LEMPICKA: The Musical - News & Discussion Thread — Page 2

RippedMan said: "Not the look I was expecting. I thought it was going to be more of a period piece."

If you're responding to the clothes, the first picture is from the finale, which takes place in the 70s. The other picture is from the 1930s, where the bulk of the show is set.

Any scuttlebut on a theatre or when it could be opening in NY?

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Any scuttlebut on a theatre or when it could be opening in NY?"

I'd say if we don't get an announcement next week immediately following their official opening (the 25th) my guess would be the Spring with a Fall announcement. These producers are Shubert-loyal, so wouldn't be surprised if this goes into the Jacobs.

SO great to hear the show is still in great shape after evolving into a full scale production. At Williamstown, Act 2 struggled to find footing too, trying to wrap up a lot of loose ends too quickly. I do think (if the song is still there) "Blasted California Sun" is meant to be a way of allowing Tamara to reconcile her choices and that they've landed her in a place she isn't entirely happy with and married to someone she doesn't love, but was necessary for survival. A key theme from the beginning as she fled Russia. So maybe as you say the POV and just needs some honing.

I'm so thrilled to see this show continue on, the score is one of the strongest in years. And I already have chills thinking about Eden performing Woman Is on the Tonys.

RippedMan said: "I would love to drive down to see this. Any discount codes or anything? Just curious. Never been down there before."

I haven’t seen any discounts but straight off the La Jolla Playhouse website they are a few $25 seats in the back ($30 after fees, and more seats available for that price if you are military). Keep in mind ComicCon is in San Diego final weekend of the show in July as I’m assuming everything will be more crowded and expensive. I learned that the hard way but it’s the only weekend I’m free to go!

Popular said: "RippedMan said: "I would love to drive down to see this. Any discount codes or anything? Just curious. Never been down there before."

I haven’t seen any discounts but straight off the La Jolla Playhouse website they are a few $25 seats in the back ($30 after fees, and more seats available for that price if you are military). Keep in mind ComicCon is in San Diego final weekend of the show in July as I’m assuming everything will be more crowded and expensive. I learned that the hard way but it’s the only weekend I’m free to go!"

Thanks! I wasn't sure if the $25 were only for the military or not. So I'll hunt some of those cheaper options down and make a day trip out of it.

I saw Lempicka yesterday. I didn’t see it in Williamstown but have heard some snippets and was looking forward to the show based on the creative team and cast. I enjoyed it so much and have been thinking about it since. The longer I have let it sit and thought about it, the more I like it. Those are my favorite type of shows - the ones that continue to make me think. There are definitely some ways in which it could be tightened to make it even more powerful. The second act does lag a bit and there are some pacing issues throughout. But it is a beautiful piece of art.

First for the performances. Eden Espinosa and Amber Iman were the biggest standouts . Their chemistry together is strong and their acting and vocals were great. Lempicka is a tough role vocally and Eden’s voice remained strong throughout. I loved the score. “Stillness” has such a quiet and raw power and intensity. “Woman Is” sung by Eden did not disappoint. Amber’s vocals on “The Most Beautiful Bracelet” and “What She Sees” (I think that is the name. There was no song list) stood out. The actress playing Susie Sodimor has so much charisma. My eyes were drawn to her whenever she was on stage. George Abud and Andrew Samonsky were good - but the men are not the central focus of the show.

The pictures of the set design do make it look super modern - but in person it feels like a period piece. The set has a very industrial feel combined with projections and a turntable. They work well together and feel cohesive. The costumes are the colorful part with purples, pinks, greens and and bright colors in the ensemble actors’ hair. They feel like the paint colors sitting on the more muted and industrial palette of the set.

As for Tamara de Lempicka’s choices in life being questionable - Carson Kreitzer said in an interview that she was attracted to Lempicka because she wants to highlight unknown women’s stories - even those who are messy and imperfect - because so many women’s stories have been ignored. So I don’t see the story as problematic. Lempicka was between a rock and a hard place in many ways. She had to make compromises as a woman artist that men didn’t have to make. And she would have risked her career and possibly death if she was open about her relationship with Rafaela. There was also so much upheaval in her life with 2 world wars and the Russian Revolution. Yes she chose to focus on her career more than her child - which wouldn’t have been questioned had she been a man. It is very similar to George in Sunday who focuses on his art over his relationships. The show doesn’t glorify this and acknowledges the damage her refusal to make clear choices did. There are ways she is an anti-hero and it’s about time we had more women anti-heroes.

As an aside - my son and I went to dinner at a random small Thai restaurant we found in La Jolla. We discussed the show at dinner and how much we liked it. Little did we know that Rachel Chavkin was sitting back to back with my son eating dinner with friends. I am certainly glad we said nice things about the show and actors. Goes to show, you never know who could be listening. And we had no idea it was her until she got up to leave. We are huge fans of her work - Hadestown and Great Comet are 2 of our favorite musicals.

Can someone who has seen it confirm whether or not we still get their wedding/happily ever after song in the beginning?

The first three reviews are two very positive reviews and one mixed one. Eden Espinosa is getting plenty of positive notices - I get the sense that she could be the main attraction if/when Lempicka announces it's going for Broadway...

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "This show has no solid Broadway plans for the 2022/23 season as of now. It is hunting for a theatre like a lot of other shows. Stellar reviews from major publications will help bump it up on the priority list; mixed reviews will hurt.

I don't know that Espinosa should be considered a "main attraction"...no doubt she's good, but it's always an interesting narrative when someone who's been around a while has their breakout role, as opposed to someone exploding onto the scene like Ben Platt and Sutton Foster and Frost and Spivey. Could be more of a Billy Porter in KINKY BOOTS situation, though for KB the show itself and Lauper were the real stars.

LEMPICKA will need mega money reviews and awards attention when it eventually hits Bway."

I wonder what Billy Porter did before Kinky Boots...

With Espinosa, I think the fact she's been around for a while without gaining major awards recognition could be an interesting narrative. I also think that nowadays we pay a lot more attention to the "frustrated maverick" roles Espinosa specializes in - the mixed review noted that Lempicka's story is definitely worthy of a larger stage, but the musical itself needs to be tighter and really get under her skin.

I came to be a fan of Espinosa for her work in Tangled: The Series, but that was a cult fave at best, and hasn't led to more public work such as live-action TV. However, I am really wishing the best for Espinosa, and hope that Lempicka can provide her with the "moment" she deserves...

GilmoreGirlO2 said: "Do they list the songs in the playbill (I'm guessing not, as it's likely still changing)?

I saw this at Williamstown (and absolutely loved it) and I'm interested to hear which songs are still in the show. 2 of the 3 songs they have released on their EP so far ( "Perfection" and "Stay" ) are new - and from the posts above it sounds like the Wedding/Happily Ever After song is no longer in the show - so it sounds like they might have done quite a bit of cutting/adding. Very much hoping not too many of my favorite songs in Williamstown were cut (but I'm also so looking forward to hearing the new ones)!

Specifically, does anyone who has seen it know if "Burn it Up" and "Don't Move" are still in it?"

I am not sure about Burn it Up, but I have heard that Spinning was cut from unofficial sources. Those are two of the best songs so I am hoping they are both in still.

Since we didn’t have a song list on Saturday, I am not completely sure of all the song names. But ai am pretty sure neither Let it Burn or Spinning were in this iteration.

MsPiety&Rectitude said: "GilmoreGirlO2 said:
“Thank you for the information (and actual song title!). I was afraid "Spinning" might be cut - fingers crossed "Burn it Up" remains! It's an excellent song and a great turning point moment for the character, so it would be a real shame if it is no longer in the show."

Sorry to tell you, but Burn It Up is no longer in the show. I saw it in Williamstown and in La Jolla - they have done MAJOR edits and revisions. Some main songs remain - Stillness, Woman Is, The Exchange - some are used differently or expanded - The Most Beautiful Bracelet, Starting Over, Give Back My Life, etc - and then a lot of cut (Burn it Up, Happily Ever After, My Kingdom) songs and new songs. I loved the show in Williamstown but recognized that it was still in development and needed work. They have gone above and beyond what I hoped for in terms of improvement. I’m sure they will continue to tighten up the show and maybe go deeper into characterization, but I’m so happy to say that, to me, it is on track to be a major and successful Broadway musical.

"

Thanks for the info! I'm a little devastated about the cuts though. I would give almost anything to go back in time and see it at Williamstown with Burn it Up and Spinning, and I really wish I could have seen Carmen as Rafaela (I'm sure Amber is amazing too but I love Carmen). So excited to see this version in a couple weeks though.