Lauren's actual birthday was on Saturday but I didn't get tickets for that day for a plethora of reasons. I ran around with her most of the day. I took her to get her nails done and then to see The Secret Life of Bees. After the movie we went back home where we met my mom and younger brother who came down from North Jersey. We went out to dinner at Outback and then it was back to the house where we ordered The Golden Compass on "On Demand".

Then Sunday came. We left the house around 3pm and caught a 3:34pm train to Penn Station. We stopped on the tracks, I think, three times so we ended up getting to Penn Station about ten minutes after our scheduled arrival time. From there we went on to Sephora in Times Square. There were a few things I needed there so I picked them up and Lauren and I had our makeup done.

By the time we were done there it was close to 6:30 so we trooped to 47th Street and got in line. We didn't have to wait overly long before we got into the theatre. After a quick pitstop in the ladies room we went down to our seats in the front row. Sitting in the front row is fun but strange. There's no orchestra pit so there's nothing between us and the stage. Everyone is RIGHT there. I noticed members of the cast looking at me a few times and Derek even accidentally flicked the ashes from his cigarette on my pants during the Sandra Dee/We Go Together scene. I joked to Lauren that I was never washing my pants again. It was also easier to pick up on their whispered coversations and covert glances from the front row. I almost felt as if I were in on some sort of secret. Later a few people mentioned seeing us. Matt said he saw us smiling and Will said when he saw me he knew he had to do a good job.

After the show we went to the stage door and Lauren met all of the principals except for Allison, Jameson, and Joe (who was on for Jose). She had her picture taken with Ashley, Derek, Lyndsay, Ace, and Matt.

We should bid a fond farewell to both Allie and Matt who left the show after last night's performance. Allie was only in her normal Beauty School Dropout scene but Matt got to be "Hand Jive Specialty" because Joe was in for Jose. Allie, who only gets a curtain call when she goes on for someone else, was able to join the Hand Jive reprise during the bows dressed in one of the grey jumpsuits from the Greased Lightenin' number. I hope Allie makes the best of her stint as Rizzo in the tour and it leads to better and bigger jobs for her. And I wish only the best for Matt as he takes his next steps toward a starring role somewhere along the line.