Rushing through Broadway - 9 shows in 6 days.
May 16, 2017 9:45:05 GMT
Michael, 49thand8th, and 12 more like this
Post by Mark on May 16, 2017 9:45:05 GMT
My 9 show Broadway week! Had the most incredible time.
Waitress
Row P Orchestra - $99
Second time seeing this one, and it was just as good on a second viewing with the mostly new cast. Sara was great in the lead role, obviously she has such a personal connection with the material. Chris Fitzgerald - hilarious, even funnier than I remembered. Love the score, really hope this one transfers to London.
Dear Evan Hansen
SRO - $42
6 and a half hours in the SRO line was well worth the wait. Again a second viewing, Ben Platt has really evolved in the role since the Off-Broadway run. I can't quite put into words how intense and wonderful his performance is - a lock for the Tony if there ever was one.
War Paint
Rush - $40 - Row G Orchestra
This all comes down to the two leading ladies. Both Patti and Christine are doing great work here. There is a bit of disconnection in the book, and it doesn't quite work. The score is enjoyable but not memorable but it does give the ladies a chance to shine.
Phantom of the Opera
Lottery - $40 - Front row orchestra!
Caught this purely because its the only show that does a Thursday afternoon. Very much a tourist and school group crowd in! The show is of course great, although I wasn't too convinced by James Barbour as the Phantom. Very enjoyable from the front row though!
Come From Away
Rush - $38 - Row F Orchestra
This show has HEART! I absolutely adored it. The whole thing works so well and the time flew by. Such a great cast, and I can see why Jenn Coella was singled out with the TONY noms because she has such a great number with perfect delivery in Me and the Sky.
Anastasia
Mezz row H - $89
I really wanted to love it, but it never soared. Act one was very good, particularly liked Derek Klena and Ramin Karimloo. In contrast, Christy Altomare I thought was good but never reached her full potential, even in Journey to the Past. Act two everything slowed, with the only redeeming feature being Caroline o Connor. The final scene between Gleb and Anastasia was awful and cringeworthy - there was no payoff.mits a show that I would see again if it came to London but I feel a slightly missed opportunity.
Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 -
Rush $39 - Rear Mezz C
Liked, not loved. The opening number was exceptional but then as the show progressed it just didn't work for me. The score has moments of greatness but I just didn't find it very engaging overall. Lucas Steele was my favourite of the performances. The set and lighting are fantastic, but I definitely think this would work better in a more intimate setting.
Hello Dolly!
Cancellation line - $229 Orchestra row P
Hello Broadway! This production is oozing with class. Having never seen the show before it was a wonderful way to see it in an all our glamorous love affair to Broadway. Bette gives a star turn... this production is all about her and she has the audience eating out of the palm of her hand. Costumes, choreography, everything just wonderful.
Groundhog Day
Rush - $42 - Orchestra row C
Show is in top form! Loved Andy Karl, and I thought Barrett Doss was a much stronger Rita than the girl who played it in London. Think it helped going in knowing the score a bit the second time. Hoping this one finds its way back to the West End.
So my final thoughts -
TONY Awards - Dolly is going to easily take best actress and revival, quite likely costumes too. I can see Natasha taking lighting and set although again Dolly could surprise. Best musical I think will go to Dear Evan Hansen, but Come From Away could pull a surprise victory. Ben Platt is a lock for best actor. Featured actor I'm calling between Lucas Steele for Comet or Gavin Creel for Dolly. Both would be worthy victors. Featured actress is harder. Not having seek Block I know she got amazing reviews. Rachel Bay Jones or Jenn Coella would be my picks for this.
RUSH - So much more of a thing in New York. Every single theatre had long long lines. It's also extremely difficult to win the online lotteries, I only won Phantom.
Quality = Success - The quality of the new shows really stands out at being head and shoulders above what we get in London. I mean Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away are both complete sell outs - when would this ever happen in the West End to have a queue of 30-40 people each morning to try and get standing tickets, for a non-starry cast.
Prices: I'm never complaining about West End ticket prices again. Even the cheapest rush tickets were a lot more than our cheapest London prices.
Waitress
Row P Orchestra - $99
Second time seeing this one, and it was just as good on a second viewing with the mostly new cast. Sara was great in the lead role, obviously she has such a personal connection with the material. Chris Fitzgerald - hilarious, even funnier than I remembered. Love the score, really hope this one transfers to London.
Dear Evan Hansen
SRO - $42
6 and a half hours in the SRO line was well worth the wait. Again a second viewing, Ben Platt has really evolved in the role since the Off-Broadway run. I can't quite put into words how intense and wonderful his performance is - a lock for the Tony if there ever was one.
War Paint
Rush - $40 - Row G Orchestra
This all comes down to the two leading ladies. Both Patti and Christine are doing great work here. There is a bit of disconnection in the book, and it doesn't quite work. The score is enjoyable but not memorable but it does give the ladies a chance to shine.
Phantom of the Opera
Lottery - $40 - Front row orchestra!
Caught this purely because its the only show that does a Thursday afternoon. Very much a tourist and school group crowd in! The show is of course great, although I wasn't too convinced by James Barbour as the Phantom. Very enjoyable from the front row though!
Come From Away
Rush - $38 - Row F Orchestra
This show has HEART! I absolutely adored it. The whole thing works so well and the time flew by. Such a great cast, and I can see why Jenn Coella was singled out with the TONY noms because she has such a great number with perfect delivery in Me and the Sky.
Anastasia
Mezz row H - $89
I really wanted to love it, but it never soared. Act one was very good, particularly liked Derek Klena and Ramin Karimloo. In contrast, Christy Altomare I thought was good but never reached her full potential, even in Journey to the Past. Act two everything slowed, with the only redeeming feature being Caroline o Connor. The final scene between Gleb and Anastasia was awful and cringeworthy - there was no payoff.mits a show that I would see again if it came to London but I feel a slightly missed opportunity.
Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 -
Rush $39 - Rear Mezz C
Liked, not loved. The opening number was exceptional but then as the show progressed it just didn't work for me. The score has moments of greatness but I just didn't find it very engaging overall. Lucas Steele was my favourite of the performances. The set and lighting are fantastic, but I definitely think this would work better in a more intimate setting.
Hello Dolly!
Cancellation line - $229 Orchestra row P
Hello Broadway! This production is oozing with class. Having never seen the show before it was a wonderful way to see it in an all our glamorous love affair to Broadway. Bette gives a star turn... this production is all about her and she has the audience eating out of the palm of her hand. Costumes, choreography, everything just wonderful.
Groundhog Day
Rush - $42 - Orchestra row C
Show is in top form! Loved Andy Karl, and I thought Barrett Doss was a much stronger Rita than the girl who played it in London. Think it helped going in knowing the score a bit the second time. Hoping this one finds its way back to the West End.
So my final thoughts -
TONY Awards - Dolly is going to easily take best actress and revival, quite likely costumes too. I can see Natasha taking lighting and set although again Dolly could surprise. Best musical I think will go to Dear Evan Hansen, but Come From Away could pull a surprise victory. Ben Platt is a lock for best actor. Featured actor I'm calling between Lucas Steele for Comet or Gavin Creel for Dolly. Both would be worthy victors. Featured actress is harder. Not having seek Block I know she got amazing reviews. Rachel Bay Jones or Jenn Coella would be my picks for this.
RUSH - So much more of a thing in New York. Every single theatre had long long lines. It's also extremely difficult to win the online lotteries, I only won Phantom.
Quality = Success - The quality of the new shows really stands out at being head and shoulders above what we get in London. I mean Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away are both complete sell outs - when would this ever happen in the West End to have a queue of 30-40 people each morning to try and get standing tickets, for a non-starry cast.
Prices: I'm never complaining about West End ticket prices again. Even the cheapest rush tickets were a lot more than our cheapest London prices.
Hope that the new shows will eventually make their way to London as I just can't afford Broadway anymore and I'm too antsy to rely on rush tickets and such. 
