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Whoopi Goldberg raves about "Memphis"

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#1

Whoopi Goldberg raves about "Memphis"

Posted: 11/12/09 at 11:42am

At the very beginning of The View today, Goldberg gave a rave to "Memphis", which she saw Wednesday night. They also mentioned that the show will be on The View sometime in December.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#3

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/12/09 at 8:52pm

all of my friends who have seen it loved it also
i really need to get over to the shubert
#4

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/12/09 at 8:56pm

all of my friends who have seen it loved it also
i really need to get over to the shubert
#5

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/12/09 at 9:08pm

I did catch Whoopi raving about Memphis today on The View. Last Tuesday, Rosie O'Donnell was raving about it on Rosie Radio. Is Memphis really that good?
#8

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/13/09 at 12:15am

It's a fun show, and the way set the set works, and the dancing, and the talent on stage are great, but the show itself is poorly written and rather predictable. Go in expecting In My Life and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Go in expecting Chekov and you'll be disappointed.
#9

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/13/09 at 12:36am

Everyone I know who's seen it, many who are in the business, has raved about it. I think I may be going tomorrow night.
#10

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/13/09 at 12:46am

A friend of mine saw it and loved it
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#14

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/13/09 at 2:11pm

The book is extremely weak. The music is forgetable. The show is pretty racist.
Bill Finn rocks. Woot.
#15

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/13/09 at 6:33pm

Not bad for a show people were writing an obituary for in previews

Racist? First of all, the word is so overused to have lost any meaning. Seeing as how it was portraying a sorrowful blot in our history , were you expecting maybe a feel good disney show?
Poster Emeritus
#16

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/13/09 at 7:34pm

So, would someone who isn't the biggest fan of Rock 'N Roll like this?
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5 May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
#17

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/15/09 at 2:17am

Yes, Whoopi has raved about 'Memphis' ('I had the most amazing time. This musical blew me away!'). So has Rosie. And so have many critics, including John Simon (Bloomberg News); Linda Winer (Newsday); Elisabeth Vincentelli (New York Post); Frank Scheck (Hollywood Reporter), and Michael Kuchwara (The Associated Press). I've already seen it a couple of times (and I'll be going back). Due to word of mouth, its houses are getting bigger and its average ticket price is climbing. The cast, the choreography and the score (which includes pop, rock & gospel) are astounding. And each time I've seen it, the audience gives it one of the most enthusiastic ovations around. No Broadway show will please EVERYONE, but give it a chance; the amount of talent is fantastic. Or as Huey in the show says, 'Fantastical!'

Updated On: 11/15/09 at 02:17 AM

#18

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/15/09 at 2:25am

I gave it a chance, and I thought it was awful. The music is so repetitive and unmemorable, and the book is just elementary. The performances were only OK. I found the dancing admirable, though I don't know if the choreography is really all that great.

Updated On: 11/15/09 at 02:25 AM

#19

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/18/09 at 6:43pm

I liked Memphis. The choreography was terrific and the voices were fabulous as well. The book is a bit thin, but overall it was very enjoyable.
Live long and prosper. Marriage equity now!
#20

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/18/09 at 9:27pm

I think if you go in having no expectations you'll enjoy it a hell of a lot more than if you go in thinking it's the new best show on Broadway. I'm not denying that it has flaws because it definitely does but the talent and passion on that stage is undeniable. I went in knowing nothing about it (I thought it was a play for a while) and I have since gone back multiple times and will be going back again. It's a great time in the theatre, the music is a lot of fun, the cast (esp the 2 leads) is amazing and people leave feeling happy and in a good mood which is never a bad thing.
#21

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/19/09 at 12:46am

Mr. Roxy-

I don't mean the show's content. Yeah, it talks about racism. I felt like it was kind of... on the nose for the Mother to sing a belting, riffing, gospel number. "Change Don't Come Easy". That vernacular didn't fit the rest of her language in the show, to start with. And then she finally sees the error of her ways by stumbling into a Baptist church and so she sings a big, gospel number? Her character really had no depth for me and I know you can chalk it up to bad writing, but why a gospel number? What are the writers trying to say? I would have rather seen an internal number exploring the reasons WHY the mother felt this way and giving us more character and depth. And also, I didn't really get a full picture of the leading female character. I only felt like this was Huey's story and the black characters/actors were used to tell his story. They became accessories instead of having THEIR OWN story to tell and that's how the writers should have handled it. Showing both equal sides to THEIR romance story.
Bill Finn rocks. Woot.

Updated On: 11/19/09 at 12:46 AM

#22

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/19/09 at 11:16am

Saw MEMPHIS Tuesday night. Book is the new "shorthand" way of telling a story, loaded with incidents but no real dramatic thrust. Characters are two-dimensional, the score is functional but does not contain any standout tunes. Nothing new or ground-breaking in the writing or execution. Choreography is excellent and Chad Kimball as Huey is amazingly good. Overall it's on a level with FOOTOOSE: A fun time-waster but not worth $126! It will have a long life in regional/community theatres.

Was told the cast was in studio all day Monday (Nov 16) doing the album. David Bryan produced... no label attachd as yet.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

#23

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/19/09 at 11:47am

A friend of mine saw it and loved it. This actually sounds like my kinda show to be honest.
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
#25

re: Whoopi Goldberg raves about 'Memphis'

Posted: 11/23/09 at 4:18am

Of the 5 shows I saw while in New York last week, MEMPHIS was the least impressive. Chad Kimball's performance went a long way to making the show enjoyable.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

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