"Perfect for US": The NEXT TO NORMAL love thread!- Page 51

[CRS14]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 8:49am

Saw the show last night with Tim/Gabe and Michael/Dan. Gotta admit I was pretty disappointed to see both of them out, but it was still a terrific show. The audience was a little weird, laughing at parts that I didn't expect them to - but it got an immediate standing ovation which seems to be the norm right now.

Sat 2nd row center which was a totally different experience than mezzanine and back of the orchestra (where I had previously seen it). I was more nervous about Tim than I was about Michael, but Tim was a fantastic surprise. I still prefer Aaron, but thought Tim was more than capable of playing the part. The kid (is he a kid? He looked a tad too old) has some vocals.

Michael was, ummmm, interesting as the father. He speaks/shorts the endings of a lot of his lines. It was weird. I thought his brightest moment was during A Light in the Dark, and his weakest during I Am The One (reprise) where he wasn't nearly as emotional as I would have liked. It was the hardest I've cried at that scene, but I feel that was more due to seat location than the acting.

I also got really invested in the Henry/Natalie relationship this time. I think Adam just gets better and better and they are just a joy to watch.

And being that close to Alice the whole time...Gee whiz. She was crying from start to finish. It would be impossible to sit that close and not feel something for her. I'm amazed she can nail this with both male leads, whom she interacts with the most, being understudies.

Hopefully I can squeeze in another performance from that close with the full cast. Won't have many tears left, but it's worth it.

[Lori2]

Posted: 9/18/09 at 7:59pm

Nice review, glad you enjoyed it!

[steven22]

Posted: 9/18/09 at 10:11pm

the emotions I recognized from my first row center seat were unbelievable! I love seeing N2N upclose!

[Rudy2]

Posted: 9/18/09 at 11:05pm

I just looked up Jennifer Damiano's age on Wikipedia. I'm 22, but now I feel ancient.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 9/18/09 at 11:28pm

^haha, I'm 21 (soon to be 22 too) and I'm totally jealous of Jennifer. She's only what, 18? And she gets to live out on her own in NYC and be an incredibly talented actress in an amazing show on Broadway, no fair! And she just graduated from a high school that's right by my house.

[Lori2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 6:50pm

Wow, I didn't realize she was so young! I feel old now lol

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 8:47pm

OK. I saw N2N for the first time yesterday. O.M.G In my 30+ years of viewing Bway musicals, I have cried just a few times in the theater. Yesterday, tears did not trickle down my face, they streamed.

What an amazing show. I was a little reticent in the beginning, admiring the show but viewing from an emotional distance. However, by the time I experienced the reprise of "I am the one," I was a mess.

Needless to say, I love this show and can't wait to see it again.

Never. Never has a show made me feel so deeply.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 9:39pm

Lori, yes, I agree. I'm substantially older than her, but I would never have known it. It's partly how she carries herself (out of character), but she also has a particularly mature look. Some of us, on the other hand, still look like puberty isn't over.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 9:54pm

Tickets seem to be for sale up to the 3rd Jan 2010, do will think a new block of tickets will go on sale or will this be the closing date?

Hoping to see the show in late Jan

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 9:56pm

No way of telling, but I feel it might close in Jan. (SADLY, I might add.) But time will tell.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:12pm

I saw it three times with weekend.

9/18: Tim Young was on as Gabe and while I didn't love his performance, he was good enough. I think it's a hard role to get wrong because his character exists solely in someone else's mind. Jenn had improved a lot and her performance was much more layered. Everyone else was fantastic.

9/19 matinee: Aaron was back and better than ever. I really appreciated his performance and how much he brings to the role. A+ performances from everyone.

9/20 matinee: Michael Berry was on as Dan. I really missed Bobby, whom I consider to be as good as Alice. Michael started out weak, but improved in Act 2. Again, great performances from the rest of the cast.

I've now seen it a total of five times and today was probably my last. I'm oddly okay with that because it will always be a part of me. I now know from personal experience that musical theatre has the capability to transform people for the better.

[Lori2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:13pm

The show itself has been booming I think, I think every theater is different on how they sell tickets. I really don't think the show will close. Please don't say that lol. Economy sucks right now I understand, but from what I heard Broadway is booming to begin with which is great because I hate to see any shows close!
I noticed some shows are selling tickets it up till January and up till February & March.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:16pm

Ticket sales are falling now that summer is over, and yes, they are falling for most shows....but N2N has both been on TDF and TKTS more often than not. Those are not great signs.

I'm not "cursing it" or hoping for it's end -- it's a show I love. I'm just being realistic. I would love to be wrong.


Can anyone tell me: Has N2N recouped? Did I miss that announcement or is that still to come? (They must be close, yes?)

Updated On: 9/20/09 at 10:16 PM

[Lori2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:20pm

Yeah its understandable with the ticket sales and all, but hopefully I'm sure it will shoot back up sometime soon!

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:22pm

Elphaba3 - I saw the 9/19 matinee. Now I'm feeling like the theater gods smiled on me as I could have easily missed the obc this weekend with a different showtime.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:22pm

I agree with DramaMama. I wouldn't put off seeing N2N any further for those still mulling it over.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:22pm

Ticket sales across the board have fallen. Sales for the show are still good though. I expect it to make it through the winter at least.

[Lori2]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:27pm

Here are the Broadway grosses from the week ending 9/13.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/grosses.cfm

Looks like a lot of shows have dropped, I'm guessing like dramamama611 said with the summer being over and all, makes sense.....its just this economy scares me!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:54pm

It's important to note: sales ALWAYS drop off at this time of year. Very slow from Labor day until Thanksgiving, picks up BIG time from then until the new year and then very slow again until the late spring.

Many shows hang on through the fall so that they can pull in much money during the holidays and then close in Jan.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 11:30pm

"I just looked up Jennifer Damiano's age on Wikipedia. I'm 22, but now I feel ancient."

I'm old enough to be her mom...LOL. But look young enough to be her slighty older sister!

[mina3]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:25am

So, for those who think the show is closing in a little over 3 months, why did the producers just now invest in an awning outside the Booth? Wouldn't that be an unnecessary expense if they weren't planning to be there for a while longer?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 5:55am

How do you know the SHOW purchased it? Perhaps the owners did, as it would be a permanent addition. (Unless the awning itself SAYS N2N on it.) That could be something that was ordered a month ago or more when things were looking great.

And none of us are HOPING it will close...just speculating that it, sadly, won't fare well during the fall. And no one is saying the decision has been made...I'm sure it hasn't.

Someone ASKED for an opinion, and we gave one.

Updated On: 9/21/09 at 05:55 AM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 6:22am

The awning is bright purple, with the show logo (the eyes) and does in fact say next to normal.

[trombonist]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 6:25am

The awnins is purple. The sides say next to normal in the white print as on the signs. The front of the awning has the eyes and music notes as well as next to normal. It's pretty, but it seems to have been put up quickly and it's kind of messy where it connects with the building. idk what those things usually run, but I wouldn't think it would be a ton of money or a huge investment.

[mina3]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 10:23am

The show did purchase the awning (as others have mentioned, it's bright purple and has the title on it), and it was a rather recent development.

Also, dramamama611, I don't recall accusing anyone of hoping the show will close. I was asking how those with the opinion that N2N will be short-lived reconciled that opinion with the investment in the new awning. Seemed like a legitimate question to me - sorry if you disagree.