The Cher Show

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

CarlosAlberto said: "Valentina3 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "



That's a very homophobic picture of Cher

Explain to me just how in the world this particular photo of Cher is homophobic?

"

I think/hope Valentina3 meant to say "photogenic".  Spellcheck error?  

[Mister Matt]

That's a very homophobic picture of Cher

Explain to me just how in the world this particular photo of Cher is homophobic?

I'm curious as well.  What does that even mean?

[chase]

Are all ticket prices for orchestra seating now running $300? I wanted to get tickets for this show . I paid $300 for frozen also and noticed a lot of empty seats Sunday. Is $300 now the going price for new show tickets?

[greensgreens]

OK. Sonny literally has a line where he says "it's a man's world" when Cher finds out that he owns 95% of Cher Enterprises. Cher had an album titled (and the title track was a great cover of) It's A Man's World. Cher famously did her own song, It's A Woman's World. Why is this not a duet moment - Sonny with It's A Man's World, Cher with It's A Woman's World??? Talk about a fascinating opportunity for arrangement (they contrast each other in every possible way- is there a way to marry them somehow?) and the juxtaposition of ideas there is brilliant (Sonny belting out the old standard, perhaps realizing what Cher is about to do and how he'll be affected; Cher performing a newer song - the newest in the show - and taking a stand for herself and about to head out on her own). Song For The Lonely is beautiful and it probably would be direct competition for what I've just mentioned. But maybe then, the choreography could leave Cher alone and then she realizes that she's got to do this herself and then we get Song For The Lonely. Hmm... What do others think of that kind of idea?

[Valentina3]

Sho-Tunes-R-Us, and Carlos - it wasn't a typo. It's a popular internet meme calling bad pictures of gay icons homophobic (example - RuPaul's Drag Race season 9 lighting with only purples and blues is often called homophobic by reddit). Cher's somewhat harsh makeup and lighting in that picture don't make it very flattering, which is what I was trying to joke about but I guess it didn't translate well so apologies.

 

[Miles2Go2]

Granted I’m looking at the pic on my iPhone BWW app, but I think she looks great.

[Hum a tune]

I saw the show on Friday and was thrilled when I realized I was watching two alums of Side Show as a couple in The Cher Show.  The characters Georgia Holt (Emily Skinner - Daisy '97) and John Southall (Matthew Hydzik - Buddy '14) get married.  A special addition to my night.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

I am selling a collection of Playbills, promo flyers and ticket stubs for the Chicago Pre-Broadway engagement of "The Cher Show".  All of these items are sold with free shipping:

Opening night press preview Playbill,with Front Row ticket stub and promotional flyer:   https://www.ebay.com/itm/263809093364

Opening night first performance Playbill with promotional flyer:https://www.ebay.com/itm/123248551047

Pair of show promotional flyers:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/123252223120

[BalconyClub]

Final performance today at 2. Start time delayed. The house should have opened 30 minutes ago. Ushers waiting for production to give green light to open doors.

[Marlothom]

It’s 2 and doors has not opened yet. Anyone have any scoops?

[orlikethecolorpurple]

Last night, there was a technical issue with the LED walls during the curtain call. They didn't move in and effectively blocked the principal actors from entering to take their bows (at least, that's what I think happened). After the ensemble bowed, there was a good 30-40 seconds of an empty stage, lights flashing, orchestra playing - the Chers then came on to sing the "Believe" finale and Stephanie starts the song with "what am I supposed to do - LITERALLY!" :) 

[BalconyClub]

I saw ensemble member Christopher Vo arrive at 1:37. Did the staff think the show was to begin at 3?

But I think it is something else. There are several chairs on the stage, and water bottles. Oh no. We may get a concert version today.

[Marlothom]

They just announced it will be a “very” special version of the show. It is def set up like a concert version. I would think they would announce it in advance so folks could get refund.

[Miles2Go2]

Maybe Cher is performing?!?!!

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Not a chance, Cher is in London right now doing press for "Mamma Mia"...

[Marlothom]

Show was cancelled due to tech issue. They did a short concert - 4 songs. Refunds for everyone but I wish they could have announced it earlier for those that live far. I loved this show.

[BalconyClub]

Very good but short 4 numbers in mostly street clothes and no show wigs. Stephanie J Block talked briefly, thanking Chicago and the audience.

1. "I Got You Babe" with Jerrod Spector and Micaela Diamond

2. "The Way of Love" solo Stephanie J Block 

3. "Song for the Lonely" with Stephanie J Block,Teal Wicks, and Micaela Diamond

4. "Believe" full company

[Marlothom]

Seems like they knew the show would be cancelled for a few hours.  Not sure why they made people wait in the lobby for almost an hour - I live down the street but I imagine there were folks from the burbs that would have liked to have gone about their day, gone to see Waitress, and just not wait around being told the show would go on.   Today, I had no shame in recording as much of the concert as possible.  

[bwaybrent]

Thankfully, after reading what went down today, I’m lucky to say I was able to catch the matinee yesterday. Third viewing: my first was first preview (6/12) and then the following Tuesday (6/19). This has made HUGE improvements in a short month. Here’s as coherent of ramblings I can muster as far as what’s changed the most. Sorry in advance if this gets long or if some of these changes have been aforementioned by other posters.

-“Dream is a Wish” scene with Babe at the sewing machine no longer opens the show. Now we dive straight into the variety show scene, which has had major rewrites to better explain the presence of the 3 Chers.

-There’s a few more appearances of the production team peppered throughout moments in the show to remind us this is supposed to be a variety show retrospective of her life. ie: when Babe’s girlfriends join her and Sonny and he gives them cash for the sewing machine, the production assistant with the headset pokes his head out from behind the curtain to make a joke (that I can’t remember)

-Stephanie’s hair has doubled in size and it significantly improves her look.

-Half Breed has been reworked into a short lullaby. -It’s already been said but the “All I Really Wanna Do” number has been cut as well as the staging of the double beds has changed, which altered Stars joke about the beds being suddenly pushed together.

-In the bed scene, Jarrod was not only shirtless this time, but sporting some *very* nice short grey boxers.

-They’re all doing the “Cher speaking voice” to the best of their ability without it being a mockery. They were all holding back the first week. Now it appears all three women have spent a good amount of time figuring out what works for their voices.

-Rewrites were done to the scene with Phil Spector and lines were added to more clearly spell out for people who didn’t understand who Darlene Love was and why Cher had to step in to record her background vocals.

-Significant restructuring towards the end of Act 1. This is where I noticed the most coherent changes. It begins when Lady starts to complain about being overworked. Honestly, even with two viewings it was hard to follow the first time around. It originally started with “Superstar” (which has long been cut) then went into “Bang, Bang” which was *heavily* interrupted by the book scenes of Lady requesting a break. Sonny threatening divorce. Sonny notices her “flirting” with the guitarist during the number. First preview, Sonny threatens Cher by punching the wall and the whole set turned red and glass shattering sound effect was played. The second time viewing (and this time as well) they dropped the Thor-like wall punch and opt for “If I catch you talking to him, I’ll break his fingers.” All this dialogue used to be sandwiched into “Bang, Bang”

-Now, the girls sing a completely uninterrupted version of “Bang, Bang” after Sonny denies Lady a break and blows her off. The smashing of the guitarists fingers and Sonny threatening divorce scene comes once the song has ended. It now also translates more coherently into the following scene when Cher learns Sonny is swindling her money, which leads to her to deciding to divorce him herself. (“Song for the Lonely” 

-Significantly less book work has been done to Act 2. I suspect that’s because Act 1 needed so much more tweaking. We’ll have to wait until November to hear what they change. Personally, I’d like much less Allman/Camiletti and more focus on her rebuilding her career after the events of Act 1. Instead we hear more about how she met Greg in a bar and how his drug problem affects her dream and their baby, but we never really see *how* she got back on her feet after Sonny. I don’t know what it needs exactly, but the whole saloon scene needs work. They do a spectacular job, however, of representing her film career with “The Beat Goes On” number.

-As everyone else has said...”Dark Lady” duet needs to go. The dancers are phenomenal but it brings the show to a screeching halt.

-I wouldn’t mind seeing “Dov’e L’amore” on the chopping block either.

-I read above that someone said they’ve been working on the ending of the “Believe” ballad, because there was a pause and people were confused when to clap. Whatever they did yesterday worked and SJB almost blew the house down.

-New powder blue costume jacket for Georgia in the finale scene. Old one was black, I believe? More meat added to her final speech to fill in gaps a bit (20 years of farewell tours, tweeting, etc.)

All in all, I think this will be a hit next year. Obviously a shoe-in for the costume design Tony Award. And we don’t even begin to know of what Micaela Diamond is going to be capable. That girl is a powerhouse.

Ending this with a nod to a post I made a few weeks ago: I would DIE to see what Dee Roscioli does with Lady.....ugh.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

from Facebook:  Oriental Theatre

Due to technical difficulties, THE CHER SHOW was not able to perform its final performance in Chicago, Sunday, July 15. We are so very sorry for this disappointing news. While there was no notice of this problem, the company tried everything they could to rectify the technical issues. In the end there was simply no way to perform the show in its entirety both for what is needed to do the show and for the cast and crew’s safety. Both the producer and star Stephanie J. Block announced this to the audience and while they could not perform the show, patrons were treated to four extraordinary songs from the show in concert, and all patrons will receive a refund from their point of purchase. It is live theatre and while these issues rarely come up, when they do everyone tries their best to take care of the audience.

If you had tickets to THE CHER SHOW on Sunday, July 15, please contact your point of purchase for a refund:

If you purchased tickets from a Broadway In Chicago Box Office, please visit any Broadway In Chicago box office.

If you are a subscriber, please call Subscription at 312-977-1717.

If you purchased a group, please call Group Sales at 312-977-1710.

If you purchased through Ticketmaster by phone or online please call 800-775-2000.

ALL REFUND REQUESTS MUST BE COMPLETED BY FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018

[justasmalltownboy13]

Marlothom said: "Seems like they knew the show would be cancelled for a few hours. Not sure why they made people wait in the lobby for almost an hour - I live down the street but I imagine there were folks from the burbs that would have liked to have gone about their day, gone to see Waitress, and just not wait around being told the show would go on. Today, I had no shame in recording as much of the concert as possible."

Lol can I get a copy of that bootleg? I was there and noticed the chairs, hoping it was just going to be a preshow Q&A with the creative team. Such a bummer that they couldn’t do the show, but I’m glad I took advantage of seeing it 5 times while it was here. The cast were very apologetic at the stage door, but things happen. Can’t wait to see how much it changes from here to NYC!

[robskynyc]

Valentina3 said: "Sho-Tunes-R-Us, and Carlos - it wasn't a typo. It's a popular internet meme calling bad pictures of gay icons homophobic (example - RuPaul's Drag Race season 9 lighting with only purples and blues is often called homophobic by reddit). Cher'ssomewhat harsh makeup and lighting in that picture don't make it very flattering, which is what I was trying to joke about but I guess it didn't translate well so apologies.

"

LOL YES! and miss coco Peru when she’s playing grand theft auto and gets run over “well that was homophobic” pls tell me you’re seen that video

[goldenboy]

3 Chers? 3 Donnna Summers?
Why does this sound just like the Donna Summer musical.

[justasmalltownboy13]

goldenboy said: "3 Chers? 3 Donnna Summers?
Why does this sound just like the Donna Summer musical."

I feel like the Cher Show has been in development well before the Donna Summer musical. As for the 3 Cher’s/3 Donna’s - is it not interesting to you to see different actresses depict the subject in 3 different stages of their lives, seeing how they change throughout?

[Solipsist234]

justasmalltownboy13 said: "goldenboy said: "3 Chers? 3 Donnna Summers?
Why does this sound just like the Donna Summer musical."

I feel like the Cher Show has been in development well beyond the Donna Summer musical. As for the 3 Cher’s/3 Donna’s - is it not interesting to you to see different actresses depict the subject in 3 different stages of their lives, seeing how UCB they change throughout. It’s not a rip off of each other or anything, but simply the change in their lives. Would you cast the same person tonolay the same role in YOUR musical? Assuming you might have a story worth telling?"

Well, Adrienne Warren is pulling it off with Tina in London, Jessie Mueller (and subsequent Caroles) pulled it off with Beautiful - I'm sure there are more, but those were the two that popped into my head.

I actually like the 3 Chers concept, especially in terms of this particular show. Comparing The Cher Show with Summer is like comparing a nice pair of pants with a crappy pair from a retail store, if you get what I mean!