Saw "Broadway on Broadway" in Person

[Myron]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 5:42am

I attended the annual "Broadway on Broadway" show yesterday and saw it in its entirety. Here are my observations. I was pleased because it wasn't blazing hot and the crowds were smaller than usual due to the rain threat. I had a nice time despite the tourist family with the wife who kept yapping in a loud voice (so I finally found another location).I have several questions about who did not appear and I wonder why. Where was "Mary Poppins" and "Jersey Boys"? Why did "Stomp" appear yet no "Avenue Q"? There was no "White Christmas" so I guess it's not returning this season. The scheduled number from "Next to Normal", "Superboy and the Invisible Girl" was changed to "I Miss the Mountains". Why? They performed "The Jets Song" from "West Side Story"? Was it because of the NFL team? This is not one of the shows' big classics. The finale song after all these years, Sinatra's "New York, New York" was replaced by the rap song about New York which the crowd could hardly sing along; bring back Sinatra. The confetti fell but only from a few buildings; I guess it was too expensive. My final thought is that the Bryant Park concerts are much superior but how could they perform 3 numbers from each show? Kelsey's hosting job was OK and the sound system was pretty good. Unfortunately, the stage is blocked by cameras and equipment so the crowd must watch mostly from the jumbo screens.

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 6:25am

Next to Normal was scheduled to perform "I Miss the Mountains".

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 10:04am

What time did it start and when did it end? (I passed by the area at 2:30 and they were already cleaning up a bunch of confetti.)
Updated On: 9/13/10 at 10:04 AM

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 10:57am

Thanks for the report.

Unfortunately, the stage is blocked by cameras and equipment so the crowd must watch mostly from the jumbo screens.
A few years back I went, and I decided that it would be the last time I'd go. It was fan-unfriendly unless you get a bleacher seat. Too much effort for not enough payoff.

[Not Enough Time]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 11:01am

Hi Myron. Regarding yesterday's concert: Broadway shows both running and in production for the upcoming season are invited to present numbers of their own choosing. Sometimes long-running or established pieces like "Jersey Boys" pass because the main focus of the concert is on the new season. That said, typically an understudy has done "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You". "Poppins" did "Supercali..." in the past. For whatever reason those shows ("Night Music" as well) passed this year. For that matter, "Night Music" passed last year. You're right: "White Christmas" is not coming in this year. The "West Side" people probably selected the Jet number to feature a handful of people who were interested in doing the concert. "Next To Normal" always planned to do "I Miss The Mountains". If you saw something different, it was a misprint. "Stomp" was included for diversity and to give a nod to off-Broadway. "Fantastiks" has stood in for off-b before. "Avenue Q" was always prominently featured during its Bway run. There was indeed less confetti and the jury is out on "Empire State Of Mind" which is still huge as a pop hit but lesser known to the theatre crowd. I guess to answer your basic question, the numbers presented are purely the choice of the individual production team.

[gotham girl]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 11:24am

i was in the neighborhood and caught only a couple of songs. i thought Jordin Sparks was surprisingly good.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 10:04pm

>>"Why? They performed "The Jets Song" from "West Side Story"? Was it because of the NFL team?"<<<

Of course that's the reason. Everyone knows that Mark Sanchez is a great Broadway buff. Didn't you watch the Tony Awards this year?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 10:19pm

I think Broadway on Broadway is great...for TOURISTS. It's a great ticket booster for Broadway shows to sell tickets via flyering at the event -- an event which happens to occur during a traditional sales slump.

It's fun for a little while to stand there right in the heart of Broadway and be a part of the experience...but it gets old REAL quick because you're standing, you can't see, and some performances are downright tragic.

[KirbyCat]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 10:23pm

I must say- Elf BLEW ME AWAY. Oh my goodness, Matthew Gumley can SING!

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 10:48pm

I also loved the song from Elf! It was cute and it really sounded like Christmas to me! Made me even more excited for the show!

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 9/13/10 at 11:34pm

Haha Dolly you are my favorite person on this board

[Myron]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:28am

I agree that the number from "Elf" was great but unfortunately a group of out-of-towners standing right behind me were busy talking in loud voices which took-away my enjoyment. I finally found a different spot to stand so I could enjoy the rest of the performances.

[Myron]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:32am

I read the press release posted on the Times Square website which announced that "Next To Normal" would perform "Superboy and the Invisible Girl"; it must have been changed at the last minute to "I MIss the Mountains" in which I noticed several people left as the tune is slow and doesn't appeal to the masses.
Updated On: 9/14/10 at 05:32 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 5:47am

It's a FREE, outside CASUAL event Myron. Of course there will be people that will chat through the whole thing.

N2N was always going to do Mountain, the website you looked at was just wrong. How do you know that people left because the song is slow and unappealing to the masses. It's a masterpiece of a song, and a highpoint of the production.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 11:04am

>>"Haha Dolly you are my favorite person on this board"<<<

Thank you for those kind words. They are well-deserved.

[Not Enough Time]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 12:43pm

Hi Myron. "Next To Normal" chose "Mountains" from the very first meeting because it showcases Marin Mazzie, who is perceived to be the drawing card currently. "Superboy" was done last year and some web site simply picked up old information.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/14/10 at 12:48pm

"Haha Dolly you are my favorite person on this board"

If that's true, you need to get out more.

[Myron]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 5:39am

They left in the middle of "I Miss the Mountains" but they could have left because they had to catch a bus. Somebody asked when it started, it was about 11:30. Free hats were given-out but only to those in the front; I got left-out.The overture only included one number, "Another Opening, Another Show" from "Kiss Me Kate". In past years it included several songs, mostly from "Funny Girl". "Don't Rain On My Parade" would have been appropriate since the skieds were threatening throughout. It was a lovely show except I had to watch mostly from the screens.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 5:52am

Myron, for someone that only seems to attend free events (Bway in Bryant Park and now, this) you complain about what you see. You complain about seeing understudies, the number of songs, that your view stinks, that you didn't get the freebie....and the list goes on.

You get what you pay for.