ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME - P/reviews & News Thread- Page 2

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 12/1/21 at 4:06pm

^That's extremely helpful, thank you!  

[smallvillefan16]

Posted: 12/1/21 at 4:20pm

Broadway AND Britney?  This is like a gay man's ultimate dream.  I really hope they fine tune everything and the show is great.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 12/1/21 at 4:35pm

SeeJackRunn said: "How big of a role does the little mermaid have? What songs does she sing and does she have any solos? Can't wait!"

She is one of the featured princesses along with Snow White, Princess and The Pea, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty. 

Spoiler Alert: She doesn't sing until the second act as they go with the whole idea of her having traded her voice away. She sings a solo in If I'm Dancing. 

Updated On: 12/1/21 at 04:35 PM

[DCDrama2]

Posted: 12/1/21 at 6:41pm

"Broadway AND Britney?  This is like a gay man's ultimate dream."

Broadway and Britney or Broadway and Kylie Minogue?

[smallvillefan16]

Posted: 12/1/21 at 7:09pm

100% Broadway AND Britney.

If we we're down under or (maybe) in London it'd be Kylie but definitely not in North America. There's a reason Britney is known as the Princess of Pop and Kylie the conductor of the locomotion train.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 1:20am

There wasn't a detailed program they gave us, just a basic one with a QR code and I am now looking over the mobile program and I'm so happy to report Lauren Zakrin does cover Cinderella! The rest of the understudies are here: 

• Matt Allen - The Narrator
• Belinda Allyn, Lauren Zakrin - Cinderella
• Stephen Brower - Prince Charming
• Jennifer Florentino - Betany, Snow White
• Salisha Thomas - Snow White, Betany
• Amy Hillner Larsen, Diana Vaden - Belinda, Original Fairy Godmother, and Stepmother. 

Swings: Salisha Thomas, Diana Vaden, Matt Allen, and Matthew Tiberi. 

 

Updated On: 12/3/21 at 01:20 AM

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 7:41pm

First production photos

Link

[charlie525600]

Posted: 12/4/21 at 11:35pm

I'm sorry to report that I just saw the show tonight (12/4) and had a very different impression than ClumsyDude15. Overall, I thought the show was a huge letdown. It just left me thinking of the many musicals that tread similar ground better. 

Set had all the charm of a corporate office building. They used some projections but the many bright spotlights washed them out. I wish they'd leaned into the fairytale setting and really gone out on the set!

Choreo was generally quite basic and amateurish. Very little of it felt like it fit the tone or furthered the storytelling. Honestly, lots of it felt like it was just something for the actors to do with their arms while they sang. The one major exception was "oops I did it again" but that choreo gave homage to britney's iconic dancing so it's not really the same thing.

The songs (which should be the highlight!) were lackluster. Too many felt like heavily costumed karaoke. Bolder and more original orchestrations might have helped the songs stand out. Instead I just want to listen to the original tracks. The britney songs in "Moulin Rouge" and "& Juliet" were better imo.

The one strength was costuming. Many were very cute and fun! Easy to ID the characters' origin stories without it looking like something bought at Spirit.

Plot-wise, the show felt soooo long. I was worried act one (supposedly 1hr 9mins) would never end. It's a comedy but very few of the jokes got big laughs and they have several comedy bits that they reprise way too many times. The script in general needs work - the worldbuilding is incoherent enough that second act resolutions feel handwavy. 

(Overarching plot spoilers below)

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The "write a new / your own story" schtick feels done to death. Didn't Six and & Juliet already do this?

Similarly, the modernized and feminist fairytale thing seems old news at this point. Doesn't ALW's Cinderella also have this approach? Along with a million movies...

Also, at this point, I don't think featuring an underdeveloped gay subplot and critiquing men telling women to smile (or for paying women less) are interesting or hot takes.

 

[bungalowbob2]

Posted: 12/5/21 at 12:12am

I was also at tonight's performance and just wanted to add the perspective of someone who doesn't know Britney's music much at all. The audience did seem to love it, but the show very much felt designed for the Britney fan. For example, the integration of Britney's songs within the story seemed to get a lot of laughs, but without any knowledge of her music I felt like all of this went over my head.

I would agree that the choreography was pretty generic, same thing with the arrangements. The music was a mixed bag for me. Obviously I haven't listened to the originals, but the quality of what I was hearing varied pretty significantly. Hit me baby one more time (the opening number) was one of the worst, it felt cluttered and all over the place. However, a couple of the slower songs were great. 

Standouts amongst the cast, in my opinion, were Prince Charming, Snow White, and the Evil Stepmother. Prince Charming in particular totally killed it. I think the creativity of this musical is a vast improvement on the jukebox musicals we've gotten in the last few years. It's really cool to see the creative team doing something a little new. 

The audience seemed to really love the show. I'm of the opinion that the right audience is going to love this show. With that said, I'm definitely not the target audience and I would advise that some knowledge of Britney's music seems like a prerequisite for full enjoyment of this show.

[OliverPete]

Posted: 12/6/21 at 3:15pm

Does someone knows/remember the order of the songs on the show? I already know that BOMT it's the opening, but what about the others?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/6/21 at 3:31pm

OliverPete said: "Does someone knows/remember the order of the songs on the show? I already know that BOMT it's the opening, but what about the others?"

       ACT I

 

• "Baby One More Time"
• "Work Bitch"
• "Piece of Me"
• "Oops!...I Did It Again"
• "Sometimes"
• "Lucky"
• "Boys"
• "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart"
• "I'm a Slave 4 U"
• "Scream & Shout"
• "If I'm Dancing"
• "Cinderella"

 

       ACT II

• "Pretty Girls"
• "Womanizer"
• "Toxic"
• "(You Drive Me) Crazy"
• "Circus"
• "Everytime"
• "Make Me..."
• "Stronger"
• "I Wanna Go"
• "Passenger"
• "Till the World Ends"

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/6/21 at 3:33pm

Jordan Levinson said: "OliverPete said: "Does someone knows/remember the order of the songs on the show? I already know that BOMT it's the opening, but what about the others?"

ACT I
 

• "Baby One More Time"
• "Work Bitch"
• "Piece of Me"
• "Oops!...I Did It Again"
• "Sometimes"
• "Lucky"
• "Boys"
• "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart"
• "I'm a Slave 4 U"
• "Scream & Shout"
• "If I'm Dancing"
• "Cinderella"

 


ACT II

 

• "Pretty Girls"
• "Womanizer"
• "Toxic"
• "(You Drive Me) Crazy"
• "Circus"
• "Everytime"
• "Make Me..."
• "Stronger"
• "I Wanna Go"
• "Passenger"
• "Till the World Ends"

"

WOW! Lots of changes from the reading I saw...

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 12/6/21 at 3:50pm

Saw last night and LOVED every minute and so did the entire audience! It was packed, only a few seats empty at the very back but people were laughing so hard, singing and enjoying it.

The wonderful empowerment message and theme that the musical has is delightful, and so magically told. I was not ready for that type of message honestly, you could tell the entire audience fell in love with it. 

By the end, everyone stood up and started dancing during till the world ends, and I while getting out of the theatre, I heard people saying how beautiful this musical was.

There are things that can be easily rework, specially the setting and effects, but the songs are so perfectly fitting each situation that you just want to stand up and start dancing and signing along, even though you don't know the lyrics

My fave characters: the O.F.G (A character that got me into tears, it reminded me of my grandma), Cinderella's stepmother (wickedly superb), Cinderella (charming and so so funny), Snow white (THE voice in the play), the princess and the pea (OMG I was not ready for that girl) and prince charming (he's perfect for that role)

My fave songs: 'Everytime', 'Cinderella', 'Passenger' (this is one of my faves from Brit but this musical version is everything), 'If I'm dancing' (if none listened to it before, you must do it now), Work b#tch (this scene is top-notch), 'Stronger' (perfect song for a breaking moment) and Oops (that scene is memorable)

Now, you don't need to be a Britney fan to see it, in fact a man in his 70s had no knowledge of any of the songs and he looked at me in the intermission and said "Oh boy, this is amazing!". This musical has a lot of potential to be a HIT on Broadway and I'm sure it will be. I found it to be something like "Into the woods" meets "SIX" but with a very clear and moderm message. No wonder Sony pictures bought the rights to the movie adaptation already, this musical will be really popular in 2022, mark my words!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/6/21 at 3:57pm

bwayphreak234 said: "Jordan Levinson said: "OliverPete said: "Does someone knows/remember the order of the songs on the show? I already know that BOMT it's the opening, but what about the others?"

ACT I

• "Baby One More Time"
• "Work Bitch"
• "Piece of Me"
• "Oops!...I Did It Again"
• "Sometimes"
• "Lucky"
• "Boys"
• "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart"
• "I'm a Slave 4 U"
• "Scream & Shout"
• "If I'm Dancing"
• "Cinderella"

 

 


ACT II

 

 

 

 

• "Pretty Girls"
• "Womanizer"
• "Toxic"
• "(You Drive Me) Crazy"
• "Circus"
• "Everytime"
• "Make Me..."
• "Stronger"
• "I Wanna Go"
• "Passenger"
• "Till the World Ends"

"

WOW! Lots of changes from the reading I saw..."

 

 

That’s from the Wikipedia and I believe I saw from someone who saw the show, this is not the correct order. 

[OliverPete]

Posted: 12/6/21 at 4:10pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "Jordan Levinson said: "OliverPete said: "Does someone knows/remember the order of the songs on the show? I already know that BOMT it's the opening, but what about the others?"

ACT I

• "Baby One More Time"
• "Work Bitch"
• "Piece of Me"
• "Oops!...I Did It Again"
• "Sometimes"
• "Lucky"
• "Boys"
• "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart"
• "I'm a Slave 4 U"
• "Scream & Shout"
• "If I'm Dancing"
• "Cinderella"

 

 

 

 


ACT II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• "Pretty Girls"
• "Womanizer"
• "Toxic"
• "(You Drive Me) Crazy"
• "Circus"
• "Everytime"
• "Make Me..."
• "Stronger"
• "I Wanna Go"
• "Passenger"
• "Till the World Ends"

"

WOW! Lots of changes from the reading I saw..."





That’s from the Wikipedia and I believe I saw from someone who saw the show, this is not the correct order."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't believe either that's the correct order, i saw someone saying that If I'm Dancing it's on the second act.

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 12/6/21 at 4:16pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "Jordan Levinson said: "OliverPete said: "Does someone knows/remember the order of the songs on the show? I already know that BOMT it's the opening, but what about the others?"

ACT I

• "Baby One More Time"
• "Work Bitch"
• "Piece of Me"
• "Oops!...I Did It Again"
• "Sometimes"
• "Lucky"
• "Boys"
• "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart"
• "I'm a Slave 4 U"
• "Scream & Shout"
• "If I'm Dancing"
• "Cinderella"

 

 

 

 


ACT II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• "Pretty Girls"
• "Womanizer"
• "Toxic"
• "(You Drive Me) Crazy"
• "Circus"
• "Everytime"
• "Make Me..."
• "Stronger"
• "I Wanna Go"
• "Passenger"
• "Till the World Ends"

"

WOW! Lots of changes from the reading I saw..."





That’s from the Wikipedia and I believe I saw from someone who saw the show, this is not the correct order."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I remember correctly, the actual order of the songs is the following:

ACT I

• Baby one more time
• Lucky
• Make Me
• Sometimes
• Work b#tch
• Boys / Pretty girls
• Circus
• I’m a slave 4 U / Piece of me
• Oops! I did it again
• From the bottom of my broken heart
• Womanizer
• Scream & Shout
• I wanna go

 

ACT II

• (You drive me) Crazy
• Cinderella
• Toxic
• Everytime
• If I’m dancing
• Passenger
• Mash-up of some of the songs
• Till the world ends

[twotrey]

Posted: 12/7/21 at 4:40am

I remain highly disappointed that "Gimme More" isn't on the song list (and, seriously, only ONE from the Blackout album?)

[OliverPete]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 12:36pm

twotrey said: "I remain highly disappointed that "Gimme More" isn't on the song list (and, seriously, only ONE from theBlackoutalbum?)"

Besides i enjoy the songlist, i think the story itself could be benefied by songs like Overprotected, I'm Not a Girl, Man on the Moon, 3, Break the Ice, Brand New Girl, Gimme More...

Also, could someone please spoil the plot a little more? 

[charlie525600]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 3:06pm

Happy to give a rough plot sketch, based on my recollection. Also, for those who might be curious, Dec 17 is opening. 

Rough plot spoilers based on my falliable memory below.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

It's set in a world powered by stories where the characters must go reenact/relive their stories every time they are read in the real world. They get paged like an actor being called to set. Cinderella is feeling disenchanted with her story and wondering if her romance with Prince Charming is really a happily ever after. She then meets the OFG (Original Fairy Godmother) who was apparently banished. OFG gives her the book "The Feminine Mystique" which blows Cinderella's mind but then the evil stepmother steals the book. 

Cinderella shows up too early in her story in order to find the book and brings along Snow White (which violates the rules). They learn that Snow White's prince and Cinderella's prince are the same person. Cinderella takes the book back and OFG supplies the rest of the princesses with copies and they decided to go on strike.

They learn the prince is everybody's prince. The narrator is outraged by the strike and sends the prince to win back cinderella. The stepmother manipulatively stands by the narrator, hoping her daughters can take over a place in the story. The strikers are out in the woods. Cinderella leaves to find OFG. The narrator begins banishing strikers. They are kind of in suspended animation after the banishing. He also bainshes one of the stepsisters, which upsets the remaining sister.

Cinderella meets a little girl from the real world in the woods who says she used to love her story but whose story book is falling apart. Cinderella helps her put it back together and tells her most recent story, which doesn't have an ending. The OFG shows up and reveals the little girl is her grandkid. Cinderella realizes she must write her own story and goes back to her friends, discovering they're banished. She throws her shoe which breaks them out. They all go back to confront the narrator and get the quill to write their own story. The various antagonists (narrator, stepmom, prince) apologize and they all hold a quill to write new stories for the modern age. At the end, cinderella learns that the OFG is Betty Friedan, author of the feminine mystique. 

Also there is one romantic subplot between Clumsy (the dwarf from snow white) and a prince in the Prince's entourage. 

 

[BritCrit]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 4:01pm

OliverPete said: "twotrey said: "I remain highly disappointed that "Gimme More" isn't on the song list (and, seriously, only ONE from theBlackoutalbum?)"

Besides i enjoy the songlist, i think the story itself could be benefied by songs like Overprotected, I'm Not a Girl, Man on the Moon, 3, Break the Ice, Brand New Girl, Gimme More...

Also, could someone please spoil the plot a little more?"

As I pointed out, I'm kinda glad that Overprotected and I'm Not A Girl are not in, as it reduces the overlap with & Juliet.

The new collection of photos are OK, but this is definitely a show which needs to bring in a more impressive set for Broadway...

 

[Dolly80]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 5:17pm

That set is the ugliest I’ve seen for years. No. Just no.

Everything about this looks really awful.

[OliverPete]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 6:37pm

charlie525600 said: "Happy to give a rough plot sketch, based on my recollection. Also, for those who might be curious, Dec 17 is opening.

Rough plot spoilers based on my falliable memory below.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

It's set in a world powered by stories where the characters must go reenact/relive their stories every time they are read in the real world. They get paged like an actor being called to set. Cinderella is feeling disenchanted with her story and wondering if her romance with Prince Charming is really a happily ever after. She then meets the OFG (Original Fairy Godmother) who was apparently banished. OFG gives her the book "The Feminine Mystique" which blows Cinderella's mind but then the evil stepmother steals the book.

Cinderella shows up too early in her story in order to find the book and brings along Snow White (which violates the rules). They learn that Snow White's prince and Cinderella's prince are the same person. Cinderella takes the book back and OFG supplies the rest of the princesses with copies and they decided to go on strike.

They learn the prince is everybody's prince. The narrator is outraged by the strike and sends the prince to win back cinderella. The stepmother manipulatively stands by the narrator, hoping her daughters can take over a place in the story. The strikers are out in the woods. Cinderella leaves to find OFG. The narrator begins banishing strikers. They are kind of in suspended animation after the banishing. He also bainshes one of the stepsisters, which upsets the remaining sister.

Cinderella meets a little girl from the real world in the woods who says she used to love her story but whose story book is falling apart. Cinderella helps her put it back together and tells her most recent story, which doesn't have an ending. The OFG shows up and reveals the little girl is her grandkid. Cinderella realizes she must write her own story and goes back to her friends, discovering they're banished. She throws her shoe which breaks them out. They all go back to confront the narrator and get the quill to write their own story. The various antagonists (narrator, stepmom, prince) apologize and they all hold a quill to write new stories for the modern age. At the end, cinderella learns that the OFG isBetty Friedan, author of the feminine mystique.

Also there is one romantic subplot between Clumsy (the dwarf from snow white) and a prince in the Prince's entourage.

"

it seems funny, i did not expected the "actresses" stuff but seems criative. Do you remember the contexts of the songs, or who sings which?

[charlie525600]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 7:17pm

Only remember a few of the most prominent songs context:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

"Hit Me Baby One More Time" is the Opening Number. Many lyrics are changed to quip on the setting of the play.

"Oops I did it again" is sung by the prince when snow white and cinderella learn he's two timing them.

"Womanizer" is sung by the princesses when they realize the prince has been dating all of them. They change the lyrics to like Princeizer or something.

"Toxic" is sung by the stepmother as she manipulates the narrator during the strike.

"Stronger" is sung by all the princesses as they stand up to the narrator.

Hopefully someone else can fill in more of them

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 10:19pm

This show is a god damn blast. I pity anyone who doesn’t have fun watching. 

[charlie525600]

Posted: 12/8/21 at 10:41pm

Just a plug to the DC theatregoers in this thread: Regardless of whether you see OUAOMT, I hope you check out "A Strange Loop" at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co!!! It's an outstanding, original musical also having its pre-Broadway try out here.