Shuffle Along previews- Page 4
Shuffle Along previews
#75Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 10:55am
Got my ticket for tonight! I was first in line, something about this just screams "can't miss" to me. I am SO excited!
"...and in a bed."
#76Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 11:01am
PianoMann said: "Wow, I'm surprised (but also not) at how many people were there before the box office opened for the first preview."
I think it may have to do with the fact that they announced it last night? In my experience (though of course it's not always the case), many shows will start selling rush right away for the first preview, but they won't always have announced the rush policy before 10am that day. I've known lots of shows to take a day or 2 to announce their policy even though it's already in effect.
Hamhead
Swing Joined: 3/3/16
#77Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 11:36am
sing_dance_love: if you don't mind sharing, what time did you line up to be first in line? Do you have partial views?
#78Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 11:56am
JBroadway said: I think it may have to do with the fact that they announced it last night? In my experience (though of course it's not always the case), many shows will start selling rush right away for the first preview, but they won't always have announced the rush policy before 10am that day. I've known lots of shows to take a day or 2 to announce their policy even though it's already in effect."
That's a good point - they did give a whole day's notice, while some shows announce rush on the first day of previews.
#79Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 12:27pm
Hamhead-
I got to the theater at 7:30. The 2nd person got there about 8, and the majority of the line began to arrive between 9 and 10. I'm sure if word is positive though, demand will pick up significantly.
I was given box seats, I believe the first box house right. There was signage at the ticket counter that said all rush tickets would be partial view, though it isn't printed on my ticket like I feel like it usually is. I'm excited nonetheless! I'll report back tonight. :)
"...and in a bed."
#80Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 12:30pm
I'm sure they're well aware of how long the show ran last night & are actively making cuts right now. I'd say within a week the show will be down to under 3 hours.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#81Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 12:32pm
Just got into the city and I am very excited for tonight's first preview! Again, I will be posting as many photos as I can from the playbill and stuff on Instagram. I will use the #ShuffleAlongBroadway
#82Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 2:40pm
sing_dance_love said: " There was signage at the ticket counter that said all rush tickets would be partial view, though it isn't printed on my ticket like I feel like it usually is."
It's funny you should mention that. After you left, the woman who was running the box office realized the tickets had not been stamped partial view, and had to take a second to actually look for the stamp in the box office. It was kind of funny, actually.
#84Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 5:06pm
Looking forward to all the reports! And again it may be worth mentioning that Theatremania has a code for rear mezz for $55. They are full view seats and only fifteen dollars more than rush- so may be a good option for people who want to plan ahead and not line up the day of.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
#85Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 7:42pm
20 minutes to 8. House is open but the line is stretching all the way to Times Square. I think we may be looking at a bit of a late start tonight.
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#86Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 7:46pm
The Playbills come with a leaflet/mock replica of the original SHUFFLE ALONG program. Gorgeous curtain. Great view in orchestra center! Sitting in row F.
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#87Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 7:58pm
No merch or windowcards being sold, unfortunately.
LightsOut90
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/2/14
#88Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 8:04pm
jacobsnchz14 said: "No merch or windowcards being sold, unfortunately.
"
and like i said don't be expecting anything for awhile.
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#89Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 8:05pm
Taz wrote:
I can not wait to see this!
Even if the show is mediocre just to see the cast live is worth the price.
Agree! I have tickets in a few weeks and am so excited to see it.
Am also REALLY looking forward to reading reports from tonight! (especially Whizzer's - who I hope is there!)
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#90Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 9:43pm
End of Act One. Holy $#!+... The cast and audience energy is ever present. Expect a lot of Tony noms for this. Just based on structure, I think this is a new musical weaving the score of the original SHUFFLE ALONG. That's just a first impression without knowing the original 1920 version.
PS Despite my avatar I have no bias whatsoever. Lol.
#91Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 11:36pm
Ended ten minutes ago. Lots of work ahead for shaping this show, but WOW. WOW. WOW. More later.
#92Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 11:42pm
Just got out. Unsure what to think. A definite work in progress with some truly great parts, but It did not truly click for me. Going back in a few weeks to check it out again.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#93Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 11:44pm
Looking forward to hearing everybody's thoughts... really hoping for a Whizzer piece! 
#94Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/15/16 at 11:46pm
It's interesting that they are taking an entire week of performances off next month. Anyone know why?
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
#95Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/16/16 at 12:19am
I have been checking in for Whizzer's comments also.
Just give the world Love.
#96Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/16/16 at 12:26am
Clocked in about 3 1/2 hours. Funniest moment of the evening: an audience member comparing this to The Iceman Cometh.
#97Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/16/16 at 12:27am
Overall I would say that I liked this show, but didn't love it. I think some of my personal preferences about musicals got in the way to some degree. For example, I find it hard to connect to shows that (A) rely heavily on songs that don't advance the plot (mostly pre-existing song) and (B) shows that are very heavy in descriptions of the things that happened. I had the same problem with Hedwig, and even Hamilton, brilliant as it is, lost me in some places for the same reason.
That being said, I did my best to look past these things to appreciate the show. And truly, there is a lot to like about it. It's a really cool piece of history, and I totally get why the writers of the show wanted to tell this story. It's a really fascinating commentary on race and show business.
The dancing was absolutely the highlight of the evening for me. Between Shuffle Along, Hamilton, Fiddler and Spring Awakening, this has to be one of my favorite years of choreography in a while. The tap is incredible, and everyone from Audra to the ensemble is hoofing it.
The whole cast is top notch, but we already knew that. Josh Henry is underused in my opinion, especially given the insane talent that we know he has. Audra, Billy, and Stokes all of excellence numbers in the second act. In particular, Billy stoped the show cold in the second with a real heartbreaker. To be honest, I thought his showstopper was better than the entirety of his performance in kinky boots. They have Brooks playing all of the white characters, and he does a great job with it.
In terms of the book, I found the first act to be pretty solid, but the second act really disintegrated for me, with the exception of some brilliant moments like those I mentioned above. Large portions of the second act could be cut entirely in my opinion, or at least trimmed down severely.
It's really tough to say where exactly the Tony noms will go, but I'm sure there will be lots of them. It's also tough to say who is leading and who is featured. I'm really curious to see what Tony committee decides. In any case, this is going to be a really competitive year for those acting noms. I can definitely see nom for Audra and Billy for sure. Also, I don't see how anyone in their right mind could possibly call this show a REVIVAL. It's absolutely an original show.
Everyone except Audra came out and signed at the stage door, in case anyone is curious, but it's only the first preview. Who knows what anyone will do down the line? The show got out at 11:23 tonight, and started probably eight minutes late or so.
All in all, I'd say there is a lot to like about it, but it's really rough and ultimately not my kind of show. I wish it nothing but the best. I think most people are really gonna like it, but it just wasn't really for me.
#98Shuffle Along previews
Posted: 3/16/16 at 12:29am
Well, that was a mess. Sometimes a glorious mess, but badly in need of editing and focus. This was my most anticipated show of the spring, and yes Audra was manages to be perfection and the talented cast works hard, but the structure and story-telling often given them an uphill battle.
First of all, this is in no way, shape or form a revival of Shuffle Along. It's not even just the story of the making of Shuffle Along as they have somewhat marketed the show. This production is a bio-musical a la Beautiful about the four creators of Shuffle Along (as well as a few of the stars of the original production).
For a better comparison, imagine if you will Everything Was Possible: The Musical. The real story is the creation of Follies; even though you would naturally get to hear little snippets of the songs, there would be no time to hear full length performances of Waiting For The Girls Upstairs or Who's That Woman. There wouldn't even be much, if any, time to explain who all the characters are, their relationships or the events of the evening. Luckily for most members on this board we could all put on a one man or woman show of Follies in our living rooms, making it very easy for us to fill in the blanks and enjoy the creative process. The problem with Shuffle Along is that no one really is familiar with the original 1921 production of Shuffle Along and this production shows us precious little of the actual show.
To make matters even more confounding, the entire first act takes us through the meeting of the four creators, the inception of the idea, the securing of the funds, the myriad of out of town try-outs and the opening of the show on Broadway. This all in act one! Add an intermission and you already have a complete "Everything Was Possible" show. Act Two then covers everything that happened to the creators after Shuffle Along until their deaths. So in this example in Act Two we would see Sondheim and Prince create Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd- the whole damn lot. After Merrily Steve could have his own track of writing Sunday in the Park while Hal falls on tough times with A Doll's Life and Grind and Roza and (we're here all night folks! literally!). Well, you get the point.
This structure creates four lead characters out of Brian Stokes Mitchell and Billy Porter (the team that wrote the book) and Josh Henry and Brandon Victor Dixon (responsible for the lyrics and music respectively). Audra plays the leading lady, Lottie, who also has an affair with Eubie (Dixon). The leads often narrate directly to the audience, telling us now we went to Philadelphia were we added this number and fired this actor. Sometimes a song would start to take off only to be constantly interrupted by narration. For example, during Dixon's first flirtation with McDonald they barely can sing a chorus of Honeysuckle Time without breaking into chatter. They have nice chemistry and the dialogue is funny, but I just wish I could have heard them sing the song.
Whenever the (VERY hardworking) ensemble came on to do a big tap number, usually transitioning from one scene to the next, the show really caught on fire. Porter has a big And I'm Telling You moment in act two that went over well. The act one finale, one of the few, if only, full out numbers presented as the original Shuffle Along was amazing. It's too bad we didn't have Encores put on a production of Shuffle Along so we could all acquaint ourselves with the piece before seeing the making of musical.
I have similar feelings to Shuffle Along as I did after the first preview of Women on the Verge. This isn't near the disaster that first preview was, but I was equally as excited about that all-star cast only to be mystified by some of what was happening onstage. With a runtime of 3.5 hours this really could have used an out of town try-out and at this stage of the game some serious cutting. Like a good hour of cuts.
Even with all of these criticisms it's still worth it for Audra alone, which shows the immense power show can have over a show and the absolute unending brilliance of her talent.
I hope they use the preview period well. I'll be back to see what changes they make and wish them the best.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
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