BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews

[LimelightMike]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#1

Posted: 8/1/12 at 1:13am

Today is Wednesday, August 1, marking the official opening performance of Bring It On: The Musical, the new muscular, pop-fueled musical inspired by the popular film franchise about rival cheerleading teams, at the St. James Theatre. The Broadway engagement is the culmination of the national tour, which launched last fall in Los Angeles. It began previews July 12 for a run through October 7. Andy Blankenbuehler directs and choreographs the musical, which has musical supervision by Alex Lacamoire. Bring It On: The Musical features a book by Jeff Whitty, and music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt, and Amanda Green.

Here's how producers bill the work: "In Bring It On: The Musical, the high-stakes world of competitive cheerleading is intertwined with cutthroat high school politics to tell the story of Campbell, the heir apparent to the head cheerleader at Truman High School. Campbell is at the top of the cheerleader pyramid and she has it all — a strong squad, a doting boyfriend and a straight path to the national championships. Her entire life has been dedicated to honing routines and staying within the strict rules and guidelines, but when a surprise letter arrives, Campbell's world is thrown upside down."

[Quiche2]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#2

Posted: 8/1/12 at 9:00am

I saw it back in Charlotte, NC on tour. I overall enjoyed it, but I did have problems with just 1 or 2 things. To start, the cheer routines performed at training camp seemed bigger and more spectacular than the one sperformed at the competition. Also, I thought some of the jokes were corny. I think one of the best jokes was, "They're gonna think we're snobby stuck up b*tches. Wait a minute..... We are snobby stuck up b*tches!"

Theatre is my life. No one can take that away from me.

[Wynbish]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#2

Posted: 8/1/12 at 9:05am

I've missed these threads, Limelight Mike. Here comes a new season!

[rosscoe(au)]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#3

Posted: 8/1/12 at 9:12am

As long as Ryyan Reyonds ( the cubby side kick ) gets great notices that's all that matters. The rest of the show will be a blood bath.

Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist. Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino. This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more. Tazber's: Reply to Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian

[broadwaydevil]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#4

Posted: 8/1/12 at 9:24am

We have this tonight and less than 3 weeks until Chaplin begins previews. Then before we know it, the fall season is upon us. Time is flying! I can't wait.

Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

[dramamama611]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#5

Posted: 8/1/12 at 9:42am

(Psssst, Quiche! I know you are new to the site, so please just take this as a heads up. Limelight Mike's threads on opening nights are a gathering place for the "official" reviews. As the professional reviews begin to trickle out, we post links here. With the link, the poster often includes a basic rating (pan, mixed, rave) and sometimes a great quote.)

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[caseyjay231]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#6

Posted: 8/1/12 at 9:46am

I saw the national tour of Bring It On when it came to the Cadillac Palace in Chicago. I enjoyed it for the most part, except when the spot lights would shine directly into the audience faces. It was so bright that my boyfriend got a migraine from it. I liked the characters a lot, and the music was good enough that i would buy the cast recording should it be released.
I agree that the cheerleading routines early in the show were far more impressive than in the final scene.

[dramamama611]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#7

Posted: 8/1/12 at 6:24pm

Figured I'd give this a bump.

NEWBIES: please remember this is to post LEGITMATE, PUBLISHED reveiews. There is another thread for individual thoughts.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[songanddanceman2]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#8

Posted: 8/1/12 at 7:10pm

AMNY - Positive

'As you'd expect, it features unbelievable displays of acrobatics and gymnastic abilities, including but not limited to young girls being flipped high in the air.

But it also proves to be a surprisingly well-crafted, highly enjoyable, feel-good musical with appealing characters, catchy R&B and rap songs, fierce hip-hop choreography and very funny dialogue packed with social media jokes.'

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/theater-review-bring-it-on-the-musical-3-5-stars-1.3876080

Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna

[songanddanceman2]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#9

Posted: 8/1/12 at 8:03pm

Hollywood Reporter - Mixed to positive

'When the acrobatic ensemble of dancers and athletes flips and flies through the air, forming pyramids or serving as human stilts for their fellow cast members, their feats are as impressive as anything happening in Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark. And there’s not a harness in sight.'

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bring-it-on-theater-review-355631

Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna

[broadwaydevil]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#10

Posted: 8/1/12 at 8:25pm

Associated Press is mixed/positive.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/review-bring-it-on-is-an-infectious-romp-if-not-very-groundbreaking-musical/2012/08/01/gJQAf9oHQX_story.html

Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

Updated On: 8/1/12 at 08:25 PM

[jv92]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#11

Posted: 8/1/12 at 8:31pm

Surprise, surprise: Matt Windman likes something kitschy and lame.

[Rentfan931]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#12

Posted: 8/1/12 at 8:47pm

Talkin' Broadway is up.

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/BringitOn.html

[bjh2114]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#13

Posted: 8/1/12 at 8:50pm

The AP is definitely more positive than mixed. The title is "'Bring It On' is fun and infectious"...

[Rentfan931]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#14

Posted: 8/1/12 at 9:08pm

Backstage is up.

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-broadway/ny-review-bring-it-on-the-musical-1007723752.story

[dramamama611]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#15

Posted: 8/1/12 at 9:53pm

well, these haven't been as fun to read as I imagined they would be.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[broadwaydevil]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#16

Posted: 8/1/12 at 10:22pm

The New York Times is mixed to positive.

"It’s when the cast members drop the bonding and the mean-girl bitching to take part in Mr. Blankenbuehler’s exciting cheerleading routines, arranging themselves into dazzling human starbursts, that “Bring It On” really brings something fresh to the ever-expanding roster of shows aimed at the teenage demographic. The precision and daring with which they fling themselves into the air and engage in breathtaking runs of back flips across the wide St. James stage give the musical a real kick. Even those with dark memories of the plastic perfections of cheerleaders may find it impossible to resist an encouraging cry of “Go team!”"

http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/theater/reviews/bring-it-on-the-musical-at-st-james-theater.html

Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

[broadwaydevil]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#17

Posted: 8/1/12 at 10:23pm

Newsday is mostly positive.

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/theater/bring-it-on-review-musical-leaps-high-1.3873686

Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

[broadwaydevil]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#18

Posted: 8/1/12 at 10:25pm

USA Today is positive!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/story/2012-08-01/bring-it-on-the-musical/56668332/1

Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

[donte7162004]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#19

Posted: 8/1/12 at 10:26pm

Horrible movie......bad idea.....

[Rentfan931]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#20

Posted: 8/1/12 at 10:27pm

Congrats to the cast and crew for the mainly positive reviews!!

[NewYorkTheater]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#21

Posted: 8/1/12 at 10:35pm

Here is a link to some spectacular photographs of the show so you can see for yourself (and also a short excerpt of my review, and link to full one)
Bring It On The Musical photographs by Joan Marcus

[phan24]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#22

Posted: 8/1/12 at 10:48pm

How was the New York Times Review published before the opening night performance even finished? Is it a common thing for reviewers to not go to opening night and write a review of a preview performance? Very sketchy.

[broadwaydevil]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#23

Posted: 8/1/12 at 11:01pm

^Yes, it happens all the time. No reviewer actually goes to opening night anymore. Theatre reviews used to be published in the "late editions" of newspapers but with tremendous pressure to get them in the newspapers early tomorrow morning and publish them online immediately, critics are invited to attend toward the end of previews. The reviews are then written and published at some point during opening night. Some newspapers tend to publish earlier while some wait a bit closer to the end of the show.

Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

[singtopher]

BRING IT ON: The Musical Reviews#24

Posted: 8/1/12 at 11:15pm

A press night two or three days before the official opening has been the norm for quite some time now.

"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert