Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More

[Yankeefan007]

Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#0

Posted: 7/19/06 at 11:22pm

Spamalot - Understudies - James Ludwig as Patsy
Avenue Q - Understudies - Carmen Ruby Floyd as Gary Coleman

Random Actor Spotting: Michael Cerveris walking his dog, a bandana-clad Sutton Foster over by the St. James Theater following Drowsy Chaperone, History Boys James Corden and Dominic Cooper eating sushi at Kodaga Sushi on 8th Avenue, Jenn Gambatese at the same place, and an extremely svelt, brunette Megan Hilty walking hand-in-hand with boyfriend Steve Kazee to Spamalot.

Spamalot
This marked my 3rd trip to the show. I'd never have gone back but I have family in from out of town. They were dying to see that and Q. I didn't really enjoy Spam the first 2 times, simply due to the fact that everyone in the cast seemed to be going through the motions, Tim Curry, especially. I'll say now that the current cast of Spamalot has brought new life into the show.

Harry Groener looks and IS King Arthur. He certainly plays the roles a lot straighter than his predecessors and it works very well.

Martin Moran and Steve Kazee had HUGE shoes to fill, replacing David Hyde Pierce and Hank Azaria, but they got the job done excellently.

Lauren Kennedy is NO Sara Ramirez, but she gets the job done. No, she wasn't great. I really wanted to love her, but I couldn't. Her voice wasn't as powerful as the part called for. She, however, made up for it with her comedic chops.

James Ludwig, as Patsy, shows yet again how great he is. This is the 3rd role I've seen him in and he's always on the ball. Lewis Cleale as Galahad is no Chris Sieber, but he'll get better.

All-in-all, I enjoted it much more now than before.

Avenue Q
The show never gets old. The cast is in tip-top shape. Mary Faber is a great addition to the cast. She looks like a very young Faith Ford. The innocense serves the part very well. Howie Smith is a great Princeton. Ann Sanders filled the shoes of Ann Harada and made the part even funner, as did Evan Harrington. Rick Lyon and Jennifer Barnhart are great, as always. Carmen Ruby Floyd is a great Gary Coleman, too.

Spotted Jeff Marx outside the theater, basking in the glory that is his show.

Updated On: 7/19/06 at 11:22 PM

[missyrose87]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#1

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:27am

I thought Megan Hilty was in California?

[to wherever]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#2

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:30am

she got back to NYC on Monday.

[WickedGeek28]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#3

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:35am

I'm surprised she changed her hair color. I guess she dropped the Glinda facade. :)

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

[to wherever]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#4

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:42am

She was a brunette a few weeks before she left Wicked. Her character in Vanities was very un-Glinda-like. It was really cool to see her in another role.

[TheAudrey3]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#5

Posted: 7/20/06 at 1:01am

Michael Cerveris and his dog are probably, collectively, the cutest thing ever.

"It does what a musical's supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue."

[Yankeefan007]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#6

Posted: 7/20/06 at 8:03am

It was cute.

[EponineAmneris]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#7

Posted: 7/20/06 at 8:08am

Thank you, yankeefan007, for the SPAMALOT review and all the random sightings VERY cool.

"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES--- "THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS

[MCfan2]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#8

Posted: 7/20/06 at 8:15am

I didn't know Harry Groener was in "Spamalot" now! Good for him. I've been nuts about him ever since "Crazy for You" thirteen years ago.

[Yankeefan007]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#9

Posted: 7/20/06 at 11:40am

Yep! And he's great!

[WickedGeek28]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#10

Posted: 7/20/06 at 11:45am

"It was really cool to see her in another role."

I agree. I wish they did a NY production of the show. She's so talented and I want her to originate a role.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

[to wherever]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#11

Posted: 7/20/06 at 12:32pm

"I agree. I wish they did a NY production of the show. She's so talented and I want her to originate a role"

It still might come to Broadway -- she said there was going to be a preview or something later this year and then they'd find out. Even though she said it was "a work in progress and not perfect!" the show was really great and the three women were all incredible.

I haven't seen Spamalot yet... but I don't live in NYC so it's hard to see everything I want to see.

[Yankeefan007]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#12

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:04pm

But it's a revival. Shouldn't it have been perfect already?

[RentBoy86]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#13

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:07pm

What does Megan Hilty's boyfriend do?

[Yankeefan007]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#14

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:12pm

He's the current Lancelot in Spamalot.

[Salad_Fingers85]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#15

Posted: 7/20/06 at 2:43pm

I am going to see Avenue Q in Augest and am really excited the show is still doing well, and was curious as to how the new Princeton/Rod would be and it is good to know he is good.

[somethingwicked]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#16

Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:01pm

I have to disagree with your implication that Lauren Kennedy doesn't have the vocal chops for The Lady of the Lake.

When I saw the show last week, her voice was incredible. She hit the big notes in "Find Your Grail" just as good as Ramirez did (although she didn't project as well,) and I actually think her ending in "Diva's Lament" was much bigger and belted more than Sara ever did it.

The only problem I had with Lauren in this role was her stage presence. I think the part works best with an actress who commands the stage, and Lauren just really doesn't have that presence about her.

Her comedic skill and vocals were more than capable though, and overall, I felt she did a fantastic job.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 7/20/06 at 05:01 PM

[broadwaybound882]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#17

Posted: 7/20/06 at 9:25pm

Great Spamalot review! The family and I are seeing it tomorrow (last row of the theater but hey). Yes. Seeing Michael Cerveris walking his dog is truly a Kodak moment. Probably as funny as it was seeing practically evryone passing him without realizng who the hell he was. I saw this when getting my t-shirt from lauren.

[Zeitoujo]

re: Wed., 7/19: Spamalot, Avenue Q; Run-Ins with Megan Hilty, Sutton & More#18

Posted: 7/21/06 at 9:07am

hahahah im seeing it sun. and im in orch. center 4/5 rows back! BE JEALOUS!

"Those You've Known And Lost Still Walk Behind You"-Spring Awakening