ok. after years of just reading the boards, I HAD to make an account to post this update. I saw the first preview on March 28, Front Mezz, first row. The show was a disaster then. Cringey dialogue, poor staging, just bad bad bad. I saw the show again last night, April 16, Front row orchestra. Row B, which is the first row, is listed as obstructed and it is. you can barely see the back half of the stage, so you miss almost the entire performance of On The Radio which, SPOILER, takes place during a ridiculously cheesy car chase scene. The one big thing I noticed, was a lot more LaChanze. They added her into more of the numbers, most notably, On the Radio.
So here is a song by song breakdown with the changes I noticed from first preview to now:
There WILL be spoilers! :-p
The Queen Is Back - stayed the same. the dialogue is still some of the most cringe-worthy stuff you'll hear.
"welcome to your house of mirrors girl" I rolled my eyes so hard I say my brain.
I Feel Love - a few changes in this number. more choreography, different costumes, which helped it a lot. it brought a lot more energy to the number.
Love to Love You Baby - stayed the same
I Remember Yesterday - don't even remember this song tbh.
On My Honor - hands down one of my favorite numbers in the show. Storm Lever doesn't get very many moments to shine, but the way she sings this song gives me chills.
Faster and Faster to Nowhere - meh. stayed the same. still just as cheesy.
White Boys - the can cut this song and literally NO ONE would noticed.
MacArthur Park - the first showstopper. the quick change for Ariana made everyones jaw drop. just WOW all around. and that massive thundering sound when the lights strobe and all 3 donnas appear was AMAZING.
Heaven Knows - this stayed the same. it was ok.
No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) - another big change. the fighting/choreography is still the cheesiest B movie action ever LOL but instead of just LaChanze and Ariana, all 3 Donna's come out to sing at the end of this one. Fun Fact: Barbra Streisand IS on stage. The book she uses to knock the gun out of his hand, has Barbra on the cover. :-p
Pandora's Box - again, storm CRUSHED this. and I love that she did it as a ballad, as opposed to the poppies album version. I want this version NOW.
On the Radio - lachanze was added to the song. The car thing is SO cheesy, but the epic ness of the song KIND OF makes up for it. Sounds WAY better with LaChanze and Ariana harmonizing the whole song.
I Love You - people around me were confused in this song when duckling donna started playing mimi. maybe they need to give her a different color outfit to differentiate mimi/baby donna? the blue headband coming on/off wasn't enough for most people I guess. The song was blah. I never liked this donna song. if margaritaville was a donna summer song...
Bad Girls - this was the most random/out of place song. had nothing to do with the story when it starts. but then she ends up in the studio and they tell her they wanna give the song to Cher. which leads into her fighting with the record company and into the next song.
She Works Hard for the Money - the second show stopper. stayed the same. I LOVE LaChanze, but her dancing was AWKWARD as HELL during this song. Ariana however, KILLS IT. girl is talented as hell!
Dim All the Lights - LOVE LOVE LOVE this stripped down acoustic version of the song. beautifully done.
I Believe in Jesus - I don't believe in Jesus, because if he did exist, he wouldn't have let them put this song into this show... or the next two numbers. These 3 songs, (I Believe in Jesus, Unconditional Love, Turn to Stone) is the point in the show where it starts to DRAAAAAG you're like "F**K this show is long as hell. they need an intermission."
Unconditional Love - see above
To Turn the Stone - see above
Stamp Your Feet - this one was cheesy but cute as hell.
Friends Unknown - The third showstopper. This is the one where LaChanze got a solid 3 minute standing ovation BOTH times I saw the show. Her voice is unbelievable during this song. the dialogue in this part of the show probably needs the most work, about "Adam and Steve" and the aids crisis.
Hot Stuff- finale 1 sung by Ariana. two giant disco balls fly out over the audience, with some light up poles and sirens, and confetti. and what is probably the worlds LARGEST disco ball on stage. amazing number and amazing energy.
Last Dance- finale 2 sung by Lachanze, then joined by the other 2. just perfection.
I'm a bit upset there is not going to be a cast album, but instead they just repackaged donna's songs and put them in the same order as the musical and are releasing that this Friday instead.
Anyways, there you go. Hope this helps! and let me know if you have any other questions about the show :)
