I went on a bit of a rollercoaster with 13. The first preview was a MESS! The show was too long and the book was crass and very unbecoming. It was near dreadful, despite some appealing performances and melodies.
Then it underwent major changes that should have frankly happened out of town; it did have two try-outs after all. Songs were cut, the book rewritten, two acts became an intermissionless 100/110 minutes and all of a sudden it was a whole new show. Of course the damage had already been done, but the OBCR is a wonderful souvenir and I listen to frequently with fond memories.
I was at the final performance, and JRB gave one of the most touching curtain speeches I've ever heard. (His now deceased father took him to his first show at The Jacobs, and throughout the rehearsal/performance process Jason could feel his father watching the show from the seats in the mezz where he saw his first Broadway show. Gives me chills just thinking about it again.)
I will be having a JRB marathon at work tomorrow as to sufficiently pump myself up for welcoming a new score to his canon.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!