I do wonder why there is such a mystery and hype around making changes for Broadway etc.... while I still maintain that NYC standards for musicals are higher than the West End I hope they aren’t going overboard over-engineering changes and that they still can maintain the spirit of the original ‘revisal’.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I wonder if they are making the show “cheaper?” It seemed kind of tech heavy in London. And this seems to be smaller scale with actors pushing letters around?
SouthernCakes said: "I wonder if they are making the show “cheaper?” It seemed kind of tech heavy in London. And this seems to be smaller scale with actors pushing letters around? "
Not sure, but we’re the actors pushing around letters, actually confirmed, I thought that was a guess on how the letters might be utilized. But, the photo Robbie2 posted, the Broadway cast is standing in front of the 3 door set, that looks like the one they used during “You Could Drive A Person Crazy” in London. So it seems some of the set is staying the same.
The London production did have an ensemble. They appeared here and there: the Another Hunded People montage, the nightclub scene with Joanne, the Tick Tock sequence... The five of them took a bow at the end of the show.
In London they had an understudy for Andy, PJ and Theo; an understudy for Joanne and Sarah; an understudy for Paul, Peter and Jamie; an undestudy for David, Harry and Larry; and an understudy for Jenny and Susan. Jennifer Saayeng, who played Jenny, also covered Bobby. She went on quite a few times. I can see Nikki Renee Daniels and Rashidra Scott covering the role on Broadway.
SamanthaCH said: "The London production did have an ensemble. They appeared here and there: the Another Hunded People montage, the nightclub scene with Joanne, the Tick Tock sequence... The five of them took a bow at the end of the show.
In London they had an understudy for Andy, PJ and Theo; an understudy for Joanne and Sarah; an understudy for Paul, Peter and Jamie; an undestudy for David, Harry and Larry; and an understudy for Jenny and Susan. Jennifer Saayeng, who played Jenny, also covered Bobby. She went on quite a few times. I can see Nikki Renee Daniels and Rashidra Scott covering the role on Broadway."
Thank you! I knew I wasn’t crazy thinking that there might’ve been an ensemble in London. I didn’t see it in London, so I wasn’t totally sure.
SouthernCakes said: "I wonder if they are making the show “cheaper?” It seemed kind of tech heavy in London. And this seems to be smaller scale with actors pushing letters around? "
What makes you think actors are pushing letters around?
Here’s the pic with the yet to be announced understudies, swings, ensemble, whatever they’re calling it. Looks like some great diverse additions to the cast.
Here’s the pic with the yet to be announced understudies, swings, ensemble, whatever they’re calling it. Looks like some great diverse additions to the cast."
The female standbys are Kathryn Allison, Britney Coleman and Anisha Nagarajan.
Thank you for the names! I don’t see a Joanne aged understudy yet, maybe it hasn’t been cast yet? Maybe Simard is covering the role, which would be kind of odd?
They’re already starting promote this as Friends meets Sex and the City, and I can’t blame them. I’ve said before that they need to tap into the Sex and the City audience.
ljay889 said: "They’re already starting promote this as Friends meets Sex in the City, and I can’t blame them. I’ve said before that they need to tap into the Sex and the City audience."
Is there a "Sex in the City audience"? The show ended 16 years ago!