Elbug10's NYC Weekend w/ the Stars March 3-7, 2005 Day1, part 2 UPDATED 5/23! About This Page:

[elbug10]

Pre-Trip Report (Preproduction)

Starring: Me, Lisa, (Elbug10) age 34, lover of all things Disney, Soap Operas and Broadway
With Extra Special Guest Stars:
My friend Rita, also lover of Soaps and Broadway
Rita’s husband, Lou (our chauffeur for the weekend)
And Possible Guest Appearances By:
Tony Danza
Catherine Hickland (Lindsay, One Life To Live)
Robin Strasser (Dorian, OLTL)
Thorsten Kaye (Zach, All My Children)
Cameron Mathison (Ryan, AMC)
John Lithgow
Kamar De Los Reyes (Antonio, OLTL)
Trevor St. John (Todd, OLTL)
Dan Gauthier (Kevin, OLTL)
Kathy Brier (Marcie, OLTL)
Renee-Elyse Goldsberry (Evangeline, OLTL)
Matt Metzger (Duke, OLTL)
Bobbie Eakes (Krystal, AMC)
Alexa Havins (Babe, AMC)
Justin Bruening (Jamie, AMC)
And many others (soap stars subject to change w/o notice)

The Setting: New York City, The Big Apple

Star's Accomodations: Rita’s house, in a New Jersey suburb

Setting the Scene:
Our Story begins back in November, 2003 when I attended my first Super Soap Weekend at WDW, and met my friend, Rita. I have watched soaps for over 20 years and had gotten to see a few stars in person on occasion, when they would attend events at an area shopping mall or casino. I had read in the soap magazines about Super Soap Weekend at WDW and wanted to go but none of my friends are soap buffs, or even Disney buffs, for that matter. Each year, they would promise to save the money to go but then something would come up and another year would go by that I would miss out on the festivities. Finally, I decided I could stand it no more and planned a solo trip in November of 2003. I discovered Passporter and the boards (Thank goodness for Jennifer and Dave!) and made plans to meet the Mouse and attend SSW.

On the second day of my trip, the first day of SSW, I was standing in line at ASMu waiting for the bus to MGM and noticed the woman in front of me was wearing a t-shirt autographed by the entire cast of Port Charles, which had just recently been cancelled. I asked her about the shirt and before I knew it, I was in a full-blown conversation with a complete stranger (sorry, Dad!). We found we shared a love of soaps and of Broadway and soon a wonderful friendship was born! We ended up spending the entire weekend together and before it was over made plans for me to come to Manhattan the following spring to see Kathy Brier (Marcie, OLTL) who was starring in “Hairspray” on Broadway at the time. Rita knows Kathy personally through her investment in a play Kathy was in, and was kind enough to introduce me! That was in April of 2004 and I also went down last August to attend the OLTL fan club luncheon, and to see “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Wicked”.

This is now my third trip to the city since last April and I will have seen 7 Broadway shows and met close to twenty soap stars, as well as a few other Celebrities (Hugh Jackman, Joey McIntyre (former New Kid on the Block), and even had dinner with Broadway star Rob Evan (Jekyll and Hyde)!

Our Script (First Draft):
<font color="blue"> THursday, March 3 </font>
Lisa takes train from Utica, NY to NYC, arriving at approx 3 p.m., allowing plenty of time for Amtrak to be late. Lisa stores her two bags at Penn Station and meets Rita sometime around 5 p.m. probably at Penn Station. From there, we take the subway to 79th St. to Blondie’s Sports Bar, where we attend the fundraising event, “ABC AND FRIENDS vs. MS”. For $25, we get the opportunity to meet celebs and get to see them act as bartenders. Hopefully, we’ll get a bite to eat there as well and once we’re done mingling, we’ll return to Penn Station to retrieve my luggage and either meet Lou or catch the NJ Transit train back to Rita’s home in South Orange, about 40 minutes away.

<font color="blue"> Friday March 4 </font>
Take train into city w/ Rita about 8:00 a.m. She goes to work while Lisa goes ? (Free day in NYC). Possibly check out World of Disney on 5th Ave and do some window shopping, or maybe go to a museum or Empire State Building? Meet Rita after work and grab a bite to eat, possibly at EuroDiner on 8th Ave between 45th and 46th Sts. (FYI: open 24/7 with extensive menu and inexpensive and tasty food.) 8 p.m. tickets to see “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” , Broadway musical starring John Lithgow, based on movie starring Steve Martin/Michael Caine. Hang out at Stage Door afterwards to see if we can get pics/autographs. Return to Rita’s house around midnight.

<font color="blue"> Saturday March 5 </font>
Daytime plans TBA
7 p.m.-Midnight “Daytime Comes to Nitetime” charity event on Long Island. Dinner/Cabaret show/dancing to benefit the Gabriel Project, which pays for babies from Africa to come to the U.S. for heart surgery.

<font color="blue"> Sunday March 6 </font>
3 p.m. tickets for “La Cage Aux Folles”

<font color="blue"> Monday, March 7 </font>
Lisa Takes morning commuter train into city w/ Rita; catches 10:45 a.m. train returning to Utica.

Hopefully, I will be able to solidify plans more before I leave. Rita has been on vacation and returns home this weekend, so I haven't been able to talk to her to see what other plans she may have. Check back for more updates!

Coming Soon: Act I, Scene 1: The Train Station

[GoofyMom]

Lisa -- you are so clever with all this "script" talk!

I can't wait to hear how many stars you get to meet and how the plays are. (PS. I want Rita's P.C. t-shirt!!!!! )

[crystalloubear]

This sounds like a lot of fun!! Can't wait to hear about it when you return!! Here's some on meeting lots of famous people!!

[loobyoxlip]

Oh, Lisa, you are going to have the best time. That's so cool you met Rita at WDW

[JoanW]

Now that's action packed! I can't wait to read your trip report. I'm an AMC fan for 30+ years (since high school). I secretly married Jackson Montgomery.

[Tara O'Hara]

Lisa, this sounds like a fabulous adventure!! Have a blast!!

[DopeyGirl]

You know where I stand on the whole soap thing so . . .

Take LOTS of pictures!!! And drool plenty for me, since I can't be there to do it myself!!!

[disneymom9092]

Lisa it sounds like a fun time! Can't wait for more reports!

[simbarel]

This script is meeting my approval. You are going to have a blast. Keep us updated!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Lisa Have a great time Can't wait to hear all about it

[BabieeMelly]

Hey Lisa! I hope you had a great trip, I'm pretty sure you should be home by now. NYC is too much fun, isn't it?! I can't wait to hear all about your experiences!

[elbug10]

Hey, you guys! I'm back! I got back yesterday afternoon, complete with a souvenier; a cold! So, I'm kind of resting up as much as possible b/c I HAVE to work the rest of the week.

Anyway, a few highlights to tide you over until I can start my TR.
*Got served a Screwdriver (vodka and O.J.) by Cameron Mathison (Ryan, AMC) and talked to Tony Danza and Thorsten Kaye (Zach, AMC).

*Went to the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center on Friday and took the NBC studio tour.

*"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" was ROFL funny, despite what the critics say. If you live near NYC, go see this show!

*Saturday soap event was a little bit of a letdown, but still had some nice converations with Kathy Brier (Marcie, OLTL), Nathaniel Marston (Michael, OLTL who had appetizers with us!) and Bobbie Eakes (Krystal, AMC). Also had pics with Michael Easton (John, OLTL), Kamar De Los Reyes (Antonio, OLTL), Justin Bruening, (Jamie, AMC) and Patricia Mauceri (Carlotta, OLTL).

*Sunday we brunched at a new place, 44 1/2 on 10th Ave. between 44th and 45th-very good. Check it out if you're in NY.

*"La Cage Aux Folles" was wonderful. Spectacular costumes and amazing dancing, especially when you consider that all the "Cagelles" are men in this production. Full splits. Need I say more?

So those are the highlights. I'll start working on the TR, soon I promise. Also got some nice photos and need to figure out how to download them. Had a great time, but I missed you guys! It's good to be home.