Posted: 8/18/17 at 10:59pm
Will be there Tues Sept 6! Stage Door Sally, if you're there that night, we can gush over our mutual Dolly love over cheesecake at Juniors after
Updated On: 8/18/17 at 10:59 PM
Posted: 8/30/17 at 8:43am
Was anyone at last night's performance, Tues.,August 29th? I'm pretty sure there was a set glitch. As Barnaby and Cornelius exit from meeting Minnie Fay, the backdrop behind her didn't go up. She went on with her speech about the shop not being open yet but couldn't get to the shop door behind the scrim. Her entire speech was in front of the scrim. Then Irene entered and suddenly the scrim went up and you then saw the shop and the two were able to continue the scene as usual.
Just a note! Never saw any set glitches before. The two actresses handled it smoothly.
Updated On: 8/30/17 at 08:43 AM
Posted: 8/30/17 at 10:25am
I love this show!
Posted: 8/30/17 at 10:28am
@Ethel I was there as well and didn't notice the glitch since I'd never seen the show before! I guess they handled it VERY well!
Loved the show, by the way, and for the first time in my life I was almost deafened by audience members' cheering!
Posted: 8/30/17 at 12:45pm
Loved Bette. Can't wait to see Donna !!!!
Posted: 9/6/17 at 9:56am
Playbill has confirmed that Murphy's final show will be January 9. Peters will be doing 8 shows a week when she takes over on Jan. 20. Anyone going to Donna's final show?
Posted: 9/6/17 at 9:58am
Sad that she isn't continuing because I would have liked to have seen her. This revival seems like true joy - I envy those that will have seen Bette, Donna and Bernadette.
Posted: 9/6/17 at 10:20am
Posted: 9/6/17 at 10:30am
Wonder why she's leaving? Do you think she feels she was snubbed at not being Bette's replacement?
Posted: 9/6/17 at 10:46am
Deena Jones said: "Wonder why she's leaving? Do you think she feels she was snubbed at not being Bette's replacement?"
At this stage in her career alternating with planned performances is probably much more appealing than standing by. Her role has in a sense been eliminated from the production now that Bernadette will do 8 shows. Perfect timing to gracefully bow out.
I would be surprised if she felt snubbed, but standing by for Bernadette probably doesn't seem as rationale to Donna as it did with Bette. With Bette you get the stunt casting element of it due to her previous body of work. Bernadette also has an impressive body of work, but Donna seems to be closer or on a more level playing field with Bernadette than Bette so to not have any planned performances and be second in command to someone in a somewhat similar league wouldn't be the best move for her.
Posted: 9/6/17 at 1:35pm
Murphy has openly spoken about the fact that she promised her daughter that she wouldn't take any gigs that would take her away from home for too long, hence why she accepted the offer of playing Dolly once a week and during Midler's vacation. She isn't ready to commit to 8 shows a week so soon after her husband's passing. And yes, I'm sure there was a certain cache to alternating for Midler that is no longer there with Peters. I'm so lucky we got this performance from her at this time in her life. It's such a thrilling, beautifully rendered performance. I think about it whenever I feel blue, there's such joy to it, and she and the audience know it's something special.
Posted: 9/6/17 at 2:27pm
Well I hope this is just the beginning for Donna in terms of opportunities. She's an amazing talent and if she's not ready to do 8 shows a week I hope she can do concerts, limited engagements, and whatnot. My dream is for her to do Phyllis in a revival of Follies. Yeah yeah I know ... but one can dream right?
Posted: 9/6/17 at 2:30pm
poisonivy2 said: "Well I hope this is just the beginning for Donna in terms of opportunities. She's an amazing talent and if she's not ready to do 8 shows a week I hope she can do concerts, limited engagements, and whatnot. My dream is for her to do Phyllis in a revival of Follies. Yeah yeah I know ... but one can dream right?"
Seriously? Donna didn't just appear on the scene. She's a veteran of stage, screen (TV and Movies). Look her up on IMDB.com. She will always get work and people will always want her because she is JUST.THAT.GOOD.
Posted: 9/6/17 at 2:39pm
MoveOnGypsy said: "poisonivy2 said: "Well I hope this is just the beginning for Donna in terms of opportunities. She's an amazing talent and if she's not ready to do 8 shows a week I hope she can do concerts, limited engagements, and whatnot. My dream is for her to do Phyllis in a revival of Follies. Yeah yeah I know ... but one can dream right?"
Seriously? Donna didn't just appear on the scene.She's a veteran of stage, screen (TV and Movies). Look her up on IMDB.com. She will always get work and people will always want her because she is JUST.THAT.GOOD."
I'm more talking about starring Broadway roles. I know she did some movies and TV and was a wonderful witch in the Central Park Into the Woods a few years ago.
Posted: 9/6/17 at 2:43pm
^even that is complete nonsense. The woman has two tony awards!! For leading actress...
Posted: 9/6/17 at 3:14pm
Call_me_jorge said: "^even that is complete nonsense. The woman has two tony awards!! For leading actress..."
Yeah but that was in the 90's. Idk what happened after Wonderful Town but she hasn't done a full Broadway musical production since.
Posted: 9/6/17 at 3:25pm
^ Actually she did "Lovemusik" and "People in the Picture". Neither lasted long though she was wonderful in both. I think she was nominated for a Tony for both also.
Updated On: 9/6/17 at 03:25 PM
Posted: 9/6/17 at 3:26pm
poisonivy2 said: "Call_me_jorge said: "^even that is complete nonsense. The woman has two tony awards!! For leading actress..."
Yeah but that was in the 90's. Idk what happened after Wonderful Town but she hasn't done a full Broadway musical production since."
She was out a lot of her run during Wonderful Town and the show lost money. Reidel on the NY Post made sport out of reporting her absences and a bad reputation emerged. She has had some tragedy as her husband passed away. She is a major talent and so glorious to watch. I wish her nothing but the best. Her Dolly is stellar.
Posted: 9/6/17 at 7:49pm
So glad I read here about her performance, and was very encouraged by many here to see her as "Dolly". I have my $99 ticket for this Sunday matinee (front row mezz).
Posted: 9/10/17 at 12:53am
I just came from the Saturday night performance. Wow wow wow, Donna was absolutely incredible! I won't see Bette until she's back from vacation next week, but honestly, I'm glad my first encounter with this glorious production was with Donna at the helm. Such a beautiful, witty, knowing, funny, touching performance -- and she belted out the songs like nobody's business.
The whole cast blew me away; even DHP who I had been skeptical about. And a special shout out to the fabulous Mr. Creel -- who was even more wonderful than I expected him to be.
The Shubert was packed, and the audience was ecstatic throughout. Rapturous applause greeted the first appearance of all the main cast members. I could tell the audience was really into it when "It Takes A Woman" practically stopped the show early on. (I spoke with Gavin at the stage door after and he commented on how energetic & enthusiastic the audience was tonight.)
From talking to people, it seemed that most were there specifically to see Donna, some having already seen Bette. So there wasn't any "disappointment factor" at play. There was certainly no shortage of love being showered on her during the curtain calls and at the stage door.
Posted: 9/10/17 at 1:37am
Saw the show again to see Murphy, and I have to say I was disappointed. She's clearly working her behind off, but that's the problem - I felt her working. Really hard. I appreciated that she could hit more notes, but it didn't have the same ease that it had with Bette.
Posted: 9/10/17 at 2:14am
I have never been a huge fan of Donna before but after tonight's performance, I am converted. An absolutely incredible showing. I could not stop smiling. The entire cast was on their A game and as controversial as it is, the show worked so much better for me with Donna. Looking forward to seeing Bernadette!
Posted: 9/10/17 at 2:42am
In addition to her talent, Donna may be the nicest person I've ever spoken to at a stage door.
Posted: 9/12/17 at 8:35am
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who recommended I go to see Murphy instead of Midler (whom I really couldn't afford). Saw the matinee on Sunday, first row mezz tickets (excellent seats) and had a wonderful time. Never saw Murphy perform before, but WOW - I was totally convinced she was Dolly Levi!
Kudos to the whole cast -especially Gavin Creel and David Hyde Pierce - who were outstanding, as well as everyone to numerous to mention.
Again, thank you all for your strong recommendations of Murphy! So glad I listened to you.
Posted: 9/12/17 at 11:04pm
Donna is absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! In all honesty, I wish it were her on the cast recording instead of Bette. Her voice is superb!
