#151
Posted: 1/9/16 at 5:43pm
Wonderful! I sent you a PM. I live in Westchester but am in NYC weekly for shows, happy to meet up if that's most convenient!
The Secret Garden 2016 Concert Presentation — Page 7
#152
Posted: 1/9/16 at 11:38pm
I guess Oscar Williams is Colin in the MCP concert? https://www.instagram.com/p/BAVvzKBvzHz/?taken-by=oscar_williams_actor
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#153
Posted: 1/9/16 at 11:45pm
In the comments section of that post he said "I WANT to be Colin. Hopefully when I get a chance to audition the creative team will also WANT the same thing..."
#154
Posted: 1/11/16 at 11:20pm
Did anyone go tonight? Thoughts?
#155
Posted: 1/12/16 at 9:00am
I'm surprised at the lack of post-show chatter!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#156
Posted: 1/12/16 at 9:30am
Same here was looking forward to hearing about it.
"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter."
Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.
#157
Posted: 1/12/16 at 9:34am
I went (and was excited to see some photos of the evening in the article above but there were only photos of the introductions..not of the show itself..humph.)
I thought it was pretty amazing. Small theater - just fine for an intimate kind of show like Secret Garden. No sets or props, just the small orchestra on stage along with the actors. Wonderful cast - Max and Bradley have gorgeous voices. Supporting cast was excellent. Eli was an endearing Colin (and had to deal with a mic that kept slipping off his ear but managed like a trouper without missing a beat). Seeing Rebecca play the part again after 25 years was an honor.
And then there was Gabby who was just awesome. She was just made for the role of Mary and had the audience with her from her first moment on stage to the end. It was very exciting to see Daisy come up to her at the end of the show and spend a few moments talking quietly together.
I am sort of sorry it's sold out for next week. I might try to see it again. A wonderful night..
Updated On: 1/12/16 at 09:34 AM
#158
Posted: 1/12/16 at 11:50am
I was there last night also, and I agree with everything KathyNYC has posted, except that I wouldn't call a 10-piece orchestra "small." It sounded fabulous, by the way. The singing was just lovely throughout. Lily's Eyes, sung by Bradley Dean (Archibald) and Max von Essen (Neville), was beautifully performed and very emotional. It was a highlight of the night for me and elicited wild applause from the audience. I'm sure a few people were crying after it (including me). Rebecca Luker and Gabby Pizzolo were standouts. Gabby's ease on stage is amazing. I guess after you play Matilda, you're ready for pretty much anything. Her English accent sounded perfect to me. I've got to get back to Fun Home to see her in it. I am so glad I got to experience Secret Garden!
Updated On: 1/12/16 at 11:50 AM
#159
Posted: 1/12/16 at 12:24pm
^ I had seen Gabby in Matilda and in Fun Home - but I thought this was totally different for her. Much quieter performance and more detailed moment to moment because that's the type of role it is. In addition to being a wonderful actress, I appreciated her background in dance (which was not really obvious in the two previous roles in the same way). Her "Come Spirit, Come Charm" was magical.
And yes.."small" orchestra was probably a bad judgement call. It was small by Broadway standards but in this small theater, they filled half the stage and was quite rich for this production.
#160
Posted: 1/12/16 at 1:01pm
I will be in attendance for the concert on Sunday night. I have no prior Secret Garden knowledge... score, or even the plot itself. Would anyone there last night recommend I look any of it up prior to seeing the concert? I really don't have a preference about going into shows blind or not, but I want to make sure I'm not lost during the performance.
#161
Posted: 1/12/16 at 1:25pm
You don't need any context. They do the scenes too, not just the songs.
#162
Posted: 1/12/16 at 1:39pm
Well I think you would understand it better if you read the plot of the show. A friend of mine was confused about the ensemble roles, especially Mary's parents. They did do the scenes, but some minor parts for the full show are missing, which could cause some confusion. But still you can follow the main story without any preparation.
I went last night too, and I was literally in tears when Rebecca Luker opened her mouth to sing "How could I ever know". And Gabby is a wonderful Mary.
#163
Posted: 1/12/16 at 1:48pm
You've got a week tor read the original Frances Hodgson Burnett novel. You can do it.
#164
Posted: 1/12/16 at 1:51pm
Or you don't want to go that far, you can simply read the Wiki synopsis of Secret Garden the Musical. It's short and to the point.
(Not that I am not recommending the book - I spent many years as a teacher after all..LOL).
This is all a little confusing as I realized we are posting about the Make a Wish version on the thread started for the Lincoln Center production which IS a concert version, i.e. they will be holding scripts and such and will have minimal staging. And have a gorgeous huge orchestra....
The Make A Wish production is simply and minimally mounted. But it's staged and performed as a play, not a concert reading.
Updated On: 1/12/16 at 01:51 PM
#165
Posted: 1/12/16 at 2:08pm
LOL, both the libretto and the original novel are amazing, of course. The novel is a classic so it's free on any Kindle, if you have one! I recommend anything "TSG."
#166
Posted: 1/12/16 at 2:36pm
I saw the show totally cold and I was a little lost. So I would recommend going on Wikipedia and reading the synopsis for Act 1 only. I think that will give you the background you need and still keep the element of surprise.
#167
Posted: 1/12/16 at 4:20pm
Photos of curtain call and after the show.... it's posted in the photo area above but here is the direct link.
#168
Posted: 1/12/16 at 8:03pm
Just putting this out there, but if anyone has an extra ticket for Sunday's performance, please contact me so I could buy it off of you! :)
#169
Posted: 1/12/16 at 8:26pm
xoffender45 said: "Just putting this out there, but if anyone has an extra ticket for Sunday's performance, please contact me so I could buy it off of you! :)
I wish I had an extra ticket -- or a ticket for that matter! 
If there's another extra ticket after xoffender45 gets one, please let me know. The Secret Garden was the first Broadway musical I ever saw back in summer 1992 when my family visited NYC (I was 10 years old at the time.) I just learned of the shows at David Geffen hall and this one (would prefer to go to this one given a few members of the original broadway cast will be performing.)
"
#170
Posted: 1/12/16 at 8:40pm
I'm sure this is just wishful thinking, but any chance this concert will be recorded? I so wish to see this. We really need a proper revival of this show.
#171
Posted: 1/13/16 at 1:26pm
I saw the show on Monday night and it was amazing!!! I had seen the original back in 1993. Rebecca Luker hasn't lost a thing in her voice in all that time. Incredible. She did almost trip and fall into Archie in Act II, but made a nice little save and didn't miss a beat in her song. I always get goose bumps when she sings. I thought that she might not go for the higher notes, but damned if she didn't do it.
ALL the performers were excellent, the orchestra was excellent, the whole damn thing was excellent. My least favorite song is "Lily's Eyes", but Mr. Dean and Mr. Von Essen (a great Woody Mahoney in "Finian's Rainbow" really made it something else. There was no scenery in the show, but with music like this, it doesn't detract from the show; in fact, I could argue that it adds to it, and is better without it. Great Stuff!!!
#172
Posted: 1/13/16 at 3:37pm
Another link posted above in the Broadway worlds news section. But I always find that the news articles get updated so often and then you have to search for them - so I like to be able to find the applicable ones in the appropriate threads.
#173
Posted: 1/13/16 at 4:01pm
Really wishing I lived in NYC so I could see this! It sounds so great...thank you to everyone who saw it and is posting about it!
#174
Posted: 1/13/16 at 6:25pm
Actual pictures of the production.
#175
Posted: 1/13/16 at 11:07pm
This is on a slightly different topic, but I recently saw a high school production of The Secret Garden, and in the director's note, the director compared The Secret Garden to Hamilton, saying it was "The Hamilton of its time". I wasn't a theatre person in 1991 so I am turning here for clarification on this. That claim is inaccurate, right?
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