#51
Posted: 9/15/21 at 11:26am
Just to clarify, the Prizeo is for the opening night of FLS, which is on 10/19, not the first performance, which is on 10/7.
9/14/21 Reopening Nights Thread — Page 3
#52
Posted: 9/15/21 at 11:28am
Phantom4ever said: "Glad to hear that audiences were well behaved in terms of masks. I wonder if there seemed to be a lot of phones out? My Tiktok feed is full of recordings from last night and people in the comments requesting more and more recordings of specific parts of shows etc. The general vibe on those threads was that nobody would be bothered by holding up your phone to record one song. I hope that isn't the new normal."
I was in the front mezz for Wicked, and I didn't notice many phones out throughout the show. Around me people seemed to mainly record Kristen's speech and the curtain call. Granted, I was watching the show, and the Gershwin is a big house.
I agree though, hopefully it doesn't become the new normal since the bright screens are a distraction to those around the person recording
#53
Posted: 9/15/21 at 11:43am
I was also at Wicked last night, first time since 2007 and I was just blown away and so happy to be there.
Re masking and phones - the rear mezz had a few people who kept their masks off the entire time and none of the ushers made it up to the back to monitor before the show or during intermission. I'm not a confrontational person so I didn't ask them to put their masks on, but I probably should have.
Practically everyone was on their phones, some I let go (in my head) because I know I want to see those special moments again, but it was the people on their phones and watches actively checking their slack and email and whatever that drove me nuts.
I was equally so happy to be back in a theater full of people and irritated to be back in a theater full of people.
"I've never encountered such religiously, you know, loyal fans as Broadway musical theater fans. It's amazing."
--Allison Janney
#54
Posted: 9/15/21 at 12:00pm
I made the conscious decision before I even stepped foot in the theatre that I was going to just “let it go” and not worry about audience reactions/behavior last night.
#55
Posted: 9/15/21 at 12:05pm
JBroadway said: "I will also say that tonight's audience at Wicked was the best-behaved from a masking standpoint that I've seen in the past few months. I've been to a fair amount of mask-required theatre in the pat few months, and I almost always see people with their mask off, or under the noses, etc. I didn't see a single nostril tonight. Statistically speaking I'm sure there were some nose-cheaters, but I didn't see any. And people who took sips of their drinks were very good about promptly putting it back on after they finished their sip."
Thank you for this update. Seeing a packed theater was making me a little nervous, as well as KJisgroovy's point about all the cheering, but this is reassuring.
#56
Posted: 9/15/21 at 12:28pm
#57
Posted: 9/15/21 at 12:36pm
I need to know more about the fight that broke out at Chicago!
https://twitter.com/itsNumberJuan/status/1438165656705323020
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#58
Posted: 9/15/21 at 12:40pm
I’ve been hoping someone would post about it. I’m guessing it had to do with masks. Just my initial thought.
#59
Posted: 9/15/21 at 12:41pm
Was anyone at “The Lion King” and “Hamilton” last night? Dying to hear reactions.
“I am furious, but I am sailing.”
#60
Posted: 9/15/21 at 12:46pm
Jordan Levinson said: "Det95 said: "Intermission at Wicked. My god my heart is racing. I’ve never been in a house like this. Lindsey Pierce is a fantastic Elphaba. Will post more thoughts later. "
I counted a45 second ovation for Ginna Mason upon her entrance, and another 30 seconds of applause after “It’s good…”. Broadway beat the tour’s reopening night easily. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a lovefest at Wickedas strong as tonight since Idina appeared in the iconic red tracksuit.
Also, Dan Micciche looks like he is killing it!"
I counted a45 second ovation for Ginna Mason upon her entrance, and another 30 seconds of applause after “It’s good…”. Broadway beat the tour’s reopening night easily. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a lovefest at Wickedas strong as tonight since Idina appeared in the iconic red tracksuit.
Also, Dan Micciche looks like he is killing it!"
Of course broadway beat the tour's reopening night....broadway audience was 100% made up of Wicked and broadway lovers, and friends and family of the cast members. Whereas opening night audience on tour in Dallas was mostly made up of "dallas summer musical" subscribers...and a handful of wicked/broadway lovers, and friends and family of cast members. Both had great nights!
#61
Posted: 9/15/21 at 1:33pm
I was at the Reopening of Hamilton and it was absolutely incredible from start to finish. Standing ovation for Lin, who gave a very short but heartfelt speech before the show began (which I'm sure most have seen online). There were extended applause for every actor's initial entrance in the opening number. Standing Ovations after several numbers (My Shot, Yorktown, One Last Time, to name a few).
This performance was unlike anything I've ever seen. It felt like both an opening night, with the energy and newness of everything, yet also like a closing night with a house full of family, friends, and biggest fans.
The cast overall KILLED it. Easily the strongest cast since the OBC - and while the energy might be hard to top tonight the raw talent of this cast will continue to speak for itself. Jin Ha, Tamar Greene, Krystal Joy Brown, and Fergie Phillipe were especially spectacular.
It was such a joy to be back in the theater and I will forever treasure last night. I'm glad it seems people had similar experiences no matter which show they caught last night.
#62
Posted: 9/15/21 at 1:47pm
I’m seeing the Wicked soon and I hope the audience behaves themself in terms of phones and masks!
#63
Posted: 9/15/21 at 3:26pm
Jordan Catalano said: "I’ve been hoping someone would post about it. I’m guessing it had to do with masks. Just my initial thought."
It was a fight between a woman who was talking the entire show, and the woman in front of her who kept turning around to look at her to try and make her stop, which escalated into shouting and physicality. But everyone kept their masks on, even while flipping people off and walking away...
#64
Posted: 9/15/21 at 3:28pm
^ God, that's so New York. I LOVE IT.
Glad everyone had a ball last night!
#65
Posted: 9/15/21 at 5:39pm
Going to Wicked tonight. SO excited!!!
#66
Posted: 9/15/21 at 5:46pm
iflip4musicals said: "Re masking and phones - the rear mezz had a few people who kept their masks off the entire time and none of the ushers made it up to the back to monitor before the show or during intermission. I'm not a confrontational person so I didn't ask them to put their masks on, but I probably should have."
The ushers are not responsible for mask or cell phone enforcement, per their union (though most will try to enforce the cell phone policy).
#67
Posted: 9/15/21 at 5:57pm
Fosse76 said: "The ushers are not responsible for mask or cell phone enforcement, per their union (though most will try to enforce the cell phone policy)."
Seriously?
#68
Posted: 9/15/21 at 6:12pm
"The ushers are not responsible for mask or cell phone enforcement, per their union (though most will try to enforce the cell phone policy)."
True. I watched maskless people talk to ushers about their seats. Someone eventually got them to mask up. Ironically it was someone next to me. He had genuinely forgotten to put it on after being outside. I guess no one in security or front of house reminded him because we were in the mezzanine by then. He was apologetic and complied with no issue, but it struck me odd that he got through so much of the theatre before anyone had mentioned it to him.
#69
Posted: 9/15/21 at 6:38pm
Security should be in charge in such matters. I would think they would have to beef up security in the early days of Broadway reopening. Especially with people fighting in the theater. However, along with escorting people to their seats, ticket taking, and giving us Playbills, I believe ushers try their hardest to get people to put their phones away. It cannot be an easy task.
Updated On: 9/15/21 at 06:38 PM
#70
Posted: 9/16/21 at 8:24am
Wait, is this a new thing that ushers aren't supposed to tell people to put their phones away?
I
#71
Posted: 9/16/21 at 9:14am
Interesting! I didn't know that ushers weren't supposed to ask/remind people to put their phones away. It's been a long time, but this feels like one of the very few times I've been in a theater where ushers weren't monitoring for phone use or using their flashlights to call out people on their phones.
"I've never encountered such religiously, you know, loyal fans as Broadway musical theater fans. It's amazing."
--Allison Janney
#72
Posted: 9/16/21 at 9:37am
Adding my voice to the folks who’ve said there has never been a better time to go back to see Wicked. This is one of the strongest musical ensemble casts I’ve ever seen, and every member is firing on all cylinders. Maybe it’s the excitement of being back in the theater, but it really feels fresh and exciting in a way it hasn’t in many years.
#73
Posted: 9/16/21 at 11:40am
Also adding to the praise- Wicked honestly felt like a brand new musical. I’ve never understood the story or the timeline so clearly. It’s just a beautiful show. Even the fantastic gender-neutral ensemble costuming created 17 years ago seemed to take on a new meaning here. The cast was so youthful…I didn’t stop smiling once. Lindsay sounded absolutely breathtaking, as did Ginna Claire. Everyone gave more meat to their characters, especially Mili Diaz and Kathy Fitzgerald. This was VERY clearly directed within an inch of its life when they re-opened- in the best way possible. Everyone should go back.
#74
Posted: 9/16/21 at 11:47am
singer234 said: "Also adding to the praise- Wicked honestly felt like a brand new musical. I’ve never understood the story or the timeline so clearly. It’s just a beautiful show. Even the fantastic gender-neutral ensemble costuming created 17 years ago seemed to take on a new meaning here. The cast was so youthful…I didn’t stop smiling once. Lindsay sounded absolutely breathtaking, as did Ginna Claire. Everyone gave more meat to their characters, especially Mili Diaz and Kathy Fitzgerald. This was VERY clearly directed within an inch of its life when they re-opened- in the best way possible. Everyone should go back."
It does sound really special right now! This is the first wicked Broadway cast to all rehearse together in one room since the show opened, most replacements don’t get that.
I am sure this may be the case for a lot of the shows right now. A freshness not seen since opening.
#75
Posted: 9/16/21 at 1:52pm
Luminaire2 said:
It does sound really special right now! This is the first wicked Broadway cast to all rehearse together in one room since the show opened, most replacements don’t get that.
I am sure this may be the case for a lot of the shows right now. A freshness not seen since opening."
That's a really great point!
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