Romy and Michele's High School Reunion The Musical in Seattle

It starts June 8th at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. Info here.

Anyone going? Anyone interested? Look forward to reviews.





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Updated On: 6/2/17 at 03:54 PM

I have a friend that went, but I usually keep in touch with him through Facebook, and he usually doesn't post reaction stuff there. I don't attend until the 20th, which I think is four performances after it is "frozen".

Thanks for the update!

Here's some video of a photo shoot: http://www.king5.com/entertainment/television/programs/evening/romy-and-michelles-high-school-reunion-debuts-in-seattle/446670732

Anyone seen this yet?

"Romy and Michele" is only running for 2 more weeks. Does anyone know when the press opening is?

I haven't seen the film but the song clips online remind me of "Legally Blonde: The Musical."

https://www.youtube.com/user/5thAvenueTheatre/videos



EDIT: Never mind. It opened last night. Reviews should be up soon.

http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/theater/its-a-romy-and-michele-reunion-as-5th-avenue-theatre-launches-new-musical/

Updated On: 6/16/17 at 09:51 AM

I'm excited to see it on the 27th. I asked a friend who saw it in previews and they said that "it was cute! not the most phenomenal show, but very true to the story and style of the movie and a fun time all around, especially for people who do LOVE the movie. I think it sat right around 2 hrs + intermission. overall it was good lighting, there were just several times where it was too direct to the audience and a little blinding". She also said that I'd probably enjoy it more after seeing the movie, and that "the girl playing Romy is gonna have a weird speaking voice/inflection that makes her sound kinda like she's not so great of an actor/isn't saying the lines right sometimes but again, knowing the movie, she is actually doing a pretty great impression of the movie actress".

She also said that I'd probably enjoy it more after seeing the movie, and that "the girl playing Romy is gonna have a weird speaking voice/inflection that makes her sound kinda like she's not so great of an actor/isn't saying the lines right sometimes but again, knowing the movie, she is actually doing a pretty great impression of the movie actress".

The film actress is Oscar winner Mira Sorvino.

Reviews are out and BWW is rounding them up:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-ROMY-AND-MICHELES-HIGH-SCHOOL-REUNION-World-Premiere-in-Seattle-20170620

Variety is Negative. "While the potential is still there for a musicalized “R&M” to improve upon its source, as “Legally Blonde” did, at present this loud, effortful stab at a crowdpleaser goes in the opposite direction."
https://variety.com/2017/legit/reviews/romy-and-micheles-high-school-reunion-review-musical-1202471730/

Seattle Times is Mixed. "The show’s finale finally sees an attempt to branch out into new territory, with a plot adjustment that makes sense for all the characters involved, and a joyous big finish that doesn’t merely trade on the good feelings of the source material. It’ll have you exiting the theater with a bounce in your step, and for a show like this, maybe that’s more than enough."
https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/theater/review-romy-and-michele-and-their-reunion-on-the-5th-avenue-theatre-stage/

Seattle PI is Negative. "Why would the 5th’s producers take a silly film that flopped big time (despite some terrific performances) and think they could turn it into a successful musical? "
https://blog.seattlepi.com/feetfirst/2017/06/19/a-tone-deaf-romy-and-michele/

I just got back from seeing the show! Having not seen the entire movie (I watched ~20 minutes of it earlier, but didn't get to finish the entire movie before going), I found it very cute. I think it could do well Off-Broadway, similar to Heathers. They play a bunch of hit songs from the 80s-90s before the show & during intermission, which was nice as it helped set the mood for the show.

The first act is centered around Romy & Michele deciding to go to the reunion, and trying to figure out what to tell everyone when they're there. From the bits of the movie that I've already seen, they were definitely very true to it. There were lines that seemed to be identical from the movie, and it worked very well. The audience was really responsive, and there were a lot of laughs. You could tell that people who were there weren't usual theatre goers (Where's Patti LuPone when you need her?), and that they strictly went because they were a huge fan of the movie. Lots of whooping and enthusiasm from the audience, and I feel like most of the fans of the movie walked out happy!

There were a few jokes that I'm guessing were in the movie, but seem very outdated now. Other than that, it was pretty cohesive, and quite funny throughout. The lighting was a little blinding at times. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the score as a whole. It almost reminded me of Legally Blonde, Heathers, and American Psycho, although with less memorable lyrics. I’ll post the song list at the bottom of the post, but the two numbers that seemed to be the best received were Love Is, as sung by Heather, and I Don’t Have You, which is sung by Sandy in Act 2.

As stated in the BWW Review, "The cast is full of energy and fun and trying their hardest. Wolfson and Wall are adorable as the ditzy heroines and manage some decent vocal impressions of the originals but never get their moments to convey much about their relationship or character other than being party girls. Burnett is delightful as the bitter foul mouthed loner Heather. Grant completely kills as the nerdy Sandy turned hottie and his voice is incredible. Hannah Schuerman is quite lovable as the awkward Toby and Tess Soltau makes for a fine villain as the superficial A-Lister Christy." - I definitely agree with that. The cast is incredible and are really pulling the show along. The audience really loved all of them too and was very enthusiastic.

It took me almost the entire number to realize that there was a dream sequence (which is in Act 2), which I'm not sure is because of how it was staged, or because I am unfamiliar to the movie. I ran into a friend at intermission who had never seen the movie either, and said that their frequent time skips made it a little confusing.

This show was visually very intricate. I will say that there were parts in Act 1 where the lights shine over the audience, and ended up just hitting me right in the eye - making it hard for me to see some parts. The costumes definitely helped move things along, although I spent most of the show wondering when the post-it dresses would show up after having seen a photo on Stephanie Wall’s instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/p/BV3K6jKl4Mn/?taken-by=stephiewall ). It wasn’t used in the whole show at all, but only at bows — I’m still glad it was worked in somehow though!

There’s a dance number in Act 2 that seems a little out of place - not so much in the fact that it is a dance number, but the way it is choreographed. I understand that there is some kind of dance between Romy, Michele and Sandy, although I’m not sure how it’s shown in the movie. The dance in that scene reminded me of something that should’ve been in An American in Paris or On The Town, rather than a musical like this. Aside from that, the choreography was very ‘cute’.

Overall, I felt like this musical could do really well off-Broadway. I think there are some things that could be worked on, but I do understand why people enjoyed it so much. It definitely reminded me of high school and a lot of fears that I had during it (especially not fitting in, and wanting to be different/make a name for myself), and makes me want to get back in touch with some friends from high school. It’s a very “feel-good” musical too. I'm quite tired & am not sure if this made any sense, but wanted to get this up before I forgot about it tomorrow! Feel free to ask me any clarifying questions.

SONG LIST:

Act 1 /

Romy & Michele's Big Night Out - Romy, Michele, Ensemble
Ten Years - Romy, Michele, Toby
Look at Those Girls - Christie, Kelly, Cheryl, Lisa, Romy, Michele, Ensemble
You're the Coolest Person I Know - Romy, Michele
Party Hardy/Somebody to Dance With - Romy, Full Company
It's A Giant Mystery - Romy, Michele, Sandy, Heather
Get A Life - Romy, Michele, Ensemble
Love Is - Heather, Male Ensemble
The Lie Will Set Us Free - Romy, Michele, Ensemble

Act 2 /

Business Woman Special - Romy, Michele, Ensemble

One Big Lie - Romy, Michele

I invented Post-Its - Michele, Christie, Kelly, Cheryl, Lisa, Ensemble

Welcome to the Reunion - Toby

I Feel Fulfilled - Christie, Romy, Kelly, Cheryl

Michele is Lost - Michele

Without You - Romy, Michele
You're the Coolest Person I Know (Reprise) - Romy, Michele

We’re Done - Romy, Michele, Kelly, Cheryl, Christie, Lisa, Ensemble

I Don’t Have You - Sandy

It's A Giant Mystery (Reprise) - Romy, Michele, Sandy

Changing Lives (One Outfit at a Time) - Romy, Michele, Ensemble

Saw this. While this is a fun tribute to the movie and seemed like a fun, campy girls night out at lower than Broadway prices, this is most definitely not a Broadway musical. It is not clever, the music is very amateur, and the script is just the movie placed on stage. There is no reason for this to exist other than a send up of the film. It would do well to tour in smaller regional houses and maybe if it did hit New York do a limited New World Stages or off off Broadway run.

'Romy & Michele: The Musical' To Debut Off Broadway This Fall

https://deadline.com/2025/07/romy-michele-the-musical-off-broadway-1236447726/

Has anyone received the fan code yet for the sale happening this morning at 10am ET?