Posted: 4/8/19 at 7:14am
Is anyone going tonight? Looking forward to hearing reports. We are going April 24.
Also, has anyone seen Eddie Jemison as Ogie yet? Curious how he is in the role.
Posted: 4/8/19 at 7:30am
I'm hopefully seeing the show on Sunday!
I saw Eddie and I thought he was amazing. Absolutely perfect (understandably so). There's something really special about seeing someone who originated the role in a movie playing the role on Broadway as well (kind of like Jafar in the movie and how he originated the role on Broadway? Correct me if I'm wrong, I just thought I read that somewhere).
Posted: 4/8/19 at 8:54am
Posted: 4/8/19 at 9:35am
Posted: 4/8/19 at 10:43am
magictodo123 said: "There's something really special about seeing someone who originated the role in a movie playing the role on Broadway as well (kind of like Jafar in the movie and how he originated the role on Broadway? Correct me if I'm wrong, I just thought I read that somewhere)."
You are correct and Jonathan Freeman is still playing Jafar
Posted: 4/8/19 at 7:10pm
magictodo123 said: "I'm hopefully seeing the show on Sunday!
I saw Eddie and I thought he was amazing. Absolutely perfect (understandably so). There's something really special about seeing someone who originated the role in a movie playing the role on Broadway as well (kind of like Jafar in the movie and how he originated the role on Broadway? Correct me if I'm wrong, I just thought I read that somewhere)."
So happy to hear this! Looking forward to Shoshana, Jeremy and Eddie on April 24.
Posted: 4/8/19 at 11:20pm
Just got home from Jeremy Jordan's debut in Waitress. (Background on me: this was my first time seeing the show (I had seen and liked the movie but didn't love the plot), but have loved the soundtrack. I 100% bought tix to see JJ in this. Shoshana Bean was a lovely bonus.)
It should be no surprise that at least ~70% of the overall audience and probably 95% of the mezz was there to see him. His entrance had an almost uncomfortably long applause break. Any time he does anything remotely (1) flirty (2) awkward (3) sexual - you can prepare yourself for wolf whistles/catcalls/shrieks. "Bad Idea" and the reprise are of course, the major culprits. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of reception those songs get when it's not him.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, it was wonderful. He & Jesse would be my dream cast. (I would also take Kat McPhee. They'd be great together, obv.) He does a lovely job with "You Matter To Me" and is a good comedic actor. I'd love if he took some of it down by like 10% but he makes the most of his little time on stage. He is def underutilized, but ::shrug:: I still loved it.
I DID raise a few eyebrows at their chemistry. This may work itself out in the next few weeks, but I think the issue is that Shoshana Bean is too compelling/strong of a Jenna that I don't quite believe that she (1) wouldn't have left Earl already, or that (2) she'd fall into bed with the first nice guy she comes into contact with. This is only an issue when she's playing opp Earl/Doc. When she's on her own, she's heartbreaking and vulnerable. Her "She Used to Be Mine" got a partial standing O (and long applause break) - it's definitely a stronger belt-ier version but it was great. My broadway-noob friend cried through it. She'd totally won us over by the end - but I wanted to be honest about my thoughts throughout.
Ok. done w/ verbal vomit. You will enjoy the show! Just let the JJ love roll off you!
Posted: 4/8/19 at 11:21pm
P.S. I ran for the bathroom at the end of the show because people were sprinting past me, and when I got there the bathroom was empty, haha. Silly me, they were all young-ish girls Usain Bolt-ing for the stage door. When I got out to the street the crowd had to be at least 5-6 people deep waiting for JJ, I assume. So don't bother unless you're diehard!
Posted: 4/8/19 at 11:31pm
No disrespect to Jeremy Jordan, but when I saw the show without him a few weeks ago, the stage door was insane afterward as I walked out. And when I left INK last week, well after Waitress had let out, there were still people standing out there, id say close to a hundred, to meet Shoshana. I am sure JJ's fans were there, but Waitress attracts a teenage fan base (lotsa tourists) regardless.
Posted: 4/9/19 at 2:05am
Went to see Betsy Wolfe at 54 Below a few weeks ago. That night she had Jeremy Jordan as her guest. I, of course, had never heard of him, but they did a cute duet together. I took a couple of videos of Betsy and one of the duet and uploaded them to YouTube for my personal use.
I was disappointed that I had messed up the light exposure so that details of Betsy's face, etc., were hard to see. Needn't have worried. No one was looking at Betsy. Her videos have about 60 views. The duet video has over 4000 plus about 10 comments on how cute Jeremy was. Frankly, I still prefer Betsy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=d2uBj7WBdxo
Posted: 4/9/19 at 5:35am
ACL2006 said: "Curious how the show is selling (in advance) for the Jordan/Bean run of 5 weeks. Hoping to see it through TKTS."
So is Sho only in it 5 weeks or Jordan or both? Was considering seeing this (for the first time) during my trip at the end of June and was excited to see them. If not them, any ideas who will be in it at that time? THANKS!
Posted: 4/9/19 at 5:50am
Broadway Bob* said: "ACL2006 said: "Curious how the show is selling (in advance) for the Jordan/Bean run of 5 weeks. Hoping to see it through TKTS."
So is Sho only in it 5 weeks or Jordan or both? Was considering seeing this (for the first time) during my trip at the end of June and was excited to see them. If not them, any ideas who will be in it at that time? THANKS!"
I do know both are in until May 12th but they kind of just started so no replacement has been announced. They just started haha
Posted: 4/9/19 at 12:05pm
JDonaghy4 said: "No disrespect to Jeremy Jordan, but when I saw the show without him a few weeks ago, the stage door was insane afterward as I walked out. And when I left INK last week, well after Waitress had let out, there were still people standing out there, id say close to a hundred, to meet Shoshana. I am sure JJ's fans were there, but Waitress attracts a teenage fan base (lotsa tourists) regardless."
Oh I’m sure - I was very happy to have SBean as my Jenna. And I know the Joey McIntyre casting right before JJ must have worked - when I went to get purchase the 4/8 tix a few weeks back, there were a bunch of same day purchasers there just for Joey (but were also asking if Sara was playing "the waitress" - I wanted to tap them on the shoulder and recite Shoshana's resume and demand some respect). But my I think estimates for JJ fans (while slight exaggeration) weren’t THAT far off last night because:
(a) I was on looking for tickets the day they announced him and there were PLENTY of seats available. And soon after I’d already bought my tix they sent out a $70 off coupon code. I worried I might be going to a very undersold show for a minute - I always feel so bad/awkward when they perform to empty seats. (Silly me) The place was packed.
(b) The other (main) reason I think the mezz was all JJ fans was the super loud gasps when they kiss/Earl finds the money - it sounded like a lot of waitress newbies who didn't know the play. Intermission conversations about Newsies, Smash and Supergirl were all around (no Bonnie&Clyde near me though). And the cheering/swooning was just VERY loud. I imagine any time they do a pop “stunt-casting” (Jason Mraz, Joey Mc, Sara herself) would be a steroid shot to the audience. This just had a bit younger of a feel.
I have rarely seen shows this far into its run (exceptions: Hamilton, Wicked). I am usually an early purchase/tdf/rush person, so perhaps I just had lower expectations for crowds. But I compared notes with my brother and SIL who saw original cast and I’m pretty sure this was JJ debut-night sort of situation. I do hope it settles down a teensy bit - that will let the show stand out and the cast blend together more.
Any other people who were there that can back me up? I’m curious what it sounded like in orchestra - most of the pre-JJ announcement tix that were already sold were in orchestra and front mezz.
And listen. the show is just as enjoyable as I assume it has always been. Just want to prepare any people going this week that the fangirls come in full force.
Posted: 4/9/19 at 1:04pm
i think why they don't have good chemistry is because Sho isn't a good actress.
Posted: 4/9/19 at 2:48pm
Posted: 4/9/19 at 4:37pm
massofmen said: "i think why they don't have good chemistry is because Sho isn't a good actress."
Except every review I’ve seen praises her acting in this role... including the review that said the chemistry was weird.
Posted: 4/9/19 at 5:39pm
@massofmen @Luminaire2
She's definitely not a bad actress, she's just a really different type of Jenna. And she and JJ have a self-admitted big sis/little bro chemistry in real life (video interview on BroadwayWorld). Maybe the stage chemistry will change over the run. I don't NOT believe them. I just believe her more when she's on her own.
Posted: 4/9/19 at 5:42pm
starcatchers said: "@Ljung there was also a VERY large group of high schoolers, which I think accounts for a large part of the screaming coming from the mezz."
Ah. that would explain why I felt like I was at a One Direction concert. Or a BTS concert? Or whatever the kiddos are watching these days. (aaaaand..... The elder millennial exits stage left)
Posted: 4/21/19 at 1:34pm
Apparently, Jeremy will be out for a bit. I'm assuming he means the week starting tomorrow.
https://twitter.com/JeremyMJordan/status/1119789778134761472
Updated On: 4/21/19 at 01:34 PM
Posted: 4/21/19 at 1:47pm
Posted: 4/21/19 at 1:54pm
If his wife was pregnant and close to giving birth, I would think he would not take a five week gig in this show. Hopefully he extends a week.
Posted: 4/21/19 at 1:58pm
Posted: 4/21/19 at 2:24pm
I was able to get a refund last week when I found out Shoshana would be out Tuesday. I don't know if her name is above the title, but I advised the kind lady at the Brooks Atkinson that I've already seen the show and was only going back for Shoshana. I was able to get a refund, so now we're seeing HadesTown. The pot was sweetened when I was able to get the premium HadesTown tickets for $72 each through audience rewards.
Posted: 4/21/19 at 3:02pm
qolbinau said: "Will they give refunds? Or are they happy to sell his face and name on posters and not deliver the goods when it comes to showtime?"
Do you honestly think actors have any control over these types of things? Actors don't want to miss shows. They always want to do the best they can do be at every show. But life happens. People get sick. Emergencies come up. I hope this is joking because expecting an actor to be in every single performance is very unrealistic.
Posted: 4/21/19 at 3:22pm
Jeremy was off last Thursday as well, I called Ticketmaster and I told them I was going to specifically see him, and they gave me a refund within one day.
I hope this is joking because expecting an actor to be in every single performance is very unrealistic.
For a FIVE week engagement? It's extremely realistic actually.
