Alex Newell in Pippin

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 6:04am

Starting in the 50th anniversary concert at the London Palladium

[sondheimsnob2]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 10:26am

Finally some good news... will buy my ticket tomorrow. Alex Newell is a gem.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 3:02pm

What role??

[binau]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 3:04pm

Leading player. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 3:56pm

Exciting (mystic, and exotic) casting!

I can already hear a brilliant vocal run at the end of "On the Right Track" and a VERY menacing reading of "TAKE YOUR DAMN HANDS OFF THE KEYBOARD" in the final scene. 

[Huss417]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 4:38pm

Would love to go over to see them but my luck I would get there and they would be out of the show. Happened to me three times during their run in Shucked. I finally gave up.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 4:59pm

Ironically, what i remember most about Vereen's performance was his dancing and slinking around the stage.  He sang very well, but it was the other stuff that really made his performance.  I don't actually see Alex Newell as the right casting for the role.  That said, if it is a straight concert (as opposed to an Encores-type performance), Newell will clearly be fine. Interesting, though, that Fosse's major contribution was what made the show the hit it became, although the score is fine, if not great.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 5:10pm

I agree that the dancing is absolutely essential to the role. I saw a (professional) regional production of Pippin many years ago that cast a man of a similar build to Newell, and he was clearly more of a "mover" than a dancer, and they made it more of a "stand and sing" kind of role. It just did not work having a chubby dude just sort waving his arms around and doing the occasional twirl when the role was written to be played by a slinky, sexy Fosse dancer.

Also, it's a dance show. If it's a park-and-bark concert of it...what would be the point? 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 5:47pm

It's TWO performances.  I would expect it to be standing at music stands and singing.   

 

They will sing the heck out of the score....and with only 2 performances, there is a good chance they'll be at both!  

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 2:40am

how odd that nobody else is mentioned in their press release, just a 50 member choir and orchestra.