"The Definition of Insanity is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results" - Albert Einstein

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Story of How Alexa Met John Larroquette

It was a cold and brisk day on March 24th of the year 2011 in New York City. The large majority of the day had been spent traveling, shopping and eating, which would have been quite a day in and of itself, but the best was yet to come. For a special trip to the Theatre had been arranged for the family on their first day in New York City.

This had not been the first time the family had been to the Great White Way. Nor would it likely be the last. But for one special girl, it would be The Theatrical Event of a lifetime.

The event on this particular evenings playbill would be a production of "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" starring the big name actor John Larroquette as J.B. Biggley, most famous from his work on the television show "Night Court" which earned him three consecutive Emmy Awards and also co-starred with Academy Award Nominated actor Bill Murray in the cult classic "Stripes."

Playing Larroquette's co-star in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch was a smaller scale actor; Daniel Radcliffe recently coming off of his Broadway debut in the stage play "Equus" who is also somewhat well known for his film work with the indie low budget "Harry Potter" series. While Larroquette himself is much more of a mega-star in the greatest possible sense of the word, the less well known Radcliffe certainly shows he has the acting chops to succeed in this Hollywood business that chews up so many young actors and spits them out none the wiser.

But if you want this reviewer's opinion, I think Radcliffe is really going places. Keep an eye out for this name. I bet in a few years, he'll really be one to watch in Hollywood. Who knows, maybe this musical production will be the thing that really gives him his big break.

The production itself was wonderful. Held in the fabulous Al Hirschfeld Theatre, which is a small space, but very conducive for an intimate experience.

Cameras aren't allowed inside the theatre, so here is an illegal shot of the curtain call.

But as wonderful as this production was (and it really was quite good, Rose Hemingway as Rosemary was particularly phenomenal) the real story of the night was Alexa's brush with greatness at the Stage Door.

Now Alexa is the biggest John Larroquette fan that you have ever heard of, and she wanted to make sure that she would get to meet him at the stage door after the production, so she ran outside almost as soon as the curtain call started to be at the front of the line. And it was lucky for her that she did, because she was not the only Larroquette fan at the stage door that night. Turns out there was an absolute mob of young teenage Larroquette fans all dying for a glimpse of the Emmy Award Winner. And Alexa was one of the lucky ones. She got her programmed signed by him and everything. It was probably one of the happiest moments of her young life.

Now unfortunately, she wasn't able to get a picture of the famous star, but she was able to get several pictures of the less impressive Daniel Radcliffe, who also consented to sign her program. Close up shots even, as most of the fans were all mobbing Larroquette. But Alexa's interaction with young Radcliffe was also quite fun.

Here we see Radcliffe with a much larger friend who had most likely flown in special for the event.
Radcliffe was very kind and friendly, and consented to sign Alexa's program. But the true moment of night was meeting Laroquette. Apparently the experience moved her so much she began to weep uncontrollably with joy at meeting one of her idols face to face.

It was the event of a lifetime.

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