"Broadway On Broadway" Not Up to Par

[Myron]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 10:32am

I've been to every "Broadway On Broadway" and this was the worst. Gladly, it won't be shown on TV. Many of the musical numbers sounded the same from show to show. The new openings sounded disappointing; especially "Jay Johnson The 2-Only" and "Grey Gardens". No big stars were seen as in past years.I actually saw many people leave during the "Jay Johnson" segment. This is the smallest crowd I've seen yet for the concert and Martin Short was dull. I couldn't wait for the show to finish. Incidentally, where was "Chicago" and "Phantom"? Performances that were great were "Spamalot", "Avenue Q", "Rent", "Wicked", "Spelling Bee", and "Chaperone". The others fell short of being great. In "Jersey Boys" the singing sounded "off-key" but maybe that was the sound system.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 10:58am

Do we really need to see CHICAGO and PHANTOM perform at Broadway on Broadway again?

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 11:03am

No "big" stars? Which "big" stars did you have in mind?

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 11:04am

I can't believe Chicago is still running at all. I will agree with Myron that it's a good thing this B'way on B'way was not televised. It would have done little to "change the perception" about Broadway to the masses and I say that with great reluctance. I was disappointed and bored, which is worse.

[JACXR71]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 11:09am

I think it would have been a lot better without Jay Johnson - he definitely killed the mood, and the audience never recovered.

While Chicago may be old and overdone, having Usher would have definitely boosted attendance and the energy of the audience.

And how could you say there were no big stars? Haylie Duff, Diana DeGarmo, Constantine, Donnie Osmond? What more could you ask for? (Kidding, of course).

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 11:13am

Personally, I was over Broadway on Broadway three years ago. It always seemed like more trouble than it was worth.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 11:14am

When so many shows are running for over a decade now... what exactly are you expecting to see from year to year?

It's going to be slim pickings for anything new, and you're going to get a "replacement cast" parade.

[MissNY]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 11:41am

I enjoyed the show, but thought too many shows did slow songs. In a big outdoor concert like Broadway on Broadway, I think the shows wouldve been better off with faster numbers to get the energy up an get people to want to see the shows.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 11:43am

I agree about the "slow numbers" - Spelling Bee's "I Love You" song is lovely but the women behind me (tourists) decided NOT to see it because they'd heard it was "funny" but were bored by the song.

When a crowd has to stand for that long, I think most shows should shoot for something upbeat. They're trying to sell tickets here, after all.

[JACXR71]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 11:47am

The song choices are also heavily influenced by the availability of the performers that day, which might explain the odd selection (i.e. the I Love You song).

Definitely agree about the need for upbeat, though.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 12:06pm

It was an extremely disappointing afternoon. From poorly selected songs to microphone errors to sun glare on the teleprompter, it was the weakest Bway on Bway I've seen in easily 5 years.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 1:02pm

I guess I'm glad I left Bway on Bway before the end to go see TARZAN at 1pm.

I saw GREY GARDENS which bummed out the high energy-nice songs. I love TARZAN's performance, SPAMALOT was good, WICKED was great and THE COLOR PURPLE blew me away. I thought Jay Johnson was NOT funny one bit, he was not getting any laughs, me and my fellow ASU fan- Ashley laughed our asses off because it was so dumb.

[NJRae]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 1:16pm

I had never been before and therefore had nothing to compare it to but I was surprised that that was what all the "fuss" was about. While I did have a good time and enjoyed many of the performances, there were many many more that were just long, drawn out and boring. I just don't understand the songs they chose. And Jay Johnson . . . that is a real show? OMG. Not funny!

Now the teleprompter thing I did think was funny, but maybe that was just the exhuastion kicking in!

[dutch46mill2]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 3:57pm

If there any disgruntled with the show talk to the organizing commitee for this event.If it was cheap boring etc. it can only be a marketing SNAFU.If all the staging ,lighting ,sound, choreography
etc. expertise was second rate does that mean Broadway is second rate?? Did you win fans or lose fans? Did you create desire to catch one of the shows in future? If your gonna do it, do it good.I must say the actors did well under the circumstances.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 4:02pm

I thought many of the performances that you listed as being great were not up to par. Wicked, Rent, Spelling Bee, and Avenue Q were all pretty boring. Spamalot at least had the great ensemble and I agree that Beth's performance was great. The highlights were Fame Becomes Me and Hairspray for me though. Oh, and The Color Purple.

[JACXR71]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 4:05pm

Someone said it best in the other thread (RIP) about the Wicked performance - you couldn't put your finger on it, but it just felt like something was missing.

I agree that Ave Q was also disappointing, which made me sad. And it was the first time I've ever seen anyone other than John T do Rod/Princeton, and I must say I was NOT impressed with Howie Michael Smith's take. But I suppose that's for another thread...

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 4:09pm

yeah, i didnt care for the WICKED performance at all
THE COLOR PURPLE one was incedible
but most of all, i enjoyed the AVENUE Q one- i guess im in minority on that, but i loved it
Mary Faber is so cute!

[MissNY]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 4:23pm

I thought Ave Q was one of the better ones. It actually made me want to go see the same. Same with Jersey Boys and Wedding Singer. Drowsy was great as well. At first I thought it was a mistake to do that song since I thought it wouldnt translate so well out of context, but Beth was so amazing that it worked. Wicked needs to start performing s/t else. Every year since its been open they've been performing For Good

[NJRae]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 5:31pm

I didn't think Wicked was "bad" (although Kate did not make a fan out of me!) Personally as much as I love the song For Good I would have prefered to see them do something more fun and upbeat. Perhaps What is This Feeling would have been a better choice? That said, had I not seen the show before that song would have pulled me in a whole lot more than some of the other songs that were chosen by other shows. *shrugs*

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 6:55pm

What song did Hairspray do?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 7:01pm

I think it's just boring because all the long running shows do the same ol' songs year after year, they should try something new. Instead of doing "For Good" every year, do "No Good Deed" or something else. Same with RENT.

[Phantomerik15]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 7:02pm

I agree that this wasnt the best Broadway on Broadway....But it had some moments.

[Matthewjames]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 7:14pm

rent should've done "Take me or leave me"
and wicked should have done "what is this feeling" or "The Wizard and I"

I think Hairspray was great.
Avenue Q was funny
And The High Fidelity number also was fun
The color purple was amazing
and I never cared for the lion king but enjoyed the performance

The wedding singer was CORNY why showcase constantine as if he's good. him being in the show would keep me from it, not make me go. the should've done "love is what I do" or "it's your wedding day" what ever it's called.

and Grey Gardens put me to sleep. it just really didn't fit at all

[Matthewjames]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 7:14pm

rent should've done "Take me or leave me"
and wicked should have done "what is this feeling" or "The Wizard and I"

I think Hairspray was great.
Avenue Q was funny
And The High Fidelity number also was fun
The color purple was amazing
and I never cared for the lion king but enjoyed the performance

The wedding singer was CORNY why showcase constantine as if he's good. him being in the show would keep me from it, not make me go. the should've done "love is what I do" or "it's your wedding day" what ever it's called.

and Grey Gardens put me to sleep. it just really didn't fit at all

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 7:16pm

Any list of all the songs?