SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE: The Next FIRST WIVES CLUB??

[ABB2357]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 10:31pm

Anyone else get a bad feeling about this one? It looks like a broad, cartoonish mess. I hope they release some video clips!




Photo Flash: First Look at Tim Martin Gleason, Robert Mammana, Chandra Lee Schwartz and More in SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE by broadwayworld.com Read more about Photo Flash: First Look at Tim Martin Gleaso Updated On: 5/30/13 at 10:31 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 10:34pm

Has the Rosie O'Donnell role been turned into the Sassy Black Friend role?

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 10:37pm

It looks kinda like they borrowed a unit set from "Company."

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 10:38pm

Or Next To Normal

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 10:48pm

Happy for Gleason to see him in something other than another return to Phantom. But this looks like a trainwreck.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 11:03pm

I'm Read-Day For Changeeeeeeeeeeee!

[ABB2357]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 11:23pm

The Rosie/Sassy Black Friend transformation was my first thought as well, Jordan. I hope she gets an up-tempo gospel number at some point in Act 2.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 11:28pm

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.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 11:50pm

Completely agreed. I also think the photo of the son dancing with the ensemble behind him has "red-day for change" potential.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 12:05am

The projections look almost as bad as the projections for Flashdance .

[Wildcard]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 2:22am

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.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 3:23am

Hoping to see this in LA next tuesday or wednesday night.

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:57am

Sabrina Sloan is cast as the friend. She is my former neighbor and was fantastic in the ensemble in Catch Me if You Can. Hoping to see this soon.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 11:58am

I still mourn the fact that First Wives Club never made it to Broadway. It was a mess, but some of the songs were decent.

[egghumor]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 1:52pm

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.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 2:15pm

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.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 7:15pm

"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.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 7:18pm

Pasadena Playhouse is running on pennies. Their is no money for anything. Most of their audiences are bused in from local homes.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 7:49pm

Isn't it the "state theater of California?" Shouldn't they get some sort of government money?

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 7:59pm

^ As a resident of California, huh?!?
What's a state theater of California??

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 9:10pm

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.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/31/13 at 10:35pm

Oh okay. Well I have no clue. Just saw the sign outside the theater.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 6/1/13 at 2:47am

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.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/1/13 at 12:47pm

Apologies to rippedman for doubting you.

So has anyone SEEN the show yet?? We're on the bubble whether to get tickets or not.

Updated On: 6/1/13 at 12:47 PM

[Funny Girl]

Posted: 6/2/13 at 4:01am

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