BRIGADOON in Pasadena
BRIGADOON in Pasadena
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#1
Posted: 5/21/26 at 2:26am
If you want to see an 80 year musical done to perfection with only a few book ‘improvements’ (and they are) get thee to the Pasadena Playhouse
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#2
Posted: 5/21/26 at 3:49am
I saw this past weekend, and I didn't think it was good. The set was pretty. The two leads were fantastic. It was great to hear the score.
However, tonally, the show didn't work for me. I don't know the original book line-by-line, Alexandra Silber's "updated" book was still clunky. The comedy landed like a perfunctory sitcom routine tightened by AI, but the drama didn't feel earned at all. Perhaps that flaw is more attributed to Spelman's direction. Actors were rushing to deliver the next line, and the weight of the dialogue didn't get to breathe. (Also, Tyne Daly was absolutely not ready, which didn't help.)
Max von Essen was the highlight for me. Betsy Morgan was fine. Happy Anderson as Jeff was two dimensional and sitcomy, and I think his scene at the bar at the end could've been better. Donna Vivino could've gone much further with her role.
Spelman also disappointed me with her choreography. Long dance breaks that dragged with no exciting buildup.
I may be a bit harsh with my opinion. But they really should've hired a director who can truly work on the book scenes, and hired Spelman solely as a choreographer to let her do her thing.
That being said, this production was much better than the nasty La Cage production that Pasadena Playhouse put on.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#3
Posted: 5/21/26 at 6:32am
That being said, this production was much better than the nasty La Cage production that Pasadena Playhouse put on.
Hey, now. THAT production of LA CAGE was directed by Tony Award winning director of OH, MARY! and the current Broadway revival of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW: Sam Pinkelton! 😛
Featured Actor Joined: 3/19/08
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#4
Posted: 5/21/26 at 9:59am
BrodyFosse123 said: "That being said, this production was much better than the nasty La Cage production that Pasadena Playhouse put on.
Hey, now. THAT production of LA CAGE was directed by Tony Award winning director of OH, MARY! and the current Broadway revival of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW: Sam Pinkelton! 😛"
Yes, it was directed by Sam... and it was terrible!!!
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#5
Posted: 5/21/26 at 10:31am
The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, but most of them with the caveat that the book still isn’t THAT great. Which I think is always going to be a hurdle for any BRIGADOON. And the show may need more leeway from the estates to make structural changes than what Silber was allowed.
Katie Spelman is certainly proving herself as a director/choreographer in the regions.
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#6
Posted: 5/21/26 at 11:53am
Can anyone go into detail what the book changed? Was it actual events/framing or more just line tweaks/delivery? The LA Times was rapturous but didn't go too much into detail about the changes.
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BRIGADOON in Pasadena#7
Posted: 5/21/26 at 1:44pm
Listen, as someone who has suffered the book of Brigadoon as a cast member, an audience member, and a pit musician, I know the book could use some work for a modern audience. I'm also not sure how you could do it without gutting the piece and writing essentially a new story in modern times with the same magical disappearing village conceit.
The score is lovely, but holy hell do you need to consider trimming down those dance breaks if the choreography is not sensational. I don't care how lovely Bonnie Jean is, that ballet in Come to Me Bend to Me feels like an eternity.
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#8
Posted: 5/21/26 at 4:36pm
Looking at the Wikipedia synopsis, I think the biggest change is
Harry walks to the bridge, and we see him jump off to kill himself. Jeff sees the whole thing, but couldn't do anything about it.
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#9
Posted: 5/21/26 at 5:00pm
Spoilers: changes include
No girl back home in NYC for Tommy. He has mainly just ‘lost his way’ which actually make it stronger I think
The biggest change is the bar scene back in NYC Jeff, who has stopped drinking, talks about losing his wife to cancer shortly after he marries her This loss informs his belief that Tommy should not give up on true love and that he wrongly steered Tommy astray in BRIGADOON. In my opinion this makes the resolution much stronger
No Mr Lundy but rather widow Lundy as played by Tyne Daly who was in fine form and voice last night This minor change gives the women in town more agency over their lives
All of these changes were for the better I think
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#10
Posted: 5/21/26 at 5:03pm
Silber and Spelman talk about the changes in these two interviews:
https://www.theatermania.com/news/finding-brigadoon-how-the-pasadena-playhouse-is-reimagining-a-classic-for-the-modern-age_1837347/
https://www.americantheatre.org/2026/05/08/book-restoration-in-flower-drum-song-and-brigadoon/
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#11
Posted: 5/21/26 at 7:15pm
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "The reviews havebeen overwhelmingly positive, but most of them with the caveat that the book still isn’t THAT great. Which I think is always going to be a hurdle for any BRIGADOON. And the show may need more leeway from the estates to make structural changes than what Silber was allowed.
Katie Spelman is certainly proving herself as a director/choreographer in the regions."
Katie Spelman is truly a genius. Those that have seen her come up in Chicago know this to be true. Her eye is specific and targeted to deliver gorgeous composition, while simultaneously her heart and instinct is firmly planted in what makes musical theatre special.
And while I'm singing praises for Chicago female directors - look out for Jessica Fisch, too.
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#12
Posted: 5/21/26 at 7:39pm
inlovewithjerryherman said: "
Katie Spelman is truly a genius."
I'm not sure if I'd consider her a genius director yet. It seems like she does well in creating a good overall picture of the stage via blocking and taking advantage of the moody vibes of certain types of music.
But if she were to be assigned to direct straight plays, I wouldn't be confident in her ability to guide the actors to the scene's potential. And unfortunately, Brigadoon had some important book scenes that fell flat.
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#13
Posted: 5/21/26 at 11:56pm
The only production of BRIGADOON I've ever seen is the one NY City Center Encores produced for 2 weeks back in 2017 starring Patrick Wilson and Kelli O'Hara. Loved the choreography by Christopher Wheeldon. I always thought it might move to Broadway but sadly did not. I'm grateful for the soundtrack though!
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#14
Posted: 5/22/26 at 2:43am
I’m really looking forward to seeing this on Saturday evening, May 30th.
it took me three attempts to get through the movie, but ultimately I found it enjoyable.
The rave L.A. Times review of the Pasadena Playhouse production has me intrigued!
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#15
Posted: 5/22/26 at 8:29am
Is this one of the variants where they were fleeing the British instead of witches?
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#16
Posted: 5/23/26 at 9:11pm
Just heading back to hotel but…wow wow wow wow! I have little to no experience with this musical, but damn was this an exceptional production! With some adjustments, I can see this making its way to New York, in some capacity. I’d easily rate this among my top 5 regionally produced shows. And, while I grew up in Pasadena, I didn’t know the Playhouse had it in them to create a production of this caliber and, what looks like, a LOT of money.
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#17
Posted: 5/23/26 at 9:14pm
henrike said: "Looking at the Wikipedia synopsis, I think the biggest change is
Curious…what’s the original ending?
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#18
Posted: 5/23/26 at 9:59pm
Usually, in the “run and get him” number at the top of act 2, Harry falls and cracks his head. In the movie, Jeff absentmindedly shoots him (which I believe City Center did also).
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#19
Posted: 5/23/26 at 10:41pm
henrike said: "I saw this past weekend, and I didn't think it was good. The set was pretty. The two leads were fantastic. It was great to hear the score.
However, tonally, the show didn't work for me. I don't know the original book line-by-line, Alexandra Silber's "updated" book was still clunky. The comedy landed like a perfunctory sitcom routine tightened by AI, but the drama didn't feel earned at all. Perhaps that flaw is more attributed to Spelman's direction. Actors were rushing to deliver the next line, and the weight of the dialogue didn't get to breathe. (Also, Tyne Daly was absolutely not ready, which didn't help.)
Max von Essen was the highlight for me. Betsy Morgan was fine. Happy Anderson as Jeff was two dimensional and sitcomy, and I think his scene at the bar at the end could've been better. Donna Vivino could've gone much further with her role.
Spelman also disappointed me with her choreography. Long dance breaks that dragged with no exciting buildup.
I may be a bit harsh with my opinion. But they really should've hired a director who can truly work on the book scenes, and hired Spelman solely as a choreographer to let her do her thing.
That being said, this production was much better than the nasty La Cage production that Pasadena Playhouse put on."
Couldn't agree more with most of this. Particularly the choreography and hiring a director - and Spelman as choreographer. It was clear she is best in the choreographers role only. The book scenes were not good - and the tone and balance very uneven. It was clear this was a show directed by a choreographer. Spelman is fine enough with choreography - direction, no.
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#20
Posted: 6/3/26 at 5:14pm
I was in town and caught BRIGADOON this past weekend, and I thought it was absolutely delightful. It's not a show I'm especially familiar with, but there are some lovely songs peppered throughout the merely pleasant ones. The set is stunning, and since the show is so awash in a kind of magic and mystery, they did well establishing that tone early on. I loved the design elements top to bottom, right down to the costumes.
Performance-wise, the leads are charming as all get out. von Essen has that incredible voice and good chemistry with Morgan, who I thought sounded excellent in the role. Her high notes were radiant, and her acting was spot-on as well. Vivino made her larger-than-life character big without ever being too big to take seriously. Daly's individual book scenes were strong, but whenever she was in a crowd, she seemed to look a little lost. The ensemble was strong all around, engaging in every scene and dancing their tails off.
My biggest issue was Happy Anderson's character. As written, he's a real obnoxious stick-in-the-mud, spouting entry-level psychobabble -- and then he vanishes from a big chunk of the show. Whatever that updated scene at the end is meant to do to redeem or explain his actions, it can't fix how off-putting the character had been up to that point.
Still, that theater is so dang cute to begin with, and the show is of such high caliber that I would absolutely recommend it if you're in the area.
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#21
Posted: 6/5/26 at 4:14pm
Having been stationed together onboard a U.S. Navy ship in beautiful, wonderful, magnificent Scotland in the late 1960's, husband and I were thrilled to learn that "Brigadoon" was making its way to Pasadena. We purchased tickets as soon as they became available to us.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make the trip north for the show. So, husband and his best friend went together instead. They loved it. Every bit of it. So much so, that they have tickets for this weekend, as well.
If you think you might like "Brigadoon," then you probably will. See it while you can!
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#22
Posted: 6/10/26 at 8:52am
Feel the exact same way. Saw it last night and was really disappointed. The performances, especially Max Von Essen were great but the book and long dance numbers were tedious.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/13
BRIGADOON in Pasadena#23
Posted: 6/10/26 at 9:16am
Back in the day they really tried to give the audience their money's worth for their $0.50 Broadway ticket. None of these 85 minute shows with zero set.
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