Adam Pascal's LA shows -- please post reviews!- Page 2

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 6:28pm

Well, it was a scorcher out there at the Grove in the shelterless sun but a nice crowd anyway. Adam was a relaxed and funny Emcee, sharing the duties at times with Wilson Cruz. They said this was the first time EVER that the casts of Rent and Tick Tick Boom had performed together at a concert - so history was made! Incidentally Jonathan Larson's parents and sister were there as was Wilson Jermaine Heredia who had a mob of autograph seekers around him after the show. He didn't perform.

It was a short show, basically a promotion for the two currently running productions. Rent went first. Bryce Ryness led off with a powerful One Song Glory, then was joined by Matthew Hydzik for What You Own - Hydzik could not match Ryness's voice or charisma. They finished with the girls, Tracy McDowell (Maureen) and Chante Frierson (Joanne) in a wild and wonderful Take me or Leave Me that was as hot as the weather.

Then came Tick Tick Boom and Andrew Samonsky led off with 30/90, joined by Cruz and Tami Tappan Damiano. She then stopped the show with her fabulous take on Come To Your Senses. Wow! What a voice this lady has. The three of them finished with Louder Than Words after which everyone dispersed in search of air conditioning. Good show.

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 6:55pm

CORRECTION to the above mini-review. It was Jed Resnick as Mark, not Matthew Hydzik. Sorry about that.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:02pm

Why would Adam Pascal be there to support a Non-Equity tour of "Rent"? Isn't he a member of Equity? Just wondering.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:04pm

Of course he is.

He was supporting a production of the show. It's not like there's an Equity tour on now to be competition, or something, so he's not exactly doing the union some sort of disservice by supporting one over the other. And it's not like just because he's Equity, he'll go out and promote an Equity tour of a show he has nothing to do with. I don't really see the problem.

Updated On: 7/22/06 at 07:04 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:08pm

I think jimny was just asking a question, Em, lol.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:09pm

Heh, I know. I'm just confused as to why it doesn't make sense for him to be there. Is there some kind of Equity rule or custom?

Updated On: 7/22/06 at 07:09 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:10pm

Equity has or had people out picketing this production at one point so I don't think the union is happy that it exists at all. Anyway, my comment should also be directed toward the other Equity members that were there, not just Adam.

[Popular]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:10pm

Seems to me that it was more to show support for Jonathan's work, not necessarily just the tour. And perhaps to promote his concerts?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:12pm

Yeah, Popular. I guess... considering that he's only been out there for a couple of months, and that there were surely a LOT of Rent fans in one place with this thing, it was a good way for him to make his entrance into the West Coast scene.

Why would the union take such issue, if there's not an Equity tour on now? That's odd.

[achancetofly]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:13pm

Hey guys, I just posted a review of the free concert here,https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=905147>here, if you'd like to read it.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:14pm

The Rent tour has been non-Equity for almost 4 years. I can't imagine anyone (sane) is still protesting.

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:15pm

Adam was definitely promoting his concerts. But the Equity thing explains why the two casts never performed together. I was kind of thinking they would all do Seasons of Love as a closer but no dice.

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:22pm

I have no knowledge of any of the Equity stuff, but I'm sure Adam was there to support Jonathan's work, regardless of whether or not it was Equity or Non-Equity. I'm sure Adam (or any of the OBC, for that matter) would do anything for the Larsons.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:24pm

Sane or not, Equity members should not be supporting a non-equity show in any way but I'm glad to hear they had the good sense not to perform with Rent cast. I'm sure they checked with the union before they decided to do this at all.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:31pm

What? Why? If there were an Equity and non-Equity production of the same show, I could see it being an issue of supporting your competitors, but... what would be wrong with Equity actors supporting another professional production of a show that they have close ties to?

I'm not being snarky, I'm genuinely curious why so grounded in that they should not support other productions and people that, considering work requirements in order to become Equity, are the future of their craft.

I'm sure this was cleared by the union as well, because otherwise those involved would get in trouble retroactively, and I think it's great that they came together across the boundaries or whatever to support Larson's work. If that's the rule, then whatever, that's the rule, but sometimes they're to be bent, and I would hate to see what looks an awful lot like elitism stop something special like this from happening. I'm glad an exception was made, if needed.

Updated On: 7/22/06 at 07:31 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:36pm

I don't think it's really elitism. They see it as taking jobs away from union members. I don't think that any union would support what are essentially "replacement workers" used by producers to save money by producing a non-union tour. If there was not an option that allows these tours in the first place, there would still be a union tour out there, or there would be no tour at all. Anyway, I believe that would be the reason that the union would not support it.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:41pm

They see non-Equity productions as taking away jobs from Equity members, you mean? Are non-Equity productions mixed to include both, or are Equity actors not allowed to be in them? If Equity actors *could* be in them, I can see where that comes from, but if not, then... they're pretty separate, IMO.

I don't know. I can also see the production aspect, doing it to save money and all that, but I still think that it's okay to bend the rules or customs once in a while, and that the Equity actors who were part of this today did the right thing in letting those things go for the bigger purpose of putting support behind the art they're creating.

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:48pm

As jimnysf said, Equity MUST have been consulted on this and cleared it, otherwise it wouldn't have happened. And I'm guessing no one got paid for it.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:51pm

Equity members are not allowed to perform in these tours since the producers don't have a contract with the union.

There's a long history of battles between producers and the union over these tours. It's only been over the last few years that these tours have started showing up in the same theatres that normally have union tours. They used to keep to the smaller markets where they would do a one or two night show and then move on to another small city. However, over the past three years or so, we've seen them in San Francisco for multi-week engagements ("Grease", "Rent", "Cats", "Oklahoma!"). They started out with cheaper tickets but lately the prices have been creeping up. In the case of "Oklahoma!", which I did see, the orchestra was very small and that took away from the experience of seeing what many in the audience thought was a broadway calibre production, but that's another discussion.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 7:54pm

As jimnysf said, Equity MUST have been consulted on this and cleared it, otherwise it wouldn't have happened. And I'm guessing no one got paid for it.

Right, I know. Just to clarify, I meant that they dropped any sentiment against supporting a non-Equity production for the greater cause of supporting Larson's work. Equity, yes, must have had to clear it, if there was any potential for problem.

Anyway, this is interesting; I was (clearly) not aware of most of it before.

Updated On: 7/22/06 at 07:54 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 3:11am

Bump. Now that today's event has come and gone, more reminders for people to go to and report on the concerts on the 28th and 29th.

Adam puts on one hell of a show, I encourage all who are able to attend.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 1:24pm

He was surely there to promote his concert,but the fact that the Larson family was in attendance was as important or even more important.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 1:37pm

Just out of curiosity, to those who were there, did he say anything about his upcoming concerts? I imagine that he would, but I haven't read anything about him mentioning them.

And somehow, despite his hosting of an event involved with a non-equity tour, I think we'll all live.
Updated On: 7/23/06 at 01:37 PM

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 2:08pm

This nonsense about non-Equity tours is getting a little old. The Rent tour has been non-Eq for five years. It's time for Equity to get over it, or, here's a thought, offer Equity membership to every non-Eq actor out there. Adam is not the only Equity member who has seen this tour, there have been many. In addition to that, the non-Eq cast was welcomed by the Broadway cast at the Neder prior to heading out on tour. The Larson family has visited the tour more than once. So ,yeah, everyone, let this issue go.

[Hairspraydoll]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 3:34pm

He did promote his concert while he was there. And Wilson Cruz did too. Adam actually bolted after he announced the last song.
The whole thing was about supporting Jonathan Larson and having both of his productions there together and promoting them. It was really fun and nice and not really super crowded. Both casts and Adam and Wilson Heredia were sweet and signed for everyone and took pictures. Although Adam would not pose for pictures.