The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[aprilgail]

Well we won the twitter lottery again today for book of Mormon tickets for tomorrow - good thing I don't work anymore and am free to do spur of the moment things now!

 

[elphaba91]

Yep!! . Many a time we've had a good laugh with an actor, mentioning they were watching US in the front row! One said that it gives them a real rush to see an audience member thoroughly enjoying the experience!

My daughter & a friend went to see Finding Neverland in Cambridge because Jeremy Jordan was starring. Her friend got very emotional during the show and a few of the actors told them, "are you ok? We were worried about you crying!! We were talking about it backstage!" Lol

We LOVE the front row and sit there the majority of the time we go to the theatre (which is a lot!). It also really helps my sister who is hearing impaired (as she can lip-read better in the front) and there's often more legroom. We've also had some great experiences sitting in the front, from cast members recognising us to a VERY interesting interaction with Geoffrey Rush during A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, including him lying on our laps and doing something to my mother that is too inappropriate for the Disboards! (For those who know the show, it's the part where Pseudolus drinks the potion). It is nice to see some big shows from further back (e.g. I saw King Kong from the dress circle [mezzanine] the first time to take it all in, and then saw it from the front of the stalls
[orchestra] subsequent times), but the majority of the time the front row is best!

I've had a crazy month of seeing shows. I've seen West Side Story (so-so), Sweeney Todd (amazing), Blood Brothers (brilliant) Nice Work If You Can Get It (hilarious), a cabaret show by one of my favourite theatre performers (hilarious AND brilliant) and, my favourite night of the year, Twisted Broadway (the same as Broadway Backwards - a fundraiser concert for Oz Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights Aids where theatre performers sing songs typically performed by the opposite gender). Then tonight I'm seeing the final Melbourne show of Strictly Ballroom (a new musical by Baz Luhrman based on the movie that I would expect to see on Broadway in the near future!). Phew!

 

[AllisonK]

I recently saw Sister Act at Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine (at the end of May) and the pre-Broadway run of Waitress at American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA.

I saw Sister Act a few times on Broadway as a friend of my family was in the show (she understudied the lead role and I got to see her play it twice on Broadway) and she was given a three-month leave from Beautiful on Broadway to do Sister Act at Ogunquit and somewhere on Long Island as well (Gateway Playhouse, I believe?). My parents and I took a drive up to Ogunquit to see the show (it's only about 2 hours from us) and spent the day in Maine. The show was great and very similar to the Broadway production.

I saw Waitress last week with a friend and we both loved it. It needs a little bit of work but it's in great shape. Sara Bareilles really knows how to write for the theater and Jessie Mueller is giving yet another subtly brilliant performance. We have tickets to see it again next month.

I also have tickets to see Beautiful on tour next month. It opens on Sept. 15 in Providence and I am seeing it on the 18th. I love the show and the music so I am excited to see it again.

 

[BrdwayBoy]

I'm heartbroken to read of the very tragic loss of Kyle Jean-Baptiste who made Broadway history just a few weeks ago by being the youngest, and also the first african-american Jean Valjean on Broadway. He was 21.

Kyle's Bring Him Home:

 

[NJlauren]

I'm heartbroken to read of the very tragic loss of Kyle Jean-Baptiste who made Broadway history just a few weeks ago by being the youngest, and also the first african-american Jean Valjean on Broadway. He was 21.

Kyle's Bring Him Home:

I just saw this too, so devastating.

 

[Kimberle]

I'm heartbroken to read of the very tragic loss of Kyle Jean-Baptiste who made Broadway history just a few weeks ago by being the youngest, and also the first african-american Jean Valjean on Broadway. He was 21.

Kyle's Bring Him Home:

So sad. I read he fell from a fire escape.

 

[JenM]

Brokenhearted over the news about Kyle. I heard he was a wonderful Valjean, and that he was just about to join the cast of The Color Purple.

Here he is performing the Confrontation with Lin-Manuel Miranda at the Hamilton lottery just two weeks ago.

 

[NJlauren]

Saw Anthony Rapp at 54 Below last night and now all I want to do is listen to Rent!

 

[elgerber]

Saw Anthony Rapp at 54 Below last night and now all I want to do is listen to Rent!

oh my goodness, sooooooo jealous!!

 

[JenM]

I saw Spring Awakening last night, and it was incredible. This new version on Broadway is being produced by the Deaf West Theatre, so several of the actors in the show are deaf, and perform their roles with a translator while doing sign language. The actors who can hear also sign while they perform. Plus the cast includes an actress in a wheelchair, which is apparently also a first for a Broadway show.

I loved the original production of the show (I saw it twice), but this was such an amazing experience. Seeing these kids get a chance to perform, and doing it so beautifully, was just incredible.

I had not planned on seeing this last night, but I was trying the Hamilton lottery and found out that SA had a lottery that started a half-hour after Hamilton’s - obviously hoping to catch the spillover, since so many people lose that one, so I checked it out. I’m so glad I did (I won!). I’m even happy I lost the Hamilton lottery last night!

 

[rebeccam31]

I saw Spring Awakening last night, and it was incredible. This new version on Broadway is being produced by the Deaf West Theatre, so several of the actors in the show are deaf, and perform their roles with a translator while doing sign language. The actors who can hear also sign while they perform. Plus the cast includes an actress in a wheelchair, which is apparently also a first for a Broadway show.

I loved the original production of the show (I saw it twice), but this was such an amazing experience. Seeing these kids get a chance to perform, and doing it so beautifully, was just incredible.

I had not planned on seeing this last night, but I was trying the Hamilton lottery and found out that SA had a lottery that started a half-hour after Hamilton’s - obviously hoping to catch the spillover, since so many people lose that one, so I checked it out. I’m so glad I did (I won!). I’m even happy I lost the Hamilton lottery last night!

I have tickets to Spring Awakening in October. I am so happy to read your review! I thought it sounded as though it would be beautiful (and I already love the show), but things like this can sometimes be "gimmicky". I'm glad (and unsurprised) to hear that this is not the case.

I was in New York with my daughter over Labor Day and ended up seeing a dream line-up of shows. We saw Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (right before Alex Sharpe left!), Fun Home, and Hamilton. I'm still reeling from the magic of it all. I bought the tickets to all of this back in May, and I really didn't know just how amazing they would all be.

 

[rebeccam31]

I recently saw Sister Act at Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine (at the end of May) and the pre-Broadway run of Waitress at American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA.

I saw Sister Act a few times on Broadway as a friend of my family was in the show (she understudied the lead role and I got to see her play it twice on Broadway) and she was given a three-month leave from Beautiful on Broadway to do Sister Act at Ogunquit and somewhere on Long Island as well (Gateway Playhouse, I believe?). My parents and I took a drive up to Ogunquit to see the show (it's only about 2 hours from us) and spent the day in Maine. The show was great and very similar to the Broadway production.

I saw Waitress last week with a friend and we both loved it. It needs a little bit of work but it's in great shape. Sara Bareilles really knows how to write for the theater and Jessie Mueller is giving yet another subtly brilliant performance. We have tickets to see it again next month.

I also have tickets to see Beautiful on tour next month. It opens on Sept. 15 in Providence and I am seeing it on the 18th. I love the show and the music so I am excited to see it again.

I am excited about the possibilities of Waitress. I do love Sara Bareilles. I'm glad you see a lot of potential there.

 

[SingingMom]

We saw Kristen Chenoweth in concert Friday evening. What a thrill! Talk about a petite powerhouse!! We loved every minute! I've always enjoyed her and we loved her in On the Twentieth Century, but her live show was fabulous!!

 

[BrdwayBoy]

I finally got around to see A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder on Thursday night. I enjoyed it... but didn't love it. The cast was great - had waited for Bryce to return. Jefferson Mays was fantastic, and I loved Scarlett Strallen but... I fell in love with her as Mary Poppins a few years back.

I'm debating on maybe trying to catch Amazing Grace before it closes next month... I do so love a flop.

 

[crazymama]

I finally got around to see A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder on Thursday night. I enjoyed it... but didn't love it. The cast was great - had waited for Bryce to return. Jefferson Mays was fantastic, and I loved Scarlett Strallen but... I fell in love with her as Mary Poppins a few years back.

I'm debating on maybe trying to catch Amazing Grace before it closes next month... I do so love a flop.

You know... I felt the same way about GGTLAM. I really liked it but didn't love it. JM was fantastic for sure. It didn't thrill me though... that's for sure. Sure wish I could catch Spring Awakening right now. Live a continent away though...

 

[klj27]

I saw Spring Awakening last night, and it was incredible. This new version on Broadway is being produced by the Deaf West Theatre, so several of the actors in the show are deaf, and perform their roles with a translator while doing sign language. The actors who can hear also sign while they perform. Plus the cast includes an actress in a wheelchair, which is apparently also a first for a Broadway show.

I loved the original production of the show (I saw it twice), but this was such an amazing experience. Seeing these kids get a chance to perform, and doing it so beautifully, was just incredible.

I had not planned on seeing this last night, but I was trying the Hamilton lottery and found out that SA had a lottery that started a half-hour after Hamilton’s - obviously hoping to catch the spillover, since so many people lose that one, so I checked it out. I’m so glad I did (I won!). I’m even happy I lost the Hamilton lottery last night!

That's so nice to hear. My cousin's husband is producing this and I have seen a bit about it on their fb pages.

 

[SingingMom]

I finally got around to see A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder on Thursday night. I enjoyed it... but didn't love it. The cast was great - had waited for Bryce to return. Jefferson Mays was fantastic, and I loved Scarlett Strallen but... I fell in love with her as Mary Poppins a few years back.

I'm debating on maybe trying to catch Amazing Grace before it closes next month... I do so love a flop.

Amazing Grace was very moving. I'm sorry to see I think closing. Josh Young is fabulous!

 

[rebeccam31]

I finally got around to see A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder on Thursday night. I enjoyed it... but didn't love it. The cast was great - had waited for Bryce to return. Jefferson Mays was fantastic, and I loved Scarlett Strallen but... I fell in love with her as Mary Poppins a few years back.

I'm debating on maybe trying to catch Amazing Grace before it closes next month... I do so love a flop.

I will see Gentleman's Guide on tour this year (I live near Pittsburgh). I'm looking forward to it, but several of my trusted New York theater friends were pretty unimpressed by it, and one outright hated it. He tends to have pretty strong opinions, though (and, incidentally, he HATED Amazing Grace a whole, whole lot). But I also find that I often agree with him, if not quite as vehemently.

 

[rebeccam31]

Double post.

 

[BrdwayBoy]

Rebeccam31 -

Gentleman's Guide was good... my main issue was the score. VERY wordy, and not very memorable - but it did work in context. The story, staging and the physical production (even the use of the video screen - which i usually hate - didn't bother me) were all first-rate.

And yes, I've not heard ANYTHING good about Amazing Grace from anyone I've spoken to, but I try to see everything I can. I'm a big believer in you've- got-to-see-the-bad-to-appreciate-the-good. Although I've enjoyed/loved some things that did not do well, for example:The Bridges of Madison County.