The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[rebeccam31]

Gentleman's Guide is no longer playing. Beautiful is, and I've heard good things about Jessie Mueller's replacement. I haven't seen Waitress yet (as it's only been open for 2 previews so far) but I will be going ASAP! It looks fantastic.

I'm personally planning to see both She Loves Me and Bright Star at some point. Disaster has gotten poor reviews, but if you enjoy Seth Rudetsky and campy things, you might enjoy it. You seem to enjoy more "classic" musicals: this current revival of Fiddler on the Roof is really good!

Did you see the Fiddler revival? We're seeing it in May. I'm taking two 14 year old girls who have somehow never seen it (even a high school production somewhere). I'm excited because I love the show.

 

[rebeccam31]

We just spent 2 nights in NYC. We got tickets (while sitting in the train station in Providence) for Bright Star....loved it. My dd just did a Steve Martin adaptation of The Underpants for her senior acting thesis, so we decided to go with Bright Star since she had such a great time doing The Underpants. We would see it again!
The second night we couldn't decide. We waited until 4:15...just in case we won the Hamilton lottery. We didn't....so sad. So we headed to the TKTS booths. Decided to chose between Fun Home and She Loves Me. The better seats were available for Fun Home...that's what we went with. I liked it, but found it to be depressing. Dd loved it..would see it again.
We saw Something Rotten in December.....it was terrific. I could see that 4 more times!!!

I'm seeing Bright Star in two weeks--glad to hear you really liked it! I loved Fun Home when I saw it last year, but my daughter ADORED it--to the point that she couldn't decide if she liked it or Hamilton better. I had no such issues. Hamilton all the way. But I still really was touched by Fun Home.

 

[rebeccam31]

Got my copy of the original cast recording of American Psycho in the mail today!!! Woot woot! Bring on the the synthesizer and drum machines!

I probably won't see this (I almost always travel with teenagers), but I'm fascinated with the things I'm reading about it during the preview process. I don't know if I would actually like it, but I think it's awesome that people are doing fresh, edgy things on Broadway, and I hear the staging is pretty phenomenal.

 

[rebeccam31]

Ahh.. Newsies..... Where do I begin?!?!.......

We have season subscriptions to the Paper Mill Playhouse, where Newsies premiered. After watching the film, we were about to give away our tickets! Did not enjoy the movie at all. Even warned DH that he wasn't going to enjoy this one... After the first number, he turned to DD & I and said "Are you crazy?? This is great!" Such began our Newsies journey....

We saw it on Broadway over 6 times - DD saw it on Broadway 9 times I think.... We became life long fans of Jeremy Jordan, and through that have met a number of theatre performers and friends. We even helped one of Jeremy's friends with the release of his first album!

You will LOVE the energy and excitement of Newsies. The music and dancing really gets under your skin!

I have read over and over again that the people who got to see Jeremy Jordan in Finding Neverland seem to have liked the show so much better than people seem to with Matthew Morrison. I hope to see him in something one day.

 

[rebeccam31]

We were in the city this past weekend, and we saw Hamilton (have seen it before but we took my daughter's boyfriend who hadn't) and Dear Evan Hansen. I was pretty impressed by Dear Evan Hansen. It stars Ben Platt who played the Benji role in Pitch Perfect. He puts on a really impressive performance. The actress playing his mother (Rachel Bay Jones who was Catherine in Pippin) is also a standout. I liked the songs enough that I will seek out the cast recording should they release one. I've heard rumblings about it transferring to Broadway, and I think it could do well there as long as it moves into a small house. It's a pretty intimate show. I highly recommend it to anyone who is around during it's limited run.

My girlfriend and I are headed to New York again on the 22nd. We'll be seeing Robber Bridegroom, Bright Star, Shuffle Along, Eclipsed, and Avenue Q. Then I'm taking her daughter and my daughter in May, and we'll see Fiddler, Waitress, and Tuck Everlasting. I'm trying to pack the shows in before the Tonys.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

We were in the city this past weekend, and we saw Hamilton (have seen it before but we took my daughter's boyfriend who hadn't) and Dear Evan Hansen. I was pretty impressed by Dear Evan Hansen. It stars Ben Platt who played the Benji role in Pitch Perfect. He puts on a really impressive performance. The actress playing his mother (Rachel Bay Jones who was Catherine in Pippin) is also a standout. I liked the songs enough that I will seek out the cast recording should they release one. I've heard rumblings about it transferring to Broadway, and I think it could do well there as long as it moves into a small house. It's a pretty intimate show. I highly recommend it to anyone who is around during it's limited run.

My girlfriend and I are headed to New York again on the 22nd. We'll be seeing Robber Bridegroom, Bright Star, Shuffle Along, Eclipsed, and Avenue Q. Then I'm taking her daughter and my daughter in May, and we'll see Fiddler, Waitress, and Tuck Everlasting. I'm trying to pack the shows in before the Tonys.

Sounds perfect I need to see Shuffle Along, Waitress, and Bright Star before the Tonys as well.

 

[SingingMom]

I have read over and over again that the people who got to see Jeremy Jordan in Finding Neverland seem to have liked the show so much better than people seem to with Matthew Morrison. I hope to see him in something one day.

My daughter flew to Boston to see Jeremy in Finding Neverland. He was MUCH better for the part, but Harvey wanted Morrison's "name". @@
Jeremy is very dear to our hearts. It was a darn shame that Bonnie & Clyde didn't get the attention it deserved. We make sure we see everything he does. ;-)

 

[superme80]

We were in the city this past weekend, and we saw Hamilton (have seen it before but we took my daughter's boyfriend who hadn't) and Dear Evan Hansen. I was pretty impressed by Dear Evan Hansen. It stars Ben Platt who played the Benji role in Pitch Perfect. He puts on a really impressive performance. The actress playing his mother (Rachel Bay Jones who was Catherine in Pippin) is also a standout. I liked the songs enough that I will seek out the cast recording should they release one. I've heard rumblings about it transferring to Broadway, and I think it could do well there as long as it moves into a small house. It's a pretty intimate show. I highly recommend it to anyone who is around during it's limited run.

My girlfriend and I are headed to New York again on the 22nd. We'll be seeing Robber Bridegroom, Bright Star, Shuffle Along, Eclipsed, and Avenue Q. Then I'm taking her daughter and my daughter in May, and we'll see Fiddler, Waitress, and Tuck Everlasting. I'm trying to pack the shows in before the Tonys.

Oh man I LOVE Robber Bridegroom. The music is amazing!!!!

 

[rebeccam31]

Oh man I LOVE Robber Bridegroom. The music is amazing!!!!

So pleased to hear this! I just think the whole thing looks like so much fun. The banjo player is a friend of ours; my daughter was in a summer stock theater production with him the summer of 2014. He's been doing this thing with some of the guys in the show's band where once a week they do bluegrass covers of current broadway songs. It's pretty great. Check it out if you want--just search YouTube for the Playbillies. It brightens my Saturdays.

 

[superme80]

So pleased to hear this! I just think the whole thing looks like so much fun. The banjo player is a friend of ours; my daughter was in a summer stock theater production with him the summer of 2014. He's been doing this thing with some of the guys in the show's band where once a week they do bluegrass covers of current broadway songs. It's pretty great. Check it out if you want--just search YouTube for the Playbillies. It brightens my Saturdays.

I will! Thank you!

 

[crazymama]

I probably won't see this (I almost always travel with teenagers), but I'm fascinated with the things I'm reading about it during the preview process. I don't know if I would actually like it, but I think it's awesome that people are doing fresh, edgy things on Broadway, and I hear the staging is pretty phenomenal.

I love the cast recording now but it took a couple of listen thru's to hook me. Does take me back to the 80's when I was young and carefree lol. Of course I never hooked up with serial killer then...

 

[wilkeliza]

Finally saw something new to report!

Two weeks ago we say On Your Feet. I personally hated it. The performers were great but the book is terrible. Also it felt like something you would watch a on mid-level cruise ship.

Last Friday we saw Tuck Everlasting. I thought it was great. Just be forewarned of the ballet ending. My fiance loved that and said it was one of his favorite parts but I thought they could have ended it right before that or done it the ending some other way. That's my personal preference though. I didn't think it made the show any worse or better I just didn't care for it. Andrew Keenan-Bolger is amazing. I can't believe he still reads right as a 17 year old though. I think he himself has taken a sip from the stream. Micheal Park is great. Also the 11 year old lead Sarah Charles Lewis definitely deserves high praise. At 11 she is doing a phenomenal job and might even be a contender for a Tony nom. Not sure if she can win it yet but she definitely deserves the nom. I didn't believe she was only 11 when we read her bio. Tuck Everlasting really is a great family show where the kids stay entertained but the parents also are enjoying themselves as well. The whole cast really does a great job and the set is so cool. It may not be the best piece of theater ever made but it is a great night of theater that has something for everyone.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

She Loves Me is TERRIFIC! We really enjoyed it! Poor Laura Benanti had bronchitis, but you'd never know it by her performance. Jane Krakowski was a great. But, I am now totally in love with Zachary Levi! lol He was such a hoot at the stage door. We had such a great laugh with him. He smoldered for DD and she was in heaven! Great photo op! The show is such a happy piece. We LOVED it!

Pulitzer Prize

 

[JavaDuck]

Hamilton please please please come to the Pacific Northwest!

We are season ticket holders for the Broadway series at the Paramount Theater here in Seattle. We received an email earlier this month announcing that Hamilton will be part of the 2017-18 season.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Hamilton just won the Pulitzer an amazing achievement

 

[BrdwayBoy]

Last Friday we saw Tuck Everlasting. I thought it was great. Just be forewarned of the ballet ending. My fiance loved that and said it was one of his favorite parts but I thought they could have ended it right before that or done it the ending some other way. That's my personal preference though. I didn't think it made the show any worse or better I just didn't care for it. Andrew Keenan-Bolger is amazing. I can't believe he still reads right as a 17 year old though. I think he himself has taken a sip from the stream. Micheal Park is great. Also the 11 year old lead Sarah Charles Lewis definitely deserves high praise. At 11 she is doing a phenomenal job and might even be a contender for a Tony nom. Not sure if she can win it yet but she definitely deserves the nom. I didn't believe she was only 11 when we read her bio. Tuck Everlasting really is a great family show where the kids stay entertained but the parents also are enjoying themselves as well. The whole cast really does a great job and the set is so cool. It may not be the best piece of theater ever made but it is a great night of theater that has something for everyone.

Just got back from seeing this tonight. I liked the show - and would recommend it, but it's nothing I have to rush back and see again. I think it's a great choice for families and for people who aren't too "adventurous" in their taste in theatre. I thought the score was OK and served it's purpose, but nothing memorable. Cast was great and the set & lighting are absolutely first rate. Despite my issues with the show I was still moved by the ending and it seemed quite a few people around me were as well.

Next week: SHUFFLE ALONG!

 

[wilkeliza]

Just got back from seeing this tonight. I liked the show - and would recommend it, but it's nothing I have to rush back and see again. I think it's a great choice for families and for people who aren't too "adventurous" in their taste in theatre. I thought the score was OK and served it's purpose, but nothing memorable. Cast was great and the set & lighting are absolutely first rate. Despite my issues with the show I was still moved by the ending and it seemed quite a few people around me were as well.

Next week: SHUFFLE ALONG!

I'll admit I may have given it more praise than I usually would because I had seen On Your Feet only days prior. I think we are kind of on the same page, I wouldn't turn down a ticket if one gave me on for free but I'm not rushing out to see it. Would make a great show to take my niece and nephew to this summer (if it survives that long) since they have already seen most of the family friendly stuff.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Just wondering what are the family friendly shows?

 

[rebeccam31]

Just got back from seeing this tonight. I liked the show - and would recommend it, but it's nothing I have to rush back and see again. I think it's a great choice for families and for people who aren't too "adventurous" in their taste in theatre. I thought the score was OK and served it's purpose, but nothing memorable. Cast was great and the set & lighting are absolutely first rate. Despite my issues with the show I was still moved by the ending and it seemed quite a few people around me were as well.

Next week: SHUFFLE ALONG!

Yeah, that's what I've been seeing. I'm taking a dreamy teenage girl to see it, and I think she'll love it but I'm sort of wishing I'd chosen to take them to She Loves Me... I do love any chance to see Terrance Mann do ANYTHING, though.

I'm seeing Shuffle Along on Saturday! I'm so excited.

 

[rebeccam31]

Just wondering what are the family friendly shows?

Hmmmm. Matilda (which is closing in January), Aladdin, The King and I (but not for very young kids--there are intense moments and it is long), Wicked, The Lion King, Tuck Everlasting, Finding Neverland, and I believe School of Rock. I've seen most but not all of these. (Edited to add: Most likely Fiddler as well, though it too is long and it's kind of depressing. I love it, though.)