Brendon Urie in KINKY BOOTS - Reports

[thealtoslament]

Brendon Urie, frontman of Panic! at the Disco, begins his run as Charlie Price in Kinky Boots tomorrow night, May 26! I am excited to hear some reports and thought we should have a separate thread. If I'm breaking any rules or infringing on anyone else, let me know. 

[GreasedLightning]

I know they are selling a limited edition t-shirt but if anyone can report back on any other merch they are selling I would greatly appreciate it... specifically windowcards.. 

[thealtoslament]

Tonight's the night! I am also curious to hear about what kind of merch is up. 

[sonyaisgood]

Any reports of the performance? The show let out half an hour ago and the photos I've seen of the stagedoor crowd are insane... 

[10086Sundays]

Not a performance review, but an audience one: this tweet which gets bonus points for the GHD reference.

[BroadwayRox3588]

I dread the amount of elitism that is going to come with this run.

[Mr. Nowack]

BroadwayRox3588 said: "I dread the amount of elitism that is going to come with this run."

Not sure what you mean by this??

[RippedMan]

I'm totes going in July. Hopefully he has a good track record. 

[10086Sundays]

Mr. Nowack said: "BroadwayRox3588 said: "I dread the amount of elitism that is going to come with this run."

Not sure what you mean by this??"

Yeah, I mean, I don't think it's elitism to be frustrated by people screaming out at random times like they're at a rock concert, which is what I took that to mean. And honestly, I posted it in jest.  I've never heard any of his music or would even recognize his face, the tweet came up while searching for GHD.

Now, if people are cheering at appropriate times, just doing it very loudly/enthusiastically, complaining about it isn't elitism, it's just being a grouch.

[BroadwayRox3588]

10086Sundays said: "Mr. Nowack said: "BroadwayRox3588 said: "I dread the amount of elitism that is going to come with this run."

Not sure what you mean by this??"

Yeah, I mean, I don't think it's elitism to be frustrated by people screaming out at random times like they're at a rock concert, which is what I took that to mean. And honestly, I posted it in jest.  I've never heard any of his music or would even recognize his face, the tweet came up while searching for GHD.

Now, if people are cheering at appropriate times, just doing it very loudly/enthusiastically, complaining about it isn't elitism, it's just being a grouch.

 

"

To be clear, I did not have a problem with your post at all. I, too, found the GHD reference quite amusing (especially considering that is probably my favorite line in the show).

[imeldasturn]

My friend went and told me that Urie's acting was lovely but the audience behaved like beasts

[thealtoslament]

I mean honestly, considering how rabid the P!ATD fandom is (as in, Brendon and his wife Sarah had to sell their house and move because their address leaked online and fans started turning up at their door) I'm surprised no one was trampled and seriously injured at the stage door. 

[GreasedLightning]

BroadwayRox3588 said: "I dread the amount of elitism that is going to come with this run.

 

"

Oh, PLEASE! 

If you're looking for elitists look no further than the Music Box theater. 

[ACL2006]

there's been rumors that the theater is selling SRO for $99!! Anyone have concrete info on this?

[LxGstv]

ACL2006 said: "there's been rumors that the theater is selling SRO for $99!! Anyone have concrete info on this?

 

"

Doubt it, it's currently listed at TKTS, 40% off...

Tomorrow's matinee at 30% off...

[ACL2006]

I believe that was for last night's show, which was sold out.

[ACL2006]

Also, tonight's show seems close to sold out. Wonder if they'll sell SRO and what they're charging.

[loveinnewyorkcity]

Haven't seen him yet myself but a friend saw him last night and raved. He said Brendon brought a lot of energy to the role. Hoping I can make my way to midtown during his run.

The stage door, however, was apparently a mob scene. 

 

[thealtoslament]

loveinnewyorkcity said: "Haven't seen him yet myself but a friend saw him last night and raved. He said Brendon brought a lot of energy to the role. Hoping I can make my way to midtown during his run.

The stage door, however, was apparently a mob scene. 

 

 

"

Glad your friend enjoyed it! The more and more I think about it, this is a really good role for him if he's trying to transition into musical theater (or just trying it out), and from interviews he seems so grateful for the opportunity and excited to be there. 

[bdn223]

I honestly think Urie will be a suprizingly successful stunt casting, alla Fran Dresher in Cinderella.

Also I honestly wonder what motivated a summer stunt casting for Kinky Boots, considering we know its nut is somewhere in the $600k range and even in winter it seems to be eeking above it. Even Chicago normally holds off on stunt casting from late spring to early summer, unless they have a TV personality filling in while their on Hiatus. 

[Clyde15]

bdn223 said: "I honestly think Urie will be a suprizingly successful stunt casting, alla Fran Dresher in Cinderella.

Also I honestly wonder what motivated a summer stunt casting for Kinky Boots, considering we know its nut is somewhere in the $600k range and even in winter it seems to be eeking above it. Even Chicago normally holds off on stunt casting from late spring to early summer, unless they have a TV personality filling in while their on Hiatus. 

 

"

Obviously I don't know for sure, but from interviews and people close to Urie it sounds as if Panic! At the Disco will have new music coming out in the fall or early winter. It would be impossible to be in a Broadway show promoting that along with promoting a new single or whole album. I'm sure this fit in best with his schedule. And if the rumors are true at Kinky Boots is closing in January then I'm sure they want to make as much money as they possibly can before then. Might as well stunt cast it all the way up to closing and go out with a bang.

[ACL2006]

Well, it's not like the show was grossing $800k+. It's probably in it's final year and they'll take whatever they can get from any stunt casting at anytime?.

[wicked4l]

I saw the matinee this afternoon, Standing Room for $30. NOT $99. Brendon Urie is fantastic and his INCREDIBLE voice really fits the score. He is also having A LOT of fun onstage. Go!

[Babe_Williams]

thealtoslament said: "I mean honestly, considering how rabid the P!ATD fandom is (as in, Brendon and his wife Sarah had to sell their house and move because their address leaked online and fans started turning up at their door) I'm surprised no one was trampled and seriously injured at the stage door. 

 

"

This makes me feel old. I had no idea that Panic had such a devoted following. I thought they were yesterday's news. 

[thealtoslament]

Babe_Williams said: "thealtoslament said: "I mean honestly, considering how rabid the P!ATD fandom is (as in, Brendon and his wife Sarah had to sell their house and move because their address leaked online and fans started turning up at their door) I'm surprised no one was trampled and seriously injured at the stage door. 

 

"

This makes me feel old. I had no idea that Panic had such a devoted following. I thought they were yesterday's news. 

 

"

They're definitely less of a big deal than they were ten years ago but the fandom is absolutely insane. A shame, because I definitely think they are a good band. I'm in my early twenties, so I remember the mid-2000s emo fever and P!ATD was my favorite of the contingent that was big at the time (them, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, etc.) I consider them kind of a guilty-pleasure band but I still do actively listen to and enjoy their music-- the early albums hold up very well for what they are, and their latest album is excellent IMO.

All of that being said, I avoid the fan base like the plague. So much infighting and elitism and people with superiority complexes. Most of them are teenagers and a few early-twenties women with Tumblr accounts learning about obsession.

[loveinnewyorkcity]

Okay. I splurged today and bought premium seats for the matinee and WOW. Brendon really brought such a fun, youthful vibe to the show. His vocals were incredible, I just wish he was able to show off his falsetto. The songs didn't highlight his vocal range as much as a hoped they would. One of the only shows I've been to wanting a character to have more songs. His acting was also very good for someone who has never done live theater/acting before, besides in his music videos I suppose.

I saw this show weeks after its initial opening and can definitely say the current cast is by far superior to the OBC. The actor playing Lola....FANTASTIC. There was so much energy in the performance, way more than during the days of the OBC. 

As for the Panic! At the Disco fans....

Most of them seemed to behave. The screaming and clapping during Brendon's entrance and after his songs didn't bother me since it's a typical occurrence with a star in a leading role. 

One thing I have to say impressed me about the 'fandom' was their supportiveness of the ENTIRE CAST. I remember seeing Nick Jonas and Darren Criss in H2$ a few years back and was put-off by the negative attitudes toward the rest of the cast during the performance, curtain call, and stage door. Thunderous applause after a J. Pierrepont number but just a few lingering claps after Rosemary's songs. Jealously maybe? Anyway, during Kinky Boots, which had to be 90% Panic! At the Disco fans today, there were equal cheers after each number and an immediate standing ovation. The audience in general also seemed way more engaged with the performance today than in past performances I've seen. I thought the 'fandom' also brought a great energy to such a fun show. The cast really seemed to feed off of that.

I was very impressed.