ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME Broadway Previews Thread- Page 4

[Lola Getz2]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 4:44pm

Wow, those Ticketmaster screenshots look VERY different than the ones I am seeing. Wonder why. Papering, maybe? 

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 4:50pm

I've been waiting for the PR machine to really kick in.  Surely they are planning some TV exposure.  Both Helan and Guarini should be able to get booked on shows like the View with their TV histories, and Simard might be enough of name in the NYC media market to get on local shows (not as sure about that one).  Some other shows have struggled with promotional performances but the rehearsal video suggests that won't be a problem with this show.  

I am excited to see the show on Friday, but admit to being worried about the loudness reports.

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 5:05pm

Lola Getz2 said: "Wow, those Ticketmaster screenshots look VERY different than the ones I am seeing. Wonder why. Papering, maybe?"

It's from the official ticketmaster site. The biggest chunk of tickets get sold closer to the performance, I think that's the typical Broadway behavior since people decide what to see when evening/night approaches. We'll get official numbers next week, but if it continues to sell like it did in the 1st preview (around $ 170,000) per show, it could gross over 1 million with 7 previews which would be a great number! 

[Lola Getz2]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 5:16pm

https://www.ticketmaster.com/once-upon-a-one-more-time-ny/event/03005D77B9AC5C11?refArtist=K8vZ917Qywf

 

https://www.ticketmaster.com/once-upon-a-one-more-time-ny/event/03005D77B9AD5C13?refArtist=K8vZ917Qywf

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 5:19pm

theaterdrew said: "I've been waiting for the PR machine to really kick in. Surely they are planning some TV exposure. Both Helan and Guarini should be able to get booked on shows like the View with their TV histories, and Simard might be enough of name in the NYC media market to get on local shows (not as sure about that one). Some other shows have struggled with promotional performances but the rehearsal video suggests that won't be a problem with this show.

I am excited to see the show on Friday, but admit to being worried about the loudness reports."

Doesn't that happen after Broadway shows officially open? It just started previews, and it's still more than a month away from opening night. I'm sure there's a lot planning, and a TV performance will do wonders to this musical

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 5:21pm

Lola Getz2 said: "https://www.ticketmaster.com/once-upon-a-one-more-time-ny/event/03005D77B9AC5C11?refArtist=K8vZ917Qywf



https://www.ticketmaster.com/once-upon-a-one-more-time-ny/event/03005D77B9AD5C13?refArtist=K8vZ917Qywf"

Correct, that's Monday 5/22 performance. Like I mentioned, most tickets get sold the day of the performance. It's not Sweeney Todd/Wicked/The Lion King which are universally known and sell in advance LOL

Updated On: 5/17/23 at 05:21 PM

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 5:33pm

Maybe it’s because I was in the Mezz, but I didn’t find this show to be anymore loud than anything else I’ve seen. No difference between this, and &Juliet. The songs have a lot more bass, but I didn’t notice anything crazy. 

[Lola Getz2]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 5:34pm

pablitonizer said: "Lola Getz2 said: "https://www.ticketmaster.com/once-upon-a-one-more-time-ny/event/03005D77B9AC5C11?refArtist=K8vZ917Qywf



https://www.ticketmaster.com/once-upon-a-one-more-time-ny/event/03005D77B9AD5C13?refArtist=K8vZ917Qywf"

Correct, that's Monday 5/22 performance. Like I mentioned, most tickets get sold the day of the performance. It's not Sweeney Todd/Wicked/The Lion King which are universally known and sell in advance LOL"

Oh, sorry, was looking at the wrong dates.  Oops! (IDIA)

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 5:58pm

Thanks, YvanEhtNioj.  I'm in the orchestra section kind of close to the stage. May have been a strategically poor choice, lol.

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 6:02pm

Of course! 
 

Sidenote - I’ve noticed A LOT of really famous NYC drag queens have been going and posting raves on their IG story. I definitely think a it’s good PR move. 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 8:14pm

theaterdrew said: "Thanks, YvanEhtNioj. I'm in the orchestra section kind of close to the stage. May have been a strategically poor choice, lol."

Orchestra close to the stage was where I was and yes, it was very, very loud at times. If you brought earplugs to muffle the sound, you'd probably still hear everything clearly.

 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 11:22pm

Y’all. Maybe it was the good mood I was in, maybe it was the substances I partook in beforehand, I don’t know. But this was an absolute BLAST.

If you don’t want to have a good time, don’t see it. Not sure what else to tell you. If you like Britney, if you like fairytales, if you like Jennifer Simard milking every drop of comedy from a line of dialogue or you’re intrigued by the idea of her singing “Toxic”, if you like fluff and camp: get thee to the Marquis.

My friends and I couldn’t stop laughing and smiling. Truly, a great night out.

Updated On: 5/18/23 at 11:22 PM

[PhantomMickey]

Posted: 5/18/23 at 9:02am

I went last night! Orch V5,7. I was pretty stoked as a Britney fan and as someone anticipating the show since the Chicago announcement. 

I enjoyed Act 1 -- fun night out vibes, don't take anything too seriously and even the jokes weren't all the most creative, it was still enjoyable. Several uses of the songs made me laugh like Work, Bitch, Piece of Me, Scream & Shout. I thought standouts were the Stepmother, Snow, Prince Charming, and the comedic timing of the Stepsisters. 

Then Act 2 happened... Toxic was a pretty good number, but everything else left me very underwhelmed. The plot was poorly constructed and executed and I felt like a lot of promise for what this could have been was squandered.

The feminism was shallow and white af, the queerness was contained, & it didn't have anything to say about the power of a strike (especially as we're in a time when SO many unions are striking or were just on strike a la the HarperCollins Union), and for all those reasons and more, I was disappointed. I wasn't expecting anything landmark or profound, just even a smidge more than the nothing that was there would have been acceptable to me. If I had to compare to a show with a similar vibe, I'd say & Juliet did it better and had a little more substance underpinning all the ideas they tackled within the scope of their story.

The choreography and dancing was pretty good! My partner thought it was the best part of the show. 

The sound - I did think the opening number was a little loud in places and just ascribed that to it being previews. There was a moment at the end of... Crazy, I think? that the music was so loud at the end we couldn't understand the last line (which was a lyric change) so that was a bummer. But otherwise, the sound was fine! 

Lyric changes - there were a lot and I didn't really love the decision to do that many. This might be nitpicky, but when they changed the lyrics in Cinderella to "I don't believe in my fairytale" from "I don't believe in fairytales", it just felt so unnecessary and like they didn't trust the music and spirit of the songs to do the work for them. 

My advice to anyone going is get there with some extra time to use the bathroom (outside the stage/security area) and enjoy the photo opps they've set up. They've definitely tried to create a fun night out vibe with spaces to make this a full experience. Don't expect much and have a good time :)

Updated On: 5/18/23 at 09:02 AM

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 5/18/23 at 9:12am

PhantomMickey said: "I went last night! Orch V5,7. I was pretty stoked as a Britney fan and as someone anticipating the show since the Chicago announcement.

I enjoyed Act 1 -- fun night out vibes, don't take anything too seriously and even the jokes weren't all the most creative, it was still enjoyable. Several uses of the songs made me laugh like Work, Bitch, Piece of Me, Scream & Shout. I thought standouts were the Stepmother, Snow, Prince Charming, and the comedic timing of the Stepsisters.

Then Act 2 happened... Toxic was a pretty good number, but everything else left me very underwhelmed. The plot was poorly constructed and executed and I felt like a lot of promise for what this could have been was squandered.

The feminism was shallow and white af, the queerness was contained, & it didn't have anything to say about the power of a strike (especially as we're in a time when SO many unions are striking or were just on strike a la the HarperCollins Union), and for all those reasons and more, I was disappointed. I wasn't expecting anything landmark or profound, just even a smidge more than the nothing that was there would have been acceptable to me.If I had to compare to a show with a similar vibe, I'd say & Juliet did it better and had a little more substance underpinning all the ideas they tackled within the scope of their story.

The choreography and dancing was pretty good! My partner thought it was the best part of the show.

The sound - I did think the opening number was a little loud in places and just ascribed that to it being previews. There was a moment at the end of... Crazy, I think? that the music was so loud at the end we couldn't understand the last line (which was a lyric change) so that was a bummer. But otherwise, the sound was fine!

Lyric changes - there were a lot and I didn't really love the decision to do that many. This might be nitpicky, but when they changed the lyrics in Cinderella to "I don't believe in my fairytale" from "I don't believe in fairytales", it just felt so unnecessary and like they didn't trust the music and spirit of the songs to do the work for them.

My advice to anyone going is get there with some extra time to use the bathroom (outside the stage/security area) and enjoy the photo opps they've set up. They've definitely tried to create a fun night out vibe with spaces to make this a full experience. Don't expect much and have a good time :)"

My biggest problem with &Juliet is that Romeo and Juliet end up together at the end, again. What's the point of re-writing the story if the story ends up pretty much the same except for the death? 'Once upon a one more time' allows you to choose your own story, for real 

 

 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 5/18/23 at 9:38am

I genuinely may be laughing about the Hansel and Gretel gag for the rest of my life.

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 5/18/23 at 10:32am

ColorTheHours048 said: "I genuinely may be laughing about the Hansel and Gretel gag for the rest of my life."

I DIEEEEDDDD. This, and Little Mermaid singing during "Scream and Shout" had me ROFL.

Updated On: 5/18/23 at 10:32 AM

[PhantomMickey]

Posted: 5/18/23 at 11:03am

"My biggest problem with &Juliet is that Romeo and Juliet end up together at the end, again. What's the point of re-writing the story if the story ends up pretty much the same except for the death? 'Once upon a one more time' allows you to choose your own story, for real."

For me & Juliet was a story about two people in a struggling relationship using Romeo and Juliet to explore their own desires, problems, and future. So as they are able to reconcile their relationship and have a hope for the future, so do Romeo and Juliet get back together on their own terms.

I don't think Once Upon was trying to do the same thing, and it makes sense the fairytale characters end on a more ambiguous note of what comes next for them, since as you say, this story was more concerned with empowering the characters to break out of the roles assigned to them. Now how well they executed that is another conversation.

[Intotheblue]

Posted: 5/18/23 at 11:17am

Updated On: 5/18/23 at 11:17 AM

[Intotheblue]

Posted: 5/18/23 at 11:21am

pablitonizer said: "PhantomMickey said: "I went last night! Orch V5,7. I was pretty stoked as a Britney fan and as someone anticipating the show since the Chicago announcement.

I enjoyed Act 1 -- fun night out vibes, don't take anything too seriously and even the jokes weren't all the most creative, it was still enjoyable. Several uses of the songs made me laugh like Work, Bitch, Piece of Me, Scream & Shout. I thought standouts were the Stepmother, Snow, Prince Charming, and the comedic timing of the Stepsisters.

Then Act 2 happened... Toxic was a pretty good number, but everything else left me very underwhelmed. The plot was poorly constructed and executed and I felt like a lot of promise for what this could have been was squandered.

The feminism was shallow and white af, the queerness was contained, & it didn't have anything to say about the power of a strike (especially as we're in a time when SO many unions are striking or were just on strike a la the HarperCollins Union), and for all those reasons and more, I was disappointed. I wasn't expecting anything landmark or profound, just even a smidge more than the nothing that was there would have been acceptable to me.If I had to compare to a show with a similar vibe, I'd say & Juliet did it better and had a little more substance underpinning all the ideas they tackled within the scope of their story.

The choreography and dancing was pretty good! My partner thought it was the best part of the show.

The sound - I did think the opening number was a little loud in places and just ascribed that to it being previews. There was a moment at the end of... Crazy, I think? that the music was so loud at the end we couldn't understand the last line (which was a lyric change) so that was a bummer. But otherwise, the sound was fine!

Lyric changes - there were a lot and I didn't really love the decision to do that many. This might be nitpicky, but when they changed the lyrics in Cinderella to "I don't believe in my fairytale" from "I don't believe in fairytales", it just felt so unnecessary and like they didn't trust the music and spirit of the songs to do the work for them.

My advice to anyone going is get there with some extra time to use the bathroom (outside the stage/security area) and enjoy the photo opps they've set up. They've definitely tried to create a fun night out vibe with spaces to make this a full experience. Don't expect much and have a good time :)"

My biggest problem with &Juliet is that Romeo and Juliet end up together at the end, again. What's the point of re-writing the story if the story ends up pretty much the same except for the death? 'Once upon a one more time' allows you to choose your own story, for real



"

Why ruin the ending of “& Juliet” for people who haven’t seen it yet???

[Ke3]

Posted: 5/18/23 at 1:40pm

Lola Getz2 said: "Where are the throngs of BS fans? It doesn't appear to be selling that well on Telecharge."

I think the only way you'll see "throngs" of Britney fans who aren't already theatre gays showing up to this is if Britney herself was out there pushing it. Which she's not going to do even if she's licensed out a few songs for it.

[Ensemble1684529655]

Posted: 5/19/23 at 10:08pm

Saw it Thursday night. About 2hr 35min long and it can easily cut 15 min. There were looong book moments in the 2nd act especially that can be trimmed. 

I, unfortunately, had a bad audience experience. I was in rear orchestra and people were singing. An Usher had to come and tell them to stop. There was no announcement prior to the show about filming or turning phones off, but maybe they just haven't recorded it yet. When they do, they really should add for people to refrain from singing. 

The show overall was really fun. Jennifer Simard had me rolling with her take-off of the Evil Stepmother. There's a scene where she laments about the good ole days of fairy tales where it was much darker and disturbing, but now it's so tame. The humor is great. The choreography great. The ending is a big party. 

They do beat the moral of the story to death though. The book can definitely be trimmed down. But definitely fixable before opening. 

Sets are okay. Mainly projections. They had a part where they were showing images of powerful women, but there were giant trees in front of the screen so I had to guess if the image was Josephine Baker...still have no clue. Then they showed an image of a suffragette but it was also difficult to make out behind the tree branches. 

But the laughs and good times were plentiful. Now let's just see if they can get the audience under control somehow. 

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 5/19/23 at 11:24pm

Saw it tonight and there was no one singing in my area until the end when the cast was dancing in the aisle and encouraging it.  I enjoyed the show.  I rate shows/movies by the number of times I check my watch and this was a zero-check show. IOW, it was a fun night at the theater. 

Unlike others, I didn't think the second act dragged except 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

the gay meet cute storyline, which I thought fell flat.  I'm not sure if it's the writing or the execution.  Also, if that prince got a new story, why'd they leave Prince Charming hanging?

I also thought Toxic was underwhelming. I appreciated Jennifer Simard's sardonic tone generally but her delivery of that song didn't draw me in.  The first act belonged to Justin Guarini, who I've enjoyed since I saw him in his first role in Women on the Verge, where he hinted at being able to pull off a role like this so I'm glad he's finally getting the chance.

The show doesn't purport to be a deep take on feminism and I didn't walk away insulted by what it did have to say, so I'll let it go at that.  As I was walking up to the theater, a father walking with his daughter pointed to the marquee and said "There is the princess show.  I am going to take you to see that tomorrow."  I kind of wish I was sitting behind them because to that little girl, this would be a new story.

Oh, the only sound issue I had was with the stepsisters and Simard, who were often inaudible in their songs.

Edited to add that the projection referenced above ^ was 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Oprah Winfrey, but because you couldn't see it clearly, the bread joke was a dud.

 

Updated On: 5/19/23 at 11:24 PM

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 5/20/23 at 7:51am

Ensemble1684529655 said: "Saw it Thursday night. About 2hr 35min long and it can easily cut 15 min. There were looong book moments in the 2nd act especially that can be trimmed.

I, unfortunately, had a bad audience experience. I was in rear orchestra and people were singing. An Usher had to come and tell them to stop. There was no announcement prior to the show about filming or turning phones off, but maybe they just haven't recorded it yet. When they do, they really should add for people to refrain from singing.

The show overall was really fun. Jennifer Simard had me rolling with her take-off of the Evil Stepmother. There's a scene where she laments about the good ole days of fairy tales where it was much darker and disturbing, but now it's so tame. The humor is great. The choreography great. The ending is a big party.

They do beat the moral of the story to death though. The book can definitely be trimmed down. But definitely fixable before opening.

Sets are okay. Mainly projections. They had a part where they were showing images of powerful women, but there were giant trees in front of the screen so I had to guess if the image was Josephine Baker...still have no clue. Then they showed an image of a suffragette but it was also difficult to make out behind the tree branches.

But the laughs and good times were plentiful. Now let's just see if they can get the audience under control somehow."

Thanks for sharing! Interestingly, I listened to Justin Guriani's podcast yesterday where he confirmed the sets are no finalized yet. They'll be changing and adding stuff during previews. He also mentioned many of the customes had to be re-done after tech rehearsals since the lighting was not doing justice for them. He also noted something that probably happens in all shows that are in previews, there's an executive producer in every show analyzing audience reaction. She goes during intermission hearing people's conversations and taking notes of what works and what does not work. It's good they're open to make changes, and that's why I got my tickets to see it once it officially opens

[Ensemble1684529655]

Posted: 5/20/23 at 3:58pm

That's great to hear that they are so open to changes! Sometimes they are really set in their ways. Overall I would recommend this show, but yea, there were some changes to be made but it's only 1 week in previews so they have time. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/20/23 at 4:01pm

ColorTheHours048 said: "Y’all. Maybe it was the good mood I was in, maybe it was the substances I partook in beforehand, I don’t know. But this was an absolute BLAST.

If you don’t want to have a good time, don’t see it. Not sure what else to tell you. If you like Britney, if you like fairytales, if you like Jennifer Simard milking every drop of comedy from a line of dialogue or you’re intrigued by the idea of her singing “Toxic”, if you like fluff and camp: get thee to the Marquis.

My friends and I couldn’t stop laughing and smiling. Truly, a great night out."

What a great, fun review. I wasn't interested in this but these reviews have been exciting to read so I will buy a ticket in the orchestra. I hate the mezz at the Marquis but I think I'm in the minority there. Thank you!