The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[MUFFYCAT]

I told DH if Billie Joe spit on me I would never wash again

I was thinking of you when I saw the title of the thread.

 

[Deb in IA]

I had heard that rumor about Tom Cruise as well.

I guess I hadn't paid much attention to it, because we are not fans of 80's rock, and probably won't see Rock of Ages.


On another note, I have to brag about our son's production of "Bye Bye Birdie" this past weekend. He goes to a very small private school - less than 300 students in the entire high school. But they put on a spectacular show. DS was a Shriner, sang in the male chorus scene at Maude's Bar ("Talk to Me"), and was in the adult chorus. The lead (Albert Peterson) was ill for the first 3 shows, but finally was able to come back for the final performance - very emotional, as he is a senior.

But here is my biggest peeve about the show: People who do not think the announcement, "Please, NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY" does not apply to them. This is so distracting for the performers. Yes, we know that everyone wants a picture of their son/daughter/cousin/niece/nephew/granddaughter/grandson etc., but we have a professional photographer taking hundreds of shots that will be available for purchase online through SmugMug.

And how hard is it for these folks to just turn off the flash on their cameras??

 

[snapppyd]

This may be off topic, but it's being reported that they have signed Tom Cruise to star in the film version of Rock of Ages, as Stacee Jaxx no less. Does anyone else find this just awful??????????? I don't agree with any of the supposed cast, I think they will ruin it.

I thought I would gag when I heard this; unfortunately it is true

 

[elgerber]

I thought I would gag when I heard this; unfortunately it is true

It's enough to make me not see the movie! Ick Ick Ick!!!!

As for flash photos, UGH, people think none of the rules apply to them. They are the same ones whose phones ring. My dd does theater also, and our director watches from the back, and she will walk down the them and tell them to stop, or take the camera .

 

[EclecticWAHM]

Sigh....I wish SO Much that I was in NYC right now. A friend of mine is making her debut as Christine in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway tonight!! She was in the touring company for a couple years till the tour recently closed and then she joined the Broadway company. She's in the ensemble and an understudy for Christine...and she goes on tonight. I'm so sad that I can't be there to see her!! What an amazing night it's going to be for her and her family.

 

[Deb in IA]

As for flash photos, UGH, people think none of the rules apply to them. They are the same ones whose phones ring. My dd does theater also, and our director watches from the back, and she will walk down the them and tell them to stop, or take the camera .

Rock on, director!!!
Our director is conducting the pit orchestra, so she can't do that, but I think she should hire some "camera police".

I try to give these offenders the stink-eye, but they are totally oblivious.

 

[ashleybea]

If anyone is or is interested in going to see How to Succeed in business, I found a whole song of Daniel Radcliffe singing. The song is called I believe in you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbAYaRedCrI
I must say I am pretty impressed.

 

[goofy4tink]

I had heard that rumor about Tom Cruise as well.

I guess I hadn't paid much attention to it, because we are not fans of 80's rock, and probably won't see Rock of Ages.


On another note, I have to brag about our son's production of "Bye Bye Birdie" this past weekend. He goes to a very small private school - less than 300 students in the entire high school. But they put on a spectacular show. DS was a Shriner, sang in the male chorus scene at Maude's Bar ("Talk to Me"), and was in the adult chorus. The lead (Albert Peterson) was ill for the first 3 shows, but finally was able to come back for the final performance - very emotional, as he is a senior.

But here is my biggest peeve about the show: People who do not think the announcement, "Please, NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY" does not apply to them. This is so distracting for the performers. Yes, we know that everyone wants a picture of their son/daughter/cousin/niece/nephew/granddaughter/grandson etc., but we have a professional photographer taking hundreds of shots that will be available for purchase online through SmugMug.

And how hard is it for these folks to just turn off the flash on their cameras??

Dd's high school show went up last weekend...'The Apple Tree', and man, do I get what you're saying about flashes. I go to dress rehearsal so that I can sit there and shoot away, to my heart's content. I never use flash. We have a few dads who take photos at dress as well as some of the shows themselves..again, never any flash used. One dad puts his shots up online so that anyone can download or order the ones they like. And he is so good about getting multiple shots of all the kids..as well as the crew/tech and the orchestra...everyone is included!! There really is no reason to have to sit there, during the performances and flash away!! Drives me nuts.

I had a woman seated next to me at Sunday's performance. For some reason she didn't think the announcement about turning off all phones and electronic devices applied to her. I sat there, for the first five minutes of each act, having her very well lit screen taking over my peripheral vision!!! Ah well.....her messages were so much more important.

 

[crazymama]

I just bought tix to Spring Awakening... who's seen this and how is it?

Loved Spring Awakening!!!! Saw it a couple of years ago on its road tour through Seattle. I would see it again in a heartbeat. It is still my fav CD for driving! It is pretty moving so be prepared to shed a wee tear or two. Enjoy!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Dd's high school show went up last weekend...'The Apple Tree', and man, do I get what you're saying about flashes. I go to dress rehearsal so that I can sit there and shoot away, to my heart's content. I never use flash. We have a few dads who take photos at dress as well as some of the shows themselves..again, never any flash used. One dad puts his shots up online so that anyone can download or order the ones they like. And he is so good about getting multiple shots of all the kids..as well as the crew/tech and the orchestra...everyone is included!! There really is no reason to have to sit there, during the performances and flash away!! Drives me nuts.

I had a woman seated next to me at Sunday's performance. For some reason she didn't think the announcement about turning off all phones and electronic devices applied to her. I sat there, for the first five minutes of each act, having her very well lit screen taking over my peripheral vision!!! Ah well.....her messages were so much more important.

The same could be said for people who vacation at Disney. The first time we rode Nemo we saw nothing because the woman in the clam next to us kept shooting away. Same thing in IASM, HM and SM.

 

[snapppyd]

The same could be said for people who vacation at Disney. The first time we road Nemo we saw nothing because the woman in the clam next to us kept shooting away. Same thing in IASM, HM and SM.

just.choked.on.tea.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

just.choked.on.tea.

I was actually chuckling as I wrote it, but how else to describe it?

 

[JenM]

I had a woman seated next to me at Sunday's performance. For some reason she didn't think the announcement about turning off all phones and electronic devices applied to her. I sat there, for the first five minutes of each act, having her very well lit screen taking over my peripheral vision!!! Ah well.....her messages were so much more important.

I had the same experience when I saw American Idiot a few weeks ago. The two girls sitting next to me clearly couldn't wait until the show was over to let their Facebook friends know that they just saw Billie Joe Armstrong, so they proceeded to play on the phones whenever he wasn't on stage.

What was worse was that their mom was sitting right in front of them, she kept looking back as the girls were chatting, playing on the phones, and finally singing along (with "Whatshername," which was my favorite song in the show, argh), and had no problem with any of it. When her kid started singing along, she started laughing.

Then they all got up and left before the encores, when the entire cast performs Good Riddance - which were my sentiments exactly when they all bolted the theater.

My parents took me to my first Broadway show when I was 5, and were adamant about how to behave in the theater ever since. It shouldn't be that hard for anyone else!

 

[snapppyd]

I had the same experience when I saw American Idiot a few weeks ago. The two girls sitting next to me clearly couldn't wait until the show was over to let their Facebook friends know that they just saw Billie Joe Armstrong, so they proceeded to play on the phones whenever he wasn't on stage.

What was worse was that their mom was sitting right in front of them, she kept looking back as the girls were chatting, playing on the phones, and finally singing along (with "Whatshername," which was my favorite song in the show, argh), and had no problem with any of it. When her kid started singing along, she started laughing.

Then they all got up and left before the encores, when the entire cast performs Good Riddance - which were my sentiments exactly when they all bolted the theater.

My parents took me to my first Broadway show when I was 5, and were adamant about how to behave in the theater ever since. It shouldn't be that hard for anyone else!

I had an annoying experience at The Little Mermaid on Broadway as well. The little girls behind us kept kicking the back of our chairs, and SHRIEKING at the top of their lungs whenever the audience would applaud a number. I mean it went through your eardrums!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I had an annoying experience at The Little Mermaid on Broadway as well. The little girls behind us kept kicking the back of our chairs, and SHRIEKING at the top of their lungs whenever the audience would applaud a number. I mean it went through your eardrums!

Glad you chose not to discuss the middle aged woman who was singing and cheering at the top of her lungs at American Idiot a few weeks ago.

 

[TifffanyD]

Loved Spring Awakening!!!! Saw it a couple of years ago on its road tour through Seattle. I would see it again in a heartbeat. It is still my fav CD for driving! It is pretty moving so be prepared to shed a wee tear or two. Enjoy!

Thanks for the review! We weren't going to go but then a discount came up on the tix so we bit. Looking forward to it now!

 

[JenM]

I had an annoying experience at The Little Mermaid on Broadway as well. The little girls behind us kept kicking the back of our chairs, and SHRIEKING at the top of their lungs whenever the audience would applaud a number. I mean it went through your eardrums!

When I saw Mary Poppins, the kid in front of me was kicking the chair of the seat in front of him for all of Act 1. The guy complained to the mom at intermission, and the mom was horrified - she not only moved her son's seat, she made him apologize to the guy too. We thought that was great.

 

[snapppyd]

Wow, I can't believe Spiderman has been delayed AGAIN! Now they are saying it won't officially open til summer. I guess it will be a completely different show than the one I saw in previews in December.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Wow, I can't believe Spiderman has been delayed AGAIN! Now they are saying it won't officially open til summer. I guess it will be a completely different show than the one I saw in previews in December.

Doesn't seem to be hurting them at all. Heard on TV it was the highest grossing Broadway show last week and is always in the top 5. I guess what they say is true: bad publicity is better than no publicity. (Just ask Charlie Sheen ).

 

[Deb in IA]

Doesn't seem to be hurting them at all. Heard on TV it was the highest grossing Broadway show last week and is always in the top 5. I guess what they say is true: bad publicity is better than no publicity. (Just ask Charlie Sheen ).

First of all, I'm glad they are delaying it. From the scathing reviews, I think they really want to re-work a lot of it. Hopefully, this will make it a better show, with a coherent story line, instead of just cool effects.

Secondly, I think that sometimes, bad publicity is better than good publicity! Everyone wants to go and see if it is really as bad as it is supposed to be!