Hairspray in Los Angeles

[camach1]

Posted: 5/25/06 at 10:52pm

Anyone make it to a performance yet to Hairspray at the Pantages?If so can tell me how it was?Mainly how the cast did and if its in good shape.Im going on Wenesday and would really like to know. Thanks.
Updated On: 5/25/06 at 10:52 PM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 5/25/06 at 10:53pm

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002575344

[AshleyBrownFan123]

Posted: 5/25/06 at 11:06pm

Really good. shirley jones, joan worley, and camryn manheim were there

Updated On: 5/25/06 at 11:06 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 5/25/06 at 11:26pm

There was a review posted here already yesterday....

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=898380&dt=0

[Popular]

Posted: 5/27/06 at 3:30pm

I wish there were a lottery for this...
I may try and see this anyway, it's a fun show!

[Popular]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 2:56am

Posting in this thread earlier had me thinking about going and then I realized that this weekend is the only time I may be able to go before it leaves the Pantages... so at about 7:15 I said "screw it, let's go try my luck".

I asked the box office if they offered rush tickets and the guy said that he could give me a $25 seat mid orchestra on the side. (EDIT TO ADD: Not really a rush ticket, apparantly they are having a special this weekend which I didn't know about)

I should just say that I've seen this show in NY (with Shannon Durig) and I've been listening to the recording and I was really ready to just be super energized and entertained by the show like I was before. I don't know if this production was scaled down or if there was something wrong with the sound system... or maybe it was just the dead audience... but the show did NOT make me want to get out of my seat and dance. They woke up towards the end of act 2 and they cheered like they LOVED it at the end so I don't know where they were throughout the rest of the show!

That's not to take away from the performances. The highlights for me were Penny and Seaweed. We had an u/s for Motormouth who got the loudest cheers out of everyone. I've never heard an audience so happy to hear "at this performance..." - you would've thought she had invited everyone she knew and their mother to come see her - it was really great for her! The best number by far was You're Timeless to Me. I must say I really enjoyed Jim J. Bullock and J.P. Doughtery a lot as well in addition to the others I've mentioned
.
I'd give it a C+ overall, I was expecting much more. It just seemed, for lack of a better word, small to me. I didn't wait at the stage door so no stories/pics to share in regards to that.... there were only a handful of people waiting as far as I could see.



Updated On: 5/28/06 at 02:56 AM

[Ghosthost999]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 4:39am

I saw it Friday night, really fun show. I hope to see it again before it leaves LA, going after rush tickets, saw it in Row E last night.

[basketcase]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 1:10pm

So there is a rush? I was wondering about that. Is it student rush? Is it a lotto? Any information would be appreciated.

When I saw the show on Thursday night, the audience was DEAD. They got a little more energized in Act 2 but I felt bad for the cast, there was NOTHING coming back at them.

Posted: 5/28/06 at 1:36pm

I was at the performance last night as well, and though I wouldn't say it was the best performance I've seen (saw it previously with Marissa and Bruce), it was still pretty good. I've been listening to the cast recording a lot lately and it was hard not to compare. Keala Settle's voice sounded a bit tired/strained and the guy who played Link didn't have quite as strong of a voice either. As Popular said, the understudy for Motormouth was in, and she brought down the house in "I Know Where I've Been." The actress playing Penny was really good.

I don't think there is a rush, per se. I got an email from Broadway LA marketing offering rear orchestra seats for $25 for Memorial Day weekend only for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings (maybe sales weren't that good?). So it's not too late to try for it tonight, but otherwise, I don't think there are any other discounts.

[Popular]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 2:02pm

CB4EVER - I agree with your comments on Keala's voice. I just wasn't sure if it's naturally raspy like that or if she was fighting through something. I didn't think she was going to last after the opening number but she pulled through.

Like I said, the show as a whole was just OK for me. I really do think the sound was off last night too which may have made it less impressive. I had a really hard time getting sucked into the show, I felt like it was happening "over there" the whole time.

[whiskedaway]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 2:03pm

"When I saw the show on Thursday night, the audience was DEAD. They got a little more energized in Act 2 but I felt bad for the cast, there was NOTHING coming back at them. "

really? I was also there thursday night, and i thought the audience was very energetic. i was in the back orchestra and from there it definetley seemed like the audience was loving it.

[Popular]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 2:10pm

wiskedaway - I'd have to say they were pretty dead last night until the end from where I was sitting too, location MAY have something to do with that perception though.

I tried to gage how they were feeling about the show during intermission and all I could hear were the people behind me commenting on how great Wicked was when they saw it there (no joke, I'm not making that up!)

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 2:13pm

I am seeing it a week from TODAY!

You cant stop my happiness
'Cause i like the way i am
And you just can't stop my knife and fork
When i see a christmas ham
So if you don't like the way i look
Well, i |ust don't give a damn!

'Cause the world keeps spinning
'Round and 'round
And my heart's keeping time
To the speed of sound
I was lost til i heard the drums
Then i found my way

'Cause you cant stop the beat

[Ghosthost999]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 3:37pm

On friday night our audience were really into it. The audience really just went wild during You're Timeless To Me.

I got there early and my tickets were stuck with some friends in traffic and it was kind of up in the air if they were going to make it in time so I went up to the box office to see what they had available and the woman there specificly said "rush" tickets, so I bought one. Then the friends showed up about 5 mins later. $25 down the drain... but oh well.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 3:56pm

I'm going tonight.

[mateo]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 4:20pm

you guys are lucky. I live in the LA area- and still cant go. Oh well. The next time I get to see the show will be in October when i go to NY.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 8:12pm

I just came back from the matinee. The cast was alright, not the best. I thought the girl who played Tracy was horrible, but then as the show got going, I started to like her. And like someone mentioned, the audience just went wild during "You're Timeless To Me"

I guess around 15% of the orchestra (rear end to the side) was empty.

[lite2shine]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 10:29pm

I've only been to Pantage theatre twice. I remember it's a huge theatre and I'd like to know if sitting at the mezzanine is better than sitting at the side orchestra section (row L and after). Thanks for your feedback!