"Interesting that the Mad Hatter is being played by a woman.
Okay, maybe not that interesting ..."
The role was played by Nikki Snelson in the World Premiere. She was fantastic - Snelson's Hatter was sarcastic & funny, and very big dancing role. However, they apparently changed it (obviously), I would imagine the bulk of the dancing would be cut (for the Hatter herself anyway). I would also like to think the Hatter will, well, wear a Hat more than once in a while in this upcoming version.
"The cast look ok, but has anyone seen this? I watched some clips on YouTube and it looks a mess, what was it like in the workshop performances?"
I've seen it twice - The videos don't do justice to it.
They released horribly edited footage of REHEARSALS/dress rehearsal as a teaser from TBPAC and as quickly as it went up, it was taken down (Whoops - it's still on BWW though!).
Here's the Alley Theatre's legitimate pro-shot footage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y72W--IAESU I think it's one of those shows you have to experience. The jokes don't appear too funny on recording or on paper, but they are funny. The boy band scenes (including "One Knight" which is in the above clip) received tremendous applause and laughter each time. The bulk of the costumes are marvelous, most especially Karen Mason's Queen of Heart's card dress.
They've made some changes - there's already plenty of songs not on the concept album that are in the show (and remember - it's a POP Concept album, it doesn't reflect necessarily all the orchestrations in the show), and some have been cut, re-arranged, or added.
European theatrical superstar Thomas Borchert (Wildhorn's Count of Monte Cristo, DRACULA, the musical) just released the new song "Together," the second boy band song on his new CD. (It's a little different in the show, since he doesn't have the back up boy band)
They also are planning to get rid of some of the sometimes distracting video projections last I heard and focus a bit more on the set.
The reading before they announced for Broadway, several new producers fell in love with it immediately and put up funds to bring it to Broadway this season. As previously thought, Bonnie & Clyde had announced it was Broadway-bound. DOn't know the status on that though anymore!