City Center's 24-25 Season: Ragtime, Urinetown, LaChiusa's Wild Party, Love Life- Page 14

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/13/24 at 4:38pm

Tenor8674 said: "
And yet didn't the Mufti just use a ladder and very little else? I didn't get to see it."

Yeah, I think Viertel just wanted an excuse and simply didn't like the score.  If you've read Allegro's book, which is kinda bonkers, you absolutely could do it with very basic staging for something like Encores and have it make sense as to when you're backstage, when you're on stage, etc. 

 

[Dolly80]

Posted: 11/13/24 at 6:14pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Caissie, Shaina, and Nichelle's performances are growing on me.I'd say Donnell is the only one who really needs to be replaced (or needs a 5-week rehearsal period & better direction). It's a shame that Tiffany Mann doesn't have the low notes for TILL WE REACH, and that they didn't transpose for her, but she sounds great on the ending.

I don't have high expectations for this, but I would love to see a full re-design if it moves to Broadway (with or without the orchestra onstage). It can still be minimalist, it just has to be better than what's on display now.

A lot of the costumes are terribly unflattering. Perhaps they're rentals due to the time & budget limitations of NYCC.

David Rockwell and Linda Cho are two of the best designers working today. They should know better."

You cannot be serious saying the man who designed Pretty Woman and Tootsie is one of the best designers working today. He’s not.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/13/24 at 7:27pm

ChairinMain said: "Seems like it was a director conflict, and they elected to reschedule the show rather than replace the director. A shame, but Wonderful town is a lovely score."

Lots of possible reasons, such as...

• maybe the show was being developed around Saheem Ali
• maybe the show was coming to Encores with commercial producers providing enhancement funding
• maybe a star was attached and only wanted to do it with Saheem
• maybe they loved Saheem's vision for the show enough to delay it by one season
• maybe Saheem had been working with Wolfe & LaChuisa on a rewrite and they still wanted him. They have director approval.

Why it took this long to announce is the big surprise for me. GODDESS is his conflict, and that was announced by the Public on Sept 25th, and we can assume it was in the works for months before that.

Updated On: 11/13/24 at 07:27 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/1/24 at 9:25am

Wonder who will play Ruth & Eileen in WONDERFUL TOWN? With no info and considering the director’s past work, I’m just gonna assume both will be Black actresses.

For Ruth… Alex Newell? Renee Elise Goldsberry? Danielle Brooks? Lilli Cooper? Keke Palmer? Kara Young? If they go in a different direction, Lindsay Mendez would be a fabulous Ruth. It’s a shame Jinkx will be busy this spring.

For Eileen… Denee Benton? Solea Pfeiffer? Shereen Pimentel? Micaela Bennett?

Updated On: 12/1/24 at 09:25 AM

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 12/1/24 at 9:34am

I’d love Keke back on stage. The director had a relationship with Shireen, so maybe her? Wonder when they’ll announce. I’m waiting for more info on this one before I buy my tickets.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/4/24 at 12:16pm

Joining the previously announced Jordan Fisher, Taran Killam, Keala Settle, and Stephanie Styles in URINETOWN are...

🚽 Jenni Barber (Little Becky Two Shoes, Mrs. Millenium)
🚽 Josh Breckenridge (Senator Fipp)
🚽 Yeman Brown (Billy Boy Bill)
🚽 Kevin Cahoon (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry)
🚽 Pearl Scarlett Gold (Little Sally)
🚽 Greg Hildreth (Officer Barrel)
🚽 Jeff Hiller (Mr. McQueen)
🚽 Tiffany Mann (Soupy Sue)
🚽 Daniel Quadrino (Robby the Stockfish)
🚽 Graham Rowat (Ensemble, Officer Lockstock on Feb 14)
🚽 Myra Lucretia Taylor (Josephine Strong)
🚽 Rainn Wilson (Caldwell B. Cladwell)
🚽 John Yi (Tiny Tom)

[Kad]

Posted: 12/4/24 at 12:29pm

That is kind of an excellent ensemble. Jeff Hiller especially will be very funny as Mr. McQueen.

Updated On: 12/4/24 at 12:29 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/4/24 at 12:36pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "Joining the previously announced Jordan Fisher, Taran Killam, Keala Settle, and Stephanie Styles in URINETOWN are...

🚽 Jenni Barber (Little Becky Two Shoes, Mrs. Millenium)
🚽 Josh Breckenridge (Senator Fipp)
🚽 Yeman Brown (Billy Boy Bill)
🚽 Kevin Cahoon (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry)
🚽 Pearl Scarlett Gold (Little Sally)
🚽 Greg Hildreth (Officer Barrel)
🚽 Jeff Hiller (Mr. McQueen)
🚽 Tiffany Mann (Soupy Sue)
🚽 Daniel Quadrino (Robby the Stockfish)
🚽 Graham Rowat (Ensemble, Officer Lockstock on Feb 14)
🚽 Myra Lucretia Taylor (Josephine Strong)
🚽 Rainn Wilson (Caldwell B. Cladwell)
🚽 John Yi (Tiny Tom)"

Plus Joshua Grosso and Geena Quintos swings.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/4/24 at 12:45pm

Rainn Wilson and Steve Carell BOTH onstage this year??? C’mon, Krasinski! Join the club!!

[gibsons2]

Posted: 12/4/24 at 1:04pm

Just bought my ticket after seeing that Rainn joined the cast. What a year! Perfektenschlag! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/4/24 at 1:10pm

Belsnickel has decided we were good and gifted us Rainn!

[gibsons2]

Posted: 12/4/24 at 1:25pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Belsnickel has decided we were good and gifted us Rainn!"

That's because we were admirable,  not impish this entire year! I hope Rainn's bio in Playbill will be written in invisible ink, would be very fitting given the name of the musical, lol!

 

[UWS10023]

Posted: 12/4/24 at 4:49pm

Thumbs up for Jeff Hiller!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/24/24 at 9:42am

URINETOWN’s orchestration has been expanded to 9 players, per orchestrator Bruce Coughlin!

appears to now be:

• piano/keyboard
• bass & tuba
• drums/percussion
• guitars & banjo
• two reeds
• two trumpets
• trombone

(original orchestration had 5 players)

Updated On: 1/15/25 at 09:42 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/15/25 at 12:59pm

Here's a new snippet of the expanded orchestration (see post above) and an interview with Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Bruce Coughlin. Sounds great while retaining the integrity and grittiness of the original!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Video-Watch-Encores-URINETOWN-Expanded-Orchestra-First-Rehearsal-20250115

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 1/15/25 at 2:28pm

It really sounds excellent!  Especially the Prelude, which always irked me with such a small band.

[RumTumJM]

Posted: 1/15/25 at 7:19pm

Is it true that they are hoping for a Broadway transfer & might even be looking for a theater, already?

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 1/16/25 at 1:15am

RumTumJM said: "Is it true that they are hoping for a Broadway transfer & might even be looking for a theater, already?"

Yes, Joey Parnes and Jason Eagan would be lead producing the transfer, they already raised $300,000 in enchancement money

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/16/25 at 1:28am

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "RumTumJM said: "Is it true that they are hoping for a Broadway transfer & might even be looking for a theater, already?"

Yes, Joey Parnes and Jason Eagan would be lead producing the transfer, they already raised $300,000 in enchancement money"

This makes sense. It was Parnes who was the lead producer of director Teddy Bergman’s KPOP, which began its life at Ars Nova (under Eagan’s artistic direction). 

[ohjustjake]

Posted: 1/17/25 at 7:28am

EDSOSLO858 said: "BoringBoredBoard40 said: "RumTumJM said: "Is it true that they are hoping for a Broadway transfer & might even be looking for a theater, already?"

Yes, Joey Parnes and Jason Eagan would be lead producing the transfer, they already raised $300,000 in enchancement money"

This makes sense. It was Parnes who was the lead producer of director Teddy Bergman’s KPOP, which began its life at Ars Nova (under Eagan’s artistic direction)."

This also might explain the expanded orchestration to meet the musician minimum for a Broadway house. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/17/25 at 8:30am

ohjustjake said: "This also might explain the expanded orchestration to meet the musician minimum for a Broadway house."

doubt that’s a factor. Those minimums are flexible and vary house to house. Probably a City Center thing and offering an opportunity to expand the orchestration from a creative standpoint. I remember Coughlin and Hollmann saying previously that they wish it could have had at least an added trumpet in the original production.

I didn’t realize Joey Parnes was working still. I — wrongly — assumed he hung up his hat after the financial bombs that were Kpop, Dancin’, and Almost Famous (plus the loss of Wagner & Johnson). He was the one trying to get Crazy For You back to Broadway for years, too, so I won’t exactly hold my breath for this one.

Updated On: 1/17/25 at 08:30 AM

[supersam1026]

Posted: 1/17/25 at 2:23pm

Just received a casting update e-mail. Greg Hildreth now taking the role of Lockstock and Christopher Fitzgerald stepping into Barrel.

Taran Killam no longer with the production as he has been impacted by the fires in LA. Hoping him and his family are doing OK!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/17/25 at 3:10pm

supersam1026 said: "Just received a casting update e-mail. Greg Hildreth now taking the role of Lockstock and Christopher Fitzgerald stepping into Barrel.

Taran Killam no longer with the production as he has been impacted by the fires in LA. Hoping him and his family are doing OK!"

so is Greg only doing Chicago for a month? or will he simply take a two week hiatus from Chicago?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 1/17/25 at 3:15pm

Chicago seems to have no trouble functioning with a different cast every night, basically, so I’m sure a two-week hiatus for an actor playing Amos should be just fine. Greg was going to be out for that time regardless, since he was playing Officer Barrel originally.

[Shalfoard]

Posted: 1/19/25 at 7:43pm

On Saturday February 8, BBC Radio 3 will air Opera North's recent production of Kurt Weill and Alan Jay Lerner's LOVE LIFE.  A good way to acquaint yourself with this show, which has never had a cast recording.  The Opera North production received excellent notices.