Phantom, Wicked, Jersey, Wedding, Purple, Spam Reviews (Pics to be Added)

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/15/06 at 6:44pm

Well... I just returned from a whirlwind week in NY, and what an experience it was! Here are the reviews of the shows I saw. Pictures will come later tonight....

Monday July 10th:

"The Phantom of the Opera"

Understudies: Julie Hanson [alternate] (Christine,) Kris Koop (Carlotta)

The show is in good shape. I have never been a big fan, and this was my first time seeing it. Howard McGillin as The Phantom alone is worth the price of admission. I expected a phoned in performance after him being there so long, but he really was spectacular. Julie Hanson took some warming up to... her voice is a bit shrill, as others have said, but her acting won me over from the start. Her voice got considerably better in the second act, and overall, she did a nice job and really looks the part better than Rebecca Pitcher. Everyone else was great too.. not too much to say really. I didn't stage door because I had no interest in doing so.

Tuesday July 11th:

"Wicked"

Understudies: Lori Ann Ferreri (Nessa,) Gaelen Gilliland (Morrible)

I had coffee with Saycon Sengbloh an hour or so before the show, and it was great to see her and catch up on how she is doing. We spotted Barrett Foa outside the Circle in the Square (later found out they did indeed put him on this week,) and she is just a great girl. Anyway, on to the show... was kind of dissapointed to see that Jenna was out, but having seen her on tour several times, I was okay with it. I knew Carol would be out (she is doing a movie I believe,) so I wasn't suprised there. Overall, I really enjoyed the show (although I think this will be my last time seeing it for awhile.) Eden Espinosa was in FANTASTIC form.. I could tell she was a little sick (Saycon ended up going on Wednesday) because she held back during TWAI, but she let it rip the rest of the show. Her acting was just as good as the singing, and I think she is my new favorite Elphaba. Kate Reinders was... good. She was very hit and miss though. I think she played up the "spastic"-ness of Glinda a little too much, but her vocals were fine and she was cute. I enjoyed her, but not as much as I have others. Derrick Williams was alot better than I thought he'de be, and certainly alot better than others have said. He is for sure a different Fiyero, but I liked him alot. He also had great chemistry with Eden.... David Garrison was just as great as the last time I saw him, and Robb Sapp made the most of a thankless role like Boq. The understudies were good (although Lori Ann was lacking,) and the audience ate up every second of it. I did stage door, and everyone came out but Eden. They were all nice, and Kate Reinders got a kick out of me enjoying her in "Gypsy."

Wednesday July 12th:

"Jersey Boys" (Matinee)

Understudies: None (Full cast)

What stage magic. I know people have said "jukebox" musicals are bad for Broadway, but any piece of theater that can make an audience respond like "Jersey Boys" did can't be a bad thing. Every single person on that stage was incredible, and the four leads had a chemistry together that I don't think will ever be recreated. I could go on and on about every one of them, but sufice it to say, it was incredible. JLY sounded great (as did everyone else,) but I was really suprised at how equal the stage time was. I can't believe Daniel Reichard didn't get a Tony nomination.. that is just a terrible error, because he was really deserving of one. Michael Longoria was also a highlight outside the leads (I would love to see him as Frankie.) The audience went nuts before every song and after every song, and even the guys were taken aback at the liveliness of a Wednesday matinee crowd. I stage doored in the pouring rain, and was amazed that a) all four leads came out and b) all four leads were incredible nice and down to earth. Everyone, catch this show with this cast, because you won't regret it!

"The Wedding Singer" (evening)

Understudies: Tina Maddigan (Julia)

I was kind of dissapointed that Laura Benanti was out, but Tina was so great! Very cute and bubbly and everything Julia should be, and I couldn't have been happier with her performance. The rest of the cast was just as good, and I did enjoy the show (although I was not as enthusiastic about it as others on this board are.) It's good fun, and you have to take it or leave it as just that. Stephen Lynch was great, as was Felicia, but Amy Spanger stood out. Her singing was amazing, and her stage presence was incredible. I wish she'de get a bigger part in a bigger show! I stage doored, but the rain started pouring down again. Tina Maddigan was very cute.. she ran under my umbrella and said "Hi. I don't have an umbrella, but yours is rather large. I think we should get aquainted and stay dry together." She was very funny and nice. I managed to get a picture with Amy Spanger (who was suprised I saw her in "Reefer Madness",) but took off when the storm got worse.

Thursday July 13th

Before I get to the show, I just wanted to say.. I stage doored "Drowsy" before their show to try and meet Sutton. I thought the show was at seven, so I got to the stage door at five (the guy said she usually got there between 5 and 5:30.) Turns out, the show didn't start till eight, but I stayed anyway. I walked over to the NY gift shop and bought a window card for her to sign and waited. Saw Georgia Engel go in, but she ran, so I didn't say anything. I got to talk to Beth Leavel (kicking myself for not asking for a picture with her,) but she was very nice. Finally, Sutton arrived around seven, and couldn't have been nicer. She signed the window card, and talked to me for about five minutes (I was the only one there.) I got two pictures with her, and was over the moon about meeting her. Then, on my way to the Broadway Theater, I saw Bebe Neuwirth in the street! haha. Anyway, onto the show...

"The Color Purple"

Understudies: Janette Bayerdelle (Church Soloist)

My favorite show of my trip. I know alot of people think this show is only for a "certain" audience and won't go see it, but GO. Everything about it blew me away, from the sets to the music to the performers. LaChanze delievered the most incredible performance I have ever seen by any single person on stage, and Elisabeth Withers-Mendes really should have gotten a Tony. Felicia Fields was great, as was Darlesia Cercy and Kingsley Leggs and.. the entire cast. I just can't gush enough about how much I loved it and what an emotional journey this show is. It really is a gift to Broadway. I stage doored here too, and it was a MOB scene. The biggest crowd I have ever seen at a stage door, and people were going over the barricades and.. it was just a mess. I got pictures and signatures from all the principal cast members, and got to talk with alot of them too.

Friday July 14th:

"Spamalot"

Undertstudies: None (Full Cast)

The show was.... good. I am a Monty Python fan, but I didn't enjoy it near as much as I thought I would. I really don't know how it beat out "Piazza" for Best Musical, but with the original cast, I can see where the quality would improve vastly (although this cast was great.) Everyone was good, but I want to comment on Lauren Kennedy because I know she takes alot of flack. She was really the best thing about the show. She was hysterical, and the audience reaction to her was great. Her vocals were incredible, but what really impressed me was that she does things COMPLETELY different from Sara. If you are going in to compare them, don't bother, because they are just very different. Christian Borle was also a highlight, as was Steve Kazee. I stage doored, but only to meet Lauren, and chuckled when she knew who I was before I even introduced myself because I mentioned "Side Show" (I had emailed her telling her I was coming.)

Overall, an amazing trip that I will always remember! I am posting my stage door pics later tonight, and will bump the thread when I do.

Updated On: 7/15/06 at 06:44 PM

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 7/15/06 at 7:56pm

Couldn't agree more with your assessment of "The Color Purple." What a great show!

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 7/15/06 at 8:26pm

I couldn't agree more with your assessment of Lauren Kennedy. I enjoyed her because she was decidedly different.

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 7/15/06 at 9:29pm

I'm glad you enjoyed the trip! I can't wait to see pictures.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/15/06 at 9:38pm

I saw The Wedding Singer too on Wednesday night! And omg i was the random person that tina pushed under your umbrella. :)

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/15/06 at 9:58pm

OH! Hey!

Updated On: 7/16/06 at 09:58 PM

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 7/15/06 at 11:13pm

JULIE HANSON'S BACK?!?!?!?! That makes me happy.

Damn, why must I live on the wrong side of the country for musical theatre fans?

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/15/06 at 11:35pm

^Yep, she's back for the summer, filling in for Jennifer Hope Wills, currently principal Christin on tour for the summer.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 3:08am

Thanks for the reviews! Makes me wanna fly to Broadway at once to watch shows!
It's so cool you can have coffee with Saycon!

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 9:16am

Thank you for the updates/reviews on PHANTOM, WICKED and SPAMALOT 3 of my faves of all time.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 12:12pm

somethingwicked- Great TWS review. Glad you liked Tina Maddigan.