Broadway Banter - Winter 2010 - 11
 

Winter is here and with it comes closings and new beginnings. Let's hear from all of you passionate about Broadway with your reviews, comments and questions. A healthy new year to all of you and for the shows as well!

Hello CPG. Thanks for this new post. The other was getting quite long.

I was in NYC last week for one day. After walking from Columbus Circle to Times Square to see all the Christmas windows (Bergdorf's are amazing), subway to Macy's windows and shopping both Christmas markets (Union Square and Bryant Park) I was frozen. My hotel was only two doors from <u>The Adams Family</u>. Having never seen that show due to mediocre reviews, I grabbed a cheap ticket this time because I was too darned cold to walk much farther. I was pleasantly surprised. While not high art, it <u>was</u> amusing. Nathan did a respectable, understated job in his role. Bebe was underwhelming - especially in her tango number. The rest of the cast was fine. Jackie Hoffman (as Grandma) broke up the entire cast during the dinner scene with her riff on Larry King, much to the amusement of the audience. All in all, not an unpleasant winter's evening.

Nothing wrong in my book with a cheap last minute seat and a pleasant surprise. I am glad that you had a good time! Stay warm!

Hey Starrs, did you see my comment on the autumn banter thread about about loving Million Dollar Quartet?

The Merchant of Venice will play three additional weeks from February 1-20. The show closes January 9 to allow Al Pacino to fulfill a film commitment. Tickets for the added performances will go on sale December 29.

Driving Miss Daisy has also been extended to April 9 w/the
original cast remaining.

Another 'Spider-Man' injury last night.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/20...erformance/?hp

This accident sounds bad. The show is plagued....and now they are rewriting parts of the book and the music? Wow! As DH likes to say, "some people have more money than brains".

<i>"Christine Bord, another eyewitness, described the terrifying events inside the theater in a blog post on her Web site, OnLocationVacations. "They both went tumbling over the ledge into the pit. The music stopped, an announcement was made that show was going to pause, and you could hear people beneath the stage in a panic. 'Is he alive?', one man shouted, while another screamed, 'Call 911'. You could also hear a woman screaming in terror," she wrote."</i>

http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2...l-on-broadway/

Spider-Man cancels a matinee.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/22/th....html?_r=1&hpw

Ben Brantley's Top Shows of 2010:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/th...9brantley.html

I remember seeing a preview performance of Aida in Chicago a number of years ago. The 2 leads were in a box that was being raised above the stage. When it reached 8-10 feet, the mechanism failed, the box jolted, and the leads fell out onto to stage. It was horrifying to witness. They were both OK and the show went on, but DH and I were so upset we had to leave.

As far as Spiderman is concerned, I won't be surprised when the show is cancelled. And as a member of U2's fan club, I feel traitorous saying that!

<u>Regarding the SpMn accident this week; producers state:</u> <i>“This is a maneuver that has been done hundreds, if not a thousand times, without incident"</i>

I question the exaggeration of this statement, since it is well known that there had not been so much as one run-thru prior to the start of Previews in November. Practicing a stunt in a rehearsal hall is NOT the same as doing it in full gear on stage. The producers and creative team of this show have, IMHO, lost sight of the goal of entertainment. They appear to be trying to make a "silk purse from a sows ear" -- stupefying stunts can't mask a weak story and ho-hum score. I am fearful that the need to recoup investments will eventually lead to a bad end.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is opening later this Winter on Broadway. We saw it in London a few months back and already have our NYC tickets for March. If you liked Mamma Mia you will love Priscilla .... if you need a last minute gift.... tickets are available on-line!!!

Both performances were cancelled today for Spider-Man. The latest mishap was the 4th major accident for this show. I wonder how much pressure the investors are putting on the production.

This (SpMn) could end up being a new poster on the wall at Joe Allen's restaurant -- legendary flops.

We had tickets to the matinee last Wed. for Spiderman. It was cancelled and I was notified he evening before by email and cell phone that we would be refunded. I was relieved as I had decided I had really made a mistake getting those tickets.

Instead, I got good discounted last minute tickets online on BroadwayBox to see Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. We loved it. Very funny, great set and good acting.

emd3 - sounds like you caught a break!

Yes, we did get a break. I was looking forward to the sets in Spiderman but not much else.

I think Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is closing soon but if anyone has a chance to see it w/discount, I would go. It was pure entertainment, one of those funny musicals you can just go enjoy and laugh through. Lots of f language ("I am Andrew F'ing Jackson, and I'll do what I want to the Indians"), so not for little kids or those who get offended by that.

Well kids....my January trip is really shaping up (LOL) now Women on the Verge is closing before we arrive. We'll get a refund, but what's left? First the Spiderman debacle, now this. At least Merchant has been extended, so our tickets for that one should still be good. We have LaBete and a (rerun for me) of In the Heights with the return of the author. What else......a major snow storm?

Be happy about Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown early closing and the refund!

:) I think you are spot on with that assessment, Howard. Having originally paid full price for tix to both Spiderman and Women.... prior to reviews, I feel somewhat blessed to be given a repreive on both. We'll grab something for half price to fill in this time and save the money for our June trip to NY. DH says - better a wonderful dinner than a bad show.

This may be a little off the main thrust of this thread, but I want strongly recommend Stephen Sondheim's book "Finishing the Hat" to Broadway devotees, especially to those who have seen at least some of his shows. The book includes the lyrics to the songs (including those cut) in his shows through 1981. That includes West Side Story, Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, Company, Follies, A Little Night Musi and others. His comments are fascinating reading, as he provides details on the development of each show.

Local NYers, is there lots of buzz about <b>War Horse</b> in Lincoln Center? I see that previews start mid-March. I'll be in NYC in mid-April, and wondering how soon I should get my ticket. Since it's at LCT, I doubt there will be discounts (except for the Lincoln Center Atrium discount booth, which may or may not offer discounted tickets).

in case american idiot or driving miss daisy are on anyone's thoughts - my teeny tiny report

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...miss-daisy.cfm

YK, I bought my June tickets for <b>War Horse</b> already. Seating was quite picked over. I would suggest doing it now if you are sure of dates.

Spent last weekend in NY. As many know, my tickets for Spiderman and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown were both refunded do to cancellations or missed openings. Here's what we did see:

<u>Merchant of Venice:</u> Outstanding. One of the best Shakespeare productions I've seen in a long, long time. Set was very innovative. Cast was strong -- although Pacino didn't dominate like one might expect. Great ensemble work.

<u>In the Heights:</u> We saw it two nights before it closed and many original cast members had returned. The house was filled with family and fans, so it was a high spirited performance. I really enjoyed this even though it was the second time around for me. DH's first time and he loved it.

<u>The Addams Family:</u> I laughed out loud even though I'd just seen the show mid-December. First time for DH and he thought it was a hoot. I'm still not sure why this one was so badly handled by the press.

<u>La Bete:</u> Saw this one on closing night. If Mark Rylance doesn't win a Tony for this performance there is no justice. It was AMAZING! His first act monologue was beyond belief. I'm really sorry this one has closed as I would see it a second time.

Did a bit of shopping, saw the butterflies at Museum of Natural History, tried to stay warm! All in all, a great weekend.

We are going to NYC for 5 days to get my show fix. So far want to do: Driving Miss Daisy, Billy Elliot. Will see what we can get at TKTS.
Thanks for the thread CPG. :-)

HowardR, just read this. No, didn't see it. I'll go read it from the other thread.

LOL! That WAS the post on the other thread :-)
Glad you liked it!

It was good to read about La Cage on that thread. I think that's going to be at the top of my list when I come back. I was talking via Facebook today with my NYC friend about heading back up that way. I think I'll wait until your upcoming blizzard is over though. Good luck and stay warm!

starrs, I was wondering why you hadn't responded. I was sure you'd be pleased to learn that we agreed on a show!!!
Try to catch La Cage Aux Folles soon, at least before Mark Rylance and Kelsey Grammar leave the show sometime in February. It's really an outstanding production.

Yay! We've agreed! :-)

Thanks to the storm Wicked tickets are available for today's shows.

I'm not there :-(

I'm sure someone has pointed this out but Ticketmaster now has interactive maps. You can now see the seats available for sale and click on the seats that you want. A very nice change/improvement!

Starrs, I've noticed that only some shows have the interactive maps on Ticketmaster.....not all. I wonder if the show has to pay something extra to TM for the mapping option. I sure love it and wish that all the shows were offered that way.

""Other Desert Cities" the most richly enjoyable new play for grown-ups that NY has known in many a season."

From today's review. Finally, a new play that I am really looking forward to.

http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/01/1...4other.html?hp

TC - so glad you had a great time.

I've just bought a subscription to this UWS off off Broadway version of Encores for reasons described in my post. I sent away for 1st Wed Eve of each run. If any of you decide to explore with me on the same day, let me know!

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...-28-41011.html

Does anyone have a connection at <b>The Palace Theater</b> or <b>Priscilla - Queen of the Desert?</b> I'm trying to buy tickets for our June trip. This show is one of a very few that will have Sunday evening and Monday performances. For some reason, the Ticketmaster site will not let me buy tickets for June 5, 8PM or June 6, evening. I can find plenty of tickets for any other Sunday or Monday evening, but not those dates. I called Ticketmaster and even spoke with a supervisor, but they don't know anything. They see the same screen I see on-line. It simply says there are no tickets available. I find it very hard to believe that only those two shows are completely sold out when every other performance has a ton of tickets available.

Anyone have a clue?

It could be a very simple solution, i.e., it's very possible that some organization(s) has "bought out" the house for those performances.

Thanks, Howard. Do you really suppose that someone has taken two entire days -- 3 shows? The Palace is huge. That's a lot of people. How can I find out? I thought it might have something to do with the Tony's, but that isn't until the 12th.

TC, I'll admit that it would be unusual, but I can't think of any other reason that only those performances would have nothing available, while there are "tons of tickets available" for other performances around that time.

Call the box office, they may be dark for a reason we have know idea about.

I've sent off an email to the Nederlander Group customer rep. I hope they reply.

Hi, I'm coming to NYC from Sydney in May, can anyone recommend a good website for us to be able to choose a play or two to see. We don't particularly want musicals, well I do, but one of the girls in our group hates them! Centralparkgirl, this is a good thread, I can see myself spending quite a bit of time on it in the next few months.