I had been following the Glitterbox Theater on Instagram for a few years before ever stepping foot inside because it seemed like a cool place and I was trying to expand my cultural horizons. There were a few events that crossed my algorithm that seemed pretty cool but it wasn’t until I saw a post for SPEED THE MUSICAL last year that made me finally get off my metaphorical ass and click the ticket link.

SOLD OUT. Every last upcoming show in the run, sold out. I snoozed and I lost.

But ever since we started attending shows there regularly last spring, it’s been easier to keep my finger on the pulse of the Glitterbox bulletin board which is how I saw that Speed the Musical was coming back this fall for a sophomore run! I WAS LOCKED IN. TICKETS, WHEN??

When we were at the 10 Minute Play Fest in September with Shawn and Jess, the MC of the event announced some of the upcoming events and when he mentioned Speed, I leaned over and hissed, “WE HAVE GOT TO GO TO THAT ONE! TICKETS GO ON SALE TUESDAY!!!” That Tuesday morning, I began hounding them for their availability so we could all buy tickets for the same show, IMMEDIATLEY. We chose November 5th. So long to wait! But I knew in my heart that it would be worth it.

We all met up beforehand last Thursday for dinner at Duke’s which is conveniently right next to GBX.

I got some Belgian Blonde which was pretty good. I needed something to calm me down because I was SO FUCKING GIDDY. You have no idea how long I had been waiting for this night! When I missed out on seeing it during its first run, I had STRONG FOMO. I had seen some pictures on the Glitterbox’s Instagram and it looked SO INTENTIONALLY JANKY and hilarious, and right up my alley. This is the type of THE ARTS I want to give money to.

Henry saw somewhere that Duke’s has “the best” French onion soup so he felt inspired to be the judge of that. He said it was just OK. Who cares though. This night was not about high quality foodie cuisine. It was about HIGH QUALITY THEATER SCENE. Eating at Duke’s was just an excuse to extend our hangout time and catch up before the show! And also place ourselves in close proximity so we could get there when doors open and snag good seats.

I love that we have a Glitterbox crew!

I got us seats in the first row of the riser section which ended up being PERFECT because some of the cast occasionally entered the scene by walking past us and going down the aisle so it was extra fun! There was a scene was a Porsche that bumped into us a few times and I WAS SQUEALING.

Before the show even started, Henry asked if I wanted any merch. I was looking at the list from my seat and saw that there was a bundle option which included one of everything  they had, which included the poster, shirt, and original cast CD! I was so confident that I was going to be obsessed with this show, that I said, “JUST GET THE BUNDLE.”

Sometimes I see this stage curtain in my dreams. <3

The show started around 7:30 and as expected—-IT WAS EVERYTHING. You guys, this was completely my style. Irreverent. Wacky. Quirky. IMPECCABLE WRITING. Comedic acting at its finest. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard in public, that I was actually in tears and not just saying “I laughed so hard I cried.” I was legitimately swiping away tears and my face was aching from the heavy-duty smiles it was holding up.

The props!!!!

The songs!!!!

The inside jokes!!!!

It was MAGIC.

And guess what else!?!?!?

My favorite local clown AZIZZY was part of the cast! They played the role of Ray the Fugitive, and as expected, they slayed. The whole cast was on point, memorable, pulled the best faces and physical acting even when they were just in the background. I was having the best time. The whole crowd was having the best time! We were encouraged to yell out and be immersive and the person next to me — who I have seen around the theater a few times now — was doing that and their laughter was SO CONTAGIOUS that it was only fueling my giddiness.

It was an experience, so memorable, and it really felt like we had just witnessed something really big. I kept saying, “I can’t believe this is happening here in Pittsburgh!” Not to knock my city AT ALL but it truly felt like a best kept secret.

During intermission, I leaned over to see what Shawn and Jess thought and they were SO EXCITED TOO! The whole theater was BUZZING during the intermission with everyone talking about their favorite parts and the incredible lo-fi special effects that added to the magic of it all. I am so glad for everyone involved that all….20???…shows were sold out but sad for myself because I wanted to see this again IMMEDIATELY.

Afterward, Shawn spotted the show’s creator, Chris St. Pierre and we nervously approached him (our old days of being groupies for Cold and Finger Eleven didn’t do much to help us talk to people we’re in awe of, lol). I was glad that Shawn had more nerve than me and asked the merch guy for a Sharpie so Chris could sign his CD. I asked Chris to sign my poster, too — I was geeking out!

Henry framed it when we got home that night—we have so many frames on hand in anticipation of these things, lol. The House of Memorabilia.

Also, that’s the postcard that was part of my bundle, and here’s the bumper sticker!

We loitered outside for a bit, giving kudos to some of the cast members as they left. I wanted to definitely say hello to Azizzy and tell them how great they were as Ray!

Jess had the forethought to ask if she could take our picture and I was so happy about that because it’s not something I would have requested on my own! I am slightly star-struck because they are SO FUNNY and talented. It’s the exact type of comedy that appeals to a weirdo like me too, so Henry is not really surprised that I am a few steps away from starting my own street team for them.

Also, Azizzy liked my necklace!! And asked me if I’m going to the Chad Damiani show at Bottlerocket next week, which Henry and I had been considering and have since bought tickets!

“How many more times do you think I should talk to them before inviting them to Chingumas?” I asked Henry, who just sighed.

The next day, we went to Baltimore to see Ten (from WayV / NCT – translation: he’s a Kpop guy) and I rode the high of Speed the Musical the whole way there. Henry even had a lot to say about it and also thought it was incredible. When we came back to the hotel that night after Ten’s showcase, SPEED WAS ON. It was the end which made me laugh because all 4 of us were saying that we had totally forgotten how it ended.

I am so happy that we started going to events at Glitterbox because not only has it been getting us out of the house, but we have been experiencing some truly unique, bizarre, outrageous, hilarious, creepy, thoughtful art that has given us so much to talk about and in my opinion has greatly broadened our horizons. It has brought so much joy to my life during a very uncertain and disorienting time in my life and it really has grown into something that feels like a second home, somewhere we can go without being judged. I love the people we have met there and that Shawn and Jess have also come to really like it there too. It has kind of really brought me back to life.

Also? Fred Brown is a comedic genius. It’s no wonder he teaches his own classes because he is incredible. Look at Pittsburgh, having all of this talent. <3

 

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