Posted: 12/8/15 at 10:32am
It starts previews this Sunday. Anyone planning to see it in Chicago? With this cast/creative team, I really want it to be good. The promos and rehearsal footage they have released looks promising!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NOgb4uHJD0
Posted: 12/8/15 at 10:46am
I definitely plan on seeing it. Andre DeShields AND Lillias White? Yes, please!
Posted: 12/8/15 at 11:29am
Could this possibly come to the Neil Simon Theatre? Any thoughts on where else?
Posted: 12/8/15 at 11:37am
They are shifting to a fall date reportedly, so there should be a few more theatres open.
I will be at the first preview on Sunday!
Posted: 12/10/15 at 11:50am
Shifting to a Fall date for Broadway? Where was that posted? I was hoping they'd come in in next Spring 
Nevertheless - I'm eager to hear peoples' thoughts on the show.
Updated On: 12/10/15 at 11:50 AM
Posted: 12/10/15 at 11:52am
StageDoor3 said: "Shifting to a Fall date for Broadway? Where was that posted?"
Here you go: http://bfy.tw/3DhW
Posted: 12/10/15 at 6:45pm
I got tix for 12/27!!! A two show day with Beautiful!
Posted: 12/10/15 at 9:06pm
I will be seeing this Sunday, as well.
Posted: 12/13/15 at 9:55pm
Intermission and I find it Funny. Very funny. It's like Ballroom + Bring It On + a touch of Follies. Kay Walbye as Muriel is a hoot. Georgia Engel rapping will make Lin Manuel Miranda quake in his boots !
Posted: 12/14/15 at 12:54am
I liked it too! I couldn't even tell you the running time....it just seemed to fly by. LOTS of laughs. Each person is given their moment to shine....and the really go for it. And yes, Georgia Engel's rapping is fantastic.
Posted: 12/14/15 at 1:30am
Act 2 standout was Lori Tan Chinn. Her song " The Waters Rise" was simple and touching. My only quibble is with the final group number. I would prefer the number without the younger company members.
Posted: 12/14/15 at 10:59am
I totally agree with that. The younger company members were front and center for the final number and I think it undermined the message of the entire show. That final number was the weakest part of the show....for just that reason. I also agree that "The Waters Rise" was a showstopper.
Posted: 12/14/15 at 11:47am
Ok, Georgia Engel rapping in a "I <3 Math" sweater was genius. It's funny overall. Definitely could tell it was a Jerry Mitchell production (reminded me a lot of Kinky Boots).
Posted: 12/14/15 at 3:09pm
OMG, Georgia Engel going from a comic/heartbreaking role in Annie Baker's JOHN to rapping in Gotta Dance! This woman can do anything!
Can't wait for this to come in!
Posted: 12/14/15 at 3:49pm
Just read on Playbill- now not coming in until Fall 2016- damn!
Posted: 12/14/15 at 3:53pm
Which had already been established in another thread.
Posted: 12/14/15 at 4:39pm
And they have extended a week to Jan 17
https://twitter.com/BWW_Chicago/status/676495356088082432
Updated On: 12/16/15 at 04:39 PM
Posted: 12/14/15 at 6:36pm
asmith0307 said: "And they have extended 2 weeks to Jan 17
https://twitter.com/BWW_Chicago/status/676495356088082432"
Are they selling that well?
Posted: 12/14/15 at 10:17pm
Call_me_jorge said: "asmith0307 said: "And they have extended 2 weeks to Jan 17
https://twitter.com/BWW_Chicago/status/676495356088082432"
Are they selling that well?"
No idea, but last night the balcony was pretty full.
Posted: 12/16/15 at 1:37pm
Trying to figure out when we can get up to Chicago to see this.
Posted: 12/16/15 at 11:52pm
Just saw tonight's performance. The performances are a big reason that I enjoyed myself so much tonight. Georgia Engel is simply wonderful; her raps and comedic timing and moves are so on point. Other highlights are Lori Tan Chinn and Nancy Ticotin. I want the score to use Lillias White's power vocals more and the closing number needs to make it more about the senior group. They're why we're here, let's show them off!
Posted: 12/17/15 at 9:17am
Saw it on Tuesday. It's a fun show, and the cast is really excellent (although, with the people they have I would expect nothing less). I do think the story needs a little bit of streamlining- the Tara arc is a bit scattered throughout, and I enjoyed the stories regarding the dance team more than the her story. We either need more time with Tara, or they need to trim some of her reprises.
LOVED Georgia Engel's rapping, and Lori Tan Chinn was excellent as well. I do wish "The Waters Rise" was a bit longer (there seemed to be some audio mix issues, so it was hard to hear parts of it over the orchestra). But I had a fun time.
Posted: 12/18/15 at 1:09pm
Saw this last night and really, really enjoyed it.
The show is in really excellent shape – much better shape than a lot of pre-Broadway tryouts, I believe. Not just in terms of production/performance quality (there were no tech issues that I noticed and everything seemed really tight – if you didn’t know ahead of time, I don’t think anyone would guess they were in their first week of previews), but in terms of the written show, as well. There were really no awkward or forced moments/scenes that I feel like are often present in these pre-Broadway tryouts as they work out the kinks. This show really flowed quite smoothly and there weren’t any moments that lagged or felt out of place. Not to say there isn’t room for improvement, but certainly nothing stood out as needing significant reworking (there are clunkier moments/scenes in many shows that are hits that have been running for years).
The songs are fine – many are quite fun and provide nice insight into the characters. “The Waters Rise” was heartbreaking. The act one finale “Swagger” song was a favorite of mine, as well.
The show is filled with a lot of laughs and I was pleasantly surprised by how clever a lot of the jokes were (I later remembered that the book is being co-written by Bob Martin, whose humor I love). Not to say the jokes are overly witty, but this is a show that could easily take a lot of cheap shots with its humor, but I was happy to find it was more than that.
The cast is great. I really enjoyed Haven Burton and Georgia Engel is perfect for her role. Nancy Ticotin is a stand-out, as well. It’s extremely easy to be charmed by everyone right off the bat.
I know a few have mentioned that they didn’t like that the younger cast members were a part of the final dance, but I actually really loved that aspect. It felt like it was everyone coming together, everyone on equal ground. I thought the final number was quite celebratory in that way.
As someone mentioned above, it is very reminiscent of “Bring it On” (which I, personally, loved). Lots of fun, a very ensemble piece, and a team to root for.
The show won’t change lives, but it does have more substance to it than other fun, light musicals of its kind. It’s hard to pinpoint, but there is a realness and groundedness to it that is really appealing. You get the feeling that in different hands, this story and presentation could have been taken too far over the top and played for easy laughs and reactions, but this feels just right. It’s not trying to be anything more than what it is – and what it is, is more than worthy. I really enjoyed myself for the entire 2 and half hours and was impressed all around.
Posted: 12/24/15 at 2:15am
Saw it for my birthday--loved it!
"The Waters Rise" was...wow.
It really says a lot of about the production and especially the cast that the show could go from hilarious to tear-jerking and back without missing a beat.
Georgia Engel's rapping (and dancing) was great--I wouldn't be surprised if that part was written for her.
Those of you who are into that kind of thing, I did the stage door afterwards when I saw it and there were no crowds. I didn't see as many people as I had hoped, but I did a matinee in below freezing weather. If you want any of the 20-somethings to stop, you have to address them by name, or they will pass you by assuming that you're waiting for/addressing one of their older counterparts.
Posted: 12/24/15 at 5:47pm
I just got out of the matinee and it's such a fun show! It's no Hamilton, but it's a crowd pleaser and I hope it gets to Broadway and stays until March 2028. Someone already said this, but I think the writers either need to make Tara less relevant or more relevant. There simply isn't enough there to make her a major role, but then there's to much just not to notice her. My favorite number was ¿Cómo No? Basically for the reason of that hunk Fernando. Also can they get rid of those iphone props and follow adeles lead with the flip phones?
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