Just got back from NERO...

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:11pm

The audience was specifically asked prior to the performance not to release any specific information about the work, the score, the storyline etc, because it would be unfair to the creators, specifically Steven Sater and Duncan Shiek. And therefore I'm not going to go into any detail with spoilers or specifics.

But I will say this. It has a HUGE amount of potential to meet, or even surpass "Spring Awakening" in terms of excellence. I was floored at how brilliant it was this early in development, and cannot wait to see the evolution of this production.

And the cast? Holy crap! Idina was phenomenal in her role and came near to stealing every scene she was in...I was shocked because it is a much darker role than anything she has ever done before and she nailed it...but I cannot say more about that. Let me just say that if she managed to make it in this production to Broadway, she would have at least three new songs that would be considered classics within her canon.

I would love to see Lea Michelle take this role to Broadway--she fit the production perfectly and managed to have such a grasp on the character despite having little time to work on it, and her role broke my heart and proved she can do more...much more...than just Spring Awakening--though no one sings Shiek balads like her.

In the lead, Jeffrey Carlson was a ball of fire and energy and could become a huge star if the show were to become a hit. He WAS Nero. The rest of the supporting cast was on the ball as well, specifically Michael Arden and Laila Robbins.

The one thing I don't really understand about the readings is that I didn't see anyone being asked to leave feedback or give specific points on their thoughts on the songs and production. I would have loved to have the chance to do that, but no dice, I suppose...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:15pm

Wow.

I wish I could have gone. Sounds great.

Any idea what is next for this new work?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:20pm

AH! I hope this comes to Broadway soon...

[Gary Indiana]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:30pm

I was at Nero too, and loved it as well. Even though it's still in the beginning stages, I already like it better than Spring Awakening. I fully agree with you about Idina Menzel. She really did get a chance to showcase a completely different side of her talent. I also loved Jeffrey Carlson. I had never seen him in a musical before, only in The Goat, and he was wonderful. I actually didn't like Lea Michelle's performance. I have nothing to back up that opinion...I think she's a talented actress with a great voice, but something about her performance just annoyed me. Although I did prefer her in the second act.

I've never seen another staged reading of a show that's just getting started. Do they usually ask for the audience's opinion? I know Duncan Sheik and Stephen Sater were there to watch it and see what changes they wanted to make. I ran into them after the show, and, after making a complete fool of myself, I spoke to them VERY briefly, which was really exciting!

I went to the show very unfamiliar with the history behind it, and when they mentioned that the brother (drawing a blank on his name) was 13 I was shocked since the actor playing him was an adult. I asked Duncan Sheik if they planned to continue having an adult play that role, and he said that Lea Michelle's character was supposed to be 9, which really shocked me. I see the value in having adults play the roles, especially as they are so emotionally charged and deal with adult themes, but it is difficult to find an adult actor believable in such a young role.

Anyway, I plan to try my hardest to see the next stage in the development of this show. Aren't they supposed to be doing a workshop in the spring?

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:33pm

thoughts on Michael Arden?

[Gary Indiana]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:37pm

He did a really good job. He was the brother who was supposed to be 13, and I had a really hard time looking past that. Although he looks young, it's clear he's not that young! That's my issue though, and as long as you can look past that, he played the role perfectly.

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 11:51pm

or even surpass "Spring Awakening" in terms of excellence.

People are posting such funny things today.

[tmz814]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 2:35am

I was there tonight as well and can I just say that I could listen to Michael Arden sing just about anything and be perfectly happy. I just love his voice.

Glad that I made the trip out to Vassar to see this.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 3:01am

Nothing against those who have already posted, but did anyone else see this? I'm curious if any other board regulars (whose taste I'm more familiar with) went and could give it a GENERAL thumbs up or thumbs down.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 5:30am

I see the value in having adults play the roles, especially as they are so emotionally charged and deal with adult themes, but it is difficult to find an adult actor believable in such a young role.

It very much depends on how it's played. I've seen 'Blood Brothers' like a million times (maybe not that many, but I've certainly lost count) and I never have a problem buying the adult actors as 7 year olds and 14 year olds, and I've never heard anyone else complain about either, at least not once they've seen it in the context of the show.

Obviously we're not talking a "what? You mean he's not really 7?! No! But he looks so YOUNG!" kinda way here, just in a "that guy is playing a 7 year old, and he's doin' it right" kinda way.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 7:37am

"or even surpass "Spring Awakening" in terms of excellence"

...eh F*CK it...Blaxx beat me to it.

[zepka102]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 7:39am

I was there yesterday afternoon. I found it to be very interesting. The music really is beautiful. All of the actors did a wonderful job, and I'd be very curious about who could possibly sty or take over if it does continue on to Broadway. I spent the whole time trying to visualize how it would be completely staged out. I think with work on the book, it could make it.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 7:53am

A friend of mine saw it and... Her reaction was completely different.

Updated On: 7/14/08 at 07:53 AM

[flossie2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 8:16am

As was said in the pre announcement this was a workshop, material was rewritten and added daily. It is hardly Broadway ready. Without going into too much detail I will say that although the people were good I did not care for the show. The lyrics need work and I found some to be offensive, I also thought the story was confusing at times and not particularly interesting.

[zepka102]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 8:45am

I feel the lyrics had a similar style to Spring Awakening, where they seem to go on poetically instead of getting right to the point, which some people consider make it "intelligent." There were definitely a lot of parts that I thought could have gotten offensive. It seemed as if they were trying to recreate language used in ancient Greek and Roman literature that is more explicit than we use nowadays. Regardless, I still found the music to be very beautiful.

[flossie2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 8:59am

I never got the feeling that the language was meant to reflect ancient culture. I thought the music was good but not the lyrics for the most part. I did not like Spring Awakening either...I left at intermission...so perhaps these shows are just not for me.

[Patash]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 9:13am

Another one laughing at "or even surpass "Spring Awakening" in terms of excellence"

I've been on a search in Manhattan for the BEST ITALIAN restaurant. I didn't think it was possible to "even surpass Olive Garden in terms of excellence". . . lol

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 9:49am

Uh, I think "Spring Awakening" is an excellent, excellent show. I'm 23, and every single friend I've taken to see it (about 10 now) has been on their feet applauding and praising it after the show. I'm not going to apologize for my feelings on it.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 10:26am

Without saying too much and trying to be vague(its so early in the life of the show...)

The Good
1. Really interesting plot/concept for a musical
2. The cast - they were fantastic. Especially the woman playing the mother.
3. The orchestrations and the melodies of the songs themselves. Very lush.

Could use some attention
1. I'd get rid of all the lyrics, almost none advanced the plot - the action ground to a halt every time people started singng.
2. The dialogue was very stilted, sort of like an old hollywood... Roman... movie or something.

I probably shouldn't comment on this at all since I'm one of those people who didn't care for Spring Awakening. I do think they've got some interesting ideas though.

And again.. that cast... wow. Just wow.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 10:30am

"I probably shouldn't comment on this at all since I'm one of those people who didn't care for Spring Awakening."


That's exactly why you should give us your thoughts! Opinions from all ends of the spectrum. :)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 10:31am

I don't like the idea of the "old school Roman" book idea. I always thought Spring Awakening was incredibly boring during its book scenes especially in the heavier German scenes.

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 12:39pm

Uh, I think "Spring Awakening" is an excellent, excellent show. I'm 23, and every single friend I've taken to see it (about 10 now) has been on their feet applauding and praising it after the show. I'm not going to apologize for my feelings on it.

Oh, that does make it excellent. I never thought it was TEN people who felt this way, I was thinking only five or six...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 12:47pm

Of COURSE this would turn into a "bashing Spring Awakening" thread.

How tiring...

[casualtyofLoVe]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 12:53pm

I also saw Nero last night. I thought the actors were all amazing, especially Michael Arden, but I hated the show. I'm not a fan of Spring Awakening, but I thought that it at least had a message and spoke to a younger audience. I feel with Nero they just picked some part of history that would make their audiences the most creeped out and depressed. I really did not enjoy it. But I thought all of the actors did a great job. Michael Arden was heart breaking and his voice sounded great with Lea Michele's. I love Michael's voice in general, but those two really meshed well together. I also think Idina Menzel and Lea Michele did a great job. I also liked a lot of the musuic. I just don't think it's a good show all together and I really can't see it going to broadway anytime soon or lasting once it does.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 1:23pm

I really wanted to honor the request of not expressing opinions in a public forum, it's almost impossible these days.
But these are the same people who Love the internet when it goes in their favor. And they charge for the performance, so
I'll be brief because it is obviously "in progress" and new material was being put in very quickly.
The book and the lyrics, I feel, need a lot of work, for many of the reasons stated above.
The music and arrangements were wonderful, a little more "modern" than SPRING AWAKENING., I loved the music and the cast sang it magically, especially Arden, Michele and Idina in drop dead red, singing her T*ts off. Her second Act ballad, which I was told was written 3 days ago, was beautiful.

A stronger plot and more dramatic action could help, but there is the bare bones of something great, if they can pull a story out of the legend.
Updated On: 7/14/08 at 01:23 PM