#1
Posted: 10/2/16 at 6:35pm
So, tour opened in SF this afternoon, those of you who saw it, what do you have to say? Also, what changes were made?
Updated On: 10/2/16 at 06:35 PM
#2
Posted: 10/2/16 at 8:26pm
Did it open, or was that the first preview?
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#3
Posted: 10/2/16 at 8:34pm
I was at 2pm show. It wasn't sold as a preview although the show today was added late. It's my first time to see it on stage. I thought the performers, staging, special effects and audience engagement were all incredible. The script was localized so that Hedwig mentioned Golden Gate Theater, Tenderloin and the Mission (or did he say Mish?). There are lots of tickets left for Sunday, 10/9 at 7pm, when Lena plays Hedwig. I'm going to try to get tickets through Today Tix to see her. She sounded amazing even as a backup singer. I wanted to hear more from her. Like Yitzhak, she can upstage Darren. He was very good but I felt his performance to be a bit emotionally guarded...I didn't quite feel his pain as I did for JCM in the movie version.
One thing I had trouble with was being in the moment because I wanted to be an audience member in Hedwig's show, not Darren's show as Hedwig. It's hard to explain. I felt distracted. I love it when I watch a performance and feel the pull of the story's reality and I forget the theater, the audience...the upcoming elections...for 2-3 hours.
I'm grateful Hedwig came to town. I want to see it again.
#4
Posted: 10/2/16 at 8:45pm
Do they have "Hurt Locker the Musical" playbills?
As for the localization, I was expecting that. There were lots of specific references to the Belasco Theatre when it played in "EBroa" as she referred to the location. Certainly the creatives know SF well (as do Darren and Lena, of course) Likewise, for LA. However as the tour continues, I wonder what the effort will be like for less-familiar cities.
Updated On: 10/2/16 at 08:45 PM
#5
Posted: 10/2/16 at 9:16pm
MarkBearSF said: "Do they have "Hurt Locker the Musical" playbills?"
Yes. I picked one off the floor on my way out. I posted a pic on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/terracentric/status/782750246950404096
#6
Posted: 10/2/16 at 10:50pm
Terracentric said:
One thing I had trouble with was being in the moment because I wanted to be an audience member in Hedwig's show, not Darren's show as Hedwig. It's hard to explain.
I think you just explained it perfectly. I saw 4 Hedwigs and the only time I couldn't 100% connect was when it was Darren. Idk why. But there it is.
I'm going next Sunday to see Lena both as Yitzhak and Hedwig. Super excited!! "
#7
Posted: 10/2/16 at 11:02pm
Invited dress rehearsal tonight for Lena Hall as Hedwig!
https://twitter.com/LenaRockerHall/status/782717519576518656
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#8
Posted: 10/2/16 at 11:11pm
In addition to Lena, there's apparently now a standby for Hedwig as well. I wonder what the pecking order would be in the event Darren was absent.
I saw Mason as "Man in Chair" in The Drowsy Chaperone at his alma mater earlier this year, and he's an incredible talent. I really hope he gets the opportunity to go on.
Mason Alexander Park to Be Hedwig Standby
Mason's The Origin of Love
Updated On: 10/2/16 at 11:11 PM
#9
Posted: 10/3/16 at 9:22am
I saw Mason A. Park as Moritz in "Spring Awakening" earlier this year too- it was the best Moritz I've ever seen. Squirming, sexually frustrated (and sexually confused), you got a ticking-time-bomb sense from him that you don't always get from that character. It wasn't a matter of if he would snap, even from the beginning it was a matter of how soon.
#10
Posted: 10/3/16 at 9:39am
Have I missed a casting announcement for the rest of the tour?
My stop isn't until March... but... there's some stops in December. I'd think they'd have announced by now.
Jesus saves. I spend.
#11
Posted: 10/3/16 at 10:06am
darquegk said: "I saw Mason A. Park as Moritz in "Spring Awakening" earlier this year too- it was the best Moritz I've ever seen. Squirming, sexually frustrated (and sexually confused), you got a ticking-time-bomb sense from him that you don't always get from that character. It wasn't a matter of if he would snap, even from the beginning it was a matter of how soon."
How interesting you mentioned "ticking time bomb sense" because I thought that maybe JCM chose "The Hurt Locker the Musical" to symbolize that. (This article from 2014 mentioned another reason though: http://www.vulture.com/2014/06/hedwig-and-the-angry-inch-script-changes-story.html)
#12
Posted: 10/3/16 at 10:08am
KJisgroovy said: "Have I missed a casting announcement for the rest of the tour?
My stop isn't until March... but... there's some stops in December. I'd think they'd have announced by now. "
I was just thinking this same thing. I live in Denver and the tour will be here in December. I tried looking on the website but couldn't find any information about casting...
#14
Posted: 10/3/16 at 1:24pm
I was at Lena's invited dress last night. She is a force to be reckoned with- a real rock star. Her's is the best sung Hedwig I've heard.
#15
Posted: 10/3/16 at 1:25pm
Jshan05 said: "KJisgroovy said: "Have I missed a casting announcement for the rest of the tour?
My stop isn't until March... but... there's some stops in December. I'd think they'd have announced by now. "
I was just thinking this same thing. I live in Denver and the tour will be here in December. I tried looking on the website but couldn't find any information about casting...
"
I suspect it will be Lena Hall as Hedwig for the remainder of the tour. That is likely how they were able to get her to agree to leave New York and go back as Yitzhak on the road, also why she's getting these bonus performances in CA and why they've now cast a Hedwig standby. I also think a female Hedwig will be more palpable to middle America, sadly.
#16
Posted: 10/3/16 at 1:29pm
J52 said: "I suspect it will be Lena Hall as Hedwig for the remainder of the tour. That is likely how they were able to get her to agree to leave New York and go back as Yitzhak on the road, also why she's getting these bonus performances in CA and why they've now cast a Hedwig standby. I also think a female Hedwig will be more palpable to middle America, sadly."
It's not very difficult to get a NY actor to bring a show to L.A., since they will get to go in front of many people who may have potential future work for them.
I doubt the creative team would have a full-time female Hedwig on tour, since there is no evidence to support this theory. Plus, as has been said ad nauseam, Hedwig is playing a lot of subscription houses, so people aren't waiting to learn who Hedwig is before booking tickets. They already booked their tickets.
Updated On: 10/3/16 at 01:29 PM
#18
Posted: 10/3/16 at 1:36pm
Eagerly waiting to hear how they handle the finale with Lena. Probably will never get to see her.
#19
Posted: 10/3/16 at 1:43pm
What changes were made for Lena? Changes in costume? What about for the finale?
#20
Posted: 10/3/16 at 1:57pm
The next full-time Hedwig won't be announced until after Darren and Lena open the show in LA. Why would the producers want to steal their thunder before then?
#21
Posted: 10/3/16 at 1:57pm
I think they're referring to when Hedwig appears shirtless during "Midnight Radio".
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
#22
Posted: 10/3/16 at 2:01pm
MinnieFay said: "The next full-time Hedwig won't be announced until after Darren and Lena open the show in LA. Why would the producers want to steal their thunder before then?"
Because they want people to buy tickets?
#23
Posted: 10/3/16 at 2:15pm
perfectliar said: "Because they want people to buy tickets?
As others have said --- most of their markets are on subscription. There will be an announcement made after the first week in Los Angeles.
#24
Posted: 10/3/16 at 2:19pm
I too saw Lena's invited dress, and somehow got it from the third row. She is a powerhouse and the angriest Hedwig I've ever seen. Vocally, she kicks the everliving sh*t out of this score. It's almost too good - the usual dynamic, where Yitzahk is clearly more talented than Hedwig, is not really present, but it also makes her anger at Tommy more justified. This was her first performance before an audience and the comedy is still...something of a work in progress. She'll find it. She hit her stride somewhere around "Wig in a Box" and the end of the show was absolutely devistating.
Since it has been a hot topic of conversation, Lena appears topless with her breasts taped down for Tommy.
#25
Posted: 10/3/16 at 2:35pm
Forgive me if this is somewhere but I truly could not find it: who is her Yitzhak?
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