Hedwig Previews- Page 10

[joeyinpa]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 1:01am

Just got back from the Saturday 10PM show. I wanted to let you guys know that Neil signed window cards tonight. I wasnt going to even bring the one I bought at Triton but im so glad I did. He was very nice and im thrilled to have a signed window card from the show to add to my collection!

[center]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 1:16am

I was also at the 10:00 show tonight (I *might* have a tiny new addiction to this show), and NPH was seriously on fire. Amazing. I've never seen a show multiple times in close enough succession to watch performances develop like this, but I really thought he was transformed and transformative in ways I know have been debated here. There were also some fun (if minor) additions - a bit more cursing, maybe a couple more innuendos, an extended bit I hadn't seen before with the drummer. I don't know what of that was the late show and what's just him playing around during previews, but the audience was eating it up.

But beyond that, I wanted to post a heads up here because everyone has been so helpful that the box office hadn't created a policy or anything for standing room for the 10:00, and there was a lot of confusion and some drama. I think it all got worked out in the end, but I also overheard the house manager and some staff talking about the two-show night rush/SRO policy. It sounded like they're going to propose moving towards one lotto/SRO line for both evening shows on Saturdays, I'm assuming once they permanently move to the 7:00/10:00 set-up. Of course, it might not happen after all, but I would definitely check the website at least before trying for lotto/SRO once that schedule starts (next Sat is a 2:00/8:00, maybe something to do with opening that following Tuesday?).

[April Saul]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 1:19am

Maybe someone realized it made no sense at all not to sign window cards, as it was merchandise from their own show...that was crazy!

[pauL5Y]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 9:04am

***Spoiler Alert***

batboy, you asked for "Love Theme from The Hurt Locker" lyrics. I was in BB107 and the sheet music fell right in my lap! My fav show souvenir ever.

note: says composed by Stephen Shwartz, the tempo is 69, and the date on it is March 28, 2014 (day before Hedwig previews started)

When the towers fell the world was set in motion
A love across the ocean grew where bombs hail
War, they say, is hell, but through it's many dangers
two lovers who were strangers hold each other under your veil
We've found sanc-tu-a-ry in the Hurt Locker
A spot of safety on the roads
Love can be scary in the Hurt Locker
It's tender and it's raw
We're filled with shock and awe
And we will be consumed when love explodes
We will be consumed when love explodes

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 12:30pm

The SRO situation for the 10pm show worked itself out just fine last night. I got there a little bit after 7pm and my friend and I would have gotten the 9th and 10th tickets. The House Manager came out around 730 to tell everyone that at most there would be 8 SRO spots available contingent on them selling the handful of remaining $154 seats. Just before 8pm the 12 or so of us in the SRO line agreed as a group to migrate over to the lottery and then resume our positions back at the SRO line immediately afterwards. Those of us beyond the 8 ticket allotment stayed on the line in the hopes that people ahead of us would win lotto seats and we'd have a stronger chance at SRO. One person from within the first 8 SRO tickets part of the line won the lotto, as well as my friend, so there were four extra tickets for the people that decided to hedge their bets and stay in line for SRO. Our lotto seats were in the front of Box C (house left) and had some obstruction- the drummer and basically all projects were not visible.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 1:18pm

Thanks PauL5Y! Those lyrics are f*cking awesome.

[batboysings]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 1:23pm

OH MY GOD - I would LOVE that! If by any chance you want to sell it (or even a copy) PLEASE drop me a PM!

Thanks for the lyrics!!

[pdjennings]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 12:26pm

Is the song list identical to the OCR (minus Random Number Generation, I assume)?
Tnx :)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 2:18pm

In the new Vanity Fair, Lin-Manuel Miranda interviews Neil--and Annie Leibovitz photographs him with a python in his pants.
Vanity Fair: Portrait: Neil Patrick Harris

[ScottK]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 3:59pm

DVR alert!
Neil and other creative on Good Morning America TOMW Wed, 4/16/14 btwn 8am-9am

[darreyl102]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 4:47pm

The body's beautiful, but that face- girlfriend is looking rough- Though it's probably just the photo shoot. LOL

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 6:39pm

Saw the show last night. Met John Cameron Mitchell before the show and he hugged me. Got "motor-boated" by Hedwig (I was in Orchestra BB 1). Got autographs from Mitchell and Neil Patrick Harris as well as from Lena Hall. Met a fellow Broadway World poster (who was lovely). And most importantly LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED the show more than I ever thought possible. Am seeing it again in June and I CAN'T WAIT!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:42pm

Tonight some guy in the balcony yelled "I LOVE YOU NEIL" and he says very much in character

"Who the **** is Neil?" and asks Yitzak "Are you named Neil? You better not be some mother****er named Neil" then says to the guy who shouted "Do you mind, mother****er? I'm doing something!"

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:53pm

I was there too, it was hilarious!

[~~tiny3~~]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 12:17am

I have about 10 playbills (opening night title pg) for whomever wants one, maybe you out of towners who may not get to see the show soon. Just PM me.

[metropolis10111]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 8:24am

Does this production appear just ripe for a Fandango one day event or is it just me? NPH has done them before and this show is only going to be around a limited time it just seams perfect for a movie-cast

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:52am

Saw this last night.

Spoiler may be ahead.

Also, fair warning: this is one of my favorite plays and one of my favorite movies. I wrote my college application essay on this show. I was very moved by this story when I first discovered it.

That said, last night I was so excited and nervous to see this show I had a pit in my stomach and it was hard to swallow. I think my hands were shaking when I was in the theater. I was ready for some Hedwig. I was psyched to hear music being pumped through the PA system while people were getting into their seats.

The set was great (and hilarious), the lighting was spot on and the sound was appropriately loud (I do wish it had been louder).

Lena Hall was fantastic and made me look at Yitzak from a new perspective. Her voice was also incredible. That girl needs her own show!

As for Neil... Neil is a great entertainer. Neil is not a great actor. This role requires both. He doesn't have a rock voice but he pulled it off for the first 3/4'ths of the show. The last few songs definitely rang out as musical theater when they should have come across as rock/punk anthems.

Recently, on twitter, someone was critical of the show saying they wished the producers had cast a trans actor to taker on title role. Michael Mayer shot back with the response, "It's called ACTING." But Neil Patrick Harris isn't an actor. He's an entertainer. This role requires both and I found him to be lacking in emotional depth. I also think his voice is too musical theater and in the later songs he was struggling to find that rock anthem power.

When this show first hit the scene it was racy and a bit risky. Last night I saw (very) young children in the crowd and (very) old audience members in the crowd - all dressed pretty conservatively - enjoying themselves. Of course, this is great news and speaks volumes about the queer movements impact on American culture. Today's audiences aren't shocked by this story. How wonderful is that?!

When I walked out of the theater and saw these families smiling as they chatted about the show (whilst hailing cabs) I did find myself wishing the producers had gone all the way and hired a trans actor. What we got was a safe celebrity entertainer dressing in drag for a night with a wink and a smile. There was no risk. We all knew he'd leave the theater safe and sound as Neil Patrick Harris.

[dreaming]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 10:59am

I love the musical, too, theatergoer3. (I saw this and Rent in the same year and it shook my world.) I saw Hedwig twice in the off-Broadway production, once with Michael Cerveris (who was incredible) and with John Cameron Mitchell. I loved both of them. I also loved Neil Patrick Harris in the role. I think he's a wonderful actor. (And I have always thought he was.) I'll agree his voice didn't strike me at first as quite right for the part-but I thought it worked really well.

Sure, they could cast a real trans actor, if they're right for the part.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:00am

"I did find myself wishing the producers had gone all the way and hired a trans actor."

In your wish, you neglect to mention there is no famous trans actor to play this role, or that your fantasy version wouldn't be in previews on Broadway. You're entitled to having a fantasy, but that's where it breaks down in reality.

I do think you're underestimating families talking about a transgendered show as a bit too commonplace, like it's an everyday occurrence. I welcome people having more transgender discussions in any form. It is safe introductions like this that lead to acceptance for the real transgender people out there. Just like Will & Grace wasn't a groundbreaking show, but it led to a dialogue and changed the views of a lot of people who weren't thinking about gay issues previously.

I'd welcome a utopia where families discussing NPH as a transgender character, or trans issues in general, is commonplace. I just don't think we're there yet.

[dreaming]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:06am

Is John Cameron Mitchell even a trans actor? (I'm not sure he'd define himself as such.)

[newintown]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:07am

I've been refraining from writing my reactions to this production, because most of the posts here seem to be from folks who are either wild about Harris in anything, wild about Hedwig in any form, or a combo of the two.

But I share theatregoer3's reactions: I first saw Hedwig in the mid 90s at the Pyramid, and then later a few times at the Jane Street, and then the film. It never worked as well (for me) as it did in that Avenue A bar. Each time it went more commercial, more $-oriented, it lost more of the authentic grit it had at first, and became cleaner, shinier, more mainstream, more an imitation of bohemianism.

This latest production, although perhaps not as bright and shiny and smooth as the movie, is still a production for the masses - and why not? Broadway needs masses to make any money.

Harris is charismatic, and his years of sitcom experience have given him an adept and facile technique; but, to me, he is so far from transgressive, his performance is very much a case of "dress-up." Perhaps to those folks who never left my tiny hometown in the Midwest, he seems daring and raunchy and espouses what they would call "the darker side of life;" but to someone who has seen these things for real, it comes off as ersatz and "pretend naughty."

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:09am

Neil Patrick Harris IS an actor.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:12am

"Is John Cameron Mitchell even a trans actor? (I'm not sure he'd define himself as such.)"

No, John has always been male.

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:15am

Newintown, you said it far better than I could. Thank you for your comments.

Haterobics, I understand there is no "famous" trans actor to take on the role and that's problem in and of itself. I know the politics of Broadway but I also know that big risks can have big payoffs. I also do think we're ready to have a trans actor on stage in front of average, midwestern Americans. No one knew they were "ready" for a show like Will & Grace until a show like Will & Grace was on their TV and in their faces.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:20am

I'm not opposed to the idea, only that it remains an academic construct in search of anyone to make it a reality, and of course the politics/money equation that would likely kill the idea anyway.