Broadway Star Joined: 12/9/11
While i think it's too soon to post an obituary for this awful show, I do wonder why so many people would be sorry to see it go.
Broadway doesn't need another uninspired movie adaptation.
A vacant theater that might host a real show would be welcome.
I don't see this lasting past the new year tbh. I hate to see a show close and put people out of work but this one just didn't deliver.
The Distinctive Baritone said: "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."
It's called their opinion, and they can have one. I will give you an example of a fact though: You stating that Marty McFly has been cast for the upcoming New York premiere. That's patently false (that's the fact part!) and you should have corrected yourself but weirdly have not done that due to most likely stubbornness.
As for this show, see it and then feel free to comment on it. You know, like you successfully did for A Strange Loop.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/19
I mean the show was on the Tonight Show and generated zero buzz.
This was always going to be the issue: it’s a show about music so the music has to be as good or better than the songs they use. It should have just been a jukebox musical.
Kitt is not the best at original music but I do enjoy his arrangements (like American Idiot).
Sutton Ross, leave me alone. I apologized for my Strange Loop comments. You’re the one being a jerk now. And I am SO DEEPLY sorry for confusing the roles of George McFly and Marty McFly in Back to the Future. Jesus.
P.S. I don’t live in New York anymore (or anywhere near it) which is why I haven’t seen the shows in question.
SouthernCakes said: "I mean the show was on the Tonight Show and generated zero buzz.
This was always going to be the issue: it’s a show about music so the music has to be as good or better than the songs they use. It should have just been a jukebox musical.
Kitt is not the best at original music but I do enjoy his arrangements (like American Idiot).
"
I'm certain in the next few weeks they will book some of this cast on "The View" and have them do a performance. Whoopi will call the show "amazing", she will tell the cast they're "amazing" and her cohosts Sunny, Alyssa, and Sarah will agree 100%. (Joy usually keeps her mouth shut - she can't lie when Whoopi calls every piece of crap "amazing". Whoopi will tell everyone that if they're going to be in Manhattan over the holiday season "You have got to go and see this amazing show for yourself!" and then give everyone in the audience a 'free pair of tickets'.
And then the show will close within a few weeks, after getting the kiss of death from Whoopi.
Broadway Star Joined: 4/30/22
When all the show’s Instagram account can talk about is the cast on the red carpet and Joni Mitchell saying it’s “even better than the movie”, you know this thing is Almost Finished.
I have to say watching the nice piece on the show this morning on CBS Sunday Morning almost made me want to make room to see it on my January trip. Almost.
I’d definitely see it on tour if it tours (unlikely?) and comes to my town.
A nice puff piece this morning on CBS SUNDAY MORNING yet it seemed to emphasize the 2000 movie more than the new musical (at least it seemed that way). The clips from the musical didn't entice me to see the show - thought the clips were just 'blahh'. But it's the start of the tourism season, so we shall see if this did it's job for attracting tourists to their theater over the next two months.
Getting home just now from the show for the fifth time. Who knows why certain shows strike a cord with certain people and not others but this one did that with me. I’ve seen it twice in the past seven days and the houses both times were filled (tonight I’d say the mezz was 85% full) and everyone seemed to be happy, walking out. The show (unfortunately) isn’t doing any sort of discounts yet the houses are almost full so I suppose that’s a good sign.
Jordan Catalano said: "Getting home just now from the show for the fifth time. Who knows why certain shows strike a cord with certain people and not others but this one did that with me. I’ve seen it twice in the past seven days and the houses both times were filled (tonight I’d say the mezz was 85% full) and everyone seemed to be happy, walking out. The show (unfortunately) isn’t doing any sort of discounts yet the houses are almost full so I suppose that’s a good sign."
It's been on TKTS frequently, including tonight. Those mezz figures are encouraging, Jake, but I have to believe there's been a fair amount of discounting / papering going on.
Tonight’s performance is cancelled; they intend to resume tomorrow night.
Edit: There was a system error on Twitter (I’m not sure why that tweet was delivered), and all performances are going on as scheduled!
The company will perform from the show on Good Morning America this Thursday.
Has anyone else noticed there aren’t any pull quotes or anything hanging from the marquee? Whenever I walk by, I always notice that and the fact the box office is always dark. It looks like the show already closed when it hasn’t
The company performed “Tiny Dancer” on GMA this morning:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-ALMOST-FAMOUS-Performs-Tiny-Dancer-on-GOOD-MORNING-AMERICA-20221201
Broadway Star Joined: 1/19/08
Why are they afraid to perform a different song?
I thought the same thing when BWW posted about the clip. Why this song again?
I thought the same thing too, but it is effective. It certainly appeals to the nostalgia of certain prospective ticket buyers. For a second, it’s almost enough to make me want to swap out another show on my January list to see this. But then that moment passes. For me the spell is kinda broken when William (Casey Likes) races to the front of the bus to sing. For reasons that I can’t quite articulate, that moment doesn’t work for me. Maybe it’s the cheesiness of it or the fact that at this point it’s clear they are not on a bus. Lol I don’t know…
I will say if I was returning to NYC again (c’mon work trip!) in spring and this was playing, I’d probably make room to see this.
Also, the GMA anchor introducing the performance by saying, “critics are calling Almost Famous the hottest new musical of the season.” I know these introductions usually include a mixture of half-truths and hyperbole. But wondering did one critic at least say this?
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
I think it is self-destructive when they do any number from the movie. To me it says 'we are a new musical, and we want you to buy tickets, but we don't have any good new songs'.
I enjoyed this show even though I did not think it was very good. I did think there were some good songs in the show, but the only song that wasn't a solo that I can remember thinking was good was the first song, which I think would work fine on TV.
Friends of mine just finished a trip to NYC and saw Six, Funny Girl (w/Michele) and Almost Famous.
They have two teens and all agreed that Almost Famous was their favorite. They just seemed to relate to it more - even if the voices were not as good as the other shows.
Stand-by Joined: 2/9/18
Tonight Casey Likes did Act I and then Andrew Poston went on for William in Act II. I hope Casey Likes is ok, he was incredible while he was in!
Updated On: 12/22/22 at 10:46 PM
Solea Pfeiffer just announced she has COVID on Instagram so she’ll be out of the show for a few days
Interesting:
ALMOST FAMOUS is being revised and is being presented at the O'Neill Center in CT. Perhaps ahead of touring or licensing. BIG FISH and some other poorly-received Broadway shows have done this, too.
No mention of Jeremy Herrin, who directed the show on Broadway (or any director for that matter).
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Workshop-Residency-for-Tom-Kitt-and-Cameron-Crowes-ALMOST-FAMOUS-to-Take-Place-at-Eugene-ONeill-Theater-Center-20231017
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/20
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Interesting:
ALMOST FAMOUS is being revised and is being presented at the O'Neill Center in CT. Perhaps ahead of touring or licensing. BIG FISH and some other poorly-received Broadway shows have done this, too.
No mention of Jeremy Herrin, who directed the show on Broadway (or any director for that matter).
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Workshop-Residency-for-Tom-Kitt-and-Cameron-Crowes-ALMOST-FAMOUS-to-Take-Place-at-Eugene-ONeill-Theater-Center-20231017"
Do shows typically undergo workshops so soon after their Broadway run? This seems weird.
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