Part 1: Has anyone heard anything about a student rush for this year's Broadway Backwards similar to last year? I loved the show so much last year, but somehow missed out on the $75 tickets for this year's event, and I just don't have $150 floating around for the next level up, even if the money does go to a terrific cause.
Part 2: This year's show looks like it's going to be amazing. They're attracting bigger and bigger people every year. It's really my favorite benefit because it's so polished and it's a full night of entertainment, not like a lot of these thrown together events to raise money. Who else is going?
I was also wondering if anyone knew whether rush tickets would be available. I remember hearing about a rush last year. Did anybody do it? How did it work?
Hi, If anyone has an extra ticket or two to Broadway Backwards please contact me. I would really like to attend so not picky where I sit. On a budget, so no more than face value but cannot afford to buy the $250 seats either. *sigh* Thanks in advance, I really appreciate it.
I love America. Just because I think gay dudes should be allowed to adopt kids and we should all have hybrid cars doesn't mean I don't love America.
[turns and winks directly into the camera]
- Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) on 30 Rock
Here's a song list. Certain songs with concepts outside the general emotion of the song or the show are noted. I realize most people here don't need the show name, but for posterity...
ACT ONE
Alan Cumming - "Rainbow High" from Evita. The concept was him going out for a night on the town to meet guys.
Anne Meara (who replaced Rue McClanahan) and Kirsten Wyatt - "I Met a Girl" from Bells Are Ringing.
Whoopi Goldberg, Nancy Anderson, Frank Anderson, Jenna Coker-Jones, and Jenn Colella - "Gee, Officer Krupke" from West Side Story. The concept was that they were all lesbian street punks in the late 80s.
Aaron Lazar - "On My Own" from Les Miserables.
Jessica Lee Goldyn and Deidre Goodwin - "It's De-Lovely" from Anything Goes. The concept was that they were both stood up at the prom.
Jai Rodriguez - "Listen" from Dreamgirls. The concept was that he was a gay teen giving the ultimatum to his religious conservative Hispanic mother that she had to accept his lifestyle.
Jose Llana, John Tartaglia, and Christopher Sieber - "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof. The concept was that Jose and John were both addicted to Match.com on their iPhones.
Tony Yazbeck - "Buddy Beware" from Anything Goes. The concept was an underground 1930s gay bar.
Cheyenne Jackson and Sandra Bernhard - "You're the Top" from Anything Goes. Use your imagination.
The Male Ensemble - "Big Spender" from Sweet Charity. The concept was that they were all gay hustlers.
ACT TWO
Florence Henderson - "There is Nothin' Like a Dame" from South Pacific. The concept was let's just have Florence Henderson fondle the entire ensemble.
Len Cariou - "Losing My Mind" from Follies.
Jenn Colella and Jenifer Foote - "People Will Say We're in Love" from Oklahoma.
Gina Gershon - "Madeleine" from Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.
Tituss Burgess - "Meadowlark" from The Baker's Wife.
Ron Palillo, Charis Leos, and Jessica Carter - "Adelaide's Lament" from Guys and Dolls. The concept was originally funny and Ron Palillo was comforting two lesbians who showed up at the court house but then couldn't get married because of Prop 8. Then they used the reprise to make it sad by having his partner arrive and find out they couldn't be legally married anymore.
Michael Urie, Becky Newton, and Christopher Kale Jones - "Getting Married Today" from Company.
Mario Cantone - "Chief Cook and Bottlewasher" from The Rink.
Maureen McGovern - "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific.
Sally Mayes - "Get Me to the Church on Time" from My Fair Lady.
Marty Thomas - "Defying Gravity" from Wicked. The concept was that he sang while a group of people whose lives were changed by the LGBT Center told their stories.
Add in John Tartaglia as Rod lusting over Aaron Lazar, Jim Caruso as a terrific host, and a wonderful ensemble of talented young people and you had a solid 3 hours of awesome entertainment.
Updated On: 2/10/09 at 12:21 AM
Thanks for coming, Vespertine! :) I'm glad you enjoyed the show! Everyone involved worked REALLY hard, and we had endless hours of rehearsal over the past few days, but it was all totally worth it. (I was in the orchestra).
Wasn't Mario hilarious?!
Suzanne: I never use catalogs. I'd rather go in the store and see all the salespeople groveling and sucking up to you.
Julia: Pardon me, I never knew they were so solicitous at the K-Mart.
I love America. Just because I think gay dudes should be allowed to adopt kids and we should all have hybrid cars doesn't mean I don't love America.
[turns and winks directly into the camera]
- Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) on 30 Rock
I know I had a great time last year and can only imagine how fun it was this year. Thanks for taking the time to write out the song list and all. Sounds like a great night!
For me the high points of the eveing were: 1. Mario Cantone singing "Chief Cook and Bottlewasher," he landed every joke, and hit every note clear out of the theater. 2. Tony Yazbeck singing a sultry version of "Buddy Beware" in his gorgeous tenor voice with marvelous dancing and 4 handsome dancers. 3. Sally Mayes doing a jazzy, fab-u-lash version of "Get Me To The Church on Time" with the full chorus and dance ensemble, it was heaven! There was so much talent on that stage and the numbers were either heartfelt or funny or both. The only one that really didn't work (which was a huge disappointment because I am such a fan), was Cheyenne Jackson's. He was a good sport, but his co-star, Sandra Bernhard, totally screwed up the lyrics to "You're The Top" and just shrieked the ending of the song. It would have been so much fun to see Cheyenne sing that song with Chris Sieber, who was so funny in "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," instead of Ms. Bernhard. Or they should have chosen a number from say, "Beauty and the Beast."
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter