Category Archives: United States

6 Phantom of the Opera Facts You Didn’t Know

August 2, 2016International Travel, New York, United Statesbroadway, facts, mask, musical, opera, Phantom, Phantom of the Opera, play, quiz, stage, Theater, Theatrebreanamjohnson@gmail.com

The Phantom of the Opera has held the fascination of readers, playgoers, and movie buffs for decades. It’s little wonder that this legend has remained so popular– the story is perfectly intriguing, and it contains just enough truth to make one wonder whether the Phantom might really have existed after all. While most of the story is pure legend, there are some interesting facts surrounding both the narrative and the stage adaptations. Here are some fun facts you might not know.

Phantom has a name. Yes, that’s right! The elusive Phantom of the Opera has a real name. In the original book by Gaston Leroux, the Phantom is named Erik. However, this name is never mentioned in either the Broadway hit or the popular 2004 film version.
The Paris Opera House exists– and so does the underground lake. Palais Garnier is an old and famous opera house in France, and you can go visit it in person or even take a virtual tour. The most famous scene from Phantom is the subterranean boat ride taken by Phantom and Christine as they sing the theme for the musical. In the film and stage renditions, this lake below the opera is an eerily romantic world of gargoyles, meandering turns, and mysterious passages. In the book, it is an expansive lake with the mysterious house in the middle. In real life, the lake is a murky holding tank, created as a solution for a structural issue when the opera house was built. Of course, there are no floating candelabras or ghosts, but there are lots of fish for the opera staff to feed!
Many events in Phantom are based on real life. The opening of Leroux’s novel is a journalistic-type argument for the existence of the Phantom of the Opera. In this introduction, the author lays out several events that he claims are proof of the ghost’s existence. Although the skeletons in the basement are fictional, many elements are fact. The chandelier really did fall, causing a fatality. There really are tunnels below the opera. And there was supposedly a mason who asked to live in the bowels of the opera house and was granted permission to do so.
Christine was based on a real person. The fictional Christine Daae and the factual Christian Nilsson were both famous sopranos born in Sweden. Many people believe Leroux based his protagonist on this woman.
Phantom of the Opera is the longest running Broadway production and the highest-grossing show of all time. Phantom opened on Broadway in 1988, and is still running today. It is also one of London’s longest-running shows in Her Majesty’s Theater. The play has been adapted for over a dozen different languages, and the combination of box office sales from both stage and film productions are higher than any other show in the world, including Titanic.
Gaston Leroux never saw the success of Phantom of the Opera. In Leroux’s lifetime, Phantom was only moderately popular, and then only in a serialized format. It was not until after his death that the book became popular and the stage version became a hit. Sadly, this seems to be the case for many now-famous authors.

The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway

August 1, 2016Expats and TCKs, International Travel, New York, United Statesbroadway, city, family, Majestic Theater, musical, New York, NYC, Phantom, Phantom of the Opera, play, PTO, Show, Theater, Theatrebreanamjohnson@gmail.com

“There is a terrible mystery around us…a mystery much more to be feared than any number of ghosts or genii!”
― Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera

One of the most magical and mystical stories I know is that of the Phantom of the Opera. I have always loved stories of elusive figures, like Peter Pan, Edmond Dantes and Percy Blakeney, but the Phantom of the Opera holds a special fascination for me. Perhaps it is because it has become one of Broadway’s most iconic hits. I especially love shows with a soundtrack is as classic as the original book.

For years, it has been a dream of mine to see Phantom on Broadway. My mom and sister have also dreamed of seeing a great musical on Broadway. My dad isn’t exactly a Broadway buff, but he has always encouraged our artsy habits and enjoys seeing a good show now and then. So when my sister and I realized we were going to be in New York City on the same weekend, my whole family decided to make a trip of it and cross “Broadway show” off our bucket list. The choice between Les Miserables, Wicked, and Phantom was quickly resolved. You just can’t pass up the Phantom of the Opera.

To be honest, I’m still wrapping my head around the fact that this really happened. We went to see PHANTOM on BROADWAY, and we got to build a whole New York City trip around it. I’ve been drooling over these shows and these soundtracks for years, and I actually got to see one in real life with my family.

When we saw Phantom of the Opera, it was playing in Majestic Theater. This was appropriate, because the theater is pretty old yet well maintained, so it has the right look for a play that takes place in an old Parisian opera house. My dad went all out and got us the best seats in the house: front row balcony seats, right in the middle. Even beats Box 5, if you ask me!

Of course, the show was fantastic. Broadway is the apex of American theater, and it certainly did justice to itself, to expectations, and even to the great show Phantom of the Opera. It was appropriately eerie, and the use of stunt doubles, secret entrances, and unexpected staging played with our senses. We could feel the heat of the flames that shot from the stage floor. The singing was phenomenal! It was absolute perfection in every note.

As a Phantom nerd, I’ve done a lot of research about the story’s creator, the background of the setting, and the history of the musical. Be sure to check back soon for a “Did You Know” post about the Phantom of the Opera! For example, did you know that the Phantom has a name? Subscribe to this blog to get an email when the next post arrives! I always appreciate it when you like, share, and pin. See you back next time!

Reflecting on September 11

July 31, 2016International Travel, New York, Uncategorized, United States9/11, attacks, city, Ground Zero, New York, nine 11, NYC, reflection pools, September 11, Sky Scraper, Twin Towersbreanamjohnson@gmail.com

They say everyone in the United States can remember where they were when the terrorist planes crashed into the World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001. I was seven years old, and I was asleep in bed.

The last time we visited New York City, in 2005, Ground Zero was a big hole in the ground, surrounded by extensive wrappings of yellow police tape. Over the last decade, it has changed tremendously. Two beautiful reflection pools have replaced the holes left by the Twin Towers’ basements, and a museum has replaced the rubble.

We didn’t go into the museum, because the line wrapped around the building, but we did spend some time at the reflection pools. I was wondering why they are called reflection pools when they don’t really reflect the buildings, but then I realized that they aren’t meant to physically reflect anything. They are there for people to reflect on what happened, the lives that were lost, and the heroes that were made on that terrible day.

You know, it’s easy to let our differences tear us apart. Everything seems to become a political agenda these days. Sadly, it often takes a tragedy like 9/11 to draw us back together. As I reflect on September 11, 2001, my hope for our nation is that it won’t take another terrorist attack for us to realize that we are all American, and we should cherish that commonality high above all that separates us.

Where were you on September 11, 2001? Comment below to share your story.

Ellis Island: Stories of Our Past and Present

July 30, 2016International Travel, New York, Uncategorized, United StatesAmerica, city, Ellis Island, history, hope, immigration, New York, NYC, refugees, Staten Island, Statue of Liberty, united states, USAbreanamjohnson@gmail.com

What is more representative of America than New York City? I was going to write that a trip to New York is the quintessential American experience, but the United States of America is too broad and too mulita-faceted for me to make that statement. Still, the diversity within New York is a fantastic sampling of the cultures and subcultures with the U.S. as a whole, and the city’s history and modern status makes it the perfect place for one to begin a journey through the States.

Appropriately, just as my journey home from the Caribbean begins in New York, my ancestors’ journey from Europe also began here.

The sight of the Statue of Liberty inspires me. It inspires me because it is a timeless representation of what the United States is supposed to be. No matter what political trends rise and fall, Lady Liberty stands at the edge of sea, beaconing the traveler and lighting the way to a place of hope. She inspires me because she is what America is, and the hope that America embodies. This is the first sight of our nations shores that my ancestors saw those many decades ago, and she still stands to welcome the immigrants of today. I hope that we never forget that most of our families came to these shores as immigrants and refugees from other places. I hope we won’t forget that it was once our great-grandparents who arrived, footsore and travel weary, hoping for a better life. Maybe the memory of our own narrative will help us to see the humanity in the great crowds who stand knocking at our gates and give us hearts of compassion.

Those of us who have ancestors who arrived in the United States before 1954 have likely had at least one family member come through the processing center on Ellis Island. For me, the trip to the Ellis Island Museum was significant because I have many ancestors who came through this location. Although I know only a few names, it was amazing to me to stand in the same places that my first American family members stood. After learning about everything it took for people to make it to America and get through Ellis Island, I am in awe of how brave these men and women were. Today, although processes have changed, the people who have the tenacity and drive to make it here and thrive in an unfamiliar culture still must overcome a lot. I have a lot of respect for people who are brave enough to do that, and I’m thankful for my ancestors who made that leap for their children, grandchildren, and me.

Two of my ancestors who traveled from Europe through Ellis Island are my great great great grandpa Nicholas Kocina and his wife, Anna Kocina. Nicholas was Austrian and Anna was Czech. They arrived in the United States in the late 1800s and lived in Chicago before they settled in a Czech community in Nebraska. I tried to imagine what it must have been like for them to climb these stairs and enter the registry room. Although it was fairly empty when we visited, it was absolutely bursting with people when they arrived.

Besides the Kocinas, my family arrived in the United States from Germany, Ireland, Norway, and England. Most of them came through Ellis Island, I assume.

Even more than the history of Ellis Island, I was very interested in the modern refugee and immigration exhibit. I’m working on a master’s in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies, so I was able to glean a lot of useful information from the museum. The issues of refugee asylum and immigration are hot-button topics in the U.S. right now, and I found that the Ellis Island Museum did an excellent job at presenting an informative and well-balanced look at the aspects. There are so many facets to these issues and it’s valuable to be able to hear a variety of voices on the matters, just as the museum presented.If you’re ever in New York City, I’d highly recommend a stop at the Ellis Island Museum. A short ferry ride past the Statue of Liberty will take you there. If you’re short on time, bypassing a tour of the statue and opting for Ellis Island is well worth it. Come discover our nation’s past, our present, and our hope for the future.

Bonfire

July 29, 2016Expats, Expats and TCKs, International Travel, New York, Third Culture Kids, United Statesbonfire, campfire, family, farm, fire, marshmallows, New York, rehearsal dinner, smores, summer, weddingbreanamjohnson@gmail.com

Crackling flames, melting chocolate, and campfire songs. All the sounds and smells of summer are wrapped up in a bonfire under the stars. When the Johnson and Brown /Wilson families got together for Stevie and Kirsten’s wedding, we all gathered on the lawn of the farmhouse for a bonfire before the big day.

Both families love to spend time together singing Gospel songs, reading the Bible, and praying. On the Johnson side, this time of family devotions is a nightly tradition that is being passed down through generations. We love to sing family classics that Ben’s mom wrote down years ago for his dad as a wedding gift. We also sing songs that Ben’s brother, Jesse, wrote, as well as French, Swahili, and Kirundi songs. With so many people from around the world present, we were able to sing some of the hymns in multiple languages, including American Sign Language, Spanish, and Arabic. Several of the family and friends present took turns leading worship songs to thank God for the good things He has done in our lives and praise Him for who He is.

Check out the guitar Luke is playing. Jesse had it made out of an old hand-carved guitar neck and heavy-duty can.

When the prayers had been said and the singing died away into the night, the smell of melted chocolate and roasted marshmallows began to permeate the air.

It was time for the time of day that the kids looked forward to most! Okay, I’ll be real– I was probably more excited about the marshmallows than the kids were. But I was good and I didn’t sneak more marshmallows than I was entitled to.

One by one, the chairs emptied. The fire died down to embers, and a lone guitar played soft tunes in the fading light. Ben poured water over the glowing embers, and they extinguished with a slow hiss. All around me, the fireflies flickered silently in the night. Inside the barn, the horse stomped his feet in the damp hay. I looked up and sighed with awe. Above me, a billion points of light pierced the velvety black of the night sky. It had been a long time since I’d seen the stars so clearly, and I could hardly look away. Even that night, as I lay in bed in the farmhouse, I kept my drooping eyelids open long enough to drink in the sight of the big dipper shining on me through the open window.

Cousins Camp at the Farm

July 29, 2016Expats, Expats and TCKs, International Travel, New York, Third Culture Kids, United Statesadventures, animals, boating, camp, country, cousins, cow, explroe, family, fields, friends, fun, hammock, horses, New York, pont, rural, swing, tire swingbreanamjohnson@gmail.com

IT WAS A PLAIN TWO STORY FARM HOUSE
I WISH TIME DID NOT GO BY SO FAST,
OH, THE MEMORIES OF THOSE YEARS LONG AGO
JUST TREASURES OF MY CHILDHOOD LONG PAST.

-Adine Cathey

Every other year, the Brown grandkids come to the farm in New York to spend a week or so at “Cousin Camp.” This year, the Johnson kids were fortunate enough to be a part of this tradition! We were all staying on the Brown farm for my brother-in-law Stevie’s wedding to Kirsten, one of the Browns’ granddaughters.

One of the Cousin Camp activities is decorating t-shirts for the event. The kids loved this, of course! Each shirt was unique and creative, and all of them said “Cousins Camp 2016” on the back to commemorate the occasion.

The Brown side of the family stayed at Grandma and Grandpa Brown’s farmhouse, and the Johnson family got to stay at Jeff and Lindsay’s house down the street. The new house wasn’t quite finished, so we got to help a bit in the process of building the house, which they are building themselves from scratch. I came later than most people, so all I did was sand a couple of window frames, but it was still cool to be a small part of the process! It was so generous of Jeff and Lindsay to let us stay in the house– they had 19 Johnsons staying there for almost an entire week! They had even left us things like shampoo and a coffee maker. What I loved most about the house was the little girl’s room. It looks out into a field with grazing horses. I could imagine her waking up ever day and looking outside on the wildflowers and horses– so wonderful!

I loved the rural neighborhood. It is so quintessentially rural American, with sprawling lawns, bales of hay on the fields, and signs for fresh milk and eggs at the end of long dirt driveways. If I didn’t want to live overseas, this would be my dream. Naturally, I took full advantage of the time in the country, and so did everyone else. It was a great place to run, and it is safe, which is a nice change from home.

The kids, of course, were most thrilled by all the water activities of Cousins Camp. They loved fishing in the pond (as you can see by Zach’s enthusiastic fist-pumping) and splashing each other in the pool.

The farm is a fantastic summer getaway. There is so much to do there, and none of it includes screens or electronics. In fact, I didn’t have internet or much cell service the entire time I was there! And guess what? I hardly missed it. It was refreshing to my soul to have to unplug for a week.

Every day, there was something new to discover. I snapped peas, fed a calf, got a new bread recipe… even hanging laundry on an outdoor line for the first time in a decade was fun and fresh to me.

I guess I’m sort of a city slicker now, but I remember a time from my childhood when we lived in the country and could spend our days gathering wildflowers in the field and chasing cottontail bunnies. Oh, to be little and in the country! It was so nice to be able to relive some of those memories with my nieces and nephews.

One of the most wonderful parts of the whole experience was the sense of belonging that permeated the entire week. The Brown side of the family treated us Johnsons just like their own side of the family. We got the same welcome and the kids got the same treatment. I had to stay a couple of extra days after the rest of the Johnsons left, and the Brown/ Wilson family invited me to stay in their house and made me a part of their family. I’m not even their in-law (does that make me their out-law?), and I still got a family welcome. Even the kids accepted me like family and invited me to do this or that with them.

I got a whole new branch of extended family. It’s a picture of how Jesus has made us all one family, despite our last names or bloodlines.

The whole week was so much fun. You can see by all the smiles that everyone had a great time! What kid (or kid at heart) doesn’t love being barefoot and berry-stained?

Breana's Blog

A writer's adventures around the world