MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG First Performance...

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 12:11am

Tonight was the final dress, and the word on Twitter is extremely positive.

I will be at the first performance tomorrow night (technically tonight). Who else will be there?

I can't wait! Hoping for the best.

http://playbill.com/news/article/159432-Good-Thing-Going-Encores-Merrily-We-Roll-Along-Plays-City-Center-Starting-Feb-8


Updated On: 2/8/12 at 12:11 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 12:26am

I'll be there as well! Looking forward to it.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 1:51am

Updated On: 2/20/12 at 01:51 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 9:36am

I went to the dress last night -- I have never seen a production of Merrily and I love the OBC album. The show seemed really tight to me. It seems to follow the 94 revival as far as the music....don't know the book well enough to comment.

The performances were great across the board....although the wigs may need a little work....Lin-Manuel looks a bit like an extra in a blaxploitation film....or Edward James Olmos in Stand and Deliver.

The centerpiece of the set is a jumbotron....my plus one didn't care for it....I thought it added to the idea of progress and commercialism which is a central conflict in the story.

The renovation of City Center is stunning. Seats are comfortable. I can't comment on access in the balcony but the one change that will take getting used to is the elimination of the aisle between the grand tier and mezz.....if you are in the center section of either...be sure to enter through the door closest to the seats....hint: the numbers for the center section rise from stage right to stage left.

Can't wait to hear anyone else's thoughts.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 11:08am

Going tonight. Looking forward to it!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 11:12am

I'm not sure if its really being publicized or not but on the performance on Valentine's Day, there is going to be a reunion with 15 members of the OBC attending. If you're on the fence still in terms of picking a date to go - I'd spring for that one!

[sskeats2]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 11:29am

I'm there tonight.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 11:33am

I work with an original cast member. Ran into him in the elevator and asked if he was seeing the show. He told me about the reunion. Alas, my tickets are for the next night. Still...his stories are FABULOUS.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 11:38am

Going to the matinee the 19th, have only seen this show once at Fire Island Pines. Curious - besides Forum, is this the only Sondheim show with an overture?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 11:42am

My Kringas is despondent that his daddy won't be able to make it to NYC to see the character for whom he was named.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 3:42pm

henrik, NIGHT MUSIC has a sung Overture, but in terms in authentic, old-fashioned ones, MERRILY and FORUM are it.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 4:28pm

I think one could say that FOLLIES basically has a staged overture, albeit one intertwined with "All Things Bright and Beautiful." Staged overtures were quite the trend in the early 70s--so much so that NIGHT MUSIC essentially has two: the lieder singers' warm up and then the "Night Waltz".

[Tony2600]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 4:41pm

Attended the dress rehearsal last night and have to say that hearing that overture with a full orchestra was thrilling.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 4:55pm

I hope this reunion thing is true as I have had my ticket for next Tuesday for a while.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 5:05pm

Anyone Can Whistle has an overture, too.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 5:06pm

It is absolutely, without question, categorically true! Enjoy!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 5:08pm

Ah, right, Phyllis, Anyone Can Whistle! thanks. I wasn't counting Follies and ALNM but yes I can see how they might qualify.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 5:34pm

I'm going tonight, and I'm really excited. :)

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 5:43pm

I. Can't. Wait!

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 8:55pm

Holy hell!!!!! It's amazing!! 23 piece orchestra with strings!! They sound amazing. They did the full 1981 overture.
It feels like a fully staged production. Scripts were only used for the first half of act 1 and now are gone.
The leads are nailing it. Colin Donnell is perfect. Lin nailed 'the song.' Stanley is a fierce Gussie. Everyone is great. Tons of projections, but they really work to set the scene. Encores! Has outdone themselves.

More later.

Updated On: 2/8/12 at 08:55 PM

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 9:00pm

Updated On: 2/20/12 at 09:00 PM

[LesMiz24601]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 9:19pm

So any chance this will make a transfer to a Broadway run?

Maybe they can start "backwards" win the tony for best revival, then open?

Thoughts?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 9:42pm

Going next Wednesday, I seriously cannot wait.

[afaye11]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 9:57pm

Kind of an obscure question, but it's driving me crazy (well, a little crazy)...for anybody who saw it last night or tonight, is "Good Thing Going" now a duet? On the BWW video preview both Frank and Charley are singing it, as opposed to just Charley. I know they sing it a second time together, but the video footage seemed like it was definitely the first go round.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 10:09pm

Celia looks like Imelda Staunton as Mrs. Lovett in the opening of the show.