a cast member from High School Musical, Corbin Bleu, He is a cast member from the musical Holiday Inn.
Because it was a one-hour production and each full show is at least two hours, I researched each show and viewed the performance online. Holiday Inn follows a showbiz veteran, Jim, who opens an inn in Connecticut and concocts performances for every holiday with the help of a local schoolteacher named Linda — until Jim’s best friend tries to lure Linda away to Hollywood. Beautiful tells the true story of singer and songwriter Carole King, from her early days as a Brooklyn teenager struggling to enter the record business to her years spent as a music legend.
An American in Paris is the romantic story of a young American soldier and a beautiful French girl both residing in France, each yearning for a new beginning after the war. And Avenue Q tells the story of a college graduate named Princeton. When he arrives in the city with big dreams and a small bank account, he has to move into a shabby apartment all the way out on AVENUE Q. There, he meets Kate , Lucy, Rod , Trekkie, superintendent Gary Coleman and other new friends. Together, they struggle to find jobs, dates, and their life’s purpose. My favourite song from Avenue Q is “If You Were Gay”.
iLuminate showcased dance styles ranging from contemporary, hip-hop, latin, and break dancing, usually all using the power of light. Because it was a morning production they could not perform it the way it was supposed to be performed, but, nonetheless, it was an amazing number.
After that eventful morning, next on our agenda was Liberty Island, where the statue of liberty stands tall. The boat ride to Liberty Island was quick, smooth and well-organized. We got a perfect view of the city.
Here is a little history about the Statue of Liberty, according to the information on the National Park Service website, “Edouard de Laboulaye, a French political intellectual and authority on the U.S. Constitution, proposes that France give a statue representing liberty to the United States for its centennial. The recent Union victory in the American Civil War reaffirms the United States’ ideals of freedom and democracy, serving as a platform for Laboulaye to argue that honoring the United States would strengthen the cause for democracy in France. In 1870 Auguste Bartholdi, a young sculptor fascinated with the idea of creating colossal works, enthusiastically supports Laboulaye’s proposed statue and becomes the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty.”
Upon arrival to Liberty Island, I was flabbergasted at how colossal it was. It took what felt like an hour to get around the entire island. During our self guided tour, our Director pointed out some facts about the smaller islands and cities surrounding Liberty Island. New York and New Jersey, how they both thought nearby Staten Island is part of their city. Although it is closer to New Jersey, New York has jurisdiction over the island and New Jersey’s waters just surround the island. On our way back from the exhausting yet exhilarating tour, most of us fell asleep on the boat ride back. This unfortunate moment was documented.
Finally, This goes without saying, but I will say it anyway, this trip has been the most amazing time I have ever experienced. Thank you to all who made it possible.