Crush: Hollywood’s Next GenerationGet Your Gleek On!
Listen up, gleeks! Last night, I had the unbelievable opportunity to attend Glee Live, the debut concert tour featuring the stars of the hit FOX series. Needless to say, it was AMAZING ... not that I expected anything less!
I was at the first of four LA shows at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, which happened to be the group's third live performance (the first two took place at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona). As I made my way through the crowded theme park en route to the venue, I was surprised to see so many fans decked out in homemade "Glee" ensembles. Girls were in bedazzled "gleek" baby tees; guys were in Sue Sylvester-inspired track suits, and I even spotted a granny rocking an "I heart Will Schuester" sweatshirt. I can't deny it; I secretly wanted to steal it from her. Waiting for the ticket taker to grant me entry, I could sense the excitement of my fellow concert-goers. We knew that an unforgettable evening was already underway.
After chatting with a few friends, snagging some sweet merch (including a poster and some pins), and grabbing a beverage to soothe my soon-to-be strained vocal chords, I headed for my seat ... in the 9th row ... dead center ... right behind none other than Jonathan Groff, who plays the uber talented Jesse St. James on the musical comedy! Yes, I was dying. Yes, his hair was that perfect. No, I didn't talk to him! I was too nervous. Long story short (too late), I was having an OMG! moment, and the show hadn't even begun.
The opening act was the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD), which featured "Glee" cast member Harry Shum Jr. (aka Mike Chang). The 16 member squad -- who has appeared on everything from the Oscars to "So You Think You Can Dance" -- delivered some high drama and even higher acrobatics as they ripped though a throughly entertaining set. The audience (including yours truly) rewarded them with a well-deserved standing ovation.
Following a brief 15-minute intermission, the lights dimmed and countless shrieks erupted. My eardrums were on the verge of exploding, but I, too, couldn't contain myself and joined the chorus. It was go time.
All of the sudden, Sue Sylvester appeared on the video screens and promptly insulted the audience and the glee club members using her signature brand of snark. Before I could stop myself from laughing hysterically, the curtains flew open and the first few notes of "Don't Stop Believin'" rang out. Rachel (Lea Michele), Finn (Cory Monteith), and the rest of New Directions sprang onto the stage and began to rock my world ... and Jonathan Groff's. He was singing along and bouncing up and down to every single tune!
90 electrifying minutes, 21 songs (including a captivating cover of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"), and a million costume changes later, it was all over. It may have been fast and furious, but it was beyond fabulous.
I don't want to give away any other surprises in case some of you are planning to attend one of the 10 remaining shows in LA, Chicago, or New York. But I will say this: if you don't have tickets, get them immediately. Even if you don't live in one of the aforementioned cities, consider taking a last-minute roadtrip. Trust me, it'll be well worth it. I catch a ton of concerts every year, but Glee Live is unlike anything I've ever seen. It was undoubtedly magical, and I hope those of you who get to partake in the extraordinary experience enjoy it as much as I did.
For more information on Glee Live, head here.
