Mambo Kings - anyone really all that excited?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:13pm

Is anyone even excited about this musical? Previews start soon. I guess its good for the People of San Fransico, right? Lennon and now Mambo Kings. This musical doens't really appeal to me, but ya never know it might be AMAZING.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:17pm

The movie was only semi-decent and that due to the fact that a young new Banderas was starring alongside a young riveting Armand Assante. The script was flimsy, so I'm not sure this was begging for a musical adaptation.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:20pm

Honestly, there is this little part of me that is for some reason really wanting to see this.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:22pm

Funny, I walked by the theater yesterday with two friends and said "there's another show at the Broadway Theater I have simply no interest at in in seeing"

[justme2]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:29pm

Well,

I'll be seeing it next month and will let you know if all of your dire predictions of failure come true.

SF has been really blessed the last couple of years with a slew of pre-broadway shows. I enjoyed Lennon and White Christmas, so I'll be giving this a shot as well.

[tkts]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:39pm

I'll let you know on May 29th. I have tickets for May 28th.

[Chloe]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:44pm

For me the best thing about the movie was the music. Does anyone know if it's an all new score? It would be a shame not to hear some of those classic numbers from the fifties that were in the movie. They turned me on to Latin music.

[CJR]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:49pm

I happen to know first hand that the choreography for this show is absolutely brilliant. I can't wait to see it.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:20pm

Is it someone named Roxanne doing the choreography? Is she one of your Chicago people?
When I saw the ads, I remember mentioning to my friend, "That CJR on the BBW boards knows someone who's choreographing the show". You were spoken of on the streets of SF. In a GOOD way!!

[Demitri2]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 10:35pm

If it's done well I'm excited. Right now I have an interest but no burning desire except if it receives that positive buzz like "Hairspray" and "Spamalot" got out of town.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 10:51pm

I hope it's a smash...just becasue someone is not interested in seeing means you have dire predictions of failure or such...

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 10:54pm

I have absolutely no desire to see this one. But that doesn't mean I won't, since I end up seeing everything. If it's good I hope it does well, though.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 2:28am

Yeah, I kinda actually hope this show just like blows up, just cause its not really being talked about. i guess because its part of next season and this season is sort of "heating" up with the Tony awards so close. Whose doing the music and lyrics for this show? Any leaks on the songs? Its starts soon in SF right?

[QueenS]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:32pm

KMF-

I walked by it today and thought the same thing.

And then I thought, "That's an awfully big picture of someone who isn't in the show." Hasn't Billy Dee Williams been out of it long enough to take that poster down? I realize it would take some time to change it, but it's only him. They could just pull that one window and leave it blank until they can get a new one printed.

I'm not wishing the show ill, I've just yet to feel drawn to see it...

[CJR]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:36pm

Haha Yes, Roxane Carrasco is a friend of mine and was most recently in Chicago on Broadway.

She's not doing the choreography, but she is the dance captain and swing.

I'm thrilled to see her going into a show that will put her talet's to use.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:37pm

both this and lennon, i just have no interest. sorry?

[Jon]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:38pm

No one has mentioned this, but David Alan Grier has replaced Billy Dee Williams.

I know my mom wants to see this - she LOOOOVES Esai Morales.

[Plum]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:56pm

This is one of those shows that kind of lurks on the edge of my mind as "something coming up," but that's about it. I'm not dismissing it or anything, but I'm not intrigued yet, either.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 12:41am

I went to a presentation a couple of weeks ago and totally fell in love with (most of) it. First off, the 20 minutes we saw was almost all choreography, all truly amazing. AMAZING!!!!!! First time since the Chicago revival I fell in love with the choreography right off the bat. All Latin, all freakin' hot. How they'll manage to keep that pace 8 shows a week? God bless 'em. I got exhausted just moving around in my seat!

Esai was fine, from the brief moment we saw, but something tells me he'll be wired up like Christina Applegate, with 14 microphones on his head. He's also not a tall man, so it'll be interesting to see him on stage. Jaime Camil (sp?) has a much stronger voice, is about two heads taller than Esai, but is just as hot in person. It will be interesting to see how Albita, so totally fits vocally with the Celia Cruz "real style" will be received on Broadway, as it's not a trained voice, certainly nowhere near what normal Broadway people expect. That said, those who appreciate that style of singing will love her to pieces, she's really great. While Justina Machado's patter song was fun, and she's just precious, wasn't too impressed with Esai and Jamie's big "going to America to follow our dream" number, lyrically. Luckily, it flowed into another great dance number, From what I can tell, though, a lot of the music used is also from the movie, thank goodness, so you'll probably want to get up most of the show. And it all sounds great live, with the drums and everything.

I really don't know how it'll end up doing, but I'm definitely telling everyone to see it, then run out and take a dance class afterward!

[justme2]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:12pm

Thanks for the info everythingtaboo!

I plan on seeing it when it opens here in SF and look forward to seeing and hearing what you are raving about!

[november]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:16pm

Excited YOU BET!! I loved the sappy movie, just dissapointed I never got to see it on the big screen. The Music is intoxicating

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:18pm

Does anyone know if Desi Arnez is still part of the plot? I don't remember the movie that well but I remember his son played him. Who's playing it in the musical? (if he's still there that is)

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 1:49pm

I have a feeling I'll hate it. But I'm not gonna judge it until I see it.

I'm really into the Latin culture. Some of my favorite movies touch on it: "Spanglish", "Tortilla Soup" to name a few. If it's done right, I'll love it. I just don't know whether or not it will be done right.

[shameless]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 2:07pm

I'm not that excited about the show, but I do want to see Esai Morales on stage.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 5/18/05 at 2:19pm

...i think i'm going to be busy that night, and all nights until it closes.

oh, darn it.