School of Rock Previews- Page 10

[Broadway Guru]

Posted: 1/7/16 at 11:37pm

I work at the show, and it is untrue to say that Alex does not do matinees. Yes, he takes some off, as well as the occasional weeknight, but he does not take every matinee off. Andrew had originally offered him the opportunity to have an alternate, but he turned it down saying that he wanted to do 8 shows a week.

Anyone who has seen the show knows that that is a Herculean task so he is out sometimes. All in all, though, his stamina and attendance are incredible for this type of role.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/7/16 at 11:52pm

Damn. I hope he's in next Weds matinee. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:05am

I got to see the show tonight for the first time and was heartbroken to see on the understudy board that Alex Brightman was out. Fortunately, Jonathan Wagner played Dewey to great triumph and I thought was really, really great in his performance—no complaints from me at all on his part! Man, what a role!

 

However, I can't shake the feeling that I'm really missing out on something special by not yet having seen Brightman. Has anyone seen the both of them and can compare? Seriously considering booking a second visit just to ensure that I catch Alex...

[Broadway Guru]

Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:20am

Working at the show I've seen both of them many, many times. All I can say is that they really do each have their own take on the role. They both have different ad libs and bits of business that they throw in. They certainly don't copy each other's line readings...they are even different vocally.

In short, the whole feel of the show is somewhat different....at least to me....Everyone is going to have their own opinion as to who is better.

If you enjoyed the show I would say it's worth a repeat visit to catch Alex so that you can form your own opinion.

[Broadway Guru]

Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:21am

Alex did the matinee today. He did not do the evening show.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:27am

If he's unable to do all 8 performances a week, he should just cave in and accept having an alternate. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:29am

Herculean? Evita is a tough role. Jesus/Judas are tough roles. Elphaba is a tough role. The Elephant Man is a tough role. Dewey in School of Rock is not a tough role. And the show hasn't even been up 3 months and the understudies have all gone on? That doesn't bode well. 

[Broadway Guru]

Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:41am

RippedMan said: "Herculean? Evita is a tough role. Jesus/Judas are tough roles. Elphaba is a tough role. The Elephant Man is a tough role. Dewey in School of Rock is not a tough role. And the show hasn't even been up 3 months and the understudies have all gone on? That doesn't bode well. 

 

Are you sure that you saw the SCHOOL OF ROCK that's playing at the Winter Garden Theatre on 50th and Broadway? If you did you would know that Dewey is Herculean.

The role is at least equal to the vocal demands of Judas, if not greater, and there is the whole physical element that is not required of the characters you named.

Alex literally loses one to two pounds a show. I venture to say most Evas don't.

 

"

 

[chernjam]

Posted: 1/10/16 at 12:51am

Yeah I haven't seen it live - but just the clips of Alex it looks like he's doing some maniacal workout every show - you gotta imagine that it wears a person down.  Emotionally, vocally, physically, etc.  I agree they should cave and get an alternate to give the guy a break or something

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 1/10/16 at 2:01am

I was also thinking he should have an alternate when I saw it. He gives everything he has and then some.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/14/16 at 12:03am

Saw the matinee today and it was full cast. I am so thankful that Brightman was in because it's an absolute star making performance. He is a ball fire on stage that doesn't stop, such an energetic performance. I would have no issue with him having an alternate for 1-2 performances a week. I really enjoyed the show overall, more than I had anticipated.

I am a little confused about the cast recording. I know it was recorded before the show officially started, but why are two songs that are in the actual show listed as bonus tracks? Is it the full Broadway company on the album? 

[Matt1]

Posted: 2/14/16 at 12:55pm

First off this is one of my favorite shows!  I have seen Alex and his understudy and while Jonathan Wagner does a great job, you do miss a lot by not seeing Alex.   It is truly one of the best performances ever on Broadway.   I saw it for my second time three weeks ago on a Saturday night and he was out of the show.   I know someone who saw it last night (Saturday night) and again he was out.  So it is not just day shows or week nights he takes off.   I understand why he can't do eight shows a week and appreciate he doesn't do the show if he thinks he can't do his best, but since people are coming to see him, perhaps he should allow for an alternate and have a posted show, or two, he doesn't do. 

[10086sunset]

Posted: 2/14/16 at 3:31pm

Went to see the show two weeks from last night, 1/30 at 7:30 and was surprised AB was not performing. The man next to me kept saying "How do you not perform on Saturday night." Feelings on the production aside, it's a little crazy that he seems to miss so many performances.  If you can't do 8 shows, have an alternate. The understudy has been on way too many times considering its 3-4 months into the run.  It seems like going to see SOR is like playing Alex Brightman Russian Roulette. 

[10086sunset]

Posted: 2/14/16 at 3:54pm

I'm fine cutting the guy a break but you make it sound like he's missed a couple of shows over the course of the run when everyone knows he seems to miss at least one per week. 

It's fine calling out of work. The difference is when people pay to specifically see you at work. 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 2/14/16 at 3:59pm

It's becoming all too common for people to have alternates. In just this and last season we have Robbie Fairchild / Leanne Cope in An American In Paris doing 7, Alexander Sharp doing 7,  Lin Manuel - Miranda doing 7, and now Alex Brightman seemingly doing 7. I'm not saying their roles aren't demanding (because yes, they are) but it's interesting to me how taking a performance off is starting to become more common. I wonder if it will start to become the norm.

But anyway - I really enjoyed his understudy but I think Alex should officially have an alternate since he seems to call out quite often. 

[rwlevin]

Posted: 2/15/16 at 4:51pm

He was out when I saw it too in the beginning of January, also a Saturday night. I was so upset. And the show makes no announcement and the official Twitter even says they make no announcement until the time of the show. I want to see the show with him in it but now I want a guarantee that I can get a refund if he's not in it that night.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/15/16 at 4:57pm

Broadway Guru said: "

Are you sure that you saw the SCHOOL OF ROCK that's playing at the Winter Garden Theatre on 50th and Broadway? If you did you would know that Dewey is Herculean.

 

The role is at least equal to the vocal demands of Judas, if not greater, and there is the whole physical element that is not required of the characters you named.

Alex literally loses one to two pounds a show. I venture to say most Evas don't.

 

 

 

"

I certainly saw School of Rock, and while I'm sure the role takes a toll on a performer (like any lead does, particularly with rock vocals), it is utterly preposterous to suggest that it is exceptional in this respect. 

 

 Alex does not lose over a pound a show, and if he does, he has health problems. Also, how is he not a skeleton in that case?

 

Updated On: 2/15/16 at 04:57 PM

[10086sunset]

Posted: 2/15/16 at 5:47pm

 

He sweats so much he has to change his underwear at intermission. 

 

I'm going to try my best to forget this. 

 

 

 

 

 

"

 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 11:03pm

So, new Dewey standby/understudy...?

(I am VERY excited about this!)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFM4lI7oOZ0/?taken-by=willblum

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 11:08pm

New understudy. 

[BroadwayMomma]

Posted: 6/23/16 at 7:21pm

We went to this past Wednesday matinee. I thought Alex Brightman had resumed matinees where it was a one-show day, but he was not in and it was not Wagner (the regular understudy) or Blum (the new understudy). Instead, it was Merritt David Janes. He hasn't really been mentioned in any thread on here that I can find and it really showed that he wasn't the regular understudy.  The audience was awful too. In the second act, they started clapping along with the songs -- including Sierra Boggess' ballad!!  Imagine people awkwardly trying to clap along to that. It was pretty bad and not being able to hear her song was extremely frustrating.  We were really disappointed in the whole experience. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/23/16 at 10:27pm

That's too bad! Will Blum actually replaced Jonathan Wagner, btw.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/24/16 at 12:34pm

And, surprisingly, Will is doing all the evening shows this weekend.

https://twitter.com/will_blum/status/746380502664351744

(Go see him!)

[10086sunset]

Posted: 6/24/16 at 1:05pm

Seems like the Alex Brightman era will be soon coming to an end.

[BroadwayMomma]

Posted: 6/24/16 at 1:09pm

Too bad he didn't do the Wednesday matinee too. Grrrr.