The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[JenM]

REALLY???

I had not heard that!

I'm a but surprised. I can see him physically in the role; Valjean is supposed to be bigger and stronger than most men. Hugh is more baritone; I wonder how he'll hit the high A in "Bring Him Home". I guess he'll have to go falsetto.

Russell Crowe is a good choice for Javert; he reminds me a LOT of Philip Quast, who as in the "Dream Cast" for the 10th Anniversary Concert at Royal Albert Hall.

I'm curious how he's going to hit those "Bring Him Home" notes too - I'm hoping he sings it (or anything else from Les Mis) during his Broadway gig this fall. I'm going November 1st, I can't wait!

There was a video from his appearance at ComicCon in July when he sang the "2-4-6-0-1!" part from "Who Am I?" when someone asked if he could sing something from Les Mis, and he sounded really good. I'll have to go looking for it, I can't remember where I saw the link to it.

But I'm psyched to finally see a movie! It's my favorite musical, I've seen it 9 times (8 on Broadway, once in London). I even still have the program that has an ad for a movie version that was supposed to be out in 1991. Obviously that never happened, but so far this version sounds like it will be worth the delay.

 

[Deb in IA]

Jen, I LOVE this musical too, and can't WAIT to finally see a movie version of it.

Looks like Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter will reunite with their "King's Speech" director too, Tom Hooper.

So far, so good with the casting. I like Geoffrey Rush as Thenardier too.

I've also heard Anne Hathaway is going to be Fantine, at Hugh's recommendation!

 

[Aristocath]

I got tickets for Book of Mormon for my February trip! So excited since I thought they would be sold out. I also got tickets to see Harry Connick Jr. in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

I think I might make a weekend trip in December to see family. Is Hugh Jackman still going to be playing then? I haven't checked dates yet.

 

[JenM]

Jen, I LOVE this musical too, and can't WAIT to finally see a movie version of it.

Looks like Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter will reunite with their "King's Speech" director too, Tom Hooper.

So far, so good with the casting. I like Geoffrey Rush as Thenardier too.

I've also heard Anne Hathaway is going to be Fantine, at Hugh's recommendation!

Yep, I know when he was trying to get a movie version of Carousel going, he wanted Anne to play Julie. This works out too - I think she'd be great as Fantine.

I keep hearing on a few theater message boards that Lucy Hale may be playing Eponine. I had no idea who that was at first, but I think she's on that show Pretty Little Liars (which I've never seen) and she was finalist on American Juniors (which I've also never seen), and apparently she's a terrific singer. There were rumors that it might be Lea Michele, but that doesn't sound like it's happening.

I wonder who will play Marius and Enjolras?

I got tickets for Book of Mormon for my February trip! So excited since I thought they would be sold out. I also got tickets to see Harry Connick Jr. in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

I think I might make a weekend trip in December to see family. Is Hugh Jackman still going to be playing then? I haven't checked dates yet.

Yep, Hugh's show will still be there in December. They're doing an Amex presale now, the info is on the website (as well as an incredibly good-looking picture of Hugh): http://hughjackmanonbroadway.com/

 

[Deb in IA]

I wonder who will play Marius and Enjolras?

This just popped into my head -
I think Darren Criss would be a great Marius!

 

[JenM]

This just popped into my head -
I think Darren Criss would be a great Marius!

Totally agree!

 

[ugadog99]

We saw Les Mis last night in Birmingham. Oh my...it was AMAZING!! I really enjoye the new scenic design and most of the new orchestration May I say that Chasen Harmon my be one of the best Eponines ever!

 

[Mikelly1221]

Ever since the 25th anniversary concert on PBS, I have become such a HUGE fan of Les Mis! We're going to see it in February in Tampa...can't wait!

 

[EclecticWAHM]

And I'm seeing The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown at Goodspeed in CT on Saturday! I've been waiting to see this one for five years, so I'm pretty excited!

Aw, jealous! A friend of mine was in the production you saw - how was it?

 

[AllisonK]

Aw, jealous! A friend of mine was in the production you saw - how was it?

It was great! I first heard a demo about 5 years ago, so getting to see it on stage was just amazing! I hope it has a future!

I saw Sister Act again the other day. One of the girls I know in the show was on for Sister Mary Robert (the postulant) last week so I went in for the day to see her! I'm going into the city on Sunday for the Broadway flea market and possibly a show (hopefully Follies... their rush is for students but I still have my college ID without an expiration date on it LOL - it just says printed in Aug. 2010 and that's because my previous ID wasn't working so I had to get a new one!)

 

[Art 1]

Going up to NYC to see Sister Act next month. My wife really wants to see it.

 

[EclecticWAHM]

It was great! I first heard a demo about 5 years ago, so getting to see it on stage was just amazing! I hope it has a future!

I saw Sister Act again the other day. One of the girls I know in the show was on for Sister Mary Robert (the postulant) last week so I went in for the day to see her! I'm going into the city on Sunday for the Broadway flea market and possibly a show (hopefully Follies... their rush is for students but I still have my college ID without an expiration date on it LOL - it just says printed in Aug. 2010 and that's because my previous ID wasn't working so I had to get a new one!)

Fun! I've seen some of the YouTube clips and it looks really good. Would have especially loved it when I was younger! My friend played Kelly and she sounded awesome (as usual) on the YouTube clips.

I would LOVE to see Follies. Bernadette Peters and Elaine Paige are two of my all time faves. Hope you get to see it - I hear it's awesome. Oh why does NYC have to be so far away from Colorado??

 

[Deb in IA]

We saw Les Mis last night in Birmingham. Oh my...it was AMAZING!! I really enjoye the new scenic design and most of the new orchestration May I say that Chasen Harmon my be one of the best Eponines ever!

We saw Chasten Harmon as Eponine as well. Not a dry eye in the house after she sang "A Little Fall of Rain".

Overall, I loved this production as well. I thought the projections and scenery were very good. I just had some issue with the uptempo - I think they rushed some of the songs too much, and they lost their emotional impact, as a result.

 

[Kitzka]

I'm excited! Got discount tickets to newsies at the papermill playhouse tomorrow night and got 2nd row seats for the godspell revival in nov. Hoping I get commission in this paycheck so I can get some tickets to how to succeed with Radcliffe.

Newsies is suppose to be great and may come to broadway in 2012 or 2013.

Lara

 

[AllisonK]

Fun! I've seen some of the YouTube clips and it looks really good. Would have especially loved it when I was younger! My friend played Kelly and she sounded awesome (as usual) on the YouTube clips.

I would LOVE to see Follies. Bernadette Peters and Elaine Paige are two of my all time faves. Hope you get to see it - I hear it's awesome. Oh why does NYC have to be so far away from Colorado??

Your friend was great! Very funny and she has an awesome voice!

And yes, I'm only 4 hours away from NYC but I went to school about 40 minutes outside the city and graduated in May and got a job back home - I've only been back to the city twice since May because of work and it feels like FOREVER! All my friends think I'm crazy for wanting to see a show on Sunday during the flea market, but really, I don't get to NYC that much anymore, I want to see shows every chance I get!

 

[ugadog99]

We saw Chasten Harmon as Eponine as well. Not a dry eye in the house after she sang "A Little Fall of Rain".

Overall, I loved this production as well. I thought the projections and scenery were very good. I just had some issue with the uptempo - I think they rushed some of the songs too much, and they lost their emotional impact, as a result.

I totally agree. I understand the concept of why the orchestration was changed, but I think there are some songs that really shouldn't be touched. Fantine's Death, Javert's Suicide, and the very beginning of I Dreamed a Dream were not songs that should have been altered. Other than those issues, I absolutely loved it. I really think the new scenery and backdrops are really impressive.


We had an opportunity to meet Chasen and several of the other cast members after the show. She is such a sweet girl and so pretty! We also met Shawna Hamic who is Madame Thenardier. I was shocked at how young she is! Professionally done stage makeup is amazing!

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

I saw Jersey Boys in April in NYC, it was AMAZING!!!!

I saw Miss Saigon in July in Philly, it was OK, not one of my favorites

I saw Wicked this past Wed in NYC, I was truly Speechless, it was all everyone has said and MORE, I absolutly LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!!!! By far my favorite play with Jersey Boys being my second favorite!!!!

I want to see Lion King, Mary Popping, Rent and Rock of Ages and of course Book of Mormon but who knows when that will happen

My sil does a NY trip every year so I will see what she has planned for April 2012

 

[JenM]

Your friend was great! Very funny and she has an awesome voice!

And yes, I'm only 4 hours away from NYC but I went to school about 40 minutes outside the city and graduated in May and got a job back home - I've only been back to the city twice since May because of work and it feels like FOREVER! All my friends think I'm crazy for wanting to see a show on Sunday during the flea market, but really, I don't get to NYC that much anymore, I want to see shows every chance I get!

It's fun to go to a show during the Flea Market! Years ago...my friend and I got there early in the morning, and he waited on line for rush tickets for the matinee of Jekyll & Hyde, while I waited on line for SRO for the evening show of Rent.

So we spent the day at the Flea Market and saw two shows, it was great!

 

[AllisonK]

It's fun to go to a show during the Flea Market! Years ago...my friend and I got there early in the morning, and he waited on line for rush tickets for the matinee of Jekyll & Hyde, while I waited on line for SRO for the evening show of Rent.

So we spent the day at the Flea Market and saw two shows, it was great!

Yup! A few years ago my friends and I decided to see a show around 1:00 and so we tried a few shows for tickets and ended up doing standing room at Hairspray for about $20 each! SO much fun!

 

[Missy1961]

I'm so excited! Just got a text from my sister--she was able to get us tickets to see Wicked on the day before Thanksgiving (she's giving it to me as a Christmas present!) This show has been on my 'list' for so long - I can't believe I am finally going to get to see it!