Posted: 9/6/17 at 7:24pm
This production from the innovators at Ars Nova peaked my interest from the moment it was announced. Clearly I'm not the only one excited, because the run is essentially sold out. Previews begin tonight and as always, early reports are appreciated
Posted: 9/6/17 at 10:25pm
I'll probably excuse myself from this thread soon, as I won't be seeing the show until the end of he run, and I want to go in without word-of-mouth if possible. But I just wanted to say I'm very excited about this one! In addition to the fascinating concept, there are some excellent familiar faces in the cast as well.
Posted: 9/6/17 at 11:19pm
Don't know if this has been reported anywhere else, but tonight's performance was canceled. I got an email this morning (I had tickets for tonight) saying "tonight's performance has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances." They offered to reschedule me for a Wednesday 10/4 matinee, but I couldn't make it because I work 9-5.
Any word on why it was canceled, or if tomorrow's show will go on?
Posted: 9/7/17 at 12:53pm
They pushed the first preview back a day.
Updated On: 9/7/17 at 12:53 PM
Posted: 9/7/17 at 2:17pm
Very excited about this one. I don't follow korean pop culture, but sometimes a KPop song will be on my radar and I'll listen to it obsessively. I'm very ready to dance. My only hesitation going in is that it could just be a light version of Here Lies Love. But I loved HLL, so maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing.
It'll also be my first time at Ars Nova... considering my Comet obsession, I'm excited to see where it all started.
Updated On: 9/7/17 at 02:17 PM
Posted: 9/7/17 at 9:59pm
popping this up, today should be the (delayed) first preview! very excited to hear reports, as I have always been into immersive theater :)
Posted: 9/7/17 at 10:34pm
Ashley Park is the lead in this correct? I don't really know the show it just seems like she is the star of it from the photos I've seen.
Posted: 9/8/17 at 12:17am
raddersons said: "Very excited about this one. I don't follow korean pop culture, but sometimes a KPop song will be on my radar and I'll listen to it obsessively. I'm very ready to dance. My only hesitation going in is thatit could just be a light version of Here Lies Love. But I loved HLL, so maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing.
It'll also be my first time at Ars Nova... considering my Comet obsession, I'm excited to see where it all started."
full disclosure, its not in their usual space
Posted: 9/8/17 at 2:17am
They bill this as "immersive" and you explore a music factory, but is this supposed to be immersive ala Sleep No More or just faux-immersive like Here Lies Love? It's a musical right? So I'm guessing it can't be like Sleep No More?
Posted: 9/8/17 at 9:09am
AntV said: "They bill this as "immersive" and you explore a music factory, but is this supposed to be immersive ala Sleep No More or just faux-immersive like Here Lies Love? It's a musical right? So I'm guessing it can't be like Sleep No More?"
Faux-immersive? Did we see the same show? I see HLL as no less immersive than the pie shop Sweeney Todd or Great Comet in the tent. I'm taking the wording of "explore a music factory" as thematic, not as if you'll be walking through a factory... since a "music factory" is mostly just offices and recording studios, not an actual factory. Not nearly as exciting.
Posted: 9/8/17 at 10:35am
A simple visit to the K Pop website gives the following information:
KPOP IS AN “ALL-IN” EXPERIENCE.
HERE ARE SOME POINTERS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR NIGHT:
Posted: 9/8/17 at 10:37am
I've noticed that the British use the term "promenade production" to describe shows like Sleep No More where you walk around and explore, while they use "immersive" to describe shows like Sweeney Todd at the pie shop, or Great Comet in the tent - where you are "immersed" in the world, but stay seated in a fixed place. I think we need to adopt the word "promenade" in order to make that distinction as well - it's a very useful one.
Posted: 9/9/17 at 12:31am
Saw it tonight and had an absolute blast. Really fun while managing to touch on quite a few interesting issues. Def not the Sleep No More type of immersive-- you were separated into small groups and the cast guided you through the show. However there was a technical difficulty and a fire alarm where we fully evacuated-- and honestly I thought it was part of the show at first haha. As I understand the show, there are 3 main different scenes, but I only managed to see 2, and my friend who was in another section saw one I didn't (and vice versa). Really really bummed that I didn't get to see the Ashley Park performance but what I did see was great. I assume that you're usually supposed to see all 3 but today's fire alarm complimented things. I realy would love to see this again!
Posted: 9/9/17 at 12:36pm
I just looked at tickets and it appears to be sold out. It seems the only way is to donate $500 or more (to become a 'Super Nova'. Is this correct? There is an option to donate what you can but I don't know if that applies.
Posted: 9/10/17 at 2:01am
Just a heads up, the running time tonight was nearly 3 hours. But I imagine it will get shorter as they tighten things up. Fun time, though...
Posted: 9/12/17 at 10:29pm
Are you standing for all 3 hours or are you seated once you enter a room?
Posted: 9/12/17 at 10:36pm
AntV said: "Are you standing for all 3 hours or are you seated once you enter a room?"
Some rooms are seated, some standing. Probably 50/50?
Posted: 9/19/17 at 6:18pm
well, here is an NY Times profile on the show that features some of the music. Im excited to see what the verdict is when it opens later in the week https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/theater/broadway-training-gangnam-style.html?module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Theater&action=keypress®ion=FixedLeft&pgtype=article
Posted: 9/19/17 at 7:13pm
Saw the third preview, I thought it was a total mess, ran about 3 hours and it just felt like sitting through a bunch of people arguing, a few good songs, and Ashley Parks has the best part, but if I were thinking of spending $500 to get into the Super Nova thing to see it I would say don't, the next great comet this is not.
Posted: 9/19/17 at 7:34pm
Having seen an early preview AND last night's show, I can say that significant changes have been made. Songs have been cut, scenes have been re worked, and the show now runs under 2 hrs and 45 mins. Ashley Park is giving a performance not to be missed. The show is VERY ambitious and does come up short sometimes (the scene with the boy group where the head of the company tells a military anecdote feels forced and makes no sense in context), but I would definitely recommend this show! Very eye opening commentary on how race is viewed in America.
Posted: 9/19/17 at 11:49pm
^ did they cut that awkward line from the beginning about launching rockets into America?
Posted: 9/19/17 at 11:52pm
Went back again tonight and the show has made a lot of wise changes. I enjoyed it in the first place but now a lot of the characterisation makes more sense and transitions were much smoother. Saw a ton of stuff I either missed the first time around or were made different. Ashley Park is such a star and I'm so glad I saw her. Her costumes and set were gorgeous. The ending is just so fun and energetic, I need a cast recording stat
Also-- I got in tonight off the wait list. Got there around 6:25, put my name down and there was only one other person on the wait list and we both got in. Paid the regular ticket amount ($45) and actually when I mentioned I had been to the performance that had the fire alarm, they gave me a free drink ticket!
Edit: they did make the rocket joke but I think it worked especially given Trump's recent declarations against NK lol.
Also just saw thatthe musical director of The Great Comet tweeted very nice things about the show
Updated On: 9/19/17 at 11:52 PM
Posted: 9/21/17 at 11:49pm
FYI some light spoilers in this post if you're looking to go in blind.
I had a lot of fun. I struggle to call this a musical, but it's a very interesting experience - more like three short interactive plays with music that overlap a little bit. Thematically it's a bit all over the place (is it about trying to bring KPop to America? Shining light on Korean pop culture and vanity issues? Trying to show that Kpop stars are just like us?) but I didn't mind it so much. The flow of the show was surprisingly smooth considering the amount of moving parts. After getting to know all three groups, the finale was a TON of fun. The whole crowd was cheering. It's probably the closest I'll ever get to experience a Kpop concert!
Some stray observations:
-Definitely think the boy band arc is the weakest of the three. The military stuff is weird, but I understand the "Americanization" ties
-Ashley Park's performance was wacko, intimate, and very entertaining. This girl is a star. I can't wait to see her in Mean Girls.
-I love how the dance moves the girls were getting yelled at for screwing up were in the finale. There were moments when they were dancing where audience members started laughing and cheering - it really brought up the energy of the crowd!
-Curious to know if anyone else had any one-on-one interactions. I got called into a room privately by Callie who was really stressing out about her pronunciation of the lyrics! A friend of mine got called into a private room with Yazmin where she had a breakdown. I also noticed one of the girls gave an audience member a prescription--any idea?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 1:49pm
Does the runtime include any intermission? Or does the experience run the entire 2:45?
Posted: 9/26/17 at 2:09pm
There isn't a traditional intermission, but there is a section in the show where you have about ten minutes to yourself where you can use the bathroom and grab a drink of water.
