Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments
Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments
Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#0
Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:16am
I'm copying my post below from another message board because I think that some of you are looking for this information. As many of you know, the opening night of the tour was tonight in Philadelphia.
This whole post is spoilers, obviously.
The show was scheduled to start at 7:30, actually started at 8, first act was over about 9:10, second act started about 9:35, whole thing ended a little before 11. Lots of between-song banter (scripted for the most part -- it was on the Teleprompter).
The setlist had an emphasis on material from her albums from the 1960's and on showtunes (I apologize in advance for any mistakes):
Overture from Funny Girl
Starting Here, Starting Now
Down with Love
The Way We Were
Come Rain or Come Shine
Ma premiere chanson (a self-written song from Je m'appelle Barbra)
Evergreen (with Il Divo)
Il Divo then sang three songs by themselves (Unchained Melody, Unbreak My Heart, My Way)
The Funny Girl section:
Don't Rain on My Parade
Funny Girl
(orchestra played an excerpt of Who Are You Now? but she didn't sing it)
The Music that Makes Me Dance
My Man
People
Intermission
Il Divo sang a song I didn't know
Music of the Night (with Il Divo)
When the Sun Comes Out
Medley of You've Got to be Carefully Taught/Children Will Listen
Unusual Way (from Nine)
What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life
very long dialogue with George Bush impersonator
Happy Days Are Here Again (with George Bush impersonator)
The Woman in the Moon (from A Star Is Born)
Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair
Cockeyed Optimist
Somewhere
My Shining Hour
Encore: Don't Rain on My Parade (yes, she sang this song twice)
The house lights then came up, but it seemed unclear to everyone whether there was going to be a second encore. The conductor still stood at his podium. Then Barbra came out and thanked everyone for coming out (without singing again), the conductor waved to the orchestra that they could go, and the concert was over. I had the impression that the conductor didn't know whether there was going to be a second encore either, so there might be one on a future date!
If you want any more details, feel free to ask away.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#1
Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:29amIs it as theatrical as her last concert tour?
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#2
Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:45am
I did not see her last concert tour, so I'm not sure, but it was a "straight" concert -- there wasn't any therapist part, she wasn't playing a role, there weren't any special guests on video screens, there were no moving parts of the set (the set was very simple, really just a bunch of walkways shaped like a figure 8 or the letter B, with the orchestra in the "holes" inside the figure).
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#3
Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:55am
So you didn't really say how it was...how was she? What did you think of the song selection?
I'm going in a couple weeks and hope she changes up the encore.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#4
Posted: 10/5/06 at 8:42am
How wonderful that she revisits "Who Are you Now" and "Music That Makes Me Dance," two jewels from the score that of course are less known beyond boards like this, since they didn't end up in the film.
I'm curious if the Bush section works with the whole audience. Of course, anyone plunking down these big bucks surely knows her politics and either agrees strongly or has long since made peace with the necessary "shut up and sing" disconnect.
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#5
Posted: 10/5/06 at 8:50am
This from the Philadelphia Inquirer:
"Barbra Streisand didn't just pop into Philly for last night's Wachovia Center concert. She did four days of rehearsals at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton - same management as the Wachovia - and overnighted at Philly's Four Seasons with husband James Brolin.
After Babs and Brolin toured the Art Museum on Monday - where she shot part of her 1966 special Color Me Barbra - they showed up at the National Constitution Center at 4:30 p.m. hoping to see "Freedom Rising," the center's theater production. Last show for you and me would be at 4 p.m. Not wishing to rain on her parade, the center ran "Freedom Rising" especially for them, and the couple followed up by touring Signers' Hall.
Tuesday afternoon, about 500 of the luckiest people - including fashion icon Donna Karan - watched the dress rehearsal at the Wachovia Center, where Streisand mentioned getting a cheesesteak at Pat's, clams casino at Old Original Bookbinder's, and ice cream at Bassett's in Reading Terminal Market.
Streisand, 64, also unapologetically acknowledged "senior moments" as she pointed out that she had lyrics in large type on a prompter."
Our local PBS station ran "Color Me Barbra" on Tuesday night. Good stuff!!!!
Updated On: 10/5/06 at 08:50 AM
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#6
Posted: 10/5/06 at 10:26am
I enjoyed the concert and for anyone whose appetite is even more whetted by the set list, I think it will be a wonderful experience. Someone on another board mentioned that the show had the feel of a tryout, which I kind of agree with. The pacing could have been better, with very long between-song banter, sometimes too long. It seemed like the dialogue before Happy Days Are Here Again went on for almost 10 minutes. I had a little bit of a feeling that the banter was there to lengthen the show and better justify the ticket prices. However, Barbra seemed very warm and relaxed and the banter was charming. During one of her first monologues, she spent a lot of time talking about specific places she visited in Philadelphia, which was endearing. She was in fine voice throughout. Beforehand, I was worried that Il Divo would take up a lot of the time, but they only sang 4 songs solo, then duetted on two. (They also sang backup on Somewhere.) There were no other backup singers, and it was nice to hear her sing with other people who can sing well.
There are a couple of things that I wish had been different. I had never seen her in concert before and would have preferred more of a "greatest hits" set list similar to her other concerts. She sang extremely few songs that she recorded after 1976. I also think the ticket prices are high, although there was obviously a demand (the concert was not completely sold out, but pretty close to being so). There was no fancy set or special effects to help justify the expensive tickets, although the full orchestra I'm sure is not cheap. I was extremely lucky and managed to get a last-minute ticket for less than 50% of face value from someone needing to unload one, but if I had paid full price, I would have enjoyed the concert a lot less. No one except the $750 ticket holders would be able to see facial expressions except on the big screen projections -- I am not even sure all of the $750 ticket holders would be able to do so. $350 is a lot for a ticket where you are all the way on the opposite side of the arena. I think that all of the $100 tickets were rear view or side view. I actually think the $100 tickets are a relatively good value -- most of the audience could't see her face except on the screens anyway, and there was no real choreographed stage action, so the rear view isn't so bad (there are screens facing the rear as well as the front).
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#7
Posted: 10/5/06 at 11:35am
Oh wow, different set list from the dress rehearsal, but I guess that was to be expected.
That list is beyond gorgeous. It's what most of her fans have been waiting for.
I wish she had added "You're Gonna Hear From Me", "I Never Has Seen Snow", and "Stoney End", but I am still a beyond happy camper!
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#8
Posted: 10/5/06 at 12:49pm
A couple of other comments:
The show was NOT sold-out, despite what USA Today and the Philadelphia Inquirer say, although probably within a few hundred of being sold out. As of 30 minutes before showtime, there was ticket availability in at least 3 of the 4 price categories with no line at the box office, and probably availability in all 4 (I didn't check the $750 ones then but had checked earlier in the day). There were empty seats (the worst section was pretty empty -- I overheard someone saying they moved people out of the section into better seats).
The merchandise was also pretty pricy. The program was $40 for a 40-page softcover book (pretty outrageous IMO). It also costs $20 to get your picture taken in front of the tour logo. T-shirts were $40 as well. Mugs were $15.
Someone on another board mentioned that they thought she sang "Don't Rain on My Parade" again because she flubbed the lyrics the first time. That may explain the confusion about the second encore -- there was probably another song planned as the encore and the conductor wasn't clear whether or not she was going to sing it.
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#9
Posted: 10/5/06 at 12:51pm
I'm pretty sure that she sang the "Dont Rain On My Parade" reprise which works as the finale for "Funny Girl".
Updated On: 10/5/06 at 12:51 PM
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#10
Posted: 10/5/06 at 1:17pmI could smack myself for not buying a ticket to see her. She's a legend and who knows if there'll be another chance. Sigh.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/06
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#12
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:17pmShe's Jason Gould's mom.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/06
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#13
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:26pmOh, her. I thought she said, "farewell"?
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#14
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:27pmShe did, but then she bought this gorgeous new house, and well, you know. Mortgage.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/06
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#15
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:29pmWhat the hell does she do with her money?!
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#16
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:31pm
If you check out this month's Oprah, you can see a pic of her dog sitting at the head of a party table set with little plates and party hats. It was his third birthday.
So, if you want to start there...
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#17
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:36pmjrb, I don't think that the second New York concert is sold out, so you can probably still get tickets if you want.
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#18
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:41pm
I think the profits are going to her foundation. I don't know if that's a code word for "Jason's Living Expenses" but she says they are going to her foundation.
"Streisand, 64, a longtime liberal activist, said she was coming out of retirement to raise money for her foundation, which supports a range of causes related to the environment, education, health care and other issues."
Link
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/04
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#19
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:50pm
That really is (pretty close to) a dream list! How was Evergreen with Il Divo? I'm not sure I like the idea of them singing it.
Another fave: A Piece of Sky from Yentl. I die just a little every time I hear it. Gorgeous.
I adore Barb's '70s jewfro era, and would've loved to have heard Woman in Love, and duets of You Don't Bring Me Flowers, Guilty and Enough is Enough.
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#20
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:53pmThe thing is, there are so many incredible songs, she'd need 8+ hours to please everyone.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/12/03
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#21
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:57pm
I understand why some fans would have liked more "Greatest Hits", but I already have all her versions of "People" etc. and I'm not anxious to hear them yet again. I'm tantalized by the new versions of "Who Are You Now" and "The Music That Makes Me Dance" and I'm thirsting to hear her version of "My Shining Hour" - another gem by her friend Harold Arlen (and Jonny Mercer).
A "Barbra Sings Arlen" CD - with stuff she's never sung before (like "Stormy Weather", "Last Night When we Were Young", "This Time The Dreams on Me" and "Blues in the Night") would be a wonderful idea...
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#22
Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:58pmMasterLcZ, that sounds divine. What a wonderful recording that would be.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/04
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#23
Posted: 10/5/06 at 3:04pm
I know, Rath, but it's fun to think about.
Add Stoney End to my dream list. 
re: Streisand in Philadelphia set list and other comments#24
Posted: 10/5/06 at 3:05pm
Yeah, that goes on mine too.
Along with guilty pleasure Left in the Dark.
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