How could they ruin "NYC" in Annie?

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How could they ruin "NYC" in Annie?

Posted: 7/21/13 at 1:36am

I love that little part the "star to be" sings. The OBC is just thrilling. I finally saw this production and yuck. They changed the rhythm and just...well...everything. Who should we blame?

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 1:56am

The question is, how could Annie ruin NYC?

Think about it.

Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

If you saw the show recently with Faith Prince there are a few posters who will not rest until someone reports on her performance. Could you share a few words to (silence) appease them?
Here's the the other thread.

Updated On: 7/21/13 at 02:40 AM

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 5:32am

To answer your question, two words: Andy Blankenbuehler.

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 12:57pm

The entire production is terrible. Cast is top notch and Lilla really shines as Annie. Andy really messed the show up.

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 1:01pm

I guess I'm in the minority that really loves this production. I've seen it twice. Once with Katie and Lilla and again with Jane and Taylor. I personally think this is a beautiful production. I think the sets are wonderful, the lighting and costumes great and I think James Lapine did a fantastic job with the show (minus those accents.) I have no feelings for the choreography. I didn't like the choreography but I didn't hate it. It was just okay. But overall, I say this is a fantastic production and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 1:17pm

I liked it a lot more than many others also...and have seen it more than once too.

But it's not perfect (or as good as it could have been) ..and to me 95% of the problems boils down to the choreography. That is totally the weakest link in the show for me and unfortunately affects too many parts.

Orchestrations are really top notch....and have been overlooked IMO.

Updated On: 7/21/13 at 01:17 PM

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 1:22pm

Yeah, the choreography didn't do anything for me so I have no real feelings for it. Watching the PBS special, Andy seemed really confused and conflicted about it which I think made it that way. I did enjoy some elements of the choreography (such as moments in "Hard Knock Life" and "New Deal for Christmas).

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 1:27pm

Andy is an overrated, one-trick pony.

#10

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 2:04pm

There's not much actual choreography in "Hard Knock Life," for example. They just wander aimlessly around the stage save for a few random jerky movements that have become his signature. Not expressive or energetic at all. His work on IN THE HEIGHTS was fine but everything since has been rinse and repeat. When I saw him rehearse on the PBS documentary, this was all I could think of:

Corky dance

Updated On: 7/21/13 at 02:04 PM

#11

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 3:19pm

I think he did ok with the finale (even though that chandelier did not do anything for me as a Christmas tree)..that was the best number using the large cast. I think the smaller dances with Annie-Daddy Warbucks worked fine. But all the other stuff is just wandering around without much focus.

And personally, I really didn't need to see little Molly walking around in Ms. Hannigan's bra and girdle (which obviously were not hers anyway since they were HUGE) like this was so clever...
I mean can't we just have GOOD DANCING and CHARM for the kids like they did in the original number from the 70's - as opposed to using something as sort of a womanly/sexual cheap trick? Can't we let kids be just kids a little longer? And it's not like the girls were not good little dancers, they were - they were just not given that much to do.

#12

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 8:23pm

I enjoyed seeing a fresh take on the material, but I honestly actually preferred the (Equity) touring production that went around a few years ago. I believe it was directed by Charnin. I might be wrong, but the sets and costumes seemed to be replicas of the original Broadway designs. If not, they were still excellent. Lilla, Anthony Warlow and the rest of the Broadway cast are stronger overall than the cast I saw on tour, but I missed the original choreography and I think they may have tried to improve on what could not be improved.
"Hard Knock Life" from the 2010 Tour

#13

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 8:33pm

I might be wrong, but the sets and costumes seemed to be replicas of the original Broadway designs.

It was a new set design actually. The design had a very nice comic book feel. The tour was great when it first started, but once it went non-equity, the show went to hell in a handbasket. The set that was once bright and pretty turned into a dilapidated heap of creaky unit pieces and faded/torn/wrinkled backdrops, and the cast was pretty bad. I much prefer David Korins's new design. I LOVE the pages of a book opening feel to the orphanage and Warbucks's mansion.

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

#14

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 9:20pm

Aw, that's a shame that it went down the drain. I'm guessing that video from 2010 is from when it went non-Equity because the cast (especially the Hannigan) isn't as strong as when I saw it in (I think) 2006.

I liked Korin's designs for the orphanage and Hooverville, but thought the Warbucks mansion was disappointing, aside from and the pop-up book effect you mentioned.

#15

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 9:21pm

Korins's set (and the production itself) kind of had a "musty holiday card" feel to it.

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

#16

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 11:22pm

the stairs are so dumb...all of Hannigan's entrances are spoiled because she has to negotiate the steps.

#17

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/21/13 at 11:36pm

I love the idea of it being a storybook, but I think the scale of the book is so SMALL. This is Annie. On Broadway. At the Palace. The show just felt so small. And there were never any real wow moments of the design. I thought the pre-show was pretty, but the actual mansion looked very lack luster.

#18

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/22/13 at 1:35am

And the orchestra sounds like Vegas tunes on a Kenner's Close n Play.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699

#19

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/22/13 at 2:13am

I think this revival would have fared better in a smaller house. When they first announced this for the Palace, I envisioned a spectacular revival with massive set pieces and a huge orchestra. Don't get me wrong, I like the set and the orchestra sounds great, but the scale of this revival is not big enough to play the Palace.

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

#20

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/22/13 at 2:38am

Oh, Andy Blankenbuehler.

I have gotten to the point that when his name is on a marquee, no matter how excited I am to see the show, I will reconsider it.

And I don't get it. If I was producing a musical and needed a choreographer, the no-brainier top of the list is Rob Ashford. His Evita choreo in the recent revival was revolutionary. Plus Promises, How to Suceed and Millie? He is a powerhouse of imagination and creativity. From the Stroman school.

After that? Dan Knethgus, Lynne Page, Sergio Trajillo or my personal fave, Christopher Gatelli. All of whom could have come up with great, ORIGINAL ideas, which could have worked for Annie.

But let's not forget that James Lapine has no tolerance for either choreographers OR choreography, So Andy was probably a good choice for him. For me? Not so much. His bizarro choreo for 9 to 5 is emblazoned on my brain. Andy has NO ideas, other than basic Martha Graham modern or hip hop pop-n-lock. His Annie choreography was indecisive, and not nearly what Peter Gennero did originally.

Annie is a terrifically crafted show, which is nearly indestructible. It will go on forever. As it should.

Updated On: 7/22/13 at 02:38 AM

#21

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/22/13 at 2:54am

Yet hearing him talk about his process in the PBS documentary, you'd think he was Michael Bennett.

#22

How could they ruin

Posted: 7/22/13 at 5:27pm

I think changing the setting to Pittsburgh had something to do with it. :)

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