Deb in The King and I

[BRinLA]

I really had no plans to see The King and I, however after reading some very positive reviews I decided I wanted to go see the show before it closed. The only day I would be able to go was Sunday (10/26) which would be the last day of the run in Thousand Oaks. Before I left for Thousand Oaks, I logged onto ticketmaster and made sure tickets were available. On a normal work day traffic can be terrible on the route that I took, so going up there on a Sunday there was hardly any traffic at all I got there in about 1 Hour. I got to the theater at about 12:30 and went to the box office to make sure they had some walk-up tickets available. Sure enough they had great seats in the middle of the orchestra section dead center of the row. So I took the tickets. The Fred Kavli Theater and its grounds are very nice. I had never been there before and was really impressed. We were let into the lobby of the theater at about 1:00 which was one hour before show time.

They had a merchandise table where they had a few Deb related items. The GH CD, Two pictures one of her leaning on her Liberace Piano and one head shot or her looking over her shoulder. Both very nice pictures and both were autographed. Both pictures sold for $10 each. They also had a poster of various pictures of Deb which was $15. The poster had pictures of her CD covers, covers of playbills of shows she had been in and other pictures that we have seen over the years. I looked for a while and it was tempting to buy but I ended up not getting anything.

I think the last time I saw Deb in any kind of show (Concert or Musical) was when she played the Narrator in Joseph back in 1999. It is hard to believe it has been nearly 10 years since I had seen her on stage. While we were sitting in the theater waiting for the show to start I was reading her bio in the playbill. It is really hard to believe all the shows she has been in.

I had never seen the King and I before so I looked the show up the net and had an idea of what to expect. The entire cast was very good. The King played a great part and I also thought that the young lady that played Tuptim was very good. All the little kids were great. Deborah played a great part. Her singing was in top form. Some of my favorite moments from the show were when she sang “Getting to know You,” “Hello Young Lovers.” And I also enjoyed when Anna and the King danced and sang “Shall we Dance,” With the job that I have it is a rare occasion when I have a Sunday off. So it was really nice to have the day off yesterday and do something that I really enjoyed. It was a great show.  Now that I have seen the show I think I will go rent the movie. I have never seen it before.

Since it had been a while since I have seen her on stage I kind of forgot how talented she is. She has such a beautiful voice and seeing her on stage yesterday reminded me of why I became a fan. She is so good at what she does especially when she sings.  I was not lucky enough to see her in Le Miz. But I can only imagine how great she was. Before I became a fan I was never really an avid musical or play goer but when Deborah started to be in musicals I went and ever since then I do enjoy going but only every so often.

I saw Diane there and our paths crossed on several occasions however I really did not care to say hello this time. After the show I passed by the stage door on the way back to the parking lot and stopped for a few minutes. The king was out there signing autographs as well as various other cast members. Most of the people waiting seemed to be family members of the cast. I really did not see any familiar faces as far as fans that I know. I waited for a while but it really felt kind of strange just waiting there. Maybe the meet and greet thing is getting kind of old. I decided to just leave. I headed home and stopped by “Islands” restaurant and had a Hawaiian Burger one of the best burgers around. All there food is actually really good. It was a great way to end a very enjoyable Sunday off from work.

What else is left to say? Like I said above it was great to see her and hear her on stage again. It seems making a CD of new music in not the priority for her anymore however after seeing her in “The King and I” it kind of makes you wish that it WAS a priority for her.

[Out of the Blue]

What a lot of people don't know is how good her voice is and especially how strong it is.  She has tremendous vocal power.  When she takes a role she gives it 100% all the time.

[Woops]

^ true


Though never actually seen Deb perform (concerts nor musicals), but have watched performances on YouTube and television. 

[Jordi]

What a lot of people don't know is how good her voice is and especially how strong it is.  She has tremendous vocal power.  When she takes a role she gives it 100% all the time.

Hi Out Of The Blue. I agree you 100%.
I've seen several times Deb on differents roles and she is always at 100%. I preffer her performing theatre than on concerts, I think she is a great actress.
Hope to see her on some role soon, maybe on next year if the crisis lets me it.

Jordi.

[Hugabee]

I came to this thread late (the show's run is over), but I do have something to say:  Deborah should be very willing to meet her remaining fans, and to sign autographs.  She should be appreciative to any fan who showed up at a small theater for "The King and I".  It does appear, based on one person's account, that she is not always showing up to sign autographs.  It seems to me that if she wants to have any career at all, she has to make herself accessible again.  It isn't like she would be mobbed or anything like that these days.

Hugabee

[BRinLA]

I came to this thread late (the show's run is over), but I do have something to say:  Deborah should be very willing to meet her remaining fans, and to sign autographs.  She should be appreciative to any fan who showed up at a small theater for "The King and I".  It does appear, based on one person's account, that she is not always showing up to sign autographs.  It seems to me that if she wants to have any career at all, she has to make herself accessible again.  It isn't like she would be mobbed or anything like that these days.

Hugabee

Well I don't know if she came out and signed because like I said above I left after waiting for a while. But the last few times that I met her which were after a few TV show tapings (This was back in 2000 or 2001) I just got a very strange feeling like maybe we should not be doing a meet and greet anymore. From other fan meet and greet experiences I have read online I see I am not the only one who has left a meet and greet feeling this way.

I don't know if it is negative vibes or maybe just the fact that we are all a little older now and the meet and greet thing is getting a little old. But the meet and greets were so positive in the past it is just very strange to have that kind of feeling when meeting her. This is one reason I did not stick around for a meet and greet at the King and I becasue of the past few experiences.

[Woops]

Only been to one "meet & greet" (Natasha Bedingfield) and that literally lasted a second though worth it getting an autograph. 

I've heard that Deb still signs, though it depends on the venues, and whether she wants to sign or not, and also probably because of the stalker some months ago.

Actually, Deb's one of those celebs I'd rather not meet since it could be a letdown.

[Eric]

It seems to me that if she wants to have any career at all,
Hugabee

Hey son, didn't you said that her career went rapidly (ie over)? Poor kid, can you tell me what you're still doing around here?

[Hugabee]

It seems to me that if she wants to have any career at all,
Hugabee

Hey son, didn't you said that her career went rapidly (ie over)? Poor kid, can you tell me what you're still doing around here?

Eric, I am a fan.  I wish her career would revive.  Her not coming out to sign autographs at "The King and I" was not helpful to her career, in my opinion.

Hugabee

[Out of the Blue]

She's always done the meet and greets and does sign autographs and meet with her fans.  Many celebrities of "higher stature" don't.  The only times that I've heard of her not doing one is when the venue just didn't allow it, she had another commitment, or there were security problems.