BROADWAY SECRETS: Wherein we confess our controversial opinions — Page 7

To preface what I have to say, I LOVED Patina in Sister Act. I haven't seen Pippin yet, but I'm very uncomfortable watching performance clips from the show because it looks like she lost complete control of her face. (Still looking forward to seeing the show though.)

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I really enjoyed HANDS ON A HARDBODY

Hated PASSING STRANGE and GODSPELL (especially GODSPELL)

Disliked PIRATE QUEEN...would've hated it BUT I really like Stephanie J. Block

Out of the many different broadway shows I have seen...NEXT TO NORMAL has been my favorite overall production...and I'm waiting for something to beat it...Maybe IF/THEN?

Phyl, did you forget about Broadwayguy and Lea Michelle? I think it was love at first sight, but he likes her for her PERSONALITY.

- "Tarzan" was not THAT bad. Ugly set, but not that bad. The added songs were quite good.
- "The Little Mermaid" WAS that bad. It was REALLY bad.
- Megan Hilty was the best Glinda.
- "Dance of the Vampires" was the most glorious hot mess I ever got the pleasure of seeing live. I would see it again in a heart beat. The only thing that could have made it better was a box of popcorn. Only downside was Michael Crawford.
- SPEAKING of Crawford. Overrated and awkward. I don't understand his appeal at all.
- I fell asleep during the "1776" revival. Woke up at intermission. Then fell back to sleep again in act two.
- I thought "Brooklyn" was really enjoyable
- I hate "A Chorus Line"
- Bebe Neuwirth can dance ALL she wants, but please keep singing to a minimum. "The Addams Family" was painful.
- "The Wedding Singer" is great!
- "Love Never Dies" is one of the more visually stunning shows ever but that doesn't save it from being a total embarrassment at the same time.
- The original production of "Ragtime" should have won best musical over "The Lion King."
- I have always been a huge Wildhorn fan but even I, a legit super fan, have grown frustrated with his more recent choices. Frank. Please. Get better lyricists and book writers. PLEASE. I BEG you.

I would have traded a movie version of My Fair Lady with Julie Andrews for a movie version of Sweeney Todd with Julie Andrews (circa 1982).

She would have killed it.

One Man, Two Guvnors should've taken Best Score over Newsies.

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-Thought Elena Roger was magnificent when I saw her as Eva. She was in much better voice than she had been in other parts of the run. (I saw her Sept. 29) Her Rainbow High "Star Quality" sounded great.

-I felt bored when I saw Catch Me if You Can on broadway.

-I'd love to see a production of bombshell.

-I absolutely adored Rock of Ages even though I went in with not so high expectations.

-There isn't a bad song in Evita. (Or grey gardens)

-I'm praying Rebecca makes it to broadway. The show is stunning. Also Karen Mason as Mrs. Danvers is something I need to see.

-I can't stand Dancing Through Life from Wicked.

-Stephanie J Block would have been magnificent on the recording of Wicked if she had originated the role.

-Carrie is hugely underrated musical.

-I hated Godspell with the passion of a thousand suns.
-Hair's best asset is it's score.
-The current revival of Pippin is wonderful and well done, but the circus tricks [despite the end justifying the means] get old very quickly and don't further the plot or add much.
-Kinky Boots deserved Best Score over Matilda, but A Christmas Story was better than both of them overall.
-Johnny Rabe should have gotten a honorary Tony for his work in A Christmas Story.
-Darren Criss and Broadway do not mix - please stop trying to make that happen.
-Dogfight was incredible.
-Billy Porter deserved his Tony win.
-Bertie Carvel got dicked over by the Matilda producers, and could have easily won in Featured Actor.
-Gabriel Ebert deserved his Tony win.
-Laura Osnes deserved the Tony over Patina Miller.
-Billy Elliot is a better show overall than next to normal and people who keep harping on that Tony win need to get over it.
-I adore Wicked.
-I fell asleep during Leap of Faith several times and only stayed to find out what happened in Act Two.
-The Mystery of Edwin Drood bored me to tears.
-The Into the Woods production from the Park should have transferred to Broadway.
-Annaleigh Ashford deserves more credit than she's given.
-I'm inspired/touched by a lot of Melissa Errico's blog about Passion and I feel for her.
-Patti LuPone's Mama Rose is the single greatest thing I've ever seen life on stage.
-I love Catherine Zeta Jones in A Little Night Music.
-The recent revival of Follies was beautiful.
-Corey Cott is a better Jack Kelly in Newsies than Jeremy Jordan.
-I love Newsies.
-I want Hit List to happen somewhere so I can see it.
-I am glad I skipped Hands on A Hardbody.
-All Shook Up deserved more love.

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Updated On: 6/20/13 at 07:01 AM

Adam Pascal's voice grates on me and it almost ruins listening to the Rent and Aida cast recordings

I will be able to die happy if I ever see Jenna Ushkowitz as Kim in Miss Saigon

Kerry Ellis and Eden Espinosa are my favourite Elphabas that I've seen so far, and Megan Hilty and Kendra Kassebaum are my favourite Glindas, with Dianne Pilkington (UK) coming in a close 3rd.

I like Spring Awakening, but I don't like how we never find out what happens to Martha after Dark I Know Well, and how Melchior is still portrayed as sympathetic after the hayloft scene.

I wish more of the Disney musicals (mainly Aida and The Little Mermaid) would come the London.

I don't have a problem with bootlegs. They allow someone to watch a performer they would've otherwise missed out on seeing and if anything they encourage more people to see a show.

Also Karen Mason as Mrs. Danvers is something I need to see.

Not so "controversial" an opinion!

- I always get confused when I see people trash a show online and then post their photos from the stagedoor. If you hated it so much then why would you feel the need to stalk the show after? To tell them how much you hated it? Or to lie so you can meet "famous people"? Fakity fake fake fake.

- I think bootlegs serve a purpose and I don't hate them, though I don't like when people post full video bootlegs of shows on YouTube. There's something to be said for discretion.

- I think Laura Osnes is the most overrated performer I've ever seen. I've seen her in three shows now and not once have I felt like she had a single genuine moment onstage.

- I'm also with nsguy in that I liked (at least most) of On a Clear Day AND I agree that City Center's Damn Yankees should've transferred. I loved that production a lot.

- I wish Broadway could see a truly well-done, reimagined, well-cast version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", I'm sick of seeing it done badly.

- I believe if you're going to meet a performer you love, it should be for the right reasons and with no expectation beyond being grateful for their talent and what it's meant to you. People who collect stagedoor photos with actors they won't even remember in a year confuse me. It's like a weird kind of hoarding.

- Peter and the Starcatcher fits better Off-Broadway than on, though I loved the Broadway production. I found the NYTW and the current Off-Broadway production superior, in addition I think Jason Ralph captured parts of Boy that eluded Adam Chandler-Berat and in general, I find the Off-Broadway cast stronger than the closing cast on Broadway. Rick Holmes outdid Matthew Saldivar by a clear mile in my mind.

- I still think Zanna, Don't could play the Helen Hayes (if Rock of Ages would GTFO) and run for awhile.

- I also think it's time for a Bat Boy revival. Like, yesterday.

I think that's it.

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Updated On: 6/20/13 at 01:25 PM

I think she's talented, but Jessie Mueller is lacking that ephemeral it factor. Also her soprano in Carousel sounds oddly strained to my ears.

And add me to the group saying that Bernadette Peters' voice is shot.

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