Musicals

[Nrthwnd]

Because of "Hamilton" being the main draw to the show, TV viewership went up 35% for the TONYs!

 

And as far as recent "record holders" go....

 

The Producers ~ 12

Hamilton ~ 11

Billy Elliot ~ 10

The Book of Mormon ~ 9

 

Great show last night. And some amazing speeches,

especially from Lin Manuel Miranda, and the opener by Corden.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

CBS2 is doing a follow-up show, again with Broadway.com and

again hosted by Imogen Lloyd Webber.

 

This Sunday morning - 0830 (That IS early!)

[Nrthwnd]

Our local in-the-park theatre company TUTS (Theatre Under The Stars) is hard at work on their upcoming two

shows for "the season": Beauty & The Beast, and a return, for the 5th time thru the years, West Side Story.

 

I am a patron, giving monthly donations to keep the show under the stars, so they've given us a look-see at what both

shows are going to be like, without practically everything involved, i.e. sets, costumes, lighting, full orchestra. I love it

because it really tests them, and us, to give their all and convince us what we're eventually going to see, is there right now!

 

"Beauty/Beast"'s run through (full run through, we all ~6~ didn't expect that!) was a couple of nights' back.

It - was - amazing! I knew the movie, had seen a tour of it through here a year ago. And this - this was sooooo muuuuch

better than the tour! Truth. I didn't really know any of the cast, knew the director (we have TUTS history), and that was it.

I really really REALLY enjoyed this run through - we all stood up, and I am so looking forward to seeing this one Opening

Night in July, when David is with me. Seeing everything all put together will be wonderful!

 

Now "West Side Story"'s run through is tomorrow night. And I definitely have my own "history" with this musical and this

company as well....

 

I did 6 musicals with TUTS, starting with their first year, 1969 and my last one, the first WEST SIDE STORY, was in 1977.

I played Riff. Really! The leader of The Jets - "Rigga Tigga Tum Tum" and all that crap, lol! That's Riff's entrance line,

(or it used to be - will find out Monday night) when he meets up with Tony (before "Something's Comin'").

I always felt it meant something..... stronger. But that was The Libretto, so it was followed as such. In 1977.

 

Anyway, I am so curious as to how all this is going to play out. I am hoping it's as awesome as "B/B" was last Friday.

 

http://www.tuts.ca/ The shows are in rep, from July 6 through to Aug.20 ~ Rain closures, up to three (?) hours before perf.

[Blue Turbo]

Got to see Newsies last night when it came to Gammage. I went into it hearing a lot of praise for it but only having heard like two songs from it (I decided to go into it blind and just experience it), and it definitely lived up to the hype. The show was absolutely incredible. The songs were great, and the cast was really good: great acting, great singing, and so much energy. And as someone who danced competitively for many years, the choreography and the talent of the dancers was stunning to see.

So glad I was able to see it

[Nrthwnd]

^ Great to hear about it! I am the same. I listened to the cast cd once, and haven't been back to it, since.

I will probably give it another listen, before we actually see it.

 

And as the tour was in Arizona, I'm assuming this is the tour that's coming our way, beginning of July.

(We're seeing it on July 6th.)

 

By the way, on the left of the "Newsies" poster, I see a bit of what could be "A Gentleman's Guide To..." perhaps?

It's not on our schedule in Vancouver, but I was just wondering. Or maybe, of course, it's something entirely different?

[Blue Turbo]

^ I'm pretty sure that is from Gentleman's guide. I took the picture a while ago (if I took it now it would have been Hamilton next to it). It was there for the season that just ended with Newsies, and I didn't see it (I didn't see many shows this season, but our next season is looking good so I might get season tickets)

[Nrthwnd]

^ And I am regretting missing out on some really good tours in the past several

years, here. I heard and read about. Now I am trying to "catch up", heh. Besides

Newsies, the next couple of months have me/us seeing 5 shows in all!

Rock of Ages; Newsies; Beauty/Beast; West Side Story; The Book of Mormon.

 

Then, Kinky Boots and Cinderella in the new year.

 

So far.

 

(Also, and more importantly, I want to get The FROG at The Book's souvenir stand this time, if available.)

[Nrthwnd]

 

Five-Time Tony Nominee John McMartin, Star of Follies, Sweet Charity & More, Dies at 86

 

A very sad loss to the New tork theatre community, indeed. He was a legendary musical actor, and I

only wish I had had the opportunity to see him, in a show, on at least one of my very few New York

visits, back in the mid/1970s-1980s.

 

He will be missed.

The original Ben, with the original Sally (Dorothy Collins). 1971 Original Broadway Cast of FOLLIES.

[Nrthwnd]

Seeing our Theatre In The Park's Opening Night production of Beauty & The Beast, tonight.

(West Side Story, the other show in rep, we're not seeing till the end of this month. On our Pride Day!)

 

We're looking forward to it, and I'll post before and after the show photos (I never take pix,

even if outdoors like this is - only the bows), how the whole area looks, where we sit, etc.

[Nrthwnd]

I'll get to my 'look' at Theatre Under The Stars, and the theatre called Malkin Bowl, soon.

 

But for now, here's a photo of me and two dear acting buddies. Cecelia Smith, who was TUT's

first Eliza in their 1970 productuion of "My Fair Lady". I was in chorus and also a dancer. And

with us, Alex Mcleod, a great supporter of musical theatre, and a bit of a musical actor himself.

 

This was taken back on Tuesday (July 12th), Opening Night for "Beauty & The Beast".

Just before we got our seats and watched the first act.

Me, Cecelia, and Alex. Ain't it loverly?

[Nrthwnd]

Just discovered (and ordered) this "musical" created by Stephen Schwartz, for Princess Cruise Lines.

 

Huh. Isn't released and/or shipped until August 26th, but I can wait.

~ Available from Amazon.com ~

[Nrthwnd]

Last night, was back at Theatre Under The Stars for us. This time, with TUTS' fifth production of West Side Story!

We were very much into seeing this version, as I played Riff in the very first version of WSS they did, back in....1977. Time flies.

 

Last night was also (coincidentally timed with our Pride Day) the annual Alumni Night for us, with those people involved with

everything from past TUTS shows. Acting, orchestra, crew, management, volunteers...all were welcome for the evening.

 

And I had a few surprise re-unions with acting chums from waaaaaaaay back in (my) musical theatre time. Much fun

and much dialogue going on, before the (non) curtain rose on Act 1. And then we didn't see anybody again, after it ended.

 

And the musical itself was a total surprise. A lot of unexpected original twists for direction and the dance sequences. I had seen this

in rehearsal, but only ten feet away. Now, with a better distance (30 feet?), everything came together beautifully. It was truly,

a very unique version of this classic musical. The leads were perfect, everybody supporting them were right for today's audience.

That's why they've done it five times. It's always worth new audiences to see and experience it, no matter the decade.

Back to where we were, beginning of July for "Beauty & The Beast."

A reminder - what B&B opening set looked like. Then it all comes down the next day....

And West Side Story is installed! The panels worked amazingly with black light and regular night, w/very cool effects.

The alumni were allowed into the seating area before the gp, which was nice. Some of the WSS cast were limbering up.

First chum. Ruth Nichol. She hit fame with a stint in "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well And Living In Paris." We've

known each other since the very first TUTS shows, circa 1969 and beyond. And we did "Cabaret" together, too.

Chum #2 - This is Annette, who was my Anybodys in our 1977 production of WSS.

Chum #3 - My Josie! Colleen Winston (some of you may have see her in sci-fi stuff, like Stargate series) was my little sister,

Josie Cohan to my George M. Cohan, in my first professional role in town, "George M!" She still has a great smile, too.

From our seats. Seeing the conductor....

...who also happened to play the Head Cop in the show! Interesting. Show was great. We loved it. Bravo TUTS!

[Nrthwnd]

The 2015-2016 Broadway Season...in CDs!

 

Here's my annual take on what we got to listen to, of Broadway shows, for those of us

not able to see and hear the real thing. Of those here, only five made it through the

season. And "She Loves Me" was on a limited run, as well as "The Color Purple" is.

 

But - notice the "hole" at the end of the middle row there? That's for one more show that did close

early, but their (&%@%* CD isn't coming out until mid-September! Grrrr. So, I decided

to post all the CDs now out, and make it a TRIVIA QUESTION to you who know your musicals:

 

***What show is it, that opened after "Fiddler On The Roof," but before "She Loves Me" did?

No prize. Just knowing that YOU know your Broadway Seasons.

So - any ideas out there in Musical Theatre Land? (o;

[Woodie Warrior]

Disaster?

[Nrthwnd]

CORRECT!!!!

 

And you have won ABSO! LUTELY! NOTHING!

 

! !

Soon! To Be Released! September 9th! This Year!

[Nrthwnd]

Group photo of the new tv production of Rocky Horror.

 

Get ready to "jump to the left" on October 20 on FOX!

[Guy T. Koepp]

^ I LOVE LOVE LOVE the casting on this.

 

My biggest concern will be how watered down and sanitized it will end up being for network television. It is my hope they do 2 versions. One for the network, and one for Netflix, or basic cable. I also hope they don't try to add new songs, or other stupid Sh!t to it like how they did with that Gawd awful Grease version we got a few months ago.

[Nrthwnd]

^ I'll be thrilled if and when they ever release an "uncut" DVD of it. 3-D and Blu Ray of course!

[jray21]

Got our tickets for the upcoming season in Reno! This year will be:

 

Once

Elf

Motown

Dirty Dancing

Cinderella

The Illusionists (not a musical, but part of the season)

 

Should be a fun year.

[Nrthwnd]

^ Both Once and Dirty Dancing were both great shows, and so so different from each other!

Hope they're as awesome for you, as they were for us, when we saw them in the past year or so.

 

And Cinderella is part of our new "Broadway in Vancouver" series lasting til next spring.

 

We're seeing it, last.

[Nrthwnd]

We went to The Book of Mormon last Wednesday night. And it was just as funny and wonderful

as the first time we saw it. And having a different cast was a-ma-zing! Such different takes on the

characters in BoM. We loved it, as did the entire audience throughout all of it. A lot of us were already

on our feet when the finale curtain came down. So the cast saw us immediately standing when the

curtain came back up. Which for their reaction, was very cool to see.

 

AND ~ I did find and buy what I really REALLY wanted, from the show's merchandise table!

I saw 'it' there, the first time BoM came around. So I was really hoping it'd be back.

 

And - it was.

 

So my life is complete now.

If you know the musical, then you KNOW who this is. (o;

And it will "change your life." Truth!

[Nrthwnd]

Here's a new-ish list I put together, of those musicals headed to Broadway in the

2016-2017 Season. How many of these 17 will survive till the TONYs, is anybody's guess.

 

May 25 - 2016 Paramour

July 31 - Cats ®

Oct.06 - Holiday Inn

Oct.27 - Falsettos ®

Nov.14 - Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Dec.01 - A Bronx Tale

Dec.04 - Dear Evan Hansen

Dec.11 - In Transit

 

Mar.02 - 2017 Significant Other

Mar.12 - Come From Away

Mar.23 - Miss Saigon ®

Apr.03 - Ame'lie*

Apr.06 - War Paint

Apr.17 - Groundhog Day

Apr.20 - Hello Dolly! ®

Apr.23 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Apr.24 - Anastasia

Apr.26 - Bandstand

 

*EDITing as new shows are announced...

Edited November 17, 2016 by Nrthwnd

[disneyfan1313]

Tonight we got to see the opening show of the 2016/2017 Broadway In Orlando series - "The Illusionists - Live from Broadway" at the beautiful Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando. This show ran over the holidays last year on Broadway and is now touring the USA with a new version of the show hitting Broadway again this holiday season. One of the quotes on the poster sums it up perfectly "Magic's Cirque-Du-Soleil" - it is an INCREDIBLY entertaining show from start to finish.

 

From the official website: "This mind blowing spectacular showcases the jaw dropping talents of seven of the most incredible illusionists on earth. THE ILLUSIONISTS – Live From Broadway has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.

 

Audiences will witness stunning acts of grand illusion, levitation, mind-reading, disappearance and for the first time ever in history, a full view water torture escape. Performed by the acclaimed escapologist Andrew Basso, he will hold his breath for over 4 minutes whilst attempting to escape from his underwater cell. This group of world-class performers take their cue from the showmanship of the great illusionists of the past - such as Harry Houdini – and pair it with a new and updated contemporary aesthetic, whose set and costume design lend the genre a theatricality and artistry that has rarely been seen before. Collectively, these performers have been seen by millions of people around the world and this production showcases their incredible talents together on stage for the very first time."

 

First of all I have to admit, I am a bit of a magic snob. I've been to the Magic Castle in LA a few times and seen many professional magic shows both large and small. I went into this show expecting to be entertained but also to see "standard" tricks that I have seen before and have a basic idea of how they are done. That was not the case AT ALL. This show really blew me away not only with the illusions themselves, but also with the pacing of the show, the art direction and the personality of the performers themselves. It was really top notch all around. Not to spoil the show, but it starts off with a mind blowing feat of mentalism that involves the whole audience and STILL has me racking my brain and just before intermission you see an amazing underwater escape that really keeps you on the edge of your seat. In-between and after intermission you will see a whole host of different types of performances including one of the best "bird acts" that I have ever seen. This show is really worth going out of your way to see!

 

"The Illusionists - Live from Broadway" is part of the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Broadway series which you can find more info about here: www.drphillipscenter.org/ Tickets are available in Orlando through October 9th.

 

And if you're interested in seeing the Illusionists while on tour or their new show on Broadway this holiday season, you can visit their website at www.theillusionistslive.com/

Every time I visit this theater I am blown away by how beautiful. So lucky to have it in Orlando!

Guess what we are here to see! I do like this trend of shows putting picture spots in the lobby.

Some cool merch including magic tricks! I got the deck of playing cards.

I love the speciality drinks that Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center does for each show. This one even changes colors like a magic trick!

It is showtime!

This really was an edge-of-your-seat kind of moment. He held his breath for almost 4 minutes as he escaped!

This was one of the best "bird acts" I have seen. Producing doves over and over again and turning them back and forth into different things in rapid fire procession. Then turning them red - it was awesome!

This version of "saw a man in half" is VERY impressive.

It is over already!?!? Curtain call time! I would see this again in a heartbeat and I recommend you do as well!

[jray21]

Great review! Now I'm even more excited to see them when they come to Reno in April! Thanks for the report!

[Nrthwnd]

It'd be nice if this show came over as far as us - and I mean Portland, Seattle AND Vancouver, too.

 

Great review and photos. The Center always looks nice, there. A great WIN for Orlando.

[bert425]

just saw this. .

 

Guess I'm making a drive to San Antonio in March (shocked they aren't playing Austin).

 

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http://rentontour.net/#1469818983234-f236b562-2d26