Sara Bareilles, Christian Borle, Ashley Park, and Heather Headley to Lead Encores Into The Woods- Page 16

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 12:39pm

The theatre was quite warm last weekend. Wear layers that you can shed.

It was obvious that City Center has not had a show with this kind of attendance in a long time and they were wildly unprepared for it. Apparently they ran out of Playbills in the balc by Sunday. There weren't enough ushers, so people weren't brought directly to their seat or even to their approx seating area: there was some confusion between Grand Tier and Mezz, and people who had to move seats as the show was starting. A long entry bottleneck for getting into the venue because of tickets and vaccines. Some Sara B fans who were pissed off that they couldn't buy merch with her name on it.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 12:50pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Did Rob Berman say he is only stepping down from his Encores! post, or from musical theatre altogether? Assuming this transfers to Broadway, I'd be curious to see if he continues with this production."

Safe to assume Berman continues with ITW if it has any future life. The press release also said "he will return [to Encores] in future seasons as a guest music director," as Rob Fisher and others have done. No behind-the-scenes info here, but my assumption is that he's leaving Encores because of the new leadership and with the hope of doing more freelance MDing (Broadway, symphony engagements, etc) now that he's not overseeing 3-4 Encores shows a year.

Wonder who the new MD will be? Andy Einhorn (who MD'd the revivals of Dolly, Carousel, and Cinderella) seems very good and deeply knowledgeable about older scores and musical theatre history. Ted Sperling would of course be quite the coup, too. But they might want someone more "modern" or diverse.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 2:49pm

Back to the transfer talk now that we know previous comments have been deleted: anyone know when the announcement is happening?

and BTW, bless those souls who provide this information. I don’t think BWW realizes that this is one of the main reasons they get traffic: reliable sources. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 3:21pm

Of course BWW realizes that their entire viewership would crumble without the message boards. At least for theatre folk, this is what drives people to the site.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 3:25pm

Play Esq. said: "Back to the transfer talk now that we know previous comments have been deleted: anyone know when the announcement is happening?

and BTW, bless those souls who provide this information. I don’t think BWW realizes that this is one of the main reasons they get traffic: reliable sources."

This week. And you’re welcome!

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 4:57pm

THANK YOU!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 5:38pm

What theatre and approximate timeframe?

[Kad]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 5:56pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "What theatre and approximate timeframe?"

I have heard the St. James, starting performances at the end of June, for a fairly brief 8-wk run.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 6:13pm

If that’s true, then this would mark the first time in 24 years that Sondheim’s music can be heard in this house. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 7:02pm

A summer run is interesting to me. This could easily see tons of Tony attention, but will the momentum last them from closing in august until announcement day in may? not that it’s *about* getting awards.

[joshdog2014]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 7:10pm

Could it be a similar situation to Sunday in the Park with George where they remove themselves from Tony contention to not have to comp as many tickets? Although next season is not at all filled out yet, so the stated reason for Sunday wouldn’t be the case here

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 7:10pm

If the Sweeney rumors prove true, we could have two major Broadway Sondheim revivals in one year. Not to say we might get more with a potential Assassins and/or Merrily revival. 
 

The master lives on!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 7:13pm

Ke3 said: "A summer run is interesting to me. This could easily see tons of Tony attention, but will the momentum last them from closing in august until announcement day in may? not that it’s *about* getting awards."

All comes down to talent availability and money. This could be a SUNDAY situation where they don't even invite the voters/nominators so they don't have to give away all those comps.

Sara Bareilles and NPH would be the sole financial reason for this moving to Broadway for 8 weeks, because they are the people who are selling full-priced tickets beyond the Sondheim-heads. Whoever is producing will have to produce it dirt-cheaply or reusing most of the Encores design pieces if they want any chance of making their money back.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 7:16pm

The deleted post from earlier today said that Christian Borle would be replacing NPH in the transfer.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 7:23pm

Sara Bareilles and NPH would be the sole financial reason for this moving to Broadway for 8 weeks, because they are the people who are selling full-priced tickets beyond the Sondheim-heads. Whoever is producing will have to produce it dirt-cheaply or reusing most of the Encores design pieces if they want any chance of making their money back.

I disagree. The main reason that this is moving is because it’s the hottest ticket in town and they got a rave from the Times. I’ve told numerous friends about this production and they haven’t been able to get in without paying ridiculous prices (and some have). I’m fairly confident that a two month run will be at high capacity.

Personally, I intend to buy tickets on Sunday (should the rumors be true) for two performances, at least. 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 7:31pm

It’s transferring because there’s demand. Also, NPH won’t be continuing on with it; Borle is back in. So really, only Sara is the big name, but they’re all big enough names to sustain what is essentially a two month extension of this City Center run. It’ll run on ecstatic word of mouth and spectacular reviews more than anything.

I’m sure it’ll be similar to the Sunday in the Park transfer where it’s mostly a beefed up version of the concert staging without the scripts in-hand and refined designs. And given that it’ll only be running for 8 weeks, I can’t see them putting themselves up for Tony consideration, no matter how worthy the performances. It’s not a guarantee they’d win, so why waste that ticket revenue on comps for voters?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 7:36pm

Sure, it's the hottest ticket in town BECAUSE of Sara Bareilles and to a lesser extent (because he was announced late) NPH. It's an added bonus that it happens to be an excellent production that got raves, and that it's Sondheim's most accessible show (and there's more cultural convo about him after his death).

If this was a "normal" Encores production of WOODS with a cast of all Broadway-calibre folks, there would be no talk of moving it this quickly, and tickets would not be selling at that high price. They see there's momentum and want to capitalize on that. But Sara Bareilles + Into the Woods is the cause of the momentum.

Remember, the Public ITW was "coming to Broadway" until Amy Adams said no and then it died. Many iterations of the film died over the years. This all comes down to the onstage talent involved.

Updated On: 5/10/22 at 07:36 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 7:48pm

Transferring this way is more or less a de facto extension of the production as it is now. It'll be a brief enough run to sustain largely on local interest, bolstered by summer tourism. You are very much underestimating the amount of buzz over this production in the city right now- it's not just Bareilles or NPH. Ticket prices have soared only recently, because of the demand caused by word of mouth and critical reception.

And this transfer is a done deal, whether or not people here believe it.

Updated On: 5/10/22 at 07:48 PM

[Ke3]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 7:52pm

Kad said: "Transferring this way is more or less a de facto extension of the production as it is now. It'll be a brief enough run to sustain largely on local interest, bolstered by summer tourism. You are very much underestimating the amount of buzz over this production in the city right now- it's not just Bareilles or NPH. Ticket prices have soared only recently, because of the demand caused by word of mouth and critical reception.

And this transfer is a done deal, whether or not people here believe it."

yeah, i was gonna say. sara has been attached to this since day one and tickets were very much not sold out until a few weeks ago. if she was the driving force behind the mania that’s developed around this production tickets would’ve been sold out by november. 

[joshdog2014]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 8:30pm

TaffyDavenport said: "The deleted post from earlier today said that Christian Borle would be replacing NPH in the transfer."

Assuming this is true, I wonder what he’ll do about Little Shop. He’s currently on a scheduled absence and set to return 5/29. Will he leave the production for good without returning? Come back for a week or two? I’d assume he wouldn’t come back in September/October between ITW and Some Like It Hot

Updated On: 5/10/22 at 08:30 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 9:05pm

Ke3 said: "A summer run is interesting to me. This could easily see tons of Tony attention, but will the momentum last them from closing in august until announcement day in may? not that it’s *about* getting awards."

It's likely they'll pull a SUNDAY and remove the production from Tony consideration. 

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 9:54pm

Heather Headley's Netflix show, Sweet Magnolias, was just renewed for Season 3 so I wonder if she would continue as well. I think they filmed Season 2 last year around this time.

I saw this production Friday night and was blown away. The chemistry between Sara and NPH was a pleasant surprise. I'd like to see them do another project together in the near future.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 11:09pm

I finally saw the show tonight. Magic. I've always said it's my favorite musical and holds a very special place in my heart and this production was everything I hoped it would be and didn't even think it could be. I've avoided this thread because I didn't want to know anything so maybe I'm saying things already said a lot. But it proves that you don't need Sondheim's unnecessary cuts and edits and additions and bells and whistles, that the show AS IT IS is good enough and perfect. I've been very vocal at how I'd never seen a Baker's Wife that I enjoyed (besides Gleason) until 2019 when Kate Shindle did the concert at Town Hall. Well Bareilles showed that she has what it takes to finally make me ADORE someone else in that role. NPH, I don't even have words for. I find him hit-or-miss a lot and this hit was a home run. He found humor (Sara, as well) in places I didn't even know there was any to be found. Just all around he was perfect. If this transfers without him, it will be a shame. 

And the QUEEN. My Heather Headley. I hope if this production continues she can work and find that humor (especially in act one) that I think she almost seemed to avoid. But overall she was remarkable. I can't wait to see her again this weekend. I'll have more thoughts after I sleep on it tonight but like I said before, just trusting the material is all you have to do to get this show to work. (The weird chorus aside). 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 11:33pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I finally saw the show tonight. Magic. I've always said it's my favorite musical and holds a very special place in my heart and this production was everything I hoped it would be and didn't even think it could be. I've avoided this thread because I didn't want to know anything so maybe I'm saying things already said a lot. But it proves that you don't need Sondheim's unnecessary cuts and edits and additions and bells and whistles, that the show AS IT IS is good enough and perfect. I've been very vocal at how I'd never seen a Baker's Wife that I enjoyed (besides Gleason) until 2019 when Kate Shindle did the concert at Town Hall. Well Bareilles showed that she has what it takes to finally make me ADORE someone else in that role. NPH, I don't even have words for. I find him hit-or-miss a lot and this hit was a home run. He found humor (Sara, as well) in places I didn't even know there was any to be found. Just all around he was perfect. If this transfers without him, it will be a shame.

And the QUEEN. My Heather Headley. I hope if this production continues she can work and find that humor (especially in act one) that I think she almost seemed to avoid. But overall she was remarkable. I can't wait to see her again this weekend. I'll have more thoughts after I sleep on it tonight but like I said before, just trusting the material is all you have to do to get this show to work. (The weird chorus aside)."

Rumor has it Borle replaces NPH when the show transfers to the St. James for a limited run this summer.

Glad you liked it so much, Mr. Gyllenhaal. It’s well-written reviews like this one that I just love reading on these boards. Thank you for your insight, truly.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 5/10/22 at 11:49pm

I was also there tonight; I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said in this thread, but I absolutely loved it. This was probably the most excited I've been walking into a theatre since my first show post-shutdown, and to have this production live up to my lofty expectations was a total thrill.

The entire cast was on tonight (no understudies), and all of them were excellent. I, too, was pleasantly surprised by the chemistry between NPH and Bareilles, and enjoyed what both of them were able to do with their roles. I was among those excited to see Borle's take on the Baker and was a tad disappointed to see him replaced, but this was some of the best work I've seen from NPH. A very honest and emotional performance, but one that still managed to find the humor (without leaning too heavily on his usual schtick).

I don't have enough superlatives for Heather Headley. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Totally brilliant. Wow.

If the rumors of a transfer are true, I'll absolutely be seeing this again. Also, can I just say how nice it is to see the first high-profile production of a Sondheim show in a post-Sondheim NYC turn out so beautifully? This is a wonderful tribute to his work and his legacy, and I like to think he'd be just as thrilled with this production as the rest of us are if he were still around to see it.

 

Oh, and give Milky White the final bow already.