BKLYN Tour in Dallas?

[DBillyP]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:20pm

I am going tonight. Anyone else?

[DWalk]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:36pm

I'm going Friday night. I'm looking forward to seeing this one considering what I've read about it on these boards. It seems to be a hate it or love it show.

[Bret]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 2:06pm

I'm going on Sunday night. I'm somewhat excited, although I'm not a fan of the show, based on the CD. I am, however, thrilled to hear Ms. Deguarmo(spelling?) sing "Once Upon a Time".

[junglered]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 2:23pm

I saw the Brooklyn tour in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago. The artists were very strong - especially Cleavant Derricks. Melba Moore was good and Diana DeGarmo held her own - she will only get to be a better performer with time. Sadly, this show is a big mess. This 'urban fairy tale' thinks it wants to be 'edgy' like "Rent" was when it opened. Unfortunately, Brantley was right on this one - BKLYN has a paper thin plot and unmemorable songs. If you go, just go for the individual artists performances.

[DBillyP]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 2:40pm

I said last night to my "date" that, at the very least, the score should be well sung. I do not know the music, so the whole experience will be fresh.

Besides, the tickets were free.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:25pm

Can't wait to read your reviews. The show ain't great, but it's fun to laugh at some of the horrible moments. And to think this graced the Broadway stage, wow. My how times have changed. But Diana is wonderful, as is most of the cast.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 3:49pm

the most cohesive Houston review of the show (it moved from here to Dallas):

http://www.houstonvoice.com/2006/7-21/arts/feature/brooklyn.cfm

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 4:27pm

I am looking forward to seeing the show. I'll be going next week. I was quite disappointed with this article on Diana.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/columnists/mmendoza/stories/DN-brooklyn_0724gl.State.Edition1.91b345.html

It seems as if Diana is just hanging out in the musical theatre world until she can get another record deal. I don't know. It just rubbed me the wrong way.

[Parks]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 5:49pm

I went to try to buy tickets about an hour ago and the box office was closed I'm going tonight though! Just will buy my tickets before the show. 13 dollars a piece for 3rd balcony? That's pretty crazy seeing how I paid over 40 for Wicked...might see it a few times if I don't hate it!

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:04pm

You can get tickets for price levels 1-7 for half price if you bring clothes, school supplies, personal care items etc. for The Dallas Life Foundation to the box office.

[ABoyLikeThat]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:15pm

I don't think that's the case at all. I don't think she would essentially put her recording career on hold for over a year for this if she didn't love theatre. I think she just wants do both (theatre and albums). That reporter just chose to focus his interview on that other than just musicals. There's another article that I read advertising Brooklyn where Diana said that she would love to play Elphaba in Wicked someday. That would definitely be interesting.

I hope everyone has fun at the Dallas shows. Make sure to report back when you see it.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:25pm

Well, without saying exactly what I'd like to say....

Her album didn't do very well, and she is no longer affiliated with RCA - her past label. I don't know if that part of the career was put on hold or maybe re-routed. It could be this particular reporter's slant. Who knows?

I just have a high regard for actors/actresses who don't find musical theatre as a "fallback career." There are far too many actors/singers who would kill to have a role in Hairspray or Brooklyn. Sitting in a recording studio is easy work compared to 8 times a week.

Updated On: 7/25/06 at 06:25 PM

[Marie2]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 6:57pm

"Fallback career" was the author's words, not Diana's. She's anxious to continue in theater but also anxious to do her second CD. Why does one have to lessen the importance of the other? Seems like a silly thing to pick on her for, considering she has also made it clear in many other interviews that she'd love to return to Broadway after Hairspray and her album to be in Wicked or an original cast of a new show.
I guess I just read her comments differently. *shrug*

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 7:53pm

It's all good. I completely agree that the author put slant into the article, and I see no problem with someone really putting their heart into BOTH. As long as they find an equal amount of expression and joy in both. She does say that recording is where her "heart and soul lies."

I truly don't follow Diana that much, but I knew she was in the musical theatre path. I was just surprised that she was still interested in the recording/pop star avenue.

[nannerz60]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 10:26pm

Anybody who goes, please review. I saw the show in St. Paul and liked it a lot. Diana and Cleavant's duet in Streetsinger was especially powerful.

[Parks]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 11:19pm

Just got in from seeing it--AMAZING. I'm running out the door right now--I'll be back in an hour or so.

DBillyP, were you sitting in the first balcony to the right?

[DBillyP]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 11:57pm

I was! And you didn't say hello?!?

Now, my mini-review:

I enjoyed the show a lot. Now, keep in mind I got free tickets and had no, not low, but no expectations for the show. I knew very little about it and had not heard the cast recording. I will be buying it after seeing the show.

Diana is very good. Although her acting is weak, her voice, presence and spunk carry her through the show. Cleavant Derricks and Melba Moore are wonderful. I do not, however, think the show "belongs" to any one of them individually. All five performers give it their all, and, together, they create the fairy tale.

As an audience member, I think you have to agree to accept the conceit that you are being told a fairy tale by street performers and then just go with it. Once that is done, however, I think the creators short change the audience. I followed and bought into the story until the winner of the competition is announced.


SPOILER AHEAD ...


YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ...


The real-life audience goes nuts for Brooklyn and Street Singer, as though we are the "America" that will be voting. So, how does she not win? No explanation is offered. This is not American Idol where odd things happen, and the producers cannot explain why. It is a fairy tale, and I think the audience deserves, at least, a sentence or two in the script saying, "America, though taken by Brooklyn's voice, felt cheated when her father didn't appear and voted for Paradice instead," or something like that. It's the explanation people want when the favorite is inexplicably voted off of the reality show, and the public is stunned because they can't figure out why. (I don't watch American Idol, so I can't give an example.) I know we are supposed to feel that Brooklyn gets her "happy ending" with her father, but why not let her win, give the money to the poor AND get her father?!?

More importantly, the song is never finished. I think that cheats the audience. You spend an hour and a half waiting for the rest of the song, and you don't get it. Taylor's "I can't finish something that in my heart will always be unfinished" didn't quite work for me.

In spite of that, I did really enjoy the show and will buy the cast recording.

EDIT: I found the staging very clever and highly effective, though I think the show is far too intimate to fully work in a theater the size of the Music Hall. It would benefit greatly from being seen in someplace like the Majestic.

Updated On: 7/26/06 at 11:57 PM

[Parks]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 12:13am

lol, well I didn't know if it was you. I was with a friend and I told him, "...I think that guy is from my message board," and he replied, "that's awkward." haha.

I found it a little bit funny/sad that Diana had to give a speech encouraging the audience to buy more tickets.

People told me that the show was one of the worst things they had ever seen--the biggest waste of money they've spent--and I must say, it was WELL worth the 16 dollars I paid for my ticket.

I guess I wouldn't pay 100 dollars for a ticket to see it, but I wouldn't have said it was as bad as everyone else seems to think it was. I missed a lot of things, and I will definitely be going back to see the show soon. I want to take some more friends.

If you're in Dallas, be sure to see it--for 13 dollars for 3rd balcony, it's SO worth it (and you can probably move up--the music hall was the least crowded I've ever seen it tonight).

[nannerz60]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 12:15am

DBillyP, thanks for your review! Glad you enjoyed the show! I, too, bought the cast recording after seeing it, and wasn't disappointed.

Diana's acting was not the strongest in parts, but I especially liked her Little Brooklyn portrayal. And her voice is superb.

The outcome of the contest was a little unsettling, but I liked it because it was real, fairytale or not. I really liked that The Unfinished Lullaby was unfinished myself. I thought the line worked in there...

Parks, Diana did the same thing in St. Paul, encouraging people to buy tickets and tell people about the show. It was kinda sad. Can't wait to read what you thought of the show...
Updated On: 7/26/06 at 12:15 AM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 12:18am

I have been in the music hall many a time....

empty? How full would you say it was? That place is a cavernous barn.....

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 12:28am

Parks,

When did she do this speech. After curtain call?

[DBillyP]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 12:36am

Yes, after curtain call ...

[Parks]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 12:49am

Is your name Parks?

[DBillyP]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 12:55am

LOL ... uh, yes ... it's ... uh ... DBillyParks ...

[HumATune]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 1:52am

Eh, I don’t have a problem with Diana’s comments. It’s no different than a seasoned Broadway perfumer breaking into TV and movies, and eventually going to Broadway (Cheno comes to mind.). Diana does have a genuine respect for Broadway, and the work involved in it.