Sondheim and Ives' HERE WE ARE at The Shed- Page 37

[Anshel2]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:08am

wish i were here2 said: "Robbie2 said: "wish i were here2 said: "Intermission

THIS SHOW IS BONKERS!!! I am so intrigued where it will go in Act 2.

 

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Wasn’t on my bingo card to see Tracie Bennett waking through the audience holding a stuffed sheep"

Hey - Spoiler! ^^^^^^^^"

Shout out to Gypsy?  

Sorry, about that! Posted using my phone and idk why the spoiler part didn't work "

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:14am

It's funny to me, too, because this is such a massive deal to us theater nerds, but like, I don't think this would ever survive on Broadway and I'm not sure that's the intention? 

[Capeguy]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:19am

A question to those who saw it last night. I'm going in November. Should one watch the films first? Would it matter to have that knowledge??? I see that they are available on Amazon Prime for a small fee. Not sure if I should...
 

Updated On: 9/29/23 at 11:19 AM

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:22am

RippedMan said: "It's funny to me, too, because this is such a massive deal to us theater nerds, but like, I don't think this would ever survive on Broadway and I'm not sure that's the intention?"

Agreed, this was in Frank Rich's New York Magazine story about the show:

"To tamp down over-the-top expectations, it was agreed that the piece should not be staged at a commercial venue or at a nonprofit theater like the Public with a track record of sending productions on to Broadway."

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:24am

Capeguy said: "A question to those who saw it last night. I'm going in November. Should one watch the films first? Would it matter to have that knowledge??? I see that they are available on Amazon Prime for a small fee. Not sure if I should...
"

I went in totally blind and will probably watch the films now. I’m glad I didn’t watch them before and just got to experience this for the absolute insanity that it is, with zero expectations.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:28am

signorafosca2 said: "TaffyDavenport said: "For those interested, it looks like this was taken from HH 203. Looks like a great view, in my opinion:"

That was indeed a picture I took from HH203."

Did you feel like you missed anything being on the side like some who sat in the front-facing seats suggested the sides did? I have a 201 seat on the aisle and am a bit nervous now.

[binau]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:31am

MezzA101 said: "I heard lots of "Passion" as well. Didn't see any celebrities or members of the creative team.

Did anyone?

Thanks.



"

I think I saw Jonathan Tunick in the audience. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:33am

Georgeanddot2 said: "I imagine that they could've brought someone in to write the score for the second act and made it a collaboration, but unfortunately I really don't think there's anyone working in the industry right now that could even begin to be at the level of Sondheim. Honestly I'm not sure there ever was. The older I get the more I start to realize that Sondheim kinda towers over every other musical theater writer ever and kinda goes as far as to transcend the medium that he's working in. He's just always on a completely different level."

Even if that had happened, I'm sure it still wouldn't have pleased anyone. Especially if they had continued to bill it as his last show but it truly wasn't completely his, the final score and the blurred line effect of two composers' names on it, etc. but I would have pegged someone like JRB or Guettel or Korie as good candidates.

So to those who saw it... would we consider this a concept musical with a score akin to Forum/Passion/Road Show? Sorry in advance to anyone who sees the show over the course of the next three-ish months who has to answer any repeated questions. lol.

Looking forward to revisiting this thread and cannot wait for January 7!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:41am

I don't see this for a few weeks, but I would love to know what people who don't know the backstory thinks of the show. Casual theatergoers & not inherently Sondheim fans. There's so much speculation here about this moving to Broadway this season, but if they want any chance of commercial success it will have to transcend the Sondheim diehards (a finite and unsustainable audience base).

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:45am

Capeguy said: "A question to those who saw it last night. I'm going in November. Should one watch the films first? Would it matter to have that knowledge??? I see that they are available on Amazon Prime for a small fee. Not sure if I should...
"

I went in totally blind and didn’t feel like I was missing anything. Reading the plots of both films, they kept much of the plot framework from each for the respective acts, but put the characters and circumstances into a blender. Not everything that happens in the movies happens in the show, but it is firmly an adaptation of both and not just a riff on the themes.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 11:49am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I don't see this for a few weeks, but I would love to know what people who don't know the backstory thinks of the show. Casual theatergoers & not inherently Sondheim fans. There's so much speculation here about this moving to Broadway this season, but if they want any chance of commercial success it will have to transcend the Sondheim diehards (a finite and unsustainable audience base)."

I think the best we can hope for, as far as a transfer goes, is something akin to Days of Wine and Roses. A strictly limited engagement to boost awards eligibility and future life of the show, but not necessarily a commercial run. The audience for this is limited, and will absolutely not appeal to the masses.

[binau]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 12:02pm

I realise I’m like a broken record but their best chance of a successful Broadway transfer is to get a couple more names in the cast. The most obvious example to me is replacing Tracie Bennett with Bernadette Peters. It’s a comic role that Bernadette will shine in and she gets a good song in act one. David Ives just needs to get her more to do in Act Two. I don’t think the show is going to quite get the critical raves and audience response to justify a transfer purely on the basis of the material and creative team. 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 12:16pm

Bernadette is a lovely lady and a fabulous actress, but she’s not right for everything. And under no circumstances is she capable of delivering the performance Tracie Bennett is giving, or of selling enough tickets to merit a recasting in such a relatively small role. I know you love her, binau, but have a little perspective here.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 12:35pm

Yeah, Bernadette is in no way right for that role. I really wish she'd do a play where she can show off her comedy skills, something she hasn't really done in way too long. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 12:38pm

ColorTheHours048 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I don't see this for a few weeks, but I would love to know what people who don't know the backstory thinks of the show. Casual theatergoers & not inherently Sondheim fans. There's so much speculation here about this moving to Broadway this season, but if they want any chance of commercial success it will have to transcend the Sondheim diehards (a finite and unsustainable audience base)."

I think the best we can hope for, as far as a transfer goes, is something akin to Days of Wine and Roses. A strictly limited engagement to boost awards eligibility and future life of the show, but not necessarily a commercial run. The audience for this is limited, and will absolutely not appeal to the masses."


That's great in theory, but DAYS is a commercial run. Those investors ofc know the risks of Broadway producing, but they are hoping to see a return. As we've discussed on other threads, every flop reflects badly upon the industry and can scare off investors –– especially when being led by a producer who's had a string of flops recently (Kevin McCollum for DAYS, Tom Kirdahy for HERE WE ARE).

[dan94]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 12:42pm

binau said: "MezzA101 said: "I heard lots of "Passion" as well. Didn't see any celebrities or members of the creative team.

Did anyone?

Thanks.
"

I think I saw Jonathan Tunick in the audience."

Jonathan Tunick was there about 4 or 5 rows back in the center orchestra on the aisle. 

I had seen both films a couple times. They are adaptations but not faithful adaptations, which is for the better. They take situations and character types from the film, definitely put them in a blender as mentioned, and then create a completely new tone for the piece.

If you watch the movies you will know somewhat what to expect. But there are still surprises along the way if you've seen them.

And yes, love her but Bernadette would be wrong for this. Especially in the Bennett role.

I also don't think it needs to transfer. The production values are at a high Broadway level, but it seems perfect where it is. I think money would be better spent, especially for the longevity of the piece, videotaping it at The Shed and doing a commercial release of that. Creating a cast recording is going to be a problem - do you record entire scenes? How do you end the recording? Is it a disc of "Unreleased Sondheim Songs featuring the cast of Here We Are"? Videotaping would solve those questions and ensure people in the future can see the show. I do not think this one will be produced much.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 12:49pm

dan94 said: "I think money would be better spent, especially for the longevity of the piece, videotaping it at The Shed and doing a commercial release of that. Creating a cast recording is going to be a problem - do you record entire scenes? How do you end the recording? Is it a disc of "Unreleased Sondheim Songs featuring the cast of Here We Are"? Videotaping would solve those questions and ensure people in the future can see the show. I do not think this one will be produced much."

I'm sure it would be a cast recording, same as any, but maybe akin to a Sondheim-Nonesuch type of recording with a good chunk of the book included? The 2011 Follies revival recording comes to mind.

[Kad]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 12:58pm

I think any transfer speculation is premature at this point. 

[MezzA101]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 1:01pm

What was the story with "Bounce? Was there talk of a transfer? Did reviews play a role? They will matter a lot with this show. Anyone try to get a non-Sondheim fanatic interested in going? What was the pitch and reaction?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 1:02pm

I guess I meant more along the lines of commercial, open-ended run. There’s no world where this transfers without a predetermined closing date that’s advertised. The hope, I imagine, being that enough folks won’t be able to catch it at The Shed that they can sustain a short run in a larger commercial venue. Or maybe they’ll just extend the run at The Shed and enjoy any profits from that and call it a day.

My vailed point was that this would absolutely flop as an open-ended run.

[Synecdoche2]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 1:06pm

The production is well-suited for the high-tech "Shed" and there is nothing set to play there until Branagh's Lear next fall. I have to imagine that the intention is to extend the run there instead of an expensive Broadway transfer.

As for the show, the first act is terrific. The second is also there. That makes it just like every Sondheim show! (kidding, but am I really?)

Updated On: 9/29/23 at 01:06 PM

[bfreak]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 1:32pm

How was David Hyde Pierce and the extent of his role? When the cast was announced, some outlets made us believe he was looking like the lead, but it doesn’t seem anyone has mentioned him yet.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 1:41pm

 

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DHP doesn’t show up until the very end of act one but he is very prominent in act two, with some really beautiful moments, especially between him and Rachel Bay Jones  

 

[Jakeevan942]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 1:48pm

3 pairs of productions holds released for tonight. Grab them now.

[Up In One]

Posted: 9/29/23 at 2:45pm

Such an emotional evening – it was like walking into the home of a friend who had passed and finding things they were in the middle of.  It was impossible to be objective. I wanted to hear an old friend, and he was there in full force and at his comedic best. Sondheim and Ives are genius together in Act One. It felt fresh, new and smart. The show is staged and designed brilliantly. Act Two for me was more about his absence than what came next. The symbolism of the piano seizing and not being able to be played was just too much. The idea of this being a piece he did not finish or was not able to find a way to finish was more out front than the character’s plight for me. Because you can never separate the show from the composer’s death the creatives might want to lean into the idea more. Sondheim elevates Ives in the first act - it’s literally an impossible act to follow on his own. I think this could be an effective 90/100-minute piece if the last 10/15 minutes could encapsulate what is now the 2nd act as brilliantly as each scene is the first Act is presented.

If it transferred, the thrust design of this show would probably be best suited for Lincoln Center.