Category: Lifestyle

Regional Theatre Review | Fun Home

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland
Fun Home The Musical

Fun Home

Playing at The Huntington Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush tickets? Discount ticket options available. Details online HERE.

What I Paid: n/a [PR Invite]

My Rating: ★★★★

Official Website: https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/whats-on/fun-home/

Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Fun Home is a beloved, groundbreaking, and emotionally rich story of seeing your parents through grown-up eyes. Based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, the musical traces Alison through childhood, college, and adulthood as she unravels her coming-out story, and her complex relationship with a brilliant, volatile, and closeted father. How have the mysteries of her father’s life shaped her own understanding of love and acceptance of her lesbian identity? With a soaring score by Jeanine Tesori and a sharp, heartfelt book by Lisa Kron, Fun Home is a beautiful, can’t-miss theatrical experience, directed by Logan Ellis.

REVIEW

One of my favorite things about regional theatre is being able to see shows that I missed on Broadway. That is the case for Fun Home, now playing at The Huntington Theatre in Boston through December 14, 2025. This musical is based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir of the same name. While you can certainly see the show with no pre-existing knowledge of the storyline, I did read the book in advance and I’m glad I did, as it adds a rich layer of character development to an already complicated family drama.

The musical opens with Alison, now in her forties, attempting to create her memoir while struggling to put her story down on paper. We flash back to her childhood and college years, while the present day Alison shadows her younger selves throughout key moments in her life. From her unique childhood growing up in the funeral home business, to her coming to terms with her sexual identity as a lesbian, Fun Home showcases the complexity of life. There are moments replete with anger and sadness, and others full of joy and epiphany. The musical itself captures these emotions through its dark humor, which invokes both laughter and tears throughout the course of the show.

One of the strongest themes in this production of Fun Home is reflection. The set utilizes a mirror at several points, with the characters gazing upon their reflections. This not only encapsulates the feeling of seeing your true self mirrored back at you, but we also see this theme at play when Alison interacts with the younger versions of herself. She spends the show literally reflecting on her life, but we also see the physical representation of how all of our lives are made up of different versions of ourself. It is both moving and endearing to see Alison feel embarrassed of her college-aged self, for example, as I’m sure many of us can relate to cringeworthy moments from our youth. Of course, Alison is also trying to grapple with whether or not she is a reflection of her father, who unbeknownst to her, was a closeted gay man who had several affairs with men, some of them underage.

Moreover, I was very impressed with both the direction and acting performances in Fun Home. The characters balance the complex emotions of the show well. For example, Middle Alison (Maya Jacobson) is charming with her naivety as she accepts her newfound lesbian identity, while Small Alison (Lyla Randall) puts up a brave front while loving, yet being fearful of, her father. Bruce Bechdel (Nick Duckart), however, is truly the most intriguing character in the show. The audience can empathize with his decision to live in a fraudulent marriage, yet still detest his violence. Seeing these incredible performances really gave a lot of meaning to Alison’s memoir, which was difficult for me to relate to in book form.

Overall, I highly recommend seeing Fun Home if you have the opportunity. My favorite scene in the show was “Come To The Fun Home,” in which the Bechdel children make a commercial for their family’s funeral home. It is hilarious, and showcases the talents of the child actors. Similarly, “Ring of Keys,” is another powerful moment that demonstrates how important the story Fun Home is. At the end of the day, this piece of musical theatre depicts why it is vital to uplift and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, so that no one feels the need to hide their true selves, or fear to live authentically.

Watch my vlog of seeing Fun Home on Instagram HERE.

Musical Manicures | Honeymoon in Vegas Inspired Nails

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I have the eleventh installment of my Musical Manicures series to share with you. If you are keeping track here on the blog, you may realize I did not post about the tenth installment, as it featured Operation Mincemeat, which I just shared a review of not long ago. However, you can visit me on Instagram to see the manicure! This time around, I picked Honeymoon in Vegas out of the random jar of shows, and got to work picking multiple polishes from my nail polish collection to create a manicure inspired by the show.

I saw Honeymoon in Vegas back in November 2014 with my friend who was visiting me in the city. I was especially keen to see this show because it starred Tony Danza, who I loved watching in Who’s the Boss? growing up. We bought $32.00 rush tickets, and had mezzanine seats on the left side that were so uncomfortable I can still remember how squished our legs were. Unfortunately, this is one of those situations where I remember more about our seats than the show itself! Looking at the Playbill, I know we saw an incredible cast, but the music is so forgettable that I could not tell you a single song. I do remember a number with the cast all dressed as Elvis, and notes from my old blog let me know I overall had a good time. Sometimes shows just do not stick with you even if you enjoyed them in the moment!

Musical Manicures | Honeymoon in Vegas Nails

Honeymoon in Vegas Manicure

The products in this post were originally provided for my unbiased review. Some links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

For the Honeymoon in Vegas nails, I definitely wanted to focus on the sparkly gold background of the Playbill. I also decided to incorporate the iconic red and white Las Vegas sign, so I used an accent nail for that purpose. For the gold nails, I actually used three different nail polishes. I started with a base of Zoya Moki, which is a metallic gold polish. Then I added one coat of Holo Taco Gold Flake Taco, a yellow gold glitter polish, and one coat of Zoya Vienna, a gold metallic polish with holographic glitters. Layering all three shades really gave me the glittery look I was hoping to achieve!

As for the accent nail, I did one coat of Zoya Soko, a red cream polish. Then I layered LVX Fantom, a white nail polish, on top leaving the red peaking out like a reverse french manicure. I had to apply 2-3 layers of the white polish letting it dry in between so I did not smudge it with the red shade. I then added a “love” nail sticker from the Le Mini Macaron Joli Emoji set. Finally, I sealed my entire manicure using the Zoya Ultra Glossy Top Coat.

Broadway Themed Nails

Overall, I think my manicure does a great job at capturing the essence of the Honeymoon in Vegas Playbill. I may not remember much about the show itself, but at one point I will listen to the Original Broadway Cast recording and see if it rings any bells. For now, I will spend the week admiring my gold sparkly nails!

Take a look inside the Playbill in this week’s Reel video on Instagram!

Musical Manicures | Hairspray Inspired Nails

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I am excited to share the ninth installment of Musical Manicures, the series where I create a nail polish look inspired by a Broadway show that I’ve seen in the past. This week I picked Hairspray out of the jar, which is another show I got to see with my dance class on a trip to New York City. We saw the musical in March of 2006, and were super lucky to see an amazing cast that included Diana Degarmo, Tevin Campbell, and Andrew Rannells. We also took a dance class with a member of the Broadway company before we saw the show, and learned the choreography to You Can’t Stop the Beat. It was such a fun experience!

Me, Diana Degarmo, and my friend at the Stage Door!

Not only did I really enjoy the upbeat music, joyful choreography, and colorful costumes of Hairspray, but we had a wonderful stage door experience as well. I remember many of the actors thought my friend and I were sisters, which we got a kick out of at the time. We were able to get a picture with Diana Degarmo, who had recently been in American Idol. I remember we wished we had taken a photo with Andrew Rannells, as we loved him as Link Larkin, but selfies at the stage door were not as popular back then! Fun fact, the above picture was taken on a regular 35mm film camera I was still using!

The products in this post were originally provided for my unbiased review. Some links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

For my manicure this week, I decided to create a simple skittle inspired by the colorful Hairspray logo. I had a lot of fun finding nail polishes in my collection that matched up with the colors in the lettering. I will list the polishes I used here, and link to them if they are still available for purchase.

  • Zoya Nail Polish Janie, a bright pink
  • Priti NYC Fireglow, a pumpkin orange – BUY
  • Zoya Nail Polish Willa, an onyx black – BUY
  • Zoya Nail Polish Hattie, a blush mauve pink – BUY
  • Zoya Nail Polish Becca, a deep plum purple – BUY
  • Zoya Nail Polish Tucker, a bright sky blue
  • LVX Fantom, a bright white – BUY
  • Zoya Nail Polish Chiara, a jewel toned purple – BUY

I added two coats of each shade on my nails, and sealed in the manicure with a layer of the Zoya Ultra Glossy Top Coat. This manicure was so easy to create, and I really enjoyed looking at my nails all week long. I never would have put together this color combination if not for this project!

This week reminded me how much I love skittle manicures, as it can be quite fun to paint each nail a different color. Plus, I got to revisit a Broadway musical that I really enjoy. Now that it’s been over 15 years since the original run of Hairspray closed, I hope that we will see a revival production at some point in the near future. I love listening to the Original Broadway Cast Recording, and I think the story is evergreen, too.

See inside the Playbill and learn more about my manicure on Instagram HERE!

Off-Broadway Review | Heathers

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Heathers

Playing at New World Stages

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? $38.00 Digital Lottery and Digital Rush

What I Paid: $140.00

My Rating: ★★★★

Official Website: https://heathersthemusical.com/

Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the nobodies dreaming of a better day. But when she’s unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams of popularity finally start to come true. That is until J.D., the mysterious teen rebel, teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it is murder being a somebody…

REVIEW

When I heard Heathers was making a return to New York City off-broadway at New World Stages, I knew I had to check this cult classic musical out for myself. All I knew about Heathers was that it is set in a high school, starred Carrie Hope Fletcher in the West End, and had a controversial scene depicting suicide. Otherwise, I managed to avoid spoilers, and boy was I in for a surprise! I can only describe Heathers as Mean Girls meets Stephen King, as the show got very intense very quickly.

I purchased a full price ticket for Heathers online from the box office. Thankfully, the prices are not too steep given the off-broadway venue, and even though I was farther back in Orchestra Center, I had a great view as the theatre is on the smaller side. Because this show is selling quite well, I do recommend buying your tickets in advance if you are looking for specific seats or a specific date.

At the center of Heathers is the classic story of a bullied high school student who just wants to fit in with the popular crowd. Here, Veronica Sawyer (Lorna Courtney) decides to befriend the top clique, the Heathers, so that she can get through high school unscathed. However, Veronica quickly realizes that popularity isn’t everything, but instead of simply breaking off the friendship, Veronica ends up in murderous situations with her new boyfriend, J.D. (Casey Likes). What follows is a terrifying tale where the teenagers of Westerberg High start dying off in quick succession.

It is undeniable that the cast of Heathers is fully stacked. Courtney is incredible as Veronica, with vocals that left me beyond impressed every time she hit a run. She also captures the essence of an intelligent yet naive teenager well. Her facial expressions during the song Our Love is God are so perfect. Similarly, anyone who saw Likes portray Marty McFly in Back to the Future will immediately recognize his acting ability, as he is downright scary in Heathers! As for the Heathers themselves, understudy Sara Al-Bazali was on for Heather Chandler, usually played by McKenzie Kurtz, and she, Olivia Hardy, and Elizabeth Teeter have the crowd in the palms of their hands from the moment they appear on stage. It’s worth seeing Heathers just to experience the immense talent of this cast alone!

Moreover, I will say that the content of Heathers did feel a bit dated to me. Yes, the show is set in the 1980s and based on a movie from the same time period, but do we really need to keep gay slurs in the script? In the same way, while I understand that the show is meant to be satire and a social commentary on the high school experience, the fun, upbeat, and poppy songs sometimes feel as if the show is marginalizing topics such as violence in schools, bullying and suicide. Heathers therefore feels similar to The Book of Mormon, where in the process of using dark comedy to joke about serious issues, negative ideals are perpetuated. Perhaps if the theatre wasn’t filled with cosplaying young folks who joyfully scream at the conclusion of each song, I wouldn’t be as concerned with whether the messages of Heathers are being received literally or figuratively in today’s social and political climate.

That being said, Heathers is an electrifying musical with very catchy songs. The set functions well as it transitions from the high school to the students’ homes to even a 7-11. I also really enjoyed the lighting in the show, specifically in Candy Store, where the Heathers are drenched in their signature red, green, and yellow colors. While I would love to see some rewrites to the Heathers story to strengthen the satire and update it for a 2025 crowd, I was very impressed with this off-broadway production. If you enjoy dark comedies, Heathers is certainly an excellent option, especially considering the current cast. However, I would strongly recommend looking up content warnings in advance, and keep in mind this show is not appropriate for kids.

STAGE DOOR

The Stage Door at New World Stages is on 49th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. It is on the opposite side of the main door to the theatre on 50th Street. I typically take a right when I exit the theatre and cut through Worldwide Plaza before taking another right. You will see barricades and security set up at the Stage Door itself. Most of the cast came out to sign Playbills and take selfies with those who asked. Casey Likes stopped to wave and say hi to everyone before heading to another event, and Lorna Courtney did not come out to sign. The crowd was very polite and respectful, and all of the actors were very friendly and gracious. It was a great way to end the evening!

Follow me on Instagram to see my vlog of seeing Heathers HERE.

Musical Manicures | Movin’ Out Inspired Nails

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Welcome back to Musical Manicures, the series where I create a nail polish look inspired by a Broadway show I’ve seen in the past. This is the eighth installment of this series, and I am really enjoying revisiting so many of the amazing shows I’ve seen all while using polishes from my collection that I may not reach for on a regular basis. This week I picked Movin’ Out from the jar of musicals, which brings me back to January 2004. This is the second show I ever saw on Broadway, and I got to visit with my dance class on our first trip together to New York City. Not only did we get to see the Movin’ Out, but we also got to take a master dance class with one of the Broadway dancers, who taught us choreography from the show. I wish I could remember which performer it was, and I also wish I had photos to show you from the time. Alas, this was over 20 years ago before I had a digital camera!

Movin’ Out is a jukebox musical set to songs by Billy Joel and with choreography by Twyla Tharp. Although there is a Piano Man who sat above the stage and performed all the music, the show is otherwise told through dance. I remember that we did not have the best seats in the Richard Rogers Theatre, and I also remember that the show was definitely a bit too mature for us at the time. Looking back, I think Movin’ Out it a musical I would appreciate a lot more now as an adult than I did as a middle school student!

The products in this post were originally provided for my unbiased review. Some links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

For my manicure, I decided to do an abstract take on the Movin’ Out street sign logo. I began with a bright blue shade as the primary color using Zoya Sia, one of my all time favorite nail polishes. For my accent nail, I used LVX Fantom, which is a white nail polish, as the base. I let the white nail polish dry completely before I sectioned off my nail using striping tape. I then used Zoya Soko, a bright red nail polish, to act as the top of the street sign, along with more of Zoya Sia as the bottom of it. Make sure to let your nail polish dry completely before adding a top coat! Unfortunately, I wasn’t patient enough and smudged the nail art when I added Zoya Ultra Glossy Top Coat to seal in the look. Luckily, the Movin’ Out street sign is a bit banged up, so I don’t think my manicure needs to be perfect!

Overall, it was really fun to revisit a Broadway show that I saw over 20 years ago with this Musical Manicures installment! I feel like Movin’ Out is a more niche show that you may not have heard of before this post. It will be interesting to see if this musical ever gets revived on Broadway. Musicals that are primarily dance revues are not as popular, but they can be really beautiful to experience. You will have to let me know in the comments if you’ve seen or heard of Movin’ Out, as I would love to know!

Join me on Instagram to see the behind-the-scenes of this manicure HERE!

Broadway Review | Operation Mincemeat

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Operation Mincemeat

Playing at Golden Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? $49.00 In Person Rush, $59.00 Digital Rush, and $49.00 Digital Lottery

What I Paid: $79.00

My Rating: ★★★★ 1/2

Official Website: https://operationbroadway.com/

Operation Mincemeat is the 2024 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical , and 2025 Tony Award® Winner for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Jak Malone)! 

The year is 1943 and right now we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. Bursting at the seams with the kind of chaos you couldn’t invent, the question is: how did a dead body, a fake love letter, and-of all people-Ian Fleming come together to wrong-foot Hitler?

REVIEW

Despite the high praise I kept hearing for Operation Mincemeat, I honestly wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this British musical about a real-life World War II secret mission. Luckily, the good word-of-mouth and the cast’s performance at this year’s Tony Awards convinced me to head to the Golden Theatre during my recent trip to New York City, and I ended up having an incredible night at the theatre.

In addition to the daily rush and lottery options available for discounted tickets, there is a monthly draw on the Operation Mincemeat website. You can enter your email and receive a coupon code to buy tickets for $79.00. I purchased a seat in Orchestra Center in Row C at this price, which was amazing because the face value of the ticket is $199.00. I absolutely loved sitting up close to the stage, as the actors have a powerful stage presence that is instantly captivating.

Speaking of which, don’t let this cast of five actors fool you – they are each playing several characters! Not only do they all have amazing vocals, but their acting ability is incredible. You can see the physical transformation take place when they switch characters. It’s really quite impressive! I especially loved when David Cumming would go from the shy and awkward Charles Cholmondeley to one of his other roles. The switch was immediate and noticeable, allowing the audience to follow the story even if the action is constantly on-the-go.

Moreover, what I love most about Operation Mincemeat is the energy. The show is replete with upbeat and fun songs that are downright goofy (All the Ladies is a personal favorite!). Yet the show leaves room for truly heartfelt moments, such as Dear Bill sung by Jak Malone, which brought me to tears. Operation Mincemeat doesn’t take itself seriously, but it still leaves room to tell this story respectfully. For instance, I connected with the character of Jean Leslie (Claire-Marie Hall), who just wants her intelligence to be useful in a male-dominated workplace. Plus, I have to be honest, I love anything that has a boy band parody moment!

The set itself is functional yet not over-the-top. I see the set as more of a tool for the actors to tell the story to the audience, rather than just being decorative. There are cleverly placed doors, maps, and phones, for example, that allow for smooth transitions between scenes. Yet an elaborate set is not needed for Operation Mincemeat with the focus of the musical being the actors themselves.

At the end of the day, I left the theatre with a big smile on my face wanting to immediately go down a Google rabbit hole to learn about the real Operation Mincemeat. There are few experiences that make me think “this is theatre” when the curtain falls, and this show accomplishes that easily. Do I think this show is for everyone? No, I think more traditional theatergoers may not understand nor appreciate the comedy of the show, especially considering the topic. Yet if you are looking for a fresh take on a historical story that is told in a unique way, I highly recommend this show. This is certainly one that I would not hesitate to repeat attend.

STAGE DOOR

The Stage Door at the Golden Theatre is directly to your left when you exit. There were barricades set up, and the cast quickly began trickling out to sign Playbills and take selfies with those who asked. All five actors came out to sign (FYI – I saw understudy Amanda Jill Robinson go on for the roles typically played by Zoë Roberts) , and they were all so nice and down to earth. The audience members were also very respectful, and it was fun to hear that many of the fans have seen the show multiple times to try to catch all the understudies! We also got to say hi to some of the actors from The Outsiders, who walked by from the Jacobs Theatre next door.

See my vlog from Operation Mincemeat on Instagram HERE.

Broadway Review | Mamma Mia!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Mamma Mia!

Playing at Winter Garden Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? $45.00 In Person Rush Tickets and $49.00 Digital Lottery Tickets

What I Paid: $99.50

My Rating: ★★★ 1/2

Official Website: https://mammamiabway.com/

A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! Mamma Mia!, the worldwide musical phenomenon, comes home to Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre for a special limited return engagement beginning August 2nd.

The international musical sensation that has kept audiences dancing in the aisles for 25 years. Mamma Mia! is the Broadway getaway that audiences can’t wait to escape to, and this August it returns to the Winter Garden Theatre for a special limited engagement. You already know you’re gonna love it – get your tickets today.

REVIEW

When I found out that Mamma Mia! was returning to Broadway for a strictly limited engagement, I knew I had to be there. Regrettably, I missed this show during its original run, as I figured it would run long enough for me to catch it when I was ready. I have since learned not to put off shows you want to see, as you never know when they will close. Thankfully, the North American tour is making a 6-month stop at the Winter Garden through February 1, 2026, and I was able to catch it during my most recent trip to New York City.

I purchased a Center Orchestra ticket in Row H at TKTS for 50% off at $99.50. This is a full view seat, and I am very happy I got such a great deal on what was otherwise a hefty ticket price. That being said, this show has not been on TKTS consistently, so I do recommend purchasing tickets in advance if Mamma Mia! is a must see for you. I will say that I have sat in the very last row of the orchestra at the Winter Garden before without a bad view.

If you are familiar with the Mamma Mia! movie adaptation, the storyline of the Broadway show is very similar with a few small differences here and there. The music is, of course, absolutely wonderful. The cast is all exceptionally talented, but I especially loved Donna (Christine Sherrill), Tanya (Jalynn Steele), and Rosie (Carly Sakolove). These women are killing it with their powerful vocals, stage presence, and comedic timing. Sophie, played by Amy Weaver, is also a highlight with her beautiful voice. Similarly, the Mamma Mia! band is incredible. I will warn you, though: the opening to Act 2 after intermission starts so loudly and abruptly that the entire audience jumped, and many people screamed from being startled!

While I had heard a fair amount of negativity online about the set, as someone who never saw the original production of Mamma Mia!, I did not find the set to be lacking at all, especially when considering this revival run is part of the tour. Though simple, the set is bright and functions well for the show. In fact, it allows for the choreography with the large ensemble cast to really shine. If you enjoy shows with big dance numbers, Mamma Mia! has some really fun ones, such as Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

Probably the only thing that detracted from my enjoyment of the show was not the show itself, but the audience. Since Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical, I was afraid that people would be singing along. While that did happen a bit, what was worse was the talking! The family to my left was from Europe, and the father translated nearly the entirety of the show to his teenager. Similarly, the couple to my right also spoke at many points. This unfortunately was quite distracting, but at a big touristy musical like Mamma Mia!, it is to be expected.

That being said, I overall thoroughly enjoyed seeing Mamma Mia! on Broadway. This show is a great mix of upbeat, show-stopping numbers that are full of fun, all with tenderhearted moments between a mother and her daughter mixed into the plot. In a day in age where the real world can feel overwhelmingly bleak, Mamma Mia! is the perfect way to spend a few hours of your day having the time of your life!

STAGE DOOR

The Stage Door at the Winter Garden is directly opposite the theatre’s main entrance. You will find barricades set up on 7th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets. Although I attended a Wednesday matinee performance, Mamma Mia! did not have an evening show, and to my delight and surprise nearly the entire cast came out to sign Playbills and take selfies with audience members. This was a wonderful Stage Door experience, as the fans were all polite and respectful, and the performers were all super friendly. While I don’t know if the cast comes out for matinees on two-show days, I would recommend stopping by the Stage Door if you have time.

See my vlog from Mamma Mia! on Instagram HERE and learn more about my experience buying tickets on TKTS HERE!

Broadway Review | Just in Time

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Just in Time

Playing at Circle in the Square Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? $40.00 In Person Rush Tickets

What I Paid: $199.00

My Rating: ★★★★

Official Website: https://justintimebroadway.com/

Tony Award® winner Jonathan Groff (Merrily We Roll Along, Hamilton) is back on Broadway and is “onstage perfection” (Chicago Tribune) as Bobby Darin, the legendary singer whose short but remarkable life took him from teen idol to global sensation. Developed and directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!, Beetlejuice), with a book by Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver, Just In Time is an “utterly electrifying” (Entertainment Weekly) new musical that immerses audiences into an intimate nightclub “so seductive in ambiance that you find yourself not wanting to go back outside” (Chicago Tribune). Complete with iconic Bobby Darin hits including “Beyond the Sea,” “Mack the Knife,” “Splish Splash,” and “Dream Lover,” Just In Time is “a helluva good time at the theater” (Time Out).

REVIEW

If not for Jonathan Groff starring in this bio-jukebox musical chronicling the life and career of Bobby Darin, I would not have spent a Tuesday night in the basement of Wicked. Thankfully, Groff was enough to lure me to the Circle in the Square for a one-of-a-kind Broadway experience that will always have a special place in my heart.

I purchased a full price ticket in advance directly from the box office online, as Just in Time has been selling over capacity consistently since its run began. Since this theatre is set up primarily in the round, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. I was in Row F on the left side of the main stage, and had a fully, unobstructed view. The cast also moves around the entire floor section quite a bit throughout the show, so many audience members have the opportunity to be in the Groff “splash zone” at one point or another. If you do choose to splurge on table seats, the actors will likely interact with you, and you will essentially be part of the show.

Similarly, the set and theatre really create a unique experience for Broadway-goers. From the moment you walk into the nightclub-like set-up, you feel as if you have entered a different dimension. This is amplified by the show itself, as Groff breaks the fourth wall right from the start of the show by introducing himself as the actor who will be playing your Bobby Darin, and by sharing his personal connection to the music. Not only does this interaction create a special bond with the audience, but Groff goes so far as to outright mention how the magic of live theatre is encompassed in what happens inside the room at that specific moment, as it can never again be recreated in the same way. As someone who shares this sentiment, I found it quite emotional to hear these words out loud.

Moreover, the plot of Just in Time is similar to other musicals of the same vein, following the life of Bobby Darin while featuring his music throughout the show. While I did learn a lot about Darin, and found myself very touched at certain moments, I also felt myself thinking that this style of musical is overdone. Similar to The Neil Diamond Musical A Beautiful Noise, which I saw in 2023, the best moments of Just in Time are the big musical numbers. I’m not sure how I feel about these biographical shows focusing on people who yearn to be famous all while making questionable decisions, such as Darin essentially stealing from other artists in an attempt to gain popularity. Perhaps Just in Time is a good reminder that those musicians who seem larger than life are mere humans after all.

In the end, I left Just in Time grateful to have experienced a few hours in the presence of Jonathan Groff. He is in his element in this show, and it is clear he is born to be a performer. That being said, it will be interesting to see if Just in Time has a life outside of Groff. The show is, in many ways, built around him as a person, and likely requires some rewrites if another star steps into the leading role. Thus, if you have the opportunity (and the funds!) to see Just in Time, I do think Groff is worth the price of admission, and he is very well supported by a talented cast and band.

STAGE DOOR

The Stage Door at the Circle in the Square is directly to your left when you exit. There will be barricades set up around the perimeter, and security will keep you well informed along the way. We were told that some of the performers do sign Playbills, but that Jonathan has never come out at Stage Door. We were very fortunate to have four cast members sign our Playbills: Lance Roberts, Emily Bergl, Gracie Lawrence, and Ericka Henningsen. This Stage Door experience was not only well organized, but all of the audience members were polite and respectful. It was a great way to end the night.

See my vlog from Just in Time on Instagram HERE.

Musical Manicures | The Addams Family Inspired Nails

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I have the seventh installment of my Musical Manicures series, where I create a nail polish look inspired by a Broadway show that I’ve seen in the past. I began by picking a random musical out of a jar, and this time I got The Addams Family, which I saw in March of 2011. This was the first show that I saw during the semester I lived in New York City for an internship during my junior year in college, and it definitely kicked off a bit of a Broadway binge. I got a student rush ticket to The Addams Family, and paid $37.00 for a seat in the mid mezzanine. I also bought the souvenir program book, before I realized that it wasn’t sustainable to keep purchasing them on my college budget!

When I think back to my experience at The Addams Family, I remember really loving Jackie Hoffman’s comedic performance as Grandma. Otherwise, a lot of the show was forgettable to me. I recently listened to the Original Broadway Cast Recording, and I do enjoy the songs One Normal Night and Pulled. That being said, I looked back at my old blog from 2011, and I was surprised at how much I loved this show at the time. I completely forgot that this version of The Addams Family is set in current times, and featured a lot of pop culture references. All that to say, I think if you have the opportunity to see this show on tour or at a local theatre, it’s fun for the whole family, but not necessarily the best musical out there.

The products in this post were originally provided for my unbiased review. Some links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

For my nails, I decided to create a look inspired by Morticia’s purple dress with black lace overlay. I began with a base of Zoya Lidia, which is a dark purple cream polish. To replicate the black lace, I used the Zoya Leopard Spots Topper, which is a special effects nail polish with a crackle design. I then used Holo Taco Glossy Taco to give the manicure a shiny finish and even out the layers. While you can definitely see the crackle effect in direct sunlight, the purple and black kind of blend in as one dark shade in natural lighting. While I am a bit disappointed that you can’t see a strong differentiation between the shades of polish, I still think I captured the essence of Morticia’s gown.

Moreover, it is also a lot of fun that I got to create a nail polish look based on more of a Halloween coded musical as we head into the fall season. I think dark purple is a great shade for this time of year, so I’m glad to wear it this week. Plus, I don’t think I’ve ever used the Zoya Leopard Spots Topper before, so it was fun to put that to use. My dark and vampy nails certainly match the theming of The Addams Family, too!

See more #MusicalManicures content on Instagram by viewing this week’s Reel video HERE!

Musical Manicures | Let It Be Inspired Nails

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I’m back with the sixth installment of Musical Manicures, the series where I combine my love of musical theatre with my love of nail polish by creating a nail polish look inspired by a Broadway show I’ve seen in the past. This week I picked out Let It Be from the jar of shows. Let It Be was a tribute show for The Beatles that played at the St. James Theatre. I saw it back in 2013 through a papering service I used to see Broadway shows on a budget. Essentially, in exchange for a $5.00 processing fee, I would get a comp ticket to the show. I remember the first time I used this service I thought it was a scam because I had to pick up my ticket from a man waiting outside the Starbucks at the Marriott Marquis. Luckily, this service was completely legitimate, and I ended up seeing a handful of shows for just $5.00, which was perfect for a student! Unfortunately, the service no longer exists in this format today, but it was great for me at the time.

As for the show itself, Let It Be essentially felt like a Beatles concert. As a lifelong Beatles fan, the show was a lot of fun for me, especially seeing all of the famous costumes and eras recreated throughout the show. That being said, I’ve seen many Beatles tribute shows in my life, and this one does tend to blend in with the others in my mind. In fact, I saw another Beatles tribute on Broadway around this same time, and I have difficulty differentiating between the two in my head. Nonetheless, I’m glad I got the opportunity to experience Let It Be, but I’m not sure it would have been worth the price of admission if I paid full price for my ticket.

The products in this post were originally provided for my unbiased review. Some links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

For my manicure this week, my intention was to recreate the British flag on the cover of the Playbill. I grabbed Zoya Isley for the blue base, LVX Fantom for the white shade, and KBShimmer Chilly Pepper for the red. I was disappointed in my choice of blue nail polish right away, as Isley dried down to a deep navy blue that was darker than expected. I would recommend a brighter blue shade like Zoya Sia. I then decided to free hand the flag design on my ring finger for an accent nail. I should have used Scotch tape or nail art striping tape to create clean lines. Thus, the flag result is not as good as I would have liked, but I had to Let It Be!

While my manicure may not emulate the Playbill perfectly, I think it does fit the vision I had in mind. Plus, I will have another chance at Beatles nails at some point in this series when I get to Rain, the other Beatles tribute show I saw on Broadway. It’s times like these I wish I had better nail art skills, but it’s more about having fun than a perfect result… right?!

See more #MusicalManicures content on my Instagram with this week’s corresponding Reel!