The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[merlib]

Can you tell me about Ellen's? We're heading to NYC in July (newbie) and this was one of the places my sister had mentioned.

Keeping it on-topic, we're supposed to see Spider Man while we're there..I know the show's had issues..I hope they get all worked out before we get there!

I can tell you about Ellen's Stardust Diner. First off -- go there for the "show", not the food. All of the waiters/waitresses sing at some point while you are there either solo or with others -- that is definitely fun to watch. They will get up on the walkways in between the booths and sing. Most of the songs are "old standards' as I recall.

The food itself is just okay(and expensive) -- but then again -- in that part of the city everything is!

 

[Mikelly1221]

I can tell you about Ellen's Stardust Diner. First off -- go there for the "show", not the food. All of the waiters/waitresses sing at some point while you are there either solo or with others -- that is definitely fun to watch. They will get up on the walkways in between the booths and sing. Most of the songs are "old standards' as I recall.

The food itself is just okay(and expensive) -- but then again -- in that part of the city everything is!

This helps...thanks!

 

[*Flower*]

Okay everyone-

It's petition signing time!
We seem to be seeing a lot of orchestra shrinking on Broadway. There are not a lot of shows left with decent sized orchestras.
As a matter of fact, there have been reports of producers calling in musicians and recording them so that the recordings can be used to augment the few musicians playing the show music during the performances.

So, there is a website with a petition on it that you can sign to register your desire to have a decent size orchestra playing at the shows. I don't seem to be phrasing this correctly, but go here: http://savelivemusiconbroadway.com/ to register/sign the petition.

I LOVED South Pacific's 35 piece orchestra, and wished that more of the shows that I've seen had a more robust live music section to support the production. So please click through- take a look at the website and sign the petition. It will only take a minute, and I know that I'd appreciate it! They've got over 2000 signatures so far-

TIA.....

 

[MissDisney121]

Anyone here watch the Tony's tonight? I thought Neil Patrick Harris did a great job hosting and the performances were great. I knew Book of Mormon and The Normal Heart would clean up but I was really happy to see Norbert Leo Butz (from Catch Me if you can) and Sutton Foster (from Anything Goes) win. I have a long standing musical crush on Butz he has been in so many of my fav musicals like Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Last Five Years, and of course Wicked plus I currently love Catch Me If You Can. I also love seeing a performance from Spiderman. Jennifer Damiano and Reeve Carney were great. What did any of you guys think of the show?

 

[JenM]

I hated Spiderman the first time around...that performance didn't convince me to give the revamped version another try at all.

Otherwise, a great Tonys show this year! I loved The Book of Mormon, so I was thrilled that it cleaned up tonight. I was happy to see John Larroquette win for How to Succeed as well.

NPH was fantastic, and I loved his duet with Hugh Jackman. They should get the two of them to host together next year.

 

[LBIJim]

I hated Spiderman the first time around...that performance didn't convince me to give the revamped version another try at all.

Otherwise, a great Tonys show this year! I loved The Book of Mormon, so I was thrilled that it cleaned up tonight. I was happy to see John Larroquette win for How to Succeed as well.

NPH was fantastic, and I loved his duet with Hugh Jackman. They should get the two of them to host together next year.

Yeah, that performance from Spiderman seems to be telling people: Stay Away!

Was kind of disappointed in the solo from Book of Mormon as well. I'm going to see it in July and wanted to see a big production number to get me psyched for it. That solo, while very good, just wasn't very exciting.

But overall one of the better Tony shows from the past 10 years.

Jim

 

[JenM]

Yeah, that performance from Spiderman seems to be telling people: Stay Away!

Was kind of disappointed in the solo from Book of Mormon as well. I'm going to see it in July and wanted to see a big production number to get me psyched for it. That solo, while very good, just wasn't very exciting.

But overall one of the better Tony shows from the past 10 years.

Jim

Trust me, the aftermath of that song from Book of Mormon is one you won't forget anytime soon.

I think the problem with most of the BOM songs is that most of them are too R-rated to air on TV. The finale is a great song with the whole cast, but I think it gives to much away about the ending (and again, the funniest line in it would have to be bleeped).

I noticed they've been vey careful about releasing too many clips from the show, and they even told people when the cast album was released not to listen to it until after they've seen it. I held off and it was so worth the wait.

I was worried the show would be overhyped, but since I avoided nearly everything about it, it was even better. It was just shockingly funny and surprisingly sweet.

And of course, now I can't stop listening to the cast album.

 

[The LK 4]

There was a commercial on during the Tony's that for the next 24 hours, you can download the entire cast album from BOM for only $1.99 on Amazon. I have no idea when I'll be able to see the show, so I couldn't resist downloading the album. Can't wait to listen to it on my drive into work today.

 

[eliza61]

Yeah, that performance from Spiderman seems to be telling people: Stay Away!


Jim

diffently worked. I have no desire to see that.

Has anyone seen "The Scottsboro boys". Part of me wants to see it simply to see how they will turn that into a musical. It's a bit depressing and generally I like my musicals to be a bit upbeat.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Ok, I'm irritated at myself. I missed the Tony's last night! I totally forgot it was on and watched Stargate SG1 instead! Not cool.

 

[Deb in IA]

Oh, too bad, CCT!!

It was great. I love Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman, so I was in heaven when they did their duet!

Great to see Angela Lansbury - wow, does she look great for 85!!

Loved Daniel Radcliffe too, and thought he did a great job.

Glad to see only one Glee reference last night, as opposed to last year.

And good to see a good mix of traditionally theater people getting the big awards.

As for the negatives, well, I have to agree with everyone - that number from "Spiderman" was pretty boring and not anything that helped to generate interest, I'm afraid. Bono was a good sport at NPH's jokes about the show, though.

Brooke Shields - ugh. TWO lines, Brooke. Can't you learn TWO lines, even if it was "last minute"?

What is up with Frances McDormand? Did you all see her STORM offstage after she won? She looked pissed! Was she in character, or something? Weird.

And what was up with Mark Rylance's acceptance speech, when he was talking about walking through walls? Was that some sort of inside joke, or a reference to his character?
I didn't get it.

 

[Kewz1]

My DH & I were in NYC last week. We were able to see 3 shows -- Catch Me If You Can, How to Succeed, and Mary Poppins -- and absolutely loved them all.

My question for all you B'way experts is how long will Daniel Radcliffe be in How to Succeed? Is there any way to find out this info?

TIA!
Kristen

 

[JenM]

My DH & I were in NYC last week. We were able to see 3 shows -- Catch Me If You Can, How to Succeed, and Mary Poppins -- and absolutely loved them all.

My question for all you B'way experts is how long will Daniel Radcliffe be in How to Succeed? Is there any way to find out this info?

TIA!
Kristen

Daniel is in the show until November.

 

[goofy4tink]

Can you tell me about Ellen's? We're heading to NYC in July (newbie) and this was one of the places my sister had mentioned.

Keeping it on-topic, we're supposed to see Spider Man while we're there..I know the show's had issues..I hope they get all worked out before we get there!

Sorry, I missed your post. Ellen's Stardust Diner is a true NYC tourist thing. As already mentioned, don't go for the food. I've eaten breakfast there and it was okay, dinner was less okay last month. It's located at Broadway and 51st, if I remember correctly....1650 Broadway. It's an easy walk from Times Sq.
The waiters/waitresses all sing off and on. It kinda drives me nuts but you have to go at least once if you have a theater loving kid. Now, we can say 'been there, done that' and not go back.

I was thrilled to see Daniel Radcliff and company to 'Brotherhood of Man' last night. WE say How to Suceed last month with the high school's theater group. This is not my favorite musical. I'm not sure it would be so popular without Daniel Radcliffe. The theater was full of teenaged girls. But, that number was almost worth the price of admission. Daniel R. is not a great singer, but his dancing really surprised me.

Now, we have to see Book of Mormon. Not sure when we'll be able to get tickets though....sold out for months.
Maybe we'll just do Boston stuff. THere's some decent stuff heading here for 2012.

 

[snapppyd]

Oh, too bad, CCT!!

It was great. I love Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman, so I was in heaven when they did their duet!

Great to see Angela Lansbury - wow, does she look great for 85!!

Loved Daniel Radcliffe too, and thought he did a great job.

Glad to see only one Glee reference last night, as opposed to last year.

And good to see a good mix of traditionally theater people getting the big awards.

As for the negatives, well, I have to agree with everyone - that number from "Spiderman" was pretty boring and not anything that helped to generate interest, I'm afraid. Bono was a good sport at NPH's jokes about the show, though.

Brooke Shields - ugh. TWO lines, Brooke. Can't you learn TWO lines, even if it was "last minute"?

What is up with Frances McDormand? Did you all see her STORM offstage after she won? She looked pissed! Was she in character, or something? Weird.

And what was up with Mark Rylance's acceptance speech, when he was talking about walking through walls? Was that some sort of inside joke, or a reference to his character?
I didn't get it.

Here is the answer about Mark Rylance. I saw him In Jeruralem, the man is nothing less than a brilliant actor.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/awards...ech-from-best-actor-tony-winner-mark-rylance/

 

[gometros]

diffently worked. I have no desire to see that.

Has anyone seen "The Scottsboro boys". Part of me wants to see it simply to see how they will turn that into a musical. It's a bit depressing and generally I like my musicals to be a bit upbeat.

What I don't understand is why people were protesting The Scottsboro Boys outside the theater for being racist. I don't know if anybody here has seen it, but if you have, you'd know it is anything but racist.

 

[Deb in IA]

Here is the answer about Mark Rylance. I saw him In Jeruralem, the man is nothing less than a brilliant actor.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/awards...ech-from-best-actor-tony-winner-mark-rylance/

Thanks - I figured there was a story behind that!

 

[snapppyd]

Thanks - I figured there was a story behind that!

I was poking around YouTube and found this clip of him doing Shakespeare, I wish I could have seen this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rAYmmIYCGQ

Now I promise I'll stop!

 

[Kitzka]

Now, we have to see Book of Mormon. Not sure when we'll be able to get tickets though....sold out for months.
Maybe we'll just do Boston stuff. THere's some decent stuff heading here for 2012.

You should try to get tickets for during the week. I lucked out and got row k seats for a wed matiness in july (bought in early may).

I did hear the BOM will be touring so maybe it's worth waiting until it comes to your area?

Lara

 

[goofy4tink]

You should try to get tickets for during the week. I lucked out and got row k seats for a wed matiness in july (bought in early may).

I did hear the BOM will be touring so maybe it's worth waiting until it comes to your area?

Lara

Will have to check into that...weekdays are good.