Carousel today

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/1/18 at 6:50pm

Did anyone here see Carousel today. I believe Derrick Davis went on as Billy Bigelow for the first time. He'll be on again tonight and tomorrow as well.

[labellaragazza1]

Posted: 9/1/18 at 9:05pm

I saw it today. I’d never seen the show so I don’t know how he is compared to Joshua Henry, but he had a great voice (I’m not overly fond of billy as a character tho)

I think it might have been a surprise. When I got my rush ticket at noon, the “At This Performance” board didn’t have anything indicating there would be an understudy Billy- as I was buying my ticket, the woman at the box office got some notification and said “Oh! And Josh Henry is out too.”

[ebroadwayrundown]

Posted: 9/1/18 at 9:21pm

I saw it today, too.  Davis was very good, although he struggled a bit with the high notes.  I can't imagine stepping into such a difficult role.  He wasn't as powerful as Joshua Henry, but he did a good job.  I'm just spoiled by Joshua Henry's performance.

Renée Fleming was also out (she was singing at John McCain's funeral), but her understudy, Amy Justman, did a terrific job.  She was a little less operatic but felt, to me, more a part of the ensemble.

By the way, I don't mean to open this up again, but I know many people on this board intensely disliked this production. I thought it was wonderful and haunting, and the director's choices made sense to me.  I was happy to see it again before it closes. 

 

Updated On: 9/1/18 at 09:21 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/1/18 at 9:37pm

Was there finally some chemistry between Billy and Julie?

[ebroadwayrundown]

Posted: 9/1/18 at 9:53pm

Ha! Some.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/1/18 at 9:58pm

I was a Carousel novice before seeing this production and thought Henry's acting choices were bizarre. Did the understudy adopt the same physicality? The lumbering, the always hunched over, etc?

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/2/18 at 9:52am

I saw this show last Thursday and it had the entire cast except Ryan Steele played the Fairground boy. I wish Renee the best on her final performance today! Ahhh ... now I wish I can get a ticket for tonight's performance.

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/2/18 at 4:11pm

Looks like both Joshua Henry and Lindsay Mendez are out today on Renee's last day.

[OnBroadway4]

Posted: 9/2/18 at 9:50pm

I saw the matinee (1:30pm) today (Sunday 9/2) and Joshua Henry was also out. However, when I purchased tickets on telecharge it did state that he would be out. I was a bit disappointed as I was hoping to see his performance, not because I know him as an actor or enjoy his style as I don't know him and I have never seen the production in any rendition, but I like seeing productions for the first time with the leads that were originally cast. 

I didn't overwhelmingly love the production. I felt that the first part felt like it ran long, but then the second part was rushed as far as story development. Then that ending. I was a bit like huh? That's it? I wonder if someone who has seen the original or other renditions could add their two cents or give me some inisight as to whether the story was changed or if that's really it.

In other news, the orchestra seems completely filled aside from a few partial view seats in the front, but the partial view seats in the first few rows which were empty are well worth the price - they can hardly be considered partial view. The mezzanine was mostly fully but you could tell the rear was quite empty. 

[ren598]

Posted: 9/2/18 at 10:08pm

Sounds like it’s been diffucult trying to catch the entire original cast before their closing on the 16th.  I saw the matinee on 8/25 and both Jessie and Lindsay were out. I’m glad I got to see Joshua and Renee though.  

[SugarButterBroadway]

Posted: 9/2/18 at 10:40pm

Now that Renee is gone, I’m aware that her Understudy, Amy Justman is on for one performance, who will it be for the remainder of the run? Rosena?

[sharona39]

Posted: 9/2/18 at 11:11pm

I am sorry to hear that so many original cast members are out especially with only two more weeks of performances.  I was hoping to see the cast perform together as well.  I know I am in the minority but I really enjoyed the show (I wasn't all that familiar with the show before I saw it though).  I did enjoy the music and the dancing.  It seems like many of the principals have been out as of late, is that odd when the show is in the final stretch or could it be just unfortunate timing of illness?  In any event, I wish the cast and the crew the best in the future!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/2/18 at 11:49pm

Do they get docked pay for missing or does it depend on the contract? 

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 12:02am

@sharona39, I think it's just coincidental either due to sickness or external events (in this case, John McCain's funeral.) 

I guess Friday evening was the last time the main cast performed all together? 

BTW, I'm also in the minority amongst those who loved this production. I'm seeing the show one more time in two weeks.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 12:29am

RippedMan said: "Do they get docked pay for missing or does it depend on the contract?"

Performers typically lose 1/8 of their weekly pay for each show missed.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 5:28am

ren598 said: "Sounds like it’s been diffucult trying to catch the entire original cast before their closing on the 16th. I saw the matinee on 8/25 and both Jessie and Lindsay were out. I’m glad I got to see Joshua and Renee though. "

Can’t speak for anyone else, but Jessie was on vacation that week (per TodayTix). 

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 8:14am

sharona39 said: "I am sorry to hear that so many original cast members are out especially with only two more weeks of performances. I was hoping to see the cast perform together as well. I know I am in the minority but I really enjoyed the show (I wasn't all that familiar with the show before I saw it though). I did enjoy the music and the dancing. It seems like many of the principals have been out as of late, is that odd when the show is in the final stretch or could it be just unfortunate timing of illness? In any event, I wish the cast and the crew the best in the future!"

Remember that the show was not originally supposed to close in September. A lot of the performers probably had vacations and personal days planned far in advance. 

[ArtMan]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 5:31pm

I saw the matinee on Wednesday, August 29.  Everyone was in, except for one ensemble member.  Out of eight shows, I lucked out, except for my last.  Sunday night (and matinee), Mitchel Jarvis was out at Getting The Band Back Together.  Also the teenager, ( at the evening performance).

[mufish]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 5:37pm

starcatchers said: "ren598 said: "Sounds like it’s been diffucult trying to catch the entire original cast before their closing on the 16th. I saw the matinee on 8/25 and both Jessie and Lindsay were out. I’m glad I got to see Joshua and Renee though. "

Can’t speak for anyone else, but Jessie was on vacation that week (per TodayTix)."

I was at that matinee as well.  I purchased one of the partial view seats in the second row the night before, and Telecharge also had a notice about Mueller's absence.  I was disappointed to miss Mendez (have only seen her in Significant Other) but it is what it is! 

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 5:55pm

AC126748 said: "Remember that the show was not originally supposed to close in September. A lot of the performers probably had vacations and personal days planned far in advance."

That’s true but I normally thought if the actor’s name is above the title, the box office would publish when the actor is away well in advance (ie like when Renee Fleming was out.) 

 

[romain2]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 6:42pm

Has Mendez EVER been in the show? I saw it back in early June (right before her Tonys win) and she was out.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 6:51pm

To me, CAROUSEL is the greatest musical.  I don't read reviews until after I see a show, and I only read news items about what shows are opening and who's cast in them.  This CAROUSEL sadly fails to live up to its potential, and there are only two reasons, well only one now, to see this revival: Alexander Gemignani and Renée Fleming.

I saw both Sunday shows solely for Renée and with the hope that this revival would be as effective and moving as the 1994 Lincoln Center revival.  Renée's "You'll Never Walk Alone" was sung so beautifully with such resonance and brightness, and delivered the hopefulness that was much needed in Julie's life.  Gemignani was even better than Eddie Korbich so it ticked me off that Enoch's Act 2 number was cut out.

Henry was out for both shows, but Mueller was present.  Mendez was in for the afternoon but an understudy was Carrie for the evening.

Renée got such a great and well-deserved thunderous applause at her curtain call but unfortunately, she took a tumble and fell when she was walking back after taking her bow at her last show.  She recovered gracefully, but I hope she wasn't injured.

[NievesG]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 10:52pm

romain2 said: "Has Mendez EVER been in the show? I saw it back in early June (right before her Tonys win) and she was out."

Probably some hyperbole here, but yes, at least when I saw it on Thursday.

While the production was so-so, I'm glad they had the foresight to record all of these phenomenal voices. It makes a great stand alone recording if nothing else, imo

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 11:16pm

TheGingerBreadMan said: "RippedMan said: "Do they get docked pay for missing or does it depend on the contract?"

Performers typically lose 1/8 of their weekly pay for each show missed."

Um....no.  

Many actors do not realize that a Production Contract (i.e. Broadway) is similar to a full-time job offer, meaning... you earn days to use for illness and vacations. Here’s what those benefits usually look like: You earn one sick day for every 4 weeks of work which, if unused, are paid out to you at the end of your year or contract. For vacation days, you earn a week's worth of vacation pay roughly every 6 months depending on your contract and your negotiated pay.

You only get docked pay if you run out of earned time (and they choose not to pay you against the days you WILL earn).

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 12:39am

romain2 said: "Has Mendez EVER been in the show? I saw it back in early June (right before her Tonys win) and she was out."

lmao. Well, you can also watch Mendez on youtube at Carrie Diaries!