HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!- Page 5

[Josh Freilich]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#100

Posted: 2/28/11 at 1:44am

Now that we have the entire understudies list... How about the orchestra?

"How could she just suddenly, completely disappear into thin water?" - The Little Mermaid

[Mildred Plotka]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#101

Posted: 2/28/11 at 2:26am

Could you also post a list of the ushers and front of house staff? Who's working the bar and the souvenir stands?

"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"

[Mildred Plotka]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#102

Posted: 2/28/11 at 2:26am

Could you also post a list of the ushers and front of house staff? Who's working the bar and the souvenir stands?

"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"

[goldenstate5]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#103

Posted: 2/28/11 at 4:25am

I'm a little curious about the orchestrations. With Cinderella Darling back in, I'm assuming it's the slower, less maddening 1961 version and not the zany-at-11 1995 revival one.

[Smaxie]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#104

Posted: 2/28/11 at 8:09am

The production has new orchestrations by Doug Besterman and dance arrangements by David Chase (a very good team). How to Succeed has a fantastic set of original orchestrations by Robert Ginzler, but I'd imagine the new orchestrations are more true to the show with Besterman and Chase's work than the souped up '95 orchestrations were.

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

[MimiJudith]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#105

Posted: 2/28/11 at 9:32am

I bought tickets for this yesterday (for April). I was a bit hesitant to buy them because I didn't know how Radcliffe would do, but I'm glad to see that people here seem to love him. This is one of my favorite shows.

I saw it with Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker several years ago...didn't like Broderick at all in it. I guess nobody will ever beat Robert Morse in this role. By the way, wouldn't it have been great if they'd cast Robert Morse as J.B. Biggley? WOW, that would have been something.

[Josh Freilich]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#106

Posted: 2/28/11 at 10:24am

Well, because Besterman also did "ELF" at that very same theatre before that, I'm not sure that the orchestra for "ELF" would remain the same, because, for one thing, David Chase, not Phil Reno, is conducting the show.

"How could she just suddenly, completely disappear into thin water?" - The Little Mermaid

[givesmevoice]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#107

Posted: 2/28/11 at 10:42am

Has anyone had a successful rush experience for one of the two performances?

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[mrbreggar]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#108

Posted: 2/28/11 at 11:30am

Speaking of orchestrations, did they go back to the original version of the Overture? Or is it the much modified (and less exciting) '95 version?

[willep]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#109

Posted: 2/28/11 at 12:18pm

I, too, am curious about rush...

[Eris0303]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#110

Posted: 2/28/11 at 1:01pm

The score is quite forgettable

If the score is so forgettable how come so many people can sing several lines from pretty much any of the songs?

Oh god, I needed to pee immediately after that 1st act. LOL!

I'm so glad


It seems strange to me that that many people would stage door this show, when Equus was pretty much just limping along. Maybe because this is like a big, splashy musical, but it just seems odd. I mean, I remember seeing Equus and the theater was like half full, and not that many people at the stage door.

Part of it is that a lot of kids in the Harry Potter demographic couldn't see Equus. This show is decidedly more family friendly.

People have posted about Radcliffe's American accent and I was wondering do any of the characters truly need to be American? The company is Worldwide Widgets which suggests to me that they have offices all over the world. Wouldn't it stand to reason that there could be all sorts of accents in the office?

"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".

[madbrian]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#111

Posted: 2/28/11 at 1:15pm

"...I was wondering do any of the characters truly need to be American? The company is Worldwide Widgets which suggests to me that they have offices all over the world. Wouldn't it stand to reason that there could be all sorts of accents in the office?"

For the period in which the piece is set, the NY office of an international company would have been VERY American. The career path of a non-American would probably have been substantially different from the advice given by the narrator.

"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

[Josh Freilich]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#112

Posted: 2/28/11 at 1:28pm

If the score is so forgettable how come so many people can sing several lines from pretty much any of the songs?

And add to that, a brilliant parody on FAMILY GUY which hits the nail right on the nose!

"How could she just suddenly, completely disappear into thin water?" - The Little Mermaid

[mak136]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#113

Posted: 2/28/11 at 2:19pm

I rushed Sat morning.

Got there at about 7:20..there were 4 folks in line. I really thought there'd be nobody and I could go get something to eat and check back again. So I rushed for coffee and bagels, came back and there were another 2 people in line...so by 730ish, I was 7th in line. Next person didn't show til a little after 8. Right at 10 they moved us in, and was out of there in minutes.

The seats I got were row J, far left, partial view. For the price, it was good. Yeah I missed a couple things on the top far left, but it wasn't integral, could hear fine.

Radcliffe did a fine job...pulled off the singing and choreography...and was having a good old time.

I'm not a Potter stalker. Just thought I'd go for the rush.

[mywonderwa11]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#114

Posted: 2/28/11 at 2:51pm

How many rush seats were available? How far into the line of people did it go until the tickets ran out? Just curious...

"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"

[givesmevoice]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#115

Posted: 2/28/11 at 2:54pm

Thanks, mak! I figured it was a get there by 7:30 kind of deal.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[willep]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#116

Posted: 2/28/11 at 4:18pm

Yes, thanks mak!

Did John Larroquette come out the stage door and sign afterwards, anybody?

[cabaretman24]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#117

Posted: 2/28/11 at 4:33pm

I hear the show is running over 3 hours long. I hope not

[amn]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#118

Posted: 2/28/11 at 10:24pm

For those of you who rushed, what was the rush price? I read the thread and didn't see it mentioned...:)

[givesmevoice]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#119

Posted: 2/28/11 at 10:34pm

amn, rush tickets are $30.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[inlovewithjerryherman]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#120

Posted: 2/28/11 at 10:35pm

I have never seen a production of "How to Succeed" that didn't run VERY close to 3 hours long. I hope people realize that the show is just written this way. It's a long show. Great, but long.

[amn]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#121

Posted: 2/28/11 at 10:54pm

Thanks givesmevoice :)

[bwayphreak234]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#122

Posted: 2/28/11 at 11:12pm

Glad to hear the show is going so well! Can anyone tell me what the show curtain is?

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

[gcontini2]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#123

Posted: 2/28/11 at 11:37pm

Delightful. Saw Monday night's preview and have to say I was very pleasantly surprised how well they've nailed this show from the sets, lighting, and costumes to the casting and staging. At first I thought the opening choreography looked a little uncomfortably close in style to the opener of last season's Promises, Promises, but then the show breaks into its own uniqueness shortly thereafter.
Truth be told, the most surprising of all to me was Daniel Radcliffe himself! Who knew he would actually be so darn legitimately stage-talented? I guess the Harry Potter seriousness and the bleakness of Equus never really let him show his playful side, but he certainly is a big charmer here. His singing is great but his Michael J. Fox-like command of the stage and his flawless dancing are remarkable.
All in all, this production is as about as solid and lovingly-crafted of a revival you could hope for with this classic and I wish them the best.
Updated On: 2/28/11 at 11:37 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

HOW TO SUCCEED Begins Previews Tonight!#124

Posted: 2/28/11 at 11:41pm

The show got out tonight at 10:55. I heard people talking as I was walking home who came out of the stage door that things will need to be cut because it's running way too long. He said this was actually only the second performance to be run completely though which I found odd since it's in terrific shape and didn't drag at all for me.

I was very surprised that the mezz was only maybe 70% full. For some reason I thought this was selling like hot cakes. I'm sure once word gets out just how good Radcliffe is, business will pick up.