I posted a link to SFgate's review of the new cast but for some reasons it only shows up in the thread when you're going to post a message. So here it is again. The review comes off as mixed.
Saw the show yesterady. Cast improved by leaps and bounds compared to when I saw them earlier this month, but that's expected. John Hinkman did a great job yesterday. It seems that Mike has been out for a long time, did something happen to him?
Ok I found out what happened to Mike. Found a blog one stage managers with the current SF cast runs. It focuses mainly on her knitting but she mentions things about the production every now and then. Well she mentions that one of the actors was in a car accident, must be Mike since he's been out. Hopefully he only needed the stitches and didn't sustain any serious injuries. Link
I just tlked to Melissa, She said they have done 7 runs/previews in 4 days so they are all ver tired.
She said the theatre is huge, she said it is so big they cat even see the back or the people, cause it is so dark, here is a quote from her "2,100 seats! wow, whoa, holy cow!"
Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together."
Mike was hit by a car while riding his bike home from the theatre and had stitches in his knee and head. Jake said not to worry though. He will be back in the show Tuesday night.
Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together."
I just got back from the long drive thru I-5 from Los Angeles to SF and here is my brief review:
The Jersey Boys National Tour aka "Sherry Company" show on 5/26 in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson theater was PHENOMENAL and they are 160% better compared to the San Francisco closing show on 5/3 and it was a pure pleasure and ecstasy to watch even compared to my initial screening of the 2 other LA shows that I have seen this weekend...The reunion of the Original Broadway Spelling Bee cast and the LA company of Wicked!
TheaterDIVA...thanks for taking your time to have the cast sign the playbill and that is way too much in return for the meager ticket I gave you :P
I lab you :P for that and I will just PM you my addy so you can send it to me :)
I also have 4 extra Ahmanson Playbills (more like a magazine the size of US Weekly) and the first 4 to PM me their addresses gets it in the mail!
The cast is very fresh from their long vacation and you could actually see the "glow" in them coupled with the fact that they also just got back from the tech rehearsal with a spiffy, brand new stage and one thing I noticed is the different hue in the Jersey Skyline B&W backdrop that seems to have more details than the one in SF.
The Ahmanson and Pantages theaters are very beautiful and I am basking in this new found hobby of theater watching :P though kinda expensive but it's totally worth it :P
I forgot to mention that I did the "Hot Seats" or the LA version of the SF rush seats and it sold for only $20!!! and I got a very good seat on Row B. Hot seats are scattered throughout the theater and I was very happy to get it after paying full prices for Orch tix for the 2 other shows!
From the rightmost seat on row B, I could see Erich playing the piano on "Cry for Me" unlike in SF where I never see him play it since it is covered (at least from where I am at)
Other small details that I noticed was the cup holder, mic holder and the towel holder on the stairs that the "Frankie" uses just before the CTMEOY part. I first saw it here in SF on my first preview of the Chicago Cast but wondered if it was just for that day because the lift malfunctioned and by seeing it LA confirmed it for me that it was... "there". :P
I also started to appreciate the non-speaking actors and musicians....which we sometimes neglect. Kudos to:
Conductor: Andrew Wilder Associate Conductor: Joe Elefante Keyborads: Caren cole, Joe Elefante, Andrew Wilder Guitar: Brian Silverman; Bass: Leo Huppert; Drums: Mark Papazian Reeds: Kurt Bacher, Christopher Miele; Trumpet: Thomas E. Chubb Musician Standby: Josh Weinstein
Music coordinator: John Miller
I was gonna meet the cast at the Stage Door afterwards but being new to LA, I decided I wouldn't want to miss the Metro (their version of BART but nicer and cleaner) and meet my family back at the hotel.
We celebrated my B-day the next day at Universal Studios :P
It was a saturday so.....after getting my Wicked Ticket at 11:30 am....I rode the Metro to the Civic Center and walked a little bit ...then arrived at the Ahmanson at approximately 12 noonish.
Since it was 2 show day (matinee and 8pm) you get a chance to get hot seats for either and have a good chance of getting a ticket.
There was actually about 20 people ahead of me but I still got one...
probably because people doesn't know about hot seats yet and I actually encouraged a couple to get them instead of paying full price orch ticket.
Sorry Des :P but thanks for this great hot seats program!!!
Eric was right about the nice eating area outside the theater and there is a fountain outside.
Check out the pictures on the link I posted just above this.
Kathryn......start saving money now so we could see the show in Costa Mesa :P
Kathryn......start saving money now so we could see the show in Costa Mesa
Dont think my parents are going to let me go, but he who knows, If I enough for both my mom and I to go she I will take he for her birthday and she can stay with my Aunt and I will go see the show, since she doesnt want to see it.
I am going to see West Side Story here in atlanta in August, cant wait!
Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together."
I saw the evening show on Sunday May 27. I had seen this cast in SF on December 30, except for CKJ as Jarrod Spector was on as Frankie at that time.
Rick Faugno was on as Frankie (he does Tues and Sun nights) He has an amazing voice, however I am not sure if his mike was on too high because his falsetto was almost too loud in certain parts, especially when he walked in in Sillouettes and during the Sherry/Big Girls/Walk Like a Man sequence. Great actor and he hit is out of the ballpark on Can't Take My Eyes Off of You. He is my fourth "Frankie" and I mean no disrespect when I say JLY is my favorite.
I think Erich Bergen stands out as my favorite of the boys in this cast. He is perfection in the role of Bob Gaudio
Michael was great and so was Deven. Deven has improved since I last saw him. My only critique as that he seemed to rush his lines in the beginning. Christian Hoff is a tough act to follow and I am biased having seen him 3 times.
A great crowd with pheonomenal energy. Everyone started cheering when they recognized a song and Rick got a big applause after Can't Take My Eyes off of You. Also big standing ovation at the end.
"I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tightrope dancer, so that no incompetent would dare step upon it." Goethe