Who else is excited for The Fantasticks?

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 5:41pm

I went to elementary school/church/the park right near the Sullivan Street Playhouse, so walking by that logo was a part of my childhood. It is a very special show to me.

I am so excited for this show to be back in the city! Of course, it won't be the same at all :), but I can't wait.

Anyone else?

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 8:44pm

ME!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 8:55pm

I'm excited to meet Leo Burmester after the show to ask him about his experience doing RAGGEDY ANN on Broadway.

[kaboodles041]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 9:02pm

Can't wait! The Fantasticks is one of the best things I have seen. Does anyone know about the actress playing Luisa--Sara Jean Ford?

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 10:07pm

I can't wait! I'm so glad to have it back in New York.

[49th Street]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 12:11pm

Actually, I have heard that the creative team wants to keep it pretty close to the original. Right down to the tiled acting surface and the same set configuration.

[pab]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 12:50pm

Okay maybe it's just me but why is this show coming back? It only closed in 2002 after 17,162 performances or a 42 year run.

Updated On: 7/28/06 at 12:50 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 12:54pm

Well, looks like all the long runs are coming back: ACL, Les Miz, and The Fantasticks...let's hope Cats isn't the next one to be revived!

[pab]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 12:56pm

Well, there are long runs and there are LONG runs.

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 11:43am

Absolutely wonderful production.

There's a reason this show ran for so long...it never gets old. The audience was very into it, and I was so happy to see so many little kids there. The little girl with the family next to me was probably about 7, and was just squealing and laughing so much.

The two young romantic leads were born to play these parts. Sara Jean Ford is adorable and delightful and has a beautiful voice, and I think Santino Fontana has some serious star potential. I kept thinking, "West Side Story! revival" every time he opened his mouth. Adorable guy, gorgeous voice and a very charming and funny actor.

The rest of the cast was right-on. Thomas Bruce, the original Old Actor AND also one of the authors of the show (listed as Tom Jones the writer and Thomas Bruce the actor), reprises his role and is great.

Everything about this show is as fresh and lovely and magical as it always was. I think it will be a huge hit...plus, the theatre is very intimate.

Loved every second of it :)


Updated On: 8/6/06 at 11:43 AM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:28pm

Sort of a thread jack: It's playing at the new Snapple Theater Center. Do they sell Snapple in the lobby at intermission? (Sorry, I just had to know.)

[TomMonster]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:36pm

My friend Bobby plays Mortimer! He's a stitch. I spent a number of years on the original. This production will have a lot of the same people involved.

Here's to another 42 years!

And I'm not sure about the Snapple...

Updated On: 8/5/06 at 02:36 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:44pm

"Cats"? Let's hope not. I think I'd almost rather see a revival of "Lestat" before "Cats".

Maybe I'll catch "The Fantasticks" next time I get to NY. Here's hoping I can block all memories of the awful movie version.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:50pm

It's one of my least favorite plays but it's the kind of show that every theatre fan should see at least once.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 3:06pm

are they adding "The Perfect Time to Be In Love" to the revival? that would be neat. that's one of my favorite songs from the show.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 3:14pm

I'm not familiar with the song "The Perfect Time to Be In Love".

Was it in the movie? (I've tried to forget most of that...)

I'm pretty sure that it is not going to be in the revival. (But I will find out!)

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:17am

Indeed, they do sell Snapple in the lobby during intermission. Perhaps exclusively--I'm not sure. I got Snapple water.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 2:19am

I'm definitely going to get a Snapple when I see this show (which will hopefully be sometime in the near future). Thanks for the report, wickedrentq!

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 10:30am

"are they adding "The Perfect Time to Be In Love" to the revival? that would be neat. that's one of my favorite songs from the show."


That song was added for Robert Goulet when he did the tour...I think he sings it right before "Soon it's Gonna Rain" it's not in the show...but it is on the Japanese production CD.

Also, The Old Actor kept making references to 46 years...is that always in the show? Just wondering because I thought it was something they added since the author of the show is speaking those lines and The Fantasticks started 46 years ago.

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 11:56am

"I spent a number of years on the original."


Really? What did you do? You can PM me if you'd rather not say on here. Thanks!

[Jon]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:30pm

I believe in the original, Mortimer says he and Henry have been performing together for "more than forty years".

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:43pm

Oh, thanks, I tried to find it in the script and couldn't :)

They probably were saying exactly "46" on purpose...

I think Tom Jones is around 80...crazy...I don't think most people in the audience realized that was the author of the show as well (or maybe I'm the only dork who gets excited over stuff like that) but definitely adds something very, very special to this production.

It's just so great!!!

I'm looking forward to hearing other people's thoughts on it soon.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 12:54pm

here's an interesting site about who replaced in the original run....

http://www.thefantasticks.com/webpages/replacements.html

many famous names for various reasons, inclucing Chenowith and Peter Reckell (soap star). Liza also did it, but not in NYC; the site lists a few other famous names who did it around the country. Is the original Luisa, Rita Gardner, still the "rapping granny" in WEDDING SINGER?

I had not known about the role of the Handyman, which was apparently written out eventually.

"46 years" sounds good for the NYC production, but the Barnard College production was a year earlier, in 1959.

[coolphantom919]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 1:24pm

I SAW THE MOVIE! After seeing it, now i CANNOT wait!

[bstrumwasser]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 1:59pm

The Fantasticks is a wonderful production. I saw it monday last week. Robert Oliver is the best part of it as mortimer. After reading all the messages...every needs to realize that this is just like the original....certain things have changed due to the times they were written in such as the rape song. No other song was added. The reference to the 46 years together is becuase of the amount of years it has been since the show opened off broadway years ago. In the long run this show should do well becuase it lasted 42 years the first time im sure it will last again.

The snapple theater is all brand new inside..Its kind of nice. The show should have been updated and placed in a larger, nicer venue because the low ceilings are allowing since the paper squares get stuck in it all throughout the performance.

Go see it its totally worth the money if you have never seen the show before.

Just remember the show is all about those damn little paper squares!