Millie Sees Spelling Bee, Spring Awakening, Hairspray, and A Chorus Line

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 1:39pm

This week for me was jam-packed with Broadway shows. Let me
give a small review of each one:

Spelling Bee (Tues 8/14, 7 pm)
I saw this show (student rush) with almost the same cast I saw in Boston, with the exception of Rona Lee Peretti and Vice Principal Panche. This show is still as heartwarming and funny as when I saw it in Boston. I don't real have much to comment in each individual person, so I'll leave this review short. The audience seemed to enjoy the show. I would recommend seeing it if you haven't before and are looking to see
something short.

Spring Awakening (Wed 8/15, 2 pm)
I had onstage seat AA13 for this show - what a wonderful and exciting experience it was being onstage! I had already seen the show from the orchestra before (not to mention I was tired then and didn't enjoy the show as much) and loved it the second time around! There were only two understudies: Robert Hagar was on for Otto (in place of Brian Charles Johnson) and Jennifer Damiano was on for Martha (in place of Lilli Cooper). I thought Robert did a great job. As for Jennifer, she has a wonderful voice, but I thought her acting was a little weak. She seems really shy. The cast was on that afternoon and gave an energetic performance. Standouts for me were John Gallagher, Jr. and Lauren Pritchard. Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind has to be one of my favorite moments in the show.

Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff also gave stellar performances -those two have great chemistry onstage. Matt Doyle was in the ensemble today and sat across from me onstage.

Being onstage was a thrilling experience; when everyone was stomping around you, you felt all their energy and wanted to jump around with them. I recommend sitting onstage if you already saw the show once and want to see it from a different perspective.

Hairspray (Sat 8/18, 2 pm)
I went to see this with my mom, and we had row G center orchestra. This show still has as much spunk as it did when I saw it 2 years ago in Boston!

Paul Vogt had to be one of the standouts in the cast. Very hilarious as Edna. Loved his facial expressions and line delivery. Him and Jerry Mathers (who was also surprisingly
good as Wilbur) were wonderful together onstage and really had the crowd laughing and watching during "Timeless to Me."

I expected so-so performances from Ashley Parker Angel and Lance Bass, but they actually were pretty good and I liked them in their parts, although I felt that Lance wasn't entirely comfortable in the role yet - I felt a little nervous for him.

Ashley Spencer as Amber: She has a good voice and plays the usual "Amber attitude" well, but I felt as if she could've put more emotion into some of her line delivery. At times it seemed as if she was just reading off lines with little/no emotion. Overall, I was satisfied.

Niki Scalara as Penny: I liked her a lot. She has a very powerful voice. Even though Penny is supposed to be ditzy, I didn't really get that ditzy vibe from her.

Shannon Durig was excellent! Very funny, energetic...she had the audience cracking up during her detention scene when Seaweed (played by understudy Steven Cutts) was "pulling" her with his dance moves.

As for Darlene Love - what a voice! Her "I Know Where I've Been" got a thunderous applause.

A Chorus Line (Sun 8/19, 3 pm)
I rushed this show and ended up with Row G extreme left side. The seat was really good; you could see most of the stage. I'm really lazy now and don't feel like giving an in depth review now - I'll edit later and add more detail.

One of my favorite characters was Diana Morales, beautifully played by Natalie Cortez (I saw her understudy last time). The cast is in good shape for the most part. I'll comment more later!

Updated On: 8/20/07 at 01:39 PM

[tinkerscanne]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 1:48pm

Thanks for the reviews. I still haven't seen Spelling Bee or Spring Awakening. I'm looking forward to seeing both sometime soon!

Shannon Durig is GREAT as Tracy! I loved her!!!

I'm curious about your Chorus Line review when you get the chance. I haven't seen the revival yet, but I did see it on Broadway when I was 12. Um, won't tell you how long ago THAT was. LOL!!!

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 3:29pm

seat AA13

That's the one I always sit in! I like it because it's a single...you have cast on both sides of you, and they even take away the chairs on either side, at one point!

when everyone was stomping around you,

I've told this story on here before, but Skyler was a little off-center trying to stomp on the chair next to mine, and he caught my thigh! He apologized at the stage door...it was cute.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 4:02pm

I forgot to mention...

At one point, Skyler jumped and he slipped and almost fell onto someone in the onstage seats. The guy held his hands out for a second, prepared to catch him.

[gobybubble]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 4:08pm

You didn't mention Penny? Did you see Niki Scalera, and if so how was she?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 4:12pm

I added a little about Niki.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 4:12pm

Nice reviews !

J*

Updated On: 8/20/07 at 04:12 PM

[gobybubble]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 4:28pm

Thanks Millie, I was interested to hear how she was :)