News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Profile for illiniparkie

illiniparkie Profile Photo
Member Name: illiniparkie
Contact User: You must be logged in to contact BWW members.


Most Recent Message Board Posts:


View Off Topic Posts

Stephen Sondheim Dead at 91  Nov 27 2021, 01:52:42 AM

My condolences to Mr. Sondheim’s family, friends and colleagues.  The theater world lost a giant.  But his words and music will continue to challenge and give pleasure to audiences and performers for generations to come.  Thank you, sir, for a life well lived.


I am looking for songs for 4 boys. Any ideas?  Aug 13 2019, 11:33:42 PM
“Little Tin Box” from Fiorello
“Someone in a Tree” from Pacific Overtures
“Everybody Ought to Have a Maid” from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”

Six heading to Broadway  Aug 4 2019, 02:07:21 AM
Saw this tonight with the family. I liked it a lot. The ladies are very talented and the choreography, lighting and costumes were outstanding. The music is catchy and the lyrics are smart, poignant and funny. The audience ate it up (it seemed there are some Six groupies out there who have seen the show multiple times based on the crowd’s response). I was surprised how relevant and touching it was having gone to the show cold, just knowing the basic concept from reading the comments in this
...JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE Discussion Thread  Apr 1 2018, 10:34:08 PM
That was pretty terrific. Great staging and concept. Leaps and bounds better than the other musicals recently done on TV. And very brave for John Legend to take this on. He acquitted himself very well.
Cast housing on tours  Jun 25 2017, 11:11:59 PM

So I am wondering how housing works for casts and crews that travel in shows on tour.  Does everyone stay at hotels or apartments?  Do the producers pay and arrange for housing or do cast members pay out-of-pocket and make their own arrangements?  Are meals covered?  Are the arrangements the same for a sit-down production that runs for months (such as the production of Hamilton in Chicago)?  So "stars" get special accommodations?  Do fami


THE OFFICIAL 2017 TONY AWARDS VIEWING THREAD  Jun 12 2017, 01:24:05 AM

Kevin Spacey was a lot of fun.  I had forgotten about his spot-on Johnny Carson impersonation.

I thought the way the best plays were presented was original and a splendid way to give recognition to the playwrights.

The Rockettes?  I felt I had accidentally turned on a Christmas show.

Bette's speech was hilarious.  A bit long, but so what?  She played off the orchestra!  Priceless!

I was personally predicting a Best Musical for Come from


Rank the Tony performances  Jun 12 2017, 12:06:40 AM

1.  Come from Away

2.  Groundhog Day

3.  Miss Saigon

4.  Bandstand 

5.  Dear Evan Hansen

6.  The Great Comet

7.  Hello, Dolly

8.  War Paint

9.  Falsettos 


Aladdin tour  May 28 2017, 09:55:22 PM

My wife, son, and I saw today's matinee.  The costumes and sets were pretty spectacular from our seats.  Disney didn't cheap out for the tour in my opinion.  The story stays pretty close to the movie and was probably the weakest aspect of the show (loved the parrot jokes though).  We also saw Manny Stark as Aladdin and he did a fine job.  Anthony Murphy was very funny as Genie.  Energetic and fun choreography.

This is a wonderful sho


Final Tony Nominations Predictions  Apr 28 2017, 10:01:38 PM

Forgive me if this has been explained, but James Lapine was nominated for Falsettos when it first appeared on Broadway.  Can he be nominated again (even though he lost)?


Good shows for high schoolers to perform?  Apr 19 2017, 11:26:01 PM

Double post.


Good shows for high schoolers to perform?  Apr 19 2017, 11:25:59 PM

A fun show with a lot of great character parts is L'il Abner.  Not too well known today since it is based on an old comic strip but it would be a good choice. Likewise, Finian's Rainbow is a great show for a diverse community.  Both shows are funny and have a satirical political edge as well as good music.  I also loved being in Carnival! in high school but it could be somewhat technical with the the circus setting, magic, and puppets.  Good luck with your choice.<


re: best/most powerful finales of a show  Mar 30 2017, 05:37:17 PM

Les Miserables - Tears

1776 - Stunned

King and I - Tears

Sweeney Todd - Stunned

Sunday in the Park with George - Tears

Hamilton - Stunned and Tears


La La Land  Jan 18 2017, 06:05:00 PM

Hey, I agree not all movies need a happy ending to be good.  There are other problems with LA LA LAND that (in my and my wife's opinions) make LA LA LAND less than satisfying.  Underdeveloped characters and lack of complexity to the story being a couple of problems.  We have liked other movie musicals that don't quite end happily-ever-after (SWEENEY TODD, LES MIZ, INTO THE WOODS).   If you like the movie, fine.  I am glad movie musicals are bein


La La Land  Jan 18 2017, 03:15:08 PM

I, too, felt the movie was pleasant but not worth a lot of the hype.  The production design, cinematography, and direction were good.  Emma and Ryan were an attractive couple.  The opening two group numbers were creative but the vocals were so soft and lacking in individuality that the movie didn't engage me until it focused on the couple..  I liked Emma's audition song, probably because I was engaged in her story by that time (and it did remind me of "Rainbow Connection".

My wife did not like it much at all:  

 
Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

 

Regardless, I am sure it will do well at the Oscars.  Hollywood loves movies about itself.


Who is due for a Kennedy Center Honor?  Jan 18 2017, 12:20:15 PM

Nathan Lane

Harvey Fierstein

Stephen Schwartz

Alan Menken

Renee Fleming

John Lasseter


First review for BEST WORST THING EVER COULD HAPPENED  Dec 14 2016, 11:27:39 AM

The documentary did not make the final cut of 15 for Oscar consideration.

 

http://www.oscars.org/news/15-documentary-features-advance-2016-oscar-race


The 1999 B'way revival of You're A Good Man Charlie Brown  Nov 18 2016, 06:42:27 PM

Anthony Rapp played Charlie Brown (his followup to Rent) and B.D. Wong (his followup to M. Butterfly) played Linus.  That cast did pretty well for themselves.


Dear Evan Hansen Previews  Nov 16 2016, 09:57:06 AM

My daughter saw it last night while she was in New York on business.  She enjoyed it very much and gave high praise to the cast, who brought out the humor in the well-written thoughtful script.  She loved the use of projections of social media pages.  Her single seat was in the center of the orchestra, which she thought provided a great view (purchased at TKTS for about $90).


Songs about growing up  Oct 3 2016, 11:37:32 PM

"Hills of Tomorrow" and "Merrily We Roll Along" from "Merrily We Roll Along".

"Hello Twelve" from "Chorus Line".

"13" from "13".

 

 


Great two-handers  Sep 5 2016, 10:07:43 PM

Same Time Next Year

 
Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

 


You must log in to view off-topic posts.

Videos


TICKET CENTRAL

Recommended For You