Broadway Games: Brrrr! Winter Weather

So the groundhog saw his shadow, and six more weeks of winter are on the way. A lot of us have had more than our share of winter weather already, right? Well, this week's game embraces the cold!

Broadway Games:

Brrr! Winter Weather!

Each Broadway show tune below contains "wind," "snow" or "ice."

Mame gives young Patrick this advice about living life:

How Corny Collins describes his dancers in Hairspray:

When Evan Hansen wiggles his cast at the glass, he's:

Evita's "gambling" song - it's a big risk:

Anna's big question for Elsa in Frozen:

In She Loves Me, Amalia's sings of her favorite flavor of this frozen treat:

When West Side Story's Jets visit a social worker and a judge (among others) to appeal to a certain cop:

Eurydice and the Fates sing this almost at the start of Hadestown: 

When Into the Woods' Baker's Wife asks about her evening, Cinderella sings this:

In Carousel, Carrie Pipperidge sings this song about her future plans:

Spring Awakening has a purple summer and this azure breeze:

The two sides to Grand Hotel's aging ballerina, or how the two make up moguls are described in War Paint:

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S 

BROADWAY GAMES:

The Terrible Twos!

1. This Richard Rodgers/Martin Charnin musical is all about Noah, his boat and some rain. Two By Two

2. The Book of Mormon shares a song title with both the title of #1 and #1's title tune. Those Elders are just like Noah's animals! "Two By Two"

3. 'Tis true! In Drood, young Edwin and John Jasper sing about their relationship in this catchy tune. "Two Kinsmen"

4. This classic tune about a beverage is in the musical No No Nanette, but is famous way beyond that. Do a little soft shoe when you sing it! "Tea For Two"

5. Into the Woods: 4 ingredients, 3 midnights, and the Baker and his Wife sing. "It Takes Two" Bonus: Can you name the other Broadway musical with a song of the same title? Hairspray

6. Phil Collins' excellent score for Tarzan includes this song about walks of life coming together unexpectedly. "Two Worlds"

7. In Be More Chill, best buds Jeremy and Michael bond over this "2-Player Game"

8. In this song from Cabaret, the Emcee squeals with delight, "and I'm the only man here!" to his bed mates. "Two Ladies"

9. Fagin teaches Oliver about the fine art of pick pocketing in this catchy ditty from Oliver! "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two"

10. Jennifer Simard (Disaster) was Tony-nominated in part for her, uh, relationship with God and a Hawaii 5-0 slot machine, humping the latter while singing this 70s classic. "Torn Between Two Lovers"

Movie Musicals 2021: 3 Thoughts on 3 Trailers

Movie Musicals 2021:

3 Thoughts on 3 Trailers

Maybe theater fans were extra good this past year. As a reward for enduring a pandemic, maybe we are being rewarded with not one, but three movie musicals! And none of them are animated, either. Now that all three films have finally released "Official Trailers," I thought I'd offer my thoughts...

Before I even get started, for the record: although I tried to be focused purely on the film versions, I can't help but acknowledge that my opinion of the stage version may have crept in to my thoughts. One is probably my favorite musical of all time, one is one of my favorite musicals of the 21st century, and the other one...well...

In the Heights  - Opens 6.11.21

3 Thoughts:

• The absolute joy that pervades the piece is on full display here, and it thrills me.
• I'm excited for the casting - especially Olga Merediz as Abuela Claudia and Anthony Ramos as Usnavi.
• The choreography looks to be brilliantly executed AND filmed, a combo not seen on film since Chicago.

West Side Story - Opens 12.10.21

3 Thoughts:

• I'll be the first to admit that I didn't think a re-make was necessary. But after seeing this, I am all in!
• It manages to look both vintage and modern-edgy. A tribute to the original. Yellow is the new purple.
• Surely I was not the only one who gasped then cried when Rita Moreno's voice came on singing "Somewhere." The juxtaposition of that hopeful lyric with the jarring images of young people at a dance, then at a rumble...if the film takes as much care of things like that as this trailer does, it will be a masterpiece.

Dear Evan Hansen - Opens 9.24.21 

3 Thoughts:

• Ben Platt didn't look like a teenager 5 years ago, so I didn't expect him to look like one now. But nothing prepared me for this. The Addams Family pallor, the fright wig - he looks middle aged and sickly. Has he had work done? Botox maybe?
• WHY IS THE ENTIRE PLOT IN THE TRAILER?
• There are positives: the scoring sounds amazing, the rest of the cast appears to be great, and there's a gay subtext in full flame (does that mean that it isn't subtext?).

#2559

Mr. Broadway September 2020: Dear Evan Hansen's Jordan Fisher

One of my post-COVID goals is to see Jordan Fisher perform live. I've been a fan of this multi-talented guy since his Disney Channel days, and more recently during is championship-winning run on Dancing With The Stars. Heck, even his Domino's pizza ad is charming. But there's no doubting his stage clout after acclaimed turns in the live TV musicals Grease and Rent, not to mention on Broadway in Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen. Though it will be some time before we'll have a chance to see him on the boards live, right in front of us, we are sure that whatever he's doing will be wonderful. Congratulations, Jordan. You are Mr. Broadway September 2020!

Mr. Broadway September 2020

Dear Evan Hansen's

Jordan Fisher

   

GETTING TO KNOW JORDAN FISHER

Birth Date: April 24

Birthplace: Birmingham, AL

Family: Engaged to Ellie Woods (above)

Select Acting Credits: Broadway: Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton; Other Stage: MJ: The Musical (workshop as Michael Jackson); Television: Rent: Live, Grease: Live, Dancing With The Stars, Teen Beach Movie I & II, Liv and Maddie

     

     

     

     

      

     

#2415

The Friday 5: 5 Shows We Saw...Again

I see and read on social media of fans who have seen their favorite shows dozens of times. I find myself both shaking my head (why don't they try and expand their horizons and see other shows they can be fans of?) and feeling crazy envy (I wish I was in New York enough - and had the money - to see shows I love over and over). That's not to say that there aren't shows I've seen multiple times. (Cats was my jam for years. Don't judge me.) But since even "cheap tickets" aren't that cheap these days, repeat viewings are fewer and farther between. Oddly, having said that, this year Mike and I managed to see five shows for a second (or more) time. That is the subject of this week's Friday 5.

The Friday 5:

5 Shows We Saw...

Again

Come From Away (2nd trip to the rock)

Why we went again: This is one of those "feel everything" shows - smart, poignant, and surprisingly funny given the subject matter. 

What we got out of it this time around: Able to watch for details that a repeat viewing affords, I particularly enjoyed watching the intricate staging, and tracking how different characters came to life as the actors changed costume pieces, accents and postures.

See it again? Well, as much as I truly love this show, twice is probably enough. I'd hate to lose the fond memories I have to boredom with the piece. Never say never, but not in the foreseeable future.

Dear Evan Hansen (2nd visit, 1st on Broadway)

Why we went again: I just had to give the show another chance. I mean, all those Tonys, SRO business, cultural phenomenon, etc. But I hated it the first time around, particularly the overwrought histrionics of one Ben Platt. But a chance to see someone remotely close to Evan Hansen's age, coupled with cheap front row seats (not lottery) was too good to pass up.

What we got out of it this time around: I loved it! Yes, I still have problems with the plot and some of its themes, but what a difference a less...aggressive... portrayal of Evan Hansen makes. Andrew Barth Feldman was superior in every way, and the company was just as great.

See it again? Oh yeah. I'd like to see different casts' take on the material. Maybe I can like the plot more?

Hamilton (2nd time at the turntable)

Why we went again: It's Hamilton. Seriously, we were hoping that we'd find the show to be more than a triumph of style over substance. Was it?

What we got out of it this time around: I actually thought the replacement cast was mostly better than the original - particularly Michael Luwoye as Hamilton, Denee Benton as Eliza, and understudy Ryan Vasquez as Washington. But a second viewing revealed/clarified the flaws, and yes, fans, there are flaws. While I enjoyed the staging very much, it is also too regimented and specific (not to mention tediously repetitive). The result is that when certain cast members aren't as sharp as others, it comes across as lazy and sloppy.

See it again? Nope. I appreciate it for what it is, and respect its place in musical theater/pop culture history. I just don't think it deserves it.

Moulin Rouge! (2nd time at the Spectacular Spectacular, 1st time on Broadway)

Why we went again: It's simple. We saw and loved the pre-Broadway try-out in Boston the previous summer. We had to see how they worked on it.

What we got out of it this time around: Well, it was fun trying to see what they changed, which turned out to not be much, though it seemed tighter. Still wish they had done more with the Baron (Tam Mutu). But we loved it nonetheless. It's been a long time since we've seen something so theatrical, extravagant, and just plain fun.

See it again? Hell, yeah. But not right away. Maybe see some replacements down the road?

The Phantom of the Opera (3rd time on Broadway)

Why we went again: Funny enough, we went specifically to see Jay Armstrong Johnson, who was out the day we saw it. But still, why not see if Broadway's Longest-Running Show still holds up?

What we got out of it this time around: I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the show is as if it was brand new. Would that shows that are less than a year old look as good. We appreciated the grand scale and opulence of this classic. We also discovered perhaps the best Phantom ever, Ben Crawford, and the glorious orchestra under the baton of the show's original musical director, David Caddick.

See it again? Sure! In another 10 years or so. It'll still be there. 

*****     *****     *****

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S FRIDAY 5 QUIZ!

EXCEPTional Broadway 2019

1. All of the following 2019 shows feature scores made up of pre-existing music EXCEPT:

a. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
b. The Cher Show
c. Jagged Little Pill
d. Moulin Rouge!
e. Hadestown (Yes, there was a concept album, but the idea was always a show. And it did win the Best Score Tony!)

2. All of the following 2019 shows had off-Broadway runs prior to Broadway EXCEPT:
a. Be More Chill
b. Betrayal (It came from London.)
c. The Lightning Thief
d. Slave Play
e. Oklahoma!

3. All of the following 2019 shows won Tony Awards EXCEPT:
a. Tootsie
b. Choir Boy
c. Ink
d. Beetlejuice
e. The Ferryman

4. All of the following shows featured teenagers playing teenagers in 2019 EXCEPT:
a. Be More Chill
b. Mean Girls
c. Dear Evan Hansen
d. Jagged Little Pill
e. The Cher Show

5. All of the following shows were broadcast or televised in 2019 EXCEPT:
a. Kinky Boots
b. SpongeBob SquarePants
c. Head Over Heels (We would love that, though!)
d. RENT
e. Les Miserables

#2241

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?


#2223