Not being one to waste time or opportunity, I had a full schedule of New York Amazing-ness planned for my last week in New York City.
Starting with the one Broadway show that I've been dying to see since I got here that I still haven't seen yet... In The Heights.
It's about a community in Washington Heights, which is a neighborhood at the top top top most part of Manhattan Island, above Harlem, west of the Bronx. Alot of the songs are hip hop based rather than show-tunes-y. The story is beautiful and hopeful and inspiring. Great jokes, good dancing, very good acting.
Oh, and thanks to Melissa, we were in the 4th row. Of the orchestra section. AMAZING SEATS.
Ah, Broadway, I will miss you.
Showing posts with label Broadway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadway. Show all posts
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Jersey Boys
If there was one show that I've wanted to see on Broadway, its been Jersey Boys.
But it happens to be one of the most popular shows in the City and tickets are difficult to come by and ridiculously expensive when they do... So when I got a call from Andrea saying she had two free tickets to Jersey Boys that night and did I want to go...
Um, YES!?
Heather Ferguson, in my ward, is IN Jersey Boys and has been since it opened on Broadway. She never gets reduced tickets, let alone free tickets, but the planets aligned, and she had extra tickets and Andrea heard about it, and we got them.
The show was awesome. Heather was great. And those songs will get in your head and stay stuck there until you pry them out with a crow-bar... but you won't want to because they are so much fun. See, Jersey Boys is the story of Franky Valli and the Four Seasons, (Sherry Baby, Walk Like a Man, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You...) singers of some of the catchiest music of all time.
Oh, and afterwards... Heather met us at the stage door and we got to go back stage. BACKSTAGE. I got to stand on a Broadway stage.
How cool is that?! I know, I know, I'm totally geeking out here. But seriously. Who gets to do that? It's like Heavenly Father is up there saying, "Ok, let's make all of your dreams come true."
Thank you Heather. Thank you Andrea. Thank you very much.
But it happens to be one of the most popular shows in the City and tickets are difficult to come by and ridiculously expensive when they do... So when I got a call from Andrea saying she had two free tickets to Jersey Boys that night and did I want to go...
Um, YES!?
Heather Ferguson, in my ward, is IN Jersey Boys and has been since it opened on Broadway. She never gets reduced tickets, let alone free tickets, but the planets aligned, and she had extra tickets and Andrea heard about it, and we got them.
The show was awesome. Heather was great. And those songs will get in your head and stay stuck there until you pry them out with a crow-bar... but you won't want to because they are so much fun. See, Jersey Boys is the story of Franky Valli and the Four Seasons, (Sherry Baby, Walk Like a Man, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You...) singers of some of the catchiest music of all time.
Oh, and afterwards... Heather met us at the stage door and we got to go back stage. BACKSTAGE. I got to stand on a Broadway stage.
How cool is that?! I know, I know, I'm totally geeking out here. But seriously. Who gets to do that? It's like Heavenly Father is up there saying, "Ok, let's make all of your dreams come true."
Thank you Heather. Thank you Andrea. Thank you very much.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Blithe Spirit
I saw a great play tonight at the Shubert Theatre called The Blithe Spirit. It stared Angela Lansbury and Rupert Everett, and I must say, Angela is really quite fantastic.
Oh, and Anne Hathaway was in the audience.
Oh, and Anne Hathaway was in the audience.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
West Side Story
OK, I missed one. Since we're doing this whole Broadway review thing now... I saw the new West Side Story back in March. When the Family was in town, we had tickets to see Stomp, but the venue was bought out for the night for a corporate function. SO, our ticket broker got us 7th row center orchestra seats for the brand new West Side Story. Awesome.
It was quite good. The dancing was impressive, just really remarkable. They also did a rewrite of the script and left most of the Puerto Rican scenes in Spanish. Genius. I feel like the changes that they made took some of the cheesiness out of the story. For some reason "I Feel Pretty" doesn't sound quite as ridiculous in Spanish.
Costumes and sets were simple, but effective. Maria was played by an Argentinian opera singer who was supposed to be phenomenal. I thought she was good, but some of my friends with a more professional perspective were unimpressed. Tony was played by a guy that looked fresh out of BYU. Clean cut and fresh faced. Good voice, great dancer - but clean cut and return-missionary-ish doesn't make a very convincing Romeo.... I'm just saying.
Again with the dancing and the choreography - SO GOOD. If the rest of the show had bombed (and it didn't) this show would have been worth seeing for the dancing alone. That's how good it was.
I give it a thumbs up.
It was quite good. The dancing was impressive, just really remarkable. They also did a rewrite of the script and left most of the Puerto Rican scenes in Spanish. Genius. I feel like the changes that they made took some of the cheesiness out of the story. For some reason "I Feel Pretty" doesn't sound quite as ridiculous in Spanish.
Costumes and sets were simple, but effective. Maria was played by an Argentinian opera singer who was supposed to be phenomenal. I thought she was good, but some of my friends with a more professional perspective were unimpressed. Tony was played by a guy that looked fresh out of BYU. Clean cut and fresh faced. Good voice, great dancer - but clean cut and return-missionary-ish doesn't make a very convincing Romeo.... I'm just saying.
Again with the dancing and the choreography - SO GOOD. If the rest of the show had bombed (and it didn't) this show would have been worth seeing for the dancing alone. That's how good it was.
I give it a thumbs up.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Guys and Dolls
Ok, so I'm on a roll with the Broadway shows right now... Next Up... Guys and Dolls.
I heard mixed reviews. My theatre buff friend Anna said it was awful. My theatre buff friend Alina said it wasn't that bad. Guys and Dolls is actually my favorite musical (Thanks to Marlon Brando's rendition of Sky Masterson in the movie version... Those smooth-talking, swaggering men in suits who aren't afraid to take chances = Kryptonite), so I was going to give it shot, no matter what the critics said.
And...
Ok, I still love the play, but they weren't kidding... this is not the best production I've seen. They did some kind of rewrite on the script and took out all of the cool anachronistic language. What used to be intelligent and witty banter between the characters, now comes across almost on the level of farce. Lauren Graham was a cute Adelaide, and I'm pre-disposed to like her because of her Gilmore Girls days. She played the part well, but didn't bring anything to the character - though she does have a gift for comedic timing. Kate Jennings Grant/Sarah Brown has a great voice, but also didn't bring anything new to the table. Oliver Platt was a cheap Nathan Detroit, and Craig Bierko lacked the edgy center that is necessary to pull off Sky Masterson. Oh, and the staging! The changing computerized background in poor resolution and poor focus looked like someone made budget cuts in the wrong category. Adelaide's costumes were at least imaginative and interesting, while the rest were unimaginative and left something to be desired.
And to boot, they left out my favorite song!
Ugh. Now I need to go watch the movie to redeem my memories of the play and get doughy eyed over Marlon Brando.
Excuse me.
I heard mixed reviews. My theatre buff friend Anna said it was awful. My theatre buff friend Alina said it wasn't that bad. Guys and Dolls is actually my favorite musical (Thanks to Marlon Brando's rendition of Sky Masterson in the movie version... Those smooth-talking, swaggering men in suits who aren't afraid to take chances = Kryptonite), so I was going to give it shot, no matter what the critics said.
And...
Ok, I still love the play, but they weren't kidding... this is not the best production I've seen. They did some kind of rewrite on the script and took out all of the cool anachronistic language. What used to be intelligent and witty banter between the characters, now comes across almost on the level of farce. Lauren Graham was a cute Adelaide, and I'm pre-disposed to like her because of her Gilmore Girls days. She played the part well, but didn't bring anything to the character - though she does have a gift for comedic timing. Kate Jennings Grant/Sarah Brown has a great voice, but also didn't bring anything new to the table. Oliver Platt was a cheap Nathan Detroit, and Craig Bierko lacked the edgy center that is necessary to pull off Sky Masterson. Oh, and the staging! The changing computerized background in poor resolution and poor focus looked like someone made budget cuts in the wrong category. Adelaide's costumes were at least imaginative and interesting, while the rest were unimaginative and left something to be desired.
And to boot, they left out my favorite song!
Ugh. Now I need to go watch the movie to redeem my memories of the play and get doughy eyed over Marlon Brando.
Excuse me.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Avenue Q
The show was billed as "Sesame Street for grown-ups!"
I thought, hey, I loved Sesame Street, this'll be fun.
Then on the way to the theatre, Andrea and I ran into Amy...
"Amy! Hi!"
"Hey, where are you guys off to?"
"We're going to go check out Avenue Q, have you seen it?"
"... Yeah... I did... It's really disturbing."
"Huh? I heard it described as Sesame Street thing, you mean it's disturbing because of the Muppets?"
"... Well, there is that... But I don't want to ruin it for you. You'll have to let me know what you think."
"Ok, I will."
... All of a sudden I'm wondering if this is a big mistake. But hey, we already have the tickets, how bad could it be?
OH ho ho, DISTURBING is the word. The word is disturbing. Ok, it had some funny moments; ok, it had several of them. But there were other moments that I was less than enthused about.
Long and the short of it: It was an adventure. A jaw dropping adventure. I don't particularly recommend it, and DON'T take your kids.
Except for the presence of furry monster puppets, it is nothing like Sesame Street.
I thought, hey, I loved Sesame Street, this'll be fun.
Then on the way to the theatre, Andrea and I ran into Amy...
"Amy! Hi!"
"Hey, where are you guys off to?"
"We're going to go check out Avenue Q, have you seen it?"
"... Yeah... I did... It's really disturbing."
"Huh? I heard it described as Sesame Street thing, you mean it's disturbing because of the Muppets?"
"... Well, there is that... But I don't want to ruin it for you. You'll have to let me know what you think."
"Ok, I will."
... All of a sudden I'm wondering if this is a big mistake. But hey, we already have the tickets, how bad could it be?
OH ho ho, DISTURBING is the word. The word is disturbing. Ok, it had some funny moments; ok, it had several of them. But there were other moments that I was less than enthused about.
Long and the short of it: It was an adventure. A jaw dropping adventure. I don't particularly recommend it, and DON'T take your kids.
Except for the presence of furry monster puppets, it is nothing like Sesame Street.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Mary Stuart
Last week, my friend Sarah texted me... "I have two free tickets to Mary Stuart? Wanna go?"
Silly question.
After a few text messaging and cell phone kuffufles, I skidded to a halt in front of the theatre just in time for Sarah to hand me my ticket, and for us to run up to the balcony and fall into our seats just as the lights were dimming. Perfect timing.
Mary Stuart is a play about Mary Queen of Scots, the cousin of Elizabeth I whom she had beheaded for treason and attempted assasination. Ever since my Shakespeare class in college, I've had a particular fascination with that period of English history from Henry VIII through the reign of Elizabeth I, and especially with the monarchs in question.
Anyhow, the play was incredible. Intelligent writing, intriguing staging, stunning performances. A heart-breakingly beautiful production. My eyes were glued to the stage and the time flew by.
In other words, I recommend that you see it, should the opportunity present itself.
Silly question.
After a few text messaging and cell phone kuffufles, I skidded to a halt in front of the theatre just in time for Sarah to hand me my ticket, and for us to run up to the balcony and fall into our seats just as the lights were dimming. Perfect timing.
Mary Stuart is a play about Mary Queen of Scots, the cousin of Elizabeth I whom she had beheaded for treason and attempted assasination. Ever since my Shakespeare class in college, I've had a particular fascination with that period of English history from Henry VIII through the reign of Elizabeth I, and especially with the monarchs in question.
Anyhow, the play was incredible. Intelligent writing, intriguing staging, stunning performances. A heart-breakingly beautiful production. My eyes were glued to the stage and the time flew by.
In other words, I recommend that you see it, should the opportunity present itself.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Bring On Broadway
So, I've been here... almost a year... ish... and I had yet to see a show on Broadway. So one very very very cold Saturday, I enlisted my friend Kevin to set that situation straight.
Thanks to Tkts we nabbed tickets for the matinee of "Chicago," and then wandered around Times Square to pass the time until the show started.
Still my favorite part of the City...
Kevin and me, just looking at this picture makes me cold...
(Don't get any crazy ideas, we're just friends... Family, this means you.)
There is a big M&M factory in Times Square, with a larger than life Elvis M&M, which Kevin couldn't help impersonating. Yes, he's a huge dork...
And this is how excited Kevin was to see Chicago...
See what I mean? HUGE dork.
Thanks to Tkts we nabbed tickets for the matinee of "Chicago," and then wandered around Times Square to pass the time until the show started.
Still my favorite part of the City...
Kevin and me, just looking at this picture makes me cold...
(Don't get any crazy ideas, we're just friends... Family, this means you.)
There is a big M&M factory in Times Square, with a larger than life Elvis M&M, which Kevin couldn't help impersonating. Yes, he's a huge dork...
And this is how excited Kevin was to see Chicago...
See what I mean? HUGE dork.
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