#mini beetlejuice reunion

[hoodoo12]

Foul Play

If you haven’t heard of it:

“ Foul Play is a digital, immersive, improvised comedy murder mystery game from the minds of folks from Broadway, tabletop gaming (Dimension 20, Dungeons and Dragons), and comedy (Upright Citizens’ Brigade, The Phoenix). Think of it as “Clue,” but improv comedy, but “Sleep No More,” but digital. “

The one I bought a ticket for was "The True Real Life of Real Life People", a murder mystery set in a reality TV show. Alex Brightman was the "host" and many other actors including Rob McClure played characters who came back to the show for a "special reunion". Like a murder mystery party, no one had much time to prepare who they were playing and had to open cards to find out more information about themselves and the plot. Then they--and the audience--had to work to find out who killed the victim.

What I discovered it that with twelve different cameras + so many characters it is hard to solve the mystery of ‘who done it’, but it was silly fun to watch with lots of laugh out loud improv.

There’s a discord server where people can talk (mostly just repeating funny lines so no one missed them, lol) and solve the mystery. I personally gave random updates to another Beetlejuice fan who wasn’t watching it, so I’m sure it seemed super weird without context. That was part of the fun, so you get them too:

It is weird af and I don't really know what is happening, so I am just watching Alex and Rob

It is improv and as we know, Alex is really good at it 

His character is Jimmy F. Pop. Someone said, "Jimmy, fuck--" and he replied, "No one has used my middle name in so long! James Fuck Pop."

Now there is a zombie apocalypse, lol

ROB IS MAKING WEAPONS

He is going from room to room for weapons!

Now he had a sieve as a helmet and a garage can lid as body armor

Now Alex is laying in a bunkbed like he is in a coffin

Alex just said, "I am Jimmy Fuck Pop corn and I don't care"

His character has extreme daddy issues

HE IS SO SWEATY

He mistakenly called someone else Jimmy. That person called him out and he said he was recently diagnosed with narcissism

"We as men are a nightmare."

"She is a motherfucking zombie."

Now he is painting his nails for why?

NOW WHITE NAIL POLISH ON HIS FACE FOR WHY

Redneck uneducated Rob is trying to save everyone even though he "just heard his mom eat his dad over the phone."

NOW HE JUST DROPPED HIS CHARACTER AND SAID HIS REAL NAME IS ALEX BRIGHTMAN A CHARACTER HE'S BEEN DOING FOR YEARS AND IS NOW SAD HE CAN'T DO A MENAGE A TROIS

"Time for a makeup tutorial at the end of the world. Chose black. The color of anger. The color of lust. The color of ants. This will be our little secret: I killed JFK."

He just asked for a show of hands would like to eat Rob's ass

A DOUBLE CROSS?!!?!

IT'S ALL TWISTY

(I did not guess the killer correctly but that's okay. It was a fun way to watch improv weirdness on a Friday night)

[amateurmagic]

Beetlejuice headcanon/mini fic that just popped into my head. I’ve heard some criticism that The Ghost with the Most leaves for the Netherworld at the end of the show, even after he’s made amends with everyone and even when Juno is no longer an issue. Now I love a good found family trope as much as the next person (my AO3 history will agree lol) but what if he went into the Netherworld to find Lydia’s mother?

As a disclaimer, I’ve never seen the Tim Burton film or any of the cartoon or comics, so idk if it’s elaborated somewhere else. But if Juno is gone and therefore the regulations lifted from the entryways, what’s to stop ghosts from leaving the Netherworld?

So some amount of months to years pass and Lydia and the Deetzlands have all adjusted to their strange and unusual family dynamic. Lydia enters the living room, maybe on the way to the kitchen for a homework snack, and stops in her tracks, notebooks and pens clattering to the floor as she registers two familiar figures standing in the middle of the room. BJ launches into some monologue about how arduous it was searching through the vastness of the Netherworld and how many Sandworms he had to fend off in order to bring Emily back to the portal and that Miss Argentina sends her regards, but Lydia can’t bring herself to make a sound, her eyes still stuck on the translucent, but intensely familiar form of her mother. Eventually another grownup (my brain imagines Charles, bc obvi) enters the room to investigate the sound of things being dropped and respond in a similar manner to Lydia, attention captured by the sudden reappearance of Beetlejuice and his new ghostly companion.

Lydia eventually managed to break the silence with a shaky and disbelieving “…Mom?”

Emily smiles in response, her arms opening in an invitation. Her touch is now cool, like mist, and she doesn’t smell the same anymore due to her status of deceased, but Lydia is simply glad that she doesn’t phase through her like she feared she would.

Sometime during his journeys in the Netherworld, Beetlejuice has learned the power and value of silence, settling to lean back against the banister of the stairs with the other assembled adults, content to let this reunion play out without him. Eventually, he finds himself being dragged forward into a hug by a joyfully tearful Lydia, her dark eyeliner now running down her face.

“Welcome home,” are the only words she can say.

A/N: maybe one day I’ll expand on this more and write an actual fic, but, for now, this is the best I’ve got

Also, barring the whole green card thing, Lydia and BJ are strictly friends/chaotic family here

[aimmyarrowshigh]

ao3 wrapped: 7, 23, 30??

7. If you use song lyrics, which artist’s songs did you pull from the most?

I actually only used one song lyric title this year on a work that's finished and posted, and it was a Beetlejuice: The Musical fic, so the title is from Beetlejuice: The Musical, LOL. I'm kind of shocked that I didn't end up Taylor Swifting it again this year like I usually do, but I didn't. (I already know the title for one of my first fics of 2023, though, which is the Steve/Joyce and it comes, OBVIOUSLY, from Fountains of Wayne... "Could Use A Guy Like Me.")

23. Did you do any collaborative works this year?

Yes! I did the Marvel Reverse Big Bang (although I wrote mini bang length) and the Star-Spangled Mini Bang (although I wrote big bang length lol). @schatten-wolfsdrache and @potterspink did the art for both of those bangs, respectively, and I'm so pleased to have gotten to work with them. But I didn't co-write anything this year! And I don't think I co-wrote anything last year, either! It's so unlike me and weird!!! Oh, wait, that's a lie, @catboynickjackson and I started a Reunion J sheylinson one-shot that we haven't posted yet, and it was sooooo nice to co-write with them again. :)

30. Biggest surprise while writing this year?

I just answered, but I feel like this question could have endless answers, so let's see... I am surprised that I kept writing Not In The Answer But The Question even after discovering that it was a little bit The Mortification Of Being Known in more ways than I'd necessarily want to ever write. I HATE the idea of anything about myself being imbued in my writing, even though I know that for most people that's ~the point and what makes it ~art and you're ~supposed to or whatever, I just fucking hate it. I never want anyone to know anything about me that I didn't explicitly tell them as a humorous anecdote. So I'm genuinely surprised that it didn't send me into a quit-writing-forever tailspin when I realized that obviously a story about Queer Disabled Jewish Trauma was, shockingly, also about me, a queer disabled Jew. Again, ::that's growth meme::

[ghostgothgeek]

Map of Amity Park

So I did a bunch of research and traced over the map the GIW had in DCMH and extended it to try and build a map of Amity Park. I also paid close attention to locations and places named in canon. I am by no means an artist, map maker, photoshop pro, or civil engineer; I just wanted a general reference map for the phandom to use. 

Here is where I place Amity Park. We know AP isn’t in Michigan or Wisconsin, but is most likely a day drive away from Madison (Bitter Reunions). AP is a decent sized city of itself, so I can see it being an outskirt of a large city like Chicago. Lancer mentions the Northwestern Testing, and Northwestern University is in Evanston, IL, which is why I placed it where it is.

LIST OF PLACES (in great detail): 

Every city needs it’s basic services: energy supply, water supply, sewage, and trash/recycling. These of course are located more on the edge of the city, as they need a large amount of space and are typically isolated.

I placed a local airport in the city as well. Typically you would fly out of one of Chicago’s airports anyway, but private planes (Vlad, Mansons, etc.) can take off and land here. 

University of Amity Park is located at the north side of the city, and is home to a Nasty Burger location, an LGBT Center, and is probably near a gas station. The blocks surrounding the campus are more student housing. 

Near the University, we have the Science Center, Axion Labs, a Mental Institute, and the Museum, as a lot of research from the University would go into those places. 

In the more isolated areas, we have the Penitentiary, the abandoned North Mercy Hospital, and the GIW Headquarters. 

The Zoo is located on the north side of the park and is also close to the University for research purposes.

The Observatory is also located in a more isolated area, so you can actually see the stars without a bunch of light pollution.

Going into the center of town, where most things are actually located:

A community college, which is near the internet cafe where Danny and Tucker play games, a gas station, a liquor store, a thrift shop, a Planned Parenthood, Java Jive (the coffee shop), a tech store, and a gym. 

We also have a shoe store, the hunting goods store and Guitar Palace that Skulker and Ember take over in Reign Storm, the U-Ship Box Store the Box Ghost takes over, a barber and a hardware store.

There is a hair salon, tanning salon, and nail salon, where Paulina frequents. There is also Elmer’s Pharmacy, a dentist office, a law office, the TV repair store, butcher shop, and pet store (which we see next to each other in an episode), a toy store, and a vet office.

Government buildings include City Hall, a public library, a court house, a DMV, a bus station (for all mass transit in the city), a community center (likely where town halls are located and other smaller events; Ida plays bingo here every week), and a retirement home. 

There is also the post office, Amity Park Fire Department, a bank, the 24K Jewelry shop, a nearby ice cream shop, and another Nasty Burger location (this is the one right by Casper High that the trio usually hangs at). Also an animal shelter, a grocery store, and a pizza joint.

Education: there is a preschool and daycare, the elementary school, a playground/park, the middle school (yes, a Beetlejuice reference), and Casper High. Casper High campus also has the track, a fieldhouse, and the football field. 

Moving towards Amity Park Mall:

Bucky’s Music Mega Store, an apartment complex, Amity Park Police Department, a bookstore, doctor clinic, gas station, a Denny’s (where Phight Club happens), Material Grill restaurant, the mini golf course and bowling alley, Freddy Fazbear’s (which is actually a horror video game, but here it’s a kids pizza place like Chuck E. Cheese), a furniture store, a party supply store, and the movie theater (which is Marmel’s Multiplex 22, Amity Park Multiplex, and Googolplex Cinemas...it seems that they go to the same movie theater throughout the series and the names just change, or these could also be other movie theaters in the area (like near the college campus). I just picked Multiplex 22 cause it sounded very mall-y).

Along the interstate, there’s a pawn shop, a publishing house (which somehow prints all 5 of Amity Park’s newspapers), a homeless shelter, the diner, Safe House Motel, a laundromat, the 89¢ Store (a nod to Fanning the Flames), and the car dealership.

Also near the mall is Amity Arena, which hosts concerts, sports events, and other large entertainment events. There is a hotel near both the arena and the hospital (the one that isn’t abandoned and haunted). Towards the outskirts of the hospital, there’s a trailer park; north a few blocks is the TV station, where News 4 is headquartered. There’s also a construction site near Amity Arena, but that kinda went out the window when Undergrowth hit. 

On the other side of town, we have:

A-Mart, a convenience store. I named it like this because it can be like an offshoot of KMart, but A for Amity! 

Floody Waters, right off the interstate.

North of Floody Waters, East of Casper High, we have the main residences: the Foley household and only a couple blocks away is Fenton Works. 

There’s also another gas station and the Amity Park Radio Station nearby. There’s also a private school near ultra posh Polter Heights, but the A-Listers attend Casper High because the private school doesn’t have a football or cheerleading team.

Moving into Polter Heights and the surrounding area:

The Polter Heights Golf Course and Country Club are exclusive to those in the neighborhood, as well as their private neighborhood pool; members only. 

The Mayor’s Mansion (eventually Vlad’s) is located in here too.

All of the A-Listers’ houses are of course in this neighborhood, as well as Val’s previous residence and the Fenton’s temporary mansion from Living Large (which is of course right next door to Vlad, but with some distance, because the rich are always socially distancing with their big houses).

Polter Heights is adjacent to a bunch of farmland (this is the midwest, we like cows and stuff), and there is a church close by as well.

Just outside Polter Heights is the Manson Mansion (with Sam’s greenhouse). Lucky for Sam, the Skulk and Lurk Books and an occult shop are just down the street. The Manson residence is also near a funeral home and graveyard (how did Sam get so lucky? Oh, because I love her), a synagogue, Mario’s restaurant, and a dry cleaners. 

We get more spacious as we get away from the center of town! 

Along the shore of Lake Eerie, there are the docks which are home to many warehouses, including the mattress factory.

Also along the shoreline, there is a pier which doubles as an amusement park (think kinda like Navy Pier in Chicago in comparison) and alongside the pier is the public beach area. 

Camp Skull and Crossbones is located on the other side of Lake Eerie, and the fishing area is more on the north side of the lake. Lake Eerie is not one of the Great Lakes, it’s just its own thing in Amity Park. 

Back towards the park, we have event grounds space, which is where Circus Gothica is located, as well as the Meet Swap and flea market. Basically whatever rotating event hits town, it comes right here. Just next door is a theatre (for music, opera, Broadway, etc.). There is also the third and final Nasty Burger location in AP.

This is all surrounding the actual park Amity Park, which has a pond, a big fountain, and also hosts that really big hill that overlooks City Hall.

On the south side, across the bridge and over the interstate is Elmerton, where Val currently is resided. 

All the other blocks are filled with more office buildings, apartment complexes, houses, and businesses, but all of the main places are already listed and placed. 

Finally, yes, I did name some places for myself and my friends because they’re great and they deserve it. These include Steph’s (mine) Occult Shoppe, Nick’s Liquor Emporium (@ecto-american), Lexx R Us Toystore (@lexosaurus and appropriately named after the Lexxpocalypse), Laz’s Law Offices LLC (@kinglazrus), Dee’s Dentistry (@qlinq-qhost​), Lily’s Looks Thrift Store (@dannyphantomisameme​), Ceci’s Funeral Home (@ceciliaspen​), Vic’s Amusement Park (@babypop-phantom​), and Reverie Books (@wastefulreverie���). 

[mylifeinshowtunes]

BOOTYLEGS (updated nov 22 2021)

Hello! Here’s a list of my bootlegs. They are all video, the ones which are audio are specified. 

If there’s only the title of the show then I don’t know which cast it is (sorry). 

I’m willing to gift these but  trading is appreciated! 

If I gift you a bootleg PLEASE consider donating something to my Ko-Fi, I’m putting away some money for University, and your donation no matter how small can really help me out!

If we are trading send me your list and I would appreciate it if you sent your bootleg first. 

If you want any of these MESSAGE ME, also be nice, i won’t give you anything if you are rude so please keep that in mind. 

I might not always be able to answer, so just wait, if more than 2 days pass write again. 

PLEASE be specific about the bootlegs you want. 

*All shows starting with “the” are under the letter T*

Thank you :)

[TITLE OF SHOW]

unknown cast 

&JULIET

West End Cast - november 2019

21 CHUMP STREET

21 Chump Street - Brooklyn Academy of Music (June 7th, 2014) - Original Cast

A CHORUS LINE

A Chorus Line (2006 Broadway revival, opening night)

A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER

Broadway 11.3.13

A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM

2013 PROSHOT Globe

Bridge Theatre NTL

A NEW BRAIN 

2015 cast

1998 cast

A VERY POTTER MUSICAL 

A VERY POTTER SEQUEL

A VERY POTTER SENIOR YEAR

AMADEUS

National Theatre Live (2016) PROSHOT

AMELIE

Original Broadway Cast

AMERICAN IDIOT

AMERICAN IDIOT | Los Angeles | Full Show PROSHOT

Broadway 2017 cast

AMERICAN PSYCHO

unknown cast

ANASTASIA

Anastasia OBC (Hartford Stage, off Broadway)

Anastasia on BROADWAY

ANGLES IN AMERICA 

National Theatre Proshot version

2003 mini series

ASSASSINS

Original Broadway Cast

AVENUE Q

OBC

BANDSTAND

On Broadway, unknown cast

Bandstand - Fatham Events

BARE: A POP OPERA

Off Broadway cast

BAT OUT OF HELL

West End version july 2017

West End (with Alex Thomas Smith as Tink)

BE MORE CHILL 

AUDIO bootleg

The play (Chicago at the Griffin theater), THIS IS NOT A BOOTLEG OF THE MUSICAL VERSION

Be More Chill UNCG Workshop (NOT OBC AND NOT COMPLETE)

INCOMPLETE bootleg of the musical (first 35 minutes)

ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST

AUDIO revival (11.10.17)

AUDIO Australian Premiere Cast

BEETLEJUICE

Beetlejuice - 09-2019- BROADWAY CAST

closer view

Beetle juice play original cast (7•27•19) ( 1080 X 1920 ) [Missing Girl Scout Song]

Beetlejuice with Presley Ryan

Beetlejuice with Will Blum

BENT

Los Angeles, CA (Center Theatre Group), 8th August 2015

BILLY ELLIOT

Billy Elliot (Chicago 2010) Tommy Batchelor

Billy Elliot the Musical Live PROSHOT

BOMBSHELL

NBC cast reunion 2020

CABARET

alan cumming 1998

Cabaret (Emma Stone)

Cabaret Adam Pascal.

CAROLINE OR CHANGE

West End cast December 2018

CARRIE THE MUSICAL

Carrie the Musical- 2012 Off-Broadway Revival

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Broadway OBC

Charlie Mezzanine OBC

charlie broadway Audio First Preview

CHICAGO

AUDIO, Chicago (12/3/17) featuring Todrick Hall as Billy Flynn (link in text)Cast: Leigh Zimmerman- Velma Kelly, Charolette d'Amboise- Roxie Hart, Brian O'Brien- Fred Casely, Peter Nelson- Sergent Fogarty, Raymon Bokhour- Amos Hart, Nicole Bridgewater- Liz, Gabrielle McClinton- Annie, Donna Marie Ashbury- June, Tonya Wathen- Hunyak, Robyn Hurder- Mona, LaVon Fisher Wilson- Matron "Mama" Morton, Todrick Hall- Billy Flynn, R. Lowe- Mary Sunshine, Beth Johnson Nicely- Go-To-Hell-Kitty, Michael Scirrotto- Harry/ The Jury, Jason Patrick Sands- Doctor, Denny Paschall- Aaron, Barrett Martin- Bailiff, James T. Lane- The Judge, Barrett Martin- Court Clerk

COME FROM AWAY

OBC

Broadway Proshot 2021

COMPANY

West End Production AUDIO, February 25, 2019 - Rosalie Craig (Bobbie), Patti LuPone (Joanne), Mel Giedroyc (Sarah), Jonathan Bailey (Jamie), George Blagden (PJ), Ashley Campbell (Peter), Richard Fleeshman (Andy), Alex Gaumond (Paul), Richard Henders (David), Ben Lewis (Larry), Daisy Maywood (Susan), Jennifer Saayeng (Jenny), Matthew Seadon-Young (Theo), Grant Neal (u/s Harry).

DEAR EVAN HANSEN

Broadway OBC

OBC HD version (ACT ONE ONLY)

AUDIO with MLB as Evan Hansen (7-12-17)

AUDIO Colton Ryan as Evan Hansen

AUDIO 7.19.17 (MLB as Evan, Colton as Jared, Garrett as Heidi)

AUDIO 7-30.17 MLB DEH

AUDIO, DEH PREVIEWS WASHINGTON DC (slight changes to songs, should be OBC) 

AUDIO, MLB AS CONNOR (first act cuts off after Sincerely Me, second act complete)

AUDIO, MLB as Evan, Olivia as Zoe, and Garrett as Heidi

AUDIO, second stage audio

AUDIO, Ben Platt last show

AUDIO, Colton Ryan and Olivia Puckett 

AUDIO, Lisa Brescia Cynthia 8-3-17

AUDIO, Noah Galvin

9.30.18 Taylor Trensch (Laura Dreyfuss, Alex Boniello, Lisa Brescia, JLT, Phoenix Best, Asa Somers, Sky Lakota Lynch 

Taylor Trensch Broadway (Mallory Betchel, Alex Boniello, Lisa Brescia, JLT, Michael Park, Phoenix Best, Sky Lynch): 

 JANUARY 2020 Broadway Cast (Jordan Fisher)

DIANA

Netflix Proshot 2021

ELEGIES

2003 off Broadway

ELISABETH DAS MUSICAL

Elisabeth das Musical Wien 2005 English Subtitles

EUGENIUS!

West end Proshot

EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE

AUDIO west end 21.11.17

PROSHOT version 

Amazon Prime movie 2021

FALSETTOS

Proshot version (with audio fixed, i also have a subbed version)

Frontal view

Side/up view

Falsettoland - Original Off Broadway Cast

Falsettos LA1993OBC(Jason played by Sivan Cotel)

Falsettos Lincoln Center Revival National Tour April 19th 2019 Cast: Max Von Essen (Marvin), Nick Adams (Whizzer),Eden Espinosa (Trina),Nick Blaemire (Mendel),Thatcher Jacobs (Jason), Bryonha Marie Parham (Charlotte),Audrey Cardwell (Cordelia) Notes: Pretty much the full show. Missing the last 15 mins of Act Two. Ends at the Bar Mitzvah Scene. Occasional head blocking the right of the stage. (thegr8ststarofall master)

AUDIO Falsettos Oct 1, 2016 (Today4uTomorrow4Netflix’s Master)

AUDIO 08 January 2017 - Closing night

AUDIO 1/6/17 (Peyton Lusk u/s Jason from Making a Home)

WEST END video Septemebr 2019

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

 AUDIO, fiddler on the roof revival (jessica vosk understudy for golde starting in act 2)

FIRST DATE

OBC 

FLEABAG

NTL 2019 production PROSHOT

FRANKENSTEIN

NTL PROSHOT with Johnny Lee Miller as The Creature

NTL PROSHOT with Benedict Cumberbatch as The Creature

FROZEN

Live at the Hyperion (FIRST SHOWING) [THIS IS NOT A BROADWAY PRODUCTION]

AUDIO: Frozen (Denver) First Preview (August 17 2017)

DENVER 8.17.17 (USED TO BE NFT)

FUN HOME

Victor Garden Theatre Proshot

FUNNY GIRL

Funny Girl with Stephanie J.Block 

GHOST QUARTER

Ghost Quartet at the McKittrick Hotel, Jan. 12, 2015.

GIGI

GROUNDHOG DAY

OBC 

first preview (set breaks)

HADESTOWN

AUDIO, Edmonton, secon preview 

AUDIO, Hadestown (audio, Off-Broadway)

VIDEO of West End Production at National Theatre

Broadway Preview

Broadway January 2020

HAIRSPRAY 

Hairspray with Andrew Rannells

Hairspray Live (12/07/16)! Cast: Maddie Baillio (Tracy Turnblad), Dove Cameron (Amber von Tussle), Kristin Chenoweth (Velma von Tussle), Garrett Clayton (Link Larkin), Billy Eichner (Rob Barker),  Harvey Fierstein (Edna Turnblad), Sean Hayes (Mr. Pinky), Ariana Grande (Penny Pingleton),  Derek Hough (Corny Collins), Jennifer Hudson (Motormouth Maybelle), Shahadi Wright Joseph (Little Inez), Andrea Martin (Prudy Pingleton), Rosie O'Donnell (Health Ed Teacher),  Ephraim Sykes (Seeweed J. Stubbs), Martin Short (Wilbur Turnblad)

Hairspray with Aaron Tveit

HAMILTON

Hamilton OBC (I also have a version eng subbed, and one with ita sub)

Hamilton OBC filmed from stalls

Hamildoc

Drunk History full episode with Lin

Hamilton Chicago

AUDIO Hamilton with Jon Rua (for cast details message me)

Hamilton with Andrew Rannells (FIRST ACT ONLY)

AUDIO 08/16/2017 - Los Angeles - Michael Luwoye (Alexander Hamilton), Solea Pfeiffer (Eliza Schuyler), Joshua Henry (Aaron Burr), Emmy Raver-Lampman (Angelica Schuyler), Isaiah Johnson (George Washington), Jordan Donica (Lafayette/Jefferson), Mathenee Treco (Mulligan/Madison), Rubén J. Carbajal (Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Amber Iman (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Rory O'Malley (King George)

AUDIO ANDREW RANNELLS (What Comes Next and I Know Him)

HAMILTON TOUR 2017 (VOB, It’s the one which used to be NFT)

AUDIO, Hamilton Tour Cast (Oct 6, 2017)

Hamilton West End November 2018 Cast: Sifiso Mazibuko (s/b Alexander Hamilton), Rachelle Ann Go (Eliza Hamilton), Giles Terera (Aaron Burr), Rachel John (Angelica Hamilton), Obioma Ugoala (George Washington), Jason Pennycooke (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Tarinn Callender (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), Cleve September (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Christine Allado (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Michael Gibson (King George III), Jade Albertsen, Johnny Bishop, Leslie Garcia Bowman, Jon Scott Clark, Kelly Downing, Gregory Haney, Leah Hill, Waylon Jacobs, Miriam-Teak Lee, Phoebe Liberty, Gabriel Mokake (Ensemble)

DISNEY PLUS PROSHOT (also with Italian subs)

HAMLET 

 National Theatre, Andrew Scott (PROSHOT)

The Globe 2018 PROSHOT

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

april 2017 bootleg

Broadway (undated)

Broadway April 2019

HEATHERS

Heathers the Musical (New Version-proshoot)

I also have another version found on youtube

heathers oobc

AUDIO, Heathers with Thomas Sanders 

Heathers | West End | 2018/11/24 Closing Night

West End July 2021 (Christina Bennington as Veronica)

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH

Andrew Rannells

Andrew Rannells (better quality)

Neil Patrick Harris

Lena Hall

Off-Broadway

Anthony Rapp

Darren Criss

Michael C. Hall

Hedwig Lena Hall (25-11-16) 

AUDIO: Andrew Rannell's birthday show

AUDIO: Hedwig Andrew’s closing night 10-12-14

Andrew Rannells 21-08-15

Andrew Rannells 30-08-15

John Cameron Mitchell 2015 Proshot

HELLO AGAIN

2017 movie version 

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING

Daniel Radcliffe

IF/THEN

If-Then (Broadway preview performance)

IN THE HEIGHTS

low quality proshot

obc

IN TROUSERS

IN TROUSERS TRINITY COLLEGE PRODUCTION 1992

INDECENT

Indecent- 08-03-17 Pro-Shot

INTO THE WOODS

Into The Woods(OBC PROSHOT)

JAGGED LITTLE PILL

Broadway AUDIO Broadway November 2019

JERSEY BOYS

Andrew Rannells 12/22/07, FIRST 15 MINUTES ARE MISSING 

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

2018 PROSHOT Concert

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

The film

JULIUS CAESAR

NTL 2018 PROSHOT

KING LEAR

King Lear (Donmar Warehouse NT), PROSHOT (Derek Jacobi)

KINKY BOOTS

Kinky boots (unidentified cast)

Kinky Boots 2017 with Brendon Urie (starts at Sex is in the heel)

PROSHOT by BroadwayHD

AUDIO, with Brendon Urie as Charlie (Opening Night)

AUDIO, with Todrick Hall as Lola

OBC VIDEO Stark Sands (Charlie Price), Billy Porter (Lola), Annaleigh Ashford (Lauren), Lena Hall (Nicola), Andy Kelso (Harry), Stephen Berger (Mr. Price), Eugene Barry-Hill (Simon Sr.), Daniel Sherman (Don), Marcus Neville (George), Tory Ross (Pat), Jennifer Perry (Trish), John Jeffrey Martin (Richard Bailey), Adinah Alexander (Milan Stage Manager), Caroline Bowman (Maggie), Sebastian Hedges Thomas (Young Charlie), Marquise Neal (Young Lola)

LAZARUS

Original Cast Proshot

LEGALLY BLONDE

Legally Blonde The Musical -MTV (Christian Borle) proshot [I also have it with english subtitles]

Legally Blonde - February 24th 2007 - San Francisco, CA (it should be OBC, it features Christian Borle)

Legally Blonde - September 16th, 2007 (I think it’s OBC)

Legally Blonde | 2007/10/25 | Broadway | VOB [no smalls] | MEGA

Becky Gulsvig (Elle u/s), Andy Karl (Emmett u/s), Richard Blake, Kate Shindle, Michael Rupert, Orfeh, Nikki Snelson, Haven Burton, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Tracy Jai Edwards, Matthew Risch (Kyle/Dewey u/s), Rod Harrelson (Grandmaster Chad/Carlos u/s), Cara Cooper (u/s). Note: Starts in the middle of "Omigod You Guys."

LES MIS

Les Miserables (2014 Broadway Revival)

AUDIO BOOTLEG, current west end cast (summer 2017)

les mis BRASIL CAST

les mis london cast 2010-11 (Samantha Barks as Eponine)

Les mis with Carrie Hope Fletcher (London 19th September 2013)

AUDIO Les Mis west end (2017 09 02) [NFT]

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

AUDIO Little Shop of Horrors Pasadena Playhouse 9/17/19 (first preview) Cast: George Salazar (Seymour), Mj Rodriguez (Audrey), Amber Riley (Audrey II), Kevin Chamberlin (Mr. Mushnik), Matthew Wilkas (Dr. Orin Scrivello), Brittany Campbell (Ronnette), Tickwanya Jones (Chiffon), Cheyenne Isabel Wells (Crystal)

Little Shop of Horrors, Menier Chocolate Factory production. UK Tour, 2009.

LOVE IN HATE NATION

Original Off Broadway Cast

LOVE NEVER DIES

Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, Joseph Milson, April 29, 2010; London (Pre-Changes)

Australian cast 2011, PROSHOT

MARY POPPINS

AUDIO Mary Poppins - Christian Borle

MATILDA

Matilda Broadway (Queen Lesli)

ME AND MY GIRL

Christian Borle and Laura Michelle Kelly

MEAN GIRLS

HQ broadway 

July 4, 2018 BROADWAY

AUDIO, Mean Girls - DC First Preview 10-31-17 (opening night))

MEDEA

National Theatre Live 2014 PROSHOT

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

merrily we roll along encores 2012 (Lin Manuel Miranda)

MISS SAIGON

Miss Saigon.25th Anniversary.2016 (proshot)

MOULIN ROUGE

Boston cast

MOZART DAS MUSICAL

Budapest 2003 Proshot Cast: Wolfgang: Dolhai Attila, Constanze Weber: Szinetár Dóra, Colloredo: Szabó P. Szilveszter, Nannerl Mozart: Janza Kata, Leopold Mozart: Földes Tamás, Waldstätten bárónő: Polyák Lilla

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Proshot with David Tennant and Catherine Tate

NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812

OBC

OBC HD VIDEO FROM DECEMBER

AUDIO, closing night (9.3.2017)

AUDIO Demo Album Dave Malloy (Pierre), Phillipa Soo (Natasha), Brittain Ashford (Sonya), Grace McLean (Marya), Lucas Steele, Amber Gray, Nick Choksi, Blake DeLong, Gelsey Bell, Paul Pinto

Demo songs including If He Were Here Now, Prologue, Natasha Lost, Charming, Letters, Sonya Alone tracked, mp3

AUDIO Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 25/03/2017, Broadway   Josh Groban (Pierre), Denée Benton (Natasha), Brittain Ashford (Sonya), Grace McLean (Marya D), Blaine Alden Krauss (u/s Anatole), Amber Gray (Hélène), Nick Choksi (Dolokhov), Nicholas Belton (Andrey/Bolkonsky), Gelsey Bell (Mary/Maid Servant/Opera Singer), Paul Pinto (Balaga/Servant/Opera Singer) [* The master was sitting in the orchestra right next to the curvy walkway so you can hear footsteps/stomping (and Hélène during the Abduction)! Includes the BC/EFA speech by Josh Groban and Denée Benton.] Tracked, mp3

AUDIO Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 05/05/2017, Broadway  Dave Malloy (t/r Pierre), Denee Benton (Natasha), Brittain Ashford (Sonya), Gelsey Bell (Mary/Maidservant/Opera Singer), Nicholas Belton(Andrey/Bolkonsky), Nick Chokski (Dolokhov), Amber Gray (Helene), Grace McLean (Marya D), Nick Gaswirth (u/s Balaga/Servant/Opera Singer), Lucas Steele (Anatole), Reed Luplau (Opera Dancer), Mary Page Nance (Opera Dancer), Sumayya Ali, Courtney Bassett, Josh Canfield, Kennedy Caughell, Ken Clark, Lulu Fall, Ashley Perez Flanagan, Alex Gibson, Billy Joe Klessling, Reed Luplau, Brandt Martinez, Andrew Mayer, Mary Page Nance, Shoba Narayan, Azudi Onyejekwe, Celia Mei Rubin, Heath Saunders, Cathryn Wake, Katrina Yaukey, Lauren Zakrin(Ensemble)

AUDIO Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 03/01/2016, A.R.T Denée Benton (Natasha), ​Scott Stangland (Pierre), Lucas Steele (Anatole), Brittain Ashford (Sonya), Gelsey Bell (Mary/Maid Servant/Opera Singer), Nick Choksi (Dolokhov), Lilli Cooper (Helene), Nicholas Belton (Bolkonsky/Andrey), Paul Pinto (Balaga/Servant/Opera Singer), Sumayya Ali, Courtney Bassett, Josh Canfield, Ken Clark, Erica Dorfler, Daniel Emond, Lulu Fall, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Nick Gaswirth, Azudi Onyejekwe, Pearl Rhein, Heath Saunders, Katrina Yaukey, Lauren Zakrin

AUDIO Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 22/08/2017, broadway  Scott Stangland (Pierre), Denée Benton, Brittain Ashford, Grace McLean, Lucas Steele, Kennedy Caughell (Helene), Nick Choksi, Nicholas Belton, Gelsey Bell, Paul Pinto untracked, m4a

Closing night highlights

AUGUST 13, 2017 OAK 

Dave Malloy and Shoba Narayan

U/S for Pierre, Scott Stangland

NEWSIES

Proshot version

AUDIO BOOTLEG (pretty good quality, unknown cast)

Newsies (OBC, MIKE FAIST)

corey and kara (-finale)| MIKE FAIST, better quality

AUDIO Mike Faist as Jack Kelly

AUDIO Newsies Italia Audio (November 7, 2015) - (Note: This is all in Italian!) Cast: Flavio Gismondi (Jack Kelly), Roberto Tarsi (David Baum), Giula Fabbri (Katherine), Simone Leonardi (Joseph Pulitzer), Simona Patitucci (Edda Esposito), Andrea Fazio (Gruccia)

NEXT TO NORMAL

Next to Normal Broadway - last performance of Alice Ripley, Jennifer Damiano, and Brian d'Arcy James

Next to Normal US Tour - Original Tour Cast (Los Angeles)

NINE

2003 Broadway revival [Antonio Banderas, Chita Rivera, Laura Benanti, Mary Stuart Masterson, Jane Krakowski]

NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

Proshot with english subs

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND

Once On This Island 1118 matinee

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER

Peter and the Starcatcher (Christian Borle) 

PETER PAN

1998/1999 broadway cast [-peter pan: cathy rigby -captain hook/mr darling: paul schoeffler -mrs darling: barbara McCulloh -wendy darling: elisa sagardia -tiger lily: dana solimando -michael darling: drake english -john darling: barry cavanagh -smee: michael nostrand]

PETER PAN GOES WRONG

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

- May 17, 2014 Cast: Norm Lewis, Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Heather Hill, Christian Sebek, Deanna Doyle

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall

London 1995 proshot (Ethan Freeman, Jill Washington, Simon Bowman)

Broadway 1988 (Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Steve Barton)

POKÉMON LIVE

with the wonderful Andrew Rannells

RATATUILLE 

The TikTok  musical 

RENT

Rent (2008 Live on Broadway), PROSHOT, ALSO SUBBED

Rent (OBC Opening Night)

Rent (OBC  5th anniversary reuninion)

RENT 08-06-10 (Aaron Tveit)

No Day But Today  - The Story of Rent (documentary)

Rent opening night documentary

AUDIO, 20th anniversary

Rent (Bruce Haasl, Mike Spee)

AUDIO, Rent 10/25/97 Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles (NPH as Mark)

10th anniversary reunion OBC

20th anniversary tour FIRST ACT ONLY (12/9/2016)

Rent Tour, LA, 1998-01-09 (NEIL PATRICK HARRIS AS MARK)

AUDIO Rent - 1997-06-10 - BWY

RENT LIVE 2019

RENT Manchester Production 2021 PROSHOT 

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

Rocky Horror 04-20-01

ROMEO AND JULIET

R&I Lily and Robert PROSHOT

ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD

National Theatre Live 2017 PROSHOT

SALOME

National Theatre Live 2017 PROSHOT

SISTER ACT

Sister Act OBC ( 2 april 2011)

SIX

AUDIO SiX London 15th January 2018 10pm

LONDON CAST

SOHO CINDERS

off west end oct 2019, Luke Bayer and Ben Darcy

SOMETHING ROTTEN!

OBC (BROADWAY PREVIEW) 

OBC PREVIEW March 28, 2015

Something Rotten - 2016-06-20 (Rob McClure)

Something Rotten Tour Cincinnati - 2017

AUDIO Something Rotten 3/22/16 - Andre Ward (Minstrel), David Beach (Brother Jeremiah), Kate Reinders (Portia), Christian Borle (William Shakespeare), Brian d'Arcy James (Nick Bottom), Eric Sciotto (u/s Nigel Bottom), Edward Hibbert (Lord Clapham/Master of Justice), Gerry Vichi (Shylock), Marisha Wallace (u/s Bea), David Hibbard, Brad Oscar (Nostradamus)

Will Chase, Rob McClure

SPAMALOT

Spamalot  2005 Full Show Original Production (with Christian Borle)

SPAMILTON

Off broadway (12.31.16)

SPONGEBOB THE MUSICAL

Chicago

AUDIO, SPONGEBOB OBC BROADWAY (minus Nick and Carlos, Plankton and Krabs)

BROADWAY NOVEMBER 2017

SPRING AWAKENING

OBC 

sa may 18 2008 (should be the last show with OBC)

Deaf West Presents Spring Awakening

sa  deaf west 10/18/2015 

sa 11-29-06

SWEENEY TODD

Sweeney Todd OBC (PROSHOT)

2014 Revival (christian Borle) PROSHOT

TANZ DER VAMPIRE

Berlin production with english subtitles 

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

 THE BOOK OF MORMON

OBC (I also have it with subtitles)

OBC from balcony

Ben Platt 

London

Workshop

Kj Hippensteel as Elder Price (first part is missing, starts at their arrival in Africa)

Book of Mormon Jumamosi (2nd national tour, Cody Jamison Strand)

Cody J Strand, David Larson

AUDIO: Kj Hippensteel as Elder Price on Broadway

AUDIO: West End (Kj Hippensteel, Cody Jamison Strand)

AUDIO: The Book of Mormon (London 10-19-16e)

AUDIO: West end (KJ HIPPENSTEEL, CODY JAMISON STRAND, STEVEN WEBB)

BOM AUSTRALIA (not complete bootleg, just clips)

BOM US TOUR (Gavin Creel and Jared Gertner)

BOM AUDIO 15.04.2015 (NIC ROULEAU, BRIAN SEARS, DENÉE BENTON)

BOM AUDIO WESTEND Book of Mormon (KJ Hippensteel/Cody Jamison Strand) (6th Oct 2017)

BOM AUDIO west end September 9 2017 (the u/s for Cunningham is on, message me for cast info)

BOM WEST END (jan 3rd 2018)

THE CHER SHOW

Pre-Broadway Chicago July 13, 2018

Broadway (undated)

THE COLOR PURPLE

Revival cast

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTIME

proshot

OBC

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

The Drowsy Chaperone OBC

THE GRINNING MAN

West End Video (most of act one, parts of act 2)

Bristol Old Vic Proshot

THE LIGHTNING THIEF 

TLT off-broadway 2017 cast

Lightning Thief - August 20, 2014 Off-Broadway - Percy Jackson: Eric Meyers, Grover: Jordan Stanley, Annabeth: Kristin Stokes, Mr Brunner/Chiron/Poseidon/Hades: Graham Stevens, Sally/Clarisse/Thalia/Mrs Dodds: Zakiya Young, Luke/Ares/Mr D/Charon/Gabe: Parker Drown

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

Royal Shakespeare Company PROSHOT

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD 

revival

THE PRODUCERS

2005 Film with Eng Subs

THE PROM

PREVIEWS CAST

The Prom - Broadway - February 2, 2019

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Proshot 2018

THE VIEW FROM UPSTAIRS

Audio

THE VOTE

The Vote (07 May 2015)

TICK, TICK…BOOM!

Tick Tick BOOM 09-18-01

Tick, Tick...Boom! (Original Off-Broadway Cast) 

TOOTSIE

11th September 2018, pre-Broadway, Chicago Production

TUCK EVERLASTING 

BROADWAY

TWELFTH NIGHT

NTL PROSHOT

URINETOWN

 Urinetown The Musical - Entire Show - Studio Players

VICTOR/VICTORIA

VICTOR/VICTORIA 2001 production

WAITING FOR GODOT

november 2013 b-way (McKellen, Stewart)

WAITRESS

OBC (not sure though)

Betsy Wolfe 

Jessie Mueller

AUDIO June 21, 2017 Matinee show Cast: Betsy Wolfe (Jenna), Charity Angél Dawson (Becky), Caitlin Houlahan (Dawn), Eric Anderson (Cal), Dakin Matthews (Joe), Joe Tippett (Earl), Molly Hager (Mother), Matt DeAngelis (Father), Dayna Jarae Dantzler (s/b Nurse Norma), Chris Diamantopoulos (Dr. Pomatter), Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie), Stephanie Torns (Francine), Ella Dane Morgan (Lulu), Ensemble: Kayla Davion, Matt DeAngelis, Thay Floyd, Molly Hager, Dayna Jarae Dantzler, Jeremy Morse, Stephanie Torns 

AUDIO Betsy Wolfe, Jason Mraz

BETSY WOLFE 06.29.2017 (VOB, It’s the one which used to be NFT)

WAITRESS featuring JEREMY JORDAN and SHOSHANA BEAN 

WAITRESS featuring Colleen Ballinger

WE WILL ROCK YOU

2003 proshot (?) version

WEST SIDE STORY

West Side Story starring Matt Smith

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF

NTL PROSHOT

WICKED

OBC

Wicked OBC pre bway 10 11 03

Wicked OBC (Idina Menzel last show)

WICKED OBC (Idina gets injured, comes up in the end in a red tracksuit)

Donna Vivino

04.09.2010, NYC, Mandy Gonzalez, Katie Rose Clarke

Aaron Tveit

Eden Espinosa, Megan HIlty (megan's last show)

Wicked (Laurel Harris, Kara Lindsay)

Stephanie J.Block

Wicked Annaleigh Ashford

Teal Wicks, Adam Lambert

October 29th, 2015 2nd National Tour - VOB + smalls Mary Kate Morrissey (s/b Elphaba), Carrie St. Louis (Glinda), Jake Boyd (Fiyero), Liana Hunt (Nessarose), Wendy Worthington (Madame Morrible), Stuart Zagnit (The Wizard). Lee Slobotikin (Boq), Chad Jennings (Dr. Dillamond) Notes: Filmed from orchestra but follows the action very well. MKM slays as Elphaba. There’s an audience member near the master in act two that yells a few drunk remarks, earning some laughs from the audience.

DUTCH WICKED: closing night (willemijn verkaik and keet deel)

GERMAN WICKED: Oberhausen 27th February 2011

YERMA

proshot with Billie Piper

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

Young Frankenstein November 10th, 2007, Broadway VOB (Cast: Roger Bart, Christopher Fitzgerald, Sutton Foster, Andrea Martin, Shuler Hensley, Megan Mullally

OTHER:

OTHER:

AUDIO Andrew Rannells Live From Lincoln Center 12.20 7.30pm show

Andy Mientus Cabaret London

The Jonathan Larson Project at 54 Below 2018

WANTS:

Any BOM bootleg I don't have, especially anything with Kj Hippensteel as Price, Cody Jamison Strand as Cunningham and Steven Webb as Mckinley.

Wicked with Alice Fearn as Elphaba and Sophie Evans as Glinda

Any recent Charlie And The Chocolate Factory bootlegs with Christian Borle

Any recent DEH

Any VENICE boot

Anything with Christian Borle

WEST END boot of SOHO CINDERS

WEST END boot of RENT 2021

[literaryfaeriecorner]

02/21/2021: Promotions, Old Friends, and Yellow School Buses

link to original post

February 21st, 2021

somehow i received a promotion at work last Friday even though i am literally probably one of the LEAST motivated people teaching at that school... fuck. so... now, instead of just being a regular-schmegular teacher, i am now the '6th grade head social studies teacher' which means that i have to run planning meetings for the social studies team, attend morning meetings discussing whole-grade growth and failings, and solutions for how we're going to get the kids to... not suck. uuuuuuggggghhhhhh!!! and this is for the rest of the year and the next!!!!

apparently, i am the 'perfect person' for this position because all of my classes have consistently performed better than the rest... but between you, me, and the entire internet, that speaks more to the abilities of my students than my own personal abilities as a teacher. i don't believe i'm a sucky teacher or anything but the fact remains that between work, grad school, delusional lovesick-related episodes, mental illness, and other varying distractions, i am not Doing The Best I Can. in fact, i'm literally in survival mode 95% of the time. the other 5% of the time, i'm in manic-as-fuck mode. so... do i really DESERVE this promotion? who even fucking knows? i like to believe, however, that i'll eventually figure out how to bullshit this new responsibility as well and no one will be the wiser. i mean, if this promotion came with a financial boost as well, i'd be more inclined to not fuck it up but, like... i'm doing more work for the same weak ass pay... i'm not as motivated with kind words and encouragement than i would be with a solid boost to my pay grade. anyway... whatever.

i was on tumblr the other day (i am fasting from all social media sites during the day for Lent but tumblr doesn't count because i literally just reblog five or six posts into the void, look at sad literature quotes, and log out just to do it all over again the next day... i am not addicted to tumblr as i am to twitter, instagram, pinterest, and linkedin... yes, linkedin. my quest to escape my job has led me down a very weird and addictive path) and i came across this post by user beetlejuices:

"isn't it all about old friends? like everything? all of it?"

and it is. i think so. i really do.

one of the things i've been conscious of in my early adulthood is that i am still chasing after the friendships i had in middle school. i wrote about this two Lents ago too. there is a memory that i remember so vividly in middle school and it reminds me constantly about how i felt so loved and appreciated and like the world couldn't go on without me if i somehow left or disappeared or went away. i think about it all the time. that is how freeing and loving and whole it is. just a simple memory of being three hours late to school (after a huge, blown out argument between parents who should've divorced years ago) and being startled by a flood of texts that starting pouring in at 7 that morning.

ashley: YOOOO where r u? they snagged all the donuts from the corner store!

alysha: you missed the bus this morning?

ashley: i bought donuts off eman 4 u... say im the best :D

kiera: U MISSED CRYSTAL'S FAT HEAD ASS SLIP DOWN THE STEPS LMAOOO

kiera: u're always here early u good?

alysha: are you coming 2 school today?

ashley: are u ok?

Christyl: don't forget we have a test in math!! where are you?

kiera: babe?

ashley: are you ok? why is ur phone off?

alysha: i just talked to ashley are u ok?

Christyl: where r u?

kiera: i just talked to ashley r u ok?

kiera: none of ur sisters r here either... u ok?

ashley: i'll call again @ lunch

alysha: pls be safe

Christyl: i'll tell the teacher you're sick and maybe you can take it tomorrow

Christyl: are you ok?

and even more messages that were sent during and inbetween classes... i thought it was a bit too late (and too time consuming) to respond to them all individually so after being signed into school three hours late, i decided to wait for all my friends at our table in the cafeteria to surprise them before explaining my mess of a morning. i was nervous because i thought they would be mad at me for some reason. but as soon as they saw me, ashley, alysha, kiera, and christyl, they came barreling towards me screaming my name. it was an entire scene. people looking at them crazy and then raising their eyebrows at me, not seeing what the big deal was. i probably looked the same exact way that i did the day before. unspectacular, bookish, awkward. they couldn't see what the big deal was. it embarrassed me but it thrilled me at the same time.

they nearly knocked me to the floor pushing each other to get to me first trying to steal the first hug. in the end, i stretched my arms out as far as i could and they all fell into them. we probably looked a mess. a tangle of brown legs, arms, frizzy hair, loose braids, and scuffed dress shoes. i remember feeling so loved and wanted. i felt bigger and grander than i was. i had stopped the world for five entire minutes and i didn't do anything. i was just existing.

i don't really talk to any of the girls anymore. i follow them on social media and i wish them happy birthday every year and we're all on each other's close friends list on insta... so i still know a few, if not all, of their secrets... but we'll probably never be as close as we were in middle school. and that's ok. i still love them as much as i did when they tackled me in the lunch room that day. i still root and cheer for them like we still spend every night after school on the phone for hours talking shit and planning presidential campaigns and gossiping about boys. i will never forget that day in the lunchroom. ever. and, like i said, it has only occurred to me now, as a young adult, that i've been chasing that kind of friendship and sisterhood since it happened.

i like to treat all my friendships as mini-romances. i remember a tweet that said, "friendships ARE romance," and i agree. i think i'm in love with all of my close friends, if not all of my friends. it's embarrassing (just a bit) but i have probably fallen in love with all of my friends at least once or twice. this is especially true for my group of college friends (at this point, they are really family). i have been in love, at least once, with all eight of them throughout our four years. i don't actually find this embarrassing like i said earlier. what's embarrassing is that this information might embarrass other people which, in turn, would thoroughly embarrass me. but the fact itself doesn't embarrass me. that is how i am. i fall in love and out of love at breakneck speeds. i think it's important to be a little bit in love with your friends.

i really enjoyed being in undergrad and planning literal dates between all eight or nine of us. and we would call it that. "what are we doing for our date next weekend?" "so who's going on the date tomorrow?" "are we cancelling the date or does the weather not matter?" (the weather always mattered.) my favorite college date was valentine's day senior year. we all went to korean-style karaoke and ordered so much food and drink we could barely stand to sing. we were all sat around the tv singing horribly to mariah carey or beyonce or rapping to nicki minaj verses. we took so many bad pictures and tone deaf videos and we kept leaning or hugging or holding each other's hands. that's another thing i love about my college family. most of us are touchy-feely people. i am a touchy-feely person. i'm southern and my mom is ridiculously gooey so one of my love languages, inevitably, is touch. i, usually, reign it in A LOT unless i have a partner but in college, i somehow discovered a whole group of people who loved to kiss each other on the cheek and hold hands and lean on other people, and lock arms. i felt at home. really.

maybe it's not only about old friends, though. maybe it's about feeling at home.

there was another post on tumblr and i think about it a lot. it's a screenshot of a tweet from twitter user @HumbleCore.

"HUGE NEWS: finally found my best friend from middle school on FB. We've both been looking for each other for over a decade. I told her I think about her whenever I play any boardgame or drive by a church. She told me she uses my name as her password at work. A perfect reunion."

when i read that the other night, i cried. i don't know why. it was heavy and ridiculous and i was worried my roommates would hear me. i don't know why i cried. at all. and even typing it out like that made me want to cry again. the feeling is not as strong or as overwhelming as it was the first time but it's still there.

i think about a best friend i had in first grade. even before i thought of ashley as my best friend (i have known Middle School Ashley since the first grade. i thought we were destined to be best friends forever and ever and ever, which is what i wrote in her middle school yearbook). his name was Malik. or Malique. my memory fails me. but anyway, i loved him like crazy. we didn't do anything without the other. we shared lunch together, we HAD to be partners on every field trip, i cried when Ms. Sanchez moved my seat from his in an effort to stop us from disrupting her lessons and i hated her for an entire week. (a very long time from a first-grade perspective.) even now, i think about him whenever i go to petting zoos or farms and when i ride on yellow school buses with my students.

Malik/Malique was my first kiss. we were hiding from Ms. Sanchez and the other chaperones so we could pet the goats one last time. while we were hiding behind a barn, he kissed me. "for good luck," he said. and then we sprinted across the farm to get back to the goats. and we pet them again before Ms. Sanchez found us and ordered us back on the big yellow school bus where we held hands for the entire hour-long ride back to school.

it's very silly to think now but in high school when i was trying to determine whether i loved my first boyfriend or not i remember thinking, "well, does he make me feel like Malik/Malique?" it's silly but sweet. at fourteen, still comparing the way he made me feel behind a barn at 5 years old to how another boy, years and years later, made me feel. it is silly but i think it's sweet.

i don't actually have any interest in finding Malik/Malique or knowing for certain what he does or how he's doing because i seriously doubt i had such an impact on his life, but i hope he's well and alive and happy because that's what i always naturally hope for when i pass petting zoos or farms or see bright yellow school buses.

so, yes. i think everything, us, our relationships, the entire world, is about old friends. all of it. every last bit of it.

i have a whole-grade data analysis, 300 pages of reading, and two mini-papers for classes to finish before tonight so i'm going to get going... i just wanted to write about old friends first.