Everybody's Talking About Jamie (Ahmanson Theatre - LA)

I was there tonight as well. Agree with most of your assessment thought I was cooler on Bianca/Haylock. I thought He’s My Boy will be one of those performances that will actually stay with me forever. It was amazing to see the audience be rapt by her. I think Layton is a star and couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying performance.

wish I could make it back to see it find the technical footing that was just slightly amiss, but I think if audience reaction is any indication, this will have a nice run in LA.

Have they made any changes to the show based on the film? (ie. including "This Was Me"?)

Tag said: "Have they made any changes to the show based on the film? (ie. including "This Was Me"?)"

I don't know the original so can't comment on any changes, other than some pandemic lines that were clearly added about masks, hand sanitizer, and the 6-foot rule. But "This Was Me" was not in the show.

I should add to my initial post that another clear standout in the cast was Hiba Elchikhe as Pritti, whose rendition of "It Means Beautiful" was....well, beautiful.

Just got back from seeing this show and it's a mixed review to me, but, I mean, who couldn't leave that theater with a smile on their face? The performances were all lovely. I thought the show really came alive when we go all the drag queens on stage and Bianca Del Rio in true Bianca Del Rio fashion.

As have been said "He's My Boy" was a showstopper and she got mid-song applause. Gorgeous.

Layton is a star and loved his energy and personality.

Overall the story was a bit interesting to me. Act 2 is ballad after ballad and is super heavy. Of course there's a bully, of course the dad's not in the picture. Just felt like gay movie tropes. But still a solid book with some good zingers.

I thought the direction was just super sloppy. No nuance. Most of the time the actors are just standing there with no motivation during the songs. I just couldn't help but think of how a more clever director would make this piece just snap to life.

My other big qualm is it's a show about a boy becoming a drag queen and we never see any drag. They could have easily intercut his performance into "Everybody's Talking About Jamie" at the top of Act 2. Just have him in some parallel world lip syncing and dancing. I was also hoping the finale was going to be more drag and everyone glammed out. I was really waiting for the mom and her friend to have a big drag moment at the end. But eh. Didn't happen.

Overall enjoyable. I laughed, I cried. I'd imagine this would do well in NYC, but it does feel VERY England, which is maybe why they've hesitated. Even a lot of the songs felt very British pop. But if you're in LA or thinking about going, def go. It's a lovely theater as well.

Overall enjoyable. I laughed, I cried. I'd imagine this would do well in NYC, but it does feel VERY England, which is maybe why they've hesitated. Even a lot of the songs felt very British pop. But if you're in LA or thinking about going, def go. It's a lovely theater as well."

Firstly i'm glad you enjoyed Jamie, if it made you smile then that is a very good thing.

Billy Elliot was very English and that did the show no harm.

I always though Jamie would do well to play off-Broadway and assess if it has legs to play Broadway, however they went for a soft opening in Los Angeles instead, which is a tough theatre market, San Francisco would have been a lot easier.

it is no mean feat for a show basically about a drag queen that wants to do prom to sell $750k tickets a week, do you guys thinks that is possible?

Goldstar was running a $22 deal for this, after fees ticket for front mezz on a sunday evening was Just $31

looking forward to it

EW - Everybody's Talking About Jamie review: The drag musical's U.S. premiere is a glitter-fueled celebration of individuality

Review: A drag queen is born: ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ arrives at the Ahmanson

Mostly positive from LA TImes: "It’s a pity that “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,” an exceptionally sweet-natured show, couldn’t have hit Los Angeles at a more welcoming moment. The genial musical wears its heart on its sleeve, and though it’s formulaic and sentimental, the force of good will coming from the stage is hard to resist."

“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” – A Fizzy, Pop-fueled Delight

Rave from the South Pasadenan, singling out the "exquisite vulnerability" of Melissa Jacques: "Jacques gives a transcendent performance that, honestly, feels like the heart of the show. Her heart-pounding anthem of motherhood, “He’s My Boy”, in the second act, literally stops the show. Jacques blows the roof off the place and her role of Margaret is the best depiction of motherhood I’ve seen on stage since Rachel Bay Jones in Dear Evan Hansen."

Updated On: 1/24/22 at 04:26 PM