BRIGHT STAR Previews

I'm going on Thursday

I'm hopeful, but not optimistic, that they've made beneficial changes between their Kennedy Center run and Broadway. The show that I saw in DC in December needed SUBSTANTIAL book and lyrical revisions.

BroadwayConcierge said: "I'm hopeful, but not optimistic, that they've made beneficial changes between their Kennedy Center run and Broadway. The show that I saw in DC in December needed SUBSTANTIAL book and lyrical revisions.

Just curious when in the DC run you saw it? They had several weeks of previews and then the hard opening. What didn't you like? I saw it toward the end of the run, and liked it. It's decidedly an old fashioned, 1950's kind of musical in the sense that for the most part everyone goes to the beach as it were, and it has that 1950's sentimentality which, again, isn't for everyone. Like all shows, there are songs I like and songs that I don't care for, but those don't by any means kill the show for me. What I can say is that the show got a standing ovation that night, and it's my understanding that with the exception of a few of the early previews, they got standing ovations every night.

Updated On: 2/24/16 at 07:46 AM

I get that but the show most likely change (and tightened performance wise) between the first preview and opening night, and quite frankly later in December.

I'm not seeing it until Saturday, but I'm curious if those who have seen it and who are planning to see it are seeing it because of interest in the bluegrass score, because of the 1950s time frame, because of interest in Martin and Brickell, or for any one particular actor. I make it a point to catch any stage work Paul Alexander Nolan is in, but I'm also really looking forward to seeing Carmen Cusack. The preview videos I've seen and heard have been great. Then again, I have more of an interest in country/bluegrass music than other genres.

SLSigafoos said: "I'm not seeing it until Saturday, but I'm curious if those who have seen it and who are planning to see it are seeing it because of interest in the bluegrass score, because of the 1950s time frame, because of interest in Martin and Brickell, or for any one particular actor. I make it a point to catch any stage work Paul Alexander Nolan is in, but I'm also really looking forward to seeing Carmen Cusack. The preview videos I've seen and heard have been great. Then again, I have more of an interest in country/bluegrass music than other genres.

As someone who also likes Bluegrass, I really liked the score. I think there are fair criticisms that some of the lyrics are little simplistic. I think Steve Martin covers a lot of ground from pure Bluegrass in five string style and frailing, as well as country swing. The main soloists, Bennett Sullivan on banjo, and Martha McDonnell on fiddle, are really extraordinary.

Carmen Cusak does an extraordinary job of living in the skin of both the old Alice and the young Alice. Paul Alexander Nolan is wonderful as Jimmy. I think they have great chemistry together.

Wow, there's a sentence I never thought I'd ever read.

SLSigafoos said: "

The main soloists, Bennett Sullivan on banjo, and Martha McDonnell on fiddle, are really extraordinary.

This makes me even more excited to see it! Outside of Once, I can't remember the last time I saw a great fiddle player on a Broadway stage!

"

"

Isn't it often the case the composer is a different person than the lyricist? Even shows without famous writers?

neonlightsxo said: "The music for this show isn't the problem. The book is the problem."

Yes, the music isn't shabby, and I agree that the book is the fundamental problem—but musically related are the lyrics, some of which were straight-up terrible. I'll never forget "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do when a man's gotta do what he's gotta do" OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Can hardly wait to hear the reviews tonight! Will the show indeed be bright on the great white way? Or as trite as this post? :)

BroadwayLuv2 said: "Any news on a rush policy? Did anyone try rush today?"

General rush for $30 when the box office opens.

https://mobile.twitter.com/BrightStarBway/status/702939567675084800

"it worked out fine for Mel Brooks (thanks to Glen Kelly) and Cyndi Lauper (thanks to Stephen Oremus), but not so well for Sting, Bono/The Edge, Dolly Parton and others."

I'll give you Bono/The Edge since the score to Spiderman was terrible, but 9 to 5 has a very solid score (not the reason it was unsuccessful) and The Last Ship actually was fairly praised for its score. I don't think you can judge a show's success on the composer being able to read music. Now if the score sucks, that's another story.