tick, tick...BOOM! at the Coronet Theater in LA?

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:36pm

Is there any love for the show? A wonderful cast is being sorely under-advertized in the LA area. Get the word out. Only 2 more weeks to the show closes.

[Patronus]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:55pm

There is already a thread discussing this production:
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=897960#2193637

I think it has actually been advertised quite well. It's been extended a couple of times and they are taking advantage of the Rent tour being in town and it's all the local papers while also creating their own website and MySpace. I am not sure what more they could do.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 4:57pm

I'd love to see it...but im not in LA.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 5:02pm

They will be taking part in the Mini-Larson concert tomorrow at the Grove in LA.

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 5:42pm

It's my understanding that they're having a very successful run. I saw it last Sunday and a large enthusiastic audience gave the actors plenty of love!

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 11:05pm

Thank you Patronus...I did a search to see if there was a previous thread, but I must have missed it.

When I saw the show in late June, the theater was partly empty and after the show the cast was pleading with people to bring their friends. The LA Times just got the word out.

I guess I was just trying to see what others thought and get the word out.

Thanks.

[Patronus]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 11:10pm

The audience that I saw it with absolutely adored the show. I personally didn't love it and neither did my wife, but we were definitely in the minority in that audience.

I don't believe there was an available seat in the house when we saw it, but we did go on $20 Friday night.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 11:11pm

They will be taking part in the Mini-Larson concert tomorrow at the Grove in LA.

And all of you lovely residents of the LA area should go!!

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 1:27pm

I saw the show last night for the 2nd time. You can't beat those $20 front row tickets.

Matt Lutz was in for Andrew S. as Jon. Other than falling during "No More" with the table almost falling on top of him, he gave a very professional performance. Only his 3rd time in the role. His voice is strong, but his gentle Jon portrayl was missing an edge that was needed at the dramatic scenes with Tami and Wilson at the end of the show. His approach to "Sugar" was anti-climatic, it didn't have the desparation that leads the audience to think Jon might be going to a strip club or a hooker. When he gets comfortable in the role...watch out!

Wilson and Tami were on, as usual. Top shelf performance. Broadway quality. Enough said. They are worth the price of admission...(and I mean it in a Eddie Haskel sort of way)

I was able to appreciate Jonathan Larson's work this time around. Knowing the lyrics this time helped me to draw close to the direction of Scott Schwartz, which is dynamite, and see the actors do their work. The minimilist approach is refreshing. Less is more. Jonathon was a talent beyond compare.

The audience was into the production. But there were still empty seats in the house. About 80% full.

The show closes next weekend.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 1:31pm

I dont live near LA so I cant see it. Fortunatly for me I saw the regional production here in chicago which was brilliant.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 2:01pm

I loved this production! Better than the Broadway cast in my opinion. I went to matinee about 3 weeks ago, and there were only about 25 people there, but then again, that was a matinee on a weekday. I wish it could extend even longer- I woul to love fly out to LA and see it again.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 2:12pm

I saw it Wednesday night with both male understudies, who were actually quite good, and all three voices blended exceptionally well. I found the direction at times a bit weak, and, in the case of "No More," a bit amateurish, but overall, a really good production. It's worth FULL price just to see the dazzling Tami Tappan Damiano. What an underrated talent! She needs to be seen by everyone in ANYTHING!

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 2:39pm

I agree with you on Tami...I got to speak with her after the show. She was very gracious and kind, especially to my 10yr old niece, which she made a huge impact on. Every time she enters the stage the show shines. I hope she moves on to bigger productions, this tiny girl owns the stage.

P.S. After the show, while I am driving down La Cieniga, outside a resturant at the Beverly Center I see the dancers from "So You Think You Can Dance". I yelled out to Ryan, who got voted off last night, "I love you guys" and they all waved. I then went home and watched the Tivo'ed show and was glad I shouted out to Ryan. It is trippy living in LA.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 2:51pm

How fun! It is pretty trippy living out here. The people you see at such random times. Even Broadway folk: I saw Dale Kristien at the Burbank mall buying a watch...Robert Torti at a 4th of July kids parade....not the usual celebs at a premiere thing.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 2:54pm

I saw it a few weeks ago as well.

The other members of the audience seemed to enjoy it a bit more than I did.

But, many there seemed to love it.

I have to agree about Tami, I thought her voice was great and that she was the strongest part of the show.

[Mike3]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 1:44pm

At last night's performance they announced that they had been extended again until August 20. The house was 90% last night, and very enthusiastic.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 1:52pm

Tappan was terrific, I've never seen the show live before, so hard to compare to past productions. I liked the lead as well, but found Cruz great in most of the vocals (some slight pitch problems at my performance), but astonishingly soft-spoken, given that they were obviously miked. Perhaps it was a cuing problem, not his fault. He was very affecting in the "reveal" speech.

Is this the off-B'way piece that Molly Ringwald went into?!?!? hard to imagine her in that Tappan role.

[Mike3]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:18pm

I remember first seeing this soon after September 11, 2001. At the time it seemed so timely, even prescient.

Watching it again last night I was so moved, and I felt so sad. Jonathan Larson had such a gift for expressing beauty, and pain, and hope. God, how I wish he were still writing.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 2:54pm

Yes, Molly played Susan in the off-Broadway production after Amy Spanger. I've seen several productions of TTB and, although Molly wasn't my favorite Susan, she did a good job.

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 5:01pm

Molly did Susan...wow, that is something I would have paid to see.

I go for the 3rd time tonight, I am soaking up the whole show and what Jon was feeling at that time in his life.

This maybe a dumb question, but at the time of his death how complete was TTB? What adjustments were made to it after Rent became so big?

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 8/5/06 at 7:53pm

The way I read the Coronet Playbill, it was written as a monolog with an actor and rock band, then adapted into a three-person show; not sure of the timing, but my bet it got adapted after RENT and Larson's untimely passing.

I'm very encouraged to hear that Ringwald was capable of doing Susan, which I think is a very demanding part. I've never seen her onstage and look forward to it someday.

[ThE nEw KiD]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 11:51am

I LOVE MATT LUTZ! He's the greatest...AMAZING tenor. He can do anything!!!

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 1:02pm

Went to the show last night, Andrew was on as Jon and everything was good. The crowd was sparse, the energy a little low, but all things went well.

After the show I got the opportunity to meet Wilson J. Heredia, who was attending the show. What a gentleman! Down to earth and very unassuming in his behanvior.

I spoke to some insiders, the band, and they mentioned that the show is hoping to extend to November, then...make a trip to NYC for a Broadway run!!! Much is still up in the air, but the name "Doogie Howser" is being mentioned for NYC. Rumors, but still.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 4:23pm

This maybe a dumb question, but at the time of his death how complete was TTB? What adjustments were made to it after Rent became so big?

ttB was performed in the early 1990s while Jonathan was frustrated that he couldn't get Superbia produced... I believe that he did four or five workshops that were slightly different variations, and then it was shelved when he got into working on Rent. After his death, the scripts from the different versions were compiled into one workable show and I gather that a lot of work was done to the book. So it wasn't a matter of completing it, just fleshing out the story and changing it to include the other two actors. If you're interested, there's a great interview about it with Al Larson, the creative team and Raul Esparza that I'll link to in a moment. As to what specifically was changed from Jonathan's original versions... well, I'd be fascinated to know that, too.
Charlie Rose interview (it's the second segment) Updated On: 8/6/06 at 04:23 PM

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 8/6/06 at 5:01pm

simplejoys, it is VERY unlikely that TTB would ever be a Broadway show. Although they may be considering a return to NYC, it would almost certainly only be an off-Broadway location. It's a successful show in small venues all across North America now and I'd be surprised if it does come back to the city. It is almost impossible for off-Broadway shows to make money these days and TTB did not have the best rep in that department either at the Jane or during its subsequent tour.