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Musical adaptation of film SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED from Nick Blaemire and Ryan Miller (Guster) to premiere at BAM
 Sep 25 2024, 12:18:39 PM

I saw this on Friday and didn't mind it.  Is it good?  Not really.  Once I realized it was full cheesy satire, I just sat back and had a good time.  

That said, BAM is absolutely the wrong venue for this show.  It'd have done much better at a smaller house like the Beechman or even NYTW.  It's a quirky small show that is absolutely swallowed up by the BAM stage.  


YELLOW FACE Previews
 Sep 15 2024, 12:51:36 AM

I was there for the first preview on Friday.  Full house.  Enthusiastic crowd, as to be expected for a first preview.

I hadn't seen the play before and wasn't familiar with the material.  It took me a minute to settle into the structure and style of the play, but once I did, I enjoyed it throughout.  Daniel Dae Kim is off to an excellent start...occasionally verging on hammy in a few spots...I imagine it will get a little more grounded throughout, which will


Musical Adaptation of EMPIRE RECORDS - News & Discussion Thread
 Sep 9 2024, 09:50:49 AM

I saw yesterday's matinee performance. I'm going to put much of the information behind a spoiler break just in case.  Pre-show, the director said it was the third preview, and they're still doing a lot of work on the show.  

Overall, I enjoyed it.  It hit a lot of the beats of the movie while cutting a handful of the extraneous plotlines.  The score has a lot of mid-'90s rock vibes -- several songs had a strong Alanis Morissette vibe to them.  T


Musical Adaptation of EMPIRE RECORDS - News & Discussion Thread
 Sep 7 2024, 09:26:21 PM

I'll be there tomorrow.  Will report!


The Official TDF Thread
 Aug 9 2024, 09:24:39 AM

scripps said: "singingdude said: "No More Back to the Future? I was hoping to see it this summer or fall. Will it be back on TDF once the summer ends?"

I haven't seen BTTF up since earlier this month (July 4th weekend). I can't imagine it won't be listed again this fall but know that the in-person rush is pretty easy to do. I was able to get a $40 rush ticket in the rear orch for Hugh Coles' final performance on June 23rd a few minutes af


FLOYD COLLINS to be given Broadway revival by Lincoln Center
 Jun 11 2024, 12:33:55 PM

This is my number one favorite show that I've never seen a production of.  I'M SO EXCITED!


Dave Malloy's THREE HOUSES at Signature
 May 20 2024, 03:06:28 PM

I saw this on Thursday and I was not ready.

I'm a huge Malloy stan, but I don't think he's beyond reproach (Moby Dick was an hour too long; Don't Stop Me has too many plot lines; Octet felt like a first draft of an idea).  That said, I always appreciate his willingness to take big swings, and I always take something away from his work.

The second I realized this was about the pandemic, my shoulders tensed.  I've seen a few pieces recently set in and


The New Group's
 May 20 2024, 02:57:15 PM

Agreed! I saw this last week on a comp and knew nothing about it going into it. And it's quite good.  The two leads are pitch perfect, and Moose (the brother-in-law) was excellent.  I laughed out loud quite a few times (tomato/tomato), and I was so grateful to see a show that centered people with disabilities in which their disabilities were a part of the story but were not the story.  Really pleasantly surprised by this overall.


Who Are You?
 May 15 2024, 07:12:48 PM

44-year-old white queer guy from North Carolina who now lives in Brooklyn.  I work in higher education and was a theatre major for a split second in undergrad before I realized I much preferred being in the audience.  I'm a bit of a completionist, so I try to see everything that opens on Broadway, especially now that I live in the city.  I average 1-2 shows per week and try to catch as much off- and off-off-Broadway as the budget will allow.  I try to (but don't al


Best Musical Theatre Podcast?
 May 14 2024, 12:58:50 PM

jacobsnchz14 said: "A Musical Theatre Podcast with Jeffrey Scott Parsons"

I fully second this recommendation.  Jeff is charming and warm and earnest -- yet somehow never tilts into cloying.  I really like this podcast.


ILLINOISE Reviews
 May 6 2024, 09:19:06 AM

As I've previously posted on this board, I love Illinoise. I do think it's going to have a hard time winning Best Musical for all the reason that have been discussed here.  Regarding what this show is -- I have had an easier time thinking of it as musical theatre but also am comfortable saying that it's not a musical, per se.  


Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 4/28/24
 May 2 2024, 01:01:15 PM

silent said: "There are plenty of people who like The Wiz. Just because some of y’all are miserable (and some racist) doesn’t mean you should be projecting that onto others."

I love The Wiz.  I hated this production of The Wiz.  Both the show and the performers deserved better than what this creative team put together.  


Aaron Tveit, Sutton Foster will next star in ‘Sweeney Todd'
 May 2 2024, 12:50:31 PM

I saw yesterday's matinee and have a similar take to most of the recent reports on these boards.

Sutton was excellent.  Found all of the same laughs as Annaleigh, but the performance felt far more grounded and organic.  By the Sea was superb.

I found Aaron just super bland.  Yes, he's vocallly miscast, but I didn't mind the occasional option up.  And I thought he was actually quite delightful in A Little Priest.  However, the Joanna Quartet m


ILLINOISE Reviews
 May 1 2024, 07:20:29 PM

Bill Snibson said: "No shade to Robbie but I feel like he would have read much older than the rest of the cast. Not that it would really matter but I felt like Brandt truly brought a lightness and an open spirit to his journal entry."

I saw them Brandt at Bard and on Broadway and Robbie at the Armory.  Robbie is a beautiful dancer...but almost too beautiful?  I think Brandt's style blends more with the cast -- and I felt much more emotion exuding from h


Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 4/28/24
 May 1 2024, 05:16:31 PM

hearthemsing22 said: "dramamama611 said: "Bringing art to people that can't afford to get to NYC isnt "necessary"? Then why tour anything? I also don't care how producers choose to spend their money. They have plenty."

Sorry let me rephrase- bringing certain shows that were successful on Broadway isn't always needed on tour, or in the west end, and vice versa. It's unbelievable that Merrily has had the success it's been expe


Your Single Favorite 2024 Tony Nomination
 Apr 30 2024, 01:21:17 PM

Whitney White


The 77th Annual Tony Award Nominations for 2024
 Apr 30 2024, 10:04:15 AM

Quick thoughts:

I'm delighted the Brody gets in.  Sad for Chip.  

Glad they found five slots for Leading Actress in a Play

Featured Actress in a Musical is WILD and wide open.

No Ricky or Conrad in Featured Actor is probably my biggest heartbreak.  Especially with six nominations.

Surprised that Francis Benhamou didn't get in, especially over Quincy Tyler Bernstine, who I was underwhelmed by in Doubt.

Surprised but not mad at al


Best Musical Theatre Podcast?
 Apr 28 2024, 10:29:11 AM

Broadway Breakdown does great deep dives on individual shows combined with analysis of the current landscape of Broadway.

The Original Cast focuses on individual cast recordings and incorporates analyses of the shows themselves.


2024 Tony Predictions
 Apr 27 2024, 04:27:17 PM

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "In another season, Michael Stuhlbarg could be walking away with the Best Actor Tony.

I didn't see Tom Hollander in London, but Stuhlbarg is doing astonishing work here and grounds that play with his humane performance of an incredibly complex man. I don't love thatplay, but he keeps it interesting.
"

I mean, if the Tony were for most acting, I’d agree with you. I personally found it a bit much 


2024 Tony Predictions
 Apr 27 2024, 02:23:21 PM

Jordan Catalano said: "If Ricky Ubeda and Ben Cook don’t get nominated, I’ll be the guy starting the riots on the street."

I wish that Ubeda were in lead.  I have a hard time seeing both of them getting nominated in featured. 


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