Spiderman Disaster contd.

wellllll GOOD THING i checked good 'ol BWW before I turned in for the night!!

So now there's been a 20 foot fall from an actor, ambulances called. apparently he seems to be OK, thank god...but it sounds like the worst was assumed there for at least a few minutes. i think this is truly where the tides are beginning to turn against the great monster at last. More and more it is becoming harder to defend the necessity of this show. It's true that other shows, like Little Mermaid, one of my favorite b'way guilty pleasures, had injuries like this one. but the difference is, i believe, is the little mermaid accident was more of a freak accident. it happened, unfortunately, the guy sued disney, and that was pretty much it. This, so far, is starting to seem a bit habitual. Obviously i'm looking in from the outside, but that is certainly the growing feeling. It will be interesting to see the massive backlash to come in the morning. Obviously the message boards are BLOWING UP with many fascinating opinions on the issue, as usual. I gotta hand it to those theatre message boarders, most of them are quite eloquent and intelligent. We are certainly in for some interesting conversations the next few days....

ill add more two cents when more info becomes available. its late.

Mad Men the Musical

not much to say today...i haven't felt too hot the past two days. ive done basically nothing but lay in bed watching Mad Men. Hardly Broadway related, but the more and more i watch Mad Men, the more I really am reminded of Promises, Promises...which is good since the revival has marketed themselves as Mad Men the musical. I love both so much, so I appreciate their parallels :) I can't help but think that this song would be Don Draper's theme song....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2ZvoFPYORQ

I am terrible. I really am. Or rather, I am terrible at this. But I'm now done with my semester and excuses are over. Its winter break now, and I am committing to writing every day, no matter how little the post. maybe a lyric, or a musing, or a full out rant on something, i dont know, but its going to happen. Maybe then I will develop the habit.

So lets begin...

Let me start by weighing in my two-cents about the hottest topic on broadway this year...yes that's right, Spiderman. Now, let me first say that I support anything that brings people into theatres. I believe its a travesty that broadway is undervalued as much as it is in today's pop culture. Shows like Glee are helping to change that, thank god, but lets be real, that's going to go out of fashion sooner or later due to its gross overexposure, and then what? So of course producers and the wizards behind broadway seek out subject matter that is familiar to the masses. It is a trend that has been sparked by the successes of shows like Wicked and Lion King that has sparked adaptations of Legally Blonde, Shrek, and Green Day's American Idiot to name a few. Does this degrade broadway? I personally don't always think so. Wicked is my absolute favorite, I loved Legally Blonde, I do think some things are improved by adding a little singing and dancing. However, I do wish that there was more magic on broadway with shows like Next to Normal, ingenious, innovative, inspiring, and electrifying are all words that immediately spring to mind when I think back to that show. Most importantly, it was something that had never been done before. But there lies the risk. Would you want to put your money down on something that you don't know if people will respond to, or something that people already love? That is the million dollar question of broadway today, I suppose.

So of course, a comic book hero that little boys everywhere have known and loved for years, which already turned into wildly popular movie trilogy (which, I might add only 1/3 was a good movie) would be just right to turn into a musical, right? Mmmmmmmm maybe not? I already stated that I do not necessarily mind the use of popular movies/books/etc as source material for new broadway shows, but, I will be honest, the news of a Spiderman musical got a nice big eye-roll from yours truly. I'm sorry, I just thought it was a ridiculous idea, and I still do. It would be nice to be proven wrong. I thought bipolar depression was a poor subject for a musical and Next to Normal is the most beautiful piece of theatre I have ever seen. But I will remain skeptical. Turns out, the decision to create a musical about a comic book character was just the first of countless questionable decisions when it comes to this particular theatrical venture. I could go into all of them specifically, but I don't want to write a book, (which I am quite certain a book about all of the Spiderman Drama WILL happen one day)

So cut to however long its been to more news breaking today that the opening is delayed once again. After a struggle through previews with technical stops, injured actors, and critical backlash, I guess the powers that be felt it necessary. I guess it is nice that they will hopefully fixing all that is wrong, but what I wonder is, is it even fixable? From what I have read over at my favorite bedtime reading-the BroadwayWorld.com message boards, there isn't much to be celebrated. Over and over I have read "flying is cool, book is confusing/nonexistant/terrible, songs are whatever, and that the second act is awful" Apparently there's some song about shoes, which I really never would have guessed in a comic book musical but, whatever! But here is my main issue. I know theatre is a long, arduous, and delicate process. It takes a long time to get things right. But with 65 million dollars and probably counting, and what seems like too many delays to recall, at what point is that no longer an excuse? I just really think it is time to say, enough is enough. Rumors had been mentioned that the latest opening date was the bottom line for Marvel, but with today's news, obviously that isn't the case. I really think that, and I am sure/hope will be the case, the new February projected opening date is the last chance. One last chance at tweaking and that is it. Its time to face the music. From the sounds of it, you made a terrible show, you cant run from it forever. Either put it on or pull the plug. I do understand that with 65 mil on the line, there is immense pressure to make it perfect. I get that. I don't want to see this thing fail. Ok, a part of me does, just because I think the idea of it being Spiderman is so stupid. but that is the devil on my shoulder. the angel on my shoulder wants it to be a success to get people to the theatre. Because the truth is, if people enjoy Spiderman, there will be a handful of kids who discover that Broadway is a magical place, and the future shows like Next to Normal will stand a chance. So, for me, its a win win. If Spiderman fails, I get the satisfaction that my initial skepticism was right, for whatever thats worth, and if it flies, well then I will be happy that Broadway is thriving.

Thoughts?

Next to Normal and a very important lesson.

Wow. I’m so ashamed of the long period of time I didn’t keep up with this blog. I really wanted to stick with it regularly, but I started working full time and completely got caught up in life. But I’m back I promise. My oh my so much has happened on Broadway since the last time I put my fingers to the keyboard. The highs and lows of awards season, openings, closings, I have missed out on sharing so many thoughts. So what has awakened me from my blogging slumber? Well for one, guilt lol, and the fact that this weekend I was lucky enough to go up to The Great White Way and see Next to Normal.
When I heard, a while ago, about a new musical which tackled the issue of bipolar depression, I, like many, was skeptical. I am very much used to the idea that musicals are a fun happy medium where heroes and heroines burst into triumphant ecstatic songs that make you leave the theatre with an 1000 watt smile. Musicals that deviate too much from that idea are usually not so much my cup of tea. For instance, I enjoyed Spring Awakening, but it definitely isn’t my favorite. I’m not a big Rent fan either. That being said, I respect both work highly, they just aren’t my favorites. These were two musicals that Next to Normal were being compared to early on, so, as I said, I remained skeptical.
As discussed in an earlier post about my favorite actors on broadway, I have a deep love for (read: obsession with) Kyle Dean Massey. So when he took over the role of Gabe, I was mildly intrigued. Then he started rolling out his video blogs for broadway.com, and slowly I began to open my eyes. The melodies that played in the opening of the blog and on the advertisements for the show started getting stuck in my head, soon thereafter I got a hold of the soundtrack and began to listen. I took all of the minute and a half that “Everything Else” lasts for me to begin to completely fall in love with the beautiful music. I remember being shocked that n2n managed to beat Elton John and Dolly Parton for Best Score during the 2009 Tonys. I had thought that Sir Elton had that one in the bag. It was no longer a mystery how such a little show managed to overthrow the big production of Billy Elliot/Elton John.
From there the love grew and grew until I knew I absolutely HAD to see the show and this weekend I was finally able to run away, for a much needed one day vacation to see it.
Let me start by saying that the new cast is absolutely beautiful. I, like almost everyone it seems, was tentative to see a new face in the role that Alice Ripley had embodied masterfully. I was sad that she departed before I could see her live , but I had already “seen” her, unofficially, through means that only the most ardent theatre fans know of. ;) So at the same time I felt extremely fortunate to also see someone new and fresh. (and of course I will be seeing Alice when she comes to the KenCen next summer, so best of both worlds). Marin Mazzie’s take on Diana is much more subtle than Alice manic/neurotic/hilarious portrayal. But it worked well. She was very anguished and you could tell she was very torn between her family and her son, and you could feel her soul being tortured. Vocally she was fantastic, though she needs just a little bit more time to settle into the role, but that is to be expected. Her chemistry with Jason Daniely, was terrific, as expected since they are not only married on stage, but in real life as well.
Jason was brilliant as Dan. His vocals were absolutely spectacular from beginning to end. I also thought that he added a little more dimension to Dan. He showed Dan as a man very much in love with his wife, but very much angry at her illness/visions of Gabe. He was a broken man who was constantly at battle with the two feelings. He was marvelous.
Natalie is by far my favorite role in the show, and definitely up there as one of my dream roles if I miraculously grew some vocal chords overnight. I love her sardonic humor, her sassy line deliveries, and the heart and vulnerability she tries so hard to hide. Jenn Damiano played her wonderfully and this was the role I was mostly afraid would be at all changed with the cast change. I had heard from several people that Meghann Fahy chose to play the role more innocently than Jenn, and that had made me nervous. What those reviewers had said were true, but Meghann Fahy certainly made sure to keep that sharp sarcastic sass that makes me love Natalie so much. In addition to that she, at the same time, made Natalie much more vulnerable than Jenn did, which I loved. Loved. Loved. Im still trying to decide but I think I may have also like Meghanns vocals more than Jenn’s but its very close, they are both spectacular.
Kyle Dean Massey, what can I say, lived up to my already very high expectations. He was dashing, devilish, and his cool presence as Gabe made it completely understandable why Diana would be devoted to and persuaded by his spirit. His voice is SO good. He has that clear quality that just makes me want to hear him sing forever. His rendition of I’m Alive was probably my favorite part of the show due to the combination of his power, talent, and the exciting lights and electricity that emanated from the stage.
Adam and Louis were terrific as usual in their roles of Henry and Dr. Fine/Madden. Though, in the very beginning Adam seemed worn out. But he perked up just in time for “Perfect for You” and was terrific for the duration of the show. Overall, the show was even more amazing that I thought it would be. Wicked will always be my favorite, but this show comes very very close and is the most beautiful piece of theatre I have had the privilege of viewing.
I want to take a moment to apologize to Tom Kitt, Brian Yorkey, the musical theatre gods and anyone else for ever doubting such a beautiful show. Next to Normal has taught me a very important lesson to never underestimate the power of musical theatre. <3

Top 10 shows

hmm still don't have much in mind to say, which I'm sure will change come the Tony's in two weeks...so I will continue with my rankings... this time I will rank my all time favorite shows (or at least attempt to.) So anyway, as of right this moment, here are my Top 10 Favorite shows...enjoy!

Honorable Mentions- Chicago, The Pajama Game, Spring Awakening, The Producers

10. Hairspray-

The one that started it all. My first broadway show just over 3 years ago. Great music, great story. Hairspray is one of the all-around quintessential musicals that is always great no matter the time and place. It will be interesting to see how many years pass before it is revived.

9. Hair-

Hair makes the list because I really didn't know how much I would enjoy it when I recently won the lottery. I had never really gotten into the whole hippie thing, but I did enjoy much of the music, and 'Hair' the title song, was one of my favorites. So, I figured, why not, I have yet to find a broadway show I didn't like. (OK, that is a bold faced lie, I HATE CATS and Avenue Q, but we will save those rants for a rainy day) Well, needless to say, I LOVED IT. What a classic. The music was fantastic, the show was constantly entertaining, even though I didn't think it had much of a plot, I still found myself loving all the characters. I would love to go see it again now that I know what to expect.

8. Spamalot-

not much to say about Spamalot other than the songs are ridiculously catchy and the entire show is HILARIOUS. It is impossible not to have a great time at this show. simple as that.

7. 9 to 5-

omg nothing makes me sadder than the fact that this show is considered a 'flop'. My honest opinion is that it simply fell victim to a phenomenal season of broadway. Last summer, over 10 shows were grossing over $1 million, lots of them long-runners and 9to5 couldnt get enough word of mouth going to attract a wide enough audience. Its a pity. I was lucky enough to get up there soon after the closing announcement came. It had all the right things a musical should have. Great Characters, humor, emotion, and a great score. I hope Dolly isn't too discouraged because she did an excellent job writing those songs. Also, the cast was amazing. I can't wait to see the tour, but it will be hard to fill the shoes of Megan Hilty, Allison Janney, Marc Kudisch, and especially Stephanie J. Block...but we shall see! :)

6. Promises, Promises-

read my review a couple of posts ago. Just a great show featuring great people. Sean Hayes, Katie Finneran, and Kristin Chenoweth made it a special night in theatre.

5. Thoroughly Modern Millie and Legally Blonde are tied.

Thoroughly Modern Millie- my own personal fairy tale. Girl moves to the big city looking for a nice rich man to marry, finds true love instead with a poor man, and in the end he turns out to be rich! Girls always dream of finding a nice wealthy man, don't judge me. Again, the music is excellent, and the story is truly touching. I really love the dynamic between Millie and Jimmy throughout the show too, I think that is very important, which brings me to...

Legally Blonde- based off of one of my favorite movies, I was very skeptical of this show being able to do justice to the movie. Turns out, they made it even better! I love the character development of Emmett and his relationship with Elle. This was made even more prominent with the palpable chemistry between Christian Borle and Laura Bell Bundy. They were really able to sell that relationship. Its really a no brainer since they started dating in real life. Plus, my friends call me Elle Woods anyway, so its natural that I would worship this show and all its pink and glitter.

4. The Little Mermaid-

my favorite movie as a child turned into a real-life experience. who could argue? as a matter of fact, the show was larger than life. when the curtain rose to reveal the huge ship in act one, I was so moved. I LOVED the mermaid costumes, even though many would disagree. I thought they really worked. All of the songs are classic disney masterpieces, and the ones they added are just as magical as the original.

3. Next to Normal-

This show goes right for the heart. What a moving piece of the theatre. I am so glad that it won the pullitzer. Not saying I called it or anything, but when I saw that the committee was picking the award for drama the next day on playbill.com, I read the article to see if perhaps N2N had been nominated. I was disappointed to see that it wasnt. The next day, guess who won. :) People have complained, but if you don't cry at this show, you have no soul. Its that powerful. So I believe it deserves such high honor. And even though I was rooting for 9to5 at the time of the Tonys last year, now I completely agree with their best score award. The cast recording is beautiful. I dont think I have ever fallen in love with a song as fast as I fell in love with "Everything Else" or "Superboy and the Invisible Girl" or "Light"

2. A Chorus Line- another classic. It has just the right balance of humor and emotion. The dancing is amazing and iconic. I would kill to play Val. Dance 10 Looks 3 is definitely one of my favorite songs of all time. I love all the ups and downs of the show and the end, when the dancers are hired, is so tense almost as if you were up on that stage with them. Even though its not in the top spot, I do think it is the most brilliantly crafted piece of musical theatre. Brava, Michael Bennett.

and now the top spot....

1. WICKED duh. great characters, great story, great costumes, great set, beautiful score. I could watch it everyday and never get tired of it. Thank Goodness is probably my favorite song. period. followed very closely by every other song in the show. I could go on all day...It will always be the show all others pale in comparison. pure magic. There is nothing I wouldnt do to play Galinda one day.

my top 5 performers

So I don't really have much in mind to talk about so, being inspired by @BroadwaySpotted's recent polls and list compilations on twitter, I have been compelled to list my top 5 performers on the Broadway stage...

5. Gavin Creel

What isn't there to say about Gavin. He has an absolutely gorgeous voice no matter what role he plays. He has starred in two of my favorite shows, Hair and TMMillie, and his acting is just as inspiring as his singing. I think anyone would be hard pressed NOT to fall for Gavin's sweet, sexy, and dashing portrayal of Jimmy in a show which I refer to as my own personal fairy tale. But it is Gavin's hard work off stage that really makes me admire him in addition to his talents on stage. Gavin's grassroots campaign, BroadwayImpact, is what really got my attention and got me interested in the issue of marriage equality. I really began to pay attention when he and his cast mates of Hair left New York to participate in the National Equality March. Seeing the stars of Broadway align for that one cause really got me interested in doing what I can to support LGBT issues. I think that discrimination based on sexual orientation is senseless, ignorant, and just plain hateful, and I thank you, Gavin, for helping me find a cause I am truly passionate about.

4. Kyle Dean Massey

Ok, first of all, Kyle Dean Massey is extremely good looking. He gets automatic bonus points for that. Secondly, he is hilarious on his Broadway.com Next to Normal Vlogs. More points for humor. I first discovered Kyle Dean in a performance of Wicked. He was understudying for the role of Fiyero and I thought he was (HOT and) FANTASTIC. I wish he had gotten to play the role fulltime, but he departed Wicked a couple times to play the role of Gabe in Next to Normal, and inevitably left to play the role full-time when Aaron Tveit left to focus on Catch Me if You Can. Aaron Tveit is a wonderful performer, I love watching him in whatever he does, he is the epitome of a professional. I LOVE him as Gabe in Next to Normal. So I was very intrigued to hear Kyle Dean Massey in comparison. I really didn't think that KDM would be able to surpass Tveit's excellent performance. I apologize, Kyle Dean, for ever doubting you. I can honestly say I prefer KDM to Aaron, and I know that thousands of fans would disagree, but hey its my opinion. I think Kyle Dean has one of the most gorgeous voices on broadway. Recently on his twitter, he talked about doing Disney's The Newsies reading. I hope to GOD he continues with that and is cast as Jack Kelly. I will die of joy, that is one of my favorite movies of all time.

3. Stephanie J. Block

OMGSJB. Her voice is incredible. seriously. I saw her in 9 to 5 and I am still in awe about how she can sing so powerfully and emotionally and show little to no effort. Its magical. "Get Out and Stay Out" was one of those goose bump numbers. It is definitely one of my top theatre moment experiences in life. And she knocks everything she does out of the park. Elphaba-amazing. Judy Bernly- excellent. Her own CD- beautiful. I also discovered a video on youtube of her singing Part of Your World from the Little Mermaid, which is my favorite of all time since the age of 5, pure magic is all I can say. Go find it, it really is spectacular.

2. Annaleigh Ashford

I just really love Annaleigh becuase she is hilarious in anything she does. I was so happy I finally got to see her live when I went to see Hair a couple of weeks ago. Granted, Jeanie isn't as funny of a role as say, Galinda, but it was sufficient. I would kill to see her as Galinda, I think she is by far the best Galinda in acting the role. And that isn't taking away from her vocals either (though admittedly, she isn't as talented a soprano as say, KCheno, but hey who is?) Annaleigh's performance of Thank Goodness is one of the most passionate performances I have ever seen and is one of the reasons that it is one of my all time favorite songs. She is so young, and so talented, I think she has a great career ahead of her and I can't wait to see what she does next. I am also glad that she got cut from that Cirque du Soleil crap because from what I hear it is a colossal mess, and I'm glad she was spared. She is just a joy to watch and clearly enjoys every minute of what she is doing :) more people should try and be like her.

1. Kristin Chenoweth

haha. shocking I know. I don't know what else there is to say, after my practical love letter I wrote about her in my "Promises" review in my last post. I will just say that she is one of the most talented singers I have ever had the pleasure to hear. PROOF: go youtube "Defying Gravity at the Tony's" and listen to her harmonize "I hope you're happy in the end" so gorgeous. And she really is one of the most authentic and warm and wonderful people. Her book is a great read, I highly suggest it. Meeting her at the Promises, Promises stage door is definitely one of the highlights of my theatre infused life. I couldn't get much out, because I was pretty much star-struck (something that does not happen often for me) but when I finally summoned up a "thank you SO MUCH Kristin, I absolutely adore you" after she signed the picture of her as Glinda for my Wicked themed room, she touched my hand, looked me right in the eye and said "Thank you so much" I can't tell you how much that really meant to me. It sounds stupid and pathetic, I know, I sound like just another fangirl. But I really have so much respect for her and I look up to her....or really, down to! she is SO tiny. but I hope I manage to be a warm and kind soul like her every day. ......

Summertime and "Promises" Review!

Ok, now that it is summer, I am finding myself with an abundance of time so maybe I can update this thing more regularly...who knows.

But anyway, I saw Promises, Promises last week and I thought it would be nice if I did my own review...

Um two words...HI-LARIOUS. seriously. Sean Hayes had a wonderful comedic presence and was absolutely adorable. The NYTimes critic (critic should be read as: d-bag) said something along the lines of him not being able to pull off a strong romantic masculine lead blah blah blah he seemed more like a loving brother. Well first off, that review was obviously written by A MAN. Romantic leads don't always have to be Mr. Macho thank you very much. The "brotherly" quality Sean Hayes projected made you root for him. He was the sweet meek and mild guy you root for as the big guys push him around!

On to Kristin Chenoweth...*DISCLAIMER* I am IN LOVE with this woman, so it is hard for me to be objective, but I shall try. I will start by admitting that I would have preferred to see her in the fun comedic roles she is so genius at playing, especially since it was the first time I was seeing her live. I think this is where the phrase "miscast" is being thrown around. But let me say that I don't think it is possible for Kristin to be miscast. She knocks any role out of the park, this show being no exception. I think the word people are looking for is "disappointing" maybe? Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed her performance and thought she did a fantastic job. She maintained a very healthy balance of being depressed without coming off as whiny. I ached for her and sympathized with her character deeply. I think everyone knows how it feels to be blindly optimistic about a relationship, but at the same time you know in the back of your head it is never going to work out. Kristin portrays that inner conflict wonderfully. Vocally, she is a goddess. While waiting for her at the stage door, this wonderfully kind man summed it up perfectly. "Those songs didn't have much to them, but man, did she make them her own!" It is true, her songs were not the surging numbers like we are used to from her (i.e. Popular, Glitter and Be Gay) but she proved, she is the master at taking any song and mastering it's orchestrations to make it as melodious as humanly possible. It was also interesting to hear her sing predominantly in her lower register. (Although, I, unlike many, would have been DELIGHTED to hear her pull out a signature Cheno note, but alas there is a time and a place.) All in all, I thought she was wonderful, and her chemistry with both Sean Hayes and Tony Goldwyn was perfect. I also thought Tony Goldwyn's performance was great. He was just enough of an ass without being over the top.

But the absolute best part of the show was Katie Finneran. Oh my goodness. I don't even know how to put into words the comedic genius that this woman possesses. Her performance lasts for only two scenes, but I promise, you will be laughing hysterically through both scenes, and you will be talking about her walking out of the theatre. Her drunken witty banter with Sean Hayes never ceases hilarity, and their dance break had me in tears. I wish she wasn't up against Angela Lansbury for the Tony, or she would be a lock for sure. I'm sure Angela is superb per usual in ALNM, but I will be pulling hard for Katie.

As for the rest of the show, I have no complaints. Rob Ashford's choreography was excellent per usual. I was initially disappointed as many were when I heard that "Turkey Lurkey Time" wasn't the original choreography. I am a huge Michael Bennett fan. But in hindsight after watching an old youtube clip and seeing the new version live, I am glad they made the change. The original choreography, to me, was obviously crafted to suit the strengths and style of Donna McKechnie. Her dance style is so unique that I don't think it would suit other types of dancers well. The new choreography is just as exhilarating. Being in college and having seen many a drunken party, I thought the dance number portrayed the escapades of a drunken group spot on haha! Overall it was quite fun, and I absolutely LOVED the transition to that scene! Also LOVED the barrel rolls in the basketball number, very impressive.

Overall I give the show a B+. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to go back and see it again and again! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys musical comedy. It is a fluffy piece, but who ever said fluff was a bad thing! :) Brought it down from an A because in a few numbers the dancers didn't quite seem perfect at all times during a couple numbers. But they did just open about a week and a half prior, so I'm sure they will improve with time! Also, I have high standards when it comes to the dancing. However, Sean Hayes should be enough to get you to want to see this show. He is a master at his craft! If he isn't enough, then Katie Finneran added in should seal the deal! Plus, watching the incredible KCheno do her thing was absolutely inspiring and entertaining in itself. She is the epitome of a seasoned pro.

and now this is back to sounding like a love letter. But that is all. Yay! My first review is complete. It is very rambly, and for that I apologize.