Grand Hotel - now in Chicago

Grand Hotel is one of my favorite shows, and there is a phenomenal production of it starting here in Chicago. I saw a preview last night at Drury Lane Water Tower and thought it was perfect.

I think the show itself is amazing - the woven storylines, complex music and intriguing characters. It also has one of the best opening sequences of any show.

I've seen a few different productions of the show, and this Chicago production is the best. It has an outstanding cast, a gorgeous set, beautiful costumes, comfortable seats - everything going for it. I was completely absorbed for the entire intermissionless 1 hr, 50 min. The staging sticks pretty closely to the original, Broadway production. In particular, the actors playing Grushinskaya and Kringelein were amazing. The part of the aging ballerina was actually played by someone who was aging (apologies to the actress) and obviously had a ballet background. Check out the photos at the link below.

I have no connection in any way to this production. I just wanted to let anyone in Chicago, passing through, or able to visit, know that they shouldn't miss this phenomenal show. Since this theatre opened less than a year ago, I've seen great productions of The Full Monty and Mornings at Seven. I'll probably return to see this Grand Hotel again.
Grand Hotel

If you've never seen a production of Grand Hotel, this is a great one to see, since it is very similar in concept and staging to the original.

I also look forward to seeing this production. (Was the bar open yet at Drury Lane WT?)

Actually... it was about an hour and twenty minutes. It was also cut for time constraints. Won't go into details... but I'd love to do a full boar production of it some day. It's an AMAMZING show!! When done correctly of course.

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Was Joan Crawford a blonde as Flaemchen in the movie?

There seems to be a stereotype that all sexy bombshells must be blonde.

It always bothered me that Evelyn Nesbit was played as a blonde inthe musicl of RAGTIME, when she was a brunette in real life. Especially with "Mother" also being played as a blonde!

Her name is Barbara Robertson, a local Chicago actress, and she was amazing. Looking at her credits...she was in the movie The Company. Maybe that's where you recognize her from?

Jeff Kuhl, who plays Kringelein, seems to be channelling the spirit of Michael Jeter. His singing sounds exactly the same, for sure. Unfortunately, he doesn't do the "rubber legs" dance on "Let's Take A Glass Together".

No, Jeff's dance wasn't as crazy as Jeter's. But he did have me hooked from the start of his first number. Terrific.

Yes, Glebb and Beaverhausen, you must.

G - I knew Barb in passing years ago. She was nominated for yet another Jeff. It was funny to review the nominations and see how many people I knew even though I have not worked in the theatre in about 10 years. My wife does get one production a year which does keep us in contact.

Add this production of GRAND HOTEL to Glebb's picks.
It's top notch and Barbara Robertson is magic!
Go see it!

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