The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[My2Cinderellas]

Oh My God I am just so excited right now. I just got home from the Announcement event at the civic center here in Des Moines where they announced the 2012-2013 broadway season. I am so excited. I'm gonna list them here to see what you all think of them and for Deb in IA.
Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, War Horse, The Book of Mormon, Jekyll & Hyde (pre broadway run with Constantine Maroulis!!!!!), Rock of Ages, Jersey Boys and Million Dollar Quartet (who performed tonight at the announcement and were amazing). I am beyond excited about this whole line up and can't wait to buy my season tickets.

It's a nice mix of old and new looking forward to the season! I'm loving how shows go out on tour much sooner than they used to, but still can't quite believe we are getting Book of Mormon.

 

[TimeforMe]

Anyway, just went and saw "Once" with my brothers this past week. We're all huge fans of the movie and went in with trepidation since we didn't think it could compare to the great Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova film (who we've also seen live and are fantastic together). Nevertheless, it exceeded my expectations...and it was a huge improvement over Spiderman...the last Broadway show my brothers and I ventured out to see.

Anyway, (in a little bit of self-promotion) my full review of Once can be found on my blog linked in my signature below (my Spidey review can be found there, too by clicking on the Broadway tag on my site).

Hello RyMickey: I just read your wonderful review of "Once". It is at the top of my list for shows I want to see in the near future. (Unfortunately, my theater partner wants to see Jesus Christ Superstar and it's her turn to pick) I, too, LOVED the movie which I consider one of my all-time favorites. I LOVE the music as well and according to your review, I'm happy to hear you weren't disappointed. Thanks for the review!

Anyone see JCS in person yet? Any reviews?

 

[JenM]

Here's some video from that same scene.

You can hear Hugh singing at the beginning of the clip!!!

Interesting how the building looks so old, and then when they pull out, you see so many modern buildings right next to it!

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

Here's a clip of Russell Crowe as Javert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK8hZNnDtz4&feature=relmfu

Yep, saw those...how amazing do they look?? Hugh and Russell are both on Twitter (actually, it seems like the whole cast is). Russell posted this about two weeks ago:

Russell Crowe @russellcrowe
5am-12.30am,door 2 door,long day. Had a bit of a sing,released a prisonner on payrole after 19 years...24601...enjoy your hours of freedom

It also seems like being a movie star and an Oscar winner does not protect you from being a victim of auto-correct, going by the spelling.

Hugh also posted what appears to be the first 'official' picture from the movie, and again once he got to get rid of the convict beard:

Hugh Jackman‏@RealHughJackman
Very excited about how the first days of filming are going!! Check out my convict look...but its changing soon. http://twitter.com/RealHughJac...392028667904/photo/1

Hugh Jackman‏@RealHughJackman
Awesome burger at Jamie Oliver's restaurant in Portsmouth last night. After no carbs for ages...heaven! http://twitter.com/RealHughJac...584530292737/photo/1

Hugh Jackman‏@RealHughJackman
And yes, the convict beard and hair are gone. Got to shave it off last night

He looks much better now. And that burger looked delicious.

There are more pictures here - apparently they were filming "Do You Hear the People Sing?" this week, and what appears to be General Lamarque's funeral. It also looks like Eponine (dressed as a boy) is there as well: http://westendwendyblog.wordpress.c...p-to-the-set-of-the-new-les-miserables-film/#

There are also some photos going around of a giant elephant statue - that's from the original novel. It's the Elephant of the Bastille, and it's where Gavroche was living.

It's soooo awesome, I can't wait!

 

[JenM]

Whoo Hooo!! Just downloaded the Newsies CD from Itunes! It's available today!

I haven't stopped listening to it since yesterday! I love it!

I'm seeing it on April 30th, I can't wait.

 

[czycropper]

Newsies was absolutely FANTASTIC! I actually liked it better than Billy Elliott (my DD better not see this post or I'll be shot ).

Loved the expanded scenes from the PaperMill production. My only complaint was that there were some teen groupies at the show and they won't shut up during the dance scenes - even my DD14 turned around and said something to them.

My DD14, who's a dancer was saying that she would love to talk to the choreographer since the dancing was such better with this production. My DD12 (the cheerleader) said "Mom, he did a triple backspring with a layout". She didn't go to the PaperMill show so it was all new to her.

 

[Deb in IA]

Yep, saw those...how amazing do they look?? Hugh and Russell are both on Twitter (actually, it seems like the whole cast is). Russell posted this about two weeks ago:



It also seems like being a movie star and an Oscar winner does not protect you from being a victim of auto-correct, going by the spelling.

Hugh also posted what appears to be the first 'official' picture from the movie, and again once he got to get rid of the convict beard:





He looks much better now. And that burger looked delicious.

There are more pictures here - apparently they were filming "Do You Hear the People Sing?" this week, and what appears to be General Lamarque's funeral. It also looks like Eponine (dressed as a boy) is there as well: http://westendwendyblog.wordpress.c...p-to-the-set-of-the-new-les-miserables-film/#

There are also some photos going around of a giant elephant statue - that's from the original novel. It's the Elephant of the Bastille, and it's where Gavroche was living.

It's soooo awesome, I can't wait!

A huge elephant?!?!?

Other than that, the set, cast, and costumes look FANTASTIC!!!

Thanks for the Twitter news too. I can't get the links to work, but I love reading about what the stars are doing.

 

[JenM]

A huge elephant?!?!?

Yep - it really existed! Here's more info on the Elephant of the Bastille:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_of_the_Bastille

The Elephant of the Bastille was a monument in Paris between 1813 and 1846. Originally conceived in 1808 by Napoleon, the statue was intended to be created out of bronze and placed in Place de la Bastille, but only a plaster full-scale model was built. At 24 m (78 ft) in height the model itself became a very recognisable construction and was to be immortalised by Victor Hugo in his novel Les Misérables in which it is used as a shelter by Gavroche. It was built at the site of the Bastille and although part of the original construction remains the elephant itself was replaced by the July Column.

Here's the reference from the book - Gavroche was the Thernardier's son in the book, his parents kicked him out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavroche

The Thénardiers sell (or rent) their two youngest sons to a woman named Magnon. Due to a freak accident, the two boys are separated from Magnon without identification, and encounter Gavroche purely by chance. They are unaware of their identities, but Gavroche invites them to live with him and takes care of them. They reside in the hollow cavity of a giant elephant statue, the Elephant of the Bastille conceived by Napoleon as a fountain, but abandoned unfinished. This was no imaginary construction; located at the Place de la Bastille, it had been designed by Jean-Antoine Alavoine. The two boys soon leave him the next morning. They are last seen at the Luxembourg Gardens retrieving and eating discarded bread from a fountain. It is unknown what has happened to the two after that.

They were filming "Look Down" earlier this week, and the elephant was part of the set, so the thinking is that's where Gavroche will be for his "How do you do? My name's Gavroche..." intro.

This is the kid playing Gavroche - he also played him in the London production: http://screenterrier.blogspot.com/2012/03/les-miserables-finds-its-gavroche.html

Other than that, the set, cast, and costumes look FANTASTIC!!!

Thanks for the Twitter news too. I can't get the links to work, but I love reading about what the stars are doing.

There's more! Here's Marius and Enjolras, at what appears to be General Lamarque's funeral: http://hope72.tumblr.com/tagged/eddie-redmayne

Looks incredible!

 

[Deb in IA]

I don't know . . . that elephant butt is hilarious!

 

[JenM]

I don't know . . . that elephant butt is hilarious!

I'm hoping that somehow doesn't make it into the final shot...

So there's video of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" being shot. No audio, since security was tight amongst the onlookers, but awesome video nonetheless - looks like the battle starts during Lamarque's funeral.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd0DU3k32xo&feature=youtu.be

 

[Imzadi]

I don't know . . . that elephant butt is hilarious!

I clicked on the link for this thread, hit the "End" button on my keyboard to get to the last post on the page to scroll backwards to the last post I've read and I'm going, "Huh??? Is that an elephant's butt???

Only on the DIS!

 

[gometros]

We saw Nice Work If You Can Get It last night. Absolutely loved, LOVED it! It stars Matthew Broderick, Kelly O'Hara, Estelle Parsons and Judy Kaye. It harkened back to the olde-time musicals, with the music of Ira and George Gershwin. It was funny, entertaining, had great dance numbers and an over all good time. And as good as the stars were, I swear the guys that stole the show were Kelly's two cohorts, Cookie and Duke. I likened Cookie's character to Moonface Martin from Anything Goes. I think the only negative thing I could say about the experience had nothing to do with the show itself. The Imperial Theater, on 45th street, was one of the more uncomfortable venues I've been to. The seats are quite narrow and the leg room is lacking. But I was so busy laughing my backside off, I didn't take time to let it bother me.

Don't walk, run to your nearest box office and gets tickets while they are still available. It's in previews until opening on April 24th.

 

[elgerber]

They just announced they are adding Rock of Ages to our 2012/2013 season!!! Now we have tickets to 8 shows (of course this one cost me extra, because it's not part of the package or package pricing)!!! Plus Mamma Mia next weekend.
My dd is going to flip, she LOVED Rock of Ages, and last time our seats were off to one side, so we couldn't see the screen on the left side of the stage, but I just bought us two seats, front row balcony, dead center!

 

[Deb in IA]

OK, any reviews/opinions on "Jekyll and Hyde", with Constanine Maroulis?

It is part of the Season Ticket here, and I will have to get that if I want the entire package.

We are probably going to skip War Horse - we are more into musicals than dramas.

And I can't get DH to go to Rock of Ages (80's music makes him want to throw up) and Jersey Boys (again, he's not into Frankie Valli stuff).

But we do want do see Les Mis, Book of Mormon and Million Dollar Quartet, and I am hoping to substitute Beauty and the Beast for War Horse. But we will have to get Jekyll and Hyde for the season tickets.

 

[JenM]

People generally have a love/hate relationship with Jekyll & Hyde. Depends what you think of him flipping his head back and forth when he switches between Jekyll and Hyde.

It's OK...if you like horror stories, it's pretty cool. And if you hate it, it's definitely a so-bad-it's-funny show, so you'll still have a good time.

War Horse is supposed to be incredible. The effects work on the horses is amazing. My folks saw it a few months ago and they're still raving about how good it was.

 

[MissDisney121]

OK, any reviews/opinions on "Jekyll and Hyde", with Constanine Maroulis?

It is part of the Season Ticket here, and I will have to get that if I want the entire package.

We are probably going to skip War Horse - we are more into musicals than dramas.

And I can't get DH to go to Rock of Ages (80's music makes him want to throw up) and Jersey Boys (again, he's not into Frankie Valli stuff).

But we do want do see Les Mis, Book of Mormon and Million Dollar Quartet, and I am hoping to substitute Beauty and the Beast for War Horse. But we will have to get Jekyll and Hyde for the season tickets.

I personally have no experience with Jekyll and Hyde and I don't think they have even started doing anything with it yet really since they are still casting but my mom has seen the movie version with David Hasselhoff and though she is not a huge fan of his she said the musical itself was good.
I'm torn about War Horse too because even though I've heard it is amazing and it makes people cry from beginning to end I too am much more into musicals. I kind of want to go to everything this season except for Jersey Boys. If only I could win the lottery to be able to afford everything.

 

[FergieTCat]

People generally have a love/hate relationship with Jekyll & Hyde. Depends what you think of him flipping his head back and forth when he switches between Jekyll and Hyde.

It's OK...if you like horror stories, it's pretty cool. And if you hate it, it's definitely a so-bad-it's-funny show, so you'll still have a good time.

War Horse is supposed to be incredible. The effects work on the horses is amazing. My folks saw it a few months ago and they're still raving about how good it was.

I walked out of Jekyll and Hyde at intermission when it was on Broadway. And that was with the original cast. I just couldn't waste any more time sitting there. For reference, the only other show I've ever ditched was the revivial of Saturday Night Fever many years ago. Truly that bad.

Next show I want to see is End of the Rainbow. My friend is visiting in a few weeks, so I'll probably catch a show with her. I haven't been to a Broadway show since The Book of Mormon last September.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Not Broadway, but off Broadway question. Has anyone seen either Voca People, or The Devil's Music: THe Life and Blues of Bessie Smith? If so, what did you think?

I bought tickets to both, but curious if anyone has seen or heard anything about either one of them.

 

[KYfriedPanda]

OK, any reviews/opinions on "Jekyll and Hyde", with Constanine Maroulis?

It is part of the Season Ticket here, and I will have to get that if I want the entire package.

We are probably going to skip War Horse - we are more into musicals than dramas.

And I can't get DH to go to Rock of Ages (80's music makes him want to throw up) and Jersey Boys (again, he's not into Frankie Valli stuff).

But we do want do see Les Mis, Book of Mormon and Million Dollar Quartet, and I am hoping to substitute Beauty and the Beast for War Horse. But we will have to get Jekyll and Hyde for the season tickets.

I liked Jekyll and Hyde quite a bit, but I'm a big fan of Frank Wildhorn music. I saw it with Hasselhoff (who was NOT good), as well as Sebastian Bach (who was AMAZING).

 

[LBIJim]

I walked out of Jekyll and Hyde at intermission when it was on Broadway. And that was with the original cast. I just couldn't waste any more time sitting there. For reference, the only other show I've ever ditched was the revivial of Saturday Night Fever many years ago. Truly that bad.
.

I didn't walk out of Jekyll and Hyde when I saw it on Broadway about 15 years ago, but I didn't enjoy it either. Can't really recall much about it; I guess for me it was simply forgetable.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Saturday Night Fever when I saw in on tour in Philadelphia.

Jim

 

[Imzadi]

I walked out of Jekyll and Hyde at intermission when it was on Broadway. And that was with the original cast. I just couldn't waste any more time sitting there. For reference, the only other show I've ever ditched was the revivial of Saturday Night Fever many years ago. Truly that bad.

I saw it when it was on Broadway. But, one of my friends was joining as a replacement in the show, so I went to support him. The show was okay. I don't remember much about it. I was concentrating on my friend.