FLOYD COLLINS Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 12:00am

Listen to the tale of a man who got lost a hundred feet under the winter frost.

Over 30 years after its premiere, Floyd Collins finally gets to spelunk on Broadway, as previews begin tomorrow night (March 27) at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater. The musical stars Jeremy Jordan as the titular ill-fated cave explorer; the cast also features Jason Gotay, singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine (in her Broadway debut), Marc Kudisch, Jessica Molaskey, Taylor Trensch, Sean Allan Krill, Wade McCollum, Cole Vaughan, and Clyde Voce. Floyd Collins features a folk and bluegrass-tinged score by Adam Guettel, with a book and direction by Tina Landau. Opening night is April 21, and the show will run through June 22.

“Floyd Collins is a gripping and powerful musical based on the true story of a cave explorer in Kentucky, 1925. While chasing a dream of fame and fortune by turning Sand Cave into a tourist attraction, Floyd Collins himself becomes the tourist attraction when he gets trapped 200 feet underground. Alone but for sporadic contact with the outside world, including his brother Homer, Floyd fights for his sanity — and, ultimately, his life — as the rescue effort above explodes into the first genuine media circus. Reporters and gawkers from across the country descend on the property, fueling the hysteria and manipulating the nation into holding its collective breath.”

Who’s answering the call?

[knicknut]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 10:58am

Jeremy Jordan fan here and curious about this one. Just won the lottery for tomorrow, but my time in NYC is limited these days so I'm wondering if there are any speculation as to the quality of this one.

Actually, just saw this on LCT's website. Wonder if the show just isn't ready, or some sort of technical or health issue:

The Thursday, March 27 performance has been cancelled.

All tickets will be refunded or can be exchanged at the point of purchase.

Updated On: 3/27/25 at 10:58 AM

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 12:27pm

It is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL musical. While we know nothing yet on the production or cast, we do know the score, and it's one of the best musical theatre scores of the 90s, and it's broadway debut is very overdue. Absolutely go, and congratulations on winning the lottery for the first preview of what promises to be a very special production. 

Updated On: 3/27/25 at 12:27 PM

[knicknut]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 3:22pm

Thanks! Unfortunately I got tied up with work and missed the window to buy them... so maybe I'll buy regular tickets anyway..

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 1:40am

knicknut said: "Jeremy Jordan fan here and curious about this one. Just won the lottery for tomorrow, but my time in NYC is limited these days so I'm wondering if there are any speculation as to the quality of this one.

Actually, just saw this on LCT's website. Wonder if the show just isn't ready, or some sort of technical or health issue:

The Thursday, March 27 performance has been cancelled.

All tickets will be refunded or can be exchanged at the point of purchase."

Well a member of the orchestra was unexpectedly fired by Adam. I wonder if that had anything to do with the cancellation. 

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 6:51am

Alexander Lamar said: "knicknut said: "Jeremy Jordan fan here and curious about this one. Just won the lottery for tomorrow, but my time in NYC is limited these days so I'm wondering if there are any speculation as to the quality of this one.

Actually, just saw this on LCT's website. Wonder if the show just isn't ready, or some sort of technical or health issue:

The Thursday, March 27 performance has been cancelled.

All tickets will be refunded or can be exchanged at the point of purchase."

Well a member of the orchestra was unexpectedly fired by Adam. I wonder if that had anything to do with the cancellation."

Now do tell... Surprised 802 wouldn't be all over this.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 1:58pm

Not sure if this accounts for the apparent firing, but there appears to be a 12-piece orchestra + conductor here — the great Ted Sperling. Bruce Coughlin is credited with orchestrations.

• 4 Violins (1 Concertmaster, 1 doubling on Viola, 1 doubling on Mandolin)
• Reeds
• Harmonica
• Drums / Percussion
• Piano / Keyboard
• Guitar / Banjo
• 2 Celli
• Bass

 

 

[DaveyG]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 2:23pm

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Now do tell... Surprised 802 wouldn't be all over this."

I'm pretty sure a Broadway pit musician can be fired as long as it's before the 6th service. After that, they have a run of the play contract. 

Firing isn't frequent, but it certainly happens. However it is very bizarre for a performance to be cancelled because of it. 

 

[bear88]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 4:16pm

For those of you seeing the show this weekend, I am of course very interested in what you all think of it.

I’m also curious about how the cheap seats, in the 100 and 500 sections of the orchestra, are for this production - as they are quite a bit cheaper. There may be a good reason for that, or maybe those seats are a bargain.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 5:26pm

bear88 said: "For those of you seeing the show this weekend, I am of course very interested in what you all think of it.

I’m also curious about how the cheap seats, in the 100 and 500 sections of the orchestra, are for this production - as they are quite a bit cheaper. There may be a good reason for that, or maybe those seats are a bargain."

I'm going next weekend and sitting in the 100s - I'll be sure to share my thoughts on the view. I have sat all over the Beaumont in the past, though, and have never had a bad view.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 6:11pm

LCT lists a 2:45 runtime, including intermission. 

[henrike]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 9:27pm

Currently intermission.

 

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The set is flat and bare with some random rectangular chunks tilting diagonally to create slopes.

Jeremy Jordan and Taylor Trench are highlights so far. But the book just isn't good. Almost as tedious as last year's Uncle Vanya, and Tina Landau hasn't done anything to elevate the material.

 

[corninthesky]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 10:58pm

Would be curious to know how much material has been reworked/added/cut if anyone has previous experience with the show. 

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 11:16pm

I want to like this show. I feel like I should like this show.  I haven’t appreciated previous productions of Floyd Collins, but I thought a Lincoln Center/Tina Landau production would change that. But no. Nothing significant was added or enhanced to change my mind. There were also terrible sound issues, with the vocal/orchestra mix and with mics constantly not being on at the start of dialogue. I could not decipher half of the dialogue and lyrics. Seems like they could have used some more tech rehearsal. Great cast though. 

Updated On: 3/28/25 at 11:16 PM

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 11:20pm

DaveyG said: "Firing isn'tfrequent, but it certainly happens. However it is very bizarre for a performance to be cancelled because of it."

It would be bizarre. The first preview was cancelled days before said musician was replaced, so…

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 3/28/25 at 11:56pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "LCT lists a 2:45 runtime, includingintermission."

Show started around 8:05, and I was walking out at 10:35, so more like 2:30 runtime with intermission. 

[Voter]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 12:39am

I'm sure he sounded great, but how was Jeremy Jordan's acting? Did he rise to the occassion?

[henrike]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 8:17am

I thought Jeremy Jordan's acting was fine. No surprising choices. Just played Floyd as how I'd imagine him to be.

Now, Lizzy McAlphine as Nellie is another story. Just merely thinking that her acting is passable on a Broadway stage was a disgraceful decision made by the production team. I was genuinely upset at how terrible her acting was.

I went in with somewhat low expectations, but still wanted to like the show. And that urge is still there. Some beautiful moments, just like The Light in the Piazza. But as far as a night out in the theatre, this follows LCT's latest trend of brining awfully boring shows on their stage.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 9:40am

I recall other LCT musicals having rough first previews also. Maybe they just don’t schedule enough tech time. Though if the design or the show itself are your problem, there’s probably no fixing that…

[NakedMaid]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 9:56am

I saw a clip of of bows. Stage looked quite bare! Where is the big, beautiful cave they could have built for this unique Broadway stage?! 
Please report back on set/lighting. 

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 10:27am

No real set. Mostly a bare black stage. Occasionally, blocks and ramps pop up, especially in the initial exploring scenes. And some benches, fences and other pieces are brought on, but not much to speak of. The spot where Floyd spends most of the show trapped looked like a fairly comfortable chaise lounge. Lighting was fine and did the job. 

Updated On: 3/29/25 at 10:27 AM

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 11:04am

Chaise lounge? SMH. 

[pupscotch]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 11:59am

Why isn’t Bart Sher directing this production? He would’ve had a real set.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 1:26pm

pupscotch said: "Why isn’t Bart Sher directing this production? He would’ve had a real set."

Tina Landau wrote the show and directed the original production. I think it’s safe to say that if it was ever going to be produced on Broadway in her lifetime, she was going to direct it. 

[macbeth]

Posted: 3/29/25 at 2:58pm

It unfortunately looks cheap (and likely is) - but the score remains glorious and the performances I felt were all in decent shape for a first preview. I think I agree that I'd like to have seen a new team take it on, but such is life. 

They have to get Jeremy out of that chair at the end, LOL. 

Lots of other first preview problems, but I'm hoping to go back after it opens to see what's changed.