Am I the only one who thinks Damn Yankee's Could transfer? With a little help of course....

[Lefou]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:24am

So with this show I chose not to read any reviews before buying my tickets...Cheyenne was enough of a reason IMO :)

So after I got home from the show last night, I was shocked to read some of the reviews, but it may have been that everyone was just so spot on last night (Saturday July 12th). I thought the set was innovative and really liked the placement of pieces throughout the show. Also the color scheme for the chairs in the house in the first scene was very clever (with the red chair Joe was sitting in). There wasnt a better person to start that show off than with Randy Graff. I thought she gave a heart warming and very subtle performance which captured the essence of Meg for me. There were times when PJ Benjamin would swallow his voice and we couldnt understand what he was singing, but a beautiful tone made up for it. There were a few microphone issues, some ripping and a few that came on in the middle of a line, but nothing really distracting. Jane Krakowski for me acted Lola very well, her signing was very passable, but her dancing at times was a little awkward...but during Two Lost Souls, as shes leading the company she looked like she was having so much fun, which is what Encores is about, so it was great to see. I was impressed with Cheyenne's vocals throughout the show, his voice is just so effortless and has a totally different feel than Xanadu. There were some vocal inflections he has slipped into onstage (some swooping stuff..) that comes out a bit too much....it was great for Xanadu, but it just seemed a bit out of place at points. Now what I do not understand is everyones critisim of Sean Hayes. I thought his performance was spot on...every single aspect of it. His comic timing was flawless and his song he carried with such character and charisma there was nothing to complain about. All of the tricks with the matches and the card were done perfectly, he was in no way a weak link as some are saying. Now my two favorite parts of the production were The characters of Doris and Rocky..Kathy Fitzgerald, every time that woman was onstage I was in stiches, the woman is utterly hysterical and added so much with her little part. And Jimmy Smagula was just teriffic, he stole all the scenes with the ball players. He was always moving and just fit right into that part perfectly. The best songs for me were "Near to You" which was so beautiful between Graff and Jackson, "Heart" and "Shoeless Joe From Hannibal MO"...led by Megan Lawerence who was a suitable replacement for Gasteyer...would have liked to see her in the role however. Lastly, the dancing...Well there were times when I felt Fosse had personally come to show them the dancing it was just so good, but others (Who's got the pain) when I cringed a bit at the movement...So overall the dancing I would say was the weak link, but still not poor enough to keep it from a transfer.

Is it worthy? I would say so, if they perform like they did last night, they deserve it!

[shh282]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:31am

No, I think it could transfer also

[Kelly2]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:37am

As do I. I haven't lost faith in the show yet like others seem to. I think it's wonderful, and with tweaking, could make a great addition to the 08-09' season.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:45am

Transfer what? This is no more than a regional theater production with a few barely recognizable names.

Oh come on, hold out for something better on Broadway.

The street deserves fully mounted productions, with full rehearsal periods. It deserves actors who can perform the roles as envisioned, not just sing the part, or in Sean's case, play the piano while singing instead.

What is this? The first round of American Idol?

The shows on Broadway should have sets, not a series of platform coverings for the orchestra.

They should have bold new choreography - of if it's going to be a Fosse revival _ GET FOSSE-CAPABLE DANCERS!!!!!

If this show is transferred to Broadway without our SCREAMING NO, we will all be complicit in the cheapening of Broadway.

WE HAVE SEEN ENOUGH CHEAP REPROS ON BROADWAY.

At $100.00 plus per ticket, we deserve better.

And I have started a seperate thread to state my opinions.

Updated On: 7/13/08 at 11:45 AM

[LindaTNo1]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 4:47pm

To allofmylife

Some posters here said similar things about Gypsy and NOT transferring over to a full scale Broadway show. You are entitled to your opinions as all others here on this website. And that is OK. We can agree to disagree and/or agree period. So Gypsy proved alot of people wrong and good for the Gypsy production. Sometimes NOT listening to others and/or taking their advice, works out in reverse and that apparently happened with Gypsy.

Summer Stars Encore is just that. Pay attention to the intent and context of City Center and their offerings during the summer months. It is not designed for a full scale production with all the trimmings attached. Very very short rehearsal time and no lengthy previews and a short limited run. It should be taken exactly in that manner.

With time and a wider venue with separate orchestra pit and stage, tweaking the parts in expansion of the roles and characters, well, they certainly could pull if off on Broadway for a long run of it. Who knows? Nobody really knows because predictions are not always accurate and often are totally off base (no pun intended).

Diversity of opinions is great on this website because I base my life on my freedoms, to include freedom of speech and that is all good too. There can be heated discussions and getting off track of the thread subject matter but eventually at some point it has to get back on track with the subject matter at hand. And that is all good too. Differing opinions is a wonderful thing. Remember...............

If everyone thinks alike, no one is thinking................

Have a wonderful day!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 5:13pm

Make no mistake about this. Gypsy was transferred because of Patti Lupone.

Nothing else mattered.

Damn Yankees will not be transferred because of Sean Hayes or Jane Krakowski.

AND a "transfer" costs a fortune and in this economy, it makes very little sense to try to transfer a show with mid-level talent and lukewarm if respectful reviews.

Lupone's reviews were red hot, if I remember correctly.

They transferred Patti Lupone to Broadway. The rest was just the dressings.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 5:32pm

This is a glorified Summerstock production.

Unlike GYPSY.

[LindaTNo1]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 12:44pm

I think that this could transfer with more rehearsal time. The intent of City Center is to have summer offerings for theatergoers. Very, very short rehearsal times and set designs, etc. with a short-run summer thing. People need to pay attention to the design and objectives of Summer Series, Encores and take it for what it is.

Message board posters will naturally have their own opinions and favorite actors/actresses and will of course display some biases. That is perfectly normal.

Shows that were first tiered shows long ago have now become second tiered shows in some posters opinions. Classics are STILL classics. There will be a generational gap with theatergoers since some understand and get some shows in different ways since Broadway goes back a long way. Popularity counts too when rating shows. Some raters and reviewers will go long with the program simply to get along. Some reviewers will go against the grain and be gutsy enough to pen their own reviews.

I appreciate all forms of entertainment. I believe that all actors/actresses should challenge themselves in a variety of venues; ie. television, film, music, behind the camera directing and producing. Broadway stars should expand and grow their careers and seek out themselves in a variety of ways as mentioned above and add to their resumes wherever possible.

Damn Yankees CAN be transferred with tweaking and having a separate stage with orchestra pit and anything is possible on this planet called Earth. Never say never..................


Have a wonderful day, even on this manic Monday..............

[Peggysue2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 2:21pm

How can you say this or even have a valid opinion on it if you haven't seen the show?

[Kelly2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 2:22pm

:)

Updated On: 7/14/08 at 02:22 PM

[LindaTNo1]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 3:07pm

Maybe I have seen the show, and maybe I have not seen the show. ALL opinions are valid. Nobody can honestly say that I have not seen the show because nobody knows me. I keep my pivacy intact. Jumping to conclusions are merely mental assumptions and not truth or reality! "Believe nothing what you hear and only half of what you see" for it is truth that will set you free......

Have a wonderful day!

[LindaTNo1]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 3:10pm

allofmylife, Yankeefan007 among others are Gypsyaholics and it is clear here on this thread. Mid-level talent, NOT. Lukewarm reviews, NOT. Yes, not all reviews were lukewarm.. Some of them were pretty good and very nice too. Glorified Summer stock, NOT. An open mind cultivates wisdom and grows knowledge! With time, Damn Yankees could very nicely transfer. Ain't freedom of speech a wonderful thing!

WHEN EVERYONE THINKS ALIKE, NO ONE IS THINKING......................................


Have a wonderful day!

[Derrickg]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 3:46pm

Now it can be told ...

I had heard a rumor months before the Encores Gypsy was even announced that Laurents had agreed to direct LuPone in Gypsy for a summer run at City Center, with the understanding that there would be an after-life for the production and that he and LuPone both wanted Broadway (not London). I had some pretty strong doubts about it at the time, but it did end up happening, despite Brantley.

Has anybody heard anything similar about this Damn Yankees? Personally, I wouldn't rule out a transfer of DY as a possibility, but it does appear less likely, to me. It might sell better in a Broadway house during the regular season, but IMO, if they really want some insurance to make it worth the cost of a transfer, they'll need to replace Krakowski with either a bigger name or with a Broadway person who can really knock it out of the ballpark, so to speak.

[LindaTNo1]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 4:22pm

Derrickg

You might have something there in your posting. Behind-closed-door deals are made all the time in the entertainment business. Maybe there were some deals made with Gypsy and Patti Lupone, etc. Who knows? Very interesting posting. I am sure that should Damn Yankees transfer production, there will be changes made. Never say never, cause anything is possible, anything!


Have a wonderful day!