BAT OUT OF HELL Will Play 8 Weeks At NY City Center In 2019- Page 26

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 8:33am

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Rocky Horror could, but not successfully; it flopped both times round."

It's not fair to equate financial failure with "this show has no place on Broadway". There have been numerous shows over the years that failed financially, but still had merit.

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "this rock concert masquerading as a revue"

Bruce Springsteen, Morrissey, and now Barry Manilow have staged "concerts masquerading as revues" of their respective catalogs on Broadway.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 10:05am

I think Rocky Horror is far more successful as a fully realized piece of musical theatre than Bat Out of Hell in nearly every conceivable way. 

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 10:13am

Lot666 said: "g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Rocky Horror could, but not successfully; it flopped both times round."

It's not fair to equate financial failure with "this show has no place on Broadway". There have been numerous shows over the years that failed financially, but still had merit.

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "this rock concert masquerading as a revue"

Bruce Springsteen, Morrissey, and now Barry Manilow have staged "concerts masquerading as revues" of their respective catalogs on Broadway."

Sorry that g.d.e.l.g.l has to carry so much emotional baggage re this show, yet still isn't curious enough to even deign to see it.  I have no such investment, only a love of the original album, and I had a blast.  Perhaps he/she also doesn't care for sheer, unadulterated camp.  That IMHO is what the show embodies.  And how the cast can sing!  

[smidge]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 10:19am

Sho-Tunes-R-Us said: "Lot666 said: "g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Rocky Horror could, but not successfully; it flopped both times round."

It's not fair to equate financial failure with "this show has no place on Broadway". There have been numerous shows over the years that failed financially, but still had merit.

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "this rock concert masquerading as a revue"

Bruce Springsteen, Morrissey, and now Barry Manilow have staged "concerts masquerading as revues" of their respective catalogs on Broadway."

Sorry that g.d.e.l.g.l has to carry so much emotional baggage re this show, yet still isn't curious enough to even deign to see it. I have no such investment, only a love of the original album, and I had a blast. Perhaps he/she also doesn't care for sheer, unadulterated camp. That IMHO is what the show embodies. And how the cast can sing!"

Were you able to go back Wednesday?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 11:09am

Lot666 said: "Bruce Springsteen, Morrissey, and now Barry Manilow have staged "concerts masquerading as revues" of their respective catalogs on Broadway."

Categorically wrong. They were never advertised as book musicals or revues. You bought a ticket to Springsteen, Morrissey (though dear God, why would you, the weepy bastard), or Manilow, you know what you were expecting. Whatever they want you to believe, calling Bat a book musical with a straight face, especially in its present state, is a bit much.

As for my emotional baggage, Sho-Tunes... well, yes, I have some, and frankly I'm surprised more of Jim's fans with intimate knowledge of what led here aren't as bothered. My only conclusion is that if someone with my level of knowledge and baggage is happy with it, it's because they're ecstatic that some version of it actually made it to the public eye in their lifetime. In addition to the earlier incarnations of the show that I've linked, I've seen and heard bootlegs of this version, and read five drafts of the script ranging from 2014 to fairly close to the present (their ship has more leaks than a sieve). I'm fully aware of (at least some of) what I'd see, and, bolstered by most of the opinions in this thread, I'm all set with buying a ticket to that.

Updated On: 8/22/19 at 11:09 AM

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 11:37am

Is a book musical, no doubt about it. Very much in the vein of Mamma Mia. Songs listed in the program, but not in any particular order.

I did return a second time Wednesday night. Met with Bradley Dean, received a backstage tour, met other cast members and had a photo taken. Still can't figure how to post the damn thing.

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 11:37am

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Lot666 said: "Bruce Springsteen, Morrissey, and now Barry Manilow have staged "concerts masquerading as revues" of their respective catalogs on Broadway."

Categorically wrong. They were never advertised as book musicals or revues. You bought a ticket to Springsteen, Morrissey (though dear God, why would you, the weepy bastard), or Manilow, you know what you were expecting. Whatever they expect you to believe, calling Bat a book musical is a bit much."

I feel like you're missing my point, and perhaps intentionally, so that you can shoehorn your irrelevant distaste for Bat into the conversation. This exchange began from the statement, "Bat Out of Hell has no place on Broadway", which was made by bwayphreak234. I questioned why he/she would say such a thing, when The  Rocky Horror Show ran on Broadway. You attempted to argue that this was an invalid comparison because Rocky Horror was not "successful", and you described Bat as a "rock concert masquerading as a revue". I noted that financial failure should not be used as a measurement of worth, and also that other pop/rock performers have been doing Broadway residencies of late. My original statement, to which you replied at length and with considerable deviation from my point, was simply that it's not fair to say that "Bat Out of Hell has no place on Broadway" when other, similarly campy and crazy productions have been staged on Broadway, as well as revues by pop/rock performers.

Updated On: 8/22/19 at 11:37 AM

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 12:57pm

Wish we could get Love Never Dies here

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 1:34pm

Sho-Tunes-R-Us said: "Met with Bradley Dean, received a backstage tour, met other cast members and had a photo taken."

I spoke with him after the show for a bit, and he was very nice. He told me about his next (not yet officially announced role) after Bat and I was over the moon.

 

[mufish]

Posted: 8/23/19 at 5:47pm

I was also there Tuesday night.  Aside from feeling like the show is a tad long, I enjoyed it for what it is - is it going to be the next cultural phenomenon?  No, but it's a lot of fun (especially if you are a fan of Meat Loaf and/or Steinman) and I can appreciate that they're doing something different and have managed to craft an (admittedly bonkers) book musical.  I'm absolutely thrilled I was able to get to NYC to see it during this short run, and the fact that it ended up being the night that Meat was there made it even better!

Unfortunately I had someone next to me who was periodically checking her phone and occasionally singing along with a few of the songs, but that's where the high volume of the show came in extra handy as it mostly drowned the sound out.  There are some great performances being given on that stage, particularly from a vocal standpoint and it was fun hearing some different approaches to the songs I've come to know so well. 

For those wondering about the rush aka "Meat Seats", I went to the box office at about 5:45 and was able to get one.  The box office attendant offered row M seat 115 which is basically the middle of the row - he mentioned he had some closer options, but that they were on the sides so that view was probably the best.  It put me pretty close to Meat, and I was also able to get a pic with him at intermission - Sho, I think at one point you were right behind me in line for an audience with Mr. Loaf.  All in all, very pleased with how the night worked out! 

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 8/24/19 at 12:41am

Lot666 said: "Sho-Tunes-R-Us said: "Met with Bradley Dean, received a backstage tour, met other cast members and had a photo taken."

I spoke with him after the show for a bit, and he was very nice. He told me about his next (not yet officially announced role) after Bat and I was over the moon.

"

He told me also, but didn't mention it was confidential.  Moot point now cuz it's in Playbill.  Monsieur Andre in Phantom.  Did he also mention that he was the last person personally approved by Hal Prince for the role before Mister Prince passed away?

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/24/19 at 9:47pm

So I'm guessing this isn't having its extension ?

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 8/25/19 at 10:49am

RippedMan said: "So I'm guessing this isn't having its extension ?"

 

Oh heavens no. 

 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/25/19 at 12:58pm

Extension? The way ticket sales are largely skewing toward the TDF level prices, they're lucky they're running.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/25/19 at 7:40pm

I saw the matinee today and the mezz was maybe 3/4 full at best.

This was one weird show. People like what they like, but I didn't really get it. I'm glad Goldstar came through with a nice price. It just made me sad that I'd missed Dance of the Vampires.

At least it was better than Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise.

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/26/19 at 8:20am

Sho-Tunes-R-Us said: "Did he also mention that he was the last person personally approved by Hal Prince for the role before Mister Prince passed away?"

No, but that makes me even more excited to see his performance!

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 8/27/19 at 3:09am

My neighbor said that her son was in the Times Square area and was offered free tickets to Bat Out Of Hell but he turned them down because of his work schedule.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/27/19 at 12:05pm

SmoothLover said: "My neighbor said that her son was in the Times Square area and was offered free tickets to Bat Out Of Hell but he turned them down because of his work schedule."

A close friend picked up some free tickets at work offered to the boss in a similar fashion.

[mpkie]

Posted: 8/27/19 at 1:39pm

Do either of you happen to know where in Times Square and around what time?

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 8/28/19 at 9:20am

mpkie said: "Do either of you happen to know where in Times Squareand around what time?"

I do not know if they are doing it every day. If you are in the City Center area in the afternoons you might run across someone giving away tickets on 55th Street.

 

Updated On: 8/28/19 at 09:20 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 11:03am

Finally saw this last night. They need to register some of these audience members like they do sex offenders so we can know if they’re ever anywhere near a theater again, we know to avoid it. Between the constant talking, phones ringing, FaceTimeing during the show, singing along as loud as they can, shouting and an almost-drunk fist fight I will say this was the 2nd worst audience I’ve ever encountered in all my years at the theatre, the first being the audience at City Centers “The Wiz”, where my friends and I chose to just leave it was so bad. But I was leaving this one because I love Lena Hall and I really wanted to see what all the hype was about.

It’s honestly one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen. It’s almost as if there’s a hundred different writers who didn’t bother communicating with each other as to what show they were writing. Like most jukebox musicals, it’s way too long just to fit in as many “hits” as possible but I would have been more than ok with a 90 minute intermission-less show instead of a 2 hour 45 minute one. The best thing about the show for me was that we were introduced to Danielle Steers, who is a powerhouse. Her voice reminds me of Cher, in the best possible way. She’s definitely one I’ll be looking out for from now on.

And a nearly naked Bradley Dean never hurt anyone, neither.

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 1:52pm

Jordan Catalano said: "They need to register some of these audience members like they do sex offenders so we can know if they’re ever anywhere near a theater again, we know to avoid it. Between the constant talking, phones ringing, Face Timeing during the show, singing along as loud as they can, shouting and an almost-drunk fist fight I will say this was the 2nd worst audience I’ve ever encountered in all my years at the theatre"

Interesting. We saw a Saturday matinee and the audience was extremely well-behaved. I saw no drunkenness, sing-alongs, or cell phone usage once the show actually began. 

Jordan Catalano said: "And a nearly naked Bradley Dean never hurt anyone, neither."

I love that he has the cojones to do that, and he's a really nice guy, too! I can't wait to see him in Phantom.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/30/19 at 2:09pm

If you saw a matinee, maybe the bars weren’t open yet for the audience to get completely sh*tfaced.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 8/31/19 at 6:17pm

I happen to know that Jordon is not exaggerating.

[mpkie]

Posted: 9/1/19 at 5:36pm

Down to the final week!

I went back via rush last night and had a blast, after having done all my research to understand what is "happening" and becoming very familiar with the music/ lyrics. Not being confused helps a lot! I found focusing on the actors and ignoring the confoundingly bad choreography made it a much better show. The show and performances actually made me emotional this time, instead of utterly bewildered!

For anyone curious about rush, it is SUPER easy. I picked up a ticket close to 6PM. You can only get Orchestra, even though I knew Grand Tier was pretty empty when I asked if there were any. The final ticket price is $52.50 (includes New York City Center fees). They gave me J101 on the center aisle. Tall guy blocked my view but it was easy to move to an empty seat on the side aisle before the show started. Excellent view.

The audience did seem slightly less behaved this time. After intermission two people decided it was perfectly fine to carry on with a normal volume conversation. Took some adamant shushing by their neighbors for them to stop. People around definitely sang a little bit, annoying but no disorderly behavior.

Stage door was crowded on a Saturday night but everyone was in good spirits. It was fun to find out there were repeat attendees from other productions. It's hard to explain in words how much I adore this cast, so I was pretty star struck. All the actors were so nice.

I'm looking forward to seeing Danielle Steers back stateside in Six. She spoke a bit about it at stage door. And I really hope to see more of Andrew Polec! His voice is crazy.