Thanks For The Memories

Last night's show at The Hollywood Bowl was one I was simultaneously dreading and anticipating all summer. It was the last performance for John Mauceri, the beloved conductor and Director of The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for the past sixteen years. I can't recall when we first starting going to the Bowl, but I have such fond memories of Mauceri as being so personable and down-to-earth. His passion for film music was clear on the annual "Movie Nights" he programmed. Before going to our seats, we went to see the special Mauceri exhibit that is currently on dislay in the venue's museum. I wrote a letter in the book provided and thanked the maestro for making classical music so accessible, especially to someone like me who has very little background in and knowledge of it. I've definitely learned a few things from him over the past several years.

To end his tenure at the Bowl, John Mauceri compiled quite an event with guests that included Broadway singer Kristin Chenoweth, members of the Joffrey Ballet, Miss Piggy, and Kermit the Frog. It was a fun, but bittersweet, show that ended with fireworks. After the smoke cleared, we got to meet Eric Jacobson, a friend of a friend who, for the past five years, has been performing the Muppets formally puppeteered by Frank Oz. He's doing a fantastic job, as everyone who was at last night's event saw when Miss Piggy was doing her thing! He's a really nice guy too!

We'll miss John Mauceri, but I hope he enjoys his new career as the chancellor of an arts school in North Carolina. Apparently, he's heard about the strawberry scented rainbow farting unicorns that live there.

As a bonus last night, not only did we run into some friends that we haven't seen in a while twice, but E spotted Summer Glau walking up to the gates. I was spacing a bit, but did see her from behind.