The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[crazymama]

Has anyone here seen the tour? Saw it in Seattle last night and, athough I liked it well enough, didn't love it as I thought I would. Apparently Ms. Ripley has been ill. Her voice was so very strange! The cast was very strong but I guess I just didn't get the emotional reaction that I thought I would. Any opinions out there?

 

[Deb in IA]

Has anyone here seen the tour? Saw it in Seattle last night and, athough I liked it well enough, didn't love it as I thought I would. Apparently Ms. Ripley has been ill. Her voice was so very strange! The cast was very strong but I guess I just didn't get the emotional reaction that I thought I would. Any opinions out there?

We saw it in Des Moines on Saturday!

I had the same reaction. It was good, but not the emotional punch that I thought it would have.

I felt so bad for Alice Ripley. Her voice sounded very strained, very throaty. I think she actually cancelled a performance in Seattle before she came here.

The show may have more of an impact if we hadn't been sitting there trying to figure out what was wrong with her voice!

Here is how she is supposed to sound (from the 2009 Tony awards show):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPfxUGMKgLA

 

[MissDisney121]

I also saw it on Saturday night and noticed she sounded a little off. I also saw it on Sunday afternoon (couldn't pass up a buy one get one free offer because I love the show so much) and for the first half I think her voice was better. I found that the voice on the guy who plays Gabe was more distracting for me because he is so much higher pitched than Aaron Tveit, it didn't distract me as much the second time though. All in all though I loved the show and it is in my top 3 favs. Also a fun little note I saw Asa Somers (who plays Dan) at Java Joes before the show. I was too shy to say anything though.

 

[crazymama]

I thought that Asa Somers did a great job! The scene at the end with him and Gabe got to me much more than any other. I am glad I saw it but still preferred Spring Awakening (kind of the same genre). I still tear up when hearing 'Left Behind.' Aahh... I am such a musical theatre nerd.

 

[MissDisney121]

I thought that Asa Somers did a great job! The scene at the end with him and Gabe got to me much more than any other. I am glad I saw it but still preferred Spring Awakening (kind of the same genre). I still tear up when hearing 'Left Behind.' Aahh... I am such a musical theatre nerd.

Don't worry I'm a total musical theater nerd too. Spring Awakening is amazing and I tear up while listening to or seeing it but for me Next to Normal packs the biggest punch. I was crying during the show on Sunday and then when listening to the cast album later that night I just started bawling when it gets to the last three songs. I love that seen at the end with Asa and Gabe too.

 

[snapppyd]

We got tickets to see Jerusalem in early May. I love John Gallagher (Spring Awakening and American Idiot) - I can't wait to see him in a "non-musical".!

 

[crazymama]

Don't worry I'm a total musical theater nerd too. Spring Awakening is amazing and I tear up while listening to or seeing it but for me Next to Normal packs the biggest punch. I was crying during the show on Sunday and then when listening to the cast album later that night I just started bawling when it gets to the last three songs. I love that seen at the end with Asa and Gabe too.

Well I am sure glad that there are more like me out there! I agree that the music in NTN is powerful. I would like to see it again sometime to compare performances. So looking forward to Les Mis hitting Seattle this summer. We are from British Columbia, Canada so it always means a 6 hour road trip to see the shows we like but it is worth it. Quicker to get to Vancouver but they just don't get as much through there. Wicked is there soon but I have seen it twice so am too cheap to go again (as much as I loved it!!) We all know that tickets aren't cheap so we try to choose wisely!

 

[crazymama]

We got tickets to see Jerusalem in early May. I love John Gallagher (Spring Awakening and American Idiot) - I can't wait to see him in a "non-musical".!

I had never heard of Jerusalem so looked it up.... should be great! I am jealous. I love John Gallagher too! Enjoy!!

 

[Deb in IA]

Well I am sure glad that there are more like me out there! I agree that the music in NTN is powerful. I would like to see it again sometime to compare performances. So looking forward to Les Mis hitting Seattle this summer. We are from British Columbia, Canada so it always means a 6 hour road trip to see the shows we like but it is worth it. Quicker to get to Vancouver but they just don't get as much through there. Wicked is there soon but I have seen it twice so am too cheap to go again (as much as I loved it!!) We all know that tickets aren't cheap so we try to choose wisely!

I'm a total musical theater nerd too!

We just saw the new touring production of Les Miserables too. Since it was our kids' Spring Break, we went to Louisville, KY, where my parents live and saw it on Sunday, then came back to Iowa and saw Next to Normal - 2 musicals in one week!

I was afraid the emotionality of this show would be blunted for my kids, since so many of the songs have become so familiar, but they were totally awed by this production!

The new restaging of Les Miz is wonderful. The revolving stage is gone and the barricades seems smaller, but the lighting and the projections of Victor Hugo's landscape paintings are fantastic.

The sewer scene and Javert's Suicide were especially breathtaking, I thought.

The show we saw had Joe Tokarz as Jean Valjean. While I would have liked to see Lawrence Clayton, Joe did a wonderful job and his "Bring Him Home" made me cry, as it always does. Andrew Varela was wonderful as Javert - I love his rendition of "Stars".

Chasten Harmon was excellent as Eponine. Lots of sniffling after her "A Little Fall of Rain".

That said, I think they speeded up the tempo of the songs too much, and jumped too quickly from one number to another, without letting the emotional punch sink in first. I think they shaved almost 1/2 hour from the original version, and it shows.

All in all, it is still a wonderful show. A much better "restaging" than some that I've seen (I hated the re-staged version of Sweeney Todd, for example )

And the best thing was that since it is Broadway Cares week, we got a poster of the show signed by the entire cast for $40!!

Don't miss it!

 

[LIDisneyFan]

Alice Ripley had a lot of problems with her voice in N2N on Broadway as well. It is a tough score, and seems to blow out her throat often.

Saw it with Marin Mazzie, Jason Dianielly and Kyle Dean Massey - was incredible. Not a dry eye in the house.

Looking forward to the tour now, but maybe they can get an alternate for Alice in there-seems like 8 shows a week kills her voice.

 

[MissDisney121]

I'm a total musical theater nerd too!

We just saw the new touring production of Les Miserables too. Since it was our kids' Spring Break, we went to Louisville, KY, where my parents live and saw it on Sunday, then came back to Iowa and saw Next to Normal - 2 musicals in one week!

I was afraid the emotionality of this show would be blunted for my kids, since so many of the songs have become so familiar, but they were totally awed by this production!

The new restaging of Les Miz is wonderful. The revolving stage is gone and the barricades seems smaller, but the lighting and the projections of Victor Hugo's landscape paintings are fantastic.

The sewer scene and Javert's Suicide were especially breathtaking, I thought.

The show we saw had Joe Tokarz as Jean Valjean. While I would have liked to see Lawrence Clayton, Joe did a wonderful job and his "Bring Him Home" made me cry, as it always does. Andrew Varela was wonderful as Javert - I love his rendition of "Stars".

Chasten Harmon was excellent as Eponine. Lots of sniffling after her "A Little Fall of Rain".

That said, I think they speeded up the tempo of the songs too much, and jumped too quickly from one number to another, without letting the emotional punch sink in first. I think they shaved almost 1/2 hour from the original version, and it shows.

All in all, it is still a wonderful show. A much better "restaging" than some that I've seen (I hated the re-staged version of Sweeney Todd, for example )

And the best thing was that since it is Broadway Cares week, we got a poster of the show signed by the entire cast for $40!!

Don't miss it!

Oh I would love to see Les miz live. The only productions I have seen are the two concert versions that are on DVD. I especially love the newest one though Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean is amazing and you can never go wrong with Lea Salonga.
I was glad it was broadway cares week too because I got a signed playbill from next to normal for only $20. Alice Ripley has a very interesting signature.
I can't wait till the civic center announces next seasons line up. I hope there are more amazing shows.

 

[Deb in IA]

Oh I would love to see Les miz live. The only productions I have seen are the two concert versions that are on DVD. I especially love the newest one though Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean is amazing and you can never go wrong with Lea Salonga.
I was glad it was broadway cares week too because I got a signed playbill from next to normal for only $20. Alice Ripley has a very interesting signature.
I can't wait till the civic center announces next seasons line up. I hope there are more amazing shows.

MissDisney, we saw the original version of Les Mis several times at Hancher here in Iowa City and fell totally in love with it. It is my all-time favorite musical. I was so excited to hear that it is touring again after being gone for so many years. I keep checking to see if it will be coming anywhere close - it was already at Chicago, but I think it is going to Omaha soon.

It's been quite a dry spell here for us, with both Hancher in Iowa City and the Paramount in Cedar Rapids being out of commission from the 2008 floods. We've had to go to Des Moines to see Wicked, Mary Poppins, and Next to Normal, and to Davenport to see Legally Blonde, and Spamalot. We did go to the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids for Avenue Q, but I really don't like that venue at all. Hopefully, with the renovations, it will attract more shows.

We got a Next to Normal poster too. I agree about Alice Ripley's signature! Even though she was not up to her best performance, I give her credit for going on with the show and doing the best that she could!

Let me know if you hear about the 2011-2012 season. I'm always looking for good shows, and keeping fingers and toes crossed that Les Mis will be on the schedule!

 

[MissDisney121]

Hey Deb in IA,
I was wondering what you thought of Michael McElroy's performance in Next to normal. He played the doctors and I thought he was better than the original actor that is on the cast album. I might be biased though because I saw him in RENT when it was here (he played collins) and I thought he was fabulous in that too.

I'm going to look into Les Miz being in Omaha because that's only 2 hours from here so that would be great. Thanks for the tip.

 

[TifffanyD]

We saw Spring Awakening last Saturday and WOW was it different than what we usually see. I would like to ask some stuff about it, but don't want to spoil it for anyone (is there anyone besides me who hadn't seen it?)... so I guess I won't.

Tomorrow night we are going to see Jersey Boys! My husband is not really looking forward to this one... but I think it might surprise him and he will like it. At least, if I enjoy it he will like it somewhat Will a couple in their early 30s enjoy this show??

 

[MissDisney121]

You can pm me if you have questions about spring awakening. I have seen it and listened to the soundtrack a million times. I am slightly obsessed with it.

 

[snapppyd]

We saw Spring Awakening last Saturday and WOW was it different than what we usually see. I would like to ask some stuff about it, but don't want to spoil it for anyone (is there anyone besides me who hadn't seen it?)... so I guess I won't.

Tomorrow night we are going to see Jersey Boys! My husband is not really looking forward to this one... but I think it might surprise him and he will like it. At least, if I enjoy it he will like it somewhat Will a couple in their early 30s enjoy this show??

I loved Jersey Boys! Saw it 3X. We are older than you, but I don't think age really matters, it's just a good show! If you like musicals I think you will enjoy it.

 

[Deb in IA]

Hey Deb in IA,
I was wondering what you thought of Michael McElroy's performance in Next to normal. He played the doctors and I thought he was better than the original actor that is on the cast album. I might be biased though because I saw him in RENT when it was here (he played collins) and I thought he was fabulous in that too.

I'm going to look into Les Miz being in Omaha because that's only 2 hours from here so that would be great. Thanks for the tip.

Good luck!!

I have not heard the cast recording of Next to Normal, but I thought McElroy was really good as the doctors.

 

[elgerber]

MissDisney, we saw the original version of Les Mis several times at Hancher here in Iowa City and fell totally in love with it. It is my all-time favorite musical. I was so excited to hear that it is touring again after being gone for so many years. I keep checking to see if it will be coming anywhere close - it was already at Chicago, but I think it is going to Omaha soon.

It's been quite a dry spell here for us, with both Hancher in Iowa City and the Paramount in Cedar Rapids being out of commission from the 2008 floods. We've had to go to Des Moines to see Wicked, Mary Poppins, and Next to Normal, and to Davenport to see Legally Blonde, and Spamalot. We did go to the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids for Avenue Q, but I really don't like that venue at all. Hopefully, with the renovations, it will attract more shows.

We got a Next to Normal poster too. I agree about Alice Ripley's signature! Even though she was not up to her best performance, I give her credit for going on with the show and doing the best that she could!

Let me know if you hear about the 2011-2012 season. I'm always looking for good shows, and keeping fingers and toes crossed that Les Mis will be on the schedule!

Les Mis is coming to Minneapolis in December, if you want to take a little road trip.

 

[spewey]

For all the theater-loving Dis’ers in the New York area:

Long story short – I was sending my wife to New York this weekend for her birthday, and she was taking her best friend along for her birthday (we live in Toronto, Canada). I bought tickets to the Friday March 25th preview showing of "Mother****** With The Hat" for the two of them. Best laid plans and all – her friend broke her ankle yesterday and can’t travel for weeks. They’ll go later in the summer.

So. We can cancel the plane tickets, hotel reservations, etc., but these tix are bought and paid for – and no refunds. I’d hate to see them go to waste. I have no interest in Craigslist or trying to sell them – not worth the hassle. I’d rather just give them to someone who’ll use and enjoy them. I (unfortunately) had to do this years ago here with opera tickets we couldn’t use, and that worked out.

The play is a world-premiere by Stephen Adly Guirgis, known for his gritty, comic dramas. This one (very obviously not for kids) features a great cast, including the Broadway debut of Chris Rock. It’s at 8PM at the Schoenfeld Theater on 45th. They’re e-tickets so I can just forward them – if you’re interested, PM me.

- Michael

 

[Cat0727]

I saw Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo this past Sunday. It was an interesting play, very dark and violent. I'm seeing Driving Miss Daisy this Thursday and I can't wait.