I'll be flying to New York tomorrow for a mega-theatre trip! (11 musicals and 1 play in 9 days!) will post comments here as when I can. The shows I have booked are:
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
SHUFFLE ALONG
SHE LOVES ME
MY PARIS (in New Haven)
THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
BRIGHT STAR
TUCK EVERLASTING
STRAIGHT
AMERICAN PSYCHO
WAITRESS
CAGNEY
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
First two shows seen. FIDDLER was great overall - stunning set, beautifully directed and choreographed and the performances were solid. I thought Adam Kantor's Motel stole the show.
Enjoyed SHUFFLE ALONG - looked amazing - fantastic choreography! Packed with brilliant performances from one of the most stellar casts I've every seen in one show - Audra MacDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Brandon Victor Dixon, Joshua Henry, Brooks Ashmaskas, Billy Porter & Adrienne Warren all proving their star quality.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
SHE LOVES ME was simply stunning in every way. I have always loved the show - such a beautifully crafted book and a ravishing score (Bock & Harnick's best IMO). And this revival is pretty much perfect - from the eyecatching set to meticulously observe direction and packed with virtuoso performances from each of the principals.
act 2 has possibly the best succession of knock-out solo numbers of any show I can think of - and each one of them was delivered with a show stopping performance (from Nicholas Barasch, Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi, Jane Krakowski and Gavin Creel.)
and last night MY PARIS was more than worth the trek up to New Haven! Another beautiful score (by Charles Aznavour with new English lyrics & musical adaptation by Jason Robrt Brown) and brilliantly staged by Kathleen Marshal. (never saw the infamous West End flop Lautrec, which was this show"s previous incarnation - but this version is a bit special). And Bobby Steggart was fantastic as Lautrec.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
SHE LOVES ME was simply stunning in every way. I have always loved the show - such a beautifully crafted book and a ravishing score (Bock & Harnick's best IMO). And this revival is pretty much perfect - from the eyecatching set to the meticulously observed direction and it's packed with virtuoso performances from each of the principals.
act 2 has possibly the best succession of knock-out solo numbers of any show I can think of - and each one of them was delivered with a show stopping performance (from Nicholas Barasch, Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi, Jane Krakowski and Gavin Creel.)
and last night MY PARIS was more than worth the trek up to New Haven! Another beautiful score (by Charles Aznavour with new English lyrics & musical adaptation by Jason Robert Brown) and brilliantly staged by Kathleen Marshall. (never saw the infamous West End flop Lautrec, which was this show"s previous incarnation - but this version is a bit special). And Bobby Steggert was fantastic as Lautrec.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
DEAR EVAN HANSEN - Inventive, inspirational, funny, touching, heartfelt, heartbreaking, thought provoking - and an awesome Pasek & Paul score! In short - everything a musical should aspire to be and more! And Ben Platt's performance was just phenomenal. This show is the main reason I chose to fly to New York at this time of year - and it even exceeded my high expectations. More than worth flying across the Atlantic to see!
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
I've been eagerly awaiting your thoughts on Dear Evan Hansen and I agree with every word you've written - it was the best thing I saw on my trip last week and I can see it being a huge hit and the Tony front runner next year (especially Ben Platt for his phenomenal performance). And that score - absolutely beautiful!
Some brief thoughts on the last few shows I've seen as time is running away with me here in NYC :
BRIGHT STAR - very strong book and very strong performances all round - Carmen Cusack was seriously fantastic! A pleasant score but blue grass is not really my thing to be honest. But very enjoyable.
TUCK EVERLASTING: charming & delightful, lovely score - book a trifle whimsical for my taste. Again great performances all round, especially Andrew Keenan Bolger and the vocal force of nature that is Carolee Carmello (wish I could have seen and heard more of her though)....
STRAIGHT - brilliantly written and brilliantly performed play - hilariously funny, clever and thought provoking.
AMERICAN PSYCHO - lots of blood, lots of great music, lots of brilliantly funny dialogue , superb scenic design, a fantastic ensemble cast, with Benjamin Walker pretty much perfect as Patrick Bateman. Even for the brief time she spent on stage, Alice Ripley owned the stage (again wish I could have seen and heard more of her).
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
Devonian - have loved pretty much everything (apart from The Robber Bridegroom - but even that was worth seeing just to hear Steve Pasquale's awesome vocals). the food is always fantastic in New York (though not necessarily healthy lol). And incredibly cheap compared to London.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
Have been seriously jetlagged since back in London and also busy seeing shows here, so not had time to post my thoughts on my final shows in New York - but here's a brief reflection:
WAITRESS: absolutely fantastic! Funny, at times moving, with an awesome score. Great performances all round - Jessie Mueller was simply incredible!
CAGNEY - very enjoyable, a pleasant score, some great dancing and Robert Creighton was brilliant in the title role.
now planning my next trip in the Fall........
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
Glad you liked American Psycho. I live in the states and was able to see it twice. Loved it! Very sad it closed so soon. =( I would have seen it at least two more times for sure! Even had the good fortune of meeting Benjamin Walker afterwards and he signed my poster. Was impressed with him.