On The Town Closing Night

[Steve C.]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 7:35pm

Finally here for closing night. Crowd seems very buzzed and electric. Lots of friends and friends of friends.

 

 

Updated On: 9/7/15 at 07:35 PM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 7:43pm

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 7:54pm

Good, I was hoping someone would live-tweet the final show...

[Steve C.]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 9:32pm

Crowd is electric;  multiple show stoppers 

wonderful dance and performance

jackie Hoffmann remains a hoot 

more later

[Steve C.]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 10:40pm

Show just let out. Speechless really amazing. 

More later. Met Megan Hilty and got autograph 

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 10:40pm

Electrifying audience! A little bit too much from the audience at times, but really incredible. Jackie Hoffman is hilarious and her adlibs were genius. I loved "What will I do on Tuesday?" adlibs. The cast was stellar and very responsive to the audience.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 11:19pm

I was there this afternoon, equally glorious.  Copeland (her last) and the hardest working company on B'way at the top of their game.  Thrilling, emotional, uplifting. 

[HorseTears]

Posted: 9/6/15 at 11:40pm

Ignore Clyde and keep those closing night reports coming! 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 12:01am

thank you sooooo much to all involved with this incredibly wonderful and moving production

one of the true gifts to broadway in recent memory....

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 1:44am

Did they sell out either performance today?   I wouldn't think it would just because of how ginormous the Lyric is but there was a guy at the matinee asking if anyone had an extra ticket so why would he do that if it weren't sold out? 

 

The crowd did seem very big this afternoon.  I was there 10 minutes early and still got in my seat right at 2:00.  I don't know if they opened the doors late or what but the show did end up starting a few minutes late.

Updated On: 9/7/15 at 01:44 AM

[Steve C.]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 3:12am

Well, what a day and night, we saw GGLM at 3 and OTT at 7:30pm.

The house was great, I saw maybe 20-30 empty seats but not much more than that. Tony Yazbeck is so much the soul of this production; Megan Fairchild came back for the finale, Alysha and Alison were in tip top form. The company, the dancers!!!!!!!! This show really was a love letter to Broadway, and the dance. Hoots and Hollers all night. Allison's Lucy Schmeeler and Jackie Jackie Jackie. Just too too funny especially with all the "Tuesday ad libs". I wish I would have been able to see it more than once but luck wasn't with me for that. My husband saw it 3 times and tonight again. Happy tears, and smiles from everyone.

We saw Megan Hilty on the way out. 

[Steve C.]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 9:08am

Just had a great great time last night. I'm still replaying it in my head; not much sleep...and Ugh! Traffic was a total zoo yesterday. TS was closed from 47th St. You would have thought the Prez was here; I think there were two street festivals. So glad that I was here for the last show.

Updated On: 9/7/15 at 09:08 AM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 10:06am

ChiTheaterFan said: "Did they sell out either performance today?   I wouldn't think it would just because of how ginormous the Lyric is but there was a guy at the matinee asking if anyone had an extra ticket so why would he do that if it weren't sold out? 

 

Those people asking for extra tickets have no interest in purchasing one. They're called "vultures" and are looking for free tickets. They always turn up at first previews and closing performances.

 

Updated On: 9/7/15 at 10:06 AM

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 11:00am

adamgreer said: "ChiTheaterFan said: "Did they sell out either performance today?   I wouldn't think it would just because of how ginormous the Lyric is but there was a guy at the matinee asking if anyone had an extra ticket so why would he do that if it weren't sold out? 

 

 

Those people asking for extra tickets have no interest in purchasing one. They're called "vultures" and are looking for free tickets. They always turn up at first previews and closing performances.

I recognized one of those vultures at the first performance of The Performers as the accountant for a law firm I worked at years ago! She would always boast about how she would blag her way into movie screenings and premieres, now she's moved on to Broadway.  One look at her and you knew she had blagged her way in!

 

 

Updated On: 9/7/15 at 11:00 AM

[Carmilla]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 11:14am

adamgreer said: "ChiTheaterFan said: "Did they sell out either performance today?   I wouldn't think it would just because of how ginormous the Lyric is but there was a guy at the matinee asking if anyone had an extra ticket so why would he do that if it weren't sold out? 

Those people asking for extra tickets have no interest in purchasing one. They're called "vultures" and are looking for free tickets. They always turn up at first previews and closing performances.

They turn up all the time, not just previews and closing performances.  Last week I was waiting for a friend outside of Something Rotten.  One of the vultures kept harassing people for tickets.  Another person, not realizing that the vulture wanted a free ticket, suggested that she go talk to a scalper who was also there, trying to sell his tickets.  The vulture started screaming out angrily that she didn't want his tickets, he's a scalper.  As if she's any better than the scalper....

 

 

 

"

 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 11:58am

Interesting; I didn't know this.  I've always assumed when people were asking for tickets they were looking to buy, but I've never spoken to them or seen their interactions with anyone so I didn't know. I did see the guy in the theater so it must've worked. 

 

I saw the same guy at Hamilton that night. I doubt he had as much luck. Why on earth would anyone give a way a ticket to that show when they can at least get what they paid back quite easily?

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 2:01pm

One word: breathtaking.

 

I saw the show last November and fell in love with it. Although billed as a gut-busting comedy, the show (especially Gabey) has a lot of heart that can make even the most cynical misty-eyed.

 

Tonight the cast went all-out. Every major character (even Lucy and Pitkin) got entrance applause. Jackie Hoffman and the rest of the comedic ensemble ad-libbed everywhere, making for some interesting moments (including some grunting during an implied sex scene, many references to the closing, and Jackie milking every line for all it was worth).

 

The "Lonely Town" sequence was thrilling - Tony was almost in tears by the end of the gorgeous choral.  Standing ovations occurred after many major moments - and "I Can Cook Too" got a solid 90 seconds of applause.

 

The tension between Megan and Tony was palpable - such chemistry ought to be outlawed! The highlight of the show, for me, has always been the thrilling "Imaginary Coney Island" ballet sequence, and last night it was the most erotic thing I have ever seen on stage. The pas de duex brought their two bodies together and they seemed to be making love through their dance.

 

And what could possibly follow that? The heart-breakingly understated "Some Other Time", which held a special meaning last night. Tears were de rigor during those final scenes, and when they all embraced one final time and new sailors took over the stage, it was clear we had all witnessed something very special.

 

That is the kind of theatre that must continue to be produced. The cast, the orchestra, the joy. It was a magnificent production that deserved all the accolades it garnered. And the cast all brought such genuine joy to the material - you could feel that they loved what they were doing.

 

There was no curtain speech, but Tony attempted to throw roses to the audience (they fell apart in the air). Three lucky audience members caught the three sailor hats which were thrown as tribute. And the orchestra played the exit music with great passion and flair. Exiting the theatre, you knew you had been a part of something special. I don't believe we will ever see a greater productions in our lifetimes.

 

As a side note, Megan Hilty was in the row in front of me and seemed to be having a blast. She looked gorgeous, and after the show I went up to her and told her how much I loved her work. She was extremely generous and kind and seems like a wonderful person to work with - hopefully Bombshell will hurry up and get written so she can return to the great white way!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 2:10pm

 

 Ah, well. We'll all catch up, some other time.

 

 

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 2:54pm

Sally Durant Plummer said: "hopefully Bombshell will hurry up and get written so she can return to the great white way!"

 

One hopes she isn't pinning all of her hopes on that!

[Steve C.]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 3:38pm

What a nice post script from SDP and PJ...there'a a little discussion in here on artistic vs financial success = $uccess. All I know is it will be a long long time before we see such excellence, magic, music and dance on Broadway, or London or anywhere...before we see anything like it again. The cast was brilliant, the production (on stage) ...I'm so glad I was there. Somewhere in Heaven, Gene Kelly and friends are dancing, singing and smiling.

Updated On: 9/7/15 at 03:38 PM

[A Director]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 5:26pm

In the video, Eileen Farrell is wonderful, but things take a turn for the worse when the piano player joins in.

Somewhere in Heaven, Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jerome Robbins and the original Broadway cast are smiling!

[lovebwy]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 7:18pm

I had a dream of making it back to New York to see it again, but alas, I was never able to.

 

Maybe now that it's over, people will start uploading extended clips of the show on YouTube. There is very little there right now.

 

I can't wait to see the touring version!!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 8:08pm

 

Lenny never claimed "the piano player" was a good singer.

 

 

 

Updated On: 9/7/15 at 08:08 PM

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 10:53pm

"Those people asking for extra tickets have no interest in purchasing one. They're called "vultures" and are looking for free tickets. They always turn up at first previews and closing performances."

I really don't understand that phenomenon. I mean, it must work some time or why do it but it seems like a waste of time and subway fare if you do it a lot without much success.

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 10:58pm

Not to mention that after you give them a ticket for free, you'd then be sitting next to them for the whole show?! I'd rather an empty seat, heh.