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Theatre Talk: In Our Own Little Corner

aradia22

By aradia22
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Is Everyone Gone

Is Everyone Gone

8 hours ago, Dr.OO7 said:

Any opinions on the production of "Othello"? Once again, I wanted to take my dad for Father's Day, but once again, the "modern" setting makes me balk. The $900 tickets aren't too appealing either. 

I've not heard good things about it.

OTOH I saw Picture of Dorian Gray and loved it. Sarah Snook is amazing! I also met her at the stage door and she was absolutely lovely. So, so different from Shiv Roy.

Actually, I met "Kendall Roy" last year too at the stage door of Enemy of the People and Jeremy Strong was also lovely and so, so different from the Number One Boy.

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aradia22
aradia22

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/theater/stephen-sondheim-final-interview.html I am glad he got to see the opening of this revival of Company and seemed to be living his best life 'the the end,

aradia22
aradia22
Bethany
Bethany

Just read an article about how this has "sparked a debate about theatre going etiquette".  My mind is boggling that there even needs to be a debate about this.

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EtheltoTillie

EtheltoTillie

(edited)

I have heard bad reviews on the Othello production.  I saw some scenes when they were promoting it on CBS Sunday Morning the other week, and it didn't look great.  Just seemed very stagy. 

IN OTHER NEWS:

I was blessed with a last minute ticket to the preview of Just In Time tonight.  Someone couldn't go.  I'll report back. 

Edited by EtheltoTillie
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EtheltoTillie

EtheltoTillie

(edited)

Back to report on Just In Time.  It was fantastic.  At least Groff was fantastic.  The rest of the cast was weaker.  Still, it's a really fun show.  He has the most amazing energy and joy in performing.  He's not doing an impersonation of Darin but rather an interpretation. 

Edited by EtheltoTillie
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ebk57

ebk57

22 minutes ago, EtheltoTillie said:

Back to report on Just In Time.  It was fantastic.  At least Groff was fantastic.  The rest of the cast was weaker.  Still, it's a really fun show.  He has the most amazing energy and joy in performing.  He's not doing an impersonation of Darin but rather an interpretation. 

I don't think this will still be around in July, but I'll keep an eye out.  Glad you enjoyed it!

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EtheltoTillie

EtheltoTillie

4 hours ago, ebk57 said:

I don't think this will still be around in July, but I'll keep an eye out.  Glad you enjoyed it!

They are showing it running through July 28

Funny thing. I am catching up on The Good Fight. Never saw it. I was just watching Season 4 episode 4 and I spied one of the actors from the play in a small role. Lance Roberts. 

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MicheleinPhilly

MicheleinPhilly

Over the weekend I saw Dreamgirls at the Walnut Street Theatre here in Philadelphia. Obviously I've seen the film and have been familiar with the music for decades, but I've never had the chance to see the show live. 

What an experience! I was taken aback by how sparse the set is, but it just goes to show the strength of the music and story that it wasn't needed. 

Aveena Sawyer, who played Effie, blew the roof off. I had actual tears in my eyes during "And I Am Telling You" and appreciated that the orchestra paused before launching into The Dreams afterwards to allow for her very much deserved ovation. 

This was a really special experience and I'm so glad I finally had the chance to see it. 

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Spartan Girl

Spartan Girl

I saw the touring production of Chicago for the first time ever. I was aware that it’s very minimalist compared to the movie, but the difference  was still a little jarriing. Anyway, it was good—even if the plot of criminal using sensationalist media to literally get away with murder hits a little harder this year.

The dancing was more impressive in Act 2 than Act 1 IMHO; I was stunned that there wasn’t more choreography for “Cell Block Tango.” And if they can pull out the feathered fans for “All I Care About Is Love” then why not for “When You’re Good to Mama”?! All she did was just stand there singing!

So with that, I’ve finally completed the block of Broadway’s longest running shows from the 80s and 90s: Cats, Les Miserables, Phantom, Chicago, and Miss Saigon. Do Lion King and Beauty and the Beast count too?

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ebk57

ebk57

3 hours ago, PRgal said:

Some people don't include staged Disney musicals (save for Aida, which was never made into a movie) or jukebox productions.

Interesting.  I think that if it's a show on Broadway, it counts as a Broadway show.  Because let's face it - almost everything on Broadway now started as something else.  I honestly don't need to see another musical made from a movie that has no musical underpinnings, but that's just me.  It's still a Broadway show.

 

Hard pivot to another subject - I got an email today about presale tickets to Bill and Ted's Excellent Broadway Adventure (aka Waiting for Godot starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter).  I really don't like Waiting for Godot, but since it will be closing January 4th which is weeks before my January trip, I'm off the hook!  It's one of those "events" that I feel like I should see, but I really don't want to, and now I won't.

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PRgal

PRgal

18 minutes ago, ebk57 said:

Interesting.  I think that if it's a show on Broadway, it counts as a Broadway show.  Because let's face it - almost everything on Broadway now started as something else.  I honestly don't need to see another musical made from a movie that has no musical underpinnings, but that's just me.  It's still a Broadway show.

 

 I got an email today about presale tickets to Bill and Ted's Excellent Broadway Adventure (aka Waiting for Godot starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter).   

😂

Spartan Girl

Spartan Girl

Point is, I’ve now seen pretty much all the big staples still on Broadway.

Back to Chicago, for anyone that’s seen it. Was I the only one that felt let down by “Cell Block Tango”? I knew they wouldn’t go all out like the movie, but I was at least expecting more dancing than I got. It’s supposed to be a TANGO for FFS.

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Ohiopirate02

Ohiopirate02

22 hours ago, ebk57 said:

Hard pivot to another subject - I got an email today about presale tickets to Bill and Ted's Excellent Broadway Adventure (aka Waiting for Godot starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter).  I really don't like Waiting for Godot, but since it will be closing January 4th which is weeks before my January trip, I'm off the hook!  It's one of those "events" that I feel like I should see, but I really don't want to, and now I won't.

I really only want to see this if it is Bill and Ted's Existential Journey. I am hesitant to pay Broadway money plus travel expenses only to see Serious Actor Keanu. Because, lets be honest, Serious Actor Keanu is not as good as Dumb Stoner Keanu or Action Movie Keanu.

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MicheleinPhilly

MicheleinPhilly

On 4/15/2025 at 10:08 AM, Spartan Girl said:

Point is, I’ve now seen pretty much all the big staples still on Broadway.

Back to Chicago, for anyone that’s seen it. Was I the only one that felt let down by “Cell Block Tango”? I knew they wouldn’t go all out like the movie, but I was at least expecting more dancing than I got. It’s supposed to be a TANGO for FFS.

Chicago was the first musical I ever saw that was not a school production or on Summer Stage. I was 20 years old and I saw it in the West End with Ute Lemper. It was absolutely sublime and began my lifelong love affair with musicals. I also love the film. 

It's a swap out/add on for our 2025-2026 season and I thought it was a no-brainer that I would go but your posts about it are giving me pause. 

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Spartan Girl

Spartan Girl

1 hour ago, MicheleinPhilly said:

Chicago was the first musical I ever saw that was not a school production or on Summer Stage. I was 20 years old and I saw it in the West End with Ute Lemper. It was absolutely sublime and began my lifelong love affair with musicals. I also love the film. 

It's a swap out/add on for our 2025-2026 season and I thought it was a no-brainer that I would go but your posts about it are giving me pause. 

Oh no, don't let me influence your opinion! I'm just asking if other productions of "Cell Block Tango" at least had more to it than just them standing there/sitting in their chairs. 

ebk57

ebk57

2 hours ago, PRgal said:

Wait. What? Steve Martin Wrote a Musical?

Yes, he did.  I saw it pre-Broadway at the Kennedy Center years ago.  The music is wonderful.  The first act is wonderful.  The second act is...okay. 

 

1 hour ago, Spartan Girl said:

Oh no, don't let me influence your opinion! I'm just asking if other productions of "Cell Block Tango" at least had more to it than just them standing there/sitting in their chairs. 

Chicago is the first show I saw on Broadway in 1976 (?), but that was the fully staged version.  The current version played my theater for many, many months 20+ years ago.  I wish I could remember how Cell Block Tango was staged, but alas, my memory fades.  I do love the show a lot. 

 

On 4/15/2025 at 12:42 PM, Ohiopirate02 said:

I really only want to see this if it is Bill and Ted's Existential Journey. I am hesitant to pay Broadway money plus travel expenses only to see Serious Actor Keanu. Because, lets be honest, Serious Actor Keanu is not as good as Dumb Stoner Keanu or Action Movie Keanu.

Amex pre-sale is today.  Holy shit, those tickets are reeeeally expensive!  I'm so sorry (ha) that I can't go... 

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Dr.OO7

Dr.OO7

I took my mother to see "Gypsy" today (an early Mother's Day present). I had never seen Audra MacDonald perform before. Holy shit, she was PHENOMENAL. She got a standing ovation in the middle of the show (I've only seen that 2 other times) for her work in "Rose's Turn".

I thought it was terrific overall. I was interested to see if the Race Lift would change the dynamic of the show,  but interestingly, to me, it actually didn't,  except for that line where Rose claims that she makes Louise wear the blonde wig because "it makes her look like a star".

No, Rose, it's because you think it makes her look WHITE.  

Which actually makes her obsession with their success, even if it's vicarious living, more poignant. 

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Spartan Girl

Spartan Girl

(edited)

PBS’ Great Performances aired the 2023 London production of Next to Normal. Oof. That’s an intense show.

This may be an unpopular opinion but I can’t really bring myself to sympathize with Diana. Mental illness or not, she seemed more obsessed with the fantasy of Gabe, than she cared for Dan or Natalie. “I love you as much as I can” isn’t exactly a ringing affirmation of love for a daughter that you pretty much had to replace your dead son. And for all her efforts to try and connect with Natalie, it didn’t seem like they were in close contact after she moves back in with her parents; she’s clearly not at Natalie’s birthday at the end. Honestly, Dan and Natalie might be better off without her.

Edited by Spartan Girl
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ebk57

ebk57

2 things - 

RIP Charles Strouse.  My high school drama teacher (who unknowingly got me to crave a career in theater) loved Bye, Bye Birdie and staged it any chance he got.  And for me, Annie is one of my favorite shows during my time working at the National Theater. 

https://playbill.com/article/charles-strouse-composer-of-annie-and-bye-bye-birdie-dies-at-96

 

And, CNN is going to livestream Good Night and Good Luck on June 7th.  I'm still mad at George, so didn't bother buying a ticket when I was in NY last.  I'm not sure I'll even watch, but I'll think about it. 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/15/entertainment/george-clooney-broadway-play-cnn-televise

Oh, and @Spartan Girl I have Next to Normal recorded.  I may let you all know what I think when I watch.  Or not - we'll see 😉

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EtheltoTillie

EtheltoTillie

(edited)
8 minutes ago, ebk57 said:

2 things - 

RIP Charles Strouse.  My high school drama teacher (who unknowingly got me to crave a career in theater) loved Bye, Bye Birdie and staged it any chance he got.  And for me, Annie is one of my favorite shows during my time working at the National Theater. 

https://playbill.com/article/charles-strouse-composer-of-annie-and-bye-bye-birdie-dies-at-96

 

And, CNN is going to livestream Good Night and Good Luck on June 7th.  I'm still mad at George, so didn't bother buying a ticket when I was in NY last.  I'm not sure I'll even watch, but I'll think about it. 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/15/entertainment/george-clooney-broadway-play-cnn-televise

Oh, and @Spartan Girl I have Next to Normal recorded.  I may let you all know what I think when I watch.  Or not - we'll see 😉

Well thanks, I will try to watch that.   The tickets are super expensive, and I'm not super interested in the play, so I wouldn't go to it, but I like George.  Why are you mad at George? 

Edited by EtheltoTillie
choclatechip45

choclatechip45

(edited)
On 4/7/2025 at 8:18 AM, Spartan Girl said:

Anybody seen Floyd Collins yet? I know it’s only in previews and the official opening isn’t for a few weeks, but I’m curious.

I saw it tonight. I liked it. I thought it was about 20 minutes too long at the end. The singing by Jeremy Jordan, Taylor Trensch, Jason Gotay and Lizzy McAlpine is fantastic. It is different from most things on broadway in a good way.

Taylor Trensch is the standout. 

Edited by choclatechip45
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Spartan Girl

Spartan Girl

I knew Jeremy would kill it.

Like I shared before, I never even knew about Floyd Collins (the man or the musical) until I heard this song on Broadway Sirius XM back in November. Had no idea what the context was, and yet it managed to destroy me (though I was in an already sensitive mood at the time). And I haven’t been able to get it out of my head ever since.

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ebk57

ebk57

7 hours ago, Luckylyn said:

Chess is coming in the fall

 

Chess is, like Merrily, a show where I absolutely love the score and feel (okay, I know! 😄 ) that the book will never work.  So I can save some money come fall. 

 

I did get tickets to Ragtime (can't wait!).  I'm also interested in seeing Art, but will wait to see if there are discounts. 

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JustHereForFood

JustHereForFood

I love Chess! I have the original album and seen the concert version with Idina Menzel more times than I can count. Amazing songs. I rewatched it pretty recently. Never seen any other version, but I've read that there are changes in every one of them and from reading about some of them on wikipedia, I would probably not like many of them, but I think the concert one works best.

Of course, I have to take it with a grain of salt since it's people from western countries writing about the Cold war and that always has some issues, but apart from the fact that no self-respecting Easter European woman would date a Russian, much less a bore like that, it is pretty ok. (Well, I used to like the song Anthem and now since the current war, it leaves a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth, but Florence throwing murderous looks at Molotov almost makes up for that.)

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ebk57

ebk57

1 hour ago, PRgal said:

What's the whole thing between Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald, anyway?  I'm too lazy to look it up.  I just know that there's some Mean Girl-ing.

Let's see if I can do this succinctly... 

Patti was in a play with Mia Farrow (just the 2 of them). 

The theatre backed up to the theatre where Hell's Kitchen is playing. 

The sound from HK was bleeding into the theatre where Patti and Mia were. 

Patti asked the Shuberts (who own the theatre where HK was) to see if the sound could be adjusted. 

It was adjusted.

Patti sent flowers to the crew at HK thanking them.

Kecia Lewis, who is in HK, somehow or other saw the flowers/note.

She took to social media to say that Patti had committed a micro-aggression.

Audra liked Kecia's post.

At some point, someone asked Patti to autograph a Playbill from HK - a show she's not in! - and Patti refused and added "it's too loud".  

That was recorded and posted to social media.

That makes Patti a racist. 

Things spun out of control.

Patti did an interview with The New Yorker.

She called Kecia a bitch and wouldn't comment on Audra's performance in Gypsy. 

More spinning out of control. 

Patti apologizes for the first time in her life. 

 

I will leave out how I feel about the whole thing.

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EtheltoTillie

EtheltoTillie

(edited)

https://assets.playbill.com/editorial/Open-Letter-From-The-Broadway-Theater-Community.pdf?_gl=1*1payvrs*_ga*MjU3NTM0MTQ3LjE3NDg2OTU4ODc.*_ga_WXGC9EXCCR*czE3NDg2OTU4ODkkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDg2OTU4ODkkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_DNG0Q044X6*czE3NDg2OTU4ODkkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDg2OTU4ODkkajYwJGwwJGgw

 

Open letter posted about Patti on May 30. 

Edited by EtheltoTillie
Dimity

Dimity

12 hours ago, ebk57 said:

She called Kecia a bitch and wouldn't comment on Audra's performance in Gypsy.

She also questioned whether Kecia, with a career on Broadway that goes back 40 years, and who is a Tony award winner,  could be considered a "Broadway veteran".   This really isn't the equivalent of a schoolyard disagreement.  She went out of her way to insult and demean people in the interview. She came across as the ultimate mean girl dragging people into a feud they didn't even know they were having.

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Luckylyn

Luckylyn

Keica Lewis’ statement regarding Patti’s  noice complaint.

I do wonder if the offense was taken because Patti didn’t reach out to anyone from Hell’s Kitchen directly to discuss the music being heard through the walls.  Patti went over their heads to the head of the Schuberts to force the changes she wanted.  I can see that rubbing the team at Hell’s Kitchen the wrong way.  I honestly don’t know if race was a factor or if Patti was being privileged because of her position as a theatre legend to pressure people in a show with less power than her.  I do think the diplomatic thing would have been to reach out to Hell’s Kitchen’s team directly before calling the theater owners.  Is Patti being a diva or is she being a bigot?  
 

Details from Patti’s interview 

 

Patti apologizes 

https://people.com/patti-lupone-apologizes-amid-audra-mcdonald-controversy-broadway-backlash-11745689

1 minute ago, Dimity said:

She also questioned whether Kecia, with a career on Broadway that goes back 40 years, and who is a Tony award winner,  could be considered a "Broadway veteran".   This really isn't the equivalent of a schoolyard disagreement.  She went out of her way to insult and demean people in the interview. She came across as the ultimate mean girl dragging people into a feud they didn't even know they were having.

Patti being so angry at Audra because she liked a Kecia’s post on social media is just  wild.  Also the name calling from Patti and the disparaging of Kecia’s career was completely unnecessary. 

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Luckylyn

Luckylyn

An analysis if Patti Lupone’s apology 

I keep thinking if the positions were reversed and an actress had made a noise complaint to the owner against a show Patti was starring in instead of reaching out to Patti’s show directly leading to forced changes to the sound design that Patti probably would have been livid. I think  Patti sees things from her perspective and wasn’t considering how it would affect others.  She’s always been someone who spoke her mind not caring about opinions and that is something fans have admired in the her.  But this was just being unnecessarily hostile.

Want to learn why Andrew Lloyd Webber paid a fortune to Patti Lupone?  In this case, I was on Patti’s side because the way Andrew tried to play the actresses involved in Sunset Boulevard against each other was manipulative as hell.  

 

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