Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)
Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)
Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)#0
Posted: 10/24/05 at 11:49am
Yesterday (10/23) was a great day. I got rush tickets for Chicago at 7pm. And I got tickets for HAIRSPRAY on TKTS for the 3pm matinee.
I had front row (partial view) for Hairspray, the view wasn't that bad - I missed some of the set. This was my first time seeing this show. I'm familiar with the cast recording, so I knew most of the songs. It was a really cute show. I have to say the best part of the show was the CAST. They were amazing. We had 2 understudies - Jackie Seiden as Amber, and Andrew Rannells as Link. Plus Leah Hocking is filling in for Barbara Walsh while she is on vacation. And I would've never known these people didn't play these roles full time if I didn't look at the understudy sheets in the playbill. They were so great in their roles, and really had their characters down - again I would've never guessed they were understudies.
John Pinette was fantastic! So hilarious. He really seemed like a real woman up there on stage. Shannon Durig is great also, what a voice on her! I really enjoyed her. Darlene Love has an AMAZING voice - wow! Stephen DeRosa had great chemistry with John Pinette and Shannon - they worked great together. Tracy Miller was so fantastic as Penny, she really worked great with that character. Julie Halston was great in all her supporting roles. Chester Gregory also did a good job in his role, he has a very nice voice. Oh and how cute is little Chloe Smith?
I can't say enough about the cast. They were so SWEET at the stage door - the nicest cast I've met. They were shocked to see such a huge crowd, and I got a ton of signatures. Overall a nice experience with Hairspray.
Oh and were all the ensemble parts prerecorded? Because the conducter had headphones on the whole time. And on another note I wasn't very impressed with the choreographer.
Updated On: 10/24/05 at 11:49 AM
re: Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)#1
Posted: 10/24/05 at 11:50am
Well I finally returned to Chicago to see Brooke and the other new cast members. I was very pleased to be back. The show was on FIRE last night - so frickin' hot. The ensemble was top notch, and really fierce. This is my favorite ensemble on Broadway, they are all so talented. I can go on and on about them. My male and female stand out in the ensemble last night was - Bryn Dowling (playing Mona) - wow she is hot, especially in that costume! and for the guys it was Steven Sofia (playing Martin Harrison) - Wow! What a dancer, and how could you keep your eyes off of him?
I loved Luba Mason as Velma. She was very fierce. I loved her hair down, it looked so sexy. Her voice was ofcourse amazing. She NAILED the ending of ATJ, the I CAN'T DO IT ALONE Reprise, and the Act 1 Finale - as I expected. It was obvious her dancing was toned down - but she did great with what she had to work with.
Clark Peters was a great Billy Flynn. His acting was perfect. But I don't believe he went up to the G in BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN, which was dissapointing.
Debra Monk was a fine Mama, in a red wig which was interesting. Nice voice, had the character down. I've still never been blown away from a Mama like I was with Roz Ryan.
P.J Benjamin was boring as usual with Amos, they need to get a new Amos. And R. Lowe is a stunning Mary Sunshine. An amazing voice.
Now Brooke Shields. I was very impressed. She started out a bit slow. But once she started her Roxie monologue she was on fire. She did a lot of improvising, she was practically making out with herself (if you've seen her in the show you'll know what I'm talking about.) Her acting was top notch, and she looks great in the role. Her singing was fine, in tune for the most part - and she is using a lighter singing voice which was nice. Her dancing was also great, no leaps in ME AND MY BABY but that was no problem. She had a GREAT chemistry with Luba. They suprisingly blended well together - and boy did they look great together!
The stage door was amazing. I had Luba Mason's CD, and she was so impressed that I had it, and she asked for my name - and she signed it with a special note on it. She also took a pic with me, I couldn't believe how sweet she was! Clark Peters was a very nice man. Brooke Shields was very nice as always, got a great pic with her.
Overall another great night at Chicago. The show had so much life. The cast was hot as hell. And I was so happy to see Brooke and Luba. This is one of the best shows on Broadway, and will continue to be for many years.
Updated On: 10/24/05 at 11:50 AM
re: Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)#2
Posted: 10/24/05 at 12:01pmBabara Walsh isn't on vacation...I believe she left the show to do another show.
re: Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)#3
Posted: 10/24/05 at 12:02pmOn and on the TKTS line, we saw a cop take down some guy. Literally tackled him, and we heard his body drop to the ground. This was literally right next to us on the line. And a bunch of cops came. And they searched the guys suitcase, which was probally filled with drugs. Ofcourse he was taken away handcuffed in the police car. It was interesting.
re: Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)#4
Posted: 10/24/05 at 12:29pm
Oh yeah, http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=519444
I just reread that, I didn't see anything about a vacation, she is "on leave." But on IBDB it says
Leah Hocking
Barbara Walsh's vacation under replacements.
Leah Hocking was fantastic though.
And can anyone answer me about if the ensemble parts are pre recorded?
re: Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)#5
Posted: 10/24/05 at 12:55pmGlad you liked the cast. I saw Brooke Shields and Clarke Peters in London. And Clarke Peters.. PERFECT. I mean... he IS Billy imo! He is AMAZING!!!!!!!
re: Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)#6
Posted: 10/24/05 at 4:36pmNo, not pre recorded, the man is wearing headphones i believe becuase the entire pit is not under the stage
re: Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)#7
Posted: 10/24/05 at 5:39pmThanks for answering!
Swing Joined: 5/5/04
re: Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)#8
Posted: 10/24/05 at 5:55pmActually, the conductor wears headphones because the band plays to a click track. The conductor doesn't really conduct much--he plays keyboard 1 (the piano part). The click keeps the band in time. Nothing is pre-recorded.
Swing Joined: 1/13/04
re: Ljay Finally Sees Brooke In Chicago.. (And I see Hairspray!)#9
Posted: 11/7/05 at 2:23pm
Pinette and DeRosa cracked up in their big number when I saw the show yesterday (Sunday). Since I've only seen the show once, I don't know what Pinette said that undid DeRosa; something about hearing bells and an ice cream truck? Getting a couple of hot dogs from it? Offering to let the dimunitive DeRosa carry him up the stairs?
But DeRosa had to turn away from the audience twice, while Pinette just kept lobbing one-liners. I wasn't sure they were going to get back on track, but they did, and the audience loved it. (And that's why we love live accompaniment.)
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