I just saw Emerald Man in the NY Theatre Festival and want to let everyone know how fresh and emotional it is. It's a MUST SEE but I think they only have one more show - this Friday. I hope it gets picked up; it made me laugh, cry and everything in between. Stellar performances, stellar writing, stellar music!
Why is it automatically a shill? I ushered at Emerald Man on Saturday and thought the show was FANTASTIC. Granted, I'm not posting about it excitedly, but still..
http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!)
I chose, and my world was shaken- So what? The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler
You also didnt join simply to post this pseudo review, dancing.
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
Well, I saw it too--my friend JB was in the ensemble--and it certainly has potential for a further commercial run. They will need alot of money, a script with more thought, wit and depth, and a new lead and they just might have a hit on their hands. But the idea of the show is solid, the book as it is has a few moments of genuine emotion and can be truly moving. There are a couple of first-rate numbers but the show needs a healthy dose of invention and theatrical derring-do to make it work on the many levels it requires.
The actor who played Jamal was excellent and I also enjoyed the actresses who played Candy and the mother. A little long for no intermission and much of the exposition could be condensed into one montage at the beginning, but pretty darn good for a new show that hasn't been workshopped.
but pretty darn good for a new show that hasn't been workshopped.
I agree with you there. I was talking to Kate McCann (Linda) after the show, and I was a little surprised when she mentioned that the show hadn't even been workshopped.
http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!)
I chose, and my world was shaken- So what? The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler
Heh, they didn't mention that before the show when I went.
Of course it's not a Broadway-ready show yet. However, I think with some tweaking (as you said), it could definitely work in a commercial, Off-broadway run.
http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!)
I chose, and my world was shaken- So what? The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you.
--Cartman: South Park
ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
Emerald Man is a WONDERFUL show and could easy be the next big Broadway Rock Musical! We seem to foget that they gave us a wonderful show that rival most of the musicals on broadway! With no money and a show that had had never been workshoped or done in a concert reading they gave the best show at teh festival and I went to see all but two! The cast is by far the best cast I have seen since Hairspray! It was very clear that this cast loves one another and the project...If the Neederlanders, Margo Lion, The Shuberts, Manhattan Theatre Club, Oprah, Scott Sanders, Creative Battery, Disney, Clear Channel, Barry & Fran Wessler and evry other major Broadway Producer should be running to workshop this show. A lil fleshing out of the book, some character development and a song here or there keeping the original cast intact and they have a long running Broadway Hit!
Now I don't know about the cast being all THAT good--I personally didn't really care for the actors that played Duncan and Big John, but yes, for the most part, you're right. But they will need big bucks to make this show work--it really needs the bells and whistles that one would expect from a musical about comic book heroes. I hope they find it.
I thougt the cast was very good, the Superheros were so good I wish they all had more songs! I can not se another guy playing Big Joe...I think with a workshop they could work toward his strong points more!
I totally agree that the superheroes need to be fleshed out as well. I just didn't think Joe was scary is all--hot, yes, but scary? Plus, I don't know for sure, but the actor himself seemed very gay to me--not that that's a problem, but it kinda took away from the sexual tension with him and Linda...just my opinion of course...I just wanted someone scary--you don't have to be physically imposing to inspire dread, which is what it seemed like they creative team were doing. I wanted someone a little more Mickey Rourke-ish or perhaps Dennis Hopper in "Blue Velvet" scary...what the hell do I know?
Okay, I must first thank everyone who has blogg'd about Emerald Man, good or bad it is so nice to hear your thoughts most of which are very true! I must admit I might be a bit bias, due to the fact that I belong to the Emerald Man Family. My name is Christian Koneko Carter(known simply as Koneko). I auditioned for Emerald Man in July and immediatly felt that there was something different about what was happening with this production. From the time I stepped into the audition everyone was so open, excited, humble, talented and supportive. From The Producer Kim Vasquez the best Producer in NYC (and I mean that I would just as soon not say anything then to blow smoke up her ass). Janet Cole Valdez, Tom Valdez and Marc Bosserman kick major ass and are so open to not just placing their songs on your lap but letting you put on the music and do a little nip/tuck so that you dont just have a song that looks ad sound like a Valdez-Bosserman tune but reflects who you are and is still true to the character! Shawn Gough is an amazing Music Director and has a way of making you feel like if you fall he will catch you. Josh Prince (Director) is funny as **** and creates a rehearsal that makes you feel free to be "the real you". There are many more on the creative team that are just as amazing. The cast is the most amazing out there, I must agree with Miller95. I have never met a group that didn't have one problem, not one spat, not one argument, Nothing! Even when not rehearsing, doing promotion or something that had to do with Emerald Man, many of us were still together...hanging out, drinking, going to see a show, shopping! So for this reason I might be a lil bias- but rightfully so! But long before I really knew these people...I loved the show and that love is bigger and stronger than I knew it could ever be! The music is so much fun, catchy and beautifully written. The book and characters could use some work as anything that has only been done once! And if I know the Amazing Janet Cole-Valdez; and I think I do...she has already started work on all these things! I chanllenge anyone to sign this family to an Equity Workshop Contract- we'll do the rest...then watch Emerald Man Turn Broadway upside down! Again Thank You all for your words and for taking the time to write about Emerald Man...Broadway here we come!
P.S. Miller95, I know who you are now-I'm a little slow!Thanks for being at the show everyday...are you trying to get my job...lol
