There Is A Breathtaking New Musical- Called Dessa Rose!

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:32pm

Just came back from seeing Dessa Rose at Lincoln Center.
I was moved. The music, the score are gorgeous. The costumes are breathtaking especially the dresses for Rachel York and the woman who played her Mother.
The entire cast have incredible voices. I was really moved by
Norm Lewis who plays Nathan. His acting and voice were perfect.
He is also a knockout and I was having sinful thoughts.
Dessa Rose is the best new musical i have seen this season.
I hope they make a cd. I loved it.

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:37pm

I just got back from the show too. I agree. Sad that it's a short run that most musical theatre fans will never see. Ahrens and Flaherty's score was fantastic. LaChanze blew me away. How can an actor alternate between ages 16 and 80 so flawlessly? I also loved Norm Lewis and would have loved to hear him sing some more in the show.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:45pm

RCA Appears to record their scores even the short lived Lincoln Center " A Man Of No Importance" so hopefully there should be one for this. We see it in April

[ShuQ]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:56pm

Good to hear you guys liked it!

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:59pm

I do hope there is a recording of this show. This was the last of 7 shows I saw on this trip, and it was the high point!

[marincrazy11]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 11:02pm

oh man I cannot wait!!!! I am seeing it on Saturday! I will be in NYC for a week starting Staurday. Dessa Rose is the first show I am seeing! Ugh.....I can't wait.......five more days!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!!

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 11:28pm

I did not like it. I loved it!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 11:59pm

I can't wait to see this - I'm thrilled that it's good.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 12:06am

I cried at the end.

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 12:15am

It is GORGEOUS.

So is Norm. Swoons. Norm!

[kyle.]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 12:40am

if you liked dessa rose, you would love light in the piazza.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 12:47am

Seeing this, 'Light in the Piazza' and DRS in three weeks and absolutely cannot wait.

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 12:52am

THanks for the review. I'm getting tickets for my parents for their anniversary! Dad LOVES La Chanze.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 3:17am

Yesss, I'm glad so many people are loving this. I certainly did. I would go again.
Definitely one of the top 3 musicals I've seen this season...
(The other two are Spelling Bee and Dirty Rotten.)

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 9:17am

I liked it better then Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
I hate to say it, I liked DRS, but liked The Full Monty 1000 times more.
The music was not memorable. I could not remember one song.
The music in Dessa is incredible. I want to own a cd. Anyone know if they will make one.
IT IS GORGEOUS.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 9:39am

I love La Chanze. And the idea of Nessa Rose, the musical. Sort of like Wicked, from the Witch of the East's point of view?

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 10:39am

Namo,
You will adore it. It reminds me a little of Violet.
I loved it. It is one of the best things i have seen this season if not the best.
But i have not seen Spelling Bee and hear that is incredible.

[rennekat]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 10:46am

What is Dessa Rose about?? I am sooo intrested now!

[junglered]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 10:54am

I'm glad you enjoyed Dessa Rose, Corine. Thanks for your post. I saw La Chanze in "The Color Purple" last year in Atlanta and she was fabulous! I hope that she reprises her role when that show hits Broadway. Rachel York is a favorite, too - I enjoyed her performances in "Victor, Victoria" and "Sly Fox". I hope "Dessa Rose" does well. Updated On: 2/28/05 at 10:54 AM

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 11:19am

I saw LaChanze in Color Purple also, and she was just as fantastic in Dessa Rose.

Dessa Rose is about a slave (Dessa - LaChanze) and the white woman (Rachel York) who helps to free Dessa and the other slaves. That's the short of it. An entralling story of slavery and the bravery of these two women.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 12:23pm

Corine- really? I loooved Full Monty as well (and have seen it many times), but I thought DRS topped it. I walked out of the theater, floating, able to quote lyrics, still laughing at jokes, enraptured with most of the cast, and singing "love is my leeeegs", "great. big. stuff!" and "ruprecht's all about..." on the street!
On the other hand, I agree- Dessa Rose was TOTALLY gorgeous and I can't wait to own the CD (they WILL make one, they have to!) "We are descended, from a long, long line... of women!" Soooo amazing. And LaChanze's last number of the first act? Good God. I haven't cried like that at the theater in a looong time.

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 12:26pm

I saw Monty four times. Loved it. I liked DRS, it is fun and Norbert was exceptional. But i expected more from Yazbeck.
Monty is one of my favorite musicals.

[boatsintheghetto]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:54pm

Yeah im interested too, whats the plot?

[midtowngym]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 2:04pm

Dessa Rose is a pregnant slave in 1847 who starts a rebellion. Ruth (Rachel York) is a well bred white woman whose husband has abandoned her with no money. The slaves escape and hide at Ruth's farm. They all devise a money-making scheme and a way gain to the slaves freedom. A friendship between Dessa Rose and Ruth slowly develops-based on respect and admiration. It's beautifully written, staged and performed.

Updated On: 2/28/05 at 02:04 PM

[FranklinShepard-Inc.]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 2:26pm

I am damn excited! But, of course, Flaherty&Ahrens, how could anything written by them be less then great!