The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[perditax]

New to the thread! I've seen a lot of "Broadway South" touring productions at nice theaters in my metro, including one of Topol's last performances of Fiddler on the farewell tour in 2009. Also Wicked, Chicago, Les Mis (sorry wow, that one was not for me ... I wanted to run for the hills by the intermission), others I'm probably forgetting.

But the one that actually got me to Broadway proper was ... you guessed it, Hamilton. At first I was turned off by the hype, and while I've enjoyed those touring shows I was never a true Broadway nerd.

But then I listened to the soundtrack.

It took about three more weeks for me to decide to buy plane tickets and show tickets (via StubHub, of course). And even now I still can't get it out of my head. Definitely life-changing. It's interesting how it managed to reach in and hook so many different people across so many demographics. I don't care much for American history (prefer European, particularly the soap opera of the Tudor century), and I don't care much for rap. And pop-culture juggernauts surrounded by heavy hype often leave me cold. (Sigh, Star Wars/Harry Potter.) How did I still fall head over heels for this thing?

Also here's this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hamilton-drunk-history_us_5835dcdbe4b09b6055ffed86

 

[AdamEfimoff]

I really love Spring Awakening. I just saw it for the 4th (and final) time on Sunday. Three of those times I sat on stage. I just love the music.

I also love Les Miz, Ragtime, Sound of Music, Rent and Scarlett Pimpernel.

I still need to see Wicked and Mama Mia, hopefully someday soon.

did you see John Groff?

 

[AdamEfimoff]

I'm sorry you felt it was lacking. I love everything about this production. Maybe I'm biased because Bartlett Sher is my favorite director and Danny Burstein is my favorite actor. Judy Kuhn (Golde) is 58, but I agree that she looks younger. She was also the singing voice of Pocahontas, btw. I'm about to see the show for the fourth time and I'll miss it when it closes at the end of the year.

I missed Judy in Fun Home. Fun Home was run of the best musicals I saw. I have not seen the show but was glad I saw Color Purple

 

[BrdwayBoy]

We saw Fiddler on the Roof this w/end. This is one of my all time fav musicals. I saw it the last time it was on B/way, about 5-6 years ago.

This version was not my fav. Nothing really "bad", just lots of little things. Tevia was great. He could really sing. The actress who played Golda was just to young.

The dance numbers were good, not great, and often not quite in sync. The whole show played very low to the stage. It didn't utilize it's height. The costumes were ok, again not great. Some things not quite "period" correct. When in crowd scenes, the main characters "blended". Good costumes should make them "stand out".

The program scene just didn't work.

They also tried to inject "humor" where it didn't belong. For instance, the very last scene where they are packing and preparing to leave. They had the youngest girls jump up and down and scream "we're going on a boat and train", then Golda hushed them.

It kind of felt like a "good college" show. Not quite B/way caliber. I don't think it was the cast, rather they tried to put on the show as cheaply as they could. And it shows.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the show more. I saw it back in February and absolutely loved it. I'm going back on Tuesday night just to see Judy Kuhn - I'm a huge fan and was so excited when I heard she was taking over as Golde. The first time I saw the show, I saw the understudy for Golde (Jessica Vosk - who is now Elphaba on tour), and she also read pretty young but I didn't have an issue with it. Her voice was gorgeous.

I caught oth bLes Liaisons Dangereuses and Wicked (again) on black Friday . I had a great time at WICKED, but was a little underwhelmed by Les Liaisons... I usually love Janet McTeer, but she just didn't do it for me this time.

 

[wilkeliza]

So came to update. I've now seen Great Comet twice. This is totally one of those take it or leave it types of shows but I loved it. Josh Groban is amazing and the rest of the cast is fantastic. It is very avant-garde and all over the place with style but it is a fun night of theater, especially if you get to be apart of the audience experience portions. I wish I would have seen it back when it was still dinner theater.

I also saw Dear Evan Hansen and for all the hype it fell flat. The music was okay but the overall story is awful and some of the casting is bad. Evan's mom being the most off choice. Ben Platt was great and a few songs were memorable but overall I didn't enjoy the show.

 

[MinnieMouse84]

I missed Judy in Fun Home. Fun Home was run of the best musicals I saw. I have not seen the show but was glad I saw Color Purple

Fun Home was phenomenal!

 

[MinnieMouse84]

I saw just saw three shows:

Fiddler on the Roof - My 4th time seeing it. I was disappointed that Judy Kuhn was out, but her understudy Jill Abromovitz was very good. Danny Burstein owned it as always.
Sweet Charity - I didn't love the production, but Sutton Foster's performance more than made up for it.
Falsettos - Incredible. I can't stop thinking about it. I've been a fan of Stephanie J. Block for a long time and I'd seen her in three other shows, but this was the first time she disappeared into a role. I'm so impressed.

 

[rebeccam31]

I saw just saw three shows:

Fiddler on the Roof - My 4th time seeing it. I was disappointed that Judy Kuhn was out, but her understudy Jill Abromovitz was very good. Danny Burstein owned it as always.
Sweet Charity - I didn't love the production, but Sutton Foster's performance more than made up for it.
Falsettos - Incredible. I can't stop thinking about it. I've been a fan of Stephanie J. Block for a long time and I'd seen her in three other shows, but this was the first time she disappeared into a role. I'm so impressed.

We see Falsettos on Saturday (along with Dear Evan Hansen). I'm pretty excited!

 

[DawnM]

Hamilton is coming to our town next year, during the 2017-2018 season. The website says that in order to ensure getting tickets, it would be best to order season tickets.

We just don't have the time to go to that many shows.

I am hoping I can get 2 tickets. One for my middle son and one for me.

They aren't on sale yet, so I guess we will see.

 

[perditax]

Hamilton is coming to our town next year, during the 2017-2018 season. The website says that in order to ensure getting tickets, it would be best to order season tickets.

We just don't have the time to go to that many shows.

I am hoping I can get 2 tickets. One for my middle son and one for me.

They aren't on sale yet, so I guess we will see.

I think I know where you live (not to be creepy!) or else many regional theaters are doing the exact same thing with the touring production. The problem for me is the theater in question is two hours away; for some reason we're not getting it in my metro, or not for the foreseeable future. I can't buy season tickets for a theater I'd never get to. I may take my chances with trying to nab some when the time comes.

 

[DawnM]

I think I know where you live (not to be creepy!) or else many regional theaters are doing the exact same thing with the touring production. The problem for me is the theater in question is two hours away; for some reason we're not getting it in my metro, or not for the foreseeable future. I can't buy season tickets for a theater I'd never get to. I may take my chances with trying to nab some when the time comes.

Yeah, I wouldn't either. I live here and I can't do it!

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Saw Falsettos the other night! SO good- touching- seems timely. I recommend it.

 

[BrdwayBoy]

I saw just saw three shows:

Fiddler on the Roof - My 4th time seeing it. I was disappointed that Judy Kuhn was out, but her understudy Jill Abromovitz was very good. Danny Burstein owned it as always.
Sweet Charity - I didn't love the production, but Sutton Foster's performance more than made up for it.
Falsettos - Incredible. I can't stop thinking about it. I've been a fan of Stephanie J. Block for a long time and I'd seen her in three other shows, but this was the first time she disappeared into a role. I'm so impressed.

Im just curious as to when you saw the show? I saw it on Tuesday the 29th and Judy was out. I wonder if we were at the same performance? I thought Jill Abramovitz was wonderful and I also preferred Jeffrey Schecter to Adam Kantor as Motel. I'm debating on trying to catch the show again just to see Judy. :-/

Is anyone listening to the Hamilton Mixtape? I'm loving it!

 

[MinnieMouse84]

Im just curious as to when you saw the show? I saw it on Tuesday the 29th and Judy was out. I wonder if we were at the same performance? I thought Jill Abramovitz was wonderful and I also preferred Jeffrey Schecter to Adam Kantor as Motel. I'm debating on trying to catch the show again just to see Judy. :-/

Yes, that's when I saw it. I liked Jeffrey Schecter too.

 

[xjillianpaige]

I saw Hamilton last night and they had an audience member donate 20k to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS! Josh Groban is in the theater next door and is going to match the donation if Rory O'Malley takes a picture (dressed as King George) kneeling in front of Groban (dressed as his character in his show)

Very cool to see this exchange last night! The cast was going wild with excitement.

 

[crazymama]

Hamilton is coming to our town next year, during the 2017-2018 season. The website says that in order to ensure getting tickets, it would be best to order season tickets.

We just don't have the time to go to that many shows.

I am hoping I can get 2 tickets. One for my middle son and one for me.

They aren't on sale yet, so I guess we will see.

That's exactly our situation. We hope to see it in Seattle but cannot justify season tickets just to secure seats. We live in British Columbia and it's a long drive to Seattle. I would love to see all the Broadway Across America series but it just isn't practical. Sooo.... we shall hope for the best!

 

[elgerber]

We saw Curious Incident this weekend. Wow, what an amazing show. I didn't know a ton about the story going in but I was blown away!

 

[rebeccam31]

We saw Curious Incident this weekend. Wow, what an amazing show. I didn't know a ton about the story going in but I was blown away!

I saw it in New York (with Alex Sharpe!) and then bought tickets to take 16 teenagers when it comes here on tour! SO good!

 

[Snap Crackle Pop]

I absolutely love broadway shows and these are the ones I have seen:
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Drowsy Chaperone
Chicago
Book of Mormon
Phantom of the opera
The Color Purple
Wicked
Rent
Kinky Boots
School of Rock
Matilda
Avenue Q (off broadway)
Mamma Mia
Something Rotten

 

[elgerber]

They just made the official announcement (even though our season announcement isn't until Jan 23rd) we are getting Hamilton in the 2018-2019 season.
Suddenly being a season ticket holder is going to make me the most popular person around!