Where is the SUMMER Previews Thread?- Page 2

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/16/18 at 11:33am

dramagoer said: "Does the musical use This Time I Know It’s For Real???"

They don't and funnily enough, at the end of the show both me and my friend were like, "You were waiting the whole show for that song too?"

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 4/16/18 at 12:23pm

I saw Bands Visit and Spongebob yesterday and I can't remember which one it was in, but they had a section about "Summer!" and apparently the director for Summer was in talks to direct Ordinary Girl when Donna was still pursuing it. My question is why did we end up with this hot mess when he could have still done Ordinary Girl with some of Donna's original music. It just seems like a waste and cop out to make a cheap messy concert bio musical. 

[raddersons]

Posted: 4/16/18 at 12:24pm

sciencegirl said: "Oh my lord...they are performing on the Today Show right now as I type....."

I mean, some of the numbers are really great. But they are very fleeting moments. So it would probably do well on a morning show performance.

[bearhorn]

Posted: 4/16/18 at 2:50pm

I had (skeptical, but) high hopes when I first heard about this show.  Despite the initial feedback, I bought a ticket to an upcoming performance and drastically lowered my expectations. I love Donna Summer music, so I was willing to take the leap.  After seeing this morning's performance on the Today Show, I fully realize that I should have stayed on the cliff.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/16/18 at 3:54pm

bearhorn, you'll be alright. A few of the numbers are great and you'll fun. For the lame ones, just cover your eyes and listen to the music. Whenever there's dialogue, cover your eyes and your years, they thankfully don't last that long.

[robskynyc]

Posted: 4/17/18 at 11:17am

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 :)

 

[newintown]

Posted: 4/17/18 at 11:36am

"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."

As hard as these three gals work, I would still prefer any day to listen to Summer sing these songs with the original arrangements.

[robskynyc]

Posted: 4/17/18 at 11:40am

"As hard as these three gals work, I would still prefer any day to listen to Summer sing these songs with the original arrangements."

 

I agree. I just really want the stripped down versions of Pandora's box & Dim All The Lights. lol 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 4/17/18 at 11:41am

They aren't doing a cast album? With voices like that? Wow

[robskynyc]

Posted: 4/17/18 at 11:49am

yep. here is the link to the album. same order as the show.

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/summer-the-original-hits/1358794864

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/17/18 at 1:02pm

robskynyc said: "yep. here is the link to the album. same order as the show.

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/summer-the-original-hits/1358794864"

Interesting that "I Believe In Jesus" is not on the album.

[robskynyc]

Posted: 4/17/18 at 1:06pm

Yep. Neither is to Turn the Stone.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/17/18 at 7:48pm

They aren't doing a cast album? That's a real shame. Admittedly, I didn't really like the show, but I found a lot of the numbers arranged and sung really well. Even though it's been a week, LaChanze going for those notes in I Feel Love give me chills.

[smidge]

Posted: 4/17/18 at 8:23pm

I don't remember reading that a cast recording has been completely ruled out. This CD could just be another way to repackage Donna's recordings as a promotional tie-in. But, like any cast recording, someone must be willing to put up the money.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 4/17/18 at 11:15pm

Robskynyc, Are you sure this cd takes the place of a cast recording?  I had read also that this was a repackaging of hits by the Summer estate.  As much as I want to see this in May, the negative reviews and now no cast recording will affect my interest in seeing it. EDIT  I reread the article and states this is serving as a "companion" to Summer the Musical.  This could be a cheaper option than recording a cast recording.  But they didn't use the show artwork for the cover...so not sure.  Still hoping they announce a recording.

Updated On: 4/17/18 at 11:15 PM

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 8:31am

ArtMan said: "they didn't use the show artwork for the cover"

The photograph shown as the album cover for this compilation looks like it was taken from the old "On The Radio" cover photo shoot. The makeup and hair look the same, and I think it's even the same dress.

[robskynyc]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 9:18am

I really hope they do the cast recording! But I was stagedooring and asked Ariana and she said they hadn’t heard anything about it. I figured if they’re co close to opening night and still no word of a cast album then it probably is t gonna happen. I hope I’m wrong though!

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 10:11am

robskynyc said: "I really hope they do the cast recording! But I was stagedooring and asked Ariana and she said they hadn’t heard anything about it. I figured if they’re co close to opening night and still no word of a cast album then it probably is t gonna happen. I hope I’m wrong though!"

You never know. The cast recording for last year's revival of Sunday in the Park with George wasn't release until long after the show closed (in fact, I believe the show had already closed when it was recorded). Of course, it doesn't seem likely that Summer will be a critical success like Sunday was, but anything can happen.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 10:55am

Lot666, I think the dress is different from the On The Radio cover.  That dress had more pastel colors than this dress.  Close, but I don't think the same.  Agree, about the hair.  Not sure about makeup.  Either way, the new cd artwork is not a flattering picture, to me, of Donna.  Also, I finally watched the clip of She Works Hard For the Money.  The clip for McArthur's Park played something else.  The She Works Hard For The Money clip looked so cheap.  I couldn't watch it all the way through.  I may regret changing my mind on this one.  My only alternative is Escape to Margaritaville (I can't stand Jimmy Buffet) or Three Tall Women (and my trip already has too many plays).

[robskynyc]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 10:58am

ArtMan-

SWHFTM looks totally different on the stage there’s a huge conference table in the back that they dance on and they are more spaced out. On the tv performance it looked like crap and was super crowded on that tiny stage

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/18/18 at 11:35am

ArtMan said: "Lot666, I think the dress is different from the On The Radio cover. That dress had more pastel colors than this dress. Close, but I don't think the same."

Yeah, the colors do look different, but I suspect they might just be retouched for the new cover. The neckline and general print look similar to me. (Not that any of this is relevant to the conversation.)

[ggallen]

Posted: 4/19/18 at 12:07pm

Hey RobskyNYC - 

Here's a nice slower version of Dim all The Lights that Donna did live.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xhbPFNtivA

[robskynyc]

Posted: 4/19/18 at 2:48pm

ggallen said: "Hey RobskyNYC -

Here's a nice slower version of Dim all The Lights that Donna did live.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xhbPFNtivA"

AHH!!! thanks @ggallen 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 5/5/18 at 2:25am

What is the set like for this show? All I see in the press footage is those plinths (being generous). 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/5/18 at 12:13pm

VintageSnarker said: "What is the set like for this show? All I see in the press footage is those plinths (being generous)."

The set is nonexistent. Bare white stage with sliding projection screens.