MUNY 2015

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 12:09pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-Beth-Leavel-Bryan-Batt-Heather-Headley-More-Sign-on-for-The-Munys-2015-Season-20150507

 

Guess I'm going to St Louis this summer.  Wow...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 1:29pm

Heather Headley as The Witch sounds fascinating.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 2:35pm

Erin Dilly as The Baker's Wife is brilliant.  I wonder who the Baker is? 

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 3:12pm

excited for Ryann Redmond as Tracy Turnblad. did you know she auditioned for the movie but lost to Nikki Blonsky ! I'm sure she will nail this role.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 9:27pm

I was so excited to read that Ryann and Erin were doing Hairspray and Into the Woods! I'm such a big fan of them both! But dang, those prices are steep for a student. How are the free seats in the last 9 rows? Does every show sell out, or could you move up without a ticket if there is availability? Also, are there any discount or rush programs? I've never been to a show at the Muny, but it's only 4 hours from me so I might try to make the trek this summer for one of the two.  

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 9:42pm

You can't get to the paid seats from the free seats.  You can hear well up there, but you won't see very well.  But you really don't see very well from most of the seats because it's so goddamn huge.  I don't think there are any rush or discounts.  

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 1:15am

Anyone else feel like this is a huge step back for Headley? No? Just me? ha. 

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 10:39am

"Anyone else feel like this is a huge step back for Headley? No? Just me? ha. "

 The MUNY is one of the country's  most famous regional houses. No, it is not a step back. Many accomplished Broadway performers still leave New York from time to time to do regional theatre.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 3:57pm

Oh I know that. But Headley has starred on Broadway/West End. Has (had?) an R&B career. Just seems like a weird move. But I guess it's like a week of her life? So whatever.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 5:03pm

So, once someone has starred in a Broadway production and/or released a cd, doing anything OTHER than a starring role on Broadway constitutes taking a "step back" or is an indication of failure? Or is a "weird move"? I am not sure I follow that logic whatsoever.

 

i can't imagine the pity you must be feeling for Beth Leavel at playing Aunt Eller in their Oklahoma! or Bryan Batt as Edna in their new staging of Hairspray.

[Fantod]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 5:15pm

Ryann will be great as Tracy

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 10:45am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Rob-McClure-Joins-The-Munys-INTO-THE-WOODS-and-BEAUTY-AND-THE-BEAST-This-Summer-20150509

 

Guess I got my answer on the baker -- Rob McClure.  Amazing.  

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 11:20am

Growing up in St. Louis, my mother would take me to the Muny and we always sat in the free seats - because, well, we had no money as I realize in retrospect.  We would bring binoculars or "opera glasses".  We would sit in the first row of the free seats and we would bring our own food.  The sound was great - although a bit tinny in my recollection.  It was fun using the opera glasses.  

It was very different because my grandmother had third row center seats for the LA Civic Light Opera season.  But, I recall those free seats and the experience fondly.

And this year, I intend to revisit those seats for at least one show!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 12:32pm

Headley's obnoxious comments about Broadway when she thought she was going to be an R&B "star" likely  is the cause of any negativity about her doing summer stock. 

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 3:37pm

I don't think that's what RippedMan was thinking. 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 7:35pm

Rob McClure has a strong history with the Muny and I'm personally thrilled that he's coming back Tom them to do this summer. I'm very curious to see his take on the Baker. I think it's a part he could have a lot of success with.

One of the reasons you often see well known actors coming to do a show or two at the Muny, Ravinia, or BSC is because it's a break for them. Yes, they're still working and often in a somewhat frantic and stressful situation, but it's fun. For some, it's going back to their roots and giving them a big thank you. For others, it's an escape from the heat of the city.  and is a vacation. As other's have said, this isn't a step down, just as doing off-Broadway isn't a step down. It's work with a professional theater that reaches a big audience

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 10:15pm

The only heat an outdoor theatre in St. Louis in July is an escape from is the heat of Hell.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 10:42pm

A great lineup with wonderful casting ... Ken Page as the Narrator in Into the Woods ... Headley as the Witch ... Beth Leavel as Aunt Eller ... Alexander Gemignani as Jud Fry ... Antony Andrews as Higgins ...

Broadway is alive and well and living in St. Louis.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 10:46pm

So very true, Phyllis.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/10/15 at 12:00am

Ryann as Tracy is wonderful casting, she was the only highlight of Let It Go

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Posted: 5/11/15 at 4:22am

I wonder who's playing Cinderella in "Into the Woods"?

[bekk99]

Posted: 5/11/15 at 1:27pm

Phyllis - As a former St. Louisan and former Muny-goer, I used to agree with you - but they've improved the fan situation over the last couple of seasons (via a couple million $$$), and I hear that it's now quite pleasant!

[LarryD2]

Posted: 5/11/15 at 1:33pm

Heather Headley is living in Chicago these days and has two young children, which is probably why she was persuaded to take a three-week summer stock gig at an extremely prestigious theatre that's only two hours from home.

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/11/15 at 2:48pm

St. Louis is more like a six hour drive from Chicago....

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 5/11/15 at 2:53pm

It's around 300 miles from Chicago to St. Louis. If you're not traveling at any peak times or holidays and avoid bad weather conditions, you can easily make that drive in 4 hours. I have done it on several occasions.