Stephanie J. Block begins performances in ANYTHING GOES today

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 8:01am

Obviously, I am interested in SJB and how she portrays Reno. If it was such a big deal having a Playbill article about keeping the choreography during her run in the role, there must have been some doubt. If anyone goes, let us know how she does.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 8:14am

Looking forward to seeing Steph's take on Reno.
She is one talented broad.

[ken8631]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 9:16am

I have tickets for Sunday - can't wait! Saw it with Sutton (another favorite), but getting to see it again with Stephanie is amazing!

[nealb1]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 10:52am

I'm seeing the show in 2 weeks!

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 10:59am

Seeing it tomorrow night and I am absolutely estatic :)

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 4:24pm

I wonder if she'll do the same note in Anything Goes that Sutton does, or something even more impressive.

Updated On: 11/4/11 at 04:24 PM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 6:32pm

An interview and footage of SJB as Reno Sweeney!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-TV-Welcome-Aboard-Stephanie-J-Block-First-Look-at-The-Star-in-ANYTHING-GOES-Premieres-Tonight-20111104
Updated On: 11/4/11 at 06:32 PM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 6:34pm

I am going as well on Sunday, Ken! So excited. I was going to skip it because I sort of can't stand Sutton Foster. Don't know what it is, but man she irks me. But I LOVE SJB and am so excited to see it with her.

Would love reports if anyone goes tonight!

[redmustang]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 8:44pm

I am seeing Anything Goes next Wed. at 2, then Follies at 8. In fact, I will have seen my 3 favorite Broadway Babies within 5 weeks: Liza in Vegas Oct.7, Bernadette in NY Nov.9, and Patti in Pittsburgh Nov. 13.

[EvanK]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 10:55pm

Found this on twitter

RobbieBanana Robbie Simpson
Stephanie J Block is KILLING IT. Scooping like she's never scooped before. #shecantap

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 10:59pm

I hope she has a really great run in this show. She's very talented. Her performance in the national tour of "Wicked" blew me away when I saw the show. I sent her an e-mail once and she was very sweet when she replied.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 11/4/11 at 11:15pm

I'm looking forward to seeing the show with her in it.

I would watch the video but its done by the incredible vapid and talentless Richard Ridge.

[zepka102]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 1:18am

Going tomorrow night and cannot wait!!

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 7:37am

I'll bet she's great in the part. I look forward to hearing what people think!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 8:43am

My anti-virus software is preventing me from watching the clip. I'll more than likely be seeing her on the 22nd when I'm in town for Thanksgiving.

[BwayMama2]

Posted: 11/5/11 at 10:56am

Was at the show last night and was thoroughly impressed with Stephanie's performance. You certainly couldnt tell she only had 24 actual hours of rehearsal time. Her last note in AG was show-stopping! Thoroughly, thoroughly impressed!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 12:36pm

Okay, I saw her Friday night debut and she was completely fantastic in the part!
Some of you might have read my judgments toward her casting when she was announced, I even said I'd return my tickets but enough people said that I should just go and watch the show and so I did and I'm not ashamed (in fact I'm glad) to say that I was completely off the mark re Ms.Block and that I definitely learned a lesson about judging a performance before actually seeing it.
First of all, you could have never been able to tell this was her opening night performance. She had all the songs down, a fully realized take on the role, she had wonderful chemistry with her three male co-stars and she looked like she was having a blast on stage (and so was the audience). More importantly, she was able to carry the show while still letting everyone shine, it felt like an ensemble piece (and I mean that as a compliment both to her and the really impressive group of people Marshall assembled for this production).
I know people weren't sure about what her dancing would be like. Yes, she's not Sutton Foster in that department, she seemed a bit hesitant with some of the steps in "Anything Goes" but once she got to the showstopping "Blow Gabriel Blow" she was on fire (even if she can't really do kicks, but who cares, this is not A CHORUS LINE). What I felt was more important is that she seemed to be having a blast all throughout and her acting and singing were terrific. She's good times as Reeno.

[Popular]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 2:13pm

So happy to be reading all the positive feedback! And thanks Ray for posting about your change of heart and enjoyment of the show, it's such a wonderful thing when that happens.

[EvanK]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 4:00pm

Ray, I am so happy you gave a new performance by a new performer a chance :) Regardless of your opinions going in, I am so glad you could enjoy what you saw! That is fantastic. I knew giving her a chance was the best thing to do, if they called her up to do the role, obviously they thought she could do it. I love SJB, but her name is not going to really sell.

[zepka102]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 5:41pm

Ray, I completely agree with everything you said. I saw it last night also, and was so impressed with her. I really loved her take on the character. I was trying to think of who I could compare it to, because I feel like it's a character that has been done (not saying that in a bad way). It's very different from Sutton, maybe because Stephanie comes across as older. She feels like someone who has experienced life and has been a performer for a while. There was something about her that made that moment between her and Hope really biting, when she tells Hope about how she would marry Billy if he was interested, as if she's saying "I know I'm not a young ingenue like you, but I've been around, and Billy is the kind of guy you should take when you have the chance." If that makes any sense. It just felt different from how Sutton plays it. I loved it!

[jovie27]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 6:48pm

Zepka...sorry...just had to say you are really,really cute...and glad you enjoyed the show!

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 7:21pm

Have they made any/many changes or is it basically the same as what Sutton did?

And Joel Grey is back now as of today, no?

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 7:36pm

Does Stephanie do anything more vocally impressive than Sutton/ Tari? Particularly higher notes in Blow, Gabriel, Blow?

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 7:41pm

That interview was hilarious. Block just would not stop talking. I started speeding through the video and every time I stopped, she was in the middle of some endless run-on sentence, jabbering on and on while the interviewer looked on helplessly.

[zepka102]

Posted: 11/6/11 at 7:44pm

It didn't feel any different from what Sutton did. They kept it all except for the splits, as the article on playbill said. You could totally pick out where the splits should have been.

As far as vocals, I prefer Stephanie to Sutton. Her voice fits the score perfectly with room to do what she does best, which is belt.