Happy for Gleason to see him in something other than another return to Phantom. But this looks like a trainwreck.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
I mean, nothing against casting a black actress in that part but from those pictures, it looks like its just been turned into a stock "sassy black friend" role.
The Pasadena Playhouse is a VERY small theater. I wouldn't expect Broadway quality sets from them. Take a look back at the Sister Act premiere there and you can see how things changed. Even First Wives Club had a bigger and more elaborate stage.
Hoping to see this in LA next tuesday or wednesday night.
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Yes indeed. Those productions photos look uninspired and low rent. If it hopes to have a life beyond Pasadena Playhouse, a lot needs to improve with the physical production, no matter what we learn about the libretto and score and direction.
Well judging from the Sister Actor photos it looks like they did a lot of work to the physical production. Hopefully the bones of the show are good. I doubt it would transfer directly to Broadway as is anyway.
"The Pasadena Playhouse is a VERY small theater. I wouldn't expect Broadway quality sets from them."
This isn't one of L.A.'s 99 seat theaters. It's almost 700 seats, about as big or bigger than 4 or 5 B'way theaters, and both the Mark Taper Forum and Geffen Playhouse in L.A., all of which use B'way quality sets. I don't think theater size is the reason. The Pasadena Playhouse essentially closed for a short time due to lack of funds a few years ago and this is I believe the end of their 2nd season back. Maybe still running on a showstring? Also, Sleepless was originally scheduled to be presented by them as part of last year's season in June, 2012 but was postponed to allow for more time for development. Sounds like that development still isn't as far along as it needs to be.
Actually, believe it or not, that's true. "The Pasadena Playhouse was recognized by the Legislature as the State Theatre of California in 1937 after the laudable achievement of having performed the entire Shakespeare canon on a single stage for the first time in the United States."
As far as funding goes in 2013, I think that means absolutely nothing. Jerry Brown would have a good laugh if they requested funding on that basis.
Wasn't the original songwriting team replaced, which was partially the cause for the delay? I seem to remember an entire version of the score being scrapped.
Just returned from the Saturday night preview performance of Sleepless in Seattle. Unfortunately, the show is the lifeless train wreck most of you have been fearing. It will need a complete re-write (a la Little Miss Sunshine) for any chance at a NY run.
I loath to say there are no "hummable" tunes in the show, but most of the songs have forgettable melodies, lack emotion, and are not even serviceable to the plot. The trifecta of bad songwriting.
The two leads Tim Martin Gleason (Sam) and Chandra Lee Schwartz (Annie) have no chemistry. Gleason just doesn't have the charm to make you root for a love connection. Whether that's the actor's fault or the book can be debated by others. Same can be said for Schwartz, though having seeing her in Wicked, I have to place the blame on the book.
The saving grace of the show is the incredible Joe West, as the son (Jonah). His musical number "What She Wants to Hear" with Todd Buonopane (Rob) is the only musical moment where the show comes to life. Plus, his acting scenes hit the right emotional note. If the show has life beyond the Playhouse, I hope the producers bring West with it. I'd like to see the material elevated to his level.
As for Sabrina Sloan as the best friend (Becky), she's completely under utilized. She's not comic relief, or sassy. She's just there. She has a lovely voice, and I hoped for a big showstopper for her, but there never was one. In fact, there were no songs in the show that even attempted to be a showstopper...though the romantic material screams out for several of them.
As for the set...it's exactly what you see in the published photos, a Next to Normal/Ghost hybrid. The projections do nothing to enhance the story, similar to how they were used in Dirty Dancing.
For those interested, a list of the songs are below:
And for those on the fence about seeing the show....skip this show and go see Scottsboro Boys at the Ahmanson or Falling for Make Believe at the Colony Theater.
ACT ONE
Out There - Ensemble Not Like the Movies - Annie, Walter We're Doing Fine - Sam, Jonah, Suzy, Greg Stuck Here - Jonah Perfect for a While - Sam, Annie Out There (Reprise) - Ensemble Remember - Becky, Annie Remember (Reprise) - Sam, Rob Rock Stars - Sam, Jonah Don't Give Up on Cary - Becky, Annie Getting Hot in Here - Ensemble, Victoria Not Like the Movies (Reprise) - Walter, Annie Safe at Home - Sam, Annie, Jonah
ACT TWO
Out There (Reprise) - Walter, Sam, Ensemble What She Wants to Hear - Rob, Jonah We Can Make It - Ensemble It Might Be Magic - Sam, Annie Look at Me Now - Annie Remember (Reprise) - Annie, Becky Be Here / Welcome to New York - Jonah, Ensemble Be Here - Jonah Something's Calling Me - Annie, Walter, Jonah Rock Stars (Reprise) - Sam, Jonah Out There / Perfect (Reprise) - Ensemble
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