Xanadu Tour

[nydreamer]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 12:45pm

I hear that the Kira U/S has been on for the past few days and that she is fantastic. Has anyone seen any of the Kira/Sonny U/S?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 1:03pm

OH NO! I hope Elizabeth Stanley is on tonight. My friend is out in LA on vacation and bought tickets to tonight's show, and Ms. Stanley was one of her main reasons for going. I am sure the understudy is great too, but when you go specifically to see a performer, it's sad to get an understudy.

[dramadude]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 1:05pm

I saw the tour last night with a friend at OCPAC in Costa Mesa while visiting. We were able to get seats onstage and see the Kira/Clio understudy, Tiffany Topol. She did a great job, but I was really looking forward to seeing Elizabeth Stanley after seeing her at La Jolla Playhouse last year. The only mishap of the evening was probably at the most inconvenient, pinnacle point during "Don't Walk Away". Max Von Essen could not get Kira/Clio's skate to come off of her foot. There were laughs both onstage and in the audience, but Max made the best of it (it helps that he's hot and talented).

It was a little discouraging because the house was less than half full and it was about the size of the Palace theatre. It didn't play as well in this huge, oddly constructed space as it did at both La Jolla and at the Helen Hayes.
Updated On: 12/27/09 at 01:05 PM

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 2:34pm

"It was a little discouraging because the house was less than half full and it was about the size of the Palace theatre. It didn't play as well in this huge, oddly constructed space a it did at both La Jolla and at the Helen Hayes."

And it was the same for me when I sat on stage on Wednesday night. I was shocked at how empty the theatre was as it wasn't that way when I saw it on the 2nd night on the 16th from Tier 1. When you're sitting on stage and you see how small the crowd is it has to have an effect on the cast although they never showed it. The cast of 9 was wonderful and it was even more fun to be a part of the show. I even got popcorn when Natasha Williams gave us some.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 8:35pm

Elizabeth went home to be with her family for the holidays. She did both performances today, Sunday.

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 9:09pm

I remember that when the tour cast was announced, many people on here were not too happy about Elizabeth Stanley being cast as Kira.. but I thought she was the best part of the show. She is hilarious and has an amazing voice.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 9:22pm

From what I understand, the venue they are at has way more seats than the Helen Hays theatre.

[BwayTday]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 9:33pm

The Segerstrom Hall has close to 3,000 seats, it's huge.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 9:52pm

I really dont understand how Xanadu can play a 3,000 seat hall. Its a pretty intimate show and its not a "big" show set-wise or even cast wise. I think the tour should aim for smaller houses and even performing arts centers on college campuses. Xanadu might work better as non-equity.

[nydreamer]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 9:55pm

I am glad to hear that that TIffany Topol was a great Kira. I think it is nice to see the lead U/S perform. Especially if they are talented. It is interesting to watch the understudies spin on the character.

I will have to check out Tiffany Topol's bio. Does anyone know if she has been in any other shows? Has anyone seen the Sonny U/S on tour?

[raggballad2]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 11:59pm

Is Vincent Rodriguez III still u/s? If so, I saw him in Chicago earlier this year and thought he was good. Funny and can sing, but Max seemed more natural as Sonny than Vincent.
Updated On: 12/28/09 at 11:59 PM

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:02am

"Is Victor Rodriguez III still u/s? If so, I saw him in Chicago earlier this year and thought he was good. Funny and can sing, but Max seemed more natural as Sonny than Victor."

Yes he is.

[tourboi]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:09am

I think you mean Vincent, not Victor. And the show played fine at OCPAC. I watched it from the third tier last week and thought it was great, even at that distance.

[raggballad2]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:12am

Vincent- that's who I meant. thanks! I'm glad to hear Xanadu is doing okay. It deserved a longer run in Chicago and a better audience than the one we gave them. Hopefully the show will do better touring.

[Q]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:55am

Emo - were you sitting onstage at the Sunday evening performance, by chance?

[FeelingElectric2]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:53am

Sort of off topic, but regarding the OCPAC, its really sad how bad the show was selling the 2nd week. 1st week was almost packed, and just recently seeing it again, it was far from it! I have to agree that Xanadu just doesnt fit well with a theater as big as Segerstrom Hall. And if anyone has ever been there, is it just me, or is the architecture (tiers) just horrible?

[emo_geek]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 3:02am

Well we must remember the the 2nd week was during Christmas. Many people are busy and out of town. I saw the tour 3 times while it was in Orange County and I loved it. I was worried how the show would work in such a big space but the show is so over the top that it worked.

[FeelingElectric2]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 3:11am

True! The night I went (the sold out one) the cast had the audience laughing at everything! It was really great, I think it resonated well with the older audience.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 3:22am

I saw some older audience members really enjoying themselves. I don't think they cared for the satire or plot but they loved hearing songs they recognized.

[pennypingleton1994]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 3:43am

I was there for both performances on 12/26, and I was onstage for the matinee. I thought Tiffany was amazing, and this is coming from a huge Elizabeth Stanley fan.

DramaDude- I completely agree. I thought OCPAC was much to large for a show like this, but it seemed like it was still recieved quite well. And I loved the incident with the skate last night. XD
Updated On: 12/28/09 at 03:43 AM

[SakeDad]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 5:14am

Bettyboy72.....so glad to see your so f*ing eager to give away Equity jobs! It's playing a 3,000 seat theatre for God's sake! WICKED didn't even sell out there! The audiences at OCPAC have loved it, the reviews were great and I know of several people that have seen it multiple times at OCPAC. It will be missed when it leaves. Meanwhile please go back to your 75 seat Off-Bway houses so you always have a full house. Happy New Year.

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 7:52am

"And if anyone has ever been there, is it just me, or is the architecture (tiers) just horrible?"

It's without doubt, one of the strangest looking theatres I've ever stumbled across. A shame, because it looks really nice and grand from the outside.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:29am

You're = your are

Your = your

[nydreamer]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:33am

I saw Elizabeth Stanley in La Jolla. I will be visitng family when the show tours Dallas and I am hoping to see the Kira U/S Tiffany since she is getting good reviews an I have not seen her yet. Either way the show will still be good.

[tourboi]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:54pm

"You're = your are

Your = your"

This just makes me laugh.