GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
#1GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/14/23 at 12:00am
Stop the (printing) presses: Bud Davenport and Doug Simon are finally bringing their show to Broadway!
12 years after co-starring in The Book of Mormon, Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad reunite in Gutenberg! The Musical!, beginning previews tomorrow (September 15) prior to an October 12 opening at the James Earl Jones Theatre. This original musical — which hasn’t been seen in New York since its 2006 Off-Broadway production — features a score and book by Beetlejuice creatives Scott Brown and Anthony King; direction is by Alex Timbers. Gutenberg! The Musical! will play a 20-week limited engagement set to conclude on January 28.
“It’s the story of two best pals named Bud and Doug who put on a show together because they just love each other so damn much. It’s art imitating life imitating art! And it’s the funniest thing to come to Broadway since 1448! (Which is the year the printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg, who is the subject of the musical that Bud and Doug write, but that’s not important right now.)”
Who’s going?
Well, I'll be. That bird really did it.
Updated On: 9/14/23 at 12:00 AM
BoringBoredBoard40
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
#4GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/14/23 at 8:32am
I'll be seeing this in 2 weeks! Really looking forward to seeing Gad and Rannels LIVE on stage!
The idea is to work and to experiment. Some things will be creatively successful, some things will succeed at the box office, and some things will only - which is the biggest only - teach you things that see the future. And they're probably as valuable as any of your successes. -Harold Prince
BoringBoredBoard40
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
#5GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 2:23pm
Did anyone rush this morning? Where were the seats if you did?
BroadwaysBroad
Understudy Joined: 8/17/23
#6GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 3:36pm
Seeing this tonight
Who wants to meet after at glass house tavern to compare notes
#7GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 3:51pm
BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Did anyone rush this morning? Where were the seats if you did?"
I walked up at around noon today and snagged a balcony ticket. Wish it was a little closer, but can't beat $40 and I'm excited to see how this is!
TicketBoy
Understudy Joined: 2/22/06
#8GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 5:09pm
They were selling side orchestra this AM. Started with Row A on House Right and worked their way back.
BoringBoredBoard40
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
#9GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 5:40pm
On a whim I walked over to check for a friend for tonight around 5:00pm
I got back orchestra
The box office guy said today only the are offering rush up until curtain so if you are in the area tonight might be the night to snag a ticket!
Voter
Broadway Star Joined: 5/19/20
#10GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 9:40pm
Seeing this in a couple of weeks. What is the current run time?
#11GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 9:44pm
Voter said: "Seeing this in a couple of weeks. What is the current run time?"
Website says approximately 2 hours, including one 15-minute intermission.
Well, I'll be. That bird really did it.
#12GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 9:55pm
Was anyone at the first preview tonight?
The idea is to work and to experiment. Some things will be creatively successful, some things will succeed at the box office, and some things will only - which is the biggest only - teach you things that see the future. And they're probably as valuable as any of your successes. -Harold Prince
#13GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 10:50pm
Dylan Smith4 said: "Was anyone at the first preview tonight?"
I was! On the train home now, will write a full review when I get back tonight.
but…. I LOVED IT. Maybe one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on a stage. Literally couldn’t stop smiling the entire time.
BoringBoredBoard40
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
#14GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 11:02pm
This is an absolute homerun
nonstop hilarious with a surprising bit of heart.
Think Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon, [Title of Show] all slammed together.
I think this will likely end up in the Best Musical conversation with a slew of other TONY nominations.
Smart book and clever songs are elevated into the heavens by a totally dynamic duo that just works every laugh possible out of this.
Buy tickets now now now the word of mouth is going to be phenomenal on this one
Merch for those that care: Hoodie, shirt with the poster art and the guys on it (which I think is kind of ugly tbh), a beer stein ceramic mug, enamel pin, a tote and few more things that will give some show jokes away so I won't list them here (also they have signed copies of both of Andrews books)
Stagedoor for those who care: Andrew and Josh aren't really stopping and signing, not sure if this is first night thing or a covid precaution but just fyi
#15GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 11:10pm
Oooh! Now I am really excited to see it in 2 weeks! However, I do not know if anything can be funnier than when I saw Operation Mincemeat in London this summer, but I am ready for anything! Looking forward to it!
The idea is to work and to experiment. Some things will be creatively successful, some things will succeed at the box office, and some things will only - which is the biggest only - teach you things that see the future. And they're probably as valuable as any of your successes. -Harold Prince
BoringBoredBoard40
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
#16GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 11:17pm
Dylan Smith4 said: "Oooh! Now I am really excited to see it in 2 weeks! However, I do not know if anything can be funnier than when I saw Operation Mincemeat in London this summer, but I am ready for anything! Looking forward to it!"
If you liked Operation Mincemeat you will absolutely dig this, same kind of sense of humor
#17GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 11:19pm
BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Dylan Smith4 said: "Oooh! Now I am really excited to see it in 2 weeks! However, I do not know if anything can be funnier than when I saw Operation Mincemeat in London this summer, but I am ready for anything! Looking forward to it!"
If you liked Operation Mincemeat you will absolutely dig this, same kind of sense of humor"
Wonderful! Really looking forward to it!
The idea is to work and to experiment. Some things will be creatively successful, some things will succeed at the box office, and some things will only - which is the biggest only - teach you things that see the future. And they're probably as valuable as any of your successes. -Harold Prince
#18GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/15/23 at 11:46pm
I loved loved LOVED this!
It's like a mix of {title of show] and Oh, Hello, two shows which I absolutely adore. Laugh a minute, and not in a disjointed way like Shucked (which I also enjoyed.) The book is hilarious. It rolls so well, there wasn't a second I was bored.
I think the show would hold up with anyone performing, but oh. my. god. do Rannells and Gad really sell it. I'm not a huge fan of Gad's humor, personally, but there wasn't a single moment he was onstage that he didn't have me rolling in my seat. Every choice was perfect, their chemistry is INSANE.
Such a great feel-good show, imo. Even the jokes that didn't land for me (of which there were very few) I still chuckled at just because they were delivered so earnestly. I smiled literally the entire time, ear to ear. Granted, this is probably because the humor was right up my alley, but god I just had such a great time.
The only thing I didn't love was that the music was a bit lackluster: But that's the point, I'm assuming, since Bud and Doug wrote it themselves it makes sense it's no Sondheim. And the choreo and acting choices within the songs more than made up for some mediocre lyrics.
I was in the balcony, so when I saw the whole hat gimmick I was a bit afriad I would miss some jokes or the plot of the show within the show, but I had no problems with that, even without being able to read the hats. Slightly annoying that everytime htey put on a new hat, half the audience went to whisper to a friend what the hat said, but I digress.
Oh, acutally I don't digress. There was a woman in the first row who kept triyng to "interact" with the show, as it were. Got annoying real fast. But again, not something the show can really help.
It seemed more filled up than I was expecting based on all the talk about how empty the theater seemed this morning, barely any empty seats. The crowd LOVED it, and so did I!
For anyone who cares, I rushed today at noon and got balcony seats. Cannot reccomend this show enough. I feel so lucky to have seen the first performance@
EvenSteve
Swing Joined: 9/15/23
#19GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/16/23 at 12:11am
A quick question for those at the first preview about the set and staging - do you think seats along the sides in the orchestra will be blocked by anything or will miss any significant part of the show? I ask because some seats off to either side are significantly less expensive than some closer to the center. (There's even some on the far side of the front row that are pretty cheap.) I was tempted to spring for one of these for a performance later in the fall, but was weighing this up against a seat in the mezzanine that's closer to the center.
BoringBoredBoard40
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
#20GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/16/23 at 12:31am
Sat in O9 tonight orchestra left and it seemed pretty solid, but they seem to also be selling the very far orchestra sides as rush seats so who knows
also seems they are selling box seats day of as those were full tonight
LuckyDipster
Stand-by Joined: 8/2/23
#21GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/16/23 at 4:55am
These reviews have got me even more excited about seeing it in January.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#22GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/16/23 at 7:11am
Love that Timbers can give us Rocky and Here Lies Love but also Oh Hello and this. Glad it’s getting good word of mouth!
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#23GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/16/23 at 9:49am
Leaf Coneybear said: "Oh, acutally I don't digress. There was a woman in the first row who kept triyng to "interact" with the show, as it were. Got annoying real fast. But again, not something the show can really help."
Was it Lauren Boebert? Moving on to her next Alex Timbers show?
#24GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/16/23 at 9:57am
Sales seem slow but I remember the Book of Mormon actually had discount codes before performances started. Maybe lightening can strike twice and word of mouth set the box office alight once more.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
broadfan327
Broadway Star Joined: 3/20/08
#25GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! Previews
Posted: 9/16/23 at 11:34pm
I saw it tonight, I thought it was awful. The conceit of the show got old very quickly for me. The stars did the best they could, but the material was packing for me.
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