Ironically, Oklahoma! didn’t have an exclamation point originally either. Per Todd Purdum’s book “Something Wonderful”: “Late one night, Helburn called from Boston to tell the publicity department to say that the decision had been made to add an exclamation point, to make the title Oklahoma! The word had already been reproduced three times on each of the ten thousand press releases that had been prepared for mailing, so they set about inking in thirty thousand ex
Betsy Wolfe at 54 Below Mar 1
2019, 01:00:16 PM
Yeah I think her resume is impressive as is she. I dont think age enters into this and 36 to me is young and I’m sure she’ll have an even longer impressive resume ahead of her.
Sorry if I wasn’t clear. I thought she was an excellent Dream Laurey (as she is a principal dancer from the ballet world.) However, we felt her singing, acting, accent were not strong enough for Broadway. That is different then saying triple threats do not exist. The reviews echoed the same sentiments. It excelled at dance and fell short in the others departments.
I saw this with my mother (or the first half of it at least.) I just remember it being swallowed up at the Gershwin. Too small a show for such a gigantic space. It all seemed really empty. I also do not think the gimmick of having Laurey and Dream Laurey be the same woman paid off. Patrick Wilson was good.
GYPSY Film Happening Feb 6
2019, 10:50:40 PM
I don’t care if they have to dub her singing old school style—a Melissa McCarthy/Amy Sherman Gypsy is giving me everything I never knew I needed!
Overnight bag into a theater? Feb 3
2019, 04:01:33 PM
The theatre where Choir Boy is playing now has lockers (which all theatres should start to do.)
Bad Theater Behavior Feb 3
2019, 11:30:10 AM
It sounds like an aggressive group. I was at the Lyceum in front of a school group in the mezzanine. They weren’t aggressive, but they used the back of my seat and shoulders as a foot rest. I was so grossed out when the bottoms of ther boots kept resting on my hair. I don’t think they were malicious but it was clear the students and their chaperones just did not know how to behave at a theatre. I would wager to say that most groups like these these are experiencing a broadway show for th
Best "Meta" Songs ABout Broadway/Acting Jan 27
2019, 03:12:45 PM
From Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me is A Big Black Lady Stops the Show by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Who would I like to see play MAME? Jan 27
2019, 12:56:33 AM
I really like Sutton as a performer but she seems too...stable for Auntie Mame? If that makes any sense. While she is out of this world talented but I want to feel like the actress playing Auntie Mame is a little quirky and narcissistic in real life.
School Of Rock Closing Performance Jan 23
2019, 11:19:34 AM
I think more eyes were on Broadway that year than any recent year thanks to Hamilton. More people watching the Tonys, etc. I think overall it was good for business all around.
1. Despite cultural stereotypes British musicals tend to be far less sophisticated than American musicals. The best shows in the West End (in terms of musicals) are British productions of American shows.
3. They dont seem to have the same caliber of star performers and history of star performers
Broadway theatre absolutely blows away the West End in almost every aspect. My take on why this happens is because 1.
I think it’s a complex answer but another contributor is in 2013 if a performer missed more than something like 5 or so days of work in a month then their pay would be docked, so you had to “recover” within a certain time in order to keep your full pay. Now they are not allowed to take away some of your wages if you are sick and need more time to recover which would encourage more time off knowing there is no financial penalty.
THE CHER SHOW Reviews Dec 4
2018, 12:27:38 AM
I saw this the other week. I did not hate it at all (also did not love it.) It just made me think, if I were a producer it would make me a little nervous that so much of the show hinges on one (spectacular) performance. What happens when she gets sick, vacations, or it tours? Block’s magnetic performance was (for me) the center focus of the show.
Company London Dec 2
2018, 11:11:40 AM
I have been part of so many productions/pre-productions that Reidel has written about in his column and it’s always confounding how he makes things up or misleads. Sometimes what he says is true but not if it gets in the way of an entertaining column!
Shows that should have made it to Broadway, but never did?? Nov 24
2018, 01:53:24 PM
Roman Holiday, First Wives Club, Tammy Faye Baker Musical w/ Kristen Chenoweth, Soapdish, Romy and Michelle’s HS Reunion, The Sting, Godspell (the first attempt at the revival with Gavin Creel as Jesus), Little House on the Prairie, Nerds, Rebecca, Lone Star Love....
