Profile for A.J.

Mirvish started teasing a Toronto transfer on Monday with this clip, although it’s now been pulled down from their socials: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ4cEIkDEqy/

I commented on a promo video that the 2005 John Doyle revival had a similar concept (set in an asylum). I wasn’t making a comparison or accusing anyone of stealing ideas; Just pointing out the similarity as a bit of trivia. 

One of the performers from this production took that as a personal attack, later making a video calling me a “dick-parade”?!

Call_me_jorge said: "Ciara Renéeis suing the show for almost half a million dollars. She claims, “she was wrongly dumped from a play ahead of its run on the Great White Way.” The producers of Gun & Powder said, Renée “‘failed to collaborate’ and was ‘unwilling to accept feedback from the creative team,’” Solea Pfeiffer has since rejoined the show, reprising her Signature Theatre performance, as Mary Clarke in recent workshops and the anticipated Broadway bow.

P.S. Not saying the two are correlated, but Renée had some not so great allegations during the off-broadway engagement ofMillennials Are Killing Musicals.


P.S.S. An interesting tidbit about Renée’s broadway debut in Big Fish! is that she actually replaced an older actress as the Witch who wasn’t asked to transfer with the show to Broadway after the Chicago tryout."

To build upon that tidbit, the person Ciara replaced in Big Fish was also featured in the cast of Gun & Powder at Papermill. 

My hope is for Riedel to write another book. I’m not sure if he still has the insider connections/gossip he was once famous for, but I would love to read his retelling of Broadway navigating the late 2010’s through the early 2020’s. 

Even with a second year, it doesn’t seem like this tour will make its way to Canada. 

That said, I’m excited to see Louise Pitre as Kimberly in the licensed production in Montreal and Toronto. 

Audra is back, as per understudy slip posted on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/s/KKUr2mzKkZ

Probably reading into it too much, but this morning show segment seems to infer the plan is to cancel when Audra is out: “McDonald is such a huge star, there is no alternate.”

https://youtu.be/ykAyGj2jOhU?si=gm63mpSwWd1hP8g0

Starting to wonder if the plan is to cancel whenever Audra calls out, similar to Hugh Jackman in Boy From Oz/TMM?

I’m a bit bummed they’re not taking this opportunity to bring Matthew Patrick Quinn in as Hades; He was very impressive in the role on tour. 

A Toronto production has been announced to open December 2025. 

 

Perhaps the physical production from Broadway will be returning to TO if the rumoured Summer 2025 closing is correct. 

Time to start discussing what’s headed into the Sondheim next?

Musicians are setup onstage for some sort of performance. Principal casting announcement incoming?

https://x.com/theatermania/status/1833219777763910039?s=46&t=EFvwDZiUfOQBBmi_0Py8bg

The costumes are really hit and miss for me so far.

Elphaba’s gown looks rather bulky, cheap and synthetic.

Announcing on the Sunday morning before Labour Day is an odd choice. I understand the date is a reference to the show, but is that gag really worth it when many people aren’t paying attention on that day?

nativenewyorker2 said: "Y'all realize you are putting your trust in a sweaty man in a bathrobe that just screams at the camera right?"

Nobody is entrusting this person with their lives or safety; We’re talking Broadway rumours here, not neurosurgery.

The smartest move for Mincemeat would be a pre-NYC tryout in a major subscription market (Chicago, Toronto, San Fran, etc).
 

This gives them the chance to start building a public profile (currently non-existent), while fine-tuning any script or accent changes needed for the North American ear. 
 

TITANIQUE will debut in Montreal at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts from October 27 – November 24, 2024, followed by an engagement at Toronto’s CAA Theatre from December 5, 2024 – January 12, 2025.

London dates TBA. 

Long-time Production Stage Manager, Mary Beth Abel  is departing as of today’s performance. 
Highly recommend this BWW feature: https://youtu.be/DqFvbcl7z_o?si=F2G9Lx4WuXTNrovL

Trailer from the Hamburg production: https://youtu.be/_GBmHA1xzds?si=-vLRfYD3cVOE6ami

The set and puppet designs are much better than previous incarnations IMO. 
I really wish they hadn’t slowed the tempo for Zero to Hero this much, it sucks the energy out of one of the most exciting songs.