'Rooms: a rock romance' at MetroStage in DC

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 2:48pm

http://www.metrostage.org/html/season.html

Is there anyone who has gone or is planning to go? I'm definitely considering it, since I adore the show and loved Natascia in Signature's Kiss of the Spider Woman. I'd love to hear any reviews!

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 8:15pm

I've been listening to the demo lately, since I'm interning at Geva (who is co-producing and will later be a second home for the production) and totally love it. I'm sure I'll see it once it comes over to Rochester. It really does have a lot of heart and honesty.

[Brandy_Breath]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 8:32pm

I'm going next weekend! I was supposed to go on Friday but things happened and I couldn't. But I am trying my hardest to go next weekend after the Signature's Open House in VA.

Last week, Natasica and Paul Scott Goodman (who wrote the show) did a cabaret/concert thingy at the Signature. They did all of Paul's work and they sang songs from Rooms. And, it was amazing. I can't even explain in words how It made me even more anxious to go.

Doug Kreeger (Ian) was in the audience and showed off his Scottish accent to my friends and me. Paul offered to play one of Ian's songs if he would sing but realized he didn't know the song in Doug's key.

Can't wait until Wednesday when they are doing the cabaret/concert thingy again.

Updated On: 7/27/08 at 08:32 PM

[hslevin]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 10:06am

ROOMS was wonderful - I really enjoyed it. There were moments when you felt like you were watching their concerts - it was so neat. And the arc of the story was quite nice. Their accents were very impressive.

I'm also a fan of Natascia & Doug because I see everything at Signature. I'm going to their cabaret on Wednesday - it'll be neat to see her performing WITH Paul.

And if you guys are around, you should def. come to the open house on August 2nd - I'm performing at 12:15 in the ARK. :]
Signature Open House: Schedule of Events

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 9:30pm

Bump!

[musicalman2]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 9:46pm

I saw it a couple days ago when down in DC area and loved it. The actors are great, tight direction and really nice and interesting score. You should definitely go see it.

[Spider Woman]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 11:47pm

Rooms was good; I'd recommend it. The story moves well, has light and dark moments. Natascia and Doug put out energy and emotion that you can connect to. Metro Stage is a small space and seating was general admission. If you have the opportunity, GO!! Don't put it off.

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 4:15pm

Here's a rave in DC Theatre Scene:
"Rooms is the most emotionally real and authentic musical this reviewer has ever seen. Imagine if Rent or Spring Awakening was condensed down to an intimate two person show and you’ll understand the appeal of this powerful rock romance.."
Steven McKnight
Rave For Rooms at DC Theatre Scene

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 8/6/08 at 8:11pm

Seeing it the 23rd.

Would anyone who has gone mind posting the list of songs? I'm curious to know how it's changed since the NYMF workshop.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 8/6/08 at 8:18pm

I am probably going to see it.

[Brandy_Breath]

Posted: 8/6/08 at 8:55pm

Song List:
Rooms
Steps
Click
the Music
Bring the Future Faster
Friday Night Dress
Scottish Jewish Princess
I Love You For All Time
Let's Go To London
All I Want Is Everything
Let's Leave London
NYC Forever!
Little Bit of Love
Fear of Flying
Happiness
Rooms (Reprise)
My Choice
New Song For Scotland

Some lyrics have been changed from the original versions (what sticks out in my mind is Ian's lines in Scottish Jewish Princess) and some dialogue changes.

sweetestsiren, do you have a song listing from the NYMF workshop? If you do, would you mind PMing them to me?

Went last week and had so much fun and really enjoyed it. Jeremy Kushnier played Ian, to me, much more sarcastic than Doug, who was much angrier and sadder as Ian. Natascia was able to make the switch from the mature Monica to the hyper, impulsive Monica instantly. Doug's Diabolical outfit still cracks me up, all those studs and safety pins, lol.

There were some technical problems (all of it was from the mics, they kept falling off and according to Doug they have had to switch to a different type because of issues from the previous week) but they didn't deter any from the show.

I am going again Friday with Spider Woman (aka my mom) and a friend and can't wait.

ETA:
Since the first time I saw the show and Friday, the programs changed (ooh, glossy now instead of photo copies!). Silly me didn't realize the first time that Click wasn't performed until the second show and had been cut from the show.

Updated On: 8/12/08 at 08:55 PM

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 10:39pm

Just got back it was AMAZING! It has great Off Broadway Potential!

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/9/08 at 10:44pm

I heard really good buzz about it when I was at Signature's open house last week. Wasn't able to get there because it was a short visit, but it sounds really good.

[Spider Woman]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 6:40am

We have seen it twice now and some of the highest praise I can give it is that I never thought, "Geez, what time is it?" or picked up my program to see where they were on the song list.

And... if Peter Marks liked it...

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 9:53am

Rooms has received unamimous raves, and you can read all these great reviews in one spot in THEIR REVIEWS at DC Theatre Scene.com I love the show and I know it will be a hit when it moves back to NYC.
ALL THE ROOMS REVIEWS

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:47pm

I went up to see Rooms yesterday and loved it. Having followed the show for a while, it was great to finally see it live, and they have a great little production up there. Natascia and Doug are fantastic, but it's Goodman's funny, touching score that comes out as the real star. That's not to discount the actors, especially Natascia, whose voice and energy are showcased nicely (particularly in "Bring the Future Faster") and who also does a nice job with the maturation of the character. Kreeger is very good as Ian, but Diaz's Monica is a big part of what makes the show work.

Still, the music is what really shines. There has been so much wonderful music written for this show, and I think they did a great job of streamlining the storyline and including the best songs. It's rare to see a new musical with such a consistent, strong score right out of the gate. I really, really love this show.

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 6:47pm

The show has gotten better since press night and I agree that it's the score that is so brilliant, as are the performances. I recorded a podcast of with Natascia and Doug after Friday night's show. I will post the link here when it goes online at DC Theatre Scene.com in a day or two.
DC Theatre Scene Podcasts

[myshikobit]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 7:05pm

I might go see it soon =).

[Taryn]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 7:39pm

Finally saw in Rochester last night! I just closed my own show last night, so it was tough to get days off that matched up. I absolutely loved it. I have the demo which I BELIEVE is from the NYMF days: it even has a few narration bits (e.g., "Lights up on Monica in New York"), so it sounds like a live workshop recording. I've become familiar with that after working at Geva over the summer, so I was sad to see some songs missing (Click and the original version of Darkness to Light, with only has Ian's verse left in the new song Happiness). I kind've felt the show faltered structurally during Happiness. Darkness to Light seemed very even between the two of them, and The Ham Song, to me, provided some sort of indication of passing time. The lightness expressed some sense of her trying to move on and build a new life for herself. It's odd, cause I wasn't absolutely in love with the song or anything, but it felt more appropriate structurally. Happiness just...seemed very disconnected for some reason. The different musical themes going on really broke down for me. I liked the balance of giving Monica a solo song (The Ham Song), an even duet (Darkness to Light), and then Ian a solo song (Clean) before returning to the present.

Of course, that seems like a lot of negative text for a show that I actually enjoyed very much. It has a lot more emotional honesty, creativity, and musicality on stage than most of the stuff they're putting on Broadway nowadays. However, for all you New Yorkers wanting to see this production... I have it on good authority from two separate sources that a particular company is bringing this show to off-Broadway. Don't trust it until the curtain opens, of course, but if all goes well, you'll be seeing it in January.