Barbara Cook!

Yesterday, Jim and I toured The Smith Center, our new center for the performing arts in Las Vegas.  It's an amazing place!  While we were in the theater, it was all I could do to keep myself from running up on the stage and belting out a show tune.  I held myself back by thinking that I didn't want to get kicked out on my first trip there, I didn't want to embarrass Jim and I wanted to be able to return today to see Barbara Cook.  The theater seats 2,500 people and no seat is farther than 185 feet from the stage (according to our guide).  They've thought of everything to make the acoustics perfect and to make the audience comfortable.  The seats are plush.  They even thought about the air conditioning.  It doesn't blow down on you - there are flat circular vents under the seats.  The building is Art Deco with some lovely sculpture and lots of marble, limestone and wood flooring and walls.  Even if you don't attend a concert there, take a tour of the building.  (Once you tour it, you'll be determined to see a show there.)  It's the home of the Las Vegas Philharmonic and the Nevada Ballet Theatre. 

Okay, now for Barbara Cook - we fell in love with her.  First of all, she has a beautiful voice.  She is also absolutely charming and very funny.  She was appearing in the Cabaret which seats about 300 people.  It looked like every seat in the house was a good one.  We got there early.  While we were waiting, a sound man came over and talked to us.  He said that he has been at the center since before they opened and that Barbara Cook is the sweetest person that he has met.  He said we could ask anyone who worked there and they would say the same thing.  Now you know that if the people behind the scenes say that, it must be true.  Jim and I are so lucky!  Living in Las Vegas presents us with so many wonderful opportunities.  Barbara Cook performed 3 evening shows and one matinee here.  She's off to San Francisco tomorrow.  If you hear that she is appearing anywhere near you, go see her.  You'll fall in love, too.  By the way, she's 84 years old.  She's fabulous.