If you have never seen the director's cut of this film, I highly recommend it. There's a lot of really funny stuff that got edited out of the commercial release -- it's worth tracking down, and I hope some of it finds its way to the stage.
I literally ran to catch the #1 last week at 59th Street, just made it, the doors closed, and who was standing in front of me? Lenny Wolpe, who is a character actor/singer who I saw many times in my favorite show, "The Drowsy Chaperone." He played Feldzig, the producer (get it? Zigfeld scrambled). Always wore a suit. He was in very casual clothes, hot day, and I blurted out, "Aren't you Lenny Wolpe?" I guess loud enough for other straphangers to turn and look --
Interesting question. I was at a show tonight and chatted up the people next to me about the opening of Moulin Rouge (I saw it last week -- LOVED it) and I HATED the movie. Coincidentally, LAST NIGHT this couple watched the film version (which they had never seen) to see if they wanted to get tickets to the musical, but they BOTH hated the movie, and decided against it.
I told them don't let the movie get in the way of their decision. I would tell anyone NOT to watch th
I got in the cancellation line at 7 PM and was assured something would shake loose, and since I was first in line I should not leave. At 7:25 a ticket did shake loose -- H 104 -- as good as it gets. Fifteen minutes later a man sat next to me who bought his in the cancellation line (which is right by street-side box office window to the right of the entrance to the theater). There's a sign that clearly marks where the line starts, and the box office clerk told me to stand where he cou
I saw this show twice -- once in Chicago when it was "Gotta Dance" and then "Halftime" at Paper Mill. I was so happy for Georgia to be the star -- she was adorable as the schoolteacher/secret hip hop fan -- it was just a whole lotta fun, and I had high hopes for the show.
Anyone who remembers the Mary Tyler Moore Show remembers Georgia surprising performance of "Steam Heat" (tried to find it online but it seems to be taken down for copyright reasons
At the end of his life, not many things could bring joy to my long-time love, but "South Pacific" could. I nearly went broke buying tickets for it because it made him so happy.
Sometimes too happy. As anyone who's seen it knows, "Some Enchanted Evening" is one of the first songs that Emile DeBecque sings. This was the Lincoln Center production, with the golden voiced Paulo Szot, who won the Tony for lead actor in a musical.
In the second act, not since The Producers have I heard an audience laugh this loud and long. Some were gasping for breath because they laughed that hard. When Santino tripped and fell it was obvious how much the audience was into the show -- they roared their approval as they watched him quickly improvising to get the comic rhythm back on track -- one of those unexpected moments when you feel just how into the show the crowd is.
I wasn't going to weigh in, but after reading a lot of these comments I thought my point of view might be interesting to you. It seems like almost everyone who's posted here has seen the show more than once -- and some of you have seen it many times. I am not a theater person (came to my first Broadway show at the age of 24), but now I love it and look at every production as a learning experience.
natashalost said: "Just wondering if anyone knows how long Jeff Daniels is contracted for?
I was looking at tickets for my mother and I for April, about 6 months after they start performances, but want to be sure he'll be there, as he's the reason I'm taking her. Thanks in advance!"
He told me he was in for a year. He's takes his work so seriously, has a terrific work ethic..
For fans of Santino Fontana, here's a 15 min film he made 7 years ago, "Newsworthy," https://vimeo.com/46588905 where he plays a cool-head high school teacher opposite Noah Robbins' rambunctious high school sophomore. It was directed by Jeremy Robbins, Noah's brother (the whole family is talented).
I want to love everything. I went with a friend who had a last minute extra ticket and mistakenly told me it was based on the music of The Bangles. I liked them, didn't love them, but still . . .
One thing I will never understand is when a show is given a title you've heard a million times before -- like -- head over heels. When Oprah had her TV show, she had a writer on named Janet Fitch who wrote a book called "White Oleander,"
I saw this, went by myself, sat upstairs. I never connected with it, which I think is because it is small, and quiet, and subtle, slow moving, and at times dimly lit, and whatever magic it conjures up just didn't reach some of us sitting upstairs.
When it was over the woman sitting next to me (we hadn't spoken before this) turned to me and said, "That's IT?" She laughed, pointed out people in the orchestra section giving it a standing ovation, and she said,
JAS said: "With the current, contentious production of CAROUSEL probably frozen by now, I can’t help thinking that this thoughtful, insightful article by Ethan Mordden should’ve been required reading for the current creative team:
Someone mentioned here how rude it is to leave during the curtain call. Dame Edna had a solution for that.
As she is taking her bows inevitably a few Type A personalities are rushing up the aisle to beat the crowd. Suddenly the music stops, the house lights go out and a spotlight is focussed on one of them scurrying up the aisle, who suddenly freezes.
"Oh, too bad you are leaving," Dame Edna would sigh. "You were going to win the car."
I saw it, too, and loved it. There's just a few more performances this week, with just a handful of tickets available at the York Theater. Contact them immediately if you want to see it.
I was in the next to last row of the balcony, against the wall -- not a great seat -- but I loved the performance and watched what looked like the entire balcony and orchestra section leap out of their seats at curtain, wildly cheering, so many many people loved what they saw. It wasn't a perfect performance, but there were many highlights (I think Alex G's solo in the first act was thrilling). Yes, Renee was a bit hesitant at the start, but by the end her gorgeous voice fl
JB's song, "Come Monday" on the cast album, last night wasn't in the show. Too bad -- it's one of his best. I was up in the balcony, next to last row, and though there may have been rumors that upstairs is where the partying is, there was none that I saw. Though there were a bunch of empty seats.
I never saw so many actors work so hard at trying to look like they were having "fun." Every trick in the book was used -- actors on wires -- f
