The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[AllisonK]

out of curiosity can i ask why you want to see the alternate evita? someone else i know mentioned this as well and i was curious why the alternate was in such high demand.

i'm really looking forward to seeing this show.

Lara

I've seen her in a few shows and she's wonderful! I just happened to be at her very first performance as Glinda in Wicked back in 2007 and then saw her in The Marvelous Wonderettes off-Broadway and then as in both the ensemble and as Sister Mary Robert (the postulant) in Sister Act (she was the understudy and a member of the original company). I'm just thrilled that she'll be playing the lead in such a huge show twice a week!

 

[Deb in IA]

* Saw the original cast of WICKED, sitting on the floor, Orchestra, row 8(?). The lights came up at intermission, and Susan turned to me (as I was wiping away tears) and say "You sissy." Haha! We both laughed because she was crying too ~ such an emotional show AND a special evening to see both Idina and Kristen that night.

"Defying Gravity" has brought many to tears - I know that it did to me!

 

[elgerber]

"Defying Gravity" has brought many to tears - I know that it did to me!

I've seen Wicked 4 times, and I bawl, more than once, every time we see it!

 

[JenM]

Oh well, at least we will get Hugh - and THAT alone, is worth the price of a ticket - and probably the DVD later too.

And then this is going to happen!

http://playbill.com/news/article/15...-New-Broadway-Musical-During-2013-2014-Season

Hugh Jackman Will Be Houdini in New Broadway Musical During 2013-2014 Season

Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman will bring his magic back to Broadway during the 2013-2014 season in the new Stephen Schwartz-Aaron Sorkin musical Houdini.

Jackman previously disclosed news of the project to Playbill.com in November at the opening night of his record-breaking one-man show, Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway. He will star in the title role.

Tony winners Scott Sanders and David Rockwell produce the musical about the life of the turn-of-the-century illusionist, which will have a score by Academy Award-winning composer-lyricist Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, "Pocahontas") and a book by Academy Award winner Sorkin ("A Few Good Men," "The Newsroom," The Farnsworth Invention).

Tony-winning Hairspray and Coast of Utopia director Jack O'Brien will stage Houdini. Co-producer Rockwell (Hairspray, The Normal Heart) will also render scenic design for the musical. Kurt Andersen, who has been developing the musical over the last several seasons, will remain on as a creative consultant.

According to a statement from Sorkin, "Rather than being a biography, Houdini – told in a contemporary tone – tells the story of an epic battle that took place between the world's greatest illusionist and a trio of women, known as 'Spiritualists,' who convinced millions of people, including the editors of Scientific American and The New York Times, that they could communicate with the dead."

"I have been deeply fascinated by the life of Harry Houdini since I was young, and in many ways I’ve been preparing for this role my whole life," Jackman added in a statement. "I am thrilled to be collaborating with this collection of artists who are all at the top of their game."

 

[cornflake]

The Houdini thing has been talked about as if it's coming next season for, I think, four years now. He was even training for it specifically a few years ago, down at the trapezes. I'm suspicious, heh.

 

[JenM]

The Houdini thing has been talked about as if it's coming next season for, I think, four years now. He was even training for it specifically a few years ago, down at the trapezes. I'm suspicious, heh.

Trust me, I know. I've been following the show for awhile now too.

This is the first time it's been officially announced, other then random stories about who was working on what. Considering how successful this last show was, it does make sense that they 'announced' that another show was on the horizon.

The reason the solo show happened at all was because the Wolverine sequel was delayed a few times this year (the original director quit, the Japan earthquake obviously messed with their shooting schedule, the script is supposedly going through rewrites again now).

But if they are on track to shoot The Wolverine (finally, and yes, that is the official title) after Les Miz, the scheduling seems to work with this show happening fall of next year.

We'll see what happens.

 

[Deb in IA]

I think it is great!

Hugh: Hey, I've suddenly got a 10 week gap in my schedule! Let's do a show!

I heard that his final week set a Broadway box office record, so it makes sense to announce another show now, while his success is still fresh.

But it makes me fear that he will never get around to doing a film version of Carousel . . .

 

[JenM]

I think it is great!

Hugh: Hey, I've suddenly got a 10 week gap in my schedule! Let's do a show!

I heard that his final week set a Broadway box office record, so it makes sense to announce another show now, while his success is still fresh.

But it makes me fear that he will never get around to doing a film version of Carousel . . .

As much as I love Wolverine...man, was that ever a reward for that movie being delayed. I think the NY show (he did the show in Toronto and San Francisco last year as well) was supposed to happen this year, since The Wolverine was supposed to shoot this past fall...but it got delayed again and we got it early. That was awesome.

He did break box office records...although the tickets were so expensive it was probably an easy record to break. When I got my standing room ticket a few weeks ago, the guy in front of me bought 6 tickets for $351. Each.

The better record is the fundraising record: $1,789,580 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He raised it auctioning off the undershirts he wore in the show every night. He did the auction the second time I saw it, and he got $6500 for one shirt and $6000 for the other.

They also sold autographed posters and programs. I know the posters were going for about $200 each, but I think the programs were sold out by the time I saw it. I got one signed by him and Daniel Craig when they did A Steady Rain on Broadway a few years ago.

He's just awesome.

 

[Nancy F]

As much as I love Wolverine...man, was that ever a reward for that movie being delayed. I think the NY show (he did the show in Toronto and San Francisco last year as well) was supposed to happen this year, since The Wolverine was supposed to shoot this past fall...but it got delayed again and we got it early. That was awesome.

He did break box office records...although the tickets were so expensive it was probably an easy record to break. When I got my standing room ticket a few weeks ago, the guy in front of me bought 6 tickets for $351. Each.

The better record is the fundraising record: $1,789,580 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He raised it auctioning off the undershirts he wore in the show every night. He did the auction the second time I saw it, and he got $6500 for one shirt and $6000 for the other.

They also sold autographed posters and programs. I know the posters were going for about $200 each, but I think the programs were sold out by the time I saw it. I got one signed by him and Daniel Craig when they did A Steady Rain on Broadway a few years ago.

He's just awesome.

The show we saw in Dec. he raised $8000.00 and $7500.00 for the tees. Great show too!
Nancy

 

[cornflake]

I do think the late box-office record was due to them jacking the ticket prices at the end of the run.

How often did he do BC/EFA? I figured a couple times a week, but I was there for the finale and was surprised he didn't - could've sold off everything he had on.

 

[Deb in IA]

How often did he do BC/EFA? I figured a couple times a week, but I was there for the finale and was surprised he didn't - could've sold off everything he had on.

I think BC/EFA only happens at a couple of specific times during the year - maybe a couple of weeks in March and then again in November? - so it was probably over when Hugh's show closed Dec. 31.

 

[JenM]

I think BC/EFA only happens at a couple of specific times during the year - maybe a couple of weeks in March and then again in November? - so it was probably over when Hugh's show closed Dec. 31.

It's usually 3-4 weeks in the spring and fall. The post-show speech always starts with "Twice a year, the Broadway community comes together to support a marvelous charity called Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS..."

When I saw How to Succeed, Daniel Radcliffe read his speech off (in his usual rapid-fire speak) off a piece of paper. When he finished, John Laroquette said "You're British?!?!"

Hugh started on 11/15, but the fundraising had started two weeks earlier (shows don't collect during previews), so he kept going for the rest of the run. Far as I know, it was just about every night except the Christmas evening show and the final performance on January 1.

 

[Kitzka]

I've seen her in a few shows and she's wonderful! I just happened to be at her very first performance as Glinda in Wicked back in 2007 and then saw her in The Marvelous Wonderettes off-Broadway and then as in both the ensemble and as Sister Mary Robert (the postulant) in Sister Act (she was the understudy and a member of the original company). I'm just thrilled that she'll be playing the lead in such a huge show twice a week!

Ah okay. The lead is a childhood friend of one of my friends (does that make sense?) it has some of my fav music, I kind of have a personal connection to the lead and Ricky Martin!

Lara

 

[JenM]

There's a great interview here with Tom Hooper, who's directing the movie version of Les Miserables. Sounds like they've got some interesting stuff planned as far as adapting it:

-There is a new song being written for the movie.
-They're planning to have the actors sing "live" on camera and not pre-record them in the studio (which is usually what they do in movie musicals)
-They're look at ways to adjust the 'sung' dialogue from the show so that it's spoken on screen, but won't look totally off when a character starts singing

You can hear the interview here, it starts about 7 minutes in:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018xwt7

Can't wait!

Also, Hugh Jackman was spotted in NYC this week walking around with the Les Mis sheet music:

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/pc/Hugh+Jackman+Hugh+Jackman+holds+sheet+music+5X2glchqQurl.jpg

That's just awesome.

 

[elgerber]

-They're planning to have the actors sing "live" on camera and not pre-record them in the studio (which is usually what they do in movie musicals)

Which is where the Taylor Swift really concerns me !

Our theater district sent an e-mail yesterday with an Itunes promo code for 17 free Broadway songs!! I downloaded them all immediately on my Iphone. What a nice thing to do! I listened to Daniel Radcliffe as soon as I got in my car, quite loudly LOL.

 

[JenM]

Which is where the Taylor Swift really concerns me !

It's going to keep things interesting, that's for sure.

At least they're not planning to use 3D anymore, I heard that was considered at some point too.

Our theater district sent an e-mail yesterday with an Itunes promo code for 17 free Broadway songs!! I downloaded them all immediately on my Iphone. What a nice thing to do! I listened to Daniel Radcliffe as soon as I got in my car, quite loudly LOL.

Awesome! He's actually hosting SNL on January 14, I can't wait to see that.

I was blasting the American Idiot cast album this morning. I hadn't listened to it in far too long.

 

[Deb in IA]

There's a great interview here with Tom Hooper, who's directing the movie version of Les Miserables. Sounds like they've got some interesting stuff planned as far as adapting it:

-There is a new song being written for the movie.
-They're planning to have the actors sing "live" on camera and not pre-record them in the studio (which is usually what they do in movie musicals)
-They're look at ways to adjust the 'sung' dialogue from the show so that it's spoken on screen, but won't look totally off when a character starts singing

You can hear the interview here, it starts about 7 minutes in:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018xwt7

Can't wait!

Also, Hugh Jackman was spotted in NYC this week walking around with the Les Mis sheet music:

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/pc/Hugh+Jackman+Hugh+Jackman+holds+sheet+music+5X2glchqQurl.jpg

That's just awesome.

Love it! Hugh is doing his "homework"!

Thanks also for the interview. Sounds like they are doing some interesting things with the dialogue. I'm glad they playing around with it, to see what works the best. I was afraid that they would get rid of ALL the sung exchanges, resulting in the "usual" filmed musical, where they talk/talk/talk - suddenly break out into song - talk/talk/talk. For Les Mis, where we are used to so much of the dialogue being sung, I think that would just be too jarring, and would break up the emotional flow of the story.

 

[violetrose]

Will any of you be able to take advantage of the Broadway week offers?

http://www.nycgo.com/broadwayweek?a=1&b=1#p3grid

Sure wish I could find a way to go. This is a busy time of the year for both DH and I though, there is just no way we could take off in the middle of the week to see a matinee in New York, which is 5 hours from us. Would love to see Seminar though!

 

[sharonW]

There are quite a few discounts out there but no weekends offered for the better shows.... can't swing weekday matinees either!!!!

 

[ugadog99]

-They're planning to have the actors sing "live" on camera and not pre-record them in the studio (which is usually what they do in movie musicals)

Well, that put the nail in the coffin for us. No way in hell I'm going to listen to Taylor Swift butcher my absolute favorite character ever! Live???? You'll leave the movie with your ears bleeding!