Last night I had the pleasure of catching 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' at the Westside Theatre and I honestly can't say one bad thing about the show, I absolutely adored it!
Being born way after the 50s and 60s I was unsure if I would know (and enjoy) half the songs, as well as get half the jokes, but I did; I knew every song except for one in act 2 and none of the jokes flew over my head, I was actually laughing so much I got slightly embarrassed. The seats were great too- they were from TDF and were Row C, dead center.
Onto the cast: Misty Cotton was great as Missy, her voice was phenomenal and her acting was great. I really don't know what else to say but she was great.
Christina DeCicco was excellent as Cindy Lou! I was very curious about how she would be being she played Glinda along side Victoria Matlock who had played Cindy Lou before her... but she nailed the role and her voice was in top form. She, was my personal favorite.
Lindsay Mendez stole most of the show as Betty Jean, her singing was fantastic and her acting was hilarious (in a good way)... what a future she has.
For the parts of the show Lindsay didn't steal, understudy: Tricia Tanguy as Suzy was there to steal it. She was excellent! Her voice, like all the rest of the girls was great and her acting was fantastic as well. I really hope the best to her and hope to see her take over the role one day.
*Little side note: I kept picturing Annaleigh Ashford as Suzy- type casting, I know, but I would still love to see her in the role one day.
All in all it was a fabulous night at the theatre and a fabulous show, I suggest all see it as it really does appeal to all ages.
5 out of 5 stars!
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5
May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
Oh, definitely do! I had been wanting to see this for the longest time but never actually got to it until a friend said she could get TDF tickets, and I am so happy I agreed to go!
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5
May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
I haven't seen this cast (I went back when Farah Alvin was still in the show) but it's really adorable and a lot of fun. I'll definitely recommend it too!
It's nice to hear that the new cast is really good as well...I saw the original cast and they were fantastic.
The only thing that makes me very sad now is they either are going in the next couple of days or have gone in the past couple of days to a track rather than a live band.
They thanked the band last night (didn't show them, but thanked them) and have them listed in the Playbill.
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5
May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
Couldn't agree more-this cast is amazing! I too saw Tricia (after I had seen Kirsten Bracken) and she was wonderful. All the girls are just perfect together-it's just a great, fun show.
I heard they are going to switch to tracks after Sunday (tomorrow), which upsets me.
They are definitely going to tracks. I couldn't tell from the person I heard it from if it was at the end of the Wonderette's work week (Wednesday night as they're dark on Thursdays) or the end of the calendar week, which for shows would be Sunday. Apparently it's Sunday.
As for the original cast, it's been open for over a year, so it's not surprising they're not in. Bets came back in a couple of months ago for Kirsten to have time off for her wedding and honeymoon. I think Beth was doing Spelling Bee out in Aspen...or something. As far as the other two, idk.
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5
May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
I ended up randomly seeing it tonight. Yes, tomorrow's show is the last for the live band. Both "wonderstudies" were in, and they were, well, marvelous!
I was very sad to see that the theater was almost half empty though. I guess that partly explains why they're going to a track. An attempt to save money and keep it running I guess. It'll be interesting to see what it sounds like with the track. Less room for improvising for sure.