My Spring Break (13 Show Reviews)

[MrBundles]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 3:21am

My Spring Break (not to mention that the week before I saw 5 shows in Utah including West Side Story, Aida and The Full Monty, which was one of my favorite productions of a show I have ever seen)

Saturday March 11
"Wicked" in Chicago
First of all, the Oriental Theatre is absolutely BEAUTIFUL, and a PERFECT venue for the show. This was my second time seeing the show (first in LA), but I was much closer this time (right Orch, 4th row). I did enjoy the show, but sadly, I was expecting to enjoy it more. Maybe it was because after seeing it the first time, the magic is kind of gone. But, like I said, I still enjoyed it, and I was very happy I got my special wicked "Defying Gravity in the Windy City" shirt. Kristy Cates was very good, but she did not blow me away. Sarah Jane Everman was on for Glinda, and she was WONDERFUL. I was surprised (as many are) with the deepness of Rondi's voice, but I also have to say that I was completely disappointed in Kristoffer......I did not enjoy his performance at all. My other big complaint was that the mic levels were WAY TOO LOW. I also think a main reason why I did not enjoy it as much as I thought was that the audience was not into it at all, wheras the audience when I first saw it in LA was one of the most excited audiences ever, and it made for such a wonderful experience. Oh, I forgot, I LOVED Heidi Kettenring...she brought a new dimension to Nessarose. Wonderful acting ability. The main difference that I noticed from the tour is that the broom came from the same area, but MUCH higher. It looked the best (out of all 3 productions) That's about it for that show.

Sunday March 12
"Rabbit Hole" (matinee)
Not too much to say about this play. Great cast. Well-written play. Wonderful set. Cynthia Nixon was nice (but in a hurry to leave) at the stage door, and Tyne Daly was very gracious.

"Avenue Q"
This was my second time seeing the show (Vegas, too). It was wonderful. I think I enjoyed all performers pretty equally. Barret Foa and Ann Sanders were ESPECIALLY nice, and very chatty at the stage door. The only thing I was disappointed with was that the beds in the Vegas production are WAY better. On Broadway, they just separate and rise up, but in Vegas, they separate, each bed turns kind of diagonal, and co2 (compressed air) shoots from the bottom of them as they go up to create a rocket/dream-like effect.

Monday March 13
"Rent"
This has to be the best performance of Rent I have ever seen, and this show had the most energy and passion than any other on my trip. Matt and Tim were BRILLIANT, as was Karmine...my new favorite MiMi. Caren Lyn Manuel played Maureen and she was WONDERFUL, and she is a sweetheart. There was no bio for her at all, and I have not been able to find one, but afterwards Michael Grief took her to the hotel next door which seemed like it could have possibly been her first performance. Anyways, going back....I donated to BCEFA to get a picture of myself with Matt and Tim in their costumes, and to get a cast signed playbill. When Michael Grief came out of the stage door, nobody knew who he was (except me), so I took a picture with him and told him how much I enjoyed the show. He responded with "I know, it was a GREAT show tonight," which made it seem like the performances are not normally that good, which was interesting, and exciting. The cast exited through the front doors because they had a note session, and of course as she is known to do, Frenchie ran out without really talking to anyone, but everyone else was VERY nice...especially Robin DeJesus. I love him!

Tuesday March 14
"Hairspray"
This was my third time seeing the show, first time seeing the full show (seen it twice in Vegas). I have to say that there are pros and cons about both. I enjoyed the numbers that were cut from the show, but the Vegas show definitely has more energy. Some of the diologue in Vegas is funnier (imo), but some moments and spectacles on B-way I enjoyed more. The moving orchestra at the end of the Vegas show really adds to the experience, and it was kind of sad not to see that on B-way, but I was also happier to see more character development with the Von Tussles. Shannon Durig was a very good Tracy. I especially loved her hyper-active fast dancing (much faster and crazier than I had ever seen in Vegas), not to mention I liked the wigs better in the B-way show.. Tracy's was bigger. Diana Degarmo completely impressed me...she stole the show.....a perfect Penny. Blake Hammond was on as Edna, and I definitely enjoyed his performance, but I have to say that Hairspray is nearly not as good without Harvey's dynamics. Blake was by far the nicest at the stage door. Everyone was disappointed Darlene Love just covered her head and ran out, but I do understand. I have never done the stage door thing before this trip, and there are some CRAZY and annoying as hell people out there.

Wednesday March 15
"Spamalot" (matinee)
I had the worst seats for this show compared to the orchestra for most of the others because I did not want to pay much. I had bought a ticket for WIW, but of course, it closed. Everyone in the balcony has to lean over to see anything. I really enjoyed the show, though. All of the leads were wonderful, especially Christian Borle. I am glad I got to see David Hyde Pierce before he leaves. This was BY FAR the craziest stage door...I think I almost lost a leg....everyone was waiting for Hank Azaria and David Hyde. People were CRAZY, but they gave away Spamalot pens at the door, so I did enjoy that

"The Light in the Piazza"
I got to sit front row, center, which turned out to be AMAZING. I am soooo glad I got to see Patti Cohenour. She was absolutely wonderful. I was actually planning on not enjoying this show, but it turned out to be one of my favorites. Everyone was SUPER nice at the stage door (especially Patti), although there were only a few people there.

Thursday March 16
"Sweeney Todd"
Once again, front row center. I was so excited to sit there because I had been reading Patti's ramblings. I was very glad to see nobody out. I really did enjoy the show, but I have to say that my favorite performance was Manoel Feleciano's. Brilliant.....and if any of you want to know, yes I did get Michael Cerveris spit...yay. haha. The stage door did not have as many people as I expected. Everyone was very nice, and I was sooo excited when Patti walked by and told me that she was watching me during the show, and she told me I looked like Sean Lennon (must have been the glasses because i dont think i do lol). hahaha. I love Patti!

Friday March 17
"The Color Purple"
This turned out to be another favorite of my trip. The highlight of this show is definitely the three gossip girls....they are so awesome, and nobody was out! LaChanze was WONDERFUL. I had GREAT seats...5th row center I think. Beautiful music, wonderful acting, wonderful set. I was sooo glad I got to see the show. I bought a playbill for BCEFA again, and had LaChanze sign it (in her purple sharpie)....she was very sweet.

Saturday March 19
"The Lion King"
I have to say that I was expecting much more out of this show. Yes, the costumes and spectacle were AMAZING, and I loved a few songs, but some of the material just bored me, and I think a lot of the songs just end wrong, like without any power...they just kind of fade away, and it disappointed me. It was fun though from the first seat in the middle of the front row to look next to me and have the HUGE elephant walking right there. I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as I thought I was going to. I did not stage door.

"Wicked"
Earlier in the day I went on the Behind the Emerald Curtain tour, which I really enjoyed. Sean McCourt was great. The only special merchandise they have for it right now are posters. I was disappointed to see that the theatre was not pretty inside like I was expecting, but it does fit the show. The whole cast was WONDERFUL...absolutely wonderful....I sat in the same spot I did at the show in Chicago. I had seen Carol, Derrick, and Jenna in LA, so I knew they were great, but Eden was better than I thought she would be, as was Megan. The audience wasn't too great either. Nothing compares to the first time I saw it. Everyone was nice at the stage door (esp. Megan). There was hardly anyone there (something I was not expecting at all....no crazy fangirls!). I did get myself a Wicked cookbook for BCEFA, though. yay. Differences in the B-WAY show was that this was the first time I saw the big witches hat, and the monkeys over the audience. The only thing I did not like was where the broom came from...the way it came from the orch pit looked tacky compared to the other times I had seen the show, but I did enjoy that you could see the show better on the raked stage (as opposed to the flat stage the previous times I had seen it). Favorite part about the show: Megan and Eden's "oooooh." (you know what I mean if you've seen it. I love these little differences between productions.

Sunday March 19 (matinee)
"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"
Font row center again. It was such a fun show. Joanna Gleason was the only one out, which was a little saddening, but I was VERY happy that Norbert was in. They are still waiting for the new programs (featuring Pryce), so I was disappointed not to get one. The entire cast was top notch, and it is definitely a very entertaining show. Because I sat so close, I went home with one of the bills (of money) that they throw at the end. Once again, everyone was very nice at the stage door, although Norbert barely talked, which was understandable because it was FREEZING.

"......Spelling Bee"
This was the PERFECT ending to my Spring Break. I liked this show so much more than I was expecting. The understudies were on for both Marcy and Leaf, and they were great, especially Todd Buonopane. I have not laughed that much in a long time. I also purchased another playbill for BCEFA.


That's all for now! Hope you enjoyed my reviews! Ohhh and go see the Wedding Singer! I saw it in Seattle....it's not Tony material, but it's so fun!

Updated On: 3/22/06 at 03:21 AM

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 3:59am

"I was sooo excited when Patti walked by and told me that she was watching me during the show, and she told me I looked like Sean Lennon"

That made me giggle. I love Patti!!! lol

Glad you had a great time!!

[renthead92]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 9:25am

Glad you had fun! I know I would never be able to afford to see that many shows in one trip.

[MrBundles]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 10:25am

I dont know how I did! haha

[focusingonmoviesmatt]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 11:11am

Did uou see caren lynn was maureen or mimi. Im dying to se her both roles. Im also shocked about darlene love she's always so nice at the stage door.

[Steve2]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 12:53pm

Thanks for taking the time to write about your Spring Break. It sounds like you had a great time! Beats getting wasted in Cancun, I think.

[I<3bway]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 1:27pm

Hey,tell us if you go and see Jersey Boys. I really want to see that show!!

[Kimmygonbefamous]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 1:32pm

The reason that Karmine didn't have a bio was because she left the show a few months ago and Antonique Smith took over. She's come back a few times to do the role for a few days or so each time.

[MrBundles]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 2:47pm

oops typo...Caren played Maureen NOT Mimi

[MrBundles]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 2:47pm

haha yeah...im not into the drinking and partying thing

[WOSQ]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 2:50pm

My Dear Mister Bundles,

That is what I call a vacation and is like several I have taken.

Good boy. You will make someone a good mate one day.

As for the rest of you, hop to! Here's a lad who is single and loves the theatre and isn't afraid to spend his inheritance on it. He's a keeper.

Xx

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 2:56pm

I think he meant that Caren Lynn Manuel didn't have a bio. When I saw it, her bio was on an insert.

Karmine's bio is always in the playbill, and has been for roughly two years - she seems to always be Mimi's understudy.

[MusicRox]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 10:16pm

I saw Lion King the same night you did. It must have been amazing to see the elephant up close, I was on the mezzanine with 33 other kids from school... It was my first Broadway show, and I totally agree with your review.

[bigrab1018]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 10:41pm

MrBundle,
The performance of Rent that you saw was probably so good because Michael Grief probably came that day and tuned up the show, gave notes, etc.
Sounds like a Great and full vacation...thanks for the reviews!
P.S. How did you get like front row center for every single show? lol

[Jud Faginsky]

Posted: 3/22/06 at 10:48pm

MrBundles,
What a great spring break. My winter break was a mini version of this, four shows in five days in my first visit to NYC. This trip could be the highlight of your theater going life! And thanks for all the reviews.

Posted: 3/22/06 at 11:48pm

is rabbit hole worth seeing?

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 7:34am

Wow...I wish my parent's were really rich and would just give me thousands of dollars to take a spring break vacation, seeing 15 (?) shows. I wonder what that's like. Sounds like the ideal vacation for me. However, during my spring break, I got to work and study...don't all be jealous now.

-Vincent

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 8:26am

Wow- I think we both might have gone to the same Spelling Bee show! The day I went, both of their understudies were on as well! Did you go last Monday?

[MrBundles]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 3:11am

yes i think rabbit hole is worth seeing

[MrBundles]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 3:11am

I went on the sunday night

[MrBundles]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 3:12am

Haha WOSQ you are awesome.

Are you available?

hehe

[MrBundles]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 3:15am

well vincent you should go see shows with me next spring break! Haha....I want to go back and actually have a group of people who like theatre as much to go with me! I dont know many people who like it as much as I do

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 10:48am

Wow! You're so lucky to be able to afford 13 shows in one week. I think by the end I wouldn't be able to remember the 1st show.

[jsrocks]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 10:54am

Rabbit Hole is worth seeing because the cast is amazing and they really drive the story along.