In 1987 I made my professional acting debut at Lincoln Center, in the City Opera’s production of “South Pacific.”
Those two months were when I really got “bitten by the bug” (for those of you familiar with the show, I played “Ngana,” the Frenchman’s daughter who sings “Dites-moi”).
23 years later, I’m still acting, and today I got to see the show live, for the very first time.
I even wore my Polynesian shirt for the occasion!
Just like Lincoln Center in NYC, The Music Center in L.A. is a collection of grand theaters surrounding a fountain.
Our Uncle Robert and Aunt Heidi were very generous and treated us to the show, as well as to brunch beforehand. We met at Pinot Grill, which was basically our only option for a Sunday matinee.
It’s in the middle of The Center. This entire seating area got packed, all at once, with theater goers about 5 minutes after I snapped the photo.
FYI – because it’s outdoors, they don’t have tap water available. You MUST order bottled.
Heidi got a special “South Pacific” cocktail, the color of the ocean!
I ordered a Portobello sandwich, subbing the potato wedges for some sauteed kale I saw on the menu.
Aside from the mushroom, it also had grilled zucchini, eggplant, sweet peppers, and basil thyme aioli – served on a brioche bun:
Abe ordered an egg/cheese sandwich that came with meat…
… so I piled some of the ham onto my veggies for protein, and added a smear of Grey Poupon
A bite of Abe’s fruit too
Although the food was pretty good, there were some problems with the restaurant – it took a while, some of the food came out cold, they weren’t able to cook a poached egg longer than runny for some reason, and Abe’s dish came with meat on it (when he ordered it on the side, specifically).
Heidi timed it out perfectly – we got there about 11:30 am and were finished just in time for when the show started at 1pm.
Seeing “South Pacific” as an audience member was surprisingly emotional for me – I got so nostalgic as I heard all those familiar songs and lines that I remembered hearing over the speakers backstage as a kid. And as an adult, I could finally understand the themes of racism, war, and of course all the sexual innuendos that went over my head at the age of 10.
The cast was terrific – I thought Carmen Cusack did an especially wonderful job as “Nellie.”
We’ve seen more musicals in the last week (“In the Heights” last Saturday) than we have in years. Thanks, Robert and Heidi for Some Enchanted…Afternoon!
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a sweet end to a wonderful wknd
Nostalgia always hits the spot (sometimes)
What a cute dress! And I agree, looks like the perfect Sunday
You DID have a great weekend!
I just found your blog and I think it is such a wonderful idea! You really have a unique spin to your blog
I have to ask, though- that meat didn’t really come piled on a small plate did it?? I’m all for meat but it doesn’t look particularly appetizing, haha.
So glad you found the blog! No, the meat came on the sandwich, which was bad bc my husband’s a vegetarian! We had to pick it off.
What a neat opportunity to see the show so many years later. I love your dress too – gorgeous.
What a great weekend! I’m sure it is great to see how far you’ve come.
That’s exciting! Sounds like a great day, aside from the mishaps at the restaurant..
Looks like a beautiful day to enjoy a patio meal!
What a special treat! Glad the show was good. Bummer about the food at the restaurant though. I’m not sure I understand why eating outside = bottled water? Is this an LA rule ???? We eat outside in SC all the time and have tap water?
Yes, Justin’s nut butter definitely = crack! So so so so good
I think its bc their kitchen was outdoors, so they had no access to running water?
I remember seeing the movie of South Pacific on AMC. It used to be one of my mom’s favorites!
Lunch looks good. Love the outdoor dining!
oh, what a special show for you!
Awww, how cool! My grandmother was in South Pacific (before I was born), and she still sings songs from it.
This is sooo cool. I love the posts where you give us a glimpse into the history of your acting career/journey.
It’s pretty remarkable that you made your debut at the Lincoln Center — I’m impressed! Since it was an opera, did you sing, too?
xo Aletheia
P.S. Last night I had this dream about you getting your most recent audition. Yup, I’m a creeper!
Yes I grew up singing opera at the Met w my mom but south pacific is actually a musical!
The first line of this post was so weird to read because I was born in 1987. Meanwhile, you were acting away!
The restaurant looks nice. Sorry there were some glitches.
I love hearing more about your acting career! It sounds like a great show, but sorry about the less than stellar dinner experience.
That’s so cool that you got to see the show live! What an experience!
I’ve seen so many plays and musicals, but never the South Pacific! I enjoyed your review
That portabello burger looks really good too! And I love your Polynesian shirt!
I probably saw you in South Pacific. I worked at Lincoln Center for Visitor Services and saw almost everything. I remember really enjoying South Pacific in particular so later, in my theater career, I was excited to work a production of it.
beyond ACTUAL Patina, it seems the only edible option by Music Center is First and Hope. They serve lunch to the theatre crowd, and has a cabaret. Located kitty corner from the “back” side of Music Center, there’s no reason to eat on the premises ever again. Sadly, I’ve yet to attend 1 single musical this year, despite being a TKTS whore for years even as a B&T guy.