RENT in LA

[achancetofly]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 3:24am

I know this isn't technically Broadway, but I just had to share it with all of you guys, and no one ever really checks the LA board anyway.


So I went to see the National Touring cast of RENT tonight at the Pantages Theatre in LA.

Awesome night.

It wasn't the best cast, and it seemed like the sound was having major problems (mic volumes not being leveled correctly, etc), but it was still an amazing night, and I think the show is always amazing no matter what.

The best ones in the cast were Bryce Ryness (Roger), Tracy McDowell (Maureen), and Chante Carmel Frierson (Joanne). They were really really wonderful. Bryce was a great Roger, and Tracy just kept me cracking up. Chante had a beautifully powerful voice for Joanne.


Jed Resnick is an absolutely adorable Mark. His voice was a little weak, but still very Mark-ish, which made me really really want to snuggle him.


Ano Okera was kind of lacking in the voice dept, and played Angel a little too overly effeminate, but whatever.

Warren G. Nolan was a great Collins, and I definitely cried during I'll Cover You (Reprise).


Tracy McDowell did the greatest "Over the Moon"...I was laughing so very hard. She really knew how to milk (no pun intended) the audience for laughs.


BUT OMG. THE BEST.PART OF THE NIGHT.

So yes, when we came out, we waited by the stage door. And we're waiting quite a while outside the gate for people to come out. And I'm talking to my friend Mindy, right?


Well, I glanced over to my right, randomly, and I saw this guy standing there talking to like, 2 other people. And I was like.."he looks familiar....is that the guy who played Roger? He looks like a Roger...he didn't come out yet, though..."

And then I realized.

IT WAS ADAM PASCAL.

Adam Pascal! Right there!

I turned to my friend and I was like, "is that Adam Pascal? Dude, I think that's Adam Pascal!"

And so then we both looked at him and started to walk towards him, but he was on the phone and he looked at us and said "I'm really sorry, but I can't do this right now. I'm dealing with my kids".


So, we didn't actually get to MEET him, but he was there, and we saw him, and he saw us, and it was pretty awesome. So I definitely consider that MEETING ADAM PASCAL.

I just hope nothing serious was going on with his kids, because he really seemed like he was in a hurry. I hope everything's alright.

And I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that I'll get a better chance to actually meet and talk to him when I go to the concert at the Grove on Saturday!

YAY!

So yeah, just wanted to share with you guys.

Updated On: 7/20/06 at 03:24 AM

[GodIHopeIGetIt]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 4:11am

AH, fantastic story.
Which Mimi did you see, and what did you think of her? I haven't heard the best things about the touring Mimi(s).

[achancetofly]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 4:47am

I saw Arianda Fernandez, and I have to say that unfortunately, I wasn't that impressed.

Her voice was way too nasally, which made her sound awfully annoying at times.


She would move from a nice, low sound, like in "I Should Tell You", (which she performed nicely, I have to admit), to a very nasally, congested voice, in which she sounded like she was holding back. I think if she had stuck to a consistent, mellower voice, she would have done much better. But it seemed like she was trying too hard at times.


She was very nice at the stagedoor, though.

And boy, next to Bryce Ryness, that woman is SHORT!

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:16am

My boyfriend and I saw the show in Vegas and hated both Arianda and Ano. Worst part of the show.

And the only time we've ever done a stage door was in San Francisco.

We live in Vegas, and we're not going to mix ourselves with jean-wearing tourists.

[Ghosthost999]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:39am

I'm glad to hear it was a good show. I'm seeing it at Saturday Matinee so I'm hoping I have a good time I'm not the biggest Rent fan but my only real experience with it was the movie and my problems with it were more because of the filmmaking. He cuts the most importiant emotional scene in the film (Goodbye Love) and all the actors were way too old for their characters.But yeah, thats enough on my Rent movie rant, I'm really hoping to enjoy the stage show!

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:14am

Bryce Ryness was a great Floyd Collins in LA last year. I wouldn't have thought of him for Roger although I'm sure he's terrific.

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:29pm

I honestly haven't heard one good thing about Fernandez. It's funny that you mentioned Bryce was one of the best while Jed's voice is a bit weak. People seem to usually think the opposite.

Cool story about Adam, although I also hope his kids are okay. But wait, Adam was talking to two other people but on the phone as well?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:38pm

If it was nighttime and he was out, he could have just been calling them to say goodnight before bed. I had that happen a lot when I used to babysit. *total speculation, but just wanted to point out that it isn't necessarily something negative that he was dealing with*

That's really cool that he was there and you saw him. Although, I do think it's funny you recognized him as "Roger" before himself. Not a bad thing, but poor Bryce- you had already forgotten his face within minutes after seeing the show.

[Patronus]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:39pm

I'm glad you had a nice time.

Do you think you could possibly edit out your all capital letter, thumb biting toward punctation profanity explosion in the 1st post?

We have kids that visit this site. Perhaps even Roge..er, Adam's.

I was thinking of going to the Grove this Saturday out of curiosity to see the concert, but I am starting to think that I'd be better of skipping it. I think I'd just end up getting annoyed.


Updated On: 7/20/06 at 12:39 PM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:48pm

Does this tour have lotto or rush or anything?

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:58pm

I think so...

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 1:04pm

Which do they have? Anyone know the specifics?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 1:10pm

Awww, yay. That's cool, even though you didn't really get to talk with him. I hope the kids are alright!

As the asker of all-important questions, how's his hair?

It needs to be October, pronto.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 1:49pm

Somethingwicked, every show of Rent has a rush policy. It's up to the venue to determine if it's line or lotto. In L.A., it's line and it's been VERY busy so if you're rushing this weekend, get there early.

[achancetofly]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:20pm

Patronus, sorry about that, I'll edit it as soon as I finish this comment. I had actually just kind of copy/pasted most of it from my personal livejournal, so I forgot some of the expletives and stuff in there.

[achancetofly]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:26pm

Orangeskittles--

Hahha. I knew it wasn't really Bryce, it was just that Adam was kind of far away and it was a quick glance. I think it was the hair. Because I was standing there going...Bryce didn't come out yet...I know he didn't because I didn't see him...I think I was still in the Roger = Bryce mode, so I saw another Roger, and was like...Bryce? No wait, Adam!

Hahha we actually told Bryce that Adam was there, and he was all excited, hahahaa. I'm actually kind of glad Adam had left before he came out, though, so as not to take the limelight away from Bryce. Because I really think he was one in the show who REALLY deserved it. He seemed the most passionate and energetic and raw of the entire cast.

[achancetofly]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:28pm

siamese dream--

Yeah, it felt like Jed was holding back a bit...he wasn't going all out with his voice. Bryce, on the other hand, just..totally went with it and let everything rip. Which made for a great "One Song Glory."

I initially wasn't too impressed with Jed, but my love for him grew immensely as the show went on. By "La Vie Boheme", his voice was definitely coming out.

He was really adorable in "La Vie Boheme" too, though. He did some wonderful little moves in the choreography that got some great laughs.

[achancetofly]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:30pm

Emcee, hahaha. Adam's hair?

It was short and nice and rocker-y, I guess. *shrug* I don't know, I didn't get to see it for very long, hahaha.

But I'll get a better account for you when I go on Saturday to the Grove. Woo!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:02pm

I need a color report.

Please tell me LA hasn't made him go blonde again.

These are the important things, people!!

Have fun on Saturday. I can't wait to hear about it.

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 11:02pm

I saw the show down in San Diego last Thursday and I have to agree with the review.

I got a 'bench' ticket for $20 and sat to the right front row. Bryce's voice was great, but since I was so close, his acting was a bit under developed. In a smaller Broadway house this might work, but I wonder if a 3000 person theater the subtleness of his Roger played well?

Jed was great as Mark. But his voice was a tad weak at the end of the show.

I had tickets for tonight but I got sick, so I am here at home writing this just as the show is starting, bummer.

[faithanytwo]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 11:09pm

I'm glad you liked Bryce, I wasn't too much of a fan of his Roger in Boston... totally agree with the Ariana and Ano opinions though.

[loridunn]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 7:10am

I also saw the show tonight(7-20-06) and I loved Joanne. Her voice was lovely, the straight acting was a little weak but hey it's Rent it's mostly song anyways. I also teared up during I'll Cover You (reprise). Collins was so touching, plus the music just fills up the theatre so beautifully. I was definately not a fan of Mimi. Everytime she came out I would realize that it was time for her next song and I was hoping it'd be sped up.

I liked the production but there were some sound problems. I was expecting it to be louder than other shows but it was just ridiculous in some points. Who knows maybe I'm an old lady, but it was loud for me. But overall I enjoyed this show. Plus the cute little old couple next to me and my friend were mooing and having a grand time.

[achancetofly]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 1:22pm

No, lori, it's not just you about the sound, haha.

There were a lot of sound problems, it seemed, when I saw it the other night.


There were times where you could barely hear the ensemble, and other times when like...in the middle of a song, a principal's mic would just be turned up WAY too high, so you'd get a very very loud 3 seconds of a song. I was sitting there going "okay, is this a sound problem...or can they not control the volume of their voice very well?"

So I really do think they were having some sound problems, because I've seen RENT before, and it did not sound like that last time I saw it at the Wilshire in 2003.

[L.A. Design Girl]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 5:42pm

"We live in Vegas, and we're not going to mix ourselves with jean-wearing tourists."

And I live in L.A., where black tie means blue jeans and the tourists do WAY worse than denim.

I certainly hope you didn't actually INTEND to take an uppity-sounding tone with us.

CLG

[Popular]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 5:56pm

"And I live in L.A., where black tie means blue jeans"

Ummm, you're not helping our cause here! haha
It's too damn hot, wear what you'd like!