TOMMY TUNE's "TURN OF THE CENTURY"- Page 2

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 7:21pm

I have heard that TOTC (hopefully it will get better reviews than ATOTC!), IS definitely extending one week. Get thee to the online box office as soon as it opens, commasplice.

[commasplice]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 7:26pm

lc, you're my hero. I'll definitely be stalking the Goodman web site waiting for them to go on sale.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 9/18/08 at 10:06pm

cs (may I call you cs?),

Tickets for the extension are on sale, just not on the website. Here's the message I got when checking it out:

"This performance of Turn of the Century is currently not available online. Please contact Ticket Services at 312.443.3800 to purchase tickets."

For some reason the Wed., Oct. 29 show at 7:30 p.m. is available on line, but not the matinee that day. Go figure.

Anyway, hope this helps.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 1:42am

...and suddenly, magically, tickets through Nov. 2 are now available for purchase online!

Happy shopping, commasplice.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 10:26am

Thanks Jon and commasplice! Info about those shows was really bugging me. I think I'll be picking up my tickets to Turn of the Century this evening. We're going in October, when the show is a bit more settled.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 10:51am

Wow, those pictures of Rachel are gorgeous.

Great interview, too.

Everyone lucky enough to go better post detailed reviews!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 12:11pm

I wish it all of the luck in the world, since two of the nicest people I know are in the cast.

Yea for them!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 1:08pm

Matt, there was an interesting article (in the Trib, I believe) regarding what happened to The Boys Come Home. Jon hit some of the points, but the article spoke about the turmoil and pressure of mounting it in more detail. I tried to find a link to the article. I will keep looking and post it for you if I come across it.

[commasplice]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 1:16pm

lc (and you can call me cs if you'd like!),

This morning I bought a front row ticket for the closing performance (well, closing performance as long as they don't extend again) I am SO EXCITED.

[xilch]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 2:41pm

First Post! I am a long time lurker, but I never felt the need to debate the battle of the Roses or be accused of sock puppetry... Anyway, I'm seeing the first performance of TOTC tonight(yay!)and was wondering where the stage door at the Goodman is? Thanks!

[Jon]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 3:12pm

I'm pretty sure there is no traditional outdoor "stage door" at the Goodman. The actors enter and leave through the lobby.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 3:14pm

The stage door is right next to the security desk. It's right in front of you as you walk in through the main doors.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 4:06pm

Thanks Sueleen! I would love to see that article. I was really looking forward to seeing that show.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 4:15pm

Yay, cs! So glad you got tix. I'm going on Oct. 26. Yep, I caved. Thank goodness my bro lives nearby so I don't have to pay for hotels.

xilch, welcome!!!! Please post your thoughts after seeing the show. Will you go again later in the run to see what changes are made?

lc

[xilch]

Posted: 9/20/08 at 1:07am

Allright, just got back from the firt preview. Overall, it was a very sweet show, with a great cast. Rachel York sounded phenomenal on every song, and looked just as good! (By the way, how tall is she? Jeez...) The story itself had a few problems, plot holes, and even had one scene that almost recreated the recent Fiddler on the Roof revival, complete with a Harvey Feinstein lookalike. I really liked the choreography, costumes, and staging- it was minimalistic, but done very well. I cannot wait to go back near the end of the run and see the changes. Overall, I thought it was a very charming night of theater- just beware; the little old lady next to you will keep singing the whole night....

[barcelona20]

Posted: 9/20/08 at 10:10am

Can we get a songlist please?

[mikem]

Posted: 9/20/08 at 10:53am

Has anyone gone to the Goodman post-show discussions? I happen to have bought a ticket for this upcoming Thursday, and the website says that there are post-show discussions every Wednesday and Thursday. Does the cast actually attend that many post-show discussions? That really starts adding up over the course of the run.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 9/20/08 at 11:47am

Thanks for posting, xilch. Sounds like it's in decent shape already, yes?

Fiddler????? Can you explain further? Were they spoofing it?

Did you stage door?

There was an interesting article in Variety yesterday about the amount of investment the Goodman is putting into this. Didn't say how much, but said it was a hefty chunk of its annual budget. B'way surely is the goal.

Do you think it's ready for prime time, or could be? How was the audience response?

Thanks again!


Variety Article

[xilch]

Posted: 9/20/08 at 12:55pm

Ok, I am going to try my best to answer all the questions. First, there isn't a song list, but rather a list of the 52 composers and artists whose work appears in the show. From Irving Berlin, Gershwin, Rogers and Hart, to Prince and Phil Spector, it's a very unusual score- but my favorite part of the show.

Secondly, I was unable to stagedoor, but I will definitly not only stagdoor whene I return later in the run, but I will also go to a talkback session- they run midweek, I belive.

Third. Alright the fidler sequence. I guess this would include

*SPOILERS*

So Irvine Berin shows up in the musical, played by a child, and is mentored by the "songwriting duo." His part needs to be cut down a bit, as what he says is extremly repetative (and anoying...). So after Jeff Daniels and Rachel Yorks charecters decide to go their own ways,(in a confusing plot turn having to do with Annie Get Your Gun...)they head into financial ruin, and Jeff Daniels takes shelter with the Balines -(this all takes place before Israel changes his name.) I don't think the scene was ment to be parodied, but really anytime you have heavily shawled and bearded Jewish charecters singing and dancing to a tune, one cannot help but be reminded of Fiddler. It does not help that Israels father, a burly, bearded man with few lines, is dressed as if he is Harveys understudy, getting to go on for a day.

Is the show ready for prime time? No. Could it be? Yes. It needs a bit of work, bookwise, and a few scenes need to be either shortened or cut. A scene with a bong and a bairly dressed Jeff Daniels was not well recieved by the audience of mostly blue and grey haired distinguished theater-goers. The audience did enjoy the familiar music, and would at times sing along. Only a few people stood at curtain call.

Overall, it was a very sweet night, made better by Rachel Yorks amazing belt, and the fact that my tickets only cost ten dollars. (Check out the website- there are all kinds of great discounts, and the view from the mezz is just fine!)
It will need a lot of work, and I would be surprised if it made plans to appear on the great white way this season, but i'm sure it will happen in the future.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/20/08 at 1:18pm

What about the dancing? Big numbers? Fun? Tommy Tunish?

[barcelona20]

Posted: 9/20/08 at 1:47pm

Thanks! What are they trying to hide what songs they use! Do they use the full songs or only snippets? Is the Prince song, party like its 1999?

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 2:14am

Wow, cool guess, barcelona20. That would make a lot of sense!

Just read a feature in the Chicago Tribune that attempts to explain why they aren't revealing the song list. Something about them fitting into context. So I guess they don't want people to be "waiting" for them?

These guys all give great interviews. I'm getting more and more excited about this show.

xilch, thanks for the details/answers. Much appreciated.
Chicago Tribune Article

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 10:28am

Oh no, not 1999! That would mean that "turn of the century" is not REALLY the turn of the century since the century did not REALLY turn until 2000 into 2001.

I wonder what kind of nightmare it was to secure the rights for all the different composers and if that has something to do with not having a song list yet.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 6:49pm

I'm going tonight. Beyond excited. Love Daniels and York.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 9/22/08 at 2:16pm

Priest,

Dying to know what you thought!

lc