Shuffle Along previews

[batchels]

I disliked the show as well.  It is down to 2:55, but I think the book was the major problem for me, some great dance numbers, but collectively I could not wait for it to end.  Hope they can do some significant rework during the off week as there is too much wasted talent here.

[Jish]

The added April 1st performance is no longer showing up on Telecharge for me - any ideas why?

[bunnie3]

   Tomorrow s Sunday New York Times magazine section largely devoted to this show!

[ACL2006]

Jish said: "The added April 1st performance is no longer showing up on Telecharge for me - any ideas why?

 

"

I noticed this, too. Maybe since four performances(previews) were cancelled, they're only using the April 1 performance as a day for people to exchange their tickets only.

[laughingplace]

I feel like an idiot to buying tickets to this show . Why did we buy tix

[bunnie3]

There IS a an April 1 perf.  

[theatreguy12]

If Savion doesn't get a Tony for the choreography in this show there's something wrong in the cosmos. It was truly amazing. And the performances were spot on! Audra is typically inspiring and commands the stage when she makes her entrances. Great show!

[Hellob]

I liked it but didn't love it. I was expecting way worse. The second act could big time condense the whole falling out. 

IMO, the star of the show was Savion Glover. No actor stood out & I forgot about Brian being in it after he disappeared for a bit. Lol

Overall, I feel like it was a generic Jelly's Last Jam/Will Rogers Follies

[bunnie3]

I loved the suitcase number.

[StageStruckLad]

I am SO glad we got to see the show with Audra last night. I thought she was magnificent, and her "Memories of You" was phenomenal. Possible spoilers:

 

The first act is just about perfect, but despite some killer numbers in the second act, that act isn't as interesting. I didn't get whatever point Wolfe was making about Porter and Stokes having to wear blackface. I wish Stokes had more to do, although the show is already long enough. I thought Porter's passionate blues number in the second act was a bit overdone, but the audience sure loved it. Glover deserves the Tony for his choreography. 

[Smaxie]

>I didn't get whatever point Wolfe was making about Porter and Stokes having to wear blackface.<

F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles performed in blackface for their vaudeville act and did the same when they performed in the original Shuffle Along. Black performers in blackface is a strange fact of our history, but it was the only way white audiences were comfortable watching black actors on stage. I recall from seeing Shuffle early on that Porter's Aubrey Lyles makes a reference in Act 2 to no longer wanting to "paint a face upon my face."  The point seems pretty clear. It may have been what audiences wanted or expected of black performers, but not all African American performers did it without conscience.  

[Scarywarhol]

I found Stokes' blackface reprise of "Shuffle Along" in Act 2 to be the dramatic highlight of the evening. (Assuming it's still there.) Devastating. 

[wewdie]

Do we know if the new Playbill artwork is permanent?  Is it something they are only doing for previews?

Does anyone have an original artwork Playbill they are willing to part with?  PM to discuss more.

-Eddie

[QueenAlice]

The fact that they eliminated the song list, makes me think they don't want to have to re-print a new Playbill to reflect a production that is ever-changing. Good for the show itself, but I imagine they will be sticking with that new design for a while.  

[bunnie3]

Song list pgs, and cast pgs CAN be inserted mid month into playbills, but costs. $$!

[dramamama611]

Saw this last night.  Entire cast in, Audra sounded damn good for someone that's been so ill!

 

Is the Music Box THE most uncomfortable house on Broadway?  I had two ordinary sized people on either side of me, and they were both encroaching on my "space".  And I don't think either were leaning in.  It is just too damn small.

 

As to the show itself....I was not won over.   I didn't connect with characters nor the story they were telling. And that's the big problem for me: TELLING.  The musical numbers were FABULOUS, I do love me some tap dancing!  It felt way to much like a documentary.   The ending also hit me oddly.....it felt rather incomplete..

 

Now, I'm pretty sad that I saw it this weekend before it went on hiatus.....as I think some major changes might be made that could turn this into something.  But I highly doubt that I'll give this a second try.

[Peter2]

There are always a few people here who, like me, are kind of obsessed with the orchestrations. Daryl Waters has done some good work on other shows. How do the arrangements sound here?

[StageStruckLad]

Peter2, I thought they sounded great. If you enjoyed his work on "After Midnight," I think you'll enjoy what he did for this show. I think it's a 15-piece orchestra. 

[bwayphreak234]

"Now, I'm pretty sad that I saw it this weekend before it went on hiatus.....as I think some major changes might be made that could turn this into something.  But I highly doubt that I'll give this a second try."

I felt the same way after seeing the show at the second preview, Dramamama... I don't see myself paying a return to visit to this even after they rework it during the hiatus.

[Peter2]

Thanks, StageStruckLad. I loved "After Midnight"--for me, even if the show is a miss dramatically (it sounds that way right now), I'll want to hear it just for the numbers. 

 

One always hopes a show will be a big hit, but this is one that, even if it isn't, I hope they'll find a way to record. Eubie Blake, Audra McDonald and the rest of the cast--how could one not want to have that in your music library?

[dramamama611]

And there was a sound issue last night.  Billy Porter's mic cut out mid sentence about 3/4 of the way through Act I, it was better in Act II but inconsistent.  

 

I was surprised to see how few people of color were in the audience last night as I expected the experience to be more similar to what I experienced when I saw the Color Purple (original run) where I was in the minority.  On the other hand, how exciting to be on 45th street and see so many shows that were fabulous opportunities for POC on B'way:  Shuffle Along, The Color Purple, Eclipsed, and even On Your Feet (well, its between 45th and 46th!)

 

Some things DO get better!

[christinelavin]

dramamama611 said: "And there was a sound issue last night.  Billy Porter's mic cut out mid sentence about 3/4 of the way through Act I, it was better in Act II but inconsistent.  

 

I was surprised to see how few people of color were in the audience last night as I expected the experience to be more similar to what I experienced when I saw the Color Purple (original run) where I was in the minority.  On the other hand, how exciting to be on 45th street and see so many shows that were fabulous opportunities for POC on B'way:  Shuffle Along, The Color Purple, Eclipsed, and even On Your Feet (well, its between 45th and 46th!)

 

Some things DO get better!

 

I just saw "The Color Purple" and also expected it would be a mostly African American audience, but it wasn't.  The show is fantastic -- Cynthia Erivo is electrifying -- she got a standing O midway through the second act.   The entire cast is inspiring, as is the cast of "Shuffle Along" and "Eclipsed" and I was thinking that there will be a good number of black actors nominated for Tonys this year.  I hope the Oscars take note.  

 

[neonlightsxo]

StageStruckLad, I have to agree with you that act 1 was superior to act 2.

My main concern is that there is too much of Brooks Ashmanskas in the second act. He does not need two musical numbers. The audience was very restless during the second one which seemingly went on forever. (FWIW, I loved Billy Porter's number and didn't think it was overdone at all.)

Yes, the amount of sound issues on Saturday night was bizarre. All of the lead's mics were muted at the wrong times more than once. It was the sound quality that one would expect at a first or second preview, but nonetheless, Billy Porter was a champ and as soon as he realized his mic was out, he just used his projection and we heard him in the mezz. Mic was seemingly replaced for act 2.

Overall, it was much better than I was expecting from the word of mouth from friends who saw earlier previews. It ran about 3 hours exactly, so there is still cutting to be done.

[jacobsnchz14]

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SHUFFLE-ALONG-Will-Offer-40-Ticket-for-41-Performance-20160328

After Shuffle Along's previously announced hiatus, beginning today, March 28, performances will resume on Friday, April 1 with a special opportunity for fans. According to Deadline, the production will offer $40 tickets for the Friday performance, and proceeds will benefit the Actors' Fund.

Cast member and Actors' Fund Board of Directors Chairman Brian Stokes Mitchell told Deadline: "Scott Rudin came up with the idea of dedicating a preview of Shuffle Along to the Actors Fund. Our fans will now have the opportunity to buy a low-priced ticket to Friday night's performance and contribute to this great organization as well. It's a real win-win for everyone."

The entire house, according to Telecharge, is priced at $40/ticket.

[PalJoey]

I don't want to see this until they've got it as good as it will get. Should I grab 2 $40 tickets for Friday or wait a bit longer?

[Kad]

$40 is too good of a deal to pass up. I picked up a center orchestra seat.