SA next?

#1

SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 1:09pm

I am blessed in that I've been able to go to NYC three times in 6 months! Have already seen Avenue Q, Chicago, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, Rent, Color Purple, Lion King, Phantom, and Wicked. My favorite musicals of all time have to be (1) Urinetown (2) Grey Gardens (3) Wicked. I'm thinking about Spring Awakening next .. is that a good plan? How much of the original cast is still there?

#2

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 1:14pm

Two of the three leads (Jonathan Groff & Lea Michele, but not John Gallagher Jr.) are still there. Most of the ensemble is still there with the exception of Gideon Glick. 4 of the original swings are gone as well as both of the actors who play the adult roles. Lauren Pritchard is leaving in February.

For some reason, it's been understudy city lately, so the chance of catching a completely full cast is pretty random. Also, all of the actors besides the main four (whoever is playing Melchior, Moritz, Ilse, and Wendla) are on limited contracts which mean they are allowed to leave as long as they give 2 weeks (4 weeks? I forget) notice. So it really depends on when you go.

#3

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 1:19pm

Rats! Due to some other commitments we have to see a matinée. In our town matinée = higher chance of understudies. Is that the same for Broadway?

#4

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 1:34pm

I went when it was almost completely understudies and enjoyed it more than I expected to.

---

"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world." "Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.

#5

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 1:37pm

most, if not all the understudies are wonderful in the show...i have seen understudies for Melchoir, Ilse, Anna, Martha, Adult Men...and they have all been very good.....so I wouldnt let that hinder you from going to see the show, the show is fabulous.

just my opinion anyway.....

---

"that's what my date said."

#6

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 1:46pm

the whole entire current cast is fantastic so whoever you see you will def enjoy it very much!

#7

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 1:50pm

Also, good though the original cast was, SA is not a star-dependent show. It's really very much an ensemble piece, so whoever you see should be good.

---

BroadwayEd

#8

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 1:50pm

Yesterday's matinee had 3 understudies- Otto, Martha and Georg and I thought all 3 were fantastic. So even if you have understudies, the entire cast is really great so you'll enjoy it nonetheless. And Blake Bashoff is really great as Moritz, so missing John Gallagher Jr. isn't AS hard to deal with.

#9

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 2:01pm

The understudies in Spring Awakening kick my butt so you should definitely check out that show!

---

#10

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 4:04pm

Out of all the times I've seen it (1, the one show where there were 5 understudies, including understudies for Melchior and Wendla, was one of my favorite viewings.

#11

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 4:14pm

Saw the show a few weeks ago with almost a completely different cast, and it was still amazing. Melchior u/s, Wendla u/s, Replacement Moritz, Ilse u/s, Hanschen u/s, Ernst u/s, Replacement Adult Men, Replacement Adult Women. If I hadn't known those were understudies, I wouldn't have even noticed.

#12

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 4:15pm

On last Saturay's matinée, there were understudies for Georg, Ilse, and Anna. Georg was played by Gerard Canonico and he was absolutely amazing! He owned the role. And Phoebe Strole took over for Ilse, so Anna was left to Alexandra Socha. Alex was okay, nothing special. And Phoebe was lacking. Her voice wasn't up to par.

#13

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 4:19pm

I saw Alexandra and she was just ok as Anna. Her Wendla is phenomenal though, way better than Lea's IMO.

#14

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/28/08 at 4:30pm

To be fair, it's not like there's that much to the part of Anna. You can't really do that much with it.

---

I know you. I know you. I know you.

#15

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/29/08 at 10:44pm

Well, I know. That's why I said nothing special. I wasn't really trying to be negative about it...just saying that I can't really judge her performance.

#16

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/29/08 at 10:49pm

I actually prefer Socha's Wendla to Michele's.

To echo what others have said, the understudies in this show (from my experiences) have been quite good.

And...consider yourself lucky and blessed if you get an understudy for the Adult Men.

#17

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/29/08 at 10:52pm

I have no problem with Lea's performance. To me she is wonderfully talented and honestly, when I saw her last Saturday, she was the best in the show. It might have just been that day but she sang beautifully.

Updated On: 1/29/08 at 10:52 PM

#18

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/30/08 at 10:08am

Definitely see it and have a wonderful time!

---

"Everytime you step on that stage it is somebody's first Broadway show and somebody's last Broadway show. Make it count."

#19

re: SA next?

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:37pm

If Matt Doyle is going on, you will def have a great time.
He is fantastic, the Best swing in the show. IMO