STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS Previews- Page 6

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 11:52pm

SteveSanders said: "binau said: "This is Bernadette’s ‘stritch at liberty’ moment and she is doing in the best and only way she knows how to - giving 100% committed performance with work that she knows, loves and trust. She is having the time of her life!"

Do you always feel the need to speak in her favor? The predictability of it is really something."

Have you entertained the possibility that your snark is odious at best?

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 2:56am

If I'm MTC and CamMac looking at the jam packed musical slate, I'd be lobbying my hardest to get categorized as a special event and get considered for a special Tony. Don't think they'll have much of a chance in any of the musical categories, but could have a real chance at a special Tony. 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 10:55am

quizking101 said: "Should they choose to honor Bernadette, it would most befit a Special Tony Award. A competitive Tony when you have the likes of Zoe Roberts, Claire-Marie Hall, Isa Antonetti, Darlesia Cearcy, Jennie Harney-Fleming, and Grace Hodgett-Young in the mix seems like punting an opportunity to award new talent or a vet with a long resume who finally had a role worthy of their talent.

To be honest, love Mincemeat I do, I would hand the award to Darlesia Cearcy on a silver platter because she made herself a presence on stage - just based on her “That’s My Home”. Honestly, had it not conflicted, I would’ve loved to see her as a standby/alternate Rose in GYPSY."

Bernadette may or may not be nominated. It's hard to predict for a concert-style show like this. BUT she absolutely has way more of a chance than any of the women you mentioned. No one is talking about the wives from A Wonderful World in terms of Tony chances. Antonetti sounded glorious but acting was...not there. Mincemeat is just not as much of a sensation here as it was in the UK and will not be strong enough to land multiple featured acting noms in a single category. So Natasha Hodgson, with her larger role, will get the lion share of Mincemeat support in that race, if she is even nominated. In any case, I would nominate both Bernadette and Lea over any of those performers for the way they effortlessly tell each story within Old Friends. It was truly like watching two masters at work.

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 5:09pm

For the record, Bernadette and Lea are both above the title in the "Inside the Playbill" that was just posted 

https://assets.playbill.com/playbill-inside/stephen-sondheims-old-friends-04-08-2025-1.jpg

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 4/8/25 at 9:20pm

MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "quizking101 said: "Should they choose to honor Bernadette, it would most befit a Special Tony Award. A competitive Tony when you have the likes of Zoe Roberts, Claire-Marie Hall, Isa Antonetti, Darlesia Cearcy, Jennie Harney-Fleming, and Grace Hodgett-Young in the mix seems like punting an opportunity to award new talent or a vet with a long resume who finally had a role worthy of their talent.

To be honest, love Mincemeat I do, I would hand the award to Darlesia Cearcy on a silver platter because she made herself a presence on stage - just based on her “That’s My Home”. Honestly, had it not conflicted, I would’ve loved to see her as a standby/alternate Rose in GYPSY."

Bernadette may or may not be nominated. It's hard to predict for a concert-style show like this. BUT she absolutely has way more of a chance than any of the women you mentioned. No one is talking about the wives from A Wonderful World in terms of Tony chances. Antonetti sounded glorious but acting was...not there. Mincemeat is just not as much of a sensation here as it was in the UK and will not be strong enough to land multiple featured acting noms in a single category. So Natasha Hodgson, with her larger role, will get the lion share of Mincemeat support in that race, if she is even nominated. In any case, I would nominate both Bernadette and Lea over any of those performers for the way they effortlessly tell each story within Old Friends. It was truly like watching two masters at work."

I don't want to speak about Featured actress at length until after I see all the shows (I suspect Julia Knitel could be a fairly strong contender for Dead Outlaw), but I concur with this. So much of how that category shakes out depends on how a couple of folks are submitted into acting categories. As opposed to every other category, where I can strongly predict the nominees, Featured actress seems largely up in the air at the moment. I am relatively confident someone from Mincemeat will get nominated. Apart from that? I want to see who gets lauded by the new york times and go from there.

Also, this is the first tony season in which I have managed to make plans to see all but two of the qualifying musicals (I'm skipping Last 5 Years and passed on Tammy Faye) - Not bad for someone who lives in California!

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/9/25 at 5:57am

I did forget Knitel (thank you), but also after seeing Real Women Have Curves on Sunday, I would call a locked nomination for Justina Machado and a possible second for Florencia Cuenca

[Ensemble1744810375]

Posted: 4/21/25 at 1:32pm

Can't wait to discover Old Friends tomorrow night! Steven Sondheim is a genius, and with Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga on stage, it's just a dream. I love musical reviews, especially when they pay tribute to such a master. The cast is amazing from start to finish. We can't wait for the official opening in April!

Mini Militia App Lock 

Updated On: 4/27/25 at 01:32 PM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/21/25 at 1:53pm

Ensemble1744810375 said: "Can't wait to discover Old Friends tomorrow night! Steven Sondheim is a genius, and with Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga on stage, it's just a dream. I love musical reviews, especially when they pay tribute to such a master. The cast is amazing from start to finish. We can't wait for the official opening in April!"

 

what in the AI

 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 4/21/25 at 2:04pm

I guess it’s not selling well so they’re paying for an A.I. shill. 

[wewdie]

Posted: 5/21/25 at 10:04am

Hi, is there merch sold at the theatre for this show? 

 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 5/21/25 at 11:10am

wewdie said: "Hi, is there merch sold at the theatre for this show?"

Yes, there is. The booth is down the stairs on the left when you enter the theater.

[wewdie]

Posted: 5/21/25 at 12:05pm

Thanks so much. Do you remember what they have for sale?

[kdogg36]

Posted: 5/21/25 at 5:43pm

No problem! You can see what they have here. As far as I'm aware, the selection was the same at the booth as it is on the website.

[UWS10023]

Posted: 5/23/25 at 12:39am

I felt the song selections could have been tied together more effectively. As it was, I felt distanced from the material. The set design reminded me of a cruise ship which marginalized the proceedings. When the entire ensemble was on the stage the actors clashed with the design, made even more dizzying by the reflective floor. Some of the choreography looked like dance moves from a swing choir convention. 
 

That being said I thought Lea was thrilling vocally (especially Loving You) and Bernadette had her moments. The performers for the most part had strong vocals but some of the interpretations were mystifying, overwrought or thin. The two stars definitely elevated the proceedings. Without them the evening would have been fairly unmemorable. I will say that I thought the ending was very affective for the personal concept gelled perfectly with the musical numbers. I became invested and wished I could have felt that way earlier in the production.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/4/25 at 8:40pm

With the extension, I got superb - wait for it - TDF seats (row G orchestra) for the matinee today. For me, the show was glorious and emotionally triggering, start to finish. And a personal footnote: I saw my first Gypsy 52 years ago this month, in June 1973. Angela Lansbury, London. Bonnie Langford was Baby June. Today she sang a helluva "I'm Still Here" and for the first time in a decade or longer, I decided to stage door to tell her. She was delightful and teared up, noting that I saw her a half a century ago, and she was forced to vacate the role of Baby June in July of '73 because of child labor laws impacting the West End. One of those unexpected moments in theatergoing. 

If you've been on the fence about this show, I'll just say, go. You have about 3 weeks. I doubt we'll see the likes of this kind of compilation any time soon. Forget the small lapses many note (yes, I found a couple of song selections less well-matched to the performer; a quibble). Or at least put them aside to savor the opportunity. You'll be entertained and touched. And these particular stars may never share a stage again.
 

Updated On: 6/4/25 at 08:40 PM

[Penna2]

Posted: 6/4/25 at 9:53pm

Auggie27 said:  And a personal footnote: I saw my firstGypsy52 years ago this month, in June 1973. Angela Lansbury, London. Bonnie Langford was Baby June. Today she sang a helluva "I'm Still Here" and for the first time in a decade or longer, I decided to stage door to tell her. She was delightful and teared up, noting that I saw her a half a century ago, and she was forced to vacate the role of Baby June in July of '73 because of child labor laws impacting the West End. One of those unexpected moments in theatergoing.

What a lovely story...for both of you. 

 

[halfhourcheckwithmerman]

Posted: 6/4/25 at 11:32pm

Yes, this is a really touching story. Thank you for sharing. 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 6/5/25 at 12:04am

I saw this tonight - What a great time. How incredible it was to finally get to see Bernadette Peters live on stage, singing Sondheim, no less. The entire production was beautiful and emotional from start to finish. Gosh, I LOVE Sondheim! How lucky we all are to continue to have his work.