Macy's Parade 2021- Page 2

[pmensky]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 9:44am

DramaTeach said: "pmensky said: "Um, no. The parade is used to promote the show. They would never do NYC, because it doesn’t feature the leads, namely Harry Connick Jr."

Daddy Warbucks is in NYC with enough to give a tease and leave people wanting to see more, but okay.


To me, Wicked is the show coming off best here. It’s catchy, has fun costumes, an introduction to the story, and personality.

The amount of chopping up of the song along with the restaging and the absence of Grace would have been too much. They open in a week. They have enough of their plates without having to restate an entire number when the number they did accomplished what it needed to do.

 

[DaveyG]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 9:44am

DramaTeach said: "pmensky said: "Um, no. The parade is used to promote the show. They would never do NYC, because it doesn’t feature the leads, namely Harry Connick Jr."

Daddy Warbucks is in NYC with enough to give a tease and leave people wanting to see more, but okay.


To me, Wicked is the show coming off best here. It’s catchy, has fun costumes, an introduction to the story, and personality.

"

Agreed that Wicked is the best performance of the morning so far. Annie Live and Moulin Rouge didn't do themselves any favors. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 9:50am

Here in Oklahoma, NBC coverage of Macy’s Parade doesn’t start til 9:00 CT, but CBS coverage started at 8:00 CT. 

They already showed the performances from Chicago and Waitress that were pre-filmed in their respective theaters. 

Thoughts: 

I have only seen one professional production of Chicago. National tour with Sandy Duncan probably 20ish years ago. I loved it! I think I do recall the staging was pretty minimal as it also was in today’s filmed performance. But it was so minimal today that I wondered if they’ve streamlined the stage design even further as a cost-saving measure for a long-running show? Or maybe simplified just for the televised performance? 

Really enjoyed the Waitress performance: “It Only Takes a Taste” with Jennifer Nettles & Erich Bergen. I was especially impressed by Nettles. I’ll admit that I used to be really annoyed by her twang, even when singing. It felt like she was doing a Reba (who I also don’t care much for) impersonation. She does seem like she has softened that over the years. I also wasn’t a big fan of her performance in the Broadway is back special couple months ago. But wow! She was great in this performance: acting, great singing with some cool (optioning up?) individual choices (at least I don’t recall before). 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 10:13am

In particular, I loved "Tomorrow" in the Annie performance. For some reason I hadn’t thought about them performing live which I don’t know why. But Celina Smith hit this number out of the park. That song also hits a little differently now after these last long, hard two years. I have been sorta meh about Annie Live!, but I’m definitely more excited now. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 10:37am

Just finished watching the three NBC performances:

Moulin Rouge  - I love this show, but they should’ve done an in-theater performance on CBS instead. 

Six - Fun!

Wicked - Another of my favorite shows. I really enjoyed that! Made me wish I was seeing it today. 

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 10:50am

I didn’t catch who the singer was but this Louisiana themed production number looks almost as good as any of the actual musicals this year.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 10:57am

That was Oscar winner Jon Batiste, who received the most Grammy nominations on Tuesday with 11 nods.

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 11:08am

I didn’t recognize him without his melodica!

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 11:28am

Miles2Go2 said: "

Thoughts:

I have only seen one professional production of Chicago. National tour with Sandy Duncan probably 20ish years ago. I loved it! I)."

 

havent seen the cbs performance yet so can’t comment but SO jealous you got to see Sandy pre-Broadway on tour, she got injured early on didn’t do the Boston tour stop (luckily Reinking stepped in as Roxie) and delayed her Broadway start  

 

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 12:07pm

Wasn’t Kristin Chenoweth supposed to perform?

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 12:11pm

bwayobsessed said: "Wasn’t Kristin Chenoweth supposed to perform?"

She was but yeah no where to be found. Perhaps the float was was on didn't make it the whole route. I mean that train broke down right at the end of the parade and blocked half the road. I am sure she will make some kind of statement about it. She's likely bummed if she's sitting on a broken float somewhere in midtown right about now.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 1:51pm

I was watching the NBC broadcast on tape delay... didn't want to get up so early today. As a whole, the B'way performances were fine. It's so great to see the parade in full swing once again!

Annie Live: Connick was a little too pitchy this morning; he has a week to atone himself. Celina Smith ate this performance up and left no crumbs. Cannot wait to see the full scope of her Annie Bennett. Also, the new orchestrations sound both fresh and faithful enough to the original 1977 stage production. Bravo Stephen Oremus and Alvin Hough Jr.!

Moulin Rouge!: I still haven't seen this one live yet, but I still have notes. "The Sparkling Diamond" has been transposed down a semitone for Mendoza. All those saying on the reopening night thread she isn't as much a singer as Olivo was are absolutely correct. Like Connick, she underwhelmed me in this segment. The cast should have done the CBS broadcast and performed from their theatre with the gorgeous set design. I missed Burstein and the trapeze entrance. 

SIX: Glad to see Courtney Mack getting more featured recognition, this time as Anne Boleyn! Obviously, I hope Macasaet is okay and is able to return to the Brooks ASAP, but otherwise, these queens are killing it. They showed me one of the main reasons the concept album has gone viral, leading to solid Broadway demand. Man, that score is catchy. And I hope I get to see this one live too. 

Wicked: You can't go wrong with a classic. I've seen this one twice, and yet it somehow feels like a brand-new musical upon reopening. Jenny DiNoia has been around the block, hasn't she? Six different companies in three different countries for the better part of a decade, and she's been doing all this as a working mother for the last several years. Ginna Mason looked okay; I'm sure the seasoned-vet posters (e.g. Jordan Catalano) were able to see some particular quirks while observing the full scope of her G(a)linda... still wondering just how she went far above and beyond others who have played her role.

 

But most of all, on this Thanksgiving Day, I am so thankful for theatre being back, and for all of you who make the BWW message boards happen. I just love chatting and hearing about the latest shows and news with other Broadway lovers and insiders. I'm so glad I found this community. Now eat lots of turkey!

 

 

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 2:11pm

Natalie sounds incredible live and is much funnier than Karen as Satine. Loved all the performances and loved seeing humans enjoying the parade again! 

[Dan6]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 2:32pm

SIX: Glad to see Courtney Mack getting more featured recognition, this time as Anne Boleyn! Obviously, I hope Macasaet is okay and is able to return to the Brooks ASAP, but otherwise, these queens are killing it. They showed me one of the main reasons the concept album has gone viral, leading to solid Broadway demand. Man, that score is catchy. And I hope I get to see this one live too.
 

Sorry if I missed this on another thread, but what's happening with Andrea Macasaet? I was surprised not to see her in the Macy's performance. 

 

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 3:12pm

Dan6 said: "SIX: Glad to see Courtney Mack getting more featured recognition, this time as Anne Boleyn! Obviously, I hope Macasaet is okay and is able to return to the Brooks ASAP, but otherwise, these queens are killing it. They showed me one of the main reasons the concept album has gone viral, leading to solid Broadway demand. Man, that score is catchy. And I hope I get to see this one live too.


Sorry if I missed this on another thread, but what's happening with Andrea Macasaet? I was surprised not to see her in the Macy's performance.

"

She has been out for about a week. Unknown just want is wrong (it's no one's business really unless they are open about it on socials) but injuries are pretty common in the show. Abby just got back after being out for an injury related to the inner ears they use in the show. And Sam missed a few days after getting her vaccine booster hit her hard.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 4:47pm

I have only seen one professional production of Chicago. National tour with Sandy Duncan probably 20ish years ago. I loved it! I think I do recall the staging was pretty minimal as it also was in today’s filmed performance. But it was so minimal today that I wondered if they’ve streamlined the stage design even further as a cost-saving measure for a long-running show? Or maybe simplified just for the televised performance? 

This CHICAGO revival is based on an Encores! Concert Series 4-night-only concert so it’s always been staged in this minimal concert-style presentation.  What you saw in the pre-taped CBS broadcast is exactly how the revival has always looked on Broadway including every single international production as well as all the tours.  There is nothing to streamline or remove to save costs.  If anything, the current Broadway revival has added a lighted CHICAGO sign that rises and lowers so they’ve actually spent extra thousands of dollars to have that built, etc. This sign has never been seen in any previous production. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 5:42pm

The number of muggles (non-theatre people) who were AGHAST at the performances of Moulin Rouge and Six… commenting and saying the costumes and choreography were oversexualized, the singing about death, divorce, and beheading… I was just sitting back laughing. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 5:48pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "The number of muggles (non-theatre people) who were AGHAST at the performances of Moulin Rouge and Six… commenting and saying the costumes and choreography were oversexualized, the singing about death, divorce, and beheading… I was just sitting back laughing."

The same people who were up in arms about The Prom's same-sex kiss, no doubt. I always forget they watch the parade, too.

 

[Tag]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 5:51pm

Susan Hilferty is truly the star of that Wicked number.

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 7:19pm

TaffyDavenport said: "jacobsnchz14 said: "The number of muggles (non-theatre people) who were AGHAST at the performances of Moulin Rouge and Six… commenting and saying the costumes and choreography were oversexualized, the singing about death, divorce, and beheading… I was just sitting back laughing."

The same people who were up in arms aboutThe Prom's same-sex kiss, no doubt. I always forget they watch the parade, too."

AND the "but think of the children" pearl clutchers the year that Kinky Boots performed.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 11/25/21 at 7:57pm

Jordan Levinson said: "Ginna Mason looked okay; I'm sure the seasoned-vet posters (e.g. Jordan Catalano) were able to see some particular quirks while observing the full scope of her G(a)linda... still wondering just how she went far above and beyond others who have played her role."

Mason is, in my opinion, the best Glinda that Broadway has seen since Megan Hilty. She had me wrapped around her finger the entire time.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 11/26/21 at 1:05am

That MOULIN ROUGE performance really highlighted how much of that show is just…a great set.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/26/21 at 1:28pm

IdinaBellFoster said: "That MOULIN ROUGE performance really highlighted how much of that show is just…a great set."

The musical has never set out to be more than just a great musical spectacle.  Nothing more.  The fact many read into it as some Shakespearean drama is hilarious.  It’s silly, it’s fun, it’s lavish and a visual extravaganza. The plot line is only there to connect the musical numbers.  Nothing more.  

[Jakeevan942]

Posted: 11/26/21 at 1:44pm

Miles2Go2 said: "
I have only seen one professional production of Chicago. National tour with Sandy Duncan probably 20ish years ago. I loved it! I think I do recall the staging was pretty minimal as it also was in today’s filmed performance. But it was so minimal today that I wondered if they’ve streamlined the stage design even further as a cost-saving measure for a long-running show?Or maybe simplified just for the televised performance?"

It's worth noting that while the physical production was, and remains that simple, with the addition of the sign someone else mentioned, this seems to be the press version of the ensemble-the show has an ensemble of 13, but seems to only use 8 for promo performances, as they did here.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/26/21 at 4:11pm

Dan6 said: "SIX: Glad to see Courtney Mack getting more featured recognition, this time as Anne Boleyn! Obviously, I hope Macasaet is okay and is able to return to the Brooks ASAP, but otherwise, these queens are killing it. They showed me one of the main reasons the concept album has gone viral, leading to solid Broadway demand. Man, that score is catchy. And I hope I get to see this one live too.


Sorry if I missed this on another thread, but what's happening with Andrea Macasaet? I was surprised not to see her in the Macy's performance.

"

In her Instagram story today, Macasaet said “I’m back on stage tomorrow. Get ready. XO baby.” I did have a feeling she was returning soon though: I was picking up my tickets to Diana a couple hours ago, and walked by the Brooks as I started heading home. I swear I saw her enter through the stage door.

No reasoning yet behind her absence.