So I saw four shows in NYC on my trip. Here it goes.
So first of all dont tell me how dumb I am for not Sweeney...I know I know I know. I really wanted to but I got screwed Saturday Night and dinner went really late and a Serioes of crappy events I got out of the subway at 8:30...bah But anyways here is the rest:
Thursday 1 friend won Wicked Lotto...1 won Spelling Bee (I saw Spelling Bee...i already watched Wicked in LA)
AMAZING. It was great. Had all of the leads except MAURICE MURPHY played Chip. I just have to say this was quiet possibly the most entertaining show I have ever seen. Hairspray was always my favorite but I liked the intimate feeling and being so close (the lotto seats are amazing as well as the pin). I felt the entire production was spot-on. Derrick Baskin who played Mitch had an amazing voice and really made his transition to Olive's father and the counselor seamless and was amazing. DEBORAH S. CRAIG who played Marcy Park was hilarious...great comedic timing...great voice. Loved her attitude. BARRETT FOA was an amazing Leaf. I prefer his voice to the cast recordings...I really do. He was hilarious. Yet while funny I really felt for him...I really felt the emotion that he felt left out in his family. And great work as Olive's Dad (the pouring soda on the floor...hahaha great stuff). JOSH GAD who played Will...annoyed me...as he was supposed to. So i say good job and he was really good at being obnoxious. CELIA KEENAN-BOLGER...dang she made me feel soooooo Bad. She was amazing actress. I felt so bad for her and when she didnt win I felt like a big punch in the stomache...She was so good. SARAH SALTZBERG as Logainne...hilarious. Hilarious. Loved her. GREG STUHR as Doug had such great comedic timing. He was really good. Had such great tags and one-liners.
Let me just say....LISA HOWARD YOU ARE MY GOD. Wowza. Her voice gave me chills every time. Her voice in The I love You Song was flawless. She was flawless. I loved her to death. Man she really stole the show.
All-in-all. Amazing. My eyes were glued the entire time. What a great start.
Friday
Won Wicked lotto again. Lost Spelling. My friends went to TKTS. I saw Wicked with my other friend.
Okay. Saycon = amazing. I was sad I missed Eden but Saycon was amazing. Derrick Williams bugs me...always will. He is good but...I dunno he seems odd for the part. Carol Kane...while she did not really sing she plays a damn good Morrible. Kate was just an amazing Galinda. Had the voice...comedic timing. Great job. We did not have Jenna as Nessa and had her understudy ...she was pretty good. Nothing to great or bad. Everyone else Boq etc. we're good...played well. Wizard...I HATE THIS PART...I do not care who plays it. I hate his songs...his parts...everything.
The ensemble...they seemed bored. There was this red-head that I looked at a lot (from 2nd row) I was just waiting for her to roll her eyes...she looked so bored and pissed she had to be there. I dunno...the cast seemed bored and lazy. In LA the ensemble was amazing. I mean do not get me wrong. Opening was great. It was in Dancing Through Life I really felt they were bored. Hmm...Wicked was Wicked. Entertaining. My friends loved it.
Saturday Chicago. 4th row center Orch.
Rita Wilson...ummm....okay. People in my choir had better voices. Her acting was okay...she was more annoying. I never really had any sympathy for her.
Brenda Braxton...AMAZING. She stole the show. She ate the stage up and made Rita look like a Jr. High Singer...My eyes could never leave her.
I will keep it quick. Everyone was amazing in the cast. Also ensemble member Bryn...she caught my eye. She was amazing beautiful and graceful... I like her a lot
Tuesday Student Rush Wedding Singer...Orch R. Great seats.
I did not get to see Laura...I saw Tina. Is it just me or do all of the minor character get better songs...better dances...better jokes...better everything. Tina was so...boring. Holly was amazing...Linda almost made me piss my pants in her letter...hahaha...Kevin Cahoon was hilarious. Rita Gardener worked that stage...Really good. But other than a really energetic High octane opener. The songs were boring. Holly lit up the stage and so did Linda. Saturday Night in the City honestly was one of the most entertaining numbers I have ever seen...but it ends there. The impersenations kind of saved the ending...I dunno. I was dissapointed and feel that I may have wasted my night when I could of seen something better...But overall great trip. Great shows.
And seeing DRS Tour at the Pantages so I did not see DRS...and also I will note. Monday I lost Ave Q lottery and could not afford 112.25 tickets. So it was a bust.
Y'know I really don't get it when I see all of these reviews where it mentions that the ensemble (and occasionally, even the leads) in shows "look bored" while on stage. Do they not realize that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people who would DIE to be where they are?! (including me!!) If they are really that bored up there, than maybe they picked the wrong profession and should go into something else.
WICKED, CHICAGO & WEDDING SINGER are three of my faves and I thank you for the reviews Always great to hear about them- good or bad
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
"Do they not realize that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people who would DIE to be where they are?! (including me!!)"
That doesn't mean they may or may not look bored. Sometimes after a while ensembles just may get stale with the material they've been working with for a while. They should switch some members if it's really dragging down the show that much.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
Glad you had a good trip. Great reviews. Spelling Bee & Wedding Singer are two of my favorites. The cast of Spelling Bee is great, and I really hope that Lisa & Celia get bigger roles soon. I'd love to see them as Fantine & Eponine in Les Mis.
And you made a mistake in your Spelling Bee paragraph, Barrett plays Logainne's dad, not Olive's.
Happy to hear you enjoyed Saycon! She felt really great about this last week of performances, and I am glad you got to see her!
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.