THE COLLABORATION Previews- Page 2
THE COLLABORATION Previews
THE COLLABORATION Previews#25
Posted: 12/10/22 at 9:28pm
I’m not sure how to post photos here but I did post one on Reddit now. I saw the matinee today. I enjoyed it a lot. Act 1 is a lot of rambling but it moved very quickly. Act 2 was more intense. Re: the gun shot, it’s very quick and plays well in the scene (no gun is visible, it’s a background noise). Act 2 has the real time camera work which was really neat as well.
The mezz was basically empty today. Which is odd because when I tried to move my seat, the show was showing as sold out on Telecharge. Perhaps a tour group had the bulk of mezz and couldn’t attend? Or did other shows have an empty mezz too? I’m actually surprised names alone ( Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany ) aren’t selling out this show.
reddit photo : https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/zi82sk/the_collaboration_very_empty_mezz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
edit: Apparently the empty mezz is because of it being bought out for a school group but not many people at the school group attended. Makes sense now!! Idk how you don’t go to a free Broadway show when it’s offered but anyway..
THE COLLABORATION Previews#26
Posted: 12/10/22 at 10:18pm
Jeremy Pope is still a rising star, so while his name may have more selling power than it did for "Choir Boy" a few years back (where he was part of an ensemble cast), it's not nearly as much as one would think. Paul Bettany, while an established actor in the MCU, is very much an "oh, that guy" actor. Something tells me the general "WandaVision" crowd is eager to see a play like this.
As I said in another thread, the non-profit theatres - most often where you find the "weird art" and prestige pieces, seldom have a knockout/sellout hit (the only notable exception being LCT). The last knockout hit I can recall MTC having was CONSTELLATIONS - notable mostly for being Jake Gyllenhaal's Broadway debut - in 2015.
THE COLLABORATION Previews#27
Posted: 12/11/22 at 12:59am
Thanks for the photo! Feels very British. Add lots of “stuff” to cover up the slog of a play.
THE COLLABORATION Previews#28
Posted: 12/11/22 at 1:39am
I saw this show a few days ago and I really enjoyed it! The first act is unbelievably slow and could send me to sleep but the second act really showcases how amazing Bettany and Pope are. I didn’t care for the female character, as she had quite a minor role that felt far too forced in- like she had driving power in a show starring her but did not particularly blend in with the rest of the characters energies. I loved the live DJ and definitely I would recommend this to anybody who is into art history or seeing Jeremy Pope’s brilliance on stage. He’s definitely going places, he’s done amazing work these past few seasons and I would be glad to see a nomination for him in this show.
THE COLLABORATION Previews#29
Posted: 12/11/22 at 1:07pm
perfectpenguin said: "I’m not sure how to post photos here but I did post one on Redditnow.I saw the matinee today. I enjoyed it a lot. Act 1 is a lot of rambling but it moved very quickly. Act 2 was more intense. Re: the gun shot, it’s very quick and plays well in the scene (no gun is visible, it’s a background noise). Act 2 has the real time camera work which was really neat as well.
The mezz was basically empty today. Which is odd because when I tried to move my seat, the show was showing as sold out on Telecharge. Perhaps a tour group had the bulk of mezz and couldn’t attend? Or did other shows have an empty mezz too? I’m actually surprised names alone ( Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany ) aren’t selling out this show.
reddit photo :https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/zi82sk/the_collaboration_very_empty_mezz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
edit: Apparently the empty mezz is because of it being bought out for a school group but not many people at the school group attended. Makes sense now!! Idk how you don’t go to a free Broadway show when it’s offered but anyway.."
Here - post the photo in the picture icon -url click ok. 
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
THE COLLABORATION Previews#30
Posted: 12/13/22 at 10:03pm
Saw this tonight, rather enjoyed it but as others have said the first act is the weaker of the two, this would have been more dynamic as a 90 minute one act
Pope and Bettany performances are the reasons to see it, the last stretch where it is just the two of them is HARROWING
Stagedoor was AWFUL, me and one other person were the only ones that actually saw the show and then there were like 20 autograph sellers trying to get Paul to sign Funko's Marvel DVD's and he was trying to be so sweet to sign and it got to the point where his security essentially pulled him away because people wouldn't listen, thankfully got to say a kind word or two to him but YEESH even the stagedoor guys were openly calling them leeches
THE COLLABORATION Previews#31
Posted: 12/15/22 at 10:22am
I saw the show last night and really enjoyed it!
I was bracing myself for a slow first act but found myself captivated the entire time. Bettany and Pope are doing some really excellent work on that stage and I'm really looking forward to the film version. Pope definitely has the more flashy/dramatic role but he really delivers.
The DJ sets were fun and the audience seemed to be enjoying themselves!
One note for those who booked a front row $30 under 35 seat - I was on the extreme right side and there were some obstructive props in both acts. Nothing too detrimental but you do miss the first moments of (spoiler below).
Warhol taking his shirt off in front of the mirror and revealing his gunshot wounds/scars
I'll end this post by randomly pointing out that I didn't realize how tall Paul Bettany is. I guess I always assume film actors are short, lol
THE COLLABORATION Previews#33
Posted: 12/15/22 at 11:37am
TaffyDavenport said: "Is the 2 hour running time accurate?"
Yep! Show started a few minutes after 7 and I was out the door just after 9.
THE COLLABORATION Previews#34
Posted: 12/15/22 at 11:51am
Perfect, thanks! So I can stroll to my train, rather than run.
THE COLLABORATION Previews#35
Posted: 12/18/22 at 8:56am
Thoroughly enjoyed this last night. I found both acts fascinating but understand why some might prefer act two. The acting was uniformly superb and like above, I understand why people might prefer Pope, but for me I thought the two of them were every bit equally great.
Warhol has always fascinated me and ever since the 1996 film, Basquiat has, as well. The film is actually on YouTube for free and it’s worth a watch - Jeffrey Wright and David Bowie are these two in that.
THE COLLABORATION Previews#36
Posted: 12/18/22 at 9:38am
@ JordanCatalano - I feel like we've been at a lot of the same shows at the same time lately. I was also there last night.
For me, I feel like my expectations were high and it was a bit of a letdown. The DJ dance party in the beginning felt thoroughly unnecessary, especially since, from my view, the audience was less the "hip" crowd and more the "hip replacement" crowd.
Act I was very much a slog and felt like it was saying a lot about perceptions of how people perform art without really saying anything at all and, truthfully, I was close to nodding off by the end of Act I. Act II, while much more contrived in nature (Krysta Rodriguez - love her I do - was done no favors by such random character with so little substance) is really where it took off. Watching Bettany's Warhol crumble emotionally while Pope's Basquiat achieves a level of mania/paranoia that is very hard to capture onstage without appearing cartoonish was a wonderful payoff. Pope EASILY lands a Tony nod for this role. Overall, I would probably see it again just to see if there was anything I missed, but it's a take it-or-leave it show for me - mileage may vary.
The Stage Door: - Woof...I called it when they announced the show that the Marvel weirdo autograph hounds were going to show up and I was right. I will say that the security was organized for it (although the lack of barrier gates was odd, though MTC is not known for having a lot of stagedooring). When Krysta and Erik came out first, the Marvel people were just acting dismissive and the 10 of us there that did see the show struggled to get their autograph since the autograph hounds kind of waved them off. (I got Krysta but missed Erik). When Bettany came out, he was very subdued with the Marvel people but kind and chatty to those of us who actually saw the show. Pope came out last and took his time with every single person and he's such a sweetheart. I do wish they had the Marvel folks on one side and the show folks on the other, but it's MTC so I can't imagine it's something they would sweat over.
THE COLLABORATION Previews#37
Posted: 12/18/22 at 9:52am
Well if we’re at the same show again this week then it’s fate lol.
And I was so enthralled with act one! I’m going to go back in a couple weeks and see it again and curious if I can see what others are saying about that.
Stand-by Joined: 9/5/05
THE COLLABORATION Previews#38
Posted: 12/18/22 at 1:33pm
They should announce at the stage door actors would only be signing Playbills from the show.
THE COLLABORATION Previews#39
Posted: 1/4/23 at 1:05pm
Hi there, for those that have seen the show, or have been in the Friedman, for this show, is it better to sit up close in the orchestra or in first row mezz? I like seeing the actor's faces and performances; is the mezz too far away?
THE COLLABORATION Previews#41
Posted: 1/4/23 at 1:12pm
wewdie said: "Hi there, for those that have seen the show, or have been in the Friedman, for this show, is it better to sit up close in the orchestra or in first row mezz? I like seeing the actor's faces and performances; is the mezz too far away?"
Front mezz:
THE COLLABORATION Previews#42
Posted: 1/4/23 at 3:54pm
Front mezz is great, gotta say the side orchestra view is what made it even more captivating for me. There were nuances in both performances that I wonder if they could be seen from further out.
THE COLLABORATION Previews#43
Posted: 1/11/23 at 12:24pm
Hey everyone, thanks for the seat recommendations. Grabbed a close seat this past weekend when I was back in the city. Such great performances from both Bettany and Pope. Still thinking about them final half hour of the play. Anyone know where I can buy the poster and script for the show?
THE COLLABORATION Previews#44
Posted: 1/11/23 at 12:27pm
I’ve only seen posters for sale at the theater.
THE COLLABORATION Previews#45
Posted: 1/11/23 at 1:14pm
wewdie said: "Hey everyone, thanks for the seat recommendations. Grabbed a close seat this past weekend when I was back in the city. Such great performances from both Bettany and Pope. Still thinking about them final half hour of the play. Anyone know where I can buy the poster and script for the show?"
The script can be purchased at the Drama Book Store!
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