Ok, I was lucky enough to receive free tickets and backstage passes from a wonderful friend. Lets just say that she is a performer in the show and her name rhymes with Moocinda Too.

I first picked up our tickets at the will-call window and was thrilled when I was asked to sign the envelope and it said: Guests of: Lucinda I couldnt believe that I was about to see my first ice show as a guest of a skater! I had no idea where the seats were going to be and was amazed at how good they were - about 6th row, center section. You could really see the facial expressions of the skaters and I felt like I could just reach out and grab them!

Ok, so the show began (about 10 min late) and Lucinda was the first skater on the ice. Then they did the opening and Todd Sand welcomed everyone to the show. He intoroduced the "special guest" "straight from Salt Lake City....Todd Eldrege!" Some people were on their feet already.

Ok, I know most of you have read many other reviews or seen the special on NBC or A and E so I am not going to go into great detail about each number. Also I must now add that I am not the greatest at telling a lutz from a flip from a toe, but I do know the axel and can tell whether it was a double or triple.

Todd skated wonderfully first, doing his "Lord of the Rings" Long Program. Another small standing ovation and then Kurt Browning took the ice. He did a Spanish-guitar themed program which my friend Kristen absolutely loved. His jumps werent there though, he two-foot a 3-3 combo and put his hand down on another triple. Then he fell on his final jump in the program. At the end he made "Woops" faces to the audience and got a warm reception.

Tara did color of roses and I liked it better on TV. She seems to be recovering well from her hip injury and overall I was amazed by how beautiful she was. Her face is adorable and she has a great smile. I guess that for the past few years I never looked at her that way cause I had some uneasy feelings because of Nagano. She did all double jumps but 1 triple toe which was small but had nice flow out of it. the program was nice but I felt it lacked "spark." Tara just shines in general though so the program was still very enjoyable.

Krylova and Ovsiannikov were amazing with the Mohican program. She has a new costume that is similar to her old one but has a red-cranberry top half that is in the shape of a handkercheif-top (if that makes any sense?) its sorta a square that covers her top half. Very inovative program.

Ilia was great throughout the whole show! He gets amazing ice coverage and is such a cutie

Steven Cousins is hansome and his program to Tom Jones was cute cause he started off in the audience and walked down to the ice.

Kristi Yamagucci was wonderful. I loved her Gold program and she has just carriage and spark and is so beautiful too Her Trust a try program was awesome and had great energy.

The G-O-L-D rap I thought was sorta dumb, not much skating and for some reason the line "If they had a platinum medal, I woulda won that too" rubbed me the wrong way, possibly because I knew that we here at MKF had considered making Michelle a plat. one.

Lucinda Ruh's spins were amazing and she is so beautiful. My friends and I gave her a standing O but I think we were the only ones! Oh well, we tried.

Jenni and Todd had great chemistry on ice and were lovely to watch.

Katarina Witt was cool through the whole show, her "Case Continues" costume is a bit revealing.

Ok, Todd came out for his 2nd number to "Your Song" and absolutely brought down the house!!!! The only standing o of the night, and well deserved. He also covers the ice as well as Ilia and his spins were great. He is a great addition to the cast.

Kurt got everything back with U2, lots of energy and all the jumps. Well done!

Tara was strong in her tribute number, great footwork.

The closing Carpenters was awesome and the show came to a great end!!!

Ok, now to the important back stage:

After we figured out where to go, we were ushered into this somewhat tiny and hot (or maybe I was feeling warm due to excitement lol) room underneath the arena. As we were walking in, I saw Jenni Meno but was too starstruck to say anything. Unfortuneately, she never came out again so I didnt get to redeem myself

Lucinda was the first skater to come in and I yelled "Lucinda!" and waved. She recognized me and smiled and gave me a hug. She was wearing a gray sweatsuit and black top. She looked adorable! She then left me to talk to someone from IMG but quickly returned. I fumbled over my words but thanked her for the tickets 1000 times and told her how great she was. I gave her the fan book that many of you contributed too, and she seemed very touched. She said that she will read each and every page! I still didnt know what to say, so I asked for a pic and my mom fumbled with the camera for an embaressingly long time before finally she took it. Then, cause I was still star struck, my mom asked her if she got dizzy: no, and whats her fav number:she likes all of them. I asked her how her home was, having heard about her being evacuated on Sept. 11 and she said that the building was fine, but it was scary. I can't even begin to say how nice Lucinda was - she was amazing! She hugged me like 5 times and gave my 2 friends and my mother hugs as well. As she was leaving, she said "lets keep in touch!" and I was thrilled!

The next skaker to come in was Todd Eldrege, and I can't even begin to tell you how nice he was. He and Ilia were the only two skaters who came in who did not have guests there and Ilia literally swooped in and out. I got Ilia's autograph and managed to tell him I loved Center Stage! oh well, I tried.

Todd on the other hand was wonderful to his fans. He posed for pics and talked to everyone who wanted to talk to him. I got his autograph and when we were posing for a pic I asked him if I could put my arm around him - just so I could say I did! he said sure and put his arm around me too!! EEEEEEEEEEE!!!! Lol, unfortunately my mom did not fumble with the camera this time but when he left us my arm was a little wet from his sweat - I GOT TODD ELDREGE SWEAT ON MY ARM!!! , well I couldnt believe it!

Later on I talked to Todd again and told him that he was so inspirational and that I was routing for him throughout this season and since '96. He thanked me and told me he loves to skate and is glad that I enjoy it. What a gracious, wonderful man!

Kurt Browning came in but ushered his people right out into the hall. Ofcourse I followed but was told by the security man that if I left the room I couldnt get back in. I stood in the doorway and when he passed byto call for one of his guests, I managed to get his autograph. Unfortunately, that was the last I saw of him and was sad that my friend didnt get a pic with him or even to meet him cause she absolutely loves Kurt! It would have been nice to talk to him, but I understand that he was preoccupied with talking with his guests.

Todd Sand came in and signed autographs for anyone who asked. he said Jenni should be in shortly but she was saying goodbye to relatives. She never did come in but I got his autograph.

Someone else asked where the rest of the cast was (Tara, Kristi, Katarina, etc) but was told that they all don't come out Steven Cousins also came out to grab his guests but didnt really want to talk to anyone else. I did get his autograph and wow is he a cutie! I noticed he seemed to have a very small waist for a man and is short but he seemed very good looking!

Well thats it with my encounters. A few minutes later a security guy hussled the skaters away and we were told that was it. I was dissappointed that I didnt meet any of the golden ladies or K&O, but I guess I can't complain! Lucinda was amazing and is such a sweetheart for arranging this for me. A wonderful evening, and great memories.