What, no love for SIDE SHOW? Though I loved the original leads, I thought they did a great job in focusing on a more factually concise script in the revival/ revisal. A pity that a show that received positive reviews flopped twice.
We sat in the first row center orchestra the last time we saw PHANTOM and loved the show from that view. There's quite a distance from the first row to the actual stage so you don't have to worry about being too close. The only thing is you have to look over your shoulder when the chandelier drops however by the time that happens your attention is already drawn to it so it really doesn't matter. I highly recommend row A.
As a young child, I would always ask for theatre tickets to a Broadway show for my birthday and Christmas presents. I wasn't Damien but the week before the show I would always say extra prayers that my grandparents' health would hold up so their funerals wouldn't interfere with attending the show. However, since I've matured, I ceremoniously do what Sondeimite does. I enter the theatre in an altered state and hope for the best.
For try outs, The National Theatre in Washington D.C. as well as the Kennedy Center are pretty popular places to see shows. I was able to see the last performance of MEAN GIRLS at The National and will be doing the same later this year with BEETLEJUICE. And GIGI played the Kennedy Center before it transferred to NY. I regretted LITTLE DANCER didn't go any further yet I noticed it's playing in Los Angeles this coming March.
I've only seen a performer lose their voice twice during a performance. Once was Patti Lupone's last performance in Los Angeles prior to Broadway. By "A New Argentina" she couldn't shout out the lyrics much less sing them. She was replaced for the second act.
But the most interesting evening I had was seeing Barbara Harris in THE APPLE TREE. I enjoyed her performance so much that I returned a second time however it was evident she was in vocal distress from the st
I loved her two Miranda mermaid movies as a kid. There was a NY TV station that use to show them on afternoon television a lot. She was especially attractive in "Mad About Men."
I missed MAME but saw her in CHICAGO and FOLLIES. She was a true triple threat and always lit up the stage. Her dancing as Phyllis was the best I've seen. And as Roxie, Prowse had a great Velma in a very young Bebe Neuwirth. I regret I never saw her in IRMA LA DOUCE. She was wonderful in every thing she did.
Curious here. Has Ariana Grande ever taken Patti LuPone's Master Class in Enunciation? When I watch her perform on TV, I always have to turn on the close captioning feature. She makes Patti sound like Professor Higgins.
Back in her EVITA days I saw at least four different actresses play the title role in the pre-Broadway run in Los Angeles. LuPone by far was the best Eva and got more out of the role than anyone else. Why? Because she had no problem being understood and found more humor in her line readings than anyone else. I'm not sure if she got lazy in her enunciation over the years but at one time she was spot on.
Roland von Berlin wrote: "Sue Me, from Guys and Dolls. It was originally sung by Isbel Bigley, who could sing, and Sam Levene, who couldn't. It was carefully written not to expose him much."
It was Vivian Blaine as Adelaide who sang it with Levene's Nathan Detroit as their big Act II duet. My favorite recording of SUE ME is the revival cast with Faith Prince and Nathan Lane. However Lane fully sings it and brought the house down each night with Prince
It's no longer available on CD at Arkivmusic where I purchased my copy years ago. However CD Universe offers it as a MP3 download for $9.99. You can also hear a sampling of the tracks.
I always enjoyed Jack Cassidy's rendition of "My Fortune Is My Face" from FADE OUT- FADE IN. And though truly funny and overdramatic its lyricists gave it a satirical spin clearly depicting the expiration date of an aging matinee idol.
Certainly no prude here but hoping no one lists "Paris Makes Me Horny " from VICTOR/VICTORIA. Going by the song's title and listening to the original cast recording one might think it was hilarious on stage but trust me.
Ah, the old Williams and Williams duo! Better than Michele and Rumor. Seriously, I'm thrilled about this news. Just hope they keep it truthful. I think it could be a very bittersweet love story. I never recall either one throwing shade on the other unless I'm mistaken. IIRC, they never divorced.