LACKAWANNA BLUES Previews — Page 2

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Daniel M said: "I was there tonight and the bonus concert performance was phenomenal! I wish Ruben a speedy recovery."

Did they cancel the performance after people had already started arriving at the theatre?"

Yes. I must’ve been on line for 20 minutes, and by the time they cancelled the line stretched past the Barrymore. People were getting irritated due to the wait and many left before the concert was announced.

BIG BALONEY said: "When you arrive at the theatre at 6:05 and told doors will open for the 7:00 show there is reason to stand on line outside then. Your still waiting 45 minutes later with hundreds of middle aged and older folks lined up only to be told no show tonight. People at that point were very unhappy because the announcement should have been made much earlier, just out of consideration. I'm a member of MTC and I will not rejoin because I resent the way I was treated. Going to the theatre was once fun but now there are besides this debacle many more issues to deal with. I have no intention of going back to Lackawanna Blues."

I would be deeply frustrated as an audience member too.

But as anyone who has dealt with back problems will tell you...sometimes you can be having a great day and then WHAM, you stand up or take one wrong step and you're hunched over or lying down indefinitely in agonizing pain. The fact that they didn't announce it earlier probably means RSH was feeling well enough to perform until right before curtain time...no theatre would cancel a performance that late by choice. Getting him an emergency medical exam for show-cancellation insurance purposes could also be a factor in the late announcement.

The role is such that it could be performed seated and be equally compelling (like John Cameron Mitchell in Hedwig)...but sometimes even sitting is a no-go with back pain.

I wish him a speedy recovery. His performance is a marvel.

Updated On: 10/8/21 at 10:04 AM

EvanstonDad said: "it seems strange that all of these publications went ahead and posted reviews as if the show actually opened."

Yes in the unlikely scenario in which the rest of the run is cancelled, it would be the rare show to be reviewed but never actually "open." Even though Opening Night in this case was simply a review embargo (it looks like the party and invited performance were still held on the original opening date).

I wonder if some publications had already started printing today's papers and that's why the review embargo stayed? Looks like the official announcement was made around 6:45 last night (later than, for example, the March 12 Bway shutdown). The embargo for reviews of a 7pm opening would be around 7:30 or 8pm.

This weekend's performances are cancelled.

So, technically, the show still has not actually opened, despite BroadwayWorld's headline.

So has this show actually opened yet?

Per Telecharge and a Tweeter, the matinees have been cancelled and he's doing 5-6 shows a week for the rest of the run. So hopefully that will be enough to allow him to continue without being in agonizing pain...and then jump right into the director's chair for Skeleton Crew.

https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/Lackawanna-Blues/Ticket

After reading Jordan Catalano's glowing comments about the play, I bought a ticket and saw it tonight. I agree with him wholeheartedly. The text Iis beautifully written and the performance is spot on.

Thank you, Jordan.



(Edited to correct typos. Never post messages on a train!)

Updated On: 11/4/21 at 09:54 PM

I am curious about the history behind Ruben Santiago and "Nanny." I couldn't find much information about the real-life "Nanny." Anyone know why Ruben's parents could no longer care for him and he ended up with Nanny?