The Lightning Thief previews thread

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/19/19 at 10:19pm

The Lightning Thief, straight off their national tour, starts previews Friday, September 20. The show is playing the Longacre Theater for a 16-week run. Anyone going? Advance sales don't look pretty.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 9/19/19 at 10:28pm

Any rush or anything? Might go this weekend.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/19/19 at 10:33pm

Starting September 23, they have an online lotto.

 

Lightning Thief Lotto

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 9/19/19 at 11:26pm

There is also rush for $32. Honestly I kind of hope this is an easy rush like BMC was. Similar crowd so possibly?

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 9/19/19 at 11:33pm

Their website's estimated run time says 2 hours and 5 minutes -- has this always been the case, or did they beef it up a bit for Broadway? For some reason the last I remember this was a one-act... 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/19/19 at 11:41pm

leighmiserables said: "Their website's estimated run time says 2 hours and 5 minutes -- has this always been the case, or did they beef it up a bit for Broadway? For some reason the last I remember this was a one-act..."

Can't speak for the show's early incarnations, but the show was two acts at the Beacon earlier this year. And the songs all seemed to be the same as the cast album. So if they did ever beef up the show, it would have been a while ago. 

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 9/19/19 at 11:46pm

Anyone at the invited dress tonight?

[msmp]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 1:18am

leighmiserables said: "Their website's estimated run time says 2 hours and 5 minutes -- has this always been the case, or did they beef it up a bit for Broadway? For some reason the last I remember this was a one-act..."

The very earliest incarnation of the show was a one-act, when it was still aimed at school groups. Once it got the off-Broadway incarnation at the Lortel, it was beefed up to a full two-act play and "aged up" a bit to be more targeted to a more general audience. The same version went out on tour with (most of) the original off-Broadway cast, who are now moving the two-act, 2 hour version to Broadway.

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 1:50am

Got it, thanks y’all!

[HeatherAV]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 10:01am

If anyone at Previews also saw it on tour last year, I'd love to hear if there are any differences.  I loved the tour production (saw it in Chicago) but felt there was a little room for improvement so I'm curious if they made any tweaks - such as adding an extra ensemble member or two or giving a little more attention to the smaller props (anyone else notice they were scraping totally empty plates into the camp fire as their "offerings" to the gods? Would it have been that hard to add some pretend food to their plates so they weren't scraping at the air pretending there's imaginary food on the plate?).  

[barcelona20]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 10:15am

If Be More Chill couldn't make it, I'll be surprised if this one can, even if it's a better show.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 10:20am

HeatherAV said: "If anyone at Previews also saw it on tour last year, I'd love to hear if there are any differences. I loved the tour production (saw it in Chicago) but felt there was a little room for improvement so I'm curious if they made any tweaks - such as adding an extra ensemble member or two or giving a little more attention to the smaller props (anyone else notice they were scraping totally empty plates into the camp fire as their "offerings" to the gods? Would it have been that hard to add some pretend food to their plates so they weren't scraping at the air pretending there's imaginary food on the plate?)."

They had a very short rehearsal process for Broadway, so I don’t believe any changes were made. 

Also, no offense, I think you’re kind of missing the point - they don’t need food on their plates, it’s suspension of disbelief. Personally, id much rather see them scrape nothing instead of obviously fake food - the magic realism aesthetic allows the audience to fill in the blanks, which makes sense in a show about demigods.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 10:32am

barcelona20 said: "If Be More Chill couldn't make it, I'll be surprised if this one can, even if it's a better show."

Just look at their advance on Telecharge. Lots of dates with a ton of availability. I do question whether it'll make it's entire 16-week run.

[Pashacar]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 10:34am

barcelona20 said: "If Be More Chill couldn't make it, I'll be surprised if this one can, even if it's a better show."

This is a limited run, making use of some existing set pieces and an existing cast/creative team/rehearsal process, which changes the equation quite a bit.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 10:49am

Pashacar said: "barcelona20 said: "If Be More Chill couldn't make it, I'll be surprised if this one can, even if it's a better show."

This is a limited run, making use of some existing set pieces and an existing cast/creative team/rehearsal process, which changes the equation quite a bit."

Even if the average ticket price sold ends up being $40?

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 11:12am

It’s just a place holder for the holidays. Theater is getting its rent paid. Etc. I don’t think it’s gonna blow anyone’s socks off. Especially considering it was a sparse tour to being with design wise.

[HeatherAV]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 11:29am

VotePeron said: "HeatherAV said: "If anyone at Previews also saw it on tour last year, I'd love to hear if there are any differences. I loved the tour production (saw it in Chicago) but felt there was a little room for improvement so I'm curious if they made any tweaks - such as adding an extra ensemble member or two or giving a little more attention to the smaller props (anyone else notice they were scraping totally empty plates into the camp fire as their "offerings" to the gods? Would it have been that hard to add some pretend food to their plates so they weren't scraping at the air pretending there's imaginary food on the plate?)."

They had a very short rehearsal process for Broadway, so I don’t believe any changes were made.

Also, no offense, I think you’re kind of missing the point - they don’t need food on their plates, it’s suspension of disbelief. Personally, id much rather see them scrape nothing instead of obviously fake food - the magic realism aesthetic allows the audience to fill in the blanks, which makes sense in a show about demigods."

I certainly appreciate and agree with your opinion that the show requires and encourages a suspension of disbelief.  I loved the creativity with other set pieces (the motor cycle scene and the bathroom scenes clearly stand out) and I was happy to get immersed in the creative demigod world.  That said, I felt my ability to suspend disbelief was challenged when I saw them miming scraping food like an under-budget high school play.  (This issue was also magnified, I'm sure, because I sat near the front so I could clearly see the empty plate - from further back this wouldn't be an issue.)  As another example - it was nice to see the pen turn into a sword - or should I have suspended disbelief and just watched Percy mime using a pretend sword because it's a demigod world and I'm not supposed to expect realism???  Just my two cents.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 12:39pm

How much do we want to bet that they will throw in at least one Hadestown reference for the Broadway production? 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 5:58pm

HeatherAV said: "I felt my ability to suspend disbelief was challenged when I saw them miming scraping food like an under-budget high school play."

I can only imagine your outrage during the opening of Les Miz, when the convicts are crushing imaginary rocks with imaginary sledgehammers. 

[VotePeron]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 6:13pm

Fosse76 said: "HeatherAV said: "I felt my ability to suspend disbelief was challenged when I saw them miming scraping food like an under-budget high school play."

I can only imagine your outrage during the opening of Les Miz, when the convicts are crushing imaginary rocks with imaginary sledgehammers."

LOL

Updated On: 9/20/19 at 06:13 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 6:15pm

Fosse76 said: "I can only imagine your outrage during the opening of Les Miz, when the convicts are crushing imaginary rocks with imaginary sledgehammers."

It's really a shame that version can't be seen anymore. I'm still bummed.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 9/20/19 at 11:13pm

I kind of get it. There’s a time and a place for that. Like a Doyle production.
But then that idea of no props has to run through the whole thing.

It’s like when I saw Hadestown. They had real water/wine in their glasses. They drank real liquids. It grounded the whole thing and made it seem real and not staged.

[jpbran]

Posted: 9/21/19 at 12:19am

So... the pretend food thing has been discussed.

Did anyone actually go to the first preview tonight?

[ccbway]

Posted: 9/21/19 at 12:30am

DoTheDood said: "There is also rush for $32. Honestly I kind of hope this is an easy rush like BMC was. Similar crowd so possibly?"

The rush for $32 is only for this first weekend. After that, it goes to $42.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/21/19 at 10:31am

Anyone go last night? Whizzer?