I saw this Thursday night and thought it was terrific. Everyone was great including Tammy. A really fun night at the theater. The only thing I noticed was that she and Jonathan didn't have any chemistry but having never seen a production of this before, I'm guessing that's done purposely.
As for Groff spitting, I was in Row K and saw it several times.
I wanted to buy a magnet but I noticed they only had the show logo whereas the window cards had the logo and the actor names on it. I'm sure it's a space constraint but I like to buy magnets that are also a reminder of which production I saw. So I ended up buying nothing.
Was there Monday night. Great production! I don’t think I’ve actually seen the movies since it was in theaters so I was a little foggy on some of the details which made some of the events in the shows surprising which was a good thing. Lots of laughs. Everyone was great, but the standouts for me were Groff and Blanchard. Somehow the toned down Groff’s handsomeness (I guess it was the hat and glasses) and he totally embodied Seymour. Blanchard brought a vulnerability to her character. She acted it very well. I don’t have clear recollections of Greene’s singing, but I thought she did a lovely job with the songs. She brought vulnerability to the songs. Based on earlier reports, I think they must’ve lowered the songs because she didn’t seem to be straining to hit notes. Great puppetry as well.
I bought the magnet and window card. Very responsive audience. No cell phones going off or crinkling candy wrappers.
Stagedoor: most everyone came out except for a couple of the urchins. All of them signed my window card. I’d hoped I’d get to speak to Jonathan Groff at stagedoor and planned out the briefest way to say what I wanted to say.
So after the rest of the cast came out, he came out last. I was a few people back at the end of the barricades, but by time he got to us, people who’d met him left so I was able to get to the front and talk to him and tell him how much the HBO show Looking had meant to me and I started tearing up (I’m a “Patrick”; what are you?) and so he hugged me and then we talked a little. I told him how I’d missed seeing him in Hamilton because he was filming the Looking finale movie when I saw it. And I even told him about my failed attempt to get Looking renewed by having our fan club send glasses (because the show was called Looking; I know, lame) to HBO and I got so enamored I forgot to ask if I can have a picture with him but luckily he had stopped to do something with someone else and when I approached him and apologized for bothering him again, he said don’t be sorry and put his arm around me and we took a picture together. He also complimented my jacket.
He's always been ridiculously approachable and nice. I once had him sign an Off-Broadway Hamilton Window card at the Hamilton stage door, and he was the last one out, so I started walking to the subway afterward, and we realized we were both walking toward the subway, so he came up next to and continued talking to me the whole way until we got to our different trains. And this was during the height of Hamiltonmania...
I met Groff at Spring Awakening back in the day. And then after a performance of American Idiot when he was visiting JGJ. He's such a sweet and kind guy. A true class act
Groff is one of the nicest celebs I’ve ever met. Have spoken to him a few times and he actually focuses in on the conversation. I love that he doesn’t have social media and seems a little more old-school. He’s smart because it leaves an air of mystery around him that keeps fans interested. A real talent and a really nice guy.
Well I'm 100% stage dooming for this, not surprised to hear Groff is kind but he seems incredibly normal and approachable. Not derailing the thread, but Ive met Nick Robinson in person recently at a party setting, another very approachable, chill, down to earth guy. When he's in TKAM I recommend saying hi!
Miles, love your new profile picture! I didn't stage door this last week and now I kind of regret it. A friend of mine also walked by looking for me and told me a couple days later.
Have to agree with all the Groff "love". He is a true class act. He is always kind and appreciative of his fans and always takes the time to say hello, take a picture, sign an autograph. People should not expect actors to always do this, but it really makes a difference when someone take a little time out of their day to show their appreciation to people who respect and admire their work no matter how BIG they become.
I feel like there’s a direct link between JG’s lack of social media and his ability to be so warm to his fans. He doesn’t have to do it all day every day. So when it happens, it’s a pleasure. Just a thought.
Is there a full cast list somewhere? Their website doesn't list it yet(odd?). Are there understudies & swings?
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
saw this tonight and wow what a blast, except for one real sore spot, Tammy just can not hit some of those notes and it was rough to watch, loved the new arrangements for some numbers and the Urchins were PHENOMINAL that said one of the best shows on 2019, easily.
A Director said: "SweetLips22 said: "JBC3 said: "Jonathan Gross can spit on me anytime, preferably as he sings to me while bringing me breakfast in bed."
.....after you'd hung out the sheets to dry......"
What a blast! It’s just so awesome to see them bringing the show back to a small, off-Broadway theatre. Four piece band and mugging but "played-for-truth" performances that are reflection of a bunch of theatre nerds living out their Little Shop fantasies. The whole thing feels like Broadway and LA pros playing dress up and Christian Borle walks away with the show. Also, I'll have to offer a dissenting opinion on Tammy Blanchard: I thought she offered a sympathetic Audrey I could root for, though she certainly doesn't have Eleen Greene's vocal chops.
Strange enough, my only conceivable gripe was with the puppetry.
The two full sized Audrey Two puppets had too much bulk to them and the mouths were sculpted weird. Like Audrey II’s usually have a curved lip that expresses a lot of character without actually being articulated. Sort of like Disney character masks at the parks. I also couldn’t tell if the puppeteers were struggling or not to actually maneuver the folds up and down because it so awkwardly lifted and slammed shut almost like it was mechanical
They also didn’t take advantage of articulating any of the vines or appendages, and when the plant grabs Audrey, it’s just a strobe and her grabbing the vines herself. Groff was the best puppeteer of all though! He operated the little one during “Ya Never Know” and animated that thing beautifully
Finally, it was deeply moving to read Howard Ashman's bio in the Playbill and to have also read the lead producer's relationship to the AIDS epidemic. Howard Ashman deserved nothing less than this production.
