HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Cfried
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/16
#1HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Posted: 5/31/18 at 6:00pm
Previews begin tonight, with a press opening set for June 12th.
Anyone going?
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#3HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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
Broadway Star Joined: 6/5/03
#4HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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.
#5HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Posted: 6/3/18 at 12:58pmI saw this in Chicago as well(won tickets) and thought it needed A TON of work. My sister and Dad loved it, though.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
#6HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Posted: 6/3/18 at 1:10pmOne of my caveats is that Georgia Engel has not segued one bit from the character she played on Mary Tyler Moore.
GeorgeandDot
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/16
#7HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Posted: 6/3/18 at 1:12pmWow I know this is going to be filled with tons of musical theatre smacting.
#8HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Posted: 6/3/18 at 2:12pmOnly really want to see this for Donna. If it's that bad it'll pass.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#9HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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
Swing Joined: 12/6/16
#10HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Posted: 6/4/18 at 2:12pmThere 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.
#11HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#12HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Posted: 6/4/18 at 2:51pmI’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
Stand-by Joined: 2/13/15
#13HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/16
#14HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/16
#15HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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.
#16HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Posted: 6/4/18 at 3:14pm
I'd be pissed off if I went and Donna was out.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Updated On: 6/5/18 at 03:14 PM
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#17HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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
Featured Actor Joined: 3/25/18
#18HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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.
VeroniqueJaffee
Swing Joined: 4/11/17
#20HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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
Featured Actor Joined: 3/25/18
#21HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Posted: 6/5/18 at 2:58pm
(Insert Clever Name) said: "From where?"
The city
#22HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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/
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George
#23HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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!
http://puccinischronicles.wordpress.com
RobMains
Swing Joined: 3/22/09
#24HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
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
Broadway Star Joined: 6/5/03
#25HALF TIME at Paper Mill - Reports
Posted: 6/8/18 at 3:05pm
I'm so surprised at all the negativity. When does this open to the critics?
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