At This Theater: The Winter Garden

I've often written about my experience seeing my first Broadway show, the 1983 revival of Mame at the Gershwin. But I also have a vivid memory of that day before we even sat down for the show. Early for the matinee, we walked down the block toward Broadway. There it was. The Winter Garden Theatre, with its flickering light name plate and its signature giant billboard, at the time advertising Cats. It was still new, and tickets were very tough to get; an international phenomenon can be like that, especially after winning a Best Musical Tony Award. I remember thinking that I'd never get in there to see it. Ah, the extremity of teenage emotion. Actually, I got my first opportunity to see a show at the Winter Garden less than a year later. Over the years, I've been inside there many times, though I've only seen five different shows there - mainly because two of those shows were there for many years each.

At This Theater:

The Winter Garden

Like many theater-goers of my generation, the Winter Garden was synonymous with Cats, a dark junkyard, that upon entering closed you off from the chaos of Times Square. Since it was primarily an immersive production, especially in the orchestra section, it was difficult to imagine what it looked like as a traditional theater space. Imagine my jaw dropping to the floor the first time I went to see Mamma Mia!

The Shows We've Seen There:  Cats, Mamma Mia!, Rocky, School of Rock, Beetlejuice

How They Rate:

5. Beetlejuice (2019): I'm sure I'll probably get some kickback on this, but I didn't really care for this show. Despite wonderful performances (Alex, Sophia, Rob and Kerry - bravo to each) all around, and some truly clever staging and spectacle, I found it to be a generally tedious affair - one of those shows where a little less of everything would have made it more.

4. Rocky (2014): I might get some kickback on this one, too. Why? Because I really loved it. Andy Karl is such a star, and, if there's any justice, Margo Seibert will be a major one in quick order. We splurged and got "ring side" seats, which afforded us the chance to catch up close the blood, sweat and tears of the climactic fight. What a blast to be on the stage, and on moving scenery to boot!

3. School of Rock (2014): Now here's a show for which I had zero expectations. I knew almost nothing about it, never having seen the movie. And though I had followed its unusual path to Broadway with much interest, I went into it pretty much a blank slate. Maybe that's the way it should always be. The kids were amazing, and Alex Brightman won my heart. We saw the show from the back of the mezzanine, and I'm pleased to report that they offered an excellent view.

2. Mamma Mia! (2001): Say what you will about jukebox musicals, this ABBA-fest set the gold standard for an all out fun evening at the theater. Funny, clever and even touching, I remember the first time I saw it vividly. I literally could not sit still. I was vibrating with joy and excitement. Not everything has to be Sondheim to be great.

1. Cats (1982): Don't even bother emailing me. Yes, the notion of people playing cats is a silly one, and yes, A Chorus Line did the story significantly better. But, the way they did it  - so genuinely artistic - was brilliant. The movement, the singing, the score, the costumes and make-up, and the spectacle of the giant trash culminating in the flight to the Heavyside Layer was all jaw-dropping. And yet, for all of spectacle, there was something so basically theatrical about the presentation. All you have to do is watch the movie to realize that this piece thrives in a live, theatrical environment, and much less so when reality is attempted. Like it or not, Cats changed Broadway now and forever.

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#MyBroadwayThing: Special Edition Playbills

I haven't shared a #MyBroadwayThing in awhile, but after a recent purchase, I realized I had another one. That purchase was a copy of the Special Edition Playbill for Moulin Rouge! I was like a kid at Christmas when it arrived - I love the show, and I really love the special cover.

Turns out that over the the years I've collected several of them. I have several Opening Night Playbills. These are not to be confused with Playbills that have the opening night date on the top of title page - those you can get if you attend a preview right before or a performance after. I mean the ones with the official sticker on the cover. My first was for Hairspray, then High Fidelity (I actually got that one at the Imperial Theatre. I found a pile of them in the corner on my way out. No, I didn't attend the opening.) For the past several years, Mike and I "toast" the season the purchase of the Opening Night Playbill for our favorite show of the season. Last year's was Hadestown, for the record. 

I also have a few commemorative editions - milestone covers. My three favorites at the 5th anniversary of Wicked (green is my favorite color), and the closing night covers from the original productions of A Chorus Line and Les Miserables.

But these special edition covers are something I hope become a bigger Broadway thing. I guess we have Beetlejuice to thank for it; they've issued three! I especially like the two most recent versions.  If I liked the show more, I'd buy them. It would be cool if other shows did them. But for now, Moulin Rouge! will have to be the one that started #My(newest)BroadwayThing.

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2019 in Review: Trend of the Year: Teens Playing Teens

2019 in Review:

Trend of the Year

One may have thought that eleven years ago, Broadway would have tried a little bit harder at getting actual teenagers to play teenagers when the musical 13 opened. After all, it did bring Ariana Grande to the stage. But that show was a resounding flop. And so, Broadway kept on hiring 20-somethings to play high schoolers, and they still do. (At least one current show has 30-somethings playing teenagers!) It looks like that may be changing.

2019, it seems, was a breakthrough year for teen-somethings getting hired to play age appropriate roles. Five (maybe more) teenaged actors have played major characters of high school age this year. Here they are, in alphabetical order:

Sophia Anne Caruso (Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice): Her voice is a zillion times bigger than her diminutive stature, and her presence is even bigger than that. Considering that she's up against larger than life scenery and effects, not to mention the larger than life Alex Brightman, she'd have to be. She nails that teen angst thing perfectly!

Antonio Cipriano (Phoenix in Jagged Little Pill, 2017 Jimmy Award Finalist): We haven't seen him perform live yet, but the videos that Jagged Little Pill has put out certainly show that this young man has an amazing voice, chemistry with his co-star Celia Gooding, and presence to spare. And he's brave, too. He appears to be completely unflappable singing in front of no less than Alanis Morissette!

Micaela Diamond (Babe in The Cher Show): I will never forget that huge voice coming out of that fur vest/bell bottom clad whirlwind of energy! She had two of the best numbers in the show, "I Got You Babe" and "The Beat Goes On." Let's see her in another show and soon!

Andrew Barth Feldman (Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen, 2018 Jimmy Award Winner): There is something particularly wonderful and genuine about seeing an actual high school student going through what Evan Hansen goes through. Regardless of age, Mr. Feldman gives one of the best performances in any role I've ever seen. I worry for his well-being, he is so convincing. Here's to the long, brilliant career we will all be able to enjoy from this phenom.

Renee Rapp (Regina George in Mean Girls, 2018 Jimmy Award Winner): We haven't had the pleasure of seeing this young woman in action, but I'll bet it is quite a hoot to see a just out of high school girl playing the queen bee of a nasty clique! Her video of "Watch the World Burn" is chilling and a lot of fun, so I can only imagine what a full performance may be like!







Will this trend continue? We hope so. The authenticity and level of talent can only add to the experience. Besides being grateful for the work, don't you think 30-somethings would like the chance to play adults?


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Broadway Monster Mash

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, THEATER FANS!

At any given time, Broadway is full of monsters - and I'm not talking about mean directors, cheap producers or screaming divas. Over the years, the Rialto has played host to various monsters - human, supernatural or undead. Heck, there's even a new show with a finale number called "Bring on the Monsters!" Anyway, to celebrate today's Halloween fun, here are a few of our favorite monsters of the stage:

MONSTERS OF THE HUMAN KIND:

• The King of "Good and Evil": Mr. Hyde from Jekyll and Hyde

• The Prince and Princess of Revenge: Sweeney Todd and Nellie Lovett from Sweeney Todd

• The rage of loneliness and disfigurement: The Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera

MONSTERS FROM FAIRY TALES:

• Ogres are so misunderstood: Shrek from Shrek: The Musical

• Monster by enchantment: The Beast from Beauty and the Beast

MOVIE MONSTERS ON BROADWAY:

• The Green Goblin from Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

• The Monster from Young Frankenstein

• Kong from King Kong

MONSTERS THAT ARE CUTE AND CUDDLY:

• Kate Monster and Trekkie Monster from Avenue Q

MONSTERS OF MYTHIC PROPORTIONS:

• Sandworm of the Netherworld from Beetlejuice

• The Minotaur and Medusa from The Lightning Thief

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