HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports

[Cfried]

Posted: 5/31/18 at 6:00pm

Previews begin tonight, with a press opening set for June 12th. 

Anyone going?

 

 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/31/18 at 7:41pm

No.

[Skip23]

Posted: 6/2/18 at 10:02pm

I rarely leave shows at intermission.

I left half way thru the first act.

“Half Baked” is being kind.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 6/3/18 at 12:53pm

I liked it when I saw it in Chicago, and thought it had good potential.  Does anyone know what changes they have made?  I know Donna McKechnie is now in the show.  

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/3/18 at 12:58pm

I saw this in Chicago as well(won tickets) and thought it needed A TON of work. My sister and Dad loved it, though.

[markypoo]

Posted: 6/3/18 at 1:10pm

One of my caveats is that Georgia Engel has not segued one bit from the character she played on Mary Tyler Moore.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 6/3/18 at 1:12pm

Wow I know this is going to be filled with tons of musical theatre smacting.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/3/18 at 2:12pm

Only really want to see this for Donna. If it's that bad it'll pass.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/3/18 at 11:44pm

Friends with a few people working on this, and the pics I've seen are....not great, but would def venture out to Jersey to see it. It might be a fun hot mess. 

[wavingthrough1998]

Posted: 6/4/18 at 2:12pm

There is no way this will make it to broadway. It will close out of town and flip out of town. Just like The first wives club. Don’t even know why they are even continuing with this after the disaster of the Chicago run.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/4/18 at 2:21pm

Replacing Stephanie Powers with Donna McKechnie at least guarantees it will be a little bit better than the Chicago tryout.

[Sauja]

Posted: 6/4/18 at 2:51pm

I’m so sad about the negative first report. With Donna McKechnie, Georgia Engel, Lillias White, and Andre de Shields, there’s so much talent that I hoped it would be at the very least super entertaining in a bubble-gum pop kind of way.

[Cesare2]

Posted: 6/4/18 at 3:00pm

Saw it Saturday night rear orchestra (where seats are $54). That McKechnie was out may have colored somewhat my opinion of the show.  (The understudy was underwhelming, especially in her big second act dance solo. )  The show is a cross between A CHORUS LINE and 70, GIRLS, 70.  Except you find out who makes the line at the start of the show and there's no shoplifting (or  deaths).  You know as soon as the show begins basically how it's going to end.  What twists there are in the story are also very predictable. It was good seeing Lillias White (who I think came off best), Andre De Shields, Georgia Engels, and Lenora Nemetz again.  Lori Tan Chinn (new to me) was also very good.  But it was really a slog sitting through this show.  Don't see it crossing the river.

[Cfried]

Posted: 6/4/18 at 3:03pm

Here's the link to production shots:

http://www.playbill.com/article/first-look-at-half-time-musical-at-paper-mill-playhouse

[Cfried]

Posted: 6/4/18 at 3:05pm

BroadwayBen said: "I liked it when I saw it in Chicago, and thought it had good potential. Does anyone know what changes they have made? I know Donna McKechnie is now in the show."

From a BWW interview with Jerry Mitchell...

How has this production changed at all from when it premiered in Chicago?

Well, we've got five new songs. There was a character that was really missing its whole arc and we had to go back and examine that. We also added a new beginning, which has some of the same feelings as the opening, but it starts differently and we find the seniors not in rehearsal. We find them reading the ad and going to the audition. And what's happening in their real life, why this kind of opportunity is so important to them at this age, which I think helps set up the whole story.

What character needed the arc change?

The character of Joanne has completely changed, which is being played by Donna McKechnie.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/4/18 at 3:14pm

I'd be pissed off if I went and Donna was out.

Updated On: 6/5/18 at 03:14 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/4/18 at 11:53pm

I think I'm going to make the trek to see this as I don't see it coming to Broadway and it sounds kind of fun and messy. 

[teatime2]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 11:48am

RippedMan said: "I think I'm going to make the trek to see this as I don't see it coming to Broadway and it sounds kind of fun and messy."

How expensive is it to get down there? I wanna see Color Purple, but I don't know how pricey it is to get down there.

[(Insert Clever Name)]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 11:50am

From where?

[VeroniqueJaffee]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 12:04pm

This show is a half baked disaster and I wish the OP luck in finding a new job after being the Papermill shill for so long

[teatime2]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 2:58pm

(Insert Clever Name) said: "From where?"

The city

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 3:13pm

teatime2 said: "RippedMan said: "I think I'm going to make the trek to see this as I don't see it coming to Broadway and it sounds kind of fun and messy."

How expensive is it to get down there? I wanna see Color Purple, but I don't know how pricey it is to get down there."

 

 

? Come on dude , here https://papermill.org/plan-your-visit/directions/

 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 6/5/18 at 4:39pm

It's curious to me that Papermill had two new musicals go to Broadway last season, but it's a string of clunkers this time around. Nature of the biz, I suppose.

Unrelated...but I was looking at their Rising Star Award winners, and apparently two high schools in NJ did Follies and Anyone Can Whistle, respectively. Now that's certainly not the usual drama club fare!

[RobMains]

Posted: 6/6/18 at 11:37pm

Taking the train from NY Penn Station cost $8.50 one way and takes less than 45 minutes if you take a direct train. The theater is around a 10 minute walk from the station.

 

On another note, Donna McKechnie was still out tonight. Kathryn Kendall did a great job covering this role. The audience loved Andre De Shields, Georgia Engel, Lori Tan Chinn, and Lillias White. It may not be the best show that has been written, but the audience completely enjoyed the production.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 6/8/18 at 3:05pm

I'm so surprised at all the negativity.   When does this open to the critics?