Thoughts on Jerome Robbins' Broadway
#2
Posted: 5/30/12 at 6:18am
I thought it was terrific and ended up seeing it four times. One of the highlights was the frenetic "Bathing Beauty Ballet" from HIGH BUTTON SHOES. Another highlight was the sequence of dances from WEST SIDE STORY. The story goes that the rehearsal period for this production was so long and thus so expensive that its like will never be seen again. The physical production, scenery and costumes, were of a very high quality. The only downside was the somewhat corny continuity provided by Jason Alexander, but there had to be some way to introduce the different numbers. The only other way I can think of is to have electric signs at each side of the stage, ala GYPSY. I wonder what kind of continuity will be provided for THE PRINCE OF BROADWAY in 2013.
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
#3
Posted: 5/30/12 at 6:30am
I found it surprisingly amateurish.
#4
Posted: 5/30/12 at 6:44am
I understand that it could have run longer but they wouldn't have been able to do a touring production.
#5
Posted: 5/30/12 at 6:47am
According to Michael Riedel Gypsy, 'Prince of Broadway' will apparently feature a large, Al Hirschfeld drawing of Prince that talks!
I'll take the wind and soar.
#6
Posted: 5/30/12 at 6:50am
I think Jerome Robbins' Broadway did tour (maybe briefly). I saw it three times and loved it. It was the first time I had seen Faith Prince on stage. The day I saw it, she was filling in for "Delores, Delores" and was a hoot.
The Bathing Beauty Ballet from High Button Shoes was a lot of fun.
It was also the first time I had seen a guy (can't remember his name) fill in for Charlotte D'Amboise as Peter Pan.
The Bathing Beauty Ballet from High Button Shoes was a lot of fun.
It was also the first time I had seen a guy (can't remember his name) fill in for Charlotte D'Amboise as Peter Pan.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#7
Posted: 5/30/12 at 8:27am
This was one of the earlier shows that I saw and remember enjoying it. Would be interested to see how I rate it now that I have so much more to compare it to. At the time it was interesting to see so many famous dance numbers from so many different shows all at one time. However, I can understand that anyone who has been to many of the shows that Jerome Robbins' Broadway would be repeatitive and most likely boring unless they were a giant Robbins fan. I do enjoy the CD to this day.
#8
Posted: 5/30/12 at 8:42am
I found it to be a much more fufilling night in the theatre than I did for Fosse. There were many highlights in it for me but that year was just awful! Starmites and Black and Blue weren't that exciting.
There's a pretty good 'copy' floating around and even after all these years it was a fun trip down memory lane.
There's a pretty good 'copy' floating around and even after all these years it was a fun trip down memory lane.
#9
Posted: 5/30/12 at 8:46am
JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY did tour -- having seen the original Broadway production about 5 times, I felt all too lucky getting to see the show again when it played Miami Beach AND with a large chunk of the original ensemble cast.
The show was overwhelmingly gorgeous as it recreated in full each musical represented. The original Broadway production's set design, costumes, etc. were recreated for each number so for that one section, you were watching that musical number as it was seen in its original Broadway production. Sadly, I was hoping FOSSE would do the same. FOSSE recreated abridged versions of Bob Fosse's numbers and didn't use one centimeter of the original costume design used for the original versions of his dance numbers.
One thing I loved about JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY was the use of a narrator, who introduced each new section/show. He gave the year of the original production and threw in a quick plot synopsis so when the musical number began, you had a clue as to what was happening, etc. FOSSE did none of this so if you weren't a hardcore freak of Bob Fosse, you had NO clue what you were watching. It was just a bunch of musical numbers with no rhyme or reason. At least for the DVD incarnation of FOSSE, they smartly inserted captions so you knew what show that musical number came from and what year. On stage, it was all a jumbled mish-mosh of musical numbers with no connection, etc.
Hands-down my favorite musical number from JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY was the mind-blowing "Charleston" from BILLION DOLLAR BABY. Luckily, I have the show on DVD and this number I can watch on a loop for an hour. Sheer delicious insanity.
The show was overwhelmingly gorgeous as it recreated in full each musical represented. The original Broadway production's set design, costumes, etc. were recreated for each number so for that one section, you were watching that musical number as it was seen in its original Broadway production. Sadly, I was hoping FOSSE would do the same. FOSSE recreated abridged versions of Bob Fosse's numbers and didn't use one centimeter of the original costume design used for the original versions of his dance numbers.
One thing I loved about JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY was the use of a narrator, who introduced each new section/show. He gave the year of the original production and threw in a quick plot synopsis so when the musical number began, you had a clue as to what was happening, etc. FOSSE did none of this so if you weren't a hardcore freak of Bob Fosse, you had NO clue what you were watching. It was just a bunch of musical numbers with no rhyme or reason. At least for the DVD incarnation of FOSSE, they smartly inserted captions so you knew what show that musical number came from and what year. On stage, it was all a jumbled mish-mosh of musical numbers with no connection, etc.
Hands-down my favorite musical number from JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY was the mind-blowing "Charleston" from BILLION DOLLAR BABY. Luckily, I have the show on DVD and this number I can watch on a loop for an hour. Sheer delicious insanity.
#10
Posted: 5/30/12 at 9:47am
It was a perfect evening in the theater. We all felt so lucky to be able to see those numbers done as close to possible as they were done originally.
Jerome Robbins was capable of including in almost every number what the French call a coup de theatre a surprise moment or effect that would (literally) take your breath away.
The show was a collections of those, strung together with just the right amount of narration and ordered as only Mr. Robbins could, so that it built and built and built.
The dancers and the dancing were heavenly and Jason Alexander and Debbie Gravitte and the other principal players were, in many ways, the best they've ever been.
Because, for all his personal demons, Jerry Robbins made everyone he ever worked with the best they've ever been.
Jerome Robbins was capable of including in almost every number what the French call a coup de theatre a surprise moment or effect that would (literally) take your breath away.
The show was a collections of those, strung together with just the right amount of narration and ordered as only Mr. Robbins could, so that it built and built and built.
The dancers and the dancing were heavenly and Jason Alexander and Debbie Gravitte and the other principal players were, in many ways, the best they've ever been.
Because, for all his personal demons, Jerry Robbins made everyone he ever worked with the best they've ever been.
#11
Posted: 5/30/12 at 9:54am
Jason Alexander wrote his own narration, and received a program credit for it even after he left the show.
One problem wigth the show touring was that the ensemble were terribly overworked, especially the men. There were lots of injuries and tons of understudies going on constantly.
Hell, in the WSS section that ended Act I, Scott Wise and the Jets had to do the Prologue, then go right into Dance at the Gym, then a five minute break while the girls did America, then back onstage for Cool, then the Somewhere ballet!
One problem wigth the show touring was that the ensemble were terribly overworked, especially the men. There were lots of injuries and tons of understudies going on constantly.
Hell, in the WSS section that ended Act I, Scott Wise and the Jets had to do the Prologue, then go right into Dance at the Gym, then a five minute break while the girls did America, then back onstage for Cool, then the Somewhere ballet!
#12
Posted: 5/30/12 at 10:31am
I remember being surprised at just how funny "Comedy Tonight" (Forum) was with it's original staging. Huge laughs.
#13
Posted: 5/30/12 at 11:38am
Probably because of this show...Scott Wise because an absolutely favorite dancer of mine. When I would attend a show and see him listed I would be really excited to see his performance. Also saw him in Damn Yankees!
#14
Posted: 5/30/12 at 11:44am
Scott Wise won a Tony Award for this show.
#15
Posted: 5/30/12 at 12:42pm
I saw it twice, including the closing performance. Scott Wise was out of the show with an injury (his ankle, I think), and I think his absence really had a downer effect on that performance, according to how it affected me and what I was told by a friend in the cast. I clearly remember watching him pack his car and drive off after the show, so he was there, just not able to perform, which must have been hard on him.
But I thought the show was wonderful, given the fact that is seemed like a good balance of numbers that we all thought we knew (like WSS and Fiddler) and numbers that had been resurrected from near-extinction (e.g. High Button Shoes and Mister Monotony). It was the largest cast Broadway had seen in some time (72, I think), approached in size later only by Prince's Show Boat. And some of the numbers sound as good or better on the cast album than the original, legendary performances.
Also, please note that I own a pair of Jerome Robbins' Broadway suspenders, made by RCA Victor to be worn by record store employees to promote the cast album in stores, and no, you can't have them! And a poster in hanging in my home office as we speak, as it has been all these years.
But I thought the show was wonderful, given the fact that is seemed like a good balance of numbers that we all thought we knew (like WSS and Fiddler) and numbers that had been resurrected from near-extinction (e.g. High Button Shoes and Mister Monotony). It was the largest cast Broadway had seen in some time (72, I think), approached in size later only by Prince's Show Boat. And some of the numbers sound as good or better on the cast album than the original, legendary performances.
Also, please note that I own a pair of Jerome Robbins' Broadway suspenders, made by RCA Victor to be worn by record store employees to promote the cast album in stores, and no, you can't have them! And a poster in hanging in my home office as we speak, as it has been all these years.
#16
Posted: 5/30/12 at 1:00pm
SUPERB! Loved, loved, loved it! "Mr. Monotony" (Irving Berlin) - my fave number. What a knockout performance. Minimalistic Torch singing at it's best by Miss Debbie Shapiro. You really had to be there/
#17
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:16pm
Monotony, Charlestan and the Bathing Beauties Ballet used to all be on youtube, thouhg I think theyhave been taken down--but were terrific to see. I know for some of the dances (On The Town) the choreography had to be recreated from memory as best is possible. I wish it had been profesial copy of all those numbers.
I enjoyed Fosse, and it was great to see those numbers done live, but obviously it asn't the lavish production Robbins' ws.
I enjoyed Fosse, and it was great to see those numbers done live, but obviously it asn't the lavish production Robbins' ws.
#18
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:35pm
I'll simply never forget the moment during the suite of dances from West Side Story when Tony and Maria reached 'Somewhere' and the stage burst into a bright white light. It gives me goosebumps to even think about it.
It was also my first taste of Faith Prince, and I thought she was absolutely wonderful.
It was also my first taste of Faith Prince, and I thought she was absolutely wonderful.
#19
They were. I was the one who posted them. Sadly, for all the obvious reasons, they were removed after having a nice life on YouTube. I'm happy many were able to view them and judging by the amount of visits, thousands did.
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:39pm
They were. I was the one who posted them. Sadly, for all the obvious reasons, they were removed after having a nice life on YouTube. I'm happy many were able to view them and judging by the amount of visits, thousands did.
#20
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:04pm
Also Scott Wise was in Fosse and got nominated for a tony for it.
#21
Posted: 5/30/12 at 4:49pm
I saw this and thought it was like a high school musical doing bits and pieces...Jason Alexander was basically the same character he would become on Seinfeld...just a ham ...I did like Charlotte D'Amboise as usual always a reliably great performer...when I was there I was sitting behind an asian man who could not speak english so someone was translating the entire show LOUDLY....each indiv song and how it fits in the actual show it cam from ...I almost smacked them...but that became more entertaining than the show...BTW Gypsy was playing at the same time at the St James and the stripers in JRB were not even 1/2 as good as they were down the street...HATED IT
#22
Posted: 5/30/12 at 4:49pm
#23
Posted: 5/30/12 at 4:54pm
I liked that also forgot about that song..the whole show as a whole made my brain bleed
#24
Posted: 5/30/12 at 5:21pm
Oh PJ! I'm going to consider that my early birthday present!
It's perhaps my most favorite vocal I ever experienced live in a Broadway there. Sure, I've heard more pyrotechnics...and gorgeous tones. But there's something about what she does with that song that just makes me think it's perfect.
Yes...I even think it's better than Garland's.
It's perhaps my most favorite vocal I ever experienced live in a Broadway there. Sure, I've heard more pyrotechnics...and gorgeous tones. But there's something about what she does with that song that just makes me think it's perfect.
Yes...I even think it's better than Garland's.
#25
Posted: 5/30/12 at 5:36pm
Yes, it did tour. It played The Shubert Theatre in Century City in Los Angeles. I saw it, and loved it. "The West Side Story" suite was breathtaking. A few years later I was fortunate enough to have worked with JRB original cast member Kelly Patterson in "Brigadoon" here in LA. He was Harry Beaton and was an incredible, brilliant dancer. Sadly, he has since passed away.
"Follies" opened the newly constructed 1,800 seat Shubert Theatre, which, ironically, was itself razed thirty years later thus mirroring the "Follies" plot line upon which the musical is based.
"Follies" opened the newly constructed 1,800 seat Shubert Theatre, which, ironically, was itself razed thirty years later thus mirroring the "Follies" plot line upon which the musical is based.
Updated On: 5/30/12 at 05:36 PM
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