NYCC Grand Hotel — Page 7

Tony's original set was indeed a triumph of evoking so much with very little. Essentially there was a series of plexiglass columns supporting a high gallery on which the orchestra was placed. The elaborate column capitals were evoked with draped clusters of glass beads alone. Uplights in the stage deck did the rest. Two huge openings in the upper gallery allowed giant chandeliers to descend at times. For the finale those chandeliers rotated above the cast. A raked deck was covered in stained parquet. A free-standing revolving door unit (with a base that compensated for the rake) could slide in a center deck track. The exposed brick wall of the theater was artfully lit by Jules and Peggy. The gilt ballroom chairs (same as in the revival) described rooms by their placement onstage, and an enormous pile of the chairs reached from the upper gallery to the flies. There was an act curtain of the facade of the hotel all described in twinkle lights. And that's pretty much it.

Tony was a genius at making so few pieces mean so much. (I'm biased of course-- I spent some wonderful years in the 80's drafting in his studio.)

Tony Walton's set model for the original production.

QueenAlice said: "Thanks for pointing that out. Actually, as I look at it more, this cast seems entirely appropriate. The show is the star. I just hope Josh Rhodes can capture the Tommy Tune magic doing his own thing."

He certainly does and some ...he makes Tune's BOLERO look bland but nothing can match Tune's breathtaking staging of the original!

GeorgeandDot said: "It's a shame that Roundabout isn't doing a full revival of this. I feel like this would be a good pick for them and would help spice up their otherwise completely dry season."



They should put it in Studio 54 in the fall even though they have Kiss Me Kate next spring '19 but I overheard last night at City Center that Kate will take the Sondheim.

Jordan Catalano said: "I’ve seen it three times now. If this doesn’t end up on the top of the critics 10 best lists at the end of the season, I’ll be shocked."

Brantley’s review was decidedly mixed, and I wonder if the fact his review wasn’t a rave will hinder discussions of a Broadway transfer. Something about the show screams Roundabout.

I’m curious, Jordan, who in the cast would you imagine would be “stunt cast”? Brantley singles out Uranowitz, Yorke, and Gossett, would someone like Snyder be replaced? Or Dvorovenko?

GeorgeandDot said: "Unfortunately, I think Uranowitz has the role that is the best for stunt casting. I could easily see someone like Mandy Patinkin stepping into that role. Uranowitz is so wonderful though and I can't imagine them wanting to replace him."

Mandy Patinkin? This role is meant for a pocket sized dynamo charmer. Brandon Uranowitz is exactly that. Mandy Patinkin exudes a rather stern authority. If anything I could imagine Patinkin as Preysing.

I mean look at the original clips of Michael Jeter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euCvQ4ikZZQ&t=272s

Brandon could be Jeter's brother from another mother. Mandy? Not so much.

I am laughing thinking about the stunt casting for this if The Weisslers pick it up to transfer. Melanie Griffith as Ballerina, Lea Delaria as Raffaella and Usher as The Baron. Brandy as Flaemchen....et. al.

ray-andallthatjazz86 said: "*If* there are any attempts to transfer this, I can’t imagine that Uranowitz, the Tony-nominated actor who got raves for the best role in the show, would be replaced unless he became unavailable. I’m curious to see whether this will have a life beyond this weekend, Brantley has certainly changed his mind about some shows following the move from City Center to Broadway (LuPone’s GYPSY comes to mind)."

I was at the show Saturday afternoon and the hands-down star of the entire cast was Mr. Uranowitz. The audience certainly agreed at curtain call. An absolute brilliant and heartfelt performance. I thought he was wonderful in Falsettos but he’s on a completely different level in this role. For him, a star-making role to be sure!