MY FAIR LADY (2018) Previews

I know it's a bit early, but the production just announced its digital lottery policy, so figured we might as well open up the discussion forum!

Previews for the fourth Broadway revival of Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady begin in just a few days (Thursday, March 15, 2018) at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. In its long-awaited mounting at Lincoln Center with Bart Sher at the helm, My Fair Lady (starring Lauren Ambrose as Eliza and Harry Hadden-Paton as Higgins) is set to open officially on Thursday, April 19 for an open run.

Who's going?!

I'm seeing the 2:00 PM show on May 30th with my older sister and a friend. To say that I've been excited for this production since it's been announced would be an understatement.

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Will be at the Sunday matinee April 1- fourth row seats- can't wait. Going with my sister- who is not really into theater- and sold my seats for Three Tall Women- I thought my sister would not "get" that one- and I have taken her to enough theater where she sits baffled and bored- so I am missing Women- a show I really wanted to see- love Albee. Anyway, I think MFL is a good choice- I hope she loves it- and me, too- watched every episode of Six Feet Under- loved Claire- really cannot imagine her singing I Could Have Danced All Night- and that is part of the draw for me- can she pull it off?- and I know she can or Sher would not have cast her.

Updated On: 3/13/18 at 07:21 AM

Someone in a Tree2 said: "I was born the year the original production premiered on Broadway, and have always considered it the absolute peak of old-school musical theater writing. I've seen every Bway revival, and most have disappointed me for various reasons. So I lay down the gauntlet to Bart Sher-- please dazzle us like you have with A LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, SOUTH PACIFIC and KING AND I. Let us see this classic show in a brave new light. I'll be there the first night of Passover March 30 to see if he succeeds."

I'm actually extremely curious to hear about the other My Fair Lady productions. I know nothing about the previous revivals and would like to know more about how they were and why they may not have worked, especially that 90s revival that received no Tony nominations IIRC.

I just got tickets for the end of the month! I can't wait!!

April 15th matinee, trying to manage expectations to optimize enjoyment, but it isn't easy

carolinaguy said: "Saw the '90s revival on New Year's Day 1994. It was so odd, almost as though they were deliberately avoiding calling to mind any of the original design. Melissa Errico sang very well, but my impression at the time was that she came across as a little too polished at the beginning to be a street waif. It was like she'd already been Higgins-ized. Richard Chamberlain was doing Richard Chamberlain. The design was distracting--the Ascot Gavotte was staged like a Magritte painting with the swells descending from the flies on swings wearing bowler hats. There was a giant glowing head in Higgins's laboratory that dominated the stage and pulled focus."

I recall little of that revival, except the droll but meaningless pastiche-y use of Magritte in the Ascot set, which was odd but welcome simply because it made some impression (even if it was only that of odd and meaningless); little else did in the show. And that head.... also odd and without any emotional resonance.

Someone in a Tree2 said: "I was born the year the original production premiered on Broadway, and have always considered it the absolute peak of old-school musical theater writing. I've seen every Bway revival, and most have disappointed me for various reasons. So I lay down the gauntlet to Bart Sher-- please dazzle us like you have with A LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, SOUTH PACIFIC and KING AND I. Let us see this classic show in a brave new light. I'll be there the first night of Passover March 30 to see if he succeeds."

I agree with you that the show itself is wonderful, but all the live productions I’ve seen have struggled to get it all right. There are some long stretches of book scenes that can really drag if the actors and director don’t get the pacing right. Rex Harrison put such a stamp on Higgins that I’ve never seen or heard someone not give an imitation performance, and a pale one at that.

I just adore Sher’s work and aesthetic though, and if there’s anyone I trust with this material it’s him. He has earned every benefit of the doubt and eagerly await to see what he has in store for us at the first preview.

jacobsnchz14 said: "A few pieces of merchandise have shown up on the LCT Shop website

http://shoplct.com/current-shows/my-fair-lady/"

Very nice. I really like the vase! Thanks for the tip!