"Les Miserbales" Previews- Page 2

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 9:36am

also interested if there are rush tickets? Can't find anything online about a policy...

[Johnnycantdecide]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 10:39am

Some clips have found their ways into the world. Will sounds 100% different from what I imagined as Javert. It's a very rich baritone. You would have no idea that he was Berger. I couldn't believe it was his voice.

Updated On: 3/2/14 at 10:39 AM

[supersam1026]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 10:44am

I asked the box office yesterday if there would be a rush policy and he said starting Monday, 20 tickets partial view... but for $97!! I asked if he was sure about that price and he said yes. So now I'm more confused than I was before!

[CoreyRyan3]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 10:49am

Um.... that sounds outrageous. That's the price of a normal ticket. That's not rush.

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 11:16am

I was there. I'll write more when I have time, but I found it to be a rather underwhelming evening. Performances all over the place. The audience--as seems customary for first previews these days--screamed their collective heads off like they were at a sporting event. Whole parts of music/dialogue were covered by these "spontaneous" outbursts.

One thing I will say: Ramin Kamiloo is phenomenal.

[Eliza2]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 11:42am

How on earth is that "rush" policy defensible?

[kurt.perry41]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 12:16pm

Dear god, that's can't possibly be the price of a rush ticket. That's insane.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 12:19pm

Can someone message me where the clips are? I searched tumblr and YouTube but found nothing. Thanks :)

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 12:32pm

I'm not seeing the show until after it opens but my friend was there last night and she said it was very well done. She liked the performances but wasn't very blown away. And she also mentioned the crowd was going crazy which she thought was very annoying. I'm going on a Thursday night May so I hope it's not too crazy when I go.

[Joviedamian]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 12:56pm

AEA, I totally 100% agree on all of those factored cost, believe me I have taken all into consideration. I just gasped at how this production could easily have cost 8-10 million (guessing don't know exact number), on average to do...and yet a few years from now, those same regional theaters will most likely just recycle the same set and still only produce the show for like $50,000-$100,000 bucks. I think the real cost factor is maybe salaries of designers,staff, stars, etc. For example, I know for a fact that a regional company is going to do a big Broadway show next season at their place and they have advertized that they are using the same Broadway sets, costumes, etc "direct from Broadway"...and their production cost is really only $150,000-$500,000 and they are a full equity house. That includes load in-,travel, NY actors,hospitality, etc. I guess my thing is, I look at the show and go, "Really, this cost like 10 million to do?". I have worked in profit and non-profit theaters for years and we were always told to be creative, use our resources wisely and try to save in cost at all times. Not because it was the inexpensive thing to do, but because high cost could depend on the longevity of not going into debt and risk the theater closing down. I have worked with some impressive people who have made great things from nothing and recycled other things (sets, costumes, etc) and turn them into new pieces of "art" for far less.


Would anyone suggest a book that explains more in depth about cost, and producing a Broadway show? I am not more interested it find out more on this.

With all the said, LES MISERABLES looks good and hope it brings in the audience!
Updated On: 3/2/14 at 12:56 PM

[fallingawake]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:09pm

Not sure this has been discussed in a previous thread but I just saw on the Les Miz website:

Please note that beginning April 3rd, Ramin Karimloo will not be performing on Thursday evenings for vocal rest. Prior to this date, he will not perform the Wednesday matinees taking place on March 19th and 26th. In addition, Mr. Karimloo will not perform from May 19 – 22, 2014 due to a pre-existing professional obligation. During these performances, the role of Jean Valjean will be performed by Aaron Walpole or Nathaniel Hackmann.

I have a ticket for next Saturday's matinee. i don't usually go quite so early in previews, but I wanted a good show for my birthday. I'm interested in everyone's thoughts who will see this in the next week.

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:11pm

So, some more detailed thoughts for those who are interested. The orchestra looked pretty full, didn't see the mezzanine. From the moment the show started, insanity from the audience. Crazy screaming and whooping at memorable lines and entrances.

Ramin Karimloo, as I said before, is giving a superb performance. His voice is beautiful, and he has great presence on stage. His Valjean seems a lot more vulnerable than other actors I've seen in the role, which really works for the character. He's poorly matched by Will Swenson, who hasn't done much to flesh out a character for Javert. To me, Javert has always been the most interesting role in the musical--he's dark and complicated and actors who are willing to do more than sing and look authoritative can really have fun with him.

Unfortunately, Swenson's Javert has no power. In his scenes with Valjean, Kamiloo easily overpowered him, both vocally and authoritatively. It was never a fair fight. Javert never had the upper hand. I'm having a hard time articulating why, too, but Swenson's voice and Javert's music just aren't a perfect match either.

Caissie Levy, Samantha Hill, and Andy Mientus go in the unmemorable file. Mientus was especially unexciting as Marius and often sounded underpowered. Levy performed with the professionalism and blandness you would expect from a good understudy. Hill is just another in the long line of forgettable Cosettes, pretty and boring.

I wasn't too taken with Nikki James' "On My Own," but she gave a fine performance overall. Kyle Scatliffe (sp?) was quite good as Enjorlas.

Keala Settle and Cliff Saunders aren't just playing to the back of the Imperial. They're playing to the back of the Hirschfeld. The Thenardiers aren't roles that cry for subtlety, but they were a little too much for me. Audience ate it up, though.

Updated On: 3/2/14 at 01:11 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:18pm

Skipping this. Enough is enough.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:19pm

so does this production have a nice full orchestra or is Cameron skimping on that and doing mostly synthesizers...

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:20pm

I didn't look in the pit or anything, but the orchestra sounded pretty vibrant.

[cknick]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:29pm

Haha, DAME! Enough, indeed.

Also regarding set costs...if I'm not mistaking don't shows move into completely gutted theaters? So technical budgets allow for all materials and not just specific set building, correct?

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:32pm

Forgot to mention: the young Gavroche had a strong lisp. Don't know if this is an affectation or a real speech impediment, but it was cloying. Like the Thenardiers, this young actor was playing it to the hilt.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:38pm

I'm not shocked by their pricing for rush, they know tons of people will pay it. It sounds like the crowd was obnoxious as hell though, so I will wait at least a few months, and probably until all the annoying tourists go away this summer to see it. Thanks for your thoughts AC!

[DAME]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:42pm

Don't blame the hooting and hollering on the tourists. It is usually locals or over enthused theater goers that go to everything 20 times and have no life.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:42pm

"Skipping this. Enough is enough."

Like I give a ****.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:56pm

So...how different is this from the production we've all seen before?

[ArtMan]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:57pm

I agree with Dame. I saw the original Broadway cast, two touring productions and the movie three times. For my trip in June, this was never a thought for my available slots. The only way I would see this, if I couldn't get a rush ticket for my current open spots and somebody offered me a free ticket. But for those of you who want to see this, enjoy yourself. To me, it's been there...done it.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:57pm

Double post Updated On: 3/2/14 at 01:57 PM

[theaternut]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:58pm

"Skipping this. Enough is enough."

DITTO!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:59pm

Jesus Matt, take a xanax.

Dame, I'm sure last night they were mostly locals, and people with no lives who have seen it a million times. That was a separate thought from the summer tourists, who often stop in the middle of a cross walk to look up, and have 30 people make a horizontal line on the sidewalk. They slow the city down in the summer because they are spatially unaware and don't know the basic rules. But, that's a whole different thread

Updated On: 3/2/14 at 01:59 PM