When I was about 21, my parents dragged me to see "Phantom of the Opera". It was the *good one* with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. I remember sitting in the car on the way to the show, grumbling and stewing about how unfair it was my parents were making me, an adult, go see something I didn't want to see.

I didn't know anything about it and I wasn't a "live theater" sort of guy. I think my parents were in the front seat laughing hysterically and my mom telling me "stop complaining, you're going to love it". Of course, as a 21 year old, I had better things to do. Right?

After the show, I was speechless. My parents got even more of a kick out of it when I said that I loved it. My dad had a smile and that "I told you so" look on his face. I still remember that day. When Crawford jumped into the smoky void on the stage and disappeared, I almost fell out of my seat. I couldn't believe how good it was.