ZIEGFELD'S MIDNIGHT FROLIC @ The Liberty Theater

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/15/15 at 11:50pm

Anyone go to this? It's being put on by Speakeasy Dollhouse. It's in the "secret" Liberty Theatre. 

I've never been in the space, but it was quite beautiful. You walk in through the back of the Liberty Diner on 42nd Street - where Dave and Busters is. And enter the back of the house. There are tables set up for dinner service, and bars. And then a big pit near the stage. There are actors roaming around in period costumes and a band playing. There's a big chandelier hovering above that gets lowered and swung around and danced with. 

Behind the proscenium is a whole different space. You walk up some stairs and you're in "Paris." It's quite beautiful. A huge bar that scales the theater. A hanging crescent moon with a dancer. And a nice vantage point to look out at the theater and watch the cabaret acts below. 

Up some stairs again and you enter a hotel suite where behind glass walls you can see a hotel room where some scenes happen. 

The whole idea was pretty cool, but the execution left a little to be desired. It wasn't as polished as say Sleep No More. And the concept wasn't as strong. There was a story, but it was pretty hard to follow, and honestly it no one cared what was happening. The dancing was "eh" but the singing was quite strong. They mixed in classes with some 20s-inspired classics of contemporary songs like Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" or Sia's "Chandelier" that worked quite well. 

I enjoyed myself, and was happy to be in that space. It's just such a shame it can't be used as a legit space anymore. 

Updated On: 8/15/15 at 11:50 PM

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:56am

I saw it. It's a great idea for an interactive show, but the show itself isn't that great. A lot of fantastic performers, and some that weren't so great... it made me wonder if the actors were even getting paid. Thinking it might be a non-equity, non-paid gig. 

The venue is beautiful and I don't see why it can't be used as a legit performance venue. It's the perfect spot for them to have done NATASHA, PIERE and HERE LIES LOVE.... I wonder if they could fit 500 people in there to qualify it as a Broadway house.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 3:33pm

I'd assume it's a non-union gig too. It's one night a week. But there is dinner service, etc, so maybe there's a small stipend or something? Who knows. 

But actually it would be an amazing spot for Natasha. Why not gut the kitchen out of it, and return it to a legit space? The bones are all there, so I don't think it would take that much effort?