Happy 2011 to all my faithful and new “Blogging The Boards” readers! The holiday season came and went rather quickly, so I’m taking advantage of this week’s blog to reflect upon the celebrations held in my own household. I realize the holiday season is supposed to be about togetherness with friends and family and not about the gifts we receive; however, I am excited to share a story about an unexpected gift I received from my mother.
A few months ago, I lost a certain object very near and dear to my heart. It had been a part of my daily life for the past 14 years and brought a smile to my face on several occasions. Can you believe I’m actually referring to a coffee mug? It wasn’t just any coffee mug…at least not to me. This was the official souvenir mug from the Broadway musical Victor/Victoria; a show that will forever remain one of my favorite musicals. When Theatre Under The Stars presented the Houston premiere of Victor/Victoria in May of 1998 (incidentally, the last show in the old Music Hall), I became a little retail happy and bought every piece of merchandise associated with this show. Of all the items I purchased that night, the mug was extra special - partly because a piece of the show logo appeared after you filled it up with a hot liquid. Looking back it seemed very magical at the time. Inevitably the day came when my cherished coffee mug met its untimely demise. Thea “Butterfingers” Star dropped the cup into the kitchen sink and watched it break into three large pieces. Devastated, I did what most people do these days – posted a photo of the aftermath on Facebook. It wasn’t long after the post my mother began the ultimate internet search to find a replacement Victor/Victoria mug. Imagine the joy, shock and wonder I felt after opening this special gift on Christmas day!
Until my coffee mug broke, I never realized how attached I get to my Broadway memorabilia. Unlike seeing a movie that will soon be available on DVD, the feeling you get when experiencing a live theatre performance is hard to recreate. Perhaps that’s why we appreciate the Victor/Victoria mugs, the Les Miserables t-shirts and Hairspray posters, etc. so much more. We didn’t just buy a trinket; we bought a memory.
Do you have a favorite souvenir you bought after seeing a musical? Is buying a show t-shirt, magnet or poster a must for you? Tell me your Broadway memorabilia stories!
Until next time,
Thea