dramamama611 said: "People have been commenting for quite some time that absenteeism in the UK production is horrid. I don't think it has anything to do with Broadway."
I am one of the folks complaining about the London 'swings'. I don't think it is absenteeism thats the problem, the main girls are working their butts off in the show and whatever extra promo they're required to do on top of that...they are over worked if anything. The swings are contracted to do a certain amount of shows a week, so it isn't people slumming, they're all doing what they're contracted to do.
The problem is that the understudies are wrong for the roles they've been hired to cover. To say more than that would probably get me in trouble, but the girls they have hired cannot replace the main cast without the show suffering, lets just leave it at that....
In saying that, I have seen the swings play different roles to those they are supposed to cover and they have been fantastic, in some cases even better or on par with the originals.
It looks like the whole thing has been given a long deserved shake up with the latest announcements and hopefully things are on there way back to some kind of normality in the coming months.
It's a great show, but I think complacancy and apathy from 'the powers that be' took over there for a while, but it seems balance is about to be restored x
Scarlet Leigh said: "You know, I am noticing something from the Chicago Megasix vs the West End Megasix. It's hard to come by Megasix videos from London that doesn't feature at LEAST 1 if not 2 of the alternate queens on in a track. I know that it's been said previously that the alternates go on each at least twice a week. But while it is the same dance heavy show on both sides of the Atlantic... in Chicago, the alternates seem to very RARELY go on. Is it because they are working to get to Broadway or... I don't know it just seems so odd to me."
The Chicago girl have been going for what 2 months? The London girls have been going for almost a year including the initial Arts run, the tour and then back to the Arts, they are shattered and need a break. It's a full time job for them, the Chicago cast finish in a few weeks x
Impossible2 said: "Scarlet Leigh said: "You know, I am noticing something from the Chicago Megasix vs the West End Megasix. It's hard to come by Megasix videos from London that doesn't feature at LEAST 1 if not 2 of the alternate queens on in a track. I know that it's been said previously that the alternates go on each at least twice a week. But while it is the same dance heavy show on both sides of the Atlantic... in Chicago, the alternates seem to very RARELY go on. Is it because they are working to get to Broadway or... I don't know it just seems so odd to me."
The Chicago girl have been going for what 2 months? The London girls have been going for almost a year including the initial Arts run,the tour and then back to the Arts, they are shattered and need a break. It's a full time job for them, the Chicago cast finish in a few weeks x"
alovingfan said: "Impossible2 said: "Scarlet Leigh said: "You know, I am noticing something from the Chicago Megasix vs the West End Megasix. It's hard to come by Megasix videos from London that doesn't feature at LEAST 1 if not 2 of the alternate queens on in a track. I know that it's been said previously that the alternates go on each at least twice a week. But while it is the same dance heavy show on both sides of the Atlantic... in Chicago, the alternates seem to very RARELY go on. Is it because they are working to get to Broadway or... I don't know it just seems so odd to me."
The Chicago girl have been going for what 2 months? The London girls have been going for almost a year including the initial Arts run,the tour and then back to the Arts, they are shattered and need a break. It's a full time job for them, the Chicago cast finish in a few weeks x"
Saw it again last night - on what would have been their closing night before extending. It was my first time seeing the new K. Howard (Courtney Mack) and liked her better than the original (Sam Pauly). Ms. Pauly was phenomenal but she played it really aloof - almost like she wanted to be somewhere else/ cold as ice. Ms. Mack is a bit more grounded - also her eyes are more expressive- I am glad she wasn't directed to be carbon copy of the original. A few more observations - having seen it 7 times now I sense Ms. Mueller's tears are flowing much more as this run goes along (fine line between emotional and campy), and the other Ms. Mack (Anna of Cleves) is ad-libbing more and more (mostly successfully). Finally, the first time I saw the show (first week of previews) was the only time Ms. Uzele (Parr) did that amazing run at the end of "I Don't Need Your Love (Remix)" - it was really impressive to see it live, since then, she's opted out to a lower note or does half the run - it's mostly become a fun game of "will she go for it" whenever I see it. It was still fantastic and excited to see it again on their new closing night.
"Observe how bravely I conceal this dreadful dreadful shame I feel."
It was my first time seeing the new K. Howard (Courtney Mack) and liked her better than the original (Sam Pauly).
I saw Mack on Saturday and I have to say I actually preferred Pauly in the role. Mack wasn't bad or anything, but perhaps she just needs more time to settle into it. Pauly's emotional shift during All You Wanna Do was way more effective, with the song ending in a stunned silence. On Saturday, the audience didn't even really register how the character was changing and just started applauding when Mack stopped singing like any other song. I lot of Mack's jokes didn't land as well as Pauly's, either. Maybe she was having on off day?
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Mister Matt said: "It was my first time seeing the new K. Howard (Courtney Mack) and liked her better than the original (Sam Pauly).
I saw Mack on Saturday and I have to say I actually preferred Pauly in the role. Mack wasn't bad or anything, but perhaps she justneeds more time to settle into it. Pauly's emotional shift during All You Wanna Do was way more effective, with the song ending in a stunned silence. On Saturday, the audience didn't even really register how the character was changing and just started applauding when Mack stopped singing like any other song. I lot of Mack's jokes didn't land as well as Pauly's, either. Maybe she was having on off day?"
I am surprised to see the extension is not selling the way I thought it would. Maybe broadway transfer wishes are a bit premature? I still think it will have a long life.
I am surprised to see the extension is not selling the way I thought it would.
For Chicago, the extension is actually selling really well, especially for a show that really hasn't been heavily marketed in Chicago. Shakes is a subscriber-based house, so it's rare to see extensions there at all (the last I recall was for Paul Gordon's Sense & Sensibility). There are no more subscriber tickets built into the run and when I attended Saturday, the house was packed. For Chicagoans, Shakes is considered somewhat out-of-the-way since they need to make a special trip to Navy Pier they wouldn't ordinarily make as tourists. There will be a lot more walk-up and last-minute ticket sales. Performances are more likely to fill up each week rather than far in advance. This week and next week are quite full, so I expect it will continue.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Mister Matt said: "I am surprised to see the extension is not selling the way I thought it would.
For Chicago, the extension is actually selling really well, especially for a show that really hasn't been heavily marketed in Chicago. Shakes is a subscriber-based house, so it's rare to see extensions there at all (the last I recall was for Paul Gordon's Sense & Sensibility). There are no more subscriber tickets built into the run and when I attended Saturday, the house was packed. For Chicagoans, Shakes is considered somewhat out-of-the-way since they need to make a special trip to Navy Pier they wouldn't ordinarily make as tourists. There will be a lot more walk-up and last-minute ticket sales. Performances are more likely to fill up each week rather than far in advance. This week and next week are quite full, so I expect it will continue."
Robbie2 said: "Heard > New World Stages / Stage 3 after Rock of Ages this fall"
Again, unless they are gonna do TWO different North American production/casts, Six is gonna be in Canada Nov 2-24 so they ain't coming to NYC be it on or off Broadway until likely after the new year. I still think they are aiming for a smaller house for mid to late spring to make it in right before Tony nominations drop.
Scarlet Leigh said: "Robbie2 said: "Heard > New World Stages / Stage 3 after Rock of Ages this fall"
Again, unless they are gonna do TWO different North American production/casts, Six is gonna be in Canada Nov 2-24 so they ain't coming to NYC be it on or off Broadway until likely after the new year. I still think they are aiming for a smaller house for mid to late spring to make it in right before Tony nominations drop."
corrected after Rock of Ages that's all I heard
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I bought a ticket for next Sunday in Chicago. I was really bummed to miss this during my May trip so am really happy about the extension. So excited to see this!
Citadel theatre in Canada confirmed that the Chicago and ART cast will be the cast performing there in November. So, doesn't look like the show will arrive in NYC until the new year, whether off or on Broadway. I still suspect the goal will be the latter.
DCS said: "Citadel theatre in Canada confirmed that the Chicago and ART cast will be the cast performing there in November. So, doesn't look like the show will arrive in NYC until the new year, whether off or on Broadway. I still suspect the goal will be the latter."
Based on the UK model thus far, one wonders if they will have a tour going on at the same time as the Broadway run.
So this looks like it's gonna be our queens all the way to the finish line. I wonder it Pauly will rejoin the show in Canada or Broadway or if Mack will continue on as Howard from now on. I am also a little "Hmmm" that they didn't add another alternate to fill Mack's space. Perhaps they will add in someone at a later date? Seems like they run a risky business with only two. I mean West End had 3 and they STILL had to cancel their show Sunday night because they didn't have enough actresses to fill the 6 slots (apparently someone was injured and someone is sick? Anyone know more about the West End injury?)
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Scarlet Leigh said: "So this looks like it's gonna be our queens all the way to the finish line. I wonder it Pauly will rejoin the show in Canada or Broadway or if Mack will continue on as Howard from now on. I am also a little "Hmmm" that they didn't add another alternate to fill Mack's space. Perhaps they will add in someone at a later date? Seems like they run a risky business with only two. I mean West End had 3 and they STILL had to cancel their show Sunday night because they didn't have enough actresses to fill the 6 slots (apparently someone was injured and someone is sick? Anyone know more about the West End injury?)
One of the main understudies has a bad shoulder that keeps playing up.
There is a horrible bug going around London atm by bf and I both had it last week. It is horrendous and you are down for the count for at least a week.
If one of them got it, they've all got it
They start 10 show weeks in August too, I can see this all ending badly...
Scarlet Leigh said: "I am also a little "Hmmm" that they didn't add another alternate to fill Mack's space. Perhaps they will add in someone at a later date? Seems like they run a risky business with only two."
Well, Mack was never an alternate - she was brought in to replace Pauly. The two alternates have been with the show since the beginning and one (Nicole) will take over for Hicks for the last two weeks of the run when she leaves to do The Wiz.