TODAY Show "Best of Broadway" Week 2023

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/20/23 at 10:14am

This week marks the TODAY Show's annual "Best of Broadway" Week, with performances from the following productions:

• 3/21 — Bad Cinderella
• 3/22 — Entertainment Community Fund's Ragtime
• 3/23 — Parade
• 3/24 — Shucked

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 3/20/23 at 10:33am

RAGTIME!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/20/23 at 10:36am

Thrilled that they will be showcasing RAGTIME!

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 11:20am

Linedy Genao and the company of Bad Cinderella performing “It Has to Be Her” and the title song:

https://www.today.com/video/cast-of-bad-cinderella-performs-it-has-to-be-her-on-today-165967429592

[BentleyB]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 11:40am

I couldn't even get thru the first number.  I am so glad we did not include this on our schedule last week of shows.  Not going to attract any additional audience with that performance.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 12:12pm

Linedy sounds rough. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 12:48pm

The Hunks number probably would've sold A LOT more tickets but also probably too spicy for daytime.

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 1:28pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Linedy sounds rough."

I thought she sounded fine, up until the last note, which was disappointingly weak.

IMHO, the biggest problem here is she needs a lot more bravado. She states in the interview that she went straight from school theatre to the Imperial, and this is quite evident in her lack of presence. Everyone in the ensemble is serving major attitude, while she reads like a kitten in a pack of wolves. 

Updated On: 3/21/23 at 01:28 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 1:36pm

"She states in the interview that she went straight from school theatre to the Imperial, and this is quite evident in her lack of presence. "

Not sure why she even said that since she was in the Broadway companies of On Your Feet and Dear Evan Hansen.

Updated On: 3/21/23 at 01:36 PM

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 1:37pm

DottieD'Luscia said: ""She states in the interview that she went straight from school theatre to the Imperial, and this is quite evident in her lack of presence. "

Not sure why she even said that since she was in the Broadway companies ofOn Your FeetandDear Evan Hansen."

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that!

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 1:44pm

Lot666 said: "DottieD'Luscia said: ""She states in the interview that she went straight from school theatre to the Imperial, and this is quite evident in her lack of presence. "

Not sure why she even said that since she was in the Broadway companies ofOn Your FeetandDear Evan Hansen."

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that!"

Fair - but maybe she was alluding to the fact that her theatrical training has been minimal and her previous roles have not really been more than ensemble/understudying - so to be the lead in the splashy new ALW musical only a few years after just being a banker (which is a great skill to fall back on during lean times, so good for her!) is an unconventional career path

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 1:58pm

FYI, Linedy's alternate, Savy Jackson, will be on tonight. Curious as to whether or not any critics have seen the show yet, since Cameron Loyal (Prince Charming) has been out since last Tuesday, and it opens on Thursday.

Updated On: 3/21/23 at 01:58 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 2:05pm

Critics have seen the show with understudies before, so who knows? Cameron Loyal is supposed to be back tonight, though and, from the performance, it looks like Ray Baynard is back too

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 9:28pm

oof that was rough. the choreography is something SNL would come up with to mock a well-meaning bunch of high school theater nerds.

no shade for this leading lady (who certainly makes it seem likes this is her big break right out of high school, and not her third Bway show), but if youre going to put on such a cheesy, awkward show, why can't you find someone with a knock-out voice to sell it? 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 3/22/23 at 10:56am

Audra and Stokes!! I wept!

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/22/23 at 11:02am

Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell performing "Wheels of a Dream", 25 years later:

https://www.today.com/video/-ragtime-stars-perform-wheels-of-a-dream-live-on-today-166240325511

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 3/22/23 at 12:30pm

Imagine two people just singing with a piano just ran circles around Bad Cinderella.  Amazing and beautiful 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/23/23 at 1:32pm

Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond performing “This Is Not Over Yet”:

https://www.today.com/video/ben-platt-and-micaela-diamond-perform-this-is-not-over-yet-166414405837

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 3/23/23 at 2:35pm

Audra McDonald proves once again that she can do it all.  From bringing us to tears with "Wheels of a Dream" to delighting us with her funny naughtiness in "Facebook Song".

 

 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 3/24/23 at 9:43am

EDSOSLO858 said: "Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond performing “This Is Not Over Yet”:

https://www.today.com/video/ben-platt-and-micaela-diamond-perform-this-is-not-over-yet-166414405837"

an incredible job by both of them (and staged well for TV too).

and i literally find myself chuckling at the audacity and delusion of those who think Platt's father and not Platt's talent is on display here. 

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 3/24/23 at 10:05am

That song from Shucked was really not good. I don't think there was a true rhyme in it.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 3/24/23 at 10:28am

carolinaguy said: "That song from Shucked was really not good. I don't think there was a true rhyme in it."

The song on paper may be subpar but I thought the performance itself was great. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/24/23 at 11:26am

Andrew Durand performing “Somebody Will”:

https://www.today.com/video/-shucked-star-performs-somebody-will-live-on-today-166658117885

[barcelona20]

Posted: 3/24/23 at 11:48am

Haven't seen the show, but I thought the song and performance were excellent. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 3/24/23 at 12:33pm

Durand sounds incredible, and the song isnt bad by any stretch. Just confused why they'd showcase an earnest forlorn country song when the show is an uproarious comedy?