I would add SPOILERS to this thread but I think a vast majority of the people on this board will know EVERY show that I saw.
But just in case
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Also, sorry for making this huge review list, but I'm still so jazzed from my trip that I want to post them all.
Well, Hopefully I'm not gonna get bashed again but here are reviews. *if anyone could PLEASE explain to me how pictures work on this damn thing I would appreciate it... i've tried to html them and i've also tried to use the optional image thing and for some reason they're just not working for me i wanna put up my pictures! even though i look horrible in ALL of them*
8/15/08 8:00 PM
RENT
Row E; Seats 18 and 20 Partial View seats
Cast List
ROGER - Will Chase
MARK - Adam Kantor
TOM - Destan Owens
BENNY - Rodney Hicks
JOANNE - Trisha Jeffrey
ANGEL - Justin Johnson
MIMI - Renee Elise Goldsberry
MAUREEN - Eden Espinosa
MARK'S MOM & OTHERS - Tracy McDowell
CHRISTMAS CAROLER & OTHERS - D'Monroe
MRS. JEFFERSON & OTHERS - Gwen Stewart
GORDON & OTHERS - Jay Wilkison
STEVE & OTHERS - Telly Leung
PAUL & OTHERS - Shaun Earl
ALEXI DARLING & OTHERS - Andrea Goss
So my farewell trip to the Nederlander was a mixed bag that ultimately had me crying in my seat. Most of the cast seemed to really still care about the show but there were definitely a couple of standouts that I really wasn't expecting.
Eden Espinosa's Maureen really blew me away. I didn't go in expecting much because I really was not a fan of her other big time Idina Menzelish role as Elphaba. However, this performance as Maureen really showed her talents as an incredible singer and actress to me. Count me in on the Eden crazies.
Will Chase. There have only been two other Roger's before Friday night that made me cry during "Your Eyes" and "One Song Glory"(Jeremy Kushnier and Adam Pascal) That all changed by the time we got to this part of the show. I believed every last word he sang.
As for the rest of the cast they were good but easily short of spectacular. But, then again, I wasn't going to this show for life-altering performances. I went to this show to have my final moment to breathe in this show that changed my life 12 years ago and made me a true Broadway fan in the first place and I definitely got that.
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8/16/08 2:00 PM
LEGALLY BLONDE
Row A; Seats 109 & 111
Cast List
ELLE WOODS - Bailey Hanks
WARNER - Matt Risch
VIVIENNE - Kate Shindle
EMMETT FORREST - Christian Borle
CALLAHAN - Michael Rupert
PAULETTE - Orfeh
MARGOT - Kate Rockwell
SERENA - Tiffany Engen
PILAR - Asmeret Ghebremichael
BROOKE - Nicolette Hart
CHUTNEY - Stephanie Fittro
GRANDMASTER CHAD/DEWEY/KYLE - Ven Daniel
ENSEMBLE MEMBERS - Barry Anderson, April Berry, Jason Gillman, Manuel Hererra, Nick Kenkel, Cara Massey, Rusty Mowery, Emily Padgett, Casey Leigh Thompson
I love this show even though every bone in my artistic body tells me not to. It's just so freakin infectious that you can't not be happy when you leave the Palace.
Bailey really has a mountain of talent that will continue to be honed as she got a chance of a lifetime to go from nobody to star. Since this was the matinee she did not come out after the show, however on my last night in town, Sunday the 17th I happen to come across the Palace stage door because me and my lady were going to the Pig and Whistle (where after meeting Bailey I sit down at my table at the Pig and Whistle and Lauren is sitting across from me with her mom and a couple of friends. I got a chance to have a short chat with her and she's really super sweet) to have our last dinner in the city and noticed she was signing and taking pictures so we figured we'd let her know how awesome she was. She was exceptionally nice at the stage door taking time to speak with/sign/take pictures with everyone who was there. Also watching her do an impromptu choreography lesson after witnessing some guy showing her his take on the Bend and Snap practically in the middle of 47th street was absolutely hilarious.
I will have to disagree with the folks saying Christian is going through the motions with the show. He was on-point and sharp in delivery and timing.
Orfeh continues to blow me away. Every performance I have seen of her in this show *thank you for b--t--gs :)* has been unique but ALWAYS stays true to the character she created for this show.
Lastly, where the hell did Matt Risch come from!? I mean, I LOVE his Carlos/Lowell, but his Warner was absolutely incredible. If this show lasts until next year, I would love for him to take on the role permanently.
The show in general had so much pop and sizzle and I agree with a fellow poster that said this show has been revitalized with a new leading lady. *but I really did miss Laura Bell in a couple of moments* I did get to meet several ensemble members and Nicolette Hart at the stage door. Because this was a matinee I did pre-show stage door and got to have my picture with Michael Rupert who I absolutely adore.
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8/16/08 8:00 PM
GYPSY
Left Box; Seats 1 & 2
Cast List
ROSE - Patti LuPone
BABY JUNE - Sami Gayle
BABY LOUISE - Emma Rowley
HERBIE - Boyd Gaines
DAINTY JUNE - Leigh Ann Larkin
LOUISE - Laura Benanti
YONKERS - Pearce Wegener
L.A. - Matt Gibson
TULSA - Tony Yazbeck
KANSAS - John Scacchetti
TESSIE - Alison Fraser
MAZEPPA - Lenora Nemetz
ELECTRA - Marilyn Caskey
Well what more can I say than what's already been said. This show is the definition of perfection on stage.
Patti.. oh sweet Ms. Patti. This IS a once-in-a-lifetime performance of a role that she was born to play. Her "Rose's Turn" left me literally breathless. The emotion that she pours into this show every night is just spellbinding and the fact she can do this 8 times a week is a testament to a true professional and certainly all performers should take note of this work ethic and apply it to their own careers.
Boyd Gaines was simply heartbreaking as Herbie. He plays this role so effortlessly and with such a natural aura about him you sometimes forget he is playing a character and that he IS Herbie, not just playing him on stage.
Laura Benanti's growth in character as Louise is a wonder to behold in how different she portrays the character pre-burlesque to post-burlesque. It's all the little things she does differently from overall body language down to the way she positions her hands while she delivers her lines.
This is the best show I will probably see in a LONG time and one that I will be thrilled to tell my children about.
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8/17/08 3:00 PM
Xanadu
Onstage seating *the popcorn seats :)*
Cast List
CLIO/KIRA - Patti Murin
SONNY - Cheyenne Jackson
THALIA - Curtis Holbrook
ERATO - Kenita Miller
MELPOMENE - Mary Testa
EUTERPE - Kate Loprest
CALLIOPE - Whoopi Goldberg
TERPSICORE - Marty Thomas
DANNY MAGUIRE - Tony Roberts
FEATURED SKATER - Jacob ben Widmar
FUN FUN FUN!!!!!!!!!!! I can not stress how much FUN this show is. Being onstage you do miss out on some things but sitting in the audience I think you would miss other things. Like when the muses are going back to Mount Olympus and the trap starts going down Marty Thomas was staring right at me with the most ridiculous face I've ever seen. Then the trap comes back up and he's still making the same face staring at me. Then, right as the trap goes down for the final time his face changed and he gave me a very enthusiastic wave goodbye!
Patti Murin was awesome as Clio/Kira. She's simply adorable too. I can now say that I've been "sponged" by someone on Broadway.
I don't know how many arguments I will get into for this but I really believe that Cheyenne Jackson has the best male voice on Broadway. His comedic timing is impeccable, although, I personally would love to see his take on a more serious and touching role.
Mary Testa.. I think it goes without saying that she's fabulous anytime and all of the time.
The Melpomene/Calliope improv bit was amazing. Whoopi said that she had worn a thong for this special occasion but she couldn't find it. Mary says something to the effect of "You mean this?" and pulled out a thong out of her costume. She then flicked it out into the audience and it went right to a woman wearing matching colors of the thong. So of course Mary says, "Wow, look at that. At least your outfit matches*
I really loved Whoopi in the show and she was so engaging with the audience both in the house and on stage. At one point while her and Mary are coming down one of the ramps she turns to this really young girl and starts making dog growls and puts her head on the girls head and keeps growling louder and louder and louder. The girl's face was as red as a beet.
The stagedoor was crazy but not completely ridiculous. Whoopi took the time to sign for everyone who was there and was very gracious to myself and everyone around me.
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8/17/08 6:30 PM
A CHORUS LINE, CLOSING PERFORMANCE
Row A; Seats 103 & 104
Cast List
LARRY - Nick Adams
ROY - Todd Anderson
TRICIA - Michelle Aravena
GREG - Tommy Berklund
AL - Mike Cannon
DIANA - Natalie Cortez
BEBE - Dena DiGiacinto
TOM - Kurt Domoney
BUTCH - Eric DySart
Val - Jenifer Foote
CASSIE - Jessica Lee Goldyn
SHEILA - Deidre Goodwin
PAUL - Bryan Knowlton
RICHIE - James T. Lane
MAGGIE - Melissa Lone
ZACH - Mario Lopez
CONNIE - J. Elaine Marcos
LOIS - Courtney Laine Mazza
MARK - Paul McGill
JUDY - Heather Parcells
DON - Adam Perry
MIKE - Jeff Schecter
FRANK - Eric Sciotto
BOBBY - Will Taylor
KRISTINE - Katherine Tokarz
This was it for me. The culmination of the rediscovering my joy of theatre in the past two years. The show that really brought me back to what I love. I don't believe I've shed as many tears in a course of two hours as I ever have in my entire life.
Jess Goldyn, I know this is going to sound weird because of certain lines in the show but she is a STAR. I knew it when I first saw the show and she gave me even more evidence after witnessing probably the most breathtaking Music and the Mirror I will EVER see performed by someone who doesn't have the first name Donna and the last name of McKechnie. *please try to get your name in the hat to play Roxie Hart, Jess*
I've also determined that I can not attend a closing performance that involves Natalie Cortez being on stage without me having a gigantic box of tissues next to me. After "Nothing" and "What I Did For Love," she simply stood and put her head down soaking in the thunderous, long applause coming from the VERY enthusiastic crowd with several tears running down her face. It was riveting watching her feel all the love and adoration that the audience had for her.
Mario Lopez... who? He just seemed so flippant about the whole night and his take on Zach just seemed wrong in all the wrong places. He came off as really nasty and when it came time for him to comfort Paul after his monologue it seemed completely unbelievable that this same person would care one iota about someone breaking down after letting themselves be honest and sharing something so incredibly painful.
Overall the show was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had in a Broadway theatre. It epitomized how audience and cast can love a show so much that it hurts them to let go of it, but at the same time, just like living day to day, you're always looking for something, someone or simply yourself to "point you towards tomorrow."
anything you do let it come from you and it will be new.
Updated On: 8/19/08 at 05:11 AM
