Was anyone there earlier today? I doubt many students view these boards, but this seemed really interesting. Also videos from it made it seem like it was more than just the show with Spike Lee for a pre-show talk (?) and a choir being an addition to the small band. I can imagine the energy must have been through the roof too.
Did the cast have to go back to doing the normal performance at the Shubert right after this or was there no evening performance today?
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
uncageg said: "Do they do Wednesday matinees? If so, I wonder if today's at the Shubert did not happen and it was like a two show day."
Looking at their calendar on Telecharge, they seem to go between having a Wednesday 2-show day one week and then a Sunday 2-show week the next. Seeing that they have two shows on Sunday, my guess is they did not have an evening performance tonight.
They did not do a night show after the MSG performance. They worked it out in their contracts that it would be part of their 8 show week this week.
It was apparently phenomenal. My roommate was there and she absolutely loved it. What it lacked in intimacy, it gained in communal experience. She said for all the ruckus that occurred when a character said something particularly racist, there were also several moments when you could have heard a pin drop. For an arena full of 12,000 students, that’s pretty impressive.
Hats off to everyone for doing the incredibly hard work to make this happen. May it help further grow the next generation of theatergoers ... and creators.
I think the real question is after this seemed to be such a success, will Rudin continue to do this performance annually or is it a one and done PR stunt. It could be done in the same vein as the Hollywood bowl or Shakespeare in the Park, where its more of the honor to participate then collecting the paycheck. I also can’t imagine it costed Rudin that much to mount.
From most of the press releases it sounds like MSG foot most of the bill for this. Scott Rudin was thanking James Dolan a lot in the articles about this. I could be reading into this too much, though. I feel like this could be an annual thing, as there will always be students reading the book.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
I think it's terrific that all involved supported and did this. Wouldn't it be wonderful if more Broadway shows were able to do this? I don't mean junky ones or pop-oriented ones, but ones that speak to culture or the cultural zeitgeist or social issues. I can think of several on Broadway now that would be just fine for young people.
Reidel today says Rudin is already planning to do it again, so that's good. Seems a good choice with Mockingbird for as long as that's running, but agree there are some good opportunities elsewhere, too.