Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 8/20/17 — Page 3

poisonivy2 said: "Itonlytakesajourney said: "Does anyone know why Waitress took such a big drop? I adore the show, I think the story and writing is very moving and strong and the recording is my favorite cast recording (She Loves Me is tied) of last year. As far as I know, it's generally well-known and popular, and Betsy has been getting good word of mouth and praise. I assume people have heard of the tour and have thought twice about booking a trip to NYC when they could just see in their town? It's strange because its target audience is the older teen crowd+their mothers, but maybe they've been going to DEH and GC more? I don't know it just seems like an unusual dip to me.

"

Well this is a minority opinion but I saw it with Betsy (after seeing it twice with Sara) and think Betsy's a poor fit for the role. She has a fantastic voice and can sing the hell out of the score. But she doesn't have the down-to-earth persona that I think is important for Jenna. She's more of an ingenue type and her acting suffered if you saw Sara in the same parts of the performance. For instance Sara made a lot of throwaway lines like "I love Tuesdays" when talking about Earl's night out or "Cal's wife's not gay ... well ... hmm ..." Betsy just doesn't have that humor. Even Betsy's platinum blonde bouffant wig seems wrong for Jenna. I don't picture Jenna as someone who'd have time to upkeep hair that blonde and poofy. And Betsy's also a bit too ... pretty? Jessie and Sara were good-looking women but in that girl-next-door way. Betsy looks like a pageant queen. In fact I thought she looked like what Jon-Benet Ramsey might have looked like had she grown up.

Idk, I think Betsy is a fantastic talent but I don't really think she and Jenna are a good fit. Just my opinion. i know a lot of people love Betsy in the role.



I'll agree that Betsy's Jenna wig is very different from what we have come to expect out of the character, but in a way I like it. It gives her a typical southern pageant queen look, and I find that really ironic given the situation she's in. It is interesting to see different takes on Betsy's portrayal, but when does her contract end? So far we've gotten two Jenna's with unanimous praise, and one with mixed feelings. I wonder who they'll cast and how well they'll be recieved.

Laura would be really good, but I'm just not sure if she has that type of humor in her. It worked so well with Jessie and Sara, and she hasn't really gotten to play a character with humor like Jenna (Bonnie is an exception, but I've never seen her in that so I can't comment). She could sing that score to the moon and back, though. I think Laura Dreyfus, Phillipa Soo, and maybe Sutton Foster could play her? Idk.

KathyNYC2 said: "poisonivy2 said: "Betsy's contract is done in October, it was a 6 month contract.

As for the next Jenna? Well Laura Osnes will be out of a job by then ...



"

Betsy started mid June so it's closer to 4 than 6 months.

i also find Betsy very appealing the role. I take issue with the idea that she is too pretty as a previous poster stated. Do you have to be less than pretty to be in an abusive relationship? Yes Sara played her somewhat bolder and it's fine to prefer on over the other. But I personally don't think only one type of personality fits the role of Jenna. She could be anyone. Different people react differently in the same situations.



THIS! It doesn't matter how pretty you are, abuse can happen to anyone. I also think the casting of Betsy- a very beautiful, southern, blonde women- challenges the idea that only less than conventionally attractive people can be abused or mistreated (a sadly real thing). But that's just me, I think she seems as good a Jenna as Sara; thought not better than Jessie.

Updated On: 8/21/17 at 10:36 PM

poisonivy2 said: "I think CFA is the show that will lose a lot of steam once everyone's seen it. It's not a show that holds up well under repeated viewings. Basically if you've seen it once, that's all you'll ever need.

I know... anecdotal evidence, but I've spoken to a few people who have seen it more than once. Certainly, I would be more inclined to see something like Great Comet multiple times but some people really enjoy the experience of the show. For me, I can only imagine the jokes I didn't find funny the first time (most of them) would get more tiresome.

I'm curious how Anastasia will end up faring next to its Disney competition since the original movie was made in the mold of its Disney princess competitors. Given how popular the Disney Princess brand is, there have been surprisingly few transfers to the stage compared to the movies with male protagonists. Frozen is the big threat on the horizon but otherwise it seems like it has a clear path to a respectable run.

Itonlytakesajourney said: "Laura would be really good, but I'm just not sure if she has that type of humor in her. It worked so well with Jessie and Sara, and she hasn't really gotten to play a character with humor like Jenna (Bonnie is an exception, but I've never seen her in that so I can't comment). She could sing that score to the moon and back, though. I think Laura Dreyfus, Phillipa Soo, and maybe Sutton Foster could play her? Idk.

"

Laura Benanti certainly has that type of sarcastic sense of humor, but she might stretch believability as a plain pie-baking waitress. I loved the She Loves Me revival but she was barely convincing as Amalia. Something too strong and glamorous about her.

Isn't Sutton Foster more known for her dancing than her singing?

Annaleigh Ashford? She did have a very earthy sense of humor as Betty on Masters of Sex. In fact sometimes I felt like she was the only light in an otherwise very self-serious and pretentious show.

and I'm not saying Jenna has to be plain. I just find Betsy way too dolled up for the role. Huge bouffant wig, Southern pageant queen makeup, etc. I feel like Jenna should blend in somewhat with Becky and Dawn and the rest of Joe's Diner.

Updated On: 8/21/17 at 10:47 PM

I wish I had been able to fit Waitress into my upcoming week of shows, but I couldn't make it work. And frankly, it's coming to my city on tour next year, so I'm ok waiting, although I'd love to see Betsy in the role. She actually sang "She Used to Be Mine" at our Broadway subscription series announcement party in April and did it gorgeous justice. As for when she's done, I don't know who would be best to fill the role other than bringing in Sara again. Of the names that have been mentioned, Sutton Foster is on a different level at this point from coming in as the fourth iteration of a character, as is Osnes.

I'm really shocked that War Paint hasn't announced a closing date yet. This is another one I couldn't fit in to my show week. Did LuPone and Ebersole have contracts that stipulated a minimum run?

I think Dear Evan Hansen will have the longest run of the 2016-17 newbies, I could see 4-5 years at least. Followed by Anastasia and then probably Come From Away. Dolly is the dark horse depending on who they can get for the title role after Bette.

Jarethan said: "What percentage of its audience do you think are repeat viewers? I don't see why it can't run for a long time with audiences only seeing it once."

The real question is how much do repeat viewers count in the grand scheme of things? I have to imagine (on a site full of repeat viewers) that we overestimate our importance?

Lindsay Mendez as Jenna would be an immediate ticket purchase for me.

Fost is ALL wrong for this role, and she would never do it. I'd imagine the person replacing Wolfe would be someone no one has heard of. Probably some Elphaba. Mendez would be good, but, I've never really seen her as an actress like this?

RippedMan said: "Mendez would be good, but, I've never really seen her as an actress like this?"

Guess you didn't see Dogfight?

Jennifer Nettles would be a great Jenna. She's already sang She Used to Be Mine in concerts.

http://youtu.be/EsISGz8IItk