Jason Robert Brown and 13! Another success!- Page 3

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 12/27/06 at 3:56pm

Well I'm just poo-pooing the person who said that the show would not go to Broadway.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 12/27/06 at 3:57pm

Aaaaand that was me.

I'm pulling for it all the way! I just fear the backlash from the highbrow crowd...

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 12/27/06 at 7:42pm

Well we also have to think realisticly (sp?)...

the show is meant to be very intimate and close
so they WOULD need a small theater

but I hope it is a huge success...because it deserves to be.

[Lindsay2]

Posted: 12/27/06 at 11:36pm

I am in Los Angeles right now with my boyfriend Ricky Ashley and he had this to say

"I am typing this out right now because I wanted to respond to some of the things said on the internet about our show. I understand many people who read this will believe that Lindsay is lying and this is not actually me, Ricky Ashley, but take what I say for what you will and if any proof is needed, I will give it. Now that that is out of the way, I want to respond to a few things. First off, thanks to all the people that have seen the show and posted positively about it, we really appreciate it. We understand that the show has its kinks it needs to work out, and as I type this, a scene is being completely reworked. The simple fact about "13," is that it is not Parade or the Last 5 Years and never will be, it is not trying to be. That being said, it is also not High School Musical. We are trying to make a show that shows teens as sympathetic characters without making them too corny or unbelievable. A lot of hard work has been put into this show so I would really appreciate it if instead of judging what you have heard, or heard on the internet, you will see the show and form your own opinion. This is not a highbrow show, suited for the elite, but a great kids show, far exceeding HSM (which is not saying much). I am the oldest member of the cast at 17 and so I wanted to take it upon myself to spread a more positive word throughout the internet. The cast works really well together and we really do have a great time, which is what we hope we can spread to you. Some of the reviews for the show (by you guys) have been nice, some have been scathing, but something I personally lost touch with a long time ago was the ability to go and see a show/movie just to enjoy myself. That is what is really important to take into consideration with "13." I guarantee that if you see the show for yourself you will not leave the theater without being entertained. Don't look for Shakespeare because that is not our goal. We're moving on to a scene I'm in now so I have to run, but I would appreciate any responses or questions any of you have for me or any other members of the cast.

P.S. To all of the people that have been knocking me/other members of the cast, keep in mind that while I am 17 and can take it, some of the younger kids shouldn't have to. They have thick skins, but it won't help them. The best thing all of you can do is help us to make the best show we can by giving creative criticism, not scathing remarks.

Thanks,
Ricky Ashley"

Thats what he said, choose to respond how you will.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/27/06 at 11:43pm

Can someone give me a detailed plot? I'd really like one, and I'll never get to see this show unless a miracle happens, because I'm pretty much as far away from LA as one can get.

[Lindsay2]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 12:21am

The show centers around Evan, a thirteen year old boy from New York about to have his Bar-Mitzvah. When his parents get divorced he is forced to move to Appleton, Indiana where he has to make new friends all in time for them to come to his Bar-Mitzvah. The show focuses on Evan trying to fit in, while giving almost every character their own individual subplot. All he wants to do is fit in with the cool kids, but the show is about how he comes to understand what's really important. As vague as that sounds, I CAN get more in depth if you'd like but I don't want to give any spoilers away, so come see the show if you can! Since you said you can't see it, I'll privately email you a more detailed plot synopsis if you want it

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 3:08am

Aw, who's knocking members of the cast? I'LL BEAT THEM UP!

And yeah, Ricky basically said what I've been trying to say except better. And insider-y.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 3:20am

Err... didn't I read that both leads were, in fact, 13 years old?

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 3:43am

I know that Ricky is indeed 17, but I'm not sure of the other cast members. For that matter, I'm not sure who qualifies as the other "lead" - Patrice, I suppose, but Archie's role is bigger.

And just to note: as far as I can tell, the cast and creative team for this show are the nicest, most open people EVER.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 4:12am

I agree with Ricky 100 percent. I can't wait to talk to him after the show. Get some thoughts and such...very interesting convo we could have.

But that's exactly what I have been saying. See the show...that's that.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 5:06am

I was definitely disappointed by this show... I don't want to be mean, but the actors on stage definitely weren't the best. It was an okay show with okay book and a medicore cast.

[Lindsay2]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 2:41pm

well its a shame you thought so, but as I (Ricky) said before, not everyone is going to like the show. As for meeting me after the show to talk, I'm very open so just come to the stage door and introduce yourself, I'll be there. As for the other members of the cast, their ages break down as such

Me- 17
Tyler Mann "Archie"- 13
Sara Niemietz "Patrice"- 14
Caitlin Baunoch "Lucy"- 13
Emma Degerstedt "Kendra"- 14
J.D. Phillips "Brett"- 14
Seth Zibalese "Malcolm/Fudge"- 15
Christian Vandall "Eddie"- 13
Ryan Ogburn "Richie"- 15
Ellington Ratliff "Simon"- 13
Tinashe Kachingwe "Cassie"- 13
Jenae Burrows "Charlotte"- 13
Chloe Smith "Molly"- 12

The members of the band are much closer to my age, but as I said before, the majority of the cast is much younger. The band members range from 15-16 with Charlie Rosen and Chris Raymond the oldest.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 2:50pm

Ricky and Lindsay, please please please don't read the boards..you will drive yourself crazy after reading every person's opinion.

Most experienced actors don't read their reviews..unless they are truly stellar. You are too young and too talented to let bad reviews bring you down.

[Lindsay2]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 3:13pm

thats the thing, I read the reviews because I know the bad one's won't get me down but possibly improve my own performance. I've been doing professional theater since I was 9 and I find it an effective way of helping myself, providing people aren't simply mean in the way they write their reviews (and most professional reviewers are that way). In addition, another member of the cast sent me a link to this board, I didn't search for it myself. That being said, I am an avid film, theater, and music critic, so I read a LOT of reviews as well as write my own, so to ignore the ones for the show I'm in would be nearly impossible. But hey, these were based off of our FIRST show, which was a little messy. Things were restaged, rewritten, and relighted yesterday. There were a bunch of technical errors in that show and I know the show will only improve from here. I have read about 8 reviews of the show and they go as follows. 4 raves, 2 so-so but still really enjoyed themselves, and 2 people that hated the show. If on our FIRST performance that's the way it went, we are not in bad shape. I wish I didn't want to look at these boards, but as a fellow theater-goer, I would anyway, so I can't exactly stop myself. Thanks for the sentiment though.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 5:49pm

Ricky, I'm the same exact way. I've been performing since I was 7, and its really hard NOT to read reviews about yourself...iy really is. But being older, I know how to handle things more maturely, and take some people with a grain of salt. You know what I mean?

What I have a strong distaste for though, is the fact that people are tearing down kids. Its not like this musical was meant to be Wicked or RENT or w/e huge success is on Broadway. That wasn't the point of it. These are some mondo talented kids, and for people to disrespect them, or tear them down in very insincere.
The sad thing is, most people who comment on a show have never in fact seen it.

Like I said though, I'll be seeing it again...I'm looking forward to seeing all the new changes.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 5:55pm

Lindsay2: I would really appreciate that, thanks!

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 5:09pm

JRB is right to open this show outside of NYC. The Last Five Years received unfavorable reviews in its NY premiere, only to be come a critical and audience hit in regional theatre. Parade flopped but it is now considered by many to be a modern classic.

LA audiences are not 1/2 as cynical as NY audiences and I predict a very successful run for this show.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 6:49pm

as do I BB6...as do I

[lite2shine]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 7:48pm

Lindsay and Ricky, as BroadwayBaby6 said, do not read the board even if you are used to it. First of all, most of the subscribers at Mark Taper are not even lukers/posters here. So don't even subject yourself to any unnecessary negativity or feel like you need to defend your show/cast/creative team. It is not your responsibility nor job. Your responsibility is to present your craft the best possible way on the stage. And if people want to ask questions/make comments, there's "talk back" sessions where you can interact "in person" not to people who hide behind their HN.

I like JRB's work (L5Y and Parade), so I hope this production will be another successful one and I'm going to see it on 1/16.

[Lindsay2]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:19am

well I hope to see you there on that date! Let it be known by the way, that though I am the only one to post back on these boards, they are well read by many of the cast members as well as the "higher-ups," which is why I'm saying its kinda futile to say don't read them, especially because whoever does, just spreads it to the rest of the production.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:23am

Lindsay2:

I pretty much figured you guys were reading it. But I loved the show anyways, absolutely loved it. My name is Marcus by the way. I'll make sure to come say hi when I see it again.

[Boq101]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:40am

I'm not very up to date on things, but who is Jason Robert Brown? I'd really like to know more about his work since people seem to likehim so much. Sorry for my ignorance.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 4:05am

BOQ101:

Jason Robert Brown is a composer lyricist who has written:

The Last 5 Years
Songs for a New World
Urban Cowboy
Parade (Tony Award)
and now his new work 13

He also has a solo album called "Wearing Someone Else's Clothes" or something along the lines of that.

Take a gander at his work. He really is very talented.

"Official Biography
JASON ROBERT BROWN has been hailed as “one of Broadway's smartest and most sophisticated songwriters since Stephen Sondheim” (Philadelphia Inquirer), and his “extraordinary, jubilant theater music “ (Chicago Tribune) has been heard all over the world, whether in one of the hundreds of productions of his musicals every year or in his own incendiary live performances. The New York Times refers to Jason as “a leading member of a new generation of composers who embody high hopes for the American musical.” Jason is the composer and lyricist of the musical, “The Last Five Years,” which was cited as one of Time Magazine’s 10 Best of 2001 and won Drama Desk Awards for Best Music and Best Lyrics. Jason won a 1999 Tony Award for his score to "Parade", a musical written with Alfred Uhry and directed by Harold Prince, which premiered at Lincoln Center Theatre in December 1998, and subsequently won both the Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards for Best New Musical. “Parade” was also presented on a national tour in 2000, which Jason conducted. Jason’s first musical, "Songs for a New World," a theatrical song cycle directed by Daisy Prince, played Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in the fall of 1995, and has since been seen in more than two hundred productions around the world. Jason is the winner of the 2002 Kleban Award for Outstanding Lyrics and the 1996 Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Foundation Award for Musical Theatre. Jason’s songs, including the cabaret standard “Stars and the Moon,” have been performed and recorded by Audra McDonald, Betty Buckley, Karen Akers, Renée Fleming, Philip Quast, Jon Hendricks and many others.

Jason’s first solo album, “Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes,” featuring his band The Caucasian Rhythm Kings, is available from Sh-K-Boom Records. His collaboration with singer Lauren Kennedy, “Songs of Jason Robert Brown,” is available on PS Classics. Jason’s piano sonata, “Mr. Broadway” was commissioned and premiered by Anthony De Mare at Carnegie Hall, and he is writing a string quartet for Ethel, to be premiered in 2006. His next theater project, “13,” a musical comedy written with Dan Elish, is in development at the Los Angeles Center Theatre Group. Also in the wings: an musical adaptation of the 1992 film “Honeymoon in Vegas,” in collaboration with screenwriter/director Andrew Bergman; and an as-yet-untitled new musical for Broadway with librettist Charlayne Woodard. Jason is also the composer of the incidental music for David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Kimberly Akimbo” and ”Fuddy Meers,” Marsha Norman’s “Last Dance,” David Marshall Grant’s “Current Events,” Kenneth Lonergan’s “The Waverly Gallery,” and the Irish Repertory Theater’s production of “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” and he was a Tony Award nominee for his contributions to the score of “Urban Cowboy the Musical.” His scores are published by Hal Leonard. Jason currently teaches musical theater performance and composition at the University of Southern California.

As a conductor and arranger, Jason’s recent New York credits include “Urban Cowboy the Musical” on Broadway; Oliver Goldstick’s play, "Dinah Was," directed by David Petrarca, at the Gramercy Theatre and on national tour; and William Finn’s "A New Brain," directed by Graciela Daniele, at Lincoln Center Theater. Jason was the musical director of the pop vocal group, The Tonics, with whom he performed at the 1992 tribute to Stephen Sondheim at Carnegie Hall (recorded by RCA Victor); he was the conductor and orchestrator of Yoko Ono’s musical, "New York Rock," at the WPA Theatre (on Capitol Records); and he orchestrated Andrew Lippa’s "john and jen," Off-Broadway at Lamb’s Theatre (Varese Sarabande). In 1994, Jason was the conductor and arranger of Michael John LaChiusa’s "The Petrified Prince," directed by Harold Prince, at the Public Theatre. Additionally, Jason served as the orchestrator and arranger of Charles Strouse and Lee Adams’s score for a proposed musical of "Star Wars." Jason also took over as musical director for the Off-Broadway hit "When Pigs Fly." Jason has conducted and created arrangements and orchestrations for Liza Minnelli, Tovah Feldshuh, and Laurie Beechman, among many others.

Jason studied composition at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., with Samuel Adler, Christopher Rouse, and Joseph Schwantner. He now divides his time between Los Angeles, California and Spoleto, Italy. Jason is a proud member of the Dramatist’s Guild and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802."

http://www.jasonrobertbrown.com/

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 2:53am

I saw the show again tonight - they've made a few changes, most notably:
- Reworking the finale Brand New You, which was jarring to me at first, but I think it ultimately works better, even though it ups the cheese factor 3000%. Plus, the ending is now clearly defined, unlike the first previews feeling of "Oh, it's the curtain call? When did the story stop?"
- Emphasizing (in in the third scene, so not really a spoiler to say it) the fatality of Archie's disease. Honestly, I hope they change it back. Because kids don't make fun of kids because they're dying. It just doesn't happen. And it makes some later scenes where people fight with him really uncomfortable.
- Changing what Lucy did over the summer, to make it much less 80s.

The actor who plays Brett has been out for a few performances, and one of his cronies stepped into the role, leaving a swing to come in for that role. So two understudies, but you'd never have known it.
Some of the kids' voices sound tired, which is a little worrying seeing as they've only done 6 or so performances since I saw it last. I really hope they look after themselves, because they're fantastic singers.

I still absolutely love the show. I'm going back on Wednesday. And I feel like such a geek.

PS: Ricky, I don't know if you still read this, but I just about busted a gut when you rubbed that bald guy's head in "Geek."

Updated On: 1/1/07 at 02:53 AM

[Lindsay2]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 5:27pm

hahah at that moment, I thought to myself, should I do it, should I? And I went for it which was totally worth it haha. I think the new Brand New You works more, it wraps up the plot neater. As for the other things you say, you know I don't know if the whole school knows about Archie's mortality, but to lay it out I think was a good idea because it was a little unclear before. How did you think Christian did as Brett? He really really stepped up for us. J.D. got sick so suddenly and he was thrown into the part with virtually no rehearsal time so he's our hero haha. For a thirteen year old, he's an incredibly mature kid. New Years at the Biltmore with all the 13 year olds was fun hah! BTW did you come by the stage door afterwards? I saw someone that looked like your picture, but wasn't sure if it was you or not so I didn't say anything. I think the show is coming together more now, we just need to settle into the new scenes and stuff a bit, but I'm happy with our progress. As for our voices being tired, its probably a combination of INTENSE amounts of rehearsals, two performances that day, AND that the flu is running through the cast and people are getting sick all over the place. Seth almost had to leave the show because he hurt his knee and the majority of the cast is on a strict dosage of throat coat and cough drops, but overall, we're doing alright and are keeping the show strong! Hope to see you again soon!
Updated On: 1/2/07 at 05:27 PM