Memphis Non Equity Tour- Page 3

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/13/13 at 1:14am

It also helped that the tour did not have Chad Kimball in the cast to ruin the show.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/13/13 at 1:16am

Or a bout of Montego Glover's boredom, or a rotating roster of Broadway standard woman as Mama delivering sub-par performances in a tricky role.. the list goes on. That is another reason to have hope for this tour. The structure of the show lends itself to finding quality non-union talent of an assortment of age ranges

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 11/13/13 at 3:03pm

You're actually right about Radio. I've probably seen to many broadway videos of radio than the tour and just thought they did. I also remember that the fight scene before Say a Prayer was up on the tour instead of on the ground on Broadway. Thanks for clearing that up!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/14/13 at 2:50am

Yes.
When you see the Broadway DVD a number of times, it sticks in your head.. But yes, no rising catwalk on tour. Stationary only. Huey uses the stairs in Radio and the scene before "Say A Prayer" begins on stage level with Huey and Felicia being corned on the catwalk after taking the stair.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 11/14/13 at 10:12am

Julie Johnson stole the show as Mama for me! Having seen Nancy and Cass before, Julie just blew the away! It’s defiantly a hard act to follow

[darreyl102]

Posted: 11/14/13 at 10:36pm

So how is Pat as Mama? How does she compare to Julie?

Updated On: 11/14/13 at 10:36 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/15/13 at 2:27am

I imagine Pat Sibley is as she is on every NETworks tour that she has ever done... unfortunate

[darreyl102]

Posted: 11/15/13 at 10:12am

that's what I was assuming- Like you said, she is their go to actress, and I also can't think of any of her performances that I really enjoyed.

[theatrecr8zy]

Posted: 1/14/14 at 3:58am

Seeing this tomorrow night in NC, looking forward to it. Anyone know if they are selling merch? I always like to get a window card for shows I see and get the cast to sign them.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 5:46pm

Saw the tour yesterday in New Brunswick, NJ at the State Theater. This is probably one of the best non-equity tours I've ever seem. Definitely up there with the Broadway & 1st National casts. I'll say this, I've seen Glover(2x), Boswell & Richardson, and (IMO) Richardson was the best Felicia. Her acting and powerhouse vocals topped that of Boswell and easily outdid Glover. Joey Elrose was good as Huey, but I feel no one will ever top Bryan Fenkhart. Tons of energy from the cast, though smaller[ensemble was cut down from 19 to 13 for the non-equity tour]. And sadly the reports are true about Pat Sibley, such a terrible version of "Change Don't Come Easy", almost no energy, no riffing of any kind. It should be a high energy number, and just turned it into a boring number.

Overall, the rest of the supporting cast were fantastic(Jerrial Young[Bobby] did do the backflip in "Big Love", btw). Such a shame this tour will close come June. It's also interesting to see the the tour does have several week long stops in some cities(Ft. Lauderdale[2 weeks], New Orleans, Jacksonville, Anchorage, Indianapolis, Salt Lake City). I hope to see Richardson, among others, in other tours or some day on Broadway.

Updated On: 2/9/14 at 05:46 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 5:53pm

speaking of Fenkhart, here's his final "Memphis Lives In Me". It's absolutely stunning!!
Bryan Fenkhart's final

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 6:46pm

and, here's Julie Johnson's "Change Don't Come Easy".


Julie Johnson's

Updated On: 2/9/14 at 06:46 PM

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 7:20pm

Could not agree with you more about the cast. And Bryan Fenkart gave one of if not the best performance I've ever seen. Incredible.

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 7:27pm

Also, I think a lot of people would've changed their minds about Memphis if they saw Bryan instead of Chad Kimball. Just saying.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 8:57pm

Lol- I posted that Julie Johnson Video, it's from the Memphis Tour Bootleg from Costa Mesa, Ca. 11/17/12

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 9:49pm

she's flawless as Mama. Such a shame she never made it to Broadway(at least not that I know of).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 12:52am

I liked Chad, at least he was trying to do something with the part. As for Bryan, he was so boring in "Nobody Loves You" at 2nd Stage.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 1:10am

Julie told me that she was going to replace Nancy when her contract was up, but the show closed before then. She really was the best Mama out of the three in my opinion.

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 8:38pm

So apparently Memphis isn't closing because South Bend Indiana has just announced that it is part of their 2014-2015 season and it's coming in March 2015. It's in the national tours thread if anyone wants to look. Maybe their starting a new tour with a new cast or this one is extending after all!
And darreyl, do you mind posting more from that bootleg on youtube? Specifically Steal Your Rock and Roll and maybe Music of My Soul? Would really appreciate if you did! :)

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 9:08pm

would love to see/hear Boswell's "Colored Woman", as well.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 9:16pm

yeah, I just saw that. I have to wonder if it will be lower scale non-equity tour(bus & truck). Glad it's extending, but I searched and only came up with South Bend as the only stop after June 2014.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/11/14 at 1:22am

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4NA4PsqfGn0

Bowsell singing "Colored Woman" at a series of sound checks.

[Zingingtobway]

Posted: 2/11/14 at 4:05pm

I also caught this performance. Jasmine Richardson at Felecia was Powerful and moving. I loved her acting choices and her voice. I also thought a stand out was the young man playing Gator Avionce Hoyles he was awesome. I enjoyed the show. I did miss those extra bodies in the ensemble but thought it was a solid touring casting.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 3/19/14 at 3:21pm

Saw this in Jacksonville last night (opening night). Although at times entertaining, I'm glad I chose not to see this on Broadway during my visits. (especially original cast). I will say for tours, this is one of the most quality as far as sets and talent. I felt Jasmine stole the show as Felicia. I was just okay with the Huey lead. But at least he was watchable, for me, unlike when I attempted to watch the PBS special with Chad Kimball. In our "playbill" the Artist Series announced our line-up for next year. We are finally getting Book of Mormon. And wait for it... I Love Lucy the Musical!!!! Oh boy.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/19/14 at 5:13pm

I'd like more info on this tour since it appears it will continue running through spring 2015, at least. Yet other than South Bend, IN, I can't find any other cities it's stopping in past June 2014.