1/19 Closings/Last Shows

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 1/19/20 at 3:54pm

Today marks the closing of both the Oklahoma! revival and Slave Play on Broadway.  It's also Jonathan Groff's last show as Seymour Krelborn in the off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors.  If you have any stories to share from these final performances, here's a place to post them!

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 1/19/20 at 6:33pm

Would love any Slave Play reports. I can't imagine it will be a particularly emotional closing, but that cast has been with the piece for a while so it'd be nice to hear if the energy is any different

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 1/19/20 at 7:30pm

Ditto about Oklahoma regarding the cast being with the piece for so long, a few of them have been with the show for almost 5 years. I bet that will be an emotional one! 

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 1/19/20 at 7:33pm

I saw someone on Twitter say that Jonathan Groff was crying during both "Skid Row" and "Suddenly Seymour" during Little Shop today.  Would love any other reports!

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 1/19/20 at 7:42pm

The Slave Play cast has to put themselves through so much emotionally onstage every day 8 times a week. Mad respect to them for getting through the run and (AFAIK) having excellent attendance throughout the run.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 1/19/20 at 7:46pm

I didn't even know Slave Play was closing. Hopefully we will get it in London pretty soon x

[sm33]

Posted: 1/20/20 at 11:49am

I hope someone here was at Oklahoma's last show, because I'd love to hear about it! I went to four performances over the course of the run, and would have been at closing if I didn't live on the opposite coast. What a fantastic production. 

[Joe Mayo]

Posted: 1/20/20 at 11:53am

MollyJeanneMusic said: "I saw someone on Twitter say that Jonathan Groff was crying during both "Skid Row" and "Suddenly Seymour" duringLittle Shop today. Would love any other reports!"

Wonder if he would be interesting in comiing back now that the cast of Mindhunter has been (sadly) released from their contracts.

 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 1/20/20 at 12:00pm

Joe Mayo said: "MollyJeanneMusic said: "I saw someone on Twitter say that Jonathan Groff was crying during both "Skid Row" and "Suddenly Seymour" duringLittle Shop today. Would love any other reports!"

Wonder if he would be interesting in comiing back now that the castof Mindhunter has been (sadly) released from their contracts."

Wha???? No season 3 of Mindhunter?!?!?!

[Impossible2]

Posted: 1/20/20 at 12:05pm

Miles2Go2 said: "Joe Mayo said: "MollyJeanneMusic said: "I saw someone on Twitter say that Jonathan Groff was crying during both "Skid Row" and "Suddenly Seymour" duringLittle Shop today. Would love any other reports!"

Wonder if he would be interesting in comiing back now that the castof Mindhunter has been (sadly) released from their contracts."

Wha???? No season 3 of Mindhunter?!?!?!"

It may be coming back later, but FIncher is too busy on other projects to do it atm, so the cast have been released from their contracts.

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 1/20/20 at 6:02pm

Here is Slave Play's closing curtain call with speech:

https://twitter.com/SlavePlayBway/status/1219110977301553157?s=20

https://twitter.com/SlavePlayBway/status/1219111279727726593?s=20

https://twitter.com/SlavePlayBway/status/1219112988663341056?s=20

Updated On: 1/20/20 at 06:02 PM

[Andy51]

Posted: 1/20/20 at 6:17pm

sm33 said: "I hope someone here was atOklahoma's last show, because I'd love to hear about it!I went to four performances over the course of the run, and would have been at closing if I didn't live on the opposite coast. What a fantastic production."

 

I snagged a ticket for the last show the day before.  My third time seeing it, and the crowd largely seemed to consist of Oklahoma devotees, with many people wearing merchandise from the production and some dressed up in cowboy fashion.  So, there was a lot of enthusiasm and good energy in the room.  As each musician came out (staggered over several minutes), he or she received warm applause.  When the cast came out there was a long standing ovation.  Damon seemed to be soaking it in, while at the same time trying to decide when to start singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'.  Most of the major numbers received standing ovations as well.  Fish and the creative team came on stage at the end, with lots of hugs.  An emotional evening for all.

 

[sm33]

Posted: 1/21/20 at 12:05pm

Thanks so much for writing that out, Andy51! 

[Waitingforlife]

Posted: 1/21/20 at 11:24pm

I was at the closing performance of Oklahoma, will try to update ASAP! 

[lolo28]

Posted: 1/22/20 at 11:33am

I was so happy to be at the closing performance of Oklahoma! too. It was my fourth time and it felt so good to be able to give standing ovations and clap after many of the songs. 

Mary Testa clearly had a cold and I imagine she wanted to power though the last performance but I could tell by her voice in her first line she was sick. She had a very funny ad-lib during The Farmer and the Cowman. After Ado Annie sang "sure am feeling bad for the pony", MT said "that pony is a PU**Y!"

Daniel Fish was there and I was observing him throughout the show. He laughed at that line and at many of the Will Parker parts. 

There was a very distracting audience member in the first row behind the table seats who was making big arm gestures along with the show, chatting and putting her over-the-knee sequined boots on the railing. During Pore Jud she decided to sneak out (presumably to beat a bathroom or bar line at intermission) and her boots made a lot of noise. I was across the theater and was distracted. She was in Daniel Fish's row and I'm sure that ticked him off. I could see him and his date giving disapproving looks to her throughout the show. 

I approached him at intermission and told him how much I loved the show and he was gracious and signed by playbill. 

As sad as I am to see this show go, I'm glad I won't be tempted to spend any more money on it! I've never felt compelled to see a show so much! Each time I went I appreciated a new track. Always Patrick Vaill though. He shined so bright and broke my heart each time. 

Updated On: 1/22/20 at 11:33 AM

[Waitingforlife]

Posted: 1/27/20 at 1:54am

lolo28 said: "I was so happy to be at the closing performance of Oklahoma!too. It was my fourth time and it felt so good to be able to give standing ovations and clap after many of the songs.

Mary Testa clearly had a cold and I imagine she wanted to power though the last performance but I could tell by her voice in her first line she was sick. She had a very funny ad-lib during The Farmer and the Cowman. After Ado Annie sang "sure am feeling bad for the pony", MT said "thatpony is a PU**Y!"

Daniel Fish was there and I was observing him throughout the show. He laughed at that line and at many of the Will Parker parts.

There was a very distracting audience member in the first row behind the table seats who was making big arm gestures along with the show, chatting and putting her over-the-knee sequined boots on the railing. During Pore Jud she decided to sneak out (presumably to beat a bathroom or bar line at intermission)and her boots made a lot of noise. I was across the theater and was distracted. She was in Daniel Fish's row and I'm sure that ticked him off. I could see him and his dategiving disapprovinglooks to her throughout the show.

I approached him at intermission and told him how much I loved the show and he was gracious and signed by playbill.

As sad as I am to see this show go, I'm glad I won't be tempted to spend any more money on it! I've never felt compelled to see a show so much! Each time I went I appreciated a new track. Always Patrick Vaill though. He shined so bright and broke my heart each time."

Are you and I the same person, Lolo28!? I was about the say many of the same things! This was my third time in three weeks at Oklahoma -- so glad my friend told me I absolutely HAD to see this production, although it took me about five days or so to sit with it to really get on board and appreciate it. And then I came back two more times. 

I totally didn't notice anything off about Mary Testa, I WISH I had heard that ad-lib, that's awesome. I was also in a position where I was able to see Daniel Fish watch the show, it was fun to see -- I also noticed him laugh several times, particularly at Will Parker bits. I was too self-conscious to say anything to him when I spotted him in the lobby pre-show, but I wish I did!

I was aware of multiple people getting up to leave during the show (definitely saw sequined boots leave) and there was someone a few rows in front of me having very distracting/loud reactions. Not sure if they were drunk or had never seen the show before, but they pulled my focus multiple times. Oh, well.

I almost didn't make the trip in for closing, but I'm so happy I did! I managed to get one of the last SRO spots for the closing performance, so in addition to getting to see the final show, I got to see it from a very different perspective from the first two times (previously I had gotten one of the first spots, so I was closer to the band than the back wall). I got to see way more of both Laurey and Jud from my spot (was on the SR side close to the upstage wall) and seeing their faces during key moments made me love the show even more.

Specifically, I loved seeing Laurey's little smiles to herself when Curly can't see in "Surrey" and "People Will Say We're in Love." And pretty much the whole last scene I was able to see so much more, it hit me hard. Jud's face after he puts the gun in Curly's hand and steps away just about broke my heart (I was NOT expecting to feel that way about Jud, kudos to Patrick whose performance I just missed from my spot the first two times). And the whole fallout after the shooting -- Cord Elam's reaction to the town choosing to forgo justice. When everyone starts singing "Oklahoma," the way he walks over to Laurey to share a long look is so loaded. And then Aunt Eller shares a moment with Laurey too, acknowledging what's been done. Aunt Eller nods at her and she nods back. And the way Laurey desperately belts "and the land we belong to is grand" then stops singing and stomps manically -- wow. 

On a lighter note, some other nice things: each band member received a big applause when they came out on stage. The cast was met with a big standing O and extended applause when they entered. Damon was definitely drinking it all in. In a cast like this, it's hard to single people out, but I think Will Brill is very underrated as Ali Hakam, just putting that out there (really liked him in his small part in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as well, had no idea he was in this until I opened the program the first time!). Both Ali and Patrick received standing ovations after their solos! I swear, the whole audience swooned when Damon got up on that box to finish off "People Will Say We're in Love," I WISH the cast recording somehow captured the live energy better, especially with the "rockstar" mic sound. One of my favorite things to do was to just stop and watch the band. They were having a ball and I loved how much they were part of the show and clearly enjoyed their work. I was a little surprised at how clean the show was, I feel like closing shows are often overly emotional, but I didn't pick up on a whole lot of anyone being overwhelmed. The only thing I noticed was during the scene where Curly is asking Laurey to marry him. There was a long pause after Curly says "I don't know what I'm gonna do if you don't" and Rebecca was clearly starting to tear up and her voice broke when she finally said "I'll marry you if you want me to." My heart.The rest of the scene was definitely special and she and Damon were both still emotional when they got to the "People Will Say We're in Love" reprise.

The director and I assume some of the producers and creative team came on stage after the show and hugged the case, was a little surprised there wasn't any speech, but it was great nonetheless. Everyone leapt to their feet, it was a great show. I'm also sad it's over, but similarly am glad I won't be tempted to keep spending money, although I'm still tempted by the merch! Sorry if this was way more than anyone wanted, I just have a lot of feelings on this show!

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/27/20 at 4:49pm

I really enjoyed reading your post; I was only able to see the show once, but it was a revelation to me, especially considering that I had always really disliked to hated Oklahoma, despite the score.  The one thing that surprises me is your quick assessment of the OCR, which I think is incredible.  I never knew that Morning and Surrey could be so sexy.  Until this recording, I never knew that Kansas City could be so much fun, etc.  To me, it is a great recording, and I am not being hyperbolic. 

 

[Waitingforlife]

Posted: 1/27/20 at 10:05pm

Jarethan said: "I really enjoyed reading your post; I was only able to see the show once, but it was a revelation to me, especially considering that I had always really disliked to hated Oklahoma, despite the score. The one thing that surprises me is your quick assessment of the OCR, which I think is incredible. I never knew that Morning and Surrey could be so sexy. Until this recording, I never knew that Kansas City could be so much fun, etc. To me, it is a great recording, and I am not being hyperbolic.

 

"

Thanks, I'm glad someone did! I only know one other person in real life who's seen it, so I tend to gush. 

Hmm, I guess what I was really trying to say is that nothing compares to seeing/hearing it all live because I do very much enjoy the recording (just bought a physical copy yesterday!) "People Will Say We're in Love" doesn't quite have the electricity it did when I saw it (and I think towards the end of the run, the tempo was consistently faster on Damon's last verse/chorus which definitely added to the "rockstar" energy I was talking about). I may also have a slight bias since I don't think I had ever actually seen Oklahoma in full before but was fairly familiar with the material, so my first real experience with it was live in this production. Even though I wasn't totally on board my first time, 10/10 agree that I never thought "Surrey" could be so seductive -- almost hypnotic. I finally understood why these characters would be drawn to each other. Also, I'm a total sucker for this kind of orchestration, bless Daniel Kluger for them. Give me mandolin, banjo, and standing bass any day.