TOOTSIE - Chicago tryout

I'm seeing it on the 29th and I'm very much looking forward to it. It's on Hottix right now for the first week of performances, and you can use the code TOOTSIE for $59 side orchestra seats through the 29th. I've heard amazing things about the score, so I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be one of the first to bare witness to another fantastic Yazbek score.

Updated On: 9/4/18 at 08:02 PM

I have tickets for the twelfth of October. I can't wait!

Broadway in Chicago had a contest on Facebook for people to describe their most favorite personal theatre memory to win a pair of tickets to the opening night performance.  I describe a grade school memory and if everything goes the way I want, I can win tickets to this show like I did with "First Wives Club"!...

PatrickDC said: "Has any part of the score been posted online, even just some snipets of songs? Or maybe some authorized rehearsal videos? A tentative song list? I checked “that” website but nothing. I adore the film and am looking forward to this."

David Yazbek put part of what I think is the overture on his Instagram recently: https://www.instagram.com/p/BnO530nB5sM/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=yebm7iqq4lwb

TOOTSIE is on my Top 5 of all-time favorite films.  The Criterion Collection Blu-ray is always at arm’s reach so learning the film was being adapted into a Broadway musical was thrilling.   I embraced the casting choices but hearing Yazbek say on this new press interview that they updated the story kinda broke my heart.  I honestly was hoping to see all the early 80s glory of the film musicalized.  Even the early 80s soap opera world was its own character.  Updating it lends itself to adding a political angle that takes the story into other territories.  

Lets see what unfolds and hoping for the best.  I’ll still see it once it arrives on Broadway but heartbroken it isn’t/wasn’t what I was hoping for.  

Book writer Robert Horn revealed this morning at a Comcast taping in Chicago that Dorothy Michaels won't be auditioning for a soap opera. Instead, Dorothy is auditioning for a Broadway musical.

Sarah Stiles (Sandy Lester) and Santino Fontana (Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels) joined Horn at the taping.

"I had no idea how much went in to wearing a bra," admitted Santino. "Some bras lift. Other bras push it all together. If guys had to wear a bra, we would just tape everything."

Stiles and Santino both talked about failed auditions.
"You fail 20 times," Stiles stated "for every successful audition.

Horn acknowledged that TOOTSIE's biggest moments may be the two transitions: when Michael Dorsey first appears in a wig, and later, when Dorothy removes her wig in front of all her colleagues. Horn also hinted at a serious instead of comedic ending.

Chicago Comcast host Paul Lisnek led the one-hour taping which will be edited to 30 minutes. I expect the final product will air within a week or two.

Updated On: 9/6/18 at 12:57 PM

BalconyClub said: "gleek4114 said: "I'm seeing it on the 29th and I'm very much looking forward to it. It's on Hottix right now for the first week of performances, and you can use the code TOOTSIE for $59 side orchestra seats through the 29th. ."

The offer has been sweetened on Ticketmaster. Except for premium seating, hundreds of orchestra seats are now available with the TOOTSIE code through the 29th.

The entire front row center - 18 seats - are each available for the $59 price plus fees.

Aside from thefirst 2 weeks for subscribers, there are THOUSANDS of seats still available for Tootsie. The theatre seats 2234 guests.

"

Dang, wish I had waited. I'm on the side about ten rows back. I like to be close, and the front row of the Palace is a pretty good view if you're in the center section 

Really looking forward to seeing this tomorrow night.  I will report back.

I realize that there was scant competition this past season, but in a good season Yazbeck's score for TBV would never have won the Tony (nor, in my opinion, would the show have racked up the awards it did). So my expectations for TOOTSIE, despite my love for Santino's talent, are very low. And after the response to PRETTY WOMAN, producers should be thinking twice about more popular movie adaptations on the musical stage. Yes, I know, PW is doing good business, but the word of mouth is so bad, how long can it last?