Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?- Page 2

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 7:27pm

Yes, love, but just start with the cast size...SA is A LOT bigger.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 7:28pm

True, babe. Good point.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 7:59pm

I do think marketing is playing its part. Say what you want about the show, "Spring Awakening"'s marketing campaign was kind of sexy and enticing. The image of a man playing a guitar doesn't hold the same appeal, especially for the audience the show wants to target.

EDIT: Guitar, trumpet, what's the diff?

Updated On: 2/20/08 at 07:59 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 8:01pm

been in the UK i haven't seen the marketing for Passing Strange, is it really that bad?

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 8:06pm

Well, let me direct you to their awesome website:

http://www.passingstrangeonbroadway.com/

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 8:06pm

I am loving the website. Any idea how I can save these songs in iTunes?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/20/08 at 8:07pm

Thanks Blaxx

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 12:24am

I work at Passing Strange, and I will continue to shill for it, not because of my job, but because it's a hugely entertaining, fresh, innovative show, that, needs better marketing. The audiences, so far, have LOVED the show, and it's a very eclectic mix of people. This show Is very difficult to describe to people, I believe, simply because it is SOOOOO
theatrical, LIVE engagement of the audience's minds and hearts!

[tazber]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 12:38am

"Passing Strange has no interest for a lot of people because there are no white people in it."

That has to be the most unfounded comment of the day.
So, any exprirmental show with white people would be successful? And by that logic any show with African Americans at all would flop.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 1:22am

Hey Taz, don't ya just love these people, who for years and years complain about the disneyfication of Bway, the bad jukebox musicals, the lack or original material, etc., etc., etc.?? Then, with Bway costs being SOOOoo prohibitive, a couple of newly discovered talents manage to create (and get PRODUCED!) innovative, personally inspired works for a totally commercial venue, and there's a "problem" supporting this??
What?

[Bobby Maler]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 3:44am

I agree about the marketing. I think they've actually spent a lot of money..you see the posters all over NYC..I don't remember Spring Awakening ever doing subway posters or phone booth posters when they first started out..the problem is, the poster doesn't really tell people what it's about..it looks like some jazz musician standing in front of a motel or something on a highway.

Also, what I hear about the show again and again is that it has severe book problems..the first act is good but the story leaves you unsatisfied.

That being said, I support any show that is trying to do something different. This, like Spring Awakening, has no stars and no brand name recognition. It will be a word of mouth show and will also rely heavily on reviews. Give it time to build an audience. I disagree that the music is better than Spring Awakening, but I think it could appeal to a wide audience once people are aware of what it is.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 5:14am

Bobby, I tend to disagree with your point regarding the"problematic" book? I work here every night (luckily), and the more I listen up, the more flowing, centered and lyrical are STEW's tone poems which meander throughout each scene of the play smoothly and sometimes to "punctuate. The high concept is that he"narrates" in NOT an old fashioned way, but weaves in and out of the past and futures of his own character (the Young, played by Daniel Breaker!), and the other characters, who, BTW, also sing, dance, play instruments and play multiple characters in ACT II. The stream of consciousness between the
singspiel Brechtian dialogue in some parts delighfully morphs into different musical styles, such as 69 Hendrix sound, 1920's southern blues, r&b, Ballads, 80s punk, homage to
" Bway Tune".....etc., etc. It's fluent, fluid, articulate, wordy and it's like going on a wonderful trippy trip.
People would like to perhaps classify it, as a "black" musical, which it gently touches upon and pays homage to comedically, but the thrust of the material appeals to those 4 grandmothers that came in tonight and loved it...it reminded them of their own youthful foibles. People in their 50's nostalgically recognized all musical references. All in all, an engaging, beautifully lit (lighting design is very ingenious) fluorescents meshed and morphed in starlight. No extraneous overblown scenery clogging the stage, just the musicians' stations (a secret), not in the pit, not really onstage, either.
The sound integration is not as loud as last week, but remember, this is a ROCK show!!!
The performers energetic, sweet, funny, loving and comic.
There's the REAL stuff up there. BUT....you must..listen..up!
Dare I use the word SWELL!!
The orch level of the Belasco is very intimate (small) Alot of discounted seats were in excellent locations, NOt IN THE RAFTERS.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 5:28am

People keep mentioning the "problematic" book in the second act.

I do not think the book is problematic at all. I just think it defies convention. I don't think the show should have to go where some people THINK it should go. The second act perfectly conveys the experiences and emotions necessary to complete the evening's journey. I even think calling the show's structure a "book" may be putting a convention on it that doesn't quite belong. As my fiance stated a day after seeing the show, while the show was still percolating in her mind, I may be bold enough to say this is the most unique thing I've ever seen.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 6:14am

me, too, KidMan and I've seen 2000 shows and counting. A bit jaded, but always lookin for the new, next fabulous thing.....
PS seems to envelope me in swingin', bluesy, hard driven jive, "like an orgasm in reverse" (was THAT her line?) in Act II??

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 6:39am

It's not that it's a book problem.

It's that they have great momentum going in the first act (though it should really end after AMSTERDAM, and not go on for another 10 minutes), but then the whole experimental section in the second act really slows it down.

Reaaaaaaaaally slows it down.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 7:26am

I agree with YankeeFan. Its not a problem with the book. Its the sudden shift from Gospel-y songs (South LA) & funky songs (Amsterdam) to punk rock songs (Berlin)

I pointed that out in my review... The book of a musical pertains to the dialogue. Pls do not be confused with the book vs. the flow/ consistency of a muiscal structure.

Its still in previews..so pls give it a chance.. Remember how Xanadu started last Summer with soo soo response from the posters..then it starts picking up... I dont remember XANADU having a grand publicity at the beggining too...then after the reviews came in.. everyone jumped in the bandwagon... that they love XANADU...

PASSING STRANGE is a good show and I think this will get a lot of great reviews. It probbably surpassed XANADU's reviews...

then again... everyone will say again.... I LOVE PASSING STRANGE !!!!!

J*
Updated On: 2/21/08 at 07:26 AM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 7:33am

I don't know... I really would like to like it the way people talk about it on here, but. I just can't get into the sample songs and can't imagine sitting through stuff like them for a couple of hours much less paying for it.

Just not my thing. It happens.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 7:41am

Jordangirl- The live version of those songs will rock you! with the book, staging, chreography and the band... it really sound great...

Plus most of the songs that I really LOVE are GOSPEL songs all in ACT 1 in the South Cantral LA part at the beggining of the act.

Go see it... you know me... I wont recommend shows to you..that I dont think you wont like...You like N2N... its kinda like that...but with more SOUL! I hope you see it... if not I WILL DRAG YOU TO SEE IT!

J*

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 7:44am

Eh... I don't know. I just hate to go see something and not like it ~ I feel like I've wasted money AND time.

If the songs come off better live and would give a better picture, perhaps they should have recorded those and put them up. Cause they're just not doing it for me. Nor is the idea of the story. It didn't appeal to me the first time I heard about it, and it still doesn't. Sorry.

[BkCollector]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 9:05am

Unless you're a total thickhead, you will love this show, so take it as a challenge to see if you're a thickhead or not.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 9:30am

Gee, that's a nice way to encourage people to see it.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 10:51am

I agree with those who cite poor marketing. I've been on this board pretty frequently lately, and I've seen the name tossed around a good bit here, but I didn't (and still don't) have any idea what it's even about. Until a couple of days ago, I didn't even know it was a musical! I just got back from a couple of days in New York and I think I might have seen one or two signs for it the entire time.

So far it just seems to be one of those shows that you have to dig to find out about.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 11:09am

BTW- There are signs (ads) on the subway stations.. I will take photos next time...There's even one in Chinatown (Grand St)

I hope that I am wrong to say...that people are just ignoring the show bec. they cant open their eyes on new, innovative, original musical on Broadway...

People this show is STILL IN PEVIEWS... Xanadu got publicity while in previews bec. (sorry to say).... James Carpinello had an accident...and of course the hunky Cheyenne steps in and all gay guys like me.. was making some noise...its true!

This show is GOOD and it desereved to be on Broadway!!!! and I will do all I can to help this show... I will keep posting until the good word is out! This show is better than YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN & THE LITTLE MERMAID! and yes.. even XANADU!

Guys wake up! Not all new musicals has a state of the art scenery that keep changing... I love the show bec. of the music, book, acting, creativity and the scenery that challenges my imagination!! I dont wanna be spoon-feed.. I want to think..

J*

Updated On: 2/21/08 at 11:09 AM

[LostLeander]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 11:09am

It's just something that you must experience.

It's nearly impossible to describe to someone, but I think it takes the concept of Spring Awakening a step further.

Just listening to the music out of context will not sell you. The entire show is an experience that you must see to understand why such a "random" show would be considered good enough to transfer to Broadway.

Please, just give it a chance.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/21/08 at 11:17am

Well if its still open when i come for my next visit in june i will add it to the list of shows i want to see