ALMOST FAMOUS On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 7

[JanMaxwellsBag]

Posted: 11/3/22 at 11:23pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Tom Kitt may just have his nextHigh Fidelity, grosses aren’t looking so good right now.
Dougal Flopguy is on speed dial."

Oh dang, I forgot he did the music for that! I never saw the show, but I did love the cast recording at the time. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/3/22 at 11:25pm

In the old days, like 50 years ago, this would be posting a closing notice imminently…why lose more money if the show is never going to catch on?  Sad but true.  I do think the sooner the better, so  addy Likes has a chance at being cast as Marty McFly.  To me, he is that good.

I enjoyed this show modestly, but it is not good enough to be successful.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 8:48am

After reading these reviews, especially Jesse Green’s, I am on the fences of seeing this or not. The ticket prices are a bit ridiculous, especially after the reviews. I don’t know how long this will last. They could get a boost during the holidays, but I just cannot see audiences paying $200 for a show that didn’t get good reviews. Jordan, you said you enjoyed it. Is it really worth seeing? 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 9:03am

More and more, it seems that Next to Normal was truly an outlier for Kitt because to my knowledge he hasn’t had a score since that’s been anything better than mediocre at best. 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 9:22am

While Jesse Green's pan was harsh, it was also smart and insightful.  It's nice to see a theater critic who gives a damn. 

[JaglinSays]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 12:06pm

How does Tom Kitt keep getting hired?

 

Dave, Superhero, The Visitor, Flying Over Sunset and now Almost Famous. One bomb after another. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Thescapist29]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 12:43pm

I think the reviews are a bit harsh. I saw the show earlier in the week and although there are certainly problems, it’s still a satisfying evening of theatre. The main issue I have with it is that it tries too hard to capture the film. The most obvious example of this is in the lack of original songs for the band Stillwater. I expected, and was even willing to forgive, the use of Tiny Dancer in the scene on the tour bus…the interpolation of around seven other previously recorded songs was a bit much. To suggest that an up and coming rock band would be performing only covers aside from their one hit is ridiculous. It also robs the show of a chance at giving us deeper insight into the characters. Why aren’t we hearing songs Russel has written that express his feelings about his ex, Penny, his role in the band? 
mess I entertained? Yes. Do I think this show could have used a little more time in development? Absolutely.

Updated On: 11/4/22 at 12:43 PM

[BETTY22]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 12:48pm

With very little advance and almost no reserve cash - it's difficult seeing this show making it into the new year.

I saw it and am afraid to report that the NYT is right. Too sad. Loved the movie 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 1:37pm

Interesting that everyone keeps saying Likes should play Marty McFly. The guy who did it in London has already been announced for the Broadway production, but I'm glad Likes is maybe the one person who is getting a career boost from this production. We have a lot of mutual friends on FB so I almost feel like I know him, ha ha. The theatre community in Phoenix is really excited for his success. He has a couple movies coming out too, so when this inevitably closes in a couple months, he will likely focus on film for a while.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 1:38pm

Nope, completely untrue. There is no casting announcement for Marty on Broadway. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 1:40pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Interesting that everyone keeps saying Likes should play Marty McFly. The guy who did it in London has already been announced for the Broadway production, but I'm glad Likes is maybe the one person who is getting a career boost from this production.

 

No I don't believe that's correct.  The only Broadway cast announced is Roger Bart as Doc Brown and Hugh Coles as GEORGE McFly.  The rest of the NY cast remains TBA.

 

 

 

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 1:46pm

so when this inevitably closes in a couple months....

To assume that is foolish and negative. People go to shows for many reasons, and what the critics say about it is very low on the list. It just opened and I'm sure it will get a holiday boost. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 1:52pm

Unfortunately, this show has no buzz and the negative reviews don't help. I take it the Shubert's are securing a new show for the spring for the Jacobs!

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 1:56pm

Pull a Merrick and close the thing. 

Updated On: 11/4/22 at 01:56 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 1:59pm

EllieRose2 said: "so when this inevitably closes in a couple months....

To assume that is foolish and negative. People go to shows for many reasons, and what the critics say about it is very low on the list. It just opened and I'm sure it will get a holiday boost."

The show has not been selling particularly well and has lackluster word of mouth- without the support of positive reviews, it has little going for it in terms of moving tickets. To acknowledge this is not foolish or negative- it is what it is. It is very, very hard for a show to turn itself around without something driving ticket sales, whether it be a star name, great word of mouth among people who actually buy tickets, or a ton of press. This show has none.

Updated On: 11/4/22 at 01:59 PM

[binau]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 2:00pm

JaglinSays said: "How does Tom Kitt keep getting hired?



Dave, Superhero, The Visitor, Flying Over Sunset and now Almost Famous. One bomb after another. ??‍♂️"

I get the sense that Tom Kitt is a safe pair of hands to create a score that resonates with modern/pop sensibilities (see also: SpongeBob and Jagged Little Pill). While sometimes I do think it can come across as a little generic, I do think he often can find magic too. I am particularly enjoying the release of 'No Friends' from the show. He also has shown through Flying Over Sunset that he can be quite versatile to create sounds in non-pop styles too. And I think that score has its magical moments (e.g. 'Flying Over Sunset' and 'How?'. So I can see why he still gets hired. And I would still see anything he has written. 

[CChang 2]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 2:19pm

EllieRose2 said: "so when this inevitably closes in a couple months....

To assume that is foolish and negative. People go to shows for many reasons, and what the critics say about it is very low on the list. It just opened and I'm sure it will get a holiday boost."

I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion. 

 

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 2:32pm

The Producers and Marketing dept., among others, can not be happy this morning and certainly have a major uphill battle in getting people to buy tickets. This needed great reviews to generate more interest. This one is going to struggle. It’ll be interesting to see what “pull quotes” they are able to use. 

[RW3]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 2:58pm

Bill Snibson said: "The Producers and Marketing dept., among others, can not be happy this morning and certainly have a major uphill battle in getting people to buy tickets. This needed great reviews to generate more interest. This one is going to struggle. It’ll be interesting to see what “pull quotes” they are able to use."

As of 2:58pm, there are no new pull quotes on the show's website.

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 3:05pm

Eeek! You can’t really run with “Casey Likes is appealing” I suppose. 

Updated On: 11/4/22 at 03:05 PM

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 3:55pm

At least I know it’s not me after reading these reviews. The show isn’t horrible but not really good either. Will ppl spend $100’s for a mediocre show?  At least they have a few weeks till SLIT opens and it gets compared to another movie to musical transfer, but done right. 

[rachelfran]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 4:14pm

BuddyStarr said: "At least I know it’s not me after reading these reviews. The show isn’t horrible but not really good either. Will ppl spend $100’s for a mediocre show? At least they have a few weeks till SLIT opens and it gets compared to another movie to musical transfer, but done right."

Yes if nothing else I was relieved that my negative review wasn't an outlier.  I think with the size of this cast the costs - unless sales pick up dramatically, it's not going to last very long.  Glad to read that Casey has other things going on.

 

[Luscious]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 8:51pm

If it makes it through the holidays and closes after the new year, I can see PARADE transferring in the spring.

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 9:03pm

I hear ya but even with rave reviews Parade is such a tough sell and a risk for a Producer

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 9:07pm

Jeez, I don’t WANT the show to close, but as someone pointed out, fifty years ago - actually, even twenty years ago - any show that got a pan like that from both NYT and Variety would typically post a closing notice within a couple of weeks unless audience response was wildly different…which based on this thread doesn’t seem to be the case. Pointing out how dire the situation for this show isn’t “foolish,” it’s stating the obvious. Maybe I’m wrong. I hope I am.