Posted: 11/19/15 at 12:25am
Has anyone tried lottery yet? How packed izzit?
And if this is asked and answered elsewhere, oh well, tell me personally again... 
Posted: 11/19/15 at 1:11am
I've done it once and it wasn't super crowded until the Hamilton lottery was over and every single winner decided to try their luck at School of Rock. That's the downside of them doing their drawing only 90 minutes before curtain instead of the usual 120. It's still not as crowded as the usual Wicked lottery, though. Compare it to the Spring Awakening one. I could be wrong, but I would say 150-200 people when I was there.
Posted: 11/19/15 at 8:21am
I recently caught this! I won the lottery and had an EXCELLENT seat in the center of the front row of the orchestra. I LOVED the show. The energy in that theatre is through the roof.
Alex Brightman is stellart. The energy and passion that he brings to the character is something else. Then there are the kids... these kids are out of this world and scary talented. Sierra Boggess was out, but I was happy to see Mamie Parris (I have always loved her). I know people have mentioned that Sierra seemed miscast, but Mamie Parris was perfect as Rosalie Mullins. I loved her big act 2 number, "Where Did the Rock Go".
I was not a fan of the cast recording when I first listened to it, but after seeing the music performed live within the context of the show I have a much higher appreciation of the score, and I have been listening to it on my phone since I saw the show. The book for this is very good. It has all the famous one liners from the movie that people love, but it still feels very fresh.
The set was very impressive! Anna Louizos designed the set to fill the wide stage. The set is BIG. Lots of different locations and set pieces. The transitions are seamless.
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with this and would go so far as to say that it is my favorite new musical of the season so far. It's just such a fun feel good show. I think this will have a nice long run!
Updated On: 11/19/15 at 08:21 AM
Posted: 11/19/15 at 12:46pm
bwayphreak234 said: "Alex Brightman is making a stellar Broadway debut.
"
I believe Alex has a few Broadway credits under his belt...pretty sure I saw him in Matilda and Wicked.
Posted: 11/19/15 at 12:50pm
Yes in Matilda he played Michael Wormwood (and various chorus parts), Wicked ... and I believe he was also in Big Fish and Book of Mormon. This IS the first time he has played a leading role I believe...
Posted: 11/19/15 at 12:58pm
Alex has played Boq in Wicked, Michael Wormwood in Matilda, was in Big Fish and the short-lived Glory Days. This is his fifth Broadway production.
Posted: 11/19/15 at 1:00pm
Sam2 said: "That's the downside of them doing their drawing only 90 minutes before curtain instead of the usual 120. "
I don't think shows doing them after Hamilton is coincidental. Hundreds of people nearby want to see a show... and were just turned away.
Thanks for the info!
Posted: 11/19/15 at 3:29pm
Gah sorry everybody! Edited. My mistake.
Posted: 11/19/15 at 5:03pm
Saw this at a Wed matinee 11/18. Really liked it, but sitting in 4th row aisle, I had the wall of speakers facing me. Once I got used to the volume of the songs, I settled in. Hard to believe this is ALW music, but a lot of the songs were pretty good.
The cast was uniformly excellent. The kids are really quite good. Just watch the backup singers in the band, they really do look like backup singers but kid versions. Really outstanding.
Is this musical breaking new ground? No. Is it a great time at the theater? YES.
One wonderment... I read in a prior post that Sierra Bogess' talent was wasted in this role. She was out yesterday, but her understudy (per the Playbill) did not go on. Mamie Parris played the role. She is the actress who normally plays Patty, the roommate's girlfriend? Is it possible that Sierra departed? Maybe I am late to the table, I've been out of touch with things for several months and I'm not up on the latest news.
Mamie was a pretty good tight wound principal, but the character is a little underwritten for someone like Sierra. Kind of like the Keri Butler in Catch Me if You Can.
Overall, a great time at a fun and high energy musical. I hope it does well (if nothing else, it will have the school field trip business). I feel for the concession people, no tips from school trips.
Posted: 11/19/15 at 5:11pm
Hairspray0901 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "Alex Brightman is making a stellar Broadway debut.
" Is this yet another philly pinto fake account? I always get that feeling with these brand-new short-and-inane threads, especially when this can be Googled. " Pootie2
Posted: 11/19/15 at 8:27pm
Saw the matinee yesterday and absolutely loved it. Alex Brightman was terrific as Dewey Finn. He's giving his all up there and you can tell he's having a blast. As everyone else has said, these kids are freaking incredible. The kids who played Summer, Tamika, and Zach were real standouts for me, but all the kids did an excellent job. I sat in Row D of the orchestra dead center and it was the perfect seat for this show, though I feel sitting in the mezz couldn't be that bad either. The set was great and the music was overall pretty good. All in all I think this might be my favorite show that has opened so far this season. Dare I say I think I had more fun at School of Rock than Hamilton.
Posted: 11/19/15 at 9:24pm
When is miranda cosgrave going to endorse this?
Posted: 11/20/15 at 10:26am
Is Cameron producing this?
Posted: 11/20/15 at 1:48pm
I lost the lottery last night, but since they offered lottery-loser seats for only $12 more than the $25 lottery price, I opted. I was placed in Row A of the mezz pretty far to the side, but you miss only one or two minor things. (Speaking of which, for those who've seen it, I couldn't quite see the way Dewey writes the letter "S" on the blackboard, drawing audience laughs. How did he draw it?) At intermission I moved to a central spot in the row. Wonderful, probably optimal view, but watch out for those strobe lights towards the end of Act II--they're blinding.)
I enjoyed the energy and talents of Alex Brightman and those amazing kids. Speaking of the kids, I found it refreshing and interesting that in their exclusive and expensive school many if not most of the kids seemed to be minorities. That hopefully reflects a new, taken for granted reality of higher socio-economic level membership and opportunity for all kinds of people.
Lots of families in attendance and teens in groups. The book seemed an odd amalgamation of early 2000s and contemporary references. (Is heavy metal still popular?) Somehow hearing references to Taylor Swift, the Kardashians and metal rockers indicated a not-quite smoothed out book that hasn't yet decided when all this takes place. In all, I'd say I had a fairly good but not great time. The score was serviceable, though, and definitely superior to that of ALLEGIANCE. (The only musicals I'd call great in recent years are BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and HAMILTON.) But that's OK. The show moves forward nicely, and even though I felt the audience was being manipulated to feel a certain way--well, maybe all shows do that--I just went along with it. People around me were clapping along, which I find irritating when I'm trying to listen to lyrics, but I guess they were caught up in the high energy of it all. This show is definitely a feel-good, crowd pleaser, even if it doesn't aim all that high. One could do worse.
And by the way, Dewey is supposed to be unattractive. I thought he was nice-looking and likable. So there you go.
Updated On: 11/20/15 at 01:48 PM
Posted: 11/20/15 at 2:18pm
KathyNYC2 said: "Yes in Matilda he played Michael Wormwood (and various chorus parts), Wicked ... and I believe he was also in Big Fish and Book of Mormon. This IS the first time he has played a leading role I believe..."
No, he was never in Mormon. http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/32901/Alex-Brightman
Posted: 11/20/15 at 2:35pm
So glad Mamie Parris is getting some small attention. She's so talented
Posted: 11/21/15 at 4:15am
mamaleh- he doesn't draw an S. That's the joke. He draws an F because his actual last name begins with an F. He forgot he was posing as Ned Schneebly.
Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:41am
Three questions:
1. Is the stage high for this production?
2. Has ALW been at any previews since the first / does he sign?
3. By when do you think the show will be "frozen"?
Posted: 11/21/15 at 11:56am
Does anyone know what the story is with Sierra's absences this week? I read that Mamie was on as the principal for much of the week.
Posted: 11/21/15 at 7:46pm
Ah, thanks, Speed. That was about the only bit I missed.
Posted: 11/21/15 at 8:06pm
Rumor is she broke her ankle and is out of the show with her role possibly being recast. Parris is covering her role for the time being
Posted: 11/22/15 at 12:21am
If that's true I hope they let Mamie take over. It could be good for her!
Posted: 11/22/15 at 1:02am
Some discussion here: http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=2313263
Posted: 11/22/15 at 1:28am
From the thread - it seems only one or two people are spreading this about her breaking her foot/spraining her ankle. Its weird because if she was hurt she's pretty active on Twitter/Instagram - wouldn't she share something? Unless Really Useful doesn't want pre-Opening gossip to go amuk if they're not sure she can continue or not
Posted: 11/22/15 at 4:20am
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