The Muny's Oliver! How is it?

[catstagestud]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 5:07pm

How's the show going go far if anyone's seen it yet. I've got a good friend of mine playing Bill Sikes, a recent grad. from my University. If I get a day this week I might drive down, but it's almost eight hours away.

Cheers,

Christopher

[sanda]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:51pm

I am interested in it as well. I love Robert Westernberg and so glad to know he acts again. I would appreciate any info about this production.

[Luvinbroadway]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:30pm

Sorry to be out of the loop..MUNY stands for?....

[LovinGoodMusicals]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:45pm

The Muny is the largest outdoor theatre in the country and is located in Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. They have about 6 week long productions each summer and this week it is Oliver! They usually get professional singers that have been on Broadway.

I, too, want to see this show! I live only 20 mins away and I am going Sunday.

Has anyone seen it yet??

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/2/06 at 10:42pm

We haven't seen it. Thought about going, but are deferring. My daughter is understudying Oliver right now for Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company's performances August 24-27. She goes on the afternoon of August 26 as Oliver, definitely. (She'll be an orphan and one of Fagin's gang the other performances) It probably won't be the quality of the Muny..but I hope to enjoy that matinee performance more.

[Stager]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:09am

I heard that the show is great. I would love to see how they did the sets. The Muny is always very creative when it comes to sets and putting the characters in many different locations. I went to see "Aida" in July and it was awesome. The actors also played the characters on broadway and they were amazing. It's probably the best show I've seen at the Muny. Oh by the way hi to everyone, I'm new! I'm really excited to be part of these boards because they always look like so much fun, probably the best broadway boards out there!

[ActingAndy]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 1:55am

I'm in the children's chorus for Oliver! at the Muny. The reviews are are failry good. Hate to break it to you catstagestud but Ben Crawford's reviews are saying he is too nice for the part, his voice is great but he looks/acts too nice. Some reviewers think its a directoral move, not the actor. The show over all is very strong, Jenny Powers is an amazing Nancy, Bruce Adler plays a good Fagin, Christian Probst is a good Oliver. Jenny Powers nearly stops the show with "As Long as He Need Me" every night. The show is great, its over by 10:30 which is good on these hot nights, though I hear its supposed to cool off soon (knock on wood). The sets are cool here is the link to Steve Gilliam's run sheets on his website:
http://www.trinity.edu/sgilliam/SLG/OLIVER/RUN071106/homepage.html
The Muny has been boasting an all boy children's chorus which is true 55 boys under the age of 16 are in the cast including Oliver. If you can come see the show, it is definately worth it, especially to see jenny Powers as Nancy! To get tickets go to www.metrotix.com or call the Muny Box Office at 314-361-1900!
St. Louis Post Dispatch Review of Oliver!

[ActingAndy]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 2:04am

Also, I think that Ben Crawford (Bill Sikes) would make an amzing Javert in Les Miserables. His voice seems to fit the role so well. I would love to hear him sing "Stars"!

[catstagestud]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 12:21pm

Thanks for the info ActingAndy! Ben's voice is somethin' else. I'm just really proud of his first big production. He got his card opening night. You should hear his "Proud Lady"...it would blow your mind. Wish I could get down there but I don't think it's gonna happen; too much goin' on.

Cheers,

Christopher

[ActingAndy]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 3:33pm

His Who's Who reads:

"BEN CRAWFORD (Bill Sikes) is excited and grateful to be making his AEA start at The Muny. Past credits include Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), A New Brain (Gordon Schwinn), Carousel (Billy Bigelow) and Assassins (John Wilkes Booth), for which he won the MAC Award for Best Actor in southern Arizona. Much love and thanks to the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, everyone else on the Crawford family tree, his incredibly supportive friends, the greatest professors of all time Marsha Bagwell and Monte Ralstin, the incredibly amazing Jim Wilhelm and his wonderful girlfriend Kate, who is his rock and foundation for his perpetual happiness. At the risk of sounding like a professional athlete, Ben would like to thank God who helps him him keep his head on straight and realize through times of tragedy there is always a fitting and proper answer. "Rock on, Brother""

[LovinGoodMusicals]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 4:19pm

I'm excited! I hear, from a friend, that Jenny Powers is absoultely amazing!

Seeing it Sunday!

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 5:17pm

Stager, I'm curious who you saw in AIDA who was from the Broadway cast.

[LovinGoodMusicals]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 5:45pm

erinrebecca-

The Muny's AIDA this year had MANY people who had played roles in Aida on Broadway.

Simone played AIDA on Broadway for two years.

Will Chase was in AIDA on Broadway (not sure which role, possibly Radames).

Lisa Brescia played Amneris in the last year of AIDA'S run on Broadway.

And Jeb Brown also played in AIDA (not sure which role).

So there were many Broadway actors in the Muny's production this summer.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 5:56pm

Thanks, Lovin! Those three are actually some of my favorites in their respective roles. I hadn't heard that they were headed to the MUNY this summer, or if I had, I'd forgotten. :) I've never heard of Jeb Brown, though. I wonder what role he played in the city. Thanks for the info!

[Candleshoe2]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 6:26pm

Wasn't Ken Page the Pharaoh?

[LovinGoodMusicals]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 7:24pm

You're welcome!

Ken Page played "Amonarsro" in the Muny production.

Also, Jeb Brown played Zoser in the Muny Production..maybe that's what he played on Broadway?

They were all so good!

[ActingAndy]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 4:09am

Aida was amazing! I saw it 3 out of 7 times.

Simone- Aida*
Will Chase- Radames*
Lisa Brescia- Amneris*
Jeb Brown- Zoser**
Ken Page- Amonarsro**
Joneal Joplin- Pharaoh**

* each played this part on b'way to great reviews
** muny regulars