Posted: 12/16/15 at 12:56pm
Take this with a grain of salt, but after seeing Hamilton last night, I asked Soo if she was involved at all with the upcoming production, and she didn't answer directly, but she said "I'm really happy for the show. Those guys are gonna do great."
Posted: 12/16/15 at 1:13pm
Interesting! I haven't seen this show in any incarnation, but I'm happy it's happening seeing as I procrastinated when it was in NYC. I love Denée Benton and I'd really love to see her on Broadway, but I understand if Soo might be in early negotiations and can't say.
Posted: 12/16/15 at 1:45pm
To me, that means she isn't involved. Interesting that you're choosing to read it another way.
Updated On: 12/16/15 at 01:45 PM
Posted: 12/16/15 at 11:14pm
Two things...
On the venue: How about the Hudson Theatre... it doesn't have any 'screwed in' seats... seems like the perfect fit if they can get renovations done in time. The liberty theatre would also be perfect... not sure what the current capacity of the Liberty is though.
On Philippa Soo: I agree that she should totally leave Hamilton to do Natasha... especially if she doesn't win the Tony for best actress. Broadway actors/actresses seem to be remembered by the amount of original roles they create. It would be in her best interest to originate roles in two of the biggest/most important musicals of this decade. Plus the good-will from her time in Hamilton almost ensures her a Tony win for Natasha... in the same vein as Patina Miller winning for Pippin after she did Sister Act or Randi Graff winning for City of Angels after Les Miserables...
Posted: 12/17/15 at 12:11am
Unless (as is certainly likely) she's getting film or television offers which have the potential to bring wider exposure and certainly a bigger paycheck. I would love to see her in this as well, but I don't think it would be that surprising to see the role played by someone else.
Posted: 12/17/15 at 3:49am
maybe Phillipa would revisit the role, except that she won't originate it on Broadway.
Posted: 12/29/15 at 10:05am
c0113g3b0y said: "maybe Phillipa would revisit the role, except that she won't originate it on Broadway.
"
She was asked about this on Saturday night after the show and didn't say no. Said she had heard good things about the current actress in Cambridge.
A title role for her would be a great next step. Will be interesting to see what happens regarding nominations and awards and her contract.
Posted: 3/29/16 at 2:46pm
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-Lucas-Steele-Grace-McLean-More-Will-Join-Josh-Groban-in-GREAT-COMET-OF-1812-on-Broadway-Full-Cast-Announced-20160329
Full cast announced. Lucas Steele is still on board!
Posted: 3/29/16 at 2:53pm
So glad to see Amber Grey returning to the show! I liked Lilli Cooper, but Amber Grey brought something special to Helene that really made it a star turn.
Updated On: 3/29/16 at 02:53 PM
Posted: 3/29/16 at 3:06pm
Very happy to see most of the off-Broadway/ART cast make the transfer to Broadway, especially Amber Grey and Brittain Ashford. I cannot wait for this show!
Posted: 3/29/16 at 3:35pm
Very excited for Amber Grey, Lucas Steele, Nick Choksi and the sublime Brittain Ashford -- more than makes up for the relative disappointment of Mr. Groban, who I'm hoping will rise to the occasion.
Posted: 3/29/16 at 3:44pm
Happy to see Scott Stangland remaining with the cast as the Pierre understudy. He was really terrific as Pierre in Cambridge, and it's great that more people will be able to see that performance when Grogan takes an occasional night off.
Posted: 3/29/16 at 3:49pm
Still think the Imperial is the wrong choice for this type of show.
Although Candide did a similar staging at the Broadway, and that seemed to work right?
Posted: 3/29/16 at 3:58pm
When tickets go on sale, it'll be interesting to see what the seating configuration looks like. Mimi Lien is brilliant, so I'm sure she and Rachel Chavkin will have figured out something that works well for the show.
Posted: 3/29/16 at 4:07pm
"How will this work in a Broadway space?" has been the question with this production since it was off-Broadway. Having seen the show in different spaces, I am excited to see what they will do. This is a rare production that I will be glad to buy a full-priced ticket to support.
Posted: 3/29/16 at 4:26pm
Well....I still rather NOT buy full priced tickets...but I will. My 15 yo son, just told me that's his birthday present.
Posted: 3/29/16 at 5:05pm
I loved this show when it was playing Off-Broadway and could see it going into a smaller Broadway house. But the Imperial? Something will be lost in that barn, pretty though it is. Part of the charm of the Off-Broadway house was that it allowed for interplay between the audience and the cast. Still hoping it all the best, because IMO, it was a great piece of theatre.
Updated On: 3/29/16 at 05:05 PM
Posted: 3/29/16 at 6:06pm
Have faith. This show is better than Hamilton in my opinion and as stated earlier, Mimi Lien is briliant.
Posted: 3/30/16 at 10:53am
So glad to see so many castmembers returning. Interested to see how they adapt the theatre...can't wait to see the show again.
Posted: 3/30/16 at 11:07am
True. I just feel like when you're in the Mezz you can't see most of the orchestra, so to build out into the orchestra seems odd. But I hope they transform the space the way Bloody Bloody did.
And Hair did audience interaction just fine for a big house. And Cabaret managed to make it work.
Posted: 3/30/16 at 11:11am
I heard they aren't building much over the orchestra seats, but are finding ways to creatively have staging occur throughout the theatre, including the mezzo. I have also heard they are going to 'heavily set decorate' the interior of the auditorium. But it does sound like the 'on-stage' seating is going to be the more interactive experience if that is what you are looking for.
Posted: 3/30/16 at 1:29pm
Just realized (from a thread on ATC) that they have officially changed the title to just "THE GREAT COMET." How do we feel about that? I think the original title or even "NATASHA / PIERRE" might have been better. THE GREAT COMET sounds like a musical about a cleaning product.
Posted: 3/30/16 at 1:31pm
Oh, that's kinda depressing. I loved its creative albeit lengthy name. Can you provide a link/source, QueenAlice?
Posted: 3/30/16 at 1:35pm
QueenAlice said: "Just realized (from a thread on ATC) that they have officially changed the title to just "THE GREAT COMET." How do we feel about that? I think the original title or even "NATASHA / PIERRE" might have been better. THE GREAT COMET sounds like a musical about a cleaning product."
I know that during their theatre district run, the producers weren't too thrilled that fans were called it "Natasha/Pierre" and wanted to really go by "The Great Comet" instead. So, I guess they took the leap and made it its official name.
Posted: 3/30/16 at 1:35pm
On the full cast announcement, you can see in the official Press Release refers to the show only by the shortened title "The Great Comet."
