Back when Simon Cowell was still on American Idol, we got sucked into the craze just like millions of others. At first it was to see the really bad auditions. Being a trained singer, it’s almost torture to watch them, but sometimes we do painful things for fun. Then you kind of get pulled into watching the 100 get whittled down to 20, then to 12, and so on. I don’t remember what year it was, but the battle was the two Davids, David Archuleta and David Cook.  There was no question for me who I wanted to win because David Cook was from my hometown of Blue Springs, MO.

Blue Springs is about 20 miles east of Kansas City, and I’m a proud graduate of Blue Springs High School. It’s kind of surreal watching someone in that level of competition who you know went to the same McDonalds, walked the same streets, or maybe lived in your neighborhood. Seeing him win was quite a thrill. I noticed one day when I drove down the highway the town sign said Welcome to Blue Springs, home of American Idol winner, David Cook.

If you’ve read this blog long enough, you know that Kinky Boots is one of my favorite Broadway shows. Three years ago we saw Wayne Brady perform the role of Lola, and fell in love with the whole show. The message of inclusiveness is made clear in the song “Just Be Who You Want to Be.” I find myself singing that when I feel other people’s expectations for me to be something I’m not. Imagine my thrill to find out Wayne was coming back to the role, and David Cook would be playing opposite him in the role of Charlie. To top it all off, Kirstin Maldonado from Pentatonix was also starring as Lauren. The stars had just lined up for a day trip to NY.

I bought Sunday matinee tickets which made for an easy drive down. We enjoyed a fantastic burger lunch at 5 Napkin Burger in Hell’s Kitchen, and then proceeded to our 2nd row seats to see the show.  David did a great job for someone I didn’t really think of as a Broadway performer. After the curtain call, Wayne did his impromptu freestyle with words given through donations to the Broadway Cares foundation. The show was everything we wanted it to be and more.  Seizing the day is the me I want to be!

 

 

 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller