Profile for Thespinoy

The theme was music yet the orchestra was playing a mile away at the Capitol Records building. Really?!

I don't buy a word of it. Not a single solitary word.

Rob Berman is the Musical Director. Jonathan Tunick made new orchestrations specifically for the 9 musicians in this production.

"Oh, Patrick, has it come to this? Hawking Gap pants on TV?" Are you kidding me? We should all be so lucky!

"And the point is not just a space but a space that would work with La Jolla's brilliantly immersive production. A traditional proscenium space is pretty much just not going to cut it." Actually, the immersive set was designed for a traditional proscenium space. La Jolla's Mandell Weiss Theatre has a traditional proscenium. The additional seating is on the stage (patrons had to make their way backstage to get to their seats) and the "yellow brick road" extended out over either side of the pro...

"Have you seen The Wiz? It does NOT belong in a small theater, the production is HUGE" Neddyfrank is right. The set was actually orginally designed for the Hirshfeld when they were going to do it directly on B'way several years ago. The yellow brick road was going to go through the orchestra section as well as in front of the mezzanine level. If you've ever been to the Mandell Weiss Theatre in La Jolla, you know that it is a regular proscenium style house. There would have to be much more twe...

"Color-blind casting is wrong and unnatural. The blacks have no business being in "Les Miserables." I won't be seeing the revival, until they cast it correctly." YEAH!!! I'm with you! White, White, White...I only want to see White on B'way. They don't call it the great WHITE way for nothing. White people can play anything! ANYTHING!!! And only White people! Who needs black people any way? Ever heard of Al Jolson? Bring him back! Asians? Hispanics? White people can do that too! M.A.C. carries ...

Elevator type traps in professional productions are always custom designed and custom made for the specific production with numerous safety elements built in to ensure the actor's safety. They are extremely dangerous and many accidents have occured even with the safety precautions in place.

A love letter from Variety: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931842?categoryid=1265&cs=1 By Robert Verini To call the La Jolla Playhouse production of "The Wiz" a mere revival is to understate the accomplishment of helmer Des McAnuff and his production team. They have rethought, rescaled and reshaped an uneven musical play of historical importance but modest virtues into a joyful, stunningly entertaining circus of spectacle, soul and heart. Despite a few easily fixed opening-night tech gli...

"Please Post this from neddyfrank2 on 9/25/06 @ 11:49:51 PM Sorry, my account won't let me most this right now, but I was wondering if you could post this for me on the thread about my WIZ review. It is the response to your post: UPDATED! Thespinoy- I really didn't try to make it sound cheesy at all. I didn't think it was cheesy when I was watching it, I just guess when you try to describe it, it sounds cheesy. I never said that The Feeling WE Once Had was boring, it is just the least visuall...

"But to be marketable, it has to be reasonably good -- -- and from what I've seen and read, I dont think this thing stands a chance." I agree with you that in order for a show to have a decent run, it's got to have good word of mouth. And so far, there hasn't been much love for this production...on this board, anyway. I just find it funny that people are so ready to scrap this production based on a 15 year old's review of a free invited dress tech. The show just barely started previews. They'...

"From the description I don't think you can expect to see this show anywhere near Broadway." Why the hell not? Did you see Lestat or Good Vibrations? Let's not fool ourselves, today Broadway is a PRODUCER'S MEDIUM. A show doesn't have to be good, it has to be marketable. Despite the laments from the WICKED fans, I think potential investors will find this show very marketable from the very fact that WICKED is doing so well. Face it, investors aren't that creative and the average joe or jane-ti...

"I am an awful review writer so I will give it my best shot." It's actually not as cheesy as Neddy is making it sound. The principals are amazing especially Nikki James. FEELING WE ONCE HAD is simple and real. Definitely not boring.

Craig--Don't waste anymore time on this argument. You've made your points eloquently and professionally and it's apparent to anyone reading this thread that you have been more than fair to Mr. USTheater.TV. USTheater.TV--You have a viable idea that could become very successful but your own tunnel vision and condescending attitude may derail any attempts at support for your vision. Many people get turned off by "hard-sell" tactics. You are coming off very badly on this message board, not becau...

"If she hasn't become a women by 34, there's a much better story her than her trip to Oz." Hey, it's not such a long shot. Michael Jackson was at least 34 when HE decided to become a woman.

Successful or not, I admire what they were trying to do in the movie version of the Wiz. The original conceit of the stage play was to bring an urban aesthetic to the Wizard of Oz story. In the movie they tried to bring it even further by setting it in contemporary NYC (1977 at the time) and by making Dorothy older and putting her in a time of life when she has to decide to cut the apron strings and finally become her own woman. I also liked the choices Sidney Lumet made when he filmed all th...

A Chorus Line Revival stunt-cast: Paul: Jai Rodriguez Mike: Kyan Douglas Greg: Carson Kressley Al: Thom Filicia Butch: Ted Allen Richie: Jamie Foxx (OPENING NIGHT ONLY)/ performances thereafter: Hugh Jackman Connie: Zhang Ziyi Diana: Jessica Alba Val: Pamela Anderson Sheila: Stephanie Powers; & at certain performances: Dame Judy-"May the adults smoke?"-Dench Maggie: Courtney Cox Arquette (covers Bebe) Bebe: Jennifer Aniston (covers Maggie) Cassie: Meryl Streep (Dream Cassie: Paula Abdul - dan...

There is an underlying tone in this post that seems to foster the misconception that Equity is this separate elite organization that graciously grants actors with salaries and privilages. In fact Actors' Equity Organization IS THE ACTORS and THE STAGE MANAGERS of the professional stage. All of the officers from President Patrick Quinn to the Counselors are Equity Members and VOLUNTEERS. They don't get a dime from the Union for their work (the only people who get paid in the offices are the st...

Went to the matinee this afternoon not expecting too much. I got a huge lump in my throat by the end of the first act and by the end of the show, I was bawling...in a good way. THIS IS A GORGEOUS SHOW AND A GORGEOUS PRODUCTION. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it got me hook, line, and sinker...and I'm pretty jaded. Go see it while you can. The future of musical theatre looks really bright as long as Adam Guettel keeps writing!

Hey guys! This disc is AAAAMAZING!!! Wow!!! Personally, I can't stop listening to it. And, well, honestly, I'm biased...I'll leave it at that. But the best part about this recording is that it's a benefit CD benefitting the Actor's Fund of America. I think the positives out weigh the negatives here. If you're on the fence about buying it, look at it this way: for every CD sold, a portion of the proceeds go to the Actor's Fund of America, an organization that helps anyone who's ever been in th...