THEATRESCENE THURSDAY: Your Broadway Musical Report Card

Last week's Trendsday Poll asked you to grade all of last season's new musicals and musical revivals. Almost 150 of you took on the challenge of being an armchair critic, and here are your results!  I included your average grade (naturally!), the range of grades you gave (very telling), the percentage of you who didn't see each show, along with my grade (since I didn't review shows for awhile last season).  All-in-all, you and I were pretty in sync!  And, for the most part, I think we were in line with the general critical and box office response to the shows.

See for yourself:

NEW MUSICALS

SHOW	YOUR AVG. GRADE	GRADE RANGE	DIDN’T SEE THE SHOW	JEFF’S GRADE
Holler If Ya Hear Me	D	C+ - F	60%	n/a
The Last Ship	A-	A - B	0%	A
Honeymoon in Vegas	B	A+ - B-	12%	B
An American In Paris	A-	A+ - B-	0%	A-
Finding Neverland	A-	A+ - C-	13%	A+
It Shoulda Been You	C	B - C-	13%	C-
Fun Home	A+	A+ - C	0%	A+
Doctor Zhivago	F	C - F	30%	D
Something Rotten!	A	A+ - B	0%	A
The Visit	A	A+ - D+	20%	A+

• Interesting that a bunch of us theater lovers generally felt the same way about these shows as the critics, with the notable exceptions of The Last Ship and Finding Neverland.
• I think our range of grades for The Visit speaks clearly to the controversial, challenging nature of this show. Unfortunately, this is why we are far from a time when the masses will embrace such shows.
• I'm guessing that you are faithful readers because, on average, we see eye-to-eye on shows?  My grades were close to your average! (For those of you who asked, my comments about not fully reviewed shows are at the bottom of today's blog...)

NEW MUSICAL REVIVALS

SHOW	YOUR AVG. GRADE	GRADE RANGE	DIDN’T SEE THE SHOW	JEFF’S GRADE
On The Town	B+	A+ - C+	0%	B-
Side Show	A	A+ - B	0%	A-
On the Twentieth Century	A-	A+ - F	0%	D+
Gigi	B-	A+ - C-	15%	B
The King and I	A	A+ - C	0%	A

• Again, we were consistent with each other, though we liked Gigi  more than the critics and On the Town slightly less.
• The range of grades on On the Twentieth Century is very interesting.  More of you loved it than not, but I'm not alone in thinking it was more train wreck than express!

My thoughts on unreviewed shows:

• Honeymoon in Vegas: Very enjoyable, traditional musical.  Funny and tuneful with good dancing.  Tony Danza was decent; Brynn O'Malley did everything she could with an underwritten part; Nancy Opel chewed the scenery just a bit too much for my tastes.
• An American in Paris: The best dancing Broadway has seen in years, and the staging was smooth and flowing. Book was nicely emotional, but didn't know when to end it.  Show dragged in Act Two, especially after the title ballet.  I don't get why people felt the scenery was so stunning - I found it drab and too small.  The dancers were at the top of their form, but leads were either great dancers and lousy actors, or just the opposite.  Notable exceptions were the superb Max von Essen and Jill Paice.
• Finding Neverland: I loved almost every single minute of it! I found the entire production enchanting, and found the modern edge to the score and Mia Michael's choreography to be an exciting juxtaposition to the "historic" period of the story.  Loved all three leads, the boy who played Peter.  Hated the fairy joke, the Cheers joke, and the "what the fuck" joke, all three of which pulled me out of the story. I was a crying mess at the end.  Can't wait to see it again!
• It Shoulda Been You: Funny in spots, nicely staged, and a cast that was excellent with material that as sit-com level as best.   The score was serviceable and, again, funny in spots. 90 minutes felt like 3 hours, though. It would have been cheaper to stay home and watch TV.  At least there are commercials!
• Fun Home: My new Next to Normal. Superb in every way, and even better than off-Broadway. Alison Bechdel is a true hero. Laughter through tears will always be my favorite emotion.
• Doctor Zhivago:  The best thing about this loud, boring and unnecessarily gory mess was the table.
• Something Rotten!: A riot, with great scenery and costumes.  The cleverness wears a little thin at times, but overall, it was a great combination of old school traditional and modern smart humor.  Casey Nicholaw sure knows how to stage this kind of show - the dancing was as exhausting to watch as it must be to perform! The main cast is excellent (with special love for John Cariani, Christian Borle and Heidi Blickenstaff - who needed more to do!) and one of the best ensembles of the season,
• The Visit: This is EXACTLY the kind of show I love!  You have to think, it draws you in and keeps you there - John Doyle was in top form!  Chita was sublime, and the company superb - I had no problem with Roger Rees.  And the score!  A masterpiece by the masters.  Like most of their shows (especially like The Scottsboro Boys) this last entry by Kander and Ebb will be embraced by the masses about 20 years from now when they catch up to its brilliance.

• On the Twentieth Century: I love me some Kristin Chenoweth, but, really... how does she stay so thin when she eats so much scenery 8 times a week?  Overwrought, decidedly un-funny, and a score that was remarkably droning.  When the best thing about a show is 4 tap dancing porters on a stage full of Broadway's best talent, it says a lot about how bad the show is.
• Gigi: I found it to be a pleasant surprise.  Not great, but not bad, either.  Did I go in with low expectations?  Yes.  I thought Vanessa Hudgens was very good, and hope this won't keep her from trying another show. Dee Hoty was good, too, and Corey Cott was hot to look at but only good, too.  Howard McGillin was terrific, but way underutilized.  Victoria Clark, as always, was sublime.
• The King and I: Visually stunning for both its initial excess and later minimalism, it is the epitome of the adage, "They just don't write them like this anymore."  Kelli O'Hara as, as always, superb, if subdued, and her chemistry with Ken Watanabe was palpable from the back row of the mezzanine.  Ruthie Ann Miles was excellent and Tony-worthy.  I do have to say, though, that Catherine Zuber's costumes and Christopher Gatelli's choreography, while lovely to look at and superbly executed, were not new in any way.  Just look at pictures from previous productions. That they were both Tony nominated (and she won!) is disappointing.  I guess there is excellence in quantity alone?  And if Jerome Robbins were alive today, there'd be a law suit over "Small House of Uncle Thomas." Still, I can't argue that this revival was truly excellent overall.

Here's to an exciting 2015 - 2016 season!

Jeff

TRENDSDAY POLL: Your Summer Theater Plans

Does your summer lovin' include any theater?  That's what this week's one-and-done survey is all about! Check all that apply (use the scroll bar to see all the choices), and be sure to click "Finish Survey" in order to make your vote count!  Poll closes Tuesday, June 30.




Don't forget to use the survey scroll bar to move all the way down and click "Finish Survey"!

Jeff

TRENDSDAY SURVEY: Grade Last Season's Musicals

During my break from writing, I did see every musical and musical revival that opened, but did not review them for the blog.  (I saw and reviewed all of the fall musical openings, save for Holler If You Hear Me.)  Since I've been back, many of my regular readers have asked me how I would have reviewed them.  So, next Thursday, I'll share my thoughts and grades on each show from last season... when I reveal your grades!

You be the critic and grade each musical (new and revival) that opened during the 2014-2015 season!  Didn't see some of them? Click the "I didn't see it" button!  Even if you only saw one of these shows, your vote still matters.  When you have weighed in, be sure to click "Finish Survey" to make your vote count!

Survey will close on Tuesday, June 23 at 6PM!  Thanks for your input.  Jeff

TRENDSDAY POLL (On Monday!): Rate the 2015 Tony Awards!

I figured that this poll was a little  more time sensitive than most, so I moved this week's Trendsday Poll to today.  (Media Monday will be on Wednesday!)

So, I enjoyed The Tony Awards, the show and the winners, better than I have in recent years.  Of course, just like most years, there were some exciting surprises, a few disappointments, and a couple of cringe-worthy moments, too... (Larry David, I'm looking at YOU.)

What did you think?  Answer the 5 questions below, using the scroll bar on the right side of the survey box to move through the questions,  Then be sure to click "Finish Survey" to make your vote count!  Thanks for being a part of  the blog.



Jeff

THEATRESCENE THURSDAY: Know-It-All Quiz Answers

Boy, you sure are an inquisitive bunch!  Hundreds of you took last week's Musical Know-It-All Quiz and I hope you did well!  Here are the answers and results - looks like a couple questions stumped most of you, and others were a breeze!  Either way, thanks for playing along!

1. Finding Neverland is based on a play.
     TRUE - Yes, it is based on the film of the same name, but the show (and the movie) is also based on the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan, by Allan Knee.
14% of you got this one correct.

2.  An American in Paris features a score of sings by the Gershwins.  Which show was NOT a jukebox Gershwin musical?
     Of Thee I Sing - This was an ORIGINAL musical with music and lyrics by the Gershwins.  55% of you got this one right!

3.  Including Fun Home, how many musicals opened this season that were based on a book?
     FOUR - Fun Home, The King and I, Gigi and Doctor Zhivago.  Only 23% of you got this one right.

4.  How many of this season's musicals, including Something Rotten!, take place entirely on the British Isles?
     THREE - Something Rotten!, The Last Ship, and Finding Neverland.  43% of you got this one.

5.  The King and I features a show-within-a-show. The musical that didn't feature a show-within-a-show was:
     On The Town - Okay, this one was tricky, since the sailors go to a nightclub.  But all of the other choices feature scenes in productions of other musicals.  62% of you got this one right - way to go!  The 5% of you who skipped it because you didn't see a correct answer, give yourself 1/2 a point!

6.  Including Side Show, how many of this season's musicals featured real-life people as characters?
     FIVE - Side Show, The King and I, Finding Neverland, Fun Home, Something Rotten! Exactly half of you got this one!  And to the grammar police who wrote in to tell me that all 15 shows had real-life people as characters, you know what I meant - take an extra point off!  :-)

7.  Where does The Visit take place?
     SWITZERLAND - 62% of you guessed that it was a fictional town in a fictional country.  Sorry!  The 19% of you who got it right, I am impressed!

8.  On the Twentieth Century is the only musical this season with the distinction of having scenes on a train.
     FALSE - As forgettable as it was for the 20 or so of us that actually saw it, there was a scene or two on a train in Doctor Zhivago.  Kudos to the 48% who guessed the right answer!

9.  The only person in It Shoulda Been You who WASN'T featured in Frasier:
     Tyne Daly - This TV and stage legend didn't appear with Kelsey and company. 57% of you named the right actor!

10.  Several characters die in Doctor Zhivago.  How many of this season's musicals DID NOT have any characters who die or are already dead?
     SIX - On The Town, On the Twentieth Century, Gigi, An American in Paris, Something Rotten! and It Shoulda Been You were all death-free! 30% of you were correct!

DON'T FORGET TO TAKE THIS WEEK'S TONY-RELATED POLL!  HERE

Jeff

TRENDSDAY POLLS: You and the Tony Awards

It's the biggest week of the year for Broadway fans, and Sunday is the biggest night!  For a lot of shows, how things turn out at the awards show could make or break them.  For others, it won't matter - a hit is a hit.  No matter what, for the nominees and winners, it'll be a night they will never forget!

Polls will close Sunday at 8PM!


So, what are you doing on Tony Awards Night?  Answer these three fast polls, and tell your friends!




Polls will close Sunday at 8PM!

Jeff

THEATRESCENE THURSDAY: Your Playbill Habits Revealed!

Wonder Woman poses with hers!

Last week, the Trendsday Poll asked you to tell what you do with your Playbill before, during and after the show.  Here's what 207 of you told us:

BEFORE THE SHOW 

• 20% - I look for understudy slips.
• 19% - I skip right to the section about the show I'm seeing.
• 17% - I mentally count "How Many Have You Seen?"
• 11% - I take a picture of it to send out on social media.

The other 33% was divided among the other 8 choices. Not one of you said you didn't take one! Several of you mentioned (under "Other") that you read "At This Theatre" and the restaurant choices, and a few others said they count the number of orchestra members.

I'm definitely with the majority here - I do all three of your top choices!  

This Gigi fan must be part of the 11%!

DURING THE SHOW

• 71% - I put it away.
• 22% - I keep it open to the Musical Numbers list.
• 7% - I give it to my companion to hold on to.

Again, I'm just like most of you! I am meticulous about storing it in a Playbill Binder Sleeve, as untouched as possible. And then, with the copy I take to read through (and mess up!) I look for what the last number is for each act, then that gets put away, too.

An impressive display!

AFTER THE SHOW

• 26% - I have a Playbill binder collection.
• 16% - I stage door for autographs.
• 16% - I toss it on my pile of Playbills at home.
• 13% - I throw it in my bag and forget about it.
• 10% - I carry it out in my hands.

The other 19% was divided among the other 8 choices. None of you leave it at your seat, good theatre fans that you are!  My "twin" wrote in, "[I] usually keep one for the binder and others to keep as extras."  I so get you, whoever you are!  But my favorite "Other" response is "I tuck it in the back of my pants til I add it to my collection dating back to 1969."  Congratulations on your long theater-going career!  But I have to ask... isn't it kinda uncomfortable back there?

Big surprise - I'm just like the rest of you here, too!  As I said, I have a Playbill binder collection (just ordered my 25th one yesterday). And though I haven't done this in ages, I have stage doored many times over the past 30 years.  Meeting Joel Grey after the 1987 revival of Cabaret was a thrill - such a kind man!

Which one of you asked Idina to sign
your Les Miz Playbill? And did she?

DON'T FORGET TO TAKE THIS WEEK'S QUIZ! IT CLOSES MONDAY, JUNE 1ST.  CLICK HERE!

Jeff

TRENDSDAY QUIZ: Are You A Musical Know-It-All?

Holler If Ya Hear Me was the first musical
of the 2014 - 2015 season

With the great news about the season just ended - record attendance, record grosses - I thought it would be fun to see what you know - or think you know - about this season's musicals!  There were 15 new musical productions (10 new, 5 revivals) and there are 10 questions that ask you to consider all of them when you answer.

Here's a list:

Holler If Ya Hear Me
On the Town
The Last Ship 
Side Show
Honeymoon in Vegas

The Visit was the final musical of
the 2014 - 2015 season

On the Twentieth Century
Gigi
An American in Paris
It Shoulda Been You
Finding Neverland
The King and I
Fun Home
Doctor Zhivago
Something Rotten!
The Visit

You'll need to use the quiz box scroll bar on the right to move through all 10 questions.  When you are done, click "Finish Quiz" to find out your score! Good luck!



How'd you do?

10 correct: You are a Broadway KING AND I am impressed!
9 correct: Join the SIDE SHOW, you Broadway freak-ing genius!
8 - 7 correct: Pretty good! You deserve a night ON THE TOWN!
6 - 5 correct: Did you make the most of your VISIT to Broadway this year?
4 - 3 correct: IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU who saw more shows this season!
2 -1 correct: Is there SOMETHING ROTTEN going on here?

Be sure to check out the results of last week's poll tomorrow in the TheatreScene Thursday blog!

Jeff

Trendsday Poll: What do you do with your Playbills?

You get one at every Broadway show, most off-Broadway shows and many national theaters.  I'm talking about the Playbill magazine the usher hands you before you head off to your seat, full of anticipation.  But where does it go from there?  For me, it is a near obsession.  I get two copies: one to look at, and one that goes immediately into one of the plastic sleeves that come with the Playbill binder. Earlier booklets are kept in comic book collector sleeves in boxes that are made just for that purpose.  What can I say?  I love my Playbills!

This week's survey is 3 questions on this topic.  Check off as many that apply to you as necessary - and if you do something not listed, add it under "other."  Use the scroll bar on the right to move down the survey box.  When you are done, be sure to click "Finish Survey," so that your votes will count!

The poll will close on Monday, May 25 at 6 PM!





Thanks for voting!
Jeff

Trendsday Poll: Vote for the Winners of The #MissingTonyAward

You voted for the Tony Award you think should be given on June 8th.  Then you made your nominations.  Below are your Top 5 nominees for Best Ensemble of a Play and Best Ensemble of a Musical.  Vote for one of each!
 

The voting will end on May 18th at noon sharp! 

Look for your #MissingTonyAward winner to be announced on Wednesday, June 3rd, just a few days before The Tony Awards on Sunday, June 7th.

Jeff

Trendsday Poll: Which Ensemble Should Get a Tony?

It's hump day and you know what that means, readers!  It's time for quick survey of your theater thoughts of the week. (Poll appears after last week's results. Read and scroll!)

This week's poll has to do with last week's.  You'll see that it was CLOSE! Here are those results first:

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: There should be a Tony Award for...

• Best Ensemble (Play or Musical) 29%
• Best Projection Design 26%
• Best Original Song Written for a Musical 23%
• Best Sound Design 13%
• Best Production Number 5%
• Best Solo Number 2%
• Best Debut Performance 1%
• Other (Write in votes) 1%

THIS WEEK'S POLL: And so this week, I give it to you to decide!  Vote for up to three nominees for musical ensemble AND play ensemble (use the scroll bar on the right to see both), then be sure to click "Finish Survey" to make your vote count!

A great ensemble in a play: Brighton Beach Memoirs

The ultimate ensemble in a musical: A Chorus Line

This survey will close on Monday, May 11 at 6PM!

Thanks for your time and interest!

Jeff

Trendsday Poll: What is the "Missing" Tony Award?

It's "Trendsday" on Tony Nominations Week!

I'm speaking for myself here, but I think there are some areas of the Broadway season that deserve some serious recognition.  I can't tell you how many times I've left a show thinking, "It's a shame there isn't a Tony Award for..." I'm thinking of the amazing ensemble cast of Next to Normal, the jaw-dropping projections of The Who's Tommy, the amazing "Slap That Bass" from Crazy for You...

This season, I can think of several things - songs, visuals, casts - that won't be recognized on June 7th.  But they should be, right?

So I leave it to you, readers.  What should there be a Tony Award for?  VOTE BELOW AND SCROLL TO CLICK "FINISH SURVEY" TO MAKE IT COUNT!  This Trendsday Poll will close on Monday, May 4th at noon!



Have an idea for a theater-related poll or survey?  Let me know via Twitter (@jkstheatrescene), email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or drop a note in the comments below.

Jeff